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Scaphoideus titanus Ball, the main vector of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma, was monitored in Slovakia during 2013 and 2014. The species was present in the vineyards of eastern Slovakia but it was rarely found in the south of central part of the country. It was also found at many locations of western Slovakia but not in the southeast of western Slovakia. Higher abundance of S. titanus was detected in the vineyards with biological control. Varietal preference of the leafhopper was not confirmed. The first nymphs were found on June 5 and the last nymphs on July 17, adults occurred from the end of June to the end of September. There is one generation of S. titanus per year in Slovakia.

The flowering onset of 19 apple progeny was evaluated in 2005-2014 on a total number of 715 seedlings in comparison with their parents and grandparents. A very low flower set delays generally the onset of flowering by one day in comparison with a higher flower set. The maximum span between the first flowering onset and the last one within all the progeny of the study was 11 days. With one exception, the incidence of the first flowering dates of all the progeny fluctuated only within four days - April 28 and May 1. Among them, the great majority of the seedlings had the first flowering date span of not more than ± one day. The progeny of Pink Lady × Discovery was the most exceptional having the mean day on the April 17 and the span about two days longer. The means of the first flowering dates within seedling populations and corresponding dates of both their parents and grandparents were very highly correlated (r = 0.926 for parents and r = 0.877 for grandparents). The incidence of flowering onset dates in almost all progeny followed a typical Gaussian distribution, in which the majority of seedlings start flowering within 3 or 4 days. The maximum difference between both extremes (found only in one progeny) was 11 days. The share of seedlings in both extremes was, however, very small - less than 2%.

Linguatula serrata is a zoonotic parasite causing visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis in humans. Dog and other canines are the main definitive hosts while most herbivores, including ruminants serve as intermediate hosts for linguatulosis. Human rarely become infected as both final and intermediate hosts. This survey aimed to assess the L. serrata infection rate of dogs and domestic ruminants in North West of Iran. The upper respiratory tract of 97 dogs including 45 females and 52 males and the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of 396 goats (203 females and 193 males), 406 buffaloes (166 females and 240 males), 421 cattle (209 females and 212 males) and 438 sheep (223 females and 215 males) were examined for L. serrata. Animals were categorized into four age groups, including under six months, six to 24 months, two to four years and more than four years. Results showed that 27.83% of dogs were infected with L .serrata. The infection rate for goats, buffaloes, cattle and sheep was 50.75%, 26.6%, 36.62% and 42.69%, respectively. The prevalence rate in all animals was significantly associated with age and sex (P ≤ 0.05). In ruminants, the highest infection rate was found in goats (P ≤ 0.05). The results from this study indicate a high rate of infection in dogs and domestic ruminants, suggesting a potential high risk of zoonotic infection in man in the investigated area.

The main aim of this article is to present a technical solution for straw and forage yield mapping when using round balers with variable chamber for harvest. The yield measurement is based on monitoring of instantaneous position of a tension roller mechanism for press chamber circular belt. Wheat straw was harvested - baled, during our trial measurements. The acreage of the trial field was 12 ha. Calibration of the measuring system showed a strong dependence of the tension roller position on the amount of pressed straw (R² = 0.99). Geostatistical evaluation confirms a spatial relationship of measured data sets with a moderate spatial dependence. Finally, yield map of straw was created

The aim of this work was to carry out an inspective survey on frozen slices of swordfish (Xiphias gladius, Linneo 1758), regularly commercialised in Messina, Sicily (Italy). 402 products were checked at retail levels; the products came from four different fishing area: 59 from the Mediterranean Sea, 155 from North-East Atlantic Ocean, 139 from the Indian Ocean, and 49 from the Pacific Ocean. Fifty-one products were sampled and carefully examined macroscopically and histologically. The histological examination was also carried out on 31 muscle portions without macroscopic alterations. 25 samples (Group A), were parasitised by larvae of Gymnorhynchus gigas or Molicola (Gymnorhynchus) horridus. The lesions described for Group B (24 samples) as well as for 31 muscle portions without macroscopic alterations were attributed, to the freezing effect. Histological and macroscopic findings on four samples suggested the presence of parasitic lesions.

The trials were carried out in the Estonian University of Life Sciences (58°23'N, 26°44'E), and studied to what extent green manure crops bind nutrients and the effect and stability of biologically fixed nitrogen (N). Our research covered more species than most of the earlier studies in the Nordic countries. Compared with biomass from unfertilized barley, legume undersowing, straws plus roots added up to 4 times more N, 2.8 times more phosphorus (P) and 2.5 times more potassium (K) returning to the soil. Red clover, hybrid lucerne and white melilot as pure sows produced the highest biomass, amounts of N, P, and K being up to 206, 24 and 144 kg/ha, respectively. The effect of additional N in soil was measured by weighing successive grain yields. In the first test year, 1 kg of N from green manure had the effect of producing 8.6 kg grain and this relation did not change even for higher N amounts. Green manure had a significant effect even in the third year after the green manure was ploughed into soil.

The estimated genetic parameters were used for selection of important conformation traits and reduction in the number of the described characteristics. For reduction in the number of described traits from the original 36 to 24, the traits were selected according to: measure of genetic similarity (cluster analysis), measure of uncertainty multidimensional quantity, value of the variance of aggregate genotype, value of the variance of selection index and correlation of trait to the first principal component of the genetic matrix. Reduction in the number of the described traits was based on the value of heritability coefficient and genetic correlations matrix. The reliabilities of selection indexes were estimated between 0.41 and 0.53. Among the three multivariate analysis methods evaluated in this study, the variance of selection index had the highest reliabilities of selection indexes. The estimation of selection index variance which omitted traits with low heritability coefficient and high genetic correlation was the most suitable for the traits selection. This procedure would enable the breeders to reduce field costs (e.g. time, labour) required for obtaining the genetic parameter estimates necessary for a specific breeding programme.

The water vapour sorption kinetics and isotherms of pectin films prepared by the casting method were determined. The measurement of water vapour sorption kinetics was conducted using a saturated sodium chloride solution to obtain constant relative humidity of the environment (75.3%). The measurement was carried out at the temperature of 25°C over a 24 h period. The water vapour adsorption rate was the highest in the first hours of the process. The exponential equation fitted well the experimental data of water vapour adsorption with time. Glycerol concentration in the analysed films affected the increasing water vapour adsorption. The water vapour sorption isotherms were analysed using the saturated salt solutions with water activity from 0.113 to 0.901 for 3 months at 25°C. The sorption isotherms curves had a sigmoidal shape for all films. Glycerol content affected water vapour adsorption during 3 months. Peleg's equation was appropriate for the mathematical description of the sorption isotherms. The microstructure of pectin films showed different internal arrangement as a function of the film composition.

In the Czech Republic, most mycobacterial infections in pigs are caused by the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and potentially pathogenic mycobacteria (PPM) derived from the environment. This study was undertaken after the isolation of PPM from various components of the environment of pig herds between 1996 and 2002 (Matlova et al., Veterinarni Medicina, 48, 2003, 343-357). Between 2003 and 2007, a total of 1114 environmentally-derived samples from 24 farms were examined. After staining according to Ziehl-Neelsen, acid-fast rods were found in 42 (3.8%) samples by direct microscopy, and PPM were isolated from 223 (20.0%) samples by culture. PPM occurred primarily in soil from the paddocks (53.8%), peat (53.2%), bedding (28.4%) and biofilm from the pipeline (21.0%). From MAC, M. avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) genotype IS901- and IS1245+ was most frequent; M. avium subsp. avium (MAA) genotype IS901+ and IS1245+ and M. intracellulare genotype IS901- and IS1245- were isolated from one (0.4%) and three (1.3%) samples, respectively. The remaining isolates were identified as 19 other mycobacterial species: M. gordonae (n = 8), M. triviale (n = 6), M. flavescens (n = 3), M. nonchromogenicum (n = 3), M. terrae (n = 3), M. xenopi (n = 3), M. fortuitum (n = 2), M. chelonae (n = 2), M. chitae (n = 2), M. abscessus (n = 1), M. gastri (n = 1), M. kumamotonense (n = 1), M. marinum (n = 1), M. parafortuitum (n = 1), M. peregrinum (n = 1), M. porcinum (n = 1), M. scrofulaceum (n = 1), M. smegmatis (n = 1) and M. simiae (n = 1). The remaining 41 isolates of unidentified mycobacterial species did not contain the sequences IS901 and/or IS1245, specific for medically important members of MAC (MAA and MAH); a further 44 isolates were not tested due to their contamination or loss of ability to grow in vitro. A farm where MAH was often detected in the lymph nodes of pigs and in the environment between 1996 and 2002 (Period I), was selected for further investigation between 2003 and 2007 (Period II). A comparison of the findings of mycobacteria on the investigated farm in Period I and in the following Period II showed a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the occurrence of mycobacteria other than MAH, especially in peat samples.

The present paper describes the dynamics of changes in spruce stand disintegration in the Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki Mts. on the basis of the results of inventory performed in 2010 as compared to those in 2009. The research was done in six forest districts in the Beskidy Mts. The area of spruce stands in degrees of threat of disintegration on the day of 30^th September in the research period was determined for forest districts Bielsko, Ustroń, Wisła, Węgierska Górka, Jeleśnia and Ujsoły, on the basis of data in the State Forests Electronic Database (SILP) in degrees of threat of stand disintegration as well as in climate and vegetation zones. A comparison of the results of inventory of the stands threatened with disintegration in six forest districts in 2007 (altogether 24,446 ha) and in 2010 (altogether 16,886 ha) indicates a decrease in the rate of spruce stand disintegration. This may point to the slowing down of the rate of spruce stand disintegration as well as to considerable intensification of reconstruction work.

Spectral libraries are the data archives of spectral signatures measured on natural and/or man-made materials. Here, the objective is to build a soil spectral library of the Czech soils (SSL-CZ). Further on, the overall aim is to apply diffuse reflectance spectroscopy as a tool for digital soil mapping. An inevitable part of the library is a metadata database that stores the corresponding auxiliary information on the soils: type of material (soil, parent material), sample preparation, location of the sample with geographic coordinates, soil classification, morphological features, soil laboratory measurements - chemical, physical, and potential biological properties, geophysical features of and climatological information on the sample location. The metadata database consists of seven general tables (General, Spatial, Soil class, Environmental, Auxiliary, Analytical and Spectra) relationally linked together. The stored information allows for a wide range of analyses and for modelling developments of digital soil mapping applications. An example of partial least-square regression (PLSR) modelling for soil pH and clay content with 0.84 and 0.68 coefficients of determination is provided on the subset of the collected data. Currently, the SSL-CZ database contains more than 500 records in the first phase of development. Spectral reflectance signatures are stored in the range of 350 to 2500 nm with a step of 1 nm measured by ASD FieldSpec 3. The soil spectral library developed is fully compatible with Global Soil Spectral Library (Soil Spectroscopy Group).

Demographic development of human society is influenced by economic and political changes. The demographic development of most EU countries, including the Czech Republic, is characterized by the change of the age structure, the increase in the share of the third biological generation and thereby by aging of the population. These changes do not proceed with the same intensity in all countries; there are differences in the development, both among the EU countries and also the regional ones in the frame of the country. The paper presents an evaluation of the demographic development in the EU countries and further in the particular CR regions. The aim is to judge the regional differentiation of this development and to find an analogy of the EU countries.

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an essential element of sustainable livestock systems in temperate climates because of its adaptability to a range of management and soil fertility conditions. The performance of 15 accessions of white clover collected in northern Spain, and of two cultivars, the medium-leaved Huia and the large-leaved California, grown as spaced plants in Galicia, and in sward plots in Asturias was compared over a period of two years. The data obtained were reduced to two principal components that cumulatively explained 92.4% of the total variance. Cluster analysis identified three groups of accessions that described 71% of the phenotypic variation among accessions. One group of five accessions collected from upland sites was characterized by low dry matter yield, low height, reduced plant spread, short petioles, small leaves and thin stolons. This group can be defined as small-leaved and of interest for gardening. Another group, composed only by the cv. California and the cv. Huia, was characterized by high plant spread and height, long wide leaves and thick petioles and stolons; dry matter yields were similar to those of the first group. The last group, which includes ten accessions collected from low and medium altitude sites, had the highest dry matter yields and intermediate morphological character between the previous groups. This group can be defined as medium-leaved and of interest for grazing and/or cutting.

Negative energy balance (NEB), if followed by metabolic imbalance, is a common problem in high-yielding dairy cows frequently associated with inflammation of the mammary gland. After entering the teat canal, mammary epithelium is the first line of defense against a pathogen invasion. To investigate the effect of NEB on the innate host defense of the mammary epithelium, primary bovine mammary epithelial cell (pbMEC) cultures were generated by cell extraction of milk derived from energy restricted and control feeding cows. pbMEC were obtained from 8 high-yielding dairy cows affected by induced NEB in mid-lactation due to a reduction to 51 ± 2% of total energy requirement (restriction group) and from 7 control cows (control group). They were exposed to heat-inactivated Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus for 24 and 72 h to investigate the influence of NEB on gene expression profiles of cytokines, chemokines, genes associated with apoptosis and antimicrobial peptides plus their receptors (AMPR) of the innate immune response. The immune challenge of pbMEC demonstrated an effect of immune capacity and NEB in 15 differential expressed genes. NEB induced a substantial up-regulation in restriction compared to control cells by trend in E. coli and a down-regulation in S. aureus exposed cells. Our investigations showed that the dietary-induced NEB in vivo influenced the immune response of pbMEC in vitro and altered the expression of immunological relevant genes due to a difference in energy supply. These results demonstrate that pbMEC are a suitable model for mastitis research, in which even effects of feeding regimes can be displayed.

There are frequent reports from around the world of wild animals being poisoned with anticoagulants. Granulated baits can result in primary or secondary poisoning of non-target animals. Moreover, there are several diseases including infections that influence haemostasis in wild animals. The present study focused on fallow deer (Dama dama) for which insufficient data on physiological values of coagulation parameters are available. Six parameters of blood coagulation were established in clinically normal fallow deer from a game enclosure in North Moravia (Czech Republic). The fibrinogen content of 1.94 g/l is in agreement with the results obtained by other authors. Factor VIII and IX concentrations amounted to 198.42% and 169.91% of human concentration of these parameters in blood. These have never before been measured for fallow deer, but most animal species have concentrations of these factors higher than humans. Prothrombin time (PT), average activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin time (TT) were assessed as 20.99 s, 33.76 s, and 24.78 s, respectively. Prothrombin time assessed in the present study was longer compared to available data, while APTT is in agreement with the previous data. Thrombin time value is a new piece of information and is comparable with TT values obtained in other ruminants. The possible explanation for the prolonged PT may be the stress associated with yarding and handling the animals which is reported to cause haemorrhages or changes in haemostatic parameters in deer. Interestingly, males had significantly longer clotting times compared to females.

Genetic parameters including the proportion of variance for the service sire effect were estimated for number of piglets stillborn (including piglets died until 24 h after birth) and number of piglets died from 24 h after birth until weaning in Czech Large White (89 231 litters) and Czech Landrace (28 320 litters) pigs. Both traits were considered to be traits of the sow. Two two-trait animal models were evaluated for each breed including or excluding the service sire effect. Estimates of genetic parameters were very similar for the two models. The heritability for number of stillborn piglets was 0.06 in both breeds and both models and the heritability for number of piglets died until weaning was 0.07 in Czech Large White and 0.05 to 0.06 in Czech Landrace. The proportion of variance due to service sire was very low (between 0.8 and 1.6%). Therefore, there is no need to include the service sire effect in models for genetic evaluation. A selection against farrowing losses is recommended though only a slow improvement of the trait can be expected. Selecting against piglets died until weaning seems to be cumbersome. Probably a selection on number of piglets weaned could be helpful in minimizing piglet losses until weaning.

Leucaena leucocephala (LEU) and three under-utilized tanniferous legumes, Styzolobium aterrimum L. (STA), Styzolobium deeringianum (STD), and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth (MIC) were chemically characterized and the biological activity of tannins was evaluated using in vitro simulated ruminal fermentation through tannin-binding polyethylene glycol (PEG) and compared with a non-tanniferous tropical grass hay, Cynodon spp. (CYN). The Hohenheim gas test was used and gas production (GP) was recorded at 4, 8, 12, 24, 32, 48, 56, 72, 80, and 96 h incubation with and without PEG. Kinetic parameters were estimated by an exponential model. STA, STD, and LEU contained higher (P < 0.05) crude protein than MIC, which had greater neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. Total phenols, total tannins, and condensed tannins (CT) were consistently the highest in MIC. Gas production was the lowest from MIC (P < 0.05) and the highest in LEU and STA. MIC + PEG largely reduced (P < 0.05) the lag phase and the fractional rate of fermentation and increased potential GP. Kinetic parameters of STA + PEG and LEU + PEG were not affected. LEU + PEG produced greater gas increment (P < 0.05) than STD + PEG, although both legumes had the same CT. All legumes except MIC were more extensively degraded than CYN. However, fermentation of the legumes was differently affected by the presence and proportions of CT, indigestible fibre or both.

This study was performed to make a surgical model of osteoarthritis (OA) in the dog. Experimental medial patellar luxation (MPL) was surgically produced in the left stifle (index) of 24 skeletally mature mixed small breed dogs (age two to six years and weight 2.8 to 9 kg). The animals were randomly allocated in 2 groups; sham group (n = 12), where the right stifle was sham operated and control group (n = 12) with intact right stifle. Physical and radiographic examinations of both stifles were performed at 1.5 months intervals over a one-year experimental period. One dog was euthanatized every three months, and both stifles were explored, gross examination was performed and tissue samples from the articular cartilage, cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) and synovium were collected for histomorphology. The clinical signs of OA were obvious in the experimental dogs by 12 weeks of surgical induction of MPL, which was also evidenced in the histopathology of the joint tissues and electron microscopy of the articular cartilage. The radiographic changes of OA were not obvious until remarkable degenerative changes became abvious six months postoperatively. Surgically induced MPL can be a successful tool for experimental induction of OA in dogs.

As an alternative to synthetic pesticides, chitosan has received much attention as a biopolymer active against some agricultural pests. The, insecticidal activity of chitosans of four molecular weights (2.27 × 10⁵,3.60 × 10⁵,5.97 × 10⁵,and9.47 × 10⁵ g/mol) was investigated against two species of arthropod pests: oleander aphid Aphis nerii and cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis. In addition, the most active chitosan of 2.27 × 10⁵ g/mol was chemically modified with metals of Ag(I), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Hg(II) to give corresponding chitosan-metal complexes. Larval mortality, growth inhibition, and antifeedant activities for third instar larvae of S. littoralis were evaluated at 4 g (a.i.) chitosan/kg diet. Chitosan of 2.27 × 10⁵ g/mol and its complexes with Ni and Hg were the most active compounds. The results against A. nerii indicated that chitosans of 3.60 × 10⁵ and 5.97 × 10⁵ g/mol showed high activity among the different molecular weights in leaf-dip bioassay after 24 h of treatment with 48 and 49% mortalities, respectively, at 1000 mg/l. All compounds had a systemic effect against A. nerii. Chitosans of 2.27 × 10⁵,3.60 × 10⁵,and5.97 × 10⁵ g/mol showed the highest efficacy at all concentrations tested; however, chitosan-Cu was significantly the most active among the complexes.

An investigation was made into the effects of various egg white products and sweeteners on the stability and organoleptic properties of egg white foams. 12 foam products were prepared from egg white and sweeteners. The egg white was produced in the following forms: raw liquid egg white, pasteurised liquid egg white, liquid egg white treated at 55°C for 24 h, and spray-dried egg white powder. Three different sweeteners were used: sucrose, fructose-glucose syrup, and fructo-oligosaccharide syrup. The storage stability, firmness, adhesiveness based on the texture profile analysis, and organoleptic properties of the foams were evaluated. The flow curves of raw materials were also determined by means of a rotational viscometer. The results indicated that sucrose among the sweeteners and egg white powder among the egg white products are the most suitable for producing egg white foam and enhancing its stability. However, liquid egg white heat treated at low temperature also proved to be an appropriate choice for making stable egg white foams for the confectionery industry.

Water quality was examined in two parallel streams in southeastern Manitoba that enclosed a small hog and poultry operation with associated waste lagoons and manure spread fields. Nitrate-N (NN), molybdenum reactive phosphorus (MRP), dissolved organic matter index (DOMI), chloride, total alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), pH, temperature, and total (TC) and fecal (FC) coliform bacterial counts were measured at weekly intervals during the ice-free season at two upstream and two downstream sites relative to the operation. Significantly higher values downstream compared to upstream were observed for MRP, TSS, TDS, chloride, and to some extent NN, indicating the escape of these materials into the adjacent streams. TC were correlated with the rainfall, water temperature, TDS, and pH at all sites. However, TC were also correlated with TSS, MRP, and DOMI only at the downstream sites, while NN was correlated more strongly downstream than upstream. FC were correlated with water temperature and NN at all sites, as well as with TSS and MRP downstream only. Downstream FC/TC ratios increased with increasing rainfall, indicating proportionately greater escape of FC compared to TC under higher runoff conditions. The results suggested that environmental loading of livestock waste adversely altered natural stream water quality dynamics, underlining the need for improved management practices, including the timing of manure spreading during drier weather conditions to minimise the large-scale escape events.

A survey of viruses on capsicum plants in the Czech Republic was carried out in the years 2006-2010. Altogether, 375 leaf samples with symptoms suggesting viral infection were collected both from open fields and greenhouses. These samples were examined for the presence of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Broad bean wilt virus-1 (BBWV-1), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) by ELISA. Viruses detected in the samples were AMV, BBWV-1, CMV and PVY. The most prevalent were CMV and PVY which were present in 24 and 29% of tested samples, respectively. In some cases a complex infection of two viruses was detected. Gene sources of resistance against CMV and PVY are mentioned. The relation of virus occurrence on aphid incidence is discussed.

The preparation of mango wine by yeast-mango peel immobilised biocatalyst system by repeated batch fermentation was conducted and compared to free cells fermentation at 15, 20, 25, and 30°C. The operational stability of the biocatalyst was good as the ethanol concentrations (76.0-96.0 g/l) and productivities (1.53-3.29 g/l/h) were high, showing the suitability of the biocatalyst for even low temperature winemaking. The concentration of ethyl acetate was not above 40 mg/l in all cases, and higher alcohols were low (< 330 mg/l) in wine with immobilised cells indicating an improvement in the product compared to free cells fermentation. Amyl alcohols were proved to be temperature dependent and decreased with the decrease in temperature (262.48-146.83 and 239.74-184.34 mg/l) in the case of fermentation batches with immobilised and free cells, respectively, from 30°C to 15°C. Sensory evaluation revealed fruity aroma (7.9 ± 0.73), fine taste (7.7 ± 0.24), and the overall improved quality of the wines produced by the immobilised system.

Hepatic lipidosis and ketosis are frequent metabolic disorders in dairy cows during the transition period. The 2-methyl-2-phenoxy propionic acid (MFPA) is an activator of energy metabolism. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of administration of MFPA 10 days prepartum to day 36 postpartum on serum lipid profile, ovarian reactivity, and milk yield. Fifty seven multiparous Holstein cows were divided into four groups. The groups 1 (n = 14) and 2 (n = 14) had body condition score (BCS) above 4; BCS of the groups 3 (n = 15) and 4 (n = 14) was between 3.25 and 3.75 at calving. The solution containing 10 mg/kg MFPA was injected intramuscularly (IM) to cows of groups 1 and 3, 10-7 days prepartum and 6 h postpartum. The groups 2 and 4 received 50 ml of 0.9% NaCl as placebo in the same way. Blood samples for serum lipid profile were collected from all cows 10 days before calving without treatment, 2 days after the first administration of MFPA and postpartum at days 2, 10, and 21 after the second administration of MFPA. At days 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36 postpartum, blood samples were obtained for plasma progesterone determination. Milk yield was registered daily during 60 days postpartum. Prepartum free fatty acids (FFA) were mildly increased without difference among all the groups (P > 0.05). b-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) was increased only at day 10 after calving in cows of group 1 treated with MFPA (P < 0.05) due to higher number of postpartum diseases. In cows from groups 3 and 4 (BCS normal), BHB was mildly increased, not indicating subclinical ketosis. The serum concentrations of triacylgycerols, cholesterol, albumin, activities of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase were within the limits of reference values, indicating adequate liver integrity and function. Cows of normal BCS treated with MFPA presented better milk production but without significant difference among four groups (P > 0.05). Ovarian reactivity was present at day 21 in all groups of cows without difference (P > 0.05). The administration of MFPA had no effect on serum lipid profile and ovarian activity in this study.

The sera from 690 slaughtered fattening pigs from 15 farrow-to-finish swine herds (12 herds of unknown Salmonella status, 3 herds known as latently infected) in the Czech Republic were examined for Salmonella antibodies in a cross sectional study using an ELISA test. Salmonella seroprevalence ranging from 0% to 20% was found in 14 herds. Seroprevalence of 73.9 was found in 1 herd with previously unknown Salmonella status. A longitudinal study of the three previously identified latently infected herds found seroprevalence ranging from 23.9% to 83.4% in sows after farrowing. Salmonella findings from faeces in the farrowing sections ranged between 1.8 and 24.5, and in the environmental samples between 0 and 25. In weaned piglets, Salmonella findings from faeces ranged from 6.3 to 48.0, and in environmental samples from 0 to 90%. The most prevalent serotypes were S. Derby (56.8) and S. Typhimurium, phage type DT104 (18.5). The seroprevalence comparison in sows and slaughtered fattening pigs revealed variations in the course of Salmonella infection in swine herds.

To better understand how water stress and availability affect the enzyme activity and microbial communities in soil, we measured the changes of organic carbon (OC), bacteria and fungi populations, and endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities in a semiarid soil treated with air-dried primary sewage sludge at a rate of 20 g/kg. The water potentials established for soil incubation were: saturation (SA, 0 bar), field capacity (FC, -0.3 bar), and permanent wilting point (PWP, -15 bar). An irrigation treatment was a drying-rewetting cycle (DWC) between -0.3 to -15 bars. After 0, 20, 60 and 90 days of incubation soils were sampled for analysis. The addition of sewage sludge increased soil OC, endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities significantly. The effects of soil moisture, incubation time and their interactions on OC, and endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities in soil were significant. During 20 days of incubation, OC, endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities decreased significantly. Soils incubated in DWC and FC compared to soils incubated in SA and PWP had lower OC contents due to organic matter mineralization. Organic C, exoglucanase and endoglucanase activities significantly increased with increasing soil water potential. The activities of exoglucanase and endoglucanase in soils incubated in SA were significantly higher than those in soils incubated in PWP.

Morinda citrifolia Linn. (family Rubiaceae) is a small tree occurring in tropical areas of the world. The plant contains several medicinally active components that exhibit the therapeutic effects such as antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer activities. Anti-genotoxic effects of aqueous extracts prepared using dried leaves of M. citrifolia was studied. Allium cepa root tip meristem cells treated with 7% hydrogen peroxide were used for eliciting anti-genotoxicity. For this purpose experiments were performed with A. cepa onion bulbs treated for 24 h with different concentrations (15 or 30 g/L) of aqueous extract with or without pre-treatment (1 h) with 7% hydrogen peroxide. A significant reduction in mitotic index was recorded in treatment groups over negative control. Chromosomal aberrations such as breaks, bridges, stickiness and polar deviations were observed in positive control and treatment groups. The highest (21.48) percentage of chromosomal aberrations was noticed in positive control. A significant reduction in chromosomal aberrations (9.39) was recorded in root tips treated with hydrogen peroxide followed by 15 g/L extract. H₂O₂ induced chromosomal aberrations were reduced due to leaf extract treatment indicates anti-mutagenic potential of the M. citrifolia. The observations suggest that M. citrifolia aqueous leaf extracts have anti-mitotic and anti-genotoxic effects; consequently oxidative stress induced aberrations due to H₂O₂ are efficiently restored in the extract treated A. cepa root meristem cells.

It was hypothesized that buckwheat, especially its flowers, influences foregut fermentation in ruminant animals because it is rich in phenolic compounds. The entire fresh aerial buckwheat herb, or its parts (leaves, stems, flowers and grain), were incubated for 24 h together with pure ryegrass (1:1, dry matter basis) in an in vitro ruminal fermentation system (Hohenheim Gas Test). Additionally ryegrass, supplemented with 0, 0.5, 5, or 50 mg rutin trihydrate/g dry matter, was incubated. Contents of extractable phenols (g/kg dry matter) were the highest in buckwheat flowers (88), followed by leaves (63), and the lowest in ryegrass (8). The levels of production of total gas and volatile fatty acids demonstrated that the nutritional value of buckwheat was slightly lower than that of ryegrass. Compared to ryegrass alone, ruminal transformation of dietary protein-N into ammonia was lower with 50 mg rutin, buckwheat flowers and buckwheat leaves. Thus, these treatments appeared to have partly protected dietary protein from ruminal degradation. Rutin, at the highest level, buckwheat flowers and the total aerial fraction of the buckwheat plant suppressed methane per unit of total gas by > 10%, either at elevated (rutin) or reduced total gas volume. This indicates that the ways of the influence on the ruminal fermentation pattern differed between pure rutin and buckwheat. In vivo studies have to confirm these potentially beneficial effects of buckwheat if used as forage for ruminants and clarify the role of further phenolic compounds present in buckwheat. Abbreviations: DM = dry matter, HGT = Hohenheim Gas Test, NDF = neutral detergent fibre, TEP = total extractable phenols, VFA = volatile fatty acids

The levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibody (ANA), and composition of peripheral lymphocyte subsets in 515 dogs were examined. Of these sample cases, 33 cases were diagnosed as immune-mediated fever that presented with high C-reactive protein (CRP), 31 cases were diagnosed with Hansen's Type 1 disc herniation and the remaining 415 cases were clinically healthy dogs, and served as controls. In the cases diagnosed with immune-mediated fever, 84% of the dogs tested positive to either RF or ANA (RF positive 60.6%; ANA positive 24.2%). By contrast, 16.2% of the healthy dogs were positive for either RF or ANA (RF positive 14.9%; ANA 1.3%). The CD4/CD8 ratio for peripheral lymphocyte was high for all analysed cases diagnosed with immune-mediated fever, and was significantly higher than those of healthy controls. These results indicate that the abnormal levels of lymphocytes may be an effective indicator for immune-mediated disease coupled to immune-mediated fever.

In the present study, the effect of immunocastration on carcass traits, meat quality, reproductive organs development, and boar taint compounds was investigated. Male piglets (50% Duroc crosses) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: entire males (EM; n = 19), surgical castrates (SC; n = 20) and immunocastrates (IC, vaccinated with Improvac^® at the age of 79 and 142 days; n = 21). Pigs were fed ad libitum and weighed at the time of first and second vaccination and before slaughter (176 days of age). No differences between treatment groups were detected for carcass weight. In the case of backfat thickness, carcass lean meat content, and belly leanness score, IC were intermediate between EM (the leanest) and SC (the fattest), differing (P < 0.05) from both control groups. Regarding loin eye fat area, neck intermuscular fatness, ham leanness, and leaf fat weight, IC were similar to EM and were less fat than SC (P < 0.01). IC had lower intramuscular fat than SC (P < 0.01) and higher average pH 24 than both EM and SC (P < 0.01), resulting in darker colour. IC also demonstrated lower drip loss than EM (P < 0.05). Immunocastration caused a significant reduction of reproductive organs and concentrations of boar taint compounds (P < 0.01) which were comparable with the levels observed for SC.