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An increased incidence of tuberculous lesions in head and mesenteric lymph nodes from slaughtered pigs weighing about 115 kg was recorded in a herd of pigs kept in two farms A and B in the CzechRepublic. Tuberculous lesions were more frequently (P < 0.01) diagnosed in pigs from Farm A (10.4%) than from Farm B (1.1%). The follow-up investigation of potential sources of infection on Farm A revealed that the piglets were fed kaolin from a nearby mine as a supplement. Among 20 samples from the pigs' environment, atypical conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria (ACPM) were detected in four samples as follows: dust (n = 2), pig faeces (n = 1) and kaolin fed as a supplement (n = 1). Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis of genotype IS901- and IS1245+ and serotype 8 was isolated from kaolin and pig lymph nodes, M. fortuitum from stable dust and pig faeces and other ACPM from stable dust. When kaolin feeding to piglets ceased, the incidence of tuberculous lesions in these pigs at slaughter 5-6 months later decreased from 16.1% to 3.4%. No ACPM was detected on Farm B in 27 samples from the environment. An investigation of surface kaolin mines did not detect mycobacteria in non-extracted kaolin. However, surface water (three isolates among 13 samples) from the pond used for kaolin levigation and 23 batches of the final product of kaolin (10 samples from each batch, i.e. a total of 230 samples were examined) were contaminated with ACPM. Among the latter, ACPM were isolated from three samples originating from three different batches. ACPM were likely to survive during transport of the kaolin, as a suspension through the pipeline, and during its further processing to the final product (sedimentation, addition of colloid substances, drying and other procedures).

The effect of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) on the growth of radish and the content of As compounds in roots and leaves of the radish were investigated. Radish was grown in pots in three soils (Fluvisols, Chernozems and Luvisols) amended with 20 mg As/kg of soil in form of DMA. Behavior and transformations of DMA in the soils differed depending on the individual soil type. In the first season, plants grew up at Luvisols only. In the second season the plants were able to grow at Luvisols and Chernozems, too. The roots and leaves of radish from Luvisols had DMA as the dominant arsenic compound present (~ 90% in the extract) in the first season. In the roots of the subsequently growing radish DMA accounted for 20% and arsenite for most of the total arsenic in the extract. In the leaves of the second-crop of radish DMA remained the dominant arsenic compound (~ 60% in the extract) with arsenate and arsenite for the remaining 40%. Roots and leaves of radish grown in Chernozems and Luvisols had a similar pattern of arsenic compounds. Soil properties significantly affected transformation of As species in the soils. At Fluvisols was the lowest As immobilization and about 98% was found as DMA after two years of experiments in the other two soils was higher As immobilization and DMA was recovered to inorganic As (V) - 31% in Luvisols and 78% in Chernozems.

A prediction map of tularemia was constructed on the basis of factors identified as contributing to the existence of current natural foci of tularemia in the CzechRepublic. The geographic distribution of a total of 6 different factors was evaluated with respect to their suitability for harbouring natural foci of tularemia. These factors included habitats of alluvial forests, geographic areas of up to 200 m above the sea level, 8.1-10.0°C of mean annual air temperature, 450-700 mm of mean annual precipitation, 1 801-2 000 and 2 001-2 200 h of mean annual sunshine duration and the highest population densities of the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus). The whole territory of the Czech Republic was divided into 1 814 unit areas of 5.1 × 8.5 km characterised by the presence or absence of the specific conditions stated above. Analytical tools of the KORMAP GIS program and its capability of combining spatial data to construct a new map were used. There are two main territories of conditions favourable for tularemia in the Czech Republic, i.e., Southern Moravia and Central Bohemia. Areas of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 factors favourable for tularemia cover 18 120.30, 27 960.75, 15 259.20, 7 933.05, 5 245.35, 3 337.95 and 780.30 km², respectively, of the total area of 78 636.9 km² of theCzechRepublic. The prediction modelling of possible occurrence of a zoonosis seems to be an economical way of selecting areas of study and research.

Two trials were designed to determine the quality of pig carcasses, chemical composition and physical indicators of meat and fatty acid composition of backfat. Growing pigs were offered adequate diets containing field beans (20-25%), sweet lupines (15-20%) or extruded soybeans (18-15.4%) instead of soybean or sunflower oil meal (control). The weight and length of the carcass, dressing percentage, weight of ham, chemical composition and physical indicators of meat of pigs fed diets with different leguminous seeds did not differ significantly from those of pigs fed the control diet. Pigs fed diets containing field beans had 5.7-8.2 mm lower backfat thickness, while pigs fed extruded soybeans had 6.6-7.9% smaller loin lean area and 4.57% lower content of oleic acid in the backfat, but the content of linoleic acid was 5.11% higher.

A vegetation pot experiment was established to explore the effect of two doses of nitrogen (0.6 and 0.9 gN in the form of ammonium sulphate) and two doses of sulphur (20.6 and 30.6 mg/kg of soil) on the yields and quality of spinach and pepper in comparison with a natural level (7.85 mg/kg). The results of the experiments confirmed that the application of sulphur by means of (NH₄)₂SO₄ in combination with nitrogen had a positive effect on yields and also on the quality of the vegetables. In the sulphur-free variants of spinach the effect was statistically significant and also when the levels of S in the soil were higher. Lower doses of nitrogen under increased levels of sulphur increased the yields statistically significantly (on average by 47%) and the sulphur concentration in the plants increased. The N:S ratio became narrower in proportion with the level of sulphur, particularly under a lower N level. The nitrate content in spinach corresponded with the applied dose of nitrogen and the nitrogen concentration. The sulphur level did not influence the content of C vitamin, but had a positive effect on the content of the essential amino acids cysteine and methionine. A mean level of S₁ in combination with a N₁ dose significantly increased pepper yields, narrowed the N:S ratio and was reflected in dry matter production per 1 g of N. The highest pepper yields were achieved with a dose of S₁, which resulted in the highest dry matter production in the fruit per1 g of N under both levels of N. At the same time increasing the sulphur level reduced the content of nitrate and increased the level of cysteine from 0.11 to 0.305 g/kg.

In the present work, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with chemiluminescent detection for the determination of carbofuran, carbaryl and methiocarb were developed and the analytical parameters of these assays were compared with those of ELISAs with colorimetric detection. The sensitivity of immunochemical methods was expressed as detection limit, linear working range, and I₅₀ value. In comparison with colorimetric ELISA, the ability of the chemiluminescent reagents to detect lower concentrations of HRP allowed to decrease the optimal antibody and conjugate concentrations and to reach better analytical parameters. The experimental comparison of the analytical performance of the ELISAs was carried out by analysing simply diluted fruit juices, spiked at different concentration levels with the above mentioned pesticides. Recovery values for both ELISAs were around 100% and no matrix effects were observed when fruit juices were diluted 1:20 or more.

The Odra River, 55.2 kmof its length, is winding through the Poodří Protected Landscape Area, which has total area of 81,5 km². More than 80% of its stream has retained the natural character of its riverbed and the hydrological regime with regular floods. Ichthyologic research was carried out in the period 1997-2001. It took place in 7 localities comprising 3 localities situated in main tributaries and 4 localities of former river arms. Gill nets and electrofishing were used for the research on limnetic biotopes. A total of 22 fish species in the streams (Odra, Lubina, Ondřejnice, and Bílovka Rivers) and 4 other species in stagnant water bodies were found. Out of all identified species, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Pseudorasbora parva, and Carassius auratus are not native species. Anglers identified further 7 species in their catches. The studied river sections are inhabited by the Barbus - Chondrostoma fish community. The highest biomass belongs to the most frequent species Leuciscus cephalus, Rutilus rutilus, and Barbus barbus. Total abundance in the individual localities ranged from 2 416 to 20 392 fishes/ha and total biomass was in the range from 174 to 788.8 kg/ha. The species diversity index H' of ichthyocenoses fluctuated between 2.238 to 3.108 in the area. There were 4-8 species in low numbers in 4 searched pools. The biomass was also low and the diversity index H' ranged from 1.390 to 1.737.

A long-term study carried out within the 1967 All-Poland Larch Provenance Experiment investigated genetic variation in 20 Polish provenances of larch growing under the site conditions of the Beskid Sądecki Mts. (at a test site in Krynica). The study was based on the measurements of tree height made in individual larch populations during 1969-1999, i.e. when trees were 5, 8, 11, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years old. The results showed a considerable adaptation stability of the provenances tested at the Krynica site. This stability, however, tended to decrease with increasing mean height of trees. An estimation of the effect of the "genotype (provenance) × years of observation (age)" interaction revealed a high stability of height growth in larch populations having extreme values of this trait. As follows from the study, it is possible, especially in the case of the latter group of provenances, to carry out effective selection in the early stage of tree growth, thus ensuring a permanent genetic gain.

Flavonoids are a large group of secondary plant metabolites with hydroxyl groups. The flavonol quercetin is commonly found in onions. In the edible fleshy scales of yellow onions quercetin mono- and diglucosides are present. The aim of this work was to study quercetin glucosides during technological processing of yellow onion bulb. Onion was boiled in water under reflux for 30 min. The cooking was performed at three different onion/water ratios (1/5, 1/10, 1/20; w/w). The resulting soup, boiled onion solids and the control raw onion samples were lyophilised, extracted with ac. methanol and analysed for quercetin and its derivatives (3-β-D-glucoside, 4'-β-D-glucoside, 3,4'-β-D-glucoside) using HPLC-UV. Major flavonoid components identified in yellow onion were quercetin-4'-β-D-glucosideand 3,4'-β-D-glucoside with a decreasing concentration from outer toward inner rings of the raw bulb. These substances were rapidly transferred into cooking water during thirty minutes boiling making the resulting soup a good source of flavonoids. The effect of water amount added on flavonoid concentration was followed.

The efficacy of lidocaine, fentanyl, combination of both (2 mg/kg of lidocaine, along with fentanyl in the dose of 0.005 mg/kg) and saline (as a control) administered epidurally to 40 healthy dogs was under investigation, regarding their influence on minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of halothane. Basic vital parameters, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen and end-tidal partial pressure of CO₂ were recorded. Minimum alveolar concentration of halothane after administration of lidocaine (0.75 ± 0.24%), or the lidocaine/fentanyl combination (0.43 ± 0.08%) was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) compare to control group (1.15 ± 0.20%). However, we have not found significant difference in the group given fentanyl alone (0.95 ± 0.35%) compare to control group. Mutual relationship between epidurally given lidocaine and fentanyl (same route of administration) can be called as simply additive. There were no significant deviations in basic parameters within groups. We conclude that epidural administration of combination of these drugs we are able to reduce the dose of general anesthetics, which is important in management of critically ill patients.

Dothistroma needle blight Mycosphaerella pini is an important pathogen of pine needles. In addition to different species of pine, M. pini was found in blue spruce Picea pungens in the proximity of infected Pinus nigra in the region of southern Moravia about 20 km SE of Brno.

The level of risk for human health originating from organs of slaughter pigs was determined on the basis of carcass inspection classification at slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic during the period of 1995-2002. The following pig's organs were included in the study: the lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, and intestines. A potential level of risk relating to food safety of different organs was determined according to the numbers of the organs condemned by official veterinarians. At the same time total number of slaughtered animals was also considered. The trend of the development of potential risk was determined as an index equal to the ratio of the occurrence of condemned organs during the period of 1999-2002 to the same figures from the period of 1995-1998. The highest level of potential risk was found in porcine lungs (at the level of 66.30%) followed by kidneys (18.14%), liver (17.20%) and heart (5.15%). Increasing trend in the development of risk was found for the lungs (index 1.19), spleen (1.16) and heart (1.15). The trends were confirmed as highly significant (P < 0.01). The results indicating high levels of potential risk for food safety and increasing trends in the aforementioned organs of pigs confirmed the importance of veterinary inspection at slaughterhouses and classification of organs of slaughter pigs by official veterinarians. This way the risks for food safety are eliminated.

The aim of this paper was to analyse alternatives of Pinzgau breeding program. Alternatives were optimised for genetic gain of selection index composed of parameters of milk efficiency traits and increase in inbreeding per generation. A scheme using the mating of 70% old proven sires led to a lower increase in inbreeding per generation from 0.248% to 1.903% than a young sires scheme with 0.313-2.177% or 0.303-2.18% without MOET when 2, 5, 10 and 20 proven sires were used in the population. Schemes using 70% mating of young sires resulted in a shorter generation interval of 3.46 years in comparison with proven sires scheme with 4.06 years. Young sires breeding program yielded lower genetic gain from 420.1 SKK per year when 20 proven sires were used to 578.44 SKK per year when 2 proven bulls were selected in the population. Proven sires breeding program led to higher genetic gain from 400.17 SKK (with 20 proven bulls) to 629.72 SKK (2 proven bulls). In a group with 20 proven bulls young sires breeding program with MOET resulted in genetic gain 466.38 SKK comparable to young sires breeding program without MOET with 10 proven sires. In groups with 10 or 5 proven bulls this alternative led to the highest genetic gain 515.45 SKK and 565.25 SKK, respectively. A group with 2 proven bulls in MOET scheme achieved similar genetic gain (629.14 SKK) like the proven sires scheme.

Soil organic matter is important in controlling heavy metal behaviour in soils. This study aims to determine the distribution of organically bound Cd, Pb, and Zn between humic and fulvic acids in 20 samples of heavily polluted Fluvisols. Traditional procedure of alkaline sodium hydroxide/pyrophosphate extraction of humic substances with consequent humic acids precipitation by acidification was used. All of the three metals were bound predominantly on fulvic acids (mean share was 98.4, 82.0, and 95.7% of total organically bound Cd, Pb, and Zn content, respectively). Mainly the level of pollution controlled the amount of metals bound on fulvic acids. On humic acids, a limited amount of specific sorption sites for the metals is expected. Lead content bound on humic acids was negatively correlated with soil pH. The results suggest relatively high potential mobility of organic fractions of heavy metals in soils under this study. The selectivity of alkaline extracting agent is briefly discussed.

The effects of reducing fat level (9% and 12%), substituting pork fat with olive oil and adding locust bean/xanthan gum on emulsion stability, jelly and fat separation, cook loss, and hardness of frankfurters were investigated and compared with control sample elaborated with 20% of fat content. Results showed that addition of locust bean/xanthan gum produced a significant increase in hydration/binding properties, characterised by lower cook losses, increasing yield, better emulsion stability and lower jelly and fat separation. The substitution of fat pork by olive oil did not affect these parameters. Multivariate comparison between elaborated low-fat products and commercial frankfurters (normal and low-fat) were carried out using a factorial analysis. Results showed that addition of locust bean/xanthan gum results in products similar to commercial frankfurters with higher fat contents.

An in vitro method was used to determine ruminal degradability of starch (IVRDS) in a set of cereal grains. The set included 9 feed samples, including 2 samples of ground wheat, 2 samples of wheat treated with sodium hydroxide, ground barley, barley treated with sodium hydroxide, 2 samples of ground oats and ground maize. Ruminal degradability of starch was assayed by the feed fermentation for 2, 4, 6, 16 and 24 hours. A significant difference in starch degradability was found between treated and untreated ground samples after 2-hour fermentation (13.73 ± 3.12 vs. 32.77 ± 8.17; P < 0.001), 4-hour fermentation (33.44 ± 7.31 vs. 60.30 ± 16.71; P < 0.001) and 6-hour fermentation (42.63 ± 7.13 vs. 74.20 ± 6.38; P < 0.001). On the basis of the rate of ruminal degradability of starch the order of cereal grains was as follows (from the highest to the lowest value): ground oats, ground wheat, ground barley, ground maize, wheat and barley treated with sodium hydroxide.

In 2002, height and diameter growth of spruce was investigated in the Orlické hory Mts. (the Czech Republic). The aim was to confirm and to quantify a growth increase in stands of different age, and to reveal the relation between growth and climate, and level of nitrogen deposition. Stem analyses of ten sample trees of mature spruce stand (average age 163 years) confirmed a significant increase in height and diameter growth since the mid-eighties of the 20^th century. Nearly 75% of radial increment variability could be explained by climatic factors. Growth in the last 10 years corresponded well to weather conditions. Analysis of the growth - nitrogen deposition relationship showed negative correlations, but the results were not statistically significant. Comparison of the height growth curves of young stands (11-47 years) proved that the younger the stand, the steeper the growth curve. The height of the youngest stands was on average the double of the height of older stands at the same age. The values of the height growth of young stands significantly overreached the yield table values in all the age classes analyzed.

Extract of red bean seeds was prepared using 80% acetone. Crude extract was applied onto a Sephadex LH-20 column. Fraction I of low molecular weight phenolic compounds was eluted from the column by ethanol. Fraction II of tannins was eluted from the column using water-acetone (1:1, v/v) as a mobile phase. Phenolic compounds present in the extracts and in the fractions I and II showed antioxidant and antiradical properties investigated using a β-carotene-linoleate model system, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Crude extract showed the highest antioxidant activity in a β-carotene-linoleate model system. However, tannins fraction was the strongest scavengers of DPPH radical. The content of total phenolics in the fraction II was found the highest (139 mg/g).

In the course of the 20^th century, the production of beer was substantially changed. Economic pressures led to the concentration, modernisation and automation of the beer and malt production. These changes were reflected in a new view of malting barley varieties' quality. In two last decades, the varieties possessing a strong enzymatic activity, high extract contents and high final attenuation have been promoted. Due to historical reasons, the traditional production of pale lager has been preserved in the Czech brewing. For the production of the Czech-type beer, those varieties of malting spring barley are suitable that enable the production of beer with a higher level of residual extract, strong and full palate, excellent foaming power, and relatively lower alcohol content.

The virulence frequencies to powdery mildew resistance genes possessed by winter barley cultivars registered and newly tested in the Czech Republic were studied in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Random samples of the populations originating from winter and spring barley fields were obtained from the air by a mobile version of a jet spore sampler mounted on a car roof. Conidia were sampled by driving across the Czech Republic. Fourteen differentials, carrying 18 out of 20 currently identified resistance genes present in winter barley cultivars, were used. High virulence frequencies (85-100%) to most resistance genes were found. Lower virulence frequencies (14.1-40.1%) were found to only three resistance genes that have not been described yet; their preliminary designations are Ml(Va), Ml(Dt) and Ml(Ca). The importance of resistance of winter barley cultivars is discussed with respect to limiting the speed with which the pathogen adapts to genetic resistances possessed by commercial cultivars of both winter and spring barley, and to the necessity of lowering the costs for powdery mildew control in barley.

A cold complement fixation test (CFT) was used to identify C. abortus infection in ewes and does in northern Jordan. Sera from 36 flocks of sheep and 20 flocks of goats were collected randomly. The results showed that 433 (21.8%) out of 1 984 ovine sera, and 82 (11.4%) out of 721 caprine sera, were seropositive for C. abortus infection, as indicated by a titre ≥ 1:40. However, all the tested sheep flocks and goat flocks (100%) revealed at least one seropositive animal. There was a strong association (P < 0.05) between the rate of C. abortus infection and the size of the sheep flock, when larger flocks had higher infection rates. However, in goats, the flock size had no relationship with seropositivity. Age had no significant (P > 0.05) impact on C. abortus seropositivity. In sheep, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the rates of the chlamydial infection in the four studied areas of northern Jordan. The highest infection rate in sheep (31.2%) was recorded in Mafraq area, while the rates in Irbid, Ajloun and Jerash were 18.5%, 11.2% and 13.9%, respectively. In goats, there was no significant difference between the rates of the chlamydial infection in the two areas studied. The rates of goat infections were 10.8% and 11.8% in Ajloun and Jerash areas, respectively.

Incidences of powdery mildew were repeatedly evaluated for two years on 1 420 young seedlings of 20 progenies (of different levels of mildew susceptibility) in a green house, and then for 10 years on 642 seedlings in an orchard. Part of the seedlings in the orchard were pre-selected for the characteristic and others not. Except for the first scoring done in the first year, there was no correlation between mildew incidence on individual seedlings in the green house and their mean performance in the orchard. The seedlings with scores above 6 (resistant or tolerant) at the first stage of evaluation in the green house, however, yielded four times more desirable seedlings after final selection in the orchard than the mean of the total. The progenies that had a better healthy state as a whole yielded more partially resistant genotypes than those with low mean scores. Therefore, the progenies that most rapidly develop infestation on the whole lot should be discarded, whereas those that retain a healthy state longer should be subjected to individual selection according to the previous item.

Dietary habits reflect both the recent economic possibilities and the cultural history of individual human populations. They may influence endocrine systems and thus affect the health of the respective populations in several manners: (1) People consuming exclusively local products may lack certain micronutrients. This is important especially in areas with low levels of iodine and/or selenium in the environment. Thyroid gland insufficiency resulting from the iodine deficiency was widespread in many areas of Central Europe until the introduction of iodine supplementation in the second half of 20^th century. Iodine deficiency is still a serious problem in many areas of Africa and Asia. (2) Numerous cultural plants contain compounds able to influence important metabolic pathways. Iodine deficiency is usually worsened by thyroidal peroxidase inhibitors, so-called goitrogens. Phenolic and terpenoid compounds may interfere in the metabolism of steroid hormones. Glycyrrhetinic acid from licorice is a potent inhibitor of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Isoflavonoids from legumes (e.g. genistein and daidzein) and their metabolites (e.g. equol) were found to inhibit the following enzymes: aromatase, 5alfa-reductase, 7alfa-hydroxylase, 3beta-hydroxysteroid and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, etc. Isoflavonoid sulphates influence local availability of steroids by inhibiting sterol sulphatases. (3) Plant-derived compounds are able to interact with nuclear receptors and act either as hormone agonists or as antagonists. Recently, the attention has been paid namely to the phenolic substances interacting with oestrogen receptors so-called phyto-oestrogens.

In 2015, we recorded the first attack of the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans (Kugelann) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) on non-native Picea orientalis (L.) and Picea pungens (Engelmann) in Slovakia. To our knowledge, the occurrence of D. micans on P. orientalis in Central Europe has not been described yet. We found that D. micans preferred P. orientalis over P. pungens and other coniferous trees in urban areas. In laboratory conditions, 352 adults of D. micans emerged and only 1 predator, Rhizophagus grandis (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Monotomidae), was recorded. D. micans has a potential to become a serious pest of P. orientalis and P. pungens in urban, and in air-polluted areas.

Recently, transplantation of germ cells has attracted attention as a potential technique for efficient reproduction of fish. One of the well-proven techniques to deliver donor germ cells into a recipient is the transplantation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) during the blastula stage. Nevertheless, the application of such techniques so far has been limited to model fish species such as zebrafish, due to the lack of information about early development in many fish species. We propose that pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) can be a useful model species for establishing this technique in the order Perciformes, which includes commercially and ecologically important marine species. In this study, we described the important events, namely, embryonic staging, yolk syncytial layer (YSL) formation, and midblastula transition (MBT) during the blastula stage in pikeperch to obtain basic information about early embryonic development. The chorion was softened by treating with 0.2% trypsin and 0.4% urea in Ringer's solution so as to remove it easily by forceps. Although the first cleavage occurred at about 2.5 h post fertilization, blastomeres divided approximately every one hour after this at 15°C. The YSL was formed after the breakdown of marginal cells during the 512- to 1k-cell stage. Cell division analysis by 4'-6-diaminido-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining revealed that transition from synchronous to asynchronous division occurred after the 10^th cleavage (1k-cell stage). Our results indicate that zygotic gene expression (MBT) starts after this stage. Next, we performed blastodisc isolation assay to find the competent stage for embryonic manipulation. Embryos were manipulated by using a microneedle every hour from the 512-cell to the sphere stage, and then developmental rates were evaluated at the hatching stage. The highest survival rate was obtained when we performed this manipulation at the 1k-cell stage. These results clearly showed that the MBT is the best stage for transplantation of PGCs or any cells in pikeperch.

An 11-month old, Piedmontese bullock was admitted to the Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, for urolithiasis and suspected uroperitoneum owing to urinary bladder rupture. A first episode of uroperitoneum had been treated surgically one week previously. On admission, the animal underwent physical and haematological examination, followed by transabdominal ultrasonography and biochemical screening. Clinical and laboratory findings confirmed the recurrence of uroperitoneum, possibly secondary to the previously failed surgical approach. During surgery, urine leakage from the previously treated tear was clearly visible, together with a large necrotic area surrounding the tear. To close the defect, we created a peritoneal flap. For tissue approximation we used a continuous barbed suture material, which obviated the need for knots to secure the leading and terminal ends of the suture. Postoperative monitoring included transabdominal ultrasonography and biochemical profile tests, performed at 10 and 30 days after surgery. Two months after discharge, a telephone follow-up confirmed the positive outcome of the procedure. The creation of a peritoneal flap allows for effective sealing of a bladder tear with necrotic edges. The use of barbed suture greatly simplifies the entire procedure.

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with osteoid metaplasia was diagnosed at the base of the right wing in a five-year-old female budgerigar. Grossly, the tumour mass was well circumscribed and solitary, and had a nodular appearance on section. On histological examination, the mass was composed of randomly arranged bundles of spindle-shaped cells that included mitotic, multi-nucleated and bizarre cells. In addition, within and between tumour areas, there were osteoid metaplasia foci. The bony trabeculae were usually localised in the areas around the haemorrhage, and exhibited focal mineralisation. Tumour cells were stained red using Masson's trichrome staining method. In addition, tumour cells were intensively positive for smooth muscle actin and focally positive for desmin and vimentin, but were negative for CD68 and S100 by immunohistochemical staining. The tumour reported here was defined as a cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with osteoid metaplasia by histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. Our findings may indicate that osteoid metaplasia should be considered in leiomyosarcoma in budgerigars.

The surface carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes together with the soil microbial biomass and activity in undisturbed soil columns were studied in three growing seasons. Soil columns had six treatments: (1) control without plants; (2) mineral fertilized without plants; (3) no fertilizer and maize plants; (4) mineral fertilized and maize plants; (5) manure and maize plants; (6) mineral fertilized plus manure and maize plants. Soil microbial biomass was measured by substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and microbial activity as fluorescein-diacetate hydrolysing activity (FDA). Treatments had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on CO₂ fluxes, SIR and FDA. The presence of maize increased CO₂ efflux, SIR and FDA compared to unplanted column. Fertilizer + manure treatment resulted in the greatest plant biomass and the greatest CO₂ efflux. Significant correlation (r = 0.680; r = 0.586 in two consecutive years) between SIR and FDA was found.

The work presents the results of phenological observations of flowering and fruit ripeness of the European hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in Slovakia in two time periods: 1964-1983, and 1994-2013. The phenological stations at elevations from 100 to 875 m a.s.l. were grouped to 7 elevation zones, each 100 m wide. In the first studied period, flowering started on 19 March on average, while in the second period it started 5 days earlier. The average duration of flowering equal to 7-9 days did not depend on the elevation, but on the air temperature and weather patterns in the different elevation zones. During the first period, the average elevation gradient of flowering was 5.6 days per 100 elevation meters, while in the second period it was reduced to 3.5 days in the entire elevation profile. In the elevation zones between 300 and 500 m, a high correlation (P < 0.01) between the onset of flowering and elevation was reduced to a moderate level of correlation due to changing environmental conditions. In 1994-2013, the ripeness of hazel nuts started on average on 30 August in Slovakia, showed low variability and moderate correlation with elevation. The phenological elevation gradient was 2.9 days per 100 m of elevation.

In the environment of farms and farm buildings, cattle are exposed to various unnatural influences. Such an impact is also noise always arising with a certain energy conversion. In cattle farms, the sources of noise are represented by various mechanical equipment and machines that are used for enabling farm operations. The aim of the paper was to analyse the noise levels in dairy cattle production in the environment, during their day routine. Noise levels were measured at two farms with a different technological layout of milking parlour, with a different way of milking. The noise exposure of dairy cows was measured in three locations, namely in the milking parlour, during standing in the area before milking (in the so-called collection room) and directly in the stabling area. Noise exposure was measured during milking and when the milking parlour was turned off. The values were compared with the hearing sensitivity of cattle at selected frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 kHz).