Miljenko Šimpraga

Adhesion and aggregation ability of probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus M92

Aims: To investigate aggregation and adhesiveness of Lactobacillus acidophilus M92 to porcine ileal epithelial cells in vitro, and the influence of cell surface proteins on autoaggregation and adhesiveness of this strain.

Hematological and biochemical changes in organically farmed sheep naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica.

A naturally occurring outbreak of fasciolosis in a group of 20 Merinolandschaf (German Merino) sheep was studied. Hematological and blood biochemical values in sheep spontaneously infected with liver fluke Fasciola hepatica were compared with equivalent values in 20 parasite-free sheep from organically farmed flock. Investigated animals were kept in outdoor system, on pastures covered with swamps, which remain flooded after rainy season. Significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) count, lymphocytes, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and albumin were recorded in sheep from the infected herd, whereas white blood cell (WBC) count, eosinophil, segmented and band neutrophil count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), concentrations of glucose, and globulins were significantly higher than in the parasite free herd. No significant correlation between the investigated blood parameters and the number of F. hepatica eggs in the feces was detected. This study shows that hematological and biochemical values can be useful in early diagnosis and prognosis of sheep fasciolosis.

The effect of artificial feed on blood biochemistry profile and liver histology of wild saddled bream, Oblada melanura (Sparidae)

Floating fish farms attract a great number of wild fish species, changing their behaviour and physiology. The saddled bream, Oblada melanura, sampled from populations aggregated around the Adriatic fish farm and from natural/control populations, were analysed for differences in eleven blood biochemistry parameters and liver histomorphology. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and urea (URE) in cage-associated saddled bream (428.00±SD 321.56 U/L, 86.13±SD 39.87 U/L and 0.05±SD 0.16 mmol/L, respectively) were significantly lower than those observed in the control specimens (1047.06±SD 505.56 U/L, 125.75±SD 34.70 U/L and 1.99±SD 0.73 mmol/L, respectively). In contrast to that, concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in cage-associated fish (87.63±SD 132.34 U/L) were higher than values noted for the control population (6.55±SD 5.90 U/L). URE and AST presented the main variables contributing to the discrimination between two analysed populations. One-way ANOSIM based on the blood parameters showed significant difference between saddled bream that fed around cages and those from the remote waters (R=0.697; P < 0.01). Hepatocytes of cage-associated fish contained large cytoplasmatic clear spaces indicating excessive accumulation of fat in the hepatocyte cytoplasm. All observed differences can be attributed to contrasting feeding behaviour of sampled populations but basic nutritional differences between them should be quantified in the future. Moreover, further research is necessary to detect their impact on the health status of the fish.

Haematological status of one-day old ostriches (Struthio camelus domesticus)

Measurement of haematologic and biochemical parameters is an important part of evaluating the health of ostrich chicks. Thus aimed to determine haematological and biochemical parameters in the blood of one-day old ostriches in intensive breeding. The blood count, iron and copper concentrations were determined in 30 clinically healthy, one-day old unsexed ostriches of the domesticated subspecies of ostrich Struthio camelus domesticus. Their importance in clinical evaluation and disease condition is discussed. In this study the following mean values were determined in 30 clinically healthy, one-day old unsexed ostriches: erythrocyte count = 1.48 x 1012/L, MCV = 126.6 fl, MCH = 52.9 pg, MCHC = 418 g/L, haemoglobin concentration = 79 g/L, haematocrit = 18.87%, platelet count = 8.6 x 109/L, leucocyte counts 9.1 x 109/L, heterophils = 82%, eosinophils = 0.5%, basophils = 2.5%, lymphocytes = 11%, monocytes = 3.4%, iron = 4 mmol/L and copper = 2.6 _mol/L. We hope that the data presented in this study will be an incentive to clinicians and scientists in the field, to use haematological and biochemical examinations as an aid to the diagnosis of diseases in ostriches.

Body weight and enzymes activities in blood plasma of chickens hatched from eggs irradiated with low level gamma rays before incubation.

An attempt was made to determine the effect of eggs irradiation by low dose gamma radiation upon body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed consumption (FC) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs. Our aim was also to investigate the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the blood plasma of those chickens. The eggs of heavy breed chickens were irradiated with a dose of 0.15 Gy gamma radiation (60Co) before incubation. Along with the chickens which were hatched from irradiated eggs, there was a control group of chickens hatched from nonirradiated eggs. All other conditions were the same for both groups of chickens. BW of chickens was measured by a single weighting of chickens on the 1st and 42nd day of the fattening period. An average BWG was calculated from the obtained results during the whole fattening period (i.e. from the 1st until the 42nd day). FC was measured each day during the fattening time and total feed consumption was calculated. On the basis of FC and BW, FCR was calculated (FC/BWG). Blood samples were taken from the right jugular vein on the 1st and 3rd day, or from the wing vein on days 5, 7, 10, 20, 30 and 42. The activity of all enzymes was determined spectrophotometrically by using reagents according to recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. BW of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs was statistically significant higher than in the controls during the fattening period ; on day 42 of fattening, BW of the experimental chickens was 90 g (i.e. 4.8 %) higher than in the controls (P<0.05). FC during the fattening period did not essentially differ in the experimental and the control group. The AST activity was significantly increased in blood plasma of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs on days 3 and 10 (P<0.05), ALT activity was increased in the same chickens only on the 10th day (P<0.05). The activity of ACP in the blood plasma of the same chickens was increased on day 42 (P<0.001) and the activity of ALP in the blood plasma of chickens hatched from irradiated eggs was decreased on day 42 (P<0.001). The obtained results indicate that low doses of gamma radiation have a stimulative effect upon metabolic processes in chickens hatched from eggs irradiated before incubation, which is proved by increase of BWG and BW, as well as by increase of AST, ALT and ACP activities in blood plasma.

Metabolic and oxidative status of Saanen goats of different parity during the peripartum period.

The aim of this study was to research changes in metabolic and antioxidative status of Saanen goats of different parity occurring during the peripartum period. Blood samples were taken on 10-7 and 3-1 d prepartally and 1-3, 14 and 28 d postpartally from goats allocated in three groups according to their parity: primiparous (PRIM), goats that kidded the 2nd or 3rd time (MID), and goats that kidded 4 or more times (MULTI)). Metabolic profile parameters (non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, triglycerides, albumin and urea) and indicators of oxidative stress ((superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA)) were determined. Intense metabolic changes associated with late pregnancy and onset of lactation were pronounced the most in MULTI goats that also had the biggest litter per goat. Significant differences were found in metabolic parameters NEFA, BHB, glucose, triglycerides within groups during peripartum period, as well as between them (the effect of parity). MDA concentrations were indicative of increased lipid peroxidation around parturition, especially pronounced in MULTI group 1-3 d prepartally, when the highest GSH-Px/SOD ratio was also found. Postpartally, antioxidant enzymes ratio in MID and MULTI group decreased while MDA concentrations remained high, suggesting antioxidant system inefficiency. Significant time × group interaction was observed for most of the parameters. The obtained results show that the goats of higher parity display higher levels of metabolism intensity and consequently, varying levels of oxidative stress during the peripartum period. Further studies should determine applicability of NEFA and BHB in periparturient metabolic profiling in dairy goats as well as establish normal ranges and cut-off levels for these biomarkers.

Detection and characterisation of hepatitis E virus in naturally infected swine in Croatia.

Hepatitis E is a viral zoonotic disease infecting swine worldwide. Since pigs represent a likely animal reservoir for the hepatitis E virus, the epidemiology of naturally occurring hepatitis E was investigated in Croatian swine herds. Nearly all tested animals were seropositive for antibodies against the hepatitis E virus (55/60, 91.7%). Active infection was detected in all age groups by RT-PCR of viral RNA in serum (8/60, 13.3%) and bile samples (3/37, 8.1%), which was further confirmed by histopathological findings of characteristic lesions in the livers of the infected animals. Three new strains of hepatitis E virus were isolated from Croatian pig herds. Phylogenetic analysis using median-joining networks clustered those Croatian strains with isolates from various parts of the world, indicating their likely origin in international trade. Similarity to human isolates implies a zoonotic potential of Croatian strains, which raises a public health concern, especially in the light of the high prevalence of hepatitis E in the herds studied.

Effects of various application routes of Newcastle disease vaccine on specific antibody titres in ostriches.

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most important diseases of poultry and other avian species. The usual mean to control ND is specific immunoprophylaxis. Although chickens are routinely vaccinated against ND, vaccination of ostriches is less well understood. We investigated the effect of vaccination against Newcastle disease via different routes on specific antibody titer in 24 adult ostriches, divided into three experimental and one control group. The vaccine was administered in drinking water to the first, by spraying to the second, and oculo-nasally to the third group. The results have indicated antibody production with titers sufficient for humoral immunity in all experimental groups. The strongest immune response was determined in the group vaccinated by spraying. .

Current aspects and recommendations in health management of organic sheep and goat farming in karst areas of Croatia

Karsts areas are environments that provide almost ideal natural conditions for the development of organic sheep and goat farming. There is a growing interest in organic production methods in Croatia, mainly because these systems are expected to offer more profitable and sustainable production systems, based on low input. Existing data on animal health in organic livestock production systems are reviewed in the light of the demands and challenges of the implementation of EU regulations in Croatian organic sheep and goat production. The main conclusions and recommendations of organic sheep and goat production are summarized and the future challenges to organic livestock production in terms of welfare and health management are discussed. The authors concluded that a lot of effort is needed in order to find solutions that will meet organic standards requirements and guarantee high levels of health and welfare for animals. While organic standards offer a good framework for rural development, there is an obvious need for solving apparent conflicts between organic farming objectives and environment or public health while having in mind farmers’ income and animal health monitoring. The key challenges for the future of organic livestock production in Croatia are related to the state-veterinarian-owner communication. Field experience shows that organic livestock production is no guarantee of good animal health and welfare. The development of quality frameworks for continuous animal health assessment and herd management standards are crucial. Epidemiological studies are needed to evaluate health risk factors for the animals in organic livestock production.