Roman Szymeczko

Ileal Digestibility of Crude Ash and Minerals in Feeds for the Polar Fox during the Non-mating Period*

SZYMECZKO R., PIOTROWSKA A., BOGUS£AWSKA-TRYK M. 2005. Ileal digestibility of crude ash and minerals in feeds for the polar fox during the non-mating period. Folia biol. (Krakow) 53 (Suppl.): 13-17. The aim of the present research was to compare the content and apparent ileal digestibility of ash and minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K) in feeds used in feeding reproductive polar foxes over the non-mating period on two domestic farms (A and B), differing in reproduction results. The feeds were evaluated based on offal of animal origin and cereals. The greatest differences in the content of nutrients were noted for the concentration of crude ash. Farm A diets demonstrated a few-fold more crude ash content and a greater content of calcium, phosphorus and sodium, as compared with farm B feeds. The digestibility experiments carried out on foxes with ‘end to end’ ileorectal anastomosis showed a higher (P.05) apparent ileal digestibility of crude ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium in diets B in which the content of ash was three-fold lower than in diets A.

Ileal digestibility of fat and fatty acids in polar foxes (Alopex lagopus L.) fed diets used during the reproductive period

Abstract This study evaluates apparent ileal digestibility of fat and fatty acids in ‘end-to-end’ ileorectal anastomosed blue foxes fed diets used over the reproduction (diets A1 and B1) and lactation (diets A2 and B2) periods on two farms (A and B). The experimental diets A1 and A2 were composed of different animal offal and cereals, while diets B1 and B2 contained beef offal and barley. Diets B1 and B2 had a higher content of fat (315.4 and 361.0 g kg−1), SFA (164.3 and 185.7 g kg−1) and MUFA (116.7 and 133.6 g kg−1), while diets A1 and A2 contained more PUFA (13.1 and 30.4 g kg−1). Significantly higher (P < 0.05) values of ileal fat digestibility coefficients (97.33 and 96.92%), SFA (97.24 and 95.96%) and MUFA (98.69 and 98.87%) were found in diets B, whereas PUFA were better absorbed from diets A1 and A2 (85.54 and 94.42%).

Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of the joint damage in asymptomatic alpine ski racers.

AIM To evaluate the role of 99m-technetium methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) bone scintigraphy on the detection of joint damage in asymptomatic alpine ski racers. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 20 male asymptomatic alpine ski racers (age range: 18-21 years). None of the skiers had a history of ski crashes. Bone scan findings of the racers were examined with Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy during the active racing season and the inactive training season. Planar anterior and posterior images of hip, knee, and ankle joints were obtained 4 h after intravenous injection of 20 mCi Tc-99m MDP. All images were interpreted visually by 2 experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Free regions of interest were drawn on hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as background regions. Joint-to-background ratios were calculated for each joint, and the uptake ratios of both right and left joints during active ski season were compared to those during the inactive training period. RESULTS Uptake ratios of the right and left hip, knee, and ankle joints were significantly higher during the active racing period than those calculated during the inactive period (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION Bone scintigraphy may have an important role in detecting joint injuries of hip, knee, and ankle joints in asymptomatic alpine ski racers and can be used successfully when MRI is unavailable.

Ileal absorption of L-carnitine from diets used in reproductive polar fox (Alopex lagopus L.) nutrition

Abstract Five mature ileorectal anastomosed blue foxes (6.18±0.15 kg) were used in digestibility experiments to evaluate the L-carnitine apparent ileal absorption from diets used in reproductive polar fox nutrition over the year-long farm-feeding period on two domestic farms (A and B) differing in reproduction results. The concentration of L-carnitine was higher in diets from farm B (136.1–241.7 mg kg−1 DM) than in the diets from farm A (88.5–135.2 mg kg−1 DM). The coefficients of ileal apparent absorption of L-carnitine ranged from 60.23 to 75.57% for diets A (farm A) composed mainly of fish and poultry offals. The coefficients of ileal apparent digestibility of L-carnitine were higher for diets B (farm B) (83.75–94.78%; P<0.05) based on beef offals. These data indicate high concentration and efficient ileal apparent absorption of L-carnitine from diets used in reproductive polar fox nutrition on both farms examined.