Animal production
Development of a computed tomographic calibration method for
the determination of lean meat content in pig carcasses. R. Romvári, A. Dobrowolski, I. Repa, P. Allen, E. Olsen, A. Szabó and P. Horn 1
Bacteriology
Plasmid profiles of virulent Rhodococcus equi isolates from soil environment on
horse-breeding farms in Hungary.
L. Makrai, K. Kira, A. Kono, Y. Sasaki, T. Kakuda, S. Tsubaki,
L. Fodor, J. Varga and S. Takai 11
Clinical veterinary medicine
Clinicopathological changes and effect of imidocarb therapy in
dogs experimentally infected with Babesia canis. Á. Máthé, K. Vörös, T. Németh, I. Biksi, Cs. Hetyey, F. Manczur and L. Tekes 19
Electroencephalographic
and electromyographic changes during the use of detomidine and detomidine-butorphanol
combination in standing horses. P.
Kruljc and
Alenka Nemec
35
Pathology
Atmospheric flash injuries in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Diana Žele, A. Bidovec and G. Vengušt 43
Molecular
diagnosis of avian nephritis: Preliminary report. Míra Mándoki, M.
Dobos-Kovács, T. Bakonyi and M.
Rusvai 51
Parasitology
The role of copepods (Cyclops spp.) in eliminating the actinospore stages of
fish-parasitic myxozoans. Orsolya Rácz, Cs. Székely and K. Molnár 61
Physiology
Noradrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the accessory
sexual glands in male sheep. M. B. Arciszewski and K. Wąsowicz 71
Effects
of feeding a standard diet on duodenal impedancometry in pigs. J. Schnoor, N. Zoremba and R.
Rossaint
85
Reproduction
Measurement of redox potential and steroid concentrations in
the follicular fluid of growing and regressing follicles of mares. F. Becker, J. Kurth, F. Schneider, G. Nürnberg,
H. Heinrich and W. Kanitz
95
Effect
of open pulled straw (ops) vitrification on
the fertilisation rate and developmental competence of porcine oocytes. Erika
Varga, J. C. Gardón and Ágnes Bali Papp
107
Survival
of mouse embryos after vitrification depending on the cooling rate of the cryoprotectant
solution. R. Hredzák, A.
Ostró, Viera Ždilová, I. Maraček
and J.
Kačmárik
117
Toxicology
Determination of carbendazim residues in the eggs, liver and
pectoral muscle of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Katalin Reisinger, J. Szigeti and L. Várnagy 127
DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC CALIBRATION METHOD FOR
THE DETERMINATION OF LEAN MEAT CONTENT IN PIG CARCASSES
R. Romvári1, A. Dobrowolski2, I. Repa1, P. Allen3, E. Olsen4, A. Szabó1 and P. Horn1
1Faculty of Animal
Science, University of Kaposvár, H-7400 Kaposvár, Guba Sándor u. 40, Hungary; 2Federal Centre for Meat Research, Kulmbach, Germany; 3Meat
Technology Department, The National Food Centre, Teagasc Ashtown, Castleknock, Ireland; 4Danish
Meat Research Institute, Roskilde, Denmark
(Received 18 April 2005; accepted 21
June 2005)
Sixty left sides of pig carcasses were scanned
by spiral computed tomography (CT) to measure lean meat weight and percentage. The
carcasses were fully dissected and scanned to develop a calibration protocol. Different
image analyses were performed on the basis of anatomically defined scans, direct
volumetric estimation, body- and grey-scale ranges and using Partial Least Squares (PLS)
regression of data provided by CT. The R2 values of the calibrations for lean
meat weight were 0.874, 0.976, 0.983 and 0.992, respectively, depending on the method
applied. The PLS proved to be the best approach with a calibration RSD of 232 g. When
changing from lean meat weight to percentage, the statistical goodness drops to a very
small extent (R2 = 0.988, RSD = 0.56). According to the results, the CT method
can be recommended as a reference for determining the lean meat content of pig carcasses.
Key
words: Computed tomography, methodology, pig carcass grading
PLASMID PROFILES OF VIRULENT RHODOCOCCUS EQUI ISOLATES FROM SOIL ENVIRONMENT ON
HORSE-BREEDING FARMS IN HUNGARY
L. Makrai1, K. Kira2, A. Kono2, Y. Sasaki2, T. Kakuda2, S. Tsubaki2, L. Fodor1, J. Varga1 and S. Takai2
1Department of
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István
University, H-1143 Budapest, Hungária krt. 23–25, Hungary; 2Department of
Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University,
Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan
(Received 6 July 2005; accepted 20
October 2005)
The plasmid profiles of virulent Rhodococcus equi strains isolated on three
horse-breeding farms located in different parts of Hungary were investigated. From 49 soil samples collected on the three farms, 490 R. equi isolates (10 from each sample) were
obtained and tested for the presence of 15- to 17-kDa antigens (VapA) by immunoblotting
and PCR. Ninety-eight VapA-positive isolates were detected from 30 of the 49
culture-positive samples with a prevalence ranging from 13.1% to 23.2%. Of the 98 virulent
isolates, 70 contained an 85-kb type I plasmid, 13 contained an 87-kb type I plasmid, and
15 contained an 85-kb type III plasmid which had been uniquely isolated from soil isolates
in the United States. This study
demonstrates that the virulent form of R. equi
is very widespread in the soil environment of these stud farms in Hungary and the plasmid pattern is different from
farm to farm.
Key
words: Hungary, Rhodococcus equi,
soil, virulence plasmids
CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND EFFECT OF IMIDOCARB THERAPY IN
DOGS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH BABESIA CANIS
Á. Máthé1,
K. Vörös1, T. Németh2, I. Biksi3, Cs. Hetyey1, F. Manczur1 and L. Tekes4
1Department and Clinic
of Internal Medicine, 2Department and Clinic of Surgery and Ophthalmology, 3Department
of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István
University, H-1078 Budapest, István u. 2, Hungary; 4Central Veterinary
Institute, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 24 May 2005; accepted 20
October 2005)
In this study one spleen-intact dog (A) and two
splenectomised dogs (BSE, CSE) were infected with Babesia canis. All animals developed an acute
disease characterised by fever, haemoglobinuria and anaemia, the latter being more severe
in the splenectomised dogs. Fever and parasitised red blood cells were detected for three
days after imidocarb treatment in the splenectomised animals. Haematological abnormalities
included regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia (due to neutropenia and
lymphopenia) in the acute phase, soon followed by leukocytosis, neutrophilia and left
shift a few days later. Acute hepatopathy was detected in all dogs with elevated ALT
activity, which was more seriously altered in the splenectomised dogs. Diffuse changes in
liver structure and hepatomegaly were seen by ultrasonography. Liver biopsy and histology
revealed acute, non-purulent hepatitis in the splenectomised dogs. Both splenectomised
dogs were successfully cured after collection of 400 ml highly parasitised blood, proving
that large-amount antigen production is possible with rescuing the experimental animals.
Whole blood transfusion, imidocarb and supportive care with infusions, antipyretics,
glucocorticoids and diuretics were applied. The spleen-intact dog clinically recovered
after receiving supportive treatment, with no imidocarb therapy. Microbial infections
developed in both splenectomised animals (BSE: haemobartonellosis, CSE:
osteomyelitis caused by Escherichia coli),
probably as a consequence of immunosuppression after splenectomy and glucocorticoid
therapy.
Key
words: Dog, babesiosis, Babesia canis,
experimental, imidocarb, clinicopathology
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC CHANGES DURING
THE USE OF DETOMIDINE AND DETOMIDINE-BUTORPHANOL COMBINATION IN STANDING HORSES
P. Kruljc1 and Alenka Nemec2
1Clinic for
Reproduction and Horses and 2Clinic for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery,
Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, Slovenia
(Received 4 March 2005; accepted 21
June 2005)
Clinically, the use of detomidine and
butorphanol is suitable for sedation and deepening of analgosedation. The aim of our study
was to establish the influence of detomidine used alone and a butorphanol-detomidine
combination on brain activity and to evaluate and compare brain responses (using
electroencephalography, EEG) by recording SEF90 (spectral edge frequency 90%),
individual brain wave fractions (beta, alpha, theta and delta) and electromyographic (EMG)
changes in the left temporal muscle in standing horses. Ten clinically healthy
cold-blooded horses were divided into two groups of five animals each. Group I received
detomidine and Group II received detomidine followed by butorphanol 10 min later. SEF90,
individual brain wave fractions and EMG were recorded
with a pEEG (processed EEG) monitor using computerised processed
electroencephalography and electromyography. The present study found that detomidine alone
and the detomidine-butorphanol combination significantly reduced SEF90 and EMG,
and they caused changes in individual brain wave fractions during sedation and
particularly during analgosedation. The EMG results showed that the detomidine-butorphanol
combination provided greater and longer muscle relaxation. Our EEG and EMG results
confirmed that the detomidine-butorphanol combination is safer and more appropriate for painless and non-painless procedures on standing
horses compared to detomidine alone.
Key
words: EEG, EMG, detomidine, butorphanol, standing horses
ATMOSPHERIC FLASH INJURIES IN ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS)
Diana Žele,
A. Bidovec and G. Vengušt
Institute for Breeding and Health
Care of Wild Animals, Fishes and Bees, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000
Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, Slovenia
(Received 23 March 2005; accepted 21
June 2005)
The pathological and histopathological
examination of two female roe deer found dead after a severe thunderstorm is described.
One of the two roe deer was killed by a direct hit of atmospheric flash, while the other
animal, lying 1.5 m from the first one, died as a consequence of ground current strike.
The major part of the coat and skin of the animal that was killed by a direct hit was
covered with scorched streaks. The trachea and bronchi of both animals contained a
considerable amount of aspirated light-red foam. Necropsy revealed diffuse haemorrhages
over the epicardium of the right atrium with a diameter of 1 millimetre. The liver and the
kidney exhibited severe congestion.
Key
words: Electric current, free-living animals, atmospheric flash injuries, roe deer
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF AVIAN NEPHRITIS: PRELIMINARY REPORT
Míra Mándoki1,
M. Dobos-Kovács1, T. Bakonyi2 and M. Rusvai1
1Department of
Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Szent István University,
H-1400 Budapest, P.O. Box 2, Hungary; 2Department of Microbiology and
Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 24 March 2005; accepted 21
June 2005)
Kidney samples from chickens diagnosed with
acute nephritis and gout were subjected to histological and electron microscopic
examination. The investigations revealed cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the tubular
epithelial cells containing round virions of about 30 nm in diameter. Since avian
nephritis virus (ANV) is known as a potential causative agent of the so-called baby chick
nephropathy, an RT-PCR assay was developed for the molecular detection of ANV-specific
nucleic acid in the specimen. The specificity of the assay was confirmed by direct
sequencing of the amplicon obtained in the reaction. The nucleotide sequence of the PCR
product showed 92% identity with the reference ANV sequence deposited in the GenBank
database. After having been validated on some other suspicious cases of avian nephritis,
the PCR method described in this study can be a potential tool for routine diagnostic
examination of samples submitted from cases of gout and nephropathy in chickens.
Key
words: Avian nephritis virus, electron microscopy, PCR, baby chick nephropathy
THE ROLE OF COPEPODS (CYCLOPS
SPP.) IN ELIMINATING THE ACTINOSPORE STAGES OF
FISH-PARASITIC MYXOZOANS
Orsolya Rácz, Cs. Székely
and K. Molnár
Veterinary Medical Research
Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1581 Budapest, P.O. Box 18, Hungary
(Received 7 August 2005; accepted 20
October 2005)
The actinospore consumption of copepods (Cyclops spp.) was demonstrated by laboratory observations. It
was observed that in experimental dishes the number of actinospores floating in the water
decreased, or such actinospores were completely eliminated, in the presence of copepods.
The ingestion of actinospores by copepods and their further fate were monitored by
fluorescent staining and by conventional histological techniques. The actinospores were
observed to have got caught on the filters of Cyclops
spp. Two and a half hours after the copepods had been placed into water containing
actinospores, their digestive tract was found to contain spores that had extruded their
filaments from the polar capsules. After copepods having ingested the actinospores of the
species Myxobolus pseudodispar had been fed to
roaches, no muscle infection developed in the fish host. It is likely that Cyclops spp. can filter out actinospores floating
in the water also from natural waters, thus decreasing the chance of development of
myxosporean infections.
Key
words: Myxozoa, actinospore stages, elimination, copepods, Cyclops spp.
NORADRENERGIC AND CHOLINERGIC INNERVATION OF THE
ACCESSORY SEXUAL GLANDS IN MALE SHEEP
M. B. Arciszewski1
and K. Wąsowicz2
1Department of Animal
Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University, 20-033
Lublin, Akademicka 12, Poland; 2Department of Functional Morphology, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
(Received 18 April 2005; accepted 21
June 2005)
Immunohistochemistry was applied to determine
the distribution patterns of nerve fibres containing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine
ß-hydroxylase (DßH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and
vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) in the prostate, seminal vesicle (SV) and
bulbourethral glands (BU) of male sheep. In all organs studied, cholinergic innervation
was more developed than noradrenergic innervation. Numerous VAChT-immunoreactive (IR)
nerve fibres were found in the muscular layer and mucosa of the SV and BU as well as in
the prostate. A similar abundance of noradrenergic nerve fibres (showing immunoreactivity
both to TH and DßH) was also found in both layers of the SV and BU (but not in the
prostate). In the prostate a moderate density of VIP-IR nerve fibres was present but only
very scarce NPY-IR nerve fibres were shown. All the studied accessory sexual glands (ASG)
of male sheep contained VIP-IR nerve fibres in a similar frequency. Double
immunohistochemistry revealed that the vast majority of noradrenergic nerve fibres also
contained NPY. None of the noradrenergic nerve fibres showed the presence of VAChT or VIP.
The possible functional significance of these findings is discussed.
Key
words: Autonomic innervation, neuropeptides,
immunohistochemistry, accessory sexual glands, genital tract, sheep
Corresponding author: Marcin Bartłomiej Arciszewski;
E-mail: marcisz@tenbit.pl; Phone: +48 (81) 445 6924; Fax: +48 (81) 445 6596
EFFECTS OF FEEDING A STANDARD DIET ON DUODENAL IMPEDANCOMETRY
IN PIGS
J. Schnoor,
N. Zoremba and R. Rossaint
Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstraße
30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
(Received 2 May 2005; accepted 21
June 2005)
The effects of gastric feeding on intestinal
motility are still under debate. In order to better define the character of the
contractile activity in fed and fasting states, we used the impedance technique to
investigate the duodenal time periods of the migrating motor complex (MMC) and the
interdigestive phases I–III. During general anaesthesia, pigs (32–40 kg) were
instrumented with a luminal impedance catheter into the proximal duodenum in fasting (n =
6) and fed states (n = 6, Muskator®, 400 g, Muskator-Werk, Düsseldorf, Germany). Duodenal motility was recorded continuously for 4 h, which made it
possible to determine the length of interdigestive phases I–III and the MMC cycle.
Differences between the groups were compared by using the Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test. Feeding
patterns were only found in pigs in the fed state. The subsequent MMC cycle length was
shortened by 34% (p = 0.007) which was due to a shortened phase I of the MMC cycle
(p = 0.014). While phase II seemed to be unaffected, phase III was prolonged by 31%
after feeding had occurred (p = 0.012). The present study suggests that a standard
maintenance diet disrupts the spontaneous MMC cycles by turning into fed pattern with the
subsequent MMC cycle length being shortened. This was mainly due to a shortened phase I.
Key
words: Gastric feeding, electric impedance, intestinal motility, migrating motor cycle
MEASUREMENT OF REDOX POTENTIAL AND STEROID CONCENTRATIONS IN
THE FOLLICULAR FLUID OF GROWING AND REGRESSING FOLLICLES OF MARES
F. Becker1, J. Kurth1, F. Schneider1, G. Nürnberg2, H. Heinrich3 and W. Kanitz1
1Department of
Reproductive Biology, 2Department of Biometry, Research Institute for the
Biology of Farm Animals, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany; 3LaboTech
GmbH, Rostock, Germany
(Received 22 October 2004; accepted 21
June 2005)
The aim of this study was to prove if
oxidation-reduction levels in the follicular fluid were new functional indices of
follicular health and whether there was a high level of accordance with endocrinological
parameters and with the growth stage as detected by ultrasound monitoring of individual
follicles during the oestrous cycle in mares. Follicles were classified as growing and
regressing follicles using ultrasonography. Altogether 48 follicles with a diameter from
20 to 56 mm were aspirated by transvaginal ultrasound guided follicular aspiration.
Follicular concentration of oestradiol and progesterone in relation to the diameter of
growing follicles showed correlations of r = 0.64 and r = 0.57, respectively. The redox
potential derived index D2 varied from –448 to +431 in the collected fluids of the
follicles. The accordance of the judgement of all follicles using both complexes of
methods – endocrinological and ultrasonographic parameters vs. analysis of oxidation and
reduction levels – reached 72.5%. This finding has shown that parameters of redox
reactions do not correlate closely with the stage of follicular growth or regression as
determined by in vivo scanning of ovaries or
by assessment of follicular steroid concentrations. However, the measurement of redox
potentials offers an opportunity to examine the whole process of metabolism in follicular
cells and to forecast impairments of cellular performances. Changes of redox parameters in
growing follicles enable an earlier prediction of their further development. The data
demonstrate that growing and regressing follicles do not represent nonatretic, early
atretic and atretic follicles, respectively.
Key words: Follicle, steroids, redox potential,
cell injury index, mitosis index
EFFECT OF OPEN PULLED STRAW (OPS) VITRIFICATION ON THE
FERTILISATION RATE AND DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE OF PORCINE OOCYTES
Erika Varga1, J. C. Gardón2 and Ágnes Bali Papp1
1Institute of Animal
Breeding, University of West Hungary, Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary; 2Faculty of
Agricultural Sciences, National University of Lomas Zamora, Argentina
(Received 30 May 2005; accepted 21
June 2005)
Freezing technologies are very important to
preserve gametes and embryos of animals with a good pedigree or those having high genetic
value. The aim of this work was to compare immature and in vitro matured porcine oocytes regarding their
morphology and ability to be fertilised after vitrification by the open pulled straw (OPS)
method. In four experiments 830 oocytes were examined. To investigate the effect of
cumulus cells on oocyte survival after OPS vitrification, both denuded and
cumulus-enclosed oocytes were vitrified at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, then after
vitrification they were matured in vitro.
Besides, in vitro matured oocytes surrounded
with a cumulus and those without a cumulus were also vitrified. The survival of oocytes
was evaluated by their morphology. After in vitro
fertilisation the rates of oocytes penetrated by spermatozoa were compared. Our results
suggest that the vitrification/warming procedure is the most effective in cumulus-enclosed
oocytes (22.35 ± 1.75%). There was no difference between the order of maturation and
vitrification in cumulus-enclosed oocytes, which suggests the importance of cumulus cells
in protecting the viability of oocytes during cryopreservation.
Key
words: Vitrification, denuded and cumulus-enclosed porcine oocytes, embryonic development
SURVIVAL OF MOUSE EMBRYOS AFTER VITRIFICATION DEPENDING ON THE
COOLING RATE OF THE CRYOPROTECTANT SOLUTION
R. Hredzák1,
A. Ostró1, Viera Ždilová1, I. Maraček2 and J. Kačmárik3
1Centre of Assisted
Reproduction, IInd Gynaecological-Obstetrical Clinic of the Faculty Hospital of L. Pasteur
and Medical Faculty of the University of P. J. Šafárik, Rastislavova 43, 041 90 Košice,
Slovak Republic; 2Department of Anatomy, Histology and Physiology, 3Clinic
of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice,
Slovak Republic
(Received 19 December 2004; accepted 21 June 2005)
The aim of the
study was to determine the relationship between the rate of cooling of eight-cell mouse
embryos to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (–196 °C) and their
developmental capacity after thawing on the basis of their ability to leave the zona
pellucida (‘hatching’) during in vitro
culturing. Eight-cell embryos were obtained from superovulated female mice and divided
into three experimental and one control group. Embryos from the experimental groups were
cryopreserved by the vitrification method using ethylene glycol as cryoprotectant. The
vitrification protocols used in the study differed in the rate of cooling of the
cryoprotectant solution. Embryos from the first group were frozen in conventional 0.25-ml
plastic straws, those from the second group in pipetting ‘tips’, and embryos from the
third group, placed in vitrification solution, were introduced dropwise directly into
liquid nitrogen. The control group of embryos was cultured in vitro without freezing in a culturing medium
in an environment consisting of 95% air and 5% CO2. The developmental capacity
of thawed embryos was assessed on the basis of their ability to leave the zona pellucida (‘hatching’)
after three days of in vitro culturing. In the
control group 95.1% of embryos ‘hatched’. A significantly higher number of embryos
that ‘hatched’ after thawing was observed in the group introduced dropwise directly
into liquid nitrogen (60.0%) compared to the group frozen in pipetting ‘tips’ (37.9%).
The group frozen in straws yielded significantly the lowest proportion of ‘hatching’
embryos (8.1%). These results showed that increasing cooling rates during vitrification of
embryos improved their survival.
Key
words: Mouse embryo, hatching, vitrification, cooling rate, cryoprotectant
DETERMINATION OF CARBENDAZIM RESIDUES IN THE EGGS, LIVER AND
PECTORAL MUSCLE OF JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX
JAPONICA)
Katalin Reisinger1, J. Szigeti1 and L. Várnagy2
1Department
of Food Technology and Microbiology, Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture and
Food Science, University of West-Hungary, H-9200 Mosonmagyaróvár, Lucsony u. 15–17,
Hungary; 2Department of Hygiene, Institute of Plant Protection, Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Veszprém, Keszthely, Hungary
(Received 8 February 2004; accepted 21
June 2005)
The effect of
carbendazim, a widely applied cereal seed dressing agent, was studied in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during an overall
period of eight weeks, consisting of a four-week feeding phase and a subsequent four-week
excretion period. Body mass and feed consumption of the birds were monitored and residues
of the active ingredient were determined by an analytical chemical method. During the
eight-week study period, changes (either decrease or increase) directly attributable to
the toxic effects of carbendazim were not found either in body mass or in feed
consumption. Active ingredient levels exceeding the limit of detection were found in the
liver (average: 0.0262 mg/kg) and pectoral muscle (average: 0.0236 mg/kg) of the birds and
also in the egg (0.0338 mg/kg) samples. From the results it can be concluded that through
the consumption of cereal seeds dressed with carbendazim, this active ingredient can be
incorporated into the tissues of animals. Via the food chain, carbendazim can also enter
the human organism, where it may cause various pathological changes in interaction with
other chemicals.
Key
words: Pesticide, carbendazim, Japanese
quail, liver, muscle, eggs
Corresponding author; E-mail: resinger@freemail.hu; Fax: +36
(96) 576 247
