Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine (BJVM)
ISSN 1311-1477
Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
VOL. 9, No 1, MARCH, 2006
CONTENTS
Published by the Trakia University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 9, Number 1, March 2006, Summaries
Georgieva, D. А., P. N. Prelezov & V. Ts. Koinarski, 2006. Neospora caninum and neosporosis in animals - a review. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 1-26.
The cyst-forming protozoan Neospora caninum, discovered in 1984 in dogs with encephalitis and myositis, is described as a separate species. The biological cycle of N. caninum involves two hosts: definitive and intermediate. Known definitive hosts are dogs and coyotes. As intermediate hosts, cows, sheep, goats, horses and deers are reported. The dog could be both intermediate and definitive host. The life cycle of N. caninum is characterized by 3 infection stages tachyzoites, tissue cysts and oocysts. The transmission routes of N. caninum аre two: horizontal or oral and vertical or transplacental. The definitive hosts shed oocysts that are a potential source of horizontal transmission via infected food and water. At the same time, the vertical transmission from infected dams to their offspring, is also one of the natural routes of infections in cows. Transplacental infection could recur in the same animals. In cows, abortions are the main clinical signs. The cows at various ages could abort from the 3rd months of gestation onward, but abortions by the 5th - 6th month are predominant. Two categories of abortions are distinguishes: epidemic, when a higher percentage of cows abort within few weeks and endemic, when abortions occur within months or years. The serological analysis of sera from cows with abortions is indicator of a N. caninum infection. The final diagnosis is made through histological and immunohistological analysis of specimens from foetuses or by detecting N. caninum DNA by PCR. The epidemiology of infection and related abortions is still inadequately studied. The entity of risk factors, influencing the infection and related abortions at the farm level is still incompletely identified. The annual economical losses due to decreased production and losses from aborted foetuses amount to millions of dollars. By reducing the risk of faecal contamination of food and water and destroying aborted foetuses and placentas, the possibility for infection of potential hosts of N. caninum could be limited. In order to prevent the vertical transmission, serological investigations in animals and creation of reproductive programmes in farms according to the seroprevalence are recommended.
The present review attempts to summarize both the known information and our views about the life cycle of the parasite, the pathogenesis and clinical signs of the disease, the mechanisms of transmission, the diagnostic methods and the means of infection control.
Key words: abortions, cattle, dogs, goats, horses, life cycle, Neospora caninum, parasitic diseases, wild animals
Georgiev, I. Penchev, I. N. Kanelov, S. S. Dimitrova, Y. I. Iliev, S. I. Tanev, T. M. Georgieva, B. L. Bivolarski & E. G. Vachkova, 2006. An experimental model for evaluation of glucose tolerance in rabbits. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 27-35.
This study was conducted to develop an experimental model for evaluation of glucose tolerance in rabbits based on the determination of glucose kinetic parameters. Six clinically healthy New Zealand White male rabbits, 3–3.5 months of age, weighing between 2.4 and 3 kg were used. The following kinetic parameters of glucose after intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) were calculated – half-life for blood glucose disappearance (t½β', min), glucose elimination rate constant (Kel, min-1), area under the blood glucose concentration versus time curve (AUC0-150 min, mmol.min/L), mean residence time for blood glucose (MRT, min), maximum blood glucose concentration (Cmax, mmol/L) and the time needed to reach Cmax (Tmax, min). Blood glucose concentrations markedly increased after the intraperitoneal injection of glucose at a dose of 2 g/kg, reaching peak values (Cmax = 17.1 ± 3.29 mmol/L) at 47.5 ± 14.75 min (Tmax), then gradually declined and returned to baseline levels at 150 min. The mean values of t½β', Kel, AUC0-150 min and MRT were 78.3 ± 10.5 min, 0.0090 ± 0.0012 min-1, 1822.6 ± 297.4 mmol.min/L and 127.3 ± 18.4 min, respectively. The results of the present study indicate that the evaluation of kinetic parameters of glucose provides more detailed information on glucose tolerance status than the determination of blood glucose concentration alone and could be used as a basis for further elaboration of criteria to distinguish rabbits with normal and impaired glucose tolerance.
Key words: glucose kinetic parameters, glucose tolerance, rabbits
Jukna, C., V. Jukna & J. Siugzdaite, 2006. Determination of heavy metals in viscera and muscles of cattle. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 35-41.
The objective of the present study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals – chromium, cadmium, lead, nickel, copper, zinc, manganese in internal organs and various muscles of Lithuanian Black and White cows and steers of the same breed. Concentration of heavy metals was different in lungs, liver and kidneys. The highest concentrations of chromium and copper were those in lungs, of cadmium - in kidneys and those of zinc and manganese - in liver. The concentrations of lead were similar in lungs, liver and kidneys.
The concentrations of studied metals in the organs and muscles of cows and those of steers were different. In cows, statistically significant higher concentrations of cadmium than those in steers were determined in kidneys. The tendency of increased concentrations of nickel and chromium were detected in lungs and liver, respectively. Compared to cows, steers had higher concentration of copper in lungs and liver, of manganese – in liver and muscle, and of zinc – in muscle. The concentrations of heavy metals in the various muscles of cattle were different. The lowest concentrations were found in longissimus lumborum et thoracis muscle, higher - in diaphragm and the highest - in the intercostal muscles. Seeking not to decrease the value of the carcass and the longissimus lumborum et thoracis muscle with regard to heavy metals determination, it is advisable to collect samples from the diaphragm or the longissimus lumborum et thoracis muscle at the most distant rib.
Key words: cattle, heavy metals, muscle, viscera
Zarkov, I. S., 2006. Studies upon the possibilities of avian influenza viruses’ cultivation in chick embryos at different age. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 43-49.
Chick embryos (CE) at different age (9- and 14-day-old) were experimentally inoculated with avian influenza viruses with different concentration. The first concentration of the strain A/duck/England/56 H11N6 was 107.75 ELD50/0.1 mL and 107.75 EID50/0.1 mL, whereas for the strain A/duck/ Ukraine /1/63 H3N8 the concentration was 104.87 ELD50/0.1 mL and 105.16 EID50/0.1 mL. The second concentrations of respective strains were 104.75 ELD50/0.1 mL and 104.75 EID50/0.1 mL (A/duck/England/56 H11N6) and 101.87 ELD50/0.1 mL and 102.16 EID50/0.1 mL (A/duck/Ukraine/ 1/63 H3N8) (1000-fold dilution). The results showed that a more rapid and at higher percentage death was observed in 9-day-old CE than in 14-day-old CE. Inocula with lower viral concentration exhibited higher death times by 24 h in all infected chick embryos. A higher amount of haemagglutinins were detected in 14-day-old CE. Probably, this was related to delayed death and the potential for accumulation of haemagglutinins at higher quantities.
Key words: avian influenza virus, chick embryos, cultivation
Chaprazov, Ts., 2006. Changes in some clinical and laboratory indices in dogs with experimental Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 51-60.
The study was performed in 6 clinically healthy dogs, experimentally infected via intravenous injection of 5 mL broth culture of a field Staphylococcus aureus strain (1.2 ´ 109 cells/mL). For a 28-day period, the dynamics of rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates and some blood laboratory parameters (erythrocyte counts, haematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total and differential leukocyte counts, total protein, fibrinogen, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, pyruvate and lactate) were followed out.
It was observed that by the post infection hour 2, an increase in body temperature, tachycardia and tachypnea occurred. Also, leukopenia followed by increased leukocyte counts by the 24th h with a left shift were noticed.
Statistically significant increases in the values of blood biochemical parameters were observed for fibrinogen and bilirubin while the concentrations of pyruvate decreased. The levels of total protein, creatinine, urea and lactate remained without significant deviations during the entire period of the survey.
Key words: dogs, sepsis, staphylococcal infections
Bonev, G. B., N. Y. Vassilev, M. A. Dimitrov, S. A. Yotov & P. Penchev, 2006. Adjustment of echography and laparoscopic insemination to the reproductive particularities of Pleven Blackhead sheep. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 61-65.
The study was performed on 50 ewes from the Pleven Blackhead milk sheep breed aged 10-12 months and weighing 40-48 kg in November and December. Prior to the experiment, all animals from the herd were submitted to transabdominal echographic study with Aloka SSD 500 Micrus equipment and 5 MHz linear transducer and pregnant sheep were excluded. The synchronization of oestrus in non-pregnant sheep was done with intravaginal sponges containing 40 mg flurogestone acetate (Chronogest). The laparoscopic insemination was performed with cryopreserved semen of Awassi breed on the 58th hour after removal of sponges. By post insemination days 20 and 27, the ewes were studied echographically for early diagnostics of pregnancy. During the first echography, positive diagnosis was made in 19 animals (38%) on the basis of enlarged uterine lumen. By the 27th day, pregnancy was registered in 38 sheep (76%) on the basis of enlarged uterine lumen and visualization of embryo. At parturition, the positive diagnoses made during the second examination were confirmed.
Key words: echography, laparoscopic insemination, pregnancy, sheep
Ozbey, G. & H. B. Ertas, 2005. Salmonella spp. isolation from chicken samples and identification by polymerase chain reaction. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 67-73.
In this study, carcass, intestine, liver, gall bladder and spleen samples of chickens slaughtered at an abattoir in the Elazig province were tested for the presence of Salmonella spp. The identity of Salmonella spp. was further proved by culture and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 1250 samples were tested. All samples were collected from different commercially reared chicken flocks. Chicken carcasses, intestines, livers, gall bladders and spleen were found positive with proportions of 12%, 7.2%, 4%, 2% and 1.6% respectively, by both culture and PCR. The Salmonella detection rate was the highest (12%) in chicken carcasses and the lowest (1.6%) in spleen.
This study showed that Salmonella spp. was widespread among the chicken population in Elazig.
Key words: chicken, culture, PCR, Salmonella spp.
Uzunova, K. I., 2006. Ethological studies on socialization of puppies to the environment according to their temperament type. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 9, No 1, 75-79.
An experiment was carried out with Doberman and German Shepherd puppies in order to investigate their ethological problems and the quality of their socialization. Placed under equal conditions in six different situations, the puppies reacted according to their temperament type - L, F, G or A. The behaviour of dogs in all six situations showed that the calmest and most self-confident were puppies of type L, followed by types F, G and A.
Key words: behaviour, dogs, environment, nervous system, socialization