PILIPČINEC, E., ŠVICKÝ,, E., MIKULA, I., ŠNIRC, J.:
A respiratory complex in pigs and proportion of viruses on its onset.
Within the respiratory complex in pigs, following viruses play an important role: virus of reproductive and respiratory syndrome of pigs, porcine herpesvirus 1 (pseudorabies virus) and influenza virus. Of the other respiratory viruses, porcine respiratory coronavirus or porcine adenoviruses may be taken into consideration.
The work gives a literary review on the pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, patho-anatomical finding, diagnosis, prevention and control at the reproductive and respiratoory syndrome of pigs, Aujeszky disease, pig influenza and respiratory diseases induced by the respiratory coronavirus and adenoviruses.
Key words: porcine respiratory disease complex, PRDC; porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; porcine herpesvirus 1; influenza virus; porcine respiratory coronavirus; porcine respiratory syncytial virus; porcine adenoviruses; porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome; Aujeszsky disease, swine flu
Relationships between pig weaning and their "welfare" status in large-scale breeding conditions were studied. Two forms of weaning were compared: 35 days (prescriptive; control group) and 21 days (early). The F1 (Landrasse x White Improved) animals were used. For measurment and comparison of the "welfare" status, the methodological method already tested was used.
The animals were observed at the age of 5 weeks and the whole process of ethological observation lasted for 3 weeks. In each type of weaning, the observations were carried out during 1 hour in 24 h cycle, at 3 minute intervals individually in every animal. Five forms of animal behaviour were registered; a significant incidence of their abnormal expressions was stated. Occurrence of these abnormal activities was more frequent in early weaning than in the control group. These abnormal manifestations in early weaned pigs (day 21) appear to be a result of the absence of maternal stimuli from early ontogenesis. This statement is also confirmed by repeatedly oriented mutual explorative tendencies of animals (sucking, nasal attacks) oriented towards the abdominal region as well as towards lifeless objects.
Motoric behaviour as well as lying of animals was negatively influenced by early weaning of pigs. Playful and "fighting" behaviour was 11 times more frequent at early weaning in comparison with the control group. Results obtained in this part of the experiment indicate to the behavioural tension in pigs as a result of the absence of maternal contacts. This facts confirms the hypothesis about the behavioural maladaptation as a result of social deprivation in early weaned animals as well as about their subsequent decreasing of the "welfare" status. Conclusions of our study draw attention to the need for studying the presented problem in the wider coherences, such as environmental factors, clinical ethology, behavioural genetics, etc).
Key words: pig; early ontogenesis; welfare status; social deprivation
Disorders in the dairy cow health state in the puerperal period can cause marked economic losses to cow-breeders. In our work, we concentrated on the evaluation of involutional changes in dairy-cow reproductive organs and of their ovarial activity in dependance on the course of the puerperium. Slovak spotted dair cows and their crossbreeds at the age of 4-11years, placed under common breeding conditions, from January to April, by Aloka SSD-500V apparatus, UST-588-V prote; 5 MHz. The dairy-cows were divided into three groups according to the course of the puerperium. In the first group (A) there were cows whith no pathological changes in their reproductive organs in post partum period (n = 34). In the second group (B) there were cows with clinical symptoms of primary endometritis (n = 29) and in the third group (C) there were dairy cows with reatined placenta (n = 10) after parturion. The dairy cows of the group B and C were treated by the standard methods of treatment (locally ATB). Examinations were carried out on days 1-2, 5-7, 10-12, 15-17, 20-22 and 25-27 after parturition. The obtained results were tested statistically by the Statgraphics 5.0 programme. Testing of difference importance between the two sets was performed by means of Students t-test. Evaluation of the dairy cow puerperium showed that in the cows of group A, the involution of uterus was completed between days 15-17, when retraction of cervix uteri reached from 95 ± 7.66 mm, the first- second day after parturition, to 46 ± 4.55 mm and the uterus body from 98 ± 3.28 mm, the first- second day after parturition, to 42 ± 2.36 mm (P < 0.01). In the cows of group B completition of the uterine retraction was recorded on day 25 to 27 post partum, when thickness of the cervix decreased from 100 ± 4.11 mm on day 1-2 post partum to 45 ±0,47 mm and thickness of the corpus uteri from 113 ± 17.5 mm on day 1-2 post partum to 43 ± 1,41mm (P < 0.05). Similar results were recorded in group C. The uterine retraction was completed in average on days 25-27 after parturition, when the cervix and uterine body reduced their thickness from 103 ± 12.47 mm and 113 ± 20.55 mm on day 1-2 post partum to 50 ± 0.65 mm and 46 ± 1.41 mm. The presence of follicles in size of 5 mm and 5-10 mm was identified in all three groups of examined animals during the whole observation period. The average number of the follicles did not change remarkably. Dominant follicles bigger than 10 mm in a diameter were observed firstly in the group A on days 20-22 post partum, while in the cows with pathological puerperium on days 25-27 post partum. Despite several day differences observed in the involution changes of the uterus and the onset of ovarian activity in cows of the group A compared to those of the groups B and C, it may be stated that also in dairy cows with affected course of puerperium at the individual care and effective therapy, involution ceasing and onset of ovarian activity occur in a comparable time as in dairy cows without impaired course of the puerperium; this enables breeders to involve them again in the reproductive cycle.
Key words: dairy cows; directed reproduction; ultrasonography; puerperium; endometritis
In two series of experiments, the effect of ultraviolet and gamma radiation on the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis, strain W was observed. In the first series of experiments, the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the protozoa cultivated in the growth medium and depleted experimental medium, at the radiation flow of 90 to 5400 uJ.mm-2 during the logarithmic and stationary stages of the population growth, was investigated. The growth medium, due to its higher content of peptone, had a protective effect against ultraviolet radiation. Cells in the stationary stage of growth are more resitant to the ultraviolet radiation than those in the logarithmic stage. The used intensity of radiation has not impaired nutrients in the medium. LD50 was determined within the range of 900 to 1350 uJ.mm-2, LD100 at 5400 uJ.mm-2.
At the study of the effect of gamma radiation on protozoa at the doses of 102.1 Gy - 1633 Gy, all irradiated cells survived after radiation doses of 102.1 Gy and 204 Gy. After doses of 408.4 and 816.7 Gy, 60.6 % and 8.8 % of irradiated cells survived, respectively. None of the cells survived the dose of 1633.4 Gy. After doses of 408.4 and 816.7 Gy, a significantly longer generation time was recorded compared to the control group. No significant changes were recorded at the observation of the effect of irradiated incubation medium on the non-irradiated cells of the strain W of Tetrahymena pyriformis.
Our results confirm a relatively high radioresistance of the protozoon Tetrahymena against gamma radiation; this protozoon is a suitable biological model for the study of the effects of various kinds of ionizing radiation as on the level of cell as population.
Key words: adolescent bulls; iodine; thyroxine; triiodothyronine; testosterone
Occurrence of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Slovakia and other European countries is described. The aim of the work is also to attract attention to the biology and ecology of this species, dynamics of its seasonal population in our territory and preconditions for revitalization of the original nest localities in the inundated region of the river Danube.
Key words: accipitridae; white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla); species diversity of the fauna; Waterwork Gabčíkovo
A submicroscopic picture of apoptosically and necrotically devitalized cells in dog testes was sudied after a local single irradiation with gamma rays at three different doses: 1.5 Gy; 3 Gy; and 4 Gy on days 1, 15, 30, 45, 120 and 150 after irradiation. On day 1 after irradiation, no devitalizing cells were observed in the testis tissue. On days 15 and 30 after irradiation, first spermatogonia, spermatocytes and round spermatids were devitalized due to apaptosis. The cells had morphological changes typical for apoptosis. On day 45 after irradiation, their depletion occurred, and they were in the lumen of seminiferous tubuli. Some devitalized cells were eliminated from seminiferous tubuli in the form of phagocytosis by Serotli's cells. After irradiation with higher doses, some cells of the seminiferous epithelium had morphological signs of apoptosis, some of necrosis.
Sertoli cells and Leydig cells were considerably resistant against irradiation. However, after irradiation with a doses of 4 Gy, they sporadically died from apoptosis. On day 150 after irradiation, no devitalized cells were observed in testes, and on day 150 after irradiation, a restoration of spermatogenesis occurred.
Key words: apoptosis; necrosis; dog testes; gamma irradiation; electron microscopy
In 2-month-old suckled lamb-ewes (n = 6), the effects of 4 weeks supply of sodium chlorine-hypochlorite in the drinking water (0.3 mg.l-1 of active chlorine STN 757111) on the thyroid gland function (concentrations T4 and T3) were tested; after killing of 3 lamb-ewes, the weight of the thyroid gland was measured and its histo-morphological picture was examined. The blood samples for determination of T4 and T3 were withdrawn before administration of the tested substance (sampling 0) and sampling continued at 2-week intervals (sampling 1 and 2). Results were compared with those found in the control lamb-ewes (n = 6).
The thyroid gland response to the active chlorine supply was variable. Both its weight (the right lobe 0.2 - 0.8 g, the left one 0.3 - 0.8 g) and histological picture in 2 lamb-ewes were similar to those in the control group. An apparent increase in the weight (2.8 g, 2.7 g) and changes in the histological picture of the thyroid gland (large follicles, cubic almost high epithelium) were found out in the lamb-ewe 3. Concentrations of T4 and T3 showed individual differences. In 4 lamb-ewes (including lamb-ewe 3), iodothyronines were within the physiological range; in one lamb T4 had the values of < 0.25 nmol.l-1 and T3 in two lamb-ewes had a decreasing tendency, but within the physiological range.
A decrease in T4 found in the whole tested group was significant in a relationship to the initial values (P < 0.05; P < 0.05). From the results it may be expected that one-month lasting supply of chlorinated disinfectants some individuals could decrease circulating levels of thyroid hormones and induce the symptoms of compensating hypertrophy of the thyroid gland.
Key words: lambs; thyroid gland; chlorine
The influence of addition of 1 % and 2 % of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) to the solid fraction of pig slurry on the decomposition processes was investigated during 12 weeks of storage at 18-25 0C. The presence of zeolite affected the course of temperatures in the core of the substrates as well as the chemical parameters investigated (pH, dry matter, loss on ignition, Nc, Pc). Temperatures in the core of substrates 1-3 (S1 - control, S2 - 1 % of zeolite, S3 - 2 % of zeolite) differed during most of the period investigated. The highest temperature in the substrate was recorded in the control (37.1 oC) in week 4 of the experiment. Maximum temperatures in the core of substrates amended with zeolite (32.5oC and 33.1oC) were recorded in weeks 9 and 10 of the experiment, respectively. The values of pH in the extracts of substrates 2 and 3 after 3 weeks of storage, substrate 3 after 6 weeks of storage and substrate 2 after 12 weeks of storage were significantly different in comparison with the control and corresponded to the temperatures in the core of substrates dependent on microbial decomposition processes. In the first stage of the experiment, the content of dry matter of the substrates was affected predominantly by the release of the retained water and later on by fermentation processes. The determination of the influence of zeolites on total nitrogen must take into account other factors not published in this study. An important influence of zeolite was observed with regard to the values of total phosphorus, mainly in the substrate 3 in which the content of Pc was twice as high as that in the control after 6 and 12 weeks of storage. The values of parameters determined and the course of temperatures in the core of the substrates point to the different influence of 1 % and 2 % addition of zeolite on microbial decomposition processes in the medium studied.
Key words: zeolite (clinoptilolite); solid fraction; pig slurry; aerobic microbial decomposition 3