Veterinární medicína, 2001 (vol. 46), issue 2

The development and application of an indirect Elisa test for the detection of antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus in blood serumOriginal Paper

K. Kovařčík

Vet Med - Czech, 2001, 46(2):29-34 | DOI: 10.17221/7848-VETMED  

We developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of serum antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus. For evaluation of the newly developed ELISA, field sera collected from 549 head of cattle in the Czech Republic were tested in parallel by a serum neutralization test. The tests showed 98.36% agreement. The specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA relative to serum neutralization test was 97.00% (226/233) and 99.37% (314/316), respectively. Tissue culture-grown viral antigen was used in the tests. The corrected optical density (COD) of each sample tested at dilution 1/100 was expressed as a percentage of the COD...

The use of the computer technology for the evaluation of the strict morphological sperm analysisOriginal Paper

Z. Věžník, O. Matoušková, D. Švecová, A. Zajícová

Vet Med - Czech, 2001, 46(2):35-40 | DOI: 10.17221/7849-VETMED  

A programme for evaluating the strict morphological analysis of sperm was developed. The programme was verified by conducting 552 morphological analyses of bull, stallion, boar and human ejaculates. The method was evaluated by comparing the results obtained by routinely used morphological examinations with the results received by the automatic method SASMO. The following advantages of the programme were demonstrated: it is possible to obtain information on the proportion of normal and pathological spermatozoa, to determine the frequency of the respective characteristics analysed, to express detected alterations per pathological spermatozoon (teratosperm...

Release of oxytocin, prolactin and cortisol in response to extraordinary sucklingOriginal Paper

V. Tančin, D. Schams, W.-D. Kraetzl, J. Mačuhová, R.M. Bruckmaier

Vet Med - Czech, 2001, 46(2):41-45 | DOI: 10.17221/7850-VETMED  

The aim of this trial was to clarify whether suckling after several weeks of only machine milking can affect the release of oxytocin, cortisol and prolactin in dairy cows. In total twelve Brown Swiss cows on their first to third lactation were used. Pre-experimental period: all cows were suckled three times daily (9.00, 14.00 and 20.00) and milked twice daily (7.00 and 17.30) in tie housing during the first 5 days postpartum. Afterwards the calves were separated and moved to another building. The cows were moved to loose housing and milked in the dairy parlour within the same stable. Experimental period: after four weeks of only machine milking twice...

Gene typing of the colonisation factor K88 (F4) in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic pigletsOriginal Paper

P. Alexa, K. Štouračová, J. Hamřík, I. Rychlík

Vet Med - Czech, 2001, 46(2):46-49 | DOI: 10.17221/7851-VETMED  

More than 4 000 E. coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic piglets in 111 pig herds in the Czech Republic during the period 1995-2000 were examined for serogroup and virulence factors. Gene typing of the K88 marker by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the examination of 283 enterotoxigenic strains (ETEC) which agglutinated with antisera against K88 or adhered to intestinal brush borders. The K88 gene was detected in 237 strains; among them 232 strains possesed the K88 variant. Genotype K88ab was found in two strains of the serogroup O8 from one herd and the gene K88ad was detected in three strains of the serogroup O8 originating from...

Purification of Escherichia coli-expressed HIS-tagged Maedi-Visna p25 core antigen by Ni2+-chelate affinity chromatographyOriginal Paper

D. Molinková

Vet Med - Czech, 2001, 46(2):50-54 | DOI: 10.17221/7852-VETMED  

In this study, recombinant histidine tagged p25 capsid protein of Maedi-Visna virus was developed. Part of the viral genome coding p25 protein was positioned downstream and in frame with a metal binding domain in pRSET-B vector. Recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli cells and soluble fraction of the protein was subsequently purified by Ni2+-chelate affinity chromatography. Purified protein was then used as antigen in an indirect ELISA test. One hundred fifty ovine serum samples were screened for antibodies to p25 protein of the virus. Immunoblot with whole virus antigen was used as a gold standard. The total number of positive results...

The use of the dry cow therapy in the control of bovine mastitisReview

Sz. Jánosi, G. Huszenicza

Vet Med - Czech, 2001, 46(2):55-60 | DOI: 10.17221/7853-VETMED  

After introducing the dry or nonlactating period of the cows the authors give a survey about the aims of the dry cow therapy. They show the main requirements of dry cow intramammary preparations and the possible use of systemic therapy. The adverse effects of dry cow therapy and the selective dry cow therapy are discussed. In the end some practical aspects of the dry cow therapy are highlighted.