Veterinární medicína, 2007 (vol. 52), issue 11

Screening of Solanum tuberosum cultivars for the "ac2" genetic modification

R. Pribylova, J. Ptacek, I. Pavlik, M. Bartos

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):471-474 | DOI: 10.17221/2066-VETMED  

In 2001, genetically modified potatoes carrying the ac2 gene were developed. This gene was originally found in amaranth seeds (Amaranthus caudatus) and is expressed into the fungicidal peptide Ac-AMP2. The purpose of the present study was to test 105 potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum) registered in the Czech Republic for the presence of the above mentioned genetic modification "ac2" with the use of a previously published method (Pribylova et al., 2006). The method was based on the simultaneous detection of the ac2 gene from amaranth seeds as well as the StTS1 gene from potatoes as an internal amplification...

Effect of chronic oxytocin-treatment on the bovine mammary gland immune system

C. Werner-Misof, M.W. Pfaffl, H.H.D. Meyer, R.M. Bruckmaier

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):475-486 | DOI: 10.17221/2059-VETMED  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic oxytocin (OT) treatment on the mammary gland immune system. In Experiment I fourteen healthy cows were used to study the effect of chronic intramuscular (im) OT administration on concentration of milk somatic cells and white blood cells (WBC). Cows in the OT-group (6) were im injected with 50 IU OT (5 ml) whereas animals of the C-group (6) were im injected with 5 ml of saline (9 g/l) for eight days (Day 1-8) before each milking. Milk samples were taken during normal milking time on Day 0-3, 5, 7, 9-11 and 18. Blood samples were taken immediately after each milking and analysed for WBC...

Risk factors associated with subclinical mastitis in dairy cows on Swiss organic and conventional production system farms

M.G. Doherr, M. Roesch, W. Schaeren, M. Schallibaum, J.W. Blum

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):487-495 | DOI: 10.17221/2060-VETMED  

Epidemiological studies comparing risk factors for subclinical mastitis (SM) in organic (OP) and conventional dairy production systems (CP) are lacking. In 60 OP and 60 CP farms, 970 cows were used to study risk factors for SM at 31 days postpartum. Cows showing a positive (≥ 1+) California Mastitis Test (CMT) in at least one quarter, but without clinical symptoms, were classified SM-positive. For OP cows increased (P < 0.05) odds ratios (OR) for SM were found for other than Simmental and Simmental × Red Holstein breeds, for increasing number (> 27) of cattle on the farm, for the use of mineral feed supplements, for irregular milking...

Prevalence of Campylobacter subtypes in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus spp. torquatus) in the Czech Republic

M. Nebola, G. Borilova, I. Steinhauserova

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):496-501 | DOI: 10.17221/2063-VETMED  

At the turn of 2005 and 2006, cecal samples from 302 pheasants, from two flocks from a farm with intensive production, and from 200 wild birds were collected. The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in the intestinal contents of pheasants from the farm was 70.20%. 50.47% of isolated strains were identified as C. coli and 41.40% as C. jejuni. In samples from wild pheasants, positive cultivation of Campylobacter spp. was proven in 27.5% of cases. A total of 15 PFGE subtypes were noted among the Campylobacter spp. isolates. C. jejuni strains could be divided into 16 fla-RFLP subtypes. No PFGE profile specific...

Prevalence of antibodies against Lawsonia intracellularis in dogs with and without gastrointestinal disease

J. Klimes, K. Dezorzova, J. Smola, R. Husnik

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):502-506 | DOI: 10.17221/2062-VETMED  

Blood sera from 71 dogs were examined for specific IgG antibodies against Lawsonia intracellularis using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. The dogs were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of gastrointestinal disease, which could potentially be associated with L. intracellularis. In the group of dogs with gastrointestinal disease (n = 54), 40 dogs were positive (74.1%). Most positive dogs suffered from chronic or intermittent diarrhoea. In the group without signs of primary gastrointestinal disease (n = 17), antibodies were found in 13 dogs (76.5%). The overall positivity was 74.7%. These...

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the blood profile in the green iguana (Iguana iguana)

S. Trnkova, Z. Knotkova, A. Hrda, Z. Knotek

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):507-511 | DOI: 10.17221/2061-VETMED  

A total of 20 healthy green iguanas (14 males and six females with body weight ranging from 280 to 720 g) were divided into three groups and used for the experiment. Carprofen (2.0 mg/kg, i.m.) was administered to seven iguanas for 10 days, five were treated with meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, i.m.) for the same period, and eight iguanas received the same volume of saline solution (0.04 ml/kg). All iguanas were blood sampled on Day 1 and 11 to obtain haematological and biochemical parameters. Comparing the values within particular groups, a decrease in haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume accompanied by an increase in azurophils (P...

Presumptive viral infections in captive populations of Boa constrictor in the Czech Republic

Z. Knotek, V. Jekl, G.M. Dorrestein, S. Blahak, Z. Knotkova

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):512-520 | DOI: 10.17221/2064-VETMED  

The aim of this study was to present outbreaks of infections with presumptive viral aetiology in boid snakes kept in different private collections in the Czech Republic. A total number of 16 boid snakes (Boa constrictor) from five private snake collections were included in this study. The patients exhibited neurological depression, dehydration, chronic anorexia, recurrent regurgitation of food, weak muscle tone and stargazing. The blood profile of patients was characterised by extremely low haematocrit. Hyperuricaemia, hypoglycaemia and/or high concentration of phosphorus were measured in some snakes, but not in all patients. All examined faecal...

Gynaecomastia in a tom-cat caused by cyproterone acetate: a case report

F. Jelinek, R. Barton, J. Posekana, L. Hasonova

Vet Med - Czech, 2007, 52(11):521-525 | DOI: 10.17221/2065-VETMED  

The contribution demonstrates gynaecomastia in an adult, noncastrated tom-cat, caused by an antiandrogenic preparation Androcur tablets (Schering AG, BRD), administrated at the dose of 5 mg/day for one week. Two months after the treatment, the enlargement of all mammary glands was apparent and one month later (i.e. three months after the end of drug administration) the mammary chains reached the size of 30 × 15 × 20 cm. The general health state of the animal was altered due to the conspicuous enlargement and inflammation of mammary glands. Radical mastectomy was done under general anaesthesia using Isoflurane Rhone-Poulenc inh. The weight of the extirpated...