Veterinární medicína, 2017 (vol. 62), issue 8
Influence of socio-demographic and experiential factors on the attitudes of Croatian veterinary students towards farm animal welfareOriginal Paper
M. Ostovic, T. Mikus, Z. Pavicic, K. Matkovic, Z. Mesic
Vet Med - Czech, 2017, 62(8):417-428 | DOI: 10.17221/172/2016-VETMED 
The aim of this study was to examine the factors influencing the attitudes of veterinary students in Croatia toward farm animal welfare. The survey was carried out at the only faculty of veterinary medicine in Croatia and included students from all years of the integrated undergraduate and graduate study programme. The response rate was 91% (n = 505 subjects). According to the socio-demographic and experiential factors observed, females, students in their initial years of study, younger students with urban backgrounds, non-religious/non-spiritual students and vegetarians, and those intending to work with companion animals expressed more concerned...
Antioxidant effects of lycopene on bovine sperm survival and oxidative profile following cryopreservationOriginal Paper
E. Tvrda, A. Mackovich, H. Greifova, F. Hashim, N. Lukac
Vet Med - Czech, 2017, 62(8):429-436 | DOI: 10.17221/86/2017-VETMED
Reactive oxygen species overgeneration as a side effect of semen cryopreservation may lead to lipid peroxidation, protein degradation, DNA fragmentation and cell death, resulting in a decrease of sperm survival and fertilisation ability. Lycopene has been proposed as a potential supplement to semen extenders because of its antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lycopene on the structural integrity, functional activity and selected oxidative stress parameters of cryopreserved bovine sperm. Thirty bovine ejaculates were split into two aliquots and diluted with a commercial semen extender supplemented with 1.5 mmol/l...
Hyperthermia and not hypoxia may reduce sperm motility and morphology following testicular hyperthermiaOriginal Paper
J.P. Kastelic, R.E. Wilde, G. Rizzoto, J.C. Thundathil
Vet Med - Czech, 2017, 62(8):437-442 | DOI: 10.17221/124/2016-VETMED
The mammalian testis typically operates on the brink of hypoxia; the long-standing dogma is that increased testicular temperature increases metabolism, but blood flow is unaffected and the resulting hypoxia reduces sperm motility and morphology. In rats and mice, oxygen (O2) content of inspired air affected O2 content of testes, enabling the latter to range from approximately 50 to more than 200% of physiologic concentrations. A ram model was used to test the hypotheses that hypoxia would disrupt sperm motility and morphology and that hyperoxia would prevent hyperthermia-induced reductions in sperm motility and morphology. Eighteen...
Characterisation, localisation and expression of porcine TACR1, TACR2 and TACR3 genesOriginal Paper
A. Jakimiuk, P. Podlasz, M. Chmielewska-Krzesinska, K. Wasowicz
Vet Med - Czech, 2017, 62(8):443-455 | DOI: 10.17221/23/2017-VETMED
Substance P is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. This functional diversity is mediated by three neurokinin receptor subtypes (NK1R, NK2R and NK3R) encoded by the TACR1, TACR2 and TACR3 genes, respectively. Despite the increasing interest in using pigs (Sus scrofa) to study human disease mechanisms, the sequences of these receptors are still unconfirmed or in the case of the NK1 receptor, not yet even unpredicted. We employed in silico analysis to define the localisation of the porcine tachykinin receptor genes, and to predict the structures and amino acid sequences of the respective...
Prevalence and characteristics of Salmonella species isolated from captive reptiles in the Czech RepublicOriginal Paper
Z. Tomastikova, S. Barazorda Romero, Z. Knotek, R. Karpiskova
Vet Med - Czech, 2017, 62(8):456-469 | DOI: 10.17221/44/2017-VETMED
This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and characterising the strains of Salmonella species in various captive reptiles in the Czech Republic. A total of 211 samples of cloacal swabs from lizards, chelonians and snakes, and 14 swabs from terraria surfaces were collected between November 2014 and July 2015. After isolation according to the reference method (EN ISO), Salmonella spp. isolates were characterised using serotyping and macrorestriction analysis followed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Altogether, 39 isolates were obtained from 29 (19%) reptiles and from terraria surfaces....
Cephalothoracopagus (monocephalic dithoracic) conjoined twins in a pig (Sus scrofa f. domestica): a case reportCase Report
M. Kulawik, K. Pluta, M. Wojnowska, B. Bartyzel, M. Nabzdyk, D. Bukowska
Vet Med - Czech, 2017, 62(8):470-477 | DOI: 10.17221/155/2016-VETMED
In this report, we present a rare case of cephalothoracopagus (monocephalic dithoracic) conjoined twins with anencephaly in pig. Conjoined Polish large white piglets were born at term after an uncomplicated birth. The litter consisted of 11 piglets. The conjoined twins were born alive, but died shortly after birth and were subjected to further investigation. Blood vessels of the heart were filled with LBS 3060 latex, and then the twins were fixed in 10% non-buffered formalin. Necropsy revealed the external and internal anatomy of the affected twins. Examinations demonstrated abnormalities of skeletal, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous...