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Uric acid has stronger pro-oxidant than antioxidant properties during equine endurance events and thus, limits performance and has serious repercussions on health. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in uric acid, leucocytes, plasma biochemical parameters and heart rate in metabolic endurance horses. Thirty Arabian endurance horses were physically examined and blood samples were collected pre and post-race. After physical examination, the successfully completed (n = 10) and metabolic disordered (n = 20) endurance horses were identified. Blood samples in heparinised vacutainer tubes were used for the determination of uric acid, triglyceride, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, packed cell volume, lactate, total protein and plasma protein. Blood sample in ethyl diaminotetra-acetic acid vacutainer tubes were used for the analysis of leucocytes. The age, body weight, heart rate, humidity and ambient temperature were also recorded. One way Analysis of variance and pairwise correlations were used for the analysis. A value of P ≤ 0.05 was considered as significantly different. The mean values of uric acid, lactate, leucocytes, plasma protein, total protein, heart rate, creatine pinase and Packed cell volume were significantly different between the successfully completed and metabolic disordered endurance horses P < 0.0001), respectively. The mean values of aspartate transaminase and triglyceride were significantly different between the successfully completed and metabolic disordered endurance horses: P < 0.0130 and P < 0.0004, respectively. There were significant positive correlations between uric acid and lactate (r = 0.5196; P < 0.0271), between uric acid and plasma protein (r = 0.6025; P < 0.0175), between uric and Packed cell volume (r = 0.5206; P < 0.0268), between uric acid and triglyceride (r = 0.5541; P < 0.0170) and between uric acid and heart rate (r = 0.5629; P < 0.0150) in the metabolic disordered endurance horses. In conclusion, heart rate, triglyceride, blood lactate and packed cell volume were significantly associated with uric acid, a biomarker of oxidative stress. Therefore, uric acid could be used to evaluate performance and health status in endurance horses during training and endurance events.

In this study, the aim was to investigate the anatomy of the aortic arch in ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus). Five ground squirrels were investigated. The materials were carefully dissected and the arterial patterns of arteries originating from the aortic arch were examined. The brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery were separated from the aortic arch. The brachiocephalic trunk first gave the left common carotid artery, and then the right subclavian and common carotid artery detached from it. In all the animals examined, at the cranial thoracic entrance and after leaving from this entrance, similar branches arising from the left and right subclavian arteries were the common branch of the internal thoracic artery and the intercostal suprema artery, separate branches as the vertebral and descending scapular arteries and a common branch of the cervical superficial, the cervical profund, the suprascapular arteries and the spinal ramus. After separation of these branches, the continuation of the artery gave the external thoracic artery on the external face of the thoracic cavity and then formed the axillar artery. The axillary artery separated into the subscapular and the brachial arteries. In conclusion, the pattern of arteries originating from the aortic arch and the branches of these arteries were partially similar to what has been observed in red squirrels, and thus differ from other rodents and domestic mammals.

This study had the aim of investigating the anatomy of the aortic arch in squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Ten squirrels were studied. The materials were carefully dissected and the arterial patterns of arteries originating from the aortic arch were examined. The brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery were detached from the aortic arch. The brachiocephalic trunk first gave the left common carotid artery, and then detached to the right subclavian and common carotid artery. In all the examined materials, the left and right subclavian arteries gave branches that were similar after leaving the thoracic cavity from the cranial thoracic entrance. But while the whole branches of the the right subclavian artery were arising from almost the same point the left subclavian artery gave these branches in a definite order, and the branches that separated were the following: the internal thoracic artery, the intercostal suprema artery, the ramus spinalis, the vertebral artery and the descending scapular artery. It also gave the common branch formed by the junction of three of the cervical superficial, the cevical profund and the suprascapular arteries. After the separation of these branches, continuation of the artery gave the external thoracic artery on the external face of the thoracic cavity and then formed the axillar artery. The axillary artery separated into the subscapular and the brachial arteries. Thus, the arteries originating from the aortic arch and the branches of these arteries are different from other rodents and from domestic mammals.

Linguatula serrata is a zoonotic parasite causing visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis in humans. Dog and other canines are the main definitive hosts while most herbivores, including ruminants serve as intermediate hosts for linguatulosis. Human rarely become infected as both final and intermediate hosts. This survey aimed to assess the L. serrata infection rate of dogs and domestic ruminants in North West of Iran. The upper respiratory tract of 97 dogs including 45 females and 52 males and the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of 396 goats (203 females and 193 males), 406 buffaloes (166 females and 240 males), 421 cattle (209 females and 212 males) and 438 sheep (223 females and 215 males) were examined for L. serrata. Animals were categorized into four age groups, including under six months, six to 24 months, two to four years and more than four years. Results showed that 27.83% of dogs were infected with L .serrata. The infection rate for goats, buffaloes, cattle and sheep was 50.75%, 26.6%, 36.62% and 42.69%, respectively. The prevalence rate in all animals was significantly associated with age and sex (P ≤ 0.05). In ruminants, the highest infection rate was found in goats (P ≤ 0.05). The results from this study indicate a high rate of infection in dogs and domestic ruminants, suggesting a potential high risk of zoonotic infection in man in the investigated area.

The aim of this review was to elaborate a conceptual framework of the most important aspects of the main biochemical processes of synthesis and breakdown of energy substrates that human and pig foetuses and newborns can use during the transition from foetus to newborn. Under normal physiological conditions, the growth and development of the foetus depends upon nutrients such as glucose, lipids and amino acids. In addition to the maternal and foetal status, genetic factors are also reported to play a role. The main function of the placenta in all species is to promote the selective transport of nutrients and waste products between mother and foetus. This transport is facilitated by the close proximity of the maternal and foetal vascular systems in the placenta. The foetus depends on the placental supply of nutrients, which regulates energy reserves by means of glycogen storage. Also, the synthesis of foetal hepatic glycogen guarantees energy reserves during perinatal asphyxia or maternal hypoglycaemia. However, the foetus can also obtain energy from other resources, such as gluconeogenesis from the intermediary metabolism of the Krebs cycle and most amino acids. Later, when the placental glucose contribution ends during the transition to the postnatal period, the maturation of biological systems and essential metabolic adaptations for survival and growth is required. The maintenance of normoglycaemia depends on the conditions that determine nutrient status throughout life: the adequacy of glycogen stores, the maturation of the glycogenolytic and gluconeogenic pathway, and an integrated endocrine response.

Clinical examination and emergency care in newborn puppies is difficult, due to their different physiological characteristics and needs from those of adult dogs. This paper reviews the physiological events during parturition and the influence of parturition on puppy health.

In this report a case of actinomycosis in a five-month-old Holstein calf is described. The patient displayed a hard and immobile swelling in the mandible and fever. Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the skull was performed under deep sedation and revealed an asymmetrical appearance of the mandible with the presence of intra-mandibular hypodense lesions. Haematologic and serum biochemical profiles revealed leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminaemia and hypergammaglobulinaemia. Treatment consisted of flushing the lesion and administration of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The calf responded to therapy and had recovered almost completely four months later. The present case indicates that CT is an effective non-invasive means of identifying mandibular lesions in cattle.

This article describes osteomyelitis of the sphenoid skull bone in a maltanese dog due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans infection. The affected dog was subjected to physical and neurological examinations. Complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry profile, lymph node biopsy, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination were also performed. This case report describes abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination as well as the histhopathologic lesions of the skull bones and neurological symptoms of the dog.

The brachial plexus in adult red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) was found to be formed by the rami ventralis of C5, C6, C7, C8. A thin branch of C5 and C6 constituted the cranial trunk, and the caudal trunk was formed completely by the rami ventralis of C7 and C8. Thus, in squirrels, the spinal nerves which form the brachial plexus and the joining of these spinal nerves to each other differ from other rodents and mammals.

This paper describes the course and variation in the brain base arteries in fallow deer. The metrical features of the brain base arteries were determined with an image analysis system. The main sources of blood supply to the brain in fallow deer are internal carotid arteries; vertebral arteries rarely participate in blood supply. The brain base arteries in fallow deer show variation both in their course and in the way of descent of particular vessels. The highest variation was observed in the way of the opening of caudal cerebral arteries. The volume of the arterial circle of brain in fallow deer is similar to the volume of the basilar artery. Considering the correlation between specific parameters, it can be concluded that the volume of the basilar artery is highly correlated with the volume of the posterior part of the arterial circle of the brain, i.e., the volume of the caudal communicating arteries.

The educational value of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) volume rendering imaging was compared to conventional plain radiographic instruction in a veterinary radiology class. Veterinary radiology is an important subject in veterinary medicine and has been well-recognized as a primary diagnostic method. Many junior and senior students have difficulty interpreting two dimensional radiographs that depict three-dimensional organs. A total of 158 junior veterinary students with knowledge of anatomy, pathology, physiology, and other basic subjects were divided into two groups; Group 1 (n = 45) received conventional radiographic instruction using normal and representative abnormal canine thoracic and abdominal radiographs followed by repetition of the same one week later, while Group 2 (n = 113) received plain radiograph instruction as in Group 1 followed by volume-rendered 3D CT images from the same canine patient one week later. The evaluations were performed at the end of each instruction. In Group 1, the majority did not understand the radiographic signs and no significant improvement was observed. In Group 2, 13% and 20% of the students learned only from radiographs, and understood the thoracic and abdominal radiographic alterations, respectively. After studying the 3D CT images, more than 94% of the students deduced the reasons for the radiographic alterations on the radiographs (P < 0.001). These results strongly suggest that 3D CT imaging is an effective tool for teaching radiographic anatomy to veterinary medical students.

This study was aimed at investigating the lumbosacral plexus of squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Ten squirrels were used in this work. The animals were carefully dissected and the spinal nerves that constitute the lumbosacral plexus were examined. It was discovered that the lumbosacral plexus was formed by L6, L7, S1, S2 in nine animals and in the one remaining animal in addition to these branches rami ventralis of L4 and L5 were forming the plexus. The common root forming the last part of the lumbosacral plexus and giving branches dispersing to the hind limb was formed by the rami ventralis of L6, L7, S1, S2. Thus, in squirrels, the spinal nerves forming the lumbosacral plexus and the joining of these spinal nerves to each other differs from other rodents and mammals.

The cranial cervical ganglia (CCG) in the heads of six adult (three male and three female) Angora goats were dissected in detail. The ganglion was located on the ventral aspect of the tympanic bulla, cranio-ventral to the atlas, medio-ventral to the jugular process and lateral to the longus capitis muscle. The branches of the ganglion were the internal and external carotid nerves, the jugular and laryngopharyngeal nerves and the connecting branches to the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve. The internal carotid nerve arose as three branches (cranial, caudal and medial) from the cranial region of the ganglion. The cranial branch, the profound petrosal nerve, entered the pterygoid canal. The caudal branch terminated at the trigeminal ganglion. The medial branch terminated at the cavernous sinus. The other cranial branch ramifying from the cranial region of the ganglion was the jugular nerve. The internal carotid and laryngopharyngeal nerves arose from the caudal region of the ganglion. In conclusion, compared with published data on other species, we found differences in the number and courses of the branches ramifying from the CCG of Angora goats and in the branches connected to the vagus, glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerves.

The present report describes a series of adverse events recorded in gilts and sows at a pig-breeding farm. The animals were listless, had poor appetite and dyspnea, sneezed and coughed, but were afebrile. Subsequently, an increased number of spontaneous abortions occurred, eventually rising to 50 times their average number. The usual infective causes of abortion were ruled out by diagnostic testing; however, the results of drinking water analysis pointed to over-chlorination, with a free chlorine residual concentration of 2.11 mg/l, caused by failure of the chlorinator dispenser connected to the water supplying system seven days previously. Analysis of data on reproductive parameters indicated that the over-chlorinated drinking water directly induced an increase in the number of abortions after only two days of consumption, whereas 7-day consumption of over-chlorinated drinking water had a direct delayed effect on the increased return to oestrus in gilts and sows, and on the increased percentage of stillborn piglets (all P < 0.001). The consequential indirect delayed effect manifested itself as a reduced number of farrowings in gilts and sows, and a lower total number of piglets born (both P < 0.001).

The soft palate plays a critical role in the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing. Congenitally cleft soft palates (palatoschisis) in calves are rare and pose a serious challenge for surgical correction due to high complication rates. The main obstacles to repairing palate defects are obtaining complicated access to the soft palate, and reducing the tension on the repair so that the sutures hold. A 21 day old female Simmental calf was submitted to our clinic with a history of frequent episodes of coughing and milk dripping from its nostrils after suckling. After clinical examination, a congenital cleft palate was diagnosed. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia. First, lateral buccotomy was performed to improve the intraoral approach. The palatal defect was repaired using polypropylene mesh and palatal mucosal flap. An oesophageal tube was placed and anchored to the skin using a Chinese finger trap suture technique. Antibiotic treatment was continued through seven days and a transoesophageal feeding tube was fitted at the end of the surgery allowing the calf to be fed with milk during the postoperative period. Postoperatively, the caudal aspect of the repair broke down resulting in persistent mild bilateral nasal discharge. A combination of the two described techniques can be a good option for resolving palatal defects. However, adequate exposure and repair are still difficult to achieve and these approaches often result in serious postoperative complications.

Papers on mycobacteria in food, feed and water, published between 1945 and 2010 and indexed in the database Web of Science^® (Thomson Reuters) were ranked according to authors, institutions, countries and source titles. The total number of papers on mycobacteria and food and mycobacteria and water were 1486 and 1419, respectively. More than 40% of papers have been published in the last five years. In addition to publications in peer reviewed journals the archives of ProMED-mail and the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Union were also searched. It is evident that much attention is being paid to mycobacteria in food, feed and water as they likely pose a public health risk.

The bone-conducted brainstem auditory evoked response test was performed in an eight-year-old dog with total bilateral ear canal ablation. It was found that 12 months after bilateral surgical ablation of the external acoustic meatus the dog still maintained its hearing function due to the mechanism of acoustic bone conduction.

Three hundred and thirty-one (331) horses out of 371 cases (i.e. 351 individuals discharged from the clinic) were followed up in order to evaluate long-term survival rate and complications after colic surgery. Twenty horses were subjected to surgery twice during the period of this study. Out of the sample of 331 patients, 302 animals (91.2%) survived at least 11 months after the operation. Twenty-nine horses (8.8%) died or had to be euthanized. Colic episode was considered to be the cause of death in 23 (79.3%) out of 29 patients. Seven colic patients had to be reoperated. The remaining six patients died of a cause unrelated to the gastrointestinal disease. Seven out of 302 long-term surviving patients needed the second operation within the first 11 months after the first surgery. Colic episode was reoperated in another 15 patients after 12 months to 4 years after the first operation. Conservative treatment was necessary in another 10 long-term surviving horses. In eight long-term surviving horses and in one patient that did not survive 11 months, incision hernias were identified as the postoperative complication. Twenty-one horses out of 331 were subjected to relaparotomy during their first hospitalization. Eighteen out of these (85.7%) survived 11 months after the surgery; the remaining three were euthanized within six months due to colic.

Avian tuberculosis (ATBC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in birds in zoos and breeding establishments. The primary sources of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (MAA) of serotypes 1, 2 and 3 are infected animals (esp. birds), who shed MAA in different ways and thus contaminate the environment. The first aim of this work was to compare the efficiency of the diagnostic methods that are routinely used for the diagnosis of ATBC (skin test, serology and culture of faeces and eggs) in naturally infected hens with different levels of infection. The second aim was to determine the excretion rate of MAA in faeces and eggs. The tuberculin skin test gave a positive result in nine (42.9%) infected hens of which four (57.1%) and one (14.3%) were heavily and slightly infected hens, respectively. A positive serological response to MAA-b antigen (water bird isolate of serotype 1) was observed in five (23.8%) and to MAA-p antigen (pig isolate serotype 2) in seven (33.3%) hens. No correlation between serological and skin-test data was found. The results show that both techniques, serological and skin-test data are inadequate for the diagnosis of ATBC. In consecutively euthanized hens, with heavy infection and tuberculous lesions, serological positivity was significant (P < 0.05) in comparison with slightly infected hens lacking tuberculous lesions. Faecal culture detected MAA in 50 (29.8%) of 168 samples collected for eight days before euthanasia. MAA excretion in faeces was intermittent, but significantly (P < 0.01) higher in heavily infected hens. No mycobacteria were detected in any of the 43 examined eggs, which implies that the shedding of MAAand/or transmission of ATBC through eggs may not be frequent events.

In this study, the circulus arteriosus cerebri of the squirrel was investigated. Ten squirrel were used. Coloured latex was given from left ventriculi of the all squirrels. Circulus arteriosus cerebri was examined after the dissection was made. The basilar artery was formed by merge of the right and left vertebral artery. The caudal communicans artery which was caudal part of circulus arteriosus cerebri was formed by the basilar artery on sulcus pontocrurale. From caudal to cranial, the branches originated from the basilar artery and circulus arteriosus cerebri to cerebrum and cerebellum were as follows: the caudal cerebelli artery,rami ad pontem, the rostral cerebelli artery, the caudal choroidea artery, the caudal cerebral artery, the internal ophtalmic artery, the rostral choroidea artery, the media cerebral artery, rami striati and the rostral cerebral artery. In squirrels a variability was observed in the branches that the rostral cerebral artery gives, and their endings. It was determined that the internal carotid artery didn't exist in 4 animals when the right and left vertebral artery were ligatured. It was found that the internal carotid artery didn't contribute to the arterial blood to circulus arteriosus cerebri and the arterial blood to circulus arteriosus cerebri of squirrels is provided via only the basilar artery.

This report describes the diagnostic evaluation in a one-week-old, female Simmental twin-calf with the anamnesis of umbilical hernia. Weakness, anaemia, tachycardia and a systolic left sided murmur were significant clinical findings. Based on echocardiography, the animal was diagnosed with pentalogy of Fallot, whereas necropsy revealed the presence of Cantrell's pentalogy with Taussig-Bing syndrome and situs inversus of the liver. Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare condition described in humans but not yet reported in calves.

Out of the total number of 434 horses that underwent colic surgery, small intestine was operated in 195 (44.9%) patients, caecum in 10 (2.3%) horses, large colon surgery was performed in 196 (45.2%) cases and small colon surgery in 14 (3.2%) horses. In 12 patients (2.8%) two different parts of the gastrointestinal tract were affected simultaneously, one horse suffered from peritonitis, torsion of the uterus developed in two mares and three animals had negative surgical findings. Of 434 horses, 371 (85.5%) survived. After small intestinal surgery, 159 patients (81.5%) recovered from anaesthesia and were discharged home as well as seven horses (70%) after caecal surgery, 175 horses (89.3%) after large colon surgery and 14 horses (100%) following small colon surgery. 75 out of 103 horses (72.8%) were discharged home after the small intestinal resection and 89 of 98 horses (90.8%) with small intestinal problems where no resection was needed. In total, 43 of the patients that underwent one surgery did not survive the immediate postoperative period. The most frequent lethal complications in horses following the small intestinal surgery included peritonitis (five horses) and paralytic ileus (four horses) and in horses with large colon problems it was typhlocolitis (six cases). Relaparotomy was indicated in 41 of 434 horses (9.4%) that recovered from colic surgery. 21 out of the 41 (51.2%) relaparotomised colic patients were released from the clinic. All successfully repeated surgeries were carried out to overcome primary small intestine ileus problems, and in 14 of these cases (66.7%) resection and anastomosis were performed. The most common finding, diagnosed in 9 of 21 reoperated horses, was paralytic ileus. Of 20 relaparotomised horses that did not survive, three animals were lost after the introduction of anaesthesia, nine horses were euthanised after the abdominal cavity revision, one horse did not recover after the surgical procedure and seven horses did not survive the postoperative period. In 15 of 20 dead horses, the cause of the first surgical intervention was small intestinal ileus, in other four horses there was a large colon problem and in the last patient, it was a stomach disease. In 13 of 15 (86.7%) horses with small intestinal problems and in three of four (75%) patients with large colon disease, either resection or bypass was performed. In the remaining four non-surviving horses of 20 relaparotomised ones, peritonitis and/or adhesion formation was diagnosed at the second surgery, in three horses anastomosis complications were the main problem. Peritonitis or paralytic ileus led to death or euthanasia in four of seven horses that recovered after relaparotomy.

The aim of the study was to investigate the acute toxicity of 2-phenoxyethanol to sheatfish, and using the values of haematological and biochemical profiles of blood and histological tissue examinations to assess the effects of the fish exposure to that anaesthetic. The values of acute toxicity of 2-phenoxyethanol to sheatfish were found to be 10minLC50 0.77 ml/l, 10minLC0.1 0.42 ml/l, 10minLC99.9 1.90 ml/l, 96hLC50 0.29 ml/l, 96hLC0.1 0.20 ml/l, and 96hLC99.9 0.41 ml/l. The 10-min exposure to 2-phenoxyethanol at a concentration of 0.30 ml/l caused significantly higher values (P < 0.05) of packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), glucose (GLU) and albumins (ALB) immediately after anaesthesia. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the values of mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were found 24 h post anaesthesia. Histological examinations showed capillary ectasia of gill filaments immediately after 2-phenoxyethanol anaesthesia. Twenty-four hours after anaesthesia, no ectasia was observed. No histopathological changes were demonstrated in other tissues (liver, spleen, cranial and caudal kidneys) following anaesthesia. The results of examinations suggest that the use of 2-phenoxyethanol at a concentration of 0.30 ml/l does not cause any irreversible damage in sheatfish.

Haemophilus parasuis is a common epiphyte of the upper respiratory tract of pigs. The factors of H. parasuis pathogenicity that enable some strains to be virulent and consequently cause a clinical disease have not been established yet. Fifteen serovars of H. parasuis have been described at present. Individual serovars differ in virulence, and considerable differences in virulence also exist within each serovar. Virulent strains can particularly participate as microorganisms secondary to pneumonia, cause septicaemia without polyserositis or Glässer's disease characterized by polyserositis, pericarditis, arthritis and meningitis. Clinical symptoms of this disease are highly variable. Therefore, culture detection of causative agent, particularly from the brain, joints and polyserositis is an essential diagnostic tool. The disease caused by H. parasuis can be treated with antibiotics; however, oral or parenteral administration of very high doses of antibiotics is necessary. The level of animal hygiene and animal husbandry are important factors for prevention of this disease. Commercial or autogenous vaccines can be used in the immunoprophylaxis of pre-parturient sows and their progeny after weaning. For the production of autogenous vaccines, it is most effective to use isolates from animals with lesions present in CNS. Isolates recovered from arthritic and systemic sites of infection are less suitable and isolates recovered from lungs are not suitable at all because of their heterogeneity.

High mortality of nestling cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) was observed in one breeding flock in Slovakia. The nestling mortality affected 50% of all breeding pairs. In general, all the nestlings in affected nests died. Death occurred suddenly in 4- to 6-day-old birds, most of which had full crops. No feather disorders were diagnosed in this flock. Two dead nestlings were tested by nested PCR for the presence of avian polyomavirus (APV) and Chlamydophila psittaci and by single-round PCR for the presence of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV). After the breeding season ended, a breeding pair of cockatiels together with their young one and a fledgling budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) were examined. No clinical alterations were observed in these birds. Haemorrhages in the proventriculus and irregular foci of yellow liver discoloration were found during necropsy in the young cockatiel and the fledgling budgerigar. Microscopy revealed liver necroses and acute haemolysis in the young cockatiel and confluent liver necroses and heart and kidney haemorrhages in the budgerigar. Two dead cockatiel nestlings, the young cockatiel and the fledgling budgerigar were tested positive for APV, while the cockatiel adults were negative. The presence of BFDV or Chlamydophila psittaci DNA was detected in none of the birds. The specificity of PCR was confirmed by the sequencing of PCR products amplified from the samples from the young cockatiel and the fledgling budgerigar. The sequences showed 99.6-100% homology with the previously reported sequences. To our knowledge, this is the first report of APV infection which caused a fatal disease in parent-raised cockatiel nestlings and merely subclinical infection in budgerigar nestlings.

Ethiopia is one among the nations that possesses the largest number of livestock population in the African continent estimated to be 33 million cattle, 24 million sheep and 18 million goats. In contrast to the huge livestock resource, the livestock productivity is however, found to be very low. The major biological and socio-economical factors attributing to the low productivity includes: the low genetic potential and performance, poor nutrition (in quality and quantity terms), the prevailing of different diseases, traditional way of husbandry systems and inadequate skilled manpower, among others. Ethiopia is one of the African countries where tuberculosis is wide spread in both humans and cattle and the endemic nature of tuberculosis in humans and cattle has long been documented. The disease is considered as one of the major livestock diseases that results in high morbidity and mortality, although the current status on the actual prevalence rate of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) at a national level is yet unknown. Detection of BTB in Ethiopia is carried out most commonly on the basis of tuberculin skin testing, abattoir meat inspection and very rarely on bacteriological techniques. Recently undertaken studies indicated the prevalence rate of BTB with a range of 3.4% (in small holder production system) to 50% (in intensive dairy productions) and a range of 3.5% to 5.2% in slaughterhouses in various places of the country. BTB in cattle remains to be a great concern due to the susceptibility of humans to the disease. The infections mainly take place by drinking raw milk and occur in the extra-pulmonary form, in the cervical lymphadenitis form in particular. The aim of this paper is to review the status of BTB in Ethiopia in relation with the existing animal husbandry systems and abattoir meat inspection surveillances. Control measures, economic impacts and the zoonotic aspect of the disease are also briefly addressed.

There has recently been a growing interest in checking the state of health of European brown hares in hunting grounds because they are a susceptible bio-indicator of environmental changes and because of the dramatic decline in populations across Europe. A total of 1 051 (384, 302, and 365, respectively) blood sera were collected from hares during autumn hunting events and examined for tularaemia, brucellosis and leptospirosis in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Antibodies were found in 6.5, 1.6 and 7.5% of cases, respectively. Antibodies against Francisella tularensis, Brucella suis and leptospires were found in 7.9, 1.7 and 7.7% of females and 4.5, 1.4 and 7.9% of males, respectively. Higher seroprevalence of tularaemia was found in females (P = 0.05). Brucellosis was more prevalent in adult animals compared to subadult ones (P = 0.05). Only the L. grippotyphosa serotype was found and the titres mostly ranged from 100 to 400 (89.9%). Higher titres from 800 to 3 200 were found in the remaining 10.1% of the examined European brown hare sera. Antibodies against F. tularensis as well as B. suis were most frequent in low titres of 10 to 80. Higher titres were only exceptional. Confirming that hares are susceptible to various zoonotic agents, it is necessary to be careful when handling the animals killed. On the other hand, blood sera from hares may be used to survey the occurrence of natural nidi of zoonoses in hunting grounds.

An outbreak of koi herpesvirus (KHV) infection associated with high mortality of common and koi carp was recorded in the USA and Israel in 1998. At present, this disease is viewed as one of the most significant factors that can adversely affect common and koi carp breeds. The disease has spread worldwide including European countries neighbouring with the Czech Republic (CR), i.e. Germany, Poland, and Austria. To monitor the situation in the CR, samples were collected from a total of 138 common and koi carps in seven and eight locations in CR respectively, and were examined between 2005 and 2006. Locations owned by the major producers of common and koi carp were selected with respect of potential occurrence of the KHV virus. No records of increased mortality and morbidity were noticed there. Preferentially carps with non-specific symptoms of disease were sampled, often with isolated skin erosions. To obtain detailed picture about health condition of examined fish the bacteriological and haematological examinations were accomplished. The next part of the examined samples were carp and koi carp for export from professional breeders, imported koi carp and fish from breeds with increased mortality (45 and 21 fish in 2005 and 2006, respectively) The only virological testing was done in this case. The culture and PCR method, according to Gilad et al. (2002) showed negative results for virus KHV in all years. Retrospective investigation by PCR method according to Bercovier et al. (2005) showed positivity in five locations in 2005. In 2006, KHV virus was not detected in any of the selected locations. The aim of our study was to find out the presence/absence of KHV in selected locations and potential correlation of virological, bacteriological and haematological findings. The results of first testing for presence of koi herpesvirus indicates the necessity of regular KHV monitoring in the Czech Republic in the next period.

We evaluated the influence of experimental diabetes on the amylase release in exocrine pancreatic cells. Following a single alloxan injection, male rabbits were divided into control and four experimental groups according to the disease duration. Respectively after 21, 42, 90, and 180 days intervals, the final levels of glucose and amylase in the sera were determined spectrophotometrically by the use of an enzymatic method. The mean serum glucose level in healthy controls was 6.4 mmol/l. It reached its top value of 32.0 mmol/l after 42 days of diabetes, and decreased to 23.12 mmol/l on day 180. The mean serum amylase activity was 124 U/l in healthy controls, 57 U/l on day 21, 138 on day 42, 84 U/l on day 90, and 56 U/l after 180 days of diabetes. The initial drop of the amylase activity may be interpreted as a result of decreased stimulating insulin effect on exocrine pancreatic cells, whereas the transient increase in activity on day 90 seems to be related to the increased destruction processes of the pancreatic tissue.

The Web of Knowledge Results Analysis of papers published on paratuberculosis in 1994-2004 demonstrated the increasing interest in Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). In the analyzed period 1 032 papers published by 2 519 authors affiliated with 738 institutions were indexed in the Web of Science database. The papers were published in 238 journals, 25 of which contained more than 55% of articles. The Top 50 authors, Top 50 institutions and Top 50 most frequently cited papers are listed in this review. The contribution of OIE Reference Laboratory for Paratuberculosis established in the Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, is assessed according to the number of publications (29), number of authors participating (79), number of institutions collaborating (41 from 17 countries) and their positions in the Top 50 lists. It is evident that the number of papers on Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, a species causing paratuberculosis in ruminants and possibly having a role in the development of Crohn's disease in at least some humans is significantly increasing.