Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine (BJVM)
ISSN 1311-1477
Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
VOL. 10, No 4, DECEMBER, 2007
CONTENTS
Published by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 10, Number 4, December 2007, Summaries
Dimitrova, S. & I. Penchev Georgiev, 2007. Relative contribution of decreased insulin sensitivity to deterioration of glucose homeostasis. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 10, No 4, 205-222.
Insulin resistance (IR) is defined as a state of decreased ability of insulin to stimulate the uptake and metabolism of glucose in target cells at physiological concentration. In men and cats, IR usually precedes the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The most consistent sign of IR is the impaired glucose tolerance. The present review aims at going over the main points and analyzing the available information about the role, nature, mechanisms (intra- and extracellular) and predisposing factors of IR as one of the primary factor for occurrence of diabetes in men and cats. An emphasis is put on the elucidation of mechanisms of disturbances in obesity, that, along with decreased physical activity and advanced age are among the essential risk factors of IR development. Hyperglycaemia, being one of the most important signs of IR, is resulting from both inhibited uptake and metabolism of glucose in muscles and from its enhanced production in liver.
Key words: cats, diabetes mellitus type 2, glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, obesity
Vachkova, Е. G. & B. L. Bivolarski, 2007. Origin, structure and physiological role of the epidermal growth factor: A review. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 10, No 4, 223-233.
Colostrum and milk contain a large number of peptide substances that are known to possess a biological activity, including a growth promoter one. The amounts of peptide growth factors secreted in milk, vary according to the individual animal species and the period of lactation. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes the growth of the mammary gland during the mammogenesis, regulates the differentiation of functional epithelial cells in the alimentary system for the postnatal period of newborns and promotes the somatic growth in both animals and men. Some peptides from the group of EGF-like ligands are involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cell structures of the nervous system. In the light of their physiological importance for the normal development of newborns in the postnatal period, the detailed study on the mechanisms of growth factors would contribute to the optimization of the technologies in intensive animal rearing systems.
Key words: epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), milk, small intestine, weaning age
Atanasov, A. T., 2007. The near to linear allometric relationship between total metabolic energy per life span and body mass of nonpasserine birds. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 10, No 4, 235-245.
The bioenergetic studies on animals have shown that the basal rate of metabolism P(kJ/d) is related to the body mass M (kg) of the animals as expressed by the equation P=aMk, where a and k are allometric coefficients. The aim of this study was to investigate the allometric connection between the total metabolic energy per life span PTls (kJ) and the body mass M (kg) of nonpasserine birds (with Tls - life span in days). Using statistical analyses it was shown that a near to linear relationship existed between the total metabolic energy per life span and the body mass of nonpasserine birds (class Aves), belonging to 23 orders (Struthioniformes, Rheiformes, Casuariiformes, Apterygiformes, Sphenisciformes, Procellariiformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, Anseriformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Psittaciformes, Cuculiformes, Strigiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes, Coliiformes, Trogoniformes, Coraciiformes and Piciformes) of the type: PTls= A0ls ×M0.939 with correlation coefficient of R2=0.97. The linear coefficient A0ls = 29.4×105 kJ/kg is the total metabolic energy, exhausted during the life span per 1 kg body mass of birds. This linear coefficient can be regarded as a relatively constant metabolic parameter for nonpasserine birds, in spite of 105 fold differences between the body mass of birds. The mean values of linear coefficient Āls for the 23 studied orders differed 4.65 times between big birds (order Struthioniformes) and small birds (order Psittaciformes), since Āls grew from 12.5×105 kJ/kg in order Struthioniformes to 58.13x105 kJ/kg in order Psittaciformes. The mean Āls values for 23 orders were nearly multiple to 3×105kJ/kg. The energy of 3×105kJ/kg was exhausted from 1 kg body mass of big and small birds for the periods when the sexual maturity was reached.
Key words: basal rate of metabolism, life span, nonpasserine birds, total metabolic energy
Tcherneva, E. & U. Giger, 2007. Molecular base of coagulation factor XI deficiency in Kerry Blue Terrier. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 10, No 4, 247-255.
Factor XI (FXI) deficiency has been reported in the Kerry blue terrier (KBT) breed and an isolated family of Great Pyrenees and English springer spaniel dogs (Knowler et al., 1994). Affected dogs have a mild bleeding tendency, but many remain asymptomatic. The FXI deficiency seems to be inherited as an autosomal trait with incomplete penetrance. Here we describe the molecular defect responsible for FXI deficiency in KBT dogs. Five FXI-deficient KBTs with either no or mild bleeding tendencies, were studied. Their partial thromboplastin times, but not their prothrombin times, were markedly prolonged and their plasma FXI activities were <10% of normal healthy controls. Genomic DNA and cDNA were prepared and sequenced utilizing primers for the canine FXI sequence derived from the published canine genome sequence. All 15 exons of the sequenced canine FXI gene were identical between the normal KBTs’ DNA and the published canine genome sequence. However, the 7th coding exon differs between normal and affected animals. It is normally 110 bp long, but in affected KBTs it contains a short interspersed nucleotide element (SINE) insertion. This exonic SINE is 90 bp long, consisting mostly of adenines coding for lysine which is presumed to affect the 3rd apple domain of the FXI gene. Further studies are in progress to characterize the effects of this SINE mutation on FXI function. Simple genomic DNA test has been developed to screen the KBT population to determine the mutant allele frequency within the breed and its association to any clinical bleeding tendencies.
Key words: FXI deficiency, Kerry Blue Terrier, short interspersed element (SINE)
Zarkov, I., 2007. Comparative evaluation of three serological diagnostic tests in a chicken model of experimental intratracheal infection with avian influenza virus A/DUCK/ BULGARIA/05 H6N2. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 10, No 4, 257-266.
After experimental intratracheal infection of chickens with an avian influenza viral isolate A/duck/Bulgaria/05 H6N2 (0.2 mL), the potential of the haemagglutination inhibition test (HIT), the immunodiffusion test (IDT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibody detection was evaluated. The results evidenced that in birds, antibodies to haemagglutinin, precipitating antibodies and IgG antibodies, detectable with ELISA, were formed. Subtype-specific antibodies were detected in all infected chickens. Serum titres ranged between 1:4 and 1:128 with predomination of 1:64 titres (44.8 %). The mean arithmetic titre for the experiment was 1:56.1. Precipitins were found out in all infected chickens. The titres ranged from undiluted to 1:128 with prevailing of 1:2 titres (27.6%). By means of ELISA, 100% seropositive birds were detected by the 7 and 14th day whereas the percentage on days 21 was 85.7% and 28 was 80%. S/P values were the highest by the 14th day (up to 2.776). The sensitivity, specificity and test agreement was 100% for HIT and IDT and 93.1% for ELISA on the background of a specificity of 100 %. The comparison of the three tests showed a specificity of 100 % for IDT and HIT and 93.1% for ELISA, sensitivity of 100 % and test agreement of 97.4 % for ELISA. The data for detection of type-specific antigens showed 93.1 % sensitivity for IDT and ELISA, specificity of 100 % and test agreement of 97.4 %.
Key words: avian influenza viruses, chickens, ELISA, haemagglutination inhibition test, immunodiffusion test
Popova, T. P., Y. M. Tzvetkov & Ts. Dikova, 2007. Enterotoxaemia in mouflons (Ovis musimon). Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 10, No 4, 267-272.
In a herd of mouflons, a lethality reaching 10% of the population, with pathomorphological signs of enterotoxaemia was observed. From all examined animals, Clostridium perfringens was isolated, serologically identified as type C. A carriership of C. perfringens type C was proved in healthy mouflons too. The principal factors, provoking the development of the disease were analyzed. The results showed a high sensitivity of mouflons to C. perfringens. This microorganism is probably part of the intestinal microflora in mouflons, like sheep and other animal species.
Key words: Clostridium perfringens type С, enterotoxaemia, mouflon
Simon, A.Y., K. A. Ihejirika, A. B. Ogunkoya, A. Z. Hassan, D. A. Y. Adawa & J. B. Adeyanju, 2007. Comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of topical antiseptic creams on canine wounds (preliminary communication). Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 10, No 4, 273-281.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of five broad-spectrum topical antiseptic creams on infected canine wounds and their suitability for clinical application in veterinary practice. Five topical antiseptic creams namely, TCP® (containing chlorine, iodine and phenol), Dettol® (containing phenol compounds, chloroxylenol and triclosan), Savlon® (containing chlorhexidine gluconate), Drapolene® (containing benzalkonium chloride and cetrimide) and Bacidin® (containing chlorhexidine) were evaluated on clean wounds, experimentally infected with beta-hemolytic, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus (field isolate) at concentration 109 bacterial organisms/mL (1 mL instilled in each wound). Wounds treated with sterile physiological saline solution served as controls. A total of 72 wounds were evaluated and all treatments were initiated two hours following wound infection and conducted up to day 28. The mean rate of reduction of bacterial colony count (×105 bacterial organisms/mL eluted and diluted swab specimen), and the rate of pus discharge were assessed and compared statistically. There were statistically significantly (P<0.05) lower values for the topical antiseptics used in the study compared to controls. Dettol® antiseptic cream that proved to be more effective than others showed a marked mean reduction in bacterial colonies, and by day 21 bacterial counts were reduced to below ×105 bacterial organisms/ml (0.0±0.0, P<0.05). The findings suggest that the use of topical antiseptic creams for the initial treatment of full-thickness skin wounds in companion animals was beneficial from a clinical point of view. The sticking of wound dressing which is common to aqueous preparations was not observed in this study, thus making bandage change easier.
Key words: antimicrobial efficacy, topical antiseptic cream, wounds