ISSN 1311-1477 (print); ISSN 131-3543 (online)
Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
VOL. 11, No 2, JUNE, 2008
CONTENTS
Published by the Trakia
University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 11, Number 2, June 2008, Summaries
Penchev Georgiev, I., 2008. Effect of colostrum insulin-like growth factors on growth and development of neonatal calves. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 75-88.
The purpose of the present paper is to review the role of colostrum growth factors in the growth and development of neonatal calves. An emphasis is put on insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2), that are abundant in cow’s colostrum. Although these factors are absorbed in rather limited amounts, they exert an effect upon both the growth and development of the gastrointestinal tract, and on the functional maturation of the organism and its adaptation to the novel environment after the birth, when a transition from parenteral to enteral nutrition takes place. A number of systemic effects of colostrum on the organism of neonates are described and discussed, as well as the role of endogenous growth factors.
Key words: colostrum, growth and development, insulin-like growth factors, neonatal calves
Ilieva, G. S., A. N. Tolekova, R. V. Sandeva, K. J. Trifonova, Z. I. Tsokeva, M. G. Ganeva, Z. M. Mihova, A. T. Tolev & S. L. Zezovski, 2008. Role of transmembrane calcium current in angiotensin II-mediated contraction of detrusor organ strips from rat urinary bladder, Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 89-94.
The changes of contractile activity of smooth muscle strips from urinary bladder of Wistar rats induced by angiotensin II were examined. The preparations were subjected to the influence of medium containing high calcium concentration to establish the participation of extracellular calcium in smooth muscle contraction. The role of membrane calcium channels in angiotensin II-induced contraction was investigated by application of selective (1-octanol) and nonselective (nicardipine) calcium channel blockers. Angiotensin II (1 µМ) and СаCl2 (10 mМ) provoked contractile response with maximum amplitudes of 1.57±0.5 g and 1.5±0.6 g, respectively. Both types of calcium channel antagonists inhibited the contractile response of the urinary bladder detrusor. Our results showed a greater significance of calcium-induced calcium release than inositol-triphosphate-induced calcium release in tonic contraction of detrusor muscle strips.
Key words: 1-octanol, angiotensin II, nicardipine, organ bath, urinary bladder
Nazifi, S., A. Rezakhani, M. Koohimoghadam, M. Ansari-Lari & Z. Esmailnezhad, 2008. Evaluation of serum haptoglobin in clinically healthy cattle and cattle with inflammatory diseases in Shiraz, a tropical area in southern Iran. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 95-101.
This study was designed to determine a reference range of haptoglobin (Hp) in Iranian Holstein cattle of different ages and of both sexes, and to evaluate Hp as marker in some inflammatory diseases in Shiraz, a tropical area in southern Iran. Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein of 50 clinically healthy cattle and 36 cows with various inflammatory diseases (acute diffuse traumatic reticuloperitonitis, digestive tract infection and abomasal displacement, anaplasmosis, theileriosis, acute respiratory infections and clinical mastitis). Hp was measured according to preservation of the peroxidase activity of haemoglobin which is directly proportional to the amount of haptoglobin. There was no significant difference in Hp concentrations between healthy Holstein cattle from the studied different age groups as well as between both sexes. Pregnancy and lactation had no significant effects on blood Hp concentrations. Statistically significant differences in Hp were observed between clinically healthy and diseased cows (P<0.05). The results of the present study revealed that serum Hp was a sensitive factor in various inflammatory conditions in cattle.
Key words: clinically healthy cattle, haptoglobin, inflammatory diseases, Iran
Özbey, G., P. Tatli Seven, A. Muz, H. B. Ertaş & İ. H. Çerçi, 2008. Isolation of Salmonella spp. from faecal samples of cracked egg fed hens and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmation. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 103-112.
At 56 weeks of age, 30 Hyline (W-377) laying pullets were randomly distributed in individual (1 pullet per cage) 45´45´35 cm cages. Cracked egg was used as protein supplement to the diet. Three groups of 10 hyline laying pullets each were formed. Three isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were prepared from different protein sources as followed: ration 1 (control) - soybean meal; ration 2 (experiment 1) – soybean meal + cracked egg (3.25%), ration 3 (experiment 2) – soybean meal + cracked egg (7.50%). A total of three feed and 30 faecal samples, were examined for the presence of Salmonella spp. The isolates were identified by both conventional methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Salmonella spp. strains were isolated and identified in 2 out of the 3 diets (ration 3 – soybean meal + cracked egg 7.50% and ration 2 – soybean meal + cracked egg 3.25%), as well as in the faeces of 5 hens fed on ration 3 and 3 hens fed on ration 2. This study showed an increased prevalence of Salmonella spp. in the faeces of hens fed diets supplemented with different amounts of cracked egg.
Key words: cracked egg, culture, laying hens, Salmonella spp., PCR
Prelezov, P., V. Koinarski & D. Georgieva, 2008. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among sheep and goats in the Stara Zagora region. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 113-119.
By means of the indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT), blood serum antibody titres against Toxoplasma gondii were analyzed in 380 sheep and 364 goats originating from 10 settlements in the Stara Zagora region, Bulgaria. Positive samples (titres > 1:80) were investigated one more time after treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol to detect IgM antibodies. In sheep, 183 samples (48.2 %) were positive, with antibody titres ranging from 1:10 tо 1:1280, whereas in goats seropositive samples were 218 (59.8 %) with titres between 1:10 and 1:2560. IgM antibodies were detected in blood sera from 5 sheep and 11 goats.
Key words: Bulgaria, epidemiology, indirect haemagglutination test, goats, seroprevalence, sheep, Toxoplasma gondii
Stefanov, I. & A. Vodenicharov, 2008. Morphological study of mast cells in feline paranal sinus. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 121-124.
A histological study upon the localization, density (mm2), shape and dimensions of mast cells in the wall of paranal sinuses (PS) of healthy European shorthair cats from both genders at the age of 3-4 years was performed. In 240 fields, 2762 mast cells were counted. In the propria of PS mucosa and the outlet duct, mast cells were relatively regularly distributed. In the lining epithelium, the intraepithelial localization was observed as a single finding. Similar localization was observed among the epithelial cells of part of glandular tubules, with frequent occurrence of cell clusters of 3-5 cells in the interstitium. In the musculature, mast cells were detected in both the perimysium and the endomysium. Single mastocytes were situated around the acini of sebaceous glands, around their outlet ducts as well as intraepithelially. Fewest cells (4.0±0.3 /mm2) were observed in the external anal sphincter and the most numerous - in the connective tissue (18.1±0.9 /mm2). Their average number was 11.6±0.7 /mm2 in the apocrine layer and 9.8±0.6 /mm2 for sebaceous glands clusters. The shape of mast cells in the muscle layer was elongated and in the other part of the PS wall - mainly oval. The comparative analysis of the present data with a similar study of ours in dogs showed statistically significantly lower number of mast cells in the PS in cats.
Key words: cat, mast cells, paranal sinus
Bigham, A. S. & Z. Shafiei, 2008. Comparison of caudal epidural anaesthesia with lidocaine-distilled water and lidocaine-magnesium sulfate combination in sheep. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 125-130.
Epidural anaesthesia is commonly utilized in veterinary medicine to allow diagnostic, obstetrical, and surgical interventions in the perineal region of domestic animals. Lidocaine is one of the most frequently used epidural anaesthetics. The following study was carried out to compare the time of onset and the duration of analgesia produced by the administration of lidocaine-MgSO4 combination with that produced by lidocaine-distilled water in the epidural space of sheep. Seven healthy adult (2 ± 0.5 years of age) sheep (49±3 kg body weight) were used in this study. Significant difference (p<0.001) was noted for onset of analgesia between lidocaine-distilled water (2.07±0.73 min) and lidocaine-MgSO4 (4.57±1.27 min). The latter combination produced analgesia of significantly longer duration (174.0±12.19 min) than that of lidocaine-distilled water (53.42±4.7 min). There were no significant differences in standing time between groups. Also, there were no significant differences at the different post administration periods (min 10, 30, 45 and 60) compared to baseline values of heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature for both groups of sheep. The utilization of the studied lidocaine-MgSO4 combination would allow obstetrical and surgical procedures of a long duration relatively soon after the epidural injection, without re-administration of the anaesthetic agent.
Key words: epidural anaesthesia, lidocaine, MgSO4, sheep
Pavlov, A., D. Dimitrov, G. Penchev & L. Georgiev, 2008. Structural changes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fish meat during freezing. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 2, 131-136.
Histological and morphometrical investigations on dorsal skeletal muscles from fresh and frozen common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) meat were carried out. The light microscopy of samples from fresh meat did not show any microstructural changes. The samples from frozen fish meat showed structural changes in meat. Muscle cells with initial processes of breakdown in the central part prevailed, whereas peripheral changes were not observed. The sarcoplasma of these cells was not with a fibrillar structure, but instead, was a detritus mass with granular composition and a markedly basophilic staining pattern. Morphometric studies of dorsal skeletal muscles showed that muscle bundles in frozen carp meat were larger compared to those of fresh meat. It is concluded that the freezing of carp meat produced various structural changes in dorsal skeletal musculature that could be used in the differentiation of fresh from frozen thawed fish.
Key words: common carp, freezing, histological changes