ISSN 1311-1477 (print); ISSN 131-3543 (online)
Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
VOL. 11, No 3, SEPTEMBER, 2008
CONTENTS
Published by the Trakia
University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 11, Number 3, September 2008, Summaries
Mohamed, R. A. & E. B. Abdelsalam, 2008. A review on pneumonic pasteurellosis (respiratory mannheimiosis) with emphasis on pathogenesis, virulence mechanisms and predisposing factors. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 139-160.
Pneumonic pasteurellosis is one of the most economically important infectious diseases of ruminants with a wide prevalence throughout the continents. The disease is characterized by an acute febrile course with severe fibrinous or fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia, fibrinous pleurisy and septicaemia. Infected animals may die within a few days of the onset of clinical signs, but those which survive the acute attack may become chronically infected. Mannheimia haemolytica is well established to be the major aetiological agent of the disease although Pasteurella multocida has also been incriminated in many acute outbreaks. Both Mannheimia and Pasteurella species are commensally resident in the respiratory tract of healthy ruminants and are capable of causing infection in animals with compromised pulmonary defense system. Hence, the disease is essentially triggered by physical or physiological stress created by adverse environmental and climatic conditions such as extremely bad weather, poor management, overcrowding, transportation or previous infection with respiratory viruses, mycoplasma or some other pathogenic organisms. In the present review, relevant aspects of pneumonic pasteurellosis are described and discussed in cattle, sheep and goats with more emphasis on pathogenesis, virulence mechanisms and predisposing factors.
Key words: Mannheimia, mannheimiosis, Pasteurella, pasteurellosis, pneumonia, ruminants
Dimitrova, S. S., I. Penchev Georgiev, I. N. Kanelov, Y. I. Iliev, S. I. Tanev & T. Mircheva Georgieva, 2008. Intravenous glucose tolerance test and glucose kinetic parameters in rabbits. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 161-169.
The purpose of this study was to determine the normal range and test variability for intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) in rabbits. Fifty one clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes (31 female and 20 male), 3.5-4 months of age and weighing 2.8 to 3.7 kg were used. The IVGTT was performed after an overnight fasting period of 12 h by intravenous injection of 40% glucose (0.5 g/kg body weight) as a bolus dose over a period of 60 s. Blood samples were collected prior to (0 min) and at 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min after glucose administration. The following kinetic parameters of glucose were calculated: half-life time for blood glucose disappearance (t½β glucose, min), glucose elimination rate constant (Kål glucose, min-1), area under the blood glucose concentration curve versus time (AUCglucose 0-90 min; mmol/L.min). The test was repeated after an interval of 3 weeks in 15 rabbits and coefficients of variation (CV) were calculated by standard methods. The ranges for blood glucose concentration (mmol/L) at 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min after IVGTT were 3.8-8.8, 12.8-26.0, 11.5-21.3, 8.9-18.5, 6.6-15.9, 6.0-12.4, 4.8-10.6, 5.3-8.8 and 4.3-8.5, respectively. Means ± SD (range) for Kel glucose, t½ β glucose, AUCglucose 0-90 min during IVGTT were 0.013 ± 0.004 min-1 (0.0044-0.021 min-1), 57.5 ± 16.2 min (20–95 min); 922 ± 117 mmol/L.min (642-1202 mmol/L.min), respectively. Mean values did not differ between the two tests performed 3 weeks apart and the intra-individual coefficients of variation for Kel glucose, t½β glucose, AUCglucose 0-90 min were 16%, 18%, and 17%, respectively, indicating satisfactory reproducibility for these variables with acceptable variation in individual rabbits. Normal ranges for blood glucose concentration at different time points and glucose kinetic parameters after an intravenous glucose tolerance test established in the present study may contribute to better interpretation of test results and provide reliable criteria for the evaluation of normal and impaired glucose tolerance in rabbits.
Key words: intravenous glucose tolerance test, rabbits, glucose kinetic parameters
Stefanov, I. & R. Simeonov, 2008. Histochemical and morphometric studies of connective tissue fibres in canine paranal sinus. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 171-178.
The aim of the present investigation was to determine the localization, histochemical reactivity and the dimensions of connective tissue fibres in the wall of canine paranal sinus (PS) as well as to determine the dimensions of elastic and collagen fibres. The stroma was composed mainly by collagen fibres (CF). The thicker CF were situated in the subglandular connective tissue between the apocrine glands and sinus musculature (SGS) whereas those located in the connective tissue between the sinus epithelium and apocrine glands (SES) were statistically significantly thinner (p<0.01). CF with a various thickness were observed, that decreased in the direction of the epimysium of the external anal sphincter (ES) to the endomysium. The reticular fibres (RF) were assembled immediately under the multilayer squamous sinus epithelium. They were located both around the apocrine tubules and among the tubules. RF embedded sebaceous glands, skeletal muscle cells and smooth muscle cells. Elastic fibres (ÅF) located in SGC and ICT were thicker and longer than those in SEC. The ÅF in SES were thinner and shorter compared to those in SGS. Histochemically, a various degree of reactivity of CF and EF in the wall of the paranal sinus, was observed.
Key words: connective tissue fibres, dog, perianal sinus
Iliev, M. V., H. M. Najdenski, A. Stals, H. Werbrouck, L. Herman & E. Van Coillie, 2008. Optimization of Real-Time PCR protocol for detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 179-184.
Detection and isolation of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains from foods of animal origin is difficult and inefficient in many cases. During the last decade, many classical microbiological and immunochemical methods are successfully complemented with molecular based techniques. In the current study, an optimized protocol for Real-Time PCR and an efficient system for detection of ail gene in Yersinia enterocolitica is presented. The selected primer pair ÌÐ1/MP2 with the MPFR as a positive control and TaqMan® probe were successfully applied for detection and quantification of Yersinia enterocolitica WA 314 strain of bio/serotype 1b/O:8. The established protocol could be implemented for detection and quantitation of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains in clinical samples like meat, milk, faeces, etc.
Key words: ail gene, optimization, real-time PCR, Yersinia enterocolitica
Ozbey, G., P. Tatli Seven, A. Muz, H. B. Ertas & I. H. Cerci, 2008. Isolation of Listeria spp. from faecal samples of cracked egg fed chickens and RAPD analysis of Listeria monocytogenes strains. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 185-194.
At 56 weeks of age, 30 Hyline (W-377) laying pullets were randomly distributed in individual (1 pullet per cage) 45 x 45 x 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 obtained and examined for the presence of Listeria spp. Samples were enriched using Listeria Enrichment Broth and inoculated onto Listeria Selective Agar. The isolates were identified by both conventional methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A 701 bp fragment of listeriolysin O sequence for Listeria monocytogenes was amplified using specific primers by PCR for confirmation of the identification. In ration 3 (soybean meal + cracked egg 7.50%) and ration 2 (soybean meal + cracked egg 3.25%), L. monocytogenes and Listeria innocua, were respectively isolated by culture. In the faeces from hens fed ration 3, L. monocytogenes (5 hens) and Listeria welshimeri (1 hen) were detected by culture. Birds fed ration 2 exhibited positive culture results for L. innocua (4 hens) and L. welshimeri (1 hen). All L. monocytogenes strains that were positive by culture were also detected to be positive by the PCR. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were used to detect the genetic variability among L. monocytogenes isolates. All L. monocytogenes isolates were typed by RAPD using a random primer (OPA-11). In the molecular epidemiological analysis using RAPD assay, the isolates produced three different band profiles using OPA-11. The results of this study demonstrated that multiple genotypes of L. monocytogenes isolates existed in faeces of hens fed rations supplemented with cracked eggs.
Key words: cracked egg, laying hens, Listeria spp, PCR, RAPD
Amer, H. & A. Moose, 2008. Relationship between season of the year, culture medium and in vitro oocyte competence in Dromedary camels. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 195-204.
The effect of season and hormones in the culture medium on the competence of camel oocytes to mature in vitro was conducted on 67 ovarian pairs. The ovaries were collected during breeding season (BS; n=24), at early non-breeding season (ENBS; n=20) and at late non-breeding season (LNBS; n=23). The follicles (2-8 mm) were aspirated, then oocytes were qualified into 4 grades: Q1 (very good), Q2 (good), Q3 (bad) and Q4 (very bad). The effect of follicle-stimulating hormone and equine chorionic gonadotropin (0.5 μg/mL FSH or 10 IU/mL eCG) on cumulus expansion and in vitro maturation of oocytes was assessed. The numbers of healthy follicles were significantly (P<0.01) higher during BS compared to both ENBS and LNBS. The left ovary showed a higher (P<0.01) activity than the right one regarding the number of healthy follicles. The number of Q1 to Q3 oocytes and recovery rate were significantly (P<0.01) higher during BS than NBS at early or late months. A significantly (P<0.01) higher number of Q1 to Q3 oocytes were obtained during the ENBS than in LNBS months. The left ovary had higher (P<0.01) number of Q1 and Q2 oocytes compared to the right one. Only during the BS, oocytes cultured in medium containing eCG exhibited a higher (P<0.05) percentage of expansion and maturation (metaphase-II) rates than the medium containing FSH. In conclusion, dromedary camels showed better ovarian activity and oocyte status during BS compared to NBS, and displayed ovarian activity during early as well as late non-breeding months. Further detailed studies are required to establish the reproductive efficiency of dromedary camels throughout the non-breeding season.
Key words: breeding, camel, culture, eCG, FSH, maturation, non-breeding, oocytes
Useh, N. M., A. J. Nok, N. D. G. Ibrahim, S. Adamu & K. A. N. Esievo, 2008. Haematological and some novel biochemical changes in Zebu cattle with blackleg. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 205-211.
The haematological and biochemical changes in Zebu cattle following a natural outbreak of blackleg were investigated at Kachia, Kaduna state, Nigeria. Blood samples (n=20) from each of two herds involved in the outbreak were collected from both the apparently healthy and sick (infected) cattle for analysis. Mean packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total protein concentrations of the sick animals were higher (P<0.001) than those of the apparently healthy ones. There were statistically significant decreases in mean total white blood cell counts (P<0.001) but not in differential leukocyte counts (P>0.001) of the sick animals. Mean free serum sialic acid levels of the sick animals increased (P>0.001), while mean erythrocyte surface sialic acid concentration of the sick animals decreased (P>0.001). Also, there was an increase in the mean neuraminidase activity in the plasma of the infected cattle (P<0.001) compared to the apparently healthy ones. The implication of these findings in the pathogenesis of blackleg is discussed.
Key words: blackleg, haematological and biochemical changes, natural outbreak, Zebu cattle
Vashin, I., T. Stoyanchev & V. Roussev, 2008. Prevalence of microorganisms of the Campylobacter genus in quail (Coturnix coturnix) eggs. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 11, No 3, 213-216.
A number of bird species, such as quails, partridges and pheasants, are interesting and delicious culinary items, yet their thermal processing is often short and insufficient. The presence of microorganisms of the Campylobacter genus in the eggs of those species has not been established. The present study has determined the existing campylobacterial contamination in different batches of quail eggs. The samples were taken from eggs in the day they were laid, as well as from eggs kept at room temperature for 5 days. Despite the established presence of Campylobacter in the excrements (63.3%) and the cloaca (76.7%) of the laying birds, no contamination was found in the egg samples.
Key words: Campylobacter spp., eggs, Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix)