ISSN 1311-1477 (print); ISSN 131-3543 (online)
VOLUME 14, NUMBER 1, MARCH 2011
CONTENTS
Published by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia
University,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 14, Number 1, March 2011, Summaries
Kawata, Y., 2011. An analysis of natural factors of traffic accidents involving Yezo deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis). Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 1-10.
In Hokkaido, Japan, the number of Yezo deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) has recently increased drastically, causing a large number of deer-vehicle traffic accidents. This paper examines conditions related to deer-vehicle traffic accidents by analysing the following relationships: time of accident and lunar phase; time of accidents and time of sunrise/sunset; likelihood of accidents and rainfall patterns, temperature and season (particularly snow and hunting seasons). The results suggest that the potential for deer-vehicle traffic accidents increases during hunting and non-snow seasons when there is little or no rainfall, just before sunrise or just after sunset, or during a full, first quarter, or third quarter moon. A statistically significant relationship between temperature and deer-vehicle traffic accidents was not detected.
Key words: deer-vehicle traffic accidents, hunting season, lunar phase, rainfall, snow season, sunrise/sunset, temperature
Dimitrov, R., P. Yonkova & K. Stamatova, 2011. Agreement between sagittal plane cross sectional anatomy, sonoanatomy and computed tomography of rabbit prostate and bulbourethral glands. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 11-16.
The purpose of the study was to present some anatomy imaging characteristics of prostate gland and bulbourethral glands of domestic rabbits and to evaluate the consistency of information for depicting the normal morphological topography of studied organs. Ten clinically healthy, sexually mature male New Zealand White rabbits at the age of 8 months, weighing 2.83.2 kg were examined by ultrasonography. The prostatic complex was investigated by transabdominal prepubic approach and bulbourethral glands by perineal approach. Six rabbits were submitted to computed tomography (CT) study in dorsal recumbency. The CT images of prostate and bulbourethral glands were obtained by sagittal scans of the pelvis from the promontory to the caudal rim of pubic symphysis. In five animals, frozen sagittal cross sections through the pelvis were obtained after euthanasia and were compared to sagittal diagnostic anatomy images. The sagittal ultrasonographic image of rabbit prostatic complex was observed as homogeneous, massive, oval finding with a relatively high echogenicity whereas bulbourethral glands were visualized as a relatively hyperechoic solid homogeneous oval finding. The CT image of rabbit prostate was visualized at the level of the second sacral vertebra and dorsally to the anterior symphyseal rim whereas the bulbourethral glands were observed at the level of the second coccygeal vertebra dorsally to the posterior symphyseal rim.
Key words: bulbourethral glands, imaging anatomy, prostate, rabbit
Roussenova, N., 2011. Antibacterial activity of essential oils against the etiological agent of American foulbrood disease (Paenibacillus larvae). Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 17-24.
Antibacterial activities of eleven essential oils against Paenibacillus larvae (15 field strains and the reference BCCM / LMG 9820 strain) were studied by the disk diffusion method and the method of serial dilutions in agar. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oils was determined within 1%0.015% v/v. Highest activity: MIC ≤ 0.060.015% v/v was shown by essential oils of cinnamon, thyme, clove, peppermint, lemongrass, sage and oregano. Variable activity exhibited marjoram and tee tree oils. Citrus essential oils showed the lowest inhibitory effect with MIC ≥ 0.121.0% v/v for mandarin oil and ≥ 0.250.5% v/v for grapefruit oil. Established antibacterial activity against Paenibacillus larvae encourages further research to include essential oils as an alternative means in the measures for prevention and control of American foulbrood without the use of antibiotics.
Key words: American foulbrood, essential oils, minimal inhibitory concentration, Paenibacillus larvae
Vashin, I. T. & T. T. Stoyanchev, 2011. Influence of temperature on Campylobacter jejuni survival rates in pork meat. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 25-30.
The effect of low temperatures on С. jejuni in artificially contaminated pork meat was studied. It was established that the microorganisms did not grow in chilled or frozen meat, but were able to survive during the storage period. At 14°С campylobacteria could be detected up to the 25th day, while at 18 to 20 °С: up to the 45th day. During the process of storage, a large part of the campylobacteria were killed, and 89.5% of those that survived were sublethally damaged (stressed) and could not grow in or on selective nutrient media. The cultivation of samples in broth without a selective supplement at 37°С for 4 to 5 h allowed recovery of the sublethally damaged cells.
Key words: Campylobacter jejuni, freezing, meat, survival
Valcheva, R., P. Belopopska, G. Mateva, T. Hristova & H. Daskalov, 2011. Distribution and serological typing of Salmonella spp. isolates from broiler carcasses in Bulgaria. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 31-38.
The studies were performed on samples of broiler carcasses from 13 different Bulgarian poultry slaughterhouses in 2008. Neck skin samples from 327 chilled broilers were examined for presence of Salmonella spp. All isolates were serologically typed. Positive samples were 86/327 or 26.29% of all studied broiler carcasses. Contaminated samples originated more frequently from South Bulgaria as compared to North Bulgaria (28.45% and 25.12% respectively). The most commonly encountered Salmonella serovars were S. Montevideo 22; S. Enteritidis 18; S. Infantis 18; S. Virchow 5; S. Menden 4 isolates. Our studies showed that more than Ό (26.29%) of all examined chilled broiler carcasses were contaminated with Salmonella spp. that was much more than the overall proportion of positive samples in fresh broiler meat at EU level (5.5% in 2007).
Key words: broiler carcasses, distribution, Salmonella spp.
Yotov, S., A. Atanasov & P. Georgiev, 2011. Determination of foetal sex in buffaloes through a single sonographic examination. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 39-44.
The goal of the present study was to establish the possibility for determining the foetal sex in buffaloes through a single sonographic examination. The experiment included 39 female Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes raised and fed uniformly, inseminated by natural mating during the oestrus period. All animals were subjected to ultrasonographic examinations for pregnancy via transrectal approach. The accuracy of this method to determine the sex of foetuses was established. The foetal gestation age and position were found to play a key role for the precise diagnosis. The period between gestation weeks 1013 was the most suitable for determining the foetal sex in buffaloes of the examined breed through a single sonography exam. It is recommended to perform the evaluation in frontal position of the foetus.
Key words:
buffaloes, foetal sex, ultrasonography
Todorova, I., 2011. Effects of chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy combined with antioxidants in dogs with mammary gland carcinoma. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 45-56.
Most anticancer drugs (epirubucin, adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristin, cyclophosphamide) exert their cytotoxic effect by free radicals-mediated mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to establish whether the antioxidants co-administered with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide reduce the adverse side effects of cytostatic chemotherapy without affecting their efficacy in dogs with spontaneous mammary gland carcinomas. Studies were performed in 14 bitches aged 614 years, weighing 429 kg, with histologically confirmed mammary gland carcinoma. Ten days after the surgical removal of the tumour, animals were divided into two groups: group I, treated with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide alone and group II, treated with a combination of same anticancer drugs and antioxidants (vitamins C, E, and A). It was concluded that the inclusion of antioxidants as adjuvant to the standard chemotherapy protocol resulted in less adverse effects without reducing the efficacy of cytostatics and improved patients' tolerance to treatment.
Key words: antioxidants, cyclophosphamide, dogs, epirubicin, mammary tumours
Nikolovski, G. & E. Atanaskova, 2011. Use of canine hair samples as indicators of lead and cadmium pollution in the Republic of Macedonia. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 57-61.
Different animal species have been used in environmental pollution biomonitoring studies in different habitats. Pets could prove to be good indicators of human exposure since they share the same environment as their owners, and therefore are exposed to the same pollutants. The aim of this study was to use dogs hair to evaluate and compare the content of two heavy metals: cadmium and lead in different areas, considering the influence of the age. For this purpose, hair samples were collected from 95 dogs from different localities and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The main lead level in dog hair was 763.71± 558.30 μg/kg, and that of cadmium 69.51± 102.92 μg/kg. The comparison of the results between the different areas showed statistically significant differences in canine hair lead content between Veles and Prilep (P<0.001). Cadmium hair concentrations differed statistically significantly between Veles and Probistip (p<0.01) as well as between Veles and Prilep (p<0.01). The results of this study confirmed the potential of using dogs as bioindicators of heavy metal environmental pollution.
Key words: cadmium, dog, environment, hair, lead, pollution monitoring
Hadipour, M. M. & P. Golchin, 2011. Serosurvey of H9N2 avian influenza virus during respiratory disease outbreaks in broiler flocks in Dezful, southern Iran. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 1, 62-65.
Since 1998, an epidemic of avian influenza occurred in the Iranian poultry industry. The identified agent was a low-pathogenicity H9N2 avian influenza virus that caused frequent episodes of high mortality in broiler chicken farms in Iran and some other Asian countries. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of AIV H9N2 subtype in commercial chicken flocks in Dezful, southern Iran. Serum samples from 160 broilers (8 broiler flocks) with respiratory symptoms, were examined by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for specific antibodies against AIV H9N2 subtype. Overall HI titre and seroprevalence against H9N2 were 7.3 and 75.95%, respectively.
Key words: Avian influenza, broiler chickens, Dezful, H9N2 subtype, prevalence