ISSN 1311-1477 (print); ISSN 131-3543 (online)
VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2, JUNE 2011
CONTENTS
Published by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia
University,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Volume 14, Number 2, June 2011, Summaries
Chakarova, S. R., K. M. Dimitrov & I. I. Chenchev, 2011. Etiology, epidemiology, clinical features and laboratory diagnostics of West Nile fever – a review. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 71–79.
West Nile fever is a non-contagious viral disease affecting birds, horses and humans. The disease is transmitted by blood-feeding insects (mosquitoes), mainly of Culex genus, but representatives of genera Aedes, Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culiseta, Deinocerites, Mansonia, Orthopodomyia, Psorophora and Uranotaenia may also have an important role in the spreading of the disease. Wild birds and particularly members of Corvidae, Passeridae and Charadriidae families are reservoir hosts of the infection. Mammals, including humans and equidae, are considered as “dead-end” or incidental hosts. The disease is characterized with fever, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, paresis, paralysis, general weakness, prolonged recumbency, depression. West Nile fever is endemic in many regions in Africa, the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East from where the infection could be introduced into new areas by migratory birds. Due to the expanding geographical distribution of the disease, accurate and fast diagnosis becomes essential, especially in areas settled with highly susceptible human and animal populations where the virus is introduced for the first time.
Key words: West Nile Fever, West Nile virus
Stefanov, I. S., 2011. Enzyme histochemical expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) in paranal sinus, external and internal anal sphincters in dogs. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 80-86.
The present study showed the sites of histochemical expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) in the different parts of canine paranal sinus. Keratinocytes in the basal and spinous layers exhibited a moderate to strong reaction whereas those in the upper layers – a weak enzyme histochemical reaction. No enzyme reaction was observed in stratum corneum. NADPH-d expression in secretory and myoepithelial cells of apocrine glands was moderate to strong. Sebaceous glands’ reaction was moderate to strong in peripheral sebocytes and weak to absent in central ones. The endothelium of blood vessels located in the subepithelial and subglandular connective tissue of the paranal sinus wall showed a moderate degree of enzyme histochemical activity. The longitudinal cross section of the external anal sphincter revealed areas of muscle fibres sarcolemma and perinuclear cytoplasmic zones with moderate to strong enzyme reaction. Strong enzyme activity of nitrergic nerve fibres was detected in the internal anal sphincter. This investigation was the first to show a marked NADPH-d activity in the various structures of canine paranal sinus that was probably involved in nitric oxide synthesis related to physiological and pathological events in this organ.
Key words: dog, NADPH-d, paranal sinus
Eshratkhah, B., D. Namvar, H. Rajabian, A. Mohammad Eini & S. Farshbaf, 2011. Agreement between electrochemi-luminescence and radioimmunoassay methods for determination of plasma thyroid hormone concentrations in sheep. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 87-93.
Various methods are used to determine plasma thyroid hormones concentrations in medical diagnostic laboratories; but, some of them influence the results for thyroid hormone levels in domestic animals. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of two predominant plasma thyroid hormones using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods in sheep. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 30 clinically healthy and non-pregnant adult ewes. The separated plasma was analyzed to determine thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations. Results indicated significant differences in the T4 (P<0.05) and T3 (P<0.001) concentrations between the two methods, and only the level of T4 was higher when using the RIA method. The linear regression analysis of these hormones showed that the RIA and ECLIA results were significantly correlated: P=0.001, r=0.759 for T4; P=0.008, r=0.638 for T3. The ECLIA method exhibited a good precision for determining plasma T4 and T3 concentrations in sheep. It was concluded that ECLIA can be used as an alternative to RIA for assaying sheep T4 and T3 in clinical laboratories, but it has some limitations for application in veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
Key words: electrochemiluminescence, plasma, radioimmunoassay, sheep, thyroid hormones
Bivolarski, B., E. Vachkova, S. Ribarski, K. Uzunova & D. Pavlov, 2011. Amino acid content and biological value of rabbit meat proteins, depending on weaning age. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 94-102.
The amino acid content and biological value of rabbit meat proteins, expressed as essential amino acid index (EAAI) depending on weaning period were studied. For this purpose, 15 White New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups: group A (n=7) – weaned at the age of 21 days, and group B (n=8) – weaned at the age of 35 days. The rabbits were slaughtered at the age of 90 days, in accordance with the requirements of humane treatment of animals. It was established that the weaning age of rabbits had an influence on the amino acid content and biological value of meat proteins. In rabbits weaned at the age of 35 days, the biological value of the proteins was higher due to the higher content of basic amino acids (lysine, histidine, arginine), leucines (leucine and isoleucine), and monoamino carboxylic acids (valine). Along with that, the biological value of m. Longissimus Lumborum meat proteins was higher than that of m. Semimembranosus meat. With regard to the amino acid content and biological value of proteins in meat, weaning of rabbits at the age of 35 days is recommended.
Key words: biological value of proteins, essential and non-essential amino acids, rabbit meat
Abubakar, M., S. Ashiq, Z. Hussain, M. Hussain, Sh. Saleha, M. J. Arshed & A. Bin Zahoor, 2011. Comparison of antigen detection methods of peste des petits ruminants virus in clinical samples of small ruminants. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 103-108.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute and highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants such as goats and sheep. The diagnosis of PPR infection in sheep and goats populations can be strengthened with detection of antigen in clinical samples of susceptible populations. In present study, the PPR virus antigen detection was investigated and compared in clinical sheep and goat samples by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), haemagglutination (HA) tests and immuno-capture ELISA (IC-ELISA). The viral antigen was detected from 8.95% of the samples tested by AGID, 20.9% tested by HA test and 34.3% tested by IC-ELISA. Kappa statistics scores for HA versus AGID, IC-ELISA versus AGID and HA versus IC-ELISA were 0.45 (95% confidence interval CI 0.158–0.742), 0.359 (95% CI 0.01–0.69) and 0.035 (95% CI 0.309–0.694), respectively, and indicated a non-significant agreement between the tests. The major findings of this study were that the HA test was more sensitive than AGID for detection of PPRV antigen, but IC-ELISA was the most sensitive of all three. The rapid detection of viral antigen by appropriate methods will help in early diagnosis of infection and subsequent control of the PPR disease in Pakistan.
Key words: antigen detection, agar gel immunodiffusion test, ELISA, haemagglutination test, peste des petits ruminants virus
Doosti, A. & P. Ghasemi Dehkordi, 2011. Application of real-time PCR for identification and differentiation of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis in cattle. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 109-115.
Real-time PCR is a sensitive and specific method for detection and differentiation of Brucella spp. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Brucella spp. and to differentiate Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus in cattle population in southwest Iran. A TaqMan analysis and single-step PCR was performed in total of 425 bovine blood samples. The results showed 127 (29.88%) positive samples for Brucella spp. By real-time PCR 9, 69, and 5 of these specimens, were positive for B. melitensis, B. abortus, and both bacteria respectively. Results of present study indicated a high presence of this pathogen in the region. Real-time PCR is technically more simple, accurate, and rapid than current standard methods for identification and differentiation of Brucella species. To our knowledge, this study is the first prevalence report of identification and differentiation of B. abortus and B. melitensis by real-time PCR technique in Iran.
Key words: B. abortus, B. melitensis, cattle, real-time PCR
Abdel Monem, U. M. & K. H. El-Shahat, 2011. Effect of different dietary levels of inorganic zinc oxide on ovarian activities, reproductive performance of Egyptian Baladi ewes and growth of their lambs. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 116-123.
The experiment was conducted on 48 Baladi ewes divided into four groups of 12 ewes each. Group 1 was kept as a control and was fed the basal diet consisting of roughage and concentrate mixture. Group 2 (ZnO 50 ppm) was fed the basal diet supplemented with 50 ppm zinc oxide. Group 3 (ZnO 100 ppm) and group 4 (ZnO 150 ppm) received the same basal diet supplemented with 100 and 150 ppm zinc oxide, respectively. Fertility traits of ewes and weight of lambs were recorded. Laparoscopic examination was carried out 3 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. Ovarian follicles were counted and classified according to their diameter into small (<2 mm), medium (2–4 mm) and large follicles (>4 mm). The numbers of corpora lutea on both ovaries as well as the ovulation rates were recorded. Data indicated that the supplementation of different levels of inorganic zinc oxide significantly increased the incidence of oestrus, pregnancy, lambing rates and resulted in shorter onset of oestrus as compared to the control group. A similar trend was observed in the mean body weight and daily gain of lambs born to supplemented ewes. A significantly (p<0.05) higher population of large follicles (2.5±0.5 and 3.0±0.6 follicles) were found in ewes supplemented with 100 and 150 ppm ZnO than in control and 50 ppm ZnO groups (1.0±0.2 and 1.0±0.3 follicles, respectively). The ovulation rate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in ewes supplemented with 150 and 100 ppm ZnO than those in 50 ppm ZnO and controls. In conclusion, the supplementation of 100 to150 ppm zinc oxide to the basal diet of Baladi ewes significantly improved the reproductive performance by decreasing the numbers of days to oestrus, increasing the incidence of oestrus, pregnancy, lambing rates and enhancing the body weight gain of their lambs. The number of large follicles and ovulation rates were also increased.
Key words: Baladi ewes, ovarian activity, reproductive performance, zinc oxide
Dimitrov, D. S. & А. G. Genchev, 2011. Comparative morphometric investigations of intraorbital glands in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 14, No 2, 124-127.
The present investigation was performed on 80 intraorbital glands (40 lacrimal and 40 Harderian) obtained from 20 sexually mature clinically healthy Japanese quails (10 males and 10 females) of the Manchurian Golden and Pharaoh breeds. Prior to fixation, the weight and metric dimensions of glands were determined. In both quail breeds studied, a clear sexual dimorphism with regard to live body weight was observed with female birds being heavier than males. The body weight of birds did not correlate with the weight of either gland. There was neither a correlation between the three morphometric parameters and quails' sex and breed.
Key words: Harderian gland, Japanese quail, lacrimal gland, morphometry, weight