Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine (BJVM)


ISSN 1311-1477

Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
VOL.
8, No 2, JUNE, 2005

 

CONTENTS

83
FULL TEXT

L. Sotirov, I. Dimitrov & M. Djorbineva
Serum lysozyme concentrations in different sheep breeds

91
FULL TEXT

D. Djouvinov & R. Mihailov
Effect of low protein level on performance of growing and laying Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

99
FULL TEXT

L. Sharif, J. Obeidat & F. Al-Ani
Risk factors for lamb and kid mortality in sheep and goat farms in Jordan

109
FULL TEXT

I. Bochev & N. Russenova
Resistance of Staphylococcus spp. strains isolated from goats with subclinical mastitis

119
FULL TEXT

D. S. Dimitrov & I. P. Nikiforov
Histological and histochemical studies of Harderian gland, lacrimal gland and bursa of Fabricius in Mulard ducks (Anas Sterilis) with chlamydial infection

129
FULL TEXT

L. Ts. Tsokova
Changes in egg weight, egg shell weight and quality in hens with spontaneous and experimental alopecia

135
FULL TEXT

K. I. UZUNOVA & K. A. KOLEVA
Importance of microclimate, floor type and floor bedding for the incidence of catarrhal rhinitis and laryngitis in dogs

141
FULL TEXT

Z. Kirkova, P. Petkov & D. Goundasheva
Clinical and haematological studies in dogs, experimentally infected with Trichuris vulpis

Published by the Trakia University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Volume 8, Number 2, June 2005, Summaries

Sotirov, L., I. Dimitrov & M. Djorbineva, 2005. Serum lysozyme concentrations in different sheep breeds, Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 83-89.

Four sheep breeds from 3 productive types were included in the study: milk type crossings: Stara Zagora × East-Friesian and (Stara Zagora × East-Friesian) × Black-headed Pleven breed (118 female and 14 male); merino type sheep from the Trakia merino breed (80 female and 9 male); meat type: Ile-de-France breed (107 female) and Charollais breed (107 female). Milk-type lambs were also included (10 males and 19 females). The highest lysozyme concentrations were observed in milk type rams, the differences being significant vs the other breeds (P<0.01). Then, lysozyme levels were ranked as followed in descending order: Charollais, Trakia merino sheep, milk type crossings, Trakia merino rams and Ile-de-France sheep. Significantly lower levels (P<0.01) were determined in milk-type male and female lambs compared to adult animals from the same type. The data were indicative about a considerable breed- and age-dependent variations in blood lysozyme concentrations. Moreover, apart the inter-breed variations, intra-breed ones were significant, evidenced by the coefficients of variations in Trakia merino sheep (3.34%) and milk type rams (up to 91.49%).

Key words: breed-dependent variations, lysozyme, sheep

Djouvinov, D. & R. Mihailov, 2005. Effect of low protein level on performance of growing and laying Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 91-98.

Two trials were carried out. In trial one, group S was fed starter and grower with 23.4% and 18.2% crude protein (CP) content, respectively. For group L diets had lower protein content - 22.1% and 16.7%, respectively. Feeds for both groups were formulated to be isoenergetic and to have the same level of digestible lysine and methionine. The daily feed intake and weight gain were not affected by the treatments.

In trial two, laying quails from group S were fed diet with 20.4% CP and laying quails from group L received diet with 17.4% CP. The feeds did not differ in energy and digestible lysine and methionine+cystine content.

The reduction of protein content of diets with 1.5 points for growing and with 3 points for laying quails (compared to NRC standards) when digestible amino acid content was kept balanced, had no adverse effect on the performance and had beneficial effect on the performance of Japanese quails during heat stress. Implication of diet formulation on digestible amino acids basis in Japanese quails needs further investigation.

Key words: Japanese quails, low protein, level, performance

Sharif, L., J. Obeidat & F. Al-Ani, 2005. Risk factors for lamb and kid mortality in sheep and goat farms in Jordan,  Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 99-108.

This study was conducted to identify the risk factors that are associated with neonatal mortality in lambs and kids in Jordan. The bacterial causes of mortality in lambs and kids were investigated. One hundred sheep and goat flocks were selected randomly from different areas of North Jordan at the beginning of the lambing season. The flocks were visited every other week to collect information and to take samples from freshly dead animals. By the end of the lambing season, flocks that had neonatal mortality rate ³ 1.0% were considered as “case group” while flocks that had neonatal mortality rate less than 1.0% - as “control group”. The results indicated that neonatal mortality rate (within 4 weeks of age), in lambs and kids, was 3.2%. However, the early neonatal mortality rate (within 48 hours of age) was 2.01% and represented 62.1% of the neonatal mortalities. The following risk factors were found to be associated with the neonatal mortality in lambs and kids: not separating the neonates from adult animals; not vaccinating dams against infectious diseases (pasteurellosis, colibacillosis and enterotoxemia); walking more than 5 km and starvation-mismothering exposure. The causes of neonatal mortality in lambs and kids were: diarrhea (59.75%), respiratory diseases (13.3%), unknown causes (12.34%), and accident (8.39%). Bacteria responsible for neonatal mortality were: Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus aureus. However, E. coli was the most frequent bacterial species identified as cause of neonatal mortality in lambs and kids and represented 63.4% of all bacterial isolates. The E. coli isolates belonged to 10 serogroups, the O44 and O26 being the most frequent isolates.

Key words: E. coli, Jordan, kids, lambs, neonatal mortality

Bochev, I. & N. Russenova, 2005. Resistance of Staphylococcus spp. strains isolated from goats with subclinical mastitis. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 109-118.

One hundred and sixty cases of subclinical mastitis were detected in a study on 478 goats from 6 herds in Southeastern Bulgaria. From positive milk samples, 96 Staphylococcus spp. strains were isolated. Nineteen isolates were determined as Staphylococcus aureus (19.8%), and the other 77 (80.2%) – as coagulase-negative staphylococci. The sensitivity of all strains to 13 chemotherapeutics was tested through the disk diffusion method of Bauer-Kirby. Via the oxacillin agar screening test, 15 strains (15.6%) were determined as methicillin-resistant: out of them 12 isolates or 80% were coagulase-negative (MRCNS) and only 3 isolates (20%) – methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The cumulative curves of resistance were drawn and their profiles were analysed. The patterns of resistance of MRCNS and methicillin-sensitive coagulase-negative staphylococci (MSCNS) were determined. The results showed that the percentage of resistance of MRCNS to β lactams (75% to penicillin,  83.3%  to amoxycillin), macrolides (41.7% to erythromycin), lincomycin (33.3%) and novobiocin (50%) was higher compared to the respective percentages in MSCNS.

Key words: coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), cumulative curves, goats, methicillin/oxacillin resistance, MRSA, subclinical mastitis

Dimitrov, D. S. & I. P. Nikiforov, 2005. Histological and histochemical studies of Harderian gland, lacrimal gland and bursa of Fabricius in Mulard ducks (Anas Sterilis) with chlamydial infection. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 119-127.

Specimens from the Harderian gland, the lacrimal gland and bursa of Fabricius in ducks with chlamydiosis were processed by the classical histological methods and permanent preparations were obtained. On single and serial histological cross-sections from material fixed in non-aqueous fixator, histochemical tests for PAS reactivity, staining with alcian blue at pH 1.0 and 2.5 as well as staining with Mowry¢s alcian blue followed by PAS reaction were performed. The light microscopic observation did not reveal considerable changes in the lacrimal gland. Structural and functional changes with various character and degree in the central lobular parts of the Harderian gland, the epithelium, the propria and thymus-like lobules of the bursa of Fabricius were observed. The histochemical analyses showed that the secretion of intraorbital glands in Mulard ducks was with a heteropolysaccharide nature, similarly to that in other waterfowl.

Key words: bursa of Fabricius, chlamydiosis, Harderian gland, histochemistry, histological structure, lacrimal gland, Mulard duck

Tsokova, L., 2005. Changes in egg weight, egg shell weight and quality in hens with spontaneous and experimental alopecia. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 129-134.

In layer hens with spontaneous and experimental alopecia (provoked via administration of dried thyroid glands), a reduced egg and egg shell weights were observed. The levels of calcium, phosphate and magnesium in both blood serum and egg shell were decreased. The blood alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated.

Key words: alopecia, calcium, egg shells, hens, magnesium, phosphate

Uzunova, K. I. & K. A. Koleva, 2005. Importance of microclimate, floor type and floor bedding for the incidence of catarrhal rhinitis and laryngitis in dogs. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 135-139.

An experiment was carried out with German Shepherd dogs in order to establish the role of floor type in kennels in the aetiology of canine respiratory diseases - catarrhal rhinitis and laryngitis. The tests were performed in 20 boxes with various types of floor bedding: straw, heat-insulating cardboard sheets, wood shavings, wooden slats. Catarrhal rhinitis and laryngitis were manifested only in animals reared on concrete floors without beddings. The experiment showed that materials with a  low thermal conductivity coefficients should be used for floors in kennel boxes. The all year-round use of suitable bedding materials in the rearing of dogs from all ages is important in the prophylaxis of respiratory infections such as catarrhal rhinitis and laryngitis.

Key words: catarrhal rhinitis, dogs, floor, floor bedding materials, laryngitis

Kirkova, Z., P. Petkov & D. Goundasheva, 2005. Clinical and haematological studies in dogs, experimentally infected with Trichuris vulpis. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 8, No 2, 141-148.

The experiment was performed on 9 mixed-breed dogs (6 infected and 3 non-infected controls). The experimental infection was provoked with Trichuris vulpis (10000 eggs/kg). The clinical signs and the following haematological parameters were monitored: haemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell counts and morphology,  mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), haemoglobin index (HbI),  erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total and differential white blood cell counts.

A typical clinical signs of the disease was the diarrhoea that resulted in full exhaustion and cachexia. In infected dogs, elevated haemoglobin and MCH values were observed between post infection days 60 and 207, decreased MCV by day 15 and 35 and no changes in PCV, HbI values and red blood cell morphology. Also, a leukocytosis with eosinophilia, neutrophilia (on the account of segmented neutrophils’ elevation), lymphocytopenia and enhanced ESR were found out.

Key words: dogs, Trichuris vulpis, trichurosis