Antagonistic effect of chosen lactic acid bacteria strains on Salmonella species in meat and fermented sausages

The aim of this study was to determine of influence of 15 strains of lactic acid bacteria on the growth of 7 Salmonella spp. strains in model set-ups, and in meat and ripened fermented sausages. The investigations were performed within the framework of three alternate stages which differed in respect to the products studied, the number of Lactobacillus spp. strains and, partly, methodological approach. The ratio between lactic acid bacteria and Salmonella strains studied was, depending on the alternate, 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1, respectively. The investigations also covered the water activity (a(w)) and pH of the tested products. The results obtained are shown in 12 figures and suggest that all the lactic acid bacteria strains used within the framework of the model set-ups showed antagonistic effect on all the Salmonella spp. strains. However, these abilities were not observed with respect to some lactic acid bacteria strains in meat and fermented sausage. The temperature and length of the incubation period of sausages, but not a(w) and pH, were found to have a distinct influence on the antagonistic interaction between the bacteria.     

Identification of Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies inducing Lyme disease in dogs from Western Poland

Canine Lyme borreliosis may be caused by three Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies. The prevalence of infection by Borrelia species was determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with the enzyme Fsp4H I in the blood of dogs naturally infested by ticks in an endemic region of Poland. Blood samples were collected from 98 dogs of various breeds, delivered to the Veterinary Clinic in Szczecin (northwestern Poland) for various reasons. Nested PCR revealed the presence of DNA characteristic of only 1 genospecies, i.e. B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), in all PCR-positive samples. Digestion of PCR products from a fragment of the fla gene amplified with primers FLA1 and FLA2 gave only one band pattern consistent with the pattern obtained from sequence analysis of the fla gene from a reference isolate of B. burgdorferi s.s. GeHo (X15660) from GenBank.     

Dexamethasone-induced changes in sympathetic innervation of porcine ovaries and in their steroidogenic activity

The aim of the present study was to determine changes in the density of sympathetic nerves in porcine ovaries with dexamethasone (DXM)-induced cysts and the alterations in steroidogenic activity and amounts of catecholamines in the affected gonads. Cystic ovaries were supplied by numerous sympathetic nerve fibers. The amount of noradrenaline in the cysts (fluid, wall) was significantly higher than in the large follicles of the control group. After DXM injections, the amounts of noradrenaline and adrenaline significantly increased in the walls of small and medium-sized follicles. In the cysts (fluid, wall) the levels of androgens and estrogens were significantly lower, whereas progesterone was higher in the cystic wall. DXM administration led to a significant increase in the estrone content in the fluid of small follicles. Moreover, a decrease in the amounts of progesterone and androgens was found in the follicular fluid and walls of medium-sized follicles. DXM injections resulted in a significant increase in the immunoexpression of P450(scc) and 3beta-HSD in the cysts, a significant increase of P450(scc) in the follicles, and a decrease of 3beta-HSD and P450(arom). The present study shows that the DXM treatment leads to an increase in the density of intraovarian sympathetic nerves, paralleled by the amount of catecholamines, and that it is capable of changing the steroidogenic activity of porcine ovary bearing cysts. Thus, it appears possible that these events may be, at least partly, involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.     

Influence of polychlorinated biphenyls on the secretion of oxytocin from bovine luteal cells and from granulosa cells obtained from the follicles of different size

Effect of polychlorinated biphenyles (PCBs) on viability and secretory function of luteal and granulosa cells from mature cows was studied. Luteal cells from corpora lutea of different developmental stages and granulosa cells from follicles of >1 cm< in diameter were used. Neither individual congeners (PCB-126, -77, -153) nor mixture of PCBs Aroclor Ar) 1248 at the dose of 1, 10 or 100 ng/ml affected the viability of cells (P>0.05) compared to control after 72 h of incubation. PCBs markedly increased (P<0.05-0.001) oxytocin (OT) secretion from granulosa cells. This effect was the most evident when granulosa cells from follicles <1 cm diameter was treated with PCB-77 which is assumed to stimulate both arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and estradiol (E2) receptor. Even the lowest dose of this compound (1 ng/ml) outranged the effect produced by cortisol (10(-5)M) used as positive control. There was marked effect (P<0.05-0.001) of PCBs on luteal cells from days 6-15 of the estrous cycle. However, influence of PCBs on OT secretion from luteal cells on day 1-5 and 16-18 of the estrous cycle was less evident. Again, PCB-77 was the most efficient stimulator of OT secretion. While the lowest effect was found after treatment of cells with PCB-126 which has dioxin-like properties. It can be assumed that diverse effect of PCBs on female reproduction largely results from the influence of these compounds on ovarian OT secretion. Since both synthesis and secretion of ovarian OT in bovine do not markedly depend on estradiol, some alternative cellular pathways of PCBs on ovary function are suggested.     

Laparoscopic removal of gastric foreign bodies in dogs--comparison of manual suturing and stapling viscerosynthesis

This study was an attempt to evaluate the application of various laparoscopic techniques of removing foreign bodies from the stomach in dogs in comparison to conventional laparotomy. The research was conducted on two groups of 10 dogs each with clinically confirmed foreign bodies in the stomach. In case of all patients, a laparoscopic instrument, EndoBag, was used for the removal of the foreign body from the stomach and the abdominal cavity. Manual suturing with the use of Szabo-Berci suturing kit was used for the gastrotomy wound closure in group I. In group II, linear staplers were used for viscerosynthesis. All patients were subjected to radiological assessment of tightness of anastomosis. No significant differences between the quality of the performed stomach anastomosis were shown. Therefore, the competitiveness of an economical manual suturing in comparison with the very expensive mechanical suturing preferred in human surgery was confirmed. The described procedures of laparoscopic gastrotomy seem to be applicable for removing foreign bodies from the stomach in a clinical veterinary practice.     

Values of selected immune and haematological parameters in healthy rabbits

In the paper, values of selected indices of non-specific immunity as well as white and redblood cell patterns were presented in healthy rabbits at the age of 3 to 4,5 months. The purpose of the study was to provide reference values in healthy rabbits being frequent research model in the studies of several diseases in humans and animals.     

The oestrous cycle and early pregnancy--a new concept of local endocrine regulation

Facts discovered in recent decades have compelled us to revise long-established views on the physiological regulation of cyclic adjustments to the reproductive system in preparation for pregnancy in females. Evidence has been presented to show that changes in the uterine blood supply induced by the oestrogen/progesterone ratio in the blood and cytokines are important in the regulation of the secretory function of the endometrium. Progressive reduction in uterine blood flow during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle causes regressive changes in endometrial cells and release of prostaglandin (PG) F(2 alpha), resulting in initiation of luteolysis. Retrograde transfer of PGF(2 alpha) in the area of the mesometrium vasculature is an important element in the mechanism protecting the corpora lutea against luteolysis before day 12 of the porcine oestrous cycle and during early pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. Results of many studies presented in this review indicate that PGF(2 alpha) pulses in uterine venous blood during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle may not be due to PGF(2 alpha) secretion by endometrial cells, but occur due to remodeling of the endometrium and pulsatile exretion of PGF(2 alpha) in accordance with rhythmic uterine contractions caused by oxytocin.     

Use of natural and synthetic aluminosilicates in decontamination of feed contaminated by fungi and micotoxins

The contamination of feed with micotoxin has been a serious problem in animal nutrition. Many existing methods of decontamination are not satisfying due to the toxicological safety and health quality of the fodder materials. It stimulates the scientists to search for the new methods. The use of sorbents in the form of natural and synthetic aluminosilicates is a promising direction. The efficacy of aluminosilicates towards aflatoxins has been proved. However, their influence on other micotoxins is not that obvious. According to the last investigations, the use of aluminosilicates in nutrition does not cause any side effects and widespread pathological effects are observed only when dosage is incorrect. Regarding the analyses that were published, it can be supposed that the addition of several different aluminosilicates is a sufficient protection against mycotoxicoses.     

Effect of methisoprinol on virus replication in cell cultures

The effect of Methisoprinol (active substance: isoprinozine) on the replication of two animal viruses, the TK900 strain of Aujeszky's disease virus and the Roakin strain of the Newcastle disease virus was investigated. When the maximal tolerable doses of the drug were added to two cell cultures (CECC and GMK), its effect on the level of infectious titres of theviruses and their adsorption were assayed. Investigations were also performed to assess the direct effect of Methisoprinol on the viral strains used. The final stage of the experiment aimed at analysing of the replication dynamics of the viruses in the presence of Methisoprinol. Methisoprinol showed no direct effect on the viruses used in the study. Nor did it affect their adsorption. The preparation applied to the culture 24 hours before infection did not influence the replication of viruses, but administered simultaneously with the infection significantly lowered the final titres of viruses. The highest inhibitory effect of the drug was observed during the analysis of the replication dynamics of both viruses in CECC and of pseudorabies virus in GMK cell culture upon the application of the maximal tolerable doses of Methisoprinol and low infectious doses of the viruses.     

Hsp60 specific antibodies in egg yolks from laying hens naturally infected with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis

Heat shock protein (Hsp) 60 of Salmonella appears to be involved in pathogenesis of infectious processes and host immune responses. Eggs of laying hens from two Salmonella Enteritidis naturally infected flocks (I--acute outbreak of infection; II--occasional bacteria excretion) and one control flock (III) were tested for the presence of yolk antibodies (IgY) against Hsp60 by applying enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of specific immunoglobulins were related to those against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and flagellin. the antigens of the established immunological importance in S. Enteritidis infections. Within flock III, the antibody concentrations were consistently low. Elevated levels were detected in eggs from two infected flocks. Levels of specific IgY measured for flock I were higher than those in flock II; the greatest difference was observed for anti-Hsp60. This report indicates a probable important role of Hsp60 as a target of the hens' immune response, especially during the acute phase of S. Enteritidis infection.