Ochratoxin a content of urine samples of healthy humans in Hungary

The ochratoxin A (OTA) content of urine samples from 88 healthy humans living at five settlements in three counties of Hungary was determined by immunoaffinity column cleanup and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). OTA was detected in 61% of the samples in an average concentration of 0.013 ng/ml (range: 0.006-0.065 ng/ml). OTA concentrations measured in urine samples from men and women were not significantly different. The OTA concentration of samples from Heves county was significantly (t-test; p < 0.003) higher than that of samples from Hajdú-Bihar and Somogy counties. The regional differences in OTA concentration of urine samples indicate regional differences in the OTA exposure of the human population. Further studies are necessary to determine the cause of the regional differences in the OTA intake. The studies allow us to conclude that the OTA intake of the majority of the Hungarian population is low (< 1 ng/kg of body weight per day) but a certain part of the rural population may take up higher levels of OTA.     

In vitro antiviral activity of dehydroepiandrosterone and its synthetic derivatives against vesicular stomatitis virus

In this work the antiviral activity of 20 dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) analogs with different substituents at positions C-3, C-15, C-16 and C-17 were evaluated against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in Vero cell cultures. The selectivity indexes (SI) obtained with DHEA and epiandrosterone (EA) were 50 and 72.6, respectively. The work showed that the compounds 21-norpregna-5,17(20)-dien-3β,16α-diyl-diacetate, 17,17-ethylendioxyandrostan-5,15-dien-3β-ol and 3β-hydroxypregn-17(20)-en-16-one had higher SI values than ribavirin, which was used as a reference drug. The antiviral mode of action of DHEA was also investigated against VSV replication in Vero cells, and time of addition experiments showed that DHEA mainly affected a late event in the virus growth cycle. Analysis of RNA and protein synthesis indicated that DHEA adversely affected positive strand RNA synthesis and viral mature particle formation.     

Associations among Haemophilus parasuis,Mycoplasma hyorhinis,and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infections in pigs with polyserositis

The objective of this study was to determine the associations among Haemophilus parasuis, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (EU-field strain) infections in 95 pigs with polyserositis. A significant association between H. parasuis and M. hyorhinis was identified. H. parasuis and M. hyorhinis were significantly more often detected in PRRS virus positive pigs.     

Diagnosis of Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases of the Central Nervous System in Dogs: A Retrospective Study

The medical records of 220 dogs with inflammatory/infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) were retrospectively examined. The aims of the study were to determine if clinical and clinicopathologic data (not including biopsy or necropsy examination) could distinguish inflammatory CNS diseases from diseases of other types, and to search for criteria allowing differentiation of specific inflammatory diseases. The signalment, historical findings, extraneural and neurological signs, and the lesion site contributed marginally to a specific diagnosis. Multifocal signs were only noticed in one third of the dogs with inflammatory/infectious diseases. Particular neurological abnormalities were more frequent in certain diseases than in others (eg, myoclonus was frequent in dogs with distemper, but it was also found in those with other meningoencephalomyelitides). Hematologic findings contributed to the diagnosis in certain conditions (eg, canine distemper encephalitis, protozoal encephalomyelitis, steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis). Cerebrospinal fluid examinations, including immunoglobulin G index and cytology were useful to separate meningoencephalomyelitides from the other CNS diseases and to distinguish certain conditions from others. In most cases a specific diagnosis depended on a combination of clinical signs and ancillary diagnostic aids. Still, a specific diagnosis remained very difficult, if not impossible, in at least one third of the dogs.     

意大利冷冻精液质量的官方监控

１９９１年１月１５日，意大利政府公布了动物生产法，即法律３０（legge３０），全面介绍了动物生殖细胞生产中心应具备的条件、建立养殖场的要求和动物繁殖的规章制度。１９９４年１月１３日，意大利农业部依据法律３０发布了第１７２号部长令，详细说明了自然交配、人工授精和胚胎移植的规章制度。部长令规定，意大利任何冻精生产中心（简称中心）生产的冻精或从国外引入的冻精，必须至少取出精液生产批次１０％的样品，进行官方检测。司拜伦谨尼研究所（简称研究所）是意大利农业部委托的唯一的执行机构，检测的最后结果是：比较研究所…     

Evaluation of serum values of pancreatic enzymes after endoscopic retrograde pancreatography in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) in dogs by performing repeated clinical examinations and laboratory analyses of serum amylase, lipase, canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI), and canine pancreatic elastase 1 (cE1) after the procedure. ANIMALS: 7 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES: Clinical examinations were performed and blood samples obtained for serum enzyme determinations before and at intervals (10 minutes; 2, 4, and 6 hours; and 1, 2, and 3 days) after ERP. RESULTS: Repeated clinical examinations revealed no signs of ERP-induced complications in the 7 dogs. Results of repeated laboratory tests indicated a transient increase in serum values of amylase, lipase, and cTLI but not cE1. Mean +/- SD lipase activity increased from 120.7 +/- 116.4 U/L to 423.4 +/- 243.1 U/L at 4 hours after ERP. Median serum cTLI concentration increased from 16.2 microg/L (range, 77 to 26.5 microg/L) to 34.9 microg/L (range, 16.6 to 68.3 microg/L) 10 minutes after ERP. Enzyme values returned to baseline levels at the latest on day 2 in 6 of 7 dogs. Highest values for serum amylase, lipase, and cTLI and their delayed return to baseline values were detected in 1 dog with contrast filling of the pancreatic parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that ERP appears to be a safe imaging technique of pancreatic ducts in healthy dogs, although it induced a transient increase in serum values of pancreatic enzymes. In dogs, repeated clinical examinations and serum enzyme determinations can be used to monitor ERP-induced complications such as acute pancreatitis.     

Spatial risk assessment of herd sero-status of Aujeszky's disease in a county in Hungary

A Geographic Information System (VetEpiGIS) was used to analyze the ADV (Aujeszky's disease virus) sero-status in large-scale pig units regarding certain geographical features in a county of southern Hungary. The ADV sero-statuses were collected from all swine units in Csongrád county in 1998-2000. The units' coordinates were combined with a vector graphical digital map of the county, with a resolution of 1:100,000. Logistic regression tested the associations between sero-status of large-scale units and presence of topographical features, other units and villages in the neighborhood. "Neighborhood" was defined by circular zones with radius 1-10km around the unit (in 1km increments; one logistic regression for each radius). The following topographical features showed significant positive association with the ADV seropositivity: lake (3km OR: 5.7; 5km OR: 7.5; 6km OR: 6.1; 10km OR: 5.4) and highway (5km OR: 4.2; 6km OR: 5.3). Other features had negative association with ADV seropositivity: forest (3km OR: 0.13; 4km OR: 0.15; 5km OR: 0.15; 6km OR: 0.10; 7km OR: 0.10; 8km OR: 0.23) and uninfected large-scale unit (4km OR: 0.07; 5km OR: 0.27; 6km OR: 0.32; 7km OR: 0.31).     

Use of volumetric capnography to identify pulmonary dysfunction in horses with and without clinically apparent recurrent airway obstruction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether volumetric capnography indices could be used to differentiate between horses without recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and horses with RAO that were in clinical remission or that had clinically apparent RAO. ANIMALS: 70 adult Swiss Warmblood horses (20 used for pleasure riding and 50 used for dressage or show jumping). PROCEDURE: Horses were allocated to 4 groups on the basis of history, clinical signs, results of endoscopy, and cytologic findings (group 1, 21 healthy horses; group 2, 22 horses with RAO that were in remission; group 3, 16 horses with mild RAO; group 4, 11 horses with exacerbated RAO). Expiratory volume and CO2 curves were recorded by use of a computerized ultrasonic spirometer. Volumetric capnograms were plotted, and derived indices were calculated. RESULTS: Dead-space volume (VD) was calculated by use of the Bohr equation (VD(Bohr)) and for physiologic VD (VD(phys)). Ratios for VD(Bohr) to expiratory tidal volume (VT) and VD(phys) to V(T) as well as an index of effective CO2 elimination were significantly different among groups of horses. Age and use of the horses also significantly affected volumetric capnography indices. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ratios of VD(Bohr) to VT and VD(phys) to VT as well as an index of effective CO2 elimination were sufficiently sensitive measures to distinguish between healthy horses and horses with RAO in remission. To optimize the ability of volumetric capnography indices to differentiate among horses in heterogeneous populations, it is important to account for effects of age and specific use of the horses.