Toxoplasmosis and iodine deficiency in Angora goats

Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in two goat herds in the Czech Republic. The 1996 outbreak in the herd of Angora goats was associated with abortions and births of weak kids. No apparent signs of toxoplasmosis were observed in the herd of White Short-Haired (WSH) goats reared under similar conditions. Seroprevalences of 60% and 66% tested by complement fixation and indirect fluorescent antibody tests, respectively, were found in the herd of Angora goats during the outbreak of clinical toxoplasmosis. Significantly lower values were recorded in this herd in years 1994 and 1997 and in the herd of WSH goats between years 1994-1996. Iodine deficiency was also demonstrated in the herd of Angora goats in 1996. Goitre was detected by clinical examination in 39% of animals and mean urinary iodine concentration was 8.0+/-4.65 microg per 11. This concentration rose significantly to 15.7+/-5.02 microg per 11 in the subsequent year. Effects of iodine deficiency on clinical manifestation of toxoplasmosis in Angora goats were discussed.     

Oats as a Safe Alternative to Triticeae Cereals for People Suffering from Celiac Disease? A Review

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Oats represent a promising alternative to small-grain cereals from Triticeae group (wheat, barley, rye) for persons suffering from any form of gluten intolerance,...     

Frequency of a mutant allele of cytochrome b conferring resistance to Ool fungicides in the Czech population of Ramularia collo-cygni

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Ramularia collo-cygni (RCC) is a fungal pathogen infecting both spring and winter barley and causing Ramularia leaf spot (RLS). Fungicides based on...     

Nucleotide sequence and expression of the feline vascular endothelial growth factor

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic factor which targets vascular endothelial cells. In this study, cDNA encoding a feline VEGF (fVEGF) isoform was cloned from a feline lymphoid tumor cell line and sequenced. The fVEGF cDNA contained an open reading frame of 567 nucleotides coding for a polypeptide of 163 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 26 amino acids. The predicted fVEGF amino acid sequence shared 98.4, 94.2 and 94.2% homology with the sequences of canine, bovine and human VEGF, respectively. Though predicted fVEGF polypeptide was two amino acid residues shorter than human VEGF165, a potential glycosylation site and regions critical for receptor binding were conserved in all the species examined. Transient expression of fVEGF in mammalian cells resulted in secretion of VEGF which could be detected by antibodies against human VEGF165. Furthermore, wide expression of fVEGF mRNA was observed in various feline tissues using RT-PCR methods.     

Comparison of malondialdehyde concentrations in different muscle areas of tench <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tinca tinca</Emphasis> L

The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation changes, was measured in the muscles of male and female common tench (Tinca tinca L.). Differences in MDA concentrations were determined in samples in cranio-caudal and dorso-ventral directions and in surface and deep muscle layers. Mean MDA concentration in both sexes (n=27) was 0.037 mol g-1 tissue (wet weight), with the highest levels in the cranial segment. The difference between the cranial and other segments was significant (p < 0.05 in males andp < 0.01 in females). HigherMDAvalues were found in the cranial segment (malesp < 0.05, femalesp < 0.01), in females in ventral part of the cranio-medial segment, in males in the ventral part of the medio-caudal and dorsal parts of the caudal segment (p < 0.05). Both sexes had higher MDA levels in the ventral parts of the first three segments and in the dorsal part of the caudal segment. The results show lipid peroxidation products that may constitute a potential risk for consumers. We found that the content of these substances in tench varies with body topography. The malondialdehyde content of fresh muscle tissue in tench correlated with its content on a fat weight basis. The highest correlation was found for the dorsal part of segments in females (r = 0.9964), the lowest for ventral parts of segments in males. Quantitative distribution of MDA in body segments of the examined tench population was used as a criterion for creating types and subtypes of lipid peroxidation. Samples for hygienic analysis should include musculature from the site least stable in terms of lipid peroxidation, i.e. the cranial segment.