The metabolism of proteins in the blood serum in Boer and Saanen goats was investigated during puerperium. Twenty Boer goats (10 primiparous and 10 pluriparous) and 10 Saanen goats (five primiparous and five pluriparous) between 2 and 5 years of age were used in this research. Blood for analysis was taken every fourth day from day 3 until day 40 post-partum. Blood samples were collected by jugular puncture. In the obtained blood serum, the concentration of total proteins (PT) and albumin (ALB), and the activity of enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) [the Enzyme Commission number (EC number) 2. 6. 1. 1.], gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (EC 2. 3. 2. 2.), creatine kinase (CK) (EC 2. 7. 3. 2.) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) (EC 3. 1. 3. 1.) were determined by spectrophotometry. These parameters were in physiological ranges in Boer goats and in Saanen goats, without significant differences according to number of kids per doe. According to the research results of the blood serum in goats during puerperium, there were no significant differences in the concentration of ALB. Boer goats had significant higher (p < 0.05) concentration of PT and enzyme activity of AP, CK and GGT. Saanen goats had only enzyme activity of AST significantly higher (p < 0.05). Enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase was significant higher (p < 0.05) in pluriparous goats in both breeds than in primiparous. The obtained results may represent a contribution to a better understanding of protein metabolism during puerperium in dairy and meat goats and for diagnostic purposes.

The Veterinary Record, February 5, 2005 pouching of the rectal wall) was revealed. The right semitendinosus muscle was dissected and transected at the midbelly, and the flap was rotated beneath the anus (Fig 3). The external anal sphincter, coccygeal muscle, levator ani muscle and internal obturator muscle were exposed. For repair of the left side of the perineal hernia, the original medial border of the semitendinosus muscle was sutured to the ventral part of the external anal sphincter, and the original lateral border was sutured to the ventral part of the coccygeal muscle, levator ani muscle and internal obturator muscle on the ischiatic table. The distal end of the semitendinosus muscle was sutured to the dorsal part of the coccygeal and levator ani muscles. A single interrupted suture pattern and polypropylene 2/0 USP (Prolene; Ethicon) were used. The subcutis and skin were closed in a routine fashion. Because of the length of this operation, repair of the prepubic hernia was delayed for two weeks.Butorphanol (Butomidor; Richter-Pharma) at a dose of 0·1 mg/kg was given intramuscularly at four-hour intervals during the first day after surgery. The cat first defecated on the second day after surgery; defecation appeared to be painless, with minimal straining. There were no problems with gait or urination, but the owner observed that the cat ran more slowly and became tired more quickly than was usual. The stitches were removed 10 days after the operation.The prepubic hernia was repaired 15 days after the first surgery. Under the general anaesthesia described above, an approach through the caudal ventral midline was made. The urinary bladder was found in the prepubic hernia. The caudal border of the ruptured rectus muscles was sutured to the prepubic ligament and the pubic bone with horizontal mattress sutures using nylon 1 USP (Dermalon; David-Geck). The subcutis and skin were closed routinely. After the operation, analgesia was provided as described above. Straining during defecation resolved a few days after the surgery, and the stitches were removed on the 10th day following surgery.Surgical repair of the right side of the hernia was not carried out; once a month the cat was brought to the clinic for control of the right side of the perineal diaphragm.One year after the operation, the cat remained healthy. The perineal diaphragm on the left side and the ventral side was PERINEAL hernia occurs when separation of the pelvic diaphragm muscles allows caudal displacement of the pelvic or abdominal organs, or lateral deviation (diverticulum, dilatation or sacculation) of the rectum into the perineum (Welches and others 1992). It occurs most commonly in dogs, but sporadic cases in cats have also been described (Ashton 1976, Leighton 1979, Johnson and Gourley 1980; Welches and others (1992) described 40 cases in cats. The aetiology of perineal hernia in cats is unclear. In the study by Welches and others (1992), 20 of the cats had pre-existing or concurrent medical problems that may have played an important rol...

The aim of the study was to establish concentration of selenium and the pertinent activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px ) in whole blood that could be used as reference values in future research. The first part of study was carried out on clinical healthy beef calves (n = 35), fed a basal diet and a ready-made fodder mix that contained 0.1 mg . kg -1 selenium. In the second part of our research, we investigated the GSH-Px activity in a group of calves (n = 47) that had not received supplements added to the basal diet. The research was carried out in the north-west Croatia, in the region known to be poorer in selenium. We determined GSH-Px activity in whole blood by the "Ransel" method adapted to a Technicon RA-1000 at 37 °C. Determination of Se concentration was done with a modification of the method given by Perkin-Elmer HGGS. The mean value of the Se concentration in the whole blood of the first group of calves was 200.22 ± 45.2 µg . l -1 and pertinent average GSH-Px activity was 764.6 ± 197.8 µkat . l -1 . From the results obtained, a correlation between Se and GSH-Px was calculated (r = 0.82; P < 0.001). The mean values of the GSH-Px activity in herd that did not receive a supplement were 435.3 ± 155.76 µkat . l -1 . Out of 47 animals of the second herd, four animals (8.51%) had lower values than those recommended as sufficient. This study confirmed that after the calculation of the correlation between Se and GSHPx, glutathione peroxidase activity determination can be used as a rapid and simple proxy for the determination of selenium concentration in whole blood.Glutathione-peroxidase, selenium, white muscle disease, beef cattle

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is the most common type of porcine postweaning colibacillosis (PWC). Among fimbriae of porcine ETEC strains the best studied family of fimbriae are the members of F4 adhesins, existing in at least three variants: ab, ac, ad. Active immunization against porcine PWC is difficult due to: i) ETEC strains are only one of the essential predisposing factors, ii) the success of vaccinal antigen uptake depends on the presence of enterocyte receptors for F4 adhesins, iii) the intestinal immune system may react with tolerance or hypersensitivity to the same antigens depending on the dose and form of the vaccinal immunogen, and iv) kinetics of the specific immune responses may be different in the case of F4 (earlier) and the other ETEC adhesins, particularly F18 (later). The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a live attenuated F4ac+ non-ETEC vaccine against porcine PWC by analyzing quantitative differences in the small intestinal lymphoid and myeloid cell subsets of immunized (with or without levamisole given as an adjuvant) vs control non-immunized pigs. Four week-old pigs were intragastrically immunized with a vaccine candidate F4ac + non-ETEC strain 2407 at day 0, challenged 7 days later with a virulent F4ac+ strain ETEC 11-800/1/94, euthanatized at day 13 and sampled for immunohistology. Non-immunized pigs received saline at day 0 and were processed as the principals. Immunophenotypes of lymphoid and myeloid cell subsets were demonstrated within jejunal and ileal mucosa by immunohistochemical avidinbiotin complex method and corresponding morphometric data were analyzed using software program Lucia G for digital image analyses. Monoclonal antibodies reactive with surface molecules on porcine immune cells such as CD3, CD45RA, CD45RC, CD21 and SWC3 enabled clear insight into distribution patterns and amount of these cells within the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) examined. The numbers of jejunal and ileal cell subsets tested were significantly increased (at P<0.5 or lower) in both principal groups (vaccinated or levamisole primed-vaccinated) of pigs, compared to those recorded in the control non-vaccinated pigs. Based on the histomorphometric quantification of porcine intestinal immune cells from the GALT compartments tested, it is possible to differentiate the responses of pigs immunized by an experimental mucosal vaccine from those of non-immunized pigs.

Background and Purpose: Yeast derivative mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and zeolite clinoptilolite (CPL) well known nutritional supplements acting as either prebiotic or immunobiotic, respectively, in animal husbandry. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not these agents referred to as potential alternatives to antibiotics may positively influence systemic immune parameters of weaned pigs without negatively affecting their hematological, serum biochemical and gut histological homeostasis. Materials and Methods: Sixty pigs from a commercial farm were divided into three groups comprising 20 pigs each and treated at 4 weeks of age as follows: controls received standard weaner diet, whereas diet for principals was supplemented with 0.2% of MOS or 0.5% of CPL. The experiment was conducted throughout 35 days and at either Conclusions: MOS did not affect any of monitored parameters, and CPL only sporadically induced lymphopaenia and granulocytosis, decrease of CK and total proteins and increase of urea and creatinine levels, indicating that the agents were not associated with any harmful side effects on monitored blood and gut parameters and impairment in general health status of pigs. INTRODUCTIONT he EU ban on in-feed antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in swine production has stimulated research for alternative strategies on weaning diets as a way of reducing postweaning gut infections of bacterial etiology and growth retardation as well as of modulating immune functions in order to increase the resistance of pigs to enteric diseases. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. However, the results obtained with majority of these substances remained inconclusive as the final aim of using such in-feed supplements is to promote pig immunity, health and performance. Among those few which have shown to be effective in zootechnology and biomedicine are: (a) a variety of polysaccharides from different natural sources, such as yeast derivatives b-glucans and mannans (3) and (b) natural clay minerals, such as aluminosilicate compounds bentonite, kaolin, diosmectite, attapulgite and zeolite (12). The main source for in-feed supplement currently used in pig nutrition as a natural additive is mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) found in large quantities in yeast cell wall (3, 9), The most promising results to date have been obtained with montmorillonite, smectite, illite, kaolinite, biotic and zeolite clinoptilolite (CPL) for their ability to replace AGP as feed additives and to maintain swine health and performance (7,11). HRVOJE VALPOTIĆ 1 RENATA BARIĆ-RAFAJAmong 140 types of natural zeolites, the best known and the most thoroughly tested for its safety and efficacy as feed additive for animal species of veterinary importance is CPL (13). CPL has shown to be effective as growth-promoting (14), immunostimulating (15) and gut health restoring anti-bacterial (16 ) dietary supplement in pigs. Moreover, CPL is the most widespread compound in the medical market and recently has been approved as feed additive in the EU. The CP...