This work presents the results of findings for brucellosis in wild boars and domestic swine in two regions of Croatia. In the region of Djakovo the blood samples of 211 wild boars were analysed and in 29.4% of the samples serologically positive reactions were established. In the same region the blood samples of 1080 domestic swine on pastures were also analysed and positive serological reactions were established in 12.3%. In the regions around Lonjsko Polje the blood samples of 53 wild boars were analysed and in 22.6% of them positive serological reactions were established. On several locations around Lonjsko Polje the blood samples of 901 domestic swine were serologically analysed and 13.5% of the swine were found to be seropositive. Bacteriological analyses of submitted materials from 24 wild boars resulted in isolation of Brucella from seven (29.2%) samples, and from 43 samples originating from domestic swine that had aborted and had been serologically positive, Brucella were isolated from 25 (58.1%) swine, as well as from 10 (62.5%) out of 16 aborted piglets. In all the isolates Brucella suis biovar 2 was identified. Wild boars are carriers and reservoirs of Brucella suis biovar 2 in Croatia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the contamination of pig feed with moulds and the occurrence of mycotoxins. A total of 30 feed samples were collected at different animal feed factories in the north-western part of Croatia. Mycological analysis showed that the total number of moulds ranged from 1 × 10(3) to 1 × 10(5) cfu/g with samples contaminated with Aspergillus spp. (63 %), Penicillium spp. (80 %), and Fusarium spp. (77 %). A determination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2) and fumonisin (FUM) concentration was done using the validated ELISA method. The mean concentrations of AFB1 (0.5 ± 0.6 μg/kg), OTA (1.53 ± 0.42 μg/kg) and FUM (405 ± 298 μg/kg) were below the maximum levels or recommended values in the EU in all the investigated samples. The observed results indicated an increased contamination of pig feed with Fusarium mycotoxins DON and ZEA with mean concentrations of 817 ± 447 and 184 ± 214 μg/kg, higher than recommended in 40 and 17 % of the analysed samples, respectively.

Biochemical and histopathological parameters of the hepatic function were used to quantify the hepatotoxic effects of atrazine in female pigs (gilts) undergoing intensive breeding. Female pigs (cross-bred Swedish and German landrace) received 2 mg atrazine kg-1 body wt. in feed daily during 19 days of the oestrous cycle. The last treatment day corresponded to day -3 of the onset of the next expected oestrus. Blood samples were collected three times daily at 3-h intervals on the first four post-treatment days. Serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were determined. Serum activity of GGT was significantly increased throughout the four post-treatment days. In comparison with the control values, a slight but not significant decrease was observed in the serum activities of ALT, AST and AP. Histopathological examination of the liver of exposed pigs showed mild centrolobular parenchymatous degeneration. Interstitial connective tissue proliferation resulted in narrow and irregular bile canaliculi.

During the years 2001 and 2002 on seven localities in Croatia a survey on the prevalence of brucellosis in wild boar was carried out. The survey included 271 (52.7%) female and 243 (47.3%) male animals between 7 months and 4 years of age and weighing from 14 to 135 kg. On that occasion 514 blood samples of wild boar were serologically analysed. For serological analysis indirect enzyme immunoassay (iELISA), Rose Bengal test (RBT), complement fixation test (CFT) and slow agglutination test (SAT) were used. In all of the wild boar from all of the localities investigated positive reactions to brucellosis were established. Most of the positive reactions were established by iELISA (13.6%), then by RBT (11.5%), CFT (10.5%) and SAT (8.9%). Tissue samples of 106 animals: testes samples from 67 animals, uterus tissue from 38 animals and 5 fetuses of piglets from 1 mother were analysed bacteriologically. Brucella suis biovar 2 was isolated from 18 (17.0%) animals that originated from all of the localities investigated. Isolates were identified by PCR using BRU-UP and BRU-LOW primers specific for genus Brucella and primers specific for IS711. Based on our results it could be concluded that in Croatia wild boar are natural vector and/or reservoirs of B. suis biovar 2. This permanent risk factor is hazardious for domestic and wild animals in the Republic of Croatia.

ABSTRACT:In total the samples of blood and kidneys of 379 small rodents and 154 wild swine were analysed. The antibodies to different serovars of leptospires were determined in 12.7% of small rodents, most o�en in the species Mus musculus (34.4%), A. agrestis (14.8%), A. flavicolis (10.8%), C. glareolus (9.4%) and A. sylvaticus (6.5%). Most frequent were the findings of antibodies to sv. pomona (27.1%), sv. sejroe (20.8%), and sv. australis (14.6%), and the antibodies to sv. hardjo, sv. saxkoebing, sv. tarassovi, sv. grippotyphosa, sv. bataviae and sv. icterohaemorrhagiae were also established. Seventeen (4.5%) isolates were identified, belonging to the serogroups sejroe (10 isolates), pomona (4 isolates) and australis (1 isolate) and one isolate was not identified. In wild swine positive reactions were established in 26% of the blood sera analysed. Most frequently the antibodies to sv. pomona (47.5%), sv. australis (40%), sv. grippotyphosa (10%) and sv. icterohaemorhagiae (2.5%) were established. Thirteen (8.4%) isolates belonging to the serogroups pomona (10 isolates), australis (2 isolates) and icterohaemorhagiae (1 isolate) were identified.