Changes in the priorities of the treatment of animals in the conditions of intense technology of production of livestock products are based on the necessity of wellbeing of animals. Therefore, there is a need of search for and broad introduction of generally accepted alternatives to surgery, which would use modern means of castration, particularly immunocastration. The study presents morpho-functional substantiation of practicability of using immunological castration in the conditions of industrial production of pork. At the same time, we studied immunological castration using Improvak on the morphological and physiological condition of the testicles of male pigs. The testosterone level was determined using radioimmunologic method after 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks of immunological and surgical castrations, and also in intact boars of the control group. During the slaughter, we selected biopates of the testicles in immunological castrates and pigs of the control group for histological examination. The testosterone level 2 weeks after castration was the lowest in the animals castrated using Improvak. This indicator gradually increased, and after 8 weeks was higher than in the surgically castrated pigs. In the latter, the level of testosterone gradually decreased for 8 weeks, and did not significantly change in non-castrated pigs. The last stages of spermatogenesis in immunocastrates were inhibited after the second vaccination. As a result of immunological castration, the interstitial tissue of the testicle underwent changes. Between the tubules, a spreading of the loose connective tissue was observed. Leydig cells lost hyper chromaticity of the cytoplasm and typical polygonal profile, and their functional potential decreased. This fact was confirmed by the changes in the Hertwig’s ratio. In particular, we observed decrease in the value of the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. There were also a time shift of mitotic cycle, low degree of differentiation of spermatogonia and rupture of the course of the subsequent stages of spermatogenesis. However, there occurred multiplication of primary spermatogonia, single cellular divisions, and in the ductus deferentes, there could be found single spermatids. Some of them formed specific cellular groups of rounded and elliptic shapes in the seminiferous tubules. These structures were absent in the testicles of the control animals. Microstructural changes in the swine after injecting Improvak were characterized by deficiency of Leydig cells, indicating absence of the normal hormonal background, as confirmed by the results of the study of testosterone level. The epithelium-spermatogenic layer was underdeveloped, and the lumens of the tubules were in some places filled with generations of spermatocytes. In some places, meiosis was observed, which also indicates insignificant functioning of the testicles. Vaccination with Improvak caused atrophy of the testicles in swine and decrease in their functional condition, allowing it to be recommended it for broader application as an alternative to surgical castration.

Biochemical parameters of rabbit blood are important for the control of animal diseases and the impact on meat productivity of diets and various supplements. The biochemical profile of blood changes under the influence of various factors, including temperature and humidity, which are associated with seasonality. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of seasonality on the biochemical analysis of blood of meat rabbits.The average annual temperature in the rabbitry was 15.9±1.10 °? during the observation period, with minimum values in winter +5.30 °?, maximum values in summer +27.70 °? and an average relative humidity of 68.3±1.2%. The seasonal fluctuations (within physiological values) of some serum indicators of protein-nitrogen metabolism in males of Californian rabbits breed have been established. In spring, we observed a significant increase in the concentration of total protein by 7.0-12.0% and albumin – by 9.7-9.8%. At the same time, the lowest values of urea, creatinine and uric acid were equal or less than the average annual physiological indicators. Deviations of temperature from comfortable indicators in winter and summer led to the adaptive changes in rabbit organisms. We revealed the changes in the creatinine econtent in summer, uric acid content in summer and winter and increased activity of ALAT enzyme in winter and summer. We suggested that in case of rabbit keeping in rooms without artificial regulation of the microclimate, it is necessary to consider the influence of seasonal temperatures on blood serum biochemical parameters.

The study of the dynamics of the area of the lymphoid formations of the intestine was carried out using the technique of total staining by Helman. The topographic, macrostructural and microstructural features of lymphoid formations associated with the intestinal mucous membranes of neonatal and mammary piglets and the absolute and relative area of lymphoid formations in pigs of different ages were determined. It is established that the intestinal lymphoid tissue of piglets is diffusely located cells of the lymphoid row and their layers in the form of clusters of diffuse lymphoid tissue, lymph nodes are grouped in the small intestine and are solitary in thickness. The microscopic structure of the aggregated nodules is characterized by the presence of group lymphoepithelial nodules and diffuse lymphocytic-tissue complex associated with the structural components of the submucosa and mucous membrane. The lymph nodes are located in the submucosal base, and their dome is in its own lining of the mucosa. The structure of the lymphoid nodule includes cells of the lymphoid row, and the dome zone contacts the structural components of the interstitial diffuse lymphocytic-tissue complex. In lymphoid tissue, lighter areas are found-herminative reproduction centers, where cells are more loose. The number of these centers throughout the gut is unevenly distributed. Intestinal associated lymphoid tissue in piglets during morphogenesis has its own topographic features. Most lymphoid tissue in the small intestine is in the ileum, especially in its caudal region, and in the thick in the colon, where the number of lymphoid formations increases proportionally in the caudal direction. In the empty gut, the largest area of lymphoid formations also occurs in the caudal region. The patterns of lymphoid tissue formation during postnatal ontogeny can be useful in developing optimal vaccination time for piglets, drawing up treatment regimens and methods for the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases.

The research was carried out in the Department of Surgery and Obstetrics of Agricultural Animals of Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University on clinically healthy outbred cats of different ages with purulent keratoconjunctivitis. Hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters were determined in the animals, and microbiological and virological research was conducted on them. According to the data obtained, more than half of cases of ophthalmopathology in cats were conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis, and they were more often registered in the cold season. The main causes of eye diseases in the cats were mechanical injuries, coccal and chlamydial infection, allergy and development of disease against the background of primary lesions of the ears and paranasal sinuses. Among the detected microorganisms, the vast majority (81.9%) were staphylococci, including S. albus, S. aureus and S. epidermidis. All types of microorganisms except O-forms of Bacillus sp. exhibited high and medium sensitivity to antibiotics. Immunoblotting revealed polypeptides that responded to specific S. aureus antigens in samples of conjunctiva, cornea, intraocular fluid, and blood of cats suffering from purulent (staphylococcal) keratoconjunctivitis. The highest antigen concentration was detected in the cornea and conjunctiva. In the absence of expressive shifts of the investigated hematological and biochemical parameters, the dynamics of immunological markers were shown by a significant increase in the content of immunoglobulins and circulating immune complexes, as well as by a distinct activation of the complement system by the classical route. The results showed a clear gradual activation of phagocytosis, namely: the number of phagocytic neutrophils increased, reaching its maximum value by the seventh day of development of purulent keratoconjunctivitis. The phagocytic index in the first three days of observation tended to decrease, and by the seventh day it had already significantly exceeded the initial value. Despite the ambiguous dynamics of the phagocytic index, in the course of the development of the inflammatory process in the blood of sick cats, we observed a clear increase in the index of complete phagocytosis. Thus, the development of purulent keratoconjunctivitis in cats occurs against the background of clear cellular and humoral responses to the infectious agent.

The problem of treating tumors in dogs remains relevant due to the complexity of pathogenetic cascades, lack of common methodological approaches to diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients, insufficient number of animals in groups, the described nature of the results, incorrect "mechanical" borrowing of therapeutic protocols from human medicine. The proposed treatment regimens do not provide the desired results, there is a steady trend to increase the number of small pets with breast tumors. Therefore, it is important to find alternative treatments for dogs with breast neoplasms, among which, first of all, should be noted the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which cause a positive effect by inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase-2, activating apoptosis and inhibiting cancer cell migration. Potentially effective therapeutic methods are electroporation and electrochemotherapy, which can significantly increase the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer cells against the background of minimal toxicity to healthy tissues. The important role of hypercoagulation in the mechanisms of development and progression of breast tumors in dogs justifies the use of antithrombotic therapy in cancer patients, especially low molecular weight heparins, which can improve the effectiveness of therapeutic protocols and prevent tumor metastasis. It is shown that these methods as part of complex treatment regimens increase the effectiveness of conventional protocols of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as surgery. However, further studies of the pathogenetic aspects of these treatments for breast tumors in bitches and the possibility of combining them with other therapeutic regimens are needed. Key words: bitches, breast neoplasms, treatment protocols, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, electroporation, antithrombotic therapy.