Toxic compounds, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous in the environment, thus indirectly in animals feed. The transfer of these compounds from animal feed to food products contributes to the human exposure, through consumption. OCPs and PCBs are highly persistent, biocumulative and exercise a wide range of toxic effects, including endocrine system disrupting, being considered as a new class of nonsteroidal xeno-estrogens. In this study, the transfer factors (TFs) for 19 OCPs and 7 PCBs have been evaluated for the quantification of their transfer from cows’ fodder to milk. The samples (milk and feed from cow’s diet) were collected in two villages from Maramures County, Romania. The compounds OCPs and PCBs were analyzed using gas-chromatography coupled with electron capture detection after solvent extraction. Among the OCPs, all the HCH isomers were detected in all the investigated samples, the highest concentration were obtained for α-HCH. All the isomers DDTs (except 2,4’-DDD) were determined, with highest concentration for 4,4’-DDE. The obtained results showed that the TFs ranged between 0.03-0.28, the highest value was recorded for hexachlorobenzene and the lowest for lindane. High values were determined also, for dieldrin (0.25) and for heptachlor (0.23).
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is an infectious disease produced by a virus and it is characteristic to swine. The disease produces important economic demages by reproduction and breathing problemes and with expensive cost by prevention and control of spreading (Rotaru, 2005). This paper shows the results obtained using serological examination by ELISA method in big proffesional breeding swine units compared with household breeding swine units from Braila. In the blood samples taken from different categories was observed a high incidence of antibodies PRRS to the swine growth in proffesional units compared with the results from swine growth in household units where the antibodies against PRRS were not presents. In literature antibodies and virus detection may be a surprise because the clinical signs are not always present (Perianu, 2012).
Spinal-dorsum-lumbar musculature, located near the thoracic-lumbar spine and ribs, is divided into three longitudinal muscle systems, sideways, intermediate and medial, each of them composed of overlapping muscle bundles. These systems continue in the neck region. The research aimed to demonstrate the special development of this system in carnivores, compared with sheep, rapid movement within the first species being related to the possibility of hyperextension of the rachides.
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites infestation in dogs and cats, and their type in the Târgovişte-Dâmboviţa area. In the period September 2011 September 2012, 685 dogs and 180 cats were examined. A prevalence of ectoparasites from 52.41% to 51.67% in dogs and cats was identified. The following species of ectoparasites were identified in dogs: Ctenocephalides canis – 33.71%, Ctenocefalides felis – 7.24%, Rhipicephalus sanguineus – 24.51%, Dermacentor reticulatus – 11.42%, Trichodectes canis – 16.99%, Demodex canis – 7.52%, Sarcoptes scabiei var canis – 4.18%. While the following species of ectoparasites were identified in cats: C. felis – 88.17 %, Otodectes cynotis – 12.90%, Rh. sanguineus – 6.45%, Felicola subrostratus 2.15%, Microsporum canis – 2.15%. It was found that 5.57% of patients had multiple infestations in dogs, and in cats 12.90%. To our knowledge, this is the first report on infestation with Rh. sanguineus in cat in the Târgovişte-Dâmboviţa area.
The paper presents the results of fractioning the biomass towards its bioconversion to ethanol for both – the carbohydrates resulting from hemicelluloses and from the ones of the lignocellulosic complex. Therefore not only methods of chemical hydrolysis were applied, but enzymatic ones too, using products developed in our own laboratories. Also, the possibility of turning into account the phenolic compounds – with high antioxidant potential – was closely looked into, as the phenols are the result of the enzymatic cleavage of the lignocellulosic edifice, rigidly structured. This treatment, unlike the acid hydrolysis, does not cause degradations in the aromatic structures, when submitted to high temperatures. The distillation process, as well as the correction one for the ethanolic solutions that came both from the pretreatment phase and from the celluloso – lythical saccharification phase were performed in the same fashion, using the identical methodology. The results were, therefore, comparable and compared as considering the bioconversion yields and the „INVENTA AG” protocol, applied in Switzerland, through which a quantity of 95% ethylic acid is obtained, that is of 240 liters/tone ligneous dried residue.
Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite related to Toxoplasma gondii, well known as an important cause of abortion in cattle. In live animals the routine diagnostic of infection is detection of anti-N. caninum antibodies in serum. This study aimed to investigate the exposure to N. caninum infection in cattle from south area of Romania, and to survey the seroprevalence in some herds. A total of 542 sera from dairy cattle (16 herds in 9 counties) were sampled at different intervals. In the first sampling only farm animals were included, but in the second sampling courtyard cattle were added (n=47). Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected using an indirect ELISA test. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were found in all herds. A total of 189 samples (34.9%, CI95%=30.85-39.05) were positive, with 104/258 (40.3%, CI95%=43.27-46.58) in the first sampling and 85/284 (29.9%, CI95%=24.66-35.63) in the second sampling. The highest rate of infection was in Giurgiu County, with 18/29 infected animals (62.1%). Prevalence increased with age and abortions were more frequent in seropozitive caws (9/74, 12.2%) than in seronegative ones (5/83, 6%). Seroprevalence was significantly higher in farm (37.2%, 184/495) than in courtyard cattle (10.6%, 5/47). At the second investigation in the same farms prevalence decreased significantly, compared with the first one (35.1%, 46/131 vs. 49%, 47/96). N. caninum infection is widespread in dairy farms from the studied area and may be a cause of abortion in some herds. The prevalence decreased at the second investigation in the same farms.
Lameness is considered one of the most important aspects of the animal health besides breeding problems and mastitis. This evaluation is based probably partially on the incidence of this clinical sign and the economical importance of accidental diseases. In another sense lameness could have even a greater importance. Well established control protocols can be implemented regarding both mastitis and breeding problems, but not in the case of bovine lameness problems where such protocols need specification depending on the numerous factors such as raising conditions, forage management, the capacity of farmers to understand that high production is achieved with the price of functional efficiency of the animals. In addition to the multitude of risk factors we have the permanent evolution of nutrition practice and management systems. The latter serve the best interest of man rather than cow comfort. On the farm where the study has been developed cow lameness was around 20%, the conditions that generated lameness were the following: 5% sole ulcer, 5% heel erosion, 4% necrobacilosis, 2% interdigital dermatitis, 3% interdigital phlegmon, 1% claw deformity. The high percentage of lame cows suggest the presence of subclinical laminitis in the herd, and it is advisable to note these conditions in special records, and develop a more extensive investigation, including monitoring the nutrition management.(1) Other painful conditions such as renal colic or abomasum dysplasia are not as frequent as lameness.
The union of the young veterinary surgeons who decided to establish the Scientific Medical Society of Romania, at the Veterinary School of Bucharest. The “Statute of the Scientific Medical Society from Romania” drawn in the first meeting of 15 May 1871, were voted in the general assembly of August 14-16, 1871, chaired by Mauriciu Colben. The Scientific Medical Society didn’t have its own journal upon establishment. Therefore, in 1879, Alexandru Locusteanu, Mihai Măgureanu, Gheorghe Persu and Panait Constantinescu, publish the Veterinary Surgeon. Succeeding to dismiss some difficulties, 33 veterinary surgeons met on 10-12 May 1882 in Bucharest for the First Congress of Veterinary Medicine, the first of this kind in Romania. The topics of the congress, set in 1881, included the following subjects: sanitary police, animal husbandry, public hygiene, pathology, miscellanea. Once the Society of Veterinary Medicine was relaunched, the Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Husbandry, Hygiene and Rural Economy also appeared. It has been established in 1888 too, by I. Şt. Furtună, and had an Annex, the Bulletin of the Society of Veterinary Medicine. These meetings debated the important problems of the veterinary pathology confronting that period: the foot and mouth disease, of horses glanders, tuberculosis, the bovine gastro-entero-nephritis (babesiosis) etc. The Society existed until July 21, 1949, when, after this last meeting, it was discontinued abusively by the communist regime. Because the centenary of the Romanian Society of Veterinary Medicine was closing, a group of teaching staff from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest started in the spring of 1970, the activities necessary to resume the Romanian Society of Veterinary Medicine: it was re-established on May 15, 1971, 22 years after its discontinuation and one hundred years after its foundation.
Hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) is the most common endocrine disorder of the cat. It was first definitively diagnosed in 1979 and its incidence has increased dramatically since. It is unclear whether this is because it is truly a new disease or because it is being diagnosed more frequently as a result of improved awareness, a growing cat population, increased longevity or a combination of these factors.
Official controls should be carried out through appropriate techniques therefor, including checkups and a more intensive controls such as inspections, verifications, audits, sampling and sampling controls. Community rules should not apply to primary production for private domestic use or preparation, handling and storage of food for private domestic consumption. Relevant risk assessment takes into account the probability of their occurrence, severity and reproduction at every stage technology. Food business operators shall develop, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on HACCP principles.
Listeria monocytogenes is an emerging bacterial foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis outbreaks. Frequently, listeriosis is transmitted through cured or processed meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products, vegetables. This illness is characterized by septicaemia, meningitis, encephalitis and abortive disease (stillbirth or premature birth of the fetus). Listeria monocytogenes isolates from raw and processed meat were studied for the production of cell associated (adherence to HEp-2 cells) and enzymatic virulence factors, i.e.: pore forming toxins (hemolysine, lecithinase, lipase) and exoenzymes (gelatinase, amylase, caseinase, esculinase, DNase). The majority of the tested strains revealed adherece to HEp-2 cells with a predominant diffuse-aggregative pattern, as well as hemolysine, esculinase, caseinase and lipase. All L. monocytogenes strains harbored the hlyA gene. The presence of different virulence features in L. monocytogenes strains isolated from food products may explain the implication of these strains in the occurrence of severe illness.
The interruption of sympathetic innervations at the head level is the main cause that produces the Horner`s syndrome. The damage of the nerve fibres may occur: central, preganglionic or postganglionic. Most patients were sent for an ophthalmologic examination as a result of a sudden attack, often described by owners as “closed, paintful eye”. The purpose of this paper is to establish an etiologic differential diagnosis protocol in Horner`s syndrome. The patients examined in the Surgery Clinics of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Bucharest presented enophthalmos, upper eyelid ptosis, palpebral slid reduction, third eyelid protrusion and miosis. The ophthalmologic examination was performed by direct methods and indirect methods, as Schirmer test, fluorescein test and the pupil size in the darkness. For the most patients, the disease started suddenly, with epiphora and very painful eye. Only for few of them, the onset was sudden and no ocular pain or epiphora were mentioned. The results of the tests showed normal values for the Schirmer test, miosis, with negative response of the pupil in the darkness. The fluorescein test was negative and the internal face of the third eyelid presented no foreign bodies. In this cases, the etiology of the syndrome is idiopathic or secondary to media otitis, frequently subclinical. It was achieved a diferential diagnosis between Horner`s syndrome and the superficial or deep corneal wounds, when the fluorescein test is positive and there were highlighter foreign bodies at the internal third eyelid.
Hydrocephalus is an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. This condition is more common in brachycephalic and toy dog breeds. The diagnosis is based on the interpretation of the data obtained from the anamnesis, the clinical and neurological examination. The confirmation is made by advanced imaging (CT/MRI). Transfontanelar ultrasound is indicated in patients in whom the fontanels remain partially open. The differential diagnosis is required to exclude other encephalopathies. The medication aims to reduce CSF overproduction and improve neurological signs. Surgery (ventriculoperitoneal shunt) is a long-term option in patients who do not respond to medication.
The experiment was made on a Lohmann Brown classic hybrid from 32 to 42 weeks of age. There were used feeds containing various levels of Ca, P or phytase: NC1 and NC2 were commercial recipes, NC3 was supplemented with Phyzyme (500 TFU/kg), NC4 was supplemented with monosodium phosphate and NC5 with dicalcium phosphate according to nutrient requirements (NRC 1998). There was tested the possibility to use the phytase included at a level of 0.12%nPP to make available enough phytic phosphorous to satisfy the birds requirements. (0.25% nPP). When included at a level of 500 FTU/kg feed, Phyzyme hydrolyzed 75% of the phytic phosphorous contributing to a 0.30% aP in the feed. The biological value of the phosphorous in NC3 was of 91.19% and it did not influence either the eggs production or the eggs’ quality.
Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) represent an important group of illnesses affecting dogs around the world. In addition to their veterinary importance, some CVBD-causing pathogens are of major zoonotic concern, with dogs potentially serving as reservoirs and sentinels for human infections. The present study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of some selected arthropod-borne pathogens (Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in stray dogs from Bucharest’s areas, using point-of-care assays: SNAP® Heartworm test (n=16) and SNAP 4DX (n=75), IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME. The SNAP heartworm detects only D. immitis antigen, whereas the SNAP 4DX detects D. immitis antigen and antibodies against E. canis, A. phagocytophylum, and B. burgdorferi. All animals displayed no clinical signs at the physical examination, therefore they were assumed as clinical healthy. Overall, 30.77% (28/91) of the dogs were serologically-positive to one or more of the tested pathogens. The prevalence of positive test results was as follows: D. immitis, 18.68% (17/91), E. canis, 4.00% (3/75), A. phagocytophilum, 16.00% (12/75). Three dogs (4.00%) were co-exposed to D. immitis and A. phagocytophilum and one (1.33%) was co-exposed to E. canis and A. phagocytophilum. There was no evidence for Borrellia infection. This study provides on insight of exposure to certain pathogens infecting stray dogs in some areas of Bucharest, emphasizing high risks for vector-borne diseases.
The rabbit’s anatomy of the nasolacrimal system is unique, with a single lacrimal punctum and a tortuous nasolacrimal duct. Inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct, dacryocystitis, can be caused by primary infection with bacteria from the respiratory tract, secondary to infectious conjunctivitis or nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The latter can occur due to the rabbit’s anatomy features, the tears’ high content of lipid, dental pathology, as a result of chronic inflammations, foreign bodies, neoplasms and hyperparathiroidism. Further investigations to reach a diagnosis and to treat the condition may require general anaesthesia. A 5 year-old Angora rabbit was presented with dacryocystitis. The nasolacrimal duct could not be flushed. Conjunctival bacteriological samples isolated Coryneform bacteria, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas that were sensitive to tobramycine and gentamycine. Local treatment with tobramycine was initiated with no improvement. Radiographic investigations in order to assess dental malocclusion were declined. Clinical improvement was achieved with acetylcysteine nebulization therapy and regular flushing of the nasolacrimal duct followed by topical instillation of aqueous antibiotic solution.
In vitro researches were carried out for evaluate specific growth rate and generation time of two Lactobacillus salivarius strains isolated from dental root canal and two Lactobacillus probiotic strains at pH values 4.5 and 7.0. These tests indicated that Lactobacillus salivarius strains isolated from dental root canal showed biger specific growth rate values at both pH values compared with the probiotic Lactobacillus strains.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidative potential of ethylic fraction of nettle (Urtica dioica) in stressed mice. In this present study mice were divided into the four groups and each group containing five mice. Group I mice were orally administered with 1 ml of 0.9% NaCl with is the positiv control group. Group II mice were administered with ethylic fraction of Urtica dioica. Group III stressed mice were orally administered with 1 ml of 0.9% NaCl with is the negativ control group. Group IV stressed mice were administered with ethylic fraction of Urtica dioica. The activity of enzymic antioxidants (U/ mg of protein) such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were found to be significantly high in ethylic fraction treated stressed mice when compared to the negative control mice. The levels of nonenzymic antioxidant such as reduced glutathione in the ethylic fraction treated stressed mice was found to be significantly higher than that found in control mice. These results suggest that nettle (Urtica dioica) has very good antioxidant and hepatic protective effect of oxidative stress in mice. Currently, the importance of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of many disorders has been highlighted, thus use of this plant as an herbal medicine is highly recommended.
