An effective method was elaborated for extracting the active substances from commercially available Garden thyme and carob seeds. The antibacterial activity of dilutions of thyme and carob extracts and their combinations were studied by taking the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) with agar well diffusion technique. The most effective concentrations of the two herb extracts were used for establishing the best combination of the extracts and on this basis a new feed additive was developed and manufactured for pilot studies. The feed additive efficiently reduced the cost of medications in five pig farms known to be notorious for prevalence of swine dysentery. Feed supplementation also improved weight gain and feed conversion efficiency.

E. Brydl1*, P. Rafai1, V. Jurkovich1, L. Könyves1, A. Tirián, Mrs. L. Tegzes1, J. Kutasi2, Á. Bata2, G. Nagy3, J. Bartyik4, A. Fülöp4 Szent István University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Veterinary Ethology and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology H-1078 Budapest, István u.2., Hungary, Dr Bata Research and Development Ltd (LLC), H-2364 Ócsa, Pesti úti major, Hungary, Enying Agricultural Share-holders Co., H-8130 Enying, Hungary

The oxygen utilization properties of different commercially available yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) products were tested in vitro in artificially created ruminal environment. It has been established that different yeast strains have different oxygen consuming capacity and this characteristic changes in case of prior anaerobic incubation. It was shown that Live-Sacc(R) (NCAIM deposited strain) is a powerful fermentative, it quickly extracts O-2, from the rumen fluid and the anaerobic conditions have no effect on its oxygen consuming capacity.

Experiments were conducted with 1-3 years old, rumen cannulated Merino wethers to characterize the stability of the l,4-(3-endo-xylanase activity of a commercially available enzyme preparation (Rumino-Zyme, 250 FXU/g xylanase activity, Dr. Bata Ltd., Hungary).The Remazol blue technique used for determination of the xylanase activity of the rumen fluid and solid samples proved simple, quick and reliable.The xylanase activity in the rumen of fasting wethers was found to be 20-30 FXU/1.It was by about 2.5 times greater two and four hours after feeding than the value measured pre-feeding.Exogenous xylanase added directly into the rumen of fasted wethers caused an increase in the enzyme activity.After the peak activity at 5 min after treatment the enzymatic activity decreased with an estimated half-life of 45-50 min.This result of the present investigation did not support the earlier observations, which indicated lasting activity of external NSP-enzymes in vivo.

Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) form an integral part of the cell walls in plants and represent considerable available energy when degraded into absorbable mono-, di-, tri- and oligosaccharides. The ruminal microflora hydrolyses a good part of NSPs, however, recently there have been attempts to enhance the rate of utilisation by using external polysaccharidase enzymes. In the present study the effects of an enzyme preparation (Rumino-Zyme) high in xylanase activity were studied on ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, parameters of energy and protein metabolism, milk yield, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and body condition score of high-yielding dairy cows. A lignolytic enzyme preparation produced by the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus was applied in the present experiment and fed to dairy cows at 34 g/day dosage in the period between calving and the 110th day of lactation. This preparation increased VFA concentration in the rumen from about 32 days after calving and onward. Increased VFA concentration was followed by an about 5 to 10% increase in milk production and an almost 0.1% increase in butterfat production. Increased VFA concentration produced more balanced energy metabolism in the experimental cows as indicated by the lower incidence rate of hyperketonaemia, and lower acetoacetic acid and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration in the blood of the experimental cows. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity was tendentiously higher in the control group and the proportion of cows that had AST activity higher than 100 U/l was also higher in the control group. Both control and experimental cows showed balanced protein and acid-base metabolism throughout the experiment. Enhanced VFA concentration contributed to an improvement in energy balance in the experimental cows with a resultant improvement of feed intake and feed utilisation. Due to the more balanced energy metabolism postparturient body condition loss of the treated cows was reduced.

This paper describes the production of an enzyme preparation from the fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus. Thermal resistance, pH stability and lignocellulolytic activity of the enzyme preparation high in xylanase were studied on a variety of grains and forages. The enzyme preparation preserved more than 70% of its original xylanase activity for 4 and 1 h at 60 and 70 degreesC, respectively. The xylanase activity remained over 80% when the preparation was incubated for 30 min at pH 4.5. In vitro digestibility studies indicated that the enzyme digested 7.5, 8.5 and 8.0% of the dry matter (DM) of barley meal, wheat bran and oat meal samples, respectively. When applying 60-min incubation, 7.5, 7.3 and 8.4% of DM of the oat straw, alfalfa hay and triticale straw was digested, respectively. When the time of digestion was increased to 360 min, the sunflower hull showed 15.8% DM digestibility.

In the period between December 5, 1991 and September 17, 1998, 760 maize, 367 wheat, 119 soybean, 222 barley, 85 bran, 32 triticale, 60 oat, 14 rye and 22 sunflower samples were investigated for the presence and concentration of seven fusariotoxins (T-2 toxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, HT-2 toxin, fusarenone-X) and OTA. The comparison of analytical data with those of the relevant literature revealed that although the incidence rate and/ or concentration of Fusarium mycotoxins and OTA in Hungarian-grown cereals is occasionally considerable, the position of the country is not worse than the average of countries. Our findings indicate that soybean tends to be good substrate for trichothecene-producing fungi and the rate of contamination is regarded as substantial. The commodities were assorted into one of three quality categories. The proportion of objectionable samples was only 3.0, 2.2, 2.3 and 1.7% in maize, wheat, barley and soybean samples, respectively. However, this low rate of objection might still be a source of great economic loss. The proportion of objectionable samples was much higher in the case of bran, oat and triticale (7.1, 6.7, and 6.3%, respectively). The results of the present investigation indicate a need for regular screening for mycotoxins of importance and individual appraisal of each commodity from the point of their use in animal feeds.

The effects of different dietary levels of T-2 toxin on production, biological, immunological, and pathological parameters of growing white Pekin ducks were studied to establish the “no effect” dietary concentration of, and “no effect” exposure time to, pure T-2 toxin. Day-old white Pekin ducks were randomly allotted to nine groups of 10 ducks each. One group served as a control, and no mycotoxin was added to its feed. The feeds of the experimental groups were supplemented with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mg purified T-2 toxin/kg, respectively, from Day 1 until Day 49 of the experiment. Dermatotoxic oral lesions developed in most experimental ducks within 2 d after the start of feeding T-2 toxin-contaminated feeds. The gradual disappearance of macroscopic signs indicated the development of tolerance in groups treated with the lower T-2 toxin content. No repair was found in the 3 and 4 mg/kg groups. Dietary concentrations of T-2 toxin below 0.4 mg/kg had no effect on the average weekly weight gain in the first 6 wk, but a severe decrease was found in the last week of the experiment. The 0.6 mg/kg dietary T-2 toxin had no effect on weight gain in the first 3 wk. At Week 4 and later, the weekly weight gain was significantly reduced, and the final live weight of this group was also significantly lower than that of the control. Dietary T-2 concentrations of 1 mg/kg and greater uniformly depressed growth rate. Only the 3 and 4 mg/kg groups refused feed during the first week. From Week 3 on, the feed intakes of the 0.6 to 4 mg/kg groups were usually less than that of the control group, indicating feed refusal. Serum and plasma chemical values and hematological parameters failed to show dose-dependent effects. The blastogenic response of lymphocytes to nonspecific and specific mitogens was distinctly impaired by the T-2 toxin at all levels in the feed. In the 3 and 4 mg/kg groups, the histological examination revealed lymphocyte depletion in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius.

Different physical and chemical methods have been recommended for detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed. Nevertheless, only a few of them (e.g. destruction of aflatoxin by ammonia treatment) have been accepted for practical use. Many specialists are of the opinion that the best approach for decontamination should be degradation by selected microorganisms, giving a possibility of removal of mycotoxins under mild conditions, without using harmful chemicals and without significant losses in nutritive value and the palatibility of detoxified food or feed. The present state of research in this field and the perspectives of such procedures are reviewed.

Abstract As a result of increased interest and intensive research activity in microcomponents of foods of plant origin, our knowledge concerning the saponins of foods increased substantially in the last few years. Triterpenoid and steroid saponins occur primarily in legumes seeds, nevertheless a lot of other foods and raw food materials contain small amounts of saponins. Due to the low absorption and complexes formed with cholesterol, saponins do not cause toxicological problems, however the bitter taste and some technological characteristics may be a disadvantage. Saponin complexes were also mentioned as causing possible damage to intestinal mucosa and formation of less digestible protein. It was also reported that a cholesterol lowering effect and antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro have been attributed to saponins. Analytical methods used for determination and identification of saponins today are dominated by different Chromatographic and specific instrumental methods.

Clinical symptoms and pathomorphological changes of more important mycotoxicoses of different poultry species have been reviewed.In case of aflatoxicosis, inappetency, faintness, weakness and frequently ataxia, opisthotonus and spastic retroextension of extremities can be observed. The pathological investigation may reveal swelling, yellow colouration of liver with heamorrhages on its surface (Fig. 2), swelling of kidneys, dropsy in the pericardium and acute intestinal catarrh. The histopathological investigation may reveal disorganization of hepatic structure (dystrophy), and severe necrosis of parenchymal cells (fatty infiltration, necrosis, Fig. 3) which can be accompanied by proliferation of bile vessels (Fig. 4), nodular hyperplasia of hepatic cells and fibrosis.All avian species, except for domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) are sensitive for F-2 fusariotoxicosis. Zearalenone has no effect on egg production, however the sperm cell production of males (drake, gander, turkey cock, guinea cock) - similar to the mammalians - is damaged. It causes fatty degeneration of germi nal epithelium in the seminiferous tubules and later on atrophy and ceasing of spermiogenesis (Figs 5 and 6). The electron microscopic examinations revealed - besides the presence of fat droplets - necrosis (appearance of so-called myelin figurations), calcification of mitochondria (Fig. 7) in the cytoplasm and chromatin degeneration in the head of matured sperm cells (Fig, 8).Fusariotoxicoses caused by T-2 and other trichothecene skeleton toxins (HT-2 DAS, NIV, FX, DON). It causes diminition of body-mass gain, disturbed feathering and the flock will be ''scattered'' (Fig. 9). In case of higher toxin contamination, necrosis covered with crusted deposition develops on the bill, skin of the angle of mouth, on the tongue and palate (Figs 10, 11, and 12). Occasionally, motor disturbance and nervous symptoms can also be observed. During the gross-pathological examination,especially in case of mixed toxin contamination, a frequent observation is an acute, haemorrhagic hepatic dystrophy and tubulonephrosis as well as atrophy of lymphoid organs (bursa of Fabricii, thymus, etc., Figs 13 to 17). Damage of immune system predisposes for the manifestation of other diseases (e. g. caecal coccidiosis) and worsen the effect of vaccinations.In adult laying flocks, the egg production decreases (Figs 18 and 19), hatching ability worsens (Fig. 25), follicular degeneration and necrosis can be observed on the ovaria (Figs 20 and 21) accompanied by the involution of oviduct (Figs 22 and 23) and often amyloidosis of liver and spleen (Fig. 24).In case of stachybotryotoxicosis, smaller or larger areas are erythematous and oedematous and superficially necrotized on the head, wattle, neck (Fig. 26), as well as plantar pulp (Fig. 27). Surface of ulcers are covered by crust-like exudate. Depletion and necrosis of immatured and matured cells is characteristic in the lymphoid and myeloid haemocytogenetic organs, as well as tissues.Ochratoxicosis affecting all animal species and man, caused by a mycotoxin and manifests in the primary damage of kidneys. Structural manifestation is. degeneration of renal tubules followed by interstitial fibrosis, while functional manifestation in the insufficient function of renal tubules.Uptake of ochratoxin predisposes to the development of renal uricosis in all avian species. Mass incidence of renal injury was observed many times in growing geese (Fig. 28). Worsening of hatching ability of eggs is caused by the uptake of even a low, 1 to 2 mg/feed kg of toxin dose. Uptake of higher doses of the toxin - similar to certain trichothecenes and aflatoxins - causes a rachitic osteogenetic disturbance in chickens and turkeys.Diagnosis and practical conclusions. The above reported diseases develop in typical clinical symptoms and pathomorphological alterations mainly after the uptake of feeds with higher concentrations of mycotoxins. In the practice, however, only the lower developmental force, general resistance, worse feed conversion and reproductive indices call the attention for mycotoxin contamination of feed. In this case, besides the identification and quantitative determination of toxins in the feed, carefully should also be considered during the diagnosis that in the cause of detailed - non specific - clinical cymptoms other causes, as well as disturbances (management, infectious and deficiency diseases, etc.) may also play a role. Thus, the diagnosis of diseases due to consuming mycotoxin containing feeds is always a very complex task.

In two sets of experiments eight groups of seven-week-old pigs weighing about 9 kg were fed for three weeks a prestarter that contained 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 10.0 or 15.0 mg/kg of highly purified T-2 toxin. The feed of the two control groups was free from T-2 toxin. Average daily intakes of toxin by the pigs were 0.38, 0.81, 1.24, 1.43, 0.93, 0.81, 0.99 and 2.5 mg, respectively. The weight gains, the feed intakes, the extent of feed refusal, the parameters of energy and protein metabolism and the serum concentrations of calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium were affected to different extents by the different doses of T-2 toxin, but the data indicated that feed consumption was reduced and the activity of aspartate aminotransferase was increased by the smallest amount of T-2 toxin tested.

Four groups of seven-week-old pigs weighing about 9 kg were fed for three weeks a prestarter that contained 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 mg/kg of highly purified T-2 toxin. The average daily intakes of toxin by the pigs were 0.38, 0.81, 1.24 and 1.43 mg, respectively. The experimental and control pigs were immunised with 5 ml aluminum hydroxide gel-absorbed purified horse globulin on the first and fourth days of the treatment period. Blood samples were withdrawn on days 7, 14 and 21 and used for the determination of the titre of anti-horse globulin antibody, for an in vitro lymphocyte proliferation test, using purified horse globulin, phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin-A and for determinations of the immune complex, the cytotoxic reaction and the phagocytic activity and phagocytic index of circulating granulocytes. The samples taken on day 21 were also used to determine the erythrocyte count, the mean cell volume of the erythrocytes, the haematocrit, the blood haemoglobin concentration, the leucocyte count and the proportion of T lymphocytes. At the end of the experiment samples were taken from the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes for histological examination. The diets that contained 2 and 3 mg T-2 toxin/kg caused a significant decrease in the red blood cell count, the mean corpuscular volume and the haemoglobin concentration. A significant decrease in the leucocyte count and the proportion of T lymphocytes was observed in all the treatment groups. There were also dose-dependent, significant decreases in antibody formation and in the blastogenic transformation of lymphocytes, and mild to moderate reactive processes were observed histologically in the lymphoid organs.

In the recent years, the use of feed additives containing yeast cultures has been increasing. These supplements have been tested under a variety of feeding and management situation and improved milk production in dairy herds and a higher body-mass gain in beef cattle was reported in many cases.The aim of this study was to measure the influence of Live-Sacc (Saccharomyces cerevisiae - viable cells 5x10(9)/g - and a growth medium produced by Dr. Bata Ltd, Budapest, Hungary) on the ruminal fermentation, acid-base metabolism and also on the milk production of dairy cows. The experiment was conducted on a dairy farm with 1000 Holstein-Friesian head of cows. The age and milk production of the cows in this unit was 3.8 years und 8000 kg/year, respectively, on an average.60 clinically healthy cows were randomly selected from the herd and were divided into two equal groups (experimental and control groups). Age and milk production of the cows were comparable during the previous lactation period.Prior to calving, the ration of the control group consisted of maize silage, meadow-hay and mineral premix. After calving, the daily ration consisted of maize-silage, grass, alfalfa haylage and hay. Stepwise increasing amount of concentrates (starting with 2 kg/cow/day, gradually increasing up to 11 kg/day) was also provided. The animals in the experimental group had the same ration except for that these cows received 20 g/day of Live-Sacc supplement starting from the second week prior to the expected parturition up to the 100th day of lactation. The ration met the demand of cows in both groups (NRC, updated in 1989).Ruminal fluid, blood and urine samples were collected in different periods of reproduction and production from randomly selected, healthy cows, 3 to 5 hours after the morning feeding. Determination of acetate, propionate and butyrate in the ruminal fluid, pH and net acid-base excretion in urine was performed. Daily milk production of cows was also recorded.The volatile fatty acid (VFA) content of ruminal fluid corresponded of the physiological status of animals in both groups two weeks before the expected calving (basal samples) and suggested an equilibrated protein supply. However, the acetate content of the ruminal fluid was about 14.3% higher in the experimental group 2-3 weeks after calving, in the period of increasing milk production as compared to; the control group. The difference was significant at the p<0.05 level. The propionate and butyrate levels were comparable in both groups. The total VFA concentration levels were about 7.2% higher in the experimental group than in the control one. The difference was highly significant (p < 0.001). Much lower lactate levels were found in the experimental group, the concentration was 47.05 % lower than that measured in the animals of the control group. A highly significant difference was found in respect of the acetate content of the ruminal fluid between the two groups in favour of the experimental group.In the period of peak of the lactation, the concentration of acetate, propionate and butyrate in the ruminal fluid of the experimental cows was superior to the values found in the control group. In the experimental group, the VFA content was higher by 12.5% indicating a more favourable, well balanced energy metabolism. The difference was highly significant (p<0.001). The acetate-propionate ratio measured in the experimental group was the nearest to the optimal 3 : 1 ration in all period tested, indicating the beneficial effect of Live-Sacc on the ruminal fermentation.Well balanced energy metabolism was indicated by the results of laboratory examinations of blood samples concerning the energy metabolism two weeks prior to the expected parturition. The FFA level was lower by 22.9% in the experimental group than in the control group in recently calved cows, indicating a better balanced energy metabolism. The AST level was also lower by 7.3% in experimental animals than in controls. At the peak of lactation, FFA value was lower by 52.9% in the experimental animals than in the controls, indicating a more favourable energy metabolism.There were no significant differences between the mean acid-base values of blood samples of the two groups.pH and net acid-base excretion (NAPE) levels of urine samples indicated a satisfactory metabolism in both groups in all periods on the experiment. NABE increased steadily in the experimental group after calving. This indicated that although a high ration of concentrates (11 kg/cow/day) was provided in this group, the acid loading expressively decreased during the period after calving. The increase of NAPE value was significant at a level of p<0.001.The daily milk production of the two groups was measured at every milking during 12 weeks of lactation and the data of milk yield were recorded in a computer. The daily milk production of cows in the experimental group was significantly higher during the first 12 weeks of lactation (1.77 kg/day, on an average) than in the control group. The difference was highly significant (p<0.001).Summarizing the results of the study, it could be pointed out that supplementation of the diet with 200 g Live-Sacc/day/cow starting 2 weeks prior to calving and continuing during the first 100 days of lactation favourably influenced the ruminal fermentation. Parameters of the ruminal fluid indicated a more balanced energy metabolism in the experimental group. After calving, in spite of the provision with a high amount of concentrates (11 kg/cow/day), the acid-load decreased. Thus, Live-Sacc favourably influenced also the acid-base metabolism. The more balanced energy and acid-base metabolism resulted in a significantly higher milk production (1.77 kg/cow/day).

T-2 trichothecene fusariotoxin was administered to 110 laying geese and 33 ganders in the active egg production period through a tube at 2-day intervals on a total of 10 occasions. After the treatment, the geese were subjected to detailed pathomorphological examination. In the ovaries of layers, a cessation of follicle maturation and follicle degeneration dependent on the toxin dose were observed, accompanied by ovulation and consequent peritonitis in the birds that died and in some of those killed by bleeding. Additional findings included involution of the oviduct, lymphocyte depletion, necrosis and amyloidosis in the spleen, catarrhal enteritis, signs of colloid stasis in the thyroid and large numbers of secretory granules in the cytoplasm of the adrenaline-producing cells of the adrenal gland. In the ganders, toxin administration did not reduce the intensity of spermatogenesis but in the spleen, intestine and endocrine glands it caused changes similar to those seen in the layers.