The purpose of the trial was to use the mobile nylon bag technique to determine the crude protein digestibility and calculate the digestible protein yield of soybean varieties cultivated in Hungary. The trial was carried out with 10, double cannulated (duodenal- and PVTC-cannula) hybrid barrows with initial live weights of 40±3.5 kg. The experimental basal diets were formulated on a corn-wheat-barley-soybean basis according to the requierement of growing pigs (Tybirk, 2015). A total of 20 soybean varieties were tested in this experiment. After simulating gastric digestion the nylon bags were inserted into the duodenum of ten barrows through simple duodenal T-cannulae. Ten bags were administered to each pig daily. A total of 200 (10 samples/soybean variety) bags were inserted over a 4-day period. The mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values of the crude protein digestibility of soybean samples were calculated. The protein yields per hectare according to the crop yield and the protein content values and also the digestible protein yield values were calculated. To examine the relationship between crop yield and crude protein yield and also between crop yield and digestible crude protein yield regression analysis were used. The overall results of this experiment indicate that the average crude protein digestibility of the tested soybean varieties was 76.0%, with an absolute difference of 17.3% between the best and the least digestible varieties. ES Mentor variety reached the best digestible crude protein yield, with 1305.4 kg/ha. The variety with the lowest digestible crude protein yield was Boglár, with 752.3 kg/ha. The difference in digestible crude protein yield between these two varieties was 173.5%. In the correlation analysis between digestible crude protein content and yield for soybean varieties our results show that there is no correlation between the two factors. However, Aires, Prestopro, and ES Mentor should be highlighted among the varieties with above trend line results, as they have the best yield (4020 kg/ha; 4100 kg/ha, 4510 kg/ha) and digestible crude protein content (31%, 30.3%, and 28.9%). ES Mentor produced the fourth best digestible crude protein content (28.9%) with the best yield (4510 kg/ha).

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rectal temperature (RT) as well as artificial insemination (AI) technique on pregnancy rates in Holstein cows and artificial insemination or embryo transfer (ET) techniques in Holstein heifers during summer. The experiments were conducted on five dairy farms in Hungary, where 1 631 data were examined. The RT was measured immediately before reproductive techniques using a digital thermometer. The effects of animal group and month on RT were analysed. The enhancement of RT until September can be seen in heifers, but the highest RT of cows occurred during July. In line with the enhancement of RT the pregnancy rate decreased in all groups; the lowest (cows) and the highest (heifers) value was observed in July. Moderate to high negative coefficients of correlation were detected between rectal temperature and pregnancy rate for particular groups (r = -0.3 - -0.7). More than 92% of ET, 48% and 16% of inseminated heifers and cows were pregnant up to the category of 39.1 °C of RT, above this it did not change considerably in the inseminated groups. In inseminated animals with RT higher than 39.1 °C significantly higher services per conception could be observed contrary to ET heifers. ET may become a more effective strategy to improve pregnancy success in heifers compared to AI during summer.

Fumonisin-producing fungal species,Fusarium verticillioides, culture was mixed in the diets of 6 piglets for 9 days (Fumonisin B1[FB1] intake of 17 mg/kg) to investigate whether there is any potential alteration in the caecal bacterial communities between the experimental (withF. verticillioides) and control groups (withoutF. verticillioides). Plate count agar culturing technique was applied to measure the amount of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria,Escherichia coli, coliforms,Lactobacillusspp. andClostridium perfringens. A significant difference was observed between the control and experimental group only in the case of aerobic bacteria on Day 4, 8.60 ± 0.22 compared to 8.06 ± 0.20 (P< 0.05), respectively. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to estimate the DNA copy number of total bacteria,BacteroidesandPrevotellaspp.,Clostridiumspp.,E. coli,Enterobacteriales,FirmicutesandLactobacillusspp. Significant differences were observed between the control and experimental group regarding total bacteria on Day 2 and Day 6,Firmicuteson Day 2 andE. coliandEnterobacterialeson Day 4. Regarding the entire feeding time, no significant difference between the two groups was found in all species of investigated bacteria by the culturing technique and qPCR after an 8-day exposure. The present research contributes to the understanding of how microbiota responds to the FB1load.

Objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of growing rabbits' diet with 5% spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and/or 3% (Thymus vulgaris L.), on composition and amount of rabbits caecal microbiota. After weaning, rabbits were randomly sorted to 4 groups (n=42/group). The control group received a pellet without any supplementation, in treated groups the dietary supplementation was provided until 77 days of age. On 49, 63 and 77 days of age, six healthy animals/group were randomly selected and slaughtered. From the caecal content the amount of total bacteria, Bacteroides, Clostridium leptum and Clostridium coccoides were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), with the aid of bacterial ribosome coding DNA. The copy number of total bacteria, C. leptum, C. coccoides and Bacteroides varied between 2.75x10(12) to 2.24x10(13), 5.25x10(11) to 1.82x10(12), 2.5x10(10) to 6.91x10(11) and 5.89x10(10) to 1.10x10(12), respectively. The amount of investigated bacteria represented 0.6%-13.4% of the total bacteria. The use of spirulina and/or thyme supplements influenced the amount of the copy number of each bacteria examined between 49 and 77 days of age. Their effect on the total bacteria number was temporary. Spirulina resulted in more Bacteroides on day 63 but significantly lower amount of Clostridia at 63 and at 77 days of age. The antimicrobial effect of thyme on the absolute Clostridia number was temporary, prevailing on day 63. Thyme resulted in significantly decreasing percentage ratio (within total bacteria) of C. leptum and C. coccoides by 77 days of age.

The possible interaction between Pasteurella multocida and the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1), recognised as one of the most often food/feed contaminant, was studied with the aim to evaluate whether and how FB1 can influence and/or complicate the development and severity of various pathological damages provoked by Pasteurella multocida in some internal organs of pigs. Heavier lung pathology was seen in pigs experimentally infected with Pasteurella multocida, when the same were exposed to 20ppm dietary levels of fumonisin B1 (FB1) as was assessed by gross pathology, pathomorphological examinations, clinical biochemistry and some immunological investigations. The most typical damages in FB1 treated pigs were the strong oedema in the lung and the slight oedema in the other internal organs and mild degenerative changes in the kidneys, whereas the typical pathomorphological findings in pigs infected with Pasteurella multocida was broncho-interstitial pneumonia. FB1 was found to aggravate pneumonic changes provoked by P. multocida in the cranial lobes of the lung and to complicate pneumonic damages with interstitial oedema in the lung. No macroscopic damages were observed in the pigs infected only with Pasteurella multocida. It can be concluded that the feed intake of FB1 in pigs may complicate or exacerbate the course of P. multocida serotype A infection.

A more complicated pathology was observed in female pigs infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, when the same were exposed to 20 ppm dietary levels of fumonisin B1 (FB1) starting 14 days before infection for a period of 42 days as was assessed by gross pathology and pathomorphological examinations or computed tomography, and also manifested by the strong deterioration of the pneumonic process in two pigs and the subsequent euthanizing of one pig. Typical damages in FB1-fed pigs were a strong oedema in the lung and slight oedema in the other internal organs and mild degenerative changes in the kidneys, whereas the typical pathomorphological changes in M. hyopneumoniae-infected pigs corresponded to the morphologic pattern of a catarrhal bronchointerstitial pneumonia more pronounced in the cranial and middle lobes or in the cranial third of the caudal lobe of the lung. The pigs treated by both pathogens (toxic and infectious) revealed strong oedematous changes in the interstitium of lung in addition to deteriorated and extended bronchointerstitial pneumonic process.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae has a primary role in the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). The objective of this study was to determine whether fumonisin mycotoxins influence the character and/or the severity of pathological processes induced in the lungs of pigs by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Four groups of pigs (n ¼ 7/group) were used, one fed 20 ppm fumonisin B1 (FB1) from 16 days of age (group F), one only infected with M. hyopneumoniae on study day 30 (group M), and a group fed FB1 and infected with M. hyopneumoniae (group MF), along with an untreated control group (group C). Computed tomography (CT) scans of infected pigs (M and MF) on study day 44 demonstrated lesions extending to the cranial and middle or in the cranial third of the caudal lobe of the lungs. The CT images obtained on study day 58 showed similar but milder lesions in 5 animals from group M, whereas lungs from 2 pigs in group MF appeared progressively worse. The evolution of average pulmonary density calculated from combined pixel frequency values, as measured by quantitative CT, was significantly influenced by the treatment and the age of the animals. The most characteristic histopathologic lesion in FB1-treated pigs was pulmonary edema, whereas the pathomorphological changes in Mycoplasma-infected pigs were consistent with catarrhal bronchointerstitial pneumonia. FB1 aggravated the progression of infection, as demonstrated by severe illness requiring euthanasia observed in 1 pig and evidence of progressive pathology in 2 pigs (group MF) between study days 44 and 58.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of the growing rabbits’ diet by Spirulina or/and Thyme (food supplement) on the composition and amount of the microbiota and production of volatile fatty acids of the rabbits’ caecum. We used classical culturing methods and after bacterial DNA extraction, the quantity of bacteria (belonging to phylum Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) were determined by qPCR reactions with the aid of bacterial ribosome coding DNA at the Molecular Biology Laboratory, University of Kaposvar. The experiment was carried out using rabbits (Pannon White) from rabbit-farm of Kaposvar University. Young rabbits were weaned on the 35th day after birth. All experimental animals were the same age. Duration of Spirulina and/or Thyme supplementation –after weaning- was 48 days. Samples were collected on the 14th, 28th and 48th day of the supplementation. No dietary effect on pH of the caecal content was detected. The number of Escherichia coli, total anaerobic and strictly anaerobic bacteria decreased by age, no effect of the diet could be demonstrated. Supplementation with Thyme resulted in slightly higher ratio of propionic acid, but the difference was not significant. In conclusion, Spirulina and/or Thyme supplementation of diet after weaning had no substantial effect on the volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, while the classical microbiological determination did not find a substantial effect on the composition of the caecal microbiota. By the Quantitative PCR method we measured significantly lower bacterial copy numbers in the samples of ST treated group. This indicates that the ST (Spirulina 5% and 3% Thyme) feed supplementation has an antimicrobial effect on the investigated bacterial groups in the caecum of growing rabbit.

The interaction of Bordetella bronchiseptica, toxigenic Pasteurella multocida serotype D, and the mycotoxin fumonisin B-1 (FB1) was studied. On day 0 of the experiment, 28 artificially reared 3-day-old piglets were divided into 4 groups (n = 7 each): a control group (A), a group fed FB1 toxin (B), a group infected with the 2 pathogens (C), and a group infected with the 2 pathogens and fed FB1 toxin (D). The B. bronchiseptica infection [with 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL] was performed on day 4 and the P. multocida infection (with 10(8) CFU/mL) on day 16. From day 16 a Fusarium verticillioides fungal culture (dietary FB1 toxin content 10 mg/kg) was mixed into the feed of groups B and D. In groups C and D, clinical signs including mild serous nasal discharge, sneezing, panting, and hoarseness appeared from day 4, and then from day 16 some piglets had coughing and dyspnea as well. Computed tomography (CT) performed on day 16 demonstrated lung lesions attributable to colonization by B. bronchiseptica in the infected groups. By day 25 the number of piglets exhibiting lesions had increased, and the lesions appeared as well-circumscribed, focal changes characterized by a strong density increase in the affected areas of the lungs. The gross pathological findings confirmed the results obtained by CT. These results indicate that, when combined with dual infection by B. bronchiseptica and P. multocida, dietary exposure of pigs to FB1 toxin raises the risk of pneumonia and increases the extent and severity of the pathological changes.

The authors examined the combined effect of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) mycotoxin in pigs. Computed tomography (CT) was applied to follow up the pathological events in the lung. Piglets were infected with Mh, or treated with FB1, or both infected and treated with Mh and FB1. The Mh infection produced lung lesions in all piglets the severity of which was increased by FB1. The CT is a suitable method for studying the pathological conditions in the lower respiratory tract of swine.

A szerzők fumonizin B1 (FB1) mikotoxin membrankarosito, illetve membranműkodest befolyasolo hatasat vizsgaltak. Első lepesben egeszseges nyul vorosvertestekből izolalt szellemsejteket vizsgaltak, melyeket emelkedő koncentracioju (10, 50 es 100 μM) tisztitott FB1-el inkubaltak, majd DPH (1,6-difenil-1,3,5-hexatrien) fluoreszcens festekkel jeloltek, ezt kovetően meghataroztak a fluoreszcens anizotropiat. Masodik lepesben intakt human vorosvertestekben megvizsgaltak, hogy azokat 7 illetve 24 oran at tisztitott, 50 μM illetve 1 mM FB1-el inkubalva emelkedik-e a K-ion kiaramlasa, ami a vorosvertestek membrankarosodasanak erzekeny mutatoja. A kiserletsorozat harmadik lepesekent 5 mg/nap/allat FB1 toxinnal 10 napon at kezelt nyulakbol szarmazo vorosvertesteket vizsgaltak. A kiserleti allatokbol szarmazo vorosversejt szellemsejteket DPH-val jeloltek, majd megmertek azok fluoreszcens anizotropiajat. A novekvő (10−50−100 μM) koncentracioju FB1 nem okozott valtozast a szellemsejtek fluoreszcens anizotropia ertekeiben 1 es 4 oras kezelest kovetően. Az 50 μM FB1-el 7 oran keresztul tarto inkubacio hatasara az extracellularis ter Na-ion koncentracioja 147,5−149,2 mmol/L, mig K-ion koncentracioja 0,04−1,64 mmol/L kozott valtozott. A mert koncentraciok sem a referenciakent hasznalt oldattol, sem pedig a kiindulasi 0 oras ertekektől nem kulonboztek jelentősen es szignifikansan. Ehhez kepest a 24 oras, 1 mM FB1-el valo inkubacio kismertekű Na-kiaramlas emelkedest eredmenyezett (182,4−190,6 mmol/L), mig a K-kiaramlas nem emelkedett a fiziologias hatarertek fole (a maximalis koncentracio 3,8 mmol/L volt). A toxinnal kezelt nyulak vorosversejtjeiből keszult szellemsejtek anizotropiaja 4 oras inkubaciot kovetően hasonlo ertekeket mutatott, mint az egeszseges nyulakbol szarmazoke. A FB1 in vitro es in vivo korulmenyek kozott tehat, az alkalmazott dozisokban, nem volt hatassal az ember es a nyul vorosversejtjeinek vizsgalt fiziko-kemiai tulajdonsagaira.

In commercial rabbit meat production, a major part of the breeding loss results from diseases of the digestive system, occuring mainly (about 25%) around weaning (between days 18 to 50). Beside economic losses, this disease has a negative influence on animal welfare, as well. Antibiotics are still widely used to reduce mortality of the growing rabbit, although there is an increasing human health and food safety concern about drug residues in meat products. As an alternative to in-feed antibiotics, the effect of a probiotic, i.e. Bacillus cereus var. toyoi was examined in rabbits. One group of Pannon White does (Group T) was fed on a diet containing 200 ppm Toyocerin (2x10(5) B. c. spores/g feed), while the other group (Group K) received an antibiotic free diet with the same chemical composition. Kids consumed the same diet as their mothers (K and T) until weaning. After weaning at age of 28 days, all litters were divided into two groups, one fed on the same diet as before (KK, n=37 and TT, n=46), while the diet of the other two groups was changed (KT, n=38 and TK, n=44). Supplementation of the does' diet significantly improved the weight gain of the kids. The weight of K rabbits (389 +/- 8 g) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower at 3 weeks of age compared to treated (T) animals (462 +/- 12 g). This could be presumably due to the better milk production of the does. The difference in body weight between the two groups was still marked on week 4. During the whole experimental period (4 to 6 weeks) body weight gain (54 g/day) and feed conversion (2.0 g/g) proved to be the best in group KT. Morbidity and mortality was lower in animals fed on supplemented diet after weaning. The most impressive change was observed in the number of coliform bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Caecal chyme of K rabbits contained significantly higher coliform germ count on day 21 (5.9 CFU log10/g chyme). On week 5 adding Toyocerin into the diet significantly decreased the bacterial count in groups KT and Tr (2.0 CFU log10/g chyme). For coliforms the count of 10(3)-10(4) bacteria/g chyme in group TK could be considered as physiological, but the count of 105 in KK rabbits is considered to be of high risk from the animal's health point of view. Total volatile fatty acid concentration was around 66-80 mmol/kg after weaning in all groups, though in the TK and TT groups it was temporarily raised above 100 mmol/kg in the 4(th) week.

The immunomodulating effect of a wheat extract (Immunovet-HBM) feed supplement in pigs suffering from immunosuppression caused by 1.5 and 3.0 ppm T-2 toxin was examined. Immune response was measured after vaccination (day 1 and 5) of the animals against Aujeszky's disease. Specific and non specific in vitro cellular immune response was measured by the lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) induced by PHA-P, ConA, PWM and inactivated suspension of the Aujeszky virus. Humoral immune response, e.g. specific antibody titre was measured by virus neutralisalion test. All the measured parameters were significantly and (lose dependently lower in pigs fed T-2 containing diet than in the controls. The wheat extract supplementation induced a better immune response compared to pigs exposed to T-2.

One-day-old Pannon White rabbits of average birth w eight were distributed into litters of eight, and these litters were randomly divided into three grou ps (21-22 litters/group) according to the weaning age: 21 (G21), 28 (G28) and 35 (G35) days. Milk con sumption, feed intake and body weight were measured weekly. On day 14, 22, 29, 36 and 42 subse q ent to birth 6 healthy animals from each group were examined for some digestive physiological para meters: pH and volatile fatty acid content (VFA) of the caecal content, and composition of the caeca l microflora. There was no significant difference between groups in body weight till the 28 th day of age. At day 35 and 42 d, G35 rabbits had a significantly higher body weight compared to rabbit s of the other two groups. Milk consumption increased from day 21 to day 28. Thereafter G35 rab bits had lower milk consumption, presumably due to the decrease in the mothers milk production and the increase in the solid feed consumption. There was a sudden increase in the solid feed consumption after weaning. In group G35 the feed intake was higher already on day 28, related to the decreasing milk production of the doe. Anaerobic bacteria growing on the Schaedler agar were in a high amount (10/g) already on the 14 th day of age. On day 42 their number was significantly higher in G35 and G2 8 than in G21 rabbits. Counts of coliforms and bacteria growing in the presence of air were in acc ordance with the literature and decreased with age and decreasing milk intake. Concentration of total VFA was significantly higher in G21 than in G28 and G35. The percentage of acetic acid (C2) was abo ve 70% after weaning in G21. In the other two groups rabbits consumed more milk and less solid fe e , so the concentration of C2 was significantly lower. Because of the early solid feed consumption of G21, the concentration of propionic acid (C3) was significantly lower, while that of butyric acid (C4) was significantly higher on day 29 than in G28. The highest C4 content was found in G21 during the whole experimental period. In G35 milk consumption and the simultaneous increasing solid f eed intake resulted in better growth. The composition of the caecal microflora was mainly inf luenced by age, effect of weaning was less pronounced. On the other hand milk and/or feed cons umption, i.e. age of weaning, had major effect on the VFA composition. In summary, early weaning (age 21 d) did not result in detrimental changes in the digestive physiological parameters examined, bu t resulted in lower production in rabbits.

The absorption, distribution and elimination of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and its metabolites was investigated in pigs. For the determination of the absorption and biotransformation of FB1, T-cannula were implanted into the distal part of experimental pigs’ ileum and the total urine and faeces moiety was collected during the toxin feeding (45 mg FB1/kg diet, duration: 10 days) and in the subsequent elimination period (10 days). At the end of trial several organs, muscle and fat samples were also collected. The accumulative absorption of fumonisin B1 was 4%. In the chymus, the FB1 conversion to aminopentol (totally hydrolysed FB1; AP1) and partially hydrolysed FB1 (PHFB1) was 1% and 3.9%, respectively. Derivatives of FB1 were mostly accumulated in the liver and kidney, while in negligible concentration could be detected in the muscle and fat samples. In the organs the efficacy of the FB1 to AP1 and PHFB1 conversion was 30% and 20%, respectively. In the faecal content the main hydrolised product was PHFB1 (47%), with 12% of AP1. 1.5% of the FB1 quantity taken up was excreted with the urine, about 35% in hydrolyzed form. Detectable amounts of FB1 and its metabolites were measured in most of the organs, in faeces and urine even 10 days after the feeding of the noncontaminated diet. As a general conclusion, the intestinal microbiota of pigs is able to transform the intact FB1 to a similarly toxic substance (partially hydrolyzed FB1) or to a more toxic metabolite (aminopentol).

The authors investigated the effect of swine ileal and caecal microbiota on fumonisin B-1 (FB1) metabolism. In order to determine the absorption and biotransformation of FB1, T-cannula was implanted into the distal part of pigs' ileum and the total quantity of urine and faeces was collected during the feeding of diet containing toxin (45 mg FB1/kg, for 10 days) and thereafter (for 10 days). At the end of the trial several organs, muscle and fat samples were also collected. It could be established that the accumulative absorption of fumonisin B-1 was 4%. In the chymus, the FB1 conversion to aminopentol (AP(1)) and partially hydrolysed FB1 (PHFB1) was 1% and 3.9%, respectively. In the faecal content the main product was PHFB1 (47%), with small amount (12%) of AP(1). In the examined tissues the efficacy of the FB1 conversion to aminopentol and partially hydrolysed FB1 was 30% and 20%, respectively. in the in vitro study, suspensions of caecal contents, McDougall buffer and pure FB1 (5 mu g/ml) were incubated under anaerobic conditions for 0, 12, 24, 48(th) and 72 hours. In the 48 hours, the conversion of FB1 into PHFB1 (46%) was nearly equal to the percentile ratio of FB1, while in the 72(nd) hours it was 49%. In vitro, the conversion of fumonisin B-1 to AP(1) was less than 1%. Summarized, the intestinal microflora of pigs is able to transform the intact FB1 to a similarly toxic substance (PHFB1) or a more toxic metabolite (AP(1)).