A survey on prevalence and number of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia (E.) coli (STEC) in animal feed was carried out over a period of nine years in the Republic of Croatia. A total of 1688 feed ...samples were collected from feed factories and poultry farms. Analysis included two standard procedures: sample enrichment and (a) immunomagnetic separation and plating on two selective media; or (b) plating on two selective media. Confirmation of STEC included morphological examination, biochemical tests, serotyping, and polymerase chain reaction. Morphological and biochemical characterization revealed 629 E. coli strains. Further serological screening method revealed 78 STEC and EPEC serotypes, while only 27 strains were confirmed as STEC with PCR. All positive samples (1.6%) originated from poultry farms and contained combination of virulence genes: eaeA, stx1, and/or stx2. Since the presence of stx (especially stx2) and eae are identified as risk factors for development of severe diseases in humans, results of this survey indicate that avian sources of STEC infections might be one of those "undefined sources" of human illnesses. Further research is necessary for evaluation of risks posed by contaminated feed, poultry, and environment.
Soja je jedan od najkvalitetnijih izvora biljnih proteina u proizvodnji hrane za životinje. Preradom zrna soje dobivaju se proizvodi koji se koriste i za prehranu ljudi, a i kao sirovina u ...prehrambenoj, kemijskoj i farmaceutskoj industriji. Kvalitetan uzgoj soje ovisi o brojnim faktorima kao što su: odgovarajuće tlo, svjetlo, vlaga i izbor sorte; soja je i dobar izvor bjelančevina, ulja, ugljikohidrata, minerala (kalija, fosfora, sumpora, kalcija, željeza, magnezija, natrija i dr.), vitamina, esencijalnih i neesecijalnih aminokiselina. U sojinom zrnu prisutne su antinutritivne tvari (termolabilne i termostabilne) koje nisu probavljive i/ili negativno utječu na probavu i prouzroče sporiji rast životinja. Pravilnom tehnološkom obradom soje antinutritivne tvari se mogu potpuno i/ili djelomično inaktivirati. Laboratorijskim analizama moguće je utvrditi je li obrada pravilno provedena i jesu li vrijednosti antinutrijenata u odgovarajućem rasponu. Analizom uzoraka soje i proizvoda iz soje u Laboratoriju za analitiku stočne hrane, Podružnice Centar za peradarstvo, Hrvatskog veterinarskog instituta uočena su odstupanja u hranidbenom sastavu s obzirom na podrijetlo uzoraka koji nije uvijek naveden na dostavljenim uzorcima i/ili ne odgovara deklaraciji uzoraka (ako je dostupna), s obzirom na vrijednosti u tabelama kemijskog sastava i hranjive vrijednosti krmiva. Uzorcima su određeni osnovni kemijski parametri uključujući i mineralni sastav, vlaga, pepeo, sirova mast, sirova vlakna, sirove bjelančevine, šećer, topivost bjelančevina u 0,2 % - tnoj kalijevoj lužini, minerali (Ca, P, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg, K), kloridi topivi u vodi, tripsin inhibitor i ureaza, primjenom standardnih analitičkih metoda. Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio usporediti kvalitetu soje i proizvoda od soje (hranidbeni sastav) iz različitih izvora koji su dostupni u Republici Hrvatskoj i procijeniti njihovu potencijalnu primjenu u hranidbi životinja.
Soybean is one of the best sources of plantbased proteins for animal feed production. The products that remain after soybean processing are used as food for humans and as raw materials for the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Soybean production depends upon a number of factors including adequate soil, light, moisture and selected variety. Soybean is a good source of protein, oils, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and essential and non-essential amino acids.Antinutritional substances (thermolabile and thermostable) are also present in soybean seeds.These are not digestible and/or have a negative effect on digestion and cause slower growth of animals. However, with appropriate technological processing, these substances can be partially and/or completely inactivated. Laboratory analysis can show whether processing has been adequately performed and whether the antinutrient values are within the appropriate range. Analysis of soybean seeds and soybean products in the Feed Analysis Laboratory, Poultry Centre, Croatian Veterinary Institute in Zagreb, Croatia showed certain variations in nutritional content. Variations were in respect to the origin of samples (data were not always provided with the sample) or were not in concordance with the declaration (if available) or with the data listed the table of chemical composition and nutritional values. Basic chemical parameters, including mineral content, were determined in all samples using standard analytical methods. Analysed parameters were moisture, ash, crude fat, crude fibre, crude protein, sugar, protein solubility in 0.2% potassium hydroxide, minerals (Ca, P, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg, and K), chlorides soluble in water, trypsin inhibitor and urease. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of soybeans and soybean products (nutritional content) from different sources that are available in Republic of Croatia and to evaluate their potential for use as animal feed.
Enteric infectious diseases are the most common cause of loss in intensive production of poultry. The possible risk to human health because of the use and/or misuse of antibiotics in food for farm ...animals has led to an intensive search for alternative strategies in the control and prevention of losses in poultry production. The aim of this study was to compare the bacterial validity of standard poultry feed with feed supplemented with mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Furthermore, we monitored the effect of Agaricus bisporus on the number of Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in rectal swabs of broilers. The study was performed on ninety broilers, randomly divided into three groups: the control group fed with a standard broiler diet and two groups fed with the standard diet supplemented with Agaricus bisporus (10 g/kg or 20 g/kg). The results of this study showed the microbiological suitability of feed supplemented with mushrooms, together with its beneficial effect on production and the health of the animals. The differences in body mass gain were not significant between the three experimental groups, and higher average diarrhoea severity (ADS) was recorded in the control broilers (0.34), whereas the two treated groups had much lower ADS (0 or 0.08). Addition of Agaricus bisporus in a concentration of 20 g/kg lowered the total number of Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae in rectal swabs and significantly increased the number of Lactobacillus spp. Key words: poultry production, Agaricus bisporus, animal feeding Crijevne zarazne bolesti najcesci su uzrok gubitka u intenzivnoj proizvodnji peradi. Moguci rizik za ljudsko zdravlje zbog uporabe i/ili zlouporabe antibiotika u hrani za zivotinje namijenjenih prehrani ljudi, doveo je do intenzivnog trazenja alternativnih strategija u kontroli i prevenciji gubitaka u peradarstvu. Cilj ovog istrazivanja bio je usporediti bakterijsku valjanost standardne hrane za perad s onima s dodatkom gljive Agaricus bisporus. Nadalje, promatrali smo ucinak Agaricus bisporus na brojnost bakterija Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Enterobacteriaceae i Lactobacillus spp. iz rektalnih obrisaka tovnih pilica. Istrazivanje je provedeno na devedeset tovnih pilica nasumicno podijeljenih u tri skupine: kontrolnu skupinu hranjenu standardnom hranom za tovne pilice i dvije skupine hranjene standardnom hranom uz dodatak Agaricus bisporus (10 g/kg ili 20 g/kg). Rezultati ovog istrazivanja pokazali su mikrobiolosku prikladnost hrane obogacene gljivama koja ujedno ima blagotvorni ucinak na proizvodnju i zdravlje zivotinja. Razlike u tjelesnoj masi tovnih pilica nisu bile statisticki znacajne izmedu tri pokusne skupine i veci postotak zivotinja koje su imale proljev (ADS-average diarrhea severity) zabiljezen je kod kontrolne skupine (0,34), dok su dvije tretirane skupine imale znatno nizi ADS (0 ili 0,08). Dodatkom Agaricus bisporus u koncentraciji od 20 g/kg spusten je ukupan broj bakterija Escherichia coli i enterobakterija u rektalnim obriscima i znatno povecan broj Lactobacillus spp. Kljucne rijeci: tovni pilici, Agaricus bisporus, hranidba
Food safety, climate change, the emergence of infectious diseases, the ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, and increasingly demanding intensive production are daily challenges for ...poultry production. A functional immune system is a prerequisite for animal health, and nutrition is one of the modulators of the immune system; therefore, the appropriate balance of nutrients is extremely important for the proper development and maintenance of the immune system of animals. The antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of phytobiotics are properties that make their use important as feed additives for poultry. Cannabis sativa L. contains many different compounds such as flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids, each with different properties and effects. The effects of C. sativa seeds, essential oils, and cakes as feed additives for poultry have already been investigated, but the effect of C. sativa L. leaves as a feed additive on immunostimulatory and antibacterial activity has not. The results of this study show that C. sativa as a phytogenic additive to animal feed has a favourable antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effect in the production of broiler chickens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dried Cannabis sativa L. leaves as a phytogenic mixture added to broiler feed on CD4sup.+ and CD8sup.+ T lymphocyte subpopulations, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody titres, and the presence of E. coli in faecal samples. The study was conducted on 100 male Ross 308 broilers, divided into four groups of 25 broilers, for a 42-day research period. The groups were housed separately in boxes on a litter of softwood shavings and were fed starter mixture from day 1 to day 21 and finisher mixture from day 22 to day 42. Industrial hemp (C. sativa) was grown in the Crkvina area, Croatia (latitude: 45°18′46.8″ N; longitude: 15°31′30″ E). The hemp leaves were manually separated, sun-dried, and ground to a powder. The mixture offered to the control group did not contain cannabis leaves, whereas the three experimental groups received mixtures containing mixed cannabis leaves in a quantity of 10 g/kg, 20 g/kg, or 30 g/kg (E_10, E_20, and E_30, respectively). The mean NDV antibody level was uniform in all study groups until post-vaccination day 14 and increased comparably with time. The percentage of CD4sup.+ and CD8sup.+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood subpopulation showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in the E_20 group as compared with the control group and both the E_10 and E_30 groups throughout the study period. As the broiler age increased, the CD4sup.+-to-CD8sup.+ ratios also increased and were statistically significant (p < 0.0001) on day 42 in all experimental groups as compared to the control group. Comparing the control group with the experimental groups indicated that the bacterial count was lower in broiler groups having received feed with the addition of 20 g/kg and 30 g/kg C. sativa leaves. In conclusion, the C. sativa leaves were found to elicit a favourable immunomodulatory effect on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in broilers via increased CD4sup.+ and CD8sup.+ lymphocyte subpopulations and higher CD4sup.+:CD8sup.+ cell ratios, thus indicating enhanced immune function capacity. In addition, C. sativa leaves may have complementary effects on the broiler post-vaccination immune response, increase broilers’ resistance to infectious diseases, reduce the effect of stress associated with vaccination, and improve broiler health and welfare.
Trichothecene mycotoxins are common contaminants of cereal grains and animal feed worldwide. The toxins are toxic to both human and animals. The objectives of this study were to determine the ...occurrence of trichothecenes in grains and animal feed in Croatia. Total of 465 samples were collected during the seven-year period (1998–2004) from manufactures and small holders farm storage facilities. The samples were analyzed by thin layer chromatography, which proved to be fast, reliable and inexpensive method. T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol and deoxynivalenol were detected in 16.8%, 27.6% and 41.2%, respectively. The amount of toxins ranged between 0.05 and 3.4
mg/kg. The majority of animal feed samples was poultry feed. Only small number of it contained T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol levels greater than the Croatian regulatory levels for poultry feed. Positive samples were in correlation with evidenced clinical symptoms of toxicosis in poultry. Since trichothecenes are frequently isolated from animal feed and grains in Croatia, they could have significant economic and safety implications in animal production.
Sigurnost hrane za životinje neophodna je za zdravlje i proizvodnost životinja. Zbog opasnosti od mikrobioloških kotaminacija i prisutnosti različitih štetnih tvari u proizvodima životinjskog ...podrijetla za zdravlje ljudi nastoje se uspostaviti sustavi kontrole i osiguranja kvalitete hrane za životinje kao početka prehrambenog lanca. Mikrobiološki najznačajnija onečišćenja posljedica su onečišćenja patogenim bakterijama poput salmonela, plijesnima te mikotoksi-nima. Sustav analize opasnosti i kritičnih kontrolnih točaka trebao bi se provoditi u čitavom procesu proizvodnje hrane i hrane za životinje, pa tako i u tvornicama hrane za životinje. Sustav se uspostavlja na temelju stvarne situacije u proizvodnji pri čemu se analiziraju potencijalne opasnosti koje mogu ugroziti tu proizvodnju, definiraju se kontrolne točke, granične vrijedosti prihvatljivosti kontrolnih rezultata. Izradom plana popravnih radnja u slučaju odstupanja od dozvoljenih, uglavnom zakonski propisanih kontrolnih vrijednosti sprječavaju se moguća onečišćenja hrane za životinje. U radu su opisani najznačajniji mikrobiološki i kemijski čimbenici koji mogu utjecati na uspješnost proizvodnje sigurne hrane za životinje kao i primjer primjene sustava samokontrole na načelima sustava analize opasnosti i kritičnih kontrolnih točaka.
U ovoj studiji prikazani su podaci o redovitom zdravstvenom praćenju riba u AquatiCI - slatkovodnom akvariju Karlovac u razdoblju od listopada 2016. do prosinca 2019. U akvariju Aquatika smješteno je ...85 različitih slatkovodnih vrsta riba, od kojih je 31 endemska vrsta za Hrvatsku. Ova je studija uključivala evaluaciju rezultata programa praćenja zdravlja akvarija. Utvrđeno je koje su najčešće bolesti riba u akvariju (na razini vrste i jedinke), te jesu li endemske ili neendemske slatkovodne ribe podložnije bolestima i poremećajima. Programom redovitog zdravstvenog praćenja utvrđene su različite bolesti i poremećaji kod endemskih i neendemskih vrsta riba. Tijekom monitoringa analizirano je 3104 jedinki. Najčešća bolest bila je ihtioftirijaza, koja se sa sličnom učestalošću javljala u endemskih i neendemskih vrsta riba. Provedeni rezultati su vrijedni za procjenu rizika i mjera za minimiziranje rizika od unošenja i širenja patogena u akvarij. Preventivna medicina za ribe iznimno je važna za učinkovito upravljanje akvarijima. Sveobuhvatni program praćenja zdravlja, uključujući karantenske sustave, kontrolu hrane i parametara okoliša, zajedno s redovitim promatranjem riba, ključni su za rano otkrivanje ribljih bolesti.
Zdravstveno ispravna i kvalitetna hrana za životinje esencijalni je preduvjet zdravlja i produktivnosti životinja, kao i sprečavanja kontaminacije hrane za ljude. Razvojem osjetljivijih metoda ...detekcije i upoznavanjem sa štetnim učincima mikotoksina danas se sve više pažnje polaže na procjenu opasnosti koju mikotoksini predstavljaju za zdravlje ljudi i životinja. S tim ciljem provedena su brojna istraživanja o učestalosti mikotoksina u hrani i ekonomskim i kliničkim učincima različitih toksina u životinja. Rast plijesni na žitaricama uobičajena je pojava, a kvaliteta zrna i okolišni uvjeti (temperatura, koncentracija kisika i ugljičnog dioksida, vlaga zraka i vlažnost hrane) određuju stupanj kontaminacije hrane mikotoksinima. Na temelju provedenih istraživanja donose se ne samo propisi o maksimalno dozvoljenim količinama štetnih tvari u hrani već i smjernice (preporučene vrijednosti) s ciljem ostvarivanja dobre proizvođačke prakse. Pojava mikotoksina u prirodi zbog čestih uvoza i izvoza smatra se svjetskim problemom ali u određenim dijelovima svijeta češće se proizvode određene skupine mikotoksina. U zemljama s umjerenom klimom, kao što je slučaj u Kanadi, Sjevernom dijelu Amerike i Europi, glavni problem predstavljaju fuzarijski mikotoksini i ohratoksin A. Aflatoksin, čijoj proizvodnji pogoduje topla i vlažna klima (Južna Amerika, neke azijske, afričke i australske zemlje), predstavlja problem i u ostalim dijelovima svijeta samo u slučaju uvoza žitarica iz tih država. Budući da trikoteceni pored brojnih štetnih učinaka po zdravlje peradi utječu i na proizvodne rezultate, a nastanku im pogoduju klimatski uvjeti u Republici Hrvatskoj, ova skupina mikotoksina u našoj zemlji od izuzetnog je značaja upravo za peradarstvo.
