The usefulness of blood collection using venipuncture versus kissing bugs or medicinal leeches and the collection of saliva, faeces, hair, urine, and tears for measuring "immunoreactive" C (iC) ...concentration in Alpine ibexes was verified using commercial enzyme immunoassays. The mean value of serum C was highest in serum collected using venipuncture and lowest in serums collected using kissing bugs. Statistically significant differences were observed between venipuncture and kissing bugs and between leeches and kissing bugs. However, no statistically significant difference was found in C concentrations between samples collected with venipuncture and those collected with leeches. The highest mean value of C concentration was measured in serum (all three methods), followed by that in hair and faeces, and the lowest mean value was found in saliva. Statistically significant differences were found between saliva and faeces samples and between saliva and hair samples. The difference between the concentrations for faeces and hair was not statistically significant. A significant difference in C concentration between males and females was found in saliva. A significant difference in C concentration among different ages was measured in serum obtained using venipuncture in all three groups and in faeces between the groups older than ten years and younger than 10 months. Highly significant differences in C concentrations were also found between hair sampled in summer and hair sampled in autumn. Collecting tear and urine samples is a laborious procedure and is therefore less acceptable for C determination. Due to the small number of samples, statistical values are not given for these two matrices.
The causes of embryonic mortality in Hermann's tortoises (
) during artificial incubation were determined. Total egg failure at the end of the hatching period was investigated. The hatching artefacts ...represented 19.2% (N = 3557) of all eggs (N = 18,520). The viability rate of incubated eggs was 80.8%. The eggs, i.e., embryos, were sorted according to the cause of unsuccessful hatching and subsequently analyzed. Some of the eggs were divided into two or more groups. Unfertilized eggs were confirmed in 61.0%, infected eggs in 52.5%, and eggs in various stages of desiccation in 19.1%. This group also included mummified embryos.
,
sp.,
, and
were frequently confirmed in infected eggs. Embryos were divided into three groups: embryos up to 1.0 cm-group 1 (2.2%), embryos from 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm-group 2 (5.4%) and embryos longer than 1.5 cm-group 3 (7.3%) of all unhatched eggs. Inability of embryos to peck the shell was found in 1.3%. These tortoises died shortly before hatching. Embryos still alive from the group 2 and group 3 were confirmed in 0.7% of cases. Dead and alive deformed embryos and twins were detected in the group 3 in 0.5% and 0.1% of cases, respectively. For successful artificial hatching, it is important to establish fumigation with disinfectants prior to incubation and elimination of eggs with different shapes, eggs with broken shells, and eggs weighted under 10 g. Eggs should be candled before and periodically during artificial incubation, and all unfertilized and dead embryos must be removed. Heartbeat monitor is recommended. Proper temperature and humidity, incubation of "clean" eggs on sterile substrate and control for the presence of mites is essential. Monitoring of the parent tortoises is also necessary.
The influence of different stress parameters in racing pigeon flocks, such as the presence of diseases and environmental conditions at the time of the races, were described. A total of 96 racing ...pigeons from 4 pigeon flocks were examined, and health monitoring was carried out. No helminth eggs and coccidia were found. Trichomonas sp. was confirmed in subclinical form. Paramyxoviruses and avian influenza viruses were not confirmed, but circovirus infections were confirmed in all flocks. Chlamydia psittaci was confirmed in one flock. Blood samples were collected, and HI antibody titers against paramyxoviruses before and 25 days after vaccination were determined. To improve the conditions during racing and the welfare of the pigeons, critical points were studied with regard to stress factors during the active training season. Serum corticosterone levels were measured in the blood serum of four different categories of pigeons from each flock. Corticosterone levels were almost twice as high in pigeons from the category that were active throughout the racing season, including medium- and long-distance racing, compared to the other three categories that were not racing actively. Within five hours of the finish of a race, the average serum corticosterone level was 59.4 nmol/L in the most physically active category. The average serum corticosterone level in this category remained at 37.5 nmol/L one month after the last race.
The increasing number of stray dogs and the lack of sufficient data on the prevalence of leptospirosis among dogs were the main reasons for conducting this research in different populations of dogs ...on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 300 serum samples were tested from three different categories of dogs of various breeds from 12 cities. Twelve leptospiral serovars were used in the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The presence of specific antibodies was confirmed for eight serovars. The proportion of seropositive dogs was 22.3% (67/300). The highest seropositivity (n = 38; 42.7%) was found for the serovar Pomona. The seropositivity rates found for the other serovars tested were as follow: Canicola (14.6%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (13.5%), Sejroe (12.4%), Autumnalis (12.4%), Grippotyphosa (2.2%), Bratislava (1.1%), and Australis (1.1%). The highest number of positive responses was obtained at the serum dilution of 1:100 (39.3%, n = 35). The highest number of positive reactions was identified in the category of 'house dogs' (29.3%, 29/99) followed by 'stray dogs' (21.6%, 24/111), while the lowest number of positive tests was recorded in the category of 'guard/hunting dogs' (15.6%, 14/90). Vaccination with tetravalent vaccines, including the serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Pomona and Grippotyphosa could be an effective measure for the prevention of canine leptospirosis. Key words: leptospirosis; diagnostics; microscopic agglutination test; serology; dogs; Bosnia and Herzegovina
Airborne pathogens can cause infections within parrot (Psittaciformes) and pigeon (Columbiformes) holdings and, in the case of zoonoses, can even spread to humans. Air sampling is a useful, ...noninvasive method which can enhance the common sampling methods for detection of microorganisms in bird flocks. In this study, fecal and air samples were taken from four parrot holdings. Additionally, cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs as well as air samples were taken from 15 racing pigeon holdings. Parrots were examined for psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV), proventricular dilatation disease virus (PDDV), adenoviruses (AdVs), avian paramyxovirus type-1 (APMV-1), avian influenza virus (AIV), Chlamydia psittaci (CP), and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). MAC and AdVs were detected in three parrot holdings, CP was detected in two parrot holdings, and PBFDV and PDDV were each detected in one parrot holding. Pigeons were examined for the pigeon circovirus (PiCV), AdVs, and CP; PiCV and AdVs were detected in all investigated pigeon holdings and CP was detected in five pigeon holdings.
This study describes experiences obtained with microchipping of Hermann's tortoises in Slovenia. Over a period of three years, a total of 5,128 Hermann's tortoises from parental breeding stock were ...microchipped. Microchips were implanted subcutaneously in the left inguinal region. During the application of microchips, males were bleeding in 2.6% and females in 1.4% of the cases. Bleeding frequency was related to sex, animal size and environmental temperature at the time of microchipping. The presence of microchips was followed up over a period of several years. At the control check conducted a few years later, all previously microchipped tortoises were included. Out of the entire parental breeding stock, 235 (4.6%) had lost their microchips, thus 63 males (5.7%) and 172 females (4.3%) were unmarked. The possible reasons for microchip loss are migration or inactivity of the implanted microchips.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of rubber mats in service unit on displaying stereotypies in gilts. Four 28-day production cycles in all seasons were observed. Each cycle included 28 ...gilts housed in gestation stalls with slatted concrete floor, which was covered with adjusted mats for 14 gilts (experimental group), while the remaining 14 gilts served as controls. Display of stereotypies and other behaviours observed, mat manipulation and postural behaviours were estimated by direct 1-hour observation of gilts at 2-minute intervals after morning feed supply on days 1, 8, 15 and 28 of each cycle. During the study period, displaying stereotypies was significantly less frequent (P < 0.05) in experimental group as compared with control group. The rate of particular forms of stereotypies, i.e. vacuum chewing, bar biting and teeth grinding, was also significantly lower (P < 0.05 all) in experimental group throughout the study period. A significant negative correlation (P <.05) was found between the service unit air temperature and frequency of displaying stereotypies in control group, which could be attributed to the significantly more common standing posture (P < 0.05) in control gilts in the conditions of lower air temperature. During the cold period, experimental gilts took a lying position significantly more frequently (P < 0.05). In the experimental group of gilts there was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of displaying stereotypies and the frequency of lying and other postures observed, as well as between the stereotypy display and the air temperature. There was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of mat manipulation and displaying stereotypies in total or its particular forms, suggesting that the less pronounced stereotypy display in experimental gilts may have been influenced by factors other than those observed in the present study.
The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of hatched and fertilized eggs in female Hermann’s tortoises before and after the removal of males after breeding.
A breeding group of
with 50 ...females and 12 males was included in the study. In the first year, all adults were together in the same habitat until reproductive activity was observed. After the end of May, the males and females were separated for the next two active seasons. The number of eggs and number of second clutches decreased gradually. In the first year, 76.0% of females laid eggs; in the second year, 24.0%; and in the third year, only 8.0%. Second clutches were observed in ten females (26.3%) in the first year, while in the next two years, one female had a second clutch. There was a small but significant correlation between the weight of a single tortoise and the number of eggs laid but no significant correlation between the weight of the tortoise and its average egg weight. The weight (15.1-16.8 g), length (33.9-36.1 mm) and width of each egg (27.5-28.0 mm) was measured.
During the laying season, the eggs were put into incubators. The incubation length varied from 52 to 70 days. After the end of incubation, eggshell mortality and its causes (19.3-52.5%) were examined. In the first year, the viability rate of the incubated eggs was 80.7%; in the second year, 80.5%; and in the third year, 47.8%. Among the unhatched eggs in the first year, 62.5% were unfertilized, 53.1% were infected, 28.1% were dehydrated and 21.9% were found in various stages of embryonic development.
Uspješnost osposobljavanja budućih doktora veterinarske medicine u izravnoj je vezi s kompetencijama nastavnika, odnosno svih sudionika u osposobljavanju doktorica/ doktora veterinarske medicine iz ...raznih područja, a koje obuhvaćaju znanje i vještine koje nastoje prenijeti, kao i njihove stavove. Stoga je važno usuglasiti zahtjeve struke u odnosu na kompetencije sudionika u profesionalnom osposobljavanju studenata veterinarske medicine. To se posebno odnosi na vještine koje studenti moraju usvojiti, a odnose se na specifične i generičke kompetencije za pružanje veterinarsko-medicinskih usluga visoke razine kvalitete u širem europskom prostoru. Cilj ovog rada je predstaviti „Kompetencije prvoga dana“ (engl. Day One Competences, DOC), odnosno zacrtane nužne profesionalne vještine novih doktorica/doktora veterinarske medicine, kao i pobliže objasniti i olakšati razumijevanje temeljnih odrednica navedenog koncepta. DOC je usvojio Europski koordinacijski odbor za veterinarsku edukaciju (engl. European Coordination Committee on Veterinary Training, ECCVT), koji su osnovali Europska udruga ustanova za veterinarsku naobrazbu (engl. European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, EAEVE), Europski odbor za veterinarsku specijalizaciju (engl. European Board of Veterinary Specialisation,EBVS®) i Federacija europskih veterinara (engl. Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, FVE). DOC su detaljno opisane u dokumentu Standardni operativni postupak (SOP, 2019.) Europskog sustava evaluacije veterinarske izobrazbe (engl. European System of Evaluation of Veterinary Training, ESEVT) koji također djeluje unutar EAEVE-a.
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