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As a result of the detection of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Portugal, and its subsequent spread to Spain, intense surveys were conducted to screen for the presence of Bursaphelenchus species in Romania. Herein, we report recent surveys of insects potentially vectoring Bursaphelenchus species collected using trap trees or pheromone‐baited traps placed in the forest. Trap felled spruce trees (Picea abies) and pheromone‐baited traps were installed in six different counties in Romania (Brașov, Sibiu, Suceava, Hunedoara, Timiș and Dâmbovița). Ten different species of insects distributed among Curculionidae and Cerambycidae were obtained. Nematodes were extracted from insects and observed to validate the presence of Bursaphelenchus specimens. One female identified as Monochamus sutor was the only specimen carrying nematodes in the genus Bursaphelenchus. Nematodes were identified as B. mucronatus based on morphological and molecular features. This is the first detection and report of natural spread of B. mucronatus in Romania. The absence of B. xylophilus was confirmed in the areas of Romania surveyed in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern European Grey cattle are regarded as the direct descendants of the aurochs (Bos taurus primigenius). Nowadays in Romania, less than 100 Grey animals are being reared and included in the national gene reserve. We examined the genetic diversity among Romanian Grey, Brown, Spotted and Black and White cattle breeds, with a particular focus on Romanian Grey through the use of (i) 11 bovine specific microsatellite markers on 83 animals and (ii) 638 bp length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region sequence data from a total of 81 animals. Both microsatellite and mtDNA analysis revealed a high level of genetic variation in the studied breeds. In Romanian Grey a total of 100 alleles were found, the mean number of observed alleles per locus was 9.091; the average observed heterozygosity was 0.940; the Wright’s fixation index (FIS) was negative (-0.189) and indicates that there is no inbreeding and no selection pressure. MtDNA analysis revealed 52 haplotypes with 67 variable sites among the Romanian cattle breeds without any insertion or deletion. Haplotype diversity was 0.980 ± 0.007 and ranged from 0.883 ± 0.056 (Brown) to 0.990 ± 0.028 (Spotted and Black and White). The highest genetic variability of the mtDNA was recorded in the Grey breed, where 18 haplotypes were identified. The most frequent mtDNA D-loop region belonged to T3 haplogroup (80.247%), which was found across all studied breeds, while T2 haplotypes (16.049%) was only found in Grey, Spotted and Black and White genotypes. The T1 haplotypes (3.704%) were found in the Grey and Spotted. The current results contribute to the general knowledge on genetic diversity found in Eastern European cattle breeds and could prove a valuable tool for the conservation efforts of animal genetic resources (FAnGR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of the Romania in the UE is imposing a special attention to hunting animal populations. The aim of the present paper is to study the quantitative evolution of the hunting population for the 13th species, in the period 2006-2010, in the hunting terrain 59 Giarmata, from Forest Domath-Timisoara, with a total surface of 8417 ha. The results showed that from the 13th studied species only 7 were identified front which 5 species kept the effectives constant; fact that demonstrates the existence of a balance between the number o individuals and the biogenic capacity of this hunting teimin. in return the European hare (Lepus' europaeus P.) and Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.) registered on the entire studied period a decrease of the effectives with 33.9% and 18% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non additive genetic component that is the base of a quantitative character has no predictability, this is the reason for which the present paper is proposing to appreciate the special combinatory capacity for average nests weight and average body mass of the descendants at the age of 21 days, in a specific crossing scheme combining three rabbit breeds common in Timis County breeders New Zealand White, Large Chinchilla and Californian. The data obtained, statistic presented confirm a good special combinative capacity for this character, reason for which the crossing scheme is recommended for producing meat individuals destined for slaughterhouses. This scheme provides an exploitation of the high frequency of the heterozygote at maternal forms and at the final hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of the Romania in the EU is imposing a special attention to hunting animal populations. The aim of the present paper was to study the quantitative evolution of the hunting population for the 13 species, in the period 2006-2010, in the hunting terrain 15 Alios, from Forest Domain-Timisoara, with a total surface of 8464 ha. The conclusion was that the numeric evolution of the species studied is normal, keeping a balance in between populations as a conclusion of natural and artificial selection. It was also noticed that there is a good correlation between the numbers of individuals from the species studied and the biogenic capacity of the hunting fond studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the Transylvanian Naked Neck hen breed is considered to be an "endangered" population, reason for which we consider that a special attention should have been given until now. Plymouth Rock breed was imported for the first time to Romania from the Studler Company, France in 1969. This paper is aiming to perform a profound analysis of the development patterns of the neural tube in the two breeds, by measurements carried out at 30, 40, 50, and 60 hours of incubation. Observations show that the closure of the neural canal and its transformation into a tube follows an undulatory pattern, of which positive and negative curls are diametrically opposed in the two breeds, while the development speed during the whole studied period have a relative similar value between the two breeds. We estimate that the two breeds have a good combinative capacity, which recommend the utilization of these genetic materials to obtain hybrids for producing "peasant-type" chicken meat, very well-appreciated by the Europeans between the two World Wars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the morphometric characterization of mouse embryos which were obtained through in vitro fertilization in Timisoara, Romania. The study has measured the zona pelucida thickness, inner diameter, outer diameter and the inner and outer perimeter of the embryo to be able to determine the morphometric parameters using the Quick Photo Micro 2.2 software. An assessment of the fecundation rate at 24 hours after fecundation has been conducted.

This study was performed in order to determine whether human isolated probiotic bacteria can be effective in reducing Campylobacter jejuni infection of chicken intestinal cells, in vitro, and in decreasing its colonization abilities within the chicken gut. Our results show that the probiotic strains Lactobacillus paracasei J. R, L. rhamnosus 15b, L. lactis Y, and L. lactis FOa had a significant effect on C. jejuni invasion of chicken primary cells, with the strongest inhibitory effect detected when a combination of four was administered. In regard to the in vivo effect, using all four strains in one combination prevented mucus colonization in the duodenum and cecum. Moreover, the pathogen load in the lumen of these two compartments was significantly reduced. When probiotics were introduced during the early growth period, the presence of the pathogen in feces was increased (p>0.05), but when they were given during the last week of growth, there was no significant effect. In conclusion, our data indicate that these four new probiotic strains are able to cause modifications in the chicken intestinal mucosa and can reduce the ability of C. jejuni to invade, in vitro, and to colonize, in vivo. These probiotics are now proven to be effective even when introduced in broiler's feed 7 days before slaughter, which makes them cost-effective for the producers.