Search

Globalization and climate change have an unprecedented worldwide impact on emergence and re-emergence of animal diseases, especially vector borne diseases. Climate change is transforming natural ecosystems and providing more suitable environments for infectious diseases allowing the movement of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi into new areas where they can infect wildlife and domestic species, as well as humans. Diseases that used to be limited only to tropical areas are now increasingly spreading to other previously unaffected region as is happening in region and Croatia. The aim of this manuscript is to present new insights into vectors and emergent/re-emergent vector borne pathogens in Croatia. Bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes 1 and 16 were introduced in Oryx antelope from the Sultanate of Oman during the quarantine period on the Island of Veliki Brijun (Croatia) in 2010. In 2002 first outbreak was caused with serotypes 9 followed by serotype 16 in 2004. Serotypes 4 and 1 were responsible for recent outbreak in 2014. Except predominant vectors from Obsoletus complex and Pulicaris complex several ‘new’ species were molecularly confirmed but their vector capacity is unknown. In several wild ungulates A. bovis and A. centrale have been detected in the Croatian costal region. Both pathogens cause bovine anaplasmosis, economically one of the most important diseases. Anaplasma ovis was recently confirmed in sheep flock and questing Rhipicephalus bursa and ticks collected from sheep and goats from same region. Presence of Babesia cf. crassa in Rhipiephalus sanguineus from Pelješac and questing Hamaphisalis parva from Slavonia represent one of first findings in Europe. Theileria cf. buffeti and Babesia sp. Angola Isolate were detected in I. ricinus tick from Cres and Rhipicephalus turanicus from Pelješac. In R. turanicus and R. bursa ticks as well in sheep Theileria ovis and Babesia ovis have been confirmed from Southern Croatia. For the end vaccination of cattle against Lumpy skin disease was mandatory for last two years due to outbreaks in neighbouring countries. The improvement of epizootic understanding together with better programs for diagnose, prevention and trace pathogens, their origin and routes of infection, play a key role in future prevention of vector-borne diseases in Croatia as well in worldwide.

Fleas and ticks are important vectors of vector-borne pathogens that affect cats and dogs. In the present study ticks and fleas collected from dogs and cats were investigated for presence of vector-borne pathogens and endosymbionts they harbor. The ectoparasites were collected from 14 deceased dogs and 22 deceased cats with gross findings of hemolytic anemia. After the morphological determination of ectoparasites, DNA was extracted for molecular detection of Babesia/Theileria sp., Anaplasma/Ehrlichia sp., Hepatozoon sp., Mycoplasma sp. and Bartonella sp. Ticks Dermacentor reticulatus (4/7, 57%), Ixodes ricinus (4/7, 57%) and Rhipicephalus sanquineus s.l. (1/7, 14%) were collected from 7 out of 14 dogs. Fleas were present in 64% of dogs: Ctenocephalides felis in 67% and C. canis in 33%. In three dogs co-infestation with more than one ectoparasite were detected: (i) C. felis and I. ricinus, (ii) C. canis and D. reticulatus, (iii) D. reticulatus, I. ricinus and R. sanquineus. Babesia canis was detected in four ectoparasites collected from four dogs (4/14, 29%): D. reticulatus (2/4, 50%), I. ricinus (1/4, 25%) and C. canis (1/4, 25%). Rickettsia raoultii was found in a single D. reticulatus (1/14, 7%). Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii was detected in all collected I. ricinus (4/14, 29%). Two groups of endosymbionts were detected in canine fleas: (i) identical to Wolbachia pipientis, endosymbiont found in C. felis (4/14, 29%) and C. canis (2/14, 14%), (ii) identical to Wolbachia endosymbiont of Xenopsylla sp. found in C. felis (2/14, 14%) and C. canis (1/14, 7%). In two cases co-infections were detected (i) B. canis and W. pipientis in C. canis, (ii) B. canis and Can. Midichloria mitohondrii in I. ricinus. Flea C. felis was present on all examined cats as well as a single I. ricinus tick. Sequences revealed the presence of two endosymbiont groups in C. felis: one identical to W. pipientis (9/22, 41%) and second to W. endosymbiont of Xenopsylla sp. (13/22, 59 %). Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in I. ricinus (5%, 1/22), Bartonella clarridgeiae in four (4/6, 67%) and B. hensellae in two fleas (33%). In six cases co-infections were detected (i) W. endosymbiont of Xenopsylla sp. and B. clarridgeiae (4/6, 67%), (ii) W. pipientis with B. hensellae (33%, 2/6).

The lancet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum occurs in various domestic (sheep, goats, cattle, horses, rabbits, dogs) and wild (deer, wild boar, buffalo, camels) mammals and humans around the globe. Since reports of D. dendriticum in large carnivores are limited, like in the brown bear (Ursus arctos), we performed the study to investigate the presence and the prevalence of D. dendriticum in free ranging brown bears from different Croatian regions. Data on age, gender, location at the time of death, season, intensity of infection and pathohistological changes have been collected from infested animals. Parasites from bears, goat and sheep were further genotyped to investigate possible genetic difference among D. dendriticum isolates. Between February 2014 and December 2016, we sampled the complete gall bladders and liver samples of 136, hunted and dead due to other causes, brown bears across the bear range in Croatia. Each gallbladder and content was washed through the sieve to detect and count each parasite. We found that 60% of the examined brown bears were infected, ranging from 1- 103 parasites (mean=16.31, median=1) without differences in prevalence related to location, gender or age class. Seasonal distribution of Dicrocoelium infestation indicated a significantly higher percentage of infestation in autumn (mid August-December, 72%) compared to spring (February-May, 45% ; p=0.00192). Sequencing of ITS-1 of individual D. dendriticum from 16 bears, 5 sheep and one goat didn’t show any heterogeneity. COX1 sequences were identical from all bears from various regions showing differences in 7 nucleotide position with similarity of 98% with small ruminant isolates. To evaluate possible genetic variability of D. dendriticum within single bear COX1 was sequenced from 3-5 adult flukes from 10 bears without any SNP. Histopathology showed granulation of the surface of the liver and hepatomegaly in infested individuals, as well as enlarged gall bladders with firmer consistency of bile ducts surrounding the parenchyma. In the current survey we have presented evidence that bears could serve as final host of potential new “bear” genotype of D. dendriticum. This finding also suggests possible adaptation of D. dendriticum and unique life cycle of “bear” isolate.

Mammary tumors are common canine and feline neoplastic pathology. The prognosis varies significantly according to the tumor invasion degree. Since myoepithelial layer destruction is considered a differential diagnosis parameter of in situ from invasive lesions in human breast cancer we aimed to explore and evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of p63, a protein specifically expressed by myoepithelial cells of mammary gland. Furthermore its correlation with p53 expression was analyzed. The TP53 gene has the properties as a tumor suppressor gene and is the most frequently affected site of genetic alterations in human malignancies. It encodes the p53 protein in control of expression of a variety of genes involved in cell cycle regulation.

Vector-borne pathogens are widely distributed and represent emerging group of diseases in dogs. For veterinary practitioners they represent a substantial diagnostic challenge because clinical signs might be often concealed and overlapping. Although prevalence of antibodies against vector-borne pathogens have already been reported in apparently healthy dogs from Croatia, here we report results of survey on blood samples with SNAP®4Dx®Plus collected from three groups of dogs: (i) apparently healthy (52%, 753/1, 448), (ii) suspected dogs with clinical signs of the disease (44%, 632/1, 448), (iii) deceased dogs with the history of anemia and thrombocytopenia (4%, 63/1448). In total 1, 448 dogs were tested for presence of Dirofilaria immitis antigen, antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum/Anaplasma platys, Borrelia burgdoferi and Ehrlichia canis. Highest prevalence was detected in group of apparently healthy dogs with 6% (47/753) serologically-positive. Seroprevalence was: A. phagocytophilum/A. platys 5% (41/753), B. burgdoferi 0.2% (2/753), E. canis 0.6% (5/753) and D. immitis 0.3% (3/753). Within the group of „suspected dogs“ slightly lower prevalence of 5% (30/632) was noted with similar distribution on pathogens: A. phagocytophilum/A. platys in 3% (21/632), B. burgdoferi 0.4% (3/632), E. canis 0.6% (4/632) and D. immitis in 0.6% (6/632). Deceased dogs showed identical seropositivity (6%, 4/63) with apparently healthy group: A. phagocytophilum/A. platys (3%, 2/63), B. burgdoferi (2%, 1/63) and D. immitis (3%, 2/63). Co-infections were found in 0.5% (4/753) of apparently healthy dogs, 0.3% (2/632) within group of „suspected dogs“ while in deceased dogs only one case was registered (2%, 1/63). In all tested groups A. phagocytophilum/A. platys was the most prevalent pathogen, followed by E.canis in apparently healthy and „suspected dogs“, while the lowest prevalence was for D. immitis and B. burgdoferi. These findings raise question on role of selected vector borne diseases in development of anemia and thrombocytopenia since prevalence among groups was almost identical.

Dogs can harbor a variety of parasites in digestive tract, which cause gastro-intestinal disturbances. At the same time several species have a zoonotic potential. In the current study fecal samples from 2, 335 dogs were analyzed in the period from 2012 to 2015. The fecal samples were collected by the dog owners and delivered to Croatian Veterinary Institute Laboratory for parasitology, through veterinary clinics, due to gastrointestinal disorders, mostly from the Zagreb area. Coprological examinations were conducted with the flotation technique, using magnesium sulfate with direct immunofluorescence for detection of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. The results are presented by year for better visibility. The overall prevalence in 2012 was 48.1%: Giardia duodenalis (23.8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (8.0%), Toxocara canis (4.5%), Isospora spp. (4.7%), Toxascaris leonina (0.7%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (0.5%), Trichuris vulpis (5.2%), Sarcocystis sp. (0.5%), Capillaria spp. (0.2%). A single-pathogen was detected 55.2%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 44.8%. The overall prevalence in 2013 was 57.7%: Giardia duodenalis (26.5%), Cryptosporidium spp. (10.8%), Toxocara canis (5.0%), Isospora spp. (5.3%), Toxascaris leonina (0.9%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (12.0%), Trichuris vulpis (5.3%), Sarcocystis sp. (0.5%), Capillaria spp. (1.1%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.5%). A single-pathogen was detected in 60.4%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 38.6%. The overall prevalence in 2014 was 64.9%: Giardia duodenalis (26.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (18.7%), Toxocara canis (4.7%), Isospora spp. (5.0%), Toxascaris leonina (1.5%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (3.2%), Trichuris vulpis (3.9%), Sarcocystis sp. (0.2%), Capillaria spp. (0.7%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.1%). A single-pathogen was detected in 51.8%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 48.2%. The overall prevalence in 2015 was 56.6%: Giardia duodenalis (26.3%), Cryptosporidium spp. (16.4%), Toxocara canis (3.6%), Isospora spp. (4.8%), Toxascaris leonina (0.6%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria (1.6%), Trichuris vulpis (1.4%), Sarcocystis sp. (1.8%), Capillaria spp. (0.2%). A single-pathogen was detected in 45.1%, and co-infection with two and more than two pathogens in 54.9%. The most common co-infection in all years was with Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. The results of current study clearly show the need for regular fecal analysis to exclude parasites as common agents causing GI problems. Also, it is quite important to reconsider routine dechelminisation programs since protozooan parasites were most frequently detected.

Insects of the genus Culicoides belong to the most numerous haematophagous insects in the world. Nearly 1400 different species of Culicoides have been described worldwide. Insects of the genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are biological vectors of bluetongue virus, transmitting it by sucking blood from the infected ruminant host. An entomological survey of insects of the genus Culicoides as bluetongue virus biological vectors was conducted in 2016 in order to determine the Culicoides fauna in Croatia. The Culicoides identified morphologically were compared with the selected species COX1 gene sequences obtained. A total of 76977 Culicoides specimens were collected and morphologically identified ; 200 specimens were identified by molecular methods. The presence was demonstrated of 21 Culicoides known species and 11 new species showing 84% to 94% similarity to the sequences available in the NCBI GeneBase. The C. obsoletus and C. scoticus, and 1 Culicoides showing 94% similarity to C. obsoletus were identified by the C. obsoletus group vector sequencing. The C. pulicaris group vector sequencing identified the C. pulicaris, C. punctatus, C. lupicaris and C. newsteadi, and 1 specimen showing 94% similarity to C. newsteadi. Sequencing of other Culicoides species identified the following species: C. nubeculosus, C. riethi, C. puncticollis, C. fagineus, C. flavipulicaris, C. circumscriptus, C. fascipennis, C. achrayi, C. parroti, C. salinarius, C. griseidorsum, C. simulator, C. picturatus, C. festivipennis, C. alazanicus, 1 Culicoides with 94% similarity to C. paradoxalis, 1 Culicoides with 85% similarity to C. oxystoma, 1 Culicoides with 85% similarity to C. circumscriptus, C. salinarius and C. manchuriensis species, 2 Culicoides with 86% similarity to Culicoides sp., and 4 new Culicoides spp. Data on the Culicoides species present in Croatia, obtained by morphological and molecular identification, are now available in Croatia for the first time. This entomological survey revealed predominance of the vectors of C. obsoletus and C. pulicaris groups as a major risk factor for the spread of bluetongue virus, which is important for the epidemiology of bluetongue as an infectious disease. Finding of various Culicoides species is highly relevant for the knowledge of fauna and biodiversity of Culicoides insects in Croatia.

Trakavica Echinococcus multilocularis je parazit prisutan u cijeloj sjevernoj hemisferi. Uzročnik je humane alveolarne ehinokokoze (AE), zoonoze sa visokom stopom smrtnosti ukoliko se ne liječi. Pretpostavlja se da su trenutno najjužnije ranice rasprostranjenosti ovog nametnika u Europi, u Sloveniji i Mađarskoj gdje je invazija s E. multilocularis dokazana u crvenim lisicama (Vulpes vulpes), koja je ujedno i glavni nositelj ove trakavise u Europi. U 2015. godini Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, Uprava za veterinarstvo i sigurnost hrane, financirala je program za istraživanje prisutnosti E. multilocularis u Hrvatskoj, u kojem je E. multilocularis otkrivena u 7, 5% lisica lančanom reakcijom polimerazom i neposrednim sekvenciranjem.

Krpelji su, nakon komaraca, najvažniji vektori bolesti ljudi i životinja u svijetu dok su u Europi najznačajniji prenositelji brojnih uzročnika bolesti. Detaljna i sustavna istraživanja vrsta krpelja i uzročnika bolesti koje prenose nisu provedena gotovo 50 godina u Republici Hrvatskoj. U ovom istraživanju analizirana su 192 krpelja prikupljena iz okoliša i sa životinja iz Dalmacije sa ciljem dokazivanja vrste krpelja te zoonotskih uzročnika koje mogu prenijeti. Prisutnost uzročnika u krpeljima je istraživana lančanom reakcijom polimerazom i neposrednim sekvenciranjem te su dokazane rikecije Rickettsia masillae i R. aeshlimanii iz skupine pjegavih groznica. Morfološkom determinacijom 192 krpelja dokazane su: Hylomma marginatum (32), Hyalomma scupense (4), Dermacentor marginatus (4), Ixodes ricinus (5), Rhipicephalus bursa (43), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (56) i Rhipicephalus turanicus (48). Sekvenciranjem 16SrRNA potvrđene su sve vrste osim R. sanguineus, stoga se dovodi pitanje postojanje R. sanguineus u Hrvatskoj, a sami rezultati su u suglasju sa novim istraživanjima koji ovog krpelja svrstavaju u skupinu Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato.

Ovčarstvo je kao grana stočarstva od najstarijih vremena pa do suvremenog doba bilo osnova za preživljavanje stanovništva. U skromnim uvjetima držanja mogle su preživjeti samo primitivne nisko produktivne pasmine.U razvoj ovčarstva značajnu ulogu imale su različite veterinarske i stočarske udruge. Izuzetno značenje za razvoj ovčarstva imali su veterinarski zakoni i veterinarska literatura čiji je razvoj praćen od početka srednjeg vijeka do danas. U tom smislu napose su vrijedni prosvjetiteljski tekstovi napisani za puk u 18. stoljeću kao i prva stručna literatura napisana u 19. stoljeću koje su sadržavale higijenske mjere o uzgoju, njezi i držanju ovaca. Prikaz ovčarstva obuhvatio je pasminski sastav, oplemenjivanje i utjecaj etoloških čimbenika na uzgoj, njegu, držanje i hranidbu ovaca, odnosno suvremeni pristup dobrobiti ovaca. U radu su nadalje analizirane tri ovčarske farme tijekom jedne godine, gdje su analizirani temperaturno vlažni odnosi i zračna onečišćenja.

Prof. dr. sc. Lovro Bosnić bio je osnivač i jedan od prvih profesora na Veterinarskom fakultetu u Zagrebu, te najutjecajnija osoba na Fakultetu punih 20 godina. Isticao se kao izvrstan pedagog i organizator, a napose kao internist, te je bitno pridonio stjecanju ugleda Veterinarskog fakulteta u Zagrebu. Rođen je u Korčuli 21. siječnja 1886. Veterinarsku visoku školu završio je u Beču godine 1910. Kao vojni pitomac bio je u vojnoj veterinarskoj službi u nekoliko mjesta, a poslije Prvoga svjetskog rata bio je vojni veterinar u Marvenoj bolnici u Kranju i Ljubljani, gdje se istakao kao kvalitetan stručnjak i pisac, što je potvrdio i svojom doktorskom disertacijom. Godine 1921. postavljen je za profesora na tek osnovanoj Veterinarskoj visokoj školi u Zagrebu. Ubrzo nakon toga osniva Kliniku za internu medicinu i postaje njen prvi profesor. Svojim velikim zalaganjem osigurao je uvjete za rad u Klinici, unaprijedio praktičnu nastavu, te stekao epitet izvrsnog predavača i pedagoga. Bio je zaslužan za vraćanje imovine Zemaljske veterinarske zaklade Kr. Hrvatske i Slavonije iz Beograda, koja je imala značajnu ulogu u daljnjem razvoju Fakulteta. Kako je godine 1951. prerano umirovljen, neko je vrijeme predavao honorarno patološku fiziologiju na Veterinarskom fakultetu u Sarajevu, a nakon toga se vraća na Korčulu, gdje ostaje do kraja života. Umro je 26. srpnja 1969. U hrvatsku veterinarsku povijest ušao je kao osoba zaslužna za razvoj veterinarskog školstva.

Veterinary science has an exceptionally rich history, although the beginnings of the science of veterinary medicine date from as late as the second half of the 18th century, when the first schools of veterinary medicine were established. The first school of veterinary medicine was established in 1762 in Lyon, France, in the most developed European country with the new bourgeois society. Shortly after that, on the model of the French school, other European countries established their veterinary schools. At that time, human medicine had already been well developed, and therefore the medical aspect always prevailed in the study of veterinary medicine. Also, due to the existence of numerous zoonoses it was common that medical authorities managed both medical and veterinary service. Efforts to establish a veterinary college in Zagreb were being made for more than a century. The first attempts to establish veterinary schools in Croatia were made in 1806 when in Dalmatia, after the arrival of the French, elementary and secondary schools were established, i.e. there was also an attempt to establish a veterinary school in Zadar. On the basis of the Act on the regulation of veterinary medicine in the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia, passed in 1888, veterinary medicine was separated from the health care system and organized as independent service in 1891. In 1919, the Veterinary College of Zagreb was founded and in 1924 it became the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. At first, the College was under the influence of its Viennese counterpart, then under the influence of veterinary schools in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, and after 1945 it was influenced by the Russian veterinary medicine. The most important periods in the development of the Croatian veterinary education were the period after Croatia became a sovereign and independent state (1990) and the period after the Declaration of Bologna was signed (2001), when the Faculty committed itself to implement the model of higher education prevailing in the European Union.

Čovjek svakodnevno svojom aktivnošću zadovoljavajući svoje osnovne životne, higijenske, radne i ostale potrebe proizvodi određenu količinu otpada koja opterećuje okoliš. Porastom životnog standarda, razvojem novih tehnologija, uporabom nepovratne ambalaže količina otpada se svakodnevno povećava. Najcrnje prognoze govore da će se čovjek u budućnosti zatrpati vlastitim smećem. To se može izbjeći sustavnim mjerama za zaštitu okoliša i postupanje s otpadom. Postoji niz ljudskih aktivnosti pri kojima se stvara opasni otpad koji ugrožava ljudsko zdravlje i onečišćuje okoliš. Otpad iz zdravstvenih ustanova, dakle i veterinarskih, uvijek predstavlja potencijalno opasan otpad. U veterinarskim stanicama svakodnevno se proizvode razmjerno velike količine raznovrsnog otpada. U pravilu otpad koji tu nastaje može se prema mjestu nastanka grupirati u nezarazni otpad koji je sličan komunalnom otpadu, potom kemijski otpad i oštre predmete ; patološki otpad, lijekovi i laboratorijski otpad. Razvojem cjelovitih sustva za gospodarenje otpadom razvijen je i sustav za gospodarenje medicinskim otpadom koji se zasniva na hijerarhijskom načinu postupanja s otpadom, i to od kontrole mjesta nastanka do mjesta konačne dispozicije. Prioritet je svakako izbjegavanje nastanka otpada, što nije uvijek moguće. Zbog toga je otpad potrebno sortirati, prevesti na konačnu obradu i ostatke prikladno deponirati. Konačna metoda obrade mora biti neškodljiva i najmanje rizična za ljudsko zdravlje i okoliš.

Influenca ptica ili kako je neki zovu ptičja gripa i ptičja groznica, je bolest različitih vrsta ptica čiji je uzročnik virus iz obitelji Orthomyxoviridae. Tri su roda Influenzavirus A, B i C, ali samo rod A zaražava ptice. Od influence koja se u obliku pandemije širila i još uvijek se širi svijetom obole ljudi i brojne vrste životinjua. Influencu karakterizira veoma visoki morbiditet i niski mortalitet (ACHA i SZYFRES, 1980). Influenza virusom A mogu se zaraziti ljudi, ptice, svinje, konji, morski sisavci i druge životinje. Njih u prirodi nalazimo u brojnim podtipovima koji su opisani prema kombinacijama hemaglutinina (H) i neuraminidaze (N). Ta dva glikoproteina smještena na površini virusne čestice, odgovorni su za patogenost virusa (CVETNIĆ, 1982).Tako je kod influence virusa tipa A temeljem antigenih značajki hemaglutinina poznato 16 podtipova a prema sadržaju neuraminidaze 9 podtipova. Unatoč brojnim kombinacijama malo je podtipova izdvojeno iz čovjeka i drugih sisavaca za razliku od ptica kod kojih je izdvojeno svih 16H podtipova.

U radu se opisuje krmačarnik u kojem se analiziraju osnovni pokazatelji mikroklime, koncentracija prašine, amonijaka te brojnost bakterija i gljivica u zraku nastambe. U vrijeme istraživanja u krmačarniku je bilo 150 krmača. Prema dobivenim rezultatima broj aerobnih mezofilnih bakterija kretao se od 9, 20x104 do 2, 25x105 CFU/m3 zraka, a broj gljivica od 8, 12x103 do 1, 25x104 CFU/m3 zraka. Koncentracija prašine kretala se od 3, 7 do 5, 8 mg/m3. Koncentracija mikroorganizama i prašine kretala se u skladu sa zabilježenima u literaturi. Najzastupljenije su bile gram pozitivne bakterije, a zatim gljivice i gram negativne bakterije. Stoga se može zaključiti da u suvremenim uvjetima smještaja s automatskim sustavom za regulaciju mikroklimatskih prilika u krmačarniku treba očekivati povoljnu mikrobiološku kakvoću zraka, čije vrijednosti ovise o gustoći populacije uz pridržavanje dozvoljenog broja životinja po jedinici smještajnog prostora.

Airborne dust and endotoxins in animal houses are significant pollutants with a potential health risk for animals and humans working in these facilities. Study assessing the level of airborne contamination in dairy cows stable. The content of airborne dust and endotoxin was determined. The study was conducted in a dairy stable, dimensions 17.00x14.00x2.5 m. During the study, there were 25 Simmental lactating cows and 5 calves in the stable. Measurements were done in the morning (before feeding and milking) and in the evening, once a week, during two winter months. Measurements were performed in the stable, in the area of animal stay along the feedlot. Air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%) and airflow rate (m/s) were determined by use of a TESTO device (Testo Inc., Germany). Dust was sampled onto filters (Whatman International Ltd., Maidstone, UK) by use of an SKC pump (SKC Ltd., Blandford Forum, UK). The airflow rate was 4.0 L/min. Filters were weighed before and after sampling in a controlled laboratory at air temperature of 22 °C and relative humidity of 45% (± ; ; ; 5%). Air samples were stored at -20 °C for 2-3 months until endotoxin analysis. Endotoxin was analyzed using the end-point Limulus amebocyte lysate method (LAL).The measured parameter values were processed by use of Microsoft Excel and Statistica 6 software. The analysis included descriptive statistics and statistical significance set at 1% (p

U radu se opisuju biosigurnosne mjere koje se poduzimaju radi čuvanja zdravlja životinja a u svrhu postizanja ekonomične proizvodnje. To su prvenstveno higijenski postupci čišćenja, dezinfekcije, kontrole kukaca, glodavaca i ptica. Zatim su to postupci kontrole kretanja zaposlenika, posjetitelja i vozila, ali i kompleksne mjere zbrinjavanja nusprodukata životinjskog podrijetla (izmet, urin, plodne vode, posteljice, kadaveri). Sustavnim provođenjem spomenutih mjere uz dobru genetsku osnovu i uz kvalitetnu hranidbu može se očekivati dobro zdravlje životinja, a time i ekonomična proizvodnja.

Intensive production and housing of laying hens result in a significant amount of hazardous pollutants in the air of poultry house. Under specific conditions, these pollutants can affect the health of both poultry and people who work in poultry houses. The study was carried out in winter period on a farm with a capacity of 17000 Shaver hybrid laying hens from 25th week of production. Laying hens were housed in cages, 8– 10 per cage. Samples were collected in the morning once a week for six weeks, at 5 sites in the house. Air was sampled by use of a Merck MAS-100 (Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany) device onto commercial nutrient and Sabouraud agar (Biolife, Milan, Italy). Upon incubation, microorganisms grown on the medium (bacteria and fungi) were counted and predominant species were inoculated for determination. Dust was sampled by an SKC pump (SKC Ltd., Blandford Forum, UK) on filters (Whatman International Ltd., Maidstone, UK). Temperature (t °C), relative humidity (rh %) and air velocity (w m/s) were determined by a Testo 400 (Testo Inc., Lenzkirch, Germany) device. The concentration of ammonia and carbon dioxide was determined by a Dräger-Multiwarn II (Dräger, Darmstadt, Germany) device. The measured values of study parameters were processed by Microsoft Excel and Statistica 6 software. Descriptive statistics was employed and statistical significance at 5% (p

Uz uobičajenu problematiku dezinfekcije, dezinsekcije i deratizacije te u širem smislu animalne higijene i veterinarske ekologije u aktivnostima asocijacije DDD i ZUPP-a analizirane su i tipično veterinarske teme. To su trihineloza, goveđa spongiformna encefalopatija, bolest plavog jezika, klasična svinjska kuga i ptičja gripa. Rasprave o označenim bolestima nametnuli su istovjetni zahtjevi u njihovom sprečavanju, suzbijanju i iskorjenjivanju, kao što su DDD mjere, izdvajanje bolesnih životinja, neškodljivo uklanjanje i zbrinjavanje animalne otpadne tvari i druge sanitarne mjere. Kako su ovi postupci u širem smislu i u službi zaštite ispravnosti namirnica, to je u prikazanim raspravama naglašavana potreba razvijanja komplementarnog sustava, uređenog u zakonodavnom i u funkcionalnom smislu, kako bi načelo « ; Od njive do stola» ; .bilo provedivo u punom značenju.

U radu se opisuju DDD postupci i biosigurnosne mjere koje se poduzimaju radi čuvanja zdravlja životinja u intenzivnim uvjetima proizvodnje. To su postupci kojima je svrha održavanje čistoće, smanjenje mikrobne kontaminacije, nadzor kukaca, glodavaca i ptica. Osim toga, njima se pridružuju postupci kontrole kretanja zaposlenika, posjetitelja i vozila, ali i kompleksne mjere zbrinjavanja nusprodukata životinjskog podrijetla (izmet, urin, plodne vode, posteljice, kadaveri i drugi animalni otpad). Praktična primjena označenih mjera kao sastavnica zadane tehnologije dokazano, uz dobru genetsku osnovu i uz kvalitetnu hranidbu, jamčiti zdravlje životinja u eksploataciji.

U radu je opisana kvaliteta zraka s posebnim osvrtom na zračna onečišćenja i njihov utjecaj na zdravlje i proizvodnost intenzivno držane peradi. Navedeni su najčešći i najznačajniji zagađivači stajskog zraka kao što su: mikroorganizmi, prašina, endotoksini i štetni plinovi. U uskoj vezi sa smještajnim prilikama je i dobrobit peradi koja uključuje zadovoljenje temeljnih fizičkih potreba (hranu, vodu, sklonište, zdravlje, sigurnost i aktualnu egzistenciju) i poticanje neophodnog ponašanja. Na kraju su opisana osnovna zapažanja o dobrobiti peradi tijekom prijevoza i klanja.

U uvjetima intenzivnog smještaja i držanja nesilica, izloženih pojačanim naporima kako bi zadovoljile ciljanu proizvodnost, u zraku peradnjaka nastaju znatne količine štetnih polutanata koji pod određenim uvjetima mogu djelovati na zdravlje peradi i ljudi koji rade u peradnjacima. Štetne tvari koje tu nastaju su korpuskularna i plinovita zračna onečišćenja, što smo istraživali u našem radu. Istraživanja su provedena u zimskom razdoblju tijekom četiri mjeseca proizvodnje, na farmi kapaciteta 12 855 nesilica hibrida Issa Brown. Nesilice su držane kavezno, 8-10 jedinki u kavezu. Uzorci su uzimani 15 puta tijekom dana. Zrak je uzorkovan pomoću uređaja Merck MAS-100, (Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Njemačka) na gotove podloge hranjivog i Sabouraud agara (Biolife, Milano, Italija). Mikroorganizmi porasli na podlogama (bakterije i plijesni) su nakon inkubacije izbrojani i većinski rodovi presađeni radi identifikacije. Prašina je uzorkovana pomoću SKC pumpe (SKC Ltd., Blandford Forum, UK) na filtere (Whatman International Ltd., Maidstone, UK). Temperatura (tz °C), relativna vlaga (rv %) i brzina strujanja zraka (w m/s) određivani su pomoću uređaja TESTO 400 (Testo Inc., Njemačka). Koncentracija amonijaka i ugljičnog dioksida određivana je pomoću uređaja Dräger – Multiwarn II (Dräger, Darmstadt, Njemačka). Dobivene vrijednosti mjerenih parametara obrađene su računalnim programom Statistica 6. Pritom je načinjena deskriptivna statistička analiza i utvrđena razina statističke značajnosti od 5 % - p