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The purpose of this case report is to describe and document a rare anatomical variation of a moderator band located in right ventricle of a stallion referred for cryptorchid castration. During routine pre-anesthetic echocardiography, a thick moderator band was detected crossing the right ventricle. No other cardiovascular abnormalities were identified. Anesthesia and recovery occurred uneventfully. This variation is important not only for anatomy but also for the evaluation of normal heart both during ultrasound and electrocardiographic examination.

The aim of this study was to monitor and evaluate the seasonal changes on selected reproductive parameters in mares. Ninety-six mares of different breeds, aged 3 to 23 years were evaluated during the breeding season 2015–2018 at the Equine clinic at University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacology in Košice, Slovakia (48°42´N, 21°15´E). The beginning of the estrus was determined by history or observation, mares were examined every 6 hours, blood for progesterone analysis was taken from the jugular vein. Correlation analyses were performed using both the Pearson and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Statistical analysis was performed using the functions of Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism. The day length (r = 0.708, P

Fertility problems of mares on a well-managed breeding farm with thoroughbred stallions have been ascribed mostly to contamination of the reproductive apparatus of females with pathogens, particularly those of bacterial origin. This study presents a summary of the frequency of bacterial pathogens isolated from 437 cervical swabs which were collected from English thoroughbred mares intended for mating between 2008-2014, as well as of resistance tests of these pathogens to seven commonly used antibiotics as follows: penicillin, gentamicin, tetracycline, sulfisoxazole, cefotaxime, marbofloxacin and enrofloxacin. In addition, the study reports the changes in the levels of plasma oestradiol and progesterone determined two to three days before and two to three days after the first post-partum ovulation in mares with positive and dubious bacteriological findings and percentage of barren mares and mares that conceived at first, second and third post-partum ovulations. It was observed that 21.5% of mares were barren even after the third post-partum cycles. The oestradiol levels determined two to three days before the first post-partum ovulation were significantly lower in mares positive for pathogenic microflora in their reproductive apparatus compared to mares with the dubious findings (25.1 ± 5.8 pg/ml vs. 69.7 ± 18.3 pg/ml; P < 0.05), while the mean progesterone levels did not differ significantly but displayed a rather wide range in positive mares (from 0.08 to 1.38 ng/ml) compared to dubious mares with only small variations (0.12 ± 0.03 ng/ml). Moreover, of the total number of cervical swabs taken shortly before the first post-partum oestrus from all the mares intended for mating as many as 69.7% were contaminated with pathogenic microflora (positive findings). Saprophytic microorganisms only (the dubious findings) were isolated from 29.7% of swabs. From the 307 positive swabs, we could identify 40.4% positive for β-haemolytic streptococci and 20.4% positive for Escherichia coli, the pathogens implicated in causing reproductive disorders. Tests of antibiotic resistance of the investigated pathogens revealed that both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria showed high susceptibility to antibiotics such as cefotaxime, marbofloxacin and enrofloxacin. On the other hand, both these bacterial groups showed high resistance to routinely used broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as penicillin and tetracycline. Because further research is required for a full understanding of the mechanism of pathogenesis of post-breeding endometritis, we can only hypothesise that uterine contamination with pathogenic microflora, particularly with β-haemolytic streptococci and coliform bacteria, diagnosed before the first post-partum ovulation, could negatively affect the hormonal regulation of oestrus and result in mare fertility problems.

The objective of this study was to examine the alkaline, acidic phosphatase and nonspecific esterase activity in the epithelial cells of oviducts after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at the time of puerperium. PCBs were administered in the last days of pregnancy and during early puerperium. Animals in the experimental group were exposed to Delor 105 at a dose of 100 μg/kg/day and were euthanised on Day 17 postpartum (n = 4), i.e. 5 days after the termination of 30-day PCB administration; on Day 25 postpartum (n = 5), i.e. 17 days from the last PCB administration and on Day 34 postpartum (n = 5), which corresponded to Day 28 from the completion of PCB administration. Ewes in the control group were euthanised on Day 17 (n = 3), Day 25 (n = 4) and Day 34 (n = 4) postpartum. The authors demonstrated the inhibitory effect of PCB on the enzymatic system of the oviduct during the puerperal period. The alkaline phosphatase, acidic phosphatase and nonspecific esterase activity in the oviductal epithelial cells during a 34-day observation period exhibited a rising trend (P < 0.001 vs. P < 0.001 vs. P < 0.01) in the control group of animals. Experimental animals exposed to the 30-day PCB administration (Delor 105) showed a stagnant tendency (P > 0.05) in alkaline phosphatase while acidic phosphatase and nonspecific esterase activity (P > 0.05) dropped even below the level of their activity values in the control group. It is essential to continue to monitor the effect of pollutants in exposed industrial areas on reparative and regenerative processes in puerperium and their possible impact on reproductive performance.

Equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a multifactorial disease with a change in the skin microbiome. The present study monitored the influence of Weissella cibaria Biocenol™ 4/8 D37 CCM 9015 stabilized on alginite on the skin microbiota of healthy horses and model patients with EPD. Based on clinical signs, EPD lesions were identified as exudative or proliferative forms. A comparison of the initial microbial community based on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between healthy vs. exudative ( R  = 0.52, p  = 0.003) and exudative vs. proliferative communities ( R  = 0.78, p  = 0.043). The healthy skin microbiota was dominated by the families Corynebacteriaceae (19.7 ± 15.8%) and Staphylococcaceae (15.8 ± 10.7%). Streptococcus (11.7 ± 4.1%) was the dominant genus in the exudative group together with Corynebacterium (11.0 ± 3.8%), while Staphylococcus (15.6 ± 14.5%) dominated the proliferative group. The genus Staphylococcus represented only 0.5% of the exudative skin microbial community, a major difference between EPD-affected lesion types. Upon application, there was a statistically significant shift in community composition in all the groups, including the healthy community; however, the change was the most significant in the exudative community. On average, the genus Weissella represented 80.0 ± 13.3% of the exudative and 49.0 ± 30.0% of the proliferative bacterial community during treatment. One week after the application period, richness and diversity increased and were comparable in all groups. The application of the W. cibaria strain was associated with a significant decrease of the genera Staphylococcu s, Moraxella, and Rothia in the proliferative group and with a decrease of Streptococcus and Clostridium in both exudative and proliferative groups. Based on our results, we conclude that a topically applied W. cibaria RIF R , stabilized on alginit, induced potentially beneficial shifts in the composition of the skin microbiota., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Styková, Valocký, Kačírová and Fecskeová.)

The aim of this study was to draw attention to the risk of transmission of Encephalitozoon, Cryptosporidium and Blastocystis infection due to high animal migration and to point out that even wild animals can be a source of many zoonotic diseases. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis spp. are frequent microscopic organisms that parasitise humans, domestic and wild animals. Two hundred and fifty-five faecal specimens were collected from wild boars, badgers, wolves, bears, foxes and deer from 15 locations in Slovakia. Sequencing of positive PCR products and subsequent sequence comparison with GenBank sequences identified Blastocystis spp. in five wild boars. The ST 5 (n = 4) and ST 10 (n = 1) subtypes were determined by genotyping. We identified Encephalitozoon cuniculi in five wild boars, and genotype II (n = 5) was determined on the basis of ITS repeat sequences. Cryptosporidium scrofarum was sequenced in wolves (n = 4) and wild boars (n = 1), while Cryptosporidium suis only in wild boars (n = 2). None of the wild boars had a mixed infection.

The effects of non-authochtonous Enterococcus faecium AL41 = CCM 8558, enterocin M-producing and probiotic strain were tested on the microbiota, phagocytic activity, hydrolytic enzymes, biochemical parameters and dry matter in horses based on its previous benefits demonstrated in other animals. E. faecium CCM 8558 sufficiently colonized the digestive tract of horses. At day 14, its counts reached 2.35 ± 0.70 CFU/g (log 10) on average. The identity of CCM 8558 was confirmed by means of PCR after its re-isolation from horse faeces. The inhibition activity of CCM 8558 was demonstrated against Gram-negative aeromonads, counts of which were significantly reduced (P < 0.001). After 14 days application of CCM 8558, a tendency towards increased phagocytic activity (PA) was measured; PA value was 73.13% ± 8.55 on average at day 0/1; at day 14, it was 75.11 ± 8.66%. Cellulolytic, xylanolytic and pectinolytic activity in horse faeces was significantly increased (P < 0.001) at day 14 (after CCM 8558 application) and amylolytic activity as well (P < 0.01) compared to day 0/1. Inulolytic activity increased with mathematical difference 1.378. Dry matter value reached 20.81 ± 2.29% on average at day 0/1; at day 14, it was 20.77 ± 2.59% (P = 0.9725). Biochemical parameters were influenced mostly in the physiological range. These results achieved after application of CCM 8558 in horses are original, giving us further opportunity to continue these studies, to measure additional parameters and to show the benefits of CCM 8558 application in horses.

The influence of environmental contaminant toluene and of plant fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) on reproduction are reported, but the mechanisms of their action and the protective effect of fennel on contaminant influence remain to be elucidated. In this study, we hypothesized that toluene and fennel directly affects basic ovarian cell functions, and that fennel can be used as an appropriate natural protective agent against the potential adverse effects of toluene. This study aimed to examine the action of toluene (20 μg/mL) and fennel extract (0, 1, 10, 100 μg/mL), and assess their combination on viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and hormone release by cultured healthy mare ovarian granulosa cells. Viability, proliferation (percentage of PCNA-positive cells), apoptosis and release of progesterone, oxytocin and prostaglandin F were evaluated by using Trypan blue exclusion tests, immunocytochemistry and enzyme immunoassays, respectively. Toluene, when given alone, inhibited viability, proliferation, apoptosis, progesterone, prostaglandin F and IGF-I. However, it did not affect oxytocin release. Moreover, Fennel, when given alone, inhibited viability, progesterone, and prostaglandin F release, as well as stimulating proliferation and oxytocin release. In addition, Fennel did not affect apoptosis. When given in combination with toluene, fennel was able to suppress, and even invert, the effects of toluene on viability, proliferation, apoptosis, prostaglandin F, and IGF-I. However, it did not alter its effect on progesterone release. Moreover, fennel induced the inhibitory effect of toluene on oxytocin output. The findings of our study suggest direct adverse effects of toluene on the basic ovarian functions of mares. Lastly, we also observed the direct influence of fennel on these functions, as well as its ability to be a natural protector against the action of toluene on the ovarian functions of mares., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Probiotic bacteria or their antimicrobial proteinaceous substances called bacteriocins (enterocins) hold promising prophylactic potential for animal breeding. This study present the results achieved after application of Enterocin M in horses. Enterocin M has never been applied to horses before. Clinically healthy horses (10) were involved in this pilot experiment. They were placed in the stables of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovakia, with the approval of the University Ethics Committee. The animals were fed twice a day with hay and oats, or alternatively grazed with access to water ad libitum. The experiment lasted 6 weeks. Sampling was performed at the start of the experiment, at day 0-1, at day 21 (3 weeks of Enterocin M application), and at day 42 (3 weeks of cessation). Feces were sampled directly from the rectum and blood from the vena jugularis; the samples were immediately treated and/or stored for analyses. Each horse itself represented a control animal (compared to its status at the start of the experiment, day 0-1). After initial sampling, the horses were administered 100 μl of Ent M (precipitate, 12,800 AU/ml) in a small feed bolus to ensure it was consumed; Ent M was applied for 3 weeks (21 days). Fecal samples were treated using the standard microbial dilution method; phagocytic activity was assessed with standard and flow cytometry; biochemistry and metabolic profiles were tested using commercial kits and standard methods. Administration of Ent M led to mathematical reduction of coliforms, campylobacters ( ab P < 0.05), and significant reduction of Clostridium spp. ( ab P < 0.001, bc P < 0.001); increase of PA values was noted (P < 0.05, P < 0.0001); no negative influence on hydrolytic enzyme profile or biochemical blood parameters was noted.

Yucca (Yucca schidigera) is a popular medicinal plant due to its many positive effects on animal and human physiology, including their reproductive systems. To examine the effect of supplemental yucca feeding on sheep reproduction, including ovarian functions and their hormonal regulators, ewes were fed (or not fed, control) yucca powder (1.5 g/head/day, 30 days). Macromorphometric indexes of the oviduct, ovary, and ovarian folliculogenesis were measured. Reproductive hormone levels in the blood were measured using a radioimmunoassay. Granulosa cells were aspirated from the ovary, and their proliferation and apoptosis were detected using immunocytochemistry. To assess secretory activity and its response to gonadotropin, ovarian fragments of treated and control ewes were cultured with and without follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; 0, 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 IU/mL), and the release of reproductive hormones into the culture medium was evaluated. Finally, to examine the direct action of yucca on the ovary, ovarian fragments from control ewes were cultured with and without yucca extract (1, 10, or 100 μg/mL), and the release of reproductive hormones was measured. Yucca supplementation significantly decreased the size of small antral follicles (2 to <5 mm in diameter), increased accumulation of the apoptosis marker bax, and decreased serum progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) levels. It inhibited the release of P4 (but not other hormones), to prevent the stimulatory action of FSH on P4 output and promoted insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) release by fragments cultured with FSH. However, yucca supplementation did not affect the size of larger follicles and number of follicles, volume and weight of ovaries, length and weight of oviducts, caspase 3 accumulation, cell proliferation, testosterone (T) or IGF-I serum levels, or T or E2 release by cultured ovarian fragments and their response to FSH. Yucca addition to culture medium inhibited P4 and IGF-I, but not T or E2 release at the lowest (1 μg/mL) dose, and stimulated P4, but not T, E2, or IGF-I release at the highest (100 μg/mL) dose. These data suggest that yucca supplementation can reduce small antral ovarian follicle development possibly via the stimulation of apoptosis of their granulosa cells, suppression of ovarian P4 and E2 release, and alteration of ovarian IGF-I output and ovarian response to gonadotropin. Thus, yucca can directly affect P4 and IGF-I release by ovine ovarian cells., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Kocuria spp. are widely distributed in nature. They are Gram-positive, coagulase-negative, coccoid bacteria belonging to the family Micrococcaceae, suborder Micrococcineae, order Actinomycetales, class Actinobacteria. In general, limited knowledge exists concerning the properties associated with the representants of the genus Kocuria, Kocuria kristinae as well. Following our previous results, K. kristinae Kk2014 Biocenol(™) (CCM 8628) was isolated from vagina of a healthy cow. Its taxonomical allottation was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) identification system and phenotypic characteristics. Kk2014 strain showed strong adherence capability to the vaginal mucus, produced organic acids which can play a role in prevention of unsuitable contamination, and showed in vitro antagonistic/antimicrobial activity against strains Arcanobacterium pyogenes CCM 5753, Fusobacterium necrophorum CCM 5982, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus CCM 7316, and Gardnerella vaginalis CCM 6221. Antimicrobial activity ranged from 100 to 200 AU/mL, up to 32 mm in size, respectively.

In the present study, we examined the adherence of indigenous vaginal bacteria, probiotic strains, and metritis pathogens to mucus collected from different parts of the reproductive tracts of heifers and cows and compared their adherence with the bacterial adherence to mucus collected from the stomach and large intestine of pigs. Most of the vaginal strains adhered to mucus collected from different parts of the reproductive tract and strongly adhered to gastric mucus, with the exception of Lactobacillus buchneri 24S8. Only Lactobacillus mucosae 29S8, Enterococcus faecium E21, and E. faecium EAC adhered to colonic mucus. Probiotic strains adhered strongly to mucus collected from the reproductive tract and gastric mucus but did not adhere to colonic mucus. Pathogenic strains were adherent to vaginal, uterine horn, and gastric mucus, except Escherichia coli O8:K88ab:H9 (65), Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Gardnerella vaginalis, which adhered to uterine cervix mucus. Only Kocuria kristinae and G. vaginalis adhered to uterine body mucus; E. coli O149:K88ac (EC) adhered to colonic mucus. The strains did not exhibit host specificity but rather strain specificity. The ability to adhere to mucus was a characteristic unique to each strain. To our knowledge, this is the first report regarding in vitro adherence of GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) lactobacilli isolated from different sources to mucus collected from different parts of the reproductive tract.

The distribution of healthy and atretic follicles on the ovarian surface of improved Valachian ewes 17, 24, and 32 days postpartum is reported in this study. The number of healthy follicles was higher on day 24 postpartum and their mean diameter tended to increase to day 32 (P < 0.05) with the greatest diameter of 5 mm. 78-81% of atretic follicles ≥3 mm in diameter was observed where apoptosis began in the follicular cells situated at the follicular cavity. The early atretic follicles are characterized by the presence of mitotic pictures. In one ewe 24 days postpartum, small regressive follicular cysts were observed. Contracting atresia is characterized by thickening of the theca interna even to 190 μm. Progesterone and oestradiol-17β concentrations were maintained at relatively low levels, but with no significant difference between the days postpartum.

The presence of antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (E. intestinalis) was examined in 215 samples from humans and in 488 samples from five different species of domestic and companion animals in Slovakia. The 215 human samples and samples from 90 swine, 123 non-infected cattle (cattle), 24 cattle infected with bovine leukosis virus (BLV-positive cattle), 140 sheep and 111 dogs were examined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples with serum titres 1:200 or higher were considered as positive. Specific anti-E. cuniculi antibodies were found in humans (0.9%), swine (52%), cattle (2%), sheep (9%) and dogs (15%) except for the BLV-positive cattle at the titre of 1:200. The titre of 1:400 was detected only in humans (0.5%). The presence of specific anti-E. intestinalis antibodies at the titre of 1:200 was confirmed in humans (6%), swine (51%), cattle (11%), BLV-positive cattle (13%) and dogs (6%) but not in sheep. The anti-E. intestinalis antibodies reached the 1:400 in humans (1%), swine (4%) and BLV-positive cattle (17%). The presence of specific anti-E. intestinalis antibodies at the titre of 1:600 was observed only in one swine (1%). Significant differences were observed in animals at titres 1:200 and 1:400 (chi-squared test: p<0.0001) for both pathogens and in humans only for E. cuniculi at the titre of 1:400 (chi-squared test: p<0.0075)., (Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier India Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to obtain knowledge about the postnatal development of microflora and the production of short-chain fatty acids in 24 piglets suckled by sows and 26 piglets fed on milk replacement. On day 14 piglets which had received no colostrum had higher counts of Enterobacteriaceae (p < 0.001) and coliform bacteria (p <0.001) in the jejunum contents than piglets suckled by their mother sow. Depending on age, concentrations of both lactic and acetic acid were higher in the contents of the small intestine of piglets suckled by sows compared to milk replacer-fed piglets. Replacement of maternal milk by artificial feeding adversely affected the postnatal development of the piglets. This resulted in higher morbidity and mortality in those piglets.

The effect of surgery on phagocytic activity of blood leukocytes and mitogen-induced blastogenesis of lymphocytes was studied in fourteen dogs. Simple ovariohysterectomy with anaesthesia induced by ketamine and xylazine or by ketamine, xylazine and halothane caused a short nonsignificant depression of phagocytic activity that persisted for four hours after surgery. Ingestion capacity of leukocytes decreased significantly immediately after surgery. Mitogen-induced blastogenesis of lymphocytes was depressed significantly in the first 48 hours and despite partial recovery this parameter did not reach the value of the control groups until the end of observation (7 days). A more conspicuous decrease of blastogenic response of blood lymphocytes to mitogens was found after the use of ketamine and xylazine in a dose maintaining anaesthesia. Anaesthesia with ketamine and xylazine in the lower dose and maintained with halothane resulted in a later improvement of the blastogenic response of lymphocytes.

Chlamydia psittaci var. felis is considered as a primary and important agent in the etiology of infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract and eyes in cats, having zoonotic potential. We investigated 13 cats aged between 2 months and 7 years, in which conjunctivitis, rhinitis, laryngotracheitis, bronchopneumonia and lymph adenopathy was clinically diagnosed. To detect the antigen of C. psittaci the Clearview Chlamydia Direct Test was used for the first time. The presence of C psittaci in 10 of 13 investigated cats and in 8 nasal mucosa smears from 10 investigated cats were confirmed in conjunctiva. Using bacteriological examination different species of the genus Staphylococcus in conjunctiva from all 13 investigated animals were also confirmed. Serological investigation using complement fixation test was negative in all animals.