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No safe and effective vaccine exists against porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains, which are the etiological agents of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), economically one of the most significant diseases of swine, which encountered for major productive losses in swine industry worldwide. The current study was designed to evaluate: (1) efficacy of an oral bivalent F4ac+/F18ac+ non-ETEC live vaccine candidate (VACCINE) in stimulating systemic and intestinal cellular immunity in 4-week-old weaned pigs, (2) the onset and duration of protective immunity of weaned pigs against naturally occurring PWD during the period of 6 weeks following weaning, and (3) the dietary supplement potential of zeolite clinoptilolite (CPL), an antimicrobial mineral and/or immunomodulator/ vaccine adjuvant (VACCINE + CPL). The pigs immunized either with the VACCINE or its combination with dietary CPL had significantly increased body weight gain from Day 7 to Day 42 (P

Hidrolizibilni tanini su polifenolni spojevi koji sadrže centralnu jezgru od glukoze ili drugog poliola, esterificiranu s galnom kiselinom (galotanini), odnosno heksahidroksidifenskom kiselinom ili dilaktonom navedene kiseline, elagičnom kiselinom (elagitanini). Navedeni spojevi formiraju netopive komplekse s bjelančevinama, polisaharidima, nukleinskim kiselinama i alkaloidima. Imaju mnogobrojne pozitivne učinke, uključujući antimikrobnu, antioksidativnu, antitumorsku i protuupalnu aktivnost. Novija istraživanja pokazuju kako primjena tanina u prilagođenoj dozi nema negativan učinak na tjelesnu masu, prirast i konverziju hrane. Međutim, tanini se tradicionalno smatraju antinutritivnim tvarima, ponajviše zbog trpkog okusa i formiranja netopivih kompleksa s bjelančevinama. Tanini u visokoj koncentraciji inhibiraju aktivnost tripsina, kimotripsina, amilaze i lipaze te negativno utječu na apsorpciju željeza. Stoga su ispravna koncentracija, način primjene te kemijski sastav tanina od iznimne važnosti kada se koriste kao dodaci hrani za životinje. Rezultati znanstvenih istraživanja pokazali su da dodatak kestenovog tanina u hranu za piliće tijekom tova značajno smanjuje broj bakterija E. coli u slijepom crijevu uz selekciju manje patogenih filogenetskih skupina.Također, inhibiraju i rast bakterije Campylobacter jejuni, što dodatno pridonosi njihovom antimikrobnom potencijalu. Istraživanja također ukazuju na antibakterijski učinak tanina na Clostridium perfringens i njezine toksine. Dodatno, uočen je i učinak na modulaciju mikrobne populacije cekuma tovnih pilića uz povećanje omjera izolata iz redova Firmicutes i Bacteroidota. Iz reda Firmicutes uočeno je povećanje broja bakterija iz porodica Lachnospiraaceae i Ruminococcaceae. Također, istraživanja navode i pozitivni učinak na bakterije iz roda Lactobacillus. Stimulacijom rasta probiotičkih bakterija dodatno se objašnjava prebiotički učinak tanina. Dosadašnja istraživanja ukazuju da dodatak hidrolizibilnih tanina pozitivno utječe na fermentacijske procese u probavnom sustavu povišenjem ukupne koncentracije nižih masnih kiselina (NMK) u sadržaju cekuma. NMK posjeduju antimikrobni, antigljivični, antitumorski, imunomodulatorni učinak te doprinose održavanju integriteta enterocita. Zaključno, tanini predstavljaju obećavajuću alternativu antimikrobnim promotorima rasta u peradarskoj proizvodnji što može značajno doprinijeti prevladavanju problema bakterijske rezistencije. Međutim, dodatna istraživanja cjelokupnog mikrobioma mogla bi pobliže objasniti mehanizam djelovanja tanina i njihov utjecaj na mikrobnu populaciju crijeva.

Proizvodnja tovnih pilića, ima određene prednosti pred drugim izvorima animalnih bjelančevina poput svinjetine i govedine. Pileće meso se već sada najviše konzumira u svijetu a taj trend će se samo pojačavati. Za tov pilića potreban je značajno manji utrošak krmiva po jedinici prirasta u odnosu na proizvodnju svinja i goveda a proizvodni gubici su zanemarivi što povećava profitabilnost i održivost proizvodnje. Proizvođači su se dugo oslanjali na antibiotike za održavanje zdravstvenog stanja i proizvodnosti, međutim, učestala uporaba je s vremenom postala neodrživa zbog bakterijske rezistencije, rezidua u mesu i promjenom prirodne mikropopulacije crijeva. Posljednjih godina mnoge zemlje nastoje minimizirati ili zabraniti uporabu antibiotika te se okreću upotrebi prirodnih promotora rasta i zdravlja. Rizom biljke đumbira (Zingiber officinale) se od davnina koristi kao začin i medicinski proizvod za određene bolesti u tradicionalnoj medicini nekih zemalja. Rizom đumbira sadrži brojne spojeve (gingeroli, shogaoli, gingerdioli i gingerdioni) koji imaju biološku aktivnost poput antioksidacijskog, antimikrobnog i farmakološkog učinka. Dosadašnja istraživanja o učinkovitosti đumbira kao nutritivnog dodatka za perad variraju ali postoje indikacije da ima pozitivan učinak na proizvodne performanse, probavu i imunost, pojedine biokemijske parametre i oksidativni status. Razlog velike varijabilnosti u učinkovitosti đumbira kao nutritivnog dodatka za perad su velike razlike u sastavu korištenih preparata, načinu i dužini primjene te doziranju. Naše istraživanje koristilo je standardizirani ekstrakt đumbira koji predstavlja kemijski definiran preparat farmakološke kvalitete sa jasno određenom koncentracijom aktivnih tvari čija bi primjena u istraživanjima na peradi mogla dati odgovore na pitanja o djelotvornosti đumbira na modelu tovnih pilića.

The consequences of infection by Suid herpesvirus type 1 (SuHV-1) that causes Aujeszky’s disease (AD) are well studied, however, the effects of immunomodulators (IMs) of microbial origin (viral and bacterial) when administered solely or in combination with the attenuated SuHV-1 vaccine are less known. The effects of parenteral administration of IMs, inactivated Parapoxvirus ovis (P. ovis) or a combination of inactivated Propionibacterium granulosum (P. granulosum) and detoxified Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and attenuated SuHV-1, strain Bartha, on the proportion of peripheral blood CD3- CD21+ B cells were analysed in 30 crossbred, 3-month old pigs using flow cytometry (FCM). Specific antibodies for gE and gB of SuHV- 1 were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were compared among six experimental groups: (1) pigs that separately received the vaccine, (2) IM of bacterial origin, (3) IM of viral origin, (4) simultaneous administration of the vaccine and bacterial IM, (5) simultaneous administration of the vaccine and viral IM, and (6) the control group of untreated pigs. Comparison of B cell proportions and the detection of specific antibodies in blood samples of vaccinated pigs on Day 11 of the experiment showed a transient decrease in B cell contents, though this could not be assumed to be related since the control group showed a decrease in B cell proportion on the same day. The results showed that the use of IMs alone or in combination with the attenuated SuHV-1 vaccine did not have a significant impact on the proportion of peripheral blood B cells in growing pigs., Posljedice infekcije herpes virusom-1 svinja (SuHV-1) uzročnikom bolesti Aujeszkoga (BA) dobro su istražene, ali, manje je poznat učinak imunomodulatora (IM) mikrobnog podrijetla (virusnog ili bakterijskog) primijenjenih u kombinaciji s atenuiranim cjepivom protiv BA. Učinak parenteralne primjene IM-a, inaktiviranog virusa Parapoxvirus ovis ili kombinacije inaktivirane bakterije Propionibacterium granulosum i lipopolisaharida bakterije Escherichia coli i cjepiva koje sadržava atenuirani virus BA (SuHV-1, soj Bartha) na udio CD3-CD21+ B limfocita periferne krvi analiziran je protočnom citometri¬jom u krvi 30 komercijalnih križanaca svinja u dobi od tri mjeseca bez protutijela za virus BA. Prisustvo je protutijela za glikoproteine B (gB) i E (gE) virusa BA provjereno imunoenzimnim testom (engl. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay, ELISA). Dobiveni su rezultati uspoređeni između 6 pokusnih skupina tj. između svinja koje su primile: cjepivo (1. skupina), IM bakterijskog podrijetla (2. skupina), IM virusnog podrijetla (3. skupina), svinja koje su istovremeno primile cjepivo i IM bakterijskog podrijetla (4. skupina) ili cjepivo i IM viruisnog podrijetla (5. skupina) te netretirane, kontrolne skupine svinja (6. skupina). Usporedba udjela B limfocita u uzorcima krvi cijepljenih svinja 11. dan pokusa pokazali su prolazno smanjenje sred¬nje vrijednosti udjela B limfocita za koje se nije moglo pretpostaviti da je povezano s pojavom specifičnih protutijela, jer je smanjenje srednje vrijednosti udjela B limfocita bilo i u kontrolnoj skupini istoga dana. Naši su rezultati pokazali da primjena samo IM-a, kao i njihovih kombinacija s atenuiranim cjepivom protiv BA, nisu imali značajan utjecaj na udio B limfocita periferne krvi u tovljene prasadi.

No safe and effective vaccine exists against porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains, which are the etiological agents of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), economically one of the most significant diseases of swine, which encountered for major productive losses in swine industry worldwide. The current study was designed to evaluate: (1) efficacy of an oral bivalent F4ac+/F18ac+ non-ETEC live vaccine candidate (VACCINE) in stimulating systemic and intestinal cellular immunity in 4-week-old weaned pigs, (2) the onset and duration of protective immunity of weaned pigs against naturally occurring PWD during the period of 6 weeks following weaning, and (3) the dietary supplement potential of zeolite clinoptilolite (CPL), an antimicrobial mineral and/or immunomodulator/ vaccine adjuvant (VACCINE + CPL). The pigs immunized either with the VACCINE or its combination with dietary CPL had significantly increased body weight gain from Day 7 to Day 42 (P, Dijareja nakon odbića (DNO) prasadi uzrokuje glavninu proizvodnih gubitaka u svinjogojskoj industriji širom svijeta. Ne postoji sigurno i učinkovito cjepivo protiv svinjskih enterotoksigenih sojeva bakterije Escherichia coli (ETEC) koji se smatraju etiološkim uzročnicima DNO. Ovo je istraživanje planirano radi vrednovanja: (1) učinkovitosti oralnog bivalentnog F4ac+/F18ac+ ne-ETEC pokusnog živog cjepiva (cjepivo) u stimuliranju sistemske i crijevne stanične imunosti 4 tjedna stare odbijene prasadi, (2) pojave i trajanja zaštitne imunosti odbijene prasadi protiv prirodnog zaražavanja uzročnicima DNO tijekom razdoblja od 6 tjedana nakon odbića i (3) potencijala dodatka hrani zeolita klinoptilolita (KPL), antimikrobnog minerala i/ili imunomodulatora/adjuvansa cjepiva (CJEPIVO + KPL). Prasad imunizirana ili cjepivom ili njegovom kombinacijom s dodatkom hrani KPL-om imala je znakovito povećan prirast tjelesne mase od 7. do 42. dana (P

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of dietary clinoptilolite (CPL) on serum levels of Ca, Mg, P, K and Na of Holstein Friesian heifers (n=20) and cows (n=20) during late pregnancy and early lactation and their reproductive performance. They were randomly assigned into 2 groups (each containing 10 cows and 10 heifers): the CPL-treated group that received 100 g CPL in feed from 60 days ante partum (ap) to 40 days post partum (pp), and the control group (CON) of untreated animals. Blood samples were taken on days 30 ap, 10 ap, on the day of calving and on days 5, 19, 33, and 40 pp. There was a significant difference in Ca levels between the CPL and CON groups (2.41±0.16 vs. 2.28±0.12 mmol/L, respectively) 30 days ap. The Ca level was higher in the CPL group than in the CON group (2.60±0.14 vs. 2.19±0.13 mmol/L, respectively ; P

Tijekom evolucije gastrointestinalni sustav konja prilagođen je kontinuiranom unosu krmiva bogatih vlaknima, s niskom razinom škroba i masti, sastavljenih primarno od trava, čime je omogućena postepena promjena sastava hranjivih tvari u obroku. Međutim, povećane potrebe za energijom uslijed radnih i sportskih zahtjeva i posljedično povećanje energetske vrijednosti obroka dodatkom koncentriranih krmiva te smještaj konja u stajama, bez mogućnosti dugotrajne ispaše, predisponirajući su faktor za nastanak gastrointestinalnih bolesti. Sukladno navedenom, kako bi smanjili rizik nastanka kolika, prehrambeni režim trebao bi se bazirati na podmirivanju nutritivnih potreba pojedinog konja te povećanih energetskih zahtjeva, uz maksimalno zadržavanje prirodnog obrasca hranjenja.

Klinička prehrana kod pasa i mačaka prilagođen je vid hranjenja s ciljem potpore liječenja patologije koja je razlog hospitalizacije. Hranjenje peroralnim putem svakako je prvi izbor, ako je pacijent zadržao apetit u dovoljnoj mjeri da podmiri uzdržne potrebe u mirovanju. No navedeno često nije slučaj, što je posljedica bolnosti, ozbiljno narušenog općeg stanja ili nemogućnosti hranjenja per os (trauma regije glave i/ili vrata). Enteralna prehrana definirana je kao klinička prehrana u užem smislu, iz razloga što se hrana unosi u probavni sustav putem sonde ili stome, uz mogućnost premošćivanja dijela probavnog sustava čija je funkcionalnost narušena. Sonde za hranjenje, poglavito nazoezofagealne ili nazogastrične sonde, češće se koriste u svrhu prehrambene potpore kućnih ljubimaca tijekom intenzivnog liječenja kod kojih očekujemo kratkoročnu potrebu za enteralnim hranjenjem. Razlog tome je njihovo jednostavno postavljanje koje često zahtijeva tek sedaciju pacijenta, bez potrebe za općom anestezijom i provođenjem kirurškog zahvata, kao što je to slučaj s postavljanjem gastrične ili ezofagealne stome. Hranjenje putem nosnih sondi ograničava izbor pripravka za hranjenje na polimerne tekuće pripravke zbog malog promjera sonde, no moguće je koristiti hrane predviđene za peroralno hranjenje u razrjeđenju 1:1 s vodom. Međutim, navedeno podrazumijeva značajno razrjeđenje energetske gustoće i posljedično veći volumen koji je potrebno aplicirati putem sonde. Prednost enteralnog hranjenja je mogućnost unošenja dovoljnog energetskog unosa i hranjivih tvari koje su neophodne za oporavak, što će rezultirati kraćom hospitalizacijom i većom vjerojatnosti za postizanjem povoljnog ishoda liječenja. Povoljan učinak rane enteralne prehrane opetovano je dokazan u kliničkim istraživanjima. Sukladno navedenom, neosporan je blagotvoran učinak hranjivih tvari na motilitet i integritet sluznice probavnog sustava te potpora imunosnom odgovoru i općem stanju pacijenta.

The nutrition of working dogs should prepare the organism for high demanding activity and prevent injuries. For that reason, the recommended proportion and source of specific macronutrient, as well as the use of nutraceuticals in the diet, is often an area of interest and research. Strenuous workload will result in an increase of lactate levels, higher activity of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase as a response to overall increased muscle activity and muscle injury. Prolonged fieldwork also leads to depletion of antioxidative capacity and changes in electrolyte balance due to complex metabolic response to workload demands. Diet should be in accordance with the type, intensity, and duration of the activity. In dogs that are expected to perform a short but high-intensity activity, the daily ration should consist of easily digestible carbohydrates at the level of approximately 50% metabolic energy (ME). On the other hand, for dogs that are expected to work for a prolonged period at medium to high intensity, the carbohydrate portion may be lower, with fat and protein energy levels adjusted at higher rates of ME, according to a specific activity. The additional challenge in working dog nutrition are search, rescue, and hunting dogs’ groups. Multifactorial work expected from these particular groups of working dogs includes a prolonged duration of work that combines intervals of different intensities under a variety of environmental conditions and terrains and includes obedience and scent detection. The reason for the importance of choosing appropriate macronutrient ratio lies in metabolic pathways difference that predominates in short and high- intensity exercise (anaerobic) versus medium to low intensity, prolonged activity (aerobic), where different substrates are used as an energy source (glucose vs fatty acids). Muscles fibers of dogs are predominately oxidative (I i IIa) therefore, they have a high ability to metabolize free fatty acids. That will lead to more efficient utilization of alternative energy sources in aerobic metabolic processes without depletion of glycogen stores. During work, due to the simultaneous occurrence of reparative and destructive processes, free radical-mediated damage is inevitable, therefore, the use of nutraceuticals with antioxidative and protective properties could benefit the working dog performance. Many of them have multifactorial effects that could benefit specific types of work such as EPA and DHA through proven anti-inflammatory properties, benefit on the olfactory acuity, and impact on learning capabilities. Additionally, newly researched nutraceuticals in the form of honeybee products rich in flavonoids, have shown promising results through attenuating exercise-induced oxidative damage that would benefit recovery. Working dogs are an irreplaceable part of society, therefore, it is crucial to provide answers that are still lacking and would improve the way we address nutritional guidelines for this heterogeneous group of dogs. Especially when it comes to providing nutritional protocols for specific work intensity and duration as well as beneficial nutraceutical supplementation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary zeolite clinoptilolite on reproductive performance, serum progesterone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations in 78 Holstein Friesian (HF) cows during pregnancy and lactation. The cows were divided into two groups comprising 40 (control group ; CON) and 38 (CPL group) cows. To assess reproductive performance of HF cows the following variables were registered: the interval from calving to first insemination (days open to first service, DFS), the interval from calving to pregnancy (days open to pregnancy, DOP), and the number of services per pregnancy (NSP). The average values of progesterone (5.64±0.59 ng/mL vs. 5.16±0.64 ng/mL) were not statistically different (p0.05) were shorter in the CPL than in the CON group (115.1±19.9 and 137.5±36.3 days vs. 124.2±17.3 and 143.8±33.5 days, respectively). During 305 days of lactation, milk production was higher in the CPL vs. CON (8325.5±628.8 kg vs. 8050±586.8 kg). The NSP was lower in the CPL than in CON group (1.91 vs. 2.14). The dietary clinoptilolite supplement had a positive influence on milk yield, exhibited modulating effects on endocrine status of dairy cows, and improved reproductive performance, with the decreased NSP, and fewer DFS and DOP.

The phenotype of porcine peripheral blood T cells and natural killer (NK) cells has been well- studied over the past three decades, though porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes with mixed T/NK-cell phenotype within perforin- and NKp46- positive CD3+ populations have also been identified. Despite the mixed phenotype, both populations showed in vitro NK cell-like major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted cytolysis. In this study, the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 15 crossbreed, 12-week-old pigs of both sexes, were analysed by flow cytometry for the expression of leukocyte surface antigens (cluster of differentiation, CD) that can be found on porcine T cells (CD3, TCR-γδ and CD4), NK cells (CD16) or on both cell populations (CD8α and SLA-DR). We found the presence of a minor population of CD3+CD16+ cells within peripheral blood lymphocytes (2.84%). Peripheral blood CD3+CD16+ lymphocytes consisted of all four subpopulations with respect to the expression of surface antigens CD4 and CD8α ; most were CD4-CD8α+ (60.64%) and CD4-CD8α- (36.77%). While the proportion of SLA- DR+ cells within both subpopulations was similar (8.01% of CD3+CD16+CD4-CD8α+ lymphocytes and 7.41% of CD3+CD16+CD4- CD8α- lymphocytes), the proportion of TCR-γδ+ cells was noticeably higher within CD3+CD16+CD4-CD8α+ (43.48%) than CD3+CD16+CD4-CD8α- (16.55%) lymphocytes. When the expression of individual surface antigens was analysed on peripheral blood CD3+CD16+ lymphocytes, most were CD8α+ (62.44%), though some were also TCR- γδ+ (32.56%), SLA-DR+ (7.55%) or CD4+ (2.59%). Expression of CD8α on CD3+CD16+ lymphocytes was not related to co-expression of other surface antigens, though most CD3+CD16+TCR- γδ+ lymphocytes (81.04%) and most CD3+CD16+CD4+ lymphocytes (69.50%) expressed CD8α. Expression of SLA-DR was not related to the co-expression of TCR-γδ or CD8α, or to the co-expression of both antigens (TCR-γδ and CD8α) on CD3+CD16+CD4- lymphocytes. The results also showed the presence of peripheral blood lymphocytes with the combined phenotype of T cells and NK cells in three-month old pigs. Though a functional analysis of the investigated cells was not performed in this study, future investigations should provide more insight about the functional properties of porcine peripheral blood CD3+CD16+ lymphocytes with distinct phenotypic characteristics, especially concerning antigen-specific responses and whether the results presented here are solely age-related.

In the original manuscript the affiliations for the authors M. Gerencer, A. Kastelan, A. Milovanovic, M. Lazarevic, D. Rukavina, I. Valpotic are set incorrectly. This has now been corrected as shown below. M. Samardzijaa , M. Lojkica , N. Macesica , H. Valpoticb , I. Butkovica , J. Savorica , I. Zura Zaja c , D. Leinerd , D. Duri - cice , F. Markovicf , P. Kocilag , Z. Vidas h , M. Gerencerl , A. Kastelani , A. Milovanovicj , M. Lazarevick , D. Rukavinai and I. Valpotic m a Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction of Animals, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; b Department for Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; c Department for Physiology and Radiobiology, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; d Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embriology, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; e Veterinary Practice, Durd - - evac, Croatia; f Belupo d.d. Danica, Koprivnica, Croatia; g Animal Feed Factory, Cakovec, Croatia; h Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; i Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Zagreb, Croatia; j Department of Reproduction, Veterinary Scientific Institute, Novi Sad, Serbia; k Department for Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; l Department of Cellular Immunology, Baxter Hyland Immuno, Vienna, Austria; mDepartment of Biology, Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Link to the corrected article: [https://vet-erinar.vet.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1967]

Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous melatonin on antioxidative protection of bucks ejaculate during the non-breeding season by monitoring of antioxidative enzymatic activity, the ratios of antioxidative enzymes and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Methods. Twelve clinically healthy bucks of the French alpine breed aged from 1.5 to 4 years were randomly assigned into melatonin (MG) and control (CG) groups, with 6 bucks in each. The experimental period 3 months (March-May), was divided into six periods of 15 days each. The bucks in the MG group received four melatonin implants subcutaneously in the ear basis at the end of March. Two semen samples were taken from the bucks by artificial vagina once per week. The activities of glutathione-reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Results. The MG bucks had significantly lower values of GR in the spermatozoa and the seminal plasma during almost all periods of the experiment. In addition, significantly lower activity of GSH- Px in the spermatozoa and higher in the seminal plasma were observed in the last period of the experiment as well as significantly lower value of SOD in spermatozoa during the last 3 periods of the experiment. The MG bucks had significantly higher values of the ratios: CAT/SOD, GSH-Px/SOD in the seminal plasma and spermatozoa during 6th period of the experiment. In addition, the same group of bucks had significantly lower values of the ratio: GR/GSH-px in the spermatozoa during 6th period and in the seminal plasma during 5th period of the experiment. Conclusions. According to the obtained results it could be concluded that the exogenous melatonin changed the value of particular antioxidative enzyme activities in certain periods of the experiment, especially of GR and GSH-Px in the seminal plasma and the spermatozoa and SOD in spermatozoa. Also, the exogenous melatonin had an influence on the ratios of antioxidative enzymes in the seminal plasma and the spermatozoa, and thus, the precise determination of these ratios in the future could be considered as a better indicator of oxidative stress which may provide a better insight into adaptation and antioxidative status of the semen in regard to activities of single antioxidative enzymes. In this study the antioxidative status in French Alpine buck spermatozoa was established for the first time.

The objectives of this study were to determine whether or not dietary clinoptilolite (CPL) has an influence on the levels of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) in the blood serum of dairy cows during gravidity and early lactation. The study was conducted on 78 dairy cows of Holstein-Friesian breed. The cows were randomly assigned into two groups: the CPL- fed treated group (n=38) which received 50 g of natural powdered zeolite CPL twice a day from day 180 days before to 60 days after parturition, and the control non-treated group (n=40). Blood samples were taken on days 180, 90, 60, 30 and 10 before parturition, on the day of calving and on days 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, 40 and 60 following parturition. There were no significant differences in the Ca concentrations between the CPL-fed and the control group. However, after parturition it was noticeable that the Ca concentration was higher in the CPL-fed group, especially on day 33 (P=0.06). The concentration of P was significantly lower (P

Feeding dogs with raw meat-based diets, also known as biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) diets, has been a trend that gained significant popularity over the last decade. The aim of this study was to provide information about dietary regimes and the use of BARF diets in dogs in Croatia, additionally to identify the owner motivation to choose BARF feeding regime. A questionnaire was designed to assess feeding practices in dogs fed BARF diets. To be included in the analysis, the dogs must have been fed with a BARF diet retrospectively for a minimum of 2 months. Data were analyzed using Fisher exact test, p

Obroci na osnovi sirovog mesa ili popularnije nazvani BARF obroci (eng. Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) definiraju se kao hrana za kućne ljubimce koja u svom sastavu sadržava termički neobrađene sirovine životinjskog podrijetla, domaćih ili divljih životinja te se koristi u hranidbi pasa i mačaka koje obitavaju u neposrednom kontaktu s čovjekom. Hranidba na temelju sirovog mesa može se podijeliti na dvije osnovne katregorije: komercijalno dostupni gotovi proizvodi i obroci pripremljeni od vlasnika (tzv. homemade BARF). Kod kuće spravljeni obroci temelje se na recepturama koje omogućuju vlasniku samostalno pripremanje BARF obroka no one ne moraju biti u skladu s propisanim preporukama o unosu hranjivih tvari, što može rezultirati razvojem brojnih patoloških stanja uzrokovanih pogreškama u hranidbi. Nedostatak istraživanja rezultat je rasprave o riziku i pozitivnim učincima takve prehrane. Dosadašnja istraživanja potvrdila su znatno bolju probavljivost BARF obroka u usporedbi sa ekstrudiranom hranom i odličnu palatabilnost. Međutim, istraživanja koje bi potvrdila pozitivne učinke korištenja BARF obroka sa ciljem postizanja boljeg zdravstvenog stanja ili kao obrok izbora kod pojedinih patologija, nedostatna su, te se promicanje BARF prehrane temelji na istraživanjima koja su provedena na malom uzorku u kratkom razdoblju ili su dostupna u obliku popularne nerecenzirane literature. S druge strane, istraživanja kojima se upozorava na javnozdravstveni rizik kod hranjenja BARF obrocima značajno su brojnija. Naime, mikrobiološka ispravnost BARF obroka bitan je segment koji proizvođači moraju redovito kontrolirati uz neizostavno održavanje hladnog lanca u svim fazama proizvodnje i skladištenja kako bi se onemogućila kontaminacija i umnažanje patogena sa zoonotskim potencijalom.

Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi broj i kvalitativni sastav gljivica u hrani za tovne piliće u različitim razdobljima godine, s naglaskom na vrste iz roda Aspergillus kao jednima od najpatogenijih gljivica za perad. Uzorci hrane (n=5) uzimani su izravno iz hranilica jedanput na tjedan tijekom 36-dnevnog tova u ljetnom i zimskom razdoblju godine, u komercijalnim uvjetima proizvodnje. Pilići su hranjeni ad libitum kompletnim krmnim smjesama. Podatci su analizirani referentnim programom Statistica v. 13.4. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da je broj gljivica u hrani bio najmanji u prvom tjednu tova, značajno veći u trećem, a najveći u posljednjem, petom tjednu tijekom oba razdoblja (p

Feeding dogs with raw meat-based diets, also known as biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) diets, has been a trend that has gained a significant popularity over the last decade. The aim of this study was to provide information about dietary regimes and the use of BARF diets in dogs in Croatia and, additionally, to identify the owners’ motivation to choose the BARF feeding regime. A questionnaire was designed to assess feeding practices in dogs fed BARF diets. To be included in the analysis, the dogs must have had been fed with a BARF diet retrospectively for a minimum of two months. Data were analysed using the Fisher exact test, and p < 0.05 was considered to be significant (GraphPad Software, San Diego, USA). In total, 95 questionnaires that met the inclusion criteria were collected. The study cohort consisted of female (64%) and male (36%), mostly purebred (68%) dogs with a mean age of 4.5 ±3.2 years and 19.6 ± 12.5 kilos in weight. The owners changed their respective dog’s diet to the BARF feeding regime as a result of a chronic condition (26%), for palatability (27%), for the perceived improved level of energy (21%), and its composition (17%). The majority of the dogs were fed a homemade (HM) BARF diet (58%) and 42% were fed a commercially available (COM) BARF diet. The owners reported a sporadic occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms more frequently in the period of the previous two months when the dogs were fed HM BARF diets (p = 0.0415). Also, they were more likely to give their dogs raw meat that has not been previously frozen (p < 0.0001). There were 37% of the owners using an extruded diet alongside the BARF diet. The owners of the dogs that had a manifestation of allergies or intolerances in the past were more likely to use BARF diets without the addition of extruded diets (p = 0.038). There is a high frequency of using HM BARF diets as the BARF feeding regime of choice. Therefore, it is of high importance to communicate the risk of possible nutritional imbalances as well as a higher incidence of GI symptoms when feeding HM BARF diets.

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of GnRH analogue treatments on reproductive performance of naturally mated Croatian Big Silver Marten (CBSM), an indigenous rabbit breed. A total of six fertile bucks and 36 sexually mature CBSM rabbit does (8-10 months of age) were divided into three groups for this study. Two groups were treated after natural mating: the first group (n=12) received 0.25 mL Receptal® (RPL) intramuscularly, containing 0.84 μg buserelin acetate, while the second group (n=12) received 0.25 mL Fertagyl® (FGL) containing 20 μg gonadorelin. The third group (n=12) was comprised of untreated does as the control (CON) group. Each group of does mated with a male from another group after the next lactation. After 35 days of lactation, kits were weaned. All females (n=36) had three litters with an average litter size of 8.01 newborns (dead or alive), or 865 in total following 108 successful matings. Total neonatal losses until weaning at 35 days of age were 30.52% (n=263): stillbirth 9.71% (n=84), 8.79% died within first 7 days of life (n=76), 6.24% died from 8 to 21 days (n=54), and 5.78% died from 22 days until weaning at 35 days (n=50). Nulliparous does had a lower litter size than primiparous and secundiparous does (7.78 vs. 8.06 and 8.19, respectively). Reproductive performance, including kindling rate and litter size at birth and weaning (at 35 days of age), was significantly better in the RPL and FGL groups than in the CON group., Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ustvrditi učinke davanja GnRH analoga na reprodukcijske pokazatelje u prirodno parenog hrvatskog velikog bijelopaljenog (HVBO) kunića, izvorne pasmine. Za ovo istraživanje ukupno je šest plodnih mužjaka i 36 spolno zrelih HVBO ženki kunića (u dobi od 8-10 mjeseci) bilo podijeljeno u tri skupine. Dvije su skupine bile tretirane nakon prirodnog parenja pa je prva skupina (n=12) primila intramuskularno 0,25 mL Receptala® (RPL) koji je sadržavao 0,84 μg buserelin acetata, dok je druga skupina (n=12) primila 0,25 mL Fertagyla® (FGL) koji je sadržavao 20 μg gonadorelina. Treća se skupina (n=12) sastojala od netretiranih ženki, i poslužila je kao kontrolna (KON) skupina. Svaka je skupina ženki kunića bila parena s mužjakom iz različite skupine nakon slijedeće laktacije. Nakon 35 dana laktacije, kunići su bili odbijeni. Sve su ženke (n=36) imale po tri legla, s prosječnom veličinom legla od 8,01 novorođenčadi (mrtvo ili živo rođenih), ili ukupno 865 nakon 108 uspješnih parenja. Ukupni gubitci novoređenčadi do odbića u dobi od 35 dana bili su 30,52 % (n=263), a sastojali su se od: mrtvorođenih 9,71% (n=84), 8,79 % je uginulo u prvih 7 dana života (n=76), 6,24 % je uginulo od 8. do 21. dana (n=54), a 5,78 % od 22. dana do odbića 35. dana (n=50). Nuliparne ženke imale su manja legla od primiparnih i sekundiparnih ženki kunića, odnosno 7,78 prema 8,06 i 8,19 mladunčadi. Reprodukcijski pokazatelji, uključujući stopu porođaja i veličinu legla po rođenju i odbiću (u dobi od 35 dana), bili su značajno bolji u RPL i FGL skupinama u odnosu na KON skupinu.

Provedeno je istraživanje primjene različitih koncentracija nanočestica klinoptilolita (Vibrosorb®, Viridisfarm, Podpićan, Croatia) na proizvodne pokazatelje i oksidativni status kod tovnih pilića. Pokus je proveden na 200 muških pilića hibrida Ross 308 koji su nabavljeni iz komercijalne valionice te prebačeni na pokusni poligon Zavoda za prehranu i dijetetiku životinja Veterinarskog fakulteta u Zagrebu. Životinje su raspoređene u skupine od 10 životinja te su im nasumično određeni tretmani (0, 2, 4 i 6 g/kg Vibrosorba®) koji su replicirani 5 puta. Pokusni pripravak nije imao utjecaja na tjelesnu masu životinja ali je poboljšao iskoristivost hrane. Skupina koja je u hrani dobivala 6 g/kg ostvarila je značajno bolju (p≤0.05) konverziju hrane u periodu od 0. do 21. dana te tijekom cijelog istraživanja 0. - 42. dan. Oksidativni status pokusnih životinja mjerio se kroz aktivnost enzima superoksid dismutaze (SOD), glutation peroksidaze (GPx) te razine malondialdehida (MDA). Značajno veća (p≤0.05) aktivnost GPx zabilježena je u skupini koja je dobivala 6 g/kg i to 21. i 42. dana dok je skupina sa 4 g/kg ostvarila višu aktivnost samo 42. dana pokusa. Vrijednosti MDA posljednjeg dana pokusa bile su značajno niže (p≤0.05) u skupini koja je dobivala 2 g/kg. Tijekom istraživanja nisu zabilježene značajne razlike u mortalitetu.

Industrija hrane za kućne ljubimce, poglavito pasa i mačkaka bilježi neprestani razvoj i rast. Trendovi koji se poslijednjih godina temelje na pojmu “humanizacije” neizbježni su u razvijenim zemljama (Europska unija i SAD) no i tranzicijske europske te azijske i južno američke zemlje bilježe značajan rast u dobiti koju ostvaruje industrija hrane za kućne ljubimce. Uslijed velike potražnje tržišta za novitetima mijenja se profil i ponuda proizvoda koji se uvelike razlikuju od tradicionalno uvriježene hranidbe pasa i mačaka ekstrudiranom ili konzerviranom hranom. Trendovi koji trenutno predstavljaju manji udio tržišta sa tendencijom značajnog porasta su: hranidba pasa i mačaka sirovom hranom (tzv. BARF), kuhani obroci, hrana bez žitarica ili drugi režimi koji odudaraju od klasičnih. Nedostatak opsežnih kohortnih istraživanja uzrok je sveprisutne rasprave o razini potencijalnog rizika i, s druge strane, pozitivnih učinaka takve prehrane. Dostupne informacije rezultat su istraživanja koja su provedena na malom uzorku u kratkom razdoblju, izjavama vlasnika i proizvođača te prikaza slučajeva ili su dostupne u obliku popularne nerecenzirane literature: knjiga i članaka. S druge strane, istraživanja koja upućuju na javnozdravstveni rizik prilikom hranjenja kućnih ljubimaca formulacijama na osnovi termički neobrađenih namirnica ukazuju na potrebu pojačane zakonske regulative tih komercijalno dostupnih pripravaka. Upotreba nutraceutika u hrani za kućne ljubimce također je rezultat humanizacijskog trenda. Takvi dodaci su upravo oni sa dugogodišnjom tradicionalnom uporabom u humanoj prirodnoj medicini. Nutraceutici kojima je kroz znanstvena istraživanja dokazan blagotvoran učinak na zdravlje kućnih ljubimaca, u propisanim dozama mogu se koristiti kao potporna terapija ili prevencija putem dodatka u hrani. Razvojem veterinarske medicine u liječenju kućnih ljubimaca te posljedično duljim životnim vijekom pasa i mačaka, upravo industrija hrane za kućne ljubimce prati potražnju veterinarske medicine gdje se putem dijetetski prilagođenog obroka mogu prevenirati ili liječiti mnoga kronična i akutna oboljenja. Uloga koju obnaša struka u formiranju zakona i regulativa neophodna je kako bi usmjeravala ovaj opsežan industrijski sektor u smjeru javnozdravstveno i veterinarsko odgovornog, poglavito iz razloga što se radi o izrazito dinamičnom području koje se neprestano mijenja. Stoga je potrebno naglašavati važnost ekološki osviještenog industijskog sektora sa ciljem održivog razvoja i odgovornog iskorištavanja nusproizvoda životinjskog podrijetla.

The aim of the study was to establish the influence of dietary clinoptilolite (CPL) supplementation on milk fat-to-protein ratio (FPR) and serum β-hydroxybutirate (BHB) levels during transition period in dairy cows. Thirty pregnant cows for 240 days of the Holstein- Frisian breed, aged from 3 to 5 years and kept in a farm near Đurđevac, Croatia, were used in the trial. The cows were randomly assigned into two groups (either in-feed CPL treated ; CPL group or control non-treated ; CON group) comprising 15 cows each. The CPL group received 100 g of natural modified clinoptilolite preparation (Vibrosorb, Viridisfarm, Podpićan, Croatia) in the ratio for dairy cows on a daily basis. Blood samples were collected from the cows in the period from day 240 to 260 of pregnancy, after parturition (day 0), and on days 12, 26, 40 and 60 of lactation. During lactation, milk samples were taken (same days when a blood samples were taken) for milk fat and milk protein analyses. The average value of BHB was higher in the CON than in the CPL group (0.99±0.10 vs. 0.81±0.99 mmol/L). The highest concentration of BHB was obtained on days 0, 12 and 26 of lactation in the CON group (1.83±0.35, 1.55±0.35, and 1.62±0.35 mmol/L, respectively) and in the CPL group after parturition, on day 0 (1.79±0.41 mmol/L). The FPR was significantly higher in the CON group on day 0, (P

Objectives: To study the effects of dietary zeolite CPL on P4 and IGF-1 blood concentrations in Holstein Friesian (HF) cows during pregnancy and early lactation. Methods: Twenty HF-cows, aged 3–5 years and kept on a commercial farm near Đurđevac, Croatia were used in the study. They were assigned into two groups, each of 10 cows. The cows from the treatment group received 100 g/day of natural CPL modified by vibroactivation and micronization (Vibrasorb, Viridisfarm, Podpićan, Croatia). Blood samples were taken on days 90, 180, 210 and 240 of pregnancy, on day 10 before and day 0 after parturition, and on days 5, 12, 19, 26, 40 and 60 of lactation. Serum concentrations of P4 and IGF-1 were determined using ELISA. The obtained data were statistically analysed using the ANOVA method with repeated measurements. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Results: The average values of P4 (6.25 ± 0.73 ng/ml vs. 6.00 ± 0.58 ng/ml) and IGF-1levels (425.20 ± 59.36 ng/ml vs. 397.21 ± 41.23 ng/ml) were higher in the CPL-fed than in the control cows. During pregnancy, the highest level of P4 was recorded in the treatment group on day 90 (11.84 ± 1.78 ng/ml) and in the control group on day 240 (11.25 ± 1.69 ng/ml). In CPL-fed cows ovarian cyclity resumed on day 33 postpartum (PP), when the IGF-1 level was highest during the PP period, which was also higher (p < 0.05) than in the control cows (729.36 ± 190.39 ng/ml vs. 443.44 ± 141.91 ng/ml). Also, a consecutive increase of P4 levels was recorded from days 40 to 60 PP (5.84 ± 1.88 ng/ml and 7.87 ± 2.18 ng/ml). Conclusions: A dietary CPL preparation exhibited modulating effects on the endocrine status of dairy cows by increasing their P4 and IGF-1 serum levels during the PP period, which may influence their reproductive efficiency.

U ovom radu su opisani utjecaji clinoptiloita na koncentraciju progesterona i IGF-1 u krava holštajn-frizijske pasmine tijekom graviditeta i rane laktacije.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the lambing distribution of the Romanov breed in northwestern Croatia during five consecutive years. Most European breeds of sheep are seasonal breeders in the moderate climate region ; however, the Romanov breed is a meat breed that is aseasonally polyoestrous. Romanov sheep are considered to be highly fertile, with a fecundity rate of 230% or more. In Croatia, the lambing season is primarily in the winter and spring for seasonal breeders. Materials and methods. During five consecutive years (December 2011 to November 2016) at eight medium-scale sheep farms in northwestern Croatia, there were 5379 mattings with 5046 successful conceptions i.e. lambings. Ewes were kept at pasture, which primarily provided area for exercise, with access to stables during the night, in a semi-intensive environment. According to standard farming practices, animals had free access to good quality meadow hay (about 1.8 kg per doe daily), adequate concentrate and drinking water. Results. Fertility was 93.81%. The seasonal distribution of lambings in this study was: 47.64% of ewes delivered in winter (n=2422), 23.37% in spring (n=1179), 18.82% in summer (n=950) and 9.81% in autumn (n=495). The winter season refers to the period of December to February. Sexual activity was lowest was during spring and early summer (March to June) with a peak of sexual activity from August to October. Litter size was greater during spring and winter than in other seasons (1.67 vs.1.36) though birth weight was lower in larger than in smaller litters (2.64±0.65 vs. 2.87±0.61). Conclusions. More lambs during lambing season and a higher percentage of multiple births (triplets, quadruplets, etc.) was expected during the optimal breeding season, as seen in most European sheep breeds. Despite being aseasonally polyoestrous, the distribution of mating and lambing was not uniform through the seasons for the Romanov breed.

Alpake su pripitomljene životinje iz porodice deva koje potječu s južnoameričkih Anda. Fiziologija rasplođivanja alpaka se znatno razlikuje od nama poznatih domaćih životinja. Rasplodna sezona u Južnoj Americi traje tijekom kišne sezone, od prosinca do ožujka, dok se u Sjevernoj Americi pare čitave godine. Spolno su zreli u dobi od 1 do 3 godine. Kad mužjak ulazi u razdoblje spolne zrelosti, raste razina testosterona te nestaju adhezije između penisa i prepucija s kojima se mužjak rodio. Generacijski interval je relativno dug jer su mužjaci kasno zreli u odnosu na domaće preživače iste ili slične veličine. Gravidnost traje 11, 5 mjeseci. Ponašanje prilikom parenja može se podijeliti na dva stadija: udvaranje i kopulacija. Udvaranje počinje kad mužjak pokaže interes za ženkom što može trajati samo nekoliko sekundi do prosječno 4 minute, tj. najviše 10 minuta ako je ženka spremna za parenje. Stadij kopulacije započinje kad ženka zauzme stav za kopulaciju. Alpake se pare u ležećem sternalnom položaju, a sam akt traje oko 20 minuta u kojem mužjak ejakulira nekoliko puta. Na duljinu trajanja kopulacije utječe pasmina, starost, godišnje doba, učestalost parenja i prisutnost drugih ženki. Plodnost mužjaka alpake opada s brojem uzastopnih parenja. Pokušane su razne metode dobivanja sjemena, ali najuspješniji je način dobivanja s pomoću posebne umjetne vagine i drvenog fantoma (alpake u ležećem sternalnom položaju) presvučenog kožom alpake. Ejakulati su mliječne do kremasto-bijele boje, manjeg volumena, vrlo viskozni, a sadrže relativno nisku koncentraciju spermija. Spermiji postaju progresivno pokretljivi kad ejakulat postane tekuć, a to je u prosjeku oko 23 sata nakon dobivanja. Probleme kod rasplođivanja mužjaka alpaki čine način parenja, duljina trajanja kopulacije, intrauterino polaganje sjemena te karakteristike ejakulata.

Jedan od najčešćih uzroka slabe plodnosti svinja su pogreške u otkrivanju estrusa te u određivanju najprikladnijeg vremena za umjetno osjemenjivanje. Takve pogreške, kao i nedovoljna kontrola kvalitete sperme koja se upotrebljava za umjetno osjemenjivanje najčešći su uzrok lošijih rezultata prilikom primjene umjetnog osjemenjivanja svinja. Sinkronizacija indukcije estursa i ovulacije u svinja moguća je uporabom nehormonskih i hormonskih metoda (protokola). Poznat je veći broj nehormonskih i hormonskih protokola koji se mogu primijeniti u svrhu kontrole regulacije spolnog ciklusa svinja. Protokoli kontrole regulacije spolnog ciklusa posebno su važni za rasplođivanje nazimica i njihovo plansko uvođenje u velikim skupinama u rasplodno stado. Općenito, najvažniji razlozi za kontrolu regulacije spolnog ciklusa svinja su: optimiziranje broja prasadi odbijene po jedinki tijekom godine, istovremeno umjetno osjemenjivanje skupine životinja što omogućava istovremena prasenja, lakšu brigu oko prasadi te smanjivanje broja nereproduktivnih dana, smanjivanje troškova liječenja anestrije, uvođenje nazimica u pubertet i pravovremeno otkrivanje estrusa. Nehormonske metode (protokoli) kontrole regulacije spolnog ciklusa svinja su: prehrana, odbiće prasadi i kontakt s drugim svinjama ili nerastima te tzv. “pozitivni” stres. Hormonske metode regulacije spolnog ciklusa svinja su: pripravci koji stimuliraju oslobađanje hormona prednjeg režnja hipofize, odnosno sintetički analozi gonadotropnih releasing hormona (GnRH), pripravci koji nadopunjuju ili nadomještaju gonadotropne hormone, kao što su gestageni te prostaglandini F2α i njegovi sintetički analozi. Cilj je ovog preglednog rada prikazati prednosti i nedostatke metoda za indukciju i sinkronizaciju estrusa u svinja uporabom egzogenih hormona, odnosno hormonskih protokola, kada se nehormonske metode, odnosno protokoli nisu pokazali učinkovitima. Razvoj učinkovitih hormonskih protokola za kontrolu estrusa omogućuje proizvođačima svinja planiranje svih aspekata njihovih uzgojnih programa na vremenskoj osnovi, pri čemu se sva parenja ili umjetna osjemenjivanja u određenoj skupini svinja događaju u nekoliko dana, a važnije su u nazimica nego u krmača. Kad je riječ o hormonskim metodama, uporaba egzogenih gonadotropnih hormona je metoda izbora ukoliko je riječ o acikličnim životinjama. Ukoliko svinje imaju cikličnu aktivnost jajnika tada je oralna aplikacija gestagena u hrani pouzdana i najučinkovitija metoda kontrole lutealne faze, odnosno indukcije i sinkronizacije estrusa. Međutim, iako uporaba egzogenih hormonskih pripravaka može biti vrlo učinkovita u svrhu indukcije i sinkronizacije estrusa, ukoliko se pripravci neprikladno primjene mogu prouzročiti ozbiljne reproduktivne, odnosno produktivne poremećaje u svinja. Zaključno, uporaba hormona, odnosno hormonskih protokola indukcije i sinkronizacije estrusa u svinja su izvrstan izbor u kontroli njihovog reproduktivnog managementa, ali njihova se rutinska uporaba svakako treba izbjegavati zbog moguće negativne selekcije (nazimice), i ne smije ih se zamijeniti za kvalitetnu praksu u managementu reprodukcije svinja.

Subakutna acidoza buraga (engl. subacute ruminal acidosis, SARA) je učestali probavni poremećaj u visoko-proizvodnim stadima mliječnih krava hranjenih obrocima s velikim udjelom koncentrata. Iako se o etiologiji bolesti i dalje raspravlja, općenito se smatra stanjem u kojem je pH vrijednost buraga duže vrijeme u rasponu od 5, 2 do 6, 0. Nizak pH usporava razgradnju strukturnih ugljikohidrata, mijenja omjere nižih masnih kiselina prisutnih u buragu te inhibira sintezu mikrobne bjelančevine. SARA također dovodi do promjena u omjerima populacija mikroorganizama te posljedično i do smanjenog unosa hrane koji dodatno produbljuje negativnu energetsku bilancu. Najnovija istraživanja potvrđuju da SARA nije bolest koja je isključivo vezana za sniženu pH vrijednost nego je također rezultat opsežnih promjena mikrobne populacije koje nisu direktno vezane za sastav obroka. Mliječne krave zahvaćene ovim poremećajem ne pokazuju kliničke simptome iako je bolest povezana s upalnim procesima u različitim tkivima i organima. Najugroženije kategorije su krave u ranoj laktaciji, primiparne krave te krave na ispaši. Dijagnostika bolesti provodi se mjerenjem pH vrijednosti buragovog sadržaja koji se može uzorkovati ruminocentezom ili sondiranjem. Ruminocenteza je upitna s etičkog stajališta zbog čestih komplikacija koje nastaju nakon zahvata, premda je još uvijek najpouzdanija dijagnostička metoda. Prevencija se temelji na pravilnom balansiranju i prezentaciji obroka, hranjenju obrokom odgovarajuće veličine čestica, dodavanju pufera u obrok i modulaciji mikrobne populacije.

Three studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of microencapsulated dry chestnut wood extract and salts of butyric acid on production performance of broiler chickens and laying hens. The experiment on broilers was conducted on 120 male Ross 308 chickens in the experimental facilities of the Faculty of Veterinary medicine in Zagreb. Animals were divided into groups of 20 animals and were assigned to randomized treatments (0, 250 and 500 g/t) with two replications per treatment. The group that received 500 g/t of feed achieved the best results of average body weight (2.943 kg) and feed efficiency (1.55kg of feed per kilogram of gain) at the end of the investigated period (day 42.). After slaughter, there was no significant difference in dressing percentage and weight of the liver. During the study were no significant differences in mortality between groups. The trials on laying hens were conducted on two commercial layer farms in Croatia. The diet of layers was supplemented with 500 g/t of additive to evaluate its effect on performance and health status. The trials lasted for 32 weeks (18th week until 50th week) and 13 weeks (16th week until 28th week) of layers age and were conducted on 31, 770 and 92, 887 birds, respectively. The birds were divided into two groups (experimental and control) and monitored for production results and health status. The experimental group of layers on Farm 1 achieved higher egg production (209.2 vs. 200.1), had better feed conversion (2.13 vs. 2.35) and had significantly lower mortality (2.9% vs. 6.9%) in the observed period. The control birds had significantly higher ADFI (122.7g vs. 115g) and there was no difference in the mass of produced eggs. The supplemented animals on Farm 2 had higher egg production (786.7 vs. 765.4), a better feed to egg ratio (142g vs. 150g) and a significantly lower mortality (0.6% vs. 1.4%) during the trial. Overall, we can conclude that the tested feed additive had a positive influence on the majority of production parameters that were monitored and can be recommended to the industry as a safe and effective way to increase production efficiency.

Klinički značajni biomarkeri periodontalnih bolesti koji imaju ulogu u dijagnostici, terapiji i prognozi bolesti moraju imati karakteristike sposobnosti klasifikacije periodontalnih promjena i praćenje učinka liječenja. Do danas nije provedeno istraživanje kojim bi se utvrdilo mogu li enzimatski biomarkeri i razina uree u slini pasa poslužiti kao dijagnostički medij kod periodontalnih bolesti. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja bio odrediti koncentracije enzimatskih biomarkera u slini pasa (ALT, AST i ALP) te uree i utvrditi njihove koncentracije unutar skupina pasa različitog stupnja zubnog kamenca i promjena na gingivi. U istraživanje je uključeno 20 zdravih pasa koji su podijeljeni u četiri skupine prema razini kamenca: K0, K1, K2, K3 i s obzirom na pregled gingive u dvije skupine: gingiva bez promjena (G0) i klinički promijenjena gingiva (Gprom). Razina enzima ALT u slini nije se razlikovala između skupina dok je koncentracija enzima AST u slini bila statistički značajno različita između skupina K0 i K3 te K2 i K3. Koncentracija enzima ALP utvrđena je u znatno višoj koncentraciji u skupini K2 u usporedbi sa skupinama K0 i K1 te u skupini K3 ako ih usporedimo sa skupinama K0 i K1. Kod pasa kod kojih je utvrđen gingivitis utvrđene su statistički značajno više vrijednosti za enzime ALT, AST, ALP. Koncentracija uree u slini nije pokazala korelaciju sa praćenim periodontalnim promjenama stoga se ne može smatrati pouzdanim biomarkerom periodontalnih bolesti. Nasuprot tomu enzimi ALT, AST i ALP pokazali su već utvrđene korelacije dokazane u slini kod ljudi stoga ih možemo smatrati potencijalnim biomarkerima u dijagnostici i praćenju terapijskog učinka u liječenju periodontalnih bolesti kod pasa kao i potencijalni dijagnostički model periodontalnih bolesti kod ljudi.

The aim of this study was to assess modulatory effects of dietary supplements mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and clinoptilolite (CPL) as potential alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) given to 4-week old pigs at weaning (Day 0) on their innate/adaptive immunity by determining: alterations in C- reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (HpG) serum levels, efficiency of blood monocytes (MO) and neutrophilic granulocytes (GR) for in vitro phagocytosis (PHC)/microbicidity (MBC) and proportion of extrathymic double positive CD4 CD8 (CD4+CD8+) T cells throughout 35 days of the study. Neither MOS nor CPL changed the serum concentrations of CRP, whereas that of HpG was significantly increased in the CPL supplemented pigs (p

Clinically relevant salivary inflammatory indicators of gingivitis that have a role in diagnostics, therapy, and prognosis must have the ability of disease classification and treatment follow-up. To this date, no research has been conducted that could determine if salivary enzymatic activity and urea level in dogs can serve as a diagnostic tool for gingivitis. The aim of this study was to measure the activity of salivary enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as urea in saliva between groups of dogs assigned according to the presence of gingival inflammation. The study was conducted on 20 otherwise healthy dogs that were divided into two groups according to the clinical presence (G+) or absence of gingivitis (G0, control group). The activity of enzymes ALT, AST, ALP, and level of urea in saliva was determined using VetTest® Chemistry Analyzer (Idexx, USA). In G+ group we determined significantly higher activity of enzymes (mean ± SD) (U/L): ALT (630, 3 ± 178, 9) (P < 0, 01), AST (544, 8 ± 285) (P < 0, 001), and ALP (62 ± 33, 74) (P < 0, 05) in comparison to G0 group: ALT (296, 2 ± 297, 3), AST (150, 6 ± 230, 2) and ALP (40, 91 ± 21, 79). On the other hand, the level of urea in saliva (mean ± SD) (mmol/L) did not differ significantly between two groups (P = 0, 699) ; (G0 = 1, 895 ± 1, 35 ; G+ = 1, 167 ± 0, 626). The results of this preliminary study imply that activity of salivary enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP in dogs could serve as a potential diagnostic tool for gingivitis of dogs. Nevertheless, we have to take into account the great variability of salivary enzyme levels as well as their activity being susceptible to reflect other pathologies what could classify them as non-specific indicators that cannot serve as a precise diagnostic method. Further research is warranted to confirm the reliability of these parameters for the screening of gingivitis as well as other periodontal pathologies in dogs.

The knowledge that spermatozoa differ in morphological and functional characteristics has initiated studies in order to isolate subpopulation of spermatozoa with better functional abilities. The aim of this study was to determine spermatozoa subpopulations based on morphometric parameters of spermatozoa head (MPSH) and tail (MPST) in ejaculates of bucks (N=12) over a period of 3 months. Semen smears were prepared and stained with method of Bloom to establish the proportion of live spermatozoa. By using a computer assisted-image analyses system, morphometric measurements were performed (50 spermatozoa per smear) with the "SFORM" program. Morphometric data were collected for spermatozoa head, mid-piece and tail (area, outline, length, width), and for head shape (regularity, rugosity, ellipticity, elongation). By analyzing of principal components, two values were obtained explaining 85% of variance for MPSH and 78.5% for MPST. For MPSH, the 1st component focused on measurements of size and the 2nd on head shape. The 1st component for MPST focused on length and the 2nd on the width of the mid-piece. Cluster analysis of the most important parameters for each component revealed 4 spermatozoa subpopulations based on MPSH and MPST. The 1st subpopulation of MPSH comprised small sized spermatozoa with high rugosity spermatozoa (17%), the 2nd the biggest sized (4.8%), the 3rd elliptical and elongated (24.5%) and the 4th average sized spermatozoa (53.4%). The 1st spermatozoa subpopulation based on MPST comprised spermatozoa with the smallest size of the mid-piece (63.0%), 2nd spermatozoa with the widest mid-piece but the shortest tail (10.9%), the 3rd spermatozoa with the longest tail (21.6%) and 4th spermatozoa with the greatest length, area and outline of mid-piece (4.5%). Morphometric analysis of the principal components and cluster analysis, could provide data about semen quality and the freezing ability, according to the proportions of the individual subpopulations in the semen.

The purpose of this study was to assess the risks or associations between the prevalence of subclinical ketosis (SCK) and some periparturient diseases in Holstein cows, by determining beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) serum levels using a Precision Xceed® BHBA meter (Abbott, USA) or spectrophotometer, and to evaluate the reproductive performance of cows positive for SCK. The study was conducted on 841 cows, from 107 randomly selected farms, aged 2-8 years, divided into two groups: positive (POS = BHBA level≥1200 μmol/L), with clinical or SCK, and a negative (control) group (NEG = BHBA level