Prevalence of Bovine herpesvirus type 4 in aborting dairy cows

Bovine herpesvirus type 4 (BHV-4) is related to many different conditions: infertility, postpartal metritis, vulvovaginitis, mastitis, encephalitis, calf pneumonia, keratoconjunctivitis, cutaneous lesions, digital dermatitis and abortion. In this study a retrospective PCR examination of 100 extracted DNA samples from aborting cows was performed in order to determine: prevalence of BHV-4 in abortive cattle, whether coinfections BHV-4 with other abortifacient pathogens are present in the same sample and to determine the month of gestation when BHV-4 associated abortions were detected. Out of 100 examined samples, the BHV-4 genome was detected in 21 samples (21%). In two samples we detected coinfection of BHV-4 with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and in one with Neospora caninum. Most of the BHV-4-associated abortions were detected during the seventh month of gestation. It was concluded that an active BHV-4 infection was present among cows that aborted on the farms examined. The high prevalence of the BHV-4 genome in abortion material suggests that this virus may have cause the abortions. Further studies and examinations are needed to establish causative connection between presence of BHV-4 and abortion

Efekat ishrane kokoši nosilja smešama obogaćenim omega-3 masnim kiselinama na sastav masnih kiselina u jajetu

In order to investigate the effects of omega (n) 3 fatty acids on egg quality a group-control trial was organized. Trial lasted 40 days and was performed in production conditions. Total number of 1264 laying hens of Lohman Brown classic provenience were used and randomly allotted into one of four groups by 316 hens each (C-control, I experimental, II experimental and III experimental). All groups of hens were fed diets of standard ingredients and chemical composition, while feed of I, II and III experimental group of hens was supplemented with micro algae Schizochytrium spp. (DHA Gold®, Martek, USA) as a source of n- 3 fatty acids in amount of 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 % respectively. In order to investigate the influence of micro algae Schizochytrium spp. feed supplementation on egg quality, from the aspect of content and ratio of fatty acids, random egg samples (n=10) were taken at the 10th, 20th and 40th day of the trial from each group. Egg yolk fatty acid content was determined by gas chromatography on Varian 1400 with flame ionization detector (FID detector) (on a packed column 20% LAC-3R-728 Chromosorb WAW 80-100 mesh). Significant differences in egg yolk fatty acid content as well as their ratio were determined between treatment groups. Positive influence of supplemented micro algae preparation was observed. Highest content of n-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA n-3) was determined in egg yolks of III experimental group while lowest content was determined in egg yolks of control group of hens. Micro algae feed supplementation, at the end of the trial period, positively affected egg yolk PUFA n-6/PUFA n-3 ratio, since determined ratio of 4.24 in III experimental group was more desirable than 12.27 determined in a control group. Marine algae (Schizochytrium spp.) feed supplementation in laying hens in amounts above 0.5% significantly affected egg yolk fatty acid composition as well as ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA. These findings support its use from nutritive, medical and economic point of view.Da bi se ispitao uticaj omega -3 masnih kiselina na kvalitet jaja postavljen je ogled sa tri eksperimentalne i jednom kontrolnom grupom. Ogled je trajao 40 dana i sproveden je u proizvodnim uslovima. Ukupan broj od 1264 kokoši nosilja Lohmann Brown classic provenijence je slučajno raspoređen u četiri grupe po 316 nosilja u svakoj (C-kontrola, I eksperimentalna, II eksperimentalna i III eksperimentalna). Sve grupe su hranjene smešama standardnog sastava, dok su eksperimentalne grupe I, II, III hranjene smešom obogaćenom mikroalgama Schizochytrium spp. (DHA Gold®, Martek, USA) kao izvorom n-3 masnih kiselina u količini od 0,5; 0,7; 1,0. U cilju ispitivanja hrane obogaćene mikroalgom Schizochytrium spp. na kvalitet jaja sa aspekta sadržaja i odnosa masnih kiselina, uzet je slučajan uzorak jaja (n=10) 10., 20., i 40. dana iz svake grupe. Sadržaj masnih kiselina u žumancetu je određen gasnim hromatografom Varian 1400 sa plamen jonizujućim detektorom (FID detector) (na koloni 20% LAC-3R-728 Chromosorb WAW 80-100 mreža). Značajne razlike u sadržaju masnih kiselina u žumancetu kao i njihov odnos su određeni između tretmana. Najveći sadržaj n-3 polinezasićenih masnih kiselina (PUFA n-3) određen je u žumancetu jaja treće eksperimentalne grupe, dok je najmanji sadržaj određen u kontrolnoj grupi. Dodavanje mikro algi smešama na kraju oglednog perioda, pozitivno je uticao na odnos PUFA n-6/PUFA n-3 u žumancetu, pošto je određen odnos od 4,24 u III eksperimentalnoj grupi što je poželjnije od 12,27 koliko je određeno u kontrolnoj grupi. Dodavanje morskih algi (Schizochytrium spp.) u smeše za kokoši nosilje u koncentraciji oko 0,5%, značajno je uticalo na sastav masnih kiselina u žumancetu jajeta kao i na odnos n-6/n-3 PUFA. Ovi rezultati opravdavaju upotrebu algi u ishrani kokoši nosilja sa nutritivne, medicinske i ekonomske tačke gledišta

Mycobiota and Aflatoxin B1 in Feed for Farmed Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Thesafety characteristics of feed used in fish and crustacean aquaculture systems are an essential tool to assure the productivity of those animal exploitations. Safety of feed may be affected by different hazards, including biological and chemical groups. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate fungi contamination and the presence of aflatoxins in 87 samples of feed for sea bass, collected in Portugal. Molds were found in 35 samples (40.2%) in levels ranging from 1 to 3.3 log10 CFU∙g−1. Six genera of molds were found. Aspergillus flavus was the most frequent, found in all positive samples, with a range from 2 to 3.2 log10 CFU∙g−1. Aspergillus niger was found in 34 samples (39.1%), ranging from 1 to 2.7 log10 CFU∙g−1. Aspergillus glaucus was found in 26 samples (29.9%) with levels between 1 and 2.4 log10 CFU∙g−1. Penicillium spp. and Cladosporium spp. were both found in 25 samples (28.7%). Fusarium spp. was found in 22 samples (25.3%), ranging from 1 to 2.3 log10 CFU∙g−1. All feed samples were screened for aflatoxins using a HPLC technique, with a detection limit of 1.0 μg∙kg−1. All samples were aflatoxin negative

MYCOTOXICOSES OF POULTRY CAUSED BY TRICHOTHECENES

Abstract: Recent mycological and mycotoxicological analysis of many feed samples have shown that this problem is still present. It is approved that mouldy feed can contain various mycotoxins, but in our conditions among the most investigated and usually present are some trichotecenes. Based on laboratory feed inspection of samples sent to be analysed in the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia in Belgrade it was concluded that fungi and mycotoxins contamination are common. Although detected levels usually do not exceed limits layed by actual legislation, having on mind cumulative effects and possible chronical exposure of animals to their harmful influence, appropriate and competent approach is necessary. In fact, even when direct loses, as consequence of high mortality are not present, indirect loses due to drop of performances and production and higher incidence of other deseases must not be neglected

Biotechnological solutions for the growth stimulation of broilers

"Biotechnology" is a term that includes the complementary use of biology and technology in livestock production. In order to managed to maintain, feed industry, because of the more significant changes in habitual and edible habits of the people, as well as new regulatory requirements, should respect the opinion of the consumer and try to offer a safe animal products whose production does not pollute the environment. As a basic tool of biotechnology during the past decade has imposed the introduction of alternative solutions that are intended to improve feed efficiency and consequently improve production results of farmed animals. In order to stimulate growth in broilers, commonly have been used enzymes, chelating forms of trace elements and in recent years more attention is paid to the use of probiotics. The aim of the adding the enzyme is addition to activity of endogenous enzymes of animals, elimination of anti nutritional factors, increasing energy and nutritional value of feed and decreasing the excretion of less usable nutrients in the environment. Today of practical importance are enzymes of NSP and cellulolytic complex, protease, amylase and phytase. Our trials have shown that the use of amylase allows the use of meals with lower energy content (5%) with no negative impact on performance and also lowers the value of consumed feed per kilogram of gain. Use of phytase in the quantity of 1000FU/kg can replace about 30% of the total, or 50% of available phosphorus in diets for broilers without significant changes of production results. Probiotics are ecological way of control pathogenic bacteria and the ability to stimulate the growth by using physiological potentials and mechanisms of animals. The results of our research with the use of different bacterial cultures have shown the positive effects on weight gain with less consumption of feed and consequently better feed conversion. Beside the inorganic forms of minerals today are increasingly used socalled "chelating" forms, or organically bound trace elements. It was observed that the minerals associated with the amino acid or peptide is better protected during the passage through the stomach to the site of absorption than inorganic salts. Results obtained in testing of using organically bound selenium pointed to the positive impact on the increase in carcass weight and meat yield of broilers that received chelating form of selenium. Summing up the obtained results of investigations that have been carried out, we are able to draw the conclusion that the use of growth promoters as a biotechnology solution in broilers diet has its nutritional, medical and economic justification.Proceeding

Stepen mikotoksikološke kontaminacije hraniva i potpunih krmnih smeša za ishranu svinja i živine tokom perioda 2007-2012. godine na teritoriji Republike Srbije

The most common producers of mycotoxins are fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Toxins are of extreme importance because it can be transmitted from animals to humans through milk and animal products, some of which are carcinogenic and teratogenic. Mycotoxins cause a health disturbance of all animals, but the effects are more noticeable in highly productive animals in the farm way of keeping considering the much greater consumption of concentrate feeds, although forages also can be contaminated with mycotoxins in a significant manner. Mycotoxicoses are the most com­mon seasonal illnesses, and are an important diagnostic problem in veterinary practice, because its characteristics often resemble diseases caused by pathogens or nutritional deficiency or imbalance. The degree of health disturbances depends on the amount of toxins in feed and the length of intaking as on types and categories of animals. The presence of mycotoxins in animal feed is inevitable and therefore testing of raw materials and products is necessary so that feed for humans and animals can be safe for use. Damages arising as consequences of mycotoxicosis in poultry and swine production, due to the direct loss because of animals lossor, more commonly, indirectly due to the fall productive and reproductive performances of animals, imposed the need for continuous monitoring of the hygienic quality of feed mixtures for feeding these animals. During a five year period (2007-2012) were analyzed a total of 104 samples from the territory of Republic of Serbia intended for nutrition of all categories of poultry and mixtures for the initial and final fattening broilers (50 samples) and laying hens (54). The analysis included 57 samples of feed mixtures intended for all categories of swine - feed mixture for young (20 samples) and the old categories (37 samples) and 196 of the samples, which are commonly used in formulating rations for listed species (maize, soybean and sunflower meal). For the analysis of the samples was used thin layer chromatography and Elisa test. The results were compared with current Regulations on the quality of the feed (Official Gazette of RS 41/09) in force since 1.05.2010. in the part where the maximum allowable quantities of hazardous substances (Article 99) gives the value of the maximum permitted levels of mycotoxins in animal feed. The number and types of mycotoxins vary depending on the feed, as well as on the year which can be directly related to climatic factors, and the average annual humidity. The fact that in the samples was not detected the presence of aflatoxin indicate that in our conditions toxin producing fungi do not find fertile ground for the production of toxins, as well as the absence of certain nutrients in the production of complete feed mixtures for pigs and poultry, which are the traditional sources of aflatoxin (peanut oil meals). The results are encouraging given the fact a relatively small number of defective mixtures and nutrients. However, the fact that only a limited number of feed samples we received for the analysis suggests further caution and constant monitoring of the presence of mycotoxins in animal feed.Mikotoksine najčešće proizvode gljivice iz rodova Aspergillus, Fusarium i Penicillium. Toksini su od izrazite važnosti jer se mogu preneti sa životinja na ljude putem mleka i životinjskih proizvoda, a neki od njih su kancerogeni i teratogeni. Mikotoksini dovode do poremećaja zdravstvenog stanja svih životinja, ali su efekti uočljiviji kod visoko proizvodnih životinja u farmskom načinu držanja s obzirom na znatno veću konzumaciju koncentrovanih hraniva iako i kabasta hraniva mogu da budu kontaminirana mikotoksinima u značajnijem stepenu. Mikotoksikoze su najčešće oboljenja sezonskog karaktera, a predstavljaju značajan dijagnostički problem za veterinarsku praksu, jer po karakteristikama često liče na oboljenja izazvana patogenim mikroorganizmima ili nutritivnim deficitom ili disbalansom. Stepen zdravstvenih poremećaja zavisi od količine toksina u hrani i dužine njegovog unošenja u organizam kao i od vrste i kategorije životinja Prisutnost mikotoksina u hrani za životinje je neizbežna pa je neophodno testiranje sirovina i proizvoda da bi hrana za ljude i životinje bila sigurna za upotrebu. Štete u živinarstvu i svinjarstvu koje nastaju usled mikotoksikoza, usled direktnih gubitaka zbog uginjavanja životinja ili, još češće, indirektne zbog pada proizvodnih i reproduktivnih sposobnosti životinja, nametnule su potrebu za kontinuiranim monitoringom higijenske ispravnosti krmnih smeša za ishranu ovih životinjskih vrsta. Tokom petogodišnjeg perioda (2007-2012) analizirana su ukupno 104 uzorka sa teritorije Republike Srbije namenjena ishrani svih kategorija živine i to smeše za početni i završni tov brojlera (50 uzoraka) i za kokoši nosilje (54). Analizom je obuhvaćeno i 57 uzoraka krmnih smeša namenjenih ishrani svih kategorija svinja i to smeše za ishranu mladih (20 uzoraka) i starih kategorija (37 uzoraka) kao i 196 uzoraka hraniva koja se najčešće koriste prilikom formulisanja obroka za navedene životinjske vrste (kukuruz, sojina i suncokretova sačma). Za analizu uzoraka korišćeni su metoda tankoslojne hromatografije i elisa test. Dobijeni rezultati su poređeni sa trenutno važećim Pravilnikom o kvalitetu hrane za životinje (Službeni Glasnik RS 41/09) koji se primenjuje od 1.05.2010. godine i gde se u delu o maksimalno dozvoljenim količinama štetnih materija (član 99) iznose vrednosti o maksimalno dozvoljenoj količini mikotoksina u hrani za životinje. Broj i vrsta mikotoksina varira u odnosu na vrstu smeša, kao i u odnosu na pojedine godine što se može dovesti u direktnu vezu sa klimatskim faktorima, odnosno prosečnom godišnjom vlažnošću. Činjenica da u ispitivanim uzorcima nije utvrđeno prisustvo aflatoksina ukazuje da u našim uslovima toksinprodukujuće gljivice ne nailaze na pogodno tle za produkciju ovog toksina, kao i na odsustvo pojedinih hraniva u proizvodnji potpunih krmnih smeša za svinje i živinu koje predstavljaju tradicionalne izvore aflatoksina (kikirikijeva uljana sačma). Dobijeni rezultati predstavljaju ohrabrujuću činjenicu s obzirom na relativno mali broj neispravnih smeša i hraniva. Međutim, činjenica da se radi o ograničenom broju uzoraka hrane koje smo dobijali na analizu upućuje na oprez i dalji konstantan monitoring prisustva mikotoksina u hrani za životinje

THE EFFECT OF NUTRITION WITH CORN SILAGE AND ADDITIONAL FORAGE MIXTURES ON CERTAIN QUALITY PARAMETERS OF PIG MEAT**

**Original scientific paper Abstract: Objective of this paper was to investigate the effect of nutrition consisting of corn silage and added forage mixtures or wheat or soy bean grain, livestock yeast and fish meal on major physical-chemical traits of pig meat. In the trial, in control and trial group there were 50 pigs in each group with equal presence of male and female pigs of average body weight of 60 kg fattened to final live body mass of 100 kg. Meat from pigs of control group (M.longisimus dorsi) contained: 73,2

Diagnosis of mycotoxicoses in veterinary medicine

The problem of mycotoxin presence in animal feed and the consequences that arise due to this, represent a great challenge for anyone encountering them. In the chain which includes studies from prevention to treatment, a very important place and a frequent source of confusion is the process of diagnosing diseases caused by mycotoxins. The aim of this paper is to present a long experience of the team of experts at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia in Belgrade, who follows this issue in terms of clinical manifestations of mycotoxicoses in different animal species, pathomorphological and pathohistological changes that characterize them, and laboratory analysis of feed which is the source of those biological hazards and natural contaminants. Based on the findings it could be concluded that mycotoxin contamination is common. Although these levels usually do not exceed the limits laid by the legislation, considering the cumulative effects and possible chronic exposure of animals to their harmful influence, appropriate and competent approach is necessary. Namely, even when direct losses, such as animals’ mortality, are not present, indirect losses, due to a drop of animal performances and production, as well as the occurrence of secondary infections, should not be neglected

Degree of mycotoxicological contamination of feed and complete feed mixtures for pigs and poultry during the period 2007-2012. on the territory of the republic of serbia

The most common producers of mycotoxins are fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Toxins are of extreme importance because it can be transmitted from animals to humans through milk and animal products, some of which are carcinogenic and teratogenic. Mycotoxins cause a health disturbance of all animals, but the effects are more noticeable in highly productive animals in the farm way of keeping considering the much greater consumption of concentrate feeds, although forages also can be contaminated with mycotoxins in a significant manner. Mycotoxicoses are the most com­mon seasonal illnesses, and are an important diagnostic problem in veterinary practice, because its characteristics often resemble diseases caused by pathogens or nutritional deficiency or imbalance. The degree of health disturbances depends on the amount of toxins in feed and the length of intaking as on types and categories of animals. The presence of mycotoxins in animal feed is inevitable and therefore testing of raw materials and products is necessary so that feed for humans and animals can be safe for use. Damages arising as consequences of mycotoxicosis in poultry and swine production, due to the direct loss because of animals lossor, more commonly, indirectly due to the fall productive and reproductive performances of animals, imposed the need for continuous monitoring of the hygienic quality of feed mixtures for feeding these animals. During a five year period (2007-2012) were analyzed a total of 104 samples from the territory of Republic of Serbia intended for nutrition of all categories of poultry and mixtures for the initial and final fattening broilers (50 samples) and laying hens (54). The analysis included 57 samples of feed mixtures intended for all categories of swine - feed mixture for young (20 samples) and the old categories (37 samples) and 196 of the samples, which are commonly used in formulating rations for listed species (maize, soybean and sunflower meal). For the analysis of the samples was used thin layer chromatography and Elisa test. The results were compared with current Regulations on the quality of the feed (Official Gazette of RS 41/09) in force since 1.05.2010. in the part where the maximum allowable quantities of hazardous substances (Article 99) gives the value of the maximum permitted levels of mycotoxins in animal feed. The number and types of mycotoxins vary depending on the feed, as well as on the year which can be directly related to climatic factors, and the average annual humidity. The fact that in the samples was not detected the presence of aflatoxin indicate that in our conditions toxin producing fungi do not find fertile ground for the production of toxins, as well as the absence of certain nutrients in the production of complete feed mixtures for pigs and poultry, which are the traditional sources of aflatoxin (peanut oil meals). The results are encouraging given the fact a relatively small number of defective mixtures and nutrients. However, the fact that only a limited number of feed sam­ples we received for the analysis suggests further caution and constant monitoring of the presence of mycotoxins in animal feed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 46 002 i br. 46 009