Genetic diversity in Babesia canis and associated comorbidities can be fatal in dogs` babesiosis – a case study

The aim of this paper is to briefly present some aspects of Babesia spp. taxonomy, incidence, clinical signs of their infection, and possibilities of prevention, as an introduction to a case study of canine babesiosis presentation. A 7-yearold Malinois dog was presented in August 2020 with signs of generalized icterus, high body temperature and mustard urine, all of them indicating babesiosis. Cytological examination confirmed the large Babesia canis spp., and the biochemical investigations revealed renal and hepatic failure. Although the therapeutic protocol included the specific antidote, imidocarb dipropionate – Imizol® (0.5 ml/10 kg body weight, in a single dose), fluid therapy, vitamin therapy, an antiemetic drug, and supplements for renal and hepatic functions sustaining, the investigated dog died. The postmortem investigation revealed generalized icterus. We consider the delaying of dog presentation at vet an important factor of this outcome; although an infection with various subspecies of Babesia canis was not excluded, the therapeutic intervention would have been the same

Diagnostic methods and therapeutic options in dog skin allergies – a short review

Allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the body, which occurs after the contact with various substances that the immune system considers foreign and acts against them. Like humans, dogs can be allergic to various substances which, when inhaled or absorbed through the skin, airways or gastrointestinal tract, stimulate the immune system by releasing histamine that induces inflammation, erythema, edema and itching. It is considered that all the cases of allergies, whether low, moderate or severe, are genetic in nature. Dogs that become allergic to drugs, vaccines, food, dust, pollen, fleas, various household substances, etc., are "genetically programmed" to have an immune system capable of producing an allergic reaction. The allergic reaction is not due to medication, biological products, food or the environment, but it is considered to be a genetic trait inherited from parents. Because there are different types of allergies and many conditions that can cause skin problems in dogs, the symptoms they present differ from one allergy to another, from one patient to another, requiring both diagnosis and treatment to be made differential for each type of allergy and for each individual. The symptoms of allergic reactions can be diagnosed through allergic tests (intradermal or blood tests), the individual removal of allergens from the dog's living environment (in case of parasitic allergy), or by reagent therapy. Fighting allergies involves the use of antihistamines, antiinflammatory corticosteroids, topical antipruritic substances, leukotrienes inhibitors, as well as various plant extracts with antiallergic effect

Polymorphism of the Prolactin (PRL) Gene and Its Effect on Milk Production Traits in Romanian Cattle Breeds

In the present study, we investigated one polymorphism of the PRL gene (rs211032652 SNP) and assessed its influence on milk production and chemical composition in two Romanian cattle breeds. A total of 119 cattle from two breeds reared in Western Romania (64 Romanian Spotted and 55 Romanian Brown) were included in the research herd. A PCR-RFLP genotyping assay was used for the identification of the rs211032652 SNP variants. Shapiro’s test and Levene’s test were used to verify ANOVA assumptions and ANOVA and Tukey’s test were employed to test the associations between PRL genotypes and five milk traits. Among the studied breeds, our results showed that PRL genotypes were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with fat and protein percentage in the milk of Romanian Brown cattle. The AA genotype was associated with a higher fat percentage in milk (4.76 ± 0.28) compared to the GG genotype (4.04 ± 0.22, p = 0.048), as well as a higher protein percentage (3.96 ± 0.32% vs. 3.43 ± 0.15%, p = 0.027) in Romanian Brown cattle. Moreover, the PRL locus favored a significantly higher fat (p = 0.021) and protein (p = 0.028) percentage in the milk of Romanian Brown cattle compared to the Romanian Spotted breed, with a difference of 0.263% and 0.170%, respectively

The Biochemistry and Effectiveness of Antioxidants in Food, Fruits, and Marine Algae

It is more effective to maintain good health than to regain it after losing it. This work focuses on the biochemical defense mechanisms against free radicals and their role in building and maintaining antioxidant shields, aiming to show how to balance, as much as possible, the situations in which we are exposed to free radicals. To achieve this aim, foods, fruits, and marine algae with a high antioxidant content should constitute the basis of nutritional elements, since natural products are known to have significantly greater assimilation efficiency. This review also gives the perspective in which the use of antioxidants can extend the life of food products, by protecting them from damage caused by oxidation as well as their use as food additives

Milk Protein Polymorphism Characterization: a Modern Tool for Sustainable Conservation of Endangered Romanian Cattle Breeds in the Context of Traditional Breeding

The paper aims to review literature data with respect to Romanian native cattle breeds which are considered at risk of extinction. In the last decades, the number of individuals of Romanian indigenous cows decreased significantly, as a consequence of the intensification and specialization of animal productions and agriculture modernization. Some of the native cattle breeds are already lost, due to their crossing with improved breeds. However, after the accession of Romania to the European Union, various preservation programs were initiated, and most of them included biochemical research and studies of molecular or quantitative genetics. All these, associated with the application of reproduction biotechnologies, give a chance to these animals, which are extremely valuable in terms of their genetic resistance to diseases and environmental factors. The reviewed literature on Romanian indigenous endangered cattle breeds confirms that these animals are carriers of a valuable gene pool, which can be kept and bred while applying different reproductive biotechnologies. Consequently, this paper raises awareness on two issues: the decrease of genetic diversity in two Romanian native cow breeds threatened with extinction (Grey Steppe and Romanian Pinzgauer); and the benefits of genetic diversity of the two breeds

Research on the Degradation Process of Railway Rails Due to Lifespan Exceeding

The paper presents the impact of exceeding the railway rails lifespan which usually causes a railway structural failure, thus an accident. The research highlights the rails’s high degradation, especially on the running area, consisting in 60-70% weight loss by advanced wear of the rail, followed by fatigue fracture caused by alternating cyclic stresses that initiates the crack and also by tensile stresses resulting in the crack growth. The chemical composition, structural and mechanical properties were analyzed in order to establish the causes that led to the railway rails rupture