Influence of gender and age on haematological indicators of Polbar’s breed chickens

The aim of the study was to determine the values of selected haematological indices of the Polbar breed of chickens by gender and age. There was a significant WBC difference in cocks and hens with age. In each of the periods, cocks were characterized by a lower than hens number of LY. LY and NE declined with increasing age. Most values showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences for birds at different ages. These results of the haematological indices from consolidated Polbar breed can be used for comparisons with other breeds of poultry. The study deepens and organizes the knowledge within the possibilities of using and interpreting levels of haematological indicators for monitoring health of hens. In this paper, we managed to obtain information on the level of indicators rarely determined in chickens

Genetic diversity of pheasants from natural habitat and farm breeding in Eastern Poland

The present model of wildlife management in relationship to pheasants is based on closed breeding and insertion of grown birds into the hunting grounds. The survival rate of pheasants from farm breeding does not exceed 10%. One can pose a hypothesis about the genetic determination of survivability of pheasants originating from farm breeding. A study of the DNA polymorphism of two groups of pheasants was performed. The first group comprised birds living in a natural habitat in Central-Eastern Poland, where no farm-bred pheasants had been inserted for seven years and where wildlife management was focused on the formation of good habitat conditions, an optimum nutritional base, and low-level shooting of cocks. The second group was of birds bred on a farm and from this farm, pheasants were inserted within the area of Central-Eastern Poland. Their DNA was isolated from their feathers. Amplification of fragments of DNA was with the random amplified polymorphic DNA polymrease chain reactrion (RAPD-PCR) method. Pheasants living in the natural environment were characterised by greater polymorphism. The original source of the pheasants living in the natural habitat is the farm, and the present genetic variation between the two groups of birds can be interpreted as an effect of natural selection.Keywords: Common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), genetic distance, genetic polymorphism, genetic similarities, genetic variation, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAAfrican Journal of BiotechnologyVol. 12(18), pp. 2313-232

DNA methylation analysis of the gene CDKN2B in Gallus gallus (chicken)

Methylation is an epigenetic modification of DNA affecting gene expression without changing the structure of nucleotides. It plays a crucial role in the embryonic and post-embryonic development of living organisms. Methylation level is tissue and species-specific and changes with age. The study was aimed at identifying the methylation of the CDKN2B gene situated at locus bar in Polbar chickens on the 6th and 18th day of embryonic development using the MSP (methylation-specific PCR) method. Methylation was not detected in the promoter region of gene CDKN2B on the 6th and 18th day of embryonic development. As one of the five genes responsible for melanine activity in melanocytes and highly active, it can contribute to the production of this pigment. The present research broadens the current knowledge of the chicken epigenome and the mechanism of autosexing in birds

Number and size of nucleoli in the spermatocytes of chicken and Japanese quail

Nucleoli are the product of nucleolus organizing region activity (NOR) of specific chromosomes. Their basic function is to synthetise ribosomal RNA precursors and promote the maturation and assemblage of preribosomal RNP molecules. Information on rRNA-coding gene activity can be provided by the analysis of the number and size of nucleoli in the prophase of the first meiotic division. The morphology and ultrastructure of a nucleolus depends, among others, on the species and cell growth cycle as well as the physiological and pathological state of an organism. The purpose of this research was to determine the number and size of nucleoli in the spermatocytes of the domestic chicken and the Japanese quail. Diverse numbers and sizes of nucleoli in the cells of the analysed birds were observed. 1-4 nucleoli were identified in chicken cells (1.91 +/- 0.63 on average) and 1-2 in quail cells (1.13 +/- 0.33 on average). For the total of 957 nucleoli observed in Gallus cells, 329 were classified as large and 628 as small. In Coturnix cells, 563 nucleoli were identified (66 large and 497 small ones). An analysis of the numbers and sizes of nucleoli can be performed at the cytogenetic level and serve as an alternative source of information on rRNA encoding gene and nucleolus organising region (NOR) activities

Age-dependent change in the morphology of nucleoli and methylation of genes of the nucleolar organizer region in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) model (Temminck and Schlegel, 1849) (Galliformes: Aves)

Nucleoli are the product of the activity of nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) in certain chromosomes. Their main functions are the formation of ribosomal subunits from ribosomal protein molecules and the transcription of genes encoding rRNA. The aim of the study was to determine the shape of nucleoli and analyse methylation in the gene RN28S in the spermatocytes of male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in two age groups. Nucleoli were analysed in cells of the first meiotic prophase. Their number and shape were determined and they were classified as regular, irregular or defragmented. In the cells of the young birds no defragmented nucleoli were observed, with regular and irregular nucleoli accounting for 97% and 3%, respectively. In the cells of older birds no regular nucleoli were observed, while irregular and defragmented nucleoli accounted for 37% and 67%, respectively. MSP (methylation-specific PCR) showed that the gene RN28S is methylated in both 15-week-old and 52-week-old quails. In recent years an association has been established between nucleolus morphology and cellular ageing processes

Sniženje temperature u unutarnjim mekim tkivima u odnosu na rektalnu temperaturu u pasa u ranom postmortalnom razdoblju

Until recently the rectum was the main site of temperature measurement in a carcass, due to its well-known heat loss mechanism. For more precise determination of time of death, researchers have begun to look for additional sites for temperature reading, such as the brain or soft tissues. Hence the main objective of the study was to compare the temperature reduction in the soft tissues of internal organs with the decrease in rectal temperature in a dog carcass. As most literature data pertain to humans, whereas in animals such measurements are performed sporadically, we aimed to investigate the potential use of post-mortem measurement of the heart, lung and liver temperature in a dog in order to establish the time of its death. The material for the study consisted of 20 dog carcasses divided into two weight groups (small - up to 15 kg and large - over 15 kg). The difference in temperature reduction between the small and large dogs was statistically significant, while the type of organ was not found to affect the rate of the decline in temperature.Sve donedavno rektum je bio glavno mjesto za mjerenje temperature u lešini zbog dobro poznatog mehanizma gubitka topline. Radi što točnijeg utvrđivanja trenutka smrti znanstvenici su počeli tražiti dodatna mjesta za mjerenje temperature, kao što je mozak ili meka tkiva. Stoga je glavni cilj ovoga istraživanja bio usporediti vrijeme sniženja temperature u mekim tkivima unutarnjih organa s vremenom sniženja rektalne temperature u lešinama pasa. S obzirom na to da se većina literaturnih podataka odnosi na čovjeka, dok se u životinja ta mjerenja provode sporadično, cilj je ovoga rada bio istražiti mogućnost postmortalnog mjerenja temperature srca, pluća i jetre u pasa, kako bi se ustanovilo vrijeme njihova uginuća. Mjerenja su provedena na 20 lešina pasa podijeljenih u dvije skupine prema tjelesnoj masi (do 15 kg i više od 15 kg). Razlika u vremenu sniženja temperature između dviju skupina bila je značajna, dok razlika u stupnju sniženja temperature pojedinih organa nije ustanovljen

Identification value of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and cat (Felis catus) hair based on selected features of morphology in the context of forensic examinations

Teoretyczne założenia tematu pracy przedstawiają zakres wybranych cech morfologicznych sierści psa (Canis lupus familiaris) i kota (Felis catus). W ramach części praktycznej dokonano analizy morfologicznej 270 próbek sierści psa i kota zabezpieczonych podczas śledztwa prowadzonego na terytorium Krakowa przez miejscową prokuraturę. W tym celu sporządzono preparaty mikroskopowe i za pomocą mikroskopu optycznego analizowano je pod kątem: barwy, fazy cyklu życiowego, kształtu rdzenia oraz zakończenia. Analiza wyników z części badawczej pozwala odpowiedzieć na pytanie, czy analiza mikroskopowa sierści psa i kota oparta na wybranych cechach morfologicznych umożliwia jej identyfikację gatunkową.Theoretical assumptions of this the work present the range of selected morphological features of the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and cat (Felis catus) hair. The practical part consisted in morphological analysis of 270 samples of dog and cat hair recovered during an investigation conducted in the territory of Cracow by the local Prosecutor’s Office. For this purpose, microscopic slides were made and analysed under an optical microscope for: colour, life cycle phase, shape of the medulla and the end of hair. Analysis of the results from the part dedicated to the examination allows answering the question whether microscopic analysis of dog and cat hairs based on selected morphological features allows identification of species

Rys historyczny prawnych aspektów ochrony weterynaryjnej zwierząt w Polsce

  HISTORICAL LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS VETERINARY IN POLANDTreatment of animals by aman as asphere that requires legislation began to take place in modern history at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Objectives and content of legislation on animal protection, developed according to the needs of man, has been changing in different historical epochs. One of the main trends of animal protection outlined by law is their veterinary protection. It is amultidimensional form of legal protection of animals and it incorporates in each different kind of animal protection, in Poland delineated by the legislature. The first regulations on the veterinary protection were formed in Poland along with the development of local law that was established on the principles of the municipal law of Magdeburg. These regulations have evolved over the years, until modern times.The fact of major importance for the veterinary protection was Polish accession to the European Union. It resulted in the need for implementation of anumber of European regulations into national law. Analysis of regulations of veterinary protection in Poland leads to the conclusion that the fight against infectious diseases occurring among animals was the main form of protection. An example of the impact and effectiveness of the established regulations is combating one of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases — rabies.  HISTORICAL LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS VETERINARY IN POLANDTreatment of animals by aman as asphere that requires legislation began to take place in modern history at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Objectives and content of legislation on animal protection, developed according to the needs of man, has been changing in different historical epochs. One of the main trends of animal protection outlined by law is their veterinary protection. It is amultidimensional form of legal protection of animals and it incorporates in each different kind of animal protection, in Poland delineated by the legislature. The first regulations on the veterinary protection were formed in Poland along with the development of local law that was established on the principles of the municipal law of Magdeburg. These regulations have evolved over the years, until modern times.The fact of major importance for the veterinary protection was Polish accession to the European Union. It resulted in the need for implementation of anumber of European regulations into national law. Analysis of regulations of veterinary protection in Poland leads to the conclusion that the fight against infectious diseases occurring among animals was the main form of protection. An example of the impact and effectiveness of the established regulations is combating one of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases — rabies

Kafel z wyobrażeniem Madonny z Dzieciątkiem. Z badań archeologicznych na poznańskim Ostrowie Tumskim

The focus of the article is a stove tile with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child, discovered during archaeological works in the interior of the house of canons number 6 on the cathedral island (Ostrów Tumski) in Poznań. The authors give a brief overview of the subject matter connected with antique stove tiles found during excavations and put forward the thesis that the images on them were inspired by sculptures of the turn of the 15th and 16th century, especially the so called Beautiful Madonna sculptures. The authors also refer to other findings of stove tiles with various images of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child from the territory of Poland. They discuss a wide range of examples of everyday religiousness and indicate that stoves built with tiles with religious motifs are manifestations of such commonplace  devotion.The focus of the article is a stove tile with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child, discovered during archaeological works in the interior of the house of canons number 6 on the cathedral island (Ostrów Tumski) in Poznań. The authors give a brief overview of the subject matter connected with antique stove tiles found during excavations and put forward the thesis that the images on them were inspired by sculptures of the turn of the 15th and 16th century, especially the so called Beautiful Madonna sculptures. The authors also refer to other findings of stove tiles with various images of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child from the territory of Poland. They discuss a wide range of examples of everyday religiousness and indicate that stoves built with tiles with religious motifs are manifestations of such commonplace  devotion