Haematological and biochemical parameters during pregnancy and lactation in sows

The aim of this research was to describe changes in serum concentrations of some micronutrients, and haematological parameters during pregnancy and lactation of sows. Data presented here were obtained by using blood samples from healthy, conventionally managed sows from a breeding herd. The samples were taken at three different points in the physiological production process: I. from the 30th to 35th day following artificial insemination; II. from the 81st to the 87th day of pregnancy; III. from the 12th to the 20th day of lactation. Erythrocyte count, haematocrit, MCV, leukocyte count and copper concentration decreased during pregnancy (P<0.05), while haemoglobin concentration decreased during both pregnancy and lactation (P<0.05). MCH increased at high pregnancy and decreased during lactation. Serum ALT activity, sodium concentration and inorganic phosphorus concentration decreased towards the end of pregnancy and lactation. Concentration of glucose increased during lactation. During pregnancy, zinc concentration increased. Results from this research could help to improve interpretation of laboratory data of sows during pregnancy and lactation

Significance of chemical analysis in the evaluation of composition and health safety of food of animal origin

U analitici namirnica, od određivanja osnovnog kemij-skog sastava, nutritivnih tvari, pa sve do kontaminanata, koriste se brojni analitički postupci. Dobiveni podaci mogu se koristiti u različite svrhe, od temeljnih znanstvenih istraživanja, pa do potreba monitoringa, o čemu također ovisi odabir analitičkog postupka. Svakako treba imati na umu da su osnovni zahtjevi za bilo koju metodu selektivnost, točnost, preciznost i ponovljivost.A large number of analytical methods are used in the analysis of foodstuffs, starting from the determination of basic chemical composition, nutritive elements and even to contaminants. The results of analysis can be used for various purposes, either for fundamental scientific researches or for the needs of monitoring, depending, of course, on the choice of analytical method. At any rate, it should not be forgotten that the basic requirements for any method are selectivity, accuracy, precision and repeatability

Učinak subletalnih koncentracija olova u hrani na aktivnost dehidrataze δ-aminolevulinske kiseline u šaranske mlađi (Cyprinus carpio L.).

The δ−aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity was examined in two groups of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exposed to sublethal lead concentrations (1.3 and 2.6 ppm) for 60 days. There was no statistically significant change in ALA-D activity at one-month lead exposure. After two months, ALA-D activity was decreased in both experimental groups of fish compared with the control group. The decrease in ALA-D activity reached statistical significance (P<0.05) in the group of fish administered 2.6 ppm lead in feed. ALA-D is probably the best indicator of fish exposure to lead. Feed is an important source of ground-fish lead contamination that can compromise fish health and reduce their productivity.U našem istraživanju izlagali smo šarane subletalnim koncentracijama olova u hrani (1,3 i 2,6 ppm) tijekom 60 dana. Nakon jednomjesečne izloženosti olovu aktivnost ALA-D u pokusnih skupina nije se značajno mijenjala u odnosu na kontrolnu. Nakon dvomjesečnog izlaganja došlo je do pada aktivnosti ALA-D u obje pokusne skupine riba u odnosu na kontrolnu, s time da je u drugoj pokusnoj skupini, koja je dobila 2,6 ppm olova u hrani, taj pad statistički značajan (P<0,05). ALA-D vjerojatno je najbolji pokazatelj izloženosti olovu u riba. Hrana je važan izvor kontaminacije olovom pridnenih riba, što može negativno utjecati na zdravlje tih životinja i smanjiti proizvodnju

Evaluation of concentrations of heavy metals in oysters and mussels of Mali Ston region

U radu je osim pregleda koncentracija toksičnih metala izmjerenih u školjkašima Malostonskog zaljeva u različitim razdobljima uzorkovanja, dan i njihov pregled u drugim geografskim područjima. Iako na ovom prostoru koncentracije istraženih toksikanata ne premašuju zakonom propisane, upozoreno je na nužnost potanjeg poznavanja prostorne i vremenske raspodjele pojedinih metala i stalnog praćenja njihove zastupljenosti u tkivu školjkaša.In this paper an ovierview of concentrations of toxic metals in bivalves from the region of Mali Ston Bay are shown, as well as an overview of the same, however, from other geographical regions. Sampling is conducted during various time periods. The concentrations of investigated toxins in bivalves of Mali Ston Bay do not exceed those regulated by law. However, there appears to be a need for more detailed understanding of areal and temporal distribuition of particular metals as well as continuous monitoring of their concentrations in bivalve tissue

Aktivnost biotransformacijskih enzima u jetri puranskih zametaka i purića.

The activities of two enzymes from phase I of biotransformation, aniline hydroxylase and ethylmorphine N-demethylase were investigated in turkey embryos and poults. Measurements were performed five times prior to hatching, at the 18th, 22nd, 24th, 26th and 27th day of embryos’ life and five times after hatching, at the 1st, 5th, 9th, 16th and 26th day of turkeys’ life. Ten days prior to hatching the enzyme activities in embryo livers amounted to 116.8 ± 1.6 nmol p-aminophenol/g liver/30 min, and 222.8 ± 25.0 nmol formaldehyde/g liver/30 min for aniline hydroxylase and ethylmorphine Ndemethylase, respectively. A three- and two-fold increase in aniline hydroxylase and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activities was observed immediately after hatching (1st day) in relation to 27-day-old embryos, respectively. Thereafter activities continued to rise and in 26-day-old poults they amounted to 672.9 ± 10.3 nmol p-aminophenol/g liver/30 min, and 2672.6 ± 27.9 nmol formaldehyde/g liver/30 min. Body masses, as well as absolute and relative liver masses were measured after hatching. The ratio between liver/body mass showed that relative liver mass increased from the 1st to the 9th day of life, followed by a constant slight decrease until the 26th day of life. These results generated in physiological conditions indicate that biotransformation phase I reactions are higher at the end of first month of turkey life than those in turkey embryos and in newly-hatched turkey. Thereby, liver capacityfor hydroxylation and N-demethylation of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds gradually increase in young turkey.U puranskih zametaka i purića istražene su aktivnosti dva enzima iz I. faze biotransformacije: anilin hidroksilaze i etilmorfin N demetilaze. Mjerenja su provedena pet puta prije leženja, i to 18., 22., 24., 26. i 27. dana razvitka zametka, te pet puta poslije leženja, 1., 5., 9., 16. i 26. dana života purića. Aktivnost jetrene anilin hidroksilaze u osamnaestodnevnih zametaka bila je 116.8 ± 1.6 nmol p-aminofenola/g jetre/30 min, a aktivnost etilmorfin N-demetilaze 222.8 ± 25.0 nmol formaldehida/g jetre/30 min. Dvostruko odnosno trostruko povećanje aktivnosti tih enzima izmjereno je neposredno nakon leženja u odnosu na 27 dana stare zametke. Nakon toga, aktivnosti enzima uglavnom su i dalje rasle, a najviše su bile zadnjeg dana mjerenja, tj. 26. dana života: 672.9 ± 10.3 nmol p-aminofenola/ g jetre/30 min i 2672.6 ± 27.9 nmol formaldehida/g jetre/30 min. Tjelesne mase purića te apsolutne i relativne mase jetre mjerene su nakon leženja, neposredno prije uzorkovanja jetre za enzimske analize. Vrijednosti relativne mase jetre u purića uvećavale su se od 1. do 9. dana života, nakon čega su se smanjivale do kraja promatranog razdoblja. Rezultati istraživanja aktivnosti navedenih enzima, iz I. faze biološkog prijetvora u fiziološkim uvjetima pokazuju da su njihove vrijednosti više u purića u dobi od mjesec dana nego u netom izleženih purića i puranskih zametaka, što je znak da se postupno uvećava kapacitet jetre za hidroksilaciju i N-demetilaciju endogenih i organizmu stranih tvari

Residues of Lindane in Adipose Tissue of Lambs and Sheep from Islands Krk and Cres

Concentrations of lindane from adipose tissue i.e. omentum of sheep from homesteads of island Krk that were treated with lindane, were compared with the concentrations of lindane measured in adipose tissue of non treated sheep from husbandry cooperative on island Cres. Evaluation of food safety for this samples were estimated by comparing obtained results and maximum tolerance concentration (MTC) for lindane (2.0 and 0.2 mg/kg). In treated lambs from Krk measured concentrations of lindane were in range from 0.0038 to 1.8644 mg/kg, and in treated sheep from 0.0094 to 1.646 mg/kg. In control group of lambs and sheep concentration of lindane was 0.0051 mg/kg. Estimation of food safety based on the results from this research are discussable, regarding the fact that MTC prescribed before year 2007 was 2.0 mg/kg. When the new law Regulations of MTC for residues of pesticides in food and animal feed (NN 119/07) came into the force prescribed MTC was 0.02 mg/kg. If food safety of sheep meat from Krk would be estimated based on latter, then 73.4% of samples of lamb meat and 80% of sheep meat could be proclaimed unsafe for human consumption. It is encouraging that after completion of using lindane in year 2005, levels of lindane in adipose tissue of lamb from Krk in year 2006 were under the concentration set by new legislate (< 0.02 mg/kg)

Koncentracija kadmija u tkivima srneće divljači (Capreolus capreolus) u Hrvatskoj.

Roe deer tissues (muscle, liver and kidney: 21 samples severally) collected (without regard to sex and age of donors) in the northern region of Croatia in the period 1990-1995 were analysed for cadmium. This toxic heavy metal occurred in low concentration in muscle tissue, although livers and especially kidneys were more heavily contaminated. Forty-three per cent of liver samples and 90% of kidney samples exceeded maximal permissible values and were unfit for human consumption. Concentrations in mg/kg on wet weight basis were: 0.003-0.065, 0.015-2.306 and 0.223-27.686 for muscle liver and kidney, respectively. The values obtained were compared with available literature data.Uzorci tkiva srneće divljači (po 21 uzorak mišićnog, jetrenog i bubrežnog tkiva) sakupljeni u sjevernom dijelu Hrvatske (Medvednica, Vrbovec, Kupčina, Tuhelj, te Ðurđevac i Slatina) u razdoblju od 1990.-1995. analizirani su na sadržaj kadmija. Uzorci nisu sakupljani sustavno s obzirom na dob i na spol. Kadmij je dokazan u maloj koncentraciji u mišićnom tkivu, ali su jetra i bubrezi bili značajno kontaminirani. Koncentracija je prelazila zakonom maksimalno dopuštene vrijednosti u 43% uzoraka jetrenog tkiva i čak 90% uzoraka bubrežnog tkiva. Raspon koncentracija kadmija izražen u mg/kg vlažne težine uzorka iznosio je: za mišićno tkivo 0,003-0,065; za jetreno tkivo 0,015-2,306; za bubrežno tkivo 0,223 27,686. Dobiveni rezultati uspoređeni su s koncentracijom kadmija u uzorcima srneće divljači u drugim europskim zemljama