Exercise induced rhabdomyolysis

Introduction. Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life threatening disease, characterized by the release of intracellular calcium from skeletal muscles and can result in acute renal failure. Case report. A nineteen year old boy was admitted to the Clinic for Infective Diseases of Clinical Center Novi Sad. The disease was developing gradually and the symptoms were dizziness, muscle pain and dark color of urine. Due to the pathological level of aminotransferase he was hospitalized on the fourth day of the disease beginning with a suspicious diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis. In the hospital course of the disease, a further elevation of serum aminotransferases, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were registered. Additional serological analyses were done to exclude other possible causes of acute liver lesion. In the neurological status prolonged decontraction of quadriceps muscle was detected and the electromyography was suspicious on neuromyositis. Conclusion. Excessive muscular activity with the strenuous exercise is the leading, but very frequently overlooked, cause of rhabdomyolysis in healthy people. Excessive physical exercise may lead to elevation of the serum activity of aminotransferases and to suspicion of hepatitis

TEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF IMMUNOCASTRATION

Due to animal welfare problems and strong public opposition a ban on surgical castration of male piglets is foreseen in EU until the end of 2018. To cope with this major change in pig production, intensive research of possible alternatives is carried out, in particular fattening of entire (EM) and immunocastrated (IC) males. Present publication is focused on the immunocastration; its physiological principles and impact on metabolism, growth performance, carcass and meat quality, animal welfare, economics and public acceptability. Although current trends indicate that rearing of EM is more likely to become a regular practice for the provision of fresh meat market, immunocastration offers a good alternative, especially interesting for fattening pigs to higher age and weight (e.g. more extensive systems) due to the efficient elimination of boar taint and advantages in animal welfare and meat quality

Reptile haematology

Hematologija gmazova je područje koje se u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća počelo razvijati i istraživati zbog sve većeg broja gmazova koji se drže kao kućni ljubimci, a time su i češći pacijenti u veterinarskim ambulantama. Izrada krvne slike gmazova je postupak koji se za sada još ne radi u kliničkoj veterinarskoj praksi, ali upoznavanjem hematologije i načinima određivanja hematoloških parametara u gmazova otvara se mogućnost i veterinarima male prakse da rutinski odrede hemogram gmazova. Svi se hematološki parametri određuju ručno pa je za dobivanje kompletne krvne slike, osim stručnosti i iskustva osobe koja izrađuje hemogram, potrebna i odgovarajuća laboratorijska oprema i reagensi. Sve krvne stanice gmazova imaju jezgru pa je tijekom diferencijacije stanica potreban oprez kako ne bi došlo do zamjene pojedinih vrsta stanica. Na broj i morfologiju krvnih stanica gmazova utječu brojni vanjski i unutarnji čimbenici koje treba imati na umu tijekom interpretacije dobivenih nalaza. Promjena broja i morfologije krvnih stanica tijekom različitih bolesti i patoloških stanja javlja se ovisno o vrsti gmazova, težini i dužini trajanja bolesti.Reptile haematology has begun increase in the number of reptiles held as developing in recent decades with the household pets and presenting as veterinary patients. Although complete blood count is not presently a routine test in clinical veterinary practice, getting to know the haematology and the means of determining haematological parameters in reptiles will enable small animal practitioners to develop this test as a standard and routine laboratory test. All haematological parameters are to be performed manually, therefore adequate laboratory equipment, chemical reagents and expertise and experience of the veterinarian is mandatory. All reptile blood cells contain a nucleus, so caution is needed in the determination of blood cell types. The number and morphology of blood cells in reptiles is influenced by numerous external and internal factors, which need to be considered during the interpretation of results. Changes in the number and morphology of blood cells during disease and pathological conditions depend on species, body mass and duration of the disease

Reptile haematology

Hematologija gmazova je područje koje se u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća počelo razvijati i istraživati zbog sve većeg broja gmazova koji se drže kao kućni ljubimci, a time su i češći pacijenti u veterinarskim ambulantama. Izrada krvne slike gmazova je postupak koji se za sada još ne radi u kliničkoj veterinarskoj praksi, ali upoznavanjem hematologije i načinima određivanja hematoloških parametara u gmazova otvara se mogućnost i veterinarima male prakse da rutinski odrede hemogram gmazova. Svi se hematološki parametri određuju ručno pa je za dobivanje kompletne krvne slike, osim stručnosti i iskustva osobe koja izrađuje hemogram, potrebna i odgovarajuća laboratorijska oprema i reagensi. Sve krvne stanice gmazova imaju jezgru pa je tijekom diferencijacije stanica potreban oprez kako ne bi došlo do zamjene pojedinih vrsta stanica. Na broj i morfologiju krvnih stanica gmazova utječu brojni vanjski i unutarnji čimbenici koje treba imati na umu tijekom interpretacije dobivenih nalaza. Promjena broja i morfologije krvnih stanica tijekom različitih bolesti i patoloških stanja javlja se ovisno o vrsti gmazova, težini i dužini trajanja bolesti.Reptile haematology has begun increase in the number of reptiles held as developing in recent decades with the household pets and presenting as veterinary patients. Although complete blood count is not presently a routine test in clinical veterinary practice, getting to know the haematology and the means of determining haematological parameters in reptiles will enable small animal practitioners to develop this test as a standard and routine laboratory test. All haematological parameters are to be performed manually, therefore adequate laboratory equipment, chemical reagents and expertise and experience of the veterinarian is mandatory. All reptile blood cells contain a nucleus, so caution is needed in the determination of blood cell types. The number and morphology of blood cells in reptiles is influenced by numerous external and internal factors, which need to be considered during the interpretation of results. Changes in the number and morphology of blood cells during disease and pathological conditions depend on species, body mass and duration of the disease

Performance of Krškopolje Pigs in Extensive and Intensive Production Systems

An observational study of growth performance was performed with Krškopolje pigs reared in extensive (EXT) and intensive (INT) production system. Pigs in INT system (n=6) were housed indoors and received a complete feed mixture, while EXT pigs (n=6) were kept in combined indoor/outdoor system and were fed a traditional meal (cooked root crops) and a mixture of ground grains. Growth performance and meat quality traits of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of pigs were assessed. Pigs were monitored from 86 to 224 days of age and were weighed 4-times (at 86, 129, 195, 224 days) with 4 growth stages (25-45, 45-75, 75-90 and 90-120 kg) considered. Overall INT pigs achieved 49 % higher daily gain and were heavier at slaughter than EXT pigs (88 vs. 120 kg, P<0.001). Growth rate of INT and EXT pigs was similar (443 vs. 464 g/day) from 25-45 kg, whereas EXT pigs grew slower than INT pigs in the periods 45-75 and 75-90 kg (445 vs. 853 and 505 vs 893 g/day, respectively). In the last period (90-120 kg) only INT pigs were monitored and they exhibited a decline in growth rate (580 g/day) compared to the previous two periods. Due to higher body weight (BW) at slaughter, INT had thicker backfat than EXT pigs (40 vs. 22 mm, P<0.000), however at equal BW (88 kg), no differences were noted. EXT pigs exhibited lower CIE L* (P=0.044) and higher CIE a* (P=0.003) colour parameters of LD (i.e. darker, redder LD colour), indicative of more oxidative muscle metabolism of EXT pigs

Performance of Krškopolje pigs in extensive and intensive production systems

An observational study of growth performance was performed with Krškopolje pigs reared in extensive (EXT) and intensive (INT) production system. Pigs in INT system (n=6) were housed indoors and received a complete feed mixture, while EXT pigs (n=6) were kept in combined indoor/outdoor system and were fed a traditional meal (cooked root crops) and a mixture of ground grains. Growth performance and meat quality traits of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of pigs were assessed. Pigs were monitored from 86 to 224 days of age and were weighed 4-times (at 86, 129, 195, 224 days) with 4 growth stages (25-45, 45-75, 75-90 and 90-120 kg) considered. Overall INT pigs achieved 49 % higher daily gain and were heavier at slaughter than EXT pigs (88 vs. 120 kg, P<0.001). Growth rate of INT and EXT pigs was similar (443 vs. 464 g/day) from 25-45 kg, whereas EXT pigs grew slower than INT pigs in the periods 45-75 and 75-90 kg (445 vs. 853 and 505 vs 893 g/day, respectively). In the last period (90-120 kg) only INT pigs were monitored and they exhibited a decline in growth rate (580 g/day) compared to the previous two periods. Due to higher body weight (BW) at slaughter, INT had thicker backfat than EXT pigs (40 vs. 22 mm, P<0.000), however at equal BW (88 kg), no differences were noted. EXT pigs exhibited lower CIE L* (P=0.044) and higher CIE a* (P=0.003) colour parameters of LD (i.e. darker, redder LD colour), indicative of more oxidative muscle metabolism of EXT pigs

Struktura ilegalno uvezenoga mesa i mesnih proizvoda i pojavnost bakterije Escherichia coli u uzorcima zaplijenjenima na graničnim prijelazima Republike Hrvatske

Prevention and control of foodborne diseases is an international public health goal. Legal imports of food of animal origin are monitored for contamination, and alerts are reported regularly, but food brought into the country illegally could represent a potential threat to consumers’ health. In order to assess the level of the risk for public health from uncontrolled imported food of animal origin entering the Republic of Croatia, 83 meat samples were collected at 6 border points between Croatia and third countries. The origins of all confiscated samples were third countries, and the final destinations were EU countries and Switzerland. The weight of the confiscated samples ranged from 500 g to 108 kg. Special attention was focused on the presence of E. coli and its antimicrobial susceptibility. From altogether 83 confiscated meat samples, 8 were positive for E. coli. Although STEC and/or O157, as well as multidrug resistant E. coli were not found in the examined samples, illegally imported meat should be monitored continuously to prevent possible foodborne bacterial infections.Prevencija i kontrola bolesti uzrokovanih hranom među glavnim su ciljevima javnoga zdravstva diljem svijeta. Legalan uvoz hrane redovito se prati službenim kontrolama i o tome se redovito izvješćuje. S druge strane, hrana koja se nezakonito unese u zemlju mogla bi biti potencijalna prijetnja zdravlju potrošača. Kako bi se procijenila razina rizika za javno zdravstvo, ukupno 83 uzorka mesa i mesnih proizvoda različita podrijetla oduzeta su na šest graničnih prijelaza između Hrvatske i trećih zemalja. Posebna je pozornost bila usmjerena na prisutnost E. coli i njezinu antimikrobnu osjetljivost. Podrijetlo pošiljki bile su tzv. treće zemlje, a konačna destinacija zemlje EU-a i Švicarska. Težina zaplijenjenih pošiljki bila je od 500 g do 108 kg. E. coli pronađena je u ukupno 8 zaplijenjenih pošiljki. Iako u ispitivanim uzorcima nisu pronađeni STEC/O157 ni multirezistentna E. coli, nezakonito unesenu hranu svakako treba kontinuirano pratiti i pregledavati kako bi se spriječilo širenje bakterijske infekcije uzrokovane hranom

Dampened virulence and limited proliferation of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans during subclinical infection of the troglobiont olm (Proteus anguinus)

Emerging infections add to existing threats to the survival of amphibians worldwide. The olm (Proteus anguinus) is a vulnerable, troglobiont urodele species with a small European range and restricted to underground karstic systems. Population declines to emerging threats like the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, are likely to go unnoticed due to inaccessibility of the species’ habitat. We here studied the interaction between olms and B. salamandrivorans. Experimental inoculation of olms resulted in low-level, asymptomatic but persistent infections, with limbs as predilection sites. The lack of exponential fungal growth in the olms’ epidermis correlated with limited fungal proliferation and dampened virulence gene expression after exposure to olm skin compounds. The olm is one of few western Palearctic urodeles that is tolerant to B. salamandrivorans infection and may act as a subterranean disease reservoir, yet costs of subclinical infection may compromise olm fitness on the long term

Monitoring potvrđuje visoku prevalenciju bakterije Mycoplasma synoviae u jatima nesilica u Hrvatskoj

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS), despite its lower pathogenicity, has the ability to cause significant losses in poultry production but is usually underdiagnosed. In egg layer production, losses could be significant because of the drop in egg production and poor eggshell quality. Problems with colibacillosis and other infections secondary to MS have been continuously reported on Croatian egg layer farms. As a result, regular monitoring of flocks also included screening of the seroprevalence and molecular detection of MS using ELISA and qPCR tests, respectively. During monitoring, altogether 1135 samples were tested, including 1067 serum samples and 68 tracheal swabs, in a total of 126 flocks and 83 longitudinally merged flocks on 15 farms during the period from 2017 to 2021. The results showed a high general prevalence of MS with 86.6 % positive layer farms, while grouped flock seroprevalence and prevalence were 98.6% and 85.7%, respectively. With age, seroprevalence and ELISA titers rise significantly compared to the rearing period, with a significant mutual correlation over the entire production period. Additionally, there is a significant correlation between ELISA titers and age in weeks. Several flocks covered longitudinally from the first week of age, over the rearing period to the end of production, showed low prevalence during the rearing period, with a later significant rise in titer and prevalence, which indicates the dominance of horizontal transmission during production. Overall results indicate the need for a prompt reaction regarding preventive measures, such as better flock management, biosecurity and vaccination, which would reduce the losses and improve production.Mycoplasma synoviae (MS), unatoč nižoj patogenosti, može uzrokovati značajne gubitke u proizvodnji peradi, no obično je poddijagnosticirana. Gubici u proizvodnji konzumnih jaja mogu biti značajni zbog pada proizvodnje i loše kvalitete ljuske jajeta. Problemi s kolibacilozom i drugim zarazama koje se javljaju kao sekundarne MS-u kontinuirano se prijavljuju na farmama nesilica konzumnih jaja u Hrvatskoj. Stoga je u praćenje zdravlja na farmama uključeno i otkrivanje seroprevalencije i molekularnog dokaza MS-a primjenom ELISA i qPCR testova. Tijekom praćenja testirano je ukupno 1135 uzoraka, 1067 seruma i 68 obrisaka dušnika, u ukupno 126 jata, odnosno 83 longitudinalno grupiranih jata na 15 farmi od 2017. do 2021. godine. Rezultati su pokazali visoku opću prevalenciju od 86,6% pozitivnih farmi na MS. Kod longitudinalno grupiranih jata seroprevalencija je iznosila 98,6%, dok je molekularnim monitoringom prevalencija bila 85,7%. S dobi, seroprevalencija i ELISA titar značajno rastu, uz značajnu međusobnu korelaciju tijekom cijelog razdoblja proizvodnje. Također, postoji značajna korelacija između ELISA titra i dobi u tjednima. Jata praćena longitudinalno od dobi jednog tjedna do kraja proizvodnje, pokazuju nisku prevalenciju tijekom uzgojnog razdoblja. Kasnije, u razdoblju proizvodnje, dolazi do značajnog porasta titra i prevalencije, što ukazuje na dominantan horizontalni prijenos tijekom proizvodnje. Rezultati monitoringa skreću pozornost na potrebu brze reakcije na farmama s ciljem poboljšanja preventivnih mjera, naročito boljeg upravljanja jatima, biosigurnosnih mjera i cijepljenja, što bi značajno smanjilo gubitke i poboljšalo proizvodnju

Aerobna mikroflora čovječjih ribica (Proteus anguinus) s prirodnih staništa i onih poplavama izbačenih na površinu u Hrvatskoj

Proteus anguinus (olm) is an amphibian endemic to underground cave systems of the Dinaric karst of Central Europe, adapted to a life in complete darkness. Recent studies have demonstrated the global decline of amphibians due to poorly understood microbiological diseases, emphasizing just how little is known about the natural microflora of amphibians. Not much is known about the olm’s microbiota in their cave habitats, and nothing is known about the microbiology of animals washed to the surface. This observational study describes the microbiological analysis of the skin, cloaca and oral cavity of six olms collected from their cave habitats, and 16 collected after being washed out by flows from two springs, to learn more about the olm’s normal microbiota and possible changes after contact with the different environmental conditions on the surface. Standard microbiological procedures, MALDI-TOF and Real-Time PCR were used for microbiological species identification. All animals tested negative for Ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans and Chlamydia spp. The most abundant fungi isolated were Penicillium spp. and Cladosporium spp. The washed out animals showed a higher diversity of bacterial flora than those from cave habitats, with Acinetobacter johnsonii, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus spp. and Janthinobacterium lividum as the most frequently identified isolates.Proteus anguinus (čovječja ribica) endemski je vodozemac podzemnih voda Dinarskog krša središnje Europe, prilagođen životu u potpunoj tami. Novija su istraživanja pokazala globalno smanjenje populacije vodozemaca, prvenstveno zbog nedovoljno istraženih bolesti, ističući manjkavo poznavanje mikroflore vodozemaca. Ne zna se mnogo ni o mikroflori čovječjih ribica s njihovih prirodnih staniša, a podataka o mikrobiologiji jedinki poplavama izbačenih na površinu uopće nema. Ovim opservacijskim istraživanjem dobiveni su rezultati mikrobiološke analize kože, kloake i usne šupljine šest čovječjih ribica s njihovih prirodnih staništa, te 16 jedinki prikupljenih nakon što su poplavama izbačene na površinu iz dvaju izvora. Željelo se saznati više o normalnoj mikroflori čovječjih ribica i o mogućim promjenama mikroflore nakon dodira životinja s različitim vanjskim utjecajima na površini. Identifikacija mikroba obavljena je standardnim mikrobiološkim metodama, te tehnikama MALDI-TOF i Real-Time PCR. Ni u jedne životinje nisu izolirani Ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans ni Chlamydia spp. Među gljivicama, najzastupljenije su bile Penicillium spp. i Cladosporium spp. U životinja izbačenih na površinu bakterijska je flora bila znatno raznolikija negoli u onih s prirodnih staništa, pri čemu su najzastupljeniji izolati bili Acinetobacter johnsonii, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus spp. i Janthinobacterium lividum