Avian influenza – impact on poultry production in Croatia and in the world

Influenca ptica prouzročena sojem virusa H5N1 tijekom 2003. godine pa do danas proširila se u većem broju zemalja istočne Azije, a preko Rusije je dospjela i do nekih zemalja Bliskog istoka i srednje Europe. Osim što je izrazito patogen za domaću perad, soj H5N1 zarazio je veći broj ljudi od kojih je više od 50% umrlo. Mjere koje su poduzele zemlje ugrožene influencom ptica bile su drastične, bilo ubijanjem i neškodljivim uklanjanjem više milijuna domaće peradi zbog čega su stradala gospodarstva, najviše onih zemalja gdje je peradarska proizvodnja glavni izvor životinjskih bjelančevina namijenjenih ishrani ljudi. Svoju ćud bolest je pokazala brzim prenošenjem uglavnom pticama selicama na velike udaljenosti pa je zbog toga prihvaćeno opće mišljenje da virus, koji za sada zaražava isključivo divlje ptice i domaću perad, može mutirajući postići svojstvo neposrednog međusobnog zara-žavanja ljudi i tako biti osnova pandemije. Hrvatska, u kojoj je virus H5N1 dokazan u ptica selica (labuda), nije zabilježila bolest u domaće peradi, no ipak poduzete su mjere kojima je spriječen mogući dodir zaraženih ptica i domaće peradi, što Hrvatsku karakterizira kao zemlju bez influence ptica. Zbog navedenih mjera sprečavanja širenja bolesti peradarstvo Hrvatske pretrpjelo je goleme štete zbog onemogućenog izvoza, no prvenstveno zbog straha stanovništva da je perad, pa čak i ptice kućni ljubimci, mogući izvor zaraze. Nedovoljna informiranost o prirodi bolesti, kao i medijski štetan pri-stup njenom opisu, smanjili su potrošnju mesa peradi u Hrvatskoj. Istovjetna su iskustva i svih drugih zemalja pa tako i onih gdje influenca ptica nije dokazana niti u divljih ptica niti u domaće peradi. Procjene su da u slučaju scenarija sličnog onom iz 1918-1919. godine za vrijeme trajanja Španjolske gripe u ljudi, bruto nacionalni proizvod se može smanjiti za oko 5% uz posljedičnu recesiju, ili u slučaju scenarija iz 1957. ili 1968. godine kada bi se mogao smanjiti za približno 1,5% ali bez dugoročnih posljedica na ukupno gospodarstvo.Avian influenza (AI) caused by virus strain H5N1 spread during the year 2003 over most countries of east Asia and from then till now has come over Russia to western Asia and middle Europe. Despite its high pathogenicity to poultry, the strain H5N1 has infected a significant number of people, of which 50% have died. Measures taken by endangered countries were drastic, in the way of killing and non-harmful elimination of millions of domestic poultry which influenced economy, especially in countries where poultry production in the main source of animal proteins. The virus showed its bad temper by spreading very fast over large distances using migratory birds, that could be the basis, by general opinion, for development of pandemic strain in humans if additional mutations occur. Strain H5N1 that was isolated in Croatia from migratory birds (swans), was the basis for measures taken to prevent the contact between infected birds and domestic poultry, that characterizes Croatia as AI free country, since no disease has been detected in domestic poultry. Taken measures caused enormous loss to Croatian poultry production which suffered due to export ban, mainly because of the fear among the people that poultry and pet birds are possible carriers of the disease. Lack of information about the disease, together with malicious approach of the media, caused drop in poultry meet consumption in Croatia. The same was experienced in other countries where the disease did not occur either in wild birds or in domestic poultry. In the scenario similar to that in 1918-1919 caused by Spanish flu in people, the GDP could fall by 5% followed by recession, or in the case of mild-pandemic scenario like in 1957 or 1968 the GDP could fall by 1.5%, but without longer impact on economy

WELFARE TO ANIMALS AND HUMANS - AT WHAT LEVEL ARE THEY IN CONFLICT?

Dobrobit prema životinjama temeljna je postavka uspješne proizvodnosti za potrebe ishrane ljudi. Stupanj na kojem se primjenjuje učestalo se sukobljava s gospodarskim interesom te je različito podložan utjecajima neposredno povezanim sa životnim standardom u nekoj zemlji. Bogate zemlje zapada proizvode i troše značajno više animalnih proizvoda negoli je to potrebno, dok istodobno zemlje trećeg svijeta često ne zadovoljavaju niti temeljne potrebe za hranom. Posljedice su drastične. Razvijene i bogate zemlje cijene visokog materijalnog standarda plaćaju nizom bolesti od kojih su pretilost i dijabetes na prvom mjestu. Siromašni umiru od gladi i neishranjenosti, njih 25.000 dnevno od čega je 16.000 djece. Bogate zemlje, koje su veliku proizvodnost i visoki životni standard postigle organiziranim farmskim uzgojem životinja, sada ustraju na dobrobiti, nepromišljeno i u mjeri u kojoj se proizvodnja, primjerice peradi, pretvara u osnovu mogućeg zaražavanja ljudi nizom bolesti, a peradi vraćaju mnoge bolesti koje su svojedobno iskorijenjene. Ujedinjeni narodi, za siromašne zemlje jedini spas od daljnjeg izgladnjivana vide upravo u peradarstvu, onom intenzivnom, što se temelji na farmskom uzgoju koji ne poštuje u cijelosti danas i jedino za bogate zemlje propisane standarde dobrobiti prema životinjama. Ostaje otvoreno pitanje koliko se perad osjeća bolje u prostoru kojeg joj ljudi nude kao bolji te koliko najveći stupanj dobrobiti, slobodni uzgoj, pogoduje peradi. Sudeći prema rezultatima nekih istraživanja, u zatvorenom prostoru peradnjaka, s osiguranom mikroklimom, kvalitetnom hranom i zaštitom od zaraza, perad je izložena manjem stresu negoli u otvorenom prostoru, bojeći se predatora, te podložna bolestima od kojih neke ugrožavaju i zdravlje ljudi.Welfare to animals is the basic principle of successful productivity for feeding people. The level at which it is applied is frequently in conflict with the economic interests depending on influences dorectly connected with the living standard in some country. Rich countries in the west produce and consume significantly more animal products than they need while at the same time in the third world countries the basic needs are often not satisfied. The consequencies are drastic. Developed and rich countries pay for the high material standard with a series of diseases, in the first place obesity and diabetes. The poor die of hunger and undernourishment, 25000 of them daily, of which 16000 are children. Rich countries which have achieved high productivity and living standard by organized farm animal breeding now insist on welfare, rashly and to such a degree that the production of e.g. poultry is turning into a breeding ground for possible infections of people by a series of diseases and returning to the poultry the diseases once rooted out. The UN see the way to save the poor countries from further starvation in intensive farm poultry breeding which does not fully respect today only for the rich countries prescribed standards of welfare to animals. The open question remains how much better the poultry feel in the space people offer them as a better one and how much is the highest level of welfare, the free range breeding, more favourable. Judging from the results of some research on closed cages of a poultry house provided with microclimate, good quality feed and protection from infections the poultry are exposed to less stress than in an open space where they fear predators and are subjected to diseases some of which are also a threat to the health of humans

Stability and sensory evaluation of eggs produced by addition of different amount of linseed oil into feed

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of increased amount of ω-3 fatty acids in eggs achieved by addition of different amounts of linseed oil into feed on egg quality during storage. The changes in quality parameters between experimental groups were studied on eggs containing different amount of ω-3 fatty acids stored for 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 in refrigerator (10 eggs per group in each experiment). The influence of increased amount of n-3 fatty acids on sensory characteristics was evaluated in two panel tests. Egg quality parameters were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the storage time. Weight loss was significantly higher in the first week of storage, and colour changes were highest after 28 days of storage in for all experimental groups. The increased amount of ω-3 fatty acids in eggs did not affect egg quality parameters. Furthermore, the difference in ω-3 fatty acids content did not cause changes in sensory characteristics of eggs as rated by both panels

Microorganisms, especially viruses, in the treatment of tumor diseases

Najčešći i uobičajeni pristupi u liječenju tumorskih bolesti uključuju kirurgiju, radioterapiju, kemoterapiju, imunoterapiju, ciljanu terapiju, hormonsku terapiju, transplantaciju matičnih stanica te sveobuhvatno personalizirano liječenje. Izostavlja se gotovo zaboravljeno liječenje primjenom različitih mikroorganizama od kojih su najzastupljeniji virusi. Njihova je neposredna primjena, ako se radi o apatogenim virusima ili njihovim genomskim modifikacijama, sve učestalija i postigla je vrlo visok stupanj primjenjivosti. Ovaj prikaz odnosi se pretežno na mogućnosti primjene mikroorganizama, u manjoj mjeri bakterija, a uglavnom virusa, u liječenju tumorskih bolesti. Neki virusi mogu zaraziti i ubiti tumorske stanice te su poznati kao onkolitički. Neki se od njih nalaze u prirodi, ali su također i modificirani, kako bi se pojačalo njihovo onkolitičko svojstvo, djelujući isključivo na tumorske stanice bez oštećivanja zdravih. U najnovije vrijeme genetički modificirani virusi postigli su stupanj javne upotrebe stavljanjem na tržište te su od FDA-a (Food and Drug Administration) dopušteni za liječenje melanoma (T-VEC)¸ dok se u Kini modificiranim adenovirusom (H101) liječi rak glave i vrata ljudi. Posebna je vrijednost virusa u liječenju tumorskih bolesti, jer se umnažaju u tumorskoj stanici dok je ne razore, tvoreći tako kompleks tumorskog antigena što omogućuje njegovo prepoznavanje od strane imunosnog sustava. Reakcija tog sustava je lokalna ili sustavna, prepoznata danas kao imunoterapija. Uspoređeni s klasičnim oblicima liječenja tumorskih bolesti, primjena onkolitičkih virusa i imunoterapija uspješniji su način s tek blagim nuspojavama. Danas suvereno usmjeruju istraživanja upravo u tom smislu.The most frequent and usual approaches in treating tumor diseases include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, transplantation of stem cells and comprehensively personalized treatment. Treatment using various microorganisms, mainly viruses, has become neglected and almost forgotten. Their direct application, in terms of apathogenic viruses or their genomic modifications, is becoming increasingly common, and has achieved a high level of applicability. This paper relates mainly to the possibility of using microorganisms, mainly viruses and to a lesser extent bacteria, in treating tumor diseases. Some viruses can infect and kill tumor cells, and they are known as oncolytic. Some of them are found in nature, but there are also some that have been modified, in order to enhance their oncolytic potential, acting exclusively on tumor cells without damaging healthy cells. Very recently, genetically modified viruses have achieved a degree of public use by being placed on the market, and have been permitted by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for treating melanoma (T-VEC), and in China modified adenovirus (H101) is used in treating cancers of the head and neck in humans. The special value of viruses used for treating tumor diseases is that they multiply inside the tumor cell until they destroy it, thereby creating a complex of tumor antigens, which makes them recognizable by the immune system. The reaction of that system is local or systemic, and this is recognized today as immunotherapy. In comparison with classical forms of treatment for tumor diseases, the use of oncolytic viruses and immunotherapy is more successful, with only mild side-effects. Today, they are dominant in research precisely for that reason

Royal Jelly and Human Interferon-Alpha (HuIFN-αN3) Affect Proliferation, Glutathione Level, and Lipid Peroxidation in Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells In Vitro

The purpose was to investigate the influence of RJ-F(M), 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid and HuIFN-αN3 on the proliferation of CaCo-2 cells and ascertain their effects on intracellular glutathione level and lipid peroxidation. The antiproliferative (AP) activity of RJ-F (M) (0.1 g/10 mL PBS), HuIFN-αN3 (1000 IU mL−1), 10-HDA (100.0 μmol L−1) and their combinations, in the ratios 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 on CaCo-2 cells were measured. Single RJ-F (M) had a low AP activity: 2.0 (0.5 mg mL−1). HuIFN-αN3 had an AP activity of 2.5 (208.33 IU mL−1), while 10-HDA had an AP activity of 1.5 (37.5 μmol mL−1). AP activity of 3.8 was obtained when RJ-F(M) and HuIFN-αN3 were in the ratio 2:1. In it, the level of GSH was 24.9 ± 2.4 nmol g−3 of proteins (vs. 70.2 ± 3.2 nmol g−3 in the control), and level of MDA was 72.3 ± 3.1 nmol g−3 (vs. 23.6 ± 9.1 nmol g−3 in the control). 10-HDA, together with HuIFN-αN3, is responsible for the inhibition of CaCo-2 cell proliferation in vitro. RJ-F (M) and HuIFN-αN3 applied at 2:1 decreased level of GSH and increased lipid peroxidation via MDA in CaCo-2 cells. Future studies are needed whether these GSH- and MDA-related activities of RJ-F (M), HuIFN-αN3, 10-HDA, and their combinations may decrease the tumorigenicity index and tumorigenic potential of tumor cells in vitr