Novel effects of identified SNPs within the porcine Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein gene family (pPAGs) on the major reproductive traits in Hirschmann hybrid-line sows.

This is the first study describing identification of SNPs within the multiple and polymorphic Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein gene family (PAGs) in the genome of the domestic pig (pPAGs). We identified pPAG-like (pPAG-L) genotypes in primiparous and multiparous farmed hybrid-line JSR Hirschmann (Hrn) sows (N=159), in which various novel associations with their phenotypes for the major reproductive traits have been discovered. Genomic DNA templates were isolated from the blood and different pPAG-L primers were used to amplify various regions by PCR.

Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cat - first detection in Poland.

Tritrichomonas foetus, a parasite of cattle reproductive system, has been recently discovered as a cause of disease in cats in many countries. T. foetus infects and colonizes cat's ileum, caecum, colon and can lead to enteritis.

Prevalence of the suilysin gene in Streptococcus suis strains isolated from diseased and healthy carrier pigs.

Knowledge of virulence factors of Streptococcus suis is limited. Several virulence factor candidates have been proposed, among them suilysin, which is responsible for a toxic effect on epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to detect the suilysin gene sequence in Streptococcus suis strains of various origin.