Effects of chronic exposure to PCBs on cytochrome P450 systems and steroidogenesis in liver and testis of bulls (Bos taurus).

Effects of chronic exposure to PCBs on the microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in liver and testis of bulls (Bos taurus) were determined by comparing the constitutive and PCB-induced alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase and testosterone hydroxylase activities. Specific inductions of the prevailing hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation and 6 beta-hydroxylation of testosterone are suggestive of the induction of CYP1A1 and CYP3A-like enzymes by PCBs. A high level of PCB-inducible androstenedione formation was also found.

[Evaluation and occurrence of high-risk pollutants in animal feed factories].

Concentrations of some hazardous pollutants were studied in dust deposit samples (n = 30) taken from the indoor equipment of two feed mixture plants (FMP) in Hodonín district in 1995 and 1996; the pollutants involved mercury, cadmium, lead, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), alpha and beta hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), lindane (gamma HCH), DDT sum, DDT isomers, polychlorinated biphenyls (Delor 103, Delor 106, PCB indicator congeners). The statistically significantly higher (P < 0.01) average concentration of mercury (0.

Effects of environmental pollutants on the porcine and bovine immune systems.

Immunological examinations were done in 30 fattening pigs from three swine farms (D., M., T.

[Occurrence of harmful pollutants in fattened pigs].

Fourteen fattened pigs (age of 240-250 days, live weight 110-120 kg) were examined on three farms (D., M. and T.

[Occurrence of harmful chemical elements (Hg, Cd, Pb) in pig stalls].

The presence of harmful chemical elements (Hg, Cd, Pb) in the stable environment for fattened pigs was compared in Hodonin district in the years 1984 and 1994. These data were recorded for the year 1994 in comparison with 1984: 1, mercury content in feed mixtures for pigs decreased 102 times (0.510 and/or 0.

[Occurrence of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the stalls and outdoor environment in pig-fattening farms].

Contents of some pesticides (lindane, DDT sum, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (Delor 103, Delor 106, PCB congeners: 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) were investigated on three farms of fattened pigs (D., M. and T) in Hodonín district in 1994, as occurring in feed mixtures (n= 15), drinking water (n = 10), stable sedimented dust (n = 14), slurry (n = 10) and pavement dust (n = 5).

Mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water on swine and cattle farms.

Single pilot examinations of mutagenicity of stable dust and drinking water were made on three swine farms (D., M., T.

[Ecotoxicologic relations on a large pig-fattening farm located in a lignite mining area and near and solid-fuel electical power plant].

Major contaminants identified in 1983-1984 on a pig fattening farm with an output of 60,000 pigs per annum, located in a lignite mining area and near a solid fuel power plant, were mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium and aflatoxin B1 (Tab. I, II, III, IV). Feed samples were collected from througs to assess the contamination load at feed uptake.

[Experimental chronic phenylmercuric chloride poisoning in pigs].

Four gilts, sisters from one litter, aged 70 days and weighing 20-24 kg, were used for a trial. Two experimental gilts (P) were administered an experimental feed mixture containing phenylmercury chloride (40 mg/kg). Two control gilts (K) were fed the same mixture but without phenylmercury chloride.

[A practical immunologic skin test for piglets].

At present immune system performance in pigs is decreasing, particularly as a result of environment quality deterioration. Immunological skin tests can also be used to determine the degree of immune system impairment in piglets. A practical immunological skin test was carried out in 48 weaned piglets with the body weight of 15-30 kg.

[The effect of estrogens on phagocytic activity of blood leukocytes in heifers and cows].

Phagocytic activity of peripheral leucocytes (PA) was measured in heifers during the luteal phase and oestrus and after administration of various doses of oestradiol, in ovariectomized heifers and cows in the early post-partum period. PA was demonstrated in 22.63 +/- 2.

[A simple immunologic skin test in piglets].

A simple immunological skin test was carried out on 73 weaned piglets at a weight of 15 to 30 kg. Bristles on the piglets' back were shaved off and 0.1-ml amounts of four substances were injected intradermally.

[Levels of progesterone, 17 beta-estradiol and 11-hydroxycorticosteroid in the blood in cows in different types of puerperal conditions].

Changes in progesterone (P4), 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and 11-hydroxycorticosteroid (11-OHCS) concentrations in blood plasma were determined in daily intervals from the day of parturition to day 15 post partum (p.p.) in cows with physiological puerperium (n = 8), with puerperal endometritis (n = 6), and with placenta retention (n = 6).

[Immunologic skin tests in piglets].

Immunological skin tests were carried out in 213 weanling piglets at the weight of 5 to 30 kg. Immediate hypersensitivity was evaluated by help of diagnostic allergens (mould, yeast and bacterial ones), delayed hypersensitivity by help of staphylococcus lysate, cellular immunity (tests de novo) by help of phytohemagglutinin and as common recall antigens were used tuberculin, toxoplasmin, candidic and tetanic antigen. The above substances were applied intradermally to the back of the piglets.

[Monitoring chromosome mutations in large-scale breeding operations].

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations and exchanges of sister chromatids (SCEs) in peripheral lymphocytes was studied in 65 pigs from five large breeding herds. Four groups comprised fattened pigs and the fifth group consisted of sows from a large multiplier breeding herd. During the investigation, the dust from the sites was analyzed for the presence of zinc, lead, cadmium, mercury, aflatoxin B1, PCB, DDT, and lindane.

[Etiology and pathogenesis of papular dermatitis in fattened pigs].

Judging from hitherto knowledge, papular dermatitis of fattened pigs is a polyfactorial disease of idiodisposition nature. It affects only a part of the population of fattened pigs (the so-called susceptible part of population), in the cases of increased contamination of the stable environment with contaminants. The susceptible part of the population includes predisposed individuals unable to cope with the complex contamination stress of large-scale premises for pig fattening.

[Chemical study of body organs in papular dermatitis in fattened pigs].

In twenty fattened pigs with papular dermatitis (PD) and in seventeen pigs with no skin lesions (K),--the pigs had the live weight from 95 to 105 kg and came from a D. large fattening house situated in a region with extensive mining (lignite extraction)--we analyzed the skin, muscle, kidneys and liver for the contents of chemical elements (zinc, copper, manganese, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium) and aflatoxin B1. In pancreas we analyzed only the content of aflatoxin B1.

[Trends in the quantity of foreign substances in feed mixtures and in pigsty dust at large pig farms].

In the period from January 1983 to December 1985 we examined thirty-five samples of commercial feed mixtures for pigs and thirty samples of pigsty dust deposition from large pig-houses in a region with extensive mining (lignite extraction) situated in the Hodonín district. In comparison with the contents of contaminants in the feed mixtures over the period from January 1983 (1/83) to June 1984 (6/84), the zinc and lindane concentrations increased to 213.3% (P less than 0.

[Biochemical, hematologic, immunologic and cytogenetic study of papillary dermatitis in fattened pigs].

Examinations were performed of 31 fattened pigs suffering from papular dermatitis (PD) and 33 fattened pigs without dermal changes (C) coming from the D. large pig-fattening farm and the production breeding herd of pigs. The weight of the pigs was from 95 to 105 kg.

[Biological, chemical and pathohistologic study of the skin in papular dermatitis in fattened pigs].

We examined the skin samples from 23 fattened pigs with papular dermatitis (PD) and from 17 pigs showing no skin lesions; the live weight of the pigs was from 95 to 105 kg and the pigs came from a large fattening house D that is located in the region where the mines are frequent (lignite extraction). It was only in 26% of pigs with PD where the common ectoparasites Haematopinus suis and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis were found out.

[The clinical course and differential diagnosis of papular dermatitis in fattened pigs].

Since December 1981, dermatitis of unknown etiology in form of papular lesions has appeared in fattened pigs in some large herds in the Czech Socialist Republic. Clinical investigations of diseased pigs were performed in a large fattening house D. and in a large production herd of pigs M.

[Physical, chemical and biological study of dust from large-scale pig farms].

Dust deposition in 16 halls of two large pig-fattening farms with dry or wet feeding systems was analyzed. In the halls with wet feeding the samples contained maximally 28 dust particles up to 10 micron and 17 particles up to 5 micron per cm3 of air, in the halls with dry feeding 220 particles smaller than 10 micron and 205 particles smaller than 5 micron per cm3 of air. The total amino acid content in the dust deposition was 17.

[Influence of the migration of Ascaris suum larvae on blood parameters in the pig].

Biochemical and hematological blood parameters were investigated in pigs experimentally infected with Ascaris suum. The most marked changes were recorded on day 5-8 post inoculation, during fever. In this period there was a marked decrease of concentrations of albumin, iron, thyroxin, A and E vitamins in blood serum, while compared with the control group the contents of A vitamin in liver did not change.

[Digestibility of nutrients in a feed mixture in certain swine helminthiases].

The average digestibility coefficients of feed mixture nutrients in pigs infected medium severely to severely by the helminths Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum were lower in comparison with the post-dehelminthization condition (dry matter by 3.1%, crude protein by 6.7%, fat by 8.