Staphylococcus borealis - A newly identified pathogen of bovine mammary glands.

Twelve Staphylococcus borealis strains, isolated in Canada and Poland from milk of cows with intramammary infections, were characterized phenotypically (biochemical reactions on ID 32 STAPH and Biolog Phenotype MicroArrays™ PM1 and PM2A, ability of biofilm production) and genotypically (random amplified polymorphic DNA). In addition, a genomic comparison was done with S. borealis strains of human and porcine origin using the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) technique.

Influence of bovine follicular fluid on thawed bovine spermatozoa - assessment by CASA system and flow cytometry.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of bovine follicular fluid on the survival, morphology and kinetic parameters of bovine thawed spermatozoa under laboratory conditions.

Materials And Methods: The semen from 5 bulls of proven fertility was incubated in follicular and physiological fluid for 8 hours. During this time assessment using the CASA system was performed.

Efficacy of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as well as genotypic and phenotypic methods in identification of staphylococci other than isolated from intramammary infections in dairy cows in Poland.

We compared the effectiveness of various methods for the identification of spp. other than S. isolated from intramammary infections of cows on 3 dairy farms in Lower Silesia, Poland.

Effect of Pregnancy and Stage of Lactation on Energy Processes in Isolated Blood Cells of Dairy Cows.

Introduction: The transition period is the most challenging time for dairy cattle, which is characterised not only by negative energy balance but also by fatty tissue mobilisation.

Material And Methods: The efficiency of energy pathways, β-oxidation in WBC and glycolysis in RBC (based on deoxyglucose transmembrane transport) were estimated. Insulin in blood plasma was determined using ELISA.

A Survey on West Nile and Usutu Viruses in Horses and Birds in Poland.

West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are members of the family Flaviviridae which, natural life cycles involve mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission. Both represent emerging viruses in Europe with potential to cause neuroinvasive disease in humans. This study investigates the seroprevalence of serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV and to USUV in birds and in horses in Poland.

Characterization of a genetically distinct subpopulation of Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolated from milk of cows with intramammary infections.

The aim of this paper is to describe a novel subpopulation of Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolated from intramammary gland infections (IMI) in cattle. In total, eight isolates originating from milk samples from two unrelated dairy farms were examined phenotypically (using the ID 32 STAPH system) and genotypically. These isolates had almost identical sequences of each of the housekeeping genes examined (dnaJ, rpoB and sodA) but these sequences displayed similarity of only ∼92.

The investigation of correlation among selected biochemical parameters and vital signs in dairy herd to design the bio-cybernetic dairy cow model.

The paper presents investigations of the relationship between the biochemical parameters and vital signs in dairy cows. We analyzed the welfare and functioning of a dairy herd using biochemical parameters and vital signs. Life and biochemical parameters were examined.

Evaluation of Acute Phase Proteins in Clinically Healthy Dairy Cows in Perinatal Period and During Lactation.

The estimation of acute phase proteins (APP), which are recognized as inflammation markers is a good method for animal health monitoring. Several factors such as obesity, age and sex are also known to modulate APP status. We evaluated the influence of pregnancy and lactation in 65 clinically healthy dairy Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, 2nd÷4th lactation, chosen from 3 different dairy farms located in South West part of Poland.

Isolation of Staphylococcus microti from milk of dairy cows with mastitis.

The present paper is a case-report of multiple udder infections in a dairy herd caused by Staphylococcus microti. Over a 22-month period, eleven S. microti isolates from milk samples from 9 cows were collected.

Short communication: Streptococcus canis is able to establish a persistent udder infection in a dairy herd.

Bovine mastitis caused by Streptococcus canis is relatively rare. Consequently, many epidemiologic aspects of the infection, including factors that mediate crossing of host species barriers by the pathogen, infectiousness of the microorganism to the mammary gland, and the course of the disease within a herd, are still not elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe results of a 15-mo observation of subclinical Strep.

The influence of antibiotic treatment of bitches in oestrus on their attractiveness to males during mating.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the antibiotic treatment, including the mode of drugs administration, on bitches' attractiveness to the stud dogs during mating. Moreover, we tried to estimate the possibility of aversive effect of the drug vehicle on the male behavior. In experiment I, four bitches in oestrus without antibiotic treatment (group A), four bitches treated with intravaginal antibiotic (group B) and four bitches treated with intramuscular antibiotic (group C) were presented to four stud dogs.

The influence of Sildenafil citrate on uterine tissue perfusion and the cardiovascular system during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle in cows.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the Sildenafil citrate on the blood flow in the uterus of cows during dioestrus. Uterine blood flow was examined in five, healthy, adult cows. Between day 6-8 of the ovarian cycle, each cow received 200mg of sildenafil diluted in 10ml of warm saline into the body of the uterus.

The effect of MgSO4 addition and the increasing doses of calcium and phosphorus during ending drying period on the occurrence of hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia in dairy cows.

The aim of the presented study was the estimation of optimal Ca and P levels applied before calving together with anionic salt addition, as an element of hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia prevention. The experiment was carried out during the dry period on 48 cows with similar milk yield in the previous lactation. Cows were divided into four groups.

The influence of administration of biotin and zinc chelate (Zn-methionine) to cows in the first and second trimester of lactation on their health and productivity.

In cattle, the prevention of diseases might be possible using dietary methods, with nutritional optimization of feed rations. For years significant influence has been associated with the addition of biotin, methionine and zinc (each given individually, or as chelate - Zn-methionine). The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of biotin or biotin + Zn-methionine additives on the health and performance of cows, in the first and second trimester of lactation.

Detection of lipid peroxidation in frozen-thawed avian spermatozoa using C(11)-BODIPY(581/591).

The aim of this study was to perform flow cytometric analysis of C11-BODIPY581/591 oxidation in fowl and geese sperm as a marker for membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO) and to establish if the cryopreservation process would make sperm membranes more susceptible to oxidative stress. The experiment was carried out on 10 meat type line Flex roosters and 10 White Koluda® geese. The semen was collected two times a week, by dorso-abdominal massage method and pooled from 10 individuals of each species.

Curli expression by Escherichia coli strains isolated from bovine mastitis.

The aim of the study was to determine the expression of mannose-sensitive and mannose-resistant adhesins by agglutination of cattle, sheep, goat, rabbit, horse, and chicken red blood cell assay, and curli fimbriae by Congo red binding assay among 341 E. coli strains isolated from 51 milk samples of clinically recognized bovine mastitis. Curli fimbriae expression within biofilms created on an inert surface was also investigated.

Importance of newly detected staphylococcal enterotoxins for food safety.

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are emetic toxins causing food poisoning in humans, because of their biological activity and structural relatedness They have been classified as members of the pyrogenic exotoxin superantigen family Among them nine major antigenic types of emetic enterotoxins were recognized In recent years several newly detected SEs were also discriminated, but their occurrence and role in human and animal diseases are not fully understood Neverthless, evidences of their pathogenic role and broad distribution in staphylococcal strains cumulate Therefore their importance as potential risk factor for food safety becomes essential For this reason their properties, genetic determinants and supposed mechanisms of the pathogenic activity are discussed in respect of their potential hazard to human health.

[Isolation of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains from healthy cattle of the region of Lower Silesia].

The aim of the study was to determine if cattle from the region of Lower Silesia is the reservoir of shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains (STEC) and the analysis of virulence factors of isolated STEC strains. The ability of tested animal strains to shiga toxin synthesis was analysed in cytotoxicity assay in vitro on Vero cell line and then confirmed by detection of shiga toxin-encoding genes by PCR.

Thyroid hormones (TH) and 5'-monodeiodinase (5'-MD) activity in goat's milk from the early, mid- and late lactation period.

The physiological significance of thyroid hormones (TH) present in colostrum and milk is still under consideration. The present study was aimed at determining milk thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels in three lactation phases (early, mid- and late) of the goat, and to measure activity of the milk 5'-deiodinase (5'-MD) enzyme responsible for the intramammary conversion of prohormone T4 to its metabolically highly active form T3. Thirty-two milk goats (Polish White breed) fed a standard diet were used for milk sampling.

Thermal changes in cow's mammary gland after experimentally invoked inflammation (mastitis).

The purpose of the study was the evaluation of the thermal changes within mammary gland in cows, after experimentally invoked inflammation, developed as a result of 60 ml of 20% NaCl solution given directly into the udder (A and D quarters). Three hours after injection, the increased' temperature of teats and their bases by 2.26 degrees C and 0.

[The effect of technopathologically limited stress factors on the fertility of cattle].

The influence of purulent claw-diseases on the development of uterus infections, its involution and ovary dysfunctions (acyclia, cysts) was examined. It was shown that A. pyogenes, Ps.