Topography and arterial supply of the thyroid and the parathyroid glands in selected species of Falconiformes.

Birds of two suborders, Accipitres and Falcones were the subjects of the study. The thyroids were always located asymmetrically. In Accipitridae the larger left gland was usually situated significantly more cranially than the right one.

The first record of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Angistrongylidae: Nematoda) in Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx L.) from Poland based on fecal analysis.

Material: Thirty eight fecal samples of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx L.) collected in Białowieza Primeval Forest (E Poland) in years 2001-2004 were analysed.

Results: The presence of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (L1) larvae was evidenced by use of decantation and flotation methods.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol, thiamphenicol, and chloramphenicol in turkeys.

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FF), thiamphenicol (TP) and chloramphenicol (CP) after single intravenous (i.v.) or oral (p.

RAPD with microsatellite as a tool for differentiation of Candida genus yeasts isolated in brewing.

Fifteen wild yeast strains were isolated in two factories of a lager brewing company in Poland. Their identification with API 32C system showed mainly the presence of Candida sake species (7/15). To differentiate the isolates, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with (GTG)(5), (GAC)(5), (GACA)(4) microsatellite primers and M13 core sequence (5'-GAG GGT GGC GGT TCT-3') were chosen.

Screening of acrylamide contents in potato crisps using process variable settings and near-infrared spectroscopy.

In order to study the formation of acrylamide in potato crisps during processing, an experimental design was set up. The design variables were drying time (6 levels), frying temperature (2 levels) and frying time (8 levels). The design contained 36 samples, which were analysed for acrylamide contents using LC high-resolution mass spectroscopy (LC-HRMS), and fat contents using the Soxhlet apparatus.

Specificity of an extracellular proteinase from Conidiobolus coronatus and its inhibition by an inhibitor from insect hemolymph.

The relatively little-investigated entomopathogen Conidiobolus coronatus secretes several proteinases into culture broth. Using a combination of ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography, we purified to homogeneity a serine proteinase of Mr 30,000-32,000, as ascertained by SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme showed subtilisin-like activity.

Preservation of tomcat (Felis catus) semen in variable temperatures.

The aim of our study was to estimate the viability of cat epididymal sperm in short time storage at +4 degrees C and in long term storage at -196 degrees C and to assess the percentage of live sperm in fresh semen using eosin/nigrosin staining compared to the flow cytometry method. The testes with epididymides were obtained after routine castration procedure. The sperm for further research were collected after flushing the epididymides using extender consist of: Tris 2.

Characteristics of fresh gander semen and its susceptibility to cryopreservation in six generations derived from geese inseminated with frozen-thawed semen.

The paper summarises seven years experiments designed to determine the effect of continuous insemination with frozen-thawed semen on fresh semen quality and sperm susceptibility to freezing stress in succeeding generations. During course of experiments, semen was collected from 10-12 White Koluda ganders at the age of 8-9 months, then subjected to freezing and used after thawing for insemination of 10 geese in order to obtain the subsequent generation of males. Semen was diluted 1 to 0.

Functional characterization of the FimH adhesin from Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis.

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis has emerged during the last 20 years as the major causative agent of food-borne gastroenteritis in humans and as the major infectious agent on poultry farms, replacing Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as the dominant pathogenic serovar. Because adhesion to gut tissues and colonization of the alimentary tract, mediated in large part by the FimH adhesins located on type 1 fimbriae, is an important stage in the pathogenesis of both serovars, the binding properties of the FimH adhesins from these two enteropathogens were compared. Salmonella Enteritidis FimH protein and the Salmonella Typhimurium low-adhesive variant of this adhesin were expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant proteins were analysed for their ability to bind glycoproteins carrying different oligomannosidic structures and different types of eukaryotic cells.

The profiles of enterotoxin genes in Staphylococcus aureus from nasal carriers.

Aims: To evaluate the occurrence of enterotoxin genes in Staphylococcus aureus recovered from nasal carriers.

Methods And Results: Eighty S. aureus strains were tested for the presence of 17 new enterotoxin genes using multiplex-PCR.

Distribution of newly described enterotoxin-like genes in Staphylococcus aureus from food.

Extensive analysis of the Staphylococcus aureus genome has allowed the identification of new genes encoding enterotoxin-like superantigens (SEls). Some of these are thought to be involved in staphylococcal food poisoning, while others do not elicit any emetic effect. The potential impact of these members of the enterotoxin-like family on the human organism seems to rely mainly on their superantigenic activity.

Preliminary studies on cryopreservation of hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) semen.

In the last decades, a significant decrease in hare population has been observed; for this reason, the aim of the study was to check if hare semen could be preserved in liquid nitrogen, with an extender used for rabbit semen. The results should provide a basis for creating a gene bank of the species. Ten ejaculates (volume above 0.

The effect of DMA level on morphology and fertilising ability of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) spermatozoa.

The effect of different levels (2, 4 or 6%) of DMA (dimethylacetamide) on the morphology and fertilising ability of unfrozen quail spermatozoa was evaluated. Semen was collected from 72 males kept individually in cages and randomly divided into four groups: Group I--control -- fresh undiluted semen (12 males) and three experimental groups (20 males each) - semen diluted 1:1 with Lake's extender and supplemented with 2% (Group II), 4% (Group III) or 6% (Group IV) of DMA (final concentration). Sperm morphology was evaluated at each step of semen preparation, i.

An osteometric study on recent roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L., 1758).

The analysis of the data shows that the growth of roe deer from the eastern part of Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) is very similar to that of specimens from other areas in Poland. A comparison with excavated bone material revealed only slight and fluctuating differences. The roe deer from the areas to the west of Poland are larger and those from the areas to the east of the country are the largest.

Differentiation of Salmonella Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum from Salmonella Gallinarum biovar Pullorum by PCR-RFLP of the fimH gene.

In our studies on FimH adhesins expressed by different Salmonella serovars, we cloned and sequenced the fimH genes from Salmonella enterica ssp. Enterica ser. Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum and S.

Characterization of FimH adhesins expressed by Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum: reconstitution of mannose-binding properties by single amino acid substitution.

Recombinant FimH adhesins of type 1 fimbriae from Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum, in contrast to those of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, did not bind to high-mannose oligosaccharides or to human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells. However, mutated FimH proteins from biovar Gallinarum and biovar Pullorum, in which the isoleucine at position 78 was replaced by the threonine found in S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, bound well to glycoproteins carrying high-mannose oligosaccharides and colon carcinoma cells.

Factors affecting killer activity of some yeast species occurring in Rokpol cheese.

Fourteen strains of Candida famata and 7 strains of C. sphaerica originating from blue-veined Rokpol cheese were studied for their ability to produce killer toxins against 3 strains of Yarrowia lipolytica selected as potential starter cultures for cheesemaking. All tested strains revealed killer activity in the presence of salt, at 14 degrees C and pH 4.

Morphological examination of the intraorbital muscles (musculi bulbi) in Persian cats in the perinatal period.

The study involved 34 fetuses of Persian cats from eight uteruses, gestational day 58. The intraorbital muscles were analysed morphologically in respect of the location of the recti muscles, oblique muscles and retractor bulbi muscle, their length and breadth, the distance of the muscle tendon insertions from the corneal limbus and the line of insertions.

Effective ways of decreasing acrylamide content in potato crisps during processing.

The aim of this work was to examine the effect of blanching or soaking in different acid solutions on the acrylamide content in potato crisps. Furthermore, the effects of a shorter frying time and a lower frying temperature combined with a postdrying were investigated. Soaking or blanching of potato slices in acidic solutions decreased the pH of potato juice and increased the extraction of amino acids and sugars.

Endoparasitic helminths of fishes of the genus Cobitis from Poland.

A total of 107 individuals of Cobitis taenia and C. elongatoides, as well as polyploid biotypes C. elongatoides x Cobitis sp.

The clinical course of the Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) field case in hens and estimation of immunoprophylaxis efficiency.

The ILT case was observed in laying hen farm where birds of different age (from 40 to 107 weeks) were kept in 10 flocks. A rapid spread of the disease, the decrease in egg production (in flock No. 1 it reached 58%) and higher mortality (the highest in 76 and 77 week-old birds, accounting for 0.

Effect of blade tenderization and tumbling time on the processing characteristics and tenderness of injected cooked roast beef.

The combined effect of blade tenderization (T, NT) and tumbling time (0, 2, 16 h) on quality characteristics of cooked beef roasts processed with 20 or 40% injection level was investigated. Properties of the beef roasts were determined by measuring processing and textural characteristics (shear force, texture profile analysis). Extended tumbling (to 16 h) favorably affected hydration properties and thermal stability, yielding lower cooking loss and purge and higher WHC for beef roasts.

Attempts on freezing the Greylag (Anser anser L.) gander semen.

Semen of Greylag (Anser anser L.) ganders was frozen according to a method previously elaborated by the authors for freezing the White Koluda gander semen. Semen was collected from five to eight Greylag ganders, twice a week during three succeeding reproductive cycles, by dorso-abdominal massage.

The effect of season on the properties of wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) semen.

The objective of the study was to determine the properties of wild boar semen and their changes in annual cycle. During a 14-month study period, 167 ejaculates were sampled from 3 mature boars. In each ejaculate the volume of liquid fraction, percentage of spermatozoa motility, spermatozoa concentration and the total number of spermatozoa were determined.

Genetic parameters of coat colour in golden fox (Vulpes vulpes L.).

Genetic parameters (heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations) of chosen coat colour traits of golden fox were estimated. 1013 animals, born on the Sniaty fox farm (Poland) in 1985-1999 were evaluated. In 1993-1999 colour type was additionally assessed for 833 animals, by detailed evaluation of coat colour on the back and sides of the body, throat colour, belly colour and the amount of silver hair.