Urokinase plasminogen activator expression in canine malignant mammary tumours by immunohistochemical study

Immunohistochemical expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) was studied in 37 canine malignant mammary tumours to define the relationship between their histopathological type and grade. In 29 (78.4%) cases, expression of uPA by neoplastic cells was more than 10% and in 34 samples (91.9%) uPA expression by stromal cells (fibroblasts) was more than 10%. The uPA was expressed in epithelial and myoepithelial cells of carcinomas and carcinosarcomas and mesenchymal population of carcinosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and carcinomas arising in benign tumours. The intensity and percentage of expression of uPA by stromal cells was associated with their histological grade (P < 0.05). However, no significant relationship was detected between uPA expression by neoplastic cells (epithelial, myoepithelial, and mesenchymal cell) and histological grade. Increased expression of uPA by tumour stroma was associated with poor prognostic factors. Stromal expression of uPA could be a prognostic indicator for canine mammary tumours.

Concentrations of toxic elements in tissues of slaughtered animals and cow’s milk - a five year study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the contamination of animal muscle, liver, and milk with lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. Determination of the elements was carried out using several techniques of atomic absorption spectrometry. Between 2008 and 2012, samples of muscles and liver from 1305 cattle, 2345 pigs, 758 horses (only muscles), 1721 poultry (chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks), and 736 samples of raw milk were collected. Only 48 (0.7%) samples exceeded the maximum acceptable levels of the elements, especially lead and cadmium. In the case of lead, the highest number of samples exceeding the legal limits was found in muscles of pigs (6), where the maximum value reached 0.376 mg/kg. For cadmium, the highest number of samples (22) with values exceeding legal limits was found in muscles of horses. The cadmium content in muscles of horses, at both the mean (0.052 mg/kg) and median (0.023 mg/kg), was in order of magnitude higher than that observed in cattle and pigs. Small percentage of samples with values exceeding the maximum levels of toxic elements in food of animal origin indicates a low risk for the consumers’ health.

DNA based approaches for the detection and identification of bovine meat and bone meal in feeds

The aim of this paper was to present the results of comparative evaluation of the usefulness of PCR method for the detection and identification of bovine DNA in feeds. In the validation study, the limit of detection for PCR was determined as 0.05% for bovine meat and bone meal (MBM). Among 132 feed samples, bovine DNA was detected in eight (6.06%) samples. In the next stage of the study, sediment and flotate from the investigated samples were examined with PCR. Out of 132 sediment and flotate samples, bovine DNA was detected in eight (6.06%) and nine (6.82%) samples, respectively. On the basis of the results obtained with the use of the PCR, it is possible to state that the molecular biology methods can, at present, be used as supplementary tools for detection and identification of bovine MBM.

Influence of dietary soy isoflavones on immature hamster uterotrophic and Hershberger assays

To select appropriate diet for hamsters used in the uterotrophic and Hershberger assays two rodent diets were compared: Murigran (Agropol, Poland) and Altromin 7010 (Altromin Spezialfutter GmbH&Co., Germany). The contents of bioactive compounds in feeds were evaluated by liquid chromatography, and their oestrogenic activity by yeast enhanced green fluorescent protein assay. In opposition to Altromin, Murigran contained high amounts (μg/kg) of genistein (765 600) and daidzein (132 000), and the oestrogenic activity of these compounds, expressed as 17β-oestradiol equivalent concentration (EEQ), was found to be 9.54 μg EEQ/kg. In in vivo study, Murigran induced a high degree of oestrogenisation in immature hamsters, and females failed to exhibit a normal uterine response to recommended dose of a model oestrogen agonist 17α-ethinyloestradiol. There was no influence of the diet on the weight of five accessory sex organs (ASO): ventral prostate, seminal vesicles with coagulating glands, levator ani bulbocavernosus muscles, Cowper`s glands, and glans penis of control males. However, the impact on ASO response to model androgen agonist, testosterone propionate was observed. The obtained results provide the evidence that phytooestrogen-rich feed modulates the oestrogenic and androgenic response to chemicals.

Microbiological quality of feed materials used between 2009 and 2012 in Poland

The study was conducted at all regional veterinary diagnostic laboratories. Feed materials were examined for Salmonella prevalence and contamination by Enterobacteriaceae, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total plate count, fungi, Clostridium sp., and Bacillus cereus. Assays were done following international and Polish standards used in food and feed microbiology. Salmonella sp. were most often detected in oil seeds. In most of the examined feed ingredients, the number of Enterobacteriaceae did not exceed 10 cfu/g. The contamination by aerobic bacteria ranged most often from 101to 107 cfu/g, and the highest mycological contamination was noted in cereal grains (108 cfu/g). The results showed that microbial contamination of feed materials in regard to Enterobacteriaceae, fungi, and total plate counts declined over the past years.

ERIC-based differentiation and antimicrobial susceptibility of Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 isolated from animals serologically positive and negative for brucellosis

The paper presents the results of genotypic differentiation and antimicrobial susceptibility of Y. enterocolitica O:9 isolates that originated from cows and pigs positive in serological reactions for brucellosis, and also from the animals, which were serologically negative. The genetic relationship between Y. enterocolitica O:9 isolates originating from different sources was determined by the use of ERIC-PCR, and resulted in detection of 6 to 13 DNA amplicons of different size. The clonal analysis was based on dendrogram created by Unweighted Pair Group Method with arithmetic mean and Jaccard’s coefficient, which enabled to divide Y. enterocolitica O:9 isolates into 16 different clonal groups. Among all Y. enterocolitica O:9, MIC value was >32 mg/L for the ampicillin, ≤0.008 mg/L for ciprofloxacin, ≤8 mg/L for sulphametoxazole, ≤2 mg/L for colistin, and ≤1 mg/L for tetracycline. The wide range of MIC for ceftazidime (≤0.25-2 mg/L) and cefotaxime (≤0.06-1 mg/L) among Y. enterocolitica O:9 isolates was also observed. No significant differences were observed between MIC values of Y. enterocolitica O:9 isolates originating from animals serologically positive for brucellosis, and the isolates from cows and pigs, which provided serologically negative reactions.

Effect of linseed, rapeseed, and vitamin E long term supplementation on the activity of the lysosomal enzymes in ostrich liver

The aim of the study was to assess the activity of lysosomal enzymes: aminopeptidases, including alanine aminopeptidase (AlaAP), leucine aminopeptidase (LeuAP), arginine aminopeptidase (ArgAP), and glycosidases, such as β-galactosidase (BGAL), β-glucuronidase (BGRD), β-glucosidase (BGLU), N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase (HEX), α-glucosidase (AGLU) and α-mannosidase (MAN) in the liver of ostriches (n = 80) fed diet supplemented with linseed (4% and 8%) and rapeseed (5% and 10%), with low and high level of vitamin E. (40 and 100 mg). The results indicate that higher level of vitamin E or 4% linseed supplementation in ostrich diet generally increase the activity of glycosidase enzymes and decrease the activity of aminopeptidases in the liver. The 8% linseed and rapeseeds feeding in decreased the activity of AlaAP, LeuAP, and ArgAP and increased only the activity of BGLU.

Shedding course of bovine respiratory syncytial virus and bovine parainfluenza 3 virus in calves vaccinated intranasally

Shedding time of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV3) in calves vaccinated intranasally with modified live Rispoval RS-PI3 vaccine was determined. Blood and nasal swabs were collected on selected days before and after vaccination. Antibodies against BRSV and BPIV3 were tested by Respiratory ELISA Pentakit and the viral RNA was detected by RT-PCR. Twenty eight days after administration of the vaccine, a marked increase of specific antibody titres to BRSV and BPIV3 was detected in vaccinated calves. All animals were RT-PCR positive both for BRSV and BPIV3. Both viruses were excreted with nasal discharges within 8 d after vaccination but the course of shedding in individual calves was variable.

Forkhead transcription factor complex with special focus on Foxp3, Foxn1, and Foxj1 genes determining immunological parameters - a review

The Forkhead genes (transcription complex Fox) play many important roles in the maintenance and determination of biological processes underlying carbon-based life. The expression of Fox genes occurring as a result of reciprocal interactions at the transcriptional level influences the correct function of the immune system as regards the context of general activity of immunological parameters, as well as exposure to aetiological agents. In the case of model organisms and species, in which the knowledge about genomic sequences is incomplete, understanding the above-mentioned transcriptional complex is still insufficient, despite the existence of numerous scientific publications. It is worth noting that Fox genes exist in amphioxus Branchiostoma lanceolatum and in the majority of species they were not characterised. Among many coding sequences included in the transcriptional complex Forkhead, Foxp3, Foxn1, and Foxj1 genes are of a great importance from immunological point of view, being partially jointly responsible for determining features related to productivity. The paper provides general characterisation of selected Fox genes and is an introduction to the presentation of new data, which can be applied at the level of biological differentiation of the populations of domestic and wild animals.

Occurrence of extended spectrum β-lactamaseand AmpC-producing Escherichia coli in meat samples

The aim of the study was a preliminary determination of occurrence of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)- and AmpC-producing Escherichia coli (E.coli) in raw meat samples collected from slaughter-houses located in different regions of Poland. A total of 141 samples were tested, comprising 78 pork samples, 44 beef samples, and 19 chicken meat samples. Isolated and identified E. coli strains were examined for the ESBL and/or AmpC β-lactamases production by the use of four disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration tests. All strains positive in one or both tests were examined by PCR for the presence of the blaCTX, blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCMY-2 group genes. During the study, 154 E. coli strains were isolated from 95 samples. Among these, 18 (11.7%) strains were identified in phenotypic tests as ESBL-producing and seven (4.5%) strains as AmpC-positive. The presence of the genes encoding selected ESBL-s (TEM, CTX, SHV) was identified in 14 of the strains recognised as ESBLpositive in phenotypic tests. All AmpC-positive isolates showed the presence of the CMY-2 group encoding genes. One of these strains had also the CTX-M and TEM genes, and four of them expressed the TEM marker.