An overview of the epidemiology and epizootology of brucellosis in selected countries of Central and Southeast Europe.

The objective of this paper is to give an overview of the epidemiologic and epizootic status of brucellosis in selected countries of Central and Southeast Europe (Balkan region). Based on dimension of the disease problem, there is a need to establish collaboration in the eradication and prevention of brucellosis between all countries in the region. Although there were no readily accessible data concerning epidemiology and epizootology of brucellosis in these countries, the limited official and published data were analyzed. The incidence of brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis in sheep, goats and humans is a very significant problem in Macedonia and Greece. In Greece, cattle are also affected either by B. melitensis or B. abortus. The disease is an endemic problem in some regions of Yugoslavia and includes B. suis biovar 2 in pigs and in Croatia, B. melitensis in sheep, goats and human is found occasionally. No problem appears to exist with brucellosis in Bulgaria. Financial well-supported brucellosis control programs of the European Union that will include all countries, regardless of the magnitude of brucellosis incidence, are needed for eradication and control of brucellosis.

[Effect of heterologous seminal plasma on the improvement of the quality of the ejaculate]. / Untersuchungen über die Wirkung von fremdem Seminalplasma auf die Verbesserung der Qualität des Ejakulates.

Seminal plasma from oligozoospermic ejaculates and ejaculates with high rate of pathological spermatozoa was substituted for seminal plasma from normal ejaculates in experiments carried out in order to improve the ejaculate quality. In these experiments the improvement of ejaculate quality could not be established. The progressive increase of 20% in the motility of spermatozoa was recorded, in 4 out of 7 ejaculates with hypokinetic motility of spermatozoa where plasma was substituted, while in one case the motility remained unchanged. When plasma from normal ejaculates was substituted for plasma from ejaculates of poorer quality, the intensity of the motility of spermatozoa decreased for 10-20% in 3 of cases while in 1 it remained unchanged. Deep freezing of ejaculates after seminal plasma was substituted did not gain satisfactory results except when cases of substitution for plasma from normal ejaculates were concerned.