ABSTRACT
Our aim was to compare the health and performance of ad libitum (ADLIB) and restrictedly fed Holstein Friesian heifer calves. Calves were selected to ADLIB (n = 13) and control (n = 13) groups randomly. The period of ADLIB feeding lasted for 3 weeks after colostrum supplementation. The calves in the control group received the same milk replacer, which was supplied according to the restrained feeding schedule of the farm. There was no difference between the two groups in weight, weight gain or movement activity, furthermore in the values of glucose, albumin, total protein, BHB, AST, oxidant and antioxidant status incl. dROM, PAT and OSI. The IL8 gene had higher levels (non significant, p > 0.05) of expression in the ADLIB group during the first 20 days of life, which indicates that ADLIB feeding might potentiate a stronger immune response to environmental stress. The IGF1 gene showed increased expression in the ADLIB fed group at almost all time points, however the difference was already detected on the first day of the study, indicating the importance of individual differences even within the same breed. During the first 10 days INS expression was higher in the restricted group, followed by a shift by day 20 and after, when the ADLIB group showed a higher relative expression level. The observed values describe a trend that, although not significant (p > 0.05), would seem to indicate that ADLIB feeding might potentiate a stronger immune response to environmental stress.
ABSTRACT
Q fever is a disease of high zoonotic potential, but interest in its causative agent is rather low although it causes some public health problems in Hungary. The prevalence of Q fever is highly variable by country. The main reservoirs of the disease are the same domestic ruminant species everywhere, but the epidemiological profile depends on the features of the specific reservoir. The aim of this large-scale study was to demonstrate the importance of Q fever in different species as a possible source for human infection in most regions of Hungary. A total of 851 serum samples from 44 dairy farms, 16 sheep flocks, 4 goat farms and 3 zoos located in different parts of Hungary were tested. The presence of antibodies to Coxiella burnetii was surveyed in dairy cattle (n = 547), goats (n = 71), sheep (n = 200) and zoo animals (n = 33). The animal species tested in Hungary showed different seroprevalence values of C. burnetii infection. Seropositivity by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was found in 258 out of 547 (47.2%) cows and in 69 out of 271 (25.5%) small ruminants, among them in 47 out of 200 (23.5%) sheep and in 22 out of 71 (31.0%) goats. Antibodies to C. burnetii were not detected in zoo animals. Seropositivity was demonstrated in 44 out of 44 (100%) dairy cattle farms, with at least one serum sample found to be positive on each farm. The seropositivity rate of small ruminant farms was 55.0% (11 positive out of 20 tested), with 9 out of 16 (56.3%) sheep flocks and 2 out of 4 (50.0%) goat herds showing seropositivity.
