Occurrence of reproductive disorders in pig herds with and without Chlamydia suis infection - statistical analysis of breeding parameters.

Chlamydiae are frequently encountered Gram-negative intracellular eubacteria that can cause clear manifestations or clinically asymptomatic disorders. C. suis and other chlamydia are primarily isolated in cases of reproductive disorders. This study was performed to estimate the impact of Chlamydia suis infection on reproduction in sows by analyzing reproduction rates and breeding parameters. The test was conducted on first generation (F1) pigs from Polish Landrace (PL) × Polish Large White (PLW). Sixty-four herds were investigated and 500 vaginal swabs were collected. Isolation of DNA was carried out directly from the swabs. All samples were analyzed for Chlamydia suis by real-time PCR with a locked nucleic acid (LNA)-containing probe. To analyze the impact of chlamydia infection on reproductive parameters, evaluation questionnaires were used. Reproductive problems were found in 77.3% of the farms tested. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that in the farms with 10 up to 120 sows, there were higher reproductive problems with chlamydia infection than in smaller and bigger pig farms. The most common problems were estrus repetition, which was reported by 57.81% of the surveyed farms, and the birth of dead piglets, which was reported by 31.25% of the investigated pig farms. Abortions, which were reported by 28.12% of the surveyed farms, were the least common reproductive disorders.

Dynamic Analysis of Changes of Protein Levels and Selected Biochemical Indices in Rat Serum in the Course of Experimental Pleurisy.

A significant role is played in inflammation by the liver, which, stimulated by inflammatory mediators, synthetizes plasma proteins with various dynamics. The purpose of these studies is to generate a detailed dynamic analysis of changes to concentrations of plasma and serum protein fractions and selected acute-phase proteins as well as nonspecific biochemical indices during the course of an induced pleurisy. The studies were conducted on female inbred Buffalo rats, which were divided into two groups: a control group (C) and an experimental group (IP) in which pleurisy was induced. In the IP group, significant changes in biochemical indices were observed between the 48th and 96th hours of pleurisy. A reduction of albumin, transferrin, urea, and creatinine concentrations was observed, while concentrations of the complement components C3 and C4, haptoglobin, and fibrinogen increased. An early increase of IL-1 was observed, while increases of IL-6 and TNF were noted in the later period. The maximum intensity of the processes described above occurred between the 72nd and 96th hours of pleurisy.

Novel locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based probe for the rapid identification of Chlamydia suis using real-time PCR.

BACKGROUND: As the importance of chlamydial infections in pigs has become more obvious, a rapid and sensitive method to study the prevalence of Chlamydia suis in pig herds is required. Such a method should permit routine diagnostic tests for herds with clinical and subclinical infections, without the need for Chlamydia culture. RESULTS: The main objective of this study was to develop a specific and rapid method for detecting C. suis in swine herds. A real-time PCR assay using a single locked nucleic acid (LNA)-containing probe specific for C. suis was developed based on the previously described 28S rDNA fragment used to identify Chlamydiales. Use of LNA nucleotides enabled the single probe to target a short, specific fragment of the 23S rRNA. The probe showed high specificity for C. suis and did not show any cross-reactivity with other Chlamydia or Chlamydophila species nor with swine DNA. All of the 86 tested field isolates, earlier identified as C. suis, were confirmed as positive using the newly developed assay. CONCLUSIONS: Using single LNA-based C. suis-specific probe allowed rapid and simple identification of this pathogen without requiring sequencing analysis and culturing. The proposed method may be used to study the prevalence of C. suis infection in pig herds and as a routine diagnostic test for herds with clinical and subclinical infection.

Prevalence of viral infections in cats in southwestern Poland in the years 2006 to 2010.

This study included data from 676 cats in southwestern Poland examined between 2006 and 2010. Examinations were performed to diagnose the following infections: feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline coronavirus (FCoV), feline calicivirus (FCV), and feline herpesvirus (FHV). The presence of antibodies or antigens was assessed in samples from all cats. Among examined cats, 46.9% were positive for FCV, 50% for FHV, and 38.5% for FCoV. Retroviral infections were detected more rarely: FeLV in 6.4% and FIV in 4.3% of cases.

[Epizootic situation of rabies in domestic animals in the city of Wroclaw 2000-2009]. / Sytuacja epizootyczna wscieklizny u zwierzat domowych na terenie miasta Wroclawia w latach 2000-2009.

Rabies is a viral contagious disease. During the disease there are unreversable inflammatory changes of the brain ending with death. Thus, every human and animal bite case is epidemiologicaly analyzed. The aim of the study was an analyze of cases of observation of companion and wild animals that had bitten humans in the city of Wroclaw and surrounding in the years 200-2009. In that time 925 cases were reported and observed. Among these group dogs were 81%, cat's 13,5% and other species 5,5%. In 925 observations cases 928 people were hurt, but only 10,1% contacted the doctor of human medicine.