The Distribution of Boars Spermatozoa in Morphometrically Distinct Subpopulations after In Vitro Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation at 2500 MHz and Their Motility.

Anthropogenic radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from wireless technologies has increased dramatically. The boar semen used for artificial insemination is essential in sustaining the pig industry, and additionally it is also exposed to the effects of the RF-EMR of wireless technologies. Furthermore, there are no data on the effects of RF-EMR on semen quality, and this is the first analysis of sperm's morphometric parameters for assessing the effect of RF-EMR on the spermatozoa subpopulations of boars. This study investigated the effect of RF-EMR on in vitro exposed breeding boar semen spermatozoa motility and the proportions of spermatozoa subpopulations according to their morphometric head and tail parameters. The semen samples of 12 boars were divided into control and experimental groups. The samples in the experimental group were exposed in a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic chamber at a frequency of 2500 MHz (the frequency band used in 5G technology) and an electric field strength of 10 Vm-1 for two hours. After exposure, the spermatozoa motility was evaluated for both groups. A morphometric analysis of the semen smears was performed using SFORM software (Version 1.0; VAMS, Zagreb, Croatia). The progressive spermatozoa motility was significantly reduced in the experimental group (74.7% vs. 85.7%). PC analysis and cluster analysis revealed two spermatozoa subpopulations: S1, spermatozoa with a more regular head shape and a smaller midpiece outline, and S2, spermatozoa with a more elongated head shape and a larger midpiece outline. The experimental semen samples had a greater proportion of the S1 spermatozoa subpopulation (68.2% vs. 64.4%). The effect of RF-EMR at 2500 MHz on the in vitro exposed boar semen resulted in decreased progressive spermatozoa motility and a lower proportion of the spermatozoa subpopulation with a higher fertilizing potential.

A retrospective cohort study of canid herpesvirus-1 seroprevalence and epidemiology in kennel dogs in Croatia.

Canid alphaherpesvirus-1 (CaHV-1) is an endemic pathogen of dogs worldwide. CaHV-1 is often related to abortions, neonatal mortality, and the death of puppies. Since the first description of the virus in 1965, there has been no generally accepted method for diagnosing CaHV-1. Many authors used the virus neutralisation test (VNT) as a 'reference standard' due to its high specificity. Nasal, vaginal, preputial swabs and serum samples for this study were collected in the population of kennel dogs in Croatia. To determine the optimal VNT protocol, three modifications of the VNT were compared. These modifications were: VNT using native serum samples, VNT using thermally inactivated serum samples, and VNT using thermally inactivated serum samples with the addition of the complement. The correlation between the results of the VNT methods was significant (P < 0.001). Of all three modifications of VNT, the one using native serum samples was the one that increased VNT sensitivity. The overall seroprevalence of CaHV-1 was 32.02%. The PCR did not confirm the CaHV-1 presence in collected swabs. According to analysed anamnestic data, significant risk factors for CaHV-1 infection were: kennel size, attendance at the dog shows, hunt trials, kennel disinfection protocols, and mating. The oestrus cycle had no significant effect on seropositivity. The study results indicate that CaHV-1 spreads horizontally between dams living in kennels and in males during mating. Although there was no correlation between seropositivity and a history of reproductive disorders, significantly more stillborn puppies were recorded in seronegative dames (P < 0.01).

Effects of in-feed clinoptilolite treatment on serum metabolic and antioxidative biomarkers and acute phase response in dairy cows during pregnancy and early lactation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of in-feed clinoptilolite (CPL) on serum metabolic and antioxidative biomarkers, acute phase proteins and reproductive performance in cows during pregnancy and lactation. A total of 78 Holstein-Friesian cows were randomly assigned into two groups: the treatment group, cows fed CPL (n = 38) which received 50 g of powdered CPL twice a day from day 180 before parturition to day 60 postpartum; and the control group (n = 40). Blood samples were taken on days 180, 90, 60, 30 and 10 before parturition, on day of calving and on days 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, 40 and 60 postpartum, and were analysed for metabolic biomarkers: glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), antioxidative biomarkers and acute phase proteins: paraoxonase-1 (PON1), apolipoprotein A-I, haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA). CPL supplementation increased concentration of glucose and significantly decreased (P < .05) level of BHB during puerperium. The SAA concentration in CPL-fed cows was significantly decreased (P < .05) on days 33, 40 and 60 postpartum as well as Hp concentration on days 0 and 12 postpartum. The results of this study suggest that the CPL-fed cows may have improved metabolic status due to the tendency of greater glucose levels and decreased BHB values during early lactation. In addition, acute phase response was lower (P < .05) in CPL-fed cows. Such an outcome might be attributed to the effect of dietary CPL on intensity and severity of the negative energy balance and inflammatory response in dairy cows.