Effect of fungal solid-state fermented product enriched with gamma-linolenic acid and ß-carotene on blood biochemistry and immunology of broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the addition of fungal solid-state fer-mented product (FP) enriched with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and ß-carotene to feed on the haematological and immunological parameters of broiler chickens. Eighty 1-day-old COBB 500 broiler chickens were divided into two groups. The control group was fed with basic diets and chickens of the experimental group received 10% addition of FP, while the amount of basic diet was reduced. FP was produced during a solid-state fermentation (SSF) process using Umbellopsis isabellina CCF2412 as a producer of GLA and ß-carotene. After 38 days of feeding, blood sam-ples were collected and analyzed. Lower total and LDL-cholesterol values were measured in blood samples of the experimental animals (p⟨0.05). However, the triacylglycerol content was higher in the experimental group (p⟨0.05). Significantly higher levels of hematocrit and hemo-globin, and lower eosinophil and basophil content in the experimental group were recorded (p⟨0.05). The experimental group showed higher numbers of B lymphocytes and greater phago-cytic capacity (p⟨0.05). The results indicate that a fermented product produced by SSF, using the fungal strain Umbellopsis isabellina, is a good source of GLA and ß-carotene, which can influence the biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters of broiler chickens.

Changes in Haematological Parameters in Wild Ruminants Experimentally Infected with Haemonchus Contortus.

Our study describes changes in haematological parameters in wild ruminants with parasitic infection. Six European mouflons (Ovis musimon), six fallow deer (Dama dama) and six roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were experimentally infected with the resistant strain of the model parasite 8000 L3 Haemonchus contortus. The blood samples were collected on Day 0, 16, 37, 58, 77, and 99 of the experiment. Mild anaemia was observed in mouflons and roe deer while red blood cells increased in red blood counts (total erythrocytes, haematocrit and haemoglobin). As for the white blood cells count, leucopenia with neutrophilia and lymphopenia was recorded in mouflons, in the fallow deer and roe deer leucocytosis with neutropenia and lymphocytosis were observed. Changes in the dynamics of haematological parameters were statistically insignificant.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum as a cause of zoophilic dermatomycosis in a human family.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum is a zoophilic form of T. mentagrophytes. It induces murine favus in the form of coarse yellow scutules bigger than 1 cm in diameter. In March, 2002, a 52-year-old male patient was examined at the Dermatology Clinic of the Medical Faculty in Kosice with a 1-week anamnesis of a solitary, oval, annular focus, 3 cm in diameter, on the right side of his face, located subauricularly. When providing the history, he has mentioned that his 12-year-old son has a ,,similar skin disease". Clinical examination of the son showed similar annular oval lesion, size about 2 x 3 cm, located in the right chest region. Since January 2002 the family has kept a guinea pig. They have obtained it through a mediator from the Kosice ZOO. The material for mycological examination was taken from peripheral parts of the foci or desquamating lesions from the father, son, and the guinea pig. Scales were examined microscopically in 20 % KOH solution with Parker's blue-black ink. The findings proved the presence of septal hyphae and formation of arthrospores. Thus, dermatomycosis was confirmed in the father and son, caused by T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum, the source of which was a pet guinea pig (Fig. 3, Ref. 17).

Elisa comparison of three whole-cell antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in serological study of dogs from area of Kosice, eastern Slovakia.

Three antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto--Slovak strain Ir 105, B. garini - Slovak strain K 24 and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto--American strain B 31) were compared by ELISA on a group of dogs from urban agglomeration of Kosice, eastern Slovakia. Of 256 serum samples from dogs examined for the presence of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies, 128 (50%) were positive with Ir 105 antigen, 107 (41.7%) with K 24 and 74 (28.9%) with B 31. The seroprevalence between strains B 31 and K 24 and B 31 and Ir 105 differed statistically significantly (test chi2, p < 0.05), however, the difference between strains K 24 and Ir 105 was insignificant. A significantly higher seroprevalence of all the strains examined was detected in hunting dogs (test chi2, p < 0.05) when compared with service and pet dogs. The seroprevalence correlated with the frequency of outing the dogs in woody areas with the occurrence of borreliae in ticks (R = 0.5 or 0.7) as well as with the frequency of finding engorged ticks (R = 0.5). An epizootiological anamnesis showed a fair specificity in all the strains examined. The Slovak strains showed the higher consistency of positive and negative findings (70%) but statistically lower specificity than the American strain.