[Clinical studies of patients with spinal cord metastases]. / Klinichni prouchvaniia pri bolni s grubnachnomozuchni metastazi.

Eighty-one patients with spinal-cord tumors are hospitalized in the Clinic of Emergency Neurology and Neurosurgery over the period 1988 through 1997. Of the total number, 74 patients of which 25 presenting metastases from neoplasms with primary location out of the central nervous system, are subjected to operation. There are 4 tumors involving the cervical segment, 1--cervicothoracic, 17--thoracic, 1--thoracolumbar, and 2--lumbar segment. Histological verification is done in all patients operated on. The indications for undertaking surgery in this particular contingent of patients are discussed.

[Effect of different lighting regimens in the commercial raising of breeders]. / Vliianie na razlichni svetlinni rezhimi pri promishleno otglezhdane na broileri.

Studied was the effect of illumination of varying length and intensity under the industrial raising of broilers. It was found that the use of an illumination programme with an interrupted light regime and low intensity of light affected the live weight, feed intake per unit of produce, and morbidity and mortality rate. The economic effect produced with the introduction of an illumination programme with an interrupted light of low intensity after the first week of BTR-3 regulation consisted in the increase in the production results in the conditions of industrial broiler arising.

[Effect of the lighting regimen during the raising of breeding and market laying hens]. / Vliianie na svetlinniia rezhim pri otglezhdane na podrastvashti i stokovi nosachki.

Studied was the effect of illumination intensity on the physiologic state of the body, growth and development, egg laying capacity and the economic effectiveness in the raising of growing stock laying hens and adult ones in three-tier cell batteries of the BKM-3 and BHK-H types. The content of hemoglobin, total protein, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and erythrocyte count. Determined was also the content of some fat-soluble vitamins in the liver as well as the glycogen level in the liver and muscles and the amount of blood sugar. Certain changes were established in the investigated hematologic and biochemical indices along with the rise of effectiveness in using an illumination programme of low light intensity with regard to the type of birds mentioned above.

[Effect of artificial air ionization on broilers]. / Vliianie na izkustvenata ionizatsiia na vudukha vurkhu broileri.

Tested was the artificial ionization of the air in climatic chambers in attempts to maintain the abiotic ecologic factors within the parameters required by the industrial technology of raising. The feeding and raising of birds were carried in accordance with the provisions of the Bulgarian State Standard requirements. The experiments were carried out with day-old chick broilers divided into two equated groups. All parameters of the production milieu in which the groups were kept were unified with the exception of the ionization of air. The latter was effected following the pattern of a special programme worked out by the authors' team, providing for various exposures and concentrations of the ions in dependence on the age of birds. The investigation of the abiotic and biotic factors acting in the two chambers has revealed a reliable drop of the microbial contamination of the air under the effect of artificial ionization. It has been found that air ionization applied according to the tested programme stimulates the life processes in the body of broilers as evidenced by the anabolic processes with proteins, the higher vitamin A and E level in the liver, and the activation of haemopoiesis. As the result of the reduced microbial contamination of the air and the biologic action of the air ions on the body of the birds in the test group higher weight was obtained (by 19 g) as against the controls at a lower feed intake per unit of gain, with higher indices of the poultry meat. The chemical investigation of such meat of the test group birds has revealed higher protein and essential amino acid content.

[Causes of disorders affecting the hatching and viability of broiler chicks]. / Prouchvane vurkhu prichinite za smushteniia v liupimostta i zhiznesposobnostta na pileta-broileri.

Studies were carried out on the hatchability and broiler-bird viability in dependence on meeting the needs of parental birds of vitamins A and E. The experiments were carried out under productive conditions with material taken from four poultry farms. The forage mixtures intended for parental birds were sampled with regard to studying the content of carotene, vitamins A and E, fats, aldehydes, protein calcium, and phosphorus. The same content was followed up also with establishing the biologic activity of vitamin E in breeding eggs of layers at different age. A correlation was established between vitamin A and vitamin E in the forage mixtures for the parental birds and the hatchability and viability of the broilers. Thus, at values for A and E vitamins 6970 UI, resp. 3772 UI hatchability dropped by 1,7 per cent and the number of birds of low viability rose by 3,16 per cent, which was associated with the deficient amounts of carotenoids, and A and E vitamins in the eggs for breeding.

[Toxicological evaluation of "Farmakhim" thiabendazole in mammals and birds]. / Toksikologichni prouchvaniia na tiabendazol "Farmakhim" pri bozainitsi i ptitsi.

Studied were the acute toxicity (albino mice and rats, chicken broilers), species specific tolerance (lambs, sheep, goats, pigs, calves, chicks, chickens), and subchronic toxicity (albino rats, pigs, pulets) of tiabendazole Pharmachim (TP). It was found that LD50 of TP at the oral application to albino mice, weighing 18-20 g was 2.7 g (2.14 divided by 3.40) per kg for albino rats weighing 120-200 g it proved technically undeterminable. For broilers at one month it was 4.0 g (2.54 divided by 6.28) per kg. LD50 of TP of the firm Merck Sharp and Dome for albino mice was 2.9 g (2.28 divided by 3.68), and for broilers -- 5.0 g (4.31 divided by 5.8) per kg. The lethal dose for lambs was 400 mg/kg, for sheep -- 800 mg/kg, for goats -- 500 mg/kg, and for calves -- 500 mg/kg. When treated with amounts of 450 and 850 mg/kg pigs vomited. The same was true of drugs when offered the preparation at the rate of 300 mg/Kg chicks and chickens tolerated amounts of 500 mg/kg. TP was well tolerated by pigs, rats, and pullets when given with the feed for 30 days in 0.1 per cent conc.; in 0.4% conc. (pigs), 0.5% (albino rats), 0.3% (pullets), and 1% (albino rats and pullets) led to the arrest of growth and rise of transaminases and urea in the blood serum (rats and pigs) and the adverse effect of the red blood picture (rats, pigs, and pullets). Histologically, there were vascular troubles and granular degeneration that predominated in the kidneys, and were more slightly expressed in the remaining parenchymal organs.

[Effect of lighting intensity on protein metabolic indices in broilers]. / Vliianie na intensivnostta na osvetlenieto vurkhu niakoi pokazateli na beltuchnata obmiana u pileta broileri.

Studies were carried out on illumination of varying intensity with regard to some indices of protein metabolism in raising broiler chickens. The changes were followed up in the content of total proteins in the blood plasma and that of liver and breast muscle proteins. Determined were the amount of blood serum urea and the activity of serum transaminases (GOT and GPT) along with the content of lipoproteids and free amino acids. The level of proteins in the blood, liver, and breast muscles was found to be higher in birds raised in the conditions of lower illumination intensity. The amount of free amino acids in the serum showed lower values with birds of the test group. The content of beta-lipoproteids was higher in birds raised under illumination of 4-5 lux/m2 intensity as against that in birds raised under illumination of 7.5 lux/m2.

[Effect o the lighting regimen on breeding chickens of the Plymouth Rock strain]. / Prouchvane viliianieto na rezhima na osvetlenie pri razplodni ptitsi ot porodata plimutrok.

Studied was the effect of various illumination regimes on breeding birds of the Plymouth line 33. Examined were some hematologic and biochemical indices (vitamin content, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin amount, total protein, calcium and inorganic phosphorus in the blood serum, and alkali reserves of the blood). The liveweight, morbidity rate, development of internal genitalia, egg laying, hatchable eggs and their incubation quality, and the intake of feed per unit of produce were also followed up. Established were the contents of vitamin A, total protein, and alkali reserves of the blood under the effect of light intensity. Besides, some changes in the level of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, calcium, and inorganic phosphorus in the blood serum were noted. Data are given with regard to the changes in the development of the internal genital organs, egg laying capacity, incubation properties, and forage intake per unit of produce as they set in under the influence of illumination intensity.

[Effect of the lighting intensity on carbohydrate metabolic indices in broilers]. / Vliianie na intenzivnostta na osvetlenieto vurkhu niakoi pokazateli na vuglekhidratnata obmiana u pileta broileri.

Studies were carried out to establish the effect of light of various intensity on some of the indexes of the carbohydrate metabolism. The changes were followed up in the content of liver and muscle glycogen, and the amount of pyruvate was determined in the blood of the birds along with the activity of the glucose-6-phosphatase and succinate dehydvatase enzymes in the liver. No statistically significant changes in the liver glycogen were established under the effect of the illumination regime. A higher amount of muscle glycogen was found in birds raised at lower illumination intensity. This was better manifested in birds at the age of 45 days. The lower intensity of light was also associated with certain drop in the activity of the liver enzymes. There was likewise a lower concentration of blood pyruvate in birds kept at lower intensity of illumination.

[Etiopathogenesis and prevention of encephalomalacia in chickens]. / Prouchvania vurkhu etiopatogenezata i profilaktikata na entsefalomalatsiiata po piletata.

Studies were carried out on the dissemination of encephalomalation with chickens. The quality of the feeding-mixes, meant for the different categories of fowls, was also studied with regard to the contents of vitamins, fats, aldehyde and peroxide number and antioxidizers. The contents of vitamin E was also determined, as well as its biological activity in a biological material. The prophylactic effect of different vitamin preparations was tested in combination with other means of prophylaxis of broilers against encephalomalation. It was proved that the increase of aldehydes and peroxides in feeding-mixes could lead to the appearance of encephalomalation with chickens. The quantity of santokvin--200 g/t of fodder enabled the good conservation and preservation of the biological activity of vitamin E. The index 'biological activity' is a more appropriate criterium for a supply of chickens with vitamin E, rather than its quantitative contents in biological substrates. On the basis of the experiments made, a disgram is offered about the prophylaxis of encephalomalation with chickens.

[Effect of population density on the raising of broiler chickens]. / Prouchvaniia vurkhu vliianieto na gustotata pri otglezhdane na pileta broileri.

Experiments were carried out to study the influence of density in industrial broiler-raising. They took place during different seasons of the year and with a different density of habitation (12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 pieces on m2) and through an optimization of technological indices in broiler-raising. The dynamism of microclimatic indices was traced out (temperature, humidity, gas composition, dust and microbe contamination of air in the buildings having a different density of habitation. Hematological and biochemical studies were carried out concerning total protein, protein fractions, contents of hemoglobin and number of erythrocytes, as well as the contents of alkaline reserves of blood. The experiments were also devoted to the growth and development, the consumption of fodder for a single unit of production, the morbidity rate and the death rate with chickens raised in different density. It was proved that the density of habitation exerts an influence over microclimatic indices. If the density is greater the contents of ammonia in the buildings is by 1.5 times over the zoohygienic requirements. Under the influence of the density of habitation certain changes occurred concerning the hematological and biochemical indices of blood. A correlation was observed between the density of habitation and the development of some diseases. Certain changes occurred also in the growth and in the development of broilers. By virtue of the results obtained, suggestions are put forward to optimize the density of habitation in industrial broiler-raising.

[Fatty liver syndrome in laying hens]. / Vurkhu chernodrobniia tlustinen sindrom pri kokoshki nosachki.

Pathomorphological and biochemical investigations on liver and blood serum laying hens affected by the liver obesity syndrome were carried out. It was established that the mortality due to the liver obesity syndrome varies within the range of 3.1 and 3.7% for the entire period of exploitation. A rise in mortality is observed in case fodder mixtures with higher peroxide and aldehyde number are prepared. Besides the typical changes in the liver, the pathologo-anatomical investigation established varying in its expression duodenitis of rupture of the liver and hemorrhage. In hens suffering from advanced liver obesity an increased content of total protein in the blood serum was observed. The relative and absolute content of prealbumens and albumens was also higher, while the content of globulins was relatively lower. The content of beta-lipoproteins was raised and total lipids in the blood serum were considerably increased. The investigation on total lipids and lipid fractions in the liver established a correlation between the extent of obesity and the content of total lipids. A trend toward increasing the total and particularly the esterificated holesterin was evident in affected birds. The chemical investigation of various lots of fodder mixtures established often cases of rancid fats, which was manifested by high values of the peroxide and aldehyde number. The aminoacid composition of fodder also varied too much. It is assumed that besides the genetic control of liver obesity rancid fats and insufficient content of essential amino acids in the fodder mixtures also lead to an increased mortality percentage in the affected birds.

[Changes in the biochemical and morphological indices of broiler chickens depending on the temperature and humidity conditions]. / Vurkhu promenite v niakoi biokhimichni i morfologichni pokazateli u pileta broileri v zavisimosti ot temperaturno-vlazhnostniia rezhim.

A varying temperature and humidity regime was tested on a total of 200 hybrid birds (White Plymouth Rock x Cornish crosses). Investigated were some indices of the carbohydrate metabolism and the deposition of vitamins in the organism as well as the effect of the temperature and humidity regime on the growth and development of broilers. It was established that the content of glycogen in the liver and the muscles in birds raised first at 32 degree C and relative air humidity of 65--70 per cent was higher than in birds raised at 36 degree C and relative air humidity of 45--50 per cent. Besides, these observations were coupled with some changes in the content of blood sugar and the amount of A and E vitamins in the liver. The body weight of the test broilers by the end of the experiment was 30 grams higher than that of the control group broilers.

[Effect of the temperature-humidity regimen on broiler resistance and on the efficacy of coccidiostats in experimental coccidial infection]. / Vliianie na temperaturno-vlazhnostniia rezhim vurkhu ustoichivostta na pileta broileri i efikasnostta na koktsidiostatitsite pri eksperimentalno invazirane s koktsidii.

Experiments are carried out to elucidate the effect of the temperature and Moisture Regime on the resistance of broiler chickens to an experimental infection with coccidia and how far the prophylactic, anti-coccidial activity of coccidiostatics may be raised or reduced on this basis. During the experiment, prior to and after the infection of the chicken, investigations have been carried out on the morphological and biochemical composition of the blood, determining the contents of hemoglobin, total protein, vitamin A and vitamin E. It is established that the hematological and biochemical indices correlate with the course followed by the coccidiosis process and are related to the temperature and moisture regime in tending the broilers. If all other conditions are similar, the coccidiostatic activity of the Pankoksin Plus preparation is reduced both at lower temperatures and at higher degrees of infection with coccidia in broilers, and at a higher temperature and a lower relative, air moisture. The resistance of broiler chickens, grown at a temperature of 32 degrees C and air moisture of 70--75%, to coccidia infection is higher as compared with that of broiler chickens, kept at a higher temperature and a lower air moisture.

[Effect of fluorescent lighting on the growth of broiler chickens]. / Vliianie na luminestsentnata svetlina pri otglezhdane na pileta broileri.

The effect was followed up of green luminiscent light on the growth rate of broiler chickens. The experiments were carried out in a climatic chambers of the Zootron type with a total of 400 day-old chicks kept continuously under such light, which had permanent intensity. In one of the chambers the light was produced by means of a red hot wire, and in the other--through green illumination devices. Within the experimental period of 56 days the chicks were studied in terms of their hematologic and biochemical blood composition (hematocrit, erythrocyte count, total serum protein, liver glycogen, muscle glycogen, carotene, A and E vitamins). Investigated were also the blood sugar and lactic acid levels, and the activity of aldolase, glucose-6-phosphate, succindehydrogenase. It was found that green luminescent light influenced positively the weight gain (3.5%) at lower feed intake as against broilers raised under ordinary light of the same intensity. Certain changes were observed also with regard to the hematological and biochemical indices of the blood of birds belonging to the two groups.

[Effect of the lighting intensity on the raising of broiler turkey poults]. / Vliianie na intenzivnostta na svetlinata pri otglezhdane na puicheta broileri.

Experiments were carried out with turkey poults of the Ten 30 breed with the purpose to establish the changes in some hematologic and biochemical indices that had taken place under the influence of illumination intensity. It was found that the light regime influenced hemopoiesis as well as the intensity of metabolism. Both the hemoglobin content and the erythrocyte count were higher at illumination of higher intensity. The amount of the blood serum total protein and the vitamin A content of the liver under lower light intensity proved higher by the end of the experiments than in the controls. The weight of poults at lower intensity of light was 5--6 per cent higher, and the intake of forage per kilogram of weight gain was 150 g lower than with poults raiseatd higher intensity of illumination.

[Effect of the temperature-humidity regime during broiler raising on serum proteins and amino acids]. / Vliianie na temperaturo-vlazhnostniia rezhim vurkhu serumnite proteini i aminokiselini pri otglezhdane na pileta broileri.

The study on the effect of the temperature and moisture regime on the serum proteins and amino acids in broiler chickens has revealed that under the conditions of relatively lower temperatures and higher relative moisture levels the total protein, the albumin, and the gamma-globulin fraction show higher contents. Noticeable are also some changes in the content of the bound amino acids (tyrosin, alfa- and beta-alanine, aspartic acid, and glycin) in the blood sera that are likewise depending on the temperature and moisture regime. The total amount of amino acids and the free forms of arginine and lysine are at higher levels in the broilers raised prior to the experiment at 32 degrees C and relative air humidity 70--75 per cent. With the remaining free and bound amino acids in the blood serum there are no differences in broilers raised at various temperature and moisture regimes. The body weight of broilers raised prior to the experiment at 32 degrees C and relative air humidity 70--75 per cent is higher, while the consumption of forage for kilogram weight gain is lower as compared to that with birds raised at higher temperature and lower relative humidity (35--45 and 50 per cent).

[Efficacy of aerosol disinfection with lactic acid and its effect on the body of poultry]. / Efikasnost na aerozolnata dezinfektsiia s mlechna kiselina i vliianieto i vurkhu organizma na ptitsite

Comparative studies were carried out to establish the efficacy of lactic acid as a disinfection means. The following pattern was observed in employing the agent: a 20 per cent conc. of the acid at the rate of 20 cu. cm per cubic meter is dispersed three times as an aerosol (at 8, 12, and 6 oclock) in the course of twenty minutes. It was found that the microbial contamination of the air drops three to four times. More pronounced is the bactericidal effect on the coliforms and moulds. The birds of the group treated with lactic acid gain 30 g more per day up to the end of the fattening period. Dependable is the higher serum level of protein as well as the higher protein content of the liver and heart musculature and of the essential amino acid tryptophane in the blood serum and liver of the test birds. Higher was also the glycogen content of the liver of the test group broilers.