Determination of selected biochemical parameters in blood serum and egg quality of Czech and Slovak native hens depending on the housing system and hen age.

The objective of this study was to determine and evaluate the impact of the age and housing system on blood indicators (triacylglycerides, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, total proteins, albumin, glucose) and physical egg quality parameters (egg weight, shape index and surface area, eggshell proportion, thickness, strength, and color, albumen proportion and index, Haugh units, yolk proportion, index and yolk-to-albumen ratio) in selected native breeds of the Czech Republic (the Czech Golden Spotted hens) and Slovakia (the Oravka hens). Furthermore, the concentration of cholesterol in the yolk was determined. A total of 132 animals were used. There were 60 eggs collected from each breed at each monitored period for the evaluation of egg quality. Blood samples were taken by puncture of a wing vein. The assessments were made when the hens were of 34, 42, and 50 weeks old. Enriched cages and floor pens with litter were used as housing systems. The effects of breed, housing system, and age were observed. Furthermore, interactions among these factors were calculated. The significant effect of housing system was found in total cholesterol (P = 0.098) and aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.0343) and the significant effect of age in total protein (P = 0.0392). The significant effect of breed (P = 0.0199), housing system (P = 0.0001), and age (P = 0.0001) was found in concentration of cholesterol in the yolk. Regarding the egg quality, the significant effect of breed (P = 0.0001) was found in eggshell color, albumen index and Haugh units, whereas the significant effect of housing system was found in egg weight (P = 0.0002), egg surface area (P = 0.0003), eggshell proportion (P = 0.0460), thickness (P = 0.0216), strength (P = 0.0049), and color (P = 0.0009). The significant effect of age was determined in all parameters except for the eggshell proportion and strength. The results represent an interesting comparison of changes in biochemical blood and egg quality parameters. It is necessary to further evaluate these indicators, especially in other genetic resources of hens, where the data are often nonexisting.

Trichomonas spp. in pigeons: detection by OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test.

The efficacy of the OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test (developed for rapid diagnosis of human Trichomonas vaginalis) in detection of Trichomonas spp. in pigeons (Columba livia) was investigated. Two oral cavity swabs were taken from 50 farm pigeons. Cultivation in Diamond Trichomonas medium was used as a reference method. According to a morphological determination, Trichomonas gallinae was the only protozoan found; however, no further molecular analysis was conducted. The OSOM Trichomonas test was positive in 39 oral swabs. In comparison with the cultivation method three samples were identified as false negative and one as false positive. Test specificity and sensitivity were established as 93% and 90%, respectively. Using Cohen's Kappa, the concordance between the two testing methods was found to be strong (kappa = 0.7506, 95% CI = 0.5162-0.9850). The OSOM Trichomonas test is not able to distinguish between Trichomonas species; however, results suggest that the test is suitable for the rapid detection of Trichomonas spp. infection in pigeons.