Investigation of the correlation between virulence factors and genotypic profiles of Candida albicans isolated from turkeys.

Candida albicans exists as an element of the normal flora in the skin, mucosa, and gastrointestinal tract, which is the principal reservoir for this organism. When the delicate balance in the host-yeast relationship is tipped in favour of the microorganism by antimicrobial treatment, illness, or other debilities of the host, fungi may overgrow and cause disease, such as candidiasis. The aim of this study was to analyse three virulence factors, haemolysin, proteinase, and phospholipase, with the genotypic profiles of C. albicans isolated from turkeys and to investigate if any correlation between these features exists. The genotypic profiles were generated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the RDS6 primer, and the enzymatic activity was evaluated in culture. Among the C. albicans isolates, four genotypic profiles using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and three enzymatic profiles were defined. Genotypic profile A was characterised by seven bands, genotypic profile B was characterised by nine bands, genotypic profile C was characterised by nine bands, and genotypic profile D was characterised by four bands. Enzymatic profile I demonstrated no haemolysin or proteinase activity, but phospholipase activity was present; enzymatic profile II displayed no proteinase activity, but haemolysin and phospholipase activity were produced; and enzymatic profile III revealed all three types of enzymatic activity. The genotypic profiles were strictly correlated with the enzymatic profiles among the C. albicans isolates from poultry.

Molecular analysis of Trichomonas gallinae in racing pigeons from Upper Silesia, Poland.

The aim of the study was the molecular analysis of ITS1/5.8S rRNA/ITS2 region of Trichomonas gallinae isolates from racing pigeon lofts in Upper Silesia, Poland. The analysed region is very useful for the taxonomy of the Trichomonadidae family and indicates the possible existence of different genotypes or species within the T. gallinae. A comparison of the complete ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of obtained sequences revealed two different sequences. Twenty-three of the isolates (62%) showed the first sequence (KU954106) while fourteen isolates (38%) showed the second sequence type (KU954107), which were homologous with sequences from Genbank. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the two T. gallinae genotypes which occurred in the pigeons from Upper Silesia are widespread among European countries.

Morphology of immune organs after very virulent plus strain of Marek's disease virus infection in vaccinated hens.

Marek's disease (MD) outbreaks in poultry flocks may be associated with overriding of vaccine immune protection by very virulent (vvMDV) or very virulent plus (vv+MDV) strains. This paper presents the study on lymphoid organ morphology in the latent phase of MD caused by vv+MDV which break post-vaccinal protection in hens. We also immunohistochemically examined B and T populations as well as B/T and CD4+/CD8+ ratio of lymphocytes in lymphatic organs and, as a background, in MD lymphomas from non-lymphatic organs. The number of antigen expressed cells was evaluated as a percentage of positive cells in the one power field. Organ samples were collected from 24 dead reproductive hens (Ross 308 line) in age between 35-56 weeks, infected with vv+MDV. The hens originated from farms with MD outbreaks, despite earlier routine vaccination with CVI988/Rispens + HVT. The control organ samples originated from 15 clinically healthy hens at the same age and line, subjected to the same vaccination schedule. The number of CD3+, CD8+ and TCRγδ+ cells was significantly lower in MDV infected thymus, spleen and cecal tonsils in comparison to that found in the control organs. The proportion of CD4+ was also distinctly reduced in the thymus and limited in the spleen of MDV infected hens. This study revealed that infection with field vv+MDV isolates might break post-vaccinal protection and influence the central and peripheral immune system. The decrease in CD8+ and TCRγδ+ cell number in the thymus, spleen and cecal tonsils suggests that primarily these cells are involved in cell-mediated cytotoxicity against MDV transformed cells during latency.

Prevalence of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in Poland from 2010-2014.

This study investigated the prevalence of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) infections during the past five years (2010-2014) in broiler chicken flocks in Poland. The diagnosis of IBH was based on anatomopathological investigations and histopathological analyzes. IBH was the most prevalent disease in broiler flocks in Poland (10.4%) during this time period, and occurred as a primary infection. The fewest cases of IBH occurred in the summer, suggesting that the temperature may have been a possible stressor that increased susceptibility to IBH. However, over the last 5 years the occurrence of clinical IBH cases in Poland has systematically decreased.

Effect of humic-plant feed preparations on biochemical blood parameters of laying hens in deep litter housing system.

An influence of various humic-plant feed additives based on some herbs (nettle, chamomile, yarrow, perforatum), lucerne and humic materials on biochemical indices of Lohmann Brown (LB) layers blood plasma was estimated. Hens were housed in deep litter system, 20 birds in a group. Four groups were formed: control (C - standard feeding), and experimental, supplemented with prepara- tions: E-1 herbal-humic, E-2 humic-herbal and E-3--humic-lucerne. Hens were placed in the pens on the 16th week of life, addition of preparations with standard food mixture started at the 22nd wk and lasted until 66th wk of life. Blood for analyses was collected four times in the following periods: 27, 37, 54 and 65th wk of life. The applied humic-plant preparations to a limited degree affected the values of examined biochemical parameters in serum: total protein (TP), albumins (Albs), glucose (Glu), urea, triacylglycerols (TAG), total cholesterol (TCh), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminot- ransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). It is difficult to determine based on these study, which preparation is one the most active biologically, however is seems that humic-lucerne prepara- tion affected the examined blood parameters to the highest degree. The reference values ranges in hens blood serum LB hens were proposed for: TP (43-65 g/l), Albs (15-22 g/l), urea (0.5-1.2 mmol/l), Glu 10-15 mmol/l), TCh (2.2-4.5 mmol/l), TAG (10-24 mmol/l), AST (4-12 U/l), ALT (150-280 mmol/l) and ALP (190-350 U/l).

The development and evaluation of cross-priming amplification for the detection of avian reovirus.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate cross-priming amplification (CPA) for the detection of avian reovirus (ARV). METHODS AND RESULTS: Five specific primers were designed, on the basis of the σNS sequence of the S1133 ARV strain. Incubation temperature and primer concentrations were determined. The optimal incubation conditions in a water bath were 61.3°C for 45 min. No reverse transcription stage was required. The results were recorded under UV light illumination as a bright, greenish fluorescence in positive samples, and through the lack of this in negative controls and samples. Additionally, the gel electrophoresis performed during analysis showed the presence of ladder-like patterns, formed by hairpin-like CPA products. The developed CPA method was compared to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR. Sensitivity of CPA was estimated using seven dilutions of standard S1133 strain and reached 0.05 log10 TCID50 ml(-1). RT-PCR sensitivity reached 2.5 log10 TCID50 ml(-1) and was 1000 times lower than for CPA, whereas real-time RT-PCR sensitivity reached 1.5 log10 TCID50 ml(-1). Analysis of 32 RNAs extracted from field specimens showed the presence of an ARVσNS fragment in 4 (12.5%) samples. Interestingly, the positive samples originated from flocks affected by Marek's disease (MD) or fowl adenovirus (FadV). RT-PCR was unable to detect ARV, due to its lower sensitivity. However, the real-time RT-PCR that was conducted confirmed the CPA study. CONCLUSIONS: CPA is a very sensitive and rapid method, which allows ARV detection using simple laboratory equipment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report on the application of the CPA method for detection of ARV, using simple laboratory equipment.

Occurrence of reovirus infection in Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) in south western Poland.

During the summer 2012 an incidence of high mortality, above 44 percent, in two flocks of Muscovy ducklings in Poland was noted. The clinical signs included considerable weight loss and inability to walk. During the post-mortem evaluations dehydration and enteritis, gouty kidneys as well as hemorrhagic liver and spleen lesions were found. The laboratory diagnosis included agar gel precipitation assay (AGP) as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription PCR for the presence of goose parvovirus (GPV), duck circovirus (DuCV), duck reovirus (DRV) and avian reovirus (ARV). Interestingly, the examinations performed by AGP showed partial reactivity of liver homogenates from Muscovy ducklings with chicken S1133 antiserum. The presence of duck reovirus RNA was also detected by real-time RT-PCR targeting the chicken reovirus sigma NS fragment, while the sequencing showed major similarity to chicken S1133, 1733, GX/2010/1 and TARV-MN2 reovirus strains. The virus sequence was also related to a previously isolated TH11 strain from Muscovy ducks in China. Further study is needed in order to explain the particular epidemiology of the reovirus infection of Muscovy ducklings.

Morphine or bupivacaine in controlling postoperative pain in patients subjected to knee joint arthroscopy.

Background. We investigated the efficacy of intra - articular bupivacaine with morphine administration after knee joint arthroscopy.
Material and methods. The present study compared intra- arthicular bupivacaine with intra-arthricular morphine for postoperative analgesia in 56 patients (21 women, 35 men) (age 20-70, mean 39.8) undergoing knee joint arthroscopy.
Intraoperatively, the patients received anaesthesia spinaly (0.5 % Marcaine spinal ASTRA) and immediately following surgery received 10 ml intra-arthricular injection consisting either of 0.5 % bupivacaine (group I), 5 mg morphine + 0.9 % saline (group II).Postoperative analgesia was supporeted by intravenous doses of proefferalgan.
In all patients the visual analogue pain score (VAS), PaO2, systolic blood preassure (SABP), diastolic blood preassure (DABP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f), supplemented analgesia and possible side effects were monitored postoperatively.
Results. Intra-arthricular administration of each solution was well toleratede and non side effects were noted.
There was non significant difference among the two groups in monitored parameters. The mean time of postoperative analgesia was 185,7 +/- 25.3 min for bupivacaine group and 390.3 +/- 35,4 min for morphine group.
Total amount proefferalgan supplamentation was the highest in group I.
Conclusions. Postoperative intra- arthricular injections of bupivacaine and morphine for patients undergoing knee joint arthroscopy can provide a safe and effective analgesia and therefore shound be recommended and widely implamented into the clinical use as a standard procedure.

Changes in chicken egg white cystatin concentration and isoforms during embryogenesis.

1. A higher concentration of cystatin, measured using the ELISA technique, was found in whites from unfertilised than fertilised eggs. 2. Up to day 8 of embryogenesis a decrease in cystatin concentration was observed, then at d 10 the concentration rose reaching the maximal value at d 14. 3. Immunoblot analyses showed both phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated isoforms of chicken cystatin in unfertilised egg white as well as in egg yolk and chicken serum. 4. Significantly lower immunostaining of the phosphorylated form after the 4th d of embryogenesis in egg white suggests its preferential transport into the yolk sac.

Large skin arteries of the leg and foot in man.

The anatomical method with Computer Digital Image Analysis system served to examine large skin arteries of the crus and the foot in 152 human specimens. Their sources were: 1. popliteal artery (rr. gastrocnemii:medialis--62.89%, lateralis--78.95%), 2. anterior tibial artery (a. peronealis lateralis superior--97.37%, a. peronealis lateralis inferior--62.50%, a. collateralis inferior lateralis--78.95%), 3. posterior tibial artery (r. circumflexus fibulae--75.66%, r. soleus lateralis--48.03%, r. musculi flexoris hallucis longi--84.87%), 4. peroneal artery (r. perforans--86.84%) and 5. medial plantar artery (r. profundus--89.47%). The following ones characterized themselves with the longest course: a. peronealis lateralis superior (112 +/- t21 mm), r. gastrocnemius medialis (93 +/- 11 mm) and r. soleus lateralis (91 +/- 8 mm). The largest flaps supplied successively: r. gastrocnemius medialis (8530 +/- 1125 mm2), a. peronealis lateralis superior (7920 +/- 1227 mm2), r. profundus a. plantaris medialis (7580 +/- 1820 mm2), r. gastrocnemius lateralis (7320 +/- 1320 mm2), r. soleus lateralis (7140 +/- 1630 mm2) and a. collateralis inferior lateralis (6220 +/- 1981 mm2).

[Implantation of bifurcated aorto-femoral vessel prosthesis in patient after myocardial infarction]. / Wszczepienie rozwidlonej protezy aortalno-udowej u chorego po zawale serca.

A case of 44-year old man admitted to Surgery Dept. Because Leriche syndrome was described. Three months earlier patient was treated because of severe myocardial infarction complicated with shock and cardiac arrest. During actual hospitalisation bifurcated aorto-femoral vessel prosthesis was implanted with good clinical result.

Histological and ultrastructural examination of muscles in broilers administered tiamulin together with ionophoric anticoccidials.

Histopathological and ultrastructural examinations of muscles in broilers, receiving tiamulin and ionophoric anticoccidials were carried out. Myo- and cardiomyopathies, originating from primary mitochondria lesions were followed by ATP deficiency, oedema, degeneration and necrosis of myocytes. This process is reversible and manifested by slow regeneration of muscles.

[Effect of carotenoids on selected indicators of cellular immunity in cockerels receiving food with high level of vitamin A]. / Wplyw karotenoidów na wygrane wskazniki odpornosci komórkowej u kogutków rzeznych zywionych pasza o wysokiej zawartosci witaminy A.

The experiment was carried out on 50 slaughter cocks, aged 5 weeks. The purpose of the experiment was to estimate the effect of beta-carotene and apo-beta-carotenoic acid (10% Carophyll yellow) on some indices of cellular immunity in chicks receiving the feed of high vitamin A content. Chl and NBT proved that carotenoids increased phagocytic activity of neutrophiles in peripheral blood. Similarly, in the case of beta-carotene it was found by blastic transformation test that on 30-40th day of the experiment, the value IS of peripheral blood lymphocytes was increased. On the other hand, chicks fed apo-beta-carotenoic acid showed such an effect on 40th day of observation only in the case when the lowest dose of preparation (24 mg/kg of feed) and Con A as mitogen were applied. In each experimental group, the chicks exhibited increased flavin content in liver and markedly increased retinol content due to apo-beta-carotenoic acid (24 mg/kg of feed). On the other hand, the contents of alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid did not show significant differences between experimental and control groups. Similar were the results with iron, zinc and magnesium. Copper content of the liver was markedly increased in the birds receiving apo-beta-carotenoic acid in the dose of 24 mg/kg of feed. The increased content of manganese was observed in the liver of birds receiving beta carotene (6 mg/kg of feed).