ABSTRACT
Kidney (n = 297), liver (n = 52), jawbone (n = 80) and muscle (n = 48) samples collected from red deer (Cervus elaphus) from north-eastern Croatia in the 2002--05 hunting season were analysed for cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) using atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical evaluation of results showed age-related accumulations of renal cortex Cd and Zn, bone Pb, and muscle Zn. Renal cortex Cd and Zn were significantly associated. In addition, concentrations of Cd and Pb in muscle tissue were significantly correlated with Fe content. Found levels of toxic metals were not likely to affect the health status of animals. A total of 49% of the muscle, 60% of the kidney and 6% of the liver samples were unsuitable for human consumption according to Croatian regulations for Cd in food. However, the calculated intake of Cd through deer meat consumption is small and represents no health risk when consumption is moderate.
Subject(s)
Deer , Environmental Pollutants/analysis , Food Contamination/analysis , Metals/analysis , Animals , Cadmium/analysis , Copper/analysis , Croatia , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Iron/analysis , Jaw/chemistry , Kidney/chemistry , Lead/analysis , Liver/chemistry , Mercury/analysis , Muscle, Skeletal/chemistry , Selenium/analysis , Spectrophotometry, Atomic , Zinc/analysisABSTRACT
SETTING: This paper describes an outbreak of human and related bovine tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium caprae in Croatia. A 13-year-old boy clinically presented enlargement of cervical lymph node with consecutive isolation of M. caprae. His 7-year-old sister, who had no clinical signs of disease, hyper-reacted to the purified protein derivative (PPD) test (>25 mm) and peribronchial infiltration was found by radiology. The children came from a family that ran a small-sized cattle dairy farm. DESIGN: All cattle on the farm were subjected to cutaneous TB testing: six of the 14 reacted positive, while three were suspicious. The entire herd was slaughtered, their carcasses examined and collected material subjected to pertinent diagnostic procedures. RESULTS: Gross examination findings consistent with TB were observed in the PPD-positive cows. Mycobacteria isolated from the boy and cattle were identified by classical and molecular methods, confirming M. caprae as the causative agent. CONCLUSION: Although not bacteriologically proven, consumption of raw milk or non-pasteurised milk products from infected dairy cattle was suspected as the source of infection in humans. Our findings confirm the domination of M. caprae among cattle in Croatia and represent the first evidence of M. caprae infection in humans in Croatia.
Subject(s)
DNA, Bacterial/analysis , Dairying , Mycobacterium bovis/isolation & purification , Tuberculosis, Bovine/diagnosis , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Zoonoses , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Bacterial Typing Techniques/veterinary , Cattle , Croatia , Female , Humans , Male , Milk/microbiology , Mycobacterium bovis/classification , Mycobacterium bovis/genetics , Treatment Outcome , Tuberculin Test/veterinary , Tuberculosis/drug therapy , Tuberculosis/genetics , Tuberculosis/microbiology , Tuberculosis/transmission , Tuberculosis, Bovine/genetics , Tuberculosis, Bovine/pathology , Tuberculosis, Bovine/transmissionABSTRACT
Histological and biochemical procedures were employed to study liver histomorphology and plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferases (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TRIG), cholesterol (CHOL), glucose (GLU) and total protein (TP) in cultured (CSB) and wild sea bass (WSB) (Dicentrarchus labrax) from the northern part of the Adriatic Sea. Histopathological changes in liver included varying degrees of infiltration and lipid degeneration of hepatocytes in examined cultured fish. No significant differences between median AST values of CSB (44 IU) and WSB (45 IU) were observed. Values of ALT were <5 IU in both groups. TRIG, CHOL, GLU and TP levels were higher in CSB (2.08 mmol/L, 3.67 mmol/L, 10.66 mmol/L and 49 g/L, respectively) than in WSB (0.67 mmol/L, 2.74 mmol/L, 3.68 mmol/L and 36 g/L, respectively). The study showed differences between plasma biochemical parameters and liver histomorphology of CSB and WSB. This can be explained as a consequence of different diets (artificial in contrast to natural foods), which influence energy metabolism.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Animals, Wild/blood , Aquaculture , Bass/blood , Blood Chemical Analysis/veterinary , Liver/pathology , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Animals , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Blood Chemical Analysis/methods , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Blood Proteins/metabolism , Cholesterol/blood , Liver/enzymology , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to characterise porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) from pigs with naturally occurring postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Croatia, and to determine the epizootiological, clinical and pathomorphological features of the disease. During a systematic health monitoring programme conducted in the period from January 2002 to June 2003, PMWS was suspected on eight different pig-producing farms in Croatia. The diagnosis of PMWS met all three key criteria: the presence of compatible clinical signs, the presence of the characteristic microscopic lymphoid lesions, and the detection of PCV2 within the lesions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by in situ hybridisation (ISH). Moreover, PCV2 DNA from swine tissues was extracted and sequenced. The phylogenetic analysis of 4 Croatian PCV2 strains showed close relationship to PCV2 strains isolated in Slovenia, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, China and Hungary. PCV2 was also demonstrated by electron microscopy in the lymph node of an affected animal. This is the first demonstration of PMWS in Croatia based on all scientifically accepted diagnostic criteria.
Subject(s)
Circoviridae Infections/veterinary , Circovirus/isolation & purification , Swine Diseases/virology , Wasting Syndrome/veterinary , Animals , Circoviridae Infections/epidemiology , Circoviridae Infections/virology , Circovirus/genetics , Croatia/epidemiology , Phylogeny , Swine , Swine Diseases/epidemiology , Wasting Syndrome/epidemiology , Wasting Syndrome/virologyABSTRACT
This work presents the results of findings for brucellosis in wild boars and domestic swine in two regions of Croatia. In the region of Djakovo the blood samples of 211 wild boars were analysed and in 29.4% of the samples serologically positive reactions were established. In the same region the blood samples of 1080 domestic swine on pastures were also analysed and positive serological reactions were established in 12.3%. In the regions around Lonjsko Polje the blood samples of 53 wild boars were analysed and in 22.6% of them positive serological reactions were established. On several locations around Lonjsko Polje the blood samples of 901 domestic swine were serologically analysed and 13.5% of the swine were found to be seropositive. Bacteriological analyses of submitted materials from 24 wild boars resulted in isolation of Brucella from seven (29.2%) samples, and from 43 samples originating from domestic swine that had aborted and had been serologically positive, Brucella were isolated from 25 (58.1%) swine, as well as from 10 (62.5%) out of 16 aborted piglets. In all the isolates Brucella suis biovar 2 was identified. Wild boars are carriers and reservoirs of Brucella suis biovar 2 in Croatia.
Subject(s)
Brucella suis/genetics , Brucellosis/veterinary , Disease Reservoirs , Swine Diseases/epidemiology , Abortion, Veterinary , Animals , Animals, Domestic , Animals, Wild , Brucella suis/isolation & purification , Brucellosis/epidemiology , Croatia/epidemiology , DNA Primers , Female , Male , Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/epidemiology , Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/veterinary , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Swine , Swine Diseases/blood , Swine Diseases/etiology , Swine Diseases/transmissionABSTRACT
During the spring of 1996 and autumn of 1997 unusual mortality outbreaks among rainbow trout fry and yearlings occurred at two different trout farms, resulting in mortality of 20 and 10 per cent, respectively. Generally, the affected fish, swimming at the water surface, were reluctant to eat and were dark pigmented with visible haemorrhages around and within the oral cavity. Bacterial isolates from moribund fish from both cases were identified as Yersinia ruckeri by standard biochemical tests and API 20E. The isolated strains were found to be sensitive to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole, nalidixic acid, flumequine, enrofloxacin, carbenicillin and gentamicin. Microplate agglutination assay confirmed that both isolates belonged to serotype O1. The pathogenicity of the isolated bacteria was confirmed by challenge experiment. Titres of specific antibodies were determined in the sera of survivors. The titre was highest on the 21st day postchallenge and was detectable until the 81st day.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Fish Diseases/epidemiology , Trout , Yersinia Infections/veterinary , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Croatia/epidemiology , Fish Diseases/etiology , Fish Diseases/mortality , Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary , Serotyping/veterinary , Yersinia/classification , Yersinia/drug effects , Yersinia/isolation & purification , Yersinia/pathogenicity , Yersinia Infections/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus as well as other moulds. This mycotoxin contaminates animal feed and food. OTA is immunosuppressive, genotoxic, teratogenic, carcinogenic and is nephrotoxic in all animal species studied so far. OTA inhibits protein synthesis and induces lipid peroxidation. Since it seems impossible to avoid completely contamination of foodstuffs by toxigenic fungi, it is necessary to investigate the possible ways of limiting such toxicity. An attempt to prevent OTA-induced nephrotoxic and genotoxic effects, mainly the karyomegaly, has been made in vivo using aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester), a structural analogue of both OTA and phenylalanine. Aspartame (25 mg/kg body weight) prevented most of the nephrotoxic effects induced by OTA (289 microg/kg body weight). It also showed some utility in preventing morphological and histological damage, mainly the karyomegaly. The protective effects of aspartame on OTA-induced nephrotoxicity could be based on several mechanisms related to competitive binding to plasma proteins, to transport or tissue distribution in the kidney or to the elimination of the toxin in the urine.
Subject(s)
Aspartame/pharmacology , Cell Nucleus/drug effects , Food Contamination , Kidney Diseases/prevention & control , Kidney Tubules/drug effects , Ochratoxins/toxicity , Animals , Cell Nucleus/pathology , Creatinine/analysis , Diuresis/drug effects , Drug Interactions , Enzymes/urine , Epithelium/drug effects , Epithelium/enzymology , Epithelium/pathology , Glycosuria , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Kidney Diseases/chemically induced , Kidney Diseases/pathology , Kidney Tubules/enzymology , Kidney Tubules/pathology , Male , Ochratoxins/pharmacokinetics , Proteinuria , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Urinalysis , Weight Gain/drug effectsABSTRACT
Marteiliosis is a disease of molluscs caused by Marteilia refringens in Europe and M. sydneyi in Australia. During routine examination of cultured mussels Mytilus galloprovinciallis in the northern Adriatic, the occurrence of Marteilia sp. was recorded with a prevalence of 5%. This parasite was not detected in flat oysters reared in the same area. The affiliation of the detected parasite in M. galloprovinciallis was confirmed by in situ hybridization using a M. refringens probe, specific at the genus level. DNA of these infected mussels originating from the same area will be used to clarify the taxonomic position of this species within the genus Marteilia using a molecular approach.
Subject(s)
Bivalvia/parasitology , Parasites/isolation & purification , Animals , Croatia , In Situ Hybridization , PrevalenceABSTRACT
An abortion outbreak occurred in a herd of 38 horses, 26 of which were pregnant mares. Twenty-one mares aborted between 5-10 months of gestation. In no case were there indications of impending abortion. Pathoanatomical, histopathological, virological and bacteriological examinations were carried out on 4 aborted fetuses. Histopathology identified Gram-negative bacteria compatible with salmonella in all 4 placentae. By subsequent bacteriological examination Salmonella abortusequi was isolated as the single causative agent in each case. Nonmotile Salmonella abortusequi with antigenic formula 4,12:-:- was isolated from one of the 4 fetuses. The described episode of equine abortion clearly indicates that Salmonella abortusequi has not been eradicated from Europe as previously thought.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Veterinary/microbiology , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Horse Diseases/microbiology , Salmonella Infections, Animal/pathology , Salmonella/isolation & purification , Abortion, Veterinary/epidemiology , Animals , Croatia/epidemiology , Female , Horse Diseases/epidemiology , Horse Diseases/pathology , Horses , Necrosis , Placenta/microbiology , Placenta/pathology , Pregnancy , Salmonella Infections, Animal/complications , Salmonella Infections, Animal/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Basic field studies related to the animal population were performed in the region of Slavonski Brod, Republic of Croatia, where Balkan endemic nephropathy is an endemic disease. Pathological changes in several animal species from the locality were examined. The pig population in the area is numerous. Morphologically and physiologically pigs make an excellent animal model for studies of human diseases. Their use in studies should be encouraged, especially because there is a possibility that pigs and humans suffer from the same type of intoxication with a specific xenobiotic of natural origin. According to the mycotoxin theory about the aetiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy, pork meat might be one of the possible hazards for humans. Experiments on laboratory animals provide an excellent possibility to monitor several aspects of pathogenesis and all stages of pathomorphological changes which might then be correlated with Balkan endemic nephropathy. However, the experimental species should be critically chosen because some spontaneous, species-specific lesions of the kidneys are easily mistaken for changes induced experimentally.
Subject(s)
Balkan Nephropathy/etiology , Animals , Animals, Domestic , Disease Models, Animal , Disease Reservoirs , HumansABSTRACT
The patient did meet the expected outcomes. She was able to achieve a desired weight and continues to gain weight. Currently, consideration is being given to discontinuing IDPN therapy. The main concern is an exacerbation of her symptoms, which is often a problem with diabetic gastraparesis. BC's outlook on life is more positive. Hopefully, she will continue to be compliant with her diet, experience no increase in symptoms, and maintain this weight. As with all ESRD patients, her fluid status requires monitoring. Fluid gains are removed and she remains free of complications. BC is now able to participate in usual daily activities. She goes out to the hairdresser once a week and attends Sunday morning church service. Her sense of well-being is greatly improved. BC has expressed gratitude on numerous occasions for the treatment that she feels has saved her life. Her deteriorating physical state was severely affecting her emotional well-being. Her quality of life has been favorably altered by the intervention with IDPN therapy.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Nephropathies/therapy , Parenteral Nutrition/nursing , Renal Dialysis/nursing , Adult , Diabetic Nephropathies/nursing , Female , Humans , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Within the county of Slavonski Brod, Yugoslavia hyperendemic areas of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) have been recognized for a long time. As the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the Medical Centre in Slavonski Brod is responsible for all diagnostic post-mortem examinations in the county, and at the same time is engaged in surgical pathological diagnosis, a considerable amount of material relating to BEN and concomitant urinary-tract tumours has been collected during a 16-year period. This material has been classified and used for pathological, anatomical and histological investigations. In this paper the most relevant findings are described and briefly discussed, without the intention to speculate on possible aetiology of BEN. As the origin of BEN and of the high frequency of urinary tumours among the people from the endemic areas are still unexplained, and uniform criteria for the pathomorphological diagnosis of BEN are badly needed, the proposal to set up an archive encompassing cases from all the centres investigating BEN is supported.
Subject(s)
Balkan Nephropathy/pathology , Age Factors , Balkan Nephropathy/epidemiology , Balkan Nephropathy/mortality , Female , Humans , Male , Mortality/trends , Sex Factors , Urologic Neoplasms/epidemiology , Urologic Neoplasms/mortality , Urologic Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
During the present war against the Republic of Croatia, chemical weapons have been used by the Yugoslav Federal Army (YFA) against both civilians and Croatian Army soldiers. The use of irritants was suspected (Vukovar, Bogdanovci and Vinkovci, October-November, 1991; Solin in the Split area, September, 1991) and proved (Velika Gorica in the Zagreb area, September, 1991; Cakovec, November, 1991) in many cases. The use of psychochemical incapacitating agents (Bilje near Osijek, July, 1991), as well as of psychostimulants in YFA own soldiers (Zadar, August, 1991) has been suspected on clinical findings or laboratory tests. The use of acetylcholnesterase inhibitors was proved in one aggressor's diversion (Zadar, Krusevo, July, 1991). Phosphorus from projectiles and fuming boxes caused poisoning and skin burns due to incineration (Vukovar, November, 1991). YFA used the civilian's fear of chemical and biological weapons, throwing untoxic substances all over the Croatian territory. Great ecocide problems have occurred with massive industry devastation (Sisak, Osijek, October, 1991-January, 1992), with enumerous amounts of toxic substances released into the soil and river aquatoria.
Subject(s)
Chemical Warfare , Croatia , HumansABSTRACT
Over a nine-year period during screening campaigns in villages where Balkan nephropathy is endemic, human blood samples were collected and analysed for ochratoxin A. The incidence of positive samples was 0.5-2.5%. Dried beans were found to be more frequently contaminated with the toxin than other food commodities. In view of a specific accumulation of ochratoxin A observed in eggs, more attention should be paid to contamination of this food with ochratoxin A.
Subject(s)
Balkan Nephropathy/epidemiology , Food Contamination/analysis , Ochratoxins/blood , Balkan Nephropathy/chemically induced , Cluster Analysis , Eggs/analysis , Fabaceae/chemistry , Humans , Incidence , Ochratoxins/adverse effects , Ochratoxins/analysis , Plants, Medicinal , Risk , Yugoslavia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
There is a general consensus that the incidence of urothelial tumours is much higher among the inhabitants of areas of Balkan endemic nephropathy than in populations in nonendemic areas. Data from different authors on tumour incidences in unrelated endemic areas in various countries vary widely, however. Lack of understanding of the possible etiological relationship between Balkan endemic nephropathy and the increased incidence of urothelial tumours justifies efforts to conduct retrospective studies using unique diagnostic criteria. In order to investigate the occurrence of urinary tract tumours in Slavonski Brod, a part of which has a high incidence of nephropathy, a retrospective study was carried out using data and tissue samples collected at the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the Slavonski Brod Medical Centre. During the last 16 years, 193 urinary tumours from the county were examined; the material available consisted of autopsy reports and surgical and biopsy specimens. Tumours were diagnosed histologically and coded according to guidelines of the WHO and US registries, as papillomas, papillary and solid carcinomas of the transitional-cell type, squamous-cell carcinomas and carcinomas in situ. A 5.1 times higher incidence of urothelial tumours was seen among inhabitants of the nephropathic area of the county than in nonendemic areas. Tumours from cases in the endemic region also tended more often to be malignant and multiple; they were not infrequently bilateral.
Subject(s)
Balkan Nephropathy/epidemiology , Urologic Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adult , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/epidemiology , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/pathology , Cluster Analysis , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/epidemiology , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Urologic Neoplasms/etiology , Urologic Neoplasms/pathology , Yugoslavia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Over the last 16 years, 214 autopsies were done at the Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Slavonski Brod Medical Centre, on people from an area recognized as endemic for Balkan nephropathy in the county. Balkan endemic nephropathy was diagnosed pathoanatomically and histopathologically in 94 of these cases, and in none of 1040 autopsies on people from a nonendemic area. The most striking pathological finding in all advanced cases of the disease was a marked reduction in kidney size and weight; in one extreme case, the organ weighed only 20 g. The process is invariably bilateral, but there are considerable differences in the degree of involvement in each pair. Although the pathoanatomical changes, including lung oedema and haemorrhage and fibrinous pericarditis, are seen in the majority of cases, they are not considered to be specific for Balkan endemic nephropathy, since they are well recognized signs of long-standing primary uraemia. The relevance of the peculiar finding of sulfurous yellow discoloration and hardened subcutaneous adipose tissue, seen frequently post mortem, is unknown and should be investigated in more detail. Histopathologically, fibrosis and atrophy of kidney cortex, with tubular degeneration, are the most consistent findings. Lesions characteristic of pyelonephritis were superimposed over the picture of 'pure' Balkan endemic nephropathy in a considerable number of cases.
Subject(s)
Balkan Nephropathy/pathology , Adipose Tissue/pathology , Adult , Atrophy , Balkan Nephropathy/epidemiology , Fibrosis , Humans , Kidney/pathology , Middle Aged , Organ Size , Pigmentation , Skin Pigmentation , Yugoslavia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Five strains of Aspergillus fumigatus (A, B, D, H, and K) isolated from sawmills were used to expose groups of three rats by intratracheal intubation. The dose was 10(9) spores per rat. At 48 h after administration, two rats from the D group and all rats from the K group died with symptoms of strong dyspnea and tachypnea. At 72 h postadministration and after, some animals showed mild to moderate dyspnea and tachypnea. Autopsies of all animals were performed, including a histopathological examination of the lungs. At 72 h after administration, two distinct morphological groups were identified histopathologically. Severe necrotizing pneumonia characterized by the presence of abundant fungal hyphae was seen in animals that died spontaneously within 48 h postadministration and rats with bronchopneumonia and was characterized by the presence of numerous fungal spores. There was an obvious difference in pathogenicity among the strains of A. fumigatus. Strains D and K were more pathogenic, and only the rats exposed to these strains showed the presence of fungal hyphae in the lungs. The mycotoxin gliotoxin that is produced by A. fumigatus and has antiphagocytic activity was not detected in the spores from any of the A. fumigatus strains.