Vaginal aerobic bacteria of healthy bitches and those with fertility problems.

The most common problems in veterinary practice in bitches are bacterial infections of the reproductive tract associated with fertility problems. Research to determine the correlation between the health status of female dogs and bacterial flora of the genital tract has been ongoing for years, but the results obtained by different authors are often contradictory, and do not always concern breeding bitches. Our study identified the most common aerobic bacteria in the genital tract of numerous breeding bitches population. A total of 275 breeding dogs in anestrous phase of the estrous cycle were included in this study. 198 were qualified to the first group with no genital tract infections and no reproductive disorders. 68 bitches were qualified to the second group with complications such as: infertility, abortion, foetus resorptions and newborn mortality. The type of bacterial isolates was almost the same in the healthy bitches and the group with fertility problems. The most common bacteria obtained from the vaginal tract of the tested dogs were Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Mycoplasma canis and Escherichia coli. There were no significant differences in bacterial prevalence in the group with reproductive problems versus healthy dogs; however, we found a statistically significant difference between both groups when the numbers of bacterial strains were compared. The number of one-strain bitches was statistically higher in the problematic group than in the non-problematic one. Bacterial culturing of vaginal swab specimens from breeding bitches without clinical signs of genital disease is of little value. Furthermore, it should always be preceded by an examination (clinical, cytological or vaginoscopy etc.). The request or requirement to perform vaginal cultures that is made by some breeders, while common, is not diagnostic for any pathologic condition and the results of these cultures should never be used to determine if antibiotic therapy is indicated.

Streptococci as the new dominant aetiological factors of mastitis in dairy cows in north-eastern Poland: analysis of the results obtained in 2013-2019.

The objective of our study was to evaluate prevalence of selected bacterial and fungal pathogens of mastitis in dairy cattle in north-eastern Poland. Our study was conducted from 2013 to 2019 in 1,665 clinically and sub-clinically infected quarter milk samples (2013, n = 368; 2014, n = 350; 2015, n = 290; 2016, n = 170; 2017, n = 173; 2018, n = 224; and 2019, n = 90). The isolation and identification of the pathogens were performed in keeping with generally accepted microbiological procedures. In 2013, mastitis was most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (24%), Streptococcus spp. (22%), Streptococcus agalactiae (12%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (11%). In 2014, the most common pathogens were Streptococcus spp. (25%), Staphylococcus aureus (18%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (10%); in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Streptococcus spp. (from 39-49%) were the most frequent strains isolated from the quarter milk samples. Other pathogens were isolated occasionally (below 15% in all years). In conclusion, the role of environmental bacteria has been gradually increasing in the Warmia Province. The importance of infectious pathogens has been decreasing, indicating the efficacy of the applied preventive programmes and a need for the development of new programmes targeting environmental pathogens.

The applicability of the Migratest® kit for evaluating the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats on the example of animals supplemented with ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB).

The objective of this study was to determine the applicability of the Migratest® kit for evaluating the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats. The experiment was performed on 14 goat kids aged 30±2 days, divided into two groups of 7 animals each: C - control group, and E - experimental group, supplemented with ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB), a typical immunostimulant which influences the phagocytic activity of peripheral neutrophils. The feed administered to experimental goat kids was supplemented with HMB at 40 mg/kg BW, whereas control goat kids were administered standard farm-made feed without supplementation. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein immediately before the experiment (day 0) and on experimental days 15, 30 and 60 to determine the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats. The results of the study indicate that the Migratest® kit can be used to evaluate the influence of immunomodulators on the chemotactic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in goats. The results of the assay are most effectively presented by calculating the chemotactic index which accounts for the chemotaxis or migration of neutrophils in the presence or absence of a chemotactic factor, respectively, and the percentage of granulocytes that migrate towards fMLP. The results of both presentation methods appear to be identical.

Immunosuppressive influence of Anguillid herpesvirus-1 (AngHV-1) infection on cellular defense mechanisms in European eel (Anguilla anguilla).

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a catadromous fish with a complicated life cycle. The long-term impact of anthropopressure, environmental pollution and diseases have led to a risk of extinction. The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of Anguillid herpesvirus-1 infection on the innate immunity of European eel from natural conditions. Spleen phagocyte respiratory burst activity and potential killing activity, as well as pronephros lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide were measured. The analyses of the results showed that all studied parameters were significantly higher (P⟨0.05) in AngHV-1-negative fish compared to the ones where the presence of viral DNA was confirmed.