The influence of the feeding Flour Beetle Tribolium confusum-infested fodder on the selected indices of the health status of rats.

The present experiment was designed to demonstrate differences in the degree of fodder contamination with benzoquinones at various Tribolium confusum levels, the impact of infested feed on the beetle population and the impact of infested feed on the health status of rats. The feeding studies were done on female rats divided into 3 groups: a control group and two experimental groups. Experimental groups were fed with a fodder infested by 150 individuals of T. confusum per kg (group D1) and 300 individuals of T. confusum per kg (group D2). The insects were grown in the fodder for 5 months and the contaminated fodder was given to the laboratory animals for 8 weeks. After that period the rats were sacrificed, blood was drawn for morphological, biochemical and immunological analyses, as well as the samples of internal organs were taken for histopathology. Regardless of initial degree of infestation, after 5 months incubation period the content of benzoquinones in fodder reached the maximum level that reduced beetle population. The resulting concentration to benzoquinones had no effect upon feed intake nor growth of rate, whereas caused the presence of these substances in feces, urine and also in tissues which was indicated by pathological lesions observed in the study. The results obtained point to the possibility of the benzoquinones accumulation in the organisms of farm animals fed fodder containing pests.

The effect of diets supplemented with fish broth and fish oil on the health of weaners.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fish-based feed materials, as a source of readily available protein contained in fish broth and essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in fish oil, on the health of piglets and rearing results. The experiment was conducted on a commercial pig fattening farm. The study involved a total of 80 weaners with an approximate body weight of 15 kg. The experiment was carried out over a period of 40 days. Feed samples were subjected to laboratory analyses. Blood samples were collected from experimental group animals to determine serum biochemical and immunological parameters. The body weight gains of weaners, mortality rates and average feed intake per animal were calculated for the entire experimental period. The addition of fish broth and fish oil significantly improved the n3:n6 fatty acid ratio in diets. The presence of EPA and DHA in the experimental diet could have had a positive health effect on piglets, comparable with that exerted by therapeutic doses of zinc often administered to pigs of this age group. During the experiment, feed conversion ratio (FCR) gain was considerably reduced in the experimental group, with similar daily gains in the control and experimental group.

The carcinogenic effects of benzoquinones produced by the flour beetle.

Humans and animals come into contact with various compounds in their natural environment. Most of the encountered substances are neutral, yet some may carry adverse health effects. The ingested food may be a source of harmful substances, including benzoquinones which, as shown by research results cited in this paper, demonstrate toxic, carcinogenic and enterotoxic activity. This group of compounds is inclusive of 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (MBQ) and 2-ethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (EBQ), defensive secretions of the confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum J. du V) and the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst). Benzoquinones have a carcinogenic effect, they are inhibitors of growth of various microorganisms, they produce a self-defense mechanism in threat situations and affect population aggregation. As noted by the referenced authors, the properties of benzoquinones have not been fully researched to this date.

Histological estimation of the small intestine wall after administration of feed containing deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin and zearalenone in the pig.

Fusarium spp. moulds are common in moderate climate regions of North America, Asia and Europe. They produce hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic mycotoxins, acting like estrogens, impairing hemopoesis and immunosuppressing. Actively dividing skin cells, lymphatic tissue, haemopoetic tissue and gastrointestinal tissue are the most sensitive for these trichothecenes action. The mucosal membrane of the gastrointestinal tract is the first barrier of the organism contacting with foreign antigens like feed proteins, natural toxins, saprophytic and pathogenic microflora and mycotoxins. The aim of this study was to perform histological estimation of the porcine small intestine after short term intoxication with low doses of deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2) and zearalenone (ZEA) obtained from wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium moulds. Experimental pigs (n=5) were fed for 14 days feed containing DON, T-2 and ZEA (28.9, 11.5 and 33.2 microg kg(-1) of feed). On the last day of the experiment, the animals were euthanised and samples of the jejunum were collected for histological examination. In the experimental pigs, normally developed intestinal villi and crypts were found. However, number of acidophilic granulocytes in the mucous membrane and decreased numbers of goblet cells, increased numbers of endothelial lymphocytes and numerous plasma cells in intestinal epithelium was observed. On the surface of the intestinal epithelium the glycocalyx was poorly developed. The results obtained suggest that short term intoxication with low doses of DON, T-2 and ZEA does not cause significant changes in the histological structure of the small intestine in the pig. However, low concentrations of DON, T-2 and ZEA probably influence enterocytes metabolism and evoke inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine.

[Formation of erythroid colonies of bone marrow cells and their sensitivity to erythropoietin (EP) (in vitro) in piglets during the early postnatal period]. / Tworzenie kolonii erytroidalnych szpiku kostnego oraz ich wrazliwosc na egzogenna erytropoetyne (Ep) (in vitro) u prosiat we wczesnym okresie postnatalnym.

Collected at the first hours (0, 6, 12, 24, 48) and days (3 and 5) of piglets life bone marrow was cultured (in vitro) during 48 and 72 hours in order to assess the efficiency of development and ability of isolated marrow cells to form erythroid colonies (CFU-E-Colony Forming Unit) and also to examine the erythroidal sensitivity to Ep addition. It was found that bone marrow of new born piglets shows high ability to form erythroid colonies (CFU-E), but low sensitivity to Ep (erythropoietin). The limited efficiency to form immature erythroid colonies following 12h as well as matured ones after 24h, has been also shown. Observed changes could be caused by the limited erythroidal cells sensitivity to Ep.