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C. perfringens, a ubiquitous bacterium, is implicated in a series of recent outbreaks across Europe, reflecting its significance in public health. The organism manifests different clinical presentations in both human and animal hosts. In the realm of veterinary science, its pathogenesis in species such as poultry, cattle, swine, and equines is of particular concern due to the economic implications stemming from morbidity and mortality rates. The enterotoxins produced by this bacterium is the primary cause of symptoms like watery diarrhea, abdominal pains, and cramps in humans, and leads to conditions such as clostridial myonecrosis and necrotic enteritis in animals. An important aspect of its virulence strategy is its ability to form biofilms. These sophisticated microbial assemblages confer an augmented resistance against environmental challenges and antimicrobial interventions. This review consolidates information about C. perfringens outbreaks in Europe, mode of infection, pathogenesis in various animals, associated clinical symptoms, and the nuances of its biofilm formation. The present literature synthesis could provide valuable insights for forthcoming preventive and therapeutic initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines using essential oils (EOs) as an alternative approach in poultry farming to clarify their beneficial roles. The discussion introduces current challenges within the poultry industry, from antibiotic resistance and environmental concerns, setting the context for natural feeding strategies. EOs are characterized by diverse bioactive compounds such as terpenes and phenolics, known as powerful alternatives due to their strong antimicrobial, antioxidant, and growth-stimulating properties. Their chemical composition and biological activities can offer insights into their mechanism of action in bird species, specifically poultry. In the context of poultry production, the review underlines how EOs enhance growth performance, support immune responses, and improve feed efficiency. Their role in modulating gut health and potentially improving product quality was discussed herein. Combining these natural substances into poultry farming can address the growing environmental concerns. In this overview, we focus on EOs as a novel and progressive option in poultry farming, aiming to harmonize 'environmental sustainability with agricultural efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European catfish (Silurus glanis) plays an important role in aquaculture due to its fast growth rate, its resistance to different environmental conditions, its adaptability to different rearing systems and the high nutritional and qualitative properties of the meat. Studies by many researchers have proven that coriander (Coriandrum sativum) has beneficial biological effects in fish, but studies regarding its or other phyto-additives influence on the meat quality of European catfish are sparse. The current study aimed to evaluate the influence of coriander seeds powder as phytoadditive (2 and 4%) in dry food pellets given to the European catfish, on chemical composition of its muscle. The coriander seed powder was administered 14 weeks in fish feed in two trials in duplicate: 2% and 4% to one-year-old European catfish. Three hundred fish were randomly selected and stocked into 6 tanks, 50 fish per tank. At the end of the experiment, 5 fish were collected from each tank, euthanized and used for the evaluation of the muscle quality. A piece of epaxial muscle from the highest part of the body was sampled, and subjected to the assessment of the crude protein and fat content, ash and moisture. The results revealed that coriander do not have a significant influence on muscle quality in general, but led to a significant (p0.01) decrease of crude fat content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our work mainly focused on highlight the histological alterations induced by experimental lead poisoning on Carassius gibelio Bloch species and lead-detoxifying ability of spirulina powder added 2% in fish diet. 90 1 year old Prussian carps, were divided in 3 groups as follow: C (control group), E1 group (75 ppm Pb into water as Pb(NO3)2 x ½H2O), E2 group (75 ppm Pb into water+2% spirulina powder in feed), according to the experimental protocol. Fish tissue (gills, intestine, liver, kidney and gonads) were sampled and histologically processed at the end of a 21-day trial period. Histological sections analyzed with an Olympus microscope have revealed the lead-harmful effects to the fish tissues, while spirulina powder has showed an ameliorating effect on the tissue structural changes caused by lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog was selected from a natural population breed of the Romanian Carpathian Mountains. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the phenotypic differences between the sexes in a population of 26 males and 23 females of the Mioritic Shepherd Dog breed, for 9 body measurements: height at elbow, height at hock, head length, skull length, skull width, muzzle length, muzzle width, muzzle depth and muzzle perimeter. Following the study on the significance of statistical differences between body measurements recorded in the evaluated population, it was concluded that males from the people of the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog studied in this paper showed superior and significant values for height at the elbow (p<0.05), height at hock (p<0.05), head length (p<0.01), muzzle length (p<0.05). It should be noted that the evaluated females showed superior values compared to males, but insignificant (p>0.05), for muzzle width and muzzle depth. We recommend to dog breeders specialists consider the genetic improvement programs, and also our results presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of food and feed is more and more in the first place of research, being tightly related to the health state of humans and animals. Due to these features, antibiotics used in animals are no longer agreed to be used, and natural supplements are encouraged to be used to increase the meat's nutritional quality. One of the natural immunoglobulins used as a replacement for antibiotics is egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY), which is added in diet supplementation for feeding animals. The combination of probiotics and other substances with an immunological role, especially some natural immunoglobulins - such as IgY, has multiple advantages. Thus, it can be increased meat production, improve the immunological status of animals which decreases the stress effects, improve infection resistance, increase the quality of carcasses - which implicitly also leads to economic growth, and also obtaining animal products without the addition of antibiotics or growth stimulants, or even obtaining organic products. There are several cost-effective methods to extract natural immunoglobulin IgY from egg yolk: using dextran blue, polyethylene glycol, chloroform, and cryo-ethanol treatment followed by precipitation with ammonium sulfate. In this paper, we will present some features regarding the methods of extracting IgY immunoglobulins from the egg yolk, the way of using these immunoglobulins in animal breeding and improvement technologies, as well as the biotechnological advantages that derive from the use of this natural product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter remains the most prevalent foodborne pathogen bacterium responsible for causing gastroenteritis worldwide. Specifically, this pathogen colonises a ubiquitous range of environments, from poultry, companion pets and livestock animals to humans. The bacterium is uniquely adaptable to various niches, leading to complicated gastroenteritis and, in some cases, difficult to treat due to elevated resistance to certain antibiotics. This increased resistance is currently detected via genomic, clinical or epidemiological studies, with the results highlighting worrying multi-drug resistant (MDR) profiles in many food and clinical isolates. The Campylobacter genome encodes a rich inventory of virulence factors offering the bacterium the ability to influence host immune defences, survive antimicrobials, form biofilms and ultimately boost its infection-inducing potential. The virulence traits responsible for inducing clinical signs are not sufficiently defined because several populations have ample virulence genes with physiological functions that reflect their pathogenicity differences as well as a complement of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) systems. Therefore, exhaustive knowledge of the virulence factors associated with Campylobacter is crucial for collecting molecular insights into the infectivity processes, which could pave the way for new therapeutical targets to combat and control the infection and mitigate the spread of MDR bacteria. This review provides an overview of the spread and prevalence of genetic determinants associated with virulence and antibiotic resistance from studies performed on livestock animals. In addition, we have investigated the relevant coincidental associations between the prevalence of the genes responsible for pathogenic virulence, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and transmissibility of highly pathogenic Campylobacter strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish meat has very high water content, a very low content of connective tissue but has high digestibility. Raw fish is a very perishable food because it has all substances necessary for the development of microorganisms. Fish meat lipids are also very sensitive because they oxidize very quickly during storage. The aim of our research was to examine the influence of garlic extract and packaging methods on the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid content and pH value in fish fillets during storage at low temperatures. 48 fillets of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were studied. The fish fillets were randomly assigned to four batches of 12 samples each (C-control and experimental batches E1, E2 and E3) and marinated in a solution with garlic extract in proportion of 0‰ (C), 3‰ (E1), 6‰ (E2) and 9‰ for 12 hours. For each batch, six fillets were individually vacuum packed and six fillets were individually packed in plastic boxes. The samples were stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0...+4°C for six days. The studied parameters were determined after marinating, on the 1st, 3rd and 6th day of storage. The raw data obtained was processed by biostatistical methods using the One-Way Anova test, including the Tukey HSD test of the SPPS Statistics application. In the storage period, the amount of TBA increased progressively at each stage of the examination (30 min., 1, 3 and 6 days, respectively), and the amounts in the control samples were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than those in the E1, E2 and E3 samples. Also, the lowest values after 6 days of refrigeration were recorded in the marinated samples and vaccum packed. The lower values recorded in marinated samples were influnced by the antioxidant effect of the garlic extract used. Regarding the TBA amount in fish and fish products, the admissibility limit recommended for the consumer is 2.0 mg MDA/kg, and in our case the values have been much lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog, was selected from a natural population breed of Romanian Carpathian Mountains. The aim of this study was to analyze the existence and size of sexual dimorphism in a population of 26 males and 23 females of the Mioritic Shepherd Dog breed, for 6 body measurements: ear length, ear width, distance between the ears, distance between the eyes, length hair at withers and metacarpal perimeter. Following the study on the significance of statistical differences between body measurements recorded in 26 males and 23 females, it was concluded that sexual dimorphism is not evident in the population of the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog studied in this paper, except the distance between the ears character. Among the other characters, the differences between the individuals of the two sexes are insignificant (p>0.05). We recommend to the dog breeders to take into account the genetic improvement programs, and also the results presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to review the nitrogen emissions from the agriculture and livestock sector and their impact on the environment in the light of the actual global climate change picture. Emissions of ammonia, nitrogen oxide and nitrous oxide contribute to air pollution and global warming, while nitrates contribute to soil and water pollution. The agriculture and livestock sector is responsible for ammonia emissions representing approximately 80-90% of total anthropogenic emissions. Approximately 52% of total nitrous oxide emissions are coming from agriculture, and there is a strong correlation with the application rates of synthetic fertilizers. The nitrogen lost in the soil and water through leaching represents an important nitrate emission with negative effects on the environment due to acidification and eutrophication. As a result of human activity in recent decades, significant amounts of reactive nitrogen were released into the environment, disrupting the natural nitrogen cycle. The main causes of nitrogen emissions in the agriculture and livestock sector are represented by the excessive and inefficient use of synthetic fertilizers, manure management, including the low efficiency of nitrogen conversion into milk, meat and eggs by animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper was to discuss different ideas about quality in general and food quality in particular. The first part presents the concepts of Quality and Total Quality. Nowaday, because the manufacturers are always trying to provide super quality, there is a tendency to diminish the differences between the quality and total quality concepts. The second part presents the dimensions of the food quality, according with different researchers' opinions, and highlights the main differences between Food Safety and Food Security. In our opinion, sensory quality, food safety and food security are the three main dimensions of food quality. Also, none of them is more important than the other for food quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of bee colonies is strongly influenced by genetics and age of the queen, by health status of bee colonies, the honey potential of the area where they are maintained, but also by the meteorological factors that condition the capitalization of the honey source. Scientific research in beekeeping, carried out in recent years, has been aimed at improving the genetics of existing biological material in order to improve productive performance and disease resistance, but also to use technological measures of maintenance to achieve these objectives. The use of essential oils as a technological measure in the stimulation of bee colonies has shown favorable effects on the prolificacy of the queen (essential oils of thyme, basil, oregano, mint, rosemary, juniper), improvement of the health of bees (essential oils of juniper, thyme, basil, oregano, cinnamon) correlated with the increase in honey production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to highlight the histological aspect of some tissue of Prussian carp's specimens, subjected to sub lethal Pb intoxication with and without chlorella dietary supplementation. 90 Prussian carps, with weighing between 10 and 12 g were divided according to the following treatments for 21 days: C (without treatment), E1 (75 ppm Pb into water), E2 (75 ppm Pb into water+2% lyophilized chlorella in feed). Samples of gill, intestine, liver and kidney were removed at the end of experimental period and analyzed in light microscopy. QuickPHOTO Micro 2.2 software has been used for the histological study. Our findings are: obvious histological alterations have been observed in experimental Pb-poisoned group; active chlorella compounds cannot counteract the effects of Pb-induced oxidative stress on intestinal tissue; chlorella has been shown to be a weak Pb chelator on liver tissue; chlorella lyophilisate reduces to a small extent the toxic effects of the contaminant in the kidneys; respiratory barrier slightly affected in the group receiving chlorella in feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of Romania into the European Union requires special attention to the hunting populations. The observed size of an animal population, as opposed to the genetic size, is given by the number of individuals in all categories, as well as by the total number of males and females participating in the production of the descendant generation. The purpose of the present paper was to study the evolution of the observed sizes of the hunting population for 13 species of animals in the period 2016-2020, on hunting area 16-Sarlota, from Timis County, with a total area of 6.149 ha. The present study highlighted that on this hunting area, Cervidae family - which includes ruminants with deciduous horns, is represented by 3 species, namely Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L), Fallow Deer (Dama dama L), and Roe Deer (Capreolus carpeolus L). Our paper concludes that the decrease of the populations of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus L) species, Fallow Deer (Dama dama L) species, Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus L) species, Wild hog (Sus scrofa L.) species, The European hare (Lepus europaeus P) species, and Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.) species, in the studied period of 2018-2019, is due to the increase of the observed size with 200% on this hunting area of Jackal (CaniȘ aureus L.) species, and also due to the significant presence of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes L) species. We recommend the permanent monitoring and limitation of populations from the Canidae family, especially of the Jackal (CaniȘ aureus L.) species. For the other identified species, the population of evolutionary numbers showed that there is a good correlation between the number of individuals and their biogenic capacity. The present study recommends the revival of the existing population on this hunting area, through "blood refreshing" actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In latest years, researchers have been concerned about the resistance, recurrence, and dormancy of viruses that occurs in the prevention and treatment of viruses. Regarding the current pandemic conditions reported not only to the SARS-CoV-2 virus (2019), but also to the SARS-CoV-1 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus from 2013) and MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus from 2018), it is mentioned that there are scientific publications that demonstrate the benefits of treatments with natural products. Some natural products rich in phytonutrients can be used as an alternative to the prevention and treatment of viral diseases along with some treatments with pharmaceuticals that are very good, but are more aggressive towards the body. Some of the natural products –to be more effective –are used in processed form –as essential oils, as products obtained by distillation under specific conditions, as tinctures or as aqueous or alcoholic extracts –these being tested by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Asia is one of the continent with a tradition in natural herbal treatments, and the origin of these pandemic viruses has further driven researchers to seek and develop new techniques and methods to obtain natural products –concentrated enough to be effective but not no harm to patients. Also, the World Health Organization promotes innovations regarding new potential treatments for new viral diseases and also welcomes traditional, alternative, and complementary medicine –which can have an important role in healthcare. And because some of the viral diseases are found also in animals and humans –the researchers have a very complicated job to find therapies that not only treat and prevent but also are efficient and safe! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog was selected from a natural population breed in Carpathian Mountains of Romania. The aim of this study was to analyze the existence and size of sexual dimorphism in a population of 26 males and 23 females of the Mioritic Shepherd Dog breed, for 10 body measurements: withers height, middle back height, croup height (iliac), base of tail height (coccyx), croup width, body length, tail length, thorax depth, thorax width and thorax perimeter. The animals were registered with the Romanian Mioritic Association Club from Romania. Following the study on the significance of statistical differences between body measurements recorded in 26 males and 23 females, it was concluded that sexual dimorphism is evident in the population of the Romanian Mioritic shepherd dog studied in this paper. We recommend that dog breeders of this breed take into account the genetic improvement programs, also the results presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to review the literature concerning nitrogen metabolism and excretion in dairy cows in the light of actual global climate change picture. Nutritional factors like dietary crude protein or dietary carbohydrate concentration have a significant effect on nitrogen balance, through the decreasing capacity of the total N excretion and improving the milk nitrogen efficiency. At the same time, the protein and carbohydrate degradability rates as well as dietary minerals will impact the excretion routes, urinary and faecal. Shifting between urinary to faecal pathway could benefit to the mitigation of air pollution as the faecal nitrogen content is less prone to volatilisation compared to the urine nitrogen. Feed additives such as direct feed microbial, plant secondary metabolites and rumenprotected amino acids can mitigate and shift the N excretion from the urinary to the faecal pathway. Finally, breeding animals for lower MUN traits could also be considered as an efficient approach for a longer-term strategy to reduce N emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to determine slaughter performances and carcass characteristics at European Mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon Lin.). Also, for studied characteristics were determined the differences between European Mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon Lin.) and hybrids (F1) obtained by crossbreeding between European Mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) and the Romanian sheep breed Tigaie, raised under identical conditions. First generation hybrids (F1) were obtained by crossbreeding between females of sheep breed Tigaie and males of mouflon (FT x MM). The studied characteristics were slaughter yield on hot and chilled carcass, the participation percentage of the cut parts from live weight and from the whole carcass structure. At the age of 90 days 10 lambs were sacrificed (5 mouflons and 5 hybrids FTxMM). For slaughter performances, superior values were obtained from the hybrid lambs. Thus, slaughter yield calculated had higher at FTxMM (P<0.05) as compared with values obtained at mouflon. The participation percentage of the cut parts from the live weight and from the whole carcass structure had the lower values at mouflon lambs compared to FTxMM hybrids. Results from this study showed that hybrid genotype significantly influenced the studied characteristics and have revealed the superiority of the hybrids lambs against mouflon lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administration of GnRH in the luteal phase of estrous in dairy cows induces an increase of LH levels, with the modification of the growth waves of the ovarian follicles. GnRH induces ovulation or atresia of the dominant follicle and the recruitment of a new wave of follicular growth. The GnRH administration in the luteal phase of the estrous cycle induces growth waves synchronization of ovarian follicles, so that, a new wave of follicles started to grow at 5-6 days after administration. In our experiments, we administered 2ml Ovarelin (100 mcg GnRH), to three groups of cows (116 cows): in early luteal phase of the estrous cycle (days 4-5), in the middle of luteal phase (days 9-12), and late luteal phase (days 15-16). The rates of cows standing heat were 91.66% when GnRH was administered in early luteal phase, 95.22% when was administrated in the middle of luteal phase, and 73.68% in late luteal phase GnRH administration. After artificial insemination, the conception rates were 48.48% in early luteal phase, 52.5% at middle luteal phase and 46.42% in the late luteal phase of the estrous cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper was studied the effect of dietary energy and protein levels on characteristics of pectoralis major (P. major) muscle at broiler chickens, which were sacrificed at 35 and 42 days old. The genetic material was represented by broiler chickens that belonged to the “Ross-308” hybrid, with two groups (LC-control group and LE experimental group). During the growth periods (starter, growing and finishing) they have received compound feed ad libitum, with different energy and protein levels (LC-conforming to recommendations of Aviagen Company; LE-higher with 10%). After slaughter, from each group were sampled breast muscles (five per sex) and for P. major were determined: the weight, pH value, the thickness of myocytes (fiber diameter, cross-sectional area of fibers). At the LE group, high levels of dietary proteins and energy has significantly influenced pH value and the thickness of myocytes in the P. major muscle, as compared with LC. The sex and slaughter age has significantly influenced the fibers diameter from P. major muscle, which was thicker at female chickens, as compared with male chickens and at 42 days age vs. 35 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]