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The aim of the present study was to follow out the alterations in some haematological and blood biochemical parameters in cattle spontaneously infected with enzootic bovine leukosis virus with regard to the invivodifferentiation of bovine leukosis stages. The experiment included 76 cows at various ages and body weight. Serological leukosis tests were done by agar-gel immunodiffusion test with a commercial kit of Synbiotiсs (France), containing standardised gp 51 antigen and positive serum approved by the EU. On the basis of haematological results, the cows were divided into three groups: first group – EBL-seropositive with normal haemogramme; second group – EBL seropositive with altered haemogramme and third group – controls. In cows from the first and the second group, a statistically significantly increased blood cell counts was established compared to healthy controls. The total WBC were increased in the second group (leukocytosis) up to 33.21×109/l vs reference range of 5-10×109/l as well as lymphocyte percentages (lymphocytosis) – 81.89% (reference 40–63%). A reduction in the proportion of neutrophils to 12.78% (relative neutropenia) vs the reference range of 22-49% and monocytes (monocytopenia) to 1.78% (reference range 2–6%) was observed. A statistically significant reduction in Ca concentrations (4.41 mg/dl) and higher inorganic phosphate levels (5.28 mg/dl) were established in cows from the second group. Also, ASAT activity was considerably lower – 47.03 U/l, while alkaline phosphatase increased slightly within the reference range up to 167.68 U/l and 165.81 U/l in groups one and two, respectively. The present haematological and whole blood/serum biochemical results in cows spontaneously infected with EBL virus could be used as prognostic markers of the course of the disease, to distinguish the stages of infection with regard to alive diagnostics.

Introduction: Providing safe drinking water is an integral part of public health and a major task for water supply companies and health control agencies alike. Poor quality disinfection of drinking water significantly increases the risk of water-borne epidemics. In Bulgaria, villages and small towns are affected more often by failures in the disinfection due to negligence from water supply employees and technological limitations. Aims: To determine the qualityofdrinking water disinfectionby measuring significant indicators (free chlorine, E.coli and coliforms) in samples from villages inStaraZagora region.Materials and Methods: Water samples were taken according to protocol directly from water taps in 50villagesin Stara Zagora region. Levels of free chlorine were measured using HACH DR/850 colorimeter and compatible reagents. 100 mL samples were inoculated with the medium Readycult®Coliforms 100. The samples were incubated in a thermostat at 37°C for 24 hours and E.coli were identified using Kovac's reagent. Results:Only in 5 samples (10%) free chlorine was adequate to the established norm of 0.3-0.4 mg/L. In 30 villages the levels of free chlorine were below 0.3 mg/L and cannot guarantee drinking water safety. In 15 villages (30%) were found coliforms above the acceptable norms (0/100 mL). Nine of these samples were positive for E. coli. Conclusion: The results showed significant deviation from the legally established norms for drinking water safety. More tests will be done to determine whether these problems are incidental or permanent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major human pathogen. Genetically related viruses in animals suggest a zoonotic origin of HCV. The closest relative of HCV is found in horses (termed equine hepacivirus [EqHV]). However, low EqHV genetic diversity implies relatively recent acquisition of EqHV by horses, making a derivation of HCV from EqHV unlikely. To unravel the EqHV evolutionary history within equid sister species, we analyzed 829 donkeys and 53 mules sampled in nine European, Asian, African, and American countries by molecular and serologic tools for EqHV infection. Antibodies were found in 278 animals (31.5%), and viral RNA was found in 3 animals (0.3%), all of which were simultaneously seropositive. A low RNA prevalence in spite of high seroprevalence suggests a predominance of acute infection, a possible difference from the mostly chronic hepacivirus infection pattern seen in horses and humans. Limitation of transmission due to short courses of infection may explain the existence of entirely seronegative groups of animals. Donkey and horse EqHV strains were paraphyletic and 97.5 to 98.2% identical in their translated polyprotein sequences, making virus/host cospeciation unlikely. Evolutionary reconstructions supported host switches of EqHV between horses and donkeys without the involvement of adaptive evolution. Global admixture of donkey and horse hepaciviruses was compatible with anthropogenic alterations of EqHV ecology. In summary, our findings do not support EqHV as the origin of the significantly more diversified HCV. Identification of a host system with predominantly acute hepacivirus infection may enable new insights into the chronic infection pattern associated with HCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]