Search

This study was conducted with the aim of the molecular identification of the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium spp. in calves in the early stage of their development on a dairy farm in Eastern Slovakia. Twenty-five Holstein and Holstein cross calves were included in the study and monitored from their birth to the fifth week of life (1–5 weeks). Fresh fecal samples were collected from the same group of calves each week, except during the fourth week, and with the exception of Sample 8. All samples were analyzed using the Ziehl–Neelsen staining method and coproantigen was tested using the ELISA test as the screening method. Using the ELISA method, the highest incidence of cryptosporidiosis was observed in the second week of life of the calves, while the antigen was detected in 21 (91.6%) calves. Using the Ziehl–Neelsen staining method, the highest incidence was also observed in the second week, with an incidence rate of 62.5%. Positive isolates confirmed by the ELISA test were molecularly characterized. The species and subtypes of Cryptosporidium in the positive isolates were identified using PCR and the sequence analysis of the small subunit of the ribosomal 18S RNA (ssu rRNA) and the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes of the parasite. The sequence analysis of 29 isolates at the 18S rRNA loci confirmed the presence of two species—Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium ryanae. Out of 29 isolates, 25 were assigned to the species C. parvum, with the gp60 locus identified as genotype IIaA17G1R1. Among the individual animal groups, calves are the most common reservoirs of the C. parvum zoonotic species. This disease has significant public health implications as contact with livestock and their feces and working with barn manure are major sources of infection, not only for other animals but also for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total number of 72 post-weaned rabbits (aged 35 days, meat line M91 a P91 hybrid rabbits), reared in an intensive breeding in the Slovak Republic, were used in the experiment. The rabbits were randomly divided into 3 similar groups, 24 animals in each group (control -EG1, experimental groups - EG2 and EG3) and kept in standard metal cages, two animals per cage. This study investigated the effects of different feeding on growth performance, chemical composition, fatty acid profile and content of essential amino acids of the Musculus longissimus thoracis and lumborum of growing rabbits. This in vivo study was designed to reveal whether the antimicrobial effect of Enterocin M (produced by non-rabbit origin strain Enteroccocus faecium AL41-CCM8558), is able to influence the meat quality of rabbits. Every day at the same time in the morning the rabbits in EG 2 received 50 µl dose of Ent M per animal per day, administered into their drinking water. The rabbits of experimental group (EG3) had commercial diet enriched with the supplement of 1% natural zeolite (a product of ZEOCEM Company, Bystré, Slovakia) and the drinking water did not contain any coccidiostatic drugs during the experiment. The experiment was lasted for 42 days. The fat of rabbits in the 2EG had a higher (P = 0.05) concentration of n-3 and n-6, MUFA, while the ratio of SFA in the control was lower (32.92%) than in 2EG and 3EG reared rabbits (34.61% vs. 34.71%). Feeding of natural substances to rabbits did not influence biochemical and zootechnical parameters and it had no negative effect on growth performance in rabbits. It had positive effect on health status and it reduced the number of Eimeria spp. Oocysts were not detected in rabbits' intestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]