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Apart from the efficiency of coumaphos against Varroa mites, its impact on the oxidative status and survival of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) was assessed. The research was conducted on hives from the same apiary, equalised regarding the number of bees, brood area and food storage. Based on Varroa infestation the hives were allotted to two groups: non-infested (N) and infested (I). Both groups were either treated (T) – NT and IT, or untreated (U) – NU and IU. The treatment of infested bees was controlled with a follow-up treatment with amitraz. The efficiency of coumaphos was 96-97%. This organophosphate had a negligible effect on bee survival, but it significantly affected their oxidative status: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and the concentrations of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA). Coumaphos significantly (p˂0.0001) decreased SOD activity in non-infested bees, but increased it in those infested. By contrast, both CAT and GST activities, as well as MDA concentrations significantly increased (from p˂0.05 to p˂0.0001) after treatment in all groups, with the exception of IT, where it declined. Coumaphos in non-infested hives caused oxidative stress per se, not unlike varroa in infested colonies. However, in infested colonies it decreased oxidative stress, owing to its efficacy against Varroa mites and contributed to the recovery of bee colonies. In spite of its certain downsides, coumaphos remains an effective anti-varroa substance, but should be used with precaution, not to add to the effects of environmental factors which may cause red-ox misbalance.

Mushroom extracts have been shown to contain bioactive compounds that confer health benefits to humans and animals, including honey bees. Honey bees are often challenged simultaneously with several abiotic (e.g., pesticides and poor nutrition) and biotic (e.g., parasites and pathogens) stressors. Mushroom extracts, for example, those made from Agaricus bisporus, may hold the potential to mitigate the negative effects of these stressors through actions on the honey bee's immune system, metabolism, and other physiological processes. Exploring the health benefits of mushroom extracts for honey bees requires a basic understanding of their bioactive properties at the cellular level. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, for the first time, the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of A. bisporus on the honey bee cell line AmE-711 using the comet assay. Three increasing concentrations of A. bisporus water extract (100, 200, and 400 µg/mL) were tested. The cells in the negative control group were not treated either with A. bisporus extract or with H2O2. In the positive control group, DNA damage was induced with 100 µM H2O2. For antigenotoxic effect, tested extracts were mixed and incubated with H2O2. None of the tested concentrations exerted genotoxic potential, but all showed antigenotoxic effects against H2O2-induced DNA damage. The concentration of 200 μg/mL A. bisporus extract was the most effective in its action against DNA damage. To conclude, A. bisporus extract did not demonstrate genotoxic effects but showed promising antigenotoxic properties. AmE-711 cell line may serve as a cell culture system for genotoxicity investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the length of the contraceptive period after the application of deslorelin implant (4.7 mg) in juvenile, prepubertal bitches and assess the effects on the hormonal status (P4, E2 and melatonin), as well as on the occurrence of normal physiological estrus. Twelve crossbred prepubertal female dogs (4 months of age) were divided into the two groups, the treated group (DESLO) and control (placebo) group (C). Hormone assays, vaginal microbiological and cytological smears and the measurements of electrical resistance of cervical mucus were performed once in 3 weeks until the first signs of proestrus, and every day during estrus. GnRH implant significantly postponed time of onset of estrus (633 ± 30,38 days vs. 143.80 ± 52,30 days, P

The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in dogs and red foxes in the entity of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after heavy rainfall and floods in 2014 and for the two years thereafter. The seroepidemiological study involved testing serum samples from dogs (n = 98) and foxes (n = 112) using MAT (microscopic agglutination test).

The present work aimed to study the goat farms concerning different hygiene-sanitary and health management practice. Also, bulk tank milk of Alpine breed goats was used to investigate changes in the composition of milk during lactation on six farms in Vojvodina Region. The results showed that although 96.67% of farmers were familiar with mastitis, approximately 56.67% of farmers reported a lack of knowledge about subclinical mastitis and therefore not intensely monitoring udder health during the lactation period. Somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacteria count (TBC) were the most variable traits in our research and lactation average SCC between investigated farms showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) (a range from 1088×10?/ml to 3129×10?/ml). At the same time, TBC was found in a wider range, from 66×10?/ml to 3508×10?/ml. Furthermore, SCC and TBC often did not meet the recommended quality level. Therefore, during the entire lactation period, 63% of the milk samples contained above 1.5 million SCC/ml and 37% of the samples were contained TBC above 1.5 million CFU/ml. Results also confirmed considerable seasonal variations of goat milk composition and the milk fat was the component that most varied (cv: 33.16%). It was observed that organic in comparison to conventional milk chemical composition, was significantly different, especially in terms of protein content (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, goat dairy production could be of considerable importance in Vojvodina but dairy goat sector requires a more systemic approach, better hygiene milking conditions and implemented prevention and control programmes during the milking routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hygienic behavior in honey bees is a complex polygenic trait that serves as a natural defense mechanism against bacterial and fungal brood diseases and Varroa destructor mites infesting brood cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a dietary amino acids and vitamins supplement “BEEWELL AminoPlus” on hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera colonies combating microsporidial and viral infections. The experiment was performed during a one-year period on 40 colonies alloted to five groups: one supplemented and infected with Nosema ceranae and four viruses (Deformed wing virus - DWV, Acute bee paralysis virus - ABPV, Chronic bee paralysis virus - CBPV and Sacbrood virus – SBV), three not supplemented, but infected with N. ceranae and/ or viruses, and one negative control group. Beside the l isted pathogens, honey bee trypanosomatids were also monitored in all groups.

Colony losses, including those induced by the colony collapse disorder, are an urgent problem of contemporary apiculture which has been capturing the attention of both apiculturists and the research community. CCD is characterized by the absence of adult dead bees in the hive in which few workers and a queen remain, the ratio between the brood quantity and the number of workers is heavily disturbed in favor of the former, and more than enough food is present. Robbing behavior and pests usually attacking the weakened colony do not occur. In the present paper, the causes of the emergence of this problem are discussed, as well as the measures of its prevention.

The objective was to expand and update the knowledge on the presence and genotype diversity of porcine circoviruses 2 and 3 (PCV2 and PCV3) in the wild boar populations from the hunting grounds in northeastern Serbia. The presence of PCV3 was not determined, and PCV2 was confirmed in 40.32% of the organ samples from 124 wild boars hunted from 2018 to 2019, indicating their significance in virus circulation since traditional pig farms with irregular PCV2 vaccination strategies are widespread in this region. The most prevalent genotype was PCV2d, followed by PCV2b and PCV2a in 55.6%, 38.9%, and 5.5% of the examined samples, respectively. Nucleotide sequences of the detected strains were homogenous within the genotype and clustered within the subgroups PCV2d-2, PCV2b-1A/B, and PCV2a-2D with high identity to European, Chinese, and Serbian domestic pig sequences suggesting their origin. Wild boars presented with no clinical or pathological signs of infection, implying that these animals might be less susceptible to disease, particularly since the cofactors present in pig farming systems that support the disease development are absent in the wild. The high PCV2 detection frequency demonstrates the importance of wildlife monitoring to track virus population dynamics, especially in regions with free-range pig farming in order to plan adequate disease control strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Nisavic et al.)