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In healthy milk the somatic cell count (SCC) is less than 100.000 cells per mL, although in the presence of infectious agents, especially pathogenic bacteria, SCC can be extremely high. Cytological appearance of inflammation in mammary gland depends on the origin and the time-course of the inflammatory response. According to predominant cell type there can be suppurative, pyogranulomatous, granulomatous and lymphocytic inflammation. Prototheca spp. as facultative pathogen creates chronic inflammation in mammary gland with high SCC and reduced milk production. The aim of our study was to elaborate a practical and accurate laboratory procedure to enhance the precision of milk somatic cell differentiation, and to provide quick and easy-to-perform detection for the presence of infectious algae in mastitis cases. In 95 quarter samples SCC was determined by California Mastitis Test, cellular density estimation and somatic cell differentiation were carried out by microscopically evaluation, while presence of Prothoteca spp. was investigated with the help of specific culture medium (PIM agar). According to CMT results, SCC values showed 67.3% prevalence of mastitis, from which 6.3% was clinical and 93.7% subclinical. Comparing CMT results and estimated cellularity values indicated tight correlation. In CMT negative quarters 60% of somatic cells were neutrophil granulocytes, while in CMT positive but Prototheca spp. negative cases these cells were present in 74%. Interestingly in Prototheca spp. positive samples only 60.25% of cells were neutrophil granulocytes, while macrophages and lymphocytes were present in 17% and 18.3%, respectively. Moreover, remarkable cytological pattern was notified in some samples that were positive for Prototheca spp., and statistical analysis showed tight correlation between infectious algae and the ratio of macrophages (p=0.005). In conclusion laboratory techniques applied in our study seems to be helpful supplementary methods to reveal pathological background of mastitis as well as to monitor the progression of inflammatory reactions.

Pedigree data of 13,339 border collie dog was collected along with canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and canine elbow dysplasia (CED) records (1352 CHD and 524 CED), and an inbreeding&ndash, purging (IP) model was created. Ancestral inbreeding coefficients were calculated by using a gene dropping simulation method with GRain 2.2 software. Cumulative logit models (CLM) for CHD and CED were fitted using a logit-link Poisson distribution and the classical (F_W), and ancestral inbreeding (F_BAL, F_KAL, and F_KAL_NEW) coefficients as linear regression coefficients. The effective population size was calculated from F_W and decreased in the examined period along with an increase of F_W, however, slight differences were found as a consequence of breeding dog imports. CHD values were lowered by the expansion of F_BAL, as the alleles had been inbred in the past. For CHD, signs of purging were obtained. There was a positive trend regarding the breeding activity (both sire and dam of the future litters should be screened and certified free from CHD and CED), as years of selection increased the frequency of alleles with favorable hip and elbow conformation. Division of the ancestral inbreeding coefficient showed that alleles that had been identical by descent (IBD) for the first time (F_KAL_NEW) had a negative effect on both traits, while F_KAL has shown favorable results for alleles IBD in past generations. Some authors had proven this phenomenon in captive populations or experimental conditions, however, no evidence of inbreeding purge has ever been described in dog populations. Despite the various breeding practices, it seems that alleles of these polygenic disorders could be successfully purged out of the population with long-term selection.

Loin muscle volume and hind leg muscle volume measured by computer tomography are economically valuable traits in rabbit breeding. Hence, genetic parameters were calculated to these new selection criteria, and a two-trait selection index was created in order to modify the current selection process of the Pannon large rabbit breed. The evaluated animals (n = 312) were randomly selected from 2014 and 2018, and the total number of animals in the pedigree file was 2758. Loin muscle volume (LMV) and hind leg muscle volume (HLV) were analyzed in a two-trait animal model. The estimated heritability for LMV was h2 = 0.4 and h2 = 0.42 for the HLV respectively. The selection index was created with desired gains by improving each trait in the selection criteria with one additive genetic standard deviation and the final index was Z transformed. Correlation coefficients between the index and the examined traits were high, 0.86 for LMV and 0.87 for HLV, thus this method could be announced into the breeding program.

In Hungary, equine parasite control is mostly based on traditional approaches involving rotational anthelmintic treatment at regular intervals. Almost no farms utilize fecal egg counts (FECs) on a regular basis to guide deworming treatments. This approach is certainly not sustainable and is the major factor responsible for the current high levels of anthelmintic resistance. The aims of this study were to statistically analyze risk factors associated with strongylid egg count magnitude and prevalence. Fecal samples and horse data (age, pasture history, stocking density, anthelmintic history) were collected from 216 horses on 13 farms in Pest county, Hungary, during the spring of 2020. FECs were determined by Mini-FLOTAC. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of factors with pre-deworming strongylid egg counts. The data were highly overdispersed with approximately 22% (95% Confidence Interval: 17-28%) of the equids shedding 80% of the total strongylid egg output. Strongylid FECs were significantly associated with the age of equids and anthelmintic class used prior to the study. Equids younger than 5 years of age had significantly higher FECs compared to equids in the 5-17-year age range (p = 0.003) and compared to equids aged17 years (p 0.001). Equids treated regularly with benzimidazoles had significantly higher FECs than equids with no history of benzimidazole use (p = 0.02). We found that FECs of horses kept at extremely high stocking density (30 horses/ha) were significantly higher than those kept at low (1-2 horses/ha; p 0.001) or medium (3-10 horses/ha, p 0.001) stocking densities. The results demonstrate the value of FEC monitoring and indicate that the efficacy of benzimidazoles should be investigated in Hungary. Moreover our findings demonstrate that reducing stocking density should be considered in cases of high strongylid FECs.

The aim of the study was to examine the factors affecting longevity (as the number of years spent in race) in the Hungarian Thoroughbred horse population, and to investigate the total earnings won during lifetime and per start. The performance data was collected from 3,029 Thoroughbred horses (1,704 female, 1,674 male) born between 1996 and 2018 in Hungary with full known racing career. A multivariate generalized linear model was used to estimate the effect of sex of the horses, age at first start and the month of birth to longevity, expressed by the number of starts and years spent in race. Age of the horses at first start had a significant effect on the years spent in race, thereafter the model was dissected into age groups initiating a more accurate research. This showed that birth month also have a momentous effect on the examined traits in case of 2-year-old horses. Age of the horses at first start also affected the lifetime earnings. Sex of the horses had no effect on longevity in 2-year olds however, males are more likely to race because female horses tend to win less money.

Pedigree data of the Border Collie dog breed were collected in Hungary to examine genetic diversity within the breed and its different lines. The database was based on available herd books dating from the development of the breed (in the late 1800s) to the present day. The constructed pedigree file consisted of 13,339 individuals, of which 1566 dogs (born between 2010 and 2016) composed the alive reference population which was active from breeding perspective. The breed is subdivided by phenotype, showing a thicker coat, harmonic movement, a wide skull, and heavier bones for the show type, and a thinner or sometimes short coat and smaller body for the working line, while the mixed line is quite heterogeneous (a combination of the above). Thus, the reference population was dissected according to the existing lines. The number of founders was 894, but eight individuals were responsible for contributing 50% of the genetic variability. The reference population had a pedigree completeness of 99.6% up to 15 generations and an inbreeding coefficient of 9.86%. Due to the changing breed standards and the requirements of the potential buyers, the effective population size substantially decreased between 2010 and 2016. Generation intervals varied between 4.09 and 4.71 years, where the sire paths were longer due to the later initial age of breeding in males compared to females. Genetic differences among the existing lines calculated by fixation indices are not significant, nonetheless ancestral inbreeding coefficients are able to show contrasts.

International audience; Genetic parameters for 21-d litter weight (LW21) and thigh muscle volume (TMV) were estimated, and based on these traits a two-trait selection index was created with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the Pannon White rabbits' breeding programme. Litter weight at 21 d of age (LW21, n = 22,002) and thigh muscle volume (TMV, n=8124) measurements (based on computed tomography - CT) were analysed that were recorded between 1992 and 2016. The evaluated animals were reared in 4178 litters and the total number of rabbits involved in the pedigree file was 14,124. LW21 and TMV records were analysed jointly in a two-trait animal model. The estimated heritability for LW21 and TMV were 0.10 +/- 0.01 and 0.21 +/- 0.02, respectively, and the estimated genetic correlation between these traits was -0.24 +/- 0.07. The common environmental effect had the same magnitude (0.10 +/- 0.01) as the additive genetic effect. The created selection index constructed to have 50 and 50% contribution of the measured traits. Application possibility of the created index was tested on a given kindling batch. In this case, the first step of the selection procedure was performed either according to the current breeding programme (based on the LW21 breeding values) or based on the two trait selection index. The second step of selection was not changed (based on the TMV breeding values). The consequences of using index scores instead of the regular procedure were obtaining 27.8% higher average breeding value for TMV and 11.4% lower average breeding value for LW21. These results suggest that introduction of the index may improve economic efficiency.

Habitat edges are regarded as important components of heterogeneous landscapes. Diverse theories exist about the diversity and functional role of edges, and no generalisation have been possible so far, thus case studies are important for better understanding the landscape scale processes. Forest management highly modified the structure and tree species composition of the European forests. The sylvicultural intensification resulted in the rise of the proportion of non-native, intensively managed forest stands. In the present study we explore the response of spider and ant assemblages to forest stand type and the edge effect between native poplar and nonnative conifer plantations in Hungary. We applied pitfall traps to sample the ground-dwelling spiders and ants. Four plots consisting of the two forest types and the transition zones between them were selected. Five transects for each replicated plot were sampled. We identified the significant indicator species of the different habitat types. We found significant differences in the species richness (i.e. number of species) of ants and spiders of the different habitat types. We detected intermediate spider species richness at the edge indicating that edges separate a higher quality habitat from one that has lower resource quality; however, the species richness of ants was the highest at the edge and did not differ between the two forest types. The positive impacts of edge was found due to presence of generalist and grassland species at the edge and presumably edges separate patches that provide complementary resources also increasing the number of ant species.Our results indicate that forest type affects the species compositions of ground-dwelling spiders and ants. Our study also shows that habitat type had a major effect on the species richness and composition of spider and ant assemblages, suggesting that local forestry management plays a crucial role in preserving the native invertebrate fauna of forests.

Selection programs of hybrid rabbits and meat specific breeds are based on growing the amount of valuable meat parts of the carcass, making more profit to the breeder and extra amount of protein for customers. In this point of view, it is essential to know the process of muscle development from embryonic to the postnatal phase, and the regulatory genes which are able to determine muscle growth. This review briefly summarizes the prenatal development of the muscle tissue, regarding myogenic regulating factors and the upstream regulation of myogenesis. In addition, there are some significant components of the postnatal phase which are not negligible in terms of muscle development. It is crucial to see the whole process and the latest steps of molecular genetics helping to increase the selection progress.