Contents page of the issue April 2006




EQUINE
Á. Hevesi, D. Ütő, J. Kis, N. Balogh, Z. Bakos: Theileria equi infection in Hungary. Literature review and case report / 195
M. H. Zeitler-Feicht: Behaviour problems of horses – causes, diagnosis and treatment / 200

BOVINE
Sz. Bene, B. Nagy, L. Nagy, F. Szabó: Reproduction performance of beef cows of different breeds kept under the same conditions / 207

PORCINE
J. Tanyi: Swine influenza – swine in the influenza circle / 216

SMALL ANIMALS
R. Farkas, A. Gyurcsó: What do we know about flies attacking the ears of dogs? / 222
B. Kandell: Radiotherapy in small animal practice / 227

PET ANIMALS
R. Jolánkai, Ch. Iben, S. Fekete: Connection between feeding and urinary crystal formation in guinea pigs / 232

ANIMAL WELFARE
L. Visnyei, Cs. Csintalan: Legal aspects of animal experiments / 239
Addition – Remark (Gy. S. Fekete) / 245

GENETICS
L. Zöldág: Genetic aspects of prolificacy in mammalian domestic animals. Literature review / 246

JUBILEE
Remembering of Gyula Varannai, on the occasion of the centenary of his birth (M. J. Mészáros) / 255

BOOK REVIEW
L. Kasza: The hardships and joys of an exiled cancer researcher (J. Kováts) / 206
J. Eckert, K. T. Friedhoff, H. Zahner, P. Deplazes: Textbook of parasitology for veterinary medicine (T. Kassai) / 255

Á. Hevesi – D. Ütő – J. Kis – N. Balogh – Z. Bakos:
THEILERIA EQUI INFECTION IN HUNGARY. RETROSPECTIVE STUDY AND CLINICAL CASE REPORT

The authors report the first occurrence of Theileria (Babesia) equi in a horse in Hungary proven by laboratory tests. The horse (8-year-old, grey, Hungarian halfblood gelding,) infected by T. equi was born in Hungary. The suspicious signs of babesiosis were shown first in august 2004. Listlessness, inappetence, high fever, icteric mucous membranes were noted. The horse was treated with imidocarb-dipropionate (2 mg/kg b.w Imizol) and did not show any signs of the disease on the following day. Afterwards the animal presented the previously described signs of the disease in 4–6 months intervals again. Blood samples were taken at the third acut phase (April 2005) and sent to a commercial laboratory to detect antibodies against Babesia equi and caballi, as well as for the isolation of the nucleic acid of the parasites. The horse was serologically positive for T. equi (1:160 titer), and DNA identic with T. equi sequence was isolated as well.

Sz. Bene – B. Nagy – L. Nagy – F. Szabó:
REPRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF BEEF COWS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS KEPT UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS

Reproduction performance of beef cows in the herd of Georgikon Faculty of Agriculture during a 7 year period between 1998 and 2004 was evaluated. Eight breeds such as Hungarian Fleckvieh, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Red Angus, Lincoln Red, Shaver, Limousin, Blonde d’Aquitaine were involved in the examination. The yearly cumulative number of the cows as a basic of the evaluation was 659. Keeping and feeding of the animals of different breeds was the same during the study period.
The percentage of calves born (calf crop) were as follows 72.1; 79.5; 83.6; 85.6; 81.3; 71.9; 69.2; 58.3 percent (P<0.05), respectively. The twinning rate data were 6.9; 1.9; 3.4; 5.4; 18.2; 14.3; 0.0; 0.0 percent (P<0.01). The total calf loss was 18.3; 13.2; 8.2; 11.7; 17.9; 31.7; 27.8, 38.1 percent (P<0.01). The nursing rate values were 81.7; 86.8; 91.8; 88.3; 82.1; 68.3; 72.2; 61.9 percent (P<0.01). The weaning rate were 58.9; 69.0; 76.7; 75.6; 66.7; 49.1; 50.0; 36.1 percent (P<0.01).
Angus cows had the highest (162.6 kg), Blonde d’Aquitaine cows the lowest (73.7 kg) 205-day weaning weight per cow. The results of Hungarian Fleckvieh 122.0 kg, Lincoln red 128.7 kg and Hereford 113.2 kg didn’t differ significantly. The 205-day calf weight per 100 kg cow weight was 28.28 kg in the case of Aberdeen Angus, 10.22 kg for the Blonde d’Aquitaine. The results of the other evaluated breeds were between the values mentioned above.

J. Tanyi:
SWINE INFLUENZA – SWINE IN THE INFLUENZA CIRCLE

Swine influenza occurs regularly even nowadays in Hungary. Its easily recognisable epidemic form is rare due to high level of get over of infection but endemic form is frequent in certain age categories of large scale herds and in small herds of dense pig-keeping areas. Many complications and concurrent diseases may aggravate or change the typical respiratory and general clinical signs, especially in case of endemic form. That is why for the definitive diagnosis laboratory examination is essential. The disease can and must be controlled by the coherent application of general epidemic prevention and hygienic processes, in case it is justified by specific control.

R. Farkas – A . Gyurcsó:
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT FLIES ATTACKING THE EARS OF DOGS?

During the warm summer and autumn months flies attack many dogs of different breeds kept outdoors throughout Hungary. These ectoparasites, as they feed, cause damage usually at the edges, tips and/or bases of the ears. The flies’ bites result in severe irritation to the skin, causing dermatitis. The skin is covered with bloody crusts and scabs. The painful bite of flies usually causes restlessness, head shaking and scratching the ears leading to further irritation and bleeding. Based on the species identification of flies caught on four infested dogs the specimens of the common stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) occurred. The authors summarize the biology of the blood-sucking fly species, which is also called "dog fly" in some countries. The treatment of the affected dogs and the control possibilities are also discussed.

R. Jolánkai – Ch. Iben – S. Fekete:
CONNECTION BETWEEN FEEDING AND URINARY CRYSTAL FORMATION IN GUINEA PIGS

Urinary calculi formation is often observed in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), mainly calcium-containing uroliths (calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, calcium oxalate) are found. Stone formation processes are very common in mammals, however, rodents are susceptible in comparison with other species. The aim of the trial was to evaluate the impacts of nutrients on stone formation. Density and pH-value of the urine are parameters, which highly influence stone generation. In the present study the influence of giving fresh, water containing feedstuffs was tested (salad, carrots, apples), as well as feed mixture, supplemented with methionine in concentrations of 1.75; 2.75; 3.35; 4.95 and 5.75 g/kg was used in this trial.
The different ratios were tested on 16 female guinea pigs of 2.5 years old. Adjusting period took 9 days, urine collection period lasted 5 days. Urine volume, density and pH-value were determined daily within the 5 day collection period. For the determination of the mineral content (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) the urine of the 5-day-period was collected and homogenized. The microscopic evaluation of urines revealed that the most frequently excreted stone types are calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and struvite. The obtained results suggest, that fresh green feedstuffs increased urine volume and reduced pH values. Methionine premixes had no marked impact on any of the urine parameters observed.

L. Visnyei – Cs. Csintalan:
LEGAL ASPECTS OF ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS

The authors summarise the Hungarian legislation relating to animal experiments: the rules of the amended animal welfare act and the conditions relating to carrying out experiments, to breeding and transporting experimental animals, to Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the sanctions. They present the definition, aim and authorisation of experiments and the applied anaesthesia. They briefly summarise the convention of the Council of Europe and the legislation of the European Union in the field of animal experiments. They emphasise those areas in which, according to their opinion, Hungarian legislation is inadequate: regulation of educational requirements and the support of research aiming at the replacement of animal experiments are missing. In spite of wide-scale legal regulation they deem it necessary to continue social conversation about the acceptance and refinement of animal experiments.

Zöldág L.:
GENETIC ASPECTS OF PROLIFICACY IN MAMMALIAN DOMESTIC ANIMALS

The most significant major genes and markers of prolificacy are reviewed in mammalian domestic animals. Twinning in horse breeding, occurring mainly in several thoroughbred broodmare lines, seems to be of hereditary nature and is regarded as an undesired pathological trait. Genetic background of equine twinning phenomenon is not completely cleared. Economically the twinning in beef production might be an efficient characteristic. Close genetic correlation between twinning and ovulation rate occurring in multiple consecutive oestrous cycles of the same cow has been proved. Therefore, selection for ovulation rate is successful, and using this method the population frequency of twinning may be increased up to 35% as well. In cattle several major genes (polymorphic alleles of IGF1 locus) and DNA markers were localized related to twin ovulation and prolificacy on several chromosomes (BTA1, BTA5, BTA7, BTA9, BTA10, BTA11, BTA12, BTA15, BTA19, BTA23). In sheep autosomal (6. chromosome) and X-linked polymorphic major gene mutations (BMP15, BMPR-1B) are responsible for higher twinning rate and multiple births. Fecundity genes of several prolific sheep breeds were revealed molecular genetically in the last decade, and are successfully used in breeding of new prolific sheep breeds and types. Litter size of sows is a typical quantitative trait inherited by numerous genes for which the selection has only a poor response due to its low heritability. On numerous porcine chromosomes several DNA-markers (SSC4, SSC8, SSC13, SSC15) and prolificacy major genes (oestrogen-ESR and prolaktin-PRLR, GnRHR receptor loci, SSC1, SSC16) were located in association with higher litter size. To date results show a contradictory effect in different breeds and crossings, therefore they seem to be less effective for marker assisted selection in swine breeding.