The aim of the study was to isolate cultivable gut microbiota from European pond turtles kept at the Lithuanian Zoo and to determine antimicrobial resistance of the isolates. The study subjects included 8 elderly turtles living at the Lithuanian Zoo for about 50 years as well as their offspring -24 young individuals (1-2 years old) that were hatched at the same zoo. Animals were not exposed by treatment with antimicrobials during the last 3 years.Gut samples were taken from the cloaca and inoculated onto universal media. Isolates then were identified using sequence analysis of 16S rRNA.The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the agar diffusion method according to Kirby-Bauer. Clinical breakpoints according to CLSI whenever possible, were used for interpretation of susceptibility. Bacterial isolates resistant to at least three antimicrobials of different classes were treated as multi-resistant.Fifty-two bacterial isolates were obtained and identified from turtle gut samples. The most prevalent genera included Aeromonas, Chryseobacterium and Citrobacter. Fifty percent of the isolates obtained from elderly turtles (CI 95% -19.01-80.99) and 54.8% (CI 95% -39.75-69.85) of the isolates from young animals were identified as multi-resistant. The most common resistance rates of the isolates from both groups of the turtles were observed toward ampicillin (86.6%), ciprofloxacin (61.5%) and gentamicin (40.4%). The lowest number of resistant isolates were detected toward combination of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (26.9%). The study revealed that European pond turtles kept in captivity are carriers of multi-resistant bacteria however, further studies need to be performed to investigate whether the resistant microorganisms are natural microbiota for this species or they were acquired in the zoo.

Background Reduction of genetic diversity can lead to reduced fitness of species, such as the loss of adaptability to changing environments. The native Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) was hunted to extinction from Finland and many other countries in Europe in the nineteenth century. In Finland, the species was reintroduced in the 1930s with only a few individuals from Norway. Re-introductions were performed also in other countries of northern Europe and as a result, Eurasian beaver populations have undergone population bottlenecks leading to low levels of genetic diversity. Materials and Methods Here, 200 Eurasian beaver samples from Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Russian Karelia were investigated using 12 microsatellite markers to examine the level of genetic diversity and relationship between the populations. Results While Russian and Estonian populations were genetically the closest, the Finnish population was clearly distinct from all others and had the lowest genetic variability among the study populations. This may be deleterious to the population especially in a changing environment. Conclusions Genetic rescue could be the best solution to increase the genetic diversity and improve the future prospects of the population, although more studies are required to resolve the optimal source population.

ABSTRACT:Here, the ability of Pediococcus pentosaceus and Pediococcus acidilactici to utilise potato tuber juice for cell synthesis without an external nutrient supplement was investigated, and the influence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) grown in this substrate on the growth performance of new-born calves, as well as blood biochemical and faecal microbiological parameters was evaluated. Calves were selected based on the analogy principle, treatment group (n = 21), control group (n = 27). Calves in the treatment group were administered 50 ml of fermented potato tubers juice containing 9.6 log CFU/ml of LAB mixture for 14 days. Also, determination of antimicrobial activities of tested LAB against a variety of pathogenic and opportunistic bacterial strains previously isolated from diseased cattle was performed. It was found that LAB supernatants effectively inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Corynebacter spp., Klebsiella pneomoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus cereus (the diameters of the inhibition zones varied between 11.0 ± 0.3 mm and 17.0 ± 0.6 mm). Thus, potato juice can be used as an alternative substrate for LAB cultivation (LAB cell concentration 9.6 ± 0.07 log CFU/ml). After lyophilisation (-48 °C) and spray-drying (+150 °C) viable cell concentrations in the fermented potato juice powder were 9.18 ± 0.09 log CFU/g and 9.04 ± 0.07 log CFU/g, respectively. The 50 ml of fermented potato tuber juice containing 9.6 log CFU/ml of LAB, administered every day for 14 days, reduced the risk of developing acidosis (stabilised blood pH; P < 0.05), reduced lactates and PCO 2 concentration (P < 0.05) and the risk of liver lesions (reduced serum alanine aminotransferase concentration; P < 0.005) in blood and E. coli in the faeces of new-born calves.

This study aimed at comparing the behaviour of growing bulls from two different breeds – Lithuanian black and white (dairy cattle breed, n=22) and Aubrac (beef cattle breed, n=17). The hypothesis tested in this study was that breed differences would result in differences in the behaviour of the bulls and that a clear understanding of such differences could lead to improved husbandry to meet their needs. Animals were raised in insulated barn in pens with deep litter, both breeds under similar conditions (animals were 11 to 14 month old, each group in separate 100 m2 pen). Aubrac bulls spent more time in standing, ruminating, drinking and aggressive behaviour and less time in eating than the Lithuanian black and white bulls. There were no significant differences in lying and moving behaviour. These differences possibly related to different breed of animals, and should inform decision making about the management of the two breeds studied.