Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of several mycotoxins produced by certain Fusarium species that frequently infect corn, wheat, oats, barley, rice, and other grains in the field or during storage. The exposure risk to human is directly through foods of plant origin (cereal grains) or indirectly through foods of animal origin (kidney, liver, milk, eggs). It has been detected in buckwheat, popcorn, sorgum, triticale, and other food products including flour, bread, breakfast cereals, noodles, infant foods, pancakes, malt and beer. DON affects animal and human health causing acute temporary nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, and fever. This review briefly summarizes toxicities of this mycotoxin as well as effects on reproduction and their antagonistic and synergic actions.

BEDNÁŘOVÁ MARTINA, BORKOVCOVÁ MARIE, MLČEK JIŘÍ, ROP OTAKAR, ZEMAN LADISLAV: Edible insects -species suitable for entomophagy under condition of Czech Republic. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2013, LXI, No. 3, pp. 587-593 Since 2002, when the fi rst lecture on entomophagy took place at Mendel University in Brno, till today, participants of these educational lectures were asked to fi ll questionnaires in order to evaluate interest in entomophagy in Czech Republic and pick suitable species. Analyses of nutritional value of selected species were also performed during this time. The questionnaire was divided into several parts -suitable species, sensory properties, diffi culty of breeding and processing and respondents own attitude to the consumption of insect species. For the purpose of this study the questionnaire was evaluated using the semantic diff erential, so to create a comprehensive picture of each insect species. Based on evaluation of more than 5,000 questionnaires, certain developmental stages of seven species of insect were selected for further evaluation: Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae, Zophobas morio (ZM) larvae, Gryllus assimillis (GA) nymphs, Locusta migratoria (LM) nymphs, Galleria mellonella (GM) larvae, Bombyx mori (BM) Pupa, Apis mellifera (AM) bee brood, while cockroaches were completely excluded for use in entomophagy. Although they are easy to breed and are available all year-round, consumers showed relatively great disgust. For all of these species, basic nutritional values were analysed, as well as content of amino acids and fattty acids. All parameters were statistically evaluated using ANOVA-1. Each species appears to be suitable for entomophagy for a diff erent reason. Generally speaking, AM, TM and GA were best accepted considering the sensory aspect, nutritional values are interesting especially in BM and GM and TM wins with simplicity of its breeding.

About biological affecting of flavonoids on animal organisms is known less, thus we selected flavonoids, flavanones and flavones, and their glycosides, which were examined as potential inducers of cytochrome(s) P450 when administrated by gavages into experimental male rats. The study was focused on induction of CYP1A1, the major cytochrome P450 involved in carcinogen activation. The data obtained demonstrate the necessity of taking into account not only ability of flavonoids to bind to Ah receptor (induction factor) but also to concentrate on their distribution and metabolism (including colon microflora) in the body. After that we examined certain flavonoids as potential inducers of cytochrome P450, we wanted to suggest and optimize suitable electrochemical technique for determination of selected flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin, rutin, chrysin and diosmin) in body liquids. For these purposes, we selected square wave voltannetry using carbon paste electrode. Primarily we aimed on investigation of their basic electrochemical behaviour. After that we have optimized frequency, step potential and supporting electrolyte. Based on the results obtained, we selected the most suitable conditions for determination of the flavonoids as follows: frequency 180 Hz, step potential 1.95 mV/s and phosphate buffer of pH 7 as supporting electrolyte. Detection limits (3 S/N) of the flavonoids were from units to tens of nM except diosmin, where the limit were higher than μM. In addition, we attempted to suggest a sensor for analysis of flavonoids in urine. It clearly follows from the results obtained that flavonoids can be analysed in the presence of animal urine, because urine did not influence much the signals of flavonoids (recoveries of the signals were about 90 %).

The effects of housing systems on the calcium requirement for eggshell production, eggshell quality and on the breaking strength of the hen’s tibia were evaluated. Unenriched cages (UN) (24 laying hens), enriched cages (EN) (16 laying hens) and floor system (FS) (24 laying hens) were used in this experiment. The eggshell production of laying hens from 19 to 66 weeks of age was higher (<I>P</I> < 0.01) in the cage systems (UN 39.6 g/hen/week and EN 39.2 g/hen/week) than it was in FS (35.0 g/hen/week). Consequently, the amount of calcium deposited in the eggshells (g/hen/week) was higher (<I>P</I> < 0.01) in the cage systems (14.2 and 14.0 g/hen/week) than in FS (12.6 g/hen/week). Despite of the same calcium intake of the hens housed in EN and FS the eggshell thickness (0.39 and 0.38 mm, respectively) and eggshell strength (38.04 and 36.43 N respect.) were higher (<I>P</I> < 0.01 and <I>P</I> < 0.001 respectively) in EN. The tibia breaking strength was higher (<I>P</I> < 0.05) in FS (156.6 N) in comparison with UN (92.7 N). The rate of calcium intake deposited in the eggshells was higher in the cage systems than in FS, namely by 1.7 to 8.9% depending on the age of laying hens. When determining the correct calcium requirements in the diets of laying hens, the housing system should be taken into account.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on ruminal fermentation in 20 Holstein dairy cows divided into control and experimental groups, each group of 10 cows. The animals received a diet based on maize silage (19 kg), alfalfa silage (15 kg), meadow hay (1.5 kg), extracted rapeseed meal (1 kg) and concentrate mixture (9.5 kg). The diets were fed as a total mixed ration. ) was added to the concentrate mixture in the ration fed to the experimental group of animals. The addition of yeast culture significantly (P < 0.01) increased ruminal pH but had no positive effects on the increased production of volatile fatty acids. The supplementation of yeast culture significantly (P < 0.01) increased numbers of protozoa in the rumen of dairy cows of the experimental group (361.3 ± 18.315) compared to the control group (308.3 ± 37.505). The addition of yeast culture significantly (P < 0.01) increased concentration of serum glucose, calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, magnesium and AST (P < 0.05). As compared to the control group (4.948 ± 0.0384 mmol·l -1 ), the level of urea in the blood serum was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the experimental group of cows.Our results show that the supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture at recommended doses enhances ruminal fermentation which may have a positive effect on milk production and health status of Holstein dairy cows. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cows, rumen fluid, blood serum indicatorsYeasts and yeast cultures are frequently used as additives in diets of dairy cows at present. They have a positive influence on fermentation in the rumen, which helps to improve production health and productivity of animals.Results from previous studies on the effect of yeasts on ruminal fermentation and productivity of dairy cows are often ambiguous. The most cited benefit of yeast cultures on ruminal digestion is support of the growth and activity of anaerobic, namely cellulolytic bacteria. Yeasts would utilize residual oxygen introduced into the rumen with feeds, thus contributing to maintain anaerobic environment (Calsamiglia et al. 2006). Moreover, by degrading lyotropic carbohydrates in the rumen, yeast cultures regulate the rate of fermentation, and also by stimulation of lactate-utilizing bacteria yeasts facilitate stabilization of the rumen pH and mitigate its frequent oscillations during the day (Williams et al. 1991). Stable rumen environment is a key factor for achieving optimum milk yields and a good health of animals. However, some authors did not observe any beneficial effects of yeast cultures on dry matter intake or on the milk production and its composition in dairy cows (Cooke et al. 2007). Neither the positive influence of yeast on the digestibility of feeds in the rumen was unambiguously corroborated.Recent studies indicate that yeasts produce also certain low-molecular peptides that simulate the activity of some bacteria species in the rumen (Denev et al. 2007). However, to achieve ...