Parasitological examinations and the investigation of polymorphism in locus DRB1, belonging to MHC class II, were conducted in a flock of Polish Heath Sheep in the years 1995-1998. The intensity of parasite infection of dams ranged from 0 to 24 000 eggs, whereas for lambs it reached up to 27 000 nematode eggs in 1 gram of faeces. In the years 1995-1997 nematode species dominant in the infection were//, contortus and T. colubriformis, while in 1998 the predominant was T. circumcincta. DNA analysis of the examined sheep showed the presence of 20 alleles in locus DRB1, established on the basis of the length of a fragment of this gene amplified using PCR (exon 2 and microsatellite in intron 2). The analysis of variance conducted for the FEC trait in genotypic groups showed a statistically significant (P<0.01) association between the genotype in locus DRB1 and number of nematode eggs in sheep faeces. The presence of a given DRB1 allele in the genotype of animals examined had significant effect on parasite resistance. Moreover, the significant association between the FEC value in allelic groups of paternal half-sibs and the segregation of paternal alleles was also significant (P<0.05).

Sustainability has been an emerging issue for years in the economy and agriculture. Making agriculture sustainable has become so essential that it has become part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, producers ultimately decide individually the practices they implement. This is why farmers play a central role in ensuring a sustainable agricultural system, which results from farmers’ knowledge and expectations. Although numerous studies address sustainability issues, little is known about farmers’ knowledge and implementation of sustainable practices at different types of farms, especially in central and eastern Europe. This study aimed to determine Polish farmers’ awareness of sustainability with regards to animal and crop production. This paper also shows how farmers value the advantages arising from sustainable production. The study was carried out among 300 farms classified by type (dairy, beef cattle, pork, and crop production). The research instrument used was a questionnaire, with the Likert scale. The results show that dairy farmers and pork farmers declared higher knowledge and better implement sustainable practices than other farmers. The producers’ views on the benefits coming from sustainable agriculture varied. However, the two most significant advantages were recognized—the protection of water against pollution and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Possible correlation between Toll-like receptor (TLR)-gene mutations and the susceptibility of the mammary gland to bacterial infections and also the associate breed-dependent aspects of somatic cell concentration (SCC), bacterial infection and TLR-gene mutations in sheep are described. In Polish Lowland Sheep (PLS), milk samples exceeding the level of 500/microL (i.e. 5 x 10(5) per mL) of SCC were recorded almost twice more frequently than in Polish Heath Sheep (PHS) (40 and 22.3%, respectively). The frequency of bacterial infections was also found in a similar ratio (20 and 12.7%, respectively). During detection of the TLR-gene mutation we recorded 2 alleles of TLR1, 6 alleles of TLR2 and 10 alleles of TLR4 genes in PHS sheep, while PLS sheep possessed 2, 4 and 6 alleles, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed a relationship between the specified TLR alleles, SCC and the frequency of incidence of bacterial inflammations of mammary gland. The data may serve as a benchmark for further study of TLR-gene mutation-dependent predisposition of mammary gland defensive cells to recognize the pathogen properly and initiate the immunological response, and may help in identifying one of the markers of natural resistance against sheep mastitis.

The main microbial contaminants of rooms in which laboratory rodents are housed are bacteria and fungi. Restriction of microbial growth to below threshold levels requires the application of various sophisticated antimicrobial techniques that must be effective and safe for the animals. Some of the most commonly used techniques, including chemical disinfection, ventilation, filtration, sterilization and radiation, are not always sufficiently effective. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of a modern technique (i.e. radiant catalytic ionization (RCI)) on the microbiological status of an animal care facility, and the health of the mice housed therein. The experiment, conducted over seven days, compared an experimental room with an RCI system permanently turned on with a negative control room. At the completion of the experiment, the number of bacteria in the RCI room air and on its walls was lower than that in the control room ( p < 0.01 in both cases). Values of the basic prooxidative parameter, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration, in tissues of mice from the RCI room were within allowed boundaries. Hence, application of an RCI system proved to be an ideal technique to ensure high hygienic standards in animal rooms without any adverse effects on the animals housed therein.

Key words: sheep, mastitis, bacteria, SCC, WBCMammary gland health status is one of the main factors that determines the efficiency of sheep production. Inflammation of the mammary gland (mastitis) may adversely affect milk production and quality, cause rearing losses (lower weight gains of lambs, mortality) and result in the need to remove sick ewes from the flock. Microorganisms, in particular pathogenic bacteria, are the main cause of mastitis (Ber-* Project financed from statutory activity. Unauthenticated Download Date | 5/12/18 7:44 PM