Over a 24-month period, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity was determined in 289 horses with colic attributable to gastrointestinal tract disease. Serum TNF activity was quantitated by use of a modified in vitro cytotoxicity bioassay, using WEHI 164 clone-13 murine fibrosarcoma cells. Causes for colic, determined by clinical and laboratory evaluation, exploratory celiotomy, or necropsy included: gastrointestinal tract rupture (GTR); ileal impaction; small intestinal strangulating obstruction (SIO); proximal enteritis (PE); transient small intestinal distention; large-colon displacement; large-colon vovulus; large-colon impaction; colitis; small-colon obstruction; peritonitis; and unknown. Each diagnosis was placed into 1 of 3 lesion categories: inflammatory disorders (GTR, PE, colitis, peritonitis); strangulating intestinal obstruction (SIO, large-colon volvulus); and nonstrangulating intestinal obstruction (ileal impaction, transient small intestinal distension, large-colon displacement, large-colon impaction, small-colon obstruction, unknown). The prevalence of high serum TNF activity and/or mortality were evaluated. Differences were tested at significance level of P < 0.05. Approximately 20% of the 289 horses has serum TNF activity greater than that found in clinically normal horses (> 2.5 U/ml). Twenty-three horses (8%) had marked increase in serum TNF activity (greater than or equal to 10 U/ml) which was more prevalent among horses with SIO and PE than in horses of other diagnostic groups, except those with GTR. Mortality and marked increase in serum TNF activity were greater in horses with intestinal inflammatory disorders or strangulating intestinal obstruction than in horses with nonstrangulating intestinal obstruction. Similarly, a greater proportion of the horses that died had markedly high serum TNF activity than did horses that lived. Mortality of horses with serum TNF greater than or equal to 10 U/ml was greater than that of horses with serum TNF activity < 10 U/ml. Results indicate possible association between colic and serum TNF activity in horses and that high mortality may be associated with horses with markedly increased serum TNF activity.

In a survey of 666 sheep at a slaughterhouse, gallstones (concretions with a diameter greater than or equal to 1 mm) were found in the gallbladder of 50 sheep (7.5%), sludge (concretions with a diameter < 1 mm) was found in 9 sheep (1.4%), and sludge plus gallstones were found in 7 sheep (1.1%). Gallstones and sludge were associated, and were more frequent in lambs and females, compared with adults and males. Qualitative analysis of the stones revealed all to be pigment (bilirubin) stones. There was a statistically significant increase of biliary bilirubin (total and indirect quota) only in sheep with gallstones plus sludge, compared with control sheep without sludge or gallstones. Concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, phospholipids, total and single bile aids, and total and ionized calcium were similar in the bile of sheep with gallstones, sludge, or both and control sheep. Bacteriologic analysis of the bile in 10 sheep with gallstones and 10 controls revealed bacteria in 50% of the first group and in 75% of the second group (Escherichia coli in all sheep and Salmonella spp also in 1 sheep with gallstones). These findings confirm our earlier findings of a high prevalence of black pigment gallstones in sheep. On that basis, we suggest that gallstones are associated with high total bilirubin concentration in the bile, and deconjugating bacteria are common in the biliary tract of these animals.

The Formosan sika deer (Cervus nippon taiouanus) is an endemic subspecies in Taiwan. The original wild deer has been extinct since the late 1960s. The largest captive population is located at the Taipei Zoo. Except for infectious disease outbreaks, no systemic medical research has been reported for this subspecies. This study was conducted to analyze the medical status of the captive Formosan sika deer population, including the hematological and serum chemistry characteristics. To accomplish this, medical records for 34 Formosan sika deer from January 2003 to January 2014 were acquired and analyzed. The most common illness and cause of death was trauma, followed by gastrointestinal and respiratory disease, respectively. The hematologic and serum chemical values of healthy adults were quite different from those of sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis). This study provides a closer medical understanding of this subspecies and the results will facilitate its management.

Study of parasitocoenoses of digestive system of Ayrshire breeds of cows and heifers was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. In course of investigation there was presented a highly efficient universal sedimentation and flotation method with centrifuging for diagnostic of low intensity infestations of cattle. Heifers of Ayrshire breed the total infestation with parasites of gastro-intestinal tract was 100%. Species composition of parasites per one animal was 2,0 +/- 0,258. In winter period the components of parasitoses of a digestive tract were the following: eimeria, strongylats, fascioles, moniezia, nematodes, trematodes and cestodes. In cows of Ayrshire breed the total infestation was also 100%, mixed infestation – 70,0 %. Species composition of parasites per one animal was 2,55 +/- 0,170. In winter period the components of parasitoses of a digestive tract were the following: eimeria, strongylats, fascioles, and capillariasis

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was studied the propagation, botanical characteristic, chemical composition and pharmacological properties of marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre) and its application in the veterinary practice against strongylatosis (Strongylata) of gastrointestinal system of cattle young stock. Reserch results showed that the perennial herbage plant marsh cinquefoil from Rosales (Rosaceae) family possessed different therapeutic properties: antipyretic agent; styptic agent; diuretic agent; bonding agent; wound healing substance; tonic agent; promotoring agent. Research results showed that the preparative forms (broth; liqueur; liquid juice; powder) of marsh cinquefoil possessed an active agent proanthocyanidin, a condensed tanning substance which were included into composition of a polyphenolic complex and proved to be efficient for treatment of cattle young stock strongylatosis.

Investigation of efficiency of electrochemically active solutions in complex therapy of calves with diseases of the digestive apparatus and respiratory organs was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Calves diseased with dyspepsia and bronchopneumonia were chosen for investigation of gastrointestinal diseases and respiratory diseases. At the first stage there was studied the therapeutic efficacy of water solution of electrochemically active neutral anolyte and sodium hypochloride solution Akvamed for calves sick with dyspepsia. At the second stage there was analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of 0,04 % solution sodium hypochloride Akvamed for the treatment of bronchopneumonia of calves. Research results showed that inclusion into complex therapeutic regimen of calves of electrochemically active solutions promoted the reduction of disease duration and severity. Electrochemically active solutions had high biocidal activity and could be produced in large volumes, had practical safety, low price and acute therapeutic effect

Studying of therapeutic effectiveness of metabolic probiotic Diamixan (sterile concentrate of waste products of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus debrueckii, and Streptococcus salivarius) against piglet gastroenteritis appearing at weaning period was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. The analyzed preparation contained complex of substances: bioartificial lactic acid, amino acids, polysaccharides, and some other ingdredients. In course of analysis of the state of intestinal microbiocenosis there were analyzed the following indexes: bifidus bacteria; lactic acid bacillus; E. coli; enterococcus; Proteus; Staphylococcus saprophyticus; Clostridia; yeast-like fungi; enterobacteria. Research results showed that application of the examined preparation made it possible to shorter the terms of animal recovery on 2,2 days, as well as to facilitate the severity of a disease. Bottle feeding of the metabolic probiotic promoted the stabilization and normalization of the main hematological indexes. The analyzed preparation created the optimal pH in lumen of the intestine, inhibited the rowth of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, promoted quicker reconstruction of microecological status by means of normalization of standard flora of bifidus bacteria and lactic acid bacillus

The article deals with the prevention problem of digestive system diseases in pig-breeding and therapeutic measures perfecting for these diseases. In article are given new methods of prevention without using antibiotics