Nowadays excessively used corticosteroids in veterinary medicine induce steroid hepatopathy in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of the hepatoprotectants to decrease the corticosteroid-induced alteration in such dogs’ blood serum enzymes as alaninaminotransferase (ALAT), gammaglutamyltranferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and corticosteroid-induced thermostable alkaline phosphatase (cAP). The study took place in private veterinary clinics in Riga, Latvia, during 2013, with the permission of dogs’ owners. Twenty eight animals, which received corticosteroids due to present diagnosis, were divided into two groups. In the first group long-lasting corticosteroid methylprednisolone acetate injection was used once, while in the second group the hepatoprotectants were used after the injection of corticosteroids. It was discovered that after 14 and after 30 days of hepatoprotectants use, blood enzymes were significantly lower (p is less than 0.05) than in dogs that did not receive hepatoprotectants. In both groups the enzyme values did not reach the reference limits. The study is set to investigate further if and when the values reach the reference limits.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics, herbals and buckwheat bran (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) on growth, profile of blood, gut microbiota, profile of fatty acid in meat and shedding of resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) in piglets. A total of 44 piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus) from age of day 14 to 56 were divided into 4 groups. Control received basal diet (group C), basal diet + probiotics (group P), basal diet + 3% buckwheat bran (group PB) and basal diet + 1.5% herbals (group H). No effect was observed in growth in all groups. The count of Lactobacillus spp. increased (p is less than 0.05) in jejunum in group P. In the faeces, Enterobacteriaceae decreased in the group P (p is less than 0.05) of 35 days old piglets, but Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli decreased in the group H (p is less than 0.05) of 56 days old piglets. The prevalence of resistance to at least one antibiotic class was 66.7% before and 50% after the experiment in all groups. Multidrug resistance of E. coli was not observed in 14 days old piglets, but was observed in 50% and more in all of study groups of 56 days old piglets. The fatty acid composition of Longissimus thoracis muscle had higher levels of α-linolenic acid and palmitoleic acid (p is less than 0.05), but lower level of stearic acid (p is less than 0.05) in group P. In conclusion, probiotics and herbals improved gut microbiota, fatty acid profile and affected shedding of resistant E. coli, but not growth performance.

Hyperadrenocorticism (excessive adrenal production of sex steroids related to adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas) is a common disease in neutered male and female pet ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) and causes significant morbidity. Incidence of ferret adrenal disease in Latvia is high because the majority of them are gonadectomized. The most common clinical symptoms include symmetrical alopecia and recurrence of sexual behavior. Sex steroids used to diagnose disease are estradiol, androstenedione and 17α-OH progesterone. It is mentioned that androstenedione is the most sensitive during development of the disease. The aim of this study was to sum up, evaluate and compare clinical findings and blood hormone measurements in ferrets diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism. Forty two ferrets (n = 20 female, n = 22 male) with various clinical symptoms related to hyperadrenocorticism were included in this research. Clinical examination based on clinical symptom protocol was performed and blood samples were taken in all cases. There is a high correlation between the age of neutering and onset of clinical signs in female ferrets. In both sexes, there is no correlation between clinical signs and levels of sex steroids. In male and female group, symmetrical alopecia, pruritus, scaling and fragility of skin and lethargy are the most common findings. During this research, a ranking system (from 1 to 4) for the severity of alopecia was developed. All ferrets had one or two elevated sex steroid levels. In our research, androstenedione was elevated in 25 cases out of 42. Clinical signs and sex steroid measurements are important in diagnosing hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets.

In recent years, the effective immunostimulating properties of β-glucans have been widely proven not only in mammals, but also in aquatic animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary β-glucan supplements on the percentage of individual types of leukocytes and the haematocrit of the sea trout (Salmo trutta L.). Investigations were performed at the state fish farm ‘Tome’, hatchery ‘Pelči’ of the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment ‘BIOR’, during a six month period (September 2018 – February 2019). On the basis of feeding with immunostimulant diets, a total of 15 000 sea trout were assigned into five groups. For blood collection healthy fish were randomly selected once a month, five 5 individuals from each group. Blood smears were made to determine the leukocyte differential count. Sampling was done once a month (September 2018 – January 2019) (n=125). Haematocrit was determined by the standard microhaematocrit method. Sampling was done once a month (January 2019 – February 2019) (n=50). We concluded that the dietary β-glucan supplements can improve the haematocrit level and effect the percentage of individual types of leukocytes of the sea trout, stimulation of the preparation for parr-smolt transformation.

The aim of our study was to describe the histopathological and cytological characteristic of the cow endometrium on the seventh day of the oestrous cycle. In this study, 11 different breeds’ dairy cows (78.18 ± 37.46 months old, in 3.6 ± 2.17 lactation, the mean body condition score 3.4 ± 0.72 (5 points scale)) from Research and Study farm ‘Vecauce’ were selected. All cows were more than 210 days postpartum. Overall health and reproductive tract examination was performed, progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentration in blood serum were established and the biopsy and cytology samples of endometrium were taken. Mean E2 concentration was 14.92 ± 7.92 pg mLE−1, mean P4 concentration was 13.64 ± 9.44 nmol LE−1. The mean percentage in the cytology slides was established: epithelial cells 89 ± 9%, polimorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) 6 ± 5%. Cytological subclinical endometritis (SE) was confirmed in 5 cows. Histopathological findings (out of 22 samples): endometrium stromal edema in 14, hemosiderin and hemosiderophages in 8, supranuclear vacuolization in 12, pseudodecidual reaction in 12 samples. No subnuclear vacuolization and mitosis in the glandular epithelium were detected. Histopathological examination did not reveal SE. Morphology between the uterine horns with and without corpus luteum (CL) and between cows with serum P4 level higher than 15 nmol LE−1 and lower than 15 nmol LE−1 were not statistically different (p is greater than 0.05). In conclusion, histopatological examination is more reliable diagnostic method for SE. Future investigation should be performed to establish cut-off values for the diagnosis of SE in cows more than 210 days postpartum.

Avian mycoplasmosis have been considered a severe problem in poultry diseases; Mycoplasma gallisepticum being one of the most important. This study was conducted in Joint-Stock Company Balticovo, Latvia, to determine the prevalence of M. gallisepticum infection in hen’s flocks in the farm. A total of 904 serum and 335 swab samples from non-vaccinated birds against M. gallisepticum from 65 chicken flocks of different age, from day 1 to 75 weeks old, were all tested. The commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were used. Results revealed that the seropositive flock rate, based on ELISA tests and, according to ratio that represents the extent to which a light source effectively stimulates the rods: S/P ratios and antibodies titer higher 1.076 were 22/904 (2.43%) and 4/904 (0.44%), respectively, while PCR-positive flock rates were not confirmed. Seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum in commercial layer flock in Latvia was more common seen in birds from 17 to 30 weeks of age.

Blood haematology is one of the indicators that shows if a goat (Capra hircus) kid gets a sufficient quantity of liquid, has a good supply of oxygen in the body, as well as an indication of inflammatory processes. Our aim of this research was to find out how feed additives (probiotics (Enterococcus faecium), prebiotics (Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.)) and symbiotics (Enterococcus faecium+ Jerusalem artichoke)) influence on haematological parameters of kids. Research was performed in Latvia in 2014. The blood samples were analyzed for leucocytes (WBC), erythrocyte number (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB) concentration, packed cell volume (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations (MCHC). Since the blood indicators have not significantly changed in all examination times, we analyzed the results of the age of 4, 8 and 12 weeks. HCT downward trend in blood sample MRG + PRO, MRG + PRE and MRG + SIM group of kids was observed from the fourth week up to the eighth week and then it gradually increased. The results showed that the HCT, HGB, RBC, MCHC and WBC number was comparable (p is greater than 0.05) between groups. Our results prove that the use of Jerusalem artichoke powder as an additive to food not only improves digestion and metabolism of ruminant, but also helps to maintain constant haematological values. In the control group and the kids who received probiotics, prebiotics or symbiotics - significant differences are evident in all haematological parameters (p is less than 0.05) at the age of 12 weeks.