Projects / Programmes
Animal health, environment and food safety
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.04.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Veterinarian medicine |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B750 |
Biomedical sciences |
Veterinary medicine: surgery, physiology, pathology, clinical studies |
| B006 |
Biomedical sciences |
Agronomics |
veterinary medicine; animal diseases; environment; ecotoxicology; food safety
Researchers (86)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
There are numerous diseases affecting animal and human health. Diseases can be caused by several pathogens or poor animal breeding managment or inadequate and poor nutrition. Protection of human health is directly linked to the state of animal health. Research studies related to this area include detection and determination of causative agents of diseases, the incidence and their transmissibility and finding possible solutions for the prevention of diseases occuring in domestic and wild animals, including fish and bees. Our research work is also aimed at contemporary disseases such as transmissible spongioform encephalopathies, tick transmitted diseases, Born disease, Visna, caprine arthritis and encephalitis and other infectious and non-infectious encephalopathies. A special part of our interests also involves research of tumors. One part of this researh are tumors caused by oncogenic viruses. The other part of research involves tumors occurring in animal living in the same environment as humans or in wildlife. These tumors can be an indicator of possible transmission of causative agents between animal species or can be considered as an indicator or environmental pollution.
Animal and human health and their immune system depend on qualitative and healthy nutrition. Therefore our research is also aimed at the study of the impact of unsaturated fatty acids in animal feed and the structure of pasture vegetation on several indicators of health, immune system and the occurrence of diseases in animals and humans. Many problems are also related to poor quality or even harmful food or feed, which may contain large quantities of naturally occurring antinutritive and toxic substances such as pesticides, radionuclides, heavy metals and drug residues. Feed may also be contaminated with saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria, fungi and their toxins. Studies will involve determination and finding adequate solutions of problems linked to the assurance of food safety and thus to human health.
Within the frames of our research program are also studies of adequate environment assuring animal health along with the best production. Studies also involve possible ways of environmental protection against harmful impacts of intensive breeding systems and treatment of large number of animals on one place. Studies are linked to the determination of impact of drug residues (ecotoxicology) and the study of safe disposal of excretes and other forms of organic wastes produced in intensive animal breeding systems and food production (aerobic treatment of organic waste materials).
Significance for science
Studies targeted at discovering molecular mechanisms of life cycle of causative agents of different viral diseases enabled the development of new diagnostic methods and planning new approaches for timely detection and prevention of disease spreading. Developed and/or introduced methods were compared with classical methods and were used to detect RNA viruses well known for their high mutation rate in nature and to assess dissemination and genetic characteristics of these viruses. Genetic heterogeneity and evolution were studied for BVD virus in cattle, equine arteritis virus, pigeon paramyxoviruses, infectious bronchitis virus, Gumboro disease virus, viruses of acute bee paralysis and deformed wings, cat retroviruses (FIV and FeLV), and animal and human caliciviruses. Experimental data required for environmental impact assessment of veterinary medicinal products (antiparasitic drugs) were obtained in ecotoxicological studies. We determined effects of avermectins in non-target terrestrial (soil-dwelling) and aquatic organisms. Dissipation of these products under environmental conditions was studied as well. Environmental impact assessment is a part of registration file for veterinary medicinal products (ecotoxicological studies) in the European Union (according to provisions of EMEA/CVMP/ERA/418282/2005). Research included also studies of tumors and degenerative and infectious diseases of central nervous system in domestic and wild animals. The findings represent a basis for further analysis of the most frequent causes of tumors and for the analysis of occurrence of neuropathological changes. In wildlife, the presence of antibodies against causative agents of different infectious diseases was discovered. This contributes to a better knowledge of wildlife status in Slovenia and enables preparation of eradication plans in case of outbreaks or disease dissemination from neighboring countries. Genotyping of wild boars and wolves expanded the database concerning the origin and movement of populations in Europe. The studies were also aimed to ensuring quality environment for animal health and better production and investigating the negative effects of an environment on animals. The markedly effect shows in the pasture areas of the Karst. At the Karst pasture at Vremščica we recorded the turf and its modifications due to ten years of pasture of small ruminants. We mapped habitat types of grassland and the recorded the data on surface and undersurface biomass of grass vegetation and microbiological activity in soil. The research of biofilms occuring in nature, technological processes and also milking equipment contributed to better knowledge and study of food production in quality environment. The another important contribution was made by the study of the role of unsaturated fatty acids in animal nutrition and health and the study of the animal feed contaminated with various toxins. The studies on re-contamination of vacuum packed meat products with the bacteria Brochothrix thermosphacta, Listeria monocytogenes and Lactobacillus alimentarius from the air in meat processing industry are the first such investigations in meat industry. The results will contribute to better knowledge of the way and intensity of aerogenic contamination of vacuum packed products and also to better knowledge and understanding of the way and probability of meat products contamination. In consequence, the results will contribute to providing safe and healthy food.
Significance for the country
The frame of the research programme is based on achieving new goals in connection with a high degree of public health care and food safety as well as maintaining of clean environment and of environmental biodiversity in Slovenia. Special attention within the programme has been devoted to those diseases that can be transmitted from animal to humans (zoonosis) and therefore have impact on public health, society and economy. New methods and techniques for characterization of different pathogens in animals were introduced. Obtained results represent the ground for application of new diagnostic techniques and development of advanced diagnostic methods. This will enable faster detection and typing of pathogens and diseases in intensive and extensive animal breeding and effective solution of the problems of the farmers. With molecular typing of pathogens isolated in cattle, sheep and humans the epidemiological studies have been prepared capturing prevalence and possible manners for spreading of such infections between animals and humans. At the same time the new data on expansion of different viral diseases were obtained and the corresponding measures for prevention of spreading and eradication of diseases were studied. Results of researches on tumour, degenerative and infective diseases of central nervous system in domestic and wild animals are the found for further investigation of neuropathological changes and causes for tumour formation. Acquired knowledge on the health status of wildlife on the territory of Slovenia enables us to conduct the eradication plans in case of outbreak or spreading the disease within the country or on the frontier. Using genetic examinations the DNA in wolfs and wild boars was isolated. The results will serve for genotyping among different populations of the same species that is important for identification of wildlife migration among different populations inside the country and between countries. Studies on the field of polution of waters inhabited with freshwater fish are significant from safe food point of wiev as well as preservation of nature in fish breeding. Results of ecotoxicologycal studies of veterinary drugs, which have became a part of documentaion required for registration of new drugs are importnant for Slovenian pharmaceutic industry as well as for national committee for drug registration in Slovenia. Furthermore, those researches contributes to safe use of drugs which are applied mainly for mass treatment of animals population concentrated at the same place, from the nature preservation, health animal care and save food point of wiev. The results obtained in studies of food contamination in processing and packing ensure safer food and its prolonged durability that reduce the risk of airborne microorganism infection in the initial phase of processing. In the field of biofilm in dairying industry the results are applicative and their practical use is in proper selection of ecologicaly acceptable biocides employed in sanitation of milking machines.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
