Monensin and lasalocid affect the transport of cations across membranes. We studied the bioaccumulation of cadmium and lead in woodlice when concurrently exposed to ionophores. At ionophore levels expected in nature, there was no effect on Cd accumulation. At 100 times higher concentrations the presence of ionophores resulted in significantly lower Cd or Pb content in woodlice. Under natural conditions such high levels of ionophores are unlikely. The use of contaminated manure in areas where metal pollution is also likely probably does not result in any increased risk to soil invertebrates.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 3374202Immunosuppression causes important health problems and high economical losses in intensive poultry production. Immunosupressive diseases can be divided into two categories; diseases caused by specific pathogenic microorganisms, and diseases which are provoked by intoxication with mycotoxins and stress factors. Beside higher mortality, which is caused mainly by specific immunosuppressive viruses, the dysfunction of the immune competent organs leads to a high susceptibility to secondary infections, sub-optimal response to vaccinations and poor production results. In the paper, the importance of three non-oncogenic, highly infectious and economically very important viral diseases is discussed: infectious bursal disease, chicken infectious anaemia and inclusion body hepatitis. All three diseases have been intensively studied during the last decade. New diagnostic approaches based on molecular methodologies enables faster diagnostics and new epidemiological studies, and help us to establish better strategies for their control and prevention.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 3454842Due to the farming method and composition of the diet the poultry are exposed to various mycotoxins that can adversely affect their health. The adverse effects of aflatoxins, cyclopiazonic acid, sterigmatocystin, ochratoxins, zearalenone, moniliformin, aurofusarin, trichothecenes, fusarochromanone, fumonisins and fusaric acid are presented. Similar experiment was conducted on a large pig farm to establish the effects of Fusarium mycotoxins on pregnant gilts in their perinatal period. The results of immunological tests suggest that mycotoxin DON might act as an immunosuppressor or immunostimulator. The effect of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) on suckling piglets of experimental gilts was also studied. The relationship between the cortex and the medulla of the thymus was evaluated, and found to be statistically significantly altered in the experimental group. Also, in this group the statistically significantly greater number of cells in apoptosis was found. Therefore, the results do show that DON affects the thymus of suckling piglets.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 3426170