Detailed osteometry of selected cat bones was evaluated as well as the values of correlation coefficients describing the morphology of individual cat skeleton elements were compared in order to verify the hypothesis on the possible occurrence of larger cats in early mediaeval Szczecin than in contemporary Wolin. The research material consisted of domestic cat bone remains being housed in the bone collections of the Museum of the Department of Animal Anatomy, Western Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, coming from archaeological sites situated at the place of early mediaeval urban centres in Wolin and Szczecin. Based on the degree of diaphyseal-epiphyseal fusion of the long bones, the age of cats was determined and 3 age groups were separated, i.e. juvenile, subadult and adult. The traits of cat bones from archaeological site Szczecin–Vegetable Market showed significantly higher values (P≤0.01; P≤0.05) when compared to those from archaeological site Wolin–Town. The bone material examined complements our knowledge on the characteristic of this species in Western Pomerania as well as expands that on cats of the Early Middle Ages.

The aim of this study was to determine an increase in the length of skeletal bones and muscle groups in broiler pullets during the rearing period. The research material consisted of the Ross 308 broiler pullets. The analysis included keel bone, leg bones (tarsometatarsus, femur and tibia), wing bones (humerus and ulna) as well as breast, thigh, drumstick muscles and wing muscles located along humerus and ulna. Day-old chicks weighed 36.5 g on average and during the whole rearing period, i.e. until 6 weeks of age increased their body weight to 2229.2 g. From 1 to 42 days of age, the weight of wing muscles increased from 0.91 to 429.9 g, that of thigh muscles changed from 1.95 to 218.0 g and that of drumstick muscles increased from 1.27 to 140.7 g. At that time, the weight of wing muscles increased from 0.74 to 38.9 g. In day-old chicks, the lengths of tarsometatarsus, tibia, femur, ulna and humerus were 25.6 mm, 32.0 mm, 24.7 mm, 17.5 mm and 17.0 mm, respectively. The respective values for 6-week-old birds were 81.7 mm, 105.8 mm, 78.5 mm, 73.9 mm and 77.8 mm. A different growth rate of the analysed traits as well as a clear decrease in this rate with increasing age of birds were found. For most analysed traits, the rate of increase in muscle weight was three times higher than that in the length of individual skeletal bones. At that time, the keel length increased from 20.4 to 132.6 mm. Positive significant and highly significant relationships were found between most analysed traits such as: body weight of chickens and the weight of their breast and leg muscles.

The experiment used Podhale Zackel ewes maintained in a flock included in the genetic resources conservation programme for this breed in the Podhale area. Staple length, wool yield and wool thickness were measured. Average double-clip wool yield was 1.9 kg with staple length of 15.6 cm. Wool thickness was measured by microprojection using a lanameter. The wool of Zackel sheep was classified as mixed thick wool having three fractions in staple. Average thickness was 26 µm for down hair, 50.2 µm for the medium fraction, and 68.6 µm for the guard fraction. In the wool flock, the down and guard fraction exceeded 40%, and the medium fraction was 17.5%. The results obtained show that the wool of Zackel sheep differs in both fibre thickness and weight proportion of fractions. The present Podhale Zackel differs from the old-type Zackel in higher wool yield and staple length, and greater content of down fibres.

Malaria remains a major health issue In the world, while in Poland no cases of the indigenous disease have been observed since 60-ties of the last century, but the number of cases imported from the epidemic areas is increasing. The aim of work was to analyse the epidemiology of malaria diagnosed and treated in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland from 1.02.2010 until 31.01.2011. In total 11 cases were found, all diagnoses based on the thick and thin blood smear microscopy, alongside to the standard laboratory analyses. All clinical data presented are based on the case history. Results: Majoriry of cases reported travel to Sub-Saharan Africa (45%) or Indian subcontinent (27%). The travel was usually for recreational purposes, with significant proportion (45%) of patient not taking the malaria prophylaxis. Clinical course of infections was largely mild, with dominance of Pl. Falciparum parasitaemia. Fever was the most common clinical symptom (90%), while in the routine laboratory test no significant abnormalities, suggesting the disease, were found. Conclusions: malaria should be suspected in every case of the returning traveler with fever, especially if the travel was to the endemic area. The exclusion of the disease cannot be based on routine laboratory tests or quick immunoassays – thick and thin blood smear microscopy must be performed.

The aim of this study was to determine selenium concentration in the blood serum of dairy cows and to establish its influence on the level of production and reproduction traits. The study was performed on the farm located in Western Pomerania and involved 140 cows, which were selected using the analogue method on the basis of their physiological state, lactation number, milk yield, age and genotype. The following indices were analyzed in individual groups: milk yield (kg), milk fat yield (kg), milk fat content (%), milk protein yield (kg), milk protein content (%). Selenium concentration in the blood serum was determined with the spectrofluorometric method. The obtained results showed that 23.6% cows had selenium deficiency, 39.3% had threshold concentration and 37.1% had physiological concentration. The mean milk fat and protein contents were the highest in animals with the threshold concentration of selenium and differed statistically (P≤0.01) from those of the group with the deficiency or physiological concentration of this element. The study revealed that the problem of selenium deficiency is still present in some dairy cattle herds in Western Pomerania.