Production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the rabbit’s digestive tract is connected with implantation of cellulolitic flora, which takes place abort the third week of life. VFA are produced as a result of fermentation of dietary fibre (partly NDF – neutral detergent fibre, partly pectins and water-soluble fibre), as well as from other food components and endogenous material. The volume of these acids in the rabbit’s caecum reaches its normal level after the 40 days of life and ranges on the average from 31,8 to 88,5 mmol/dm³, with the simultaneous reversal of the propionate acid to butyric acid ratio. In this gut the VFA profile is specific, with a predominance of acetate (60-80 mol in 100 mol of the VFA produced), smaller amount of butyrate (8-20 mol/100 mol VFA) and an even smaller amount of propionate (3-10 mol/100 mol VFA). The day cycle of fermentation in the rabbit’s caecum overlaps closely with the parallel rhythm of absorption and metabolism of volatile fatty acids. The large intestine tissues metabolize best butyrate, than propionate and in the smallest degree acetate. All volatile fatty acids are utilized as a source of energy for the basic metabolism (they cover 30-40% of the organism’s requirement). Apart from supplying metabolic energy, VFA also have manifold effects on the mucosa of the large intestine. They influence among others the increase in inter-cellular pH or cell swelling, they modulate absorption of sodium and secretion of chlorine, they stimulate release of mucins and enhance the blood flow in mucosa. It is also supposed that volatile fatty acids stimulate the growth of colonic mucosa. Research is in progress on application of VFA in therapy of various large intestine disorders.

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) is a major infection disease of horses. In many cases the stallions recovered from the EAV infection are the source of the virus for other horses, shedding the virus with semen. Their elimination is most important in prevention of that disease. The stallions should be checked serologically for the presence of anti-EAV antibodies in their sera. If the stallion is serologically positive, semen samples are checked for the virus. The overall goal of the study was to find seropositive stallions among 476 stallions from 4 herds in Poland. The percentage of shedders was between 9,38% – 25% in different herds. The trials of decontamination of stallions’ sperm from EAV were the specific object of the study. The purification is obtained by the centrifugation of the infected sperm in a density gradient. Material for the study consisted of 21 semen samples. The samples were treated with Equi Pure gradient of Nidacon (Sweden). The results showed that only some of the EAV-infected semen samples were cleaned off from the EAV infection. Centrifugation in gradient did not decrease the motility of spermatozoa. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was higher after purifying in comparison with the raw semen. Generally, the quality of stallion semen after centrifugation was satisfactory and it could be used for artificial insemination of mares.

To estimate myoelectric activity of gastroduodenal area chronic experiments were performed in 4 sheep with bipolar platinum electrodes attached to the antral and small intestinal wall. Myoelectrical activity was recorded by means of multichannel electroencephalograph. The study concerned role of muscarinic receptor subtypes in motor activity antroduodenal area in sheep. During experiments antagonists of muscarinic receptors (M) were administered intravenously. From antagonists of muscarinic receptors were used: atropine sulfate, and selective antagonists of muscarinic receptors – antagonists of M₂ receptors gallamine triethiodide and methoctramine tetrahydrochloride, antagonist of M₃ receptors 4-DAMP methiodide and antagonist of M₄ receptors tropicamide in doses 0,05, 0,1 and 0,2 mg/kg. All used antagonists abolished myoelectric activity in tested area and had the significant influence on frequency of minute rhythm (RM). Receptor subtypes M₂, M₃ i M₄ play the role in control of motor activity of antoduodenal area. Muscarinic receptor subtypes participate in regulation of RM.

Research was executed on three weeks old calves, witch were transported for 45 minutes at the distance of 10 km. The calves’ blood was collected in 6 series: just before and immediately after the transport and then in 24^th and 72^nd hour and later: 7^th, 14^th, 21^st day after the animals ware located in calf shed. The number of leucocytes was determined in whole blood, the smear was done, and lymphocytes were differentiated on: T, B, CD4 and CD8 cells with the immunofluorescence method including monoclonal antibodies. The concentration of cortisol was determined with RIA methods, while the concentration of glucose was detected with oxidate method. The significant increase of cortisol and glucose concentration was noticed and marked decrease in the amount of lymphocytes T and B in peripheral blood was detected directly after the transport. The increase of T lymphocytes concentration was observed 72^nd hours, and B cells 14 days after the transport. In the 24^th hours after of transportation the higher concentration of lymphocytes CD4 and lower concentration of CD8 cells was noticed.

The study was performed on 20 dogs in which hip dysplasia was diagnosed during clinical and radiological examinations. Animals were divided in to two equals groups, and were surgically treated. In the first group pectinectomy was performed. In the second group pektineomiektomii-iliopsoastenotomii-neurektomii was applied. Results of surgical procedures were good, and no lameness was observed in all treated dogs. Periodic radiological examinations showed the progress on degenerative changes in the treated hip joints.

Relatively little attention is paid to the dynamics of microflora in course of food storage. The purpose of present study was the evaluation of the microbiological stability and the changes in water activity and pH of sausages stored under refrigeration. The experiment was performed on 50 sausage samples, manufactured industrially and vacuum-packed by one of Lower Silesian plants. The sausages were stored at 4±1 ºC for 28 days, and microbiological analyses and the measurements of water activity and pH were carried out on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The results underwent statistical analysis. The microbiological status of sausages studied followed the compulsory legislation for the whole period of storage. It was shown that the microbiological stability of product analyzed was not only dependent on the level of postproductive contamination but reflected complex interactions among microflora and intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Providing the balance among the aforementioned factors, the microbiological stability of sausages was satisfactory even during prolonged storage.

The experiment was carried out on 2.5-month-old calves. Prior to and during the experiment, the animals remained under the same light/dark regime (LD 10:14). Blood was sampled from the external jugular vein eight times during a 24-hour period, at 6.00 p.m., 9.00 p.m., midnight, 3.00 a.m., 6.00 a.m., 9.00 a.m., noon, and 3.00 p.m. Somatotropin and melatonin were assayed using radioimmunoassay. Blood concentration of melatonin revealed statistically significant differences between the dark and light phase. It was significantly higher during the dark phase. Changes in blood somatotropin concentrations did not depend on the phase of illumination. No correlation has been found between the hormones in terms of their concentration changes in calf blood over 24 hours.

The research comprised 15 cows in the winter feeding period and 15 in the summer feeding period, which aimed tracking down the changes in the blood parameters during the drying-out and lactation period. Blood from these animals was taken in three stages: I – the drying-out period (about 3 weeks before calving), II – the 2^nd day after calving, III- the lactation peak (50 the day after calving). In the samples taken the following were marked: glucose, insulin, ((only in the winter period), cholesterol, triglycerides (TAG), free fatty acid (FFA), alanine (ALT) and asparagine (AST) aminotransferaze. The FFA:Cholesterol and FFA:TAG quotients were also calculated. Substantially higher concentration of cholesterol, glucose and insulin was found in the dried cows than in those during lactation in the winter season. In all the research stages the concentration of triglycerides and free fatty acids was approximately at the same level as well as the FFA:TAG quotient and ALT activity. However the FFA:Cholestrol ratio was considerably lower in animals during lactation and AST activity the lowest in the drying-out period. In the summer season namely, there was a dramatic fall in the TAG, cholesterol and glucose concentration on the 2nd day after calving. In this period the FFA concentration went up but these were not statistically substantial changes. On the 2^nd day after calving the lowest values in comparison to the other periods were obtained both after calculating the FFA:TAG and FFA:Cholestrol quotient .ALT activity was higher in the dried cows than in those in the lactation period, but AST remained unchanged.

The hearing and the maintenance of equilibrium organ went through a very long evolution process. One of the elements of effective functioning in the air was the forming of mechanisms intensifying the sound which reaches the inner ear. It was therefore, one of the conditions for transition to "life on the ground". Thus, the auricle is characteristic of mammals, the middle ear is observed in the case of the land vertebrates, whilst the vestibulocochlear organ is only to be found with the vertebrates. This work contains selected aspects of comparative anatomy of hearing and equilibrium organ in terms of its functions among certam chosen animal species. Some scientific and selfselected material (middle ear and inner ear of green frog, guinea pig, duck, macacus and dog) and the literature available were used.

The aim of this studies was to determine the occurrence of enterotoxigenic staphylococci among staphylococci isolated from food of animal origin. The investigations were carried out on total 233 samples of raw sausages (60 samples), minced turkey meat (23 samples) and raw milk (150 samples). From examined samples 57 strains of coagulase-positive stapylococci were isolated. Among them 56 were recognised as Staphylococcus aureus and remaining 1 as S. intermedius. Ability to produce of enterotoxins was found at 55% of the S. aureus strains. Generally enterotoxigenic strains were determined in 13% of examined samples of food. The isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus were divided into four biochemical biotypes according to ability to lactose and melibiose utilisation and produce of arginine dihydrolase (ADH). Among them, the most numerous biotype (39 strains) utilised lactose, not utilised melibiose and produced of arginine dihydrolase (ADH). There was no any relation between biochemical characteristics of isolated strains and their enterotoxigenicity.

In order to gain a complite diagnostic viewes of phisiological and pathological changes in urinary bladder and urethra, it is necessery to perform endoscopic examination. Endoscopic examination is minimally invasive technique and has no influence on urinary bladder and urethra function. The authors described surgical techniques, indications and equipment for cystoscopic examination which are necessary and in use in urinary tract examination in dogs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intensity exercise on blood levels of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), lactic acid (LA), glucose (Glc), triacylglycerides (TG), total plasma proteins and urea according to sex of horses. Three-year-old Arabian stallions (n=20) and mares (n=18) were observed during their race - training. Blood samples were taken at rest, immediately after exercise and 30 minutes after the last sampling. The higher increase of plasma Glc and proteins was noted just after exercise in mares, compared to stallions. The differences in the values of LA, Hb, Glc and TG were observed also 30 minutes after the end of training in two investigated groups of horses. The exercise of the same intensity effects of the mare's metabolism in a higher degree, than of the stallion's one.

The investigations were carred out on 123 pig foetuses, from 20 uteruses, from various days of gestation. The morphological, topographical, histological and statistic analysis of the accessory organs of eye were executed in our work, regarding to: eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal apparatus, muscle of eyeball and orbital fasciae. The aim of our study was the developmental analysis of the accessory organs of eye and the description of changes in their prenatal development in pig. The results will allow to make better know the morphology, morphometry, and growth dinamics of investigated organs.

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of environment on concentration of arsenic in tissues of hunting animals (roes and wild pigs), coming from three different in consideration of contamination regions. The study was made in 2003-2004. Liver, kidneys, muscles,lungs and hair samples were taken and mineralized dry a muffle furnace at 450 ⁰C. Arsenic was determined directly in mineralizate by the ICP –AES method on the Varian apparatus. Results of these studies proves, that hunting animals can be good bioindicators of the environment contamination by arsenic. They also show necessity to make the study on contents of this metal, not only in industrial regions and urban areas, but also in sites exposed on local contaminations.

Transmissible diseases are important part of contagious infection reflecting changes of vectors and climate around the world. Researches are focused on of transmissible pathogens with potential risk to humans. Birds and mammals are susceptible for WNV infections. The route of infection is the infestation by mosquito belonging to Culicidae family. Infections mainly subclinical stay misdiagnosed. Economical aspect of WNV mainly affects travelling horses used for sports.