Materials from 6 months old snakes of the species shooter snake (Coluber caspius), died with neurologicalsymptoms and uncharacteristic eating of peat litter, were tested. At the microscopic examination of samplesof liver and peat litter were found bacteria with morphology, typical of Clostridium botulinum, then this specieswas isolated from studied materials. The ?linical, pathological and microbiological results show that the mostlikely cause of these symptoms and mortality was botulinum intoxication. To prevent the disease, the peat andother bedding for reptiles should not be kept in wet and anaerobic conditions.

The aim of this work was to estimate the level of infestation of bee samples infested with Varroa destructor.It has been performed a laboratory assay of bee samples for the presence of the mite Varroa destructor.The investigation was for a period of two years – 2015 and 2016. The bee samples were collected from diseasedand dead bee colonies owned by 149 beekeepers. The result show?d that from 220 bee samples tested, 36%were positive for Varroa mite and negative samples were 64%. The level of infestation in positive samples wasas follows: less than 5% were in 39.2% of samples, between 5 to 20% and more than 20% were found in 30.4%for each level, respectively. In conclusion more than a third of the bee samples were infested with Varroa mites.Most of the bee samples had a low degree of invasion (< 5%) and the average and the high level of invasion ofbee samples were represented by the same values.

The study included a total of 136 sheep from two breeds (Lacaune and Mouton Charollais) to establishchanges in the values of body condition score (BCS), ß-hydroxybutyrate (????) and non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA) in their blood and their relationship in the development of subclinical (SCK) and clinical (CK) ketosis.The ewes were divided in three groups (pregnant, recently lambed and lactating). Blood concentrations of???? and NEFA were assayed in all ewes. The body condition was scored. Blood ???? concentrations wereincreased in Lacaune sheep from the three groups affected by SCK vs control levels, as well as in animals withCK from all groups vs both controls and SCK. None of Mouton Charollais ewes had blood BHBA concentrations>0.8 mmol/l. The evaluation of BCS of ewes with SCK and CK showed a trend of decrease compared tothe control groups. The quantities of NEFA in sheep of the three groups with SCK were statistically significantlyelevated vs control groups, while in sheep with CK – decreased, vs both controls and SCK. In meat-typeMouton Charollais ewes, values of NEFA ranged around the reference.

In the last few years the exotic animals are becoming more and more popular pets. The prophylactic and medical procedures in these animals require appropriate immobilization and anesthesia. The information for the anesthetic and analgesic agents for these animals is not enough. The purpose of this study was to be made a review of the appropriate anesthetic agents, methods and schemes for sedation, analgesia and anesthesia in snakes, which could help veterinary doctors to perform safer clinical examination or painless invasive procedures with a minimal stress for the patient.

The article describes a case of Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in a dog. There is a description ofthe dynamic of the disease before and after the beginning of treatment with immunosuppressive drugs (Prednisoloneand Azathioprine). The laboratory study shows significant improvement, the patient has no clinicalcomplaints. There is a discussion for the approach to such clinical presentation and the application of a successfultherapeutic strategy.

Production of traditional raw – dried meat products in Bulgaria is a historical fact that is increasinglyfades into the background of innovative technologies that massively enter the meat industry. That’s besides themassive high-tech production and European framework which imposes certain standards in the production ofthis type of meat products. However, they remain favorites in the local market as it is considered a traditionalfood for the region. As foods with protected designations and traditional specialties guaranteed in the Europeanregister were entered Elena fillet, sausage Panagyurska, Rolle Trapezitza and Kaiser neck Thrace. Studies overthe hygiene status and quality characteristics of various assortments of raw dried meat products are diverse andindicate possible problems arising from the specificity of the products and the continuous development of technology. This study examines the quality of meat raw materials, the role of microflora in meat available and theimpact of the added starter cultures in the production of fast ripening raw dried meat products as a key factorin maintaining the identity and authority of traditional Bulgarian food.

Owners and persons supervising animals are obliged to take adequate and enough care for them and tocontrol their behaviour. This obligation is explicitly governed by the provisions of article 149, article 150 andarticle 177 of the Veterinary Medicine Act (VMA). Any failure to take due care, i.e. owners’ omission, mayresult in damages both to animals and the other members of the society. The liability of the owners and the personssupervising the animals may be criminal in case the hypotheses of article 325c) of the Criminal Code exist,or administrative – criminal in case with their omission, respon-sible individuals have violated only the requirementsof the veterinary medical legislation. This study highlights the need to differentiate cases where the responsible individu-als’ failure to takeenough care for the animals is only an administrative violation, and cases where this is a crime, and what arethe competent government authorities that im-pose sanctions to the violator. The judgment of this circumstanceis crucial with view of the prohibition to sue a violator twice for the same, also used as a basis for the interpretationin Interpreting Decision No 3 enacted on 22.12.2015 under interpreting case No 3/2015 as per the inventoryof the General Assembly of the Criminal Bar at the Supreme Court of Cassation.

Successful anesthetic management of critical patients requires usage of specific anesthetic protocols depending on the animals’ condition, degree of emergence, available equipment, knowledge of doctors etc. Correctly preoperative evaluation, intraoperative monitoring and postoperative monitoring and pain management are the important steps for decreasing of mortality during these conditions.The aim of this article was to review procedures regarding Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus syndrome (GDV) and Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia (TDH), two common emergency situations in small animal practice, which share high mortality rates and the need of specific and cautious anesthetic considerations.

Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a common autoimmune disorder in dogs. It affects bothsexes but occurs more often in female, middle-aged animals. IMHA can be idiopathic (primary) or secondaryto infectious, neoplastic and autoimmune disorders. There is an acute regenerative anemia with accompanyinghypoxia. Destruction of erythrocytes can be intravascular (as a result of complement system activation) orextravascular (removal of antibody-coated red blood cells by the macrophages in the liver and spleen). Diagnosisis based on the presence of anemia, in vitro autoagglutination, positive direct antiglobulin test (Coomb`stest), detection of spherocytes. It is crucial to exclude possible secondary causes. The treatment protocol aimsto cease cell destruction by high doses of corticosteroids, aggressive supportive care and long-term applicationof immunosuppressive drug combinations. Still lethality is high because of complications (pulmonary thromboembolism,DIC), medication resistance, relapses.

The aim of the present study was to compare first-service conception rates after inclusion of either hCG or GnRH in Double Ovsynch to anestrous dairy cows. The animals with follicle size =10 mm and no corpus luteum in ovaries were allotted into 2 groups. At the start of the programme, follicle sizes were 13.7±1.5 mm and 13.9±1.2 mm respectively (?=0.5). Higher percentage of ovulations (72.7%) were established in cows treated with hCG vs those treated with GnRH (64.4%, ?<0.2094). Follicle sizes at the time of AI were 15.9±0.5 mm and 16.2±0.4 mm (?=0.5). Pregnancy was detected in 38.6% of cows treated with hCG and 42.2% of cows treated with GnRH (?<0.3501).

The physiology of canine pregnancy is characterised with specific features affecting the function of all organs and systems. The last third of pregnancy, when foetal development and growth are the most intensive, is particularly important. After the conception, the animals need not only extra care from their owners, but also veterinary medical monitoring of the bitch and foetuses for prevention or timely diagnosis of illnesses. The present review is focused on nutrition, antiparasitic treatment and vaccination of the pregnant bitch. Practical algorithms for prophylaxis and therapy are proposed. A special emphasis is placed on the role of these procedures on pregnancy course and maintaining, dam health and the vitality of neonates.

There are a significant number of parasites in which part of their life cycle passes through the lung or adult forms can be found there. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Strongylida, Angiostrongylidae) is one of the so-called lungworm parasites, and in recent years has gained considerable prevalence in our country. Its location is usually in bronchioles and alveoli and the disease may occur asymptomatically or with cough, breathing disturbances and worsening of the general condition. For a period of 1 year, 60 coprological samples were made in the clinic, six of which were positive for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus as a single invasion or as a co-invasion with other parasites.The specific treatment performed has led to animal healing.

The pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in pigs after single intravenous or intramuscular application wasfollowed out. Blood concentrations were assayed using HPLC with UV-detection. By means of the TopFit,v. 2.0. software, the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by two pharmacokinetic models – compartmentaland non-compartmental.After i.v. application, the respective values of calculated pharmacokinetic parameters were as followed:t1/2a = 0.54 h; t1/2ß = 5.92 h and t1/2ß = 5.76 h; MRT = 8.74 h and MRT = 8.41h; AUC0?8= 23.14 µg.h/ml and AUC 0?8= 22.24 µg.h/ml; Vss= 4.87 l/kg and Vd (area) = 5.14 l/kg. After i.m. application of ciprofloxacin, the respective values of calculated pharmacokinetic parameterswere as followed: t1/2a = 0.46 h; t1/2ß = 4.83 h and t1/2ß = 4.61 h; MRT = 9.89 h and MRT = 9.68 h; t1/2abs. = 0.56h; MAT = 1.15 h and MAT = 1.12 h; Cmax = 0.714 µg/ml and Cmax = 0.625 µg/ml; Tmax= 0.76 h and Tmax= 0.88h; AUC0?8 = 17.630 µg.h/ml and AUC0?8 = 16.835 µg.h/ml; F = 76.23% and F = 75.69%.

In this report, a case of concomitant Chicken anaemia virus (CAV), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and Avian reovirus (ARV) infection in fancy chicken breeds is presented. It concerns fancy chickens at the age from 2 weeks to 4 months with repetitive respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing, whistling sounds and conjunctivitis. The 5 chickens submitted at the Institute were with depression, rales and dyspnea as 2 of them had anaemia. The necropsy was performed after their humane euthanasia. The 2 older necropsed birds showed fibrinous airsacculitis with gathering caseous exudate and serous tracheitis. The air sacs of the younger chickens were with initial signs of opacity. Atrophy of the thymus was found in one of the examined chickens with anaemia. The 5 serum samples tested by rapid serum agglutination test with MG antigen, were positive for MG. CAV was confirmed in the five fancy chickens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in the both chickens with anaemia histologically. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined the presence of antibodies to aMPV and ARV in the five tested birds. This study is a case of confirming co-infection of CAV with MG, aMPV and ARV.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of salt supplementation – salt exclusion (SSE) diet on estrus induction in North-East Bulgarian merino sheep (NBMS). It was used three groups consisting of 180 animals each, where one serves as control and two were experimental. The control group was allowed to consume salt ad libitum, while the experimental groups had no access to salt for 10 days, after which their diet was supplemented with 17g/per capita for 6 days. During the experiment, teaser rams were used to reveal the animals which are in estrus. It was found that SSE diet doesn’t stimulate the estrus onset in the sheep from NBMS.

ABSTRACT In this report, a case of concomitant Chicken anaemia virus (CAV), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and Avian reovirus (ARV) infection in fancy chicken breeds is presented. It concerns fancy chickens at the age from 2 weeks to 4 months with repetitive respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing, whistling sounds and conjunctivitis. The 5 chickens submitted at the Institute were with depression, rales and dyspnea as 2 of them had anaemia. The necropsy was performed after their humane euthanasia. The 2 older necropsed birds showed fibrinous airsacculitis with gathering caseous exudate and serous tracheitis. The air sacs of the younger chickens were with initial signs of opacity. Atrophy of the thymus was found in one of the examined chickens with anaemia. The 5 serum samples tested by rapid serum agglutination test with MG antigen, were positive for MG. CAV was confirmed in the five fancy chickens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in the both chickens with anaemia histologically. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined the presence of antibodies to aMPV and ARV in the five tested birds. This study is a case of confirming co-infection of CAV with MG, aMPV and ARV.

Radiographic examinations were performed on the hip, knee and elbow joints of three brown bears.The study was conducted in the Dancing Bear Park, in the town of Belitsa, Bulgaria. All tested bears werelimping and had abnormal gait. All X-rays indicated osteoarthritis and degenerative changes. A correlationbetween the X-ray findings and the level of lameness was established.

The purpose of this article is to describe common principles of the radiological survey of the lungs, whichis crucial for the making of correct and timely diagnosis in the clinical settings. The main lung patterns- alveolar,bronchial, interstitial and vascular are shown in details and their clinical value in different inflammatory,neoplastic and cardiac pathologies are reviewed. The different lung patterns are described using variety ofradiologic imaging, which are supposed to demonstrate the principle difference between the common patternsand the descriptive differentiation of the pathology from the physiology.

From skin of wild boars with signs of dermatitis were isolated fungi of species Penicillium verrucosum(Dierckx, 1901), and Aspergillus fumigatus (Fresen, 1863). Pathologically were stablished hepatitis and nephritis.A. fumigatus was isolated from the liver, but from the kidneys were not isolated microorganisms. The resultsindicate that A. fumigatus can be fungal pathogen in wild pigs with localization in the liver and, in combinationwith P. verrucosum – of dermatomycosis. Both types of fungi are not typical causes of skin mycoses and this isthe first case of isolation in such disease.