Publikacje

The effect of allicin on the intestinal microbiota and production efficiency in selected farm animals

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The effect of allicin on the intestinal microbiota and production efficiency in selected farm animals Jarosz, Aleksandra; Drabik, Kamil; Domaradzki, Piotr; Sapała, Magdalena; Ziomek, Monika; Batkowska, Justyna; Grenda, Tomasz Allicin is a sulphur-containing bioactive compound naturally synthesised in several Allium species, including white garlic (Allium sativum L.), bear garlic (Allium ursinum L.) and field garlic (Allium vineale L.). Current literature indicates that allicin exhibits a wide range of therapeutic activities, most notably antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, antiviral and antifungal effects. Its biological action is primarily driven by two key mechanisms: rapid penetration into pathogenic cells and the induction of lethal intracellular alterations. The breadth of allicin’s biological properties has prompted growing interest in its potential applications in the livestock industry. Dietary supplementation with allicin has been associated with improved growth performance, enhanced immune function, better quality of animal-derived products and favourable modulation of the intestinal microbiota – an aspect of particular relevance because of the central role of gut microorganisms in animal health. The aim of this review is to summarise current knowledge on the biological properties of allicin, and to particularly consider its effects on intestinal microbial modulation and its potential to improve the production efficiency of livestock.

Proficiency testing for official laboratories for 137Cs and 134Cs determination in soil

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Proficiency testing for official laboratories for 137Cs and 134Cs determination in soil Gembal, Magdalena; Czerski, Paweł; Warenik-Ban, Małgorzata; Jedziniak, Piotr Incidents involving the release of caesium radioactive isotopes into the environment have prompted the adoption of necessary measures to protect the public. A network of official laboratories has been established across Poland to routinely measure the level of radioactive contamination in food. The participation of nine selected laboratories in proficiency testing serves both to demonstrate competence and to confirm the reliability of results. The certified reference material IAEA-478 ″Radionuclides in Soil” was used for this testing. The value assigned from the certificate was determined on the basis of measurement results carried out by specialized laboratories. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) methodology was applied to evaluate the results, adopting criteria of trueness and precision that account for the measurement uncertainties estimated by the participants. The results obtained by the laboratories for 137Cs and 134Cs were within the reference values ± uncertainty for these caesium radioisotopes. Based on the obtained proficiency tests results, it can be concluded that the official laboratories perform reliable determinations of 137Cs and 134Cs activity concentrations.

Metastatic potential of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma: a comprehensive assessment of the draining pulmonary lymph nodes

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Metastatic potential of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma: a comprehensive assessment of the draining pulmonary lymph nodes Hodor, Dragoș; Negoescu, Andrad; Pop, Romelia; Popa, Roxana; Borfalău, Cristina; Hașaș, Alina-Diana; Cazan, Cristina Daniela; Savage, Jennifer; Cousens, Chris; Aharoni, Kobi; Hilbe, Monika; Rosato, Giuliana; Dumitru, Iris; Olech, Monika; Bocăneț, Vlad I.; Cătoi, Cornel; Taulescu, Marian; Toma, Corina Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV; family Retroviridae, taxon species Betaretrovirus ovijaa), is a viral oncogenic lung disease in sheep. Its metastatic potential remains under-evaluated. We investigated macrometastases (MACs), micrometastases (MICs), and isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in regional draining lymph nodes (DLNs) using histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Samples from 41 lung tumors and their regional DLNs were obtained from slaughtered Țurcană sheep. Histologically, all cases were diagnosed as OPAs. The classical or mixed OPA was observed in 37 of 41 (90%) cases; the remaining tumors were the atypical form. In 10 cases, myxoid growths were also detected. For IHC, anti-multicytokeratin, thyroid transcription factor 1, and JSRV antibodies were used to detect metastatic cells within DLNs. Neoplastic cells were identified in 16 of 41 (39%) DLNs, including 2 MAC, 7 MIC, and 7 ITC cases. Lung tumors >7 cm were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). A random forest model incorporating tumor volume, necrosis, mitotic count, and Ki67 index achieved the best performance (AUC = 0.70; accuracy = 62.5%; F1 = 0.57) for metastasis prediction. A benign epithelial inclusion was found within a DLN in one case, which has not been reported previously, to our knowledge. We found that OPA has a higher metastatic potential than previously recognized, particularly in larger tumors. Multivariate analysis, including additional tumor markers, likely would improve metastasis prediction. Our findings advance our understanding of OPA progression and its relevance as a comparative model for human lung adenocarcinoma.

Evaluation of the Flashtest multiplex qPCR system for rapid pre-laboratory screening for African swine fever infection

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluation of the Flashtest multiplex qPCR system for rapid pre-laboratory screening for African swine fever infection Walczak, Marek; Adaszek, Łukasz Introduction: African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating viral disease of domestic pigs and wild boar. As no safe vaccine is currently available, prevention relies primarily on strict biosecurity measures. Early diagnosis is essential to reduce the risk of ASF spread. Among the available methods, qPCR is considered the gold standard and is recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health. The Flashtest system is designed to perform the complete workflow, from genetic material extraction to qPCR analysis, enabling rapid (under 1 hour) and accurate detection of various animal diseases in veterinary practice. Material and Methods: In this study, the Flashtest system was evaluated in ASF detection using blood samples collected during ASF outbreaks in 2025 in Poland and samples from experimentally infected pigs. Its performance was compared with a validated commercial qPCR assay employed by the National Reference Laboratory for ASF in Poland. Results: The system achieved up to 97% sensitivity, 100% specificity and reproducibility with a coefficient of variation below 3.5%. The limit of detection was estimated at 10³ TCID₅₀/mL, and a slightly reduced amplification efficiency was observed. Conclusion: These results indicate that the Flashtest system reliably detects ASF in the majority of cases. Nevertheless, confirmatory testing is recommended for samples with low viral loads.