A total of 240 samples were evaluated for the presence of Campylobacter spp. Campylobacter was found in 83.3% of the cecum contents samples and 52.5% of the neck skin samples from carcasses. The prevailing species was C. jejuni, accounting for 87.7% of all Campylobacter isolates, and the remaining 12.3% of isolates were C. coli. All Campylobacter isolates, independent of the sample origin and species, were positive for 6 out of 15 tested genes (flaA, flhA, cadF, racR, ciaB, and cdtA genes). The prevalence of dnaJ, docA, pldA, cdtB, cdtC, and iam genes was also very common (ranging from 86.5% to 98.8%). The lowest prevalence was noted for virB11 and wlaN genes, both in Campylobacter isolates from cecum (12% and 19%) and carcasses (11.1% and 17.5%). None of the isolates tested, regardless of the sample origin, carried the cgtB gene. The highest resistance rates were observed for quinolones (90.8%) and tetracyclines (79.8%). Simultaneously, only single Campylobacter isolate was resistant to macrolides (0.6%) and none of the isolates showed resistance to aminoglycosides and amphenicols. The common presence of Campylobacter on geese carcasses as well as the detection of multidrug-resistant isolates indicate that consuming goose meat might cause a potential risk, therefore leading to human campylobacteriosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different extenders on the quality of European red deer epididymal sperm stored at 5 °C. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected post mortem from 10 stags and diluted with three extenders (Bovidyl^®, BoviFree^®, and BioXcell^®) and stored at 5 °C. Sperm motility (TMOT), motility parameters (system CASA), plasma membrane integrity (SYBR-14⁺/PI⁻), acrosomal membrane integrity (FITC-PNA⁻/PI⁻), mitochondrial activity (JC-1/PI), viability, and apoptotic-like changes (YOPRO/PI) were evaluated. The analyses were conducted on the first and successive days of storage (D1–D7). The applied extender, storage time, and the interactions between these factors significantly (p < 0.001) affected most of the analyzed parameters whose values were highest in sperm samples stored in Bovidyl^®, regardless of storage time. In Bovidyl^®, BoviFree^®, and BioXcell^® extenders, TMOT values were estimated at 83%, 63%, and 59%, respectively, on D3. The extenders significantly influenced DNA integrity on D7. The percentage of dead sperm increased from D3. The quality of stored sperm cells was significantly influenced by the extenders’ biochemical composition. BoviFree^® and BioXcell^® contain glycerol which could contribute to deteriorating the quality of spermatozoa stored at 5 °C. Sperm cells stored in the egg yolk-based extender (Bovidyl^®) were characterized by the highest viability and functionality.

Paratuberculosis is a chronic, progressive enteritis of ruminants, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. It affects the productivity of infected dairy cows, causing a reduction in the daily milk yield and basic milk components. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis on the productivity of dairy cows in two herds. The research materials were serum and milk samples taken from cows from two naturally infected dairy herds. All serum samples were serologically tested using the Mycobacterium paratuberculosis Antibody ELISA Kit by IDEXX—Screening and Verification. Seroprevalence differed between the herds (5.7% and 11.3%). Seroprevalence varied also between the groups of lactation. The highest seroprevalence was found in the first lactation group in both herds. The milk yield evaluation and analysis of the basic milk components’ content (protein and fat total solids) were tested once a month during one lactation period. The content of the basic milk components varied depending on the lactation group, as well as the serological status of the cows. A decrease in milk yield was observed in cows in herds with a higher seroprevalence (>11%). The largest decrease in milk yield and basic milk components was observed in older animals (>three lactations).

The pathogenicity of animal-origin Campylobacter strains, including antimicrobial resistance and enterotoxigenicity, was determined in this study. Overall, 149 Campylobacter isolates originating from cattle, swine and poultry were tested. The antimicrobial resistance profiles were examined by the diffusion disk method. The dominant resistance pattern was CIP_TET. The resistance rates for ciprofloxacin among swine, cattle and poultry isolates were 84%, 51% and 66%, respectively; for tetracycline, they were 82%, 57.1% and 76%, respectively. None of the obtained isolates was resistant to all four antimicrobials tested. The ability to produce enterotoxins was assessed by the use of a suckling mouse bioassay, with intestinal fluid accumulation as a positive result, and by CHO assay, with the elongation of cells as a positive result. The ability to produce enterotoxins was significantly higher among cattle isolates (61.2% and 71.4% positive isolates, respectively, in the bioassay and the CHO assay) than among swine (16% and 32% positive isolates, respectively) or poultry isolates (14% and 22% positive isolates, respectively). A strong positive correlation between in vitro and in vivo enterotoxicity tests was demonstrated.

Although the prevalence of respiratory diseases in slaughter pigs ranges from 19% to 74% and continues to be an important concern for swine herds worldwide, only a few studies have investigated the relationship between respiratory disease and pork quality. The general aim of this study was to investigate associations between the prevalence and severity of enzootic pneumonia-like lesions in Polish slaughter pigs on different carcass and meat-quality characteristics at the animal and herd levels. The average prevalence of bronchopneumonic lungs with different degrees of lesions was 94.57%. The majority of lesions indicated the acute stage of enzootic pneumonia. Our results indicate a statistically significant interaction between the mean weight of carcasses depending on the extent of the lesions (p = 0.04) at the animal level. The correlation between meatiness and severity of lung lesions was r = −0.25 (p = 0.00). The correlation between the extent of lung lesions and pH₄₅ value was r = −0.17 (p = 0.005) on the animal level and r = −0.63 (p = 0.017) at the herd level. This implies that lung lesions in slaughter pigs negatively influence not only animal health and welfare, but also carcass quality.

Cattle are frequent carriers of Campylobacter spp.; therefore, these bacteria may be transmitted to humans through meat or milk. Campylobacter spp. in raw milk derives most commonly from secondary fecal contamination during the milking process; however, the udder excretion of Campylobacter may be a cause of milk-borne infection. Studies were carried out on a Campylobacter-positive farm with two different housing systems (with free-stall and tie-stall systems). The sampling process comprised several stages, including samples being taken from animals, such as from raw milk and feces, and from the environment, such as the from floor in the milking parlor and from teat cups. None of the individual raw milk samples or swabs from the floor in the parlor before the milking process were positive for Campylobacter spp. Simultaneously, Campylobacter spp. was isolated from all swabs from the floor after the milking process and in the bulk tank milk samples from the two farms. The incidence of Campylobacter isolated from fecal and teat swab samples ranged from 15.4% to 26.7% and from 8.9% to 25%, respectively. Altogether, 59 recovered Campylobacter isolates were classified, based on sequencing of the flaA short variable region, showing 15 different allele types, and the majority of them were distributed among one farm. Analysis of the virulence and antimicrobial properties showed that genes related to adherence, invasion and cytotoxicity were widely distributed among the Campylobacter recovered strains. In relation to AMR, multidrug resistance was noted in 16.1% of strains.