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Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene

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About

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Hygiene and Disease Prevention in Animal Breeding, affiliated with the Department of Epizootiology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture and Technology in Olsztyn, was created in October 1980. Its founding director was Professor Franciszek Przała. Ewa Skorska-Wyszyńska, DVM, Maciej Gajęcki, DVM, and Anna Piękos, VT, joined the department's academic staff in December 1980 and in the first quarter of 1981. New faculty members were employed in successive years, including Elżbieta Zduńczyk, DVM, and Tadeusz Bakuła, DVM, in 1982-1986, Mirosław Baranowski, DVM, in 1994, Kazimierz Obremski, DVM, in 1995, Łukasz Zielonka, DVM, in 1996, Magdalena Gajęcka, DVM PhD., in 2006, and Ewa Jakimiuk, DVM PhD., in 2008. In 1992, the department was renamed to the Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene. Professor Maciej Gajęcki has been heading the department since 1997. In 2003, the name of the department was changed to the Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene Unit which was part of the Department of Veterinary Public Health Protection of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. In 2000-2005, a Toxicology Laboratory and an Alternative Research Laboratory were launched in the unit. In January 2009, the unit was once again renamed to the Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene.

A total of 15 doctoral degrees, 2 doctor habilitated degrees and 2 titles of professor were awarded in the Department between 1980 and 2011. At present, 2 persons are enrolled in a doctoral program and 3 have completed habilitation scholarships.

List of faculty members employed in the Department

Piotr Abramowicz, student

Jerzy Apoznański, DVM PhD

Andrzej Bogusz, DVM

Bogna Czarnowska, MSc

Hanna Kmita–Głażewska, MSc

Violetta Maziec

Katarzyna Pirus, DVM PhD

Magdalena Polak, DVM PhD

Professor Franciszek Przała

Ewa Skorska-Wyszyńska, DVM PhD (†14 November 2011)

Szymon Wajda, DVM

Grzegorz Załuska, DVM

Elżbieta Zduńczyk, DVM PhD

Wojciech Zwierzchowski, DVM PhD

OFFERED COURSES

BIOSTATISTICS AND DOCUMENTATION METHODS – OBJECTIVE – Students will learn about tools for statistical analyses of biological data pertaining to animal maintenance and breeding. Students will become familiar with soft copy and hard copy documents used in veterinary practice. LECTURES – The use of statistical methods in biology in animal experiments, including theoretical and empirical data distributions. Data distribution parameters (arithmetic mean, weighted average, variance, standard deviation, median, modal value), interpretation of distribution parameters. Point and interval estimation of parameters. Verification of statistical hypotheses. Correlation and regression. Variance analysis. CLASSES – Biostatistical methods involving statistical tools, including Excel and Statistica software. Developing stemplots, calculating and interpreting parameters. Biostatistics – point and interval estimation of parameters, parameter estimation based on interval values for means and variances. Correlation and regression. Biostatistics – variance analysis. Examples of biostatistical analyses. Veterinary documentation in soft copy and hard copy format. Review of veterinary websites, including SPIWet, TRACES, ZZChZ and Celab, and animal breeding websites: Obora and Symlek. Veterinary practice management software on the example of the Klinika Weterynaryjna program.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – OBJECTIVE – Students will develop basic computer literacy skills and will become familiar with useful applications for studying and veterinary practice. Students will learn to use website information for studying and writing course assignments. LECTURES – Basic definitions in information technology. Occupational health and safety requirements for computer operators, health risks posed computers and peripherals. Internet as a tool for communication and information access: structure, operating principles of local and wide area networks. Computers in education: educational programs, encyclopedias, searching for educational information and programs on the Internet. The use of IT technologies in organizational units of veterinary institutions, applications used in veterinary practice. CLASSES – Revision of computer architecture and hardware components, including CPU, data input and output devices. BIOS interface. Presentation of application software on the example of the Word application in the Microsoft Office package. Creating Word documents, fillable forms, special forms, templates, correspondence and Excel spreadsheets. Exporting and importing objects between Office applications. Image processing applications, digital image devices, graphic digitizers, analog-to-digital converters. Searching for information in the Internet. Multimedia – developing PowerPoint presentations, preparing short presentations on a given topic.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY – OBJECTIVE – Students will learn about various animal breeding technologies in commercial and small-scale farms. Housing methods applied in commercial farms for different animal species will be presented. The course teaches theoretical knowledge required for the professions of farm veterinarian and veterinary assistant. LECTURES – Students will be familiarized with production technologies used in turkey, chicken, broiler, waterfowl and ostrich farms. Global pig production, Poland's ranking on the global market. Pig farming structure in Poland. Performance traits of pigs. Pig management systems in commercial and small-scale farms. Review of pig management systems across different production groups. Beef and dairy cattle raising methods. Calf rearing systems. Technopathies and stressors in cattle production. Good hygiene practices, epizootic prevention in animal farms. CLASSES – Equipment used in turkey, chicken, broiler, waterfowl and ostrich farms. Field courses in turkey and ostrich farms. Pig rearing techniques: basic herd, breeding area, farrowing house, systems for raising piglets, weaners and growing-finishing pigs. Pig management systems, including different manure removal and feeding systems. Field courses in a commercial pig farm. Cattle breeding principles, types of cowsheds and farm buildings. Cattle identification systems. Milking systems and milking robots. The effects of management systems on animal health.

ANIMAL FEEDING AND FEED SCIENCE – OBJECTIVE – Significance of essential nutrients in animal feeding. Digestion and metabolism in monogastric and polygastric animals. Nutrient digestibility. Feed evaluation systems. Natural and processed feeds, feed ingredients. Feed additives in animal nutrition. Nutrient requirements of different animal species and production groups. Standard doses, animal feeding systems and technologies. Industrial feed production. Animal nutrition in the growing and finishing periods. Feed production and distribution controls. LECTURES – Students will learn about nutrient uptake, digestion and absorption in different animal species and production groups, nutrient and energy metabolism at different stages of the production cycle, nutrient requirements of farm animals, pets, companion animals and aquatic animals, nutrient dosing and utilization. CLASSES – Students will learn about nutrient concentrations and digestibility, evaluating the energy value of feed, nutritional value of feed proteins, feeding regimes for pigs, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, horses, companion animals and pets, professional software for designing nutritionally balanced rations, feed ingredients, feed additives and premixes, roughage preservation methods, supplementary feeds – cereal grains, legume seeds, oil plant seeds, feeds for pets and companion animals, fish feeds, feeds of animal and microbiological origin, by-products of the milling, starch, vegetable oil and dairy industry, milk replacers – composition, labeling and technological requirements introduced by EU law, feed mix production technology, machines and equipment used in the feed industry.

ANIMAL FEED HYGIENE – OBJECTIVE – Students will acquire the knowledge and skills required for work in the feed industry and laboratories evaluating the quality of feed materials and additives of plant origin, including primary production feed. Awareness building in the area of feed hygiene significantly contributes to food safety and environmental protection. LECTURES – Nutrition as therapy. Basic knowledge of feed uptake and digestion. Undesirable substances. Nutritional safety. Feed control authorities. Feeds for aquaculture. Animal waste management. Etiology of foodborne diseases. Early warning systems and response plans. Animals feeds and the environment. Water as feed. Managing the risk of undesirable substances in primary production and final products. Risk of transferring undesirable substances from feed into food. CLASSES – Polish and European Union laws regulating the production, distribution and use of animal feeds. Feed distribution. Storage pests. Disinfection. Certification of feed producing plants. Feed additives. Veterinary supervision. Feed labeling. Significance of water. Feed production. Animal protein. Medicated feeds.

VETERINARY PREVENTION – OBJECTIVE – Animal housing and management standards. Health status of herds. Preventive programs for various animal species. Students will learn to assess the health status of animals, formulate conclusions and develop strategic programs. LECTURES – History of veterinary prevention. Subclinical states and production problems. Elements of preventive programs. Factors affecting the development of prevention programs. Requirements for implementing a prevention program. Health status of herds. Animal farms as business units. Veterinary inspection: assumptions, performance and objectives. Strategies for risk management and minimization. Legal regulations and animal hygiene requirements. Waste management. Prion life cycle. Meat and bone meal and the “zero-tolerance” policy. Reducing the content of undesirable substances in animal feeds. CLASSES – Thermoregulation and body temperature in animals. Humidity levels in farm buildings. Field courses: determination of light levels, temperature and relative humidity in farm buildings. Cooling, air movement, dustiness levels and airborne microflora in farm buildings. Harmful gas additives and ventilation in farm buildings. Heat conservation in farm buildings. Pest control. Computer support systems in Veterinary Inspection. Computer systems for animal identification and registration in breeding programs, control and quality monitoring systems. Prevention systems for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Hygiene monitoring systems for equids and companion animals. Strategy for controlling the health status of animal herds – quarantine. Carrion disposal rules. Disinfection, pest and rat control. Farm management systems. Farm waste and the environment. Wastewater treatment plants and sludge water.

TRADE AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS FOR VETERINARY PRODUCTS (elective course) - OBJECTIVE – Students of the Faculty of Veterinary Science will learn about trade, customs and border control regulations applicable to animals, animal feeds, food products of animal origin and biological materials. LECTURES – Veterinary control of animals and feeds produced in the European Union. Veterinary control of animals and feeds produced in third countries. Veterinary control of food products of animal origin produced in the European Union. Veterinary control of food products of animal origin produced in third countries. Veterinary control in the trade and distribution of biological materials (embryos and semen). Structure and operations of veterinary border controls in view of harmonized EU standards. Types of certificates, mode and manner of veterinary border control. Veterinary control of goods manufactured in the European Union and third countries. Trade in animals and animal products on a single market. CLASSES – Structure and operations of the veterinary border inspection. Tasks of the border veterinarian. TRACES system in operation. Customs clearance stages. Physical control of animal products. Document control.

Extracurricular training courses:

  1. Postgraduate course in Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, specialty training for Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, No. 14. The new program is scheduled to begin on 1 October 2013.
  2. Postgraduate course in Feed Hygiene. The new program is scheduled to begin on 1 April 2014.

Optional training courses can also be organized in the following areas:

  1. Diagnosis and prevention of mycotoxicoses in biological material.
  2. Feed safety at every stage of production with special emphasis on production and distribution requirements.
  3. Development of prevention programs, animal housing and welfare regulations.
  4. Development of pest protection systems in feed plants, farm households, commercial farms, food production plants and warehouses.
  5. Training for users of specialist veterinary software and other IT services.

LABORATORIES

  1. Alternative Research Laboratory
  2. Toxicology Laboratory

Research support services

  • Diagnosis of mycotoxicoses in animals,
  • Evaluations of mycotoxin and mycotoxin metabolite concentrations in plant material, animal material and feeds, including aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, deoxivalenol, T-2 toxin, fumonisins and zearalenone,
  • Development of prevention programs for pigs in view of environmental and nutritional requirements,
  • Development of expert reports on the health status and causes of problems in pig herds,
  • Evaluations of feed additives administered to various animal species for preventive and therapeutic purposes,
  • Evaluations of the quality and health-promoting properties of animal feeds,
  • Evaluations of xenobiotics in in vitro cultures (granulosa, theca and MCF-7 cell cultures).

PUBLICATIONS

Selected publications in the last three years:

  1. Zielonka Ł., Przewoski W., Gajęcka M., Jakimiuk E., Gajęcki M.: The effect of exogenous proteases on selected serum hematological and biochemical parameters in boars
  2. . Pol. J. Vet. Sci. 13(1), 151-156, 2010.
  1. Jakimiuk E., Rybarczyk L., Zwierzchowski W., Obremski K., Gajęcka M., Zielonka Ł., Gajęcki M.: Effect of experimental long-term exposure to low-dose zearalenone mycotoxicosis on selected morphometric parameters of the reproductive tract in sexually immature gilts. Bull. Vet. Inst. Pulawy 54, 25-28, 2010.
  2. Jakimiuk E., Gajęcka M., Jana B., Obremski K., Gajęcki M.: Effect of zearalenone on steroid secretion by porcine follicular cells in mono- and coculture. Bull. Vet. Inst. Pulawy  54, 419-423, 2010.
  3. Zielonka Ł., Obremski K., Gajęcka M., Rybarczyk L., Jakimiuk E., Gajęcki M.: An evaluation of selected indicators of immune response in pigs fed a diet containing deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin and zearalenone. Bull. Vet. Inst. Pulawy 54, 631-635, 2010.
  4. Gajęcka M., Rybarczyk L., Zwierzchowski W., Jakimiuk E., Zielonka Ł., Obremski K., Gajęcki M.: The effect of experimental long-term exposure to low-dose zearalenone mycotoxicosis on the histological condition of ovaries in sexually immature gilts. Theriogenology 75, 1085-1094, 2011.
  5. Kostro K., Gajęcka M., Lisiecka U., Jarosz Ł., Obremski K., Zielonka Ł., Gajęcki M.: Subpopulations of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood of sheep with zearalenone mycotoxicosis. Bull. Vet. Inst. Pulawy 55, 241-246, 2011.
  6. Gajęcka M., Woźny M., Brzuzan P., Zielonka Ł., Gajęcki M.: Expression of CYPscc and 3β-HSD mRNA in bitch ovaries after long-term exposure to zearalenone. Bull. Vet. Inst. Pulawy 55, 777-780, 2011.
  7. Marczuk J., Obremski K., Lutnicki K, Gajęcka M., Gajęcki M.: Zearalenone and deoxynivalenol mycotoxicosis in dairy cattle herds. Pol. J. Vet. Sci. 15(2), 365-372, 2012.
  8. Gajęcka M., Rybarczyk L., Jakimiuk E., Zielonka Ł., Obremski K., Zwierzchowski W., Gajęcki M.: The effect of experimental long-term exposure to low-dose zearalenone on uterine histology in sexually immature gilts. Exp Toxicol Pathol 64, 537-542, 2012.
  9. Gajęcka M., Zielonka Ł., Jakimiuk E., Dąbrowski M., Obremski K., Gorlo G., Mróz M., Gajęcki M.: Diagnostic significance of selected analytical indicators of zearalenone mycotoxicosis in animals. Med. Wet. 68(9), 566-570, 2012.
  10. Gajęcka M.: The effect of low-dose experimental zearalenone intoxication on the immunoexpression of estrogen receptors in the ovaries of pre-pubertal bitches. Pol. J. Vet. Sci. 15(4), 685-691, 2012.
  11. Gajęcka M., Przybylska-Gornowicz B.: The low doses effect of zearalenone (ZEN) on the presence of Ca2+ in selected ovarian cells from pre-pubertal bitches. Pol. J. Vet. Sci. 15(4), 711-720, 2012.
  12. Gajęcka M.: The effect of experimental low-dose zearalenone intoxication on ovarian follicles in pre-pubertal bitches. Pol. J. Vet. Sci. 16(1), 45-54, 2013.
  13. Gajęcka M., Otrocka-Domagała I.: Immunocytochemical expression of 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in bitch ovaries exposed to low doses of zearalenone. Pol. J. Vet. Sci. 16(1), 55-62, 2013.

Book chapters:

  1. Gajęcki M., Gajęcka M., Jakimiuk E., Obremski K., Zielonka Ł. (2009) Zearalenon i estrogeny środowiskowe, jako prawdopodobne czynniki alergizujące przewód pokarmowy zwierząt (Zearalenone and environmental estrogens as potential triggers of allergic reactions in the digestive tract of animals). In: Jerzy Dziuba, Łucja Fornal (Eds.), Biologiczne Aktywne Peptydy i Białka Żywności. Wydawnictwa Naukowo-Techniczne Warszawa, pp. 335-352. (ISBN 978-83-204-3582-5)
  2. Gajęcki M., Gajęcka M., Jakimiuk E., Zielonka Ł., Obremski K. (2010) Zearalenone – an undesirable substance. In: Mahendra Rai, Ajit Varma (Eds.), Mycotoxins in Food, Feed and Bioweapons. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 131-144.
  3. Gajęcki M., Gajęcka M., Jakimiuk E., Łuczyński M., Obremski K., Zielonka Ł. (2011) Patologia i Terapia Mikotoksykoz (The pathology and treatment of mycotoxicosis). In: Zdzisław Gliński, Krzysztof Kostro, Maciej Gajęcki (Eds.), Mikozy i Mikotoksykozy Zwierząt. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczego w Lublinie, pp. 234-268. (ISBN 978-83-7259-195-1)
  4. Gajęcki M., Gajęcka M., Zielonka Ł., Obremski K., Jakimiuk E. (2011) Mikotoksyny i detoksykanty (Mycotoxins and detoxicants). In: Eugeniusz Grela (Ed.), Chemia i biotechnologia w produkcji zwierzęcej. Powszechne Wydawnictwo Rolnicze i Leśne, Warszawa, pp. 150-161. (ISBN 978-83-09-01067-8)
  5. Woźny M., Brzuzan P., Jakimiuk E., Łuczyński M.K., Góra M., Gajęcki M. (2011) Oddziaływanie na poziomie molekularnym na przykładzie zearalenonu (Molecular-level effects on the example of zearalenone). In: Irena Wojnowska-Baryła (Ed.), Trendy w biotechnologii środowiskowej. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie, pp. 210-229. (ISBN 978-83-7299-733-3)

RESEARCH

Research interest areas. At the Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, research is primarily focused on mycotoxins – zearalenone and deoxivalenol – and their effects on animals, in particular gilts and bitches. The following projects have been completed or are currently running:

  1. Research project No. 5PO6K 011 11 – The effect of adaptogenic plant substances on homeostatic regulation in boars and semen quality. Project Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed on 30 June 1998.
  2. Research project No. 5 PO6K 002 17 – Determination of diagnostic reference levels of zearalenone metabolites in the serum of gilts administered feed contaminated with zearalenone. Project Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed on 30 June 2001, rated as "outstanding".
  3. Doctoral dissertation project No. 5 PO6K 017 18 – Determination of diagnostic reference levels of deoxynivalenol in the serum of pigs exposed to the mycotoxin. Project Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed on 31 December 2001, rated as "outstanding".
  4. Research project No. 1050/P06/2001/20 – Evaluation of the health properties of fish oil – a source of EFAs in pig nutrition. Project Manager: Tadeusz Bakuła, PhD. Completed on 31 March 2003.
  5. Research task – Inhibition of toxic activities of zearalenone in animal feeds, as part of Commissioned Research Project No. PBZ-KBN-060/T09/2001/28, entitled "New agricultural chemicals which are safe for health and the environment". Task Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed on 31 August 2004.
  6. Research project No. 3 P05E 150 25 – Monitoring the presence of zearalenone in bodily fluids of women with neoplasms of the reproductive tract in reference to changes in the reproductive system of pre-pubertal gilts exposed to low doses of the mycotoxin. Project Manager: Wojciech Zwierzchowski, PhD. Completed in October 2005.
  7. Research project No. 5 P06K 007 26 – The effect of zearalenone on selected physiological indicators in bitches. Project Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed in November 2006.
  8. Research task – Determination of the levels of selected Fusarium mycotoxins in experimentally infected cereal grains and the effect of structurally modified proteins on the gastric mucosa in an animal model, as part of Commissioned Research Project No. PBZ-KBN-097/P06/2003, entitled "Identification and prevention of toxic and allergenic effects of crop proteins". Task Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed on 30 March 2007.
  9. Twinning project PL2005/IB/AG/08/TL No. 2005/017-488.01.08.04 between Poland and Germany – Flexible reserve of non-allocated measures for institutional development: Assisting veterinary authorities in training official veterinarians pursuant to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004. Project Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed on 31 December 2008.
  10.  Internal research project No. N N308 242635 – Changes in selected tissues of bitches induced by short-term exposure to zearalenone. Project Manager: Magdalena Gajęcka DVM PhD. Completed on 29 September 2011.
  11. Targeted research project No. 6 ZR7 2008C/0703112 071 03 – Development of a feed additive production technology for mycotoxicosis prevention. Project Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Completed on 28 November 2011.
  12. Internal research project No. N N308 237936 – The effect of T-2 toxin and zearalenone on selected indicators of immune response in the porcine intestinal system. Project Manager: Kazimierz Obremski, DVM. Completed on 24 April 2012.
  13. Internal research project No. N N311 608938 – Evaluation of selected reproductive health indicators and toxicity indicators in pigs with mixed Fusarium mycotoxicoses. Project Manager: Łukasz Zielonka, DVM. Completed on 16 March 2013.
  14. Internal research project No. N N308 628938 – Evaluation of the effect and interactions between environmental estrogens (ZEA, DDE) in selected digestive and reproductive system tissues of gilts. Project Manager: Ewa Jakimiuk, DVM PhD. Completed on 16 March 2013.
  15. Development project No. NR12-0080-10/2010 – The effect of experimental Fusarium mycotoxicosis on selected diagnostic and morphological indicators in the porcine gastrointestinal tract. Project Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Scheduled for completion on 31 September 2013.
  16. Research Task – Fusarium mycotoxins in forest and field ecosystems and the health status of wild animals, as part of Development Project No. NR12-0127-10/2010, entitled "Wild animals as indicators of environmental pollution and an important element of the national food safety strategy". Task Manager: Łukasz Zielonka, DVM PhD. Scheduled for completion on 31 December 2013.
  17. Research Task – Innovative dairy products in the prevention and mitigation of type 2 diabetes symptoms, as part of Development Project No. PBS1/B8/0/2012, entitled "Evaluation of triterpene availability and activity in counteracting the effects of diabetes subject to triterpene concentrations and the applied serum matrix (experiment on animals)", an agreement concluded between a research industrial consortium and partners. Task Manager: Professor Maciej Gajęcki. Scheduled for Completion on 31 December 2015.

CONTACT

Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, POLAND

 

ul. Oczapowskiego 13/29

10-718 Olsztyn

Tel.: +48 895 23 3773

Fax.: +48 895 23 3618

e-mail: higpasz@uwm.edu.pl