Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a very dangerous infectious acute, usually afebrile disease characterized by muscle spasms, affecting humans and various animal species. The causative agent of the disease is bacteria Clostridium tetani. This bacteria produces a specific neurotoxin known as Tetanus toxin, which consists of two components: tetanospasmin and tetanolysin. Light (L) chains of tetanospamin cleavage synaptobrevin, an integral membrane component of the synaptic vesicles, which in turn prevent release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) into the synaptic cleft. The α- motor neurons are, therefore, under no inhibitory control as a result of which they undergo sustained excitatory discharge causing the characteristic motor spasms of tetanus. In this research, we attempted to normalize the disorders caused by tetanus toxin by using ketamine, a non-competitive antagonist of aspartate (at doses of 5, 10, 44 and 100 mg/kg of body weight – b.w.), alone and in combination with indol-2-carboxylic acid, a competitive antagonist of aspartate (at a dose of 10 mg/kg b.w.) and caroverine, a non-competitive antagonist of glutamate (at a dose of 1.2 mg/kg b.w.). Experiments were conducted on the albino mice of both sexes, weighing around 20-25 g. Experimental tetanus was induced by application of tetanus toxin. The administration of ketamine, alone and in combination with indol-2-carboxylic acid and caroverine was carried out 24 hours after administration of tetanus toxin once per day, until the mice died. It was found that ketamine had an effect only at a dose of 10 mg/kg b.w., which slightly prolonged the LD50 periodin experimental group of mice, compared to the control group of mice with experimental tetanus. Thus, it can be concluded that administration of ketamine in this dose proved to be only slightly effective. On the other hand, combination of ketamine with indol-2-carboxylic acid slightly extended the survival time of mice with experimental tetanus in the trial, as compared to the control group. Lastly, the combination of ketamine with caroverine had no effect whatsoever on the LD50period of mice with experimental tetanus.

The most common way of milk products adulteration is by adding undeclared types of milk such as cow milk, to sheep and goat milk and their products. To prevent any undeclared addition of cow milk and to ensure consumer protection, common practice nowadays is to check the authenticity of a food product by examining its contents. The aim of the research was to provide an insight in the current situation at the Bosnia and Herzegovina market regarding the presence of cow immunoglobulin G (IgG) as the indicator of adulteration of sheep cheese by undeclared addition of cow milk. A commercial ELISA test kit was used to detect cow IgG in sheep cheese. The presence of cow IgG was detected in 32 (80%) of 40 tested samples of sheep cheese. Among the 32 adulterated sheep cheese samples significantly (P=0.03) most prevalent (53.1%) were those with cow milk content between 1% and 10%. Our results indicate the necessity for official control of sheep cheese adulteration by the unlabeled use of cow milk.

Tetanus intoxication is a result of combined tetanus toxin binding in the organism: centrally in the spinal cord at the level of inhibitory synapses and peripherally at the level of the neuromuscular junction and muscle cell. Although acute intoxication is dominated by the central action of tetanus toxin, it is considered that, for the purpose of successful implementation of therapy, peripheral activity of the tetanus toxin should be also antagonized. Experimental tetanus was induced by intramuscular application of tetanus toxin. Application of substances on mice in experimental groups was performed after the occurrence of local tetanus in right leg, approximately 24 hours after administration of tetanus toxin. In this research, we attempted to normalize disorders caused by tetanus toxin using dizocilipine maleate (at doses of 0.01; 0.1; 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg b.w.), alone and in combination with dantrolene (at dose of 2.0 mg/kg) and lisuride (at dose of 50.0 μg/kg) on the LD50 period in mice with experimental tetanus in the trial. Through our research, we found that dizocilipine had the best effect at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg b.w. Additionally, combination of dizocilipine and lizuride had no effect on the LD50 period, as compared to the control group.

Aflatoxin M1 is a highly toxic 4-hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxins B1 and B2. It is one of the most potent hepatocarcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and immunosuppressors. Feed is often contaminated with aflatoxigenic moulds and aflatoxins with a high possibility of contaminating milk and dairy products with aflatoxin M1. Samples of artificially contaminated milk were exposed to the effects of physical conditions (temperature of -18oC and for microwaves in a microwave oven), time (during the period from 1 to 12 months) and a combination of the above mentioned conditions. Following this, levels of aflatoxin M1 degradation were established by using the ELISA method. An insignificant decrease in concentration of toxin was observed which indicates that a temperature of -18°C does not significantly influence the concentration of aflatoxin M1 in the artificially contaminated milk. At the same time, treatment of milk with microwaves in a microwave oven showed an insignificant influence on the percentage of aflatoxin M1 absorbance.

Nitrofurans are synthetic broad-spectrum antimicobial agents that are often used in commercial animal production because of their excellent antibacterial and pharmacokinetic properties. However, nitrofurans and their metabolites have been shown to have potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic characteristics which has led to a ban on the use of nitrofurans in preventive and therapeutic treatment of animals used for food production. Metabolites of nitrofurans that can be determined after their application are: a metabolite of furazolidone, furaltadone metabolite, a metabolite of nitrofurantoin and nitrofurazone metabolite. The presence of residues of nitrofuran antibiotics in meat, fish and shrimps, and milk and eggs originating from countries outside the European Union is monitored and recorded by the RASFF system of the European Union. Furthermore, since nitrofurans are used in some countries as prophylactic agents and growth promoters, it is necessary to carry out constant control of various types of food of animal origin, in order to reduce to the minimum potential carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of these supstances for the health of consumers. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is no permanent control of nitrofurans in food of animal origin. The provisions of the „Regulation on the maximum allowable amounts of veterinary drugs and pesticides in products of animal origin", published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina state the prohibiting of the use of certain veterinary drugs in animals intended for human consumption, including nitrofurans. The European Union has established the minimum required limit (MRLP) for performance which is 1 μg/kg of nitrofurans for edible tissues of animal origin. Taking all this into account, methods for nitrofurans detection should be accreditated and validated, both for screening and confirmatory methods, and further research into the presence of nitrofurans in food of animal origin in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be performed.

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesised from L-tryptophan in serotonergic neurons and enterochromaffin cells of the gastrointestinal tract. This neurotransmitter is widely distributed in the animal and plant kingdom and regulates some central and peripheral functions through several types of specific serotonergic (5-HT) receptors. Since it is known that the effect of serotonin, especially in pathological conditions, is very important, we believe that determining the types of receptors for this substance would make it possible to use their agonist or antagonists, which would undoubtedly enhance the pharmacotherapy of functional disruption of the small intestine in broilers. Investigations were carried out on isolated smooth muscle strips of the circular and longitudinal layer of the broiler small intestine (strip dimension 3-4 mm x 2 cm). The muscle strips were placed in an isolated organ bath. The mechanical activity of the preparations was recorded via an isotonic force transducer coupled to a pen recorder. This was done following the addition of serotonin (nonselective 5-HT agonist), 8-OH-DPAT (selective 5-HT1A agonist) and spiroxatrin (selective 5-HT1A antagonist). The sensitivity of the tissues to acetylcholine was tested before starting the experiments. Using the obtained results, it can be concluded that 5HT1A type receptors are present in smooth muscles of the broiler small intestine, duodenum and ileum, especially in the longitudinal smooth muscle layer which reacted with contractions even to low serotonin concentration (10-6), but not in the jejunum.

Tetanus is a disease that occurs in humans and various animal species worldwide. Tetanus toxin, after binding itself to nerve structures in the spinal cord, blocking the release of inhibitory transmitors which results in predominance of excitatory transmitors, and this manifestes itself in skeletal muscle spasm. In theory, inhibition of excitatory transmission can try to antagonize a number of ways: by stimulating inhibitory transmission with application inhibitory transmitors, inhibition of excitatory transmission by application of antagonists of excitatory transmitors and combination of antagonists of excitatory transmitors. Bearing this in mind, we attempted to normalize the disorders by tetanus toxin with the use of caroverine, an antagonist of excitatory transmitors, alone and in combination with aminooxyacetic acid (substance that increases the level of GABA). Experiments were conducted on albino mice of both sexes, weight 20-25 g. The experimental tetanus was induced by application of tetanus toxin. The application of caroverine and combination with aminooxyacetic acid was carried out 24 hours after application of tetanus toxin, once per day, until the death. Caroverine, given alone in a dose of 1,2 mg/kg significantly prolonged the LD50 period of mice with experimental tetanus, so the obtained results can be said that its application only at this dose proved to be effective. The combination with aminooxyacetic acid was gave an insignificant extension of mice’s dying time with experimental tetanus in the trial, compared to the control group. Key words: tetanus, tetanus toxin, transmitors, caroverine, aminooxyacetic acid

Bacterial cell possess a cell wall, which is a main difference from mammalian cells. Its basic function is to provide the strength of bacteria, keeps its shape and provides an unusually high internal osmotic pressure. Synthesis of (construction) of bacterial cell wall occurs in at least three phases. All of these three phases can be influence by a variety of antibiotics in way to inhibit its synthesis. The most important drugs that act in this manner are s-lactam antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins and other s-lactams). They interfere with the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. After attachment to penicillin binding proteins (PBP) on bacteria, they inhibit the transpeptidation enzyme that cross-links the peptide chain attached to the backbone of the peptidoglycan. The final bactericidal event is the inactivation of an inhibitor of autolytic enzymes in the cell wall, wich leads to lysis of the bacteria. Vancomycin inhibits the release of the building block unit from the carrier, thus preventing its addition to the growing end of the peptidoglycan. Cycloserine, which is a structural analogue of D-alanine, prevents the addition of the two terminal alanine residue to the initial tripeptide side-chain on N-acetylmuramic acid by competitive inhibition. Bacitracin interferes with the regeneration of the lipid carrier by blocking its dephosphorylation. Key words: bacterial cell wall, paptidoglycan, antibiotics, s-lactams

Histamine is a biologically active amine (biogenic amine) that has a broad spectra of physiologic and pathologic reactions in the organism. Its effects are shown through 4 types of specific receptors (H1, H2, H3 and H4). Histamine is one of the main causes of intestine disorders and the occurrence of diarrhea, both of which are very common in broilers. Whilst there is no information in scientific literature about the presence of histaminic receptors in smooth muscles of the small intestine wall of broilers (duodenum, jejunum and ileum), we tried to determine their presence, distribution and type in this kind of muscles. Investigations were carried out on isolated smooth muscles of the circular and longitudinal layer of the broiler small intestine (strip dimension 3-4 mm x 2 cm). The muscle strip was then placed in an isolated organ bath and the contractions obtained were registered with isometric transducers on a two-channel printer. This was done following the addition of histamine, betahistine (H1 agonist), and mepiramine (H1 antagonist). Muscle vitality was checked by adding acethylcholine chloride. Using the obtained results, it can be concluded that H1 types of histaminergic receptors are present in smooth muscles of the small intestine of broilers. .

1 Ahmed Smajlović, MSc, senior assistant; Asima Baković, DVM, expert assistant; Indira Mujezinović, assistant professor; Mehmed Muminović, DSc, full professor; Department for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo 2 Muhamed Smajlović, DSc, assistant professor, Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Veterinary faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo 3 Osman Kapetanović, DM; Senada Hadžijusufović, DM; Sanitary Inspection, Ministry of health, canton Sarajevo, Bulevar Meše Selimovića 12, 71000 Sarajevo IDENTIFICATION OF HISTAMINE CONTENT IN FISH SAMpLES