From the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund (hereinafter: NRDI Fund) by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (hereinafter: Supporter) through the National Research, Development and Innovation Office as managing body (hereinafter: NRDI Office or Managing Body) , the announced call for tenders (hereinafter: Call) aims to build on the professional excellence of higher education institutions and state research centers (hereinafter: institutions), to carry out so-called thematic research programs.
Project number: TKP2020-NKA-01
Three thematic areas were implemented in the program
New diagnostic possibilities in equine medicine
Development of measurement and analytical technology for animal husbandry emissions, emission reduction
Performing veterinary and human model experiments, demonstrations and educational programs in a modern embryology and assisted reproduction center
Total budget: 900.000.000 HUF
Project manager: Dr. Ákos Jerzsele
Duration:
from 1st December 2020. to 28th February 2023.
The professional activities realized in the three subject areas
New diagnostic possibilities in equine medicine
With our new diagnostic equipment (CT and MRI), we have significantly improved our abilities to establish an accurate diagnosis of many orthopaedic diseases. A definitive diagnosis allows appropriate treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, which can increase the time horses spend in their sport career or as a family pet or a pleasure horse. Standing CT examination and using comparative CT and MR imaging are revolutionising the understanding of several orthopaedic injuries worldwide improving equine welfare. Horses are benefitting from this increasing knowledge not just in Hungary but worldwide. Through our research, we have provided further evidence that early diagnosis of injuries can prevent serious, potentially catastrophic injuries. We have described previously undocumented injuries and have also documented the progression (both improvement and deterioration) of pathologies in the fetlock of showjumpers and racehorses. These will help accurate interpretation of CT and MRI scans, selection of appropriate treatment and prognosis . Our results will also generate ideas for further research. Our groundbreaking research has sparked huge international interest; the preliminary results of the study that was started in September 2021 have already been presented at international scientific meetings in six countries.
Human Reveal XT heart monitors were implanted in 12 horses to validate the device. The heart monitor continuously checks the ECG and stores abnormal events. With the successful validation of the device, we have created the opportunity to be able to permanently monitor the heart rhythm in horses to recognize difficult-to-diagnose rhythm disorders, and to distinguish heart and nervous system diseases in cases of fainting. Atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder, occurs in humans as well as in horses. One of the modern methods of treatment in humans is cryoballoon ablation, when the arrhythmia is eliminated by freezing through a catheter inserted into the heart. This procedure was not available for horses until now. During our research, we performed the morphological tests essential for the development of this method in the hearts of 83 healthy horses. In the process, we determined the technical conditions for performing cryoballoon ablation in horses. In the next phase of the research, cardiac catheterisation was performed in ten live horses awaiting euthanasia. The above scientific work is also new internationally, and not only concerns the treatment of domestic race, sport and hobby horses, but is also of interest abroad. We published our results at two international congresses and four domestic and national scientific forums.
Development of measurement and analytical technology for animal husbandry emissions, emission reduction
The research focus on the harmful environmental emmisions of livestock production. The research activities integrates on farm environmental diagnostic measurements and instrumental analitical laboratory capacities. The results give a basis for developement of big database for further research and practical purposes. The results of the research give the basis for the developement of new and alternative technologies directed to monitor, actively influence and minimise the harmful environmental emissions of livestock production.
It is a primary goal to utilise the research results in the field of scientific, practical and business contributions.
The research serve the field of environmental protection, helth reservation and welfare of farm animals and food safety. The benefits of the results are complex. One of the relevant benefit of the project is the contribution to the healthy and sustainable environment. The other relevant benefit is to help to minimise the use of antibiotics for the treatment of environmental related multifactorial diseases of farm animals. The decreasing use of antimicrobials decrease the risk of antibiotic contamination and presence of residuals in food chain. Furthermore the risk of the microbial antibiotic resistance – wich is an emerging risk for human health- also can be decreased.
Performing veterinary and human model experiments, demonstrations and educational programs in a modern embryology and assisted reproduction center
Achieved goals:
1) Development of the procedure for the culture and cryopreservation of the pre-antral follicles;
2) Implementation of ultrasound guided follicular aspiration technique (Ovum Pick Up, OPU) used for oocyte collection in live animal;
3) Development of the technology that can be used for in vitro embryo production from the collected oocytes;
4) Purchase of instruments used for OPU and in vitro embryo production in cattle and horse, the quality and value of the instrument park of our research group increased;
5) The use of the new procedures and instruments opened new fields in the research and service;
6) The new instruments and procedures increase the possibility of the start of new international cooperation;
7) The cattle and horse breeders are very interested in the new procedures (tube baby program in cattle and horse, OPU and in vitro embryo production);
8) Introduction of the tube baby program into service provided for breeders by the university (new income);
9) The new procedures, tools and instruments increased the quality of the graduate (writing thesis) and postgraduate (PhD program) education;
10) Preparation of scientific papers from the new research activities
The application of the tube baby program + in vitro embryo production technology have great practical importance in the cattle and horse breeding. Especially, they are important procedures in the horse breeding, because the anatomical structure of the horse ovary does not support the development and ovulation of more than one or max two follicles at the same time. The mare cannot be superovulated, but the cow can be superovulated with gonadotrop hormones such as the FSH or eCG. In case of successful superovulatory treatment we can obtain 20 to 30 embryos. In the mare, 1 or 2 follicles start to develop in each cycle, therefore we can obtain max 2 embryos per cycle. However, 3 to 4 follicular waves can be observed during an estrous cycle in the mare. In each wave 3-5 follicles start to develop, but the development of these follicles stop within 2-3 days (they go through atresia). One or max 2 follicles finish the development with ovulation (the oocyte is released from the ovulated follicle) from the last (3rd or 4th wave). With the OPU technique (with the aspiration of the follicular fluid), the oocyte can be collected from the follicle. Therefore, we can use those eggs that are not released from the follicles because the ovulation is failed. We do not loose these oocytes. The oocytes obtained with the OPU procedure can be fertilized in vitro and we can produce embryos from them. In the mare, using the tube baby program and the in vitro embryo production technology we can multiply the number of embryos and foals born.
