Immunisering mot gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) har visat sig vara effektivt mot att hämma galtlukt på griskött och oönskat aggressivt beteende bland hangrisar. I ett samhälle där vi sätter allt högre krav på våra produktionsdjurs välfärd är efterfrågan på metoder som inte innebär smärta eller lidande för djuren stor. Det finns dessutom positiva produktionsrelaterade effekter med immunokastrering gentemot klassisk kirurgisk kastrering, såsom ökad tillväxtpotential. Faktorer som dessa talar för immunokastrering, men samtidigt finns många svårigheter med att vaccinera mot något kroppseget och således bryta kroppens tolernas mot självt. Den här litteraturstudien behandlar svårigheterna med att rikta ett vaccin mot ett endogent hormon, vad som har lett fram till dagens upptäckter och de eventuella problem som kan uppstå i framtiden.

Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is an alternative to surgical castration of male pigs to avoid boar taint. The aim of this study, including 128 pigs, was to evaluate the effect of a GnRH-vaccine Improvac® on performance and on social and sexual behaviour. Male pigs were assigned to three treatments; surgical castration at four days of age, immunization against GnRH and no castration. Vaccination was performed eight and four weeks before slaughter. Surgically castrated male pigs had significantly lower daily weight gain during the suckling period than entire male pigs (235 vs.

Studien jämför tre grupper av farmakologiska preparat som kan åstadkomma kontroll av östrus hos honkatt, progestiner, GnRH-agonister och melatonin. Progestiner är hormoner som verkar kontraceptivt genom att ge negativ feedback på både hypofysen och hypotalamus. Vid behandling med progestiner minskar östrogen- och progesteronnivåer. GnRH-agonister liknar det naturliga hormonet GnRH. Ständiga GnRH-påslag desensibiliserar hypofysen och GnRH-receptorerna nedregleras vilket leder till att det endogena GnRH blir verkningslöst, och varken LH eller FSH kan frisättas. Melatonin är ett naturligt hormon som påverkar dygns- och årsrytmen. Vid kontiuerligt melatoninpåslag luras det endokrina systemet in i en årstidsbunden anöstrus. Efter en kort bakgrund om vikten av en effektiv, reversibel östrushämning och en översikt av honkattens reproduktion redovisas fakta om de tre farmakologiska substanserna. Aspekter som tas i beaktande är främst användarvänlighet och biverkningar.

This study has been made to evaluate if there is a significant difference between non-estral intact versus ovariohysterectomized queens in their production of estradiol after exogenous gonadotrophin-releasing hormone stimulation. The purpose is to find a tool, which can help to diagnose if a free-roaming queen is already ovariohysterectomized or not. There are also other situations where this tool could be useful, for example to diagnose the ovarian remnant syndrome. Previous studies in bitches have shown that GnRH-stimulation is an excellent tool to diagnose the presence of ovaries in the bitch. Eleven ovariohysterectomized and eleven intact queens have been included in this study where we have analyzed plasma estradiol and progesterone concentrations before and after a single intramuscular injection of the GnRH agonist buserelin (Receptal?).

Background: Infection with Human Papillomavirus, HPV, is one of the world's most common sexual transmitted infections. The virus causes genital warts (condyloma) but certain virus types can cause cancer. The most common cancer type caused by the virus is cancer of the cervix. Nowadays there is a screening program for women between 23 and 60 years of age where Pap smears of the cervix is taken to discover abnormalities at an early stage. Cervical cancer is very common all over the world and this screening program saves many lives, but not in the less developed countries since the screening program is too expensive.

Hundreds of thousands of piglets are castrated without anesthesia in Sweden every year so that we may be guaranteed meat without boar odor. The smell appears while cooking meat of boar and is described as urine- and sweat-like. High levels of androstenone and skatole are considered the main factors behind boar odor. Skatole is a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan, which is formed in the colon of all pigs. Androstenone is a steroid hormone that is released from the Leydig cells in the testes of boars.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a feline viral disease with high mortality. There is no cure or any effective vaccine available today. Many questions are yet to be answered about this disease and the immune response in affected cats. The aim of the study is to evaluate two different techniques for the study of cytokine profiles in cats vaccinated with a vaccine concept against FIPV. More information about the immune response in these cats could give valuable information to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease and the development of an effective vaccine.

Vaccinology is an ever expanding field. As a member of the veterinary staff it is important to stay up to date with the continuous new scientific data and recommendations that affect the care that our companion animals receive at the veterinary clinic. This paper presents adverse vaccination reactions, their cause, risk factors and suggestions how we can minimize the risk of adverse vaccine events in dogs. Dog owners in Sweden were allowed to answer a questionnaire about adverse events following vaccination. Lethargy, edema and pruritus were among the most frequently seen adverse effects.

The castration of piglets is performed routinely all around the world. Most castrations are done without anaesthesia and analgesia, despite the fact that this procedure has been proved to induce acute pain and stress for the piglets. The procedure regarding castration of piglets is currently a hot topic of debate and an important political issue. The underlying issue is the boar taint which are highlighted in the heating of the meat after slaughter, which in turn can lead to reduced meat sales as it can be perceived as unpleasant for many consumers. The purpose of this study is to examine alternative drugs which may be selected in order to replace the practice of castration of piglets without anaesthesia, in light of improved animal welfare.

The WT1 gene is a complex gene originally known to suppress cancer in kidneys. Studies of WT1 knockout mice have confirmed the important role of WT1 in the pathogenesis of Wilms? tumour, a tumour which counts for 95% of all childhood renal tumours. In that case the WT1 gene acts as a tumour suppressor gene. Subsequent research has shown that the WT1 gene in many other cases acts as an oncogene, e g in leukemia or lung cancer (even though these cancer forms can emerge as a result of many other aetiological factors).

Purpose: To assess awareness and attitudes regarding HPV, HPV-vaccines, use of condom and participation in pap-smear screening among high-school students in Uppsala County. The intention was also to investigate if there were any differences between students at theoretical programmes and vocational programmes.Methods: 608 students from seven high-schools in Uppsala County answered a questionnaire covering demographics, awareness and attitudes regarding HPV, HPV-vaccine, use of condoms and pap-smear tests.Results: A majority of the students had never heard of HPV (86 %, n=521), HPV-vaccine (94 %, n=537) or the link between HPV and cervical cancer (88 %, n=563). Most respondents had a positive attitude towards HPV-vaccine (84 %, n=508), but the biggest obstacle was the high cost (37 %, n=227). The students believed that it was less likely that they would use a condom with a new partner if vaccinated (mean=78, SD=26, p<0.001), or if they or their partner used contraceptive pills (mean=62, SD=32, p<0.001) compared to how likely it was that they would use a condom in general with a new partner. The girls rated the probability that they would participate in a pap-smear screening as relatively low if vaccinated (mean=59 SD=27).

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Human Papilloma virus (HPV) can lead to cervical cancer, a common form of cancer in Sweden and globally. A vaccine has been developed for the most carcinogenic strains of HPV. In Sweden it is planned that the vaccine be included in the public national vaccination program for children. The aim of this study was to illustrate attitudes towards future sexual habits and preventive cervical cancer screening among young women and parents of girls vaccinated against HPV. This study is a part of a larger project where interviews with young women aged 17 to 26 years and parents of girls aged 13 to 17 years compose the foundation.

There's a good adherence to the vaccination of children, about 98% of all two year olds are vaccinated. Despite this, there are cases of whooping cough and measles in Sweden. The purpose of the study was to describe what motivates parents to not vaccinate and reflections and attiudes about vaccinations. The study had a descriptive design with qualitative approach. Eight parents who had chosen not to follow the National Board of Health?s vaccination program or whom had decided to completely abandon, participated in the study.

Male piglets have been castrated for centuries to avoid contamination of their meat with boar taint, a strongly unpleasant odour that makes the meat inedible. Today boar taint can be prohib-ited by vaccination against gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) using Improvac®. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of vaccination on growth performance and behaviour of vaccinated male pigs compared to surgically castrated male pigs. The effect of two feeding regimes, restricted (SLU-norm) and semi ad libitum, was also included in the study. At birth, pigs (n=206) were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups; surgically castrated and vaccination.