Emerging Animal Species最新文献

Background

Case description

Conclusion and case relevance

Exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic estrogen, during the developmental period has been found to induce pathological changes in the morphology and function of the gerbil ovary. However, the extract of pequi oil from the fruit Caryocar brasiliense Cambess exhibits anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and anticarcinogenic properties. This study aimed to assess the effects of prenatal exposure to pequi oil and EE2 on ovarian folliculogenesis in gerbils. Pregnant female gerbils were divided into five groups: Control; EE₂, which received EE₂ (15 µg/kg/day) during gestation; Vehicle (Ve), which received only the vehicle; EE₂/Pe, which received EE2 and pequi oil (300 mg/kg); and Pe, which received only pequi oil. Female offspring were euthanized at 12 months of age, and their ovaries underwent histological processing. Body and ovarian weights remained unchanged in this study. However, the experimental groups showed a decrease in the number of primordial follicles compared to the control group. Notably, the EE2/Pe group exhibited an increase in the number of secondary follicles compared to the other groups. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the number of atretic follicles among the groups, with both the EE₂/Pe and Pe groups exhibiting the highest numbers of atretic follicles. In summary, the detrimental effects on ovarian morphophysiology induced by EE2 exposure during pregnancy were evidenced by a global reduction in ovarian follicles and an increase in the number of atretic follicles. Consequently, the indiscriminate use of endocrine disruptors, particularly during pregnancy, can lead to significant alterations in the ovarian reserve.

The present study was carried out to describe the occurrence and pathological findings in infections with Eimeria spp. in budgerigars. Postmortem examination was conducted on the carcasses of 32 Budgerigars received from various pet shops, pet bird breeders and pet bird owners of Puducherry. The budgerigars were of either sex and their age ranged from 1 to 5 years. The reported clinical signs were anorexia, lethargy, loss of body weight and diarrhoea. Coccidiosis was diagnosed in 46.87 % (15/32) of the cases. Gross features were localized in the small intestine and included serosal congestion, catarrhal, haemorrhagic and necrotic enteritis. The intestinal scraping revealed oocysts of Eimeria spp. Histological examination of various portions of the small intestines revealed catarrhal, haemorrhagic or necrotising enteritis and the developmental stages of Eimeria spp. in the intestinal and the crypt epithelium and also in the lumen of the intestine. Other changes were crypt cell proliferation and mononuclear cell infiltration.

This is the second part of a two-part review. The first part focused on the nutritive value of meat and meat products of selected neo-tropical mammals with the potential for domestication. The objective of this current review was to investigate the nutritional qualities and carcass traits of selected neotropical reptiles compared to domestic species, focusing on the spectacled caiman, iguana, tegu, and yellow anaconda. Carcass weight analysis revealed that the spectacled caiman and male iguana were efficient converters of live weight to edible carcass weight, with higher yields than other reptiles. Among domestic species, pigs and chickens showed higher carcass yields compared to cattle and lamb. Moisture content in reptile meat was generally higher than in domestic animals, impacting texture and juiciness. Protein content was lower in reptiles but still contributed to daily requirements, while fat content, though generally lower in reptiles, could impact flavor and tenderness. Cholesterol levels were lower in reptiles, particularly the yellow anaconda, making them potentially healthier options for those with cardiovascular concerns. Fatty acid composition analysis indicated varying levels of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with potential cardiovascular health benefits in reptile meats. Amino acid content, though lower in reptiles compared to domestic species, provided essential building blocks for various physiological functions. Overall, the study highlighted the nutritional value and potential health benefits of including neotropical reptile meat in the human diet, especially as alternative protein sources.

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is classified as a Vulnerable species, but these animals are regularly brought into rescue centers and are also kept in zoos around the world. They occupy a highly specialized dietary niche with a feeding ecology that is difficult to replicate under human care. This can lead to numerous nutrition-related health problems, including frequent cardiomyopathies. Establishing reference parameters for free-ranging animals is an important tool to assess the health of animals under human care. For this reason, a cardiac assessment through plasma troponin I concentrations, vertebral heart score (VHS) based on thoracic radiographs, and echocardiographic parameters were established for 11 free-ranging giant anteaters in the Cerrado savanna of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The troponin I concentrations were all lower than 0.2 ng/ml, the cutoff limit for detection in the assay used. The mean VHS in the right lateral projections was 7.49, a value almost identical to cats (7.5) and lower than dogs (9.7). A complete echocardiographic assessment is provided and compared with previous case reports. This paper validates the diet-related origin hypothesis for common dilated cardiomyopathy in giant anteaters. This is the first published study with radiographic and echocardiographic parameters for free-ranging giant anteaters, providing important reference parameters for future giant anteater in situ and ex situ conservation initiatives. This work highlights the benefits of veterinary research comparing health parameters for animals living under and outside of human care.

Agroindustrial byproducts have emerged as a promising alternative for sustainable rabbit meat production. This scoping review explores their enormous potential as an integral component of rabbit feed, covering several categories of byproducts, including fruit and food wastes, agricultural pulp wastes, cassava root byproducts, olive byproducts, crop residues, sun-dried brewer's grains, dried distillers grains and solubles, and fruit pomace. These byproducts provide significant benefits to rabbit farms by improving growth rates, feed conversion and overall performance when carefully incorporated into the diet. They serve as valuable sources of essential fiber, protein, and other nutrients and improve rabbit nutrition. While recognizing their nutrient richness, this report also highlights the importance of carefully considering optimal inclusion levels and processing methods to maximize benefits while minimizing potential negative impacts. Incorporating agro-industrial byproducts into rabbit diets not only holds promise for sustainable agriculture, but also improves meat quality. Continued research and experimentation are critical to refine their use and realize their full potential in rabbit production, furthering the overall goal of sustainability and efficiency in meat production.

This study was designed to assess the effects of Astragalus extract, levamisole and ascorbic acid on the humoral immune response of chickens vaccinated with live and inactivated Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccines. Sixty day-old Cobb500 broiler chicks were used for the study. At day old, the maternally derived antibodies (MDA) to ND virus was determined and the chicks were then housed in a bio-secured pen with water and feed given ad-lib. On the sixth day, the MDA decay was determined thereafter, the chicks were shared into 4 treatment groups. Group A (Astragalus extract); Group B (levamisole); Group C (ascorbic acid) and Group D (Control) of 15 chicks each. Response to ND vaccinations was determined through bleeding to obtain sera for haemagglutination inhibition test at 7 and 14 days except for the second booster with inactivated Komarov vaccine where it was done at 7, 14 and 21 days post vaccination respectively. Antibody titres in the chicks 7 days post first dose of vaccination with La Sota was high in all the treatment groups above the control with 100 % of the chicks having protective antibody titre of ≥4 log₂ until day 30 when the antibody titres in all the groups dropped drastically following the second dose of live La Sota vaccination as the first booster vaccine. However, following the second booster with inactivated Komarov the antibody titres increased in all the treatment groups in comparison to the control especially in groups B and C with GMTs of 5.8 ± 0.19 log₂ and 6.1 ± 0.27 log₂ respectively. We observed that ascorbic acid and Levamisole may have humoral immuno-stimulating effects on vaccinated chickens through yet to be fully explored mechanism. It is recommended that ascorbic acid or levamisole could be used during vaccinations as immuno-stimulating agents to enhance humoral antibody response in vaccinated flocks.

Emamectin benzoate (EB) is an antiparasitic veterinary drug in temperate aquaculture to control ectoparasites. Research on its safety, tolerability and toxicity in tropical aquaculture is growing recently. This study examined the neurological and brain histopathological effects and the accumulation of tissue residues in all-male Oreochromis niloticus fry when fed top-coated EB feeds containing doses ranging from 50 to 500 µg/kg biomass/day for 14 days. A dose-dependent increase in mortalities (3.33–13.75 %) and inhibition in acetylcholinesterase activity (43.80–83.52 %) were documented. In the 50-µg group, the muscle EB-residues peaked at 2.77 ng/g and then dropped after dose termination. Yet, traces of residues were demonstrable in the treated groups even after 21 days of cessation of EB feeding. Histologically, dose-dependent alterations like granular layer degeneration, spongiosis, necrotized areas in the stratum album centrale, stratum griserum centrale stratum griseum superficiale, and stratum marginale and stratum opticum degeneration in the brain tissues were documented. The neuron cells were scattered or degenerated and stretched with a shrunken nucleus in the treated groups. The revocable alterations in acetylcholinesterase and brain histoarchitecture upon the termination of dosing indicated that the fry can able to tolerate and mount adaptive responses to overcome the EB toxicity.

Brucellosis caused by the facultative intracellular bacteria of the genus Brucella is associated with huge economic and zoonotic implications worldwide. The disease is among the top priority zoonosis for integrated “one health” approach and has gained wide attention in developed countries. Epidemiological data on brucellosis in ruminants is readily available; however, reports on swine brucellosis remain scanty. Hence, the present study has been undertaken to assess the endemicity of brucellosis in the swine population of Tamil Nadu, India and to identify the infecting Brucella species using conventional bacteriological and molecular techniques. The apparent seroprevalence of brucellosis in pig farms were assessed by RBPT and indirect ELISA (i-ELISA) as 5.2 per cent and 10.1 per cent respectively. There was a moderate agreement between the RBPT and i-ELISA results (Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ) = 0.512, percent agreement = 93 per cent) Six Brucella isolates could be obtained from various samples; biovar typing by biochemical and molecular methods revealed B. suis biovar 1 as the most prevalent type among swine population in Tamil Nadu. Thus, the determination of Brucella biovar in swine is an important step for epidemiologic characterization of the disease to design the control and eradication strategies.