Frontiers in Veterinary Science最新文献

During routine health examinations, an abnormal growth was detected in the oral cavity of a male giant panda. A malignant tumor, osteosarcoma, was diagnosed through CT (computed tomography) scans and pathological examination of biopsy samples. After two attempts at "tumor reduction surgery" with no improvement, the condition stabilized following particle implantation and arterial infusion interventional therapy. The following year, a CT scan revealed a highly similar mass in the left lumbar muscle, which showed no improvement despite chemotherapy, leading to death 1 month later. Post-mortem examination and tissue pathological diagnosis confirmed osteosarcoma characteristics in the facial, lumbar, and liver masses. The giant panda was diagnosed with osteosarcoma with liver metastasis based on integrated pathological and gross anatomical observations. This case represents the first report of osteosarcoma with liver metastasis in a giant panda, providing valuable data and references for future clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors in giant pandas.

Background: Flexible tunnels are the second most common obstacle on all dog agility courses, surpassed only by jumps. There has been a lot of debate and concern regarding risk factors associated with slips, falls and delayed exits (unseen slips, missteps, trips, falls). However, only one study was found which focused on the tunnel-related injuries, and it relied on handler reporting and did not consider base rates of the risk factors. As such, it is currently unknown which risk factors are statistically predictive of incidents. This study addresses this gap.

Methods: Observational data from local, regional, national and international agility competitions (between June 30, 2023, to September 22, 2024) were collected from various agility organizations and countries by a team of researchers who are also judges and/or coaches within the sport. Tunnel, equipment, competition and course attributes, ground type and conditions along with tunnel incidents (slips, falls, and delayed exits) were recorded. Correlation, regression analyses, and chi-squared tests of independence were conducted to identify the relevant factors associated with incident rates.

Results: The data included 563 tunnels (75.0% were incident free), with 30,418 tunnel performance observations (1.552% were incidents). The identified factors associated with incidents include tunnel characteristics (equipment specifications, shape on course), type and density of fixtures, course design (shape in design, angle of approach), ground and conditions. Their association with incident occurrence will be further detailed below.

Discussion: Several previously assumed risk factors were relevant; however, some were not supported, and additional new factors were identified. Implications for future research and for organizations, judges, trial hosts, and competitors are discussed.

Introduction: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play a significant role in response to a variety of infectious and inflammatory stimuli in human and veterinary medicine. Although entrapment of bacteria can be an important function of NETs, the exuberant release of DNA and other intracellular molecules has also been negatively implicated in the pathogenesis of different diseases. Thus, NET formation must be tightly controlled and represents an opportunity for therapeutic interventions. Horses are particularly sensitive to bacterial stimuli that have previously been shown to cause NETs in other species, but the species-specific processes that control NET release have not been fully elucidated.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to compare the magnitude of response of equine neutrophils to different chemical and bacterial stimuli, including phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a calcium ionophore (A23187), Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. In addition, we investigated whether ex vivo equine NET formation is controlled by the NADPH-oxidase (NOX) pathway and by autophagy, both of which control NET formation in other species.

Results: We demonstrated that equine neutrophils produce robust NETs in response to calcium ionophore and E. coli stimuli and produce fewer NETs in response to PMA and S. aureus. Both NOX-dependent and NOX-independent pathways of NET formation were identified in equine neutrophils. Autophagy inhibition altered the mechanics of NET release, by reducing the amount of extracellular DNA stranding.

Discussion: These results provide insight into equine-specific neutrophil biology, which could be key for managing equine diseases such as asthma and laminitis.

Introduction: This study evaluated vaccination and prophylactic use of antimicrobials as strategies to prevent Porcine Proliferative Enteropathy (PPE) during nursery and growth-finishing phases.

Methods: Three hundred weaned piglets (~ 29 days old) were distributed into groups: NVMED - no vaccinated against Lawsonia intracellularis but in-feed medicated with antimicrobials (amoxicillin, florfenicol, lincomycin, spectinomycin and tilmicosin); VMED - vaccinated and in-feed medicated; VNMED - vaccinated but no in-feed medicated. Piglets were vaccinated at weaning (Porcilis^® Ileitis, MSD Animal Health). The following variables were assessed: growth and health performance, anti-L. intracellularis IgG levels, L. intracellularis fecal shedding, Pneumonia and Pleurisy Index (PPI) at slaughter, antimicrobial consumption and costs, and vaccination expenses.

Results: Average daily gain (ADG) at the nursery phase was lower in VNMED group (p < 0.01); however, there was no treatment effect on feed conversion, ADG, and body weight at growth-finishing phase (p ≥ 0.23). Similar anti-L. intracellularis IgG levels were found for VMED and VNMED groups at all evaluated moments (p = 0.01). L. intracellularis was only detected in feces samples from 4/90 tested piglets and no difference in health performance was found (p > 0.05). Groups presented PPI < 0.89. In-feed antimicrobial consumption and related costs were 3 to 3.5-fold higher for NVMED and VMED groups compared to VNMED group.

Discussion: The prophylactic administration of antimicrobials used in this study did not affect the serological performance post-vaccination against L. intracellularis. Additionally, vaccine use to prevent PPE reduced the antimicrobial consumption and related costs by ~70%, with no impairments on production outputs.

Introduction: Echinococcosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus tapeworm larvae, forming cysts in organs like the liver and lungs. It primarily affects livestock and humans, with significant public health and economic implications worldwide. In the Hazara Division, the prevalence and genetic diversity of the Echinococcus is largely unexplored. Therefore, the current study aims to assess the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosis (EG) in livestock.

Materials and methods: From April 2023 to April 2024, a total of 480 livestock animals, including buffaloes, cattle, goats, and sheep, were examined for echinococcosis across various slaughterhouses in the Hazara Division. Cysts of Echinococcus were collected from different organs, and the cyst fluid (CF) was microscopically analyzed before DNA extraction. PCR amplification was performed targeting the Cox1 (317 bp) and Cyto B (309 bp) genes to confirm the presence of E. granulosus.

Results: The overall prevalence of Cystic echinococcosis (CE) was 12.2% (59/480), with rates observed in different species as follows: cattle (13.1%), buffaloes (15.2%), goats (6.3%), and sheep (5.7%), (p-0.658). District-wise, higher prevalence rates were recorded in Haripur and Mansehra districts (17.5% and 16.2%), followed by Abbottabad and Battagram (12.5% and 11.2%). The lowest prevalence of infection was observed in the upper and lower Kohistan districts, with rates ranging from (8.7% and 7.5%), respectively. The infection was more common in male animals than in females, particularly among those older than 4-5 years (p =0.048). Sex-wise prevalence varied across species, with cattle showing rates of 12.4% in males and 14.3% in females. In buffaloes, prevalence was 20% in males and 13.3% in females, followed by sheep at 5% in males and 6.2% in females, and goats at 8% in males. Most animals in the study were older than three years, with the highest number of cysts found in animals over five years of age. Hydatid cysts were most found in the liver (39.1%) and lungs (34.7%), followed by the kidneys (17.3%) and heart (8.6%), (p-0.01).

Conclusion: In conclusion, E.G. is highly prevalent in the livestock population of the Hazara division.

Thermal imaging has been used in animal models to non-invasively detect surface temperature changes after several pathologic and surgical processes. Infrared thermography (IRT) identifies increases or decreases in radiated heat according to blood circulation and microcirculation. The present review aims to discuss the most relevant aspects of IRT applied in biomedical research as a noninvasive technique in animal models, highlighting its importance in a clinical setting and for translational medicine. IRT provides an alternative to evaluate vascular anomalies where blood flow is interrupted. In surgical processes such as anastomosis and reconstructive techniques (e.g., grafts and flaps), thermal imaging can assess the viability of tissues. In burn injuries, IRT can predict and identify the areas of ischemia-necrosis and inflammation. Nonetheless, although IRT is a potential alternative to use in both animal models and human patients, the use of IRT and other imaging techniques is encouraged.

Introduction: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into medical education and healthcare has grown steadily over these past couple of years, though its application in veterinary education and practice remains relatively underexplored. This study is among the first to introduce veterinary students to AI-generated cases (AI-cases) and AI-standardized clients (AI-SCs) for teaching and learning communication skills. The study aimed to evaluate students' beliefs and perceptions surrounding the use of AI in veterinary education, with specific focus on communication skills training.

Methods: Conducted at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (TTU SVM) during the Spring 2024 semester, the study included pre-clinical veterinary students (n = 237), who participated in a 90-min communication skills laboratory activity. Each class was introduced to two AI-cases and two AI-SCs, developed using OpenAI's ChatGPT-3.5. The Calgary Cambridge Guide (CCG) served as the framework for practicing communication skills.

Results: Results showed that although students recognized the widespread use of AI in everyday life, their familiarity, comfort and application of AI in veterinary education were limited. Notably, upper-year students were more hesitant to adopt AI-based tools, particularly in communication skills training.

Discussion: The findings suggest that veterinary institutions should prioritize AI-literacy and further explore how AI can enhance and complement communication training, veterinary education and practice.

Most antimicrobials used in pig production are prescribed to treat post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), which constitutes a major health issue in pig production. With the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens, finding solutions to diminish the severity of PWD without antibiotics has become increasingly critical. Potentiated forms of zinc oxide (ZnO) and plant-based bioactive compounds like tannins have been shown to alleviate the severity of diarrhea, thus reducing the need for antibiotic treatment. The aim of this project was to test whether a potentiated form of ZnO (pZnO), alone (study 1) or in combination with tannin-rich extract (study 2), can be used in starter diets for weaned piglets infected by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) to reduce PWD severity. At 26 ± 1.6 days of age (average body weight 7.8 ± 1.02 kg), 160 piglets (study 1, n = 72; study 2, n = 88) were randomly and equally assigned to four dietary treatments (study 1 = 18; study 2 = 22 pigs/group) and orally infected 4 days after weaning with a solution containing 10¹⁰ ETEC F4. Study 1 compared the effect of 150 mg Zn/kg pZnO (pZnO-150) and 300 mg Zn/kg pZnO (pZnO-300) to a negative control (C) and a positive control, 3,000 mg Zn/kg ZnO (C-3000). In study 2, a combination of 7.5 g/kg tannin extract (quebracho and chestnut) and 150 mg Zn/kg pZnO (TAN+pZnO-150) was compared to pZnO-150 and 7.5 g/kg tannin-rich extract (TAN) alone and to a negative control (C). The fecal score, bodyweight, daily food intake per pen, fecal F4 ETEC and Zn levels were analyzed. The small intestine content was sampled 9 days after infection to analyze the number of antimicrobial resistance genes. Regardless of the inclusion level, TAN+pZnO-150, TAN and pZnO led to a reduction in antibiotic treatment (p < 0.05), but only TAN and TAN+pZnO-150 reduced the fecal score (p < 0.05). C-3000 improved the average daily gain (p < 0.05). Tannin-rich extract and potentiated zinc oxide (pZnO) in starter diets effectively reduce the need for antibiotics in ETEC-challenged piglets. Traditional high-dose ZnO improved growth rates, but lower-dose alternatives with tannins provided health benefits without high zinc levels. These findings highlight sustainable dietary strategies to manage post-weaning diarrhea, supporting reduced antibiotic use in pig production.

Training detection dogs to alert to an odor requires precision in the timing and delivery of stimulus presentations in order to condition a strong association between odor and reward and to train a desired alert behavior that communicates the presence and location of the odor source. Marker training, in which a signal that predicts a reward is used to deliver immediate feedback for a correct response and bridge the delay between the desired behavior and reward, is a popular technique in the animal training industry. However, the application of marker training to detection dog training has not been examined, and empirical evidence of the purported benefits of marker training in general is lacking. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of marker training for odor detection learning and performance. Candidate detection dogs (n = 28) were trained to detect and alert to a target odor either with or without the use of a clicker as a marker (n = 14 per group). Effectiveness of marker training was assessed by comparing rate of learning the odor discrimination and the alert response, detection accuracy and topography of the alert behavior in an odor discrimination test, generalization of learned behavior from the odor recognition setting to a novel context (i.e., open-area operational searches), and resistance to extinction. Compared to dogs trained with the reward only, dogs trained with the marker as a signal for reward completed the training phase in fewer trials, performed the alert response more accurately in the odor recognition test, indicated the location of the odor source more precisely in the operational searches, and exhibited greater resistance to extinction when the primary reward for a correct response was withheld. These results provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of markers in animal training, and demonstrate benefits specific to the challenges commonly faced in detection dog training.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in canines is a progressive condition characterized by a gradual decline in kidney function. There are significant gaps in understanding how CKD is managed in canines and the full extent of its impact. This study aimed to characterize disease management of CKD and its impact on dogs, their owners and the veterinary healthcare system in the United States of America (United States).

Methods: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Real World Canine CKD Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of veterinarians, pet owners and their dogs with CKD in the United States from December 2022 to January 2024. Veterinarians reported demographic, diagnostic, treatment, and healthcare utilization data, for dogs with CKD. Owners voluntarily completed questionnaires, providing data about their dog, as well as quality of life and work-related burden using the Dog Owners Quality of Life, and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaires. Analyses were descriptive and Cohen's Kappa was used to measure agreement between owners and veterinarians.

Results: A total of 117 veterinarians provided data for 308 dogs, of which 68 owners also reported information. Discrepancies in recognizing symptoms of CKD in dogs, particularly excessive water consumption and urination, were identified between veterinary professionals and owners. Interventions for managing CKD in dogs focused on controlling symptoms and supporting kidney function through dietary modifications and medication. Owners of dogs with CKD reported minimal impact to overall work and activity impairment (10 and 14%, respectively). At diagnosis, 78.6% of dogs were International Renal Interest Society Stage I-II, and 21.5% were Stage III-IV. Regardless of CKD stage, owners strongly agreed that ownership provided them with emotional support and companionship. Regarding veterinary healthcare utilization, 95% of dogs were seen in general veterinary practices.

Discussion: These findings emphasize the value of real-world evidence in enhancing our understanding of CKD in companion animals and informs future strategy for the real-world diagnosis and treatment of CKD. The results also provide insights to the potential burden experienced by owners of dogs with CKD.