Journal of Veterinary Science最新文献

Importance: Leishmaniasis, a sandfly-borne disease, can infect both humans and dogs, with dogs acting as key reservoirs. This report documents the first case of leishmaniasis in South Korea, identified in a dog imported from Spain. It highlights the importance for early detection and careful monitoring of dogs imported from endemic regions to prevent the introduction and spread of leishmaniasis to regions such as South Korea, where the disease is rare.

Case presentation: A 2-year-old male Labrador Retriever dog, imported from Spain at 12 months old, was presented with a 5-month history of generalized cutaneous lesions and a 1-month history of chronic diarrhea. Microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears revealed amastigote-infected macrophages and whole-blood polymerase chain reaction confirmed a diagnosis of viscerocutaneous leishmaniasis. The dog was treated with allopurinol, the only available treatment for leishmaniasis in South Korea, alongside supportive management. However, the patient showed a poor response to treatment.

Conclusions and relevance: This case of canine leishmaniasis in South Korea highlights the growing risk of imported infections in non-endemic areas and underscores the need for greater awareness and understanding of the clinical features of Leishmaniasis for timely diagnosis and management in dogs with a history of travel or adoption from endemic regions.

Importance: Bordetella bronchiseptica is a major pathogen responsible for respiratory infections in dogs, posing significant challenges to companion animal health. The whole-cell vaccine currently available has various adverse effects, and concerns persist regarding the efficacy of acellular vaccines. Therefore, developing a safer and more effective vaccine is critical for addressing these issues.

Objective: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of B. bronchiseptica outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) as subunit vaccine candidates, individually and in combination, compared to conventional vaccine formulations in murine models.

Methods: The immune responses and side effects were assessed after vaccination with OMPs and DNT as subunit vaccine candidates, individually and in combination. The safety evaluations included monitoring the body temperature, weight, and vitality scores, while the efficacy was measured using immunoglobulin quantification, hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assays, and challenge tests. The vaccine candidates were compared with conventional vaccine formulations.

Results: The OMP-based vaccine induced a T helper 1-biased immune response, providing robust protection against B. bronchiseptica with minimal adverse effects. More than 90% disease protection was achieved at OMP concentrations of 25-50 µg/mL, with immunoglobulin G levels exceeding 2¹³ (8,192) and HI titers surpassing 2^7.5 (181). In contrast, commercially available Bordetella vaccine formulations, which contain cellular wall components and toxins, showed reduced efficacy and heightened side effects.

Conclusions and relevance: OMPs are a promising, cost-effective component for B. bronchiseptica vaccine development, providing a balance between safety and efficacy. These insights could promote the development of improved Bordetella vaccines for dogs and potentially humans, addressing the longstanding trade-offs in current vaccine formulations and contributing to better animal health.

Importance: Bladder tumors in dogs, particularly urothelial carcinoma (UC), pose a diagnostic challenge due to overlapping imaging features with benign conditions. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment and prognosis.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a modified traumatic catheterization technique using a 4-hole catheter for cytological sampling in dogs with bladder masses.

Methods: Fifteen dogs with hematuria and mass-like bladder lesions identified using ultrasonography were included in the study. 15 dogs underwent modified traumatic catheterization using a four-hole catheter created by adding two extra holes to a 6 or 8 Fr feeding tube. The catheter was inserted into the bladder, and cells were aspirated from the lesion under ultrasound guidance. The procedure's efficacy was evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results: All 15 cases achieved a 100% cell acquisition rate with high cellularity. The median visualization score was 3/3, the manipulation score was 3/3, and the cellularity score was 2/2. The average procedure time was 8.8 min. Diagnoses included 12 cases of UC and three cases of polypoid cystitis/urinary bladder polyps. No significant adverse effects, including bladder perforation or urethral trauma, were observed. Mild bleeding occurred in some cases but resolved spontaneously.

Conclusions and relevance: Modified traumatic catheterization using a 4-hole catheter is a safe, efficient, and minimally invasive technique for diagnosing UC and other bladder conditions. It is particularly useful for small-sized dogs and those unsuitable for invasive procedures. The enhanced catheter design improves lesion contact and sampling efficiency by offering a valuable tool for veterinary practitioners.

Importance: Flash Glucose Monitoring System (FGMS; FreeStyle Libre) enables non-invasive, continuous glucose monitoring. However, its perioperative utility in canine surgeries has not been evaluated. This study highlights the feasibility of FGMS in perioperative glucose management for veterinary patients.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical applicability and accuracy of FGMS in perioperative glucose monitoring in dogs.

Methods: Thirty-two dogs that underwent surgery were monitored during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases using FGMS and portable blood glucose meter (PBGM).

Results: A total of 224 paired glucose measurements were analyzed for correlation and accuracy using ISO 15197:2013 standards. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed positive correlation between FGMS and PBGM (ρ = 0.894, ρ = 0.823, and ρ = 0.795, respectively) during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases, respectively (p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman plot of the difference between FGMS and PBGM showed a positive bias during the intraoperative phase (23.3 mg/dL), despite a negative bias in the preoperative (-16.0 mg/dL) and postoperative (-4.58 mg/dL) phases. Parkes consensus error grid analysis demonstrated that 100% of the data pairs fell within clinically acceptable zones (zones A and B) throughout the operation.

Conclusions and relevance: FGMS provides continuous and noninvasive glucose monitoring in dogs with clinical feasibility throughout the perioperative period, although its accuracy decreases during the intraoperative phase. For patients with relatively stable blood glucose levels, the Libre device is clinically effective for perioperative glucose monitoring and provides a simpler and more accessible alternative to traditional methods.

Importance: The subclavian artery (SB) is a crucial vascular structure that supplies the neck, thoracic wall, and forelimb. In carnivores, SB branching patterns exhibit considerable interspecific and intraspecific variation. Despite the increasing recognition of cats as companion animals, detailed studies of feline SB branching patterns remain limited.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the SB branching patterns in cats, analyze intraspecific variations, and compare these findings with those observed in other carnivores.

Methods: Silicone casts of the SBs were prepared from 35 cats (15 males and 20 females). Branching locations of arterial branches were measured as the distance from the aortic arch to each branching point. The SB branching patterns were analyzed based on the branching relationships among the four major branches: the vertebral artery (VT), costocervical trunk (CCT), superficial cervical artery (SC), and internal thoracic artery (IT).

Results: Various branching patterns were observed in the SB with a total of 33 branching types. The main branching patterns were determined to be VT, followed by IT, CCT, and SC. The right SB branches exhibited more distal branching locations from the aortic arch compared to the left SB branches. Across individuals, the VT, CCT, and SC followed a consistent order, whereas the IT varied in position.

Conclusions and relevance: This study offers a detailed analysis of the SB branching patterns in cats, highlighting significant intraspecific variation and distinctive branching order. These findings enhance our understanding of vascular diversity among carnivores and provide a strong foundation for future comparative anatomical and developmental investigations.

Importance: Through the epidemiological survey of fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) in poultry and wild birds in Yunnan Province from 2017 to 2021, this study provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of FAdV-4 in the region. Currently, there is a lack of monitoring and epidemiological research on FAdV-4 in wild birds in China, offering valuable insights for future studies on the virus in wild populations. Additionally, the analysis of the fiber gene sequence of FAdV-4 identified the prevalent strains in Yunnan Province, which lays the groundwork for future treatment and prevention strategies.

Objective: This study aimed to understand the epidemic situation of FAdV-4 in Yunnan Province and provide a reference for the prevention and control of the infection.

Methods: Suspected samples of FAdV-4 were collected with the wild birds from overwintering habitat and naturally dying poultry from poultry farms in Yunnan Province, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of FAdV-4 and related co-infection pathogens, pathogen isolation, and genetic evolution analysis of the fiber gene were carried out.

Results: The results showed that the FAdV-4 positive rate in poultry and migratory birds was 11.3% and 0.3%, respectively. The infection rate of the poultry tissue samples was high in central and western Yunnan Province. The detection of common poultry infectious diseases prone to co-infection, it was found that the birds were mainly co-infected with pathogens such as infectious laryngotracheitis, chicken infectious anemia virus, and avian influenza virus. Five poultry-source strains and one wild bird-source strain were isolated, and phylogenetic analysis showed that they all had high homology with the early Chinese highly pathogenic strains and clustered with the same genetic and evolutionary clade as the Chinese reference strain. The fiber protein is characterized by loci that indicate highly pathogenic strains (G219D, P307A, V319I, and A308T).

Conclusions and relevance: The results of our study demonstrate that FAdV-4 continues to exhibit a high prevalence rate among poultry populations in Yunnan Province, China. Notably, we report the first detection of FAdV-4 in the feces of black-necked cranes.

Importance: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is a vital glycoprotein that plays a key role in critical biological functions, including cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and proliferation. Understanding the roles of its variants, particularly TSP1 variant (TSP1V), is critical for cancer biology and therapy.

Objective: This study examined the expression of the transcriptional variant TSP1V, focusing on canine TSP1 sequences.

Methods: The expression of canine TSP1 sequences was analyzed using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify the TSP1 wild-type (dTSP1W) and novel canine TSP1V transcripts (dTSP1V). The effects of damnacanthal and genistein, anticancer compounds, on the viability of canine mammary and osteosarcoma cell lines were assessed by modulating the expression ratios of TSP1V to TSP1W at the transcriptional level. RT-PCR analysis compared the relative dTSP1V and dTSP1W concentrations in normal and tumor canine mammary tissues.

Results: Two dTSP1V were identified. Treatment with damnacanthal and genistein decreased cell proliferation in canine mammary and osteosarcoma cell lines, associated with changes in the TSP1V to TSP1W expression ratio. RT-PCR analysis revealed increased dTSP1V expression in normal tissues, while dTSP1W expression was elevated in tumor tissues.

Conclusions and relevance: TSP1V may be a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for mammary tumors and osteosarcoma in dogs. The differential expression of dTSP1V and dTSP1W in normal versus tumor tissues underscores the importance of TSPIV in cancer biology, expanding the understanding of its role beyond human thyroid cancer and laying the groundwork for future research in other cancers and species.

Importance: Terpenoids of a plant origin are a class of alternatives to chemical acaricides for tick control. Despite this, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of terpenoid-containing herbal extracts or individual terpenoids in Hyalomma anatolicum.

Objective: This study evaluated the killing efficacy of terpinolene and γ-terpinene against H. anatolicum to identify herbs rich in these compounds as potential candidates for future materials in the control of H. anatolicum.

Methods: Terpinolene and γ-terpinene were subjected to adult tick immersion experiments to evaluate their killing effect on H. anatolicum, following their identification post-collection. The herbs were screened for the two terpenoids using the HERB database, and the resulting data were categorized and analyzed.

Results: The acaricidal effect of terpinolene and γ-terpinene against H. anatolicum showed a clear dose-response relationship, with effective doses LC₅₀ of 6.60 mg/mL and 4.86 mg/mL, respectively. In silico analysis revealed the presence of terpinolene and γ-terpinene in 52 and 36 herbs, respectively, with 16 herbs containing both compounds. These herbs could be grouped into 35 plant families. In particular, Lamiaceae and Apiaceae emerged as the most represented families, each accounting for 9.23% of the total herbs identified, followed by Zingiberaceae (7.69%) and Asteraceae and Rutaceae (6.15% each).

Conclusions and relevance: Terpinolene and γ-terpinolene have good killing effects against H. anatolicum. Herbs rich in the two terpenoids are promising candidates as plant-derived materials for managing H. anatolicum.

Importance: Chemokines and their receptors play integral roles in carcinogenesis. CXC motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) in T cells mediates anti-tumor effects, whereas CXCR3 in malignant cells promotes proliferation and metastasis. Although the role of CXCR3 has been well-documented in human cancers, including breast cancer, its function in canine tumors remains largely unexplored.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of CXCR3 and its ligand interaction in canine mammary gland tumor (cMGT) cells.

Methods: CXCR3 expression in two cMGT cell lines, CIPp and CIPm, was evaluated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and flow cytometry. CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10)-induced changes in CXCR3 protein expression in cMGT cells were assessed using membrane fractionation assays. Cell proliferation and migration in response to CXCL10 treatment were analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 and wound-healing assays, respectively. Additionally, the downstream molecular mechanisms of the CXCL10/CXCR3 axis were examined.

Results: CXCR3 expression was significantly higher in CIPm than in CIPp cells. In both the cMGT cell lines, CXCL10 treatment reduced CXCR3 expression on the cell membrane in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The CXCR10/CXCR3 axis promoted cell proliferation and migration in cMGT cells. CXCL10/CXCR3 interaction upregulated the phosphorylation of AKT1 and ERK.

Conclusions and relevance: This study demonstrates that the CXCL10/CXCR3 axis may contribute to the pathogenesis of cMGTs by promoting tumor cell proliferation and migration. CXCR3 signaling represents a potential therapeutic target for cMGTs.

Importance: Although antibiotics can prevent and treat diseases, their overuse can be harmful. Despite this, the effects of orally administered florfenicol on intestinal health in broilers are unclear.

Objective: This study examined oral florfenicol's effects on intestinal function in broilers to guide its clinical use.

Methods: One hundred and twenty Arbor Acres broilers (8-d-old) were divided randomly into the control (N) and florfenicol groups (F). The broilers in group F were fed 100 mg/kg body weight florfenicol for seven days. On day 15, the broilers were euthanized and sampled to analyze fluid metabolism-related genes and proteins, jejunal morphological and microbiota.

Results: The results revealed a decrease in body weight and an increase in diarrhea rate in broilers in group F compared to group N. The villus length and villus length/crypt depth (V/C) of the jejunum were lower in group F than in group N, whereas the crypt depth was higher. The levels of tumor necrosis factor α, Toll-like receptor 4, lipopolysaccharide, nuclear factor kappa-B, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in group F were higher in group F than in group N, whereas the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and aquaporins (AQP) 4 and AQP5 were lower. Proteobacteria were more abundant in group F than in group N, whereas Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were less abundant.

Conclusions and relevance: Oral florfenicol might adversely affect the intestinal mucosa, intestinal mucosal immune system, intestinal microbiota balance, and water metabolism in broilers. This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational use of florfenicol.