Open Veterinary Journal最新文献

Background: Although blood urine is frequently observed in dromedary camels, little attention is gained and only it was reported as case reports.

Aim: This study was carried out to examine dromedary camels suffering from red urine syndrome from the points of clinical, etiological, hematobiochemical, ultrasonographic, and pathological characteristics.

Methods: Thirty-one camels with red urine and fifteen controls were enrolled. With a duration ranging from five days to nine months, clinical manifestations included weakness, red discoloration of the urine, dribbling of urine, straining during urination, and abdominal pain. Blood was sampled in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and plain tubes.

Results: The urine red color intensity was marked in 23 camels. In five camels discolored red urine was moderate while red urine was voided intermittently in the remaining three camels. The wide stance of the hind legs and pain reactions during urination were recorded in 18 camels. In all 31 camels, urine samples were centrifuged and sedimentation of red deposits was found. Nephrolithiasis was detected in three animals. One female camel had bilateral hydronephrosis. Hyperechoic urine was imaged within the renal pelvis in seven camels. In addition, hypoechoic fluid was imaged within the peritoneal cavity in 8 animals. A ruptured and collapsed urinary bladder was found in two male camels. In addition, bilateral pyelonephritis was found in another male camel. Abscessation of the left and right kidneys confirmed by ultrasound-guided aspiration was confirmed in 3 and 2 females, respectively. Peri-renal abscessation of the right kidney was detected in a female camel. A large, misshaped hypoechoic mass involving the right kidney was found in 1 female. A large mass king neoplasia was also imaged in a female camel distal to and compressing the left kidney, which proved histologically to be a leiomyoma. Moderate to severe thickening and corrugation of the urinary bladder mucosa were detected in 18 of the diseased camels.

Conclusion: This study's syndrome of red urine in camels resulted mainly from hematuria. The existing etiologies were nephrolithiasis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, peri-renal and renal abscessation, and renal neoplasia. Ultrasonography was superior in assessing the renal parenchyma and urinary bladder for the verification of the existing nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, pyelonephritis, peri-renal and renal abscessation, cystitis, and ruptured or perforated bladder.

Anesthesia and analgesia have a major impact on ensuring animal welfare and safety, resulting in reduced stress response and effective pain control, ensuring the comfort of the animal, promoting faster recovery, and reducing the risk of complications associated with various research procedures. Each stage of anesthesia in sheep is vital for maintaining the animal's welfare, ensuring procedural success, minimizing stress, risks, and complications, and optimizing the quality of research data. Proper attention to detail and adherence to best practices at each stage contribute to the overall success of anesthesia management in sheep. Anesthesia protocols should suit individual requirements for each sheep, in light of factors such as health status, procedure duration, and desired anesthesia depth. Meticulous monitoring, adherence to best practices, and prompt intervention are essential for minimizing the risks of complications during sheep anesthesia and ensuring the safety and welfare of the animals undergoing anesthesia for research purposes. This article presents the main key points that can improve anesthetic management for sheep involved in experimental research to minimize stress response and complications, enhancing animal safety, welfare, and comfort during and after procedures. Multimodal anesthesia approaches ensure effective pain relief, tailored to the specific needs of individual animals or procedures, optimizing outcomes, and minimizing risks. Anesthesia management contributes to improved research data collection under conditions that enhance the validity and reliability of results. Sheep's impressive capacity to maintain homeostasis even during extended periods of anesthesia highlights the critical importance of upholding data quality in alignment with the universally accepted principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement for ethical animal research. By adhering to these principles, researchers can minimize the number of animals used, reduce any potential discomfort or distress experienced by the animals, and refine procedures to optimize animal welfare while still achieving scientific objectives.

Background: Bartonella bovis is one of the most neglected fastidious intracellular bacterial pathogens that infect a wide range of wild and domestic animals, including cattle.

Aim: Detection of the prevalence of B. bovis in cattle using molecular assay, identification of the relationship of infection to animal risk factors (age and sex), and sequencing of B. bovis isolates to be analyzed phylogenetically and reported in the National Centre For Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

Methods: A total of 290 cattle were selected randomly from different rural areas in Wasit province from September to December (2023), and subjected to collecting venous blood samples that were tested molecularly by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the MEGA 7 Software.

Results: Targeting the 16S rRNA gene, 7.24% of the study cattle tested positive for B. bovis. In terms of age, positivity rates, odds ratios (ORs), and relative risks (RRs) were significantly higher in cattle older than 7 years compared to other age groups: under 1 year, 1-3 years, and 3-7 years. Regarding sex, there was no significant variation in positive rates between females (7.48%) and males (5.56%); however, the OR and RR values indicated that females (1.376 and 1.345, respectively) were at a higher risk of B. bovis infection than males (0.727 and 0.743, respectively). Phylogenetic tree analysis of five local B. bovis isolates demonstrated their identity with the France strain/isolate at total genetic identity ranging from 99.64% to 99.98%.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first molecular identification of the prevalence rate of B. bovis in cattle in Iraq using PCR assay and confirms phylogenetically the local B. bovis isolates in NCBI-BLAST. Therefore, additional information about the prevalence, genetic diversity in domestic and wild animals, and arthropod vectors is crucial for developing strategies for the prevention and control of B. bovis infections.

Background: Cardiac fibrosis is often associated with various heart-related problems such as heart failure, atrial arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death, making it a leading cause of death globally. Diabetes-associated fibrosis, on the other hand, is influenced by activated cardiac fibroblasts and potentially involves fibrosis-inducing activity of macrophages, cardiomyocytes, and vascular cells. Streptozotocin (STZ) is a known diabetogenic agent, but inadequate preclinical data in animal models hinders its clinical success.

Aim: This study aims to provide practical guidelines for STZ utilization in inducing diabetes-associated cardiac fibrosis.

Methods: The research was conducted in vivo using white rats (Rattus norvegicus) of the Wistar strain, induced with STZ at doses of 30 mg/KgBW and 50 mg/KgBW per injection. Observations were carried out in the 4th and 8th weeks, consisting of the measurement of blood sugar levels and the examination of heart muscle cell fibrosis. Subsequently, in silico validation of STZ's affinity with inflammatory receptors causing diabetes pathology, such as TNFα and Bcl2, was performed.

Results: The study results indicated that the administration of STZ led to an increase in random blood sugar levels and extensive fibrosis of heart muscle cells in mice. The optimal dose for the diabetes model experimented in this study was 50 mg/KgBW for 8 weeks. In silico tests revealed an affinity for TNFα (PDB ID 2AZ5) and Bcl2 (PDB ID 6QGH).

Conclusion: Consequently, it can be concluded that administering STZ to mice at a dose of 50 mg/KgBW for 8 weeks is an effective inducer of a diabetes-associated cardiac fibrosis model.

Background: An intravaginal device (IVD) made from polyethylene plastic and copper wire, integrated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, was developed as a biocompatible contraceptive and identity device for cats.

Aim: This study evaluates the local and systemic biocompatibility of IVD in five non-pregnant female cats.

Methods: The IVD was successfully inserted into the vaginal lumen after estrogen administration. Radiographic imaging confirmed the IVD's position, which lasted up to two days post-insertion.

Results: Systemic response, assessed through hematological examinations on days 0, 1, and 3 post-insertion, showed no significant changes in erythrogram and leukogram parameters. Local response, evaluated through vulvar inspection and vaginal cytology on days 0, 1, 3, and 7, revealed no neutrophil infiltration in 4 out of 5 cats, indicating compatibility with vaginal tissue. Furthermore, epithelial cell profile changes were observed, showing an increase in superficial cells, which is typical during the estrus phase.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the IVD is biocompatible and suitable for use as a contraceptive and identity device in cats. However, further long-term studies are necessary to evaluate the device's prolonged efficacy and potential for contraception failure prevention by mating trials.

Background: Leptospirosis is a globally neglected zoonotic disease with significant morbidity and mortality in dogs, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Aim: This study aimed to characterize prognostic factors and survival outcomes in dogs with suspected leptospirosis, emphasizing the potential underestimation of disease burden.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using medical records of dogs diagnosed with urinary Leptospira polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: Urinary Leptospira PCR was positive in 22 dogs and negative in 62. Azotemia was present in approximately two-thirds of both groups, with no predictive value identified between PCR-positive and PCR-negative dogs. However, PCR-positive dogs exhibited significantly shorter survival times for both all-cause mortality (median 60 days, range: 8-601 days) and leptospirosis-related death (median 27 days, range: 8-67 days) compared to PCR-negative dogs (median 402 days, range: 7-812 days) (p < 0.01). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in-dependently predicted leptospirosis-related death (HR = 1.073, 95%CI: 1.02-1.13, p = 0.01), while the BUN-to-creatinine ratio predicted all-cause mortality (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.003-1.03, p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the severity of leptospirosis in older dogs, particularly those with azotemia or positive PCR results. NLR and BUN to creatinine ratios could be valuable tools for risk assessment and guiding treatment strategies in this vulnerable population.

Background: Morphological and histological examination of the testes can provide a suitable insight into the health of the reproductive system.

Aim: The objective of the current study was to investigate the morphological and histological features of the testes of local pigeons (Columba livia domestica) at mature and immature stages of age.

Methods: Two groups of collected specimens underwent macroscopic and microscopic investigation to evaluate and compare the main general properties of their testes.

Results: The findings indicated that the testis has an oval shape in both pre-puberty and post-puberty stages, situated on the inner side of the kidney towards the caudal extreme of the lungs. However, the left testis was bigger than those on the right side. In the pre-puberty stage group, the testicular parenchyma was small, and almost collapsed seminiferous tubules containing a single layer of Spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. In contrast, in the post-puberty stage, the parenchyma space between seminiferous tubules was small, and tubules adhered closely to each other. Also, mature cells including sertoli, spermatogonia, and spermatocytes were noticed to spread within the tubules.

Conclusion: The change in the histological structure of testes before and after maturity may help to evaluate the complexity of the male reproductive system of pigeons and draw attention to the organization of sex hormones and the function of several types of cells within the testes.

Background: Theileriosis infection is a tick-borne disease that leads to global animal morbidity, mortality, and economic losses.

Aim: This study aimed to examine Theileriosis infection by traditional and molecular methods.

Methods: A total of 100 blood samples of local breed cows were examined by Giemsa smearing under a microscope, amplified-PCR in region 18SrRNA PCR at 600bp, and DNA sequencing analysis of the genetic relationships.

Results: The clinical signs showed that an elevated fever (40.3°C-41.5°C), an asymmetrical extension of superficially prescapular lymph nodes, lacrimation, icteric mucus membranes eyes, ecchymotic hemorrhages on the sclera, dullness, lethargy, salivation, and ticks presence. Giemsa-stained blood smear and conventional PCR were revealed 24% and 73% for infection respectively. The phylogenetic tree was constructed with DNA sequencing analysis of accession number: OQ779946.1, OQ779947.1, OQ779949.1, OQ779952.1, OQ779953.1 and OQ779953.1, belonging to Theileria annulata; acc. nos.: OQ779950.1, OQ779951.1 belong to Theileria parva; acc. nos.: OQ779948.1, OQ779960.1 belongs to Theileria species; acc. no.: OQ779955.1, OQ779957.1, OQ779958.1 belong to T. sergenti; and OQ779956.1, OQ779959.1 belong to Theileria orientalis. Nucleotide substitutions of transversion and transitions occurred in 11 types containing gaps and missing are A>T; A>C; A>G; C>A; C>G; C>T; G>A; G>C; G>T; T>A; T>C for 254 positions in the final dataset.

Conclusion: This study showed theileriosis infection is highly endemic and represents the first investigation into the use of molecular phylogeny to classify Theileria in Fallujah city, West Region of Iraq.

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) is a prevalent canine heart condition often accompanied by pulmonary hypertension (PH). Echocardiography is a valuable diagnostic tool for MMVD, but its accessibility is limited in small veterinary clinics.

Aim: This study aimed to identify clinical parameters and biochemistry and cardiac biomarkers as prognostic indicators for cardiac mortality in MMVD dogs with and without PH.

Animals: Ninety-nine MMVD dogs and nineteen normal dogs.

Methods: In a five-year longitudinal study, data including clinical and laboratory measurements as well as echocardiographic parameters were collected every 6 months. Dogs were monitored until death or loss to follow-up, and the cause of death was determined when possible. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors that predicted death.

Results: Alterations in body condition score, total protein, fractional shortening percentage, and mean corpuscular volume were predictive of impending cardiac mortality. High blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio, heart rate, and low hemoglobin levels were associated with an increased risk of death. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide was also a significant predictor of cardiac-related mortality, with higher levels indicating increased risk. Moreover, MMVD dogs with PH had a significantly lower survival rate than those with MMVD without PH. However, no significant difference in survival was observed between MMVD stage C and D with PH and MMVD stage C and D without PH groups.

Conclusion: These findings provide valuable insights into the monitoring of MMVD progression in dogs using clinical parameters and biomarkers, especially when echocardiography cannot be performed.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus has emerged as a major public health concern. It is a common pathogen in animal and human medicine.

Aim: Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) was used to fingerprint 10 strains of S. aureus obtained from nasal swabs in domesticated animals and humans to ascertain how comparable the different strains' genetic makeup was.

Methods: These isolates were previously identified using standard molecular and microbiological methods. ERIC primers were amplified for all isolates. The dendrogram was generated using PGMA and the dice similarity coefficient. The strains were genotyped according to the diversity of sample source (human or animal), and the geographic source.

Results: Ten S. aureus strains were classified into eight "ERIC" kinds (genotypes) using "ERIC-PCR genotyping", in which the two most common clones were genotypes 8 and 2, which were represented by one strain from humans, one from cows, and two strains from sheep. Two strains derived from separate geographic areas and from different sample sources (human and cow) were determined to share the same genotype. Another two strains from different geographic areas but from the same sample source (sheep) were categorized under the same genotype. All the remaining strains were classified as a singular genotype.

Conclusion: This study supports the possible bacterial transmission from animal to human and from animals themselves that usually happens during live animal marketing. Recognizing the interconnected nature of transmission systems and implementing the required approaches to disease prevention and control is essential for mitigating the risks posed by bacterial pathogens.