Veterinary Medicine International最新文献

Melatonin application in in vitro embryo production (IVEP) constitutes a promising research focus. Nevertheless, there remains a lack of comprehensive meta-analytical evidence assessing its effects in the bovine species. The present systematic review and meta-analysis study performed an in-depth overview of the effects of melatonin in different steps of the IVEP in cattle to provide insights into its application. A literature search on three major databases identified related articles until 3 December 2024. The overall effect was calculated as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in the random effects model. Meta-analysis revealed that melatonin in maturation media significantly increased nuclear maturation rate [OR = 1.33 (1.11, 1.60), p=0.002], cleavage rate [OR = 1.26 (1.11, 1.43), p ≤ 0.001], and blastocyst rate [OR = 1.27 (1.14, 1.43), p ≤ 0.001], while it did not affect the hatching rate of blastocysts. Subgroup analysis based on the concentration of melatonin demonstrated that low concentration was superior in effects. Melatonin in culture media did not affect the odds of cleaved embryos, and blastocysts, however, increased the rate of hatching [OR = 1.35 (1.04, 1.76), p=0.025]. Subgroup analysis showed the significant effect of low and moderate concentrations on the odds of blastocysts and hatched blastocysts. No publication bias was detected. Descriptive synthesis of data suggested improvements in maturation, developmental quality, fertilization ability, and epigenetic modification during maturation and enhancement in the quality of embryos through modifications in transcription in blastocysts to alleviate apoptosis during culture. This review concludes that the application of melatonin is more promising in maturation media than in culture.

Antimicrobial use (AMU) in animals, including poultry, can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans. With a rising middle class and demand for meat in sub-Saharan Africa's second largest poultry producer, Nigeria, AMU in food-producing animals is predicted to continue rising. Interventions to reduce AMR and AMU are limited in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. This study aimed to understand the current AMU practices, challenges and motivators and barriers to adopting AMR interventions in the Nigerian poultry sector. Qualitative semistructured interviews (n = 22) were conducted in Nigeria consisting of poultry farmers, animal health professionals and other related key players. Thematic analysis identified three themes surrounding barriers and challenges: (i) 'issues of access' relating to time, money, laboratories and expertise, (ii) 'lack of knowledge' due to lack of training and poor relationships between farmers and animal health professionals and (iii) 'taking responsibility' with participants describing a lack of responsibility from both the government and other animal health professionals, para-professionals and farmers and how social responsibility was key to motivating people. Overall, the results from this study highlighted the wide range of barriers to engaging animal health professionals and farmers in AMR interventions and improving AMU practices in sub-Saharan Africa. If interventions are to succeed, they need to reflect a collaborative and multifaceted effort from all invested parties.

Due to the low yield of diplonine obtained when isolated from Stenocarpella maydis (Berk.) Sutton (formerly Diplodia maydis (Berk.) Sacc., the present research was aimed to find a more efficient method of preparing diplonine to confirm its neurological effect on the target animal. This study demonstrated that using an artificial rumen for extraction instead of methanol may significantly improve the extraction of the neurotoxin. With this method, only 1/10^th of an S. maydis culture was required to induce neurological disorders in guinea pigs than was needed to induce the neurological disorders with a methanol extract from the same culture, indicating a possible superiority of an artificial rumen extract compared to extraction with methanol. A comparable dosage of the artificial rumen extract also induced neurological disorders resembling diplodiosis in sheep.

Study background: Rabbits are commonly used in experimental research; however, their sensitivity to handling-induced stress and cardiovascular instability poses considerable challenges. These complications are not fully prevented by standard preanesthetic medication, making them less reliable, particularly in studies involving hemorrhagic shock.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify enhanced anesthetic protocols that effectively maintain physiological stability and prevent respiratory or cardiac failure during the induction of hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Fifteen adult female New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three equal groups: one received dexmedetomidine and ketamine; the other received the same induction followed by isoflurane maintenance; while the third, in addition to the medication of the second group, received a constant rate ketamine infusion. Vital parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO₂, reflexes, and core body temperature were continuously monitored. Hemorrhagic shock was induced by withdrawing 40% of the total blood volume through a surgically cannulated carotid artery.

Results: Among the three, the third protocol provided the most consistent anesthesia depth in conjunction with stable vital signs, ensuring animal safety and effective modeling of hemorrhagic shock.

Conclusions: These results support the use of a combined inhalant anesthetic with continuous ketamine infusion to enhance physiological stability in rabbits during complex procedures, ultimately improving both the reliability of experimental data and animal welfare.

Members of the family Enterobacteriaceae are often linked to foodborne outbreaks, including acute diarrhea, with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) as the most common cause of this disease in low- and middle-income countries. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the sanitary conditions of ready-to-consume milk, involving 750 pasteurized milk samples. These samples were analyzed for the Enterobacteriaceae count, the presence of Salmonella spp., and the enumeration of E. coli, as well as checking for the presence of DEC-specific virulence genes. Two molecular assays were used to detect DEC-specific virulence genes (eae, bfpA, aggR, ipaH, est, elt, stx1, and stx2). Overall, a significant noncompliance rate (5%) was identified in the Enterobacteriaceae counts, indicating postpasteurization contamination. Two genes (ipaH and elt) were detected in 14.28% of E. coli-positive samples, highlighting the need for improved methods to minimize postpasteurization contamination in dairy plants. This improvement could contribute to better food safety standards internationally. Additionally, further studies are necessary to understand the actual risk posed by these strains circulating in milk for immunocompromised individuals or those with immature immune systems. This underscores a global concern for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Parafilaria bovicola infection poses a significant health threat to cattle and leads to considerable economic losses due to the condemnation or downgrading of hides. Despite its impact, there is limited information on the prevalence, and associated risk factors regarding the disease in the current study area. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to December 2024 in Ebinat District, Northwest Ethiopia. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence of P. bovicola infection and identify its associated risk factors. A total of 422 cattle were selected using a simple random lottery method. Following clinical examination, exudate samples from the actively bleeding subcutaneous nodules were collected during the early hours of the day. Sedimentation parasitological method, Chi-square(X ²) and univariable logistic regression statistic were used. Overall prevalence of P. bovicola infection was found to be 22.04% (93/422; 95% CI: 18.2-26.3). An association between agro-ecology, sex, season, and body condition score and the prevalence of P. bovicola infection was shown to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Increased prevalence of the infection with P. bovicola was more prevalent in the lowland agro-ecological zone (56.15%) than in the district's midland (6.85%). Infection with P. bovicola was significantly more prevalent at the end of the rainy season (31.49%) compared to the dry season (14.94%) (χ ² = 16.487; p < 0.001). Compared to male cattle (14.2%), female cattle had a 2.57-fold increased chance of contracting P. bovicola infection (29.9%) (COR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.58-4.18). In addition, cattle with a poor body condition had a significantly higher prevalence of P. bovicola infection (26.8%) compared to those with medium (18.4%) and good (13.8%) body condition (p < 0.05). In conclusion, P. bovicola infection is prevalent in the study area, particularly in lowland regions. Therefore, location-specific control methods that consider local ecology and seasonal changes should be used.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex public health problem that is caused mainly by the inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents. The rational use of antimicrobial agents, which is the main strategy for preventing AMR, can be achieved through farmers' knowledge and behaviour. Hence, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of fish farmers regarding antimicrobial use (AMU), AMR and their perceptions (KAPP) of the risk of the emergence of AMR in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study of 364 fish farmers was performed in the Adamawa, Centre, Littoral, South and West Regions using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. To compare group differences, the Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests were run at a significance level of 0.05. Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to determine the directionality, magnitude and nature of the relationships among variables. Overall, the survey revealed poor knowledge of AMU (0.47 ± 0.19) and AMR (0.30 ± 0.29). The attitudes towards and practices of AMU were also poor (0.40 ± 0.28 and 0.47 ± 0.11, respectively). However, the level of risk perception of the emergence of AMR by the fish farmers was fair (0.50 ± 0.29). Locality, age, professional experience, educational level of the fish farmer, training in fish farming and presence of health agents on the farm were associated (p < 0.05) with KAPP measures. Thus, training and updating fish farmers on modern fish farming practices with an emphasis on knowledge of the rational use of antimicrobials will have a positive impact on appropriate attitudes, best AMU practices and, consequently, a better perception of the risk of AMR emergence and the risk to public health.

The present study investigated the molecular detection and genetic characteristics of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and EHV-4 circulating within Egyptian horse populations during 2019-2022. A total of 79 animals were sampled (54 nasal swabs and 25 aborted fetal tissues). PCR assays revealed that 24 (30.3%) and 7 (8.8%) samples were positive for EHV-1 and EHV-4, respectively. Additionally, 5 (6.3%) samples were concurrently infected with both viruses. Four EHV-1 and three EHV-4 isolates were genetically characterized based on partial sequencing of gB gene. The four EHV-1 strains displayed 100% nucleotide identity to one another and to EHV-1 reference strains reported in Egypt and other countries. The three EHV-4 strains were phylogenetically classified into two distinct clusters based on their nucleotide sequences (76%-100% identity). Meanwhile, their deduced amino acid sequences differed by only one amino acid substitution. Our results underscore the critical importance of EHV-1 and EHV-4 as primary contributors of abortion and respiratory illness in horses and highlight the need for further large-scale surveillance and in-depth characterization studies to improve our understanding of these viruses' epidemiology in Egypt and to develop a robust control strategy.

Postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) poses a significant threat to the swine industry by causing notable declines in productivity and mortality. Gut health diagnosis in pigs typically involves complex methods such as gut microbiome analysis, which can be costly and can require specialised skills. This study aimed to assess gut health in postweaning piglets by measuring and comparing gut microbiome profiles and levels of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IALP) in faecal samples from pigs with and without PWD. This study revealed significant differences between the nondiarrhoea and diarrhoea groups of piglets in terms of IALP levels and gut microbiome composition. Nondiarrhoeal piglets had greater IALP levels than did diarrhoeal piglets (p=0.003). Additionally, faecal flora richness (observed (p=0.0007) and Chao1 (p=0.0007)) indices of the faecal microflora in the nondiarrhoeal pigs. At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were predominantly abundant in both groups, while Firmicutes (p=0.0008) and Patescibacteria (p=0.0334) showed significantly lower abundances in the nondiarrhoea group and Bacteroidetes (p=0.0003) exhibited greater abundance. The Clostridia class was significantly more abundant in the diarrhoea group than the nondiarrhoea group (p=0.0159). The diarrhoea group had a significantly greater relative abundance of the Clostridiaceae family than did the nondiarrhoea group (p=0.0007). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae NK3B31 was significantly greater in the nondiarrhoea group than the diarrhoea group (p=0.0032). Moreover, the relative abundances of some pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridium sensu stricto (Clostridiaceae) 1, were significantly greater in the diarrhoea group than in the nondiarrhoea group (p=0.0007). IALP levels and gut microbiome diversity in faecal samples can be used to assess the gut health of nursery pigs. These results contribute to the understanding and manipulation of postweaning piglet gut health.

Sialoradiography is an imaging technique that assesses the ducal macroanatomy and function of the major salivary glands (MSGs). Despite reports of salivary diseases in donkeys, no studies have documented detailed information on sialoradiography of the ductal structures. Therefore, this investigation aimed at describing the technique and ductal macroanatomy of the MSGs using sialoradiography, as well as the in situ macroanatomy of the salivary ductal structures in donkeys. Survey radiology and sialoradiography were conducted in lateral and dorsoventral oblique views, followed by cadaver dissection with colored latex injection to outline the MSGs' topographic macroanatomy in fourteen half-heads and the proximal cervical region of seven donkeys. The technique of cannulation, contrast media injection, and positioning for the sialoradiography in the donkey was thoroughly described. The extra- and intraglandular salivary ductal structures of the parotid and mandibular glands were clearly outlined only in lateral sialograms. Key macoanatomical findings included the rostral situation of the mandibular gland, a straight caudal edge of the parotid salivary gland (PSG), the absence of perforation of the PSG lateral aspect and its substance by the maxillary vein, and the superficial situation of the parotid duct (PD) on the body of the lower jaw rostral to in front of the masseter muscle, situation of the PD opening against the crowns of the third and fourth premolar teeth, and the formation of the single major PD at the rostrolateral aspect of the dorsal portion of PSG. The images and data reported in the current investigation may be utilized as basic information for veterinary clinicians, surgeons, and radiologists for (1) diagnosis of the MSGs pathologies and (2) aiding in performing sialography in live donkeys.