Veterinary Medicine International最新文献

Domestic cats are one of the most popular pets worldwide. Despite their growing popularity, there remains a significant gap in understanding their specific needs, leading to frequent challenges in human-cat coexistence and behavioral issues. The distinct emotional systems of cats, compared to other domestic species and humans, complicate the interpretation of feline behavior. Notably, fear, anxiety, and stress are among the most prevalent behavioral problems in cats. This review delves into the core concepts of anxiety, fear, and stress responses in domestic cats, highlighting their unique characteristics and providing recommendations for effective handling. Additionally, it presents some key international recommendations for creating a "cat-friendly" environment, as well as suggestions for pharmacological management to ensure a stress-free visit to the clinic for the cat, its caretaker, and the veterinary team.

Horse gaits are a trait highly selected and prized in diverse breeds. Meanwhile, gait classification relies mostly on subjective visual observations by evaluators. Noninvasive equipment able to track locomotion in horses and output quantitative gait parameters is not only helpful in evaluating locomotion but also in designating gait types and its variations. Equine locomotion pattern designation based solely on observer evaluation can be subjective; therefore, utilizing tools that provide quantitative results and track individual limb movements, especially during intermediate-speed gaits, can result in increased phenotypic accuracy and better designation. A noninvasive automated locomotion analysis system (ANALOC-E) was used to acquire locomotion parameters in a small yet diverse set of 68 horses of 4 breeds. We aimed to evaluate kinematic variation in horse locomotion patterns for these 68 horses. Analysis demonstrates kinematic variation within breed-designated gaits. We also compared output parameters to previously described standards, as well as assessed principal component scores within the dataset. We illustrate two gait types not described by the previous standards (marcha de centro and marcha trotada) yet recognized by breed designations. Three parameters (lateral support, diagonal support, and triple support) can explain about 98.9% of the variance in gait types in this dataset. Results suggest that ANALOC-E could be used for locomotion analysis, but further validation is necessary to evaluate the accuracy of the system. Noninvasive technologies that encourage natural locomotion and output quantitative biomechanical/kinematic parameters may assist in real-time, accurate, locomotion descriptions.

Background: The effects of propolis supplementation on the performance of dairy calves are not well established. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral propolis supplementation on the health status, growth performance variables, hematological parameters, and serum biochemical parameters of neonatal dairy calves. Methods: Twenty-four calves were enrolled in this study from 48 h after birth until 7 days of age. A complete clinical examination was performed daily by the same examiner. Blood sampling, body measurements, and lung ultrasonography were conducted on Days 0, 7, 14, and 28. The concentrations of albumin, total protein, total immunoglobulins, γ-globulins, triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, inorganic phosphate, and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase were measured. Results: Propolis supplementation had no significant effect on body weight, average daily gain, length, or height (p > 0.05). Pulmonary ultrasonography scores for subclinical pneumonia showed significant variation over time within each group (p < 0.05); however, no significant differences were observed between groups. Propolis supplementation significantly reduced the number of days with omphalitis in neonatal calves, likely due to its known anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, although further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms (p=0.016). There were no significant differences in the number of days with fever or diarrhea between groups (p=0.44 and 0.15, respectively). No significant differences were found in blood variables between groups. Our results suggest that propolis supplementation did not positively affect growth performance or blood variables. Conclusion: Supplementation with propolis may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of omphalitis in neonatal dairy calves. Nevertheless, further studies are required to fully elucidate the effects of propolis.

Background: Turtles are one of the oldest reptiles and have evolved about 200 million years ago. One of them is the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). These freshwater turtles are native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. However, they have become popular pets in Iran and many countries around the world. Due to being non-native, they are considered one of the main dangers for the destruction of turtles' species in Iran and other countries. Therefore, knowing the location of coelomic cavity organs can be of great help in performing surgeries such as neutering in this species of turtle to prevent over reproduction and to preserve other species from the possibility of extinction and destruction. Objective: Due to the fact that a precise descriptive study of the anatomy of the coelomic structures in the red-eared slider has not been conducted so far, and considering the necessity of having accurate information about coelomic anatomy for performing various surgeries using laparoscopic techniques, this study was carried out to determine the laparoscopic anatomy of the coelomic organs in red-eared sliders. Methods: The turtles were off feed for 24 h before surgery. Anesthesia was induced with ketamine and diazepam and continued using the inhaler method. After scrubbing the prefemoral region and restraining, the center of the prefemoral fossa was sheared. The laparoscopy rigid lens was transmitted through this cut into the coelomic cavity without insufflation. After the completion of exploratory surgery, the cutting was closed. Results: The study of coelomic cavity organs was performed on each of 5 turtles using laparoscopic technique with only one cut in the specified regions. The location and position of the organs were well determined to be used in future studies. Conclusions: The use of laparoscopic technique is a practical and reliable way to examine the organs of the coelomic cavity. Although this method requires factors such as the ability of the surgeon to use the device, it is a noninvasive technique that helps the surgeon in accessing the organs away from the cutting site.

The prostate in noncastrated male dogs typically experiences an increase in weight and size as they age, which can result in the development of prostatic disorders. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate disorder in these dogs. The purpose of this study was to develop a model that could differentiate between dogs with normal prostate sizes and those with enlarged prostate sizes. To achieve this, the researchers evaluated prostate sizes and volumes estimated by B-mode ultrasound in healthy noncastrated dogs and dogs with BPH, considering factors such as weight, age, aorta diameter, and the presence of intraparenchymal cysts. Two hundred and sixty noncastrated male dogs of various breeds were used, with two hundred and thirty-three dogs in the healthy group and twenty-seven dogs in the BPH group. Data on breed, body weight, and age were collected for each dog, and B-mode ultrasound was performed to obtain prostate variables of length, width, and average height, as well as the presence/absence of intraparenchymal cysts and aorta diameter. All variables presented differences between groups except aorta diameter. All dogs with BPH were older than 6 years (p < 0.001), with a higher percentage of prostate cysts (p < 0.001) and larger prostate volumes than healthy dogs (81 ± 41 cm³ vs. 22 ± 15 cm³, p < 0.001). The outcomes of this research resulted in the creation of a model that can precisely (98.1%), sensitively (88.9%), and distinctly differentiate between healthy, noncastrated dogs and those with BPH by considering several factors, including body weight, age, aorta diameter, and the existence of intraparenchymal cysts.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an economically important disease of cattle, considered as a threat to the livestock industry. This study aimed to assess the clinical symptoms, gross pathology and histopathology, serum biochemical values, and molecular characterization of LSD in cattle. Cattle in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, and Rangpur affected by LSD were initially diagnosed through clinical signs and gross lesions. Blood samples were then collected for biochemical analysis and molecular detection through PCR, and sequencing was performed to characterize the LSD virus (LSDV). The prevalence of LSD in northern areas of Bangladesh was 33.44%. The recorded clinical signs were high fever; firm, raised skin nodules around the head, neck, and limbs; swelling of the limbs and brisket area; and rough hair coat, nasal discharge, dyspnea, corneal opacity, and severe weakness. Grossly, a well-defined, hard swelling of around 1-3.00 cm in diameter in the skin accompanied enlargement of the nearby lymph nodes, and the nodules are composed of a hard, creamy-gray, or yellow clump of the tissue. Histopathologically, ballooning degeneration of the epidermal cell layers, intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies in distinct dermal and epidermal cells, necrosis with substantial infiltration of inflammatory cells, and congested blood vessels in the dermal layer were noted. While total protein, BUN, serum AST, and ALT were increased significantly (p < 0.05), the serum creatinine, GGT, and total albumin were not changed significantly compared with the healthy cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the circulating isolates from northern part of Bangladesh were found in the same clades with India, Pakistan, and Thailand. Thus, this study provides crucial findings on this emerging disease, including its gross and histopathology, serum biochemical properties, and molecular epidemiology in the northern regions of Bangladesh.

Background and Aim: Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) has recently become one of the most incidence and threatening viral diseases of sheep in Iraq, which affected notion economy through prevalence and mortality rates. Although there is wide availability of global data on epidemiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of this disease, crucial specific available information with extended prevalence in Iraq still requires specific research to cope. Therefore, this study investigates molecular phylogeny of PPR in sheep during outbreak and detection the histological and immunohistochemical changes in the lung and intestine tissue. Materials and Methods: A total of 182 sheep enrolled in this study that received to the private and official slaughterhouses in Wasit province (Iraq). The sheep examined clinically and subjected to sampling of venous blood that was tested serologically using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and molecularly by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Postslaughtering, tissue samples were obtained from lung and intestine for histology and immunohistochemistry detection. Phylogenic tree was build based on sequenced of some positive isolates which submitted to the NCBI-database and analysed phylogenetically. Results: Clinically, variable signs were identified in various sheep. The serological anti-PPR IgG antibodies identified 43.41% positive sheep that sequentially allied to mild, moderate and severe PPR cases included 53.16%, 27.85%, and 18.99%, respectively. Molecularly, 24.18% of sheep were infected with PPR, and distinct phylogenetic analysis displayed a close-relationship of study isolates to NCBI-BLAST Mali isolate (MT072487.1). The intestine showed atrophied villi, necrotic mucosal glands, infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells in lamina propria, marked diffuse edema, crypt disruption, and cellular necrosis; whereas in lung, macrophages invading alveolar wall, accumulation of inclusion bodies in intracellular and intracytoplasmic regions, infiltration of neutrophils and multinuclear giant cells, and existence of fibrin exudates were seen. Intensity of reaction was relatively ranged from mild (+) to moderate (++) in the intestine, while it was mild (+) in the lung. Conclusion: The displayed results represent the unique Iraqi study that targeted sheep PPR serologically and molecular phylogeny, concomitant with identification of histological and immunohistochemical alteration in the intestine and lung tissues. Therefore, further in depth qualitative and quantitative serological, molecular, and immunological studies focuses on relation of disease with sheep and goats are interesting to identify the prevalence rate, economic losses, and support the control and eradication efforts in Iraq.

The dairy sector in Ethiopia is vital for the agricultural economy and smallholder farmers; however, calf morbidity and mortality present significant challenges. A prospective longitudinal study conducted tracked 204 newborn calves across 120 farms in central Ethiopia to estimate morbidity and mortality rates, identify causes, and assess risk factors. The calves were monitored every 15 days until they reached 6 months of age. Data analysis utilized Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression. The study found a morbidity rate of 13.4 and a mortality rate of 4 cases per 100 calf-months at risk. Diarrhea was the most commonly diagnosed condition, accounting for 50.5% of morbidity and 64.5% of mortality. Key risk factors for morbidity included calving assistance (HR = 1.93), floor structure (HR = 2.88), calf sex (HR = 1.86), late colostrum intake (HR = 1.7), weaning age (HR = 0.47), dam breed (HR = 0.21), and calf age (HR = 0.23). Risk factors for mortality included farm location (HR = 0.25), calving assistance (HR = 7.7), birth site (HR = 27.3), floor structure (HR = 9.18), late colostrum intake (HR = 7.68), weaning age (HR = 0.03), and calf age (HR = 0.15). The observed morbidity and mortality rates exceed acceptable levels, jeopardizing calf health and dairy sector growth. Enhancing management practices-such as timely colostrum provision, early disease detection and treatment, and farmer education-is crucial to mitigate these rates. Further research is needed to pinpoint specific causes of calf morbidity and mortality in the study areas.

Background: Wild felids have been in decline, which has been linked to health issues. Parasitic infections, including zoonotic ones, can contribute to the challenges faced regarding wildlife conservation efforts and may pose a risk to human health, particularly for people working at or visiting zoological parks. This study investigated the occurrence of parasitic infections in the Felidae within Thai zoo parks. Methods: The fecal samples were collected from 93 Felidae individuals residing in four zoo parks. The parasitological technique involved sugar floatation, and a formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) was also employed. Additionally, a molecular technique was used to detect Toxoplasma gondii DNA in feces. For blood samples, 22 were tested for T. gondii DNA using the PCR technique. To detect T. gondii antibodies in serum, an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was performed, and the result was confirmed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites in captive felids was 23.7%, with the highest rates observed for hookworms (8.6%), Toxascaris leonina (7.5%), coccidia (4.3%), Strongyloides spp. (2.1%), and Opisthorchis-like egg (1.1%). Among the Felidae, lions and white lions (Panthera leo) exhibited the highest prevalence of parasitic infection, particularly T. leonina. Furthermore, a substantial percentage (63.6%) of the animals tested positive for T. gondii antibodies using both IFAT and ELISA. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of addressing the circulation of parasites, such as T. gondii, hookworm, T. leonina, and coccidia in environments where animals and humans closely interact, such as wildlife zoos. Implementing preventative measures and adopting a one-health approach are strongly encouraged to control parasites and reduce the risk of infection for animals and humans.

In mixed systems (pasture plus TMR), it is essential to provide the cows with good housing conditions at times of supplementation during confinement. However, given that there are different types of confinement for high-producing cows in pastoral-based systems, it is necessary to determine how such confinement conditions can affect their welfare. The aim of this study was to determine if the type of confinement (compost barn (CB) versus outdoor soil-bedded (OD)) used in mixed systems affects the welfare of dairy cows through behavioral and biochemical indicators. Holstein cows (n = 32) calving in autumn were assigned to two treatments (CB or OD) at calving. During confinement (half a day) in CB, the cows were kept indoors with a compost bed (13.5 m²/cow), including ventilation, while OD cows were kept in the open space with a dirt floor and shaded area (4.8 m²/cow). Confinement and grazing behavior (eating, ruminating, drinking, lying, standing, and walking) and the number of agonistic interactions in confinement were recorded every 10 min, on 3 days within a week for 5 months. Blood was collected to determine the concentration of creatine kinase, total proteins, and albumin during lactation. During confinement, cows in CB were found to be more frequently eating (p=0.07), drinking (p < 0.0001), and lying down (p=0.003) than those in OD, while OD cows were more time ruminating (p=0.0005), standing (p=0.02), and walking (p < 0.0001). During pasture access, cows in CB were more time eating (p=0.01) and standing (p=0.0003), while they were less lying (p=0.01) than cows in the OD and no differences were found in ruminating, drinking, and walking behaviors. CB cows tended to present more agonist interactions than in OD cows (p=0.09). Cows in CB had higher total proteins (p=0.02) and globulins (p=0.006) than cows in OD. In conclusion, the type of confinement differentially affected the different behavioral indicators (lying, standing, walking, rumination, and agonist interactions), as well as blood concentration of total protein and globulins. Although CB did not have all the behavioral indicators of welfare in its favor for autumn-calving cows (ruminating and agonist interactions), blood indicators (total protein and globulins) highlight advantages of CB in relation to OD.