Veterinary Medicine International最新文献

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.

Sialidases, enzymes produced by Clostridium perfringens Type A, play a critical role in cleaving sialic acid residues essential for viral entry into host cells. By targeting pathogens such as coronaviruses, influenza, and paramyxoviruses, sialidase represents a promising therapeutic candidate. While in vitro studies confirm its efficacy against influenza, evaluating its safety profile in vivo is imperative. This study investigates the acute and subacute toxicity of sialidase from C. perfringens Type A in BALB/c mice (Mus musculus). Acute toxicity involved a single intranasal dose followed by a 14-day observation, while subacute toxicity encompassed daily doses for 30 days. Mice were administered 187.5, 375, or 750 mU/mL of sialidase, with saline as the control. No mortality or overt toxicity occurred, but significant histopathological alterations were evident in the lungs and liver at higher doses. Observed effects included lung inflammation and edema, liver congestion, and kidney inflammation. Hematological analysis revealed immunosuppressive effects, including reduced white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, alongside dose-dependent IL-6 expression changes. Sialidase doses of 187.5 and 375 mU/mL were deemed safe, whereas toxicity became pronounced at 750 mU/mL.

The ostrich is a type of flightless bird native to Africa and a scavenger, belonging to the Struthionidae family. The eyeball in birds has more unique features. One of these features is the presence of a scleral ring. The intrascleral bones that surround the eye are in the form of a group of bones with different shapes, which form the scleral ring. It helps the eyeball against trauma. The head of 5 adult male ostriches was examined in this study. According to the results, the scleral ring in Struthio camelus has anterior and posterior parts and the lens is in the immediate vicinity of the anterior part. The right and left scleral rings and eyeballs are bilaterally symmetrical in terms of the shape and size but the number of ossicles can be different. This structure consisted of 15-17 ossicles and all the rings are Type A. The shape of the scleral ring and its constituent parts is one of the characteristics used for the classification of animals.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the main causes of gastroenteritis in human and animals worldwide. Emergence of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms increased the need to develop new types of vaccines. The present study aimed to design novel multiepitope mRNA vaccine against Campylobacter jejuni using immunoinformatics tools. For this purpose, two virulence C. jejuni proteins (Cj1621 and CjaA) were selected as antigen targets, and the appropriate epitopes were predicted using immunoinformatics tools and molecular models. Five cytotoxic T lymphocyte, six helper T lymphocyte, four linear B-cell, and one conformational B-cell epitopes were linked together with an appropriate linker, and then, adjuvant (RpfE) was attached to the construct candidate. Physiochemical, immunological, secondary, and 3D structure evaluation of the proposed vaccine showed it is immunogenic, nontoxic, nonallergic, flexible, and stable. Furthermore, docking shows that the vaccine has stable interaction with the immune receptors TLR (TLR-2 and TLR-4) and B7 (B7-1 and B7-2). Moreover, analysis of the vaccine with the MD server shows its ability to induce humoral and cellular immunity of the selected host. Overall, our findings indicate that the proposed vaccine could be a promising option against Campylobacter jejuni infection; however, further lab-based studies are needed to confirm the efficiency and safety of this vaccine.

Ticks are obligatory ectoparasites of vertebrates and can transmit pathogens, including: arboviruses, bacteria, and parasites to humans and animals worldwide. This study aimed to identify the tick species found on semi-domestic hosts in Tehran Province. This cross-sectional study, conducted from 2020 to 2021, aimed. Of 1165 captured hosts, 16.3% (n = 190) were infested with ticks. A total of 574 ticks were collected. Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) comprised 86% (n = 493) and included 11 species, while soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) made up 14% (n = 81) and included 3 species. The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, and North American tick with cattle tick, R. annulatus (formerly belonged to the genus Boophilus as B. annulatus), represented the highest and lowest frequencies of 39.3% and 0.3%, respectively. Notably, Haemaphysalis inermis was identified for the first time in Shemiranat County. The highest tick infestation intensity was observed in the Varamin district.

Cadmium, as a toxic heavy metal abounds in our habitat, and its impact on the testes contribute to the global decrease in the male fertility rate. Several natural compounds have been used to manage Cd-induced infertility successfully. Polyphenol-rich extract of Ocimum gratissimum is one plant whose potency has been reported in various studies. Nevertheless, no report has explored PREOG impairment of reprotoxicity induced by cadmium in male animals. This study, therefore, is designed to evaluate the effect of PREOG against cadmium reprotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats. 66 male rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups A to F (n = 11) per group, orally received the following treatment daily for 8 weeks: A (distilled water alone as control), B (3 mg/kg CdCL₂), C (100 mg/kg PREOG), D (200 mg/kg PREOG), E (100 mg/kg PREOG + 3 mg/kg CdCL₂), and F (200 mg/kg PREOG + 3 mg/kg CdCL₂) at the end, six rats from each group were sacrificed, blood, semen, and testes were harvested for analysis, while the remaining males from each group were introduced to untreated female in a ratio of 2:1 for fertility study and result indicated; PREOG treatment enhances testicular weight, GSI and EPI, sperm quality and quantity, serum testosterone levels, and upregulate steroidogenic gene (3β-HSD, 17β-HSD, and StAR) expression. PREOG impaired testicular oxidative stress (enhance GST, SOD, and GPx value) and inflammation by decreasing testicular expression of COX-2 and TNF-α, and plasma IL-6 and TNF-α concentration. Also, PREOG impaired testicular apoptosis by decreasing caspase-3 protein distribution, protected histopathologic alteration of the testes, and finally enhanced reproductive outcome. The impairment of cadmium-induced reprotoxicity in male rats by PREOG treatment affirms its therapeutic and reproductive benefits.

Zoonotic malaria, caused by simian Plasmodium spp., poses a major public health challenge in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, where long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) serve as natural reservoirs. This study investigated the molecular prevalence and species identification of zoonotic simian Plasmodium spp. in macaques from four provinces in Southern Thailand: Phetchaburi, Satun, Phang Nga, and Surat Thani. A total of 310 blood samples were collected between May 2023 and June 2024 and analyzed using nested and seminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Sequencing analyses confirmed the presence of zoonotic Plasmodium species. Overall, 11.3% (35/310; 95% CI: 7.9-15.3) of the macaques tested positive, with Plasmodium inui being the most prevalent species at 9.4% (29/310), followed by Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium cynomolgi, each at 0.9% (3/310). The highest prevalence was observed in Surat Thani at 18% (18/100). These findings underscore the zoonotic potential of simian malaria and its geographic distribution in Southern Thailand, which may be associated with the significant increase in macaque populations and their expanding habitat overlap with human communities. In conclusion, this study highlights the major role of long-tailed macaques as reservoirs for zoonotic Plasmodium spp. Enhanced surveillance and community awareness are crucial for mitigating cross-species transmission and improving malaria control.

Epigenetic alterations play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cancer, as changes in the expression of DNA-associated proteins can affect gene expression. However, these changes may be reversible following treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of acetylated histones H3 and H4 and the deacetylase enzymes HDACs 1, 2, and 6 in canine mammary tissues in order to identify potential alterations due to aberrant protein expression in neoplastic tissues. For this purpose, mammary tissue samples from 91 canine patients were divided into four groups: G1, control group composed of mammary tissues with no histopathological changes (n = 11); G2, simple mammary adenomas (n = 19); G3, simple mammary carcinomas without metastasis (n = 46); and G4, simple mammary carcinomas with lymph node metastasis (n = 15). The tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis to assess protein expression. Antibody validation was performed by Western blot. The antibody expression results were evaluated semiquantitatively, considering the staining intensity and the percentage of marked cells. Univariate and multivariate analyses with a 5% significance level revealed differences in the expression of acetylated histones and deacetylase enzymes among the experimental groups (p < 0.05). Reduced acetylation of H3 (H3K9Ac) was observed in both nonmetastatic and metastatic simple mammary carcinomas compared to normal mammary tissue. Additionally, lower expression of HDAC1 and HDAC2 was found in neoplastic mammary tissues compared to normal tissue (p < 0.05). Conversely, HDAC6 exhibited higher expression in neoplastic mammary tissues (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the expression of acetylated H4 (H4K12Ac) among the groups (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed a positive association between the expression of HDAC1 and HDAC2 and a negative association between H3K9Ac and HDAC6. These associations highlighted aberrant expression in mammary carcinomas compared to normal mammary tissues, indicating that epigenetic alterations exist in canine mammary neoplasms and that high HDAC6 expression may explain the observed hypoacetylation of H3 in neoplastic tissues. Collectively, these findings suggest that such alterations could potentially be therapeutic targets for the treatment of mammary cancer in dogs.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly used to treat ocular surface diseases (OSDs) in animals, including corneal ulcers and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). However, existing studies lack rigorous evaluation of efficacy and safety. This systematic review assesses the quality, outcomes, and therapeutic benefits of PRP in veterinary ophthalmology. Methods: A systematic review (January 2013-December 2023) of experimental and clinical studies in animals treated with PRP was conducted. From 126 records, 14 studies met inclusion criteria (rabbits, dogs). Outcomes included corneal healing, inflammation, and symptom relief. Results: PRP showed significant benefits: improved corneal healing (12/14 studies), reduced edema/vascularization (9/14 studies), and decreased pain/inflammation (5/14). However, a high risk of bias (10/14 studies), small sample sizes (median n = 20), and inconsistent PRP protocols (i.e., unreported platelet concentrations in 7/14 studies) limit conclusions. Conclusions: Despite promising results, PRP cannot yet be recommended as standard care due to methodological limitations. Future studies must standardize PRP preparation, such as centrifugation protocols, and platelet counts, prioritize randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and report adverse effects transparently.