Veterinary Medicine International最新文献

Introduction: Sheep, the multifaceted small ruminants, are vital for meat, milk, wool, manure, skins, and transportation. However, various factors often threaten their sustainability, particularly in lowland areas. Notably, diseases caused by intestinal parasites, particularly coccidian and other helminths, highlight the crucial need for strategic health management in sheep farming. Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of coccidian and other intestinal parasites in indigenous sheep reared in smallholder farms in the lowlands of Nepal. Methods: A total of 160 fresh fecal samples with age and sex variants were collected via noninvasive techniques. These samples were macroscopically inspected for fecal consistency and transferred to the research laboratory for microscopic examination. Results: It showed a 96.3% prevalence and 26 diverse species of intestinal parasites involving coccidia (84.4%; 12 species), other protozoa (65.6%; 4 species), and helminths (78.1%; 10 species). The prevalence of protozoa (94.4%) was higher than that of helminths (78.1%). Compared to other groups, adults (100%) and female sheep (96.6%) had a higher prevalence rate of intestinal parasites. Additionally, concomitant infection (92.5%) was more common than monoparasitism (3.6%). Notably, sheep with grazing opportunities, thin and weak musculature, mixed domestication with livestock, unknown deworming history, and resting on mud showed higher positive cases. Conclusions: The indigenous sheep in central Nepal are significantly affected by a high prevalence and a wide variety of coccidian and other intestinal parasites. Many of these parasites are associated with severe health conditions and can lead to the death of sheep. Therefore, implementing strategic medication and training programs on healthy rearing practices for local farmers is of utmost importance.

Background: Despite the significant contribution of small ruminants to the improvement of societal livelihood, several factors hamper their production and productivity, chief among which are various production and reproductive diseases. Brucellosis is one of such diseases that causes huge economic loss and imposes trade restrictions. Methods: A quantitative risk assessment was conducted from July 2023 to January 2024 to evaluate the risk of introduction of brucellosis into Germany via the importation of sheep and goat from Ethiopia. The QRA methods was applied by breaking it into different components, namely, hazard identification and characterization; developing a scenario tree; gathering scientific evidence about the probability of occurrence of these events from published sources; generating mathematical equations taking into account the reliability and variability of the evidences; and, finally, calculating the overall risk of the hazard introduction by running Monte Carlo simulation at 10,000 iterations using @ RISK software, Palisade Co. Result: The overall probability of introducing brucellosis through the annual importation of sheep and goats from Ethiopia is 1.276 × 10^-7 (fifth percentile = 3.07 × 10^-7; 95th percentile = 3.08 × 10^-7). The results of the sensitivity analysis using the tornado graph showed that the estimate's precision can be improved by 49%, 44%, and 35%, respectively, if the factors that contributed most to the uncertainty were changed by one standard deviation. Discussion and Conclusion: If the animals (sheep and goat) pass through all mitigations as outlined in the study, the risk of brucellosis introduction into Germany through the importation of small ruminants from Ethiopia is generally low. The uncertainty around the risk estimate could be reduced if more animal-level prevalence data could be obtained and by employing more sensitive diagnostic tests such as ELISA to detect subclinically infected animals. It is recommended that animal health regulators of the two nations work closely to enhance disease diagnosis and surveillance capabilities.

Aeromonas veronii biotype sobria is a potential aquatic zoonotic pathogen and a major cause of freshwater bacterial infections in cultured fish globally, leading to substantial economic losses. This study aimed to establish the median lethal dose (LD_50-96 h) for Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria A4 strain and to demonstrate induction of clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions in experimentally infected juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aeromonas veronii biotype sobria A4 strain used in this study were obtained from water samples from ponds with high fish mortality at Cavarino farm in Narok County, Kenya. Six groups each comprising 10 fish were intraperitoneally injected with 0.1 mL of A. veronii biovar sobria A4 strain suspension at: 1.5 × 10⁴, 1.5 × 10⁵, 1.5 × 10⁶, 1.5 × 10⁷, 1.5 × 10⁸, and 1.5 × 10⁹ colony forming units per mL (CFU/mL) respectively and the bacteria was afterward recovered from kidney and hepatopancreas of freshly dead fish. Duplicate control groups (each n = 10) were injected with sterile physiological saline before the lethal dose group were injected with varying concentration of the A. veronii biovar sobria A4 strain. The LD_50-96 h of A. veronii biovar sobria A4 strain was found to be 1.5 × 10⁸ CFU/mL. Clinical signs and gross lesions observed in the lethal dose group were: skin hemorrhages (20%), erosion of the fins including caudal fin with scale loss exposing underlying skin (13.7%), congested and hemorrhagic gills (15%), hepatic hemorrhages and enlargement (21.3%), distension of gall bladder (18.8%), splenomegaly and congestion (22.5%), and ascites (16.3%). The main histopathological lesions observed in the gills were focal hemorrhages, atrophy of the filaments and loss of lamellae in some filaments with mononuclear cellular infiltration; on the liver there were; hemorrhages, infiltration with lymphocytes and melanomacrophages, degenerative hepatocytes and focal necrosis. There was extensive hemosiderosis with increased melanomacrophages in the spleen. The kidney showed extensive hemorrhages, localized coagulative necrosis, atrophied glomeruli and multifocal mononuclear cellular infiltration in the interstitium. The findings will lay a foundational basis for subsequent investigations into the host-pathogen interaction, therapeutic approaches, and epidemiology of Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria.

The Neurergus kaiseri is one of the native and endangered species of the Salamandridae family, which is restricted to the mountainous habitats of southern Lorestan and northern Khuzestan. The presence of this species in the environment and the risks surrounding the extinction and health of this species make it necessary to produce basic anatomical information. The present study investigated the typical morphological characteristics of normal, mature, and healthy Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri) vertebral column using a micro-CT scan. The samples were entered into the micro-CT scan machine one by one in a ventral recumbency. The typical morphological characteristics of normal, mature, and healthy Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri) vertebral column were examined. It was specified that the Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri) has one cervical vertebra (atlas), 12 trunk vertebrae, one sacral vertebra, 3 caudosacral vertebrae, and 28 to 31 caudal vertebrae. This study presents a complete and precise description evaluation of Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri) vertebral column using a micro-CT scan. No specimen was killed, and anatomical studies were conducted through a micro-CT scan technique as an essential feature of the present study.

The present study generated evidence on the population of stray dogs in the city of Mérida Yucatán, Mexico. The sighting method was used using the "count within a selected block" method recommended by the World Society for the Protection of Animals. For the sample size, 21 blocks were randomly selected from the city. The calculation of the density of the dogs was obtained considering the extension of 186.24 km² of the city, and the characteristics of the dogs were evaluated through direct observation. The same protocol was performed 1 year later. The estimated number of dogs was 4764 ± 478 in 2022 and later increased to 7650 ± 779 in 2023 (p < 0.006). The density of the dog population in 2022 was 25.6 ± 2.6 animals/km², with a dog-human ratio of 0.5:100. In 2023, a population density of 41.1 ± 4.3 animals/km² and a dog-human ratio of 0.8:100 were obtained. This significant increase may be due to more food availability and capacity to achieve a successful reproduction in the first year of observation. However, bias may be considered when using any counting methodology of stray dogs since their mobility may be intensely variable. The male-female ratio was 2.4:1 for 2022 and 2.3:1 for the year 2023. Most of the dogs were adults, of mixed breed, and with solitary behaviour in both years. The body condition in 2022 was predominantly ideal, with a significant decrease in 2023 (p < 0.001) probably because of the increased number and competence for food when the second evaluation was performed. When comparing the population according to the areas of the city, the southern area had a higher proportion of thin dogs in both years, with an increase of up to 30% (p < 0.001) by 2023. The presence of dermatological conditions in the dogs increased from 4% in 2022 to 15% in 2023 (p < 0.001). It is concluded that the number and characteristics of stray dogs studied presented changes over a year time probably because of the carrying capacity of the environment, with differences between areas of the city, particularly in lower socioeconomical areas.

Biosecurity forms an important component of preventing disease transmission. However, data on the demographics and practices of smallholder pig farmers in Southern Africa are scant, and little is published on the biosecurity related to these farms. A questionnaire survey was, therefore, carried out in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa to describe the demographics and practices of smallholder pig farmers and to understand their role in the biosecurity and prevention of pig diseases. Females represented 52% of pig farmers and reflect the cultural importance of pig farming in Xhosa culture. All the farmers who were interviewed had poor biosecurity measures on their farms. A low level of education, lack of training and reliance on remedies to treat and prevent pig diseases were key findings for the majority of farmers. Farmers had a poor knowledge of correct antibiotic use, which could contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Smallholder farms were found to frequently involve free-ranging pigs, swill feeding and informal trading, practices known to contribute to the spread of communicable pig diseases such as foot and mouth disease and African swine fever. Smallholder pig farms are, therefore, a potential risk for disease incursion and spread of communicable diseases within a region. Cost-effective biosecurity measures and marketing opportunities will help to prevent pig diseases, while a continuing education programme will modernise the rural pig industry and reduce the impact of AMR.

This pioneering study in Bangladesh combines phenotypic and genotypic approaches to characterize antibiotic-resistant bacteria in dairy farm wastewater, addressing a critical gap in regional antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research. Dairy farming is integral to global food production, yet the wastewater generated by these operations is a significant source of environmental and public health concerns, particularly in the context of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to isolate and identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria from dairy farm wastewater and evaluate their antibiogram profiles to inform effective management strategies. A total of 60 wastewater samples were collected and subjected to conventional bacterial characterization, followed by molecular detection via PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The study identified Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35%), Escherichia coli (30%), Bacillus subtilis (16.67%), and Acinetobacter junii (8.33%) as the predominant bacterial species. Sequencing results demonstrated high compatibility with reference sequences, confirming the identities of the isolates. Antibiogram analysis revealed significant resistance patterns: P. aeruginosa exhibited the highest resistance to penicillin (85.71%) and amoxicillin (76.19%), while demonstrating greater sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and cotrimoxazole. E. coli showed notable resistance to penicillin (88.89%), amoxicillin, and ceftriaxone, while B. subtilis and A. junii also demonstrated high levels of resistance to multiple antibiotics. Notably, a substantial proportion of the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR), with MAR indices ranging from 0.37 to 0.75. Moreover, several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) including penA, bla _TEM , bla _CTX-M , tetA, tetB, tetC, and ermB were detected across the bacterial species, with high prevalence rates in P. aeruginosa and A. junii, suggesting the potential for horizontal gene transfer and further spread of resistance. These findings underscore the critical need for a One Health approach to mitigate the risks posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in dairy farm wastewater, emphasizing the critical importance of responsible antibiotic use and sustainable farming practices to protect public health and environmental integrity.

Quercetin-like compounds (QLCs) are secondary metabolite compounds of flavonol found in the leaf extract from the mistletoe Dendrophthoe pentandra L. Miq. This study aims to determine the ability of QLC to stimulate epithelialization in rabbit skin. The leaves were macerated with methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane solvents, and crude macerates were separated and purified into QLC using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified QLC as an analyte was prepared in serial concentrations of 4.5%, 6%, 8%, and 10% and then formulated by new methods as topical gel preparations. The epithelialization stimulation test was performed on 60 rabbits divided into 20 rabbits for the trial group, the other 20 rabbits for the positive control group, and negative control groups. The trial group was split into 4 trial subgroups for topical gel application at each concentration. Gels were topically applied to the exfoliated skin of rabbits in the trial group twice a day for 5 days. The probit analysis showed that an epithelialization of 25%, 50%, and 75% of the in vivo study endpoint was found at a QLC concentration of 4.644%, 5.185%, and 5.790%. Rectangular cuboidal QLC particles with an average size of 0.01 μm-0.1 μm have shown the ability to stimulate epidermal epithelial proliferation starting from a concentration of 4.5% in topical gels with new formulations that can boost the epithelialization of the upper layers of the skin (p < 0.05).

Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) is a high-protein insect species with a favorable amino acid and fatty acid profile, widely recognized as an alternative to soybean meal in nonruminant diets. However, research on its use in ruminant nutrition remains limited, particularly regarding its effects on feed efficiency and performance. This study evaluated the impact of completely replacing soybean meal with cricket meal on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, microbial populations, and growth performance in Thai native beef cattle. Eight male Thai native beef cattle (150 ± 15 kg; ∼2 years old) were used in a completely randomized design with two dietary treatments (n = 4 per group). One group received a conventional soybean meal-based diet, while the other received a diet in which 100% of the soybean meal was replaced with cricket meal at an inclusion level of 12% of dry matter. Both diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Feed intake was similar between treatments. Crude protein digestibility was higher in the cricket meal group (67.5%) compared to the soybean meal group (63.7%; p = 0.04), while other digestibility parameters showed no differences. Blood metabolites, rumen fermentation characteristics, and microbial populations were unaffected by dietary treatment. Cattle fed the cricket meal-based diet showed greater average daily gain (+55.7%; p = 0.02) and a 32.9% improvement in feed conversion ratio (p = 0.02) compared to cattle fed the soybean meal-based diet. These results suggest that cricket meal can serve as a complete replacement for soybean meal in beef cattle diets, enhancing protein digestibility and growth performance without compromising rumen function.

Giraffe skin disease (GSD) is an emerging skin condition mainly affecting adult and subadult populations of free-ranging giraffe, including Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) in the southern and northern protected areas (PAs) in Tanzania. Even though GSD has been described in Tanzania, the specific involvement of the spirurid nematode as the underlying cause of the lesions has been suggested but not definitively established. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize spirurid nematodes associated with GSD lesions by analyzing 10 skin biopsies collected between October and November 2022. Histopathological examination revealed spirurid larvae in 6 out of 10 skin biopsies, with variable numbers found within the dermis, alongside the presence of clear vacuoles, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and fibrous connective tissue. Three biopsies tested positive for the 28S rDNA using a conventional polymerase chain reaction and provided a sequence of Thelazia spp. submitted in GenBank (accession no. 0R466406). The phylogenetic tree showed close similarity to T. callipaeda (99.11%, accession no. MF953480, and 99.38% accession no. MK214873, respectively). This study has shown the presence of the Spirurida, Thelaziidae worm in skin lesions of Masai giraffes affected by GSD. Specifically, this research documents the occurrence of T. callipaeda in the skin lesions providing valuable insight into parasitic involvement. Despite these findings, the mechanisms by which the nematode is transmitted to the giraffe's skin remain unknown. Further study is required to understand the impact of Thelazia callipaeda on both GSD and non-GSD giraffes to better understand the potential cause of GSD.