Veterinary journal最新文献

Blood sampling and analysis are essential procedures for assessing the health status of exotic pets. While careful manual restraint is generally recommended, sedation may be necessary in specific cases. However, the use of chemical restraint may introduce analytical variations. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of sedation with butorphanol, midazolam, ketamine and dexmedetomidine on haematological, biochemical and coagulation parameters (prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and fibrinogen), as well as thromboelastography in adult healthy New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Two groups of adult New Zealand rabbits, housed under identical conditions and considered healthy based on normal physical examination and unremarkable clinical histories, were included in the study. The non-sedated group comprised ten rabbits, while the sedated group consisted of fifteen. Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture, and haematological, biochemical and coagulation profiles were performed. In conclusion, some variation in haematological and biochemical values were observed depending on sex and/or sedation protocols. Sex can influence haematology in terms of haemoglobin concentration, lymphocyte and platelet count; biochemistry in alanine aminotransferase, chloride, gamma-glutamyl transferase, potassium, sodium, calcium, total cholesterol, urea nitrogen, but not in coagulation parameters. Meanwhile, sedation can affect haematology in terms of leucocyte and lymphocyte count and biochemistry in total bilirubin, calcium, total protein, sodium, albumin, glucose, creatinine, phosphorous. Plasma-based coagulation assays showed increased prolongation of aPTT and PT, although these changes do not seem to be clinically relevant. There were no changes observed in thromboelastographic parameters.

Bovine adenoviruses (BAdVs) are major contributors to the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to explore the epidemiology of BAdV across diverse cattle populations using different detection methods. The study showed a higher BAdV prevalence of 0.66 in general cattle populations using antibody detection, compared with 0.28 in cattle showing clinical signs. The study identified significant prevalence differences between BAdV-3 (0.87) and BAdV-7 (0.21) in general cattle populations. However, in clinical cattle, BAdV-3 and BAdV-7 showed similar prevalence at 0.27 and 0.32, respectively. Moreover, a high herd-based BAdV seroprevalence of 0.82 was observed. When nucleic acid detection methods were used in general cattle populations, a lower BAdV (0.05) prevalence was observed, in contrast to the higher prevalence (0.32) in cattle exhibiting clinical signs. In contrast, using antigen detection in cattle with clinical signs of disease showed a prevalence of 0.06, compared to 0.32 with nucleic acid methods, indicating detection method-specific sensitivity and specificity. The study also highlighted the role of BAdV in BRDC, particularly BAdV-3 and BAdV-7. Existing empirical evidence on BAdV epidemiology and pathobiology is scarce and requires further investigation; however, the current findings offer insights into the epidemiology of BAdV and its role in the BRDC, which could potentially inform and enhance disease control strategies.

This retrospective study aims to describe the vascular events in the central nervous system (CNS) associated with the acute form of steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA), to compare the clinical features of dogs with and without such complications and to potentially identify predisposing factors for these events. Dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of SRMA visited between 2018 and 2023 with full medical records that underwent neurological examination, blood testing, cervical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were included. Thirty-three dogs were included and divided in two groups. Group 1 included 7 (21,2 %) dogs with vascular complications secondary to SRMA (spinal cord ischemic and/or hemorrhagic infarcts, spinal cord subdural hematomas, intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhages), and group 2 included 26 (78,8 %) dogs with non-complicated SRMA. Age, breed, sex, presence of neurological deficits, CSF abnormalities and presence of relapses were factors evaluated for potential association with vascular complications of SRMA. Six dogs in group 1 were Golden Retrievers (85,7 %), and there was a significant association between this breed and the occurrence of vascular complications (P = 0.017). Presence of neurological deficits (P = 0.001) and xanthochromic CSF (P = 0.001) were also associated with vascular complications in dogs with SRMA. Hemorrhagic or ischemic lesions in the CNS can be a complication of the acute form of SRMA, and Golden Retrievers appear to be more affected. Dogs with vascular complications show often neurological deficits and CSF xanthochromia.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) significantly impacts cattle worldwide, causing respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive disorders that lead to substantial economic losses. Despite its high global prevalence and various genotypes, the infection status of BVDV in Taiwan has not been reported. This study conducted large-scale surveillance in 2014, analyzing 460 bovine serum samples collected from 49 dairy herds across Taiwan. The results revealed a herd-level seroprevalence of 59.2 % (29/49), with significant regional variations: 16.7 % in the northern region and 77.8 % in the southern region. At the animal level, the overall BVDV-positive rate was 32.4 % (148/460), ranging from 3.3 % (northern region) to 41.5 % (central region), with significant regional differences as analyzed by the mixed-effects logistic regression model. Five-year surveillance of a single dairy farm revealed persistent BVDV circulation, with the seroprevalence starting at 89 % in 2019 and remaining between 82 % and 100 % among the cohort of 27 cattle monitored from 2020 to 2023. In contrast, a study of three farms revealed that while the two high-prevalence farms maintained high infection rates, the low-prevalence farm experienced a gradual decline in infections, indicating varied infection dynamics. Moreover, this study identified BVDV-1b as the predominant genotype in Taiwan, along with BVDV-1a and BVDV-2a, which were detected in mosquito samples. These findings emphasize the high prevalence of BVDV in Taiwan, ongoing viral circulation within herds, and the need for continuous surveillance and robust control measures to mitigate the spread of BVDV in Taiwan's cattle industry.

Lactation initiates with a massive Ca secretion into milk. Within 24-48 h post-calving, high-producing, older-parity dairy cows are highly susceptible to Ca disturbances. We hypothesized that the abrupt cessation of milking within this critical period would delay Ca secretion into milk, allowing lactating cows more time to stabilize their Ca homeostasis mechanisms and potentially lower the risk of blood Ca decline in the immediate postpartum period. After colostrum harvest, a total of 175 multiparous Holsteins (parity ranging from 3 to 7) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: 1) control (n = 59), whereby cows were milked 3 times/day (M0), 2) the treatment whereby milking of cows was withdrawn for the first 24 h (M24; n = 60), and 3) for the first 48 h after calving (M48; n = 56). All cows were given two oral Ca boluses (31 g Ca/bolus), the first bolus was administered within 30-60 min after calving, and the second bolus was given 24 h later. After the delayed milking treatment, cows in M24 and M48 groups returned to M0 milking program. On d 2 and 3 post-calving, blood total Ca concentration was not different between M24 and M48 cows, but both groups had greater Ca concentrations than M0 cows. On day 2 post-calving, serum P concentration was greater in M48 compared to M24 and M0 (1.86 vs. 1.47 ± 0.06 mmol/L). On d 3, M0 cows had lower P concentration than M24 or M48 cows. Despite a transient decline in milk production in M24- and M48-treated cows, both treatments attained a similar milk production level as they switched to M0 milking program. No difference existed in the first 3 monthly test-day milk records. The postpartum milking strategy had no impact on the culling risk by 120 DIM. These results support delaying milking for 24 and 48 h after colostrum collection to maintain Ca status in multiparous cows. Evaluation of the long-term effects of the delayed milking strategies on mammary health, reproduction performance, and survivability of pluriparous dairy cows is recommended.

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are common tumors in female dogs (FDs), and at least nearly half of these lesions of malignant. We examined the epidemiology of CMTs in Japan using excisional biopsy cases (n = 7802) collected from 2005 to 2023 in the Kyushu-Okinawa region. We investigated the prevalence, effects of breed, neutering, and age on CMT and malignant CMT (mCMT) risk through general statistics and multivariate analyses. The distribution of CMT histological types was also compared among different breeds and mixed breeds. In the Cohort (n = 6197) consisting of cases from primary veterinary hospitals, the numbers of CMT and mCMT cases (2928 and 822 cases, respectively) and the adjusted prevalence is ranged 4.76-8.09 per 1000 dogs and increasing over time (P < 0.001). A multivariate model identified breeds with high or low risks of CMT or mCMT. Neutered FDs had lower risk of CMT than intact FDs (risk ratio = 0.57, 95 %CI: 0.53-0.61). Compared to the age with the highest incidence, those aged ≥ 8 and ≥ 14 years had comparable rates of CMT and mCMT, respectively. Certain breeds exhibited biases regarding CMT histological types compared to mixed breeds. This first epidemiological analysis of CMT in Japan will be a valuable resource for CMT control.

The veterinary profession faces a critical challenge: burnout. Long hours, emotional strain, financial pressures, and difficult client interactions contribute to stress and drive veterinary professionals from the field. This harms not only their well-being but also patient care and workplace morale. Research highlights the concerning mental state of veterinarians, with studies finding high rates of burnout, compassion fatigue, and burden transfer (stress from client challenges). Early-career and female veterinarians are most vulnerable. Several studies explore interventions to improve veterinary well-being. Educational programs targeting communication and acceptance of difficult clients show promise in reducing stress and burnout. Additionally, a web-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program demonstrates effectiveness in reducing occupational distress. It is crucial to address the veterinary burnout crisis. By creating supportive work environments, prioritizing mental health, and implementing interventions like ACT training, we can retain veterinary professionals and ensure a thriving profession that provides optimal care for animals and their caregivers.

Sepsis is a main cause of death in neonatal foals. While the syndrome is not completely understood, sepsis is a dysregulated inflammatory response of the host to infection. It can be difficult to diagnose because of varying and non-specific clinical signs and imperfect diagnostic tests. Increased circulating nucleosome levels have been detected in humans and animals with sepsis, but this has not been documented in foals. Nucleosomes are released extracellularly during neutrophil extracellular trap formation, as well as from damaged and dead cells. We analysed plasma samples from clinically healthy (n = 16), sick non-septic (n = 31) and septic (n = 36) foals using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that targeted nucleosomes. Septic foals with evidence of hypoperfusion and/or organ dysfunction were classified as severe sepsis (n = 24). The main objective was to determine if nucleosome levels were increased in foals with sepsis, particularly those with severe sepsis. Our data identified that nucleosome levels in foals with severe sepsis on the day of study entry were increased significantly compared to all other foals. There was not a significant difference in nucleosome levels between sick non-septic or clinically healthy foals. Foal groups were not age-matched and factors associated with the clinical nature of the study may have affected the results. Further research with larger numbers of foals of similar ages, would be necessary to determine if the analysis of nucleosomes and related biomarkers are helpful adjuncts for the assessment and understanding of equine neonatal sepsis.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) can infect a wide range of mammalian carnivores and can cause severe illness and death. Domestic dogs may be an important source of this virus for endangered wild carnivores. The objective of this study was to establish the presence of CDV in rural areas of Cambodia bordering three established protected habitats, and to determine the seroprevalence of CDV in free-roaming dogs inhabiting these areas. These protected areas are home to endangered carnivores, such as Dhole (Cuon alpinus), and virus transmission from free-ranging dogs may pose a risk to endangered species. Blood samples collected from dogs were tested for CDV IgG antibodies using the Anigen rapid CDV commercial test kit (Bionote). We report the seroprevalence of CDV as 40 % of sampled free-ranging dogs. This is the first documentation of CDV in the buffer zone of important protected areas in Cambodia. The high seroprevalence rate suggests a substantial risk of disease transmission to wildlife, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. We recommend further investigation into the role of dogs in the epidemiology of CDV in Cambodian wildlife and the consideration of vaccination programs for domestic dogs in these regions.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a significant pathogen that exerts substantial economic influence on the global cattle industry. Developing a safe and effective novel vaccine targeting various BVDV subtypes is critical for controlling BVDV infection. In the study, we created two distinct multi-epitope vaccines by linking highly conserved and dominant cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL), helper T-lymphocytes (HTL), and B-cell epitopes from either the E0 or E2 envelope glycoprotein of diverse BVDV subtypes. To enhance immunogenicity, β-defensin-3 was fused to the N-terminus of these constructs as an adjuvant. Using multiple immunoinformatics tools, we conducted an analysis and assessment of the vaccine constructs' physicochemical properties and immunological features. Consequently, two prospective vaccine candidates named BVDV-M1 and BVDV-M2 were successfully designed and shown to be stable, antigenic, non-allergenic, and non-toxic. The optimized vaccine 3D models exhibit excellent structural quality. Molecular docking revealed a strong interaction between the vaccines with bovine TLR2 and TLR4. The stability of the docked vaccine-TLR complexes was confirmed through molecular dynamics simulation. Immune simulation analyses indicated that both vaccines have the potential to induce high levels of antibodies IgM, IgG and the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2. Furthermore, the vaccine's efficient expression in the E.coli system was secured through codon optimization coupled with in silico cloning. Summarily, the designed multi-epitope vaccines have the potential to elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses, positioning them as hopeful broad-spectrum vaccine candidates against the currently prevalent BVDV subtypes.