Veterinary Medicine and Science最新文献

Background: The considerable variability observed in genetic parameters for growth and carcass traits in Japanese quails necessitates a meta-analysis for their accurate estimation. Such a precise estimation is crucial for the successful optimisation of breeding programs.

Objectives: This pioneering comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to derive precise genetic parameters for growth and carcass traits in Japanese quail.

Methods: For this meta-analysis, data were systematically extracted from 50 eligible studies published between 1974-2024. Genetic parameters including, heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations for body weight at different ages and carcass traits, were estimated using random-effects models within metafor package.

Results: Meta-analysis results showed that hatch weight had the highest heritability estimate (0.38 ± 0.003). Weekly body weights (W₁-W₆) demonstrated heritability estimates ranging from 0.23 to 0.30. Genetic correlations among body weights at different ages were consistently positive and strong, particularly between consecutive ages, whereas phenotypic correlations were comparatively weaker. The study found moderate to high heritability estimates (0.24 to 0.33) for carcass traits. Furthermore, positive genetic correlation was observed between slaughter and carcass weight (0.96 ± 0.07). Similar patterns were noted for other carcass traits, like breast weight and thigh weight. However, genetic correlation between slaughter weight and abdominal fat weight was notably lower. The heterogeneity index (I²) was over 90% for most estimates.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that selecting for increased body weight can improve carcass yield without promoting excessive adiposity. This study provides reliable genetic parameters to develop quail breeding programs for enhanced productivity and meat quality.

Brucellosis is one of the neglected zoonotic diseases (NZD) in the world that causes disease globally. Brucella melitensis, one of the organisms responsible for causing the disease in sheep and goat, is responsible for the disease in humans. The disease is transmitted mainly from sheep and goat to humans via ingestion (typically through milk), inhalation, abrasion and so on. Despite the zoonotic importance of the disease, there is lack of comprehensive data such as overall prevalence around the world is yet to be measured. The aim of this study is to review all the available articles on the prevalence of the infection in sheep and goats systematically and determine the overall prevalence around the world. Therefore, a literature search was conducted in PubMed for articles published from January 2010 to December 2023 on the relevant topic. The inclusion criteria were set to extract relevant data from the selected articles. A random effect meta-analysis model was used in analysing the data. The derived prevalence was presented in percentage along with 95% confidence interval (CI). The pooled prevalence of B. melitensis infection globally in goat was 2.46% (95% CI: 1.70%-3.21%) and in sheep was 8.07% (95% CI: 6.36%-9.78%); the combined pooled prevalence in both sheep and goat was 5.54% (95% CI: 4.63%-6.45%). Overall, on the basis of regions, the pooled prevalence in goat ranged from 0.07% (95% CI: -0.08% to 0.22%) to 16.82% (95% CI: 12.69%-20.95%). In sheep, the regional pooled prevalence ranged from 0.03% (95% CI: -0.03% to 0.08%) to 60.39% (95% CI: 58.50%-62.27%). This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated the global burden of B. melitensis infection in sheep and goat that would help better understanding the global distribution of the infection and the potential areas of zoonotic transmission. The data have been retrieved from various types of journals with different types of study designs and were analysed to highlight the variation of prevalence across the countries, among different species, diagnostic methods and sample sources. This knowledge would help in planning effective control measures targeting high risk species, areas and so on.

This case report documents the successful treatment of a cat with proliferative necrotizing otitis externa (PNOE) using oclacitinib. Novel to this report, two episodes of delayed relapses occurred prior to complete spontaneous resolution, with an apparent dose-dependent response to oclacitinib. Oclacitinib led to complete remission of the initial lesions and those of the first relapse, and the lesions of the second relapse resolved spontaneously. This adds additional evidence to support the use of oclacitinib as an alternative or adjunctive off-label treatment for PNOE, especially in refractory cases. Further studies are needed to assess the safety of long-term use, and to confirm ideal dose rates and treatment duration.

Paramphistomosis, a parasitic disease of ruminants caused by flukes of the family Paramphistomidae (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) and leads to significant economic losses. Primarily, their predilection site is rumen as evident from their common name 'ruminal flukes' and occasionally find in other visceral organs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of paramphistome infection in the rumens and livers of livestock followed by histopathological examination of the affected tissues. A total of 384 animals were screened for paramphistome infection at a local abattoir in the Narowal district. Liver and rumen tissue samples from infected animals were excised, fixed in buffered formalin, and processed using the paraffin-embedding technique. Tissue-paraffin blocks were sectioned with the thickness of 5 µm through microtome and stained using the Harri's haematoxylin and eosin methods. The prevalence of paramphistomosis in ruminants was 49.74% with sex and age of host having a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) with the magnitude of infection; however, species of host and months were not significantly associated (p > 0.05). Of the total cases having rumens positive for paramphistomes, 7.29% were also tested positive for liver infections; however, no adult or immature Fasciola spp. were detected. Infected rumens had significantly (p < 0.05) reduced epithelial thickness (30.50 ± 1.83 µm), accompanied by severe haemorrhages in hepatic tissues and blood congestion in hepatic vessels. Further, the central hepatic vein was found having a significantly larger diameter (39.56 ± 2.72 µm) as compared to that of healthy livers (29.76 ± 3.15 µm). The paper provides a maiden data on the paramphistome infection in livers along with rumens of ruminants in Pakistan. Hence, the findings suggest that paramphistome infection may pose a potential threat to nutrient absorption and overall metabolic health in ruminants.

This cross-sectional study determined the occurrence, distribution, molecular characteristics and antibiograms of Listeria species recovered from beef and beef products retailed in the North-West Province, South Africa. The study also investigated the factors associated with the contamination of these products by Listeria spp. and their characteristics. Conventional methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed to detect and characterize the isolates of Listeria spp. In contrast, the disc diffusion method was used to determine their susceptibility to 16 antimicrobial agents. Four hundred beef products were randomly collected from 30 retail outlets across the North-West Province. The prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. was 6% (24/400) and 30.5% (122/400), respectively (p < 0.001). Of the five variables (district, size of outlet, type of beef and beef products, product display temperature and types of presentation), only the type of beef and beef products had a statistically significant (p = 0.034) effect on the occurrence of L. monocytogenes. In contrast, none had any significant effect on other Listeria spp. Among the 24 isolates of L. monocytogenes, all five serogroups assayed were detected, with the predominant ones being IIb (45.8%), IVb (20.8%) and IIa (20.8%). All eight virulence genes assayed were detected, with actA (50%), inlB (45.8%) and inlA (41.7%) being the most frequently detected. All isolates of L. monocytogenes (n = 24) and other Listeria spp. (n = 122) were resistant to one or more of the 16 antimicrobial agents tested. For L. monocytogenes isolates, resistance was high to nalidixic acid (100%), enrofloxacin (41.7%) and cefoxitin (37.5%) but low to clindamycin (8.3%) and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (8.3%). The frequency of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in the L. monocytogenes isolates was 95.8% (23/24). Our study reveals the risk of human listeriosis in consumers of beef and beef products contaminated by virulent and antimicrobial-resistant serogroups of L. monocytogenes in the North-West Province of South Africa.

The transition period is a crucial time for dairy animals, marked by significant physiological changes. This study investigated the effects of supplementing rumen-protected choline (RPC) on oxidative stress, immune function, liver health and performance in periparturient Saanen goats and their offspring. Forty pregnant goats were used, with the research starting 5 weeks pre-partum and continuing until 5 weeks post-partum. The experimental treatments included the following: (1) control-no RPC supplement; (2) choline-treatment receiving 6 g/day of RPC. Blood samples were collected at parturition to analyse antioxidant status, haematology, liver enzymes, immunoglobulins and other parameters. The growth performance of kids was monitored until 30 days of age. RPC increased antioxidant capacity in dams, indicated by higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) compared to control (p < 0.05). RPC also elevated immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) levels in goats and kids (p < 0.05), though tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) remained unaffected. Haematological parameters, such as red blood cells (RBCs), haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (HCT), were improved with RPC supplementation, whereas liver enzyme levels remained unchanged. RPC-supplemented kids had greater birth weights and body weights at 10, 20 and 30 days compared to control (p < 0.05). Additionally, average milk intake (AMI) remained constant between both groups (p > 0.05). Overall, RPC demonstrated partial yet promising effects on antioxidant status, immunity and performance in periparturient goats and their kids without affecting liver enzymes. Although some parameters within these domains were not significantly improved, the findings suggest that RPC may contribute to mitigating metabolic stress during the transition period. Further research is needed to clarify its long-term effects on lactation performance and reproductive efficiency.

Bursa of Fabricius (BF) is a primary lymphoid organ in birds, crucial for lymphocyte development and immune function. This study investigates age-related alterations in the histomorphology and ultrastructure of the bursal tissue in green-winged teal (Anas crecca) at 8^th and 24^th weeks of age. Twenty ducks were examined, and the sample tissues were collected post-euthanasia for histological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. At the 8^th week, the histological sections exhibited normal lymphocyte distribution and structural organization, characterized by a well-developed muscular layer and plicae. In contrast, by the 24^th week, significant involution was observed, marked by reduced bursal weight, diminished muscular layer and increased fibrosis. Histological changes included necrosis and depletion of lymphocytes, alongside alterations in the follicular-associated epithelium. SEM revealed collagen fibre spreading and loss of microvilli, indicating advanced involution. This study highlights the developmental and involutionary stages of the organ in A. crecca, providing essential insights into the age-dependent changes in this critical immune organ. This is the first report detailing these histomorphometric and ultrastructural alterations in A. crecca, highlighting the age-dependent nature of these changes, besides contributing to our understanding of avian immunology.

The potential role of stray dogs as reservoirs and disseminators of zoonotic antimicrobial-resistant pathogens to humans has long been underestimated. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus spp. strains in the ear and nasal swabs collected from stray dogs housed at the Veterinary Hospital of Local Health Authority ASL Napoli 1 Centro. Out of 306 skin samples analysed, 256 bacterial strains were isolated using selective and differential media and identified through MALDI-TOF MS technology. The antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolated strains were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar, testing susceptibility to 19 antimicrobials across 10 classes. Staphylococcus spp. was isolated in 46% of cases (119/256), with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius being the most prevalent species (50%; 59/119), followed by Staphylococcus simulans (17%; 20/119) and Staphylococcus aureus (14%; 17/119). The evaluation of the antimicrobial resistance profiles revealed a great circulation of methicillin-resistant strains in the stray dog population, as highlighted by the high levels of resistance recorded for penicillin (83.2%; 99/119), cefoxitin (72.3%; 86/119) and oxacillin (62.2%; 74/119). Notably, 85% (101/119) of the isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant, being resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes. These findings suggest that stray dogs may serve as important reservoirs of multidrug-resistant staphylococci, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in these animals, especially in the context of the One Health approach that links human, animal and environmental health.

Background: Ziziphus vulgaris L. and Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze are medicinal plants widely used in various ethnomedical systems, particularly in Iranian Traditional Medicine, for the treatment of various diseases.

Objectives: While their biological activities are well-documented, their effectiveness against Varroa destructor, a significant ectoparasite of Apis mellifera (honeybees), remains unknown. As V. destructor poses a serious threat to honeybee populations globally, it is crucial for researchers to explore novel control methods.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated the anti-Varroa activity of Z. vulgaris and C. sinensis at different concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 µL/L air) and exposure times (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 h).

Results: The results showed that mite mortality increased in parallel with the increase in extract concentration and exposure time. Importantly, the plant extracts did not cause significant mortality in A. mellifera compared to the control group.

Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that these plant extracts could be effective agents for managing V. destructor.

Background: Chronic gingivostomatitis has been associated with increases in α1-acid glycoprotein and serum haptoglobin (Hp) in cats. However, serum amyloid A (SAA) and Hp have not been previously evaluated in cats with uncomplicated gingivitis.

Objectives: To compare SAA and Hp between cats with gingivitis and healthy cats, and to investigate the correlation between these two proteins and the severity of gingivitis.

Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Adult, FIV- and FeLV-seronegative cats were included. The cats were allocated into two age- and sex-matched groups. The case group included cats with gingivitis, and the control group included clinically and clinicopathologically healthy cats. The severity of gingivitis was assessed by the Total Mouth Periodontal Score (TMPS)-G index. Serum samples were used to measure SAA and Hp using a previously validated turbidimetric immunoassay and haemoglobin-binding method, respectively. The R statistical language was used for the statistical analysis.

Results: A total of 22 cats were included, 11 in each study group. The median (range) age of cats was 5.0 (3.0-11.0) years. The median Hp concentration was significantly higher (p = 0.001) in the case group (2.40 [0.72-4.44] g/L) compared with the control group (1.06 [0.50-1.42] g/L). A significant correlation was found between Hp and TMPS-G (rho = 0.636, p = 0.040). The SAA was below the detection limit (0.4 mg/L) in all samples of the control group and in 10/11 samples of the case group.

Conclusions: Feline gingivitis is associated with increased Hp, suggesting the presence of an acute-phase reaction. Haptoglobin appears to be correlated with the severity of the disease.