Veterinary World最新文献

Background and aim: The One Health approach integrates human, animal, plant, and environmental health through multisectoral collaboration and is increasingly recognized as essential for addressing zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food security, and ecosystem degradation. Ukraine has formally adopted One Health principles through national strategies and international partnerships; however, the ongoing full-scale military conflict has profoundly disrupted health, veterinary, and environmental systems, challenging effective implementation. This study aimed to evaluate the current status, achievements, and constraints of the One Health approach in Ukraine, with particular emphasis on the effects of armed conflict on governance, surveillance capacity, and intersectoral coordination, and to outline strategic priorities for strengthening One Health resilience.

Materials and methods: A mixed-methods approach was used, combining bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed literature on zoonoses, AMR, food security, and environmental safety with targeted case studies and a review of policy documents. National legal frameworks, international guidelines, and reports from global organizations were systematically analyzed to assess institutional capacity and operational readiness.

Results: Ukraine has established a solid policy foundation for One Health, notably through the national Strategy for Biosafety and Biosecurity, which is grounded in the One Health principle and aligned with quadripartite frameworks. Active initiatives address priority zoonoses (rabies, leptospirosis, tuberculosis), AMR surveillance, and food safety. Nevertheless, implementation remains fragmented. Armed conflict has caused extensive damage to laboratories, displaced the workforce, created surveillance blind spots, and disrupted multisectoral communication. AMR trends have intensified due to healthcare strain, while environmental and plant health components remain under-integrated despite their relevance to food security and long-term resilience. The Ukrainian experience demonstrates that policy commitment alone is insufficient in the context of conflict. Effective One Health operationalization requires institutionalized governance mechanisms, interoperable surveillance systems, and sustained investment in human resources and laboratory infrastructure. Environmental and plant health integration remains a critical gap.

Conclusion: Reinforcing the One Health framework is essential for Ukraine's recovery and long-term health security. Sustained international technical and financial support, coupled with national institutionalization of One Health principles, is crucial to rebuilding integrated surveillance, mitigating biological risks, and enhancing resilience in conflict-affected settings.

Background and aim: Pregnancy and early lactation in small ruminants are characterized by heightened metabolic activity and increased production of reactive oxygen species, predisposing animals to oxidative stress and reduced productivity. Despite extensive research in dairy cattle, evidence is limited for subtropical small-ruminant systems. This study evaluated whether dietary antioxidant supplementation during mid- and late-gestation improves oxidative status, milk quality, and neonatal growth in crossbred Beetal goats.

Materials and methods: Forty healthy multiparous Beetal goats were allocated to mid- (n = 20) and late-gestation groups (n = 20), each further divided into control and antioxidant-supplemented subgroups (120 mg/kg BW/day of a tocopherol-rosemary extract blend). The 90-day trial included serial blood sampling (gestation days 60-165) and milk/colostrum collection (0, 15, and 30 days postpartum). Enzymatic (Catalase [CAT], Superoxide dismutase [SOD], and Glutathione peroxidase [GPx]) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (phenolics, flavonoids, lycopene, carotenoids), total protein, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were quantified. Kid birth weight, growth, litter size, and survival were recorded. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results: Antioxidant supplementation significantly increased CAT, SOD, and GPx activities during both gestational phases (p < 0.05), with parallel improvements in colostrum and milk enzymatic antioxidant profiles. Non-enzymatic antioxidant concentrations, including phenolics, flavonoids, lycopene, and carotenoids, were markedly elevated in treated animals across all sampling points (p < 0.05). Maternal TAC and total protein increased, while TOS and MDA were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), demonstrating enhanced redox homeostasis. Milk from supplemented goats exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and lower oxidative damage markers. Neonatal outcomes showed increased birth weight in male kids (p < 0.05), although litter size, growth rates, and survival remained unchanged (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Maternal antioxidant supplementation effectively strengthened oxidative defense mechanisms, improved colostrum and milk biochemical quality, and enhanced neonatal birth weight in Beetal goats. These findings support the strategic use of natural antioxidant blends as a nutritional intervention to mitigate periparturient oxidative stress and improve productivity under subtropical management conditions.

Background and aim: Artificial insemination (AI) in goats is constrained by the complex cervical anatomy, which limits the efficiency of conventional transcervical AI (C-TCAI), particularly under field conditions. Although laparoscopic AI (LAI) achieves higher fertility rates, its invasive nature, need for anesthesia, and high operational costs limit its routine application. Visual endoscope-assisted transcervical AI (VE-TCAI) offers a minimally invasive alternative that enables real-time cervical visualization and potentially improves procedural efficiency. This study evaluated the field performance of VE-TCAI compared with C-TCAI in native-Boer crossbred goats by assessing insemination time and pregnancy outcomes.

Materials and methods: A total of 37 multiparous native-Boer crossbred does maintained on two commercial farms in northeastern Thailand were enrolled in a completely randomized field trial. Estrus was synchronized using intravaginal progesterone-releasing devices in combination with equine chorionic gonadotropin and cloprostenol sodium. Fixed-time AI was performed 48 h after device removal using frozen-thawed semen (200 million spermatozoa per doe). Does were inseminated either by C-TCAI using a vaginal speculum or by VE-TCAI using a portable visual endoscopic insemination system. Insemination time was recorded and categorized as ≤1 min or >1 min. Pregnancy was diagnosed by transabdominal ultrasonography at 45 days postinsemination. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test.

Results: VE-TCAI significantly improved procedural efficiency, with a greater proportion of does inseminated within 1 min compared with C-TCAI (78% vs 39%; p = 0.020). Pregnancy rates were numerically higher in the VE-TCAI group than in the C-TCAI group (45.5% vs 33.3%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.737). Overall conception rate across both methods was 37.8%, yielding an average litter size of 1.36 kids per pregnant doe. No major procedure-related complications were observed.

Conclusion: Visual endoscope-assisted transcervical AI markedly reduced insemination time and facilitated easier cervical navigation under field conditions. Although pregnancy rates did not differ significantly, the consistent numerical improvement suggests potential biological relevance. VE-TCAI represents a practical, minimally invasive alternative to C-TCAI and LAI for field-based goat breeding programs, particularly in tropical production systems, warranting validation in larger multi-farm studies.

Background and aim: Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used in feline ophthalmology, especially for long-term management of uveitis after cataract surgery. However, there is very limited data on how they affect the feline ocular surface, particularly the conjunctival tissue, goblet cell density (GCD), meibomian glands (MGs), and oxidative stress. This study assessed whether 15-day, thrice-daily application of 0.45% preservative-free ketorolac tromethamine (FKT) or 0.4% benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-preserved ketorolac tromethamine (BACKT) influences ocular surface disease scores, tear film parameters, GCD, MG morphology, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and oxidative stress biomarkers (OSB) in healthy cats.

Materials and methods: A prospective, randomized, double-masked, crossover design was used with 13 healthy cats. Each cat received FKT in one eye and BACKT in the other eye every 8 h for 15 days, followed by a 3-week washout period and reversal of treatment. A separate control group (CG; n=13) received topical saline. Clinical assessments included conjunctival hyperemia, blepharospasm, Schirmer tear test (STT), tear film break-up time (TFBT), lissamine green, and fluorescein staining. Meibography was used to quantify MG loss. Conjunctival biopsies obtained at baseline and day 15 were analyzed for GCD, MMP-9, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde levels.

Results: No groups showed corneoconjunctival staining or conjunctival hyperemia at any point. Mild blepharospasm developed in 3 out of 13 FKT-treated eyes and 9 out of 13 BACKT-treated eyes (p = 0.003). STT values significantly decreased from baseline to day 15 in both FKT and BACKT groups (p < 0.05). TFBT decreased significantly only in FKT-treated eyes (p = 0.009), although BACKT showed a similar, non-significant trend. MG loss increased significantly only in BACKT-treated eyes (p = 0.04). GCD decreased markedly in both FKT (p = 0.0003) and BACKT (p < 0.0001) groups and was lower than CG at day 15. OSB remained largely unchanged, except for higher MDA levels in BACKT-treated eyes compared with CG (p = 0.04). MMP-9 expression did not differ within or between groups.

Conclusion: Both ketorolac formulations reduced STT, TFBT, and GCD, supporting the development of a qualitative dry eye state in healthy cats. BACKT resulted in greater ocular discomfort, increased MG loss, and higher lipid peroxidation, indicating BAC-related cytotoxicity. Caution is advised when prescribing prolonged topical ketorolac, and concurrent ocular lubrication is recommended.

Background and aim: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) continues to be endemic in Indonesia, with live bird markets (LBMs) serving as key points for zoonotic transmission. While national assessments exist, there is a lack of local joint risk assessments (JRAs) specifically focused on LBMs. This study conducted the first district-level, multisectoral JRA of HPAI H5N1 at the human-animal-environment interface in LBMs of Bogor District and Municipality, Indonesia, utilizing the FAO-WHO-WOAH JRA Operational Tool adapted for subnational use.

Materials and methods: A qualitative, participatory JRA was carried out through a structured five-stage process, including governance formation, risk pathway development, stakeholder validation, technical risk analysis, and final consultation. In total, fifty stakeholders from sectors such as human health, animal health, environmental, trade, market, academic, and local government took part. Evidence was triangulated from poultry movement logs, animal and human surveillance data (Integrated Animal Health Information System [iSIKHNAS] and Early Warning and Response System [Sistem Kewaspadaan Dini dan Respons; SKDR), environmental sampling at 15 LBMs, trader interviews, and prior market studies. The risk analysis concentrated on the likelihood, impact, and uncertainty of human H5N1 infection over a 12-month period.

Results: More than 90% of approximately 25 million poultry supplied annually to LBMs originated locally, with marked seasonal surges during religious festivals. Risk pathways highlighted poultry trade networks, market handling practices, slaughtering activities, and inadequate sanitation as key transmission nodes. Two environmental samples tested positive for influenza A, but no H5 subtype or human cases were detected locally since 2017. Consensus-based risk estimation classified the likelihood of at least one human H5N1 infection as low, with minor potential population-level impact. Uncertainty was rated moderate due to limited wild bird surveillance, incomplete environmental sampling, and variable data quality across sectors.

Conclusion: This district-level JRA identified LBMs as persistent but manageable risk nodes for HPAI H5N1 transmission in Bogor. While the current risk to human health was assessed as low, structural and behavioral vulnerabilities justify proactive mitigation. Priority actions include strengthening LBM biosecurity, improving waste management, enhancing environmental surveillance, and reinforcing integrated One Health coordination. The study demonstrates the feasibility and policy relevance of locally implemented JRAs and provides an operational model for decentralized zoonotic risk assessment in endemic settings.

Background and aim: Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid known for its antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties. Many studies have assessed its effects on laying hen performance, egg quality, blood metabolites, and oxidative status; however, the results have been inconsistent, mainly due to differences in dosage, duration, hen age, and quercetin form. This meta-analysis aims to quantitatively synthesize the available evidence and examine the dose-response relationships of dietary quercetin supplementation on productive performance, egg quality traits, blood metabolites, and antioxidant defenses in laying hens.

Materials and methods: A systematic literature search of Scopus and Web of Science identified 27 eligible studies published in English. Effect sizes were calculated as mean differences (MDs) using a restricted maximum likelihood random-effects model. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to evaluate how quercetin dose, treatment duration, initial hen age, and quercetin form (extract vs. plant powder) influenced the outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic, and publication bias was examined using funnel plots and Egger's regression test.

Results: Dietary quercetin significantly improved laying rate (LR) (MD = 2.82%), egg weight (MD = 1.21 g), Haugh unit (MD = 1.84%), shell thickness (MD = 0.014 mm), and yolk color (MD = 0.53), while reducing the feed-to-egg ratio (FER) (MD = -0.15) (p < 0.05). Quercetin supplementation also decreased serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glucose, total cholesterol, and malondialdehyde levels, while increasing high-density lipoprotein and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations (p < 0.05). Meta-regression revealed linear dose-dependent reductions in SGPT, glucose, and total cholesterol, whereas LR, FER, and SOD activity showed quadratic responses. Optimal responses occurred at quercetin doses of approximately 400-600 mg/kg. Treatment duration, hen age, and quercetin form further influenced several outcomes.

Conclusion: Dietary quercetin effectively boosts productivity, egg quality, metabolic health, and antioxidant defense in laying hens in a dose-dependent way. Supplementing at 400-600 mg/kg seems optimal for maximizing laying performance and antioxidant levels, supporting quercetin as a promising phytogenic feed additive for sustainable poultry farming.

Background and aim: IPB-D3 chicken is a locally developed fast-growing composite line derived from Pelung, Sentul, Kampung, and Broiler strains. Despite its potential as a dual-purpose Indonesian breed, detailed information on its muscle histology, especially type IIX myofiber composition under different rearing systems, is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance and muscle histological characteristics of IPB-D3 chickens reared under intensive and free-range systems.

Materials and methods: Ninety 12-week-old IPB-D3 chickens were reared for 12 weeks under two systems: intensive (n = 45) and free-range (n = 45). Samples of pectoralis major and quadratus femoris (Fem) muscles from 10 birds (five per group) were examined using hematoxylin-eosin, picrosirius red, and immunohistochemical staining for type IIX myofibers. Parameters such as fasciculus area, myofiber cross-sectional area, myofiber number per mm², collagen percentage, and type IIX fiber intensity were analyzed using an independent t-test at a 95% confidence level (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v.29.0).

Results: No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in body weight or carcass yield between rearing systems. However, free-range chickens exhibited a significantly larger myofiber cross-sectional area and a higher proportion of high-intensity type IIX myofibers in the Fem muscle (p < 0.05), while the intensive system showed a higher percentage of intramuscular collagen (p < 0.05). The overall muscle morphology was similar between systems, with polygonal myofibers organized within collagen-bound fasciculi.

Conclusion: This study provides the first histological characterization of IPB-D3 chickens, demonstrating that both rearing systems support comparable growth performance. Free-range rearing enhances thigh muscle hypertrophy and type IIX fiber development, whereas intensive rearing increases collagen deposition. These findings suggest that IPB-D3 chickens are adaptable to diverse production environments. Further studies should explore Myosin heavy chain gene expression, longitudinal muscle growth, and meat texture properties to improve sustainable rearing strategies and meat quality optimization for Indonesian local chicken development.

The global restriction and withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry production have accelerated the search for natural, safe, and sustainable feed additives that maintain bird health and productivity. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS), derived from the depolymerization of alginate present in brown seaweeds, have gained increasing attention due to their multifunctional biological properties, including prebiotic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Although most available research has focused on alginate sources from temperate seaweeds, tropical brown seaweeds such as Sargassum and Turbinaria are abundant, renewable, and rich in alginate, particularly in Southeast Asia, making them attractive and underutilized resources for the development of functional feed additives. This review summarizes current knowledge on the biodiversity of tropical brown seaweeds, alginate extraction and depolymerization techniques suitable for feed-grade AOS production, and the physicochemical properties that influence their functionality in poultry nutrition. Emphasis is placed on AOS behavior in the poultry gastrointestinal tract, including resistance to enzymatic digestion, fermentation by beneficial microbiota, and stimulation of short-chain fatty acid production. Evidence from experimental studies indicates that dietary AOS supplementation improves gut morphology, enhances microbial balance, strengthens intestinal barrier function, and modulates immune responses. These effects are consistently associated with improved growth performance, feed efficiency, egg production, and antioxidant status, with outcomes comparable to or exceeding those achieved using AGPs. The review also highlights emerging processing strategies, such as low-energy extraction and encapsulation technologies, that enhance AOS stability and bioavailability during feed manufacturing. Overall, tropical seaweed-derived AOS represent a promising, sustainable alternative to AGPs in poultry systems, supporting productivity while addressing antimicrobial resistance and environmental sustainability concerns. Further large-scale field studies and optimization of dosage and formulation strategies are recommended to facilitate commercial adoption.

Background and aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne bacteria presents a significant threat to public health, especially in countries with intensive livestock production systems. Pig farming is a major source of animal protein in Thailand and is recognized as an important reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Escherichia coli is commonly used as an indicator organism for monitoring AMR, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production and pathogenic potential. This study aimed to assess the frequency of AMR, multidrug-resistant (MDR), ESBL determinants, and virulence genes in E. coli isolates collected from slaughterhouses and fresh markets in central Thailand.

Materials and methods: A total of 498 archived E. coli isolates were analyzed, including 236 isolates from slaughterhouses (feces and carcasses) and 262 isolates from fresh markets (pork and cutting boards). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed against 18 antimicrobial agents using the disk diffusion method. MDR was defined as resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes. ESBL production was identified through phenotypic confirmatory tests, and ESBL-producing isolates were screened for bla _TEM, bla _CTX-M, and bla _SHV genes by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. All isolates were further examined for select virulence genes linked to major E. coli pathotypes.

Results: Overall, 97.4% of E. coli isolates showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent, and 87.3% were classified as MDR. ESBL-producing E. coli made up 23.5% of all isolates, with a significantly higher prevalence in slaughterhouses compared to fresh markets (p < 0.05). Among ESBL producers, 97.4% exhibited MDR phenotypes. Most (89.7%) of the ESBL-producing isolates carried at least one bla gene, with bla _TEM being the most common, followed by bla _CTX-M. Virulence genes were detected at a low frequency (3.2%), mainly involving eaeA, lt, and stp.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of AMR, MDR, and ESBL-producing E. coli throughout the pork production chain highlights slaughterhouses and fresh markets as key points for the spread of resistant bacteria. These findings emphasize the need for stronger antimicrobial stewardship, better hygiene practices, and ongoing AMR surveillance within the One Health approach to reduce public health risks linked to pork consumption.

Background and aim: The oriental house rat (Rattus tanezumi) is a dominant commensal rodent in southwest China and an important reservoir host for multiple zoonotic pathogens. Fleas and sucking lice that parasitize this species play a critical role in the maintenance and transmission of flea-borne and louse-associated diseases. However, long-term, large-scale evidence on the infestation patterns, ecological distribution, and host-parasite relationships of these ectoparasites remains limited. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the infestation status, community structure, and ecological determinants of fleas and sucking lice on R. tanezumi across southwest China.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from systematic field investigations conducted at 116 survey sites across five provincial regions of southwest China between 2000 and 2024. Rodents were captured using standardized trapping protocols in indoor and outdoor habitats. Fleas and sucking lice were collected, mounted, and taxonomically identified under a microscope. Infestation indices, including prevalence, mean abundance, and mean intensity, were calculated. Community diversity indices, host-related factors (sex, age, and relative fatness), environmental gradients (latitude, longitude, and altitude), and habitat types were analyzed. Association coefficients and Spearman's rank correlation were used to assess interspecific and intergroup relationships.

Results: A total of 3,069 R. tanezumi were examined, of which 40.40% were infested with ectoparasitic insects. Overall, 12,539 insects belonging to 34 species were identified, comprising 30 flea species and four sucking louse species. Fleas exhibited markedly higher species diversity but lower individual abundance than sucking lice. Ten flea species are known or potential vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Sucking lice showed significantly higher infestation prevalence and intensity than fleas (p < 0.05). Male, adult, and low-fatness hosts harbored significantly heavier louse infestations, whereas flea infestation showed no clear sex or age bias. Infestation indices varied significantly across environmental gradients and habitats. The association coefficient between fleas and lice was close to zero, indicating mutual independence.

Conclusion: R. tanezumi harbors a diverse assemblage of ectoparasitic insects, including multiple zoonotic flea species. Fleas and sucking lice exhibit contrasting community structures, host associations, and ecological patterns. These findings provide long-term, multi-regional evidence supporting targeted surveillance and control strategies for rodent-associated ectoparasites and related zoonoses in southwest China.