Veterinary Research Communications最新文献

Swimmer puppy syndrome (SPS) is a rare condition that affects neonatal animals. The affected puppies are unable to stand, remain in sternal recumbency with their legs splayed laterally and ambulate with typical swimmer-like movements. This study reports the clinical findings and discusses the treatments and outcomes in four puppies of various breeds with clinical signs of SPS. Previous medical records of the animals were reviewed for history, clinical features, radiographic findings and choice of treatment. Treatment follow-up was evaluated at 15, 30, 45 days and 6 months. In three puppies all limbs were affected. In one case only the forelimbs were affected, while the hind limbs remained normal. Clinical, orthopaedic and neurological examinations, routine laboratory findings and tidal breathing flow-volume loop measurements were normal. Concurrent problems occurred in two animals and included slightly deformed chest and ventrodorsal flattening of the thorax with a slight right displacement of the heart. For the management of SPS, chest and hobble bandages were used, as well as physiotherapy and environmental management. Three puppies recovered completely after 45 days of treatment. In one case the therapy was discontinued after 2 weeks. In this case, the puppy could stand, but mild abduction of the forelimbs and lameness were obvious after 6 months. Intensive physiotherapy contributed to positive outcomes even in older puppies. Also, to the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of tidal breathing flow-volume loop measurement for dogs with pectus excavatum.

Using raw parameters of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and derived Phase Angle (PhA) has emerged as an alternative to conventional predictive BIA for body fluid volumes and body composition estimation in human patients, offering an approach independent of predictive equations. Classic predictive equation-based BIA remains unsuitable for veterinary clinical practice due to the high morphological variability within the canine species. This study aimed to validate the feasibility of BIA in dogs and assess its utility in detecting changes in body fluid volumes, particularly in blood donation. Sixty healthy blood donor dogs and ten controls were longitudinally assessed using BIA raw parameters with a portable analyzer at a 50 kHz frequency. Measurements were performed before and after blood donation in donor dogs, whereas in controls, they were carried out at two time points, approximating the timing of a donation. Significant increases in raw bioelectrical parameters were observed after blood donation in the donor group, while differences were not statistically significant in controls. Hematocrit values did not significantly differ between the two time points in both groups. These findings suggest the feasibility of using BIA to detect changes in body fluid volumes in dogs undergoing blood donation, highlighting its potential application in veterinary medicine. Further research should explore the applicability of BIA in spontaneous pathological conditions involving fluid loss or retention and investigate the potential utility of PhA as a prognostic or monitoring tool in veterinary clinical practice. This study provides valuable insights into using BIA in canine medicine, paving the way for enhanced diagnostic and monitoring strategies in clinical practice.

Ovine anaplasmosis is causing relevant economic losses in Spain due to icteric carcass condemnation in lambs. Anaplasma ovis infection occurs through grazing sheep that transfer ticks to their offspring. This study compared the efficacy of deltamethrin and cypermethrin pour-on treatments for tick control. A total of 250 PCR A. ovis-positive ewes and their offspring were divided into 5 groups. Group A (50 ewes/50 lambs) was kept as an untreated control group. In groups B (50/50) and C (45/93), the lambs were treated with deltamethrin pour-on and cypermethrin pour-on, respectively, one week after birth. In groups D (50/75) and E (51/68), the ewes were treated with cypermethrin pour-on and deltamethrin pour-on one week before the estimated parturition. External parasite assessment and A. ovis PCR were conducted before treatment and at 21 and 42 days post-treatment. Ewes were checked weekly for tick-detection until weaning. Lamb carcasses were examined at the slaughterhouse. Riphicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks were found in ewes throughout the study, with only one tick found in a control group lamb. Three lambs tested positive for A. ovis during the trial, with one condemnation at the abattoir due to jaundice. However, no significant differences were observed between treatment groups. Overall, a significant decrease in infected animals and condemned carcasses was observed compared to previous years, suggesting that deltamethrin and cypermethrin prevent A. ovis transmission from dams to lambs. Further studies are needed to confirm synthetic pyrethroids' effectiveness in controlling tick infestation and averting A. ovis transmission to lambs.

The aim of this study was to describe the normal B-mode, Doppler, and 2D Shear Wave Elastography ultrasonographic findings of some abdominal structures in a six-month-old male Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla). The animal was found and rescued by the environmental police after being discovered in the wild near its mother, who had died in a car accident. For the ultrasonographic exams, the animal's abdominal region was shaved, and only physical restraint was used. In the B-mode exam, the urinary bladder, small intestine, kidneys, left adrenal gland, stomach, liver, and gallbladder were located and evaluated. Doppler examination obtained spectral tracings of the arcuate and renal arteries of both kidneys. Elastography assessed the stiffness of the renal cortex, liver, and spleen. The ultrasound examination provided an adequate evaluation and novel findings of the Southern Tamandua abdominal structures without invasiveness.

In the gastrointestinal mucosa, there is a close cooperation between secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and the composition of the microbiota, which aims to maintain homeostasis as well as act as a protective barrier. The purpose of this study was to determine the composition of microbiota and SIgA production in different parts of the digestive tract (small intestine, cecum, colon and rectum) of nine healthy horses and its reflection in the feces. For this purpose, we determined: the composition of the microbiome (by next-generation Sequencing of Hypervariable Regions V3-V4 and V7-V9 of the 16 S rRNA gene analysis), the amount of SIgA in the intestinal content samples (by ELISA), as well as the number of IgA-producing cells (IgA+) in the tissue samples (by immohistochemical analysis). Significant differences were observed between the small intestine and the large colon in the composition and diversity of the microbiome, as well as the number of IgA + cells in the mucosal lamina propria and the abundance of SIgA in the intestinal lumen. The small intestine in relation to the large colon is characterised by fewer IgA + cells, more SIgA in the intestinal contents and a less diverse microbiome. However, the cecum appears to be the third separate ecosystem, with a high number of IgA + cells and a diverse microbiome. The fecal sample reflects the current state of the large colon, both in terms of the microbiome and SIgA content; however, it is not known to what extent it may be influenced by dysbiosis in other parts of the digestive tract.

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute contagious disease of poultry caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). This study investigated the immunopathogenesis and tissue tropism of an Indian IBV field isolate (IBV/Chicken/India/IVRI/Rajasthan/01/2023) in experimental broiler chickens. This isolate belongs to the G1-1 lineage and is closely associated with the Mass genotype. 10^6.23 EID₅₀/0.2 mL of the virus was administered intranasally and intraocularly to the IBV-challenge group, whereas uninoculated allantoic fluid was administered to the control group. Clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions, immunohistochemistry (IHC), viral load, humoral responses, and the relative expression of immune response genes were evaluated at seven observation points. The infected group showed a significant reduction in weight gain from 3 dpi onwards, with clinical signs of varying severity from 3 to - 11 dpi. Gross lesions and microscopic changes were observed in the nasal turbinates, trachea, lungs, and kidneys, mainly representing epithelial degeneration and necrosis with mononuclear infiltrates. The caecal tonsils also showed microscopic lesions at 7-9 dpi. Absolute viral load estimation in the organs corroborated the lesion severity scores and IHC results. The expression of innate immune responses broadly demonstrated higher expression in the trachea and lungs of the IBV-infected group during the early phase of infection, whereas similar responses were observed in the kidneys and caecal tonsils during the later phases of infection. This study suggests that the given IBV isolate may cause significant production losses in broilers and exhibit tissue tropism for both respiratory and non-respiratory tissues, triggering varying innate and adaptive immune responses.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) small colony variants (SCVs) have garnered attention due to their heightened antibiotic resistance and enhanced cell retention, posing significant risks to public health and food safety. However, understanding of SCVs derived from sheep remains limited. This study aimed to detect the biological characterization of sheep-derived E. coli SCVs and investigate the factors contributing to SCV development with preliminary genomic data. In this study, a lipoic acid-dependent SCV (LA-SCV) and a wild-type (WT) strain were isolated from sheep bile. Then, a heme-dependent SCV (HD-SCV) was induced from WT using amikacin. Initially, we examined factors contributing to SCV formation via comparative genomics. Subsequent comparisons between WT and two SCV strains encompassed antibiotic resistance, hemolytic activity, biofilm formation, motility, and metabolism. Genomic analyses identified a frameshift deletion mutation in the lipA gene in LA-SCV and a stopgain mutation in the hemG gene in HD-SCV, hypothesized as potential triggers for lipoic acid- and heme-dependent SCV development, respectively. Physiological, biochemical, and cultural traits exhibited notable differences between WT and SCVs, including increased antibiotic resistance, hemolytic activity, and biofilm formation, but alongside non-fermentative acetate utilization, slow growth, reduced intracellular ATP, and decreased motility (P < 0.01). The energy and amino acid metabolism were suppressed during the logarithmic phase in LA-SCV, while both logarithmic and stable phases in HD-SCV. These alterations in biological characteristics present significant challenges in managing E. coli pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance.

In male cats, as in men, mammary carcinomas are rarely reported. However, like in females, hormonal therapy is a significant risk factor. This study reports the case of an 11-year-old male cat with multiple mammary tumours and a history of long-term medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy for the suppression of sexual behaviour, along with a brief review of the literature. Complete surgical removal of the right mammary chain and the ipsilateral inguinal lymph nodes was performed, and all tissues were submitted for histology. Histological examination revealed the presence of a tumour in the third and fourth mammary glands, consisting of neoplastic cells arranged in various structures, including tubulopapillary and tubular structures, sometimes cystically dilated, and solid areas. The inguinal lymph nodes were also involved. The morphology was consistent with a diagnosis of mammary carcinoma, tubulopapillary type, with nodal metastases. Immunohistochemistry revealed that tumour cells were positive for cytokeratin (clones AE1/AE3), while stromal cells were positive for vimentin (clone V9). The proliferation marker Ki-67, evaluated on both the primary tumour and the nodal metastases, was strongly expressed in the nuclei of neoplastic cells, with a Ki-67 proliferation index of 8.9% and 20% for the primary tumour and the metastases, respectively. This case highlights the importance of considering the possibility of malignant mammary tumours not only in female but also in male cats with a history of long-term hormonal treatment for suppression of sexual behaviour.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, and cause contamination of food and feed, with impacts in animal production and in food production chain. Effective detoxifying methods, such as biodegradation, are therefore required. This study aimed to isolate microorganisms and screen ZEA detoxifying strains. As a result, 197 microorganisms were isolated, and six were initially selected after colorimetric screening. ZEA (1 µg/mL) was added to culture media, and after 24 h, all six microorganisms were able to degrade ZEA, without the formation of α-ZOL. One isolate eliminated ~ 99% of ZEA and was identified as Bacillus velezensis CL197. ZEA metabolites produced by the bacteria were evaluated, and no metabolites with greater or similar toxicity than ZEA were detected. This strain was applied to swine in vitro digestion, and up to 64% of ZEA was degraded. B. velezensis CL197 significantly degraded ZEA, demonstrating potential to be used as a detoxifying agent in the food production chain as a biocontrol agent.

In Zimbabwe a lot of studies have been done on nutrition, breeding, physiology and health of farm cows but with little or no consideration of the impacts of these studies on cow welfare. As a result political importance and practical progression of cow welfare is still lagging behind in the country just like most developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the welfare status of dairy cows from large scale dairy farms through an assessment of risk factors/drivers and indicators of cow welfare. For this study 728 dairy cows from all the 31 large scale dairy farms in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, were selected for the study noting down risk factors and indicators of dairy cow welfare during both the dry and rainy season. Human avoidance distance test results revealed that 81% of the cows were touched by the approaching stockpeople, whereas 19% could not be touched, and this was significantly associated with breed of the cow (χ² = 115, DF = 9, P < 0.0005). From the study 95% of the cows examined were not lame (score 1) and for those that were lame only 0.6% (n = 4) had severely impaired mobility (score 5). Whereas 30% of the cows observed during the rainy season were heavily soiled with manure (score 4), only 1% of the cows observed during the dry season were heavily soiled (score 4). Cow cleanliness was significantly associated with manure accumulation in housing and handling facilities in both study 1 (χ² = 18, DF = 6, P = 0.006) and study 2 (χ² = 47, DF = 6, P < 0.001). The average body condition score of observed dairy cows from both study 1 and study 2 was fair (BC = 3) and body condition was signficantly associated with the breed of cow in both study 1 (χ² = 22, DF = 12, P = 0.039), and study 2 (χ² = 38, DF = 12, P < 0.005). Exotic breeds like the Holstein generally faired low when compared to locally adapted breeds like theAyrshire.