Veterinary Research Communications最新文献

Weaning is a critical stage in swine production, characterized by intestinal alterations that affect piglet health and performance. In this study, machine learning techniques were applied to identify joint patterns between gut health and productivity during the first 15 days post-weaning. A total of 103 animals were analyzed using a dataset of 24 histomorphological, biochemical, and productive variables. Among the unsupervised clustering models, K-means (k = 2) achieved the best separation, revealing two groups with significant differences in intestinal parameters (villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, intestinal absorptive area, duodenal maltase activity, butyric, propionic and total volatile fatty acid concentrations) and performance outcomes (body weight at 15 days and average daily gain). Supervised models were subsequently applied as interpretative tools to assess variable relevance, with Random Forest achieving high internal consistency. SHAP analysis indicated that intestinal morphology, enzymatic activity, and microbial metabolites (particularly total volatile fatty acids, propionate, and butyrate) were most strongly associated with cluster classification. These findings highlight coordinated patterns between intestinal function and growth during the early post-weaning period and suggest that such biomarkers may represent potential targets to be explored in future nutritional strategies. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of integrating unsupervised explainable machine learning approaches into animal science research for exploratory analysis and hypothesis generation.

Paslahepevirus balayani (Hepatitis E virus, HEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with a wide host range, yet its circulation in African equids remains poorly understood. This study provides the first serological investigation of HEV in donkeys in Algeria, aiming to assess exposure levels and identify potential infection-related risk factors. Between 2019 and 2024, 183 donkeys were sampled across three northeastern provinces (Mila, Souk-Ahras, and Tébessa), representing diverse agroecological conditions and including both working donkeys and animals used in cross-border smuggling. Individual data on age, sex, health status, body condition, movement history, and season were recorded. Sera were screened using a proprietary recombinant antigen, which is highly conserved across different HEV strains. All samples tested negative for anti-HEV antibodies. The sample size exceeded the minimum required to detect the highest seroprevalence previously reported in donkeys (12.22%), supporting the epidemiological significance of the negative findings. The absence of seropositivity may reflect limited regional exposure to known HEV reservoirs, local husbandry practices, and environmental conditions that reduce infection risk. These results suggest that HEV is currently not circulating at detectable levels in donkeys from northeastern Algeria. Broader studies, including molecular approaches and additional species, are recommended to clarify HEV ecology in the region.

Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) is considered one of the pathogens that most affect the production of Penaeus vannamei, causing economic losses estimated at billions of dollars. P. vannamei rearing is expanding to inland waters, which are commonly used for the farming of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, increasing the probability of exposure of this freshwater prawn to viruses often reported in penaeids, including IMNV. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the susceptibility of M. rosenbergii to IMNV through an intramuscular challenge. M. rosenbergii subadults and adults were inoculated intramuscularly with IMNV obtained from the abdominal muscle tissue of naturally infected P. vannamei. The viral challenge lasted 21 days. All samples had positive nested-PCR results as well as clinical signs and histopathological findings typical of the virus, such as hemocyte infiltration and muscle sinus dilation. This is the first study to demonstrate the susceptibility of M. rosenbergii subadults and adults to IMNV. Although no massive mortalities were detected in the challenged prawns, the presence of M. rosenbergii as a viral source in the cultivation environment should not be underestimated.

Fusarium oxysporum, was isolated from a naturally infected captive-reared Labeo rohita in Tripura, India. The infected fish exhibited clinical signs of fungal growth with haemorrhage on the ventral body surface and erosion of the caudal fin. Morphological identification of fungal colony, including microscopic observation of 5-day-old culture, revealed the presence of multi-septate macroconidia and one-septate microconidia. Growth requirement study revealed that the fungus grew best at 30 °C and pH 6.0. In vitro studies revealed that the isolate produced extracellular enzymes such as caseinase, lipase, starch hydrolase and DNase, which contributed to its pathogenicity. The partial 18 S gene sequence was assigned NCBI accession number PQ013739.1 and confirmed its identity as F. oxysporum. Pathogenicity test by intraperitoneal injection of fungal spore suspension in healthy L. rohita fingerlings with fungal growth at the site of injection; LD₅₀ value obtained by probit analysis was 4.85 × 10⁷ spores/ml. Antifungal susceptibility testing indicated that none of amphotericin B, ketoconazole, itraconazole, clotrimazole, and nystatin produced zones of inhibition against the fungal isolate. In contrast, the fungus exhibited sensitivity to sodium chloride and copper sulfate, with reduced radial growth at salinity levels exceeding 0.5% and CuSO₄ concentrations above 25 ppm. Our findings confirm that the F. oxysporum strain is virulent to L. rohita, and highlights the potential utility of salinity and copper sulfate-based management strategies for control of this fungus in aquaculture.

Deoxynivalenol is a trichothecene mycotoxin found in cereals and animal feed, causing immunotoxic and cytotoxic effects in both animals and humans. In pigs, deoxynivalenol induces immune cell apoptosis, while in humans it disrupts cytokine expression and gut barrier function. Fosfomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fosfomycin on deoxynivalenol-induced apoptosis and on the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), in pig and human cells, respectively. Porcine adherent mononuclear cells were exposed to deoxynivalenol, fosfomycin, or their combination for 4 h while Caco-2 cells were treated for 24 h. Nuclear apoptotic changes in porcine cells were assessed by DAPI staining and cell death was confirmed by TUNEL assay. IL-1β gene expression in Caco-2 cells was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Deoxynivalenol significantly increased nuclear morphological alterations and the percentage of apoptotic cells in porcine mononuclear cells compared with untreated controls (p < 0.01). Co-treatment with fosfomycin prevented DON-induced apoptosis, restoring apoptotic levels to those observed in controls, and markedly reduced IL-1β expression in Caco-2 cells. Fosfomycin exerts a protective effect against deoxynivalenol-induced apoptosis and proinflammatory response, suggesting its potential as modulator of mycotoxin-induced cellular damage in both veterinary and biomedical contexts.