Veterinary Research Communications最新文献

Total hip arthroplasty effectively restores near-normal gait in most dogs with hip dysplasia unresponsive to conservative treatment. Total hip replacement (THR) requires high surgical accuracy for all surgeons, though errors and deviations are more common during the learning phase (Hayes et al. Vet Surg 40(1):1-5, 2011a). This study aimed to evaluate the technical performance and identify common intraoperative deviations in cemented THR performed by a novice surgeon using canine cadavers. Twelve adult cadavers underwent unilateral THR following a standardized protocol, with implant sizes determined through both radiographic and CT-based preoperative templating. All procedures were performed under expert supervision, with intraoperative corrections made when necessary. Postoperative radiographs were obtained not to detect missed errors but to objectively quantify final implant orientation after correction, thereby documenting technical inaccuracies, including those corrected intraoperatively. Postoperative radiographs were assessed for acetabular cup orientation, femoral stem alignment, canal fill, cement mantle quality, tip-to-cortex distance and cement quality. Overall, > 80% agreement was noted between templated and implanted components. A statistically significant association (p = 0.04) was observed between the matched acetabular cup and femoral stem. While implant positioning, including stem orientation, canal fill, and cement mantle thickness, cementation quality was within acceptable limits, increased canal fill correlated with mild varus or valgus deviations (r = 0.702, p = 0.01). These findings suggest that novice surgeons may achieve reproducible and acceptable outcomes through cadaver-based training with structured mentoring. However, optimal implant placement was not consistently achieved, indicating that further refinement is needed. Larger-scale cadaveric studies and more intensive surgical training protocols are recommended to enhance accuracy, reduce variability, and improve learning outcomes clinically in canine THR.

Bronopol (C₃H₆BrNO₄) is newly used as an antimicrobial in aquaculture. Our study investigates the time-dependent effects of the antimicrobial Bronopol during Aeromonas hydrophila infection on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish were divided into four groups: a control (G0), Bronopol (0.333 µl/L) water additives (G1), A. hydrophila-injected (G2), and the combined A. hydrophila-injected and Bronopol-added (G3) for 7 days. G2 generally led to significant (P < 0.05) decreases in RBCs, Hb, PCV, monocytes, lymphocytes, and digestive enzyme activities (amylase, lipase, and protease), alongside significant (P < 0.05) increases in heterophils, liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP), kidney markers (creatinine, urea), and indicators of oxidative stress (MDA). G1 often induced an initial inflammatory response (increased WBCs and RBCs at 6 h) and higher (P < 0.05) levels of immune parameters (lysozyme, phagocytic activity, and IgM). G3 exhibited some mitigation of pathological effects in histopathology compared to G2 but also showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher NBT reduction and distinct gene expression patterns. Gene expression analysis revealed tissue- and time-specific changes; notably, G3 showed significant upregulation (P < 0.05) of hsp70, cox-2, il-1β, and tnf-α in the liver at 6 h, but downregulation in the kidney. Conversely, in 7 days, all gene expressions were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the G3 group in the liver, while in the kidney, they were lower in the same group. The study explores Bronopol's efficacy in enhancing fish immunity to fight A. hydrophila, dependent on exposure timing and dose (0.333 µl/L), necessitating careful management in aquaculture practices.

A 10-year-old lioness (Panthera leo persica), weighing 130 kg, was referred from Madrid Zoo to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Complutense University of Madrid for evaluation of a lumbar soft tissue mass, previously diagnosed by biopsy as a chondrosarcoma, with potential surgical excision planned. A coordinated safety protocol was established between zoo and hospital staff, including predefined emergency routes and continuous supervision by experienced personnel and animal keepers. Anaesthetic premedication included intramuscular medetomidine (0.05 mg kg⁻¹) and ketamine (3 mg kg⁻¹), followed by propofol induction (1.2 mg kg⁻¹ IV) and maintenance with isoflurane in oxygen. Mechanical ventilation and comprehensive monitoring (ECG, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography, oesophageal temperature) were used. After computed tomography evaluation, the lion was elected for the chondrosarcoma surgical excision. Perioperative analgesia included intravenous methadone (0.1 mg kg⁻¹) and a sacrococcygeal epidural block with bupivacaine (0.3 mg kg⁻¹) and morphine (0.1 mg kg⁻¹). This epidural technique was integrated into a multimodal analgesic protocol that proved effective, as no intraoperative nociceptive responses were observed and recovery was uneventful, aside from transient and self-limiting neurological deficits. This case illustrates the feasibility of incorporating sacrococcygeal epidural analgesia into a multimodal anaesthetic and analgesic plan for major surgical procedures in large felids.

This study investigated the effects of dietary Hydrilla verticillata extract (HVE) on growth performance, physiological responses, and disease resistance in Labeo rohita fingerlings subjected to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. Following acclimatization, the fish were divided into 15 tanks at random (30 fish per tank) and given five different diets that contained 0, 75, 150, 300, or 600 mg/kg HVE for 60 days. Growth was significantly (P < 0.05) boosted by dietary HVE, with 300 mg/kg showing the maximum weight gain and protein efficiency ratio, however, higher dose (600 mg/kg) reduced the growth performance. In HVE-fed groups, malondialdehyde levels dropped and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, and GPx) significantly increased, suggesting improved oxidative state. Elevated ALP, decreased AST and ALT activity, and decreased serum glucose and cortisol levels all indicated enhanced hepatic function and less stress. At 300 mg/kg, nonspecific immunological responses, such as lysozyme activity and total immunoglobulins, were markedly increased. Cumulative mortality decreased dramatically in HVE-supplemented groups after the A. hydrophila challenge, with fish fed 300 mg/kg exhibiting the lowest cumulative mortality. The optimal dietary HVE level was calculated as 252.46 mg/kg based on weight gain%. These results show that dietary HVE, especially 300 mg/kg, significantly enhances Labeo rohita growth, antioxidant defence, immunological function, and resistance to A. hydrophila.

Waterborne trace elements (TE), such as mercury (Hg) and zinc (Zn), are environmental contaminants that often co-occur in aquatic ecosystems. Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin peel; PP) is a medicinal plant with diverse pharmacological properties. Accordingly, this innovative trial looked at the efficacy of PP, administered as powder (12.00 g/kg diet), in mitigating the toxicological effects of a mixture of trace elements (MTE) containing Hg (0.05 mg/L) and Zn (7.00 mg/L) in Oreochromis niloticus. A total of 160 fingerlings (28.50 ± 1.33 g) were randomly assigned to four groups, with four replicates per group: control, PP, MTE, and PP + MTE. The experiment was conducted over two months. The findings disclosed a reduced fish survival rate (72.50%) and a pronounced neuro-stress response following MTE exposure, as indicated by elevated cortisol, norepinephrine, and glucose concentrations, along with decreased acetylcholinesterase activity. The MTE exposure also induced oxidative stress in gills, evidenced by increased malondialdehyde concentration and diminished glutathione peroxidase activity, and reduced glutathione content. Additionally, MTE caused extensive histopathological alterations in both brain and gill tissues. Furthermore, MTE exposure induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and activated apoptotic pathways, as evidenced by the significant upregulation of cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (casp-3), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 A (eif-2a), C/EBP homologous protein (chop), and X-box binding protein 1(xbp-1) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (ire-1α), activating transcription factor 6 (atf-6), and glucose-regulated protein 78 (grp-78) genes in both the brain and gills. Remarkably, dietary supplementation with PP improved these parameters and restored normal tissue histology. These findings suggest that PP can be effectively incorporated into the diet of O. niloticus to mitigate the toxic effects of MTE exposure.

In order to develop non-antibiotic therapies to treat dermatological diseases it is urgent to spread knowledge on composition and properties of skin bacteria in healthy animals. Since horses are popular companions of humans, it is necessary to know what risk skin bacteria pose to humans. Therefore the aim of this work was to analyse species composition of staphylococci isolated from skin swabs of 50 healthy horses using MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight) spectrometry and to characterize their virulence properties. Swabs were collected from five body areas (neck, dorsal back, abdomen, pastern and muzzle). Among 19 different staphylococcal species identified, the most common species were Staphylococcus succinus, S. xylosus, S. vitulinus and S. warneri. The most frequent antimicrobial resistance in staphylococcal isolates was observed for penicillin G (48%). The blaZ gene was detected in 90% of penicillin resistant isolates while mecA and mecC genes were not observed. Only low level resistance was noted for erythromycin (12%), tetracycline (6%), linezolid (4%) and oxacillin (4%). No multidrug-resistant strain was found, the MAR (multiple antibiotic resistant) index in average was 0.048 ± 0.039. Biofilm production was observed in 90.1% of isolates whereas 62% of them showed strong production. Gelatinase, DNase, protease and lipase activity was found in 50.4%, 41.3%, 22.3% and 46.3% of isolates, respectively. The results of enzyme activities testing using API ZYM kits (BioMérieux) revealed common production of acid and alkaline phosphatase, esterase, esterase lipase and napthtol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase. The caution when interacting with horses is important especially in the case of injury since their staphylococci showed many virulent characteristics however they were not multi-resistant.

This study investigated the concurrent infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Saprolegnia parasitica in Oreochromis niloticus from Lake Manzala during the period from October to December 2023, employing phenotypic and genotypic characterizations of the isolated pathogens. Naturally infected fish displayed septicemic picture, fin rot, and the presence of cotton wool-like masses on the skin and fins. Water quality analysis revealed elevated salinity, unionized ammonia and nitrite levels, alongside with suboptimal water temperature. P. aeruginosa and S. parasitica were isolated from 30% and 31.8% of the clinically affected and moribund examined fish, respectively. Molecular analysis of P. aeruginosa 16 S-rDNA and S. parasitica ITS-rDNA genes demonstrated a genetic similarity with their ancestral strains from the families Pseudomonadaceae and Saprolegniaceae, respectively. The pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa was confirmed through β-hemolysis and biofilm production. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of P. aeruginosa indicated high susceptibility to colistin sulfate (100%) and meropenem (87.95%), with notable resistance to tetracycline (100%) and ampicillin (93.9%). Virulence gene analysis identified several key genes, including toxA (93.9%), exoS (66.7%), lasB (45.45%), phzM (33.3%), pslA (33.3%), and fliC (42.4%). Resistance profiling revealed the presence of multiple antibiotic resistance genes, including tetA (100%), bla_TEM (93.9%), bla_CTX-M-1 (81.8%), bla_OXA-1 (54.4%), qnrA (30.3%), and bla_NDM-1 (12.1%). Extensive drug resistance (XDR) and multiple drug resistance (MDR) phenotypes were observed in 12.1% and 27.3% of P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively, with high multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of skin lesions revealed extensive mycelial networks of S. parasitica on ulcerated skin surfaces. The co-occurrence of highly virulent, multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa and S. parasitica underscores the complexity of treatment and highlights the need for targeted intervention strategies in aquaculture systems for disease prevention and control.

Background: The emergence of bacteria producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) has presented a substantial challenge to veterinary and human medicine. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli exhibits biofilm-forming capabilities that enhance its persistence in domestic animals, contribute to chronic infectious diarrhea, and increase the risk of treatment failure. This study investigated ESBL-producing E. coli in dogs and evaluated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of NHK-EO, an innovative essential oil formulation derived from Coleus amboinicus (N), Ocimum basilicum (H), and Ocimum tenuiflorum (K).

Methods: The chemical composition of NHK-EO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifty-six rectal swab samples were randomly collected from dogs aged 3 months to 10 years, including 30 clinically healthy and 26 diarrheic animals of both sexes. Bacterial isolation and identification were conducted using conventional biochemical tests and the VITEK automated system. ESBL production was confirmed through genotypic detection of bla_CTX-M using polymerase chain reaction, and antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated to determine multidrug resistance profiles. Twenty isolates (10 from healthy and 10 from diarrheic dogs) were selected for further analyses. The antimicrobial activity of NHK-EO was assessed using the broth microdilution method, and biofilm formation and inhibition were evaluated using crystal violet staining. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation from three independent experiments.

Results: GC-MS analysis of NHK-EO revealed three major constituents: carvacrol (16.37%), eugenol (15.04%), and linalool (13.97%). In total, 78 Gram-negative bacterial isolates were identified, with E. coli being the predominant species (56 isolates, 71.79%). Among these, four bla_CTX-M-positive E. coli isolates (three from healthy dogs and one from a diarrheic dog) exhibited strong biofilm-forming ability. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of NHK-EO against the isolates was 1024-2048 µg/mL. The MIC of NHK-EO against the four bla_CTX-M-positive E. coli isolates was 1024 µg/mL. NHK-EO at 1/4× MIC (256 µg/mL) exerted significant inhibitory effects on both prebiofilm and postbiofilm formation, as confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. Treated samples exhibited notably reduced biofilm mass and decreased bacterial density compared with untreated controls.

Conclusions: NHK-EO possesses significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against E. coli, including ESBL-producing strains, indicating its potential as an alternative therapeutic agent to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. Further research is warranted to explore its clinical applications in veterinary and human medicine.

This study evaluated renal health in non-azotemic geriatric dogs using routine biomarkers, including the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC), urinalysis, fractional excretion of chloride, urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase (uGGT), and urinary alkaline phosphatase (uALP), aiming to identify early indicators of renal injury. These biomarkers were compared with structural changes observed via renal ultrasonography. A total of 84 dogs were enrolled and divided into two groups: young (n = 10; 1-4 years) and geriatric (n = 74; 7-17 years). All dogs underwent complete blood counts, serum biochemistry (creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, sodium, potassium), and urinary analyses (urinary creatinine, chloride, UPC, uGGT, uALP), along with urinalysis. Renal ultrasonography was performed in dogs with abnormal UPC values. Statistically significant differences were found in UPC and the uGGT/urinary creatinine ratio (p < 0.05). A notable proportion of non-azotemic geriatric dogs showed proteinuria (UPC > 0.5). In these cases, ultrasonography revealed alterations in renal echogenicity-ranging from preserved to mild or marked changes-as well as varying degrees of corticomedullary differentiation and loss of renal architecture. The integration of accessible, low-cost laboratory tests with ultrasonographic assessment offers a more comprehensive evaluation of renal function and morphology, highlighting the importance of early detection for effective management and improved quality of life in aging dogs. As this was a cross-sectional study, evaluation was limited to a single time point; longitudinal follow-up would be valuable to clarify disease progression, especially in borderline or mildly proteinuric dogs.