Journal of Veterinary Medical Science最新文献

Human and other mammals harbor diverse commensal bacteria that may protect their hosts from invading pathogens. Here, we demonstrated that Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease significantly suppressed bovine alphaherpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) infectivity in vitro. V8 protease exhibited concentration-dependent antiviral activity by degrading BHV-1 glycoprotein D (gD), essential for viral entry. Treatment with V8 protease inhibited both viral attachment and the infectivity of released virions, suppressing incoming viruses and limiting spread during established infections. These findings reveal that proteases from commensal bacteria can directly target major viral proteins. However, to deepen our understanding of the antiviral activity of commensal bacterial enzymes on the body surface, establishing methods to measure the quantity of specific enzymes is urgently needed.

A 10-month-old mixed-breed cat was presenting a female appearance; however, a detailed examination of external genitalia revealed an enlarged clitoris with spines. The urethra opened into the vagina. Laparotomy and subsequent histopathological examination revealed that both ovaries were replaced by hypoplastic testes, with underdeveloped uteruses located caudal to them. Chromosome and genetic testing using peripheral blood revealed that the cat displayed a nearly 1:1 mosaicism of the 37,X and 38,XY chromosomes and presence of the SRY gene. Only two cases of 37,X/38,XY mosaicism have been reported in cats, both displaying a normal penis and prepuce, indicating a male phenotype. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of 37,X and 38,XY mosaicism manifesting as a female phenotype.

Access to medical care is important not only for humans, but also for companion animals. However, the distribution of veterinary services and their potential benefits to human well-being remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between veterinary clinics and community well-being in urban areas of Japan. The dataset included total 191 wards in Tokyo (a metropolitan city) and 19 ordinance-designated cities. Veterinary clinical locations were obtained from a high-resolution commercial database provided by ZENRIN Marketing Solutions Co., Ltd. Community well-being scores were obtained from the Digital Agency of Japan. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to predict the well-being scores based on the number of veterinary or human clinics per 100,000 residents. The results of veterinary clinics showed positive satisfaction with environmental symbiosis (β=1.17), natural disasters (β=1.04), community connections (β=1.00), self-efficacy (β=1.18), health status (β=1.32), employment and income (β=0.89), recreation and entertainment (β=0.91), culture and arts (β=1.53), abundance of educational opportunities (β=1.34), and business creation (β=1.03), while the results of human clinics showed negative satisfaction with public spaces (β= -0.69). Findings suggest that residents who place a high value on pets and the care they require may be attracted to areas with high concentrations of art, entertainment, education, and business resources. Although unmeasured confounding factors were related, this study posits a new assumption that the enrichment of animal welfare services is associated with regional well-being.

This study investigated the effects of intrauterine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) administered during the follicular phase on endometrial thickness and conception rate (CR) in dairy cows. Cows were randomly assigned to a PRP group (n=36) or a control group (n=36). All cows underwent timed artificial insemination (TAI). Endometrial thickness and sex-steroid hormone concentrations were measured before and after TAI. PRP was prepared by double-spin centrifugation without activation. The platelet count in PRP was 100.7 ± 32.7 × 10⁴/μL (47.1 to 187.3 × 10⁴/μL), corresponding to a 4.0 ± 0.7-fold concentration (3.0-5.3-fold). Two days before TAI, 10 mL PRP was administered intrauterinely to cows in the PRP group. Endometrial thickness at TAI was significantly greater in the PRP group than in controls (25.36 ± 7.07 mm compared with 20.45 ± 4.18 mm; P<0.05). CR after TAI did not differ between groups (58.3% for the PRP group and 47.2% for the control group). Estradiol-17β and progesterone levels were similar in both groups. Because hormone sampling was intermittent, sex-steroid dynamics were captured only fragmentarily, and independence from steroid effects cannot be concluded. Together, these findings indicate a positive local effect of PRP on the endometrium, as evidenced by increased endometrial thickness. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate intrauterine PRP administered two days before TAI and its effect on endometrial thickness in dairy cows.

Infectious coryza (IC) is an acute upper respiratory tract disease in chickens triggered by Avibacterium paragallinarum, causing reduced egg production and growth retardation that result in significant economic losses in China's poultry industry. The prevalence of IC in chicken flocks in mainland China between 1993 and 2024 was estimated from 29 epidemiological studies from databases including the PubMed, Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Data, and China Knowledge Network (CNKI). Studies involving non-chicken hosts, duplicate records, or incomplete data were excluded based on predefined exclusion criteria. A total of 29 studies, encompassing 15,729 poultry, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled estimated prevalence of IC infection in Chinese poultry was 33% (2,696/15,729), with North China having the highest prevalence at 43%, exceeding the rates reported in other regions. IC prevalence was associated with geographic region and sampling season. The findings indicate distinct regional variation in IC prevalence across China. Therefore, ongoing surveillance and region-specific control strategies are important. In areas with higher prevalence, targeted regulatory interventions are required to reduce transmission and prevent disease spread in poultry populations.

The current study conducted a seroepidemiological survey of sealpox virus infection in marine mammals in Japan. A total of 112 serum/plasma samples from 23 marine mammal species (pinnipeds, cetaceans, marine fissipeds, and sirenians) from 16 aquaria in Japan were collected and subjected to an improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting antibodies against sealpox virus, employing the recombinant major envelope protein of the virus produced in Escherichia coli. Results revealed that the tested marine mammals were seronegative, indicating that these mammals housed in various aquaria in Japan show no detectable serological evidence of the current or past infection. Results suggest that a low prevalence or absence of active infection may lead to a low risk of transmission to humans.

Iwanai Valley virus (IWVV) is a novel tick-borne orthonairovirus classified into the Tamdy genogroup. Since several orthonairoviruses in the Tamdy and closely related Sulina genogroups have been associated with human diseases, evaluating the pathogenic potential of IWVV is an important public health priority. Despite the increase in reports of orthonairoviruses belonging to the Tamdy and Sulina genogroups in East Asia, studies on their pathogenicity remain limited. In this study, we established a mouse model of IWVV infection using type I interferon receptor knockout (IFNAR1-/-) mice and analyzed the pathogenicity of IWVV infection. IWVV infection was lethal in IFNAR1-/-mice but did not cause any significant symptoms in BALB/c mice. IWVV replicated well in the liver and spleen of IFNAR1-/-mice, leading to acute necrotizing hepatitis and damage to the spleen, characterized by lymphocyte depletion. These pathological features are consistent with those observed in immunocompromised mice infected with other human-pathogenic orthonairoviruses, such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and Yezo virus. Although human infections with IWVV have not been reported, the observed virulence in animal models suggests that further evaluation of its zoonotic potential is warranted. Our findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance of emerging tick-borne IWVV to assess potential risks to public health.

Poultry production in Thailand has expanded considerably and industrially; however, ectoparasite infestations in poultry farms could still occur. Information on ectoparasite prevalence in intensive poultry farms in Thailand is limited. This study investigated the current distribution and diversity of ectoparasites in commercial layer farms in central Thailand using two sampling methods: feather-picking and AviVet™ trapping. A total of 1,006 samples (507 feather and 499 trap samples) were collected from 28 poultry houses in 10 intensive farms across five provinces. Samples were examined microscopically, and the infestation status was recorded for each ectoparasite species. Seven taxa were identified, comprising three chewing lice species (Lipeurus caponis, Menacanthus stramineus, and Menopon gallinae) and four mite species (Dermanyssus gallinae, Megninia spp., Ornithonyssus bursa, and Pterolichus obtusus). Megninia spp. (44.0%) and P. obtusus (20.8%) were the most prevalent, whereas M. stramineus and O. bursa were rare (≤0.4%). No fleas or ticks were detected. Feather-picking yielded significantly higher detection rates than AviVet™ trapping for L. caponis, M. gallinae, Megninia spp., and P. obtusus (P<0.001 for all), while no significant method-related differences were found for M. stramineus, D. gallinae, or O. bursa. Spatial analysis was possible only for Megninia spp., which varied significantly among provinces and farms (P<0.001). This is the first report describing the diversity of ectoparasites collected using AviVet™ traps in intensive poultry farms in Thailand and provides baseline data to guide integrated control strategies in tropical poultry production systems.

Canine malignant melanoma (CMM) is a highly aggressive tumor with limited treatment options. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have shown promise in cancer therapy by modulating gene expression. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of an HDAC inhibitor, vorinostat, on CMM cell lines. Vorinostat significantly suppressed cell proliferation through apoptosis and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in vitro. These findings suggest that vorinostat might serve as a potential therapeutic agent for dogs with CMM, providing a basis for further in vivo studies.

In recent years, an emerging infectious disease characterized by urate deposition in viscera and joints has outbreak in the goose farms of China, causing substantial economic losses. Although goose astrovirus (GoAstV) was believed to be the main causative pathogen, several studies have shown that co-infection with other viruses, such as goose parvovirus, alongside astrovirus, may exacerbate the disease condition. In our previous research, we isolated a goose astrovirus with a novel type of recombination that causes fatal gout in geese in Shanghai, China. By analyzing the viral community using viral metagenomics data of fecal, kidney and liver samples of geese with gout, we found that parvoviruses and picornaviruses occupied a substantial proportion, suggesting their potential involvement in the etiology of goose gout. To determine if there were other causative viruses present in these geese, fecal, kidney, and liver samples were deeply sequenced using viral metagenomics. The results indicated that goose parvovirus and picornavirus constituted the predominant part of all or partial viral communities. Subsequently, the genomes and genomic structures of two picornaviruses, as well as a parvovirus, were determined. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this parvovirus, named dependoparvovirus_CH_SH01, belongs to the Parvovirinae subfamily within the family Parvoviridae, while the two picornaviruses were classified within the Megrivirus (megrivirus_CH_SH01) or Ludopivirus (ludopivirus_CH_SH01) genus within the Kodimesavirinae subfamily, respectively. Recombination analysis suggested that megrivirus_CH_SH01 was a potential recombinant virus between two megriviruses. Our study suggested that infections with viruses other than astrovirus may be associated with the occurrence of goose gout. Additionally, this work has enriched the virus sequence information for Megrivirus and picornaviruses.