Journal of Veterinary Medical Science最新文献

Forty male brown bear heads were non-destructively analyzed by computed tomography. Skull, frontal, and cranial cavity volumes were measured, and growth curves and regression lines were constructed. The morphological dynamics of the frontal sinus were also examined. Skull volume increased rapidly from 0 to 11 years of age, then grew more slowly until 21 years, when it plateaued. The frontal sinus also increased rapidly from 0 years, reaching approximately 300 mL by 10 years, after which growth ceased. The frontal sinus-to-skull ratio rose quickly from 0 to 4 years, then increased more gradually until 10 years, and then plateaued. Morphologically, the frontal sinus developed posteriorly to cover the anterior part of the cranial cavity, extended ventrally in the anterior lateral part of the cranial cavity and the orbital region, and protruded into the zygomatic process of the frontal bone. The cranial cavity increased slowly from 0 years, with continued growth beyond 11 years at a reduced rate. The cranial cavity-to-skull ratio decreased because the skull volume significantly increased. Both the frontal sinus and cranial cavity volumes strongly correlated with skull volume, and a well-fitting regression line was obtained. This means that the volumes of the frontal sinus and cranial cavity correlate more closely with skull volume than with age. This is the first report on the non-destructive analysis of the changes in volume and morphology of the frontal sinus and cranial cavity in male brown bears.

Two cats were evaluated because of clinical signs consistent with tetraplegia or ataxia of four limbs and cerebellar signs. The cats were diagnosed with craniocervical junction abnormalities (CJAs) by radiographs, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Both cats underwent surgical stabilization using a patient-specific titanium atlantoaxial (AA) fixation plate and drill guide templates. In case 2, in addition to AA fixation, the separated dens and the occipital bone compressing the cerebellum were removed. Repositioning and fixation of the AA joint using a custom drill guide template and titanium plate system improved the gait of both cats, but the cerebellar signs persisted. Although CJAs are uncommon in cats, the present cases indicate that surgical stabilization with a custom fixation system may represent a feasible treatment option.

Sialocele recurrence in dogs following surgical excision of the monostomatic sublingual gland is often attributed to incomplete removal of sublingual gland tissue posterior to the site of duct rupture, suggested as solitary lobules of the monostomatic sublingual gland. Here we examined these solitary lobules in six healthy beagle cadavers. Gross anatomical observation revealed solitary lobules distributed along the major sublingual duct and separated from the rostral lobe of the monostomatic sublingual gland. Histologically, the solitary lobules were connected to the major sublingual duct and showed a mixed glandular structure similar to the monostomatic sublingual gland but distinct from the polystomatic sublingual gland. These findings elucidate the anatomical basis of sialocele recurrence and emphasize the importance of completely excising solitary lobules.

Urinary calculus is common but often unnoticed condition in African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) until severe, challenging early detection and etiology. This case uniquely features detailed, prolonged home care by the owner-veterinarian. A 13-year-old male presented with obstipation due to a 10-cm urolith. Home management stabilized him for surgical removal via cystotomy. Postoperatively, the patient developed chronic hyperuricemia and gout, leading to progressive emaciation and death two years later. Autopsy revealed systemic articular and visceral gout, severe chronic cystitis, and renal fibrosis. This case underscores calculi grow massive before detection, often with patient deterioration. This detailed report, including comprehensive autopsy findings, provides novel longitudinal data the crucial role of appropriate supportive care in stabilizing the patient for surgical intervention following the detection of massive urolithiasis, while also linking between successful surgical removal and the subsequent development of systemic gout, emphasizing the critical need for long-term therapeutic monitoring of uric acid metabolism in chelonians post-urolith removal for all stakeholders involved in the care of this species.

Postoperative ileus (POI), commonly induced by intestinal manipulation (IM) during laparotomy, results in intestinal wall injury, inflammation, adhesion, and impaired gastrointestinal motility. This study evaluated the effects of mosapride citrate (Mos), a 5-HT₄ receptor agonist, and trehalose (Tre), a cytoprotective disaccharide, on gastrointestinal transit in an IM-induced POI mouse model. Mature male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to IM and allocated into five groups: IM + vehicle (control), IM + Mos (0.2 mg/kg, two times), IM + Tre (100 mg/kg, two times), IM + combined Mos & Tre, and IM + sequential Tre + Mos treatment. Gastrointestinal transit was quantified using phenol red method. All four treatment groups exhibited a significant increase in phenol red recovery in the lower small intestine compared with the control group (P<0.05). Notably, sequential administration (Tre + Mos) resulted in greater dye progression beyond the manipulated region than that of simultaneous (Mos & Tre) treatment (P<0.05). These findings suggest that although both agents individually promote gastrointestinal transit, the therapeutic effect is enhanced when Tre is administered first, followed by Mos. Thus, the timing and sequence of administration play a critical role in the treatment of POI. Sequential Tre + Mos therapy may represent a promising strategy for accelerating the functional restoration of gastrointestinal transit after intestinal injury.

Chitin digestion in pangolins and other anteaters is thought to be aided by commensal bacteria in the digestive tract, in addition to their chitinase. This study characterized the gut microbiota of captive Javan pangolins using amplicon sequencing. Fecal samples were collected from two individuals and were sampled twice over one week. The dominant bacterial phyla identified were Firmicutes (Bacillota), Bacteroidetes (Bacteroidota), Proteobacteria (Pseudomonadota), and Actinobacteria (Actinomycetota). The most prevalent genera included Clostridium, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Sporosarcina. Alpha and beta diversity were relatively low between paired samples, but the short sampling interval limits conclusions about microbial stability. These findings provide insights into the Javan pangolin's gut microbiota and support future research on microbial contributions to their digestion, health, and conservation.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a vector-borne positive-sense RNA virus causing the dengue epidemic in tropical and subtropical regions. Non-structural viral protein 1 (NS1) is a key modulator of host-pathogen interactions. We investigated the in vivo effect of NS1 on DENV infection using an NS1-expressing recombinant vaccinia virus DIs strain (rDIs-DENV2C-NS1). NS1 expression and anti-NS1 antibody induction were observed. To assess its functional role, rDIs-DENV2C-NS1 was administered to AG129 mice lacking type I and II interferon receptors. Two weeks post-immunization, the mice were challenged with DENV2C (10⁵ PFU/mouse). Four days post-infection, the mice immunized with rDIs-DENV2C-NS1 exhibited higher serum viral loads than controls. Liver viral load was significantly increased 14 days after infection compared to that in the control group, and NS1 protein expression was confirmed in the sera. To delineate the effects of NS1, the mice were treated with recombinant NS1 before DENV2 infection. This treatment showed an increase in serum, liver, and spleen viral loads, indicating enhanced viral replication. Serum interleukin (IL)-3, IL-13, IL-18, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels were significantly upregulated in the NS1 protein-treated group in a dose-dependent manner. These findings provide in vivo evidences for the immunomodulatory and replication-promoting effects of NS1 during DENV infection.

Canine lymphoma is a common hematopoietic malignancy with limited therapeutic options, particularly in drug-resistant cases. Overexpression of Exportin 1 (XPO1) promotes oncogenesis by impairing the nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation of tumor suppressor proteins (TSPs). KPT-335 (Verdinexor), a selective XPO1 inhibitor, restores TSP function, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of KPT-335 alone and in combination with doxorubicin or vincristine in four canine lymphoma cell lines. KPT-335 reduced XPO1 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, an effect reversed by proteasome inhibition, suggesting proteasome-mediated degradation. Combination treatments significantly suppressed cell proliferation compared with single agents. These findings highlight the preclinical evidence of combining KPT-335 with conventional chemotherapies in canine lymphoma.

Bovine respiratory disease syndrome, primarily caused by bovine parainfluenza virus type-3 (BPIV-3), is characterized by a high incidence in calves. However, despite its significant clinical importance, the codon usage patterns and evolutionary dynamics of BPIV-3 hosts remain elusive. Hence, this study aimed to systematically analyze the codon usage bias of the BPIV-3 structural protein gene HN, and the roles of mutational pressure and natural selection in its evolution were evaluated. Herein, analysis of indicators such as effective codon number (ENC), relative synonymous codon usage, and codon adaptation index revealed a low codon bias for BPIV-3, with codon preferences showing significant differences from the host. Notably, ENC-GC content at the third codon spot analysis indicated that natural selection dominated codon usage. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis divided BPIV-3 into three main genotypes (namely a, b, and c), with genotype C exhibiting a higher codon adaptability to the host. Altogether, these findings reveal the host-BPIV-3 evolutionary interaction mechanisms, providing a theoretical basis for vaccine design and epidemiological surveillance.

This study examined the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) administration on the repair of articular cartilage damage in domestic pigs with experimentally induced leg weakness. The left hind stifle joints of six 56-day-old castrated domestic pigs were artificially injured; PRP was injected into the stifle joints of three pigs. Histopathological analysis of dissected articular cartilage revealed that all specimens were lightly stained with Alcian blue, and regions containing immature chondrocytes or chondrocyte clusters indicated cartilage repair. The average cartilage thickness was 189.44 μm in the control group and 386.53 μm in the treatment group, showing a significant difference (P≤0.028). These findings suggest that PRP administration promotes articular cartilage repair in domestic pigs.