Journal of Veterinary Medical Science最新文献

The most common bovine mastitis pathogen is the Staphylococcus species, consisting of Staphylococcus aureus and non-aureus staphylococci (NAS). Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding protein with antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties. Lf has a metal-free form (apo-Lf) and a natural form (native-Lf), and their differences were reported to affect their activity against bacteria. However, its effects on bovine mastitis-causing Staphylococcus spp. remain unclear. Fifteen S. aureus and 49 NAS strains were isolated from bovine mastitis cases, and their growth and biofilm-forming abilities were observed. Bacterial growth and biofilm formation were observed by culturing each strain with/without bovine milk apo-/native-lactoferrin (200 μg/mL). Without Lf treatment, the growth and biofilm formation abilities of S. aureus were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than those of NAS. The growth of S. aureus and NAS significantly decreased during apo-Lf treatment and significantly reduced the total amount of biofilm produced by S. aureus whereas native-LF treatment did not affect the growth and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus species. These results confirmed the ability of Lf to act as an antimicrobial and antibiofilm substance against mastitis-causing Staphylococcus spp., although various responses from each strain were observed. Additionally, the iron-binding state of Lf affected growth but did not affect the biofilm formation ability. Differences in the responses of Staphylococcus strains to Lf may help explain their pathogenicity, requiring further research.

The occurrence of avian diseases has been greatly reduced by improved sanitation on poultry farms and the development of prevention programs through vaccination and other measures. However, the poultry industry still faces several concerns. Marek's disease (MD) has caused significant economic losses to the poultry industry in the past; however, the introduction of vaccines has successfully contributed to a reduction in MD occurrences. Nevertheless, sporadic MD occurrences are still observed, and increased virulence has been reported owing to the changes in viral characteristics. In addition to infectious diseases, infestation with poultry red mites (PRMs; Dermanyssus gallinae), which are small hematophagous ectoparasites of poultry, has caused severe declines in productivity of the poultry industry worldwide. Furthermore, in addition to animal hygiene, problems caused by PRMs are of concern in terms of public health and animal welfare. The emergence of acaricide-resistant PRMs has made their control difficult. Therefore, the establishment of novel control strategies is eagerly awaited. Among the issues of avian diseases facing the poultry industry, this review highlights research on the mechanisms of increased virulence of MD virus and the development of a novel approach for PRM control.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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^TM 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^TM 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^TM traps in intensive poultry farms in Thailand and provides baseline data to guide integrated control strategies in tropical poultry production systems.

Bovine coronaviruses (BCoVs) cause gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms in cattle, resulting in economic losses in the industry. The virus strains are endemic in many countries worldwide, including Japan. As recent epidemiological data on BCoVs in Japan are limited, we conducted a survey in Chiba Prefecture, where no such survey has been conducted before, using nasal swab or lung samples collected from 105 cattle with respiratory symptoms during 2020-2022. The rate of BCoV RNA positivity determined using real-time RT-PCR was 43.8% (46 samples), among which 20 strains were successfully isolated. Phylogenetic analysis based on the polymorphic sequence region of the spike gene classified the detected strains into the Japan G3 or G4 genotypes. Therefore, in contrast to previous report that BCoVs of the G3 genotype may have gone extinct in Japan, our results suggest that the Japan G3 and G4 genotypes coexist and have spread in Chiba Prefecture, causing respiratory disease in cattle.

A six-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair presented with a one-month history of respiratory distress. Echocardiography showed a large lesion adjacent to the left atrium that was compressing the pulmonary vein. Peak pulmonary venous flow velocity was high (1.5 m/sec). The diagnosis was pulmonary vein stenosis due to mass compression. Fine-needle biopsy cytology of the lung mass led to a direct diagnosis of lymphoma. After two weeks of treatment with L-Asparaginase and prednisolone, a reduction in the mass adjacent to the left atrium and slower peak pulmonary venous flow velocity (0.9 m/sec) were observed. Pulmonary vein stenosis was attenuated by a reduction in the size of lymphoma. This is the first case report of secondary pulmonary vein stenosis in a cat.