Veterinary Quarterly最新文献

Mycobacterium orygis, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), has emerged as a significant contributor to tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, wildlife, and humans. However, understanding about its pathogenesis and severity is limited, compounded by the lack of reliable TB biomarkers in cattle. This study delves into the comparative pathology and transcriptomic landscape of pulmonary granulomas in cattle naturally infected with M. orygis, using high-throughput RNA sequencing. Histopathological analysis revealed extensive, multistage granulomatous, necrotic, and cavitary lesions, indicative of severe lung pathology induced by M. orygis. Transcriptomic profiling highlighted numerous differentially expressed genes and dysregulated pathways related to immune response modulation and extracellular matrix remodelling. Additionally, cell type enrichment analysis provided insights into the multicellularity of the granulomatous niche, emphasising complex cell-cell interactions within TB granulomas. Via comparative transcriptomics leveraging publicly available bovine and human TB omics datasets, 14 key immunomodulators (SOD2, IL1α/β, IL15, IL18, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL8/MCP-2, CCL20/MIP-3α, CXCL2/MIP-2, CXCL10/IP-10, CXCL11, and IFN-γ) were identified as potential biomarkers for active TB in cattle. These findings significantly advance our understanding of M. orygis pathogenesis in bovine TB and highlight potential targets for the development of diagnostic tools for managing and controlling the disease.

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a significant threat to cattle, particularly in countries like Thailand, where outbreaks have necessitated the importation of diagnostic kits and vaccines. This study aimed to evaluate several recombinant extracellular enveloped virion (EEV) protein candidates, including F13L, A33R, A34R, and B5R, for their potential use in serological detection assays for LSDV specific antibodies in cattle. Given the challenges associated with LSDV research, such as its classification as a Class III biological agent in Thailand, gene synthesis was employed to produce these proteins. The recombinant proteins were expressed in a prokaryotic system and analyzed using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Among the candidates, F13L demonstrated the highest correlation with the results from a commercially available and validated ELISA, yielding 85.7%, and 75% positive for the infected and vaccinated groups, respectively, identifying it a promising candidate for serosurveillance activities during active LSDV outbreaks. Sequence analysis confirmed a 100% match between the F13L designed from the Neethling type strain 2490 and various Thai LSDV strains from the 2021 outbreaks, underscoring its potential as a conserved diagnostic marker. The availability of recombinant F13L and its reactivity with cattle sera from LSDV infected or vaccinated animals, demonstrated in this study, suggests it could also serve as a potential candidate for vaccine development. The study concludes that recombinant F13L shows great promise for the development of LSDV serological assays, though further optimization and validation are necessary to harness its diagnostic potential.

Developing a reliable, field ready estrus detection method is crucial for improving buffalo reproduction due to their subtle and poorly expressed estrus signs. This study investigated estrus phase-specific urinary metabolites in cyclic Murrah buffaloes (n=6) using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR). A total of 90 urinary metabolites were identified, with 15 consistently detected across all animals during the estrus phases (proestrus, estrus and diestrus). PCA highlighted p-cresol, ornithine, phenol, chlorogenate, quinolinate, hippurate and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate as key metabolites differentiating the estrus phases. PLS-DA identified p-cresol and phenol for estrus; chlorogenate and o-acetylcholine for proestrus and ornithine in diestrus as the potential urinary markers for detection of estrus phases based on their VIP scores greater than 1.5. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that the glycerophospholipid pathway, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, aspartate and aldarate metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism were the major metabolic pathways involved in regulating and controlling estrus cycle. Notably, p-cresol and phenol exhibited significant abundance during estrus (over 9-fold and 5-fold, respectively), suggesting their potential as putative estrus detection biomarkers. However, given the limited sample size (n = 6), these findings should be considered preliminary, and independent validation in larger, well-characterized cohorts is needed to confirm diagnostic utility.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the significance of the human-animal interface in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, with wildlife serving as an important source of infection. A better understanding of the specific pathogens and mechanisms involved is vital to prepare against future outbreaks, especially in Southeast Asia, a hotspot for zoonotic diseases. This paper reviews the published literature on wildlife zoonoses in this region from 2012 to 2022. The results show a diverse range of potential zoonotic pathogens and the widespread occurrence of zoonotic diseases from wildlife. Drivers of zoonotic pathogen spillover include (i) environmental factors (e.g. animal habitat disruption, environmental conditions, exposure to contaminated water/food/soil), (ii) animal factors (e.g. movement patterns, age-related susceptibility), (iii) human factors (e.g. lack of awareness, poor hygiene practices, age, gender and income) and (iv) human-animal-environmental interface factors (e.g. close contact between humans and animals, exposure through visiting animals and presence of vectors). The diverse drivers of zoonoses in Southeast Asia put its communities at risk for infection. To mitigate these risks, global health efforts should consider adopting a One Health approach to foster collaboration across human, animal, and wildlife health sectors. This could involve educating communities on safe animal interactions and improving disease surveillance.

The diagnosis and management of lumbosacral pain in dogs is challenging, requiring thorough examination, with MRI playing a crucial diagnostic role. This retrospective study investigates the presence of high-intensity zones (HIZ) in the dorsal annulus fibrosus (AF) of the lumbosacral region on MRI and describes the corresponding histopathological features in dogs with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. T2-weighted (T2W) and T1-weighted (T1W) sagittal MRI scans were evaluated using a classification system developed in human medicine to analyze HIZ characteristics. Among 836 dogs with IVD degeneration, 57 (6.8%) exhibited T2W HIZ, with a median age of 7 years and median weight of 33.7 kg. All cases with HIZ consistently exhibited radiological degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. The most common T2W HIZ shape was round (43%), while 14% of lesions also appeared hyperintense on T1W. Histopathological analysis of 11 dorsal AF samples collected during standard-of-care decompressive surgery revealed two patterns: reactive cystic structures (3/11) and granulation tissue (8/11), with differential MRI presentation. This is the first study to document HIZ in the lumbosacral level of dogs with IVD degeneration. With this recognition, prospective analyses and their correlation with clinical presentations will be essential in determining the role and prognostic significance of HIZ.

There is little information in veterinary literature on the perioperative pharmacological management of small animal patients, despite the existence of common protocols and the importance of properly managing this period to reduce anaesthesia-related detrimental effects. This study aimed to analyse the current use of perioperative drugs in companion animals treated at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of León (HVULE) in Spain over a period of 5 years (2018-2022), describe the prescription patterns of these medicines, and identify the main variables associated with their prescription to explore possible strategies to promote their appropriateness. A total of 3438 cases were included in this study. The animals that most frequently underwent surgery were dogs (58.2%), females (57.0%), and adults (73.0%). The primary procedures performed were reproductive (56.6%) and traumatological (19.8%) surgeries. Regarding pharmacological treatments, more than half (62.3%) belonged to the ATCvet classification QN group (nervous system), and the most common compounds were isoflurane (13.5%), methadone (13.5%), and propofol (12.7%). Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (3.7%) and marbofloxacin (2.8%) (categories C and B in the European Medicines Agency categorisation, respectively) were the most prescribed antibiotics. These findings provide detailed data to help veterinary policymakers improve drug use during surgical procedures.

The stability of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies is critical for diagnostic and research applications in veterinary medicine. This study evaluated the long-term stability of anti-Leishmania infantum IgG in canine serum samples under different storage conditions (-20 °C and -80 °C) over 2.5 years. Fifty-six serum samples were classified based on antibody concentration into low, medium, and high positive groups using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Each sample was divided into aliquots and analyzed after different storage times (6 months, 1 year, 1.5, and 2.5 years). No statistically significant differences were observed in IgG concentrations across storage durations or between storage temperatures. Median antibody levels remained consistent, with minor variations attributed to assay-related variability. Correlation analyses showed strong agreement between initial and final measurements (R² = 0.859 at -20 °C, R² = 0.957 at -80 °C). The study underscores the suitability of -20 °C and -80 °C storage for preserving anti-Leishmania antibodies, providing valuable insights for serological diagnostics and research in veterinary science. Proper sample handling and aliquoting are recommended to maintain antibody integrity in routine diagnostics and long-term studies.

Salmonella Pullorum, the causative agent of pullorum disease, posing a significant threat to the global production of poultry meat and eggs. However, existing detection methods have substantial limitations in efficiency and accuracy. Herein, we developed a genomic deletion-targeted TaqMan qPCR assay for identification of Salmonella Pullorum, enabling precise differentiation from other Salmonella serovars. The assay's detection limit was 5 copies/μL of plasmid and 4 CFU/μL of bacterial DNA. Furthermore, we collected 676 chicken samples from an established infection model to compare the performance of the TaqMan qPCR assay with traditional bacterial culturing and antibody-based detection approaches. With superior sensitivity and specificity, the newly developed method detected over 80% of positive chickens, significantly outperforming the two conventional methods. Moreover, we proposed a combined framework that incorporates the advantages of TaqMan qPCR assay and antibody detection method, further enhancing the detection rate of positives to 92%. Additionally, to address the frequent aerosol contamination of amplification products in laboratory settings, we devised an easy-to-deploy anti-contamination system based on T7 exonuclease. Overall, the T7 exonuclease-assisted TaqMan qPCR assay will not only upgrade the current detection for pullorum disease, but also exemplify the feasibility of targeting specific genomic deletions for pathogen detection.

Canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) is a prevalent pathogen implicated in canine infectious respiratory disease, yet information on its genomic characteristics and pathogenicity remains scarce. To address this situation, we investigated the genetic evolution and pathogenic potential of CRCoV strains circulating in China. Five complete CRCoV genomes (GenBank: PQ725948-PQ725952) were obtained from clinical samples, and phylogenetic analysis showed these strains formed a distinct genetic branch. The evolutionary trees for ORF1ab, HE, and S genes closely mirrored the full genome tree, indicating key roles for these genes in CRCoV evolution. Multiple unique amino acid mutations were identified in the ORF1ab, HE, S, M, and N proteins. Notably, molecular docking analysis suggests that mutations S158F and L161F in the HE lectin domain are associated with improved docking scores, indicating a potential increase in receptor-binding affinity. Consecutive nucleotide deletions in two non-coding regions between non-structural protein genes-which were also identified in strains of a Thai lineage (OQ621707.1-OQ621727.1)-were observed. A CRCoV strain (10⁶ TCID₅₀/mL) was isolated, and experimental infection confirmed its ability to induce pneumonia and tracheal cilia loss in dogs. These findings reveal the emergence and unique genetic diversity of a novel CRCoV variant in China, highlighting the need for ongoing epidemiological surveillance.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cardiovascular disease in small-breed dogs, and some affected dogs develop congestive heart failure (CHF). Although pimobendan is recommended to delay the onset of CHF, its effect on survival following CHF onset development remains unclear. This retrospective study evaluated the survival prognosis of 143 small-breed dogs diagnosed with first-time CHF due to MMVD, comparing pretreated (n = 54) and untreated (n = 89) groups. Pretreated dogs received cardiac medications including pimobendan for at least five weeks before CHF onset. Pretreated dogs had a significantly larger normalized left ventricular internal diameter (LVIDDN; p = 0.002) and higher left atrium-to-aortic root ratio (LA/Ao; p = 0.044) at CHF onset than untreated dogs. The median survival time after CHF onset was significantly longer in untreated dogs (481 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) 393-569 days) than in pretreated dogs (212 days, 95% CI 73-351 days; p = 0.028). Univariable Cox proportional hazards analysis identified pretreatment (p = 0.031), chordae tendineae rupture (p = 0.011), and the LA/Ao (p < 0.001) as significant predictors of survival. Our findings suggest that the administration of cardiac medications, including pimobendan, prior to the onset of CHF was not independently associated with improved survival following CHF.