Veterinary Quarterly最新文献

This study aimed to propose new diagnostic criteria and provide detailed descriptions of cats diagnosed with transient myocardial thickening (TMT) using a retrospective design. HCM phenotype cases were defined as cats with echocardiographic findings of a maximum left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) ≥6 mm on at least one presentation. TMT was defined as an increased LVWT ≥6 mm on at least two presentations, a subsequent decrease in LVWT of more than 25% within 6 months, no subsequent increase in left atrial-to-aortic root ratio (LA/Ao) ≥20% from baseline, and a fractional shortening ≤30%. A total of 145 cats had HCM phenotypes. Among cats that underwent serial echocardiography (n = 53), 16 were diagnosed with TMT and 34 with HCM. At presentation, the maximum LVWT was 8.3 ± 1.7 mm in cats with TMT, and decreased to 5.4 ± 0.9 mm after a median of 3.5 months [1-6 months]. Two cats initially classified as TMT were later identified as TMT on HCM based on persistent LV thickening, and all cats with TMT survived until the time of publication. The prevalence of TMT may be higher than expected when including asymptomatic TMT and TMT on HCM. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of dynamic changes in myocardial thickness in cats.

Trichinellosis is a significant zoonotic disease worldwide, with pigs as a primary reservoir host of human infection. Backyard pigs are particularly at risk due to their exposure to muscle tissue containing Trichinella larvae from synanthropic micromammals or home slaughter waste. In Chile, veterinary inspections of domestically slaughtered pigs are mainly conducted in veterinary clinics using muscle samples provided by farmers or consumers. While positive cases must be reported to the authorities, negative cases are not, creating a gap in official data on Trichinella prevalence. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Trichinella sp. in backyard and intensively raised pigs in south-central Chile. Records of 2,608 backyard pigs were obtained from various veterinary clinics in the La Araucanía and Ñuble regions, with a few records from the El Maule and Biobío regions, encompassing a total of 33 communes. The overall prevalence was found to be 0.9% (95% confidence interval: 0.59-1.37). According to the available information, records of more than 50,000 pigs slaughtered in abattoirs per year corresponded to negative results after examination. Previous reports suggest that eradication is challenging; however, the decreasing incidence rate of human infection indicates the possibility of improving control measures for this zoonosis.

Coccidiosis is a global disease caused by protozoans, typically including Eimeria spp., which pose a significant threat to the normal growth and development of young animals. Coccidiosis affects mainly the gut, where parasite proliferation occurs. The intestinal barrier, which consists of chemical, mechanical, biological, and immune defences, plays a crucial role in protecting the host against pathogens, xenobiotics, and toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract. When animals ingest sporulated Eimeria spp. oocysts, these parasites primarily reproduce in the intestinal tract, causing damage to the structure and function of the intestine. This disruption of intestinal homeostasis adversely affects animal health. Numerous studies have also revealed that Eimeria-infected animals experience slower bone growth rates, inferior meat quality, reduced egg production and quality, as well as impaired growth and development. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to examine the underlying mechanisms through which Eimeria spp. regulate intestinal damage and disturb the balance of the internal environment. Specifically, this review will focus on their effects on the structural basis of the host intestine's chemical, mechanical, biological and immune barriers. This understanding is crucial for the development of effective drugs to prevent the invasion of Eimeria spp. into the intestine, which is of paramount importance for maintaining host health.

Canine oral malignant melanoma (OMM) is an aggressive, spontaneously occurring tumor carrying a poor to guarded prognosis and relatively limited therapeutic strategies. In this landscape, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)4 represents a promising immunotherapeutic target. The objective of this bi-center prospective study was to examine the clinical outcome of OMM-bearing dogs treated with surgery and adjuvant electroporation using a DNA vaccine (HuDo-CSPG4) encoding both human (Hu) and canine (Do) portions of CSPG4 through two different vaccination protocols. Dogs with stage I-III surgically resected CSPG4-positive OMM underwent HuDo-CSPG4 plasmid electroporation starting at the 3^rd-4^th post-operative week; electrovaccination was repeated after 2 weeks. In protocol 1, electrovaccination was then delivered monthly while in protocol 2, electrovaccination was performed monthly four additional times followed by semestral boosters. The survival rates of HuDo-CSPG4-vaccinated dogs were estimated and compared with a control group treated with surgery alone. Significantly longer overall survival times were observed in HuDo-CSPG4 vaccinated dogs as compared with non-vaccinated controls. Dogs receiving protocol 2 showed similar outcomes to those of dogs undergoing protocol 1, despite fewer vaccinations. The comparable humoral response against CSPG4 resulting from the administration of protocol 1 and 2 appears to have similar clinical relevance, highlighting protocol 2 as the optimal vaccination schedule.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of endothelial activation and glycocalyx degradation in the pathogenesis of feline panleukopenia (FPL) using biomarkers and to determine the diagnostic and prognostic significance of these biomarkers. Thirty cats with FPL and 10 healthy cats were enrolled. Clinical examination, blood gases, and complete blood count (CBC) were performed at enrollment. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and syndecan-1 (Syn-1) concentrations were measured using feline specific commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits to assess endothelial glycocalyx damage. Nineteen (63.3%) of the cats with FPL recovered and survived, while 11 (36.7%) died. In cats with panleukopenia, acidemia was the most important blood gas finding, while leukopenia, lymphopenia, monocytopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia were the most dominant CBC findings. ET-1, ADMA, VEGF-A, and Syn-1 concentrations were significantly higher in cats with panleukopenia (p < 0.01). Serum Syn-1 and ET-1 concentrations were found to be useful in predicting mortality. In conclusion, the fact that the concentrations of all endothelial glycocalyx biomarkers (ET-1, ADMA, VEGF-A, Syn-1) were higher in cats with panleukopenia compared to healthy cats suggests that endothelial glycocalyx damage occurs during panleukopenia infection. In addition, Syn-1 and ET-1 were found to be potential prognostic factors with high sensitivity and specificity.

Sulfonamides (S) are old antibiotics combined with trimethoprim (TMP) for synergistic effects against pathogens responsible for a variety of infections in food-producing animals. In growing pigs, the TMP:S ratio is 1:5 based on human TMP/sulfamethoxazole (SMX) dosing which aims to obtain an in vivo ratio concentration of 1:19 considered as optimal against human pathogens. However, different sulfonamides with different pharmacokinetic profiles are used in pigs limiting this direct extrapolation from human. The aim was to conduct a PK study in pigs for three commonly used TMP/S combinations and to analyze data using population pharmacokinetic modeling. We found that a 2-compartment structural model fitted best the four drug PK data. TMP has the highest clearance values (0.48 L/h/kg) compared to SMX (0.21 L/h/kg), SDZ (0.12 L/h/kg) and SDMX (0.015 L/h/kg). SDMX has the longest plasma elimination half-life (14.8 h), followed by SDZ (3.7 h), TMP (2.9 h) and SMX (2.2 h). Monte Carlo simulations (n = 50,000 pigs) showed that only for 8.8%, 46.8%, and 76.5% of pigs for TMP/SMX, TMP/SDZ and TMP/SDMX, respectively, the free plasma concentration ratio fell within the range of 1:10-1:50 at the marketed doses administered. These results should be further linked to pharmacodynamics to optimize the use of these important antimicrobials drugs in veterinary medicine.

RNA-containing coronaviruses are widespread in nature and can infect a number of vertebrates. Animals are potential sources of human coronaviruses diseases, and interspecies infection by animal coronaviruses has been recorded several times. Such a transmission may have caused the COVID-19 pandemic. The study and control of the spread of farm animals' coronavirus infections is very important, due to the constant close contact between humans and farm animals. Vaccination remains the key to preventing animal diseases and limiting the further spread and transmission of coronavirus infections among poultry and livestock. This review considers coronavirus infections in farm animals, which pose a serious challenge to animal husbandry, and their zoonotic potential and epidemiological features. The review also discusses current vaccines and their limitations, as well as the latest developments and trends in veterinary vaccines aimed at preventing coronavirus infections in poultry and livestock.

Macrophages play key roles in tissue homeostasis and regeneration-associated inflammation. Unlike humans, a reliable protocol to obtain and polarise equine monocyte-derived macrophages is lacking. In this study the polarisation of equine macrophages, derived from CD172a⁺ peripheral blood monocytes is described. After differentiation, IFN-γ/LPS or IL-4 were used to induce pro- and anti-inflammatory phenotypes, respectively. Evaluation criteria included morphology, mRNA (RT-qPCR) and protein expression (flow cytometry, immunofluorescence), nitric oxide and arginase production, cytokine secretion (multiplex), and functional effects of conditioned medium (CM). IFN-γ/LPS-stimulated cells exhibited a rounded morphology with cytoplasmic extensions, while IL-4 stimulation induced spindle-shaped and multinucleated giant cells. IFN-γ/LPS upregulated CXCL8, CD86, IL10 and TGFB1 mRNA, whereas IL-4 upregulated CXCL8, MRC1 and TGFB1. Polarisation was confirmed with IFN-γ/LPS-stimulated macrophages expressing CD86 and secreting TNFα and IL-1β, while IL-4-stimulation increased CD206 positivity and VEGFα expression. Increased proliferation and altered mRNA expression in tendon cells treated with 50% CM further validate the functional impact of macrophage polarisation. In summary, a robust protocol to obtain equine macrophages was developed, followed by in-depth characterization of their pro- and anti-inflammatory polarisation. Given the horse's increasing relevance as large animal model, this research holds both a strong species-specific and translational value.

The Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) and Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index (CCECAI) are key tools for monitoring chronic enteropathies (CE) in dogs. Despite their widespread use, concerns persist regarding their intra-observer repeatability and inter-observer reproducibility, which may impact clinical and research applications. This study evaluated the reliability of these indices through a two-phase approach using anonymized clinical records. In Phase 1, two observers independently scored 41 consultation forms twice, one month apart, to assess repeatability and reproducibility. Phase 2 involved four observers with varying expertise who scored 59 forms using a standardized guide addressing Phase 1 inconsistencies. Statistical methods included Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plots. High intra-observer repeatability was observed for most variables, but inter-observer reproducibility was limited for CIBDAI, CCECAI, and fluctuating parameters like stool consistency and defecation frequency. The standardized guide marginally improved consistency but did not resolve discrepancies. Expert evaluators did not consistently outperform non-experts. Reproducibility declined in more clinically severe cases. These findings highlight the need for standardized training, dynamic scoring systems, and digital tools to enhance reliability. Addressing these limitations is critical to improve clinical decision-making and research outcomes in canine CE.

Primary pulmonary lung cancer is rare in dogs, and clinicians increasingly rely on advanced imaging for diagnosis and treatment planning. However, manual lesion segmentation can be time-consuming and subject to operator variability. This retrospective study compiled a multicenter dataset of canine CT scans containing at least one pulmonary mass measuring more than 2 cm. Data were collected from two university veterinary hospitals and a teleradiology service, encompassing varying acquisition protocols and scanner types. Lesions were manually segmented to create ground truth masks, and an AI model was trained and evaluated using the nnUNet v2 framework with a 5-fold cross-validation approach. Performance on a separate test set of 30 scans was quantified using the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and Average Symmetric Surface Distance (ASSD). The databse was made of 217 cases. The training/validation set comprised 187 cases. The model's segmentation accuracy was tested on 30 cases. The trained model had a high segmentation accuracy on the test set, with a mean DSC of 0.91 and an ASSD of 1.88 mm. The model had high performance on homogeneous, well-defined masses, whereas the presence of intralesional mineralisation or pleural effusion had a negative impact on the model's performance.