Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica最新文献

Background: The East African Shorthorn Zebu (SHZ) is a Bos indicus breed adapted to tropical farming systems characterized by compromised feeding, welfare and harsh environments, contributing to poor reproductive performance. Estrus and ovulation synchronization protocols developed to enhance reproduction in Bos taurus have not achieved similar success in SHZ. This study evaluated effects of 7-day Co-synch + progesterone releasing intravaginal device (7-day Co-synch + P4ID; n = 17), Bee-Synch I (n = 17), and Bee-Synch II (n = 17) protocols on dominant follicle (DF) diameters, estrus and ovulation in 51 SHZ cows on extensive management. Estrus was monitored through observation and aids, while ultrasonography measured ovarian DF and corpus luteum (CL) diameters. Generalized linear models were used to compare means across protocols at 95% confidence level using R.

Results: DF diameters increased by 0.05 mm for every hour from P4ID withdrawal irrespective of protocol (P < 0.001). Mean DF diameters at P4ID withdrawal were 6.015 ± 0.903, 4.93 ± 0.737 and 7.31 ± 0.613 mm for 7-day Co-synch + P4ID, Bee synch I and Bee synch II respectively and the difference between Bee synch I and Bee synch II were significant (P.adj = 0.044). At last gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration time, DF diameters were 8.76 ± 0.725, 7.29 ± 0.505, and 9.68 ± 0.521 mm for 7-day Co-synch + P4ID, Bee synch I and Bee synch II respectively, with significant differences between Bee-Synch I and Bee-Synch II (P-adj = 0.016). Mean preovulatory DF diameters were 10.64 ± 0.333, 8.97 ± 0.335 and 10.30 ± 0.236 mm for the 7-day Co-synch + P4ID, Bee synch I and for Bee synch II respectively, with significant differences between Bee-synch I and 7-day Co-synch + P4ID (P.adj = 0.011) and between Bee-Synch I and Bee-Synch II (P.adj = 0.008). Estrus expression rates were not significantly different and 47%, 41.2% and 58.8% for 7-day Co-synch + P4ID, Bee synch I and Bee synch II respectively, while ovulation rates were 41.2%, 52.94% and 82.35% respectively. Mean ovulation times and last GnRH to ovulation intervals were significantly longer for both 7-day Co-synch + P4ID and Bee synch II than for Bee synch I.

Conclusions: Bee synch II and 7-day Co-synch + P4ID outperformed Bee synch I presenting opportunities for fertility improvement in SHZ. The results highlight the need for tailored fixed-time estrus and ovulation synchronization protocols to enhance fertility in B. indicus cattle under tropical conditions.

Background: The filarioid nematode Dirofilaria repens infects mainly dogs and is transmitted by vector mosquitoes when biting the definitive host. The parasite has mainly been reported from Eastern and Southern Europe, but during recent decades it has expanded its geographic range to some countries in Central and Northern Europe. Here, we report the finding of a fully mature female D. repens in a dog in Denmark.

Case presentation: A female specimen of the filarioid nematode Dirofilaria repens (superfamily Filarioidea, family Onchocercidae) was isolated from a ruptured subcutaneous nodule in an 18 months old Border Collie on the Danish island of Bornholm. The dog was born in Italy, where it lived for the first 3 months of its life, whereafter it was imported to Denmark via Switzerland. Species diagnosis was based on molecular methods (Polymerase chain reaction PCR and sequencing of ribosomal DNA (rDNA, ITS) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA, COX1, NADH) in combination with morphometric characterization. The viviparous nematode was relatively small (total length 102 mm, broadest width 0.6 mm). It had a prominent uterus containing numerous eggs at different embryonation stages, some of which showed fully developed microfilariae.

Conclusions: Dirofilaria repens was originally reported from Southern Europe and Asia, but during recent decades, it expanded its distribution area northwards, allowing autochthonous transmission to occur in Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. The present report provides the first description from Denmark of a fully mature female worm in a dog imported from Italy. Known vectors include species of mosquitoes within the genera Aedes, Anopheles Coquillettidia and Culex, which are endemic in Denmark, reflecting the risk of future autochthonous transmission also in Denmark, where climatic conditions now allow larval development in the vectors. Although suspected to be an imported case, it cannot be excluded that the infection was contracted in Denmark.

Background: Weight carrying capacity is an important trait in riding horses and it may be associated with conformation. This study examined the physiological response to a ridden incremental weight carrying test in 16 adult Icelandic horses used for tour riding. Horses carried 20% (BWR_20%), 25% (BWR_25%), 30% (BWR_30%) and 35% (BWR_35%) of their body weight (BW) in tölt (~ 5.7 m/seconds, 640 m/step), and associations with body measurements and back conformation (score) were examined. Horses were divided into two groups (narrow or broad back) and body measurements were collected. Plasma lactate was analysed in blood samples collected after each step in the exercise test, an exponential equation was fitted, and BW-ratio was calculated for 2, 3 and 4 mmol/L (BWR_La2, BWR_La3 and BWR_La4). Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) were analysed at rest and 24 h post exercise.

Results: Four out of 15 horses did not reach a plasma lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L, even at BWR_35%. A positive correlation was found between chest width and BWR_La4 and between the difference between height at withers and croup and BWR_La2 (P < 0.05). Hock circumference and the difference between height at croup and back were negatively correlated with BWR_La2 (P < 0.05). The change in CK from rest to 24 h post exercise was negatively correlated with the difference between height at withers and height at back and croup (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The physiological response to weight carrying was relatively low. A wider chest, "uphill" conformation, straight backline and smaller hock circumference were associated with weight carrying capacity, but group (narrow or broad back) was not.

Background: Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) herding is based on access to seasonal pastures. Pastureland is, however, being lost and fragmented due to e.g. climate change, human activities, and predators, creating an increasing need for feeding and fencing. This alters disease occurrence, leading to a greater need for disease investigation tools. Knowledge of the activation of immune pathways during disease can be obtained by measuring cytokines, but no commercial methods are currently available for reindeer. This study investigated whether the MILLIPLEX® Bovine Cytokine Magnetic Bead assay could be used to detect interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in reindeer cell supernatants and serum. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from reindeer (n = 4) and cattle (Bos taurus, n = 3) were stimulated with mitogens for 6 and 24 h (h) and the quantity of cytokines in cell supernatants was measured. Serum from experimental viral infections in reindeer (Orf virus; ORFV and Varicellovirus cervidalpha2; CvHV2) was also analysed. Additionally, primers were designed to measure cytokine gene expression in response to mitogens by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results: The bovine bead-based multiplex immunoassay detected five of six cytokines (IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in reindeer PBMC supernatants after stimulation. All cytokines were detected in bovine samples. Although cytokine concentrations were generally higher in bovine samples, analysis of reindeer supernatants demonstrated significantly increased IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α and IFN-γ concentrations in supernatants from stimulated compared to unstimulated PBMCs. Neither reindeer nor cattle samples showed a significant increase for IL-6, while IL-8 was increased only in bovine samples after 6 h stimulation. Serum from reindeer infected with CvHV2 showed significantly increased IFN-γ levels on days 4 and 7 post inoculation. Gene expression of all cytokines was increased by stimulation of reindeer PBMCs, except IL-6 for which primer design was unsuccessful.

Conclusions: This study shows the potential of the bovine bead-based multiplex immunoassay for measuring IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ concentrations in reindeer. The qPCR is suitable for measuring gene expression of these cytokines and IL-8. These methods may be used to characterise immune responses in reindeer, but further testing and validation are warranted.

Background: Prudent antimicrobial use (AMU) is paramount for future sustainable animal production. Continuous efforts are required to have a low and well-regulated AMU. Living Labs (LLs) are multistakeholder open innovation platforms that have the potential to allow multiple stakeholders to explore common ground, create dialogues and find solutions to jointly identified problems. The purpose of this study was to stimulate multistakeholder dialogues leading to transitions towards a more prudent AMU in the Danish dairy and pig sectors.

Results: The two LLs, which focused on pig farms and dairy cattle farms, worked in parallel for 30 months. Stakeholders in the pig and dairy sectors pointed to systemic structures such as logistic conditions and global market structures as the main drivers of the current AMU. Both LLs expressed conflicting interests and perceptions around the concept of prudent AMU related to animal welfare and today's production systems. Thus, the LLs in the Danish context became spaces for opening dialogues and negotiating difficult and sensitive issues in addition to being open-innovation platforms. Both LLs expressed scepticism around the connections between AMU in animal farming and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance to humans. However, this scepticism was more dominant for the stakeholders of the pig sector. The feeling of being a global front-runner in prudent AMU, legislation and transparent monitoring of AMU existed in both sectors, but both LLs identified possibilities and room for improvement. The need to reduce AMU was most consistently articulated in the dairy cattle LL, where the stakeholders increasingly focused on calves from dairy farms and the systemic drivers, which made it challenging to reduce AMU. Some actors in the pig LL kept questioning whether a change towards more prudent AMU was needed in Denmark.

Conclusion: The LL approach fostered important dialogues and insights between central stakeholders in the sectors and was thereby helpful in terms of opening and contributing to dialogues about antibiotic usage in dairy cattle and pigs within and across sectors.

Background: Paralytic ileus (PI) also known as functional ileus or adynamic ileus occurs when intestinal motor activity is impaired. Cessation of ingesta passage leads to the accumulation of fluid and gas causing intestinal dilatation. With this type of ileus, intestinal transit is functionally impaired in the absence of a physical obstruction. The present retrospective study describes the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of 57 cows with PI.

Results: Colic occurred in 43.9% of the cows, and intestinal and rumen motility was reduced or absent in 92.9% (52/56) and 82.5% (47/57) of the cows, respectively. Ballottement and/or percussion and simultaneous auscultation on the right were also positive in 82.5% of the cows. Faecal output was minimal or absent in 94.7% (54/57) of the cows, and dilated small intestines and occasionally large intestines were palpated transrectally in 57.1% (32/56). The principal laboratory abnormalities were hypokalaemia (89.4%, 51/57), hypocalcaemia (87.5%, 35/40), hypermagnesaemia (77.5%, 31/40), positive base excess (57.4%, 27/47), acidosis (55.3%, 26/47) and hypercapnia (53.2%, 25/47). Ultrasonography in 50 cows revealed dilated small intestines with reduced or absent motility. Eleven cows had received medical treatment alone, 45 had undergone right flank laparotomy and one was euthanized immediately after clinical examination. Fifty-four (94.7%) cows were discharged and three (5.3%) were euthanized.

Conclusions: Paralytic and mechanical ileus are difficult to differentiate using non-invasive methods, which impacts treatment decisions. The prognosis of cattle with PI is good with adequate treatment.

Background: Canine leishmaniosis, caused by Leishmania infantum, is a vector-borne disease. The immune response in infected dogs determines the clinical outcome, with a strong cell-mediated immune response linked to parasite control and mild clinical signs, while a humoral-dominant response is associated with severe disease. Low antibody levels in clinically asymptomatic dogs with negative molecular and/or parasitological test results may reflect prior exposure or the early stages of Leishmania infection. In contrast, elevated antibody levels are typically correlated with a high parasitic burden and active disease. The detection of dogs with clinical leishmaniosis and null-specific immune response against L. infantum is uncommon. However, this presentation has also been described in human leishmaniasis with the absence of humoral response detected by conventional serological methods.

Case presentation: Case 1, a 9-year-old Border Collie, showed splenomegaly and Leishmania amastigotes within splenic macrophages. Case 2, a 10-month-old French Bulldog, had chronic anorexia and malabsorption syndrome with granulomatous splenitis and amastigotes confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Finally, case 3, a 7-year-old cross-breed, presented with cutaneous nodules and nasal ulcerative dermatitis, with Leishmania amastigotes detected histologically and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. All dogs were seronegative by two quantitative serological tests including indirect immunofluorescent test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The identification of the parasite in the affected organ established a clear cause-and-effect relationship. Consequently, anti-Leishmania treatment was initiated, consisting of allopurinol (10 mg/kg orally twice daily) and meglumine antimoniate (50 mg/kg subcutaneously twice daily for four weeks) in cases 1 and 3. In case 1, a favourable clinical response was noted, with a normal abdominal ultrasound and a negative result by quantitative molecular test from material obtained via ultrasound-guided splenic puncture. In case 3, the administration of meglumine antimoniate resulted in the resolution of dermatological signs. Clinical follow-up and anti-Leishmania treatment could not be performed for case 2.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the diagnostic challenges in detecting clinical leishmaniosis in seronegative dogs. The absence of a specific humoral response should be considered, emphasizing the importance of using multiple diagnostic methods, including cytology, and histopathology with immunohistochemistry. This case series underscores the need for a comprehensive approach in diagnosing and managing canine leishmaniosis.

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the main health concern in calf-rearing units. It is a major cause of increased antibiotic use and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in calves. Vaccination protocols against BRD for calf-rearing units are difficult to implement in practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the vaccination protocol including intranasal and subcutaneous vaccinations on mortality, antibiotic treatment rate, and average daily gain (ADG). The vaccination protocol consisted of intranasal BRD vaccination when the calves arrived at the rearing unit at the age of two to four weeks and two subcutaneous BRD vaccinations at two and three months of age. Mortality, antibiotic treatments, and ADG were recorded and evaluated from arrival until six months of age. The batches that arrived at the rearing unit prior to the beginning of the trial were used as the historic control group. Altogether, 740 vaccinated and 914 unvaccinated calves were enrolled to the study. A total of 88 calves (5.3%) died or were euthanized during the study period, of which 29 (32.9%) were vaccinated and 59 (67.1%) unvaccinated. In the logistic mixed model, the vaccination protocol decreased mortality (odds ratio 0.57, P = 0.036). The deaths occurred mostly during the pre-weaning period and only six calves died after weaning. During the study period, 1592 (96.3%) of the calves were treated with antibiotics at least once. In 90% of the courses, respiratory infections were the cause of antibiotic therapy. The mean antibiotic treatment rate for vaccinated calves (2.3 courses/calf, standard deviation [SD] 1.2) was lower than unvaccinated calves (2.4 courses/calf, SD 1.3) (P = 0.003). The average daily weight gain during the entire study period did not differ between the groups (vaccinated calves 1.08 kg/d, SD 0.12; unvaccinated calves 1.09 kg/d, SD 0.13). The vaccination protocol used in this study decreased the odds ratio for mortality but did not affect ADG. The difference in number of antibiotic treatments used for BRD was clinically negligible. A limitation of the study design is the interpretation of the effect of the historical control group which may affect the results through seasonal variation.

Canine ovariectomy is a commonly performed procedure in veterinary practice and can be done via an open celiotomy or a laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopy requires different psychomotor skills from those involved in open surgery. Many of these basic skills can initially be acquired through simulation-based training. Surgical simulation training benefits both the surgeon and the patient by offering the acquisition of new skills in a less stressful environment while lowering the risk for the patient. Virtual reality (VR) simulation training is well established in human medicine, but no VR modules have previously been available for veterinary procedure training for laparoscopy. This project aimed to develop a VR simulator module for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy on the simulator LapSim^® (Surgical Science, Gothenburg, Sweden). The simulator module could offer veterinary surgeons the opportunity to gain the basic technical skills required for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy. Surgeons with experience in laparoscopic ovariectomy acted as content experts, and the development was a stepwise iterative process. The three-port technique was chosen; it included locating and lifting the uterine horn and sealing and transecting tissue to free the ovaries. The organs and tissues the surgeon interacted with during the simulation were the spleen, intestines, pancreas, ovaries, uterine horns, suspensory ligaments, mesometrium and mesovarium. The module included simulating haemorrhage from the spleen, ovarian and uterine vessels. Suggestions for the continued development of the simulation were identified. Examples were an increased haptic feel in some instances of tissue manipulation and the possibility of introducing a variation in the length of the ovarian pedicle. The last step of the simulated procedure included visual guidance for verification of haemostasis. Even though guidance is not part of a real-life operation, identifying anatomical landmarks was considered valuable from an educational perspective. A validity investigation study has been initiated to evaluate the module as an assessment tool.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 776 million confirmed cases and more than 7 million deaths worldwide. In addition to humans, various animal species have exhibited natural infections, with mink being the only farmed animals consistently linked to severe illness and zoonotic transmission to humans. This study investigates histological pulmonary lesions in Danish farm mink infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), focusing on groups with different clinical signs and outcomes.

Results: Histopathological evaluations revealed lesions in SARS-CoV-2-positive mink with and without clinical signs of disease. The main findings in lungs from SARS-CoV-2-positive mink in all study groups were extensive respiratory epithelial damage, acute diffuse alveolar damage, and vascular lesions, including the formation of thrombi. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining confirmed the presence of viral particles primarily in the respiratory epithelia. Lymphoid cells exhibited nodular and perivascular aggregates similar to bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in older SARS-CoV-2 infected and uninfected mink, indicating a potential age-related feature of mink lungs.

Conclusions: The presence of subclinical and long-term pulmonary lesions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections in farm mink suggests that the impact of outbreaks may be more serious than clinical signs records indicate. The current SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system on Danish mink farms does not properly address such problems and repeated outbreaks on farms could occur without detection if there are no clinical signs or increased mortality due to SARS-CoV-2. The severity of subclinical lesions reveals hidden health and welfare challenges in mink, underscoring the need for improved prevention measures, surveillance and understanding of long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mink.