Animals最新文献

This literature review explores the impact of molecular, genetic, and environmental factors on the efficacy of targeted therapies in veterinary medicine. Relevant studies were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect using keywords such as "species-specific treatment strategies", "signalling pathways", "epigenetic and paragenetic influences", "targeted therapies", "veterinary medicine", "genetic variation", and "free radicals and oxidative stress". Inclusion criteria included studies focusing on species-specific therapeutic responses, genetic influences, and oxidative stress. To ensure that only the most recent and relevant evidence was included, only peer-reviewed publications from the last two decades were considered. Each study selected for analysis was critically appraised, with a particular emphasis on methodological quality, experimental design, and scientific contribution to the understanding of how environmental and biological factors influence therapeutic outcomes. A special emphasis was placed on studies that used a comparative, cross-species approach to assess variability in therapeutic responses and potential adverse effects. The review synthesises evidence on the role of epigenetic and paragenetic factors and highlights the importance of cross-species studies to understand how environmental and biological factors influence treatment outcomes. By highlighting genetic variation, oxidative stress, and individual species differences, the review argues for personalised and species-specific therapeutic approaches. The review emphasises that such an approach would improve veterinary care and inform future research aimed at optimising targeted therapies, ultimately leading to better animal health and treatment efficacy. A key contribution of the review is its emphasis on the need for more personalised treatment protocols that take into account individual genetic profiles and environmental factors; it also calls for a greater integration of cross-species studies.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the dietary effects of replacing corn with different proportions of fermented straw on the growth performance and intestinal health of finishing pigs. A total of 275 healthy commercial finishing pigs aged 126 days (average body weight, 82.96 ± 3.07 kg) were randomly allocated into three groups: the control (CTR, basal diet) group, the 5% fermented straw (FJJG5, replacing 5% of the corn) group, and the 10% fermented straw (FJJG10, replacing 10% of the corn) group. There were six replicates in each group and 14-16 pigs per replicate. On day 39 of the experiment, one animal from each replicate was slaughtered for sampling and for further analysis. The results showed that the finishing pigs in the FJJG10 group had a reduced average daily weight gain and an increased feed-to-gain ratio. The FJJG5 group had reduced total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein in their serum, while the FJJG5 and FJJG10 groups had reduced contents of lactate dehydrogenase. In addition, the FJJG5 group exhibited increased T-SOD activity and MDA content in the colon, while the FJJG10 group also showed increased T-AOC activity in their serum and increased contents of MDA in the colon. The FJJG5 group exhibited increased activities of jejunal disaccharidase and lipase, while the FJJG10 group exhibited decreased jejunal crypt depths. Moreover, the FJJG5 group presented an increased relative expression of APOA4, LPL, and MUC2 but decreased SLC7A7 and IL-10 in the jejunum and APOA4 in the colon. The FJJG10 group exhibited a decreased relative expression of SLC7A7 and IL-10 in the jejunum and decreased MMP13, KCNJ13, APOA4, SLC7A7, LPL, and IL-10 in the colon. Furthermore, the FJJG5 group exhibited an increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus in colon contents, while the FJJG10 group had a reduced relative abundance of streptococcus. In conclusion, 5% fermented straw can improve the lipid metabolism and colon microbiota structure of finishing pigs, while 10% fermented straw has adverse effects on the growth performance and intestinal health of finishing pigs.

Melioidosis is a zoonotic disease that is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is a serious public health and safety risk. In order to explore the global animal melioidosis risk distribution and its dynamic response to future climate scenarios, we collected global data about reported animal incidence sites. Data regarding the density of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the environment were created by collecting and sorting information about the Burkholderia pseudomallei occurrence sites in contaminated air, soil, and water. Combined with bioclimatic variables, the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) niche was modeled for global animal melioidosis. The findings indicate that under current bioclimatic conditions, global animal melioidosis risk regions are concentrated between 30° S and 30° N, with high-risk areas being mainly in Central America, the northern part of South America, and eastern and southern India, among others. Most countries will expand their risk regions under future climatic scenarios. Melioidosis risk expanding towards higher northern latitudes has led to new epidemic areas. In addition, the melioidosis risk area will contract in some areas. Therefore, we have provided a basis for global melioidosis surveillance and propose feasible strategies for prevention and control in high-risk regions, which will help countries to carry out targeted surveillance and prevention to reduce risks and losses.

Body stalk anomaly (BSA) is a complex congenital condition characterized by defects in the body wall, skeletal abnormalities, and an absent or abnormal umbilical cord (UC). A classification system for BSA, based on wall and skeletal abnormalities, is proposed and includes eight types observed in porcine models. These classifications consider combinations of thoracoabdominoschisis, abdominoschisis, anal atresia, genitourinary anomalies, and skeletal defects, including extreme retroflexion, scoliosis, vertebral agenesis, hemivertebrae, and thoracic or limb anomalies. While previous studies often treat limb-body wall complex (LBWC) as a separate condition, this study includes cases with co-occurring limb and spinal defects in a new classification, spinal-limb-body wall complex (SPLBWC). Additional skeletal classifications-spine-body wall complex (SPBWC), sternal-body wall complex (STBWC), and sternal-spinal-body wall complex (SSBWC)-are introduced to account for variations in structural anomalies. Nonstructural skeletal anomalies such as deformities, amputations, and arthrogryposis are excluded from the structural classifications. This comprehensive system, based on existing human and porcine models, provides a framework for the systematic categorization of BSA variations. Such an approach supports accurate diagnosis, enhances understanding of developmental defects, and improves clinical management and research outcomes in both veterinary and human medicine.

India, the leading producer and consumer of milk, houses 307 million cattle, nearly a third of the world's total. A ban on cow slaughter exists in the majority of the Indian states. Intricately interweaved with the disputable yet publicly acknowledged sentiment of the cow's sacrality, and with the animal's utility value, the ban is capable of influencing the humans' treatment of the dairy animals. Against this background, this research aims to evaluate the welfare state of the Indian dairy bovines by analyzing their welfare at various life phases using the Five Freedoms framework. A scoping review of the relevant published studies that met all inclusion criteria was conducted using bibliographic databases Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Data were extracted and organized using Microsoft Excel, version 22H2. The literature reviewed demonstrates a loss of one or more freedoms in multiple phases of the bovines' productive lives, and a parallel loss of two or more freedoms in their post-productive lives; indicating the role of religious values, legislation, and the animal's economic utility in their treatment. This study highlights the role of culturally shaped human influences on dairy husbandry and creates grounds for studying human-bovine relationships through interdisciplinary lenses to generate culturally viable solutions to improve cattle welfare and promote a sustainable inter-species coexistence.

It is necessary to study small-ruminant production systems in a spatial context, as different areas, depending on their natural, socioeconomic, and cultural context, will respond differently to the effects of such causal factors. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between technology use and farm and farmer characteristics in dairy sheep production by developing a farm typology using multivariate statistical analysis and comparing it with the multi-scale sustainability evaluation of the Natural Resource Management Systems (NRMS) method. Quantitative and qualitative data were evaluated and compared using the NRMS method and cluster analysis to identify groups of farms. Fourteen variables were considered for the analysis, resulting in four farm systems with the NRMS method, named Intensive, Semi-Intensive, Semi-Extensive, and Extensive; however, when analyzing the data by cluster analysis, the following clusters were used: Cluster 1, Semi-Extensive Dairy Systems (SEDSs); Cluster 2, Semi-Intensive Systems (SIDSs); Cluster 3, Semi-Extensive Cheese Systems (SECSs); and Cluster 4, Intensive Dairy Systems (IDSs). This study concludes that the traditional classification of dairy sheep farms based on their dependence on natural resources can be enriched by incorporating additional indicators that allow for a more comprehensive and accurate characterization of farms.

In recent decades, bee poisoning due to pesticides and agrochemicals has increased, posing significant challenges to honey bee health and contributing to the so-called "Colony Collapse Disorder" (CCD). Poor knowledge about the level of exposure of bee colonies to pesticides and agrochemicals, whether from the environment or beekeeping management practices, is a major limiting factor in preventing these diseases. Collaboration among different stakeholders, such as beekeeping associations, local veterinary authorities, and researchers, is essential to create monitoring programs that can collect these data and enable the prompt implementation of surveillance and preventive actions to address potential bee colony poisoning incidents caused by these contaminants. The present study describes the results obtained through a collaborative initiative that was implemented for monitoring and preventing pesticide-induced bee poisonings in a territory of northern Italy where the exposure of honey bee colonies to different types of pesticides and agrochemicals may occur. Four sentinel apiaries were selected based on possible sources of pollution throughout the territory. Pollen samples were collected at different times during the years 2021-2022 and analyzed for pesticides using gas and liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS) techniques. The findings showed the presence of a number of pesticides, such as pyrethroids, permethrin, cypermethrin, amitraz, and pendimethalin, at varying concentrations. Acute bee mortality was observed in a field case related to pyrethroid exposure in 2022, in an urban area. These results confirm the need for timely interventions, improved sampling methods, and continuous monitoring to safeguard bee populations. Collaboration with local beekeepers and public authorities is thus essential in addressing pesticide use and bee health challenges, fostering efficient communication and training efforts to support sustainable beekeeping.

Gestation length (GL) is a critical indicator of reproductive performance in sows and is closely associated with other reproductive traits, such as total number born (TNB) and number born alive (NBA). Despite its importance, the genetic mechanisms underlying GL and its impact on reproductive traits remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the relationship between GL and reproductive traits using 7013 farrowing records and conducted an imputed whole-genome sequence-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) for GL in first-parity sows, involving 3005 French Large White sows. Our findings revealed that the heritability of GL ranged from 0.22 to 0.26. Both excessively short and long GLs were associated with negative impacts on TNB, NBA, and other reproductive traits. A total of 64 SNPs exceeded the significance threshold, leading to the identification of two novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosome 5 (QTL-1: 15.29-15.39 Mb and QTL-2: 12.86-12.94 Mb) and three promising candidate genes: TROAP, RFX4, and ADCY6. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that these candidate genes are enriched in key biological processes, including ovarian steroidogenesis, the GnRH signaling pathway, and the regulation of cAMP biosynthesis, all of which are crucial for gestation and pregnancy maintenance. These findings improve our understanding of the genetic architecture of GL in sows and offer valuable genetic markers for enhancing reproductive efficiency in breeding programs.

The illegal trade in leopard and lion parts is a major threat to felid conservation across Africa, especially in under-researched areas like francophone West Africa. Between April and June 2024, we conducted surveys in 16 cities and 46 markets in Côte d'Ivoire, interviewing 39 sellers and 14 users of felid products. We found leopard and lion parts in 42.7% and 25% of stalls, respectively. The illegal trade is driven by the demand for felid products for traditional purposes, with both species holding strong symbolic values. Products were often trafficked through informal networks and sourced from Sahelian neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso. We identified some key trade routes across West Africa and beyond. Without effective control measures, this illegal trade could accelerate the decline of West Africa's remaining large felid populations. We recommend establishing a regional database of confiscated felid parts for genetic tracing and developing standardized questionnaires for use during traffickers' arrests to gain further insights into their operations. Additionally, targeted behavioral change campaigns should be implemented to address corruption, increase enforcement agencies' interest and capacity, and shift the practices of traditional practitioners toward sustainable alternatives. Training law enforcement officers, raising awareness among key communities, and increasing cross-border collaboration and controls are critical to providing a more comprehensive understanding of the trade dynamics in the region.

Wearable collar technologies have become integral to the advancement of precision livestock farming, revolutionizing how dairy cattle are monitored in terms of their behaviour, health status, and productivity. These devices leverage cutting-edge sensors, including accelerometers, RFID tags, GPS receivers, microphones, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, to provide non-invasive, real-time insights that enhance animal welfare, optimize resource use, and support decision-making processes in livestock management. This systematized review focuses on analyzing the sensors integrated into collar-based systems, detailing their functionalities and applications. However, significant challenges remain, including the high energy consumption of some sensors, the need for frequent recharging, and limited parameter coverage by individual devices. Future developments must focus on integrating multiple sensor types into unified systems to provide comprehensive data on animal behaviour, health, and environmental interactions. Additionally, advancements in energy-efficient designs, longer battery life, and cost-reduction strategies are essential to enhance the practicality and accessibility of these technologies. By addressing these challenges, wearable collar systems can play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable, efficient, and responsible livestock farming, aligning with global goals for environmental and economic sustainability. This paper underscores the transformative potential of wearable collar technologies in reshaping the livestock industry and driving the adoption of innovative farming practices worldwide.