Xiaotong Liu, Yongdong Peng, Xinhao Zhang, Xinrui Wang, Wenting Chen, Xiyan Kou, Huili Liang, Wei Ren, Muhammad Zahoor Khan, Changfa Wang
Variation in coat color among equids has attracted significant interest in genetics and breeding research. The range of colors is primarily determined by the type, concentration, and distribution of melanin pigments, with the balance between eumelanin and pheomelanin influenced by numerous genetic factors. Advances in genomic and sequencing technologies have enabled the identification of several candidate genes that influence coat color, thereby clarifying the genetic basis of these diverse phenotypes. In this review, we concisely categorize coat coloration in horses and donkeys, focusing on the biosynthesis and types of melanin involved in pigmentation. Moreover, we highlight the regulatory roles of some key candidate genes, such as MC1R, TYR, MITF, ASIP, and KIT, in coat color variation. Moreover, the review explores how coat color relates to selective breeding and specific equine diseases, offering valuable insights for developing breeding strategies that enhance both the esthetic and health aspects of equine species.
{"title":"Coloration in Equine: Overview of Candidate Genes Associated with Coat Color Phenotypes.","authors":"Xiaotong Liu, Yongdong Peng, Xinhao Zhang, Xinrui Wang, Wenting Chen, Xiyan Kou, Huili Liang, Wei Ren, Muhammad Zahoor Khan, Changfa Wang","doi":"10.3390/ani14121802","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121802","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Variation in coat color among equids has attracted significant interest in genetics and breeding research. The range of colors is primarily determined by the type, concentration, and distribution of melanin pigments, with the balance between eumelanin and pheomelanin influenced by numerous genetic factors. Advances in genomic and sequencing technologies have enabled the identification of several candidate genes that influence coat color, thereby clarifying the genetic basis of these diverse phenotypes. In this review, we concisely categorize coat coloration in horses and donkeys, focusing on the biosynthesis and types of melanin involved in pigmentation. Moreover, we highlight the regulatory roles of some key candidate genes, such as <i>MC1R</i>, <i>TYR</i>, <i>MITF</i>, <i>ASIP</i>, and <i>KIT</i>, in coat color variation. Moreover, the review explores how coat color relates to selective breeding and specific equine diseases, offering valuable insights for developing breeding strategies that enhance both the esthetic and health aspects of equine species.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11200706/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sameeullah Memon, Zerui Wang, Wen-Quan Zou, Yong-Chan Kim, Byung-Hoon Jeong
Prion disorders are fatal infectious diseases that are caused by a buildup of pathogenic prion protein (PrPSc) in susceptible mammals. According to new findings, the shadow of prion protein (Sho) encoded by the shadow of prion protein gene (SPRN) is associated with prion protein (PrP), promoting the progression of prion diseases. Although genetic polymorphisms in SPRN are associated with susceptibility to several prion diseases, genetic polymorphisms in the rabbit SPRN gene have not been investigated in depth. We discovered two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leporine SPRN gene on chromosome 18 and found strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) between them. Additionally, strong LD was not found between the polymorphisms of PRNP and SPRN genes in rabbits. Furthermore, nonsynonymous SNPs that alter the amino acid sequences within the open reading frame (ORF) of SPRN have been observed in prion disease-susceptible animals, but this is the first report in rabbits. As far as we are aware, this study represents the first examination of the genetic features of the rabbit SPRN gene.
{"title":"First Report of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Leporine Shadow of Prion Protein Gene (<i>SPRN</i>) and Absence of Nonsynonymous SNPs in the Open Reading Frame (ORF) in Rabbits.","authors":"Sameeullah Memon, Zerui Wang, Wen-Quan Zou, Yong-Chan Kim, Byung-Hoon Jeong","doi":"10.3390/ani14121807","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121807","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prion disorders are fatal infectious diseases that are caused by a buildup of pathogenic prion protein (PrP<sup>Sc</sup>) in susceptible mammals. According to new findings, the shadow of prion protein (Sho) encoded by the shadow of prion protein gene (<i>SPRN</i>) is associated with prion protein (PrP), promoting the progression of prion diseases. Although genetic polymorphisms in <i>SPRN</i> are associated with susceptibility to several prion diseases, genetic polymorphisms in the rabbit <i>SPRN</i> gene have not been investigated in depth. We discovered two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leporine <i>SPRN</i> gene on chromosome 18 and found strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) between them. Additionally, strong LD was not found between the polymorphisms of <i>PRNP</i> and <i>SPRN</i> genes in rabbits. Furthermore, nonsynonymous SNPs that alter the amino acid sequences within the open reading frame (ORF) of <i>SPRN</i> have been observed in prion disease-susceptible animals, but this is the first report in rabbits. As far as we are aware, this study represents the first examination of the genetic features of the rabbit <i>SPRN</i> gene.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11200826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kathiresan Purushothaman, Rachel Ho Jia Wen, Muhammad Hazim Bin Mohamed, Saraphina Dianne Tneo Rwei Qing, Lee Heng Wuan, Bing Liang, Nguyen Thanh Vu, Michael Voigtmann, Charles McLean Press, Grace Loo, Saraswathy Bisa, Jose A Domingos, Dean R Jerry, Shubha Vij
This study offers a comprehensive morpho-histological analysis of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the Malabar red snapper. A comparison of its GIT morphology with that of the Asian seabass reveals similarities and differences between the two species. Additionally, the moisture content, crude protein, and ash in the fillets of Malabar red snapper and Asian seabass were slightly different, with Malabar red snapper exhibiting higher levels of essential fatty acids. Furthermore, higher levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio, and a lower omega-6/omega-3 ratio, were observed in Malabar red snapper compared to Asian seabass. The Malabar red snapper's esophagus featured protective mechanisms such as simple columnar epithelial cells, mucous-secreting glands, and goblet cells that were predominantly stained for acid and neutral mucosubstances. Furthermore, its stomach, with mucus cells that were weakly stained for acid mucosubstances, exhibited distinct regions with varying glandular densities, with the pyloric region featuring few glands. The pyloric caeca of the fish were composed of five finger-like structures and few goblet cells. Several goblet cells gradually increased from the anterior to the posterior region of the intestine. These findings provide useful insights for the aquaculture sector, focusing on Malabar red snapper.
{"title":"Comparative Nutritional and Histological Analysis of Malabar Red Snapper (<i>Lutjanus malabaricus</i>) and Asian Seabass (<i>Lates calcarifer</i>).","authors":"Kathiresan Purushothaman, Rachel Ho Jia Wen, Muhammad Hazim Bin Mohamed, Saraphina Dianne Tneo Rwei Qing, Lee Heng Wuan, Bing Liang, Nguyen Thanh Vu, Michael Voigtmann, Charles McLean Press, Grace Loo, Saraswathy Bisa, Jose A Domingos, Dean R Jerry, Shubha Vij","doi":"10.3390/ani14121803","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121803","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study offers a comprehensive morpho-histological analysis of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of the Malabar red snapper. A comparison of its GIT morphology with that of the Asian seabass reveals similarities and differences between the two species. Additionally, the moisture content, crude protein, and ash in the fillets of Malabar red snapper and Asian seabass were slightly different, with Malabar red snapper exhibiting higher levels of essential fatty acids. Furthermore, higher levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio, and a lower omega-6/omega-3 ratio, were observed in Malabar red snapper compared to Asian seabass. The Malabar red snapper's esophagus featured protective mechanisms such as simple columnar epithelial cells, mucous-secreting glands, and goblet cells that were predominantly stained for acid and neutral mucosubstances. Furthermore, its stomach, with mucus cells that were weakly stained for acid mucosubstances, exhibited distinct regions with varying glandular densities, with the pyloric region featuring few glands. The pyloric caeca of the fish were composed of five finger-like structures and few goblet cells. Several goblet cells gradually increased from the anterior to the posterior region of the intestine. These findings provide useful insights for the aquaculture sector, focusing on Malabar red snapper.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11200453/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stallion mules have been used as working equids in several countries. Aggressiveness under the influence of testosterone results in the necessity for surgical castration before work training. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine may be an alternative method for immunocastration in mules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the GnRH vaccine on anti-GnRH antibody concentration, serum testosterone concentration, clinical adverse effects, and behavioral changes in response to receiving selected physical manipulations from humans. Twenty-five mules were separated into three groups: Control-intact, Control-castrated, and Treatment. The Treatment group was further divided according to condition (intact or unilateral cryptorchid) and age. The Treatment group received 195 µg of the GnRH vaccine intramuscularly at weeks 0, 4, and 8. The anti-GnRH antibody concentrations increased at weeks 6 and 10, and then they gradually decreased to baseline at week 24. The Treatment-intact-young group had the highest concentration of anti-GnRH antibody. The serum testosterone concentrations in the Treatment group were lower than before vaccination from weeks 6 to 14. Subcutaneous edema adjacent to the injection site was detected in the Treatment-intact group after booster vaccination. In conclusion, the mules responded to the GnRH vaccine, which could temporarily suppress testosterone for up to 14 weeks.
{"title":"GnRH Vaccine Could Suppress Serum Testosterone in Stallion Mules.","authors":"Siriporn Khumsap, Sahatchai Tangtrongsup, Patcharapa Towiboon, Chaleamchat Somgird","doi":"10.3390/ani14121800","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121800","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stallion mules have been used as working equids in several countries. Aggressiveness under the influence of testosterone results in the necessity for surgical castration before work training. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine may be an alternative method for immunocastration in mules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the GnRH vaccine on anti-GnRH antibody concentration, serum testosterone concentration, clinical adverse effects, and behavioral changes in response to receiving selected physical manipulations from humans. Twenty-five mules were separated into three groups: Control-intact, Control-castrated, and Treatment. The Treatment group was further divided according to condition (intact or unilateral cryptorchid) and age. The Treatment group received 195 µg of the GnRH vaccine intramuscularly at weeks 0, 4, and 8. The anti-GnRH antibody concentrations increased at weeks 6 and 10, and then they gradually decreased to baseline at week 24. The Treatment-intact-young group had the highest concentration of anti-GnRH antibody. The serum testosterone concentrations in the Treatment group were lower than before vaccination from weeks 6 to 14. Subcutaneous edema adjacent to the injection site was detected in the Treatment-intact group after booster vaccination. In conclusion, the mules responded to the GnRH vaccine, which could temporarily suppress testosterone for up to 14 weeks.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11200526/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lactobacillus delbrueckii intervention can regulate body lipid metabolism, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our study investigated the effects of L. delbrueckii on serum lipid levels, tissular fat metabolism and deposition, bile acid metabolism, and gut microbiota in Ningxiang pigs. Ninety-six pigs were divided into two groups and fed basal diets containing either 0 (CON) or 0.1% L. delbrueckii (LD) for 60 days. Dietary L. delbrueckii promoted fecal total bile acid (TBA) excretion and increased hepatic enzyme activities related to cholesterol and bile synthesis but decreased hepatic and serum lipid concentrations. L. delbrueckii downregulated gene expression associated with fatty acid synthesis but upregulated gene expression related to lipolysis and β-fatty acid oxidation in liver and subcutaneous fat. L. delbrueckii elevated gut Lactobacillus abundance and colonic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria but declined the abundance of some pathogenic bacteria. These findings demonstrated that L. delbrueckii modulated intestinal microbiota composition and facilitated fecal TBA excretion to regulate hepatic fat metabolism, which resulted in less lipid deposition in the liver and reduced levels of serum lipids.
德尔布鲁贝克氏乳酸菌干预可调节机体脂质代谢,但其潜在机制仍不清楚。我们的研究探讨了德尔布鲁贝克氏菌对宁乡猪血清脂质水平、组织脂肪代谢和沉积、胆汁酸代谢以及肠道微生物群的影响。将 96 头猪分为两组,分别饲喂含 0(CON)或 0.1% L. delbrueckii(LD)的基础日粮 60 天。日粮中的德尔布鲁氏菌促进了粪便总胆汁酸(TBA)的排泄,提高了与胆固醇和胆汁合成有关的肝酶活性,但降低了肝脏和血清脂质浓度。德尔布鲁贝克酵母下调了与脂肪酸合成有关的基因表达,但上调了与肝脏和皮下脂肪中脂肪分解和β-脂肪酸氧化有关的基因表达。德尔布鲁克酵母菌提高了肠道乳酸杆菌和结肠短链脂肪酸(SCFA)产生菌的数量,但降低了一些致病菌的数量。这些研究结果表明,三角酵母菌调节了肠道微生物群的组成,促进了粪便中TBA的排泄,从而调节了肝脏脂肪代谢,减少了肝脏脂质沉积,降低了血清脂质水平。
{"title":"<i>Lactobacillus delbrueckii</i> Ameliorated Blood Lipids via Intestinal Microbiota Modulation and Fecal Bile Acid Excretion in a Ningxiang Pig Model.","authors":"Gaifeng Hou, Liangkai Wei, Rui Li, Fengming Chen, Jie Yin, Xingguo Huang, Yulong Yin","doi":"10.3390/ani14121801","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Lactobacillus delbrueckii</i> intervention can regulate body lipid metabolism, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our study investigated the effects of <i>L. delbrueckii</i> on serum lipid levels, tissular fat metabolism and deposition, bile acid metabolism, and gut microbiota in Ningxiang pigs. Ninety-six pigs were divided into two groups and fed basal diets containing either 0 (CON) or 0.1% <i>L. delbrueckii</i> (LD) for 60 days. Dietary <i>L. delbrueckii</i> promoted fecal total bile acid (TBA) excretion and increased hepatic enzyme activities related to cholesterol and bile synthesis but decreased hepatic and serum lipid concentrations. <i>L. delbrueckii</i> downregulated gene expression associated with fatty acid synthesis but upregulated gene expression related to lipolysis and β-fatty acid oxidation in liver and subcutaneous fat. <i>L. delbrueckii</i> elevated gut <i>Lactobacillus</i> abundance and colonic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria but declined the abundance of some pathogenic bacteria. These findings demonstrated that <i>L. delbrueckii</i> modulated intestinal microbiota composition and facilitated fecal TBA excretion to regulate hepatic fat metabolism, which resulted in less lipid deposition in the liver and reduced levels of serum lipids.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11201289/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amber Hillaert, Luis Carlos Sanmiguel Serpa, Yangfeng Xu, Myriam Hesta, Stephanie Bogaert, Katrien Vanderperren, Pim Pullens
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI allows non-invasive quantification of renal blood flow (RBF) and shows great potential for renal assessment. To our knowledge, renal ASL-MRI has not previously been performed in dogs. The aim of this pilot study was to determine parameters essential for ALS-MRI-based quantification of RBF in dogs: T1, blood (longitudinal relaxation time), λ (blood tissue partition coefficient) and TI (inversion time). A Beagle was scanned at 3T with a multi-TI ASL sequence, with TIs ranging from 250 to 2500 ms, to determine the optimal TI value. The T1 of blood for dogs was determined by scanning a blood sample with a 2D IR TSE sequence. The water content of the dog's kidney was determined by analyzing kidney samples from four dogs with a moisture analyzer and was subsequently used to calculate λ. The optimal TI and the measured values for T1,blood, and λ were 2000 ms, 1463 ms and 0.91 mL/g, respectively. These optimized parameters for dogs resulted in lower RBF values than those obtained from inline generated RBF maps. In conclusion, this study determined preliminary parameters essential for ALS-MRI-based RBF quantification in dogs. Further research is needed to confirm these values, but it may help guide future research.
动脉自旋标记(ASL)核磁共振成像可对肾血流(RBF)进行无创量化,在肾脏评估方面显示出巨大的潜力。据我们所知,肾脏 ASL-MRI 之前从未在狗身上进行过。这项试验研究的目的是确定基于 ALS-MRI 的狗肾血流量化所必需的参数:T1、血液(纵向弛豫时间)、λ(血液组织分配系数)和 TI(反转时间)。在 3T 下使用多 TI ASL 序列对比格犬进行扫描,TI 为 250 至 2500 ms,以确定最佳 TI 值。狗的血液 T1 是通过二维红外 TSE 序列扫描血液样本确定的。狗肾脏的含水量是通过使用水分分析仪分析四只狗的肾脏样本确定的,随后用于计算λ。T1、血液和λ的最佳 TI 值和测量值分别为 2000 ms、1463 ms 和 0.91 mL/g。狗的这些优化参数导致 RBF 值低于内联生成的 RBF 图。总之,本研究初步确定了狗基于 ALS-MRI 的 RBF 量化所必需的参数。要确认这些值还需要进一步的研究,但它可能有助于指导未来的研究。
{"title":"Optimization of Fair Arterial Spin Labeling Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ASL-MRI) for Renal Perfusion Quantification in Dogs: Pilot Study.","authors":"Amber Hillaert, Luis Carlos Sanmiguel Serpa, Yangfeng Xu, Myriam Hesta, Stephanie Bogaert, Katrien Vanderperren, Pim Pullens","doi":"10.3390/ani14121810","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI allows non-invasive quantification of renal blood flow (RBF) and shows great potential for renal assessment. To our knowledge, renal ASL-MRI has not previously been performed in dogs. The aim of this pilot study was to determine parameters essential for ALS-MRI-based quantification of RBF in dogs: T<sub>1, blood</sub> (longitudinal relaxation time), λ (blood tissue partition coefficient) and TI (inversion time). A Beagle was scanned at 3T with a multi-TI ASL sequence, with TIs ranging from 250 to 2500 ms, to determine the optimal TI value. The T<sub>1</sub> of blood for dogs was determined by scanning a blood sample with a 2D IR TSE sequence. The water content of the dog's kidney was determined by analyzing kidney samples from four dogs with a moisture analyzer and was subsequently used to calculate λ. The optimal TI and the measured values for T<sub>1,blood</sub>, and <i>λ</i> were 2000 ms, 1463 ms and 0.91 mL/g, respectively. These optimized parameters for dogs resulted in lower RBF values than those obtained from inline generated RBF maps. In conclusion, this study determined preliminary parameters essential for ALS-MRI-based RBF quantification in dogs. Further research is needed to confirm these values, but it may help guide future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11201026/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Han-Dan Xiao, Nan Su, Ze-Dong Zhang, Ling-Ling Dai, Jun-Lin Luo, Xing-Quan Zhu, Shi-Chen Xie, Wen-Wei Gao
Blastocystis spp. and Giardia duodenalis are two prevalent zoonotic intestinal parasites that can cause severe diarrhea and intestinal diseases in humans and many animals. Black goat (Capra hircus) farming is increasingly important in China due to the remarkable adaptability, high reproductive performance, rapid growth rate, and significant economic value of black goats. A number of studies have indicated that black goats are the potential reservoir of multiple zoonotic protozoans in China; however, the prevalence and zoonotic status of G. duodenalis and Blastocystis spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province is still unknown. Thus, a total of 1200 fecal samples of black goats were collected from several representative regions at different altitudes in Shanxi Province and were examined for the presence and genotypes of G. duodenallis and Blastocystis spp. by amplifying the beta-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) loci of G. duodenalis and SSU rRNA of Blastocystis spp. using PCR and sequence analysis methods, respectively. The overall prevalence of G. duodenalis and Blastocystis spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province were 7.5% and 3.5%, respectively. Two assemblages (B and E) of G. duodenalis and four subtypes (ST5, ST10, ST14, and ST30) of Blastocystis spp. were identified, with assemblage E and ST10 as the prevalent genotype and subtype in black goats, respectively. One novel multilocus genotype (MLG) was identified in MLG-E and was designated as MLG-E12. For both G. duodenalis and Blastocystis spp., the prevalence was significantly related to the region and age groups (p < 0.05). This is the first report on the prevalence of G. duodenalis and Blastocystis spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province. These results not only provide baseline data for the prevention and control of both parasites in black goats in Shanxi Province, but also enhance our understanding of the genetic composition and zoonotic potential of these two parasites.
{"title":"Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> and <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. in Black Goats in Shanxi Province, North China: From a Public Health Perspective.","authors":"Han-Dan Xiao, Nan Su, Ze-Dong Zhang, Ling-Ling Dai, Jun-Lin Luo, Xing-Quan Zhu, Shi-Chen Xie, Wen-Wei Gao","doi":"10.3390/ani14121808","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121808","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Blastocystis</i> spp. and <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> are two prevalent zoonotic intestinal parasites that can cause severe diarrhea and intestinal diseases in humans and many animals. Black goat (<i>Capra hircus</i>) farming is increasingly important in China due to the remarkable adaptability, high reproductive performance, rapid growth rate, and significant economic value of black goats. A number of studies have indicated that black goats are the potential reservoir of multiple zoonotic protozoans in China; however, the prevalence and zoonotic status of <i>G. duodenalis</i> and <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province is still unknown. Thus, a total of 1200 fecal samples of black goats were collected from several representative regions at different altitudes in Shanxi Province and were examined for the presence and genotypes of <i>G. duodenallis</i> and <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. by amplifying the beta-giardin (<i>bg</i>), glutamate dehydrogenase (<i>gdh</i>), and triosephosphate isomerase (<i>tpi</i>) loci of <i>G. duodenalis</i> and SSU rRNA of <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. using PCR and sequence analysis methods, respectively. The overall prevalence of <i>G. duodenalis</i> and <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province were 7.5% and 3.5%, respectively. Two assemblages (B and E) of <i>G. duodenalis</i> and four subtypes (ST5, ST10, ST14, and ST30) of <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. were identified, with assemblage E and ST10 as the prevalent genotype and subtype in black goats, respectively. One novel multilocus genotype (MLG) was identified in MLG-E and was designated as MLG-E12. For both <i>G. duodenalis</i> and <i>Blastocystis</i> spp., the prevalence was significantly related to the region and age groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). This is the first report on the prevalence of <i>G. duodenalis</i> and <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province. These results not only provide baseline data for the prevention and control of both parasites in black goats in Shanxi Province, but also enhance our understanding of the genetic composition and zoonotic potential of these two parasites.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11201008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara Busechian, Francesca Bindi, Simona Orvieto, Francesco Zappulla, Maria Chiara Marchesi, Irma Nisi, Fabrizio Rueca
Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) are two terms used to indicate the presence of lesions of the squamous and glandular mucosa of the stomach. Prevalences, pathophysiology, and risk factors are different, and the latter have been investigated in different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ESGD and EGGD in a cohort of pleasure, breeding, and retired horses in Italy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to investigate such a diverse population of animals and the first one that includes a large number of animals in Italy. Gastroscopies were performed in 316 animals, with and without clinical signs of gastric ulcers, and a questionnaire about signalment, management, activity, and health was given to the owners or caretakers. Prevalence of ESGD was similar to the current literature reports in comparable populations, and the disease was associated with signalment, time with the current owner or caretaker, management (time and type of paddock, hay, and supplementary feed administered), and activity performed. In this population, EGGD was present in a lower percentage of animals and, of the parameters evaluated, was associated only with the signalment, while management does not seem to influence the development of lesions in the glandular mucosa in this population.
{"title":"Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Presence of Gastric Ulcers in Pleasure and Breeding Horses in Italy.","authors":"Sara Busechian, Francesca Bindi, Simona Orvieto, Francesco Zappulla, Maria Chiara Marchesi, Irma Nisi, Fabrizio Rueca","doi":"10.3390/ani14121806","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) are two terms used to indicate the presence of lesions of the squamous and glandular mucosa of the stomach. Prevalences, pathophysiology, and risk factors are different, and the latter have been investigated in different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ESGD and EGGD in a cohort of pleasure, breeding, and retired horses in Italy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to investigate such a diverse population of animals and the first one that includes a large number of animals in Italy. Gastroscopies were performed in 316 animals, with and without clinical signs of gastric ulcers, and a questionnaire about signalment, management, activity, and health was given to the owners or caretakers. Prevalence of ESGD was similar to the current literature reports in comparable populations, and the disease was associated with signalment, time with the current owner or caretaker, management (time and type of paddock, hay, and supplementary feed administered), and activity performed. In this population, EGGD was present in a lower percentage of animals and, of the parameters evaluated, was associated only with the signalment, while management does not seem to influence the development of lesions in the glandular mucosa in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11201176/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
It is a common practice among farmers to utilize high-grain diets with the intention of promoting ruminant growth. However, this approach bears the risk of inducing rumen disorders and nutrient metabolism diseases. Yeast culture (YC) showed advantages in ruminant applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding two different types of YC to high-grain conditions on production performance, rumen fermentation profile, microbial abundance, and immunity in goats. A total of 30 male goats with similar body condition were randomly distributed into 3 dietary treatments with 10 replicates per treatment as follows: basic diet group (CON); basic diet + 0.5% yeast culture 1 (YC1) group; basic diet + 0.5% yeast culture 2 (YC2) group. The trial lasted for 36 days. The results demonstrated that dietary YC supplementation led to an increase in the average daily gain and a reduction in feed intake and weight gain ratio in goats. It increased the apparent digestibility of crude protein, NDF, and ADF (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in the control group were significantly higher than those of the YC groups (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of Immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG in the control group were significantly lower than those in the YC groups (p < 0.05). The rumen concentration of microbial protein (MCP) in the control group was significantly lower than that in the YC groups (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the concentration of IL-10 and Bacteroidota, Spirochaetota, and Succinivibrio, while there was a positive correlation between concentrations of IL-10 and Firmicutes. Nevertheless, discrepancies were observed in the impact of the two different types of YC on the physiological and biochemical indicators of the animals. The concentration of triglyceride in the YC1 group was significantly higher than that of the CON and YC2 groups, while the concentration of urea in the YC2 group was significantly higher than that of the CON and YC1 groups (p < 0.05). At the phylum level, the addition of YC2 to the diet significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota and Fibrobacterota and significantly decreased Firmicutes compared to the control. At the genus level, the addition of YC1 to the HGD significantly reduced the relative abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, while the addition of YC2 to the HGD significantly increased the relative abundance of Prevotellace-ae_UCG-001, Fibrobacter, and Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 (p < 0.05). The addition of YC significantly improved growth performance, increased nutrient digestibility, beneficially manipulated ruminal fermentation and microbial diversity, and improved immune function. The choice of yeast cultures can be customized according to specific production conditions.
{"title":"Effect of Adding Yeast Cultures to High-Grain Conditions on Production Performance, Rumen Fermentation Profile, Microbial Abundance, and Immunity in Goats.","authors":"Pei Qi, Lizhi Wang","doi":"10.3390/ani14121799","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121799","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is a common practice among farmers to utilize high-grain diets with the intention of promoting ruminant growth. However, this approach bears the risk of inducing rumen disorders and nutrient metabolism diseases. Yeast culture (YC) showed advantages in ruminant applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding two different types of YC to high-grain conditions on production performance, rumen fermentation profile, microbial abundance, and immunity in goats. A total of 30 male goats with similar body condition were randomly distributed into 3 dietary treatments with 10 replicates per treatment as follows: basic diet group (CON); basic diet + 0.5% yeast culture 1 (YC1) group; basic diet + 0.5% yeast culture 2 (YC2) group. The trial lasted for 36 days. The results demonstrated that dietary YC supplementation led to an increase in the average daily gain and a reduction in feed intake and weight gain ratio in goats. It increased the apparent digestibility of crude protein, NDF, and ADF (<i>p <</i> 0.05). The serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in the control group were significantly higher than those of the YC groups (<i>p <</i> 0.05). The serum concentrations of Immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG in the control group were significantly lower than those in the YC groups (<i>p <</i> 0.05). The rumen concentration of microbial protein (MCP) in the control group was significantly lower than that in the YC groups (<i>p <</i> 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the concentration of IL-10 and <i>Bacteroidota</i>, <i>Spirochaetota</i>, and <i>Succinivibrio</i>, while there was a positive correlation between concentrations of IL-10 and Firmicutes. Nevertheless, discrepancies were observed in the impact of the two different types of YC on the physiological and biochemical indicators of the animals. The concentration of triglyceride in the YC1 group was significantly higher than that of the CON and YC2 groups, while the concentration of urea in the YC2 group was significantly higher than that of the CON and YC1 groups (<i>p <</i> 0.05). At the phylum level, the addition of YC2 to the diet significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota and Fibrobacterota and significantly decreased Firmicutes compared to the control. At the genus level, the addition of YC1 to the HGD significantly reduced the relative abundance of <i>Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group</i>, while the addition of YC2 to the HGD significantly increased the relative abundance of <i>Prevotellace-ae_UCG-001</i>, <i>Fibrobacter</i>, and <i>Prevotellaceae_UCG-003</i> (<i>p <</i> 0.05). The addition of YC significantly improved growth performance, increased nutrient digestibility, beneficially manipulated ruminal fermentation and microbial diversity, and improved immune function. The choice of yeast cultures can be customized according to specific production conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11200607/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nedim Zaimovic, Dragan Lorinson, Karin Lorinson, Alexander Tichy, Barbara Bockstahler
Estimating a dog's patellar position involves various methods, which categorize it as norma, alta (high), or baja (low). However, they require various calculations. We aimed to evaluate the clinical applicability of a new method, the tibial plateau-patella angle (TPPA). This could aid in planning patella luxation surgery, estimating the patella position after TPLO and various osteotomies. We conducted a two-step study: first, on 15 stifles without pathologies from nine canine cadavers, and second, using 100 patient X-rays from the archive. Three stifle angle positions (45 ± 5°, 90 ± 5°, and 135 ± 5°) and three weight groups (S, M, and L) were evaluated in the first part of this study. Based on these results, the second part of this study was conducted using 100 pathology-free radiographs at the optimal stifle angle (90 ± 5°) from the archive. All radiographs were measured by three observers with varying levels of experience. Our results indicate that the stifle angle significantly impacted the TPPA, whereby lower values were detected with higher stifle angles, which remained consistent within the weight groups. High inter- and intra-observer agreement was achieved. The physiological TPPA values ranged from 26.7° to 48.8°, remaining consistent within the various weight groups. Observer 3 in Group S exhibited a 20% (insignificant) deviation, possibly due to challenges in determining the caudal point of the tibial plateau. In contrast with humans, TPPA values in dogs are negatively correlated with stifle angles, independent of weight. Our reliable and reproducible protocol suggests the potential benefits of training on small-breed dogs stifles.
{"title":"Evaluation of the Tibial Plateau-Patella Angle (TPPA) in Dogs.","authors":"Nedim Zaimovic, Dragan Lorinson, Karin Lorinson, Alexander Tichy, Barbara Bockstahler","doi":"10.3390/ani14121798","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani14121798","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Estimating a dog's patellar position involves various methods, which categorize it as norma, alta (high), or baja (low). However, they require various calculations. We aimed to evaluate the clinical applicability of a new method, the tibial plateau-patella angle (TPPA). This could aid in planning patella luxation surgery, estimating the patella position after TPLO and various osteotomies. We conducted a two-step study: first, on 15 stifles without pathologies from nine canine cadavers, and second, using 100 patient X-rays from the archive. Three stifle angle positions (45 ± 5°, 90 ± 5°, and 135 ± 5°) and three weight groups (S, M, and L) were evaluated in the first part of this study. Based on these results, the second part of this study was conducted using 100 pathology-free radiographs at the optimal stifle angle (90 ± 5°) from the archive. All radiographs were measured by three observers with varying levels of experience. Our results indicate that the stifle angle significantly impacted the TPPA, whereby lower values were detected with higher stifle angles, which remained consistent within the weight groups. High inter- and intra-observer agreement was achieved. The physiological TPPA values ranged from 26.7° to 48.8°, remaining consistent within the various weight groups. Observer 3 in Group S exhibited a 20% (insignificant) deviation, possibly due to challenges in determining the caudal point of the tibial plateau. In contrast with humans, TPPA values in dogs are negatively correlated with stifle angles, independent of weight. Our reliable and reproducible protocol suggests the potential benefits of training on small-breed dogs stifles.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11200802/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141454723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}