BMC Veterinary Research最新文献

Background: As recent evidence shows the prevalence and transmission of Aeromonas species in Southwest Asia, and there is no updated information on the characteristics of Aeromonas in Iran, we conducted this review. We systematically searched biomedical databases (PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, SID, ISC, and Google Scholar) to identify relevant studies investigating the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and main reservoirs of Aeromonas in aquatic animals and human clinical specimens during 2000-2023 in Iran. Cochrane's Q test and I^2 statistical test was used to assess heterogeneity, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and random effects tests.

Results: In Iran, among 8347 human clinical samples and 1802 animal and food samples, only 87 (1.04%) and 388 (21.53%) samples were positive for Aeromonas spp. respectively, and the most isolated species was A. hydrophila. The main reservoir for Aeromonas spp. were twenty-four genera of aquatic animals besides minced meat, pigeon stool and chicken meat. In Iran, Aeromonas spp. isolates showed maximum resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid and vancomycin. The heterogeneity test for prevalence of Aeromonas species on human samples and animals or food products was significant (88.1256, (5), P-value < 0.0001) and the heterogeneity rate was 97.34% with a confidence interval of 0.2-4.3 and (194.02, (10), P-value < 0.0001) and the heterogeneity rate was 94.85% with a confidence interval of 15,124 - 33,335 respectively.

Conclusions: According to these results, it is essential for exclusive attention to the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Aeromonas in different provinces of Iran. Furthermore, special planning should be done for prevention, outbreak control and proper treatment of infections in the aquaculture industry and human societies.

Antimicrobials are frequently administered for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in companion animals. Their use is closely monitored as related to antimicrobial resistance both in human and veterinary medicine. This retrospective study aimed to describe antimicrobial prescription by different clinical services in cats visited at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Parma (VTH-UP) between January 2021 and December 2023. The antibiotic classes were divided according to the categorization of antibiotics adopted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA); EMA categories A and B were classified as Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs). Overall, 43.8%, 35.0%, and 35.0% of visited cats received an antimicrobial prescription in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Most of the prescriptions were Category C "Caution" antibiotics (49.0%, 54.0%, and 55.0% in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively). Category B "restrict" antibiotics represented 13.0%, 12.0%, and 11.0% of the total antimicrobials prescribed in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Penicillins associated with beta-lactam inhibitors were the most common antibiotics prescribed each year at the VTH-UP (32.0%, 31.3%, and 23.7% of total prescriptions in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively). Among CIAs, quinolones were the most common, with 12.1%, 11.2%, and 10.1% of the total prescriptions in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Culture and sensitivity tests (CSTs) were performed for 18.1% (85/470), 17.4% (73/420), and 23.0% (96/417) of the total prescriptions in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Considering only CIA prescriptions, CSTs were performed in 70.0% (49/70), 66.7% (38/57), and 70.9% (39/55) of CSTs in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Antimicrobial use varies considerably depending on the clinical service. The use of "restrict" antibiotics was very limited, and attention should be given to therapeutic and prophylactic use.

Study design: A prospective non-randomised clinical study.

Animals: A study group with 18 posttraumatic dogs before surgery and a control group with nine healthy dogs.

Methods: Two different examiners evaluated the pain using two multidimensional pain scales (the Canine Acute Pain Scale of the Colorado State University (CSU-CAPS) and the Modified Glasgow Pain Scale (MGPS)) before the administration of methadone. During the administration of methadone, the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) was measured. In the control group, the PTA was measured without administration of methadone. In the statistical evaluation, correlation between PTA value and pain scores, and the predictive value of the PTA value in determining whether the animal was classified as painful was investigated. In addition, the results of the different pain scales and the results of the different examiners were compared.

Results: The average PTA values of the control group were 45.67 (± 13.64). Two of nine (22.22%) animals in the control group have their average PTA value above the 'pain-free state' of 50. The average PTA values of the study group were 56.16 (± 15.11) and 51.05 (± 13.24) before and after methadone administration, respectively. Comparing the average values of the study group 30 s before methadone administration with the average values of the control group, there was no significant difference (p = 0.5403). Examiner A (experienced) classified 14 of 16 animals (87.5%) with the CSU-CAPS, and examiner A2 (inexperienced) classified 7 of 16 patients (43.75%) as painful. In 56.25% of the cases, both examiners (A and A2) reached the same decision when using CSU-CAPS. When using the MGPS, 10 of 18 patients (55.56%) reached the intervention level regardless of the examiner. In 88.89% of the cases, the two examiners reached the same decision; there is a highly positive correlation between the two examiners (Spearman correlation coefficient rs = 0.84). There was no correlation between the monitor and score values of both pain scales with either examiner.

Conclusion: The PTA monitor on the awake animal was not suitable for pain detection. There were no statistically significant correlations of PTA scores with pain scale scores, regardless of the examiner. Similarly, the tendency for the study group to have lower PTA scores indicates that PTA also appears to be influenced by environmental factors.

Background: In veterinary medicine, particularly concerning dogs and cats, there is limited data regarding vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). However, multidrug-resistant Enterococcus is frequently identified, raising concerns about the potential for spreading these resistant microorganisms to humans due to their zoonotic nature. This study aimed to identify VRE colonizing animals admitted to a veterinary hospital and to determine the presence of the major resistance genes responsible for vancomycin resistance.

Results: Enterococcus was found to carry the vanA gene in 52.54% of cases, the vanB gene in 23.73%, the vanC gene in 20.34%, and the vanE gene in 3.39%. The antimicrobials with the lowest resistance were chloramphenicol (5.08%) and ampicillin (6.78%). In contrast, the highest resistance was observed with enrofloxacin (79.66%), rifampicin (67.80%), and ciprofloxacin (61.02%). Seven Enterococcus isolates showed resistance to vancomycin as well as high-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR).

Conclusion: A total of 46 animals were found to be colonized by VRE, of which 16 were healthy. The vanA gene was the most commonly isolated (52.54%), followed by vanB (23.73%), vanC (20.34%), and vanE (3.39%). This represents the first report of the vanE gene being identified in a dog in Brazil. Among the 59 Enterococcus isolates, 84.75% (n = 50) were found to be multidrug resistant. The colonization of VRE and Enterococcus HLAR in dogs and cats poses a public health concern, as it increases the risk of environmental dissemination and has implications for One Health.

Background: Turkey arthritis reovirus (TARV) causes arthritic lameness in market-age turkeys. Since 2011, highly pathogenic TARV strains have caused significant economic losses in the turkey industry due to increased culling, reduced market weights, and decreased carcass quality, necessitating more effective control measures. Autogenous vaccine prevention strategies have been inefficacious partly due to a limited understanding of age-related susceptibility of turkeys to TARV. This study investigated age-related host and gut microbiota responses to TARV infection in commercial turkeys derived from vaccinated breeder hens. Poults with known maternally derived antibody titers were orally challenged with TARV O'Neil strain at 1-, 3-, and 7- weeks of age (WOA) and monitored for cloacal virus shedding, gastrocnemius tendon viral tropism, tendon inflammation, weight gain, and changes in gut microbiota.

Results: A transient TARV-induced weight gain suppression was evident in poults infected at 1- and 3- WOA during the first 3 weeks post-infection. Age-dependent variations in cloacal viral shedding, virus isolation from tendons, and tendon inflammation severity were also observed. There was significant dissimilarity in ileal and cecal bacterial communities between mock and infected groups, but the effect of age of infection was unclear.

Conclusions: Age dependent host response was observed to TARV based on cloacal virus shedding, weight gain suppression and viral tendon tropism. Our study also indicates that maternally derived antibodies appeared insufficient to prevent virus translocation to the tendons and subsequent pathological changes. This study lays the groundwork for future investigations of better vaccines/vaccination strategies and alternative preventive measures.

Importance: Turkey arthritis reovirus (TARV) causes lameness due to arthritis and tenosynovitis, commonly in market-age turkeys, resulting in significant economic losses. As a control strategy, the turkey industry used autogenous vaccines, prepared from field TARV isolates in breeder hens, to protect the poults in the early stage of life through maternally derived antibodies (MDAs). This study establishes the level of protection provided by MDAs in young poults with age-based responses to TARV O'Neil reovirus strain. Additionally, this study reveals the dynamics of gut dysbiosis in infected poults at different timepoints, paving the way to ground-breaking investigations into gut microbiome modulation interventions that could potentially improve vaccine efficacy and reduce virus transmission and disease severity.

Background: Tungiasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Tunga penetrans and, less commonly, Tunga trimamillata. It affects the skin of humans and animals in rural or low-income communities. The disease is considered endemic in Ecuador, with most cases reported in the Amazon and Andean regions. There are few cases reported on T. trimamillata in Ecuador, most of which have been reported in the canton of Santa Isabel, Azuay Province. Unlike T. penetrans, no cases of canine infection have been reported for T.trimamillata before.

Case report: A canine patient was presented for medical consultation with multiple white nodules in all four paws. Based on the anamnesis and clinical findings, tungiasis was established as the presumptive diagnosis. After careful removal and close inspection of the gravid female fleas, we noticed three protruding lobes in the anterior part of the neosome, a characteristic feature of the gravid T. trimamillata. After ten days of daily wound cleanings and antibiotics, the patient's paws were fully healed.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, we present the first case of T. trimamillata infection in dogs. This is also the first case of T. trimamillata detected in Guayaquil. However, the patient was imported from an area where T. trimamillata is considered endemic. Therefore, this report has further implications for the movement of domestic animals across the country and potential spread of parasites and other infectious agents from endemic to non-endemic areas.

Background: Pigs are prone to infections with several protozoa species. Although infection with Toxoplasma gondii rarely results in clinical symptoms in pigs, consuming pork-containing cysts represents a potential threat to human health, especially in immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and fetuses. It is estimated that around 2 billion people are infected with Toxoplasma gondii worldwide, making toxoplasmosis one of the most damaging zoonoses. Due to the coincidence of several factors, the meat from infected pigs can, however, frequently reach the consumer. In cattle, infection with Neospora caninum can cause considerable economic losses. The consequences of this infection for pigs remain unclear. However, infection in sows was linked with the development of some clinical signs, and transplacental transmission of the parasite was observed. Therefore, it should be considered a potential threat to pigs' health. Due to the above reasons, the data regarding the epidemiology of the mentioned parasites seems desirable. Since Poland represents one of the major pig producers in the European Union, and pork is the most commonly consumed type of meat, the present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in the Polish pig population. 1034 serum samples were collected from 16 commercial farms localised in 9 different provinces (voivodeships) of Poland from pigs belonging to the following age categories: piglets (259), weaners (220), fatteners (243), gilts (70), and sows (242) were subjected to ELISA assay with the use of commercially available kits.

Results: The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was 11.3% (117/1034), and it was significantly higher in sows compared to other age categories (28.1%; p < 0.05). Regarding the province of Poland, the highest proportion of seropositive pigs was found in Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Podlaskie; meanwhile, in Łódzkie, Pomorskie, and Warmińsko-Mazurskie observed seroprevalence was 0%. Among tested samples, only one (1/1034; 0.097%) was positive for Neospora caninum antibodies, and it was collected from gilt maintained on the farm in Zachodniopomorskie.

Conclusions: This study updates the data on Toxoplasma gondii epidemiology in pigs reared in Poland, showing relative stability in the infection with this parasite. It also provides the first data on Neospora caninum circulation in the Polish pig population.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, age-related joint disease in cats. The common finding of bilateral symmetric joint involvement may suggest influence from systemic factors, and could imply that body parameters such as excess body fat and cat size are important for OA development. We aimed to investigate associations between body composition and whole-body OA scores in 72 cats, using whole-body computed tomography (CT), and if serum concentrations of the metabolic mediators leptin, adiponectin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) reflected the total OA load. In addition, associations between body composition and metabolic mediators were determined. For data analyses, cats were grouped as smaller or larger according to the median value of the total body bone volume (body size), and as leaner or fatter cats according to the median of the total body fat volumes normalized for body size (nBFV).

Results: Computed tomography-detected OA changes were present in 94% of cats. In appendicular joints, OA was most commonly detected in hip joints followed by elbow, stifle, carpal, tarsal and shoulder joints, whereas in axial joints, OA was most commonly detected in the thoracic region. Groupwise comparisons showed that whole-body OA scores were higher for fatter compared to leaner cats (p = 0.012), and larger fatter cats had higher whole-body OA scores compared to smaller leaner cats (p = 0.021). Whole-body OA scores were associated with IGF-1 concentrations (p = 0.0051). Leptin concentrations were strongly associated with nBFV (p < 0.0001), whereas IGF-1 concentrations were weakly associated with total body bone volumes (p = 0.0134). Individual joint region OA scores were higher in carpal, elbow, stifle and hip joints in fatter cats, in carpal joints in larger and larger fatter cats, in elbow joints in larger leaner cats, and in stifle joints in smaller fatter cats.

Conclusions: In cats, increased body fat is a risk factor for having a higher load of OA, particularly in carpal, elbow, stifle and hip joints. Increased body size is additionally a risk factor for having carpal OA. The total OA load is reflected in serum IGF-1 concentrations, but underlying mechanisms for this association are unclear.

Background: To combat antimicrobial resistance, initiatives have been launched worldwide to reduce antimicrobial use in humans and animals. In the Netherlands, the pig industry has made significant strides in reducing antimicrobial use, yet considerable variation exists in usage and prescription of antimicrobials between different swine farms and swine veterinarians. Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to support veterinarians to further reduce prescription of antimicrobials. In 2014, the Streptococcus suis (S. suis) clinical practice guideline was introduced. To date, no information has been collected about the extent to which veterinarians were using this guideline. Therefore, we developed performance indicators involving a six-step approach using a modified RAND/UCLA method aimed at assessing veterinarians' adherence to the S. suis guideline. To support our results and to provide a more comprehensive understanding, we developed and circulated a questionnaire. The performance indicators and questionnaire were completed by 33 active swine veterinarians.

Results: The final set of five performance indicators encompassed antimicrobial use, the ratio 1st to 2nd or 3rd choice antimicrobials, the argumentation for using 2nd choice antimicrobials, bacteriological examination including susceptibility testing, and the use of corticosteroids. In the questionnaire, 16 questions were included about veterinarians' behavior linked to these five performance indicators. The results revealed a wide range in antimicrobial prescription among veterinarians dealing with S. suis-related issues on farms, suggesting that further improvement of antimicrobial stewardship is possible. Our findings show a discrepancy between the performance indicators based on observed data and veterinarians' self-reported behaviors, particularly concerning the initiation of group treatments and the possibility that the advice provided by veterinarians may not always be consistently implemented in practice.

Conclusions: The developed performance indicators on their own may not adequately reflect veterinarians' adherence to the guideline, but collectively, they serve as a reliable indicator of adherence. By generating reliable and accurate outcomes, they complement self-reported behavior, which may be subject to unconscious self-report biases. Therefore, performance indicators are essential for use in intervention programs to measure veterinarians' guideline adherence and should be incorporated into the development process of all clinical veterinary guidelines.

Background: Dogs are the main domestic reservoir host of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and they are considered sentinel animals for the detection of new cases of human infection. Canis familiaris is also a well-established experimental T. cruzi infection model, but little is known about the progression of Chagas disease in naturally-infected dogs, especially during the acute phase in these hosts. Triatomine species infected with discrete typing units (DTUs) I, II and III of T. cruzi have been previously found in many of the municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The current study describes the clinical, hematological, biochemical, cardiological and parasitological characteristics of a single dog during the acute phase of its naturally-acquired T. cruzi infection, and characterizes the isolate obtained from this individual host using biological, molecular and phylogenetic methods.

Results: A  juvenile dog exhibiting discomfort during defecation, itchy skin, and enlarged popliteal lymph nodes showed a prolonged period of patent parasitemia, with normocytic and hypochromic anemia. In addition, cardiac damage was suggested by high concentrations of the biomarkers cardiac troponin I and NT-ProBNP, as well as Doppler echocardiography, which showed qualitative segmental hypokinesia. The parasites isolated from this individual canine were genotyped, using three molecular markers and phylogenetic analysis, as the DTU TcIII. First detected in sylvatic environments, our current observations also demonstrate the presence of this DTU in domestic/ peridomestic locations.

Conclusions: The cardiac alterations that we observed in a naturally-T. cruzi-infected dog contribute to expanding our knowledge of both Chagas disease in Canis familiaris, and the epidemiological scenario in locations where Triatoma brasiliensis is the main triatomine vector of T. cruzi.