BMC Veterinary Research最新文献

Background: Canine obesity is a significant health concern in spite of current feeding trends claiming healthier diets. Among these trends, raw meat-based diets (RMBD) have gained in popularity. Scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited, and nutritional imbalances are of concern in RMBD-fed dogs. This study aimed to assess the impact of RMBD-feeding on body condition in dogs in comparison to feeding a commercial complete diet (CD). A total of 104 healthy dogs were included, of which 51 dogs (age median: 4.1 years, interquartile range [IQR]: 3.2-5.9 years; body weight (BW) median: 24.8 kg, IQR: 16.3-31.9 kg) were fed an RMBD and 53 dogs (age median: 4.8 years, IQR: 3.3-5.8 years; BW median: 25.4 kg, IQR: 18.9-27.7 kg) received a CD, both for at least 12 months prior to enrollment. Enrolled dogs underwent two clinical evaluations 3-5 months apart. During these evaluations, blood, urine, and fecal samples were collected, and the patient and diet history was obtained.

Results: RMBD-fed dogs had lower body condition scores (BCS; median: 5, IQR: 4-5) compared to CD-fed dogs (median: 6, IQR: 5-7, P < 0.001). Energy intake was lower with RMBD rations (median coverage of the daily recommended metabolizable energy [ME]: 89%) compared to CD rations (median coverage of the daily recommended ME: 102%, P = 0.015). Coverage of the daily energy intake was inversely correlated with BCS. In RMBD rations, the calcium (Ca): phosphorus (P) ratio (median: 1.0), failed to meet the recommended ratio of 1.4 and was lower than with CD rations (median: 1.4, P < 0.001); estimated intakes of Ca (P < 0.001), P (P < 0.001), sodium (P < 0.001) and magnesium (P = 0.004) were lower than in CD rations but close to the recommendations. Estimated intakes of Ca, P, and sodium in CD rations were at least twice the recommended amounts. Blood serum analysis revealed lower serum iodine (P = 0.001), copper (P = 0.005), zinc (P < 0.001), and manganese (P = 0.035) concentrations in RMBD-fed dogs than in CD-fed dogs.

Conclusion: While RMBD-feeding might offer the advantage of a leaner body condition, concerns about nutritional imbalances warrant further investigation, even though RMBD-fed dogs do not show clinical signs of nutrient deficiencies.

Background: Equine influenza virus (EIV) H3N8 is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen that poses significant health and economic risks to equids globally. In southeastern Nigeria where equids are sold and slaughtered, limited data exist on EIV epidemiology and circulating lineages.

Methods: To address this gap, an active surveillance was conducted between January 2022 and October 2023. A total of 400 nasal swabs were collected from horses and donkeys at slaughterhouses and animal markets. The swabs were screened for equine influenza virus (EIV) using quantitative Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), and positive samples underwent whole-genome sequencing. A spatiotemporal Bayesian phylogeographic analysis was performed. Amino acid comparisons were carried out against the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recommended Florida clade-1 (Fc-1) vaccine strains (accession numbers GU447312, DQ124192) and mutations were mapped onto 3D H3 hemagglutinin structure with protein data bank 4UO0 using PyMOL.

Results: Two samples (0.5%) from non clinical signs and deceased donkeys tested positive for the H3N8 virus. A spatiotemporal Bayesian phylogeographic analysis, which included sequences from outbreaks in Africa between 2018 and 2023, revealed multiple introductions of the virus into Africa. The introductions of Fc-1 lineage into Africa may have originated from Argentina (2018/2019) and the UK (2021), while Florida clade-2 seems to have originated from Ireland (2019). The 2022 H3N8 strains identified in this study may be a result of persistence from the 2018/2019 epizootic in northern Nigeria. Additionally, we discovered previously unreported hemagglutinin substitutions compared to the WOAH recommended Fc-1 vaccine strain, along with novel changes adjacent to antigenic sites and four distinct glycosylation profiles in the virus, which underscores their potential epidemiological significance.

Conclusions: Our findings revealed multiple introductions of EIV probably from South America and Western Europe, rapid virus evolution, and significant transboundary spread facilitated by livestock trade, particularly involving donkeys and subclinical infections in the transmission of the virus. These results underscore the persistence and evolution of EIV H3N8 (Fc-1) in Nigeria and emphasize the need for improved genomic surveillance, control measures, and vaccination strategies against EIV in Africa. Additionally, regulating transboundary livestock trade is essential to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks.

Background: Oxidative stress is considered a significant contributing factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To date, there is a paucity of clinical data in the literature regarding the effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) in cats with naturally developing CKD. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether the addition of NAC in the treatment of cats with acute exacerbations of CKD could improve kidney function biomarkers over the use of intravenous fluid therapy alone.

Methods: A total of 50 client-owned cats were included in the study. The inclusion criteria comprised cats previously diagnosed with azotemic CKD (IRIS stage 2-4) in addition to ultrasonographic evidence of bilaterally decreased renal mass, rough surface contours, and alteration of renal cortical echogenicity. All cats were examined using standard clinical procedures, including clinical examination, blood analyses, abdominal ultrasonography, dipstick urinalysis and urine culture. Computer-generated randomisation was utilised to assign the cats into the following groups: NAC (n:40): N-acetylcysteine (70 mg/kg, diluted in 50 ml 0.9% saline solution, administered intravenously over a period of seven days, and a placebo group (n:10) 50 ml 0.9% saline solution, IV for 7 days. Blood analyses and dipstick urinalysis were repeated on the eighth day of treatment. Between-group differences in baseline age and weight were assessed using the Student's t-test, while sex distribution was evaluated with the Fisher's exact test. Treatment effects across time were analysed using a two-way mixed-design ANOVA, with "Group" and "Time" entered as fixed factors and their interaction term included in the model.

Results: SDMA and creatinine concentrations decreased significantly in both groups, but the concentrations of both were significantly lower in the NAC group after treatment (Day 8 values: SDMA NAC 16.5 ± 1.21 µg/dl versus placebo 27 ± 3.89 µg/dl; P = 0.04 and Creatinine NAC 4.01 ± 0.25 mg/dl versus placebo 6.44 ± 0.9 mg/dl; P < 0.001). UPC and BUN decreased significantly in the NAC group, but no change was observed in the placebo group.

Conclusion: The incorporation of NAC into treatment regimens demonstrates potential as a treatment strategy for cats with acute-on-chronic kidney disease.