BMC Veterinary Research最新文献

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.

Pneumocystis spp. proliferate under immunosuppressive conditions in mammalian lungs, and several pathogens have been discussed as potential contributors to fungal proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the possible associations between Pneumocystis spp. and immunosuppressive viruses in Serbian wild mammals. A total of 108 wild carnivores - including golden jackals (Canis aureus), Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) - were collected from Veliko Gradište, Stara Pazova, and Ugrinovci during the 2022/2023 hunting season. The presence of Pneumocystis spp., canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2), pseudorabies virus (PRV), canine distemper virus, canine coronavirus, and canine herpesvirus was assessed using conventional PCR and real-time PCR. Pneumocystis spp. were detected in 40.7% of all sampled animals (20/60 golden jackals, 4/9 Eurasian badgers, and 20/39 red foxes). CPV-2 was detected in three golden jackals (5.0% of tested golden jackals, 2.8% of all sampled animals), while PRV was found in two golden jackals (3.3% of tested golden jackals) and three red foxes (7.7% of tested red foxes; overall 4.6%). Co-infections of Pneumocystis spp. and PRV were identified in one golden jackal and two red foxes, while Pneumocystis spp. were absent in CPV-2-positive animals. All samples tested negative for other viral pathogens. No significant differences in the pathogens' presence were observed between age groups, sexes, or sampling locations. The mean threshold cycle (Ct) values were 33.6 for Pneumocystis spp., 24.0 for CPV-2, and 31.3 for PRV. While the CPV-2 and PRV viral loads were high in co-infected samples, Pneumocystis spp. loads were associated only with subclinical infections. These findings suggest that the examined viral pathogens were unlikely to play a significant role in the development of clinically apparent Pneumocystis pneumonia, despite their potential to modulate or impair immune function. However, given the low viral prevalence and the lack of histopathological evaluation, a potential contribution of viral immunomodulation cannot be completely excluded.

Background and purpose: Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterial pathogen that causes Q fever in humans and coxiellosis in livestock. It represents a significant public health concern and leads to considerable economic losses in the livestock industry. This study aims to determine the rate of environmental shedding of Coxiella burnetii in small ruminant herds in Kermanshah Province, western Iran.

Materials and methods: A total of 302 sheep and goats from six districts in Kermanshah Province were included in this study. Vaginal and rectal swab samples were collected and tested for Coxiella burnetii by targeting IS1111 gene using TaqMan real-time PCR.

Results: Out of 302 small ruminants sampled from 55 herds, the overall molecular prevalence of Coxiella burnetii shedding was 1.65% (5/302; 95% CI: 0.54%-3.86%). The herd-level shedding prevalence was 5.45% (3/55; 95% CI: 1.88%-14.66%). Among the 209 sheep sampled, five tested positive, corresponding to a prevalence of 2.39% (95% CI: 0.78%-5.56%). None of the 93 goats tested positive. A significantly higher infection rate was observed in animals without a history of abortion compared to those with a history of abortion (13.6% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.0041). No significant associations were found between infection status and livestock type (sheep or goat), gender, or age.

Conclusion: The low shedding rate of C. burnetii in animals with a history of abortion suggests other pathogens may contribute to reproductive losses. Multi-pathogen surveillance, including Brucella melitensis, Chlamydia abortus, and longitudinal sampling are recommended to enhance detection accuracy and elucidate the causes of abortion in livestock.

Background: Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is a major cause of enteropathies in goat kids, yet the mechanisms underlying glucose malabsorption and transporter dysregulation are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of C. parvum infection on glucose transport in enterocytes and to determine whether probiotic therapy could counteract these changes. The study was conducted in 2024 on three goat farms in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Thirty goat kids, aged 3-6 weeks, were enrolled and allocated into three groups (n = 10 each): infected without treatment; infected with antiprotozoal therapy; and healthy controls. A morphometric examination of the ileum was conducted alongside quantitative molecular analysis (qPCR), immunological assays (Western blotting and immunohistochemistry), and biochemical measurements. The expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase was assessed. A Glucose Transmembrane Absorption Index (IGT) was calculated using the following formula: IGT = (SGLT1 protein × GLUT2 protein × Na/K-ATPase protein) / villus height.

Results: Infection with C. parvum markedly reduced the expression of both SGLT1 and GLUT2 at mRNA and protein levels (decreases of 2.3- and 2.1-fold, and 2.6- and 2.3-fold, respectively; p < 0.0001). Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase protein abundance showed a significant, albeit less pronounced, decline (1.4-fold; p < 0.05). Significant villus atrophy (a 38% reduction; p < 0.0001), crypt hyperplasia, and a > 2.5-fold decrease in the villus-to-crypt ratio were observed. IGT decreased by more than twofold (p < 0.0001) and was accompanied by a 2.4-fold increase in luminal glucose concentration (p < 0.0001), elevated lactate, and increased ketone bodies. Antiprotozoal therapy led to a partial improvement in morphometric and molecular parameters (p < 0.05 vs. untreated animals), but did not normalise them completely.

Conclusions: C. parvum infection in goat kids results in impaired glucose absorption due to morphological and transporter-mediated disturbances. The proposed IGT index reflects these multifactorial disturbances and could be used as an integrative marker of mucosal function, although it requires further validation. The therapeutic intervention provided only partial restoration, highlighting the need for broader, longer-term approaches. These findings improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying glucose malabsorption in caprine cryptosporidiosis.

Background: Leptospirosis is a globally-distributed zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp., affecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Despite its importance, little is known about the ecological and epidemiological aspects of Leptospira spp. infection in wild carnivores, particularly martens. This study investigated the presence of Leptospira spp. in stone martens (Martes foina) and pine martens (Martes martes) in northern Poland using serological (MAT) and molecular (real-time PCR and MLST) methods.

Results: Samples from 129 martens collected between 2012 and 2022 revealed an 18% seroprevalence and a 13% PCR-positivity rate. Seroreactivity against six Leptospira spp. serovars was identified, all associated with rodent transmission cycles.. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of sequence types ST117 and ST110, previously reported in small mammals in Central Europe.

Conclusions: Martens are susceptible hosts for Leptospira spp.. Given their adaptability and overlapping habitats with livestock and humans, they also represent valuable targets for integrated surveillance within the One Health framework. This study provides the first evidence of Leptospira spp. sequence types and serological diversity in martens in Poland, and offers valuable insights into the epidemiology of wildlife leptospirosis.