BMC Veterinary Research最新文献

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.

Background: Behavioral responses during examinations can reflect stress and ease of handling. This study aimed to determine alpacas' behavioral responses to body score and health assessment during physical examination, and to investigate correlations between alpacas' behavior during physical examination (mean behavior score was computed for each animal based on the assessment of its behavioral responses: ease of introduction to the box, response to fixation, body language, vocalization, kicking, and spitting, on a 3-point scale), body condition score (BCS, on a 5-point scale) and other health indicators (on a 5-point scale), and caretaker questionnaire survey (based on evaluation of the individual's behavioral characteristics and its ease of handling, using a 5-point Likert scale).

Results: Thirty alpacas (17 females, 13 males) took part in the study. The studied animals did not show many behavioral signs of stress during physical examinations, with a mean behavioral score of 1.33, and most of them were assessed with a BCS of 3.0, indicating their good condition. Spitting was negatively correlated with BCS and eye mucous membrane color, suggesting a potential link between animal stress and health. The duration of the physical examination was most influenced by the ease of introduction to the assessment box. Moreover, shorter examination times were associated with desirable traits such as gentleness and adaptation to new situations, assessed in the caretaker questionnaire survey. Females showed more stress-related behaviors during physical examination, and it took longer to examine them compared to males, although no sex differences were found in BCS and other health indicators or survey traits.

Conclusions: Physical examination is not a significantly stressful procedure for alpacas. However, some difficulties were noted during the introduction of the animal to the examination box, and signs of anxiety were observed in its body language. The results indicate a relationship between behavior assessment during physical examination and desirable traits assessed in the caretaker questionnaire. This study suggests that the future consideration of behavior indicators during human-animal relation could be helpful in evaluating alpacas' health risks. The proposed assessment protocol combining behavior, the BCS and other health indicators offers a practical tool for breeders to monitor alpaca welfare.