BMC Veterinary Research最新文献

Background: Listeriosis is a severe zoonotic disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), which poses a significant threat to both livestock and public health. Efficient detection of L. monocytogenes infections in humans and various animal species requires the development of a specific and sensitive method for clinical diagnosis.

Results: In this study, a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) was developed for the detection of anti-ActA antibodies in serum, based on a horseradish peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody 3G11 (HRP-MAb 3G11). The assay parameters, including the coating antigen concentration, HRP-MAb 3G11 titer, serum dilution factor, blocking buffer, and blocking incubation time, were optimized for the detection of ActA-specific antibodies. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified 27.50% as the optimal cutoff value for the percentage of inhibition (PI), yielding a diagnostic sensitivity of 100% and a diagnostic specificity of 93.33%. This assay exhibited no cross-reactivity with positive sera specific for other common pathogens, demonstrated stable reproducibility, and achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 95.7% compared with a commercial indirect LLO-based ELISA kit. The cELISA kit was used to detect 930 ovine serum samples, revealing an overall seropositivity rate of 24.84%.

Conclusions: The cELISA kit developed in this study provides a specific, sensitive, and repeatable serological method for the rapid detection of L. monocytogenes infection.

Physics education of students in disciplines in which physics is a minor subject faces various challenges such as the frequent students' perception as difficult and abstract, and the often limited intrinsic motivation and engagement of minor-subject students. Gamification and game-based learning methods, such as educational escape rooms, are discussed as potential solution approaches. We present the concept of an educational escape room for the physics education of minor-subject students. The concept was developed as a hybrid between a classical educational escape room with sequential physics puzzles and the motivational elements of modern European board games (Eurogames). For example, this includes a corresponding victory point system and optional puzzles (called Eurogame puzzles) to provide individual paths for players. In the context of a first pilot study, the concept was designed for and evaluated with students of veterinary medicine and aims to increase both engagement and knowledge retention. An advantage is the flexibility of choosing from a broad range of optional puzzles to fascinate and motivate students, taking into account individual preferences and improving educational escape rooms by decision-making skills. We have addressed the two questions of (i) the acceptance of the concept by the students and (ii) the increase in knowledge of the students. To answer (i), the students anonymously completed a feedback questionnaire to communicate their personal opinion of the elements of the concept. To answer (ii), an approach of 12 physics questions was chosen by testing puzzle-associated factual knowledge, neglecting possible beneficial increases in experimental skills or reduction in physics anxiety for the present, through a pre- and posttest. Both, (i) and (ii), could be answered positively. The concept was successfully and gratefully accepted by the students, while the learning gain was measurable.

Background: Animal African Trypanosomosis, caused by protozoan blood parasites mainly transmitted by Glossina, is a threat to livestock health in Africa. Whilst African zebu and European taurine suffer from trypanosomosis, West African taurine, such as N'Dama, exhibit trypanotolerance and remain productive in enzootic areas. Trypanosomosis affects haematological and biochemical variables in cattle. However, joint characterization of the temporal dynamics of these variables during trypanosomosis in tolerant or susceptible cattle had yet to be carried out. The purpose of this study was to show potential differences in the dynamics of profiles of haematological and biochemical variables between trypanotolerant and susceptible cattle breeds during an infection by Trypanosoma congolense. Three cattle breeds comprising N'Dama, West African Fulani zebu, and crossbred cattle (West African zebu x European taurine) were infected with Trypanosoma congolense and were monitored for six months post-infection.

Results: As expected, N'Dama controlled anaemia and parasitaemia better than Fulani zebu and crossbred cattle. Lymphocytosis and monocytosis were observed in N'Dama, while lymphocyte and monocyte counts remained unchanged in Fulani zebu and crossbred cattle. Granulocyte counts decreased in Fulani zebu and crossbred cattle, but remained stable in N'Dama. Cholesterol and glucose concentrations decreased significantly after inoculation with trypanosomes, but relative variations were observed depending on the breed, with rapid recovery of cholesterol levels in N'Dama. The relative variation in haematological variables was positively correlated with those of cholesterol and glucose, and negatively correlated with parasitaemia. Parasitaemia was also negatively correlated with variations in cholesterol and glucose levels.

Conclusion: This study highlighted some striking differences in the evolution of white blood cells and certain biochemical traits in trypanotolerant N'Dama cattle in comparison with susceptible breeds. These associations indicated likely physio-pathological links between trypanotolerance, characterized by the mitigation of symptoms, anaemia and parasitaemia, an efficient immune response, exemplified by white blood cell profiles, and limitation of some metabolic disorders.

Background: Pharyngeal sialoceles are a rare form of salivary mucocele in dogs and may present with upper airway obstruction. Limited data are available regarding their clinical presentation and optimal management. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical signs, diagnostic findings, surgical treatment, and outcomes in six dogs with pharyngeal sialoceles.

Case presentation: Medical records of six dogs diagnosed and/or surgically treated for pharyngeal sialoceles were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, surgical approach, and follow-up outcomes. Dogs ranged in age from 1.5 to 5 years (median 3.5 years), with a predominance of males (83%). Clinical signs included hypersalivation, cervical swelling, stridor, and dyspnea. Four cases were left-sided and two right-sided; three dogs had concurrent cervical sialoceles. Cytology confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. Radiography was performed in three dogs and computed tomography was performed in one. All underwent mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy via a ventral approach, with partial excision of the pharyngeal wall. No postoperative complications or recurrences were observed during follow-up (12-48 months).

Conclusions: Pharyngeal sialoceles, while rare, should be considered in dogs presenting with upper airway signs. Complete surgical excision of the mandibular and sublingual glands, along with partial removal of the sialocele, appears to be effective and associated with a favorable prognosis.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is a harmful threat during early preimplantation that compromises embryonic development. Ascorbic acid and cysteine were found to have significant contributions in various physiological processes, including embryonic development and mitigating various stressors, by acting as antioxidants and regulating gene expression. This study evaluated the mitigating impact of ascorbic acid and cysteine addition on OS during in vitro culture (IVC) and subsequent early embryonic developmental stages of the dromedary camel. The ovaries were sourced from a nearby slaughterhouse; only high-quality oocytes were used for in vitro embryo production (IVP). Produced zygotes were in vitro cultured with ascorbic acid, cysteine, or both under a high oxygen level (20%). This study included four experimental groups: an untreated group without antioxidant i.e., control (T1), the 2nd group supplemented with 150 µg/mL ascorbic acid (T2), the 3rd group supplemented with 100 µM cysteine (T3), and the 4th group (T4) enriched with a combination of both antioxidants (150 µg/mL ascorbic acid and 100 µM cysteine). Embryo development was monitored throughout different preimplantation stages. Real-time PCR was used to assess the relative abundance of various genes, including genes that are related to oxidative stress (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thioredoxin (TXN)), apoptosis related genes (B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), and tumor suppressor protein (p53)), and metabolic related gene (glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1)).

Results: The results indicated an increased cleavage rate (P < 0.05) in T2 (29.41%), T3 (32.77%), and T4 (27.16%) compared to T1 (14.05%). Moreover, the rate of blastocyst formation was increased (P < 0.05) in T2 (24.79%), T3 (21.43%), and T4 (18.52%), compared to T1 (2.89%). However, the rates of blocked embryos at the morula stage were 8.68%, 4.62%, 10.08%, and 8.23% in T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The expression of genes regulating the antioxidant response (CAT, SOD1, and TXN), anti-apoptosis (BCL2), and metabolic activity (GLUT1) was upregulated in the treated groups.

Conclusions: To conclude, the findings of this study clearly illustrate increased cleavage and blastocyst rates with supplementation of ascorbic acid, cysteine, or a combination of both. Furthermore, gene expression data support the positive effects of antioxidant supplementation to IVC media on enhancing embryonic development by promoting the intracellular defense mechanism and inhibition of apoptosis.

Background: Cetacean morbillivirus, herpesvirus, avian influenza virus (AIV) and Brucella spp. have been linked to numerous cetacean strandings in the Northeast (NE) Atlantic. Yet, their prevalence in free-living cetaceans remains insufficiently investigated, particularly in northern regions.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2025, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and, opportunistically, fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), were sampled in two foraging grounds in northern Norway (Skjervøy and Andenes), in Iceland and in Cape Verde. Blow samples (n = 76), skin biopsies (n = 45), and organ samples from one stranded pilot whale were collected and screened for cetacean morbillivirus, herpesvirus, AIV and Brucella spp, via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: In northern Norway, cetacean morbillivirus, identified as the dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) strain, was detected in the blows of two asymptomatic groups of humpback whales, in the blow of one sperm whale in poor health and in the kidney of a stranded pilot whale. An alphaherpesvirus was detected in the blows of five humpback whale groups sampled in Norway, Iceland, and Cape Verde, while a gammaherpesvirus was detected in one humpback whale skin biopsy, sampled in Norway. No other samples tested positive to any of the pathogens, including AIV or Brucella spp.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that minimally invasive sampling, particularly blow sampling, can be used for pathogen surveillance in free-ranging cetaceans. They also provide new insights into the circulation of cetacean morbillivirus and herpesviruses in cetaceans from the NE Atlantic. Continuous monitoring of pathogen exposure, alongside other stressors, will be crucial to assess the cumulative health implications for these cetaceans.