The common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis, is a neotropical and synanthropic marsupial common and widespread in Latin America. The strong human-opossum conflict that results in high numbers of individuals with health problems demands information on physiological parameters to be used in veterinary medicine practice. The aim of this study was to estimate the reference intervals (RI) of hematology and serum biochemistry for this species which are lacking and evaluate its variability. Out of the 61 apparently healthy wild opossums evaluated, we found significant variability in the RI´s associated sex, life stage, habitat, and the reproductive stage of females. Males had higher values of RBC and hemoglobin than females, but females had higher values of MCH than males. Juveniles had higher values of MCV and MCH, but adults had higher values RBC, WBC and neutrophils. In addition, rural opossums had higher values of hemoglobin, MCHC, MCH and platelets, but urban opossums had higher values of WBC, particularly neutrophils and lymphocytes. Opossums are exposed to many different stressors in urban settings, and further research is needed to understand these physiological responses to urbanization. Finally, lactating females had higher values of monocytes and basophils compared to non-lactating females, potentially providing passive immunity through the milk to the immature neonates in the marsupium.

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis which rarely causes a neurologic clinical presentation. Tuberculous meningitis is a common clinical finding in young calves in dairy herds where tuberculosis is endemic, associated with the early consumption of milk from infected cows. We report two simultaneous cases of vestibular syndrome, including loss of balance, circling, tilted head, and strabismus in 12- and 16-month-old Holstein heifers on a dairy farm in Tandil, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, with low tuberculosis prevalence (< 1.0%). Several widespread granulomatous lesions including large intracranial granulomas, characterized by a fibrous capsule containing pale yellow granular caseous material, with were observed during postmortem examination of both heifers. Microscopically, granulomas were characterized by the presence of a central caseous necrosis with mineralization, surrounded by an abundant macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells infiltrate, with the presence of multiple Langhans-type giant cells, epithelioid macrophages, and connective tissue proliferation in the outer circumference. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from different granulomas and associated lymph nodes and was typed by spoligotyping. This uncommon clinical presentation of bovine tuberculosis should be considered by veterinary practitioners, particularly in dairy herds where tuberculosis is endemic.

Obesity stands out as the most common multifactorial nutritional problem affecting domestic cats. According to studies, the prevalence of overweight or obese cats varies between 11.5% and 63%. Various factors such as breed, age, gender, reproductive status, owner-pet relationship, diet type, and environmental factors have been identified as potential risk factors for the development of obesity in cats. Among the genes involved in regulating energy balance, one of the prominent genes is melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R). A specific missense variant in the feline MC4R gene (c.92 C > T) has been associated with overweight in diabetic domestic shorthaired cats. In this study, it was aimed to determine the polymorphisms in MC4R gene in random bred cats and cats belonging to a registered breed in Turkey and to investigate their relationship with obesity. Blood samples from 30 obese and 20 non-obese cats were collected into sterile vacuum EDTA tubes. Exon 1 of the MC4R was amplified and sequenced. As a result of DNA sequence analysis, we identified a total of six SNPs in the feline MC4R gene, four of which were found for the first time in this study. As a result of comparing allele frequencies in obese and non-obese cats, a significant relationship was found between SNP rs783632116 and obesity. The results of regression analyses evaluating the effects of SNP genotypes, sex and infertility status on feline Body Mass Index (fBMI) indicated that non-synonymous SNPs rs783632116, ss11356259660 and ss11356259661 were significantly associated with fBMI.

The analysis of animal responses to immunization is fundamental to vaccine development, enabling the evaluation of immune responses and the elucidation of key mechanisms underlying protective immunity. Such insights are essential for advancing vaccines through clinical trial stages and regulatory approval. Furthermore, understanding the molecular signatures of approved vaccines not only deepens our knowledge of their function but also guides the rational design and improvement of future vaccines. This study aims to elucidate alterations in protein abundance patterns in the sera of European sea bass, D. labrax, following immunization with a chemically-inactivated nodavirus vaccine. The shotgun proteome comparison revealed that in vaccinated animals, compared to controls, there is a modulation of the redox balance favouring reactive oxygen species (ROS), an intricate interaction between coagulation and the immune system resulting in the lower abundance of hematopoiesis-related FLT3, and indications of functional adaptive immunity demonstrated by the lower abundance of pentraxin fusion protein-like and the over-representation of myosins. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the inaugural investigation of the immune response in fish using a proteomics approach, employing D. labrax as the host and nodavirus as the pathogen used for vaccination and challenge.

A 1.5-year-old primiparous Pomeranian bitch was referred with abdominal discomfort and clinical signs of parturition. Fetal membranes were hanging from vulva, yet no evident progress in parturition was observed. Following medical treatment of the bitch with calcium and oxytocin, the first puppy was born, which had protruding viscera. The abnormal puppy was diagnosed with gastro-thoracoschisis as it has a thoracoabdominal cleft from sternum to pubis, but without skeletal abnormalities. Further, it was revealed that there were some histopathological lesions in the liver and lung of the abnormal puppy. The second and third puppies delivered without difficulty, but only one of these puppies was alive at birth. This case represents the first report of gastro-thoracoschisis clinical case in Pomeranian breed. This case underscores the complexities of managing congenital anomalies in canine and highlights the need for further research to understand the etiology of GTS, which is observed more frequently in ruminants and sporadically in dogs.

Lice (Phthiraptera) are obligate ectoparasites of birds and mammals found worldwide. Chewing lice, belonging to the families Menoponidae and Philopteridae, are particularly diverse in Brazil, although their distribution is unevenly documented across states. This study focused on recent collections from protected areas in Maranhão and Piauí, the sampling involved mist netting and comprehensive ectoparasite examination, with specimens identified using both light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. A total of 239 birds were collected, 63 (26.35%) of which were infested with chewing lice. Seventeen distinct species were identified, including seven that had not been previously recorded in Brazil. Our findings contribute to the growing knowledge of chewing lice diversity in Brazil, with particular emphasis on the underrepresented states of Maranhão and Piauí.

This study reports new occurrences of Syngamidae nematodes, specifically Cyathostoma (Cyathostoma) phenisci, in seabirds stranded along the northeastern coast of Brazil. Through systematic monitoring efforts of seabird strandings along the coast of Sergipe (northeastern Brazil), deceased specimens were subjected to post-mortem analyses. During necropsies, nematodes were identified in the tracheae of three specimens (Calonectris borealis, Puffinus puffinus, and Ardenna gravis), indicating respiratory infections. The parasites were collected and identified as C. phenisci. This represents the first record of this species in birds of the order Procellariiformes in Brazil. This study expands the known host range for this parasite and suggests a potential underreporting of respiratory infections caused by Syngamidae in seabirds. The findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of these populations and their implications for the health and conservation of migratory birds.

The black queen cell virus (BQCV) is a common agent that causes covert infection in hives and has a global distribution. In this study, TaqMan probe and EvaGreen (EG) dye-based real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays based on the amplification of coding senquences for the BQCV structural protein (SP) and the non-structural protein (NSP) were developed and validated for the detection of BQCV in adult bee and larvae/pupae. Additionally, the performances of commonly used EG and TaqMan chemicals for real-time qRT-PCR analyses were compared. The operating range for BQCV-SP TaqMan and EG real-time qRT-PCRs ranged 2.61-7.61 log RNA copies/reaction and 2.61-7.79 log RNA copies/reaction, respectively. The operating range for BQCV-NSP TaqMan and EG real-time qRT-PCRs ranged 6.83-11.83 log RNA copies/reaction and 6.98-11.98 log RNA copies/reaction, respectively. Based on these novel assays, the prevalence of BQCV in adult bees and larvae/pupae was 84% (88/105) and 44% (46/105), respectively. BQCV viral load was also within the operating range determined during assay validation. Comparable results were obtained in analytical and diagnostic performance analyses of the EG dye and TaqMan probe chemicals. Highly sensitive and analytically specific for the detection of BQCV, these real-time qRT-PCR assays will benefit the etiological and epidemiological studies of BQCV.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of chorioptic mange affecting the distal legs of horses in Belgium, focusing on the association between mange and chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) in Belgian draft horses. Clinical examinations and skin scrapings were performed on the distal legs of 156 Belgian draft horses and 142 Belgian warmblood horses. In the Belgian draft horse breed, 144 (92.31%) horses were infested with Chorioptes bovis mites, and 126 (80.77%) displayed clinical signs of CPL. CPL prevalence in draft horses aged < 1 year was 17.86%, while mites were detected in 85.71% of this age group, with infestations observed as early as 6 days of age. In a subset of horses aged ≥ 1 year, CPL and mange prevalence amounted to 94.53% and 93.75%, respectively. In contrast, no mites or CPL were detected in the Belgian warmblood horses examined. Statistical analysis revealed a strong association between C. bovis and CPL (prevalence odds ratio: 7.37; p = 0.002). The prevalence of CPL was approximately twice as high in horses with mites compared to non-infested horses (prevalence ratio: 2.02). Furthermore, the prevalence risk difference of 42.36%, indicates a substantial absolute increase in CPL prevalence among infested horses. This study demonstrates the high prevalence of C. bovis and its breed-specific predilection in Belgian draft horses. The strong association between mange and CPL highlights the potential role of C. bovis as a contributing factor in CPL pathogenesis.

This study is the first attempt to describe the morphological features of the sublingual and subpharyngeal floor, beak, and palate of the Egyptian ISA Brown Hen using gross and SEM examinations. The rostral part of the lower beak, not occupied by the tongue, was organized into three areas: rostral papillary-teeth-like, non-ridged, and ridged. The sublingual part has a median ridge and two sublingual gland openings; the large round openings are along the ridge, while the small ovoid openings are along each half. The sublaryngeal region contained three sublaryngeal ridges. The oropharyngeal roof papillary system is classified into palatine and pharyngeal (one dorsal transverse row and the two ventral transverse rows) systems. The palatine papillary system has five transverse papillary rows on the choanal field and two longitudinal papillary rows (one on each side of the choanal opening). The choana is divided into a long, narrow rostral part and a wide, short caudal part. The choana is surrounded by an elevated papillary fold of 7-10 small papillae, arranged in a pattern of 2-3 papillae between the transverse ridges. The caudal part is bordered by two longitudinal papillary rows without an elevated border, with 6-8 papillae. A papillary border encircled the choana. There are fifteen ridges on the roof: eight longitudinal and seven transverse ridges. Each lateral longitudinal palatine region carried 6-8 tooth-like rostrally directed projections. Our findings suggested that the oropharyngeal cavity plays a key role in determining how the bird's nutritional mechanism adapts to the Egyptian environment.

Pregnancy-induced changes in the intestinal microbiota have been widely demonstrated. However, the research on the alterations of intestinal fungi and fecal metabolism during the reproductive cycle of sows is limited. In this study, fresh fecal samples were collected from 12 sows during the second day before fertilization (SBF), early pregnancy period (EEP; including gestational days 28, 42, and 56), late pregnancy period (LPP; including gestational days 70, 84, and 98), farrowing day (FD; collected after delivery), and lactation period (LAC, including days 7, 14, and 21 postpartum) for Internal Transcribed Space amplicon sequencing and untargeted metabolomics sequencing. The results indicated that intestinal fungi and fecal metabolites underwent significant dynamic changes during EPP and LPP, stabilizing after FD. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between intestinal fungi and fecal metabolites, suggesting a potential role of intestinal fungi in the regulation of host health and reproductive performance. These results indicated that pregnancy may play a key role in driving the dynamic changes in intestinal fungi and fecal metabolites observed throughout the reproductive cycle. This study explores the dynamic changes and correlations of intestinal fungi and fecal metabolites in sows, providing theoretical insights for sow breeding production, feed management, and the development of microecological agents.

Orf virus (ORFV) is an epitheliotropic, double-stranded DNA pathogen belonging to the genus Parapoxvirus, and it is the causative agent of contagious ecthyma (CE) in small ruminants. It is an endemic disease on goat and sheep herds around the world. It is often a neglected disease, with impacts on herd health and productivity, while also being an occupational zoonosis. This review explores the causative agent of ovine ecthyma, its epidemiology, and clinical manifestations, with a particular emphasis on its interaction with the host's immune system and the development of ORFV vaccines. Like other members of the Poxviridae family, ORFV expresses numerous immunomodulatory genes, which complicate vaccination efforts and disease management. This review highlights the challenges posed by ORFV in achieving effective immunization and discusses potential vaccine strategies to overcome these obstacles.

An 11-year-old dog living in a rural area of Italy was evaluated for a persistent cough. Diagnostic imaging findings, combined with the clinical history and physical examination, revealed focal pneumonia, raising suspicion of a vegetal foreign body. Bronchoscopy identified a foreign body (a grasshopper) partially obstructing the left caudal bronchus, and its removal was successfully performed. Insects should be considered potential bronchial foreign bodies in the differential diagnosis.

Cholelithiasis is a rarely reported condition in lions and zoological carnivora. This report documents two geriatric, male, African lions (Panthera leo; Lions A and B) submitted for routine necropsy following euthanasia due to unrelated conditions. Pre-euthanasia serum biochemistry revealed unremarkable hepatobiliary markers for both lions. On necropsy, cholelithiasis was observed in both individuals, with Lion A displaying more severe gallstone accumulation and a biliary cystadenoma. Gallstones from Lion A were analysed using X-ray diffraction, element content analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Findings revealed that the black appearance of the choleliths, the absence of acicular cholesterol, and minimal calcium content (1.05%) were consistent with bilirubin polymer composition. Risk factors for cholelithiasis in these lions may have included geriatric age, sex (male), good body condition, and chronic biliary tract inflammation. This case report presents the first documented instances of incidental cholelithiasis in African lions, providing novel findings into its composition (bilirubin polymers), possible risk factors, and histopathological features.

In large breed dogs, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the main cause of congestive heart failure (CHF) and sudden cardiac death. The underlying etiology of DCM is usually not definitively identified; however, in predisposed breeds a hereditary etiology is often suspected. Other etiologies, such as toxins and infections, have also been documented or suspected to cause DCM in dogs. Conventional drug treatment cannot reverse disease progression but can only control the signs of heart failure as they occur. Cytoprotective gene therapy with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B167 (VEGF-B167) has been shown to be an effective alternative therapy that can halt disease progression in preclinical experimental studies in dogs. This study reports the long-term clinical and echocardiographic follow-up of a 6-year-old St. Bernard dog with DCM treated with intracoronary administration of VEGF-B167 gene delivered by adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV- VEGF-B167). Monitoring was performed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months post-procedure (T0-T8) including clinical, laboratory and instrumental examinations. The dog reached T8 in good clinical condition. Comparing echocardiographic parameters from T0 to T8, ejection fraction (EF%) did not worsen, indeed showing potential improvement (30% to 38% from T0 to T8 respectively) (Simpson method). Other parameters of disease progression varied minimally over the course of the study. From T0 to T8, no relevant change in medical therapy was necessary. The dog survived 341 days from the last follow-up and died of sudden death 1436 days after the procedure (T0). A survival time of 4 years in good health is an excellent outcome suggesting a possible protective role of VEFG-B167 in slowing disease progression in this dog.

Cell-based therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for treating peripheral nervous system (PNS) injuries across different species. However, there is a scarcity in the literature regarding the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating PNS injuries in horses. This report aims to describe the therapeutic potential of equine MSC transplantation in two horses with chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis. Both horses presented with lip ptosis and right deviation of the nostril and upper lip, being clinically diagnosed with left facial nerve paralysis. Due to the refractoriness to conventional anti-inflammatory treatments, cell-based therapy was chosen. One horse received an autologous transplant of equine bone marrow-derived MSCs (EqBM-MSCs) four months after the traumatic event, while the other underwent three transplants of allogeneic equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (EqAT-MSCs) at 30-day intervals, starting two months after the injury. All transplants were performed at three different sites around the facial nerve, at the level of bifurcation of the buccal branch in both horses. Physical and neurological assessments revealed significant clinical recovery within three months for the first horse and four months for the second. These findings demonstrated that equine MSCs transplants have great therapeutic potential for chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis in horses, highlighting the relevance of MSCs- based therapy for peripheral nerve injuries.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a significant viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed domestic and wild animals. One of the most effective measures for combating this disease is vaccination. However, sheep are often excluded from vaccination campaigns because of vaccine shortages. Intradermal vaccination can significantly reduce the quantity of antigens and adjuvants required, thereby increasing vaccine availability. Although numerous experimental studies have been conducted on the intradermal administration of the FMD vaccine, no such studies have been conducted on sheep, and the duration of antibody response for this species remains unclear. Inactivated antigens for foot-and-mouth disease, including O/Panasia-II, A/IRN-05, A/ASIA/G-VII, and ASIA1/Sindh-08, were formulated using ictyolane 18 and ictyolane 30 adjuvants to prepare water-in-oil-in-water and microemulsions. Forty-five Merino sheep were randomly divided into four groups of 10 animals each, with one unvaccinated group containing five animals. One mL of vaccine (> 3PD) was administered intramuscularly to the intramuscular groups (IM18 and IM30), whereas 1/4 mL was administered intradermally to intradermal groups (ID18 and ID30). A booster dose was administered to all groups on day 28. Blood samples were collected from the sheep at various intervals: days 0, 7, 14, 28, 58, 86, 118, 151, 179, 211, 241, 270, 302, 338, and 361. Serum antibody levels were determined using VNT and LPB-ELISA. No difference was observed between the reduced-dose intradermal and full-dose intramuscular administration of Ictyolane 18 (ICT18) vaccine formulation (p > 0.05) in terms of antibody level and duration in sheep. It has been observed that the Ictyolane 18 formulations generally stimulate a higher antibody response than the Ictyolane 30 formulations.

Platelet concentrates such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are widely used in veterinary regenerative medicine and transfusion therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of PRP is highly dependent on its precise characterization, cellular composition, and preparation methods. Without proper standardization, PRP treatments can yield inconsistent results, undermining their clinical utility. A recent study in Veterinary Research Communications underscores the importance of pH measurement as a key quality control parameter for platelet concentrates, including PRP, in veterinary blood banks. Building on these findings and our own recent experience, we propose revised minimum reporting guidelines for the use of PRP in veterinary regenerative medicine. Adherence to minimum reporting guidelines is essential to ensure reproducibility and reduce heterogeneity in PRP therapies. Future research should focus on species-specific protocols and advanced characterization techniques to enhance the therapeutic potential of PRP. By addressing these challenges, PRP can become a cornerstone of regenerative therapies in veterinary medicine, offering safe and effective treatment options for various diseases and disorders.

Brucellosis presents notable diagnostic challenges, particularly during the chronic phase of infection, due to the typically low bacterial load in tissues, which may evade detection by conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods. Traditional PCR techniques are susceptible to cross-reactions and can produce false-positive or false-negative results. Furthermore, bacteriological and serological tests have recognized limitations in sensitivity and specificity, potentially complicating accurate diagnosis. We developed a novel reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay targeting Brucella species' highly abundant and conserved 23S rRNA gene to address these challenges. The 23S rRNA gene was selected as an optimal molecular target due to the approaches' number and genetic stability across Brucella strains. Primers were designed based on a conserved region (Sequence ID: NR_103168.2) to ensure broad applicability, and their specificity was verified through BLAST analysis. A key feature of the 23S-RT-qPCR method is incorporating a reverse transcription step to convert RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA), which may enhance detection sensitivity. Using the Brucella S2 vaccine strain as a template, experimental results indicated that the 23S-RT-qPCR method reduced cycle threshold (Ct) values by approximately 2-3 units (14.67-16.74) compared to conventional qPCR. Statistical analysis using a T-test showed that this reduction was significant (P < 0.05). The performance of the 23S-RT-qPCR method was further evaluated using clinical samples and compared with the IS711 detection method. The 23S-RT-qPCR method demonstrated a lower false-positive rate (2.6%) and false-negative rate (7.6%) compared to the IS711 method, which had a false-positive rate of 5.2% and a false-negative rate of 7.6%. These results suggest that the 23S-RT-qPCR method offers improved sensitivity and specificity, reducing false-positive and false-negative rates in clinical sample analysis. Overall, this method may provide a more reliable approach for diagnosing chronic brucellosis and could have broader applicability in detecting other bacterial pathogens.

The study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary supplementation with green propolis crude extract on juvenile tilapia's growth and intestinal microbiota. The experiment was conducted in raceway tanks with a volume of 19m, comprising two treatments with three replicates each. Fish were assigned to either a control diet or a diet supplemented with 0.67% green propolis crude extract. Each experimental unit consisted of 30 fish, initially averaging 22.38 g ± 0.32 in weight, and which were fed ad libitum for 60 days. Results demonstrated that dietary supplementation with green propolis crude extract significantly improved the growth of juvenile tilapia compared to the control group. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria were identified as the predominant bacterial phyla in the intestinal microbiota of both groups. The genera Candidatus xiphinematobacter (Verrucomicrobia) and Somerae (Firmicutes) were consistently abundant across treatments, with Somerae and Dispar as the most prevalent species. Significant differences in alpha diversity were observed between treatments at the genus and species levels according to the Chao 1 index. However, no significant differences were detected in Shannon index diversity between the control and green propolis crude extract groups. Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct clustering between treatments. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) highlighted significant differences in bacterial abundance between the control and green propolis crude extract groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with green propolis crude extract improved growth. It also modulated the intestinal microbiota of juvenile Thai tilapia.