Myiasis due to parasitic fly larvae (maggots) can have major consequences for animal health and welfare. The European hedgehog is frequently presented in rehabilitation centres and veterinary practices due to health problems, including myiasis. In the present study, 557 hedgehogs presented at wildlife rehabilitation centres in Northern Germany during 2018-2021 were examined for the presence of dipteran eggs and larvae. Overall, 15.6% of animals carried fly eggs and/or larvae. Four different dipteran species were identified by PCR and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) region. was detected on 25.3% [22/87] of affected hedgehogs, followed by (12.6% [11/87]), (11.5% [10/87]) and (9.2% [8/87]). Myiasis prevalence was significantly higher during the summer compared to spring and autumn. Fly eggs were found all over the body, while larvae were detected most frequently in the body's natural orifices and in wounds. Regarding rehabilitation success, myiasis occurred significantly more frequently in animals that died or were euthanized compared to those released back into the wild. Although the high death rate probably arose in combination with underlying disease, this illustrates that myiasis represents a serious health issue that should be diagnosed and treated immediately.

Bovine mammosphere-derived epithelial cell (MDEC) cultures are heterogeneous and enriched for stem and progenitor cells. We previously reported that the bovine MDEC secretome, comprised of all bioactive factors secreted by the cells, displays regenerative properties, exerts antimicrobial effects, and modulates neutrophil activity, positioning it as a promising non-antibiotic biologic therapy for infectious diseases important to the dairy industry, like mastitis. Mastitis is defined as inflammation of the udder, and it is typically caused by bacterial infection. The effect of the MDEC secretome on macrophages, a first line of defense against bacterial infections in the udder, is unknown and could impact the utility of the secretome as a therapy for mastitis. To address this, we isolated bovine monocytes from peripheral blood and maintained them as an unpolarized (M0) population or polarized them into M1 or M2 phenotypes. Macrophages cultured with the secretome of bovine MDECs were assessed for their ability to phagocytose labeled bacterial particles and accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate a subpopulation of MDECs that exert enhanced effects on macrophages. We found that the secretome of MDECs that do not express cluster of differentiation (CD) 73, a cell surface enzyme used as a marker for mesenchymal stromal cells, most strongly increased macrophage phagocytosis and ROS accumulation. These findings will help optimize the generation of the bovine MDEC secretome as a suitable treatment option for mastitis.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) presents a major threat to global poultry production, necessitating a thorough understanding of its evolutionary relationships for effective control measures. This study presents a novel distance-based Minimum Span Clustering (MSClustering) method to cluster 311 IBV strains, with a comparison of its results to the established IBV classification. Phylogenetic network and recombination analyses were employed to investigate IBV evolutionary relationships and transmission pathways. The phylogenetic network revealed distinct clusters reflecting relationships between IBV strains. Importantly, these network patterns, combined with recombination event analysis, suggest an unrecognized role for migratory birds in IBV dissemination, highlighting potential transmission pathways beyond established poultry trade routes. These findings contribute to advancing our understanding of IBV evolution and support the development of targeted strategies for controlling viral outbreaks in poultry populations. While statistical limitations may affect threshold estimation for smaller networks, our MSClustering method significantly accelerates processing speeds-approximately 100,000 times faster than PhyML when analyzing the dataset-enabling comprehensive-scale phylogenetic analysis of viruses.

Ex situ conservation is an important wildlife conservation strategy, but endangered wildlife in captivity often exhibit high disease rates. Commensal microorganisms are vital for homeostasis, immunity, and linked to diseases. This study analyzed the structure, assembly, variations of the symbiotic microbiota of the endangered crocodile lizard, and their relationship with environment, as well as the effects of captivity on them, to explore why captive reptiles face high dermatosis rates. Results showed that the reptile's microbiota significantly differ from that of its habitat, demonstrating niche specificity. While species richness among organs showed no significant differences, microbial diversity varied considerably. Skin microbiota showed no site-specific clustering. The assembly of skin, oral, and intestinal bacterial communities was dominated by homogeneous selection. The gut and oral bacterial networks were resilient to disturbances, while the skin bacterial network was sensitive. Captivity primarily affected the skin microbiota, reducing its diversity and stability, thereby increasing disease risk, and these effects were not solely attributable to environmental changes. These findings suggested that skin microbial changes in captive reptiles may be responsible for their increased susceptibility to dermatosis in ex situ conservation. This study underscored the importance of understanding reptile-associated microbes for effective conservation strategies and offers potential solutions.

Senecavirus A (SVA) is the causative agent associated with porcine idiopathic vesicular disease (PIVD), a condition indistinguishable from other foreign vesicular diseases affecting pigs. This complicates differential diagnosis and impacts the global swine industry. A diagnostic ELISA based on a non-structural viral protein has been developed, capable of distinguishing infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). Different expression systems (eukaryotic and prokaryotic) were used to express recombinant proteins. The baculovirus-expressed SVA 3AB DIVA ELISA demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.67% and specificity of 96.67%. In contrast, the -expressed SVA 3AB DIVA ELISA achieved 100% sensitivity and 93.33% specificity. Both ELISAs strongly correlated with the reference method and showed no cross-reactivity with other pig pathogens. The system also provided a higher yield of expressed protein than the baculovirus system. These findings indicate that SVA DIVA ELISAs are effective alternatives for detecting SVA antibodies. They can be valuable tools for sero-surveillance and for evaluating immunity status tests to support and approve vaccination programs for pig herds in the future.

This study introduces Raman imaging technique for diagnosing skin cancer in veterinary oncology patients (dogs and cats). Initially, Raman spectral bands (with specificity to certain molecular structures and functional groups) were identified in formalin-fixed samples of mast cell tumors and soft tissue sarcomas, obtained through routine veterinary biopsy submissions. Then, a custom-built Raman macro-imaging system featuring an intensified CCD camera (iXon Ultra 888, Andor, UK), tunable narrow-band Semrock (USA) optical filter compartment was used to map the spectral features at 1437 cm and 1655 cm in tissue. This approach enabled wide-field (cm), rapid (within seconds), and safe (< 400 mW/cm) imaging conditions, supporting accurate diagnosis of tissue state. The findings indicate that machine learning classifiers - particularly support vector machine (SVM) and decision tree (DT) - effectively distinguished between soft tissue sarcoma, mastocytoma and benign tissues using Raman spectral band imaging data. Additionally, combining Raman macro-imaging with residual near-infrared (NIR) autofluorescence as a bimodal imaging technique enhanced diagnostic performance, reaching 85 - 95% in accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision - even with a single spectral band (1437 cm or 1655 cm). In conclusion, the proposed bi-modal imaging is a pioneering method for veterinary oncology science, offering to improve the diagnostic accuracy of malignant tumors.

Trichinellosis is a significant zoonotic disease worldwide, with pigs as a primary reservoir host of human infection. Backyard pigs are particularly at risk due to their exposure to muscle tissue containing larvae from synanthropic micromammals or home slaughter waste. In Chile, veterinary inspections of domestically slaughtered pigs are mainly conducted in veterinary clinics using muscle samples provided by farmers or consumers. While positive cases must be reported to the authorities, negative cases are not, creating a gap in official data on prevalence. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sp. in backyard and intensively raised pigs in south-central Chile. Records of 2,608 backyard pigs were obtained from various veterinary clinics in the La Araucanía and Ñuble regions, with a few records from the El Maule and Biobío regions, encompassing a total of 33 communes. The overall prevalence was found to be 0.9% (95% confidence interval: 0.59-1.37). According to the available information, records of more than 50,000 pigs slaughtered in abattoirs per year corresponded to negative results after examination. Previous reports suggest that eradication is challenging; however, the decreasing incidence rate of human infection indicates the possibility of improving control measures for this zoonosis.

Coccidiosis is a global disease caused by protozoans, typically including spp., which pose a significant threat to the normal growth and development of young animals. Coccidiosis affects mainly the gut, where parasite proliferation occurs. The intestinal barrier, which consists of chemical, mechanical, biological, and immune defences, plays a crucial role in protecting the host against pathogens, xenobiotics, and toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract. When animals ingest sporulated spp. oocysts, these parasites primarily reproduce in the intestinal tract, causing damage to the structure and function of the intestine. This disruption of intestinal homeostasis adversely affects animal health. Numerous studies have also revealed that -infected animals experience slower bone growth rates, inferior meat quality, reduced egg production and quality, as well as impaired growth and development. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to examine the underlying mechanisms through which spp. regulate intestinal damage and disturb the balance of the internal environment. Specifically, this review will focus on their effects on the structural basis of the host intestine's chemical, mechanical, biological and immune barriers. This understanding is crucial for the development of effective drugs to prevent the invasion of spp. into the intestine, which is of paramount importance for maintaining host health.

We isolated 6,561 strains from food animals, cattle ( = 217), pigs (= 1526), chickens ( = 3942), and ducks ( = 876). Isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial sensitivity, mutations in quinolone resistance determination regions (QRDRs), and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes. Clonal relationship and genetic diversity were assessed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Overall, 3.1% of isolates exhibited resistance to ciprofloxacin. Commonly identified mutations in QRDRs were S83F, D87N, and D87G in ; T57S and S80I in ; and L416F in . Furthermore, mutations differed by serotypes. In Albany, S83F mutation in and T57S in were prevalent, while in Kentucky, S83F and D87N in , T57S and S80I in ; and in Indiana, S83F and D87G in , T57S and S80R in , and L416F in were common. Amongst PMQRs, was mainly observed in Albany, in Indiana, and in Albany. Among STs, ST198 Kentucky was predominant, followed by ST292 Albany and ST17 Indiana. Of 26 pulsotypes, KX1KA1 was mainly identified in Kentucky, AX1AA1 in Albany, and IX1IA1 in Indiana. Taken together, ciprofloxacin-resistant can pose health hazards to humans and other animals.

Pond sliders () is a common pet and invasive species in many countries. Its ability to thrive and reproduce in Mediterranean climates necessitates population control to prevent overpopulation. Ovariectomy is considered as a preventive strategy to limit reproduction and protect local biodiversity. This study compares two spaying techniques in : electrosurgery using the EnSeal tissue sealer (group E) and a conventional approach with manual ligation of blood vessels (group C). Statistical tests evaluated procedural differences, including ANOVA for duration (factoring in follicular stage, surgery type, and their interaction) and Chi-squared tests for the likelihood of single surgical access the prefemoral fossa and post-surgical feeding. Pearson's Chi-squared test with Yates' correction was used to assess complications by surgery type and follicular stage. ANOVA assessed the effect of follicular stage on surgery time, with follicles classified as Class I ( = 17), Class II ( = 12), and Class III ( = 7). Both follicular stage and surgery type significantly impacted surgery time, while their interaction was not significant, indicating independent effects. The likelihood of single-access procedures was significantly linked to surgery type, with EnSeal procedures being faster and associated with earlier post-surgical feeding. Complications were not significantly linked to surgery type or follicular stage.

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a significant threat to cattle, particularly in countries like Thailand, where outbreaks have necessitated the importation of diagnostic kits and vaccines. This study aimed to evaluate several recombinant extracellular enveloped virion (EEV) protein candidates, including F13L, A33R, A34R, and B5R, for their potential use in serological detection assays for LSDV specific antibodies in cattle. Given the challenges associated with LSDV research, such as its classification as a Class III biological agent in Thailand, gene synthesis was employed to produce these proteins. The recombinant proteins were expressed in a prokaryotic system and analyzed using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Among the candidates, F13L demonstrated the highest correlation with the results from a commercially available and validated ELISA, yielding 85.7%, and 75% positive for the infected and vaccinated groups, respectively, identifying it a promising candidate for serosurveillance activities during active LSDV outbreaks. Sequence analysis confirmed a 100% match between the F13L designed from the Neethling type strain 2490 and various Thai LSDV strains from the 2021 outbreaks, underscoring its potential as a conserved diagnostic marker. The availability of recombinant F13L and its reactivity with cattle sera from LSDV infected or vaccinated animals, demonstrated in this study, suggests it could also serve as a potential candidate for vaccine development. The study concludes that recombinant F13L shows great promise for the development of LSDV serological assays, though further optimization and validation are necessary to harness its diagnostic potential.

Wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release is a global practice with a broad body of scientific literature; nonetheless, no studies have assessed and quantified the methodological rigour and reporting quality of this literature. In this PRISMA systematic review, we assessed and quantified the reporting of controls, randomisation, blinding, experimental animal data, and housing and husbandry data in 152 primary studies on wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release published between 1980 and 2021. We then tested for associations between reporting and study characteristics. Of the 152 reviewed studies, one study reported a control, randomisation, and blinding; 17 studies reported species, age, sex, weight, and body condition; and 14 studies reported housing size, housing location, type of food, provision of water, and provision of enrichment. No study reported all 13 of these elements. Studies published in veterinary-focused journals reported lower methodological rigour and had lower reporting quality than studies published in other types of journals. Studies on mammals had higher reporting quality than studies on birds and on reptiles, and studies that included the word "welfare" had higher reporting quality than studies that did not. The overall low methodological rigour and reporting quality of the literature limits study replicability and applicability and impedes meta-analyses.

The diagnosis and management of lumbosacral pain in dogs is challenging, requiring thorough examination, with MRI playing a crucial diagnostic role. This retrospective study investigates the presence of high-intensity zones (HIZ) in the dorsal annulus fibrosus (AF) of the lumbosacral region on MRI and describes the corresponding histopathological features in dogs with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. T2-weighted (T2W) and T1-weighted (T1W) sagittal MRI scans were evaluated using a classification system developed in human medicine to analyze HIZ characteristics. Among 836 dogs with IVD degeneration, 57 (6.8%) exhibited T2W HIZ, with a median age of 7 years and median weight of 33.7 kg. All cases with HIZ consistently exhibited radiological degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. The most common T2W HIZ shape was round (43%), while 14% of lesions also appeared hyperintense on T1W. Histopathological analysis of 11 dorsal AF samples collected during standard-of-care decompressive surgery revealed two patterns: reactive cystic structures (3/11) and granulation tissue (8/11), with differential MRI presentation. This is the first study to document HIZ in the lumbosacral level of dogs with IVD degeneration. With this recognition, prospective analyses and their correlation with clinical presentations will be essential in determining the role and prognostic significance of HIZ.

Pullorum, the causative agent of pullorum disease, posing a significant threat to the global production of poultry meat and eggs. However, existing detection methods have substantial limitations in efficiency and accuracy. Herein, we developed a genomic deletion-targeted TaqMan qPCR assay for identification of Pullorum, enabling precise differentiation from other serovars. The assay's detection limit was 5 copies/μL of plasmid and 4 CFU/μL of bacterial DNA. Furthermore, we collected 676 chicken samples from an established infection model to compare the performance of the TaqMan qPCR assay with traditional bacterial culturing and antibody-based detection approaches. With superior sensitivity and specificity, the newly developed method detected over 80% of positive chickens, significantly outperforming the two conventional methods. Moreover, we proposed a combined framework that incorporates the advantages of TaqMan qPCR assay and antibody detection method, further enhancing the detection rate of positives to 92%. Additionally, to address the frequent aerosol contamination of amplification products in laboratory settings, we devised an easy-to-deploy anti-contamination system based on T7 exonuclease. Overall, the T7 exonuclease-assisted TaqMan qPCR assay will not only upgrade the current detection for pullorum disease, but also exemplify the feasibility of targeting specific genomic deletions for pathogen detection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the significance of the human-animal interface in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, with wildlife serving as an important source of infection. A better understanding of the specific pathogens and mechanisms involved is vital to prepare against future outbreaks, especially in Southeast Asia, a hotspot for zoonotic diseases. This paper reviews the published literature on wildlife zoonoses in this region from 2012 to 2022. The results show a diverse range of potential zoonotic pathogens and the widespread occurrence of zoonotic diseases from wildlife. Drivers of zoonotic pathogen spillover include (i) environmental factors (e.g. animal habitat disruption, environmental conditions, exposure to contaminated water/food/soil), (ii) animal factors (e.g. movement patterns, age-related susceptibility), (iii) human factors (e.g. lack of awareness, poor hygiene practices, age, gender and income) and (iv) human-animal-environmental interface factors (e.g. close contact between humans and animals, exposure through visiting animals and presence of vectors). The diverse drivers of zoonoses in Southeast Asia put its communities at risk for infection. To mitigate these risks, global health efforts should consider adopting a One Health approach to foster collaboration across human, animal, and wildlife health sectors. This could involve educating communities on safe animal interactions and improving disease surveillance.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a highly contagious transboundary animal disease. FMD has caused a significant economic impact globally due to direct losses and trade restrictions on animals and animal products. This study utilized multi-distance spatial cluster analysis, kernel density analysis, directional distribution analysis to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of historical FMD epidemics. A multi-algorithm ensemble model considering climatic, geographic, and social factors was developed to predict the suitability area for FMDV, and then risk maps of FMD for each species of livestock were generated in combination with the distribution of livestock. The results show that all serotypes of FMD exhibit significant clustering with a clear tendency toward a directional distribution. Serotypes A and O are widespread in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Serotype Asia 1 is prevalent in Asia. Serotype SAT2 is prevalent in Africa and the Middle East, while Serotypes SAT1 and SAT3 are restricted to Africa. Ecological niche modeling reveals temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and vegetation are important factors influencing the occurrence of FMD. Except for buffaloes, the distribution of high-risk areas for FMD occurrence in other livestock species is quite widespread. The areas primarily include the southern region of North America, the northern, southern, and eastern regions of South America, the Mediterranean region, the eastern region of Europe, the central and southern regions of Africa, the central, eastern, and southern regions of Asia, and parts of Australia. These findings will provide valuable insights into the prevention and control of FMD.

Canine oral malignant melanoma (OMM) is an aggressive, spontaneously occurring tumor carrying a poor to guarded prognosis and relatively limited therapeutic strategies. In this landscape, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG)4 represents a promising immunotherapeutic target. The objective of this bi-center prospective study was to examine the clinical outcome of OMM-bearing dogs treated with surgery and adjuvant electroporation using a DNA vaccine (HuDo-CSPG4) encoding both human (Hu) and canine (Do) portions of CSPG4 through two different vaccination protocols. Dogs with stage I-III surgically resected CSPG4-positive OMM underwent HuDo-CSPG4 plasmid electroporation starting at the 3-4 post-operative week; electrovaccination was repeated after 2 weeks. In protocol 1, electrovaccination was then delivered monthly while in protocol 2, electrovaccination was performed monthly four additional times followed by semestral boosters. The survival rates of HuDo-CSPG4-vaccinated dogs were estimated and compared with a control group treated with surgery alone. Significantly longer overall survival times were observed in HuDo-CSPG4 vaccinated dogs as compared with non-vaccinated controls. Dogs receiving protocol 2 showed similar outcomes to those of dogs undergoing protocol 1, despite fewer vaccinations. The comparable humoral response against CSPG4 resulting from the administration of protocol 1 and 2 appears to have similar clinical relevance, highlighting protocol 2 as the optimal vaccination schedule.

This review examines the role of the canine blood-brain barrier (BBB) in health and disease, focusing on the impact of the multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the gene. The BBB is critical in maintaining central nervous system homeostasis and brain protection against xenobiotics and environmental drugs that may be circulating in the blood stream. We revise key anatomical, histological and functional aspects of the canine BBB and examine the role of the gene mutation in specific dog breeds that exhibit reduced P-gp activity and disrupted drug brain pharmacokinetics. The review also covers factors that may disrupt the canine BBB, including the actions of aging, canine cognitive dysfunction, epilepsy, inflammation, infection, traumatic brain injury, among others. We highlight the critical importance of this barrier in maintaining central nervous system homeostasis and protecting against xenobiotics and conclude that a number of neurological-related diseases may increase vulnerability of the BBB in the canine species and discuss its profound impacts on canine health.

The emergence of multidrug-resistance (MDR) in Pasteurella multocida, a major contributor to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is being increasingly reported, often linked to the carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) on integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). The resistance phenotype for 19 antimicrobials was determined using broth microdilution in 75 Pasteurella multocida isolates from healthy and BRD-affected cattle from five feedlots. The genomes of 32 isolates were sequenced to identify ARG) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and assess their genetic diversity. MDR isolates (with phenotypic resistance to aminoglycosides, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and/or tetracyclines) were primarily found among BRD-affected compared to healthy animals. Non-susceptible isolates, belonging to ST79 and ST13, harbored point mutations and four to nine ARGs, including rarely reported mechanisms in Europe (mph(E), msr(E) and aadA31 ARGs and newly described mutations in the gyrA/parC genes). All ARGs were linked to the presence of MGEs including two ICEs, Tn7407 and the novel Tn7809, a prophage and a putative composite transposon. Clonally related isolates were found in different batches from the same feedlot, suggesting maintenance of MDR strains. Our findings demonstrate the diverse genetic basis of AMR in P. multocida from BRD-affected cattle in Spain, emphasizing the role of MGEs in the ARG dissemination.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary isatidis root polysaccharide (IRP) on diarrhea, immunity, and intestinal health in weanling piglets. Forty healthy piglets were randomly assigned to five groups receiving varying dosages of IRP. The findings indicated that different concentrations of IRP significantly reduced diarrhea scores ( < 0.01). Notably, the serum levels of immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G increased linearly and quadratically ( < 0.01), while immunoglobulin M also showed a linear increase ( < 0.05) in IRP-fed piglets. The secretory immunoglobulin A levels in ileal contents were significantly higher compared to control piglets ( < 0.01). Key intestinal health parameters, including villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and goblet cell numbers, showed linear and quadratic increases in both the jejunum and ileum ( < 0.05), while crypt depth decreased significantly ( < 0.01). Additionally, the expression of , occludin, and mucin2 was upregulated linearly and quadratically in IRP-fed piglets ( < 0.05). In cultured IPEC-J2 cells, and occludin expression levels significantly increased upon exposure to 400 μg/mL IRP ( < 0.01). Furthermore, the relative abundances of , , and decreased linearly with increasing dietary IRP concentration. In conclusion, IRP shows promise as an effective dietary supplement for mitigating diarrhea and enhancing intestinal health in early weaned piglets.

In this study, a commercially available Typhimurium vaccine (Vaxsafe ST) reconstituted in either water or nutrient broth, was tested to understand its effects on the invasion of Caco-2 cells and its transcriptional regulation post-reconstitution. Over time, the invasiveness of Vaxsafe ST was significantly higher following reconstitution in nutrient broth compared with water. Incubation temperature post-reconstitution did not significantly affect the invasion rate. Transcriptome data showed that Vaxsafe ST reconstituted in nutrient broth upregulated genes involved in the two-component system and flagella activity pathways; however, genes involved in host colonization and invasion were unaltered. Genes involved in host colonization and invasion were downregulated after reconstitution in water. Vaxsafe ST reconstituted in a nutritive diluent improved the metabolic activities of the vaccine. The animal experiment demonstrated that vaccine colonization was significantly higher in caeca compared with ileum irrespective of the diluent. Incubating the vaccine in nutrient broth for 30 min before administration did not significantly increase its colonization or organ invasion in chicks. Overall, the findings support the use of nutritive media for the reconstitution of Vaxsafe ST, warranting further investigation to optimize vaccine performance. This study provides a foundation for future work on vaccine reconstitution strategies.