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Objectives The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the clinical signs and diagnostic findings in cats with histopathologically confirmed adrenal neoplasms, and to assess correlations with survival data. Methods Study data were acquired by reviewing medical records for all cats diagnosed with adrenal neoplasms at seven referral institutions between 2002 and 2013. Inclusion criteria required a histopathologic diagnosis of an adrenal neoplasm (ante-mortem or on necropsy). Results Thirty-three cats met the inclusion criteria for the study. The most common presenting complaints included weakness (n = 12), respiratory signs (n = 4), blindness (n = 4) or gastrointestinal signs (n = 3). Laboratory abnormalities included hypokalemia (n = 18), alkalemia (n = 12), elevated creatine kinase (>3000, n = 5) and azotemia (n = 4). In addition, hypertension was noted in 13 cats. Thirty cats were diagnosed with cortical tumors (17 carcinomas, 13 adenomas) and three cats were diagnosed with pheochromocytomas. Twenty-five cats underwent tests to evaluate the function of the adrenal tumors; 19/25 cats had functional tumors (hyperaldosteronism [n = 16], hypercortisolemia [n = 1], high estradiol [n = 1], and hypersecretion of aldosterone, estradiol and progesterone [n = 1]). Twenty-six cats underwent adrenalectomy, one cat was medically managed and six were euthanized without treatment. Long-term survival postoperatively ranged from 4–540 weeks, with 20 (77%) cats surviving the perioperative period of 2 weeks. The only variable that was found to be negatively associated with survival was female sex. The most common complications noted during the perioperative period were hemorrhage and progressive lethargy and anorexia. Conclusions and relevance Surgical treatment for feline adrenal tumors (regardless of tumor type) resulted in good long-term survival. Given that pre- and postoperative hypocortisolemia was identified in this study, and, in addition, hypersecretion of more than one adrenal hormone occurred in one cat, adrenal panels prior to surgery may be beneficial as part of the preoperative work-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total protein levels in fish are widely used in health and welfare studies, providing a simple and accessible measure. However, the multifaceted role of blood proteins makes it sometimes challenging to link total protein content to specific health issues, while specific protein fractions may offer more precise insights into fish biology and health, particularly in farmed fish species where such data is often lacking. Data were gathered from two experiments involving Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata, key species in European marine aquaculture. The aim was (1) to assess how different globulin fractions contribute to total protein content in blood and (2) how these contributions vary across different sampling times in healthy animals. In D. labrax, the beta1 globulin fraction emerged as the major contributor (34.16%), followed by albumin and alpha2 globulins (18.24% and 16.41%, respectively). In contrast, pre-albumins and alpha1 fractions had the least contribution (5.49% and 7.71%). S. aurata exhibited albumin as the primary contributor (23.39%), followed by beta1 and alpha2 globulins (19.71% and 19.15%, respectively), with gamma and alpha1 fractions contributing the least (5.34% and 8.63%). Notably, the study revealed relatively stable contributions of globulin fractions to total proteins within both species, albeit with minor variations over time, potentially linked to environmental and individual factors. Furthermore, larger fish displayed higher total protein levels. This research underscores the need for further investigation into the diverse factors influencing globulin contributions to total proteins, ultimately enhancing health and welfare monitoring for farmed fish species., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The large use of fish meal/fish oil in carnivorous fish feeds is the main concern regarding environmental sustainability of aquaculture. Here, we evaluated the effects of an innovative diet, designed to be (1) environmentally sustainable by lowering the marine protein content while being (2) cost effective by using sustainable alternative raw materials with acceptable cost and produced on an industrial scale, on growth performance, gut microbiota composition, health and welfare of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a key species of the Mediterranean marine aquaculture, reared in sea cages. Results show that the specific growth rate of fish fed the low marine protein diet was significantly lower than those fed conventional diet (0.67% vs 0.69%). Fatty acid profile of fillets from fish fed a low marine protein diet presented significant lower n-6 and higher n-3 content when compared to conventional ones. Then, a significant increase in the abundance of Vibrio and reduction of Photobacterium were found in the gut of fish fed with the low marine protein diet but effects on sea bass health needs further investigation. Finally, no major health and welfare alterations for fish fed the low marine protein diet were observed, combined with a potential slight benefit related to humoral immunity. Overall, these results suggest that despite the low marine protein diet moderately affects growth performance, it nevertheless may enhance environmental and economic sustainability of the sea bass aquaculture., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a freshwater decapod crustacean, cultured in numerous countries worldwide for both food and ornamental purposes. Redclaw crayfish has become an important aquaculture species due to its physical and biological traits, relatively easy breeding, and a short growing-out period to reach commercial size. Bacterial infections are the second-most studied pathogens of freshwater crayfish. However, redclaw crayfish rickettsiosis, caused by Coxiella cheraxi, was reported in only a few scientific papers in the early 2000s, in Australia and Ecuador. Coxiella cheraxi is a rod-shaped intracellular bacterium that can cause mortality of 22%-80% in naturally infected crayfish. In experimental infections, mortality rates may be even higher (40%-90%). Coxiella cheraxi is closely related to Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q-fever, which affects ruminants (goats, sheep, and cattle) and occasionally may cause zoonotic infections. According to the scientific knowledge available, C. cheraxi is a species-specific pathogen because it has been only detected in Cherax quadricarinatus and thus far, there is no evidence of a zoonotic potential. In this study, we describe an outbreak of rickettsiosis in a batch of redclaw crayfish imported to Israel from an Australian hatchery, observed 2 months after introduction in a quarantine facility. Initial mortality was evaluated through histopathology, revealing infection by rickettsia-like organisms (RLO) that were subsequently investigated by molecular analysis and transmission electron microscopy examination. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the detected RLO were closely related to C. cheraxi from a single source (Australian strain TO98), available in free publicly accessible databases. After 5 months in quarantine, almost 99% of the crayfish population had died. Our findings raise valuable questions related to aquatic animal trade and the importance of mitigation measures, such as quarantine and routine diagnostic procedures, to limit the spread of infectious diseases., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Mortality in wild fish populations represents a challenging issue for public fish health inspectors. When a single fish species is involved, an infective aetiology is frequently suspected, with focus on viral notifiable diseases. However, other viral agents not subjected to regulation and causing mortality in common carp have been reported such as carp edema virus (CEV). In mid-June 2020, a severe common carp mortality was observed in an artificial lake in north-east of Italy. Sleepy fish were noted some days before the beginning of the mortality itself, which lasted several days and involved over 340 adult specimens. During the outbreak, water temperature was around 15°C, water quality was normal, and no adverse meteorological events were reported in the area. Four specimens, which showed severe cutaneous hyperaemia and increased mucus production on skin and gills, were tested by bacteriological methods and virological analysis targeting the main carp pathogens. Molecular analysis performed on gills, kidney and brains from all the fish analysed resulted positive for CEV, which, based on anamnestic information and laboratory findings, was considered the responsible for the mortality event herein described., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In aquaculture, fish species may experience stressful episodes caused by poor farming conditions. The exponential increase of global aquaculture has raised the number of research studies aimed at demonstrating the sensitivity of aquatic animals in confined environments. The development of a real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry methods were investigated to evaluate the presence, localization, and quantity of biomarkers of oxidative stress in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). In particular, stress tests such as manipulation and temperature changes were conducted through molecular methods to identify the expression level of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in stressed animals compared with a control group. The immunohistochemical technique was also applied to locate and study the trends-levels of nitrotyrosine (NT), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) in different tissues from stressed animals and control group. The presence of the rodlet cell (RCs) was evaluated by histology in both a control and stressed group. Our results show that the real-time PCR method developed is specific for the evaluated target gene and that manipulation and temperature increase are strong stressors for animals. Relative quantification data revealed a gene expression increase of HSP70 in the stressed group of animals compared to the control group. The antibodies used for the immunohistochemical staining were efficient, and it was possible to appreciate the increase of immunoprecipitates in European sea bass either manipulated or stressed by temperature increase. The present study can be a starting point to allow the quantification of HSP70 and the identification of other stress biomarkers in D. labrax.

Stocking density is considered a stress factor for fish and is therefore one of the numerous concerns about fish welfare in an aquaculture context. Stress coping styles (SCS) are defined as a coherent set of individual physiological and behavioral differences in stress responses that are consistent across time and context and appear to be promising for improving fish welfare in aquaculture. The aim of the present study was to describe the physiological and zootechnical performances of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) at different stocking densities (low density, LD: 15 kg/m 3 and high density, HD: 30 kg/m 3 ), depending on individual SCS. To do so, the fish SCS were first screened by measuring boldness (prior to the experiment). Three consecutive samplings were performed over the experiment to measure several blood parameters, including hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell count (RBCC), hemoglobin (Hb), cortisol, adrenalin, noradrenalin, glucose, lactate, and lysozyme, to infer the consequence of the SCS profile on the welfare condition in response to stocking density. Finally, swimming activity was recorded in a subsample of individuals (9 BOLD and 9 SHY individuals per density), and BOLD individuals displayed higher swimming activity than SHY ones at HD, while the opposite pattern was observed at LD. According to principal component analysis, physiological parameters are linked to the SCS profile, mostly at the beginning of the experiment, while density effects on physiology remain during the entire experiment duration. In conclusion, regarding all the variables observed, fish SCS appeared to be promising criteria to select the most adaptive individuals relating to rearing conditions and therefore improve welfare., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

V. vulnificus is a Gram-negative bacterium, commonly found in estuarine and coastal habitats, that can infect humans through seafood consumption or wound exposure. This study represents the first attempt to correlate the genotype of Vibrio vulnificus strains isolated in the north-western Adriatic Sea coastal area, with their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. On the whole, 40 V. vulnificus strains, isolated from shellfish (n=20), different coastal water bodies (n=19), and the blood of a Carretta carretta turtle (n=1), were utilized. All strains were positive for the species-specific genes vvh A and hsp , with high variability for other markers: 55% (22 out of 40) resulted of the environmental (E) genotype ( vcg E, 16S rRNA type A, CPS2 or CPS0), 10% (4 out of 40) of the clinical (C) genotype ( vcg C, 16S rRNA type B, CPS1), and 35% (14 out of 40) of the mixed (M) genotype, possessing both E and C markers. The antimicrobial susceptibility was assayed by the diffusion method on agar, according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), utilizing the following commercial disks (Oxoid): ampicillin (AMP), ampicillin- sulbactam (SAM), piperacillin (PRL), cefazolin (KZ), cefotaxime(CTX), ceftazidime (CAZ), imipenem (IPM), meropenem (MEM), amikacin (AK), gentamicin(CN), tetracycline(TE), ciprofloxacin (CIP), levofloxacin (LEV), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), and chloramphenicol (C). 75% of the strains, (n=30) including all C strains, was sensitive to all the tested antibiotics, whereas E strains showed intermediate sensitivity to AK (2 strains), CIP and CAZ (1 strain), TE (1 strain) and resistance to KZ (1 strain), and 4 M strains showed I to AK., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Background: Darbepoetin alfa (darbepoetin) is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent used for the treatment of anemia secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dogs, but reports describing response are lacking., Hypothesis/objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of darbepoetin in dogs with anemia secondary to CKD, dosing protocols, and adverse events., Animals: Thirty-three client-owned dogs with naturally occurring CKD, including 26 with comorbidities., Methods: Multi-institutional retrospective study., Results: The median starting dosage and highest dosage of darbepoetin administered were 0.5 and 0.8 μg/kg SC once weekly, respectively. Response to treatment was defined as achieving a packed cell volume (PCV) ≥30% or an increase in PCV ≥10%. Twenty-eight of 33 dogs (85%) achieved a PCV ≥30% and 22 of 33 (67%) dogs achieved an increase in PCV ≥10%. Median time to achieve a PCV ≥30% was 29 days. A higher starting dosage was associated with achieving an increase in PCV ≥10% (P = .01). No dog sustained a response at a dosing interval >q21d. Potential adverse events included increased blood pressure requiring treatment (n = 12), seizures (n = 5), vomiting (n = 3), diarrhea (n = 3), and possible pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) (n = 2)., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Darbepoetin, when combined with treatment of comorbidities, is an effective treatment for anemia secondary to CKD in dogs. A dosing interval >q21d was ineffective at maintaining a response to treatment. PRCA was a possible adverse event in 2 of 33 dogs (6%)., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Many treatments have been proposed for the prevention of the revascularisation syndrome following embolectomy or thrombectomy in patients with severe ischaemia. These include the administration of diuretics, bicarbonate, buffer solutions, free radical scavengers, washing out the venous blood from the ischaemic leg, or systemic dialysis. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of combining haemofiltration with a treatment using compound oxy-radical scavengers in order to prevent or to reduce the appearance of the revascularisation syndrome. The study was performed on 13 sheep. Eight animals underwent 4 h of aortic and vena cava occlusion using irrigation-occlusion catheters, followed by normal reperfusion (control group). Five sheep underwent the same period of ischaemia, followed by 1 h of local haemofiltration and re-oxygenation and 2 h of normal revascularisation. The priming solution for the ECC circuit consisted of 500 ml of 20% mannitol and 500 ml of 18/1000 HCO3- contained: superoxide dismutase (150,000 I.U.), methylprednisolone, 1 g, and heparin, 10,000 I.U. After the 3rd h of ischaemia, 2.1 g of acetate alpha-tocopherol (30 mg kg-1) were injected i.m. The treatment produced good protection against oxidative stress, shown by an increase in the glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), and reduced muscular damage, confirmed by a moderate increase in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels (significantly higher in the control group). Diuresis was significantly higher in the treated group, and the acid-basic and potassium balance returned to normal more rapidly. Our data suggest that this combined treatment could be effective in the prevention of the ischaemia-reperfusion syndrome.