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Active learning and practices are strongly encouraged or made mandatory by local, national, and European organizations. Therefore, we set up an interactive practical classroom, engaging all of the attending students of the year (n = 47). Each student was assigned a physiological role (marked on a cardboard sign) in the following events: stimulation on motoneuron dendrites, sodium ions (Na[superscript +]) influx and potassium ions (K[superscript +]) efflux, action potentials onset and saltatory conduction along the axon, acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter exocytosis following Ca[superscript 2+] influx, ACh binding to postsynaptic membrane receptors, ACh-esterase action, excitatory postsynaptic potential, release of Ca[superscript 2+] from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, mechanism of muscular contraction and relaxation, and rigor mortis. A sketch was drawn with colored chalks on the ground outside the room: the motoneuron with its dendrites, cell body, initial segment, myelinated axon, and synaptic bouton; the postsynaptic plasma membrane of the muscle fiber; and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Students each had their own role and were asked to position themselves and move, accordingly. This resulted in a complete, dynamic, and fluid representation being performed. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the students' learning was limited at this pilot stage. However, positive feedback was received in the self-evaluation reports that were written by students on the physiological meaning of their own role, as well as in the satisfaction questionnaires requested by the University. The rate of students who successfully passed the written exam and the rate of correct answers that included the specific topics addressed in this practice were reported.

Simple Summary: Dogs and cats are the most popular pets, and many of them share the same living environment. However, very few studies have focused on multispecies households. This study aimed at investigating whether pet management practices by multispecies owners may differ depending on the species. Furthermore, we aimed to assess whether specific pet management practices may be associated with the quality of the affective bond towards the animal. More than 1200 multispecies owners completed our questionnaire. The results suggest that many management aspects differ between cats and dogs, including their age at acquisition and their age at neutering, both of which are lower for cats. Regardless of the species, two major management strategies could be identified: dogs kept outdoors and cats kept indoors, and dogs kept indoors and cats kept both indoors and outdoors. These types of management strategies primarily depended on the owner's age, the number of animals owned, and the size of the dog, as well as the sexual status and breed of the cat. Finally, owners who kept their cats indoors and allowed both their dogs and cats to sleep in their bedroom reported a stronger perceived bond with their animals. This study aimed to investigate differences and similarities of the pet–owner relationship and management of dogs and cats living in the same household. An online survey was completed by 1270 individuals who owned both dog(s) and cat(s). Most of the respondents owned only one dog (56.4%) but two or more cats (63.1%; p < 0.001). Moreover, cats were acquired earlier and were more likely to be neutered than dogs (p < 0.001). The neutering rate was also affected by breed (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.05), and the number of pets owned (p < 0.05). Two types of owners were identified according to how they managed their pets: owners who keep cats both indoors and outdoors and dogs indoors (65.3%) and owners who keep cats indoors and dogs outdoors (34.7%). The former group was characterized by a higher percentage of owners younger than 25 years (p < 0.01), owners with more than one dog or cat, large dogs (p < 0.001), and intact (p < 0.04) and mix-breed cats (p < 0.001). Finally, most respondents described the relationship with their cats (93.0%) and dogs (97.0%) as "loving" or "friendly". Keeping cats indoors (p < 0.05) and allowing dogs and cats to sleep in the owners' bedroom were associated with a stronger perceived pet–owner bond. Implications for cat and dog welfare are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Light, among the environmental parameters, is a key factor for the well-being of broiler chickens in modern farming. It has the potential to influence a variety of physiological, immunological, and behavioural processes. In this study, we propose the use of a broiler-specific light spectrum, which is a combination of blue, green, and red LEDs, for chickens reared under commercial systems. We evaluated its effects on productivity performance and non-invasive indicators of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Our findings suggest that the use of broiler-specific lighting significantly improves productivity performance, as indicated by the final mean body weight and uniformity index. While the analyses of droppings and feathers were feasible, further research involving replicates, sampling at multiple time points, and behavioural observations is needed to confirm their role as welfare indicators in farmed chicken. This study evaluated the effect of a broiler-specific light spectrum on productive performance corticosterone (fCC) and androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (fDHEA) concentrations in feathers, and glucocorticoid (GCMs) and androgen (AMs) metabolites in droppings of broilers. Two groups of female Ross 308 broilers were reared under white LED (WL, n = 9000) and broiler-specific LED (BSL, n = 9000) lights. The body weight (BW) of 150 randomly selected animals/groups was measured weekly. Droppings and feathers were collected at the end of the cycle (29 days) from 20 animals/group. The BSL group showed higher final BW than WL (1407 ± 11 vs. 1341 ± 15 g, respectively; p < 0.001) and higher indices of uniformity (76.8% vs. 61.2% animals in the 10% around the mean, respectively; p < 0.001). No difference between groups was found in fCC and fDHEA concentrations or in the fCC–fDHEA, indicating similar long-term HPA axis activity during the cycle. A higher concentration of GCMs was found in the BSL group, indicating higher glucocorticoid secretion before sampling, with neither a difference in AMs nor in GCMs–AMs. Finally, there was a positive correlation between fCC and fDHEA and between GCMs and AMs (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that the use of broiler-specific light improved the productivity performances of chickens without long-term consequences on HPA activation. However, the results of this pilot study in a commercial farm setting must be interpreted with caution and need confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The placenta serves as the vital interface between maternal and fetal circulation, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the fetus's nutrition and oxygenation. It is, in fact, a highly sophisticated and multifaceted organ, capable of integrating signals from both the mother and the fetus with remarkable efficiency. PAG levels are indicative of the number of fetal cotyledons in the placenta and, consequently, the size of the placenta. This provides insight into placental development and fetal–placental well-being. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of maternal undernutrition on PAG secretion has not been extensively investigated in ruminant species. Starting from this premise, this study aimed to determine whether undernutrition might exert an influence on the production of this glycoprotein, with subsequent implications for embryonic and fetal well-being. To the best of our knowledge, no studies in the literature have reported on the relationship between the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) concentration and undernutrition during pregnancy in sheep. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of undernutrition on the blood concentration of PAGs in pregnant ewes carrying single and multiple fetuses, undergoing either dietary energy restriction or receiving 100% of their energy requirements during the period of maximal placenta growth. From d 24 to 100 of pregnancy, the ewes were fed ryegrass hay and two different iso-proteic concentrates, fulfilling either 100% of the ewes' energy requirements (control group; n = 30, 14 singleton pregnancies, 16 multiple pregnancies) or only 50% (feed-restricted group; n = 29; 11 singleton pregnancies, 18 multiple pregnancies). Blood samples were collected from all the ewes the day before intravaginal sponge insertion (T0) and, thereafter, every 30 days starting from d 24 of gestation (T1) until d 30 after parturition (T6), to determine the PAG, progesterone, NEFA, total protein, and glucose concentrations. Our results showed that PAG concentrations are not only influenced by the number of fetuses, but also by the ewe's diet. In particular, the PAG marginal means were higher in the feed-restricted group than in the control group (7.8 ± 0.6 and 10.8 ± 0.9 ng/mL for the control and feed-restricted groups, respectively; p = 0.040). This finding confirms that a dietary restriction between d 24 and d 100 of gestation leads to a growth in placental functions as inferred from the increase in the concentration of the PAG levels. Therefore, the measurement of PAG concentrations, in addition to serving as a marker of pregnancy, can also serve as a marker of placental functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardized welfare assessment protocols are crucial to enhance animal welfare; up to date, there is no data on the level of welfare of camels kept under pastoralism. A tailored protocol for measuring welfare in dromedary camels kept under nomadic pastoralist conditions was recently developed, drawing from the currently available welfare protocol for dromedary camels kept in intensive systems. This study, therefore, aimed to apply the newly developed tailored protocol and assess the welfare of dromedary camels kept under pastoralism in the Southern Punjab Province of Pakistan. A total of 44 welfare indicators (animal-, resource, and management-based measures) aligning with animal welfare principles ("Good Feeding", "Good Housing", "Good Health", and "Appropriate Behavior") were gathered into two assessment levels: "Caretaker-Herd level" and "Animal level". Data were collected in 2023 in the Cholistan desert in the southern Punjab province. Fifty-four herds were evaluated for a total population of 1,186 camels, of which 510 (495 females and 15 males; average age: 5–6 years old) were assessed at the animal level. The indicators were scored and aggregated to obtain Principle Aggregated Indexes (PAIs) and a total Welfare Index (TWI). Using the PAIs classification, 4 herds were categorized as excellent, 42 satisfactory, and 8 unsatisfactory. Total Welfare Index (TWI) varied from 55.7 to 82.2, and the thresholds for classification into tertiles were 65.4 and 70.6. Good feeding and Good housing were the most problematic PAIs, with Good feeding as the most influential variable for classification into welfare categories. As expected, camels kept under pastoralism had a higher level of welfare than those reported in the literature for intensive systems, especially concerning the Appropriate Behavior principle. Our findings are a first step in proposing welfare standards for dromedary in Pakistan and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica L.) is a hardy plant well-adapted to hot and arid environments, rich not only in fiber but also soluble carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, and other antioxidant compounds. It has recently attracted attention for its potential uses in human and animal nutrition, however its effects on rabbits are still poorly understood. Its incorporation into the rabbit diet as a source of fiber would reduce the use of alfalfa with several benefits for the sustainability of rabbit farming from the point of view of the circular economy, global warming, and meat production costs. This study investigated the use of prickly pear seed cake in the rabbit's diet with different inclusion percentages (10% and 20%). Various parameters were evaluated, including growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical parameters, morphology of intestinal villi, and carcass characteristics. While productive parameters were similar, diets containing prickly pear seed cake led to improved digestive utilization of nutrients, as well as reduced blood lipid concentrations and fat content in the rabbit carcasses. The encouraging findings of our study suggest that the inclusion of prickly pear in rabbit feed is feasible, although further research is necessary to validate the current outcomes and to evaluate the economic convenience of its use. Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica L.) could be used in rabbit nutrition in compliance with circular economy principles, global warming issues, and reduction of production costs. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary incorporation of prickly pear seed cake (PPSC) on growth, physiological, and histometric parameters in rabbits. A total of 105 rabbits were divided into three experimental groups (n = 35) and fed different diets: a commercial feed (C group), the same feed with alfalfa replaced by PPSC at 10% (10PP group), and at 20% (20PP group). They were group-housed in cages with 5 animals per cage from weaning until slaughtering. While body weights and weight gains were similar in all groups, the coefficients of nutrient digestibility of dry matter, fibers, and ashes, as well as the characteristics of intestinal villi, were improved in the 10PP group compared to the others (p < 0.05). The 20PP group showed a reduction in perirenal and interscapular fat (p < 0.05), as well as lower plasma concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol compared to the C group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, PPSC can be incorporated into the diets of growing rabbits up to 20% as a partial substitute for alfalfa without the impairment of growth performance. Additionally, the inclusion of PPSC enhanced nutrient digestibility and increased the intestinal absorption surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no protocol to measure the welfare level of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarious) kept under pastoralism—the predominant husbandry system of this species. This study therefore aimed to develop and describe a protocol for measuring welfare levels in dromedary camels kept under nomadic pastoralist conditions—. The indicators for each welfare principle (i.e., Good Feeding, Good Housing, Good Health, and Appropriate Behavior) were tailored to the specific conditions of camel pastoralism, drawing from the currently available protocol for assessing welfare in dromedary camels kept in intensive and semi-intensive systems. This adaptation was achieved using a structured literature search and Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE). The developed protocol, covering animal-, resource-, and management-based indicators, comprises two assessment levels: ‘Caretaker-Herd level’ and ‘Animal level’. The Caretaker-Herd level is a face-to-face interview of about 10 min including 16 questions, spit into the four welfare principles, and a visual observation of applied animal handling practices. The ‘Animal level’ encompasses a behavioral observation and a visual clinical inspection of randomly selected individual dromedary camels, about 5 min/camel. The ‘Animal level’ includes 27 welfare indicators displayed for each welfare principle. The present study also includes the score for each indicator, the model for aggregating indicators’ scores into compound indices for each welfare principle (PAI), and how to classify the herds based on the PAIs or to produce an overall welfare index for each herd. Even if the proposed protocol needs to be applied, refined, and validated, it is a first step toward a standardized method to collect data related to dromedary camel welfare kept under pastoralism. This framework may ultimately guide herd managers, animal health practitioners, experienced advisers, and lawmakers in fostering optimal conditions and proposing welfare standards for dromedary camels in pastoralist settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Understanding the intimate mechanisms linked to embryo survival in livestock represents an important step in reducing the incidence of early embryonic losses, which cause a significant delay in the calving–conception period and, as a consequence, a delay in production processes and economic income. The aim of this study was to investigate the interferon tau (IFNt) concentration in the peripheral maternal blood during the early phase of pregnancy in buffalo cows and improve the knowledge on the physiological importance of circulating IFNt, evaluating the possible interaction with pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) and progesterone (P4). This is the first report that shows the possibility of detecting the maternal circulating IFNt in buffalo cows during the early period of gestation, showing different concentrations among pregnant and non-pregnant animals and those that experience embryo mortality. Close associations among IFNt, PAGs and P4 during the sensitive period in which the conceptus must manifest its presence demonstrate that all three molecules work together for fetal–placental well-being and pregnancy support. Unfortunately, the great individual variability in circulating IFNt makes this analysis unsuitable for early pregnancy diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the interferon tau (IFNt) concentration in the peripheral maternal blood during the early phase of pregnancy in buffalo cows and improve the knowledge on the physiological importance of circulating IFNt, evaluating the possible interaction with pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) and progesterone (P4). Blood samples were taken from buffalo cows on day 0 (day of AI), 7, 14, 18, 28, and 40 post insemination for the IFNt, PAG, and P4 analysis and to determine the IFNt mRNA expression. The animals were categorized ex post into Pregnant, Non-pregnant and Embryo mortality groups. The interferon value was influenced by group (p = 0.003), being always higher in pregnant buffalo cows than in non-pregnant ones, while the embryo mortality group showed intermediate values between those for pregnant and non-pregnant animals. The mRNA expression of IFNt was not influenced by groups or any time points. The regression analysis that included IFNt as the independent variable showed that PAGs, from day 18 (p < 0.01), and P4, from day 28 (p < 0.05), were positively associated with IFNt values. The close associations among IFNt, PAGs and P4 demonstrate that all three molecules work together for fetal–placental well-being and pregnancy support. Unfortunately, the great individual variability in circulating IFNt makes this analysis unsuitable for early pregnancy diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to validate the effectiveness of the Healthy Fatty Index (HFI) regarding some foods of animal origin (meat, processed, fish, milk products, and eggs) typical of the Western diet and to compare these results with two consolidated indices (atherogenic—AI, and thrombogenic—TI) in the characterization of the nutritional features of their lipids. The fatty acids profile (% of total fatty acids and mg/100 g) of 60 foods, grouped in six subclasses, was used. The AI, TI, and HFI indexes were calculated, and the intraclass correlation coefficients and the degree of agreement were evaluated using different statistical approaches. The results demonstrated that HFI, with respect to AI and TI, seems better able to consider the complexity of the fatty acid profile and the different fat contents. HFI and AI are the two most diverse indices, and they can provide different food classifications. AI and IT exhibit only a fair agreement in regards to food classification, confirming that such indexes are always to be considered indissolubly and never separately, in contrast to the HFI, which can stand alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to evaluate the inflammatory and/or oxidative damage related to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are responsible for negative effects on sperm physiology and metabolism. Thirty New Zealand White rabbit bucks were divided into 5 experimental groups (6 animals/group): Control, treated with 0.9% NaCl; AgNP, treated with a 5 mM AgNP solution; LPS, treated with 50 g/kg b.w. E. coli LPS; AgNPs + NSAID, treated with an anti-inflammatory drug at 0.2 mg/kg b.w. and 5 mM AgNPs; and AgNPs + Vit E, treated with 0.18 mg/kg b.w. vitamin E and 5 mM AgNPs. Sperm quality and oxidative and inflammatory status were assessed at different times (0-60 days). Two statistical models were built: the first evaluated the effects of AgNPs and LPS (vs. Control), whereas the second evaluated the protective effect of an NSAID and vitamin E against AgNP-induced damage. Three principal component analyses were performed: sperm traits (motility, volume), oxidative status (antioxidants, oxidative metabolites, and redox reactions), and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-6). A negative effect on reproductive traits resulted after NP administration. In particular, an inflammatory/oxidative response took place in the reproductive tract during the first 2-3 wks of AgNP administration (cytokine and oxidative metabolite generation); the inflammatory/oxidative thrust impaired the status of rabbit tissues (seminal plasma, sperm, and blood), inducing a response (increased antioxidant enzymes and redox reactions) at 4-7 wks; oxidative stress, if not totally counteracted, likely induced toxicity in the late phases of AgNP administration (8-9 wks). In conclusion, exposure to silver nanoparticles produced a similar but more persistent effect than that of LPS on rabbit reproductive tissues: AgNP administration triggered a proinflammatory response linked to oxidative thrust, worsening many sperm parameters. However, only anti-inflammatory treatment counteracted the negative effects of AgNPs, whereas vitamin E seemed to act as an adjuvant, attenuating the oxidative cascade.