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Simple Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles released by human and animal cells, parasites, microorganisms, and plants. They travel within bodily fluids, transferring the content of their cell of origin to other cells, being both intra- and inter-organism messengers. This EV-mediated method of communication governs many normal functions as well as disease processes. Because of this important role, EVs have been largely studied since 1984, mainly in humans, but more recently also in animals, parasites, and bacteria. In this review, we explore the literature on EVs in animals between 1984 and 2021 and summarize the most important results of approximately 220 scientific papers. Results are presented based on the main topic of research, such as EVs in physiology and pathophysiology, use of EVs as markers to diagnose diseases, or as possible natural transporters of therapies or vaccines. Since working with EVs is challenging, we also address the critical technical points found in the veterinary literature. Finally, we included a brief summary on EVs shed within animal milk, an area of large interest for the multiple applications for human health. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane-bound vesicles involved in many physiological and pathological processes not only in humans but also in all the organisms of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic kingdoms. EV shedding constitutes a fundamental universal mechanism of intra-kingdom and inter-kingdom intercellular communication. A tremendous increase of interest in EVs has therefore grown in the last decades, mainly in humans, but progressively also in animals, parasites, and bacteria. With the present review, we aim to summarize the current status of the EV research on domestic and wild animals, analyzing the content of scientific literature, including approximately 220 papers published between 1984 and 2021. Critical aspects evidenced through the veterinarian EV literature are discussed. Then, specific subsections describe details regarding EVs in physiology and pathophysiology, as biomarkers, and in therapy and vaccines. Further, the wide area of research related to animal milk-derived EVs is also presented in brief. The numerous studies on EVs related to parasites and parasitic diseases are excluded, deserving further specific attention. The literature shows that EVs are becoming increasingly addressed in veterinary studies and standardization in protocols and procedures is mandatory, as in human research, to maximize the knowledge and the possibility to exploit these naturally produced nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a significant global health threat, advocating for a multi-sectoral approach integrating human health, animal health, and the environment to mitigate its impact through enhanced surveillance and education. Topics include the need to curb indiscriminate antimicrobial use, particularly in animal production, and to address factors such as inadequate wastewater management in low- and middle-income countries.

This study was conducted to determine the attitudes and behaviors of 2-5th grade students who have taken the physiology course at Kırıkkale University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, towards the course and how they evaluate it in terms of general, teaching method, professional competence and postgraduate education. Some demographic information and opinions of totally 233 students on physiology were gathered voluntarily through questionnaire. Accordingly, most of the students (62.7%) found it appropriate to be given physiology in 2nd grade, while about 53% of them found the theory and practice lecture hours sufficient. Students who considered physiology as necessary for their profession (83.7%) thought that following the lesson (81.1%) in the class and the use of were necessary for learning physiology (90.1%), and it was determined that they allocated fewer than 4 hours per week to physiology while taking the course (89.3%). Although more than half of them (58.4%) stated that they did not have difficulty in learning physiology, the rate of those who really understand the subject was 39.9%. In addition, it was observed that 24% of them could consider specializing in physiology. As a result, it was revealed that most of the students consider the physiology course as one of the basic courses for veterinary education, they prefer visual education, the course meets their expectations, and most of them who want to pursue a doctorate pay attention to postgraduate education in this field. Based on these thoughts of the students, it has been concluded that understanding the importance of the homeostatic mechanisms, given in physiology classes, in preventive and curative medicine practices has been effective. Key words: Education, student attitude, survey, teaching method, veterinary physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many veal calves arrive to growing facilities with diseases, including diarrhea and navel inflammation. Observing neonatal calf behavior, such as lying behavior, can be used to better detect and determine the implications of these diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of navel inflammation and diarrhea on lying behavior in neonatal veal calves. This study was part of a larger experiment that included a total of 360 male Holstein calves from 3 cohorts; from these calves, we selected a subset of 125 calves (every third calf as they entered the barn) to be fitted with 3-dimensional accelerometers (Hobo Pendant G data loggers; Onset Computer Corp., Bourne, MA) on 1 hind leg to continuously measure lying time, number of lying bouts, and lying bout duration. Calves were housed individually on slatted flooring (Tenderfoot; Tandem Products Inc., Minneapolis, MN) in 3 rooms of a mechanically ventilated barn. Health exams were conducted twice weekly for 2 wk starting the day after arrival. Exams included rectal temperature, navel score (0 = normal, 1 = mildly inflamed, 2 = moderately inflamed, 3 = severely inflamed), and fecal score (0 = normal, 1 = semiformed, 2 = loose, 3 = watery). Calves were considered to have navel inflammation (n = 22) or diarrhea (n = 15) if they scored ≥2 during at least 3 of the 4 health exams. The lying behavior of these calves was compared with that of normal calves (n = 18) that had no signs of illness and rectal temperatures <39.4°C during at least 3 of the 4 health exams. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures ANOVA; models included cohort (1, 2, or 3), health status (normal, navel inflammation, or diarrhea), week (1 or 2), and a health by week interaction. There was an effect of health status on lying time, whereby normal calves spent more time lying compared with calves with inflamed navels and tended to spend more time lying compared with calves with diarrhea. There was no effect of health status on the number of lying bouts per day or on the duration of lying bouts. There were no health by week interactions. Results indicate that neonatal veal calves with navel inflammation and diarrhea may be less comfortable than calves without these conditions. Veal producers should consider adapting their facilities to create more comfortable lying environments to help calves better recover from disease, such as by adding a hospital pen with comfortable bedding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Incidence of health problems is observed during the periparturient period. • The periparturient period is associated with relaxation in immunity and a rise in parasitic counts. • Galectins constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of β-galactoside-binding proteins. • Galectins binds to surface of parasitic helminths, as well as other pathogens, initiating host immune response. • Galectins acts as pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP's) and pathogen recognition receptors (PRR's). Abstract The goat industry is one of the major sources of food and protein consumed worldwide. The growth of this industry is faced by challenges such as infection and pathogens. Parturition is a very dynamic period. The coincidental occurrence of periparturient immune suppression and a rise in the shedding of parasite eggs pose a challenge for animal health and production. Galectins constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of β-galactoside-binding proteins. They regulate innate and adaptive immunity and homeostasis. Expression of Galectins may regulate periparturient immune suppression. Galectin gene expression was studied in goat blood during the periparturient period. Body weight, body condition and FAMACHA scores, and fecal and blood samples were collected from Five BoerXSpanish goats at 14 days and 7 days after parturition. Fecal samples were used to assess parasite load. Total RNA was isolated from blood using Trizol and converted to cDNA for real-time PCR using specific primers for goat LGALs-1, -2, -3, -4, -7, -8, -9, -11, -12, -14, -15, -16, and ligand Gal3bp, T-cell immunoglobulin domain, and mucin domain 3(TIM-3). Beta-actin and GAPDH housekeeping genes were used as internal controls. Fold changes in transcript abundance were compared to non-pregnant goats and calculated using the Livak method. Secretion of GALS-1, -3 and -9 in plasma was detected using ELISA. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 and Pearson correlations (p <0.05). Galectins were expressed and correlated to changes in leukocytes and fecal egg counts. Secreted GALS-1 decreased and GALS-3 and -9 increased (p <0.05) postpartum. Differential expression of Gal may have functional implications in animal health and homeostasis and needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed 22 selected endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and other emerging, potentially endocrine-active compounds with estrogenic activity from the waters of the Wuluo River, southern Taiwan. This watershed receives high amounts of livestock and untreated household wastewaters. The river is surrounded by concentrated animal feedlot operations (CAFOs). River water samples were analyzed for selected compounds by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), T47D-KBluc reporter gene assay, and E-screen cell proliferation in vitro bioassay. Total concentrations of ∑alkylphenolic compounds (bisphenol A, 4-nonylphenol, t-nonylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol mono-ethoxylate, nonylphenol di-ethoxylate) were much higher than ∑estrogens (estrone, 17 β-estradiol, estriol, 17ß-ethynylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol), ∑preservatives (methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben), ∑UV-filters (benzophenone, methyl benzylidene camphor, benzophenone-3), ∑antimicrobials (triclocarben, triclosan, chloroxylenol), and an insect repellent (diethyltoluamide) over four seasonal sampling periods. The highest concentration was found for bisphenol A with a mean of 302 ng/L. However, its contribution to estrogenic activity was not significant due to its relatively low estrogenic potency. Lower detection rates were found for BP, EE2, TCS, and PCMX, while DES and EP were not detected. E1 and E2 levels in raw water samples were 50% higher than the predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) for aquatic organisms of 6 and 2 ng/L, respectively. The potency of estrogenic activity ranged from 11.7 to 190.1 ng/L E2 T47D-Kbluc and 6.63 to 84.5 ng/L E2 E-Screen for extracted samples. Importantly, estrone contributed 50% of the overall activity in 60% and 44% of the samples based on T47D-KBluc and MCF-7 bioassays, followed by 17 ß-estradiol, highlighting the importance of total steroid estrogen loading. This study demonstrates that the estrogenic activity of target chemicals was comparable to levels found in different countries worldwide. More intense wastewater treatment is required in areas of intensive agriculture in order to prevent adverse impacts on the ambient environment and aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aim to investigate local perceptions of animal health challenges; current animal health knowledge; and methods to provide effective, relevant education to animal keepers in the Kanha Tiger Reserve area. Materials and methods: A farmer education programme was undertaken in the Kanha Tiger Reserve area. Local animal health priorities were investigated through participatory village meetings (n = 38), individual animal keeper questionnaires (n = 100) and a written survey of local paravets (n = 16). Educational interventions were: veterinary surgeon led education meeting (VE); paravet led education meeting (PVE); distribution of printed materials (PM). 230 village meetings were carried out across 181 villages, contacting 3791 animal keepers. 20 villages received printed materials. Information was gathered on perceptions of local animal health challenges and current remedies. Efficacy of knowledge transfer was assessed four to five months later using a purposeful sample of 38 villages. Results: Group meetings identified ticks (35/38), foot and mouth disease (FMD) (31/38) and diarrhoea (30/38) as the greatest animal health challenges. Individual interviews identified haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) (87/100), blackquarter (BQ) (66/100) and plastic ingestion (31/100). Paravets identified FMD (7/16), BQ (6/16) and HS (6/16), and also indicated that animal husbandry and socio-economic factors were important. Current treatments were primarily home remedies and herbalism, but also included contacting a paravet, use of pharmaceuticals and faith healing. Animal treatment knowledge prior to intervention was not significantly different between groups (P = 0.868). Following intervention animal health knowledge was assessed: PVE performed better than controls (P = 0.001) and PM (P = 0.003); VE performed better than controls (P = 0.009). There was no significant difference between VE and PVE (P = 0.666) nor PM and controls (P = 0.060). Conclusions and recommendations: Open access participatory village meetings are an effective way to provide animal health education. In this region distribution of posters and leaflets did not appear to be an effective way to contact animal keepers. Meetings led by paravets can be as effective as those led by veterinarians and paravets can rapidly and sustainably contact large numbers of animal keepers. Investigation of the local animal health situation is essential to ensure education is relevant and accessible to intended recipients. Interventions must be carefully planned to maximise engagement of all sections of the community, particularly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, education has increasingly focused on studentcentered learning. Guided practices represent a new way of learning for undergraduate students of physiology, whereby the students turn into teacher-students and become more deeply involved in the subject by preparing and teaching a practical (laboratory) class to their peers. The goal was to assess the students' opinions about guided practices and how physiological parameters change during the activity. For this objective, two experiments were performed. First, a voluntary questionnaire on guided practices was completed by the students during 2 academic years. Students could also write a free text commentary. The positive answers obtained in the questionnaire and the free commentary responses point to the effectiveness of this methodology in students' minds. Negative aspects included the time spent preparing the activity, and the stress that students experienced in the teaching role. Second, information about how the teacher-students felt before teaching the practical class was self-reported, and physiological parameters related to stress (heart rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and electrocardiogram recorded to evaluate R-R interval and heart rate variability) were measured immediately before and while the practical class was taught. This evaluation reported an increase in stress during the execution of the practice. In conclusion, despite a new and stressful situation, guided practices are of interest for the students as a learning tool and for the acquisition of skills that may be of use in their later professional lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Didactic lectures are prevalent in physiology courses within veterinary medicine programs, but more active learning methods have also been utilized. Our goal was to identify the most appropriate learning method to augment the lecture component of our physiology course. We hypothesized that case-based learning would be well received by students and would be more effective at helping them learn physiological concepts compared with more traditional laboratory exercises. In this study, approximately one-half of the laboratory sessions for the two-semester course were dedicated to traditional hands-on laboratory exercises, whereas the remaining one-half of the sessions were dedicated to case-based exercises. The lecture portion of the course was not altered. Student attitudes were evaluated after each session and at the end of each semester via quantitative and qualitative survey questions. Student performance was evaluated using section exams and end-of-semester posttests. The vast majority of survey responses received were positive for both cased-based activities and traditional hands-on laboratories. In addition, participation in both types of active learning activities, but not lecture, was associated with retention of conceptual knowledge based on student performance between the section exams and posttests (P < 0.002). These results indicate that both case-based learning and laboratory exercises are beneficial learning activities to incorporate into a lecture-based physiology course. However, positive survey responses were significantly greater following case-based activities vs. traditional hands-on laboratories, and only participation in case-based activities resulted in greater student performance on the posttest (P < 0.04). Therefore, case-based activities may be the preferred supplemental learning activity for veterinary medical physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routine recording of claw health status at claw trimming of dairy cattle has been established in several countries, providing valuable data for genetic evaluation. In this review, we examine issues related to genetic evaluation of claw health; discuss data sources, trait definitions, and data validation procedures; and present a review of genetic parameters, possible indicator traits, and status of genetic and genomic evaluations for claw disorders. Different sources of data and traits can be used to describe claw health. Severe cases of claw disorders can be identified by veterinary diagnoses. Data from lameness and locomotion scoring, activity information from sensors, and feet and leg conformation traits are used as auxiliary traits. The most reliable and comprehensive information is data from regular hoof trimming. In genetic evaluation, claw disorders are usually defined as binary traits, based on whether or not the claw disorder was present (recorded) at least once during a defined time period. The traits can be specific disorders, composite traits, or overall claw health. Data validation and editing criteria are needed to ensure reliable data at the trimmer, herd, animal, and record levels. Different strategies have been chosen, reflecting differences in herd sizes, data structures, management practices, and recording systems among countries. Heritabilities of the most commonly analyzed claw disorders based on data from routine claw trimming were generally low, with ranges of linear model estimates from 0.01 to 0.14, and threshold model estimates from 0.06 to 0.39. Estimated genetic correlations among claw disorders varied from −0.40 to 0.98. The strongest genetic correlations were found among sole hemorrhage (SH), sole ulcer (SU), and white line disease (WL), and between digital/interdigital dermatitis (DD/ID) and heel horn erosion (HHE). Genetic correlations between DD/ID and HHE on the one hand and SH, SU, or WL on the other hand were, in most cases, low. Although some of the studies were based on relatively few records and the estimated genetic parameters had large standard errors, there was, with some exceptions, consistency among studies. Various studies evaluate the potential of various data soureces for use in breeding. The use of hoof trimming data is recommended for maximization of genetic gain, although auxiliary traits, such as locomotion score and some conformation traits, may be valuable for increasing the reliability of genetic evaluations. Routine genetic evaluation of direct claw health has been implemented in the Netherlands (2010); Denmark, Finland, and Sweden (joint Nordic evaluation; 2011); and Norway (2014), and other countries plan to implement evaluations in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, benefits, and adverse effects of prolonged slow expiration (PSE) and assisted cough (AC) as chest physiotherapy (CP) techniques in dogs with airway fluid accumulation. Design: Prospective interventional study. Settings: University teaching hospital. Animals: Intervention group of 30 client‐owned dogs and retrospective control group of 71 client‐owned dogs. Interventions: PSE was performed on dogs with evidence of airway fluid accumulation, identified based on physical examination and thoracic radiographs. AC was performed if spontaneous cough or swallowing were not evident. The PSE treatment was performed every 6 hours until normalization of respiratory status or hospital discharge. Animals were monitored for respiratory distress, discomfort, and SpO2 during the procedure. A retrospective control group was identified by computer search. Measurements and Main Results: One hundred thirty‐three sessions of CP were performed on 30 dogs. Discomfort frequency during physiotherapy was low (9%). The most commonly used position for CP was in lateral recumbency (95%) and this was well tolerated in most cases. There was no significant difference in the median SpO2 before and after CP sessions (P = 0.24). Sixty percent of sessions had a spontaneous cough or swallowing evident, 21% had successful AC performed, and no cough or swallowing occurred in the remaining (19%) sessions despite attempts of AC being made. The length of hospitalization was significantly longer in the intervention group (6 days vs 4) (P = 0.02). There was no difference in survival between the intervention (76.7%) and the control (57.7%) group (P = 0.055). Conclusions: PSE associated with AC are easily adaptable, well‐tolerated techniques in dogs. The benefit of CP in dogs with airway fluid accumulation remains to be determined and it is hoped that future randomized controlled prospective studies may help answer this line of inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials suitable for anatomical research of raptorial birds are rare. Bird-eating raptors show distinct inter-sexual differences in body size and parental roles. The large females catch larger prey and prepare small morsels to feed their young using their hooked beaks. Here, we investigated the architectural properties of different jaw muscles of the Japanese sparrowhawk ( Accipiter gularis) and examined whether there is sexual dimorphism in their architectural design. The results showed that musculus depressor mandibulae, the opener of the lower jaw, was characterized by relatively long fascicle length, whereas musculus pterygoideus was characterized by its larger mass and physiological cross-sectional area ( PCSA) in both sexes. Females have the potential capacity to produce rapid and strong bites by their significantly longer fascicle length of M. depressor mandibulae and larger mass and PCSA of M. pterygoideus. For body size-matched gender, jaw muscles of males had fibres of relatively longer length than females, enabling greater velocity and excursion. Architectural characteristics of jaw muscles, together with the absolute dimorphism (the fascicle length of M. depressor mandibulae, the muscle mass and PCSA of M. pterygoideus) and relative dimorphism in the muscle mass of M. pterygoideus, reflect dietary difference and asymmetric parental roles between the sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the veterinary professional curriculum, methods of examination in many courses are transitioning from the traditional paper-based exams to electronic-based exams. Therefore, a controlled trial to evaluate the impact of testing methodology on examination performance in a veterinary physiology course was designed and implemented. Formalized surveys and focus group discussions were also used to determine student attitudes toward the examination formats. In total, 134 firstyear veterinary students and 11 PhD/MS students were administered a total of 4 exams throughout 1 semester (2 on paper and 2 electronically) using a split-halves design. The paper (P) and electronic (E) exams contained 25 identical multiple-choice questions. Students were randomly assigned to two groups and were given exams in one of two sequences (E-P-E-P or P-E-P-E). Participants consented to and completed two anonymous surveys vis à vis their experience. Out of a maximum raw score of 25, the mean score for electronic examinations (20.8; 95% confidence interval, 20.3-21.2) was significantly (P = 0.01) greater than that for paper examinations (20.3; 95% confidence interval, 20.0 -20.7). However, students expressed numerous concerns with the electronic examination format, and, at the completion of the study, 87% preferred to take their examination on paper rather than the electronic format. These data show that student attitudes concerning the examination format are not primarily determined by examination results, and that the additional anxiety related to the electronic examination format plays a large role in student attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletic horses need to maintain healthy airways for optimal performance. This study investigated the presence of respiratory problems in apparently healthy Thoroughbred racehorses in training. According to the Revised Consensus Statement on Inflammatory Airway Diseases of Horses (2016), determining the prevalence of respiratory disorders in different equine populations is fundamental for understanding these diseases. In total, 72 clinically sound Thoroughbred racehorses, in training at the Brazilian Jockey Club (JCB), were initially examined using interpleural pressure measurement by ventigraphy and respiratory endoscopy. When secretions were present in the airways, transendoscopic tracheal aspiration was performed and the sample was sent for cytology. The main findings included a combination of bronchospasm and tracheal secretions with 61% of the cytology slides showing neutrophil counts ⩾20%. Overall, a significant number of the horses displayed signs suggestive of inflammatory airway disease (mild equine asthma), including 47% with increased DPplmax, 11% with tracheal mucus accumulation [mucus score (MS) ⩾2] and 18% with carina edema. This was more pronounced in 2-year-old horses within the population studied. These findings are consistent with the literature and reinforce the importance of routine respiratory examination of athletic horses. There is a high incidence of subclinical respiratory disorders in Thoroughbred racehorses in training at the JCB and a significant association between tracheal MS⩾2, carina edema and elevated DPplmax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a cross-sectional study designed to provide data on the detection of canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) with special emphasis on leishmaniosis in Germany. The study involved results of examinations of 30,970 and 54,103 canine blood or serum samples, routinely submitted by German veterinarians to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory from 2004 to 2006 and from 2014 to 2016, respectively.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in the disposition and plasma pharmacokinetic behavior of marbofloxacin (MAR) in broiler chickens at different seasons. Chicken broilers (n = 345) were used, in lots of 5 individuals, divided into 6 groups depending on the way of administration, intravenous or oral (dose 2 mg/kg) and the test period. Post-administration plasma samples were obtained at different times, intravenously (0.08 to 24 hours) and orally (0.25 to 120 hours). A liquid-liquid extraction of MAR was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescent detector. The plasma concentrations obtained at the different sampling times of each season, were analyzed with ANOVA and pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted with the PK Solution 2.0 software. The concentration of marbofloxacin in plasma was significantly lower in winter and summer than in spring, with MAR being detected in winter up to 72 hours post-application, coinciding with the differences in MAR pharmacokinetics parameters with increase in the average residence time (MRT) is 9.4 hours in winter. Increased clearance MAR in summer (7.5 ml/min/kg) coincides with MRT 6.3 hours. Finally, the oral bioavailability of MAR is lower in summer and winter (86 ± 1.7% and 78 ± 3.1%) than in spring (94 ± 5.2 %). There are differences in the disposition and plasma pharmacokinetic behavior of MAR applied orally in broiler chickens, coinciding with the physiological changes in the thermoregulation of birds, considering its correct therapeutic management and contributing to provide safe food for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cortisol is indicative of adaptation to physiological factors, disease and environmental stress in equines. Cortisol recently gained attention for its prognostic value in critical disease and as an indicator of fitness and athletic performance. Objective: To determine baseline serum cortisol (SC) morning concentrations in the Colombian creole horse (CCH). Methods: Blood serum was taken from 62 CCH of both genders with and average age of 8.8 years (± 5.3), which were clinically healthy and had diff erent performance levels. Results: The overall SC average determined by sandwich ELISA was 13.3 ± 7.4 mg/dL. No significant diff erences were attributed to gender, age or performance. Conclusion: This concentration can be used as a reference value for CCH maintained in low physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratio on the nutrient digestibility and enteric methane (CH4) emission in growing goats and Sika deer. Methods: Three male growing goats (body weight [BW] = 19.0±0.7 kg) and three male growing deer (BW = 19.3±1.2 kg) were respectively allotted to a 3×3 Latin square design with an adaptation period of 7 d and a data collection period of 3 d. Respiration-metabolism chambers were used for measuring the enteric CH4 emission. Treatments of low (25:75), moderate (50:50), and high (73:27) F:C ratios were given to both goats and Sika deer. Results: Dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility decreased linearly with increasing F:C ratio in both goats and Sika deer. In both goats and Sika deer, the CH4 emissions expressed as g/d, g/kg BW0.75, % of gross energy intake, g/kg DM intake (DMI), and g/kg OM intake (OMI) decreased linearly as the F:C ratio increased, however, the CH4 emissions expressed as g/kg digested DMI and OMI were not affected by the F:C ratio. Eight equations were derived for predicting the enteric CH4 emission from goats and Sika deer. For goat, equation 1 was found to be of the highest accuracy: CH4 (g/d) = 3.36+4.71×DMI (kg/d)–0.0036×neutral detergent fiber concentrate (NDFC, g/kg)+0.01563×dry matter digestibility (DMD, g/kg)–0.0108×neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD, g/kg). For Sika deer, equation 5 was found to be of the highest accuracy: CH4 (g/d) = 66.3+27.7×DMI (kg/d)–5.91×NDFC (g/kg)–7.11× DMD (g/kg)+0.0809×NDFD (g/kg). Conclusion: Digested nutrient intake could be considered when determining the CH4 generation factor in goats and Sika deer. Finally, the enteric CH4 prediction model for goats and Sika deer were estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress can cause a significant financial burden to livestock producers by decreasing all productive functions in livestock. The major strategies associated with relieving heat stress in livestock are through use of sheds, fans, or evaporative cooling. Such practices are not possible where the animals are reared in a semi-intensive system. This necessitates developing other strategies to counteract the adverse effects of heat stress. A new strategy involving the feeding of melatonin (MEL) has been evaluated by a few researchers. Melatonin has hypothermic and antioxidant effects and may counter the detrimental effect of heat stress on livestock production. The aim of the paper is to review evidence for and against the use of MEL as an anti-heat stress agent. The early suggestion of a functional antagonism between the pineal and the adrenal gland became additionally reinforced by experimental and clinical findings indicating that MEL may be able to protect the organism against heat stress-induced damages. Melatonin effectively protects against heat stress, by a variety of mechanisms. As animals in tropical countries are exposed to heat stress during much of the year, MEL with its potential beneficial effects may be useful as an anti-heat stress agent to prevent the loss of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body size of the livestock is an important indicator for breeding and animal production, however, the traditional measurement of body size of the livestock is a hard manual operation and it is inaccurate, expensive and time-consuming. In the field of computer vision measurement, the location of the pig body size measurement points is an essential work. To solve the automatic extraction of pig body size measurement points based on point clouds, a method of automatic extraction of pig body size measurement points was developed based on rotation normalization approach. In order to acquire the measurement points of the livestock, several processing steps were applied, and the steps were as follows: (1) Random sample consensus algorithm was used to acquire the plane parameter of the ground and the ground calculated by the parameter was then removed. The target pig and the ground normal vector were acquired. (2) Since the livestock acquired was from different coordinate systems, we proposed a rotation normalization method. First, the method of principal component analysis was used to get the coordinate axis of data cloud of the pig body and the initial measuring coordinate system was obtained. Secondly, the direction of the y axis was replaced by the direction of the ground normal vector acquired. The normal direction had 2 possibilities, that was, the normal vector was either pointing straight to the pig or going back away from the pig. The direction of the normal vector was determined by whether there was intersection between the constructed cuboid region and the pig. The cuboid region was constructed from the point on the ground along the normal vector. Finally, by using the geometrical relationship among the coordinate axis, standard measuring coordinate system defined in this paper was acquired. (3) Some of the measurement points of the livestock were usually the extreme points on the livestock body contour. By cutting the cloud points of the pig along the x axis direction with a step length, the slice data of the pig were acquired and the point cloud of contour line was obtained. By using the structural relation between the measurements points and the geometric feature of the measurement points either at the contour points or on the whole pig, the measurements points were calculated. Landrace sow specimens with 100 days old were selected as the experimental samples. To validate the rotation normalization performance of the proposed method, the scene point cloud including the specimen was used to evaluate the effects objectively. The point cloud was acquired by the 3D (three-dimensional) camera Xtion sensor using KinectFusion technology. Xtion is a sensor based on technology of structured light and consists of an infrared emitter, an infrared camera and an RGB (red, green, blue) camera. KinectFusion provides a function of 3D object scanning using a sensor. The results indicated that our approach could produce a reasonable rotation normalization result, and the directions of the length, height and width of the pig were basically consistent to the directions of the x, y and z axis. In order to verify the precision of measurement point's position, the proposed method was applied to locate the neck midpoint, body length measuring point, body width measuring point, body height measuring point and hip height measuring point. Average error of the results between the automatic extraction and artificial measurement of the selected points was less than 16 mm. The method in this paper can provide a reference for the automatic body measurement of the point cloud of the pig. This work is expected to be a useful contribution for animal production and breeding genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how physiology is altered by the animal’s environment including its epigenetic, nutritional and management exposure is a major challenge in optimizing livestock breeding and production. Considerable efforts have been expended in developing techniques for examining gene expression and its regulatory mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications, genetic determinants, nutritional factors and animal production systems. In this review, the technological advances in gene expression and epigenomics in livestock are discussed. Some examples of how these techniques have been used to improve our understanding of the nutritional and management regulation of gene expression, impacts of gene expression on animal performance, and impacts of epigenetics on the response of grazing livestock to changing nutritional and management environments are examined. These examples and the knowledge generated by future research in this area will allow for optimizing the efficiency of our grazing livestock production systems through improved animal genetic evaluation, nutrition, management, and production practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reporting of observational studies in veterinary research presents challenges that often are not addressed in published reporting guidelines. Objective To develop an extension of the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) statement that addresses unique reporting requirements for observational studies in veterinary medicine related to health, production, welfare, and food safety. Design Consensus meeting of experts. Setting Mississauga, Canada. Participants Seventeen experts from North America, Europe, and Australia. Methods Experts completed a pre-meeting survey about whether items in the STROBE statement should be modified or added to address unique issues related to observational studies in animal species with health, production, welfare, or food safety outcomes. During the meeting, each STROBE item was discussed to determine whether or not rewording was recommended and whether additions were warranted. Anonymous voting was used to determine consensus. Results Six items required no modifications or additions. Modifications or additions were made to the STROBE items 1 (title and abstract), 3 (objectives), 5 (setting), 6 (participants), 7 (variables), 8 (data sources/measurement), 9 (bias), 10 (study size), 12 (statistical methods), 13 (participants), 14 (descriptive data), 15 (outcome data), 16 (main results), 17 (other analyses), 19 (limitations), and 22 (funding). Conclusion The methods and processes used were similar to those used for other extensions of the STROBE statement. The use of this STROBE statement extension should improve reporting of observational studies in veterinary research by recognizing unique features of observational studies involving food-producing and companion animals, products of animal origin, aquaculture, and wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acipenser baeri, one of the critically endangered animals on the verge of extinction, is a key species for evolutionary, developmental, physiology and conservation studies and a standout amongst the most important food products worldwide. Though the transcriptome of the early development of A. baeri has been published recently, the transcriptome changes occurring in the transition from embryonic to late stages are still unknown. The aim of this work was to analyze the transcriptomes of embryonic and post-embryonic stages of A. baeri and identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their expression patterns using mRNA collected from specimens at big yolk plug, wide neural plate and 64 day old sturgeon developmental stages for RNA-Seq. Results: The paired-end sequencing of the transcriptome of samples of A. baeri collected at two early (big yolk plug (T1, 32 h after fertilization) and wide neural plate formation (T2, 45 h after fertilization)) and one late (T22, 64 day old sturgeon) developmental stages using Illumina Hiseq2000 platform generated 64039846, 64635214 and 75293762 clean paired-end reads for T1, T2 and T22, respectively. After quality control, the sequencing reads were de novo assembled to generate a set of 149,265 unigenes with N50 value of 1277 bp. Functional annotation indicated that a substantial number of these unigenes had significant similarity with proteins in public databases. Differential expression profiling allowed the identification of 2789, 12,819 and 10,824 DEGs from the respective T1 vs. T2, T1 vs. T22 and T2 vs. T22 comparisons. High correlation of DEGs' features was recorded among early stages while significant divergences were observed when comparing the late stage with early stages. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed the biological processes, cellular component, molecular functions and metabolic pathways associated with identified DEGs. The qRT-PCR performed for candidate genes in specimens confirmed the validity of the RNA-seq data. Conclusions: This study presents, for the first time, an extensive overview of RNA-Seq based characterization of the early and post-embryonic developmental transcriptomes of A. baeri and provided 149,265 gene sequences that will be potentially valuable for future molecular and genetic studies in A. baeri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Brachyspira hampsonii’ is a recently proposed new species within the Brachyspira genus, which produces a dysentery-like disease in pigs. This study aims at investigating whether a ‘ B. hampsonii’ isolate recovered from a migrating waterfowl was capable of colonizing pig intestines, inducing clinical signs of dysentery and being transmitted among pigs. Eleven 7-week-old pigs were randomly assigned into two separate groups which were orally administered an avian isolate of ‘ B. hampsonii’ (inoculated group, n  = 5) or BHI broth (control group, n  = 6). After inoculation, three pigs from the control group were placed in the inoculated pen and served as sentinel pigs. Our results show the capacity of this avian ‘ B. hampsonii ’ isolate to colonize the large intestine of pigs and to be transmitted among pigs. According to this, migrating birds could play a role in the epidemiology of ‘ B. hampsonii’ as a possible source of infection in swine populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to determine daily variation in intradermal reactivity to histamine in dogs and to evaluate a potential influence of glucocorticoids on reactivity. Wheal sizes formed after intradermal injections of histamine were measured every 6 h during a single 24 h period in six healthy dogs. To determine whether glucocorticoids were implicated in daily variation, intradermal reactivity to histamine was evaluated at 9:00 h and at 21:00 h during a single day in dogs that received oral prednisolone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) or oral trilostane (an inhibitor of endogenous glucocorticoid synthesis). Finally, the time required for the histamine reaction to diminish after an intravenous injection of hydrocortisone was also assessed. A significant time-of-day-dependent variation in intradermal reactivity to histamine was detected in dogs, with a larger wheal size observed at 9:00 h than at 21:00 h. Administration of prednisolone or trilostane disrupted this variation. Intradermal reactivity to histamine was significantly reduced 6 h after an intravenous injection of hydrocortisone. These results suggest that glucocorticoid secretion from the adrenal glands could be involved in the regulation of daily variation in histamine-mediated reactions in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the hypothesis that the palmar digital nerves (PDNs), but not the dorsal branches (DBs) of the digital nerves, innervate the sensitive dorsal laminae of the equine foot by evaluating the effects of perineural anaesthesia of the PDNs and DBs separately on pain sensation evoked via mechanical stimulation of the dorsal laminae and other regions of the equine foot. Six clinically normal mares were used in a crossover design. A portable dynamometer was used to evaluate mechanical nociceptive thresholds at different points on the dorsal laminae, bulbs of the heel, coronary band and sole before and after the horses underwent perineural injection of PDNs or DBs with a local anaesthetic solution (treated group) or an isotonic saline solution (control group). Cornified tissue was removed from the sole and the dorsal aspect of the hoof wall before evaluations of mechanical nociceptive thresholds. Anaesthetising PDNs distal to the DBs increased mechanical nociceptive thresholds compared to baseline values ( P  <   0.001) at sites assessed in the dorsal laminae, sole, and the bulbs of the heels. Anaesthetising DBs increased mechanical nociceptive thresholds compared to baseline values ( P  <   0.01) only at sites assessed at the most proximal aspect of the foot (i.e., coronary band sites). In conclusion, PDNs, not DBs, are primarily responsible for pain signal transmission evoked by pressure in the dorsal laminae of the foot of clinically normal horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1), a potential feline pathogen, has been identified in domestic cats from USA, Asia-Pacific and Central Europe. Transmission of FcaGHV1 during territorial encounters, a route not typical for gammaherpesviruses, is suggested by risk factor analyses from some regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between FcaGHV1 detection and risk factors, including haemoplasma co-infections, among UK cats to better understand transmission and global distribution of FcaGHV1. FcaGHV1 DNA was detected in blood samples from UK cats (11.56%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.47–16.84; n  = 199). Logistic regression analyses showed that entire male cats were more likely to be FcaGHV1 positive than neutered male cats (odds ratio, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.22–10.46). Samples positive for DNA from any of three haemoplasma species had 19 times greater odds for testing positive for FcaGHV1 than haemoplasma negative cats in multivariable analyses after adjusting for age, sex and neuter status. Domestic cats in the UK can be infected with FcaGHV1, confirming that this virus is globally endemic. The identification of neuter status as a risk factor for FcaGHV1 detection provides further evidence to support transmission of this virus during territorial encounters and co-transmission with haemoplasmas is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnostic reports written to assist stud managers in the sale of young Thoroughbreds have not previously been used as a data source for the study of skeletal lesions. However, analyses of these reports may provide efficient and cost-effective insights into the prevalence and distribution of skeletal lesions within a population. Diagnostic reports written by veterinarians were acquired from Thoroughbred stud managers in Australia and New Zealand. The reports were based on approximately 1300 sets of weanling and yearling radiographs taken between 2002 and 2007. The prevalence and anatomical distribution of skeletal lesions in weanlings (299 horses) and yearlings (1004 horses) were determined from these reports. Overall, 69.9% of weanlings and 64.5% of yearlings were reported as having one or more skeletal lesions. Diagnostic reports in weanlings were a strong indication of what was likely to be seen in subsequent yearling reports. These diagnostic reports are typically used by stud managers in the sales process and the potential drawback is that some categories of skeletal lesions may be under-reported. However, there was substantial agreement between the prevalence and distribution of several skeletal lesions reported in this study and those previously reported from direct evaluation of radiographs for Australian and New Zealand Thoroughbred yearlings. Strong agreement was found for osteophytes, enthesiophytes and other modelling in the hocks, and for lesions in the hind fetlocks and stifles. This indicates that written diagnostic reports are a useful and a reliable source of data for the study of some skeletal lesions in young Thoroughbred horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondral and osteochondral lesions due to injury or other pathology are highly prevalent conditions in horses (and humans) and commonly result in the development of osteoarthritis and progression of joint deterioration. Regenerative medicine of articular cartilage is an emerging clinical treatment option for patients with articular cartilage injury or disease. Functional articular cartilage restoration, however, remains a major challenge, but the field is progressing rapidly and there is an increasing body of supportive clinical and scientific evidence. This review gives an overview of the established and emerging surgical techniques employed for cartilage repair in horses. Through a growing insight in surgical cartilage repair possibilities, surgeons might be more stimulated to explore novel techniques in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanistic models of ruminant digestion and metabolism have advanced our understanding of the processes underlying ruminant animal physiology. Deterministic modeling practices ignore the inherent variation within and among individual animals and thus have no way to assess how sources of error influence model outputs. We introduce Bayesian calibration of mathematical models to address the need for robust mechanistic modeling tools that can accommodate error analysis by remaining within the bounds of data-based parameter estimation. For the purpose of prediction, the Bayesian approach generates a posterior predictive distribution that represents the current estimate of the value of the response variable, taking into account both the uncertainty about the parameters and model residual variability. Predictions are expressed as probability distributions, thereby conveying significantly more information than point estimates in regard to uncertainty. Our study illustrates some of the technical advantages of Bayesian calibration and discusses the future perspectives in the context of animal nutrition modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine how interactions between dietary crude protein (CP) and rumen-degradable protein (RDP) concentrations alter urea-nitrogen recycling, nitrogen (N) balance, omasal nutrient flow, and milk production in lactating Holstein cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (711 ± 21 kg of body weight; 91 ± 17 d in milk at the start of the experiment) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments and 29-d experimental periods. Four cows in one Latin square were fitted with ruminal cannulas to allow ruminal and omasal sampling. The dietary treatment factors were CP (14.9 vs. 17.5%; dry matter basis) and RDP (63 vs. 69% of CP) contents. Dietary RDP concentration was manipulated by including unprocessed or micronized canola meal. Diet adaptation (d 1-20) was followed by 8 d (d 21-29) of sample and data collection. Continuous intrajugular infusions of [15N15N]-urea (220 mg/d) were conducted for 4 d (d 25-29) with concurrent total collections of urine and feces to estimate N balance and whole-body urea kinetics. Proportions of [15N15N]- and [14N15N]-urea in urinary urea, and 15N enrichment in feces were used to calculate urea kinetics. For the low-CP diets, cows fed the high-RDP diet had a greater DM intake compared with those fed the low-RDP diet, but the opposite trend was observed for cows fed the high-CP diets. Dietary treatment had no effect on milk yield. Milk composition and milk component yields were largely unaffected by dietary treatment; however, on the low-CP diets, milk fat yield was greater for cows fed the low-RDP diet compared with those fed the high-RDP diet, but it was unaffected by RDP concentration on the high-CP diets. On the high-CP diets, milk urea nitrogen concentration was greater in cows fed the high-RDP diet compared with those fed the low-RDP diet, but it was unaffected by RDP concentration on the low-CP diets. Ruminal NH3-N concentration tended to be greater in cows fed the high-CP diet compared with those fed the low-CP diet, and it was greater in cows fed the high-RDP diet as compared with those fed the low-RDP diet. Nitrogen intake and both total N and urea-N excretion in urine were greater for cows fed the high-CP diet compared with those fed the low-CP diet. However, N balance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives were unaffected by dietary treatment. Urea-N entry rate (UER) was greater in cows fed the high-CP diet compared with those fed the low-CP diet; however, UER was unaffected by dietary RDP concentration. The proportion of urea-N recycled to the gastrointestinal tract (as a percentage of UER) was greater in cows fed the low- CP diet compared with those fed the high-CP diet. In summary, reducing dietary CP concentration decreased urinary N excretion but had no effect on milk yield, thus resulting in an overall improvement in milk N efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent data indicate beneficial effects of treating grains with lactic acid (LA) in alleviating the need for inorganic phosphorus supplementation during ruminal fermentation in vitro. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding concentrates treated with LA with or without inorganic phosphorus supplementation on feed intake, performance, blood variables, and reticuloruminal pH in dairy cows. A total of 16 early-lactating cows (12 Simmental and 4 Brown Swiss) were included in this study from d 1 until d 37 postpartum. Cows were fed 3 total mixed rations differing in supplementation of inorganic phosphorus and treatment of concentrates. The control (CON) and LA (+P) diets included a concentrate mixture containing 0.8% monocalcium phosphate, and the LA (-P) diet contained no inorganic phosphorus source. The concentrates of the LA (+P) and LA (-P) diets were treated with 5% LA for 24 h before feeding, and the concentrate of the CON diet was not treated. Dry matter intake and milk yield were recorded daily, and milk composition and blood variables were determined on several occasions during the trial. Reticuloruminal pH was measured using indwelling sensors that allowed for continuous measurement during the experimental period. Data showed depressed dry matter intake in cows receiving LA-treated concentrates, but milk yield, body weight, and body weight changes remained similar among treatment groups. Cows receiving the LA-treated diets had lower concentrations of serum nonesterified fatty acids, cholesterol, and insulin, and they tended to have higher serum phosphorus levels. On the other hand, reticuloruminal pH was lower and duration of the pH being <6.0 was longer in cows in the LA-treated groups. Aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and concentrations of bilirubin and bile acids were lower in the LA (-P) group. Taken together, the 5% LA-treated diet without inorganic phosphorus supplementation did not exert any negative effects on performance. The observed beneficial effects on blood metabolites related to lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and liver variables, as well as the tendency for greater systemic phosphorus circulation, suggest that diets including concentrates treated with 5% LA may allow for savings of inorganic phosphorus supplementation in dairy cows. Treatment with 5% LA enhanced cows' risk of developing subacute rumen acidosis, although this condition showed no adverse effects with respect to liver variables and the inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to compare the growth performance, metabolic profile, and nutrient utilization of dairy heifers fed camelina meal (CAM), linseed meal (LIN), or distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). A 12-wk randomized complete block design study was conducted using 33 Holstein and 9 Brown Swiss heifers (144.8 ± 22 d of age) with 3 treatments. Treatments were 10% of the diet as CAM, LIN, or DDGS (dry matter basis). All diets contained 60% grass hay and 40% concentrate mix. Diets were balanced with corn and soybean meal to be isonitrogenous and comparable in energy content. Diets were individually limit-fed to 2.65% of body weight using a Calan gate feeding system. Frame sizes, body weights, and body condition scores were measured on 2 consecutive days during wk 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Jugular blood samples were taken at the beginning of the study and then every 4 wk throughout at 3.5 h postfeeding for analysis of blood metabolites and metabolic hormones. Rumen fluid samples were taken at the same time as blood sampling via an esophageal tube during wk 8 and 12. Over the duration of the study, dry matter intake and average daily gain were similar among treatments. Body weights tended to be less for heifers fed CAM and greatest for LIN. Gain to feed was similar for the CAM and DDGS and greatest for the LIN. Overall, most frame measurements were similar among treatments. Body length had a tendency to be greater for CAM compared with LIN with DDGS similar to both. Body condition scores were greater for CAM and DDGS compared with LIN. Rumen total volatile fatty acids, acetate:propionate, and pH were similar among treatments. Butyrate was less in the CAM treatment, intermediate for LIN, and greatest for DDGS. Rumen ammonia was less in DDGS compared with CAM and LIN, which were similar. Blood concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, plasma urea N, and cholesterol were similar among treatments. Metabolic hormones, including insulin-like growth factor-1 and thyroid hormones triiodothyronine and free thyroxine, were similar among treatments. Heifers fed CAM had lesser insulin concentration than other treatments. Total-tract digestion of nutrients were similar among treatments, but CAM tended to have greater digestion of organic matter compared with LIN, with DDGS similar to both. Feeding CAM maintained growth performance compared with DDGS and LIN. This study demonstrates that CAM can be used as a protein source for growing dairy heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick infestation may cause several problems including affecting domestic animal health and reducing the production of meat and milk, among others. Resistance to several classes of acaricides have been reported, forcing researchers to search for alternative measures, such as vaccines against ticks, to ensure tick control while having no or at least low negative impacts on the environment and public health. However, the current commercially available vaccines in different strains of Rhipicephalus microplus are reported to be of low efficacy. Fortunately, reverse vaccinology approaches have shown positive results in the new generation of vaccines. On this basis, a synthetic peptide from the ATAQ protein, which is present in the gut and Malpighi tubes of R. microplus , was synthesized. The ATAQ proteins were isolated, characterized and sequenced from several species of the genus Rhipicephalus . The alignment showed 93.3% identity among DNA sequences of ATAQs from these species. Because of this, immunization trials with this peptide were conducted on mice, rabbits and cattle to evaluate the humoral immune response and the efficacy against Rhipicephalus sanguineus in addition to R. microplus . Based on recent results, we conclude that reverse vaccinology is a promising approach because it is more accurate and faster than conventional methods in the detection of potential antigens to use in anti-tick vaccines. It is not only applicable against R. microplus but also against tick species that play important roles in spreading other diseases. ATAQ proteins should be considered as the antigen in new trials to develop a multi-antigenic vaccine. Although these peptides behave as hapten and are not able to be recognized by the immune system on its own, using carriers and adjuvants helps its presentation and induces strong immune responses. Furthermore, an efficiency of 35% reduction in overall life cycle parameters was reported for R. microplus (98% for ELISA responder animals) and 47% for R. sanguineus . Although not yet enough to prevent the environment to infestation of ticks, this still constitutes a promising strategy that could be applied to integrated measures on tick control and in new research that develops anti-tick vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We replicated the study conducted by Wielgus and Peebles (2014) on the effect of wolf mortality on livestock depredations in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho states in the US. Their best models were found to be misspecified due to the omission of the time index and incorrect functional form. When we respecified the models, this replication failed to confirm the magnitude, direction and often the very existence of the original results. Wielgus and Peebles (2014) reported that the increase in the number of wolves culled the previous year would increase the expected number of livestock killed this year by 4 to 6%. But our results showed that the culling of one wolf the previous year would decrease the expected number of cattle killed this year by 1.9%, and the expected number of sheep killed by 3.4%. However, for every wolf killed there is a corresponding 2.2% increase in the expected number of sheep killed in the same year. The increase in sheep depredation appears to be a short term phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased surveillance of influenza A virus ( IAV) infections in human and swine populations is mandated by public health and animal health concerns. Antibody assays have proven useful in previous surveillance programmes because antibodies provide a record of prior exposure and the technology is inexpensive. The objective of this research was to compare the performance of influenza serum antibody assays using samples collected from pigs (vaccinated or unvaccinated) inoculated with either A/Swine/ OH/511445/2007 γ H1 N1 virus or A/Swine/Illinois/02907/2009 Cluster IV H3 N2 virus and followed for 42 days. Weekly serum samples were tested for anti- IAV antibodies using homologous and heterologous haemagglutination-inhibition ( HI) assays, commercial swine influenza H1 N1 and H3 N2 indirect ELISAs, and a commercial influenza nucleoprotein ( NP)-blocking ELISA. The homologous HIs showed 100% diagnostic sensitivity, but largely failed to detect infection with the heterologous virus. With diagnostic sensitivities of 1.4% and 4.9%, respectively, the H1 N1 and H3 N2 indirect ELISAs were ineffective at detecting IAV antibodies in swine infected with the contemporary influenza viruses used in the study. At a cut-off of S/N ≤ 0.60, the sensitivity and specificity of the NP-blocking ELISA were estimated at 95.5% and 99.6%, respectively. Statistically significant factors which affected S/N results include vaccination status, inoculum (virus subtype), day post-inoculation and the interactions between those factors ( P < 0.0001). Serum antibodies against NP provide an ideal universal diagnostic screening target and could provide a cost-effective approach for the detection and surveillance of IAV infections in swine populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestic cat is now one of the most common pet species in the Western world. As part of its role as a pet, cats are expected to not only tolerate but enjoy being touched. This study consisted of two experiments, with the first investigating the influence of body region touched and handler familiarity on the domestic cat's behavioural response to being stroked. The second experiment extended this work by investigating the influence of order of body region touched on behavioural responses. Both handler familiarity and body region stroked significantly influenced negative behavioural responses. Familiar handling, in comparison to unfamiliar handling, led to significantly higher negative behavioural scores displayed by the cats (score of 8.5 versus 5.0 respectively, p = 0.001). When considering the different body regions investigated, the caudal region produced the highest negative scores both when handled by the unfamiliar person (Experiment 1: score of 2.0 in comparison to scores of 0.0–1.0 for other studied body regions, p = 0.046) and by the familiar person (Experiment 2: score of 2.0 in comparison to a score of 1.0 for each other studied body region, p = 0.002). Order of body region touched had no significant bearing on behavioural responses exhibited. Results suggest that handling of cats should avoid the caudal region and highlight the need for further investigation into the owner–cat relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of high-throughput technologies to study an animal's genome, proteome, and metabolome (i.e., "omics" tools) constituted a setback to the use of reductionism in livestock research. More recent development of "next-generation sequencing" tools was instrumental in allowing in-depth studies of the microbiome in the rumen and other sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Omics, along with bioinformatics, constitutes the foundation of modern systems biology, a field of study widely used in model organisms (e.g., rodents, yeast, humans) to enhance understanding of the complex biological interactions occurring within cells and tissues at the gene, protein, and metabolite level. Application of systems biology concepts is ideal for the study of interactions between nutrition and physiological state with tissue and cell metabolism and function during key life stages of livestock species, including the transition from pregnancy to lactation, in utero development, or postnatal growth. Modern bioinformatic tools capable of discerning functional outcomes and biologically meaningful networks complement the ever-increasing ability to generate large molecular, microbial, and metabolite data sets. Simultaneous visualization of the complex intertissue adaptations to physiological state and nutrition can now be discerned. Studies to understand the linkages between the microbiome and the absorptive epithelium using the integrative approach are emerging. We present examples of new knowledge generated through the application of functional analyses of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data sets encompassing nutritional management of dairy cows, pigs, and poultry. Published work to date underscores that the integrative approach across and within tissues may prove useful for fine-tuning nutritional management of livestock. An important goal during this process is to uncover key molecular players involved in the organismal adaptations to nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All slaughter animals are examined before and after slaughter by an Official Veterinarian. Findings of diseases and conditions that could affect public health or animal health have to be reported to the management of the abattoir and the private veterinarian as well as the farmer of the farm of origin. The abattoir provides a vast amount of information on zoonotic and notifiable diseases, as well as diseases relevant for animal husbandry or on-farm animal health. Notifiable diseases can be identified through clinical signs (e.g. foot-and-mouth disease), but in specific cases samples are taken for serological surveillance (e.g. Aujeszky’s disease). Surveillance and monitoring schemes are generally based on the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health. Bovine tuberculosis is another example of a disease for which monitoring and surveillance is often entirely based on abattoir detection. For transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) abattoir sampling constitutes an important proportion of all samples taken. Monitoring of public health threats, including diseases such as trichinellosis and cysticercosis, remains an important element of the inspection practices in the abattoir. Monitoring of trichinellosis can be risk based: only pigs expected to be at a higher risk of infection are included in the testing regimen. Abattoir sampling is also used for assessment of compliance with legislation on residues of antimicrobial drugs in meat. The number of samples is small, but the sampling itself has a preventive effect. An important category of diseases are those relevant for the performance on farm. Some examples are lung and heart lesions, as well as several parasitic diseases such as liver fluke. Indicators for welfare problems on-farm may also appear at slaughter. Foot lesions in poultry and tail biting in pigs are some examples. Abattoir information is easy and cheap to come by and is underutilised at the moment, particularly to feed into animal health management on farm. It would be advisable to design a feedback system in which post-mortem findings are described with the interest of the farmer and her/his veterinary surgeon in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Israel is member of OIE (Organization for Animal Health) which since May 2005 has adopted animal welfare standards, including the slaughter of animals. Finalities of these standards are to ensure the welfare of animals, destined to food production, during pre-slaughter and slaughter processes, until their death. In Israel, slaughter is practiced without prior stunning as required by shechita and halal slaughtering, due to the vast majority of the population requesting kosher and halal meat. In both Jewish (Halacha) and Islamic (Sharia) Laws, particular attention is given to avoid unnecessary pain to animals in general and, in particular, in the course of slaughtering. Jewish shechita and Islamic dbach/halal slaughtering, when applied in the correct manner result in comparable, or even better, than large scale slaughters with prior stunning with respect to the avoidance of unnecessary pain. Shechita and halal, due to their intrinsic nature and due to their routine controls on every step and for every individual animal, cannot be regarded as negligent or intentionally painful, distressing or inducing sufferance to animals. Improvements may be possible with regards to restraining equipment, anatomical position of the cut, post-cut wound management and continuation of procedures on carcass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present study were to measure the effects of individual answer (correct vs. incorrect), individual answer of group members (no vs. some vs. all correct), self-confidence about the responses (low vs. mid vs. high), sex (female vs. male students), and group size (2-4 students) on the odds for change and for correctness after peer instruction in a veterinary physiology course (n = 101 students). Data were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The likelihood for change after peer instruction increased when the confidence on an individual answer was low (P < 0.01), when the answer was incorrect (P < 0.01), and when group members had different responses (P < 0.01). The likelihood for correctness after peer instruction increased when the confidence in group answers was high (P < 0.01), when the individual answer was correct (P < 0.01), and when at least one of the group members had the correct response (P < 0.01). After peer discussion, more changes were from incorrect to correct responses than vice versa (72% vs. 28%, P < 0.01). Changes to correct answers occurred after discussion with peers having both the correct individual response (76% of times) and also the incorrect individual answer (24% of times). In conclusion, the benefits of peer instruction are due to students having correct answers generally prevail in discussions. Also, students who all have incorrect answers can get the correct answer through debate and discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysteamine (CS) can increase serum growth hormone concentrations and the growth performance of broiler, sheep, and pigs. However, information of CS supplementation on the milk performance of dairy cows is limited. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) supplementation on lactation performance of dairy cows. Forty-eight multiparous mid-lactation Holsteins were fed a control diet or supplemented with 15, 30, or 45 g/d CSH preparation (cysteamine HCl 20%) for 63 d, including 7 d for adaptation. The base diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of lactating dairy cows according to the Chinese feeding standard (China Standard NY/T 34,Feeding standard of dairy cattle 2004 Issued by Ministry of Agriculture of People's Republic of ChinaBeijing) and the DMI, milk yield, milk composition, and plasma parameters were measured. Milk yield was 7.1% and 6.3% higher for the two higher supplementation amounts (SEM=0.50, P <0.05), and milk protein content was 7.7%, 8.7%, and 8.1% higher for the three supplemented groups (SEM=0.077, P <0.05), respectively, than the control. Plasma urea N were lower for the 30 and 45 g/d CSH groups than for the control. Level of plasma somatostation was reduced and plasma growth hormone was enhanced in CSH groups compared with that of control ( P <0.01). Supplementation of CSH preparation at 30 g/d increased milk production of dairy cows while 15 g/d has no positive effect on milk yield or milk efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-month-old, 9.2 kg female Caucassian dog with primary complaint of growth at the lateral aspect of the right elbow was presented to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Veterinary Teaching Hospital (UNVTH). Clinical examination revealed firm and roundish subcutaneous mass at the lateral aspect of the right elbow. Assessment of physiological parameters (temperature, respiratory, heart and pulse rates) revealed that they were normal. Haematology showed normal differential leukocytes count, but slightly decreased packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBCs), haemoglobin concentration (HBC). Total leukocyte count (TLC) slightly increased. Serum biochemical assay revealed normal aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, but slightly decrease alanine aminotransferase activity. Surgical excision was recommended based on the results of the clinical examination. Surgical excision of the mass was performed, and vincristine sulphate administered by intravenous injection at the dose of 0.75 mg/m once weekly for 3 weeks, post-surgically. No bacterial organism was isolated from cultured sample obtained from the excised mass. Histopathology revealed non-encapsulated, dense interlacing and interconnecting bundles of immature fibroblastic cells with some neovascularization, and mitotic figures were rarely seen averaging two mitoses per high power field. The nuclei uniformly appeared to be slightly larger than those of normal fibroblasts. The cytoplasms were continuous with the dense collagenous stroma basically arranged in interwoven bundles. Diagnosis of cutaneous myxoma was based on the results of clinical and histopathological examinations. Surgical excision and post-surgical administration of vincristine sulphate were very effective with no recurrence during 6 months follow-up period. This report has shown that cutaneous myxoma could occur in Cuacassian dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the industrial scale-up of bioprocesses it is important to establish that the biological system has not changed significantly when moving from small laboratory-scale shake flasks or culturing bottles to an industrially relevant production level. Therefore, during upscaling of biomass production for a range of metal transformations, including the production of biogenic magnetite nanoparticles by Geobacter sulfurreducens, from 100-ml bench-scale to 5-liter fermentors, we applied Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a metabolic fingerprinting approach followed by the analysis of bacterial cell extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for metabolic profiling. FTIR results clearly differentiated between the phenotypic changes associated with different growth phases as well as the two culturing conditions. Furthermore, the clustering patterns displayed by multivariate analysis were in agreement with the turbidimetric measurements, which displayed an extended lag phase for cells grown in a 5-liter bioreactor (24 h) compared to those grown in 100-ml serum bottles (6 h). GC-MS analysis of the cell extracts demonstrated an overall accumulation of fumarate during the lag phase under both culturing conditions, coinciding with the detected concentrations of oxaloacetate, pyruvate, nicotinamide, and glycerol-3-phosphate being at their lowest levels compared to other growth phases. These metabolites were overlaid onto a metabolic network of G. sulfurreducens, and taking into account the levels of these metabolites throughout the fermentation process, the limited availability of oxaloacetate and nicotinamide would seem to be themain metabolic bottleneck resulting from this scale-upprocess.Additional metabolite-feeding experiments were carried out to validate the above hypothesis. Nicotinamide supplementation (1mM)did not display any significant effects on the lag phase of G. sulfurreducens cells grown in the 100-ml serum bottles. However, it significantly improved the growth behavior of cells grown in the 5-liter bioreactor by reducing the lag phase from 24 h to 6 h, while providing higher yield than in the 100-ml serum bottles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cilia are highly conserved for their structure and also for their sensory functions. They serve as antennae for extracellular information. Whether the cilia are motile or not, they respond to environmental mechanical and chemical stimuli and send signals to the cell body. The information from extracellular stimuli is commonly converted to electrical signals through the repertoire of ion-conducting channels in the ciliary membrane, which results in changes in concentrations of ions, especially calcium ions, in the cilia. These changes, in turn, affect motility and the ability of the signaling pathways in the cilia and cell body to carry on the signal transduction. We review here the activities of ion channels in cilia in animals from protists to vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Thymus integrates numerous signals from the neuroendocrine-immune system, including sex steroids, glucocorticoids, and catecholamines. Neonatal surgical castration, commonly practiced in pig husbandry, modifies thymic hormonal environment, for example, sex steroids and probably glucocorticoids and catechol-amines, which are important modulators of thymic function. This study aimed at investigating, in pubescent male pigs, the consequences of neonatal suppression of testicular hormones on thymic T cell differentiation and hormonal control of thymocyte proliferation. A total of 34 male pigs were allocated to 2 experimental groups: control (CT) intact males and males surgically castrated (SC) at 5 or 6 d of age. At slaughter, thymus was weighed and thymic samples were collected to determine fat content and distribution of thymocyte subsets by identification of CD1, CD4, CD8, and γδ T cell receptor (TCR) cell surface markers and to measure thymocyte proliferation in presence of Cortisol, norepinephrine, and sex steroids. Results showed that absolute and relative thymus weights were greater (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively) whereas thymic fat content was less (P <0.01) in CT than in SC pigs. Surgical castration did not change the frequency of CD1+ immature thymocytes. The proportion of γδ T cells tended to be greater in CT than in SC pigs CP < 0.1) but the proportions of CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD8+ thymocytes were similar in both groups CP > 0.1) indicating that the Ταß lineage was not influenced by early castration. Proliferation of thymocytes in response to concanavalin A (ConA) was greater in SC than in CT pigs (P < 0.05). Cortisol and norepinephrine decreased the ConA-induced proliferation in CT and SC pigs (P < 0.05). In addition, proliferation of thymocytes was less inhibited by norepinephrine in SC than in CT males (P < 0.05). The greatest concentration of testosterone (25 ng/mL) increased (SC males, P < 0.05) or tended to increase (CT males, P < 0.1) the proliferative responsiveness to ConA but the lowest dose (2.5 ng/mL) and the greatest dose of testosterone combined with estradiol had no significant effect (P > 0.1 ). Overall, our data show little effect of neonatal castration on thymocyte differentiation as well as of sex hormones on thymocyte proliferation. However, thymic cells seem to be more sensitive to the inhibitory influence of norepinephrine in CT than in CS pigs. The significance of such difference for animal health remains to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective--To evaluate tissue oxygen saturation (Sto2) by use of near-infrared spectroscopy in experimental acute hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in dogs. Animals--14 healthy adult purpose-bred Beagles. Procedures--Dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane via facemask, anesthesia was maintained with propofol and rocuronium bromide, and dogs were mechanically ventilated to maintain normocapnia. Dogs were studied under normovolemia (baseline), hypovolemia with target mean arterial blood pressure < 40 mm Hg achieved and maintained steady for 10 minutes (hypovolemia T1), then 20 minutes later (hypovolemia T2), following resuscitation with shed blood (after transfusion), and after administration of 20 mL of hetastarch/kg (hypervolemia). Conditions were executed sequentially during a single anesthetic episode, allowing stabilization between states (10 minutes). Hemoglobin concentration, mean arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gas concentrations, cardiac index, oxygen delivery indexed to body surface area, and Sto2 were monitored. Results--From baseline to hypovolemia T1, there was a significant reduction in mean ± SD oxygen delivery index (619 ± 257 mL/min/m² to 205 ± 76 mL/min/m² and Sto2 (94 ± 4.4% to 78 ± 12.2%). Following resuscitation, Sto2 (80 ± 8.5% vs 92 ± 6.45%) and oxygen delivery index (211 ± 73 mL/min/m² vs 717 ± 221 mL/min/m² significantly increased, returning to baseline values. Hypervolemia had no effect on Sto2 or oxygen delivery index. A strong correlation (r = 0.97) was detected between mean oxygen delivery index and Sto2 across all time points. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Under the conditions of this study, there was a strong correlation between Sto2 and oxygen delivery, suggesting that Sto2 may be used to estimate oxygen delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main purpose of this autobiographical reminiscence of 40 years of embryo research is to provide young theriogenologists with a firsthand account of how career development can depend strongly on early influences that become modified by changing circumstances. With no intention of being didactic, I hope that my experience of coping with enormous changes in techniques and attitudes may be of use to some of those embarking on a further 40 years of change of at least equal enormity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide great potential as cell sources for gene editing to generate genetically modified animals, as well as in the field of regenerative medicine. Stable, long-term ESCs have been established in laboratory mouse and rat; however, isolation of true pluripotent ESCs in domesticated animals such as pigs and dogs have been less successful. Initially, domesticated animal pluripotent cell lines were referred to as “embryonic stem-like” cells owing to their similar morphologic characteristics to mouse ESCs, but accompanied by a limited ability to proliferate in vitro in an undifferentiated state. That is, they shared some but not all the characteristics of true ESCs. More recently, advances in reprogramming using exogenous transcription factors, combined with the utilization of small chemical inhibitors of key biochemical pathways, have led to the isolation of iPSCs. In this review, we provide a historical perspective of the isolation of various types of pluripotent stem cells in domesticated animals. In addition, we summarize the latest progress and limitations in the derivation and application of iPSCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]