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Thyroid tissue in teleosts is located mainly in the pharyngeal region, usually reaching other adjacent anatomical locations. Herein, a nodular lesion located in the left operculum of a Senegal seabream (Diplodus bellottii) was surgically excised and sent for microscopical evaluation. Microscopically, the lesion presented irregular borders and consisted in columnar epithelial cells arranged in a tubulopapillary pattern, surrounding a central lumen filled with acellular, acidophilic and homogeneous, material ('colloid'). To determine the lesion's histogenesis, immunohistochemistry was performed employing antibodies for AE1/AE3, CK7, thyroglobulin and vimentin. The neoplastic cells presented low mitotic index and positive immunolabelling for CK7 and thyroglobulin. Therefore, a diagnosis of ectopic thyroid adenoma was made. Herein, the successful employment of antibodies classically used in mammals for accurate diagnosis of thyroid disorders is described. Proliferation of thyroid tissue in fish may reflect environmental and physiological imbalances, making the study and correct diagnosis of these tumours in this species important., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of the life expectancy of dogs in Portugal, focusing on the impact of diverse factors including breed, sex, size, and skull shape. The final dataset, gathering data from the national registry database, consisted of 278,116 dogs with confirmed deaths. The mean lifespan at birth for all the dogs was around 8.91 years, with the female dogs tended to have a similar lifespan to male dogs. The analysis of life expectancy at birth for the 20 most common non-Portuguese breeds and 10 Portuguese breeds revealed that Yorkshire Terriers had the highest life expectancy (10.89 years) and French Bulldogs the lowest (6.27 years). Size and cephalic index were found to be influential factors, with large brachycephalic breeds exhibiting shorter life expectancies and smaller, mesocephalic breeds experiencing longer lifespans. Additionally, the cephalic index had a more substantial impact on life expectancy compared to body size. These findings enhance the understanding of the factors influencing canine longevity and aid in developing strategies to improve the health and lifespan of companion dogs.

With the advent of next-generation sequencing, an increasing number of cases of de novo variants in domestic animals have been reported in scientific literature primarily associated with clinically severe phenotypes. The emergence of new variants at each generation is a crucial aspect in understanding the pathology of early-onset diseases in animals and can provide valuable insights into similar diseases in humans. With the aim of collecting deleterious de novo variants in domestic animals, we searched the scientific literature and compiled reports on 42 de novo variants in 31 genes in domestic animals. No clear disease-associated phenotype has been established in humans for three of these genes (NUMB, ANKRD28 and KCNG1). For the remaining 28 genes, a strong similarity between animal and human phenotypes was recognized from available information in OMIM and OMIA, revealing the importance of comparative studies and supporting the use of domestic animals as natural models for human diseases, in line with the One Health approach., (© 2024 The Authors. Animal Genetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

Dogs spontaneously develop mammary gland tumors (MGT) and exhibit striking similarities in clinical and epidemiological characteristics to human breast cancer (HBC). Descriptive and comparative analysis of HBC and canine MGT with a focus on evaluating similarities and geographical distribution were the aims of this study. HBC cases were obtained from North Regional Oncological Registry (RORENO) (2010-2015) and canine MGT cases from Vet-OncoNet (2019-2022). Analyses were performed based on published and well accepted classification systems (ICD-O-3.2 for humans and Vet-ICD-O-canine-1). Age-standardized incidence risks (ASIR) of Porto district municipalities were calculated using 2021 Portuguese census (INE) and data from the Portuguese animal registration system (SIAC). Among 7,674 HBC cases and 1,140 MGT cases, a similar age and sex distribution pattern was observed. Approximately 69.2% of HBC cases were between 40 and 69 years old, while 66.9% of MGT cases were diagnosed between 7 and 12 years old (mean age of 9.6 years, SD = 2.6). In women, Invasive breast carcinoma (8500/3) was the most common histological type ( n = 5,679, 74%) while in dogs it was the Complex Carcinoma (8983.1/3) ( n = 205, 39%). Cocker and Yorkshire Terriers exhibited the highest relative risks (3.2 and 1.6, p < 0.05, respectively) when compared to cross breed dogs. The municipalities' ASIR of the two species exhibited a high correlation (R = 0.85, p < 0.01) and the spatial cluster analysis revealed similar geographic hotspots. Also, higher ASIR values both in women and dogs were more frequently found in urbanized areas compared to rural areas. This research sheds light on the shared features and geographical correlation between HBC and canine MGT, highlighting the potential of cross-species environmental oncology studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2023 Carvalho, Niza-Ribeiro, Amorim, Queiroga, Severo, Ribeiro and Pinello.)

Introduction: Denmark is one of the world's largest exporters of pigs and pig meat, so the sector plays an important role in the national antimicrobial use (AMU). The Danish government has run antimicrobial stewardship programs in collaboration with the pig industry for more than 25 years. These have resulted in substantial overall reductions in total AMU and limiting the use of fluoroquinolones, the 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporines and the polymyxin colistin. To understand where further reductions in AMU could take place, it is necessary to investigate which antimicrobials are being used, how, and for which reasons., Materials and Methods: We characterized the AMU in the Danish pig sector in 2020, providing new analytical insights based on data retrieved from the VetStat database. The AMU data were segmented into classes, routes of administration, treatment indications and age groups, and interpreted as an outcome of the interventions taken. We evaluated the current AMU regarding choice of antimicrobial class. Moreover, we discussed how to further improve the antimicrobial stewardship in Danish pig production to achieve additional reductions without jeopardizing animal welfare. Where relevant, two pig veterinary specialists were consulted., Results: In 2020, 43.3 mg antimicrobials per population correction unit (PCU) were ascribed to the Danish pig sector. There was practically no use of fluoroquinolones, 3 rd and 4 th generation cephalosporins and polymyxins. Weaners related to 45% of the total AMU in pigs when measured in tonnes and 81% when measured in defined animal daily doses, of these 76% were ascribed to gastrointestinal indications and overall, 83% were administered perorally., Conclusion: To enable further reductions in AMU, it should be investigated how and when to replace group treatments (e.g., all animals in section or a pen) with individual treatments. Moreover, prevention of disease and promotion of animal health should be prioritized, e.g., through focus on feed, vaccination, biosecurity, and disease eradication., Competing Interests: LA and EN work for two organisations which provide advice to farmers and meat producing companies. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Moura, Sandberg, Høg, Niza-Ribeiro, Nielsen and Alban.)

Background: Lymphomas are dogs' most common hematopoietic neoplasms and represent a heterogeneous group, as occurs in humans. Considering the role of dogs as models of human lymphomas and the geographical correlation of the cases of canine and human lymphoma, it is important to continuously assess the epidemiological distribution of lymphoma subtypes in dogs., Aim: This study aimed to provide a survey of canine lymphoma subtypes diagnosed from 2005 to 2016 in the academic veterinary pathology laboratory of the University of Porto., Methods: A total of 75 canine lymphomas diagnosed by histopathology in the Porto district were included. All cases were immunophenotyped by CD3 and PAX5, classified according to the current classification WHO and coded with Vet-ICD-O-canine-1., Results: Mixed breed dogs were most common (28%), followed by Cocker Spaniels (12%), Boxers (9%), and Labrador Retrievers (6%). The mean age was 9.2 years (SD = 3.3) (10.7 years for small, 8.9 years for medium and large, and 5.7 years for giant breed dogs, p < 0.05). Regarding sex, there was no difference in frequencies or mean age. B-cell lymphomas were more common (57.4%) than T-cell lymphomas (37.3%), and 5.3% were classified as non-B/non-T-cell lymphomas. Of the cases, 49% had a multicentric distribution, followed by splenic (22%), cutaneous (12%), alimentary (12%), and extranodal (3%) forms. The most common B-cell subtypes were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (16.3%) and large immunoblastic lymphoma (14%), while T-zone lymphoma (21.4%) and intestinal lymphoma (18%) were the most common T-cell lymphoma subtypes., Conclusion: Our study shows that the Porto district follows the international trend of higher prevalence of B-cell lymphomas in dogs, especially of the DLBCL subtype., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Introduction: The urgency of preventing the increase of antimicrobial resistance has been emphasized by international authorities such as the World Health Organization, European Medicines Agency, and World Organization for Animal Health. Monitoring systems capable of reporting antimicrobial consumption data are regarded as a crucial pillar of this fight. The Vet-AMNet system was developed to collect and analyze national antimicrobial consumption data in Portuguese dairy farms to support the veterinary authority in stewardship actions and to assist both veterinarians and farmers in daily decisions related to antimicrobials., Methods: To evaluate the robustness of the system and other identified critical success factors, it was used to analyze antimicrobial consumption data available from the Dutch dairy cow sector over the period from 2012 to 2020. The data previously used for publications by the Netherlands Veterinary Medicines Institute (SDa) were imported and pre-processed by the Vet-AMNet system according to the SDa's standard operating procedure and the Dutch metrics to measure antimicrobial consumption were calculated., Results: By comparing the outputs with the figures generated by the system established in the Netherlands, the Portuguese system was validated. Antimicrobial consumption data from the Dutch dairy sector during the 9-year period will be presented in unpublished graphs and tables, where each molecule's pharmaceutical formulation, pharmacotherapeutic group and line of choice will be related and discussed, illustrating the evolution of sectorial antimicrobial consumption against a background of a strong national antimicrobial policy initiated by public-private cooperation and supported by legislation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Moura, Sanders, Heederik, Van Geijlswijk and Niza-Ribeiro.)

Analysis of canine and feline tumor malignancy data can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and make more accurate decisions. Based on a sample of 16,272 cancer records, including 3266 cats and 13,006 dogs, collected from January 2019 to December 2021 in the Vet-OncoNet Network database, this study aimed to compare the tumor malignancy profile between cats and dogs, considering animal-related factors (sex, age, and breed), topography, and geographic location using a mixed-effects logistic regression model. Cats had a higher proportion of malignant tumors (78.7%) than dogs (46.2%), and the malignancy profile was very different regarding tumors' topographies. The mean age of malignant tumors occurred eight months later than benign ones (9.1, SD = 3.4; 9.8, SD = 3.2), in general. Species (OR = 3.96, 95%CI 3.57: 4.39) and topography (MOR = 4.10) were the two most important determinants of malignancy risk. Female dogs had a higher risk than male dogs (OR = 1.19, 95%CI 1.08: 1.31), which does not appear to be the case in cats (OR = 0.98, 95%CI 0.77: 1.23). Breed contributed significantly to differences in malignancy risk in dogs (MOR = 1.56), particularly in pit bulls and boxers. District of residence was not so relevant in predicting malignancy risk (MOR = 1.14). In both species, the risk of malignancy increased by approximately 20% every three years. It could be hypothesized that species differences in genetic structure may contribute to tumor malignancy.

The animal cancer burden is essential for the translational value of companion animals in comparative oncology. The present work aims to describe, analyze, and compare frequencies and associations of tumors in dogs and cats based on the Animal Cancer Registry created by Vet-OncoNet. With 9079 registries, regarding 2019 and 2020, 81% ( n = 7355) belonged to dogs. In comparison, cats have a general one-year right advance in the mean age of cancer diagnosis compared to dogs. The multivariate topography group analysis shows a distinct pattern between the two species: dogs have higher odds of cancer in the genito-urinary system, spleen, soft tissue tumors and skin, while cats show higher odds for tumors in the eyes, digestive organs, nasal cavity, lymph nodes, bones and mammary glands. Regarding morphologies, dogs are overrepresented in mast cell tumors (MCT), melanomas, and hemangiosarcomas. While cats are overrepresented in fibrosarcomas, lymphomas (T and B-cell), in malignant mammary tumors, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Females have greater odds only in the mammary gland, with males having greater odds in six of twelve topographies. This study is the first outcome of continuous animal cancer registration studies in Portugal.

Cancer registries are fundamental tools for collecting epidemiological cancer data and developing cancer prevention and control strategies. While cancer registration is common in the human medical field, many attempts to develop animal cancer registries have been launched over time, but most have been discontinued. A pivotal aspect of cancer registration is the availability of cancer coding systems, as provided by the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O). Within the Global Initiative for Veterinary Cancer Surveillance (GIVCS), established to foster and coordinate animal cancer registration worldwide, a group of veterinary pathologists and epidemiologists developed a comparative coding system for canine neoplasms. Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 is compatible with the human ICD-O-3.2 and is consistent with the currently recognized classification schemes for canine tumors. It comprises 335 topography codes and 534 morphology codes. The same code as in ICD-O-3.2 was used for the majority of canine tumors showing a high level of similarity to their human counterparts ( n = 408). De novo codes ( n = 152) were created for specific canine tumor entities ( n = 126) and topographic sites ( n = 26). The Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 coding system represents a user-friendly, easily accessible, and comprehensive resource for developing a canine cancer registration system that will enable studies within the One Health space.

Vet-OncoNet is a replicable tripartite animal cancer database with the scientific and academic purposes of collecting data and producing evidence-based knowledge for cancer science in general. Inspired by the One Health vision, Vet-OncoNet uses business intelligence tools to optimize the process of capturing, treating, and reporting animal cancer data to a national level in three interfaces: ACR (animal cancer registry, pathology-based), COR (clinical oncology registry, vet practice-based) and RFR (risk factor registry, owner-based). The first results show that skin and mammary gland are by far the most affected systems. Mast cell tumors and complex adenoma of the mammary gland are the most frequent histologic type in dogs, while in cats they are squamous cell carcinomas, tubular adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland and lymphomas. Regarding COR, it provides valuable information on the landscape of veterinary oncology practices, therapeutics options, outcomes and owners' drivers' adherence towards therapies, which range from 30% up to 80% upon vet practices. Furthermore, being aware of the role of animals within the family and as possible sentinels of environmental risks to cancer in humans, the network built an interface (Pet-OncoNet) dedicated to owners and a database (RFR) that receives information regarding pets and owners' daily habits.

The COST action "Standardising output-based surveillance to control non-regulated diseases of cattle in the European Union (SOUND control)," aims to harmonise the results of surveillance and control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases to facilitate safe trade and improve overall control of cattle infectious diseases. In this paper we aimed to provide an overview on the diversity of control for these diseases in Europe. A non-EU regulated cattle disease was defined as an infectious disease of cattle with no or limited control at EU level, which is not included in the European Union Animal health law Categories A or B under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002. A CP was defined as surveillance and/or intervention strategies designed to lower the incidence, prevalence, mortality or prove freedom from a specific disease in a region or country. Passive surveillance, and active surveillance of breeding bulls under Council Directive 88/407/EEC were not considered as CPs. A questionnaire was designed to obtain country-specific information about CPs for each disease. Animal health experts from 33 European countries completed the questionnaire. Overall, there are 23 diseases for which a CP exists in one or more of the countries studied. The diseases for which CPs exist in the highest number of countries are enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhoea and anthrax (CPs reported by between 16 and 31 countries). Every participating country has on average, 6 CPs (min-max: 1-13) in place. Most programmes are implemented at a national level (86%) and are applied to both dairy and non-dairy cattle (75%). Approximately one-third of the CPs are voluntary, and the funding structure is divided between government and private resources. Countries that have eradicated diseases like enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhoea have implemented CPs for other diseases to further improve the health status of cattle in their country. The control of non-EU regulated cattle diseases is very heterogenous in Europe. Therefore, the standardising of the outputs of these programmes to enable comparison represents a challenge., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Hodnik, Acinger-Rogić, Alishani, Autio, Balseiro, Berezowski, Carmo, Chaligiannis, Conrady, Costa, Cvetkovikj, Davidov, Dispas, Djadjovski, Duarte, Faverjon, Fourichon, Frössling, Gerilovych, Gethmann, Gomes, Graham, Guelbenzu, Gunn, Henry, Hopp, Houe, Irimia, Ježek, Juste, Kalaitzakis, Kaler, Kaplan, Kostoulas, Kovalenko, Kneževič, Knific, Koleci, Madouasse, Malakauskas, Mandelik, Meletis, Mincu, Mõtus, Muñoz-Gómez, Niculae, Nikitović, Ocepek, Tangen-Opsal, Ózsvári, Papadopoulos, Papadopoulos, Pelkonen, Polak, Pozzato, Rapaliuté, Ribbens, Niza-Ribeiro, Roch, Rosenbaum Nielsen, Saez, Nielsen, van Schaik, Schwan, Sekovska, Starič, Strain, Šatran, Šerić-Haračić, Tamminen, Thulke, Toplak, Tuunainen, Verner, Vilček, Yildiz and Santman-Berends.)

Ascariasis is considered a common parasitosis of swine worldwide. The disease causes significant economic losses due to its effect on feed conversion ratio and liver condemnations at slaughter (liver milk spots). This study aimed to characterise the between-farm and spatial variance in porcine ascariasis in England and to assess the association between the percentage of infected animals and potential environmental risk factors, including production system, socioeconomic deprivation, soil characteristics (pH, topsoil bulk density, topsoil organic matter, topsoil texture class, soil water regime, topsoil available water capacity, and elevation), and climatic conditions (relative humidity, air temperature, and rainfall) before slaughter. Post-mortem inspection results were provided by the Food Standards Agency and comprised information about the number of rejected livers, the number of animals sent to slaughter and the production system. All farms were georeferenced based on the postcode, which allowed the assessment of the area index of socioeconomic deprivation and the extraction of soil and climatic characteristics available in different online databases. Under a multilevel framework with adjustment for spatial autocorrelation, a standard linear mixed model was fitted to estimate the association between these determinants and the percentage of infected animals. From 2,513,973 English farmed pigs included in the study, 4.3% had their livers rejected due to milk spots. The percentage of infected pigs per batch ranged from 0% to 100%. The highest percentages were found in Surrey, East and West Sussex (8.9%) and lowest in Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire (2.0%). Significant associations were found at multivariable analysis between the proportion of infection and the number of animals sent to slaughter (β=-0.005; 95%CI=-0.005, -0.004), soil texture (peat compared to coarse textured soils; β=-0.516; 95%CI=-1.010, -0.063), relative humidity (β=0.011; 95%CI=0.006, 0.015), mean temperature (β=0.007; 95%CI=0.003, 0.012), and rainfall (β=0.022; 95%CI=0.004, 0.037). In conclusion, our findings suggest that ascariasis can be influenced by a complex network of environmental factors. Future research needs to acknowledge these intermingled relationships to guide the development and application of control measures by the industry., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hydatidosis is a re-emerging disease. Farmers are a vulnerable population; however, little is known about their awareness of this disease. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to assess sheep and goat farmers' awareness of, perceptions of, and attitudes towards parasitic zoonoses and hydatidosis and (2) to identify the preferred means for promotion of information about hydatidosis. A cross-sectional study was conducted. An in-person questionnaire was constructed and administered to 279 individuals. A coprological survey in shepherd dogs was performed using 88 faecal samples. SPSS version 18.0 was used for statistical analysis. Farmers reported several risk practices (69% practice home slaughtering, 46% do not deworm the dogs, 58% of these dogs have contact with other animals) and very little knowledge about hydatidosis (97% have never heard about it). Nevertheless, 75% of the farmers demonstrated interest in receiving information, mainly from a veterinarian. A wide diversity of potentially zoonotic parasites (Trichuris spp., Ancylostomatidae, Toxocara spp., Taeniidae) was found in 61% of the dogs. This survey revealed farmers' lack of knowledge in relation to hydatidosis and a high prevalence of potentially zoonotic parasites in dogs, thus pointing to the need for health education and a closer collaboration between veterinarian and public health professionals.

The article discusses a cross-sectional study which identified farm management factors associated with cow milk enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results for paratuberculosis in dairy cows in northern Portugal using a multilevel regression model. A random sample of the dairy herds recorded in the country's milking recording scheme (MRS) was examined to determine milk ELISA result for Mycobacteriul avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Multilevel multivariable analysis revealed that seroprevalence from MAP can be prevented through the implementation of biosecurity measures.

Simple Summary: Pets share the same environment as humans, making them useful for studying how environmental factors, such as pollution, toxicants and microorganisms, could contribute to cancer onset and development. To better understand tumor frequency, diagnoses, topography and related risk factors, we performed a retrospective study of tumor cases in dogs and cats in Abruzzo and Molise regions (central Italy) over a ten-year period. We analyzed over 5300 tumor cases, with the majority of cases found in dogs. The mean age at the first diagnosis of tumors was similar between sexes and slightly lower in dogs compared to cats. Female animals were the majority, and the most affected sites were the skin, mammary glands and subcutaneous tissues. Non-neutered animals and those living outdoors showed higher risks for certain types of tumors, such as malignant mammary tumors and skin and subcutaneous tumors, respectively. This study also revealed that purebred dogs had a higher risk of developing mammary tumors compared to mixed breeds. Understanding cancer epidemiology in pets could ultimately help protect both animal and human health by implementing prevention strategies that align with the One Health approach. Pets have a crucial role in cancer research. Specifically, dogs and cats share the same environment as their owners and thus may serve as sentinels of naturally occurring tumors that are linked to the exposure to environmental hazards. Quantitative comparison of tumor types may reveal unusual cancer frequencies, providing directions for research and generation of hypotheses of cancer causation in a specific area and identification of risk factors. The aim of this study was to describe the data collected by the pathology-based animal cancer registry, managed by Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM), during 10 years of activity (2014–2023) and to assess its potential epidemiological relevance. Frequencies of tumor topography and morphology in dogs and cats were described, analyzed and compared. Proportional morbidity ratios (PMRs) were calculated, taking into consideration some potential risk factors such as species, breed, sex, diet and living environment. The database comprises 5311 tumors (n = 4719 in dogs and n = 592 in cats), with a higher prevalence in females (67.3% in dogs and 61.2% in cats). The mean age at the first diagnosis of tumors was similar between sexes and slightly lower in dogs compared to cats. PMRs highlighted certain risk and "protective" factors for the development of tumors in specific topography. The risk of developing tumors of the blood and hematopoietic system (PMR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.21–0.94), skin and subcutaneous tissues (PMR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.61–0.80), oral cavity and pharynx (PMR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.24–0.89), urinary organs (PMR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.11–0.99) and bones, joints and cartilage (PMR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.22–0.98) was lower in non-neutered male dogs than in neutered male dogs. Non-spayed female dogs had a greater risk of developing tumors of the mammary gland (PMR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.57–1.96), female sexual organs (PMR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.01–4.36) and respiratory system (PMR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.55–6.74) but less risk for cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue tumors (PMR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.38–0.51) and blood/hematopoietic system tumors (PMR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26–0.85) compared to spayed female dogs. Compared with mixed breed, purebred dogs had a significantly greater risk of developing mammary gland tumors (PMR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.20–1.54) and lower risk for respiratory (PMR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.07–0.32), gastrointestinal (PMR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.34–0.94) and oral (PMR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.36–0.96) neoplasia. Non-neutered male cats had a lower risk of developing skin and subcutaneous tumors (PMR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.50–0.92) compared with neutered cats. The risk of developing skin and subcutaneous tissues tumors was higher for dogs and cats that lived mostly outdoor (PMR dogs = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.10–1.33; PMR cats = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.08–1.47), while dogs that live mainly indoor had a greater risk to develop mammary gland tumors (PMR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68–0.89). Results described herein highlight the fundamental role of animal cancer registration initiatives. These efforts would contribute to the possibility of conducting multicentric collaborative studies to deepen the knowledge of the epidemiology of tumors in dogs and cats from a comparative perspective, thus fulfilling the One Health approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cancer is the leading cause of death in adult dogs. All dogs would benefit from early diagnosis, but there are no official guidelines for cancer screening in pets, although many different diagnostic tools for cancer detection are being studied. With our analysis of 14,636 cases, we aimed to determine the age of cancer diagnosis for dogs. Malignant tumors were diagnosed more often than benign neoplasms in older dogs. Intact females, large-sized, brachy-/dolichocephalic, and purebred dogs developed cancer at a younger age, but wide differences between breeds were noted. The earliest age at diagnosis was recorded for lymphomas and mast cell tumors. Due to the wide phenotypic and genetic variability of canines, breed-based screening schedules should be devised. Cancer is the most common cause of death in adult dogs. All dogs would benefit from early diagnosis, but there are no specific guidelines regarding the schedule of cancer screening in companion animals. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the age at diagnosis in Italian oncological canine patients. A total of 14,636 canine histologically confirmed neoplastic cases were coded according to the Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 and stratified by malignancy, sex, neutering status, breed, cephalic index, body size, and tumor type. Differences in age distribution were analyzed and the influence of these variables on the time of first malignancy diagnosis was assessed using an event history analysis model. The median age at diagnosis for benign and malignant tumors was 9 and 10 years, respectively. Intact and purebred dogs were diagnosed earlier, but the median age differed significantly by breed. The earliest age at diagnosis was recorded for lymphomas and mast cell tumors. The model showed an accelerating effect of large size, brachy- and dolichocephaly, and sexual integrity in female dogs on the time of malignancy diagnosis. Our results confirm that a "one-size-fits-all" approach to cancer screening is not accurate in dogs and provide relevant data that may lead to the establishment of breed-based screening schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing global concern in small animal veterinary practices. The overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in companion animals can contribute to the spread of AMR between animals and humans. This study aimed to assess small animal veterinarians' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR in North Macedonia. A web-based questionnaire was developed, including questions addressing demographics, owner influence on antibiotic prescription and prescribing practices. The response rate of the small animal veterinarians was 47.50% (57/120), with most of them (84.20%) having 1-15 years of work experience. Pearson's chi-square test of independence was used for contingency tables that met the chi-square assumption, and Fisher's exact test was conducted for contingency tables that did not. Most veterinarians responded that they had perceived pressure and direct demands from pet owners to prescribe antimicrobials (35.09% frequently, 45.61% occasionally). In the survey, 50.77% of the veterinarians reported frequently administering antibiotics without conducting bacteriological or antimicrobial susceptibility testing. They typically resorted to these tests in cases with recurrent infections, such as skin infections (19.63%), or when empirical therapy is ineffective (14.72%). Based on the findings, it can be concluded that veterinarians play a crucial role in tackling the AMR in North Macedonia. The lack of stewardship programs or guidelines for responsible antimicrobial use in companion animals is a critical issue that requires urgent attention, emphasizing the vital role of veterinarians in combating AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transmission models can aid understanding of disease dynamics and are useful in testing the efficiency of control measures. The aim of this study was to formulate an appropriate stochastic Susceptible-Infectious-Resistant/Carrier (SIR) model for Salmonella Typhimurium in pigs and thus estimate the transmission parameters between states., Results: The transmission parameters were estimated using data from a longitudinal study of three Danish farrow-to-finish pig herds known to be infected. A Bayesian model framework was proposed, which comprised Binomial components for the transition from susceptible to infectious and from infectious to carrier; and a Poisson component for carrier to infectious. Cohort random effects were incorporated into these models to allow for unobserved cohort-specific variables as well as unobserved sources of transmission, thus enabling a more realistic estimation of the transmission parameters. In the case of the transition from susceptible to infectious, the cohort random effects were also time varying. The number of infectious pigs not detected by the parallel testing was treated as unknown, and the probability of non-detection was estimated using information about the sensitivity and specificity of the bacteriological and serological tests. The estimate of the transmission rate from susceptible to infectious was 0.33 [0.06, 1.52], from infectious to carrier was 0.18 [0.14, 0.23] and from carrier to infectious was 0.01 [0.0001, 0.04]. The estimate for the basic reproduction ration (R0) was 1.91 [0.78, 5.24]. The probability of non-detection was estimated to be 0.18 [0.12, 0.25]., Conclusions: The proposed framework for stochastic SIR models was successfully implemented to estimate transmission rate parameters for Salmonella Typhimurium in swine field data. R0 was 1.91, implying that there was dissemination of the infection within pigs of the same cohort. There was significant temporal-cohort variability, especially at the susceptible to infectious stage. The model adequately fitted the data, allowing for both observed and unobserved sources of uncertainty (cohort effects, diagnostic test sensitivity), so leading to more reliable estimates of transmission parameters.

Background: The EU Regulation No 2160/2003 imposes a reduction in the prevalence of Salmonella in pigs. The efficiency of control programmes for Salmonella in pigs, reported among the EU Member States, varies and definitive eradication seems very difficult. Control measures currently recommended for Salmonella are not serotype-specific. Is it possible that the risk factors for different Salmonella serotypes are different? The aim of this study was to investigate potential risk factors for two groups of Salmonella sp serotypes using pen faecal samples from breeding pig holdings representative of the Portuguese pig sector., Methods: The data used come from the Baseline Survey for the Prevalence of Salmonella in breeding pigs in Portugal. A total of 1670 pen faecal samples from 167 herds were tested, and 170 samples were positive for Salmonella. The presence of Salmonella in each sample (outcome variable) was classified in three categories: i) no Salmonella, ii) Salmonella Typhimurium or S. Typhimurium-like strains with the antigenic formula: 1,4,5,12:i:-, , and iii) other serotypes. Along with the sample collection, a questionnaire concerning herd management and potential risk factors was utilised. The data have a "natural" hierarchical structure so a categorical multilevel analysis of the dataset was carried out using a Bayesian hierarchical model. The model was estimated using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, implemented in the software WinBUGS., Results: The significant associations found (when compared to category "no Salmonella"), for category "serotype Typhimurium or S. Typhimurium-like strains with the antigenic formula: 1,4,5,12:i:-" were: age of breeding sows, size of the herd, number of pigs/pen and source of semen. For the category "other serotypes" the significant associations found were: control of rodents, region of the country, source of semen, breeding sector room and source of feed., Conclusions: The risk factors significantly associated with Salmonella shedding from the category "serotype Typhimurium or serotype 1,4,5,12:i:-" were more related to animal factors, whereas those associated with "other serotypes" were more related to environmental factors. Our findings suggest that different control measures could be used to control different Salmonella serotypes in breeding pigs.

The emerging risk of resistance to antimicrobials has brought about the need to document animal production in the European Union. The required documentation of treatment data on-farm may withhold viable information, which can be analysed if made accessible in a digital format. The aim of the study was to use a digital system for the documentation of treatments and to investigate relationships between treatments, performance parameters and breeds. Data were collected between August 2020 and September 2022 on a combined pig farm in northern Germany. A digital tool was used to obtain data on treatments, while sows' performance information and breed data were drawn from the sow planner of the farm. Treatment indices were generated for the sows (TIS, treatment index sow) and the sows' litters (treatment index litter, TIL). During the time of data collection, 17 % (n = 113) of the farrowing events (n = 661) took place with farrowing-related treatments (FRTs), and 43.5 % (n = 94) of the sows had to receive FRT at least once. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the dependent variables TIS, TIL and FRT and the performance parameters piglets born alive, stillborn piglets and weaned piglets. The explanatory variables parity, season, year, the interaction of season and year, and the breed of the sow (crossbred Large White × Landrace and purebred Large White), as well as the random effect of the sow nested in the breed of the sow, were included in the models for all dependent variables. Additionally, the breed of the boar (Duroc, Pietrain), TIS, TIL and FRT were investigated in the models of the performance parameters. The following effects were all significant (p<0.05). Parity had an effect on TIS, piglets born alive and stillborn piglets. Sows with parity of 1 had the highest least-squares mean (LSM) = 0.42 (standard error (SE) = 0.04) for TIS, which decreased over parities of 2–3, 4–5 and 6–7 (LSM = 0.16, SE = 0.04) and increased for parity of ≥8 (LSM = 0.34, SE = 0.05). While sows with parity of 1 produced the lowest numbers and sows with parities of 4–5 the highest numbers of piglets born alive, the number of stillborn piglets increased with parity number, with the lowest numbers for parity of 1 and the highest numbers for parity of ≥8. Overall, the performance of the farm improved in the second year of data collection with less FRT, more weaned piglets and fewer stillborn piglets. Crossbred sows produced more piglets born alive and weaned piglets but also more stillborn piglets. The use of Pietrain boars led to more piglets being born alive. FRT and high treatment indices of the sow related with an increase in stillborn piglets and high treatment indices of the sow resulted in fewer piglets born alive. In conclusion, digitalized treatment data allow for analyses of the herd's health status, and relations between production performance and treatments can be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While multiple studies have focused on the motivations surrounding antibiotic prescription among veterinarians, little is known about companion animal owners' knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) regarding the topic. A nationwide survey directed toward Portuguese dog and cat owners was conducted online and at veterinary practices to characterize their KAP regarding antibiotics. After database curation, a total of 423 valid submissions were considered. Although 97.9% of respondents stated that they knew what an antibiotic was, 23.5% and 19.2% answered that they were used to treat viral and fungal infections, respectively. Antimicrobial effectiveness was favored over cost when 87.7% of owners agreed they would prefer to spend more money to identify the appropriate antibiotic. Around 87% of respondents recognized antibiotic resistance as a significant health problem and 74.6% strongly agreed/somewhat agreed that antibiotic use in pets may contribute to resistance development. However, only 25.3% recognized that this could promote resistance dissemination, showing little awareness of the interconnection between human and animal health. Moreover, 55.6% of respondents were neutral when asked whether antibiotics used in veterinary medicine were also important for humans. These findings suggest that communication between veterinarians and pet owners can still be improved to further clarify the impact that antibiotic use has in pets from a One-Health perspective, also enabling antimicrobial stewardship interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the incidence of spontaneous tumours of various origins and the localisation in dogs with sex, breed, and age factors. A total of 360 tumours with various localisation were studied pathomorphologically. Histopathologic data sets from 360 dog tissue samples were processed and statistically examined. A chi-square test of independence was conducted to examine the relationships among the various levels of the specified variables. Logistic regression models were employed for dichotomous outcomes to ascertain the influence of certain explanatory variables on the tumour types. Characteristic pathomorphological changes observed during examination of dogs with oncologic diseases were determined. The most common neoplasms were mammary tumours, accounting for 43% of the cases. The mammary gland tumours were most common in mongrel dogs (25%), with German Shepherds (17.3%), Poodles, Dachshunds, Central Asian Shepherds (6.7% each), and Rottweilers (5.7%) following. The highest frequency of these tumours appeared at 8 years of age, predominantly originating from the ductal epithelium, which represented 46.4% of all the malignant cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paratuberculosis (PTB), or Johne's disease, is a disease with worldwide distribution caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) that leads to chronic enteritis, primarily in ruminants. Even subclinical infection significantly reduces the animals' performance, and consequences of the disease lead to high economic losses for the cattle industry. To estimate the economic burden of bovine PTB and to evaluate the benefits of a potential control program, accurate estimates of the production effects associated with the disease are required. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to provide a comprehensive overview of associations between MAP infection and production parameters in cattle. The studies were collected from three electronic databases. Of the total 1,605 identified studies, 1,432 did not meet the set criteria in the title and abstract screening and a further 106 were excluded during full-text review. Finally, data on 34 different production parameters were extracted from 67 publications. Results show that the magnitude of reported performance losses varies depending on several factors, such as the type of diagnostic test applied, disease status or number of lactations. Studies reported a reduction in milk yield, changes in milk quality (e.g., higher somatic cell count, lower amount of produced milk fat and protein), reduced fertility (e.g., prolonged calving interval and service period, higher abortion rate and calving difficulties), reduced weaning weight, slaughter weight and slaughter value, or a higher risk for mastitis. Results from the studies included in our review show a median decrease of milk yield per infected cow of -452 kg/lactation for raw and -405 kg/lactation for modeled data. Similarly, the amount of produced milk protein fell by a median of -14.41 kg/lactation for modeled data and the amount of produced milk fat by a median of -13.13 kg/lactation. The reviewed studies revealed a prolonged calving interval by around 30 days and a 1.5 to 3 times higher likeliness of culling per lactation in PTB positive animals. Results from this scoping review provide evidence-based inputs for the development of economic models aiming at the estimation of the costs and benefits associated with different disease control scenarios for PTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research conducted in Serbia aimed to identify intestinal parasites in dogs that could potentially infect humans. Total prevalence of intestinal endoparasites was 62.6%. Various endoparasites such as Cystoisospora spp., Sarcocystis spp., Neospora caninum/Hammondia spp., Giardia intestinalis, Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Ancylostomatidae, Trichuris vulpis, Capillaria spp., Alaria alata and Taeniidae were found. Factors like age, outdoor living, attitude and diet were linked to higher infection rates. This study emphasizes the importance of educating dog owners, conducting routine parasitological tests on their pets and regular deworming strategies. Dogs are the most popular pets worldwide. Close contact between dogs and people increases the risk of transmission of various zoonotic parasitic infections. Given the importance of veterinary medicine in preserving the One Health concept, the aim of this research was to identify intestinal parasites that may have zoonotic potential and to evaluate risk factors (individual and environmental). The research was conducted in Serbia in 2022 and 2023 on 382 owned dogs, using qualitative methods of coprological examination with a concentration on parasitic elements. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 62.6%, with the following detected: protozoa: Cystoisospora spp. (9.2%), Sarcocystis spp. (4.5%), Neospora caninum/Hammondia spp. (3.7%), Giardia intestinalis (11.8%); nematoda: Toxocara canis (11.5%), Toxascaris leonina (4.2%), family Ancylostomatidae (38.0%), Trichuris vulpis (21.5%), Capillaria spp. (10.5%); trematoda: Alaria alata (1.6%) and cestodes from the Taeniidae family (1.3%). Factors like age, size and coat length, as well as the way of living, attitude and diet were linked to a significantly higher (p < 0.05) prevalence of intestinal parasites. Based on the results of coprological diagnostics, this research indicates the importance of educating dog owners, conducting routine parasitological tests on their pets and regular deworming strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]