Frontiers in Veterinary Science最新文献

{"title":"Metabolomic profiling of rectal microorganisms in Tibetan sheep across cold and warm seasons.","authors":"Qi-Tala An, Zhipeng Zhao, Yaxiong Ren, Xia Liu, Liangwei Yao, Siyuan Chen, Zhikuan Yuan, Peijian Feng, Wenhao Li, Xiaohua Du","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1513571","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1513571","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The intestinal metabolites of Tibetan sheep play a vital role in the integrated regulation of the host and the microbe-gut-brain axis. The current study sought to investigate the characteristics of alterations in rectal metabolites and their functional implications during the cold and warm seasons in Tibetan sheep. A cohort of 12 ewes, approximately 1 week ± 1 month in age, exhibiting good body condition and a similar genetic background, was selected for metabolomic analysis of rectal contents collected during the warm season (August) and the cold season (December). The findings revealed significant differences in the rectal microbial metabolites of Tibetan sheep between the two seasons (<i>P</i> < 0.05), with a total of 476 differential metabolites identified in the positive ion mode (148 up-regulated and 328 down-regulated) and 383 differential metabolites in the negative ion mode (135 up-regulated and 248 down-regulated). These differential metabolites were mapped to 12 KEGG metabolic pathways (<i>P <</i> 0.05), including fatty acid biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, secondary bile acid biosynthesis, propionic acid metabolism, lysine degradation, and arginine and proline metabolism, which are linked to lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, respectively. The content of deoxycholic acid in the intestinal tract of Tibetan sheep was significantly higher during the cold season compared to the warm season (<i>P <</i> 0.05), while propionic acid was significantly lower (<i>P <</i> 0.05). These metabolites are involved in secondary bile acid biosynthesis and propanoate metabolism pathways. These results indicate significant seasonal variations in rectal microbial metabolites in Tibetan sheep. The identified metabolites may play a crucial role in regulating energy metabolism, inflammatory responses, and immune functions, thereby enhancing the adaptability of Tibetan sheep to the challenges posed by cold-season conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1513571"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969458/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Uncaria tomentosa</i> extract exerts antimicrobial activity against boar seminal bacteria and influences sperm resilience under different conditions.","authors":"Maria Scaringi, Eliana Pintus, Pavel Nový, Katerina Božiková, Petr Maršík, Jose Luis Ros-Santaella","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1558650","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1558650","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Uncaria tomentosa</i> (UT) or cat's claw, is a vine belonging to the Rubiaceae family and native to South and Central America. Various parts of the plant, including bark, showed many therapeutic activities (e.g., antioxidant and antibacterial), but the <i>in vitro</i> effects on gametes have still not been investigated. During boar semen storage for artificial insemination purposes, oxidative stress and bacterial contamination negatively affect sperm quality. In this study, we evaluated the tolerance of boar sperm to UT ethanolic extract at four concentrations (1.6 to 0.025 μg/mL). The analyses were carried out on sperm samples under oxidative stress, induced by H₂O₂ and Fe²⁺/Ascorbate, and during 96 h of semen storage at 17°C. The antibacterial activity of the extract (1,024 to 8 μg/mL) was tested against commercial strains and bacteria isolated from the semen. The treatments ranging from 0.4 to 0.025 μg/mL protected sperm membrane (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and preserved some kinetic parameters in samples under oxidative stress (Fe²⁺/Ascorbate). During semen storage, the extract did not show any cytotoxicity, and mean values of some sperm parameters were higher than the control group, although not significant (<i>p</i> > 0.05). All tested Gram-positive bacteria exhibited growth inhibition. The most frequently isolated Gram-negative bacteria from semen (i.e., <i>Citrobacter koseri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i>) also showed complete growth inhibition, while the remaining strains showed a partial decrease in growth. Taken together, our findings show that <i>Uncaria tomentosa</i> is a promising plant-based additive for boar semen storage.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1558650"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968748/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The pandemic's cruel aftermath: progressive decline in spay/neuter capacity.","authors":"Simone D Guerios, Gina Clemmer, Julie K Levy","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1558235","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1558235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in early 2020 resulted in a temporary suspension of elective spay and neuter procedures in many low-cost spay/neuter clinics. In our previous study, we projected a deficit of 2.7 million surgeries performed in high-quality high-volume spay-neuter (HQHVSN) clinics as a result of the shutdown and subsequent inability to recover to pre-pandemic productivity by the end of 2021. The purpose of this follow-up study was to determine whether the clinics subsequently recovered and caught up with the previously delayed procedures. Spay-neuter data were collected from 212 HQHVSN clinics from January 2019 through June 2023. The clinics collectively performed 1,217,240 spay/neuter surgeries in the pre-COVID baseline year of 2019. The pandemic triggered a reduction of 13% in 2020, 3% in 2021, 6% in 2022, and 1% in the first half of 2023. Analysis of patient data from the same clinics in our previous report revealed that instead of rebounding to pre-pandemic surgery capacity, they performed even fewer surgeries per quarter in the 18-month follow-up period than they did in 2021. If similar trends occurred in the estimated 3,000 spay-neuter clinics across the United States, the deficit in spay-neuter surgeries is estimated to have risen to 3.7 million surgeries, not including the compounding effect of those intact animals producing litters of their own. The continued decline in low-cost spay-neuter year over year impedes access to basic preventive pet healthcare and threatens to undermine decades of progress in controlling pet overpopulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1558235"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968670/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High prevalence of plasmid-mediated Fosfomycin resistance in waterfowl-derived <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains: insights into genetic context and transmission dynamics in China.","authors":"Shaqiu Zhang, Jing Yang, Qian Yang, Qianlong Li, Zhijun Zhong, Mingshu Wang, Renyong Jia, Shun Chen, Mafeng Liu, Dekang Zhu, Xinxin Zhao, Ying Wu, Qiao Yang, Juan Huang, Xumin Ou, Di Sun, Bin Tian, Zhen Wu, Yu He, Anchun Cheng","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1481822","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1481822","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fosfomycin (FOS) is a critical antibiotic for treating multi-drug resistant (MDR) <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> infections, but its effectiveness is jeopardized by the dissemination of plasmids encoding enzymes that modify FOS. Despite the prohibition on its use in animal breeding in China, 100 strains of <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) exhibiting high resistance to FOS (MIC≥512 mg/L) were isolated from samples of waterfowl origin collected in Hainan, Sichuan, and Anhui. These strains commonly carried the <i>fos</i>A<i>3</i> (88/100, 88.0%). In addition, 21 other antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were detected in these strains, with high positivity rates for <i>tet</i>A, <i>aphA1</i>, <i>sul2</i>, <i>folR</i>, <i>qnrS</i>, and <i>bla</i> _CTX-M. It is noteworthy that there was a significant positive correlation between the <i>fos</i>A3 and <i>bla</i> _CTX-M (OR = 15.162, 95% CI: 1.875-122.635). The results of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) demonstrated the existence of multiple dispersed clonal clusters. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis identified 45 ST types, with ST48 and ST10 representing the most dominant clones. In the conjugation experiments, 53 <i>fos</i>A-like genes positive transconjugants were obtained with measurable conjugation frequency, which strongly demonstrated that these <i>fos</i>A3 may mainly locate on different types of plasmids possessing an efficient transmission ability. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis further showed that the <i>fos</i>A3 was co-localized with the <i>bla</i> _CTX-M on plasmids that showed a high degree of similarity in genetic structure. Of particular interest is the observation that the <i>fos</i>A3 is frequently accompanied by IS<i>26</i> on either side of the gene. This structure may play a pivotal role in the horizontal transfer of the <i>fos</i>A3. The study revealed the alarming prevalence of FOS resistance in <i>E. coli</i> of waterfowl origin and delved deeply into the genetic characteristics and transmission mechanisms of the <i>fos</i>A3. The discovery of plasmid-mediated, transmissible FOS resistance in waterfowl <i>E. coli</i> poses a threat to \"One Health\". There's an urgent need for thorough monitoring and control measures against FOS resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1481822"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High parasite prevalence driven by the human-animal-environment interface: a One Health study in an urban area in southern of Chile.","authors":"Daniel Sanhueza Teneo, Omar Cerna, Cédric B Chesnais, David Cárdenas, Paula Camus","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1536861","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1536861","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasitic infections remain a global health concern, affecting human populations worldwide. However, comprehensive studies evaluating human, animal, and environmental interactions driven transmission of parasites are limited. We conducted a One Health study in an urban area of Valdivia, Chile. Human participants provided fecal and blood samples for parasitological and serological analysis. Environmental soil samples were collected from public parks, and fecal samples from owned and stray dogs were analyzed. Detection of intestinal parasites employed microscopy and molecular techniques, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), while anti-Toxocara canis antibodies in humans were assessed using ELISA. Socioeconomic surveys explored risk factors associated with parasitism. Parasite prevalence was 28% in humans, 26% in owned dogs, and 44% in environmental dog feces. Anti-<i>T. canis</i> IgG antibodies were present in 33% of humans. Soil contamination was identified in up to 30.5% of park samples, harboring zoonotic parasites such as <i>Toxocara</i> sp. and <i>Trichuris vulpis</i>, the same species identified in environmental dog feces. Zoonotic subtypes of <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> and <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. were detected in humans. Our findings highlight significant zoonotic and environmental transmission contributing to human parasitic infections in urban settings, underscoring the need for integrated public health interventions. This study demonstrates the importance of adopting an OneHealth approach in the study of parasitology. The complex ecology of parasites requires an integrated perspective to fully understand their transmission pathways and develop effective control strategies. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, we aim to contribute to the management and mitigation of this persistent public health issue.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1536861"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969455/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Agaricus bisporus</i> stipe fed to dairy heifers: effects on growth performance, immunity and antioxidant capacity, and rumen microbiota.","authors":"Peng Jia, Chunguang Lu, Xingyu Yang, Xueyuan Jiang, Hulong Lei, Naisheng Lu, Dong Xia","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1556330","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1556330","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Mushrooms are rich in protein, polysaccharides, and other nutrients as a natural homology of medicine and food species, among which <i>Agaricus bisporus</i> is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed mushrooms worldwide. The mushroom stipe is a by-product of the mushroom industry that can be utilized as a feed resource based on its rich nutritional value. This study examined the effects of <i>Agaricus bisporus</i> stipe (ABS) as a feed additive on growth performance, blood indexes, rumen fermentation parameters, nutrient digestion and utilization, and rumen microbiota of heifers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty Holstein heifers (268 ± 9.43 d of age) were blocked in 10 groups of 2 heifers according to their live weights and ages, and within each group, the 2 heifers were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatments: control diet (CON), control diet plus ABS (ABS, 150 g·DM/animal/d).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Heifers supplemented with ABS had higher average daily gain and a tendency to decrease feed conversion ratio, but rumen fermentation parameters were similar between the two treatments. Heifers in ABS had increased IgG, IgA, IgM, SOD, T-AOC, and GSH-Px concentrations while decreasing MDA concentration than heifers in CON. Although energy and nitrogen utilization were similar between treatments, the apparent total-tract digestibilities of NDF and ADF were higher for ABS than for CON heifers. Feeding ABS increased the relative abundance of one phylum (Verrucomicrobiota), two genera (<i>Akkermansia</i> and <i>Ligilactobacillus</i>), and two species (<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> and <i>Ligilactobacillus murinus</i>) in the rumen of heifers.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>In conclusion, heifers receiving ABS have greater growth performance, improved serum immune and antioxidant indexes, increased the relative abundance of some rumen bacteria, and higher nutrient digestion than CON heifers.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1556330"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969463/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunological and pathobiological characteristics of a novel live <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium-vectored <i>Campylobacter</i> vaccine candidate for layer chickens.","authors":"Jamieson B Mcdonald, Emily Gan, Joel Cain, Sapna G Thoduka, Joseph Lee, Ben Wade, Marta Mauri, Jon Cuccui, Brendan W Wren, Nicolle H Packer, Sarah L Londrigan, Svenja Fritzlar, Sameera Mohotti, Gregory J Underwood, Daniel M Andrews, Thi Thu Hao Van, Robert J Moore","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1518231","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1518231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Spotty liver disease (SLD) poses a significant economic and animal welfare threat to the global cage-free egg industry, primarily due to infection by the emerging pathogen <i>Campylobacter hepaticus</i>. SLD can lead to a significant decline in egg production and increased mortality rates. Antibiotics remain the most effective measure for controlling the disease. However, the rise of antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern for public health, promoting efforts to reduce antibiotic usage in animal production. Poultry vaccination offers an alternative approach to decreasing <i>C. hepaticus</i> levels. Although autogenous vaccines are in use in some countries with limited efficacy, no vaccine is currently licensed for widespread use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study developed and characterized a live <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium vector strain designed to deliver the conserved <i>Campylobacter N</i>-glycan heptasaccharide as a target antigen against <i>C. hepaticus</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The replacement of the <i>S.</i> Typhimurium <i>aroA</i> gene with the <i>Campylobacter pgl</i> locus attenuated the vaccine strain, allowing the conjugation of the heptasaccharide to <i>S.</i> Typhimurium endogenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Commercial layer hens vaccinated with the <i>S.</i> Typhimurium strain producing the <i>Campylobacter</i> heptasaccharide induced significantly higher IgY antibody titres specific to the <i>Campylobacter</i> heptasaccharide compared to the birds vaccinated with the vector strain not expressing the heptasaccharide. Modification of the <i>S.</i> Typhimurium endogenous LPS with the heptasaccharide had no significant impact on IgY antibody responses against <i>S.</i> Typhimurium.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study provides evidence that using <i>S.</i> Typhimurium to deliver <i>Campylobacter</i> heptasaccharide is a feasible approach to providing bi-valent immunogenicity against both <i>S.</i> Typhimurium and <i>C. hepaticus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1518231"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Case Report: Primary urethral repair in a cat secondary to urethral tear sustained during the catheterization procedure.","authors":"Kimery L Hankins, Laurie A Zacher","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1481879","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1481879","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This report describes a case of primary urethral repair secondary to a urethral tear in a 4-year-old, male castrated, domestic shorthair cat. The cat was initially presented on an emergency basis for complete urethral obstruction with radiographic evidence of cystolithiasis. A perineal urethrostomy and concurrent cystotomy were performed to relieve the urethral obstruction and retrieve the uroliths. One day postoperatively, a uroabdomen secondary to a urethral tear was diagnosed. An indwelling Foley catheter was placed. A contrast cystourethrogram performed 4 days later, however, revealed a persistent urethral tear, so a Foley catheter was replaced. Seven days after replacement, another contrast cystourethrogram was performed revealing a persistent urethral tear. Due to the anatomic location of the tear identified on radiographs after the contrast study, primary closure of the urethral defect with the placement of a Foley urinary catheter was completed. Another contrast urethrogram 7 days after repair revealed a resolved defect with no leakage appreciated once the urinary catheter was removed. This case highlights the management, surgical techniques, and success of a primary urethral repair in a cat. It demonstrates successful outcomes and follow-up for an uncommon procedure and illustrates the importance of initial catheterization for blocked felines.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1481879"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of enzymatically hydrolyzed poultry byproduct meal effects on fecal microbiota and pressure variables in elderly obese cats.","authors":"Leonardo A Príncipe, Pedro H Marchi, Cinthia G L Cesar, Andressa R Amaral, Kelly K S Duarte, Gabriela L F Finardi, Jennifer M Souza, Júlio C C Balieiro, Thiago H A Vendramini","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1530260","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1530260","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arterial hypertension is influenced by the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, which play a crucial role in host health. Dietary peptides are multifunctional molecules with therapeutic potential for managing hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of incorporating enzymatically hydrolyzed poultry byproduct meal (EHPM-c) into extruded dry diets on the fecal microbiota and blood pressure parameters of elderly obese cats. Eighteen owners of neutered, clinically healthy male and female cats of various breeds were randomly assigned to two groups: control (30.8%, conventional poultry byproduct meal-CPM-c) and test (17.07%, CPM-c + 12.0% EHPM-c). Clinical values of systolic blood pressure, serum aldosterone concentrations, angiotensin-converting enzyme I activity, and fecal microbiota using 16S rRNA were measured. Data were processed using SAS software (PROC MIXED, PROC GLIMMIX, and PROC CORR; <i>p</i> < 0.05). Both groups exhibited high microbial alpha diversity, with no significant differences in beta diversity. Although the inclusion of 12.0% EHPM-c had no measurable effect on blood pressure, both diets promoted beneficial modulation of the fecal microbiota, improving intestinal health. These findings underscore the importance of diet in maintaining gut homeostasis in obese senior cats. While the inclusion of 12.0% EHPM-c did not significantly alter blood pressure parameters, the modulation of the fecal microbiota suggests a potential role in maintaining intestinal health. These results highlight the need for further studies to explore different inclusion levels and longer intervention periods.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1530260"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969457/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring the effects of oxidative stress on the growth of Holstein bull calves using Diquat.","authors":"Ting Liu, Huan Chen, Dongzhu Cairang, Shuru Cheng, Zhihao Luo, Ming Zhang, David P Casper","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1573555","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1573555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Holstein bull calves received a one-time intraperitoneal injection of Diquat to explore its effects on growth, body frame, blood oxidation indices, fecal scores, and pathogenic bacteria in weaned calves.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of twelve 70-day-old Holstein bull calves with similar body weight (BW) and body condition were randomly assigned to one of four treatments. The treatments were as follows: Control: calves were injected with 0 mg/kg BW Diquat in 0.9% sterilized saline; treatments 6, 8, and 10 mg/kg BW Diquat, respectively. The experimental period lasted for 24 days. Measurements of BW, average daily gain (ADG), fecal scores, frame gains, fecal pathogen count, and blood samples for monitoring oxidative stress were collected on days 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24. Data were analyzed using a randomized complete block design, with days considered as a repeated measurement. In addition, exponential polynomial contrasts were used to assess the linear, quadratic, and cubic treatment responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Growth performance (BW) and ADG showed a cubic response (<i>p</i> < 0.02), initially decreasing and then increasing with higher Diquat dosages. Fecal scores and fecal ratios exhibited a quadratic response (<i>p</i> < 0.02), rising at a diminishing rate as Diquat injection dosages increased. Frame gains for body slope, body length, hip height, and abdominal girth displayed a linear decrease (<i>p</i> < 0.03) with increasing Diquat injection dosages. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, catalase, malondialdehyde, cortisol, and noradrenaline concentrations revealed a linear increase (<i>p</i> < 0.01) in response to higher Diquat injection dosages, while alanine transaminase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase demonstrated a quadratic response (<i>p</i> < 0.02), increasing at a diminishing rate. Fecal <i>Escherichia coli</i> concentrations demonstrated a cubic response (<i>p <</i> 0.01), while <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Salmonella-Shigella</i> demonstrated linear increases (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with increasing Diquat dosages.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Diquat injection induced oxidative stress, leading to reduced growth performance, along with increased serum oxidative stress indices, fecal scores, and fecal pathogens, a response that may persist for up to 24 days. An optimal dosage of 8 mg/kg BW is proposed as a benchmark for elucidating oxidative stress to evaluate future technologies aimed at reducing, eliminating, or preventing oxidative stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1573555"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969469/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143795267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}