Frontiers in Veterinary Science最新文献

{"title":"Anti-heat stress lick block supplementation alleviated the detrimental effects of heat stress on dairy cows.","authors":"Hongwei Duan, Jiyou Zhang, Na Li, Liuping Chen, Danhong Chen, Hang Yang, Qiuxia Dai, Junshi Shen, Shengyong Mao","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1562964","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1562964","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Heat stress poses a significant challenge to the development of dairy industry, affecting cows' well-being and overall productivity, leading to substantial economic losses. In this study, the impact of a specifically formulated anti-heat stress lick block supplement on milk production, milk quality, feed intake, rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and rumen fermentation in cows exposed to heat-stress was evaluated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-four healthy Holstein lactating dairy cows were divided into two blocks based on milk yield (low and high), Parity (2-3 parity), and lactation days (114 ± 8 d). The cows in each block were randomly assigned to either a control group without lick block supplementation or a treatment group receiving lick block. The trial lasted for 6 weeks, including a 2-week adaptation phase followed by 4 weeks of feeding treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Heat stress levels varied from severe (THI > 88) to moderate heat stress (THI > 80) in the first 2 weeks, gradually decreasing to mild heat stress (THI > 72) in the following weeks. With the decrease in heat stress, dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production increased (Week: <i>p</i> < 0.05), the rectal temperature and respiratory rate of cows decreased (Week: <i>p</i> < 0.05). Lick block supplementation tended to increase DMI (<i>p</i> = 0.09), and improved milk yield (<i>p</i> < 0.05) without affecting (<i>p</i> > 0.05) milk composition, leading to increased milk yields of fat, protein, and lactose (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Although the overall rectal temperature of cows in the lick block group did not differ from the control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05), the respiratory rate of cows in the lick block group significantly decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the second and third weeks. Supplementation with the lick block increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) rumen pH and decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) NH₃-N and propionate concentrations in dairy cows, and tended to lower the acetate-to-propionate ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.07), total VFA concentration (<i>p</i> = 0.07), and butyrate concentration (<i>p</i> = 0.09).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Supplementation of anti-heat stress lick block alleviated the detrimental effects of heat stress on dairy cows within a certain range of temperature and humidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1562964"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11927217/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692063","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":"Editorial: Use of cannabis derivatives in veterinary medicine.","authors":"Robin Temmerman","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1539422","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1539422","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1539422"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926136/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691682","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":"Herbal formula alleviates heat stress by improving physiological and biochemical attributes and modulating the rumen microbiome in dairy cows.","authors":"Xiaofang Wang, Yawen Wang, Man Feng, Jiefeng Li, Ze Liu, Le Fu, Ning Zhang, Huaying Zhang, Jianhua Qin","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1558856","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1558856","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heat stress significantly impacts dairy cow productivity, health, and welfare. This study evaluated a self-developed herbal formula as a dietary intervention to mitigate heat stress. A total of 198 lactating cows were divided into two groups: a Control group receiving standard total mixed rations and a Herbs group supplemented with herbal formula for 60 days. Various parameters were assessed, including milk yield and composition, antioxidant capacity, immune responses, stress-related gene expression, and rumen microbial composition. Compared to the Control group, cows in the Herbs group showed improved feed intake, milk yield and quality, rumination frequency, and enhanced antioxidant activity and immune response. Rumen microbiome analysis revealed a reduced relative abundance of Proteobacteria and <i>Ochrobactrum</i> in the Herbs group, along with an enrichment of beneficial genera such as <i>Lachnospira</i>. Functional predictions indicated that the Herbs group exhibited enhanced glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism, reflecting improved fermentation efficiency and energy utilization. In conclusion, the herbal formula improved physiological and biochemical attributes, boosted antioxidant and immune responses, and modulated the rumen microbiome, contributing to the alleviation of heat stress in dairy cows. These findings highlight its potential as a natural dietary strategy to support dairy cow health and productivity under heat stress conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1558856"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925914/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691701","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 neurobiological basis of emotions and their connection to facial expressions in non-human mammals: insights in nonverbal communication.","authors":"Daniel Mota-Rojas, Alexandra L Whittaker, Cécile Bienboire-Frosini, Jhon Buenhombre, Patricia Mora-Medina, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Julio Martínez-Burnes, Ismael Hernández-Avalos, Adriana Olmos-Hernández, Antonio Verduzco-Mendoza, Alejandro Casas-Alvarado, Karina Lezama-García, Temple Grandin","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1541615","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1541615","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recognizing that nonhuman animals are sentient beings has increased interest in studying their emotional state. Similar to humans, research has shown that some nonhuman mammals can modify facial expressions by contraction/relaxation of facial muscles according to their affective state. From a neurophysiological perspective, emotions are processed in several brain structures, mainly from the limbic system, such as the hypothalamus, hypophysis, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. The converged pathways between the amygdala, the motor cortex, and its projections to the facial nerve control the movement of facial or mimetic muscles. Thus, facial expression is suggested to reflect the internal emotional state and could serve as an essential mode of nonverbal communication in mammals. In humans, the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) is a method that objectively analyzes facial movements using an anatomical base. In veterinary medicine, AnimalFACS is an adaptation of this system to eight animal species, including domestic animals (dogs, cats, and horses) and nonhuman primates (chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons, macaques, and common marmosets). Considering these coded facial movements, current research aims to associate certain facial expressions with the animals' emotional states and affective contexts. Thus, this review aims to discuss recent findings associated with the neurobiology of emotions and facial expressions in non-human mammals, using AnimalFACS to understand nonverbal communication. Characterizing each facial expression according to different contexts might help identify if the animal is expressing a positive or negative emotional response to the event, which can improve nonverbal human-animal communication.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1541615"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926555/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691723","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":"A framework for handling uncertainty in a large-scale programme estimating the Global Burden of Animal Diseases.","authors":"Helen E Clough, Gemma L Chaters, Arie H Havelaar, K Marie McIntyre, Thomas L Marsh, Ellen C Hughes, Wudu T Jemberu, Deborah Stacey, Joao Sucena Afonso, William Gilbert, Kassy Raymond, Jonathan Rushton","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1459209","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1459209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Livestock provide nutritional and socio-economic security for marginalized populations in low and middle-income countries. Poorly-informed decisions impact livestock husbandry outcomes, leading to poverty from livestock disease, with repercussions on human health and well-being. The Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme is working to understand the impacts of livestock disease upon human livelihoods and livestock health and welfare. This information can then be used by policy makers operating regionally, nationally and making global decisions. The burden of animal disease crosses many scales and estimating it is a complex task, with extensive requirements for data and subsequent data synthesis. Some of the information that livestock decision-makers require is represented by quantitative estimates derived from field data and models. Model outputs contain uncertainty, arising from many sources such as data quality and availability, or the user's understanding of models and production systems. Uncertainty in estimates needs to be recognized, accommodated, and accurately reported. This enables robust understanding of synthesized estimates, and associated uncertainty, providing rigor around values that will inform livestock management decision-making. Approaches to handling uncertainty in models and their outputs receive scant attention in animal health economics literature; indeed, uncertainty is sometimes perceived as an analytical weakness. However, knowledge of uncertainty is as important as generating point estimates. Motivated by the context of GBADs, this paper describes an analytical framework for handling uncertainty, emphasizing uncertainty management, and reporting to stakeholders and policy makers. This framework describes a hierarchy of evidence, guiding movement from worst to best-case sources of information, and suggests a stepwise approach to handling uncertainty in estimating the global burden of animal disease. The framework describes the following pillars: background preparation; models as simple as possible but no simpler; assumptions documented; data source quality ranked; commitment to moving up the evidence hierarchy; documentation and justification of modelling approaches, data, data flows and sources of modelling uncertainty; uncertainty and sensitivity analysis on model outputs; documentation and justification of approaches to handling uncertainty; an iterative, up-to-date process of modelling; accounting for accuracy of model inputs; communication of confidence in model outputs; and peer-review.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1459209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11927218/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691954","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":"Development of an internalin-based double-antibody sandwich quantitative ELISA for the detection of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> in slaughterhouse environments.","authors":"Qing Cao, Wenjing Shi, Yanquan Wei, Jiayu Wang, Zhonglong Wang, Qian Chong, Qianqian Guo, Kunzhong Zhang, Wenyan Gai, Huitian Gou, Huiwen Xue","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1517845","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1517845","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong><i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> causes zoonotic listeriosis with a high mortality rate, which is frequently detected in slaughterhouse processing environments and animal-based food. To enable the specific, rapid, and cost-effective detection of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in environments and animal-based food, we developed a double-antibody sandwich quantitative ELISA (DAS-qELISA) method.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The method is based on monoclonal antibodies targeting internalin G (InlG), a surface protein of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> with demonstrated immunogenicity. The antibody pair 1D2-2H10 was selected for use in the sandwich ELISA format. Optimization of the DAS-qELISA method was carried out to determine its detection limits for InlG protein and <i>L. monocytogenes</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The detection limits of the method were determined to be 32 ng/mg for the InlG protein and 7875.83 CFU/mL for <i>L. monocytogenes</i>. The accuracy of the method was evaluated across various bacterial concentrations, with results falling within 91.56-107.07% and a coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 10%. Compared to traditional methods, this approach requires only 12 h of bacterial enrichment and incubation to achieve 100% accuracy.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The DAS-qELISA developed in this study provides a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective tool for the detection of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in environmental and animal-based food samples. This method could be a valuable addition to current diagnostic approaches, offering quicker turnaround times and high accuracy for pathogen detection.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1517845"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926618/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692068","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":"Acute whole-body vibration as a recovery strategy did not alter the content of gluteus medius monocarboxylate-transporters, lactatemia, and acidosis induced by intense exercise in horses.","authors":"Júlia Ribeiro Garcia Carvalho, Nathali Adrielli Agassi Sales, Thayssa Oliveira Littiere, Guilherme Barbosa Costa, Catarina Mariano Castro, Emanuel Elias Camolese Polisel, Juan Bordon Orsi, Gabriel Vieira Ramos, Ivan Felismino Charas Santos, Claudio Alexandre Gobatto, Fúlvia Barros Manchado-Gobatto, Guilherme Camargo Ferraz","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1538195","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1538195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Several studies have explored alternatives to enhance the performance, health, and safety of sports horses. One promising method involves the use of vibrating platforms (VP), which offer passive exercise stimulation via mechanical oscillations distributed throughout the body. This type of exercise is referred to as whole-body vibration (WBV) and is an emerging strategy for accelerating muscle recovery. This study examined the dynamics of proteins responsible for transporting monocarboxylates (MCT1 and MCT4), and their relationship with lactatemia and acid-base balance in connection with WBV recovery following intense treadmill exercise in horses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eight crossbred horses underwent the standardized exercise test on the treadmill to determine the velocity corresponding to the lactate threshold. This velocity was used to prescribe the external load of the acute intense exercise bout (AIEB), which was performed to recruit rapidly fatigable type II muscle fibers and induce hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis. The horses were assigned to three experimental groups in a crossover design, with a 7-day washout period. The treadmill group (TG) actively recovered through low-intensity treadmill walking. The WBV group (WBVG) followed a stepwise recovery protocol on VP, with each step lasting 2 min and the frequencies decreasing in a specific order: 76, 66, 55, 46, and 32 Hz. The sham group (SG) was designated for horses with the VP turned off. All groups experienced a uniform recovery strategy duration of 10 min. Heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT), lactatemia, glycemia, acid-base status and electrolytes, strong ion difference (SID), and muscle monocarboxylate transporters (MCT1 and MCT4), were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>AIEB induced positive chronotropic effects, hyperlactatemia and moderate metabolic acidosis in all experimental groups. All groups also showed transitory hyperthermia, hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, hyperchloremia, hyperkalemia and SID reduction. HR was higher in TG than in the WBVG and SG immediately after the recovery procedures. Between the groups, there was no change in RT, lactatemia, glycemia and MCT1 and MCT4 content. Regardless of groups, the MCT4 content decreased 3 and 6 h after recovery strategies.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>It was concluded that a single whole-body vibration session did not enhance recovery of lactatemia or acid-base balance in horses after intense treadmill exercise.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1538195"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925038/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669496","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":"Prevalence of Bluetongue and the distribution of <i>Culicoides</i> species in northern and southern regions of Kazakhstan in 2023-2024.","authors":"Kuandyk Zhugunissov, Dias Muzarap, Nuraiym Sarsenkulova, Muratbay Mambetaliyev, Sanat Kilibayev, Moldir Azanbekova, Marzhan Kenzhebayeva, Shalkar Tabys, Madina Abayeva, Aibarys Melisbek, Nurkuisa Rametov, Kulyaisan Sultankulova, Shawn Babiuk, Aruna Ambagala, Aslan Kerimbayev","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1559636","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1559636","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a significant vector-borne pathogen affecting ruminants, leading to substantial economic losses, and adversely impacting livestock production worldwide. Recently, Bluetongue (BT) has emerged as a growing concern for European and Asian countries, including Kazakhstan. This study examines the prevalence and distribution of BTV in Kazakhstan during 2023-2024, providing up-to-date information on its occurrence in livestock and <i>Culicoides</i> species. The findings aim to contribute to better understanding and management of BT in the region.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 972 whole blood and 972 serum samples were collected from cattle, sheep, and goats in the southern and northern regions of Kazakhstan, alongside 11,859 <i>Culicoides</i> midges in the autumn of 2023 and Spring of 2024. The serum samples were tested for BT virus (BTV)-specific antibodies using ELISA, while the whole blood and <i>Culicoides</i> specimens were analyzed for BTV RNA by Real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR). Morphological and molecular identification of <i>Culicoides</i> species was also conducted.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>The overall seroprevalence of BTV in Southern Kazakhstan increased across all animal species in 2024 compared to 2023, with goats showing the most notable rise (from 3.8% to 29.5%). In the northern regions, seroprevalence remained zero in 2023 but reached 10.0% in cattle by 2024. rRT-PCR results confirmed active virus circulation, with rRT-PCR-positive samples significantly higher in 2024, especially among goats (from 4.2% in 2023 to 62.0% in 2024) and cattle (from 9.2% to 34.4%). Based on morphology, nine species of <i>Culicoides</i> midges were identified, including <i>C. obsoletus</i> a known BTV vector in European countries. Four of them were genetically confirmed, and BTV RNA was detected in all four species (<i>C. miutissimus, C. sphagnumensis, C. newsteadi</i>, and <i>C. pectipennis</i>), suggesting their potential vectorial role in BTV transmission.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study provides new insights into the epidemiology of BT in Kazakhstan and serves as a valuable resource for veterinary professionals. The findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and vector control strategies to mitigate the spread of BTV in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1559636"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924940/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669763","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":"Beyond ordinal scales: making animal welfare count in policy analysis.","authors":"Bob Fischer","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1556475","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1556475","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animal welfare is typically assessed using ordinal scales. That is, standard welfare assessment tools rank conditions relative to one another without claiming that one condition is worse than another by some specific magnitude. However, there are some practical purposes for which ordinal scales are insufficient, such as accounting for animal welfare in policy analysis. Here, I argue that insofar as we want standard policy analysis tools to capture impacts on animal welfare in a way that is scope sensitive-that is, in a way that properly recognizes differences in the number of animals affected-we need ways of representing animal welfare on ratio scales, not merely ordinal ones. Then, I briefly explain how some economists, who play important roles in policy analysis, are beginning to do this without the assistance of animal welfare scientists, veterinarians, and others. So, this perspective article serves as a call to those stakeholders, inviting them to collaborate with economists and policy analysts to improve existing methods or develop better alternatives that meet current needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1556475"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11923625/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669501","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":"Detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae and <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in long-tailed ground squirrels (<i>Spermophilus undulatus</i>) and their ectoparasites.","authors":"Xiaoshuang Han, Ziheng Liu, Zhixian Jiang, Shanshan Zhao, Sándor Hornok, Meihua Yang, Gang Liu, Yuanzhi Wang","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1553152","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1553152","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Long-tailed ground squirrels (LTGRs, <i>Spermophilus undulatus</i>) are known as reservoirs of multiple arthropod-borne pathogens, such as <i>Yersinia pestis</i> and <i>Bartonella rochalimae</i>. However, data on the prevalence of spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) and <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in LTGRs and its ectoparasites are limited. In two alpine regions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR, northwestern China), a total of 346 samples were collected from 142 LTGRs, including 142 livers and 204 pooled ectoparasites (<i>Citellophilus tesquorum dzetysuensis</i>: 120 pools of 484 fleas; <i>Frontopsylla elatoides elatoides</i>: 19 pools of 71 fleas; <i>Neopsylla mana</i>: 1 pool of 4 fleas; and <i>Linognathoides urocitelli</i>: 64 pools of 865 lice). From these samples, the DNA was extracted, followed by PCR amplification of different genetic markers. Particularly, genes encoding the outer membrane protein A and B (<i>ompA</i>, <i>ompB</i>), citrate synthase (<i>gltA</i>), and surface cell antigen 1 (<i>sca1</i>) were used to identify the SFGR. Additionly, the capsular outer membrane protein (<i>Com1</i>) gene and insertion sequence (<i>IS1111</i>) genes were used to detect <i>Coxiella</i>. <i>Rickettsia sibirica</i> subsp. <i>sibirica</i>, <i>Rickettsia felis</i>, and <i>C. burnetii</i> were detected in LTGRs, as well as in flea and louse pools. <i>Rickettsia raoultii</i> was found in LTGRs and flea pools. Furthermore, <i>Rickettsia slovaca</i> was also identified in the flea pools. This study provides molecular evidence for the occurrence of SFGR and <i>C. burnetii</i> in LTGRs and their ectoparasites. These findings suggest that <i>R. sibirica</i>, <i>R. slovaca</i>, <i>R. raoultii</i>, <i>R. felis</i> and <i>C. burnetii</i> are transmitted between LTGRs (as potential reservoirs) and their fleas and lice (as potential vectors).</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1553152"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11923762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669740","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}