Frontiers in Veterinary Science最新文献

{"title":"Establishment and application of a dual chip digital PCR assay for detection of PDCoV and PEDV.","authors":"Yue Zhang, Fangting Dong, Yuhang Zhang, Yutong Feng, Jinwang Hu, Yuhang Li, Lu Xia, Shaopo Zu, Hao Lu, Zhanyong Wei","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1655079","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1655079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Coinfection with porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea in piglets, which poses a significant challenge to the swine industry. The early detection and control of these two viruses require highly sensitive diagnostic tools. We developed a novel chip digital PCR (cdPCR) assay that uses two probes for the simultaneous quantitative detection of both PDCoV and PEDV in clinical samples.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, the dual cdPCR reaction system, including the annealing temperature and primer-probe concentration ratio, was systematically optimized. Additionally, we validated the developed method for specificity, sensitivity, linearity, and repeatability. Finally, the method was applied to assess the biological samples with low viral loads.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The dual cdPCR assay demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, with limits of detection (LoD) of 1.83 ± 0.15 copies/μL for PDCoV and 0.99 ± 0.07 copies/μL for PEDV, high specificity (no cross-reactivity with TGEV, PSV, or PRV), outstanding linearity (<i>R²</i> = 0.9972 for PDCoV and <i>R²</i> = 0.9969 for PEDV) and reproducibility (intra- and inter-assay CV < 6%). Validation across 148 clinical samples indicates that our dual cdPCR is more sensitive than qPCR for detecting both single and mixed infections. Notably, this assay can effectively quantify PDCoV and PEDV in environmental aerosol samples.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Our results demonstrate that this dual cdPCR assay offers a highly sensitive, stable, and accurate platform for the simultaneous quantification of both PDCoV and PEDV. It represents a valuable tool for early disease monitoring (particularly in aerosol surveillance and mixed-infection scenarios with low viral loads), thereby supporting the effective prevention of porcine viral diarrhea and the sustainable growth of the swine industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1655079"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477013/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199084","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 cross-national study on mental health, psychological distress and suicidal ideation among veterinarians in multiple European countries.","authors":"Marietta Máté, Claire Helen Várnai, László Ózsvári","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1634139","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1634139","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The suicide rate among veterinarians is alarmingly high, being twice that of other medical professionals and four times that of the general population. This study examined the occurrence of suicidal thoughts, tendencies, and mental health challenges among veterinarians in Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Germany, and from other Northern-European countries (Norway, Denmark and Estonia).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online questionnaire of 55 items was developed and distributed between July 2021 and February 2022. A total of 724 veterinarians participated: 236 from Hungary, 218 from Finland, 157 from Sweden, 77 from Germany, 26 from Estonia, 5 each from Denmark and Norway. Factors such as country, age, gender, weekly working hours, job position and length of annual leave were assessed. Data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that work-related stressors significantly contributed to negative mental health across all surveyed countries. Among these stressors, clients' expectations for prompt diagnosis were rated particularly high, with a mean of 4.34 ± 0.84 points on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, especially in Germany and Hungary, a difference considered statistically significant (ANOVA: <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Many veterinarians also reported high levels of anxiety related to their conscientiousness and punctuality at work, particularly in Hungary. In contrast, the emotional impact of performing euthanasia was ranked low, although this varied significantly by country (ANOVA: <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Younger respondents (aged 23-34 years) more often reported negative effects of their work on their mental health. Female veterinarians were more likely to seek professional counseling compared to men. Older veterinarians and those in leadership positions were more likely to manage their mental health effectively and seek help when needed, compared to younger veterinarians.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results highlight a worrying pattern of emotional distress in the veterinary field. Although the underlying causes of suicide are complex and multifactorial, addressing specific occupational stressors can play a critical role in improving mental health and reducing psychological risk in the profession. This study contributes to the growing research by providing cross-national data from underrepresented Central and Northern European countries, underscoring the importance of mental health strategies tailored to cultural and systemic contexts in the veterinary profession.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1634139"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477011/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199109","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":"On-site detection of MERS-CoV infections in a camel slaughterhouse in Kenya using a commercial rapid antigen test.","authors":"Brian Maina Ogoti, Victor Riitho, Jordi Rodon, Nyamai Mutono, Julia Tesch, Julius Oyugi, Marianne W Mureithi, Victor M Corman, Christian Drosten, Johanna Wildemann, Samuel M Thumbi, Marcel A Müller","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1675847","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1675847","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) poses a significant public health risk, with dromedary camels being the primary reservoir hosts. Regular and systematic surveillance for MERS-CoV is limited by the lack of extensively validated, rapid, field-deployable diagnostic tools.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aimed to validate and implement a commercial MERS-CoV antigen test kit (Bionote, South Korea) for field surveillance of MERS-CoV in Kenya.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We evaluated whether the Bionote MERS-CoV rapid antigen test can discriminate between two different MERS-CoV isolates representing clades A (EMC/2012) and C (Kenya/9954). We conducted an assay performance evaluation using 2,736 archived camel nasal swab samples with defined MERS-CoV RNA concentrations (10³-10⁹ MERS-CoV RNA copies/ml). Subsequently, we performed a prospective study at the central camel slaughterhouse in Isiolo, northern Kenya, testing 386 samples collected from March-April 2024.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MERS-CoV strain-specific testing showed consistent virus antigen detection for both applied MERS-CoV isolates, with no statistically significant differences in positivity thresholds. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis based on the 2,736 archived MERS-CoV clade C RNA-pretested camel samples identified a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.53 × 10⁶ RNA copies/ml. The estimated LOD at 90% probability (LOD₉₀) was 5.01 × 10⁵ RNA copies/ml. Out of the 2,736 tested samples, 9 samples (0.33%) were positive in the MERS-CoV rapid antigen test showing a diagnostic sensitivity of 25% compared to RT-qPCR and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 99.9-100%), with a Cohen's Kappa of 0.40. Critically, the test demonstrated 100% sensitivity for infectious samples with viral loads >10⁶ copies/ml. All 9 samples had RNA genome copies/ml above the LOD. For 7/9 samples (78%) virus isolation was successful. In the prospective study, we identified 3/386 MERS-CoV-antigen positive camels by the rapid antigen test on-site which we confirmed by MERS-CoV upE- and orf1a-based RT-qPCR assays.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The commercial Bionote MERS-CoV antigen test kit demonstrates reliable, clade-independent detection, enabling rapid MERS-CoV surveillance in camels in high-risk settings. The majority of antigen-positive samples contained infectious virus suggesting its applicability for assessing infection risks at slaughterhouses by the rapid test. The successful identification of MERS-CoV-infected camels at the point of slaughter underscores the critical importance of rapid diagnostics in high-exposure environments to mitigate zoonotic transmission and protect the health of slaughterhouse workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1675847"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199111","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":"Not just avoidance: dogs show subtle individual differences in reacting to human fear chemosignals.","authors":"Svenja Capitain, Friederike Range, Sarah Marshall-Pescini","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1679991","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1679991","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent olfactory studies suggest that human emotional chemosignals can alter dog behavior. However, their methods impeded a firm conclusion on whether dogs reacted to the scent directly or to the present human's unconscious response to the intraspecific stimulus. Moreover, whether these reactions differ between dogs has not yet been explored. Therefore, we investigated dogs' reactions to human fear or neutral chemosignals while shielding the present human from the smells. Dogs were first trained to approach a single empty target on command, before they were given the choice between two targets laced with human smell (experimental group (<i>n</i> = 41): one fear target and one neutral; control group (<i>n</i> = 20): both neutral targets). Dogs in the experimental group stayed longer with the experimenter, displayed lower tail posture, and took longer to approach a target than control dogs, though target choice did not differ at the group level. Age and sex showed no effect. Furthermore, dogs in the experimental group compared to the control group showed stronger interindividual variation in how quickly they approached one smell over the other and how many commands they required. This finding suggests that dogs are indeed influenced by human fear smell beyond the humans' reaction, though it challenges previous assumptions of an innate interspecific fear avoidance. The influence of life experience or breed on the individual differences may be worth exploring to better understand and guide dogs' experience of the world.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1679991"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199113","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":"Successful surgical management of a cerebellar subdural empyema in a domestic cat.","authors":"Ian Hall, Martin Hamon, Aurelie Bruwier, Sara Michell González Blancas, Pierre P Picavet","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1655305","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1655305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case report describes the successful diagnosis and surgical management of a cerebellar subdural empyema in a 14-year-old Domestic Shorthair cat. The patient presented with a left-sided head tilt and right-sided hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right-sided extra-axial cavitated lesion in the cerebellum, and mild right-sided otitis media without evidence of otitis interna. Surgical decompression was performed, guided by the use of a 3D-printed model, and purulent material was evacuated. Bacterial culture identified <i>Peptostreptococcus canis</i>, <i>Filifactor villosus,</i> and a Gram-negative rod population; all were suspectible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Cerebellar subdural lesion histopathologic analysis confirmed a pyogranulamatous to lymphoplasmocytic inflammatory process. The patient showed rapid postoperative neurological improvement and was discharged with targeted antimicrobial therapy. Follow-up MRI at 2 months revealed resolution of the cerebellar lesion but progression of right-sided otitis media without evidence of otitis interna. A ventral bulla osteotomy was subsequently performed, and tympanic mucosa biopsy confirmed chronic inflammation with cholesterol granuloma formation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful surgical treatment of a cerebellar subdural empyema in a feline patient.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1655305"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477031/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199096","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":"Objective measurements of skinfold thickness with a caliper show a significant relationship to total body fat percentage in dogs.","authors":"Josefin Söder, Ida Eskol Svenningsen, Julie Baltzer Larsen, Mette Hedelund Rasmussen, Fintan J McEvoy, Kathrine Stenberg, Anna Bergh, Charlotte Reinhard Bjørnvad","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1656855","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1656855","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>New clinical evaluation methods for estimation of total body fat percentage (BF%) in dogs are needed. The methods should be objective and reliable for accurate assessment of body composition status and to improve prevention and treatment of obesity. The aims of the study were therefore to investigate the intra- and inter-observer reliability of objective measurements of skinfold thickness with a caliper and to explore the relationship of skinfold thickness to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) BF% in dogs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-three carcasses of dogs euthanatized for reasons unrelated to the study were evaluated for body condition score (BCS), bodyweight, skinfold thickness, and DEXA BF%. The results from the latter were taken as gold standard for BF% measurement. The cohort consisted of 14 different breeds, aged ≥1 year. Objective measurements of skinfold thickness were collected in triplicate by two blinded observers at the locations of the \"dorsal neck,\" \"axillar rib,\" and \"lumbar back.\" Statistical analyses explored intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and relationships by linear models and generalized additive models (GAMs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The dogs had a BCS of 2-9/9, a bodyweight of 2-52 kilograms, and a BF% of 6.4-74.7 percent. Objective measurements of skinfold thickness showed high intra- (range 0.991-0.993) and inter- (range 0.937-0.977) observer reliability at all locations. The skinfold thickness of the \"axillar rib\" in interaction with bodyweight within a spline (<i>p</i> = 0.0001), plus the \"dorsal neck\" as a linear variable (<i>p</i> = 0.0004), explained 73.4% of the variation in DEXA BF%. The BF% of small-sized dogs were over- and under-predicted by the prediction equation to a larger extent than for dogs of larger sizes. Due to the interaction with bodyweight, a slight variation in the low measurement values of the skinfold thickness corresponded to a large variation in DEXA BF%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Objective measurements of skinfold thickness could be assessed with high reliability with a caliper and showed a significant non-linear relationship to DEXA BF%. Longitudinal clinical studies with larger cohorts of small-, medium-, and large-sized dogs of different breeds and BCS are warranted, to evaluate the caliper device for its potential to follow changes of BF% over time. Objective measurements of skinfold thickness may in the future be practically implemented in nutritional assessments of dogs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1656855"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12463608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185800","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: Third eyelid flap for correction of proptosis-induced lateral strabismus in two dogs.","authors":"Byung-Ju Jeon, Joon-Young Kim","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1602473","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1602473","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case report describes the use of a third eyelid flap to correct proptosis-induced lateral strabismus in two dogs: a 3-year-old castrated male Pomeranian (Case 1) and a 2-year-old intact female Bichon Frise (Case 2). In both cases, the third eyelid was sutured to the dorsolateral conjunctiva using a horizontal mattress suture. However, conjunctival elongation at the suture site compromised flap function, necessitating reoperation. In Case 2, a second horizontal mattress suture was added to improve stability. Following reoperation, Case 1 achieved complete correction of lateral strabismus by day 42, with transient third eyelid protrusion and corneal thinning resolving within two weeks. In Case 2, mild residual strabismus remained, but cosmetic improvement was substantial, and third eyelid inflammation resolved similarly. These cases demonstrate the potential utility of a third eyelid flap as an adjunctive method for correcting lateral strabismus secondary to proptosis in dogs, offering a less invasive alternative to conventional incisional surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1602473"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12464580/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185773","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":"Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolates from domestic pigeons in Hungary.","authors":"Ádám Kerek, Ábel Szabó, Ákos Jerzsele","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1642902","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1642902","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This cross-sectional observational study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolates from domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Hungary.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 134 non-redundant isolates were obtained from oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs collected across multiple geographic regions. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the microdilution method, following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined for a panel of antibiotics relevant to both veterinary and human medicine. Resistance patterns were analyzed using statistical tools including hierarchical clustering, network graph analysis, decision tree modeling, and Monte Carlo simulation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains constituted 65.7% of the total, while extensive drug-resistant (XDR) and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) strains were found in 4.5% and 1.5% of isolates, respectively. The highest resistance rates were observed for neomycin (76.1%) and florfenicol (72.4%), whereas ceftriaxone and imipenem showed the lowest resistance rates (0.7% and 1.5%). Correlation analysis indicated notable associations between resistance to neomycin, doxycycline, and florfenicol, suggesting potential cross-resistance mechanisms. Monte Carlo simulation estimated an average MDR prevalence of 64.4% (95% CI: 50.0-77.6%). The high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among pigeon-derived <i>E. coli</i> isolates underscores the potential public health risks posed by avian reservoirs within the One Health context.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight the need for enhanced AMR surveillance and responsible antibiotic stewardship in veterinary settings. Further molecular investigations are warranted to elucidate the genetic basis of resistance in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1642902"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12464486/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185760","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":"Effects of plant-based fermented broth on rumen fermentation, gastrointestinal development, and microbial populations in fattening lambs.","authors":"Lu Zhang, Huiwen Zhang, Lianjie Song, Yongliang Li, Jianjun Guo, Feng Li, Bosen Li, Wei Chen, Yuqing Liu, Haitong Yang, Jianjie Li, Yuhong Gao, Xinsheng Sun","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1584930","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1584930","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Digestive dysfunction in lamb fattening has been a concern in recent years. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a fermentation broth (FB) derived from eight plants on rumen fermentation, gastrointestinal development, and microbial community composition in fattening lambs through <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong><i>In vitro</i> rumen fermentation was performed with six FB: diet ratios (mL/g): 0, 1:125, 1:250, 1:500, 1:1000, and 1:2000. Fermentation parameters and nutrient disappearance rates were measured over 48 h. Based on the results of the <i>in vitro</i> test, two optimal doses of FB (1:500 and 1:1000) were selected for further <i>in vivo</i> testing over a 120-day period. A total of 90 weaned small-tailed Han lambs were assigned to three groups, receiving FB in drinking water at 0 (control), 1:500, or 1:1000 (vol/vol).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that three parameters of gas production (GP), including fast-degradable fraction, slow-degradable fraction, and theoretical GP, were significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the 1:500 and 1:1000 groups compared with other groups. <i>In vivo</i> tests further showed that FB supplementation at 1:500 and 1:1000 improved rumen microstructure (papilla length, papilla surface, mucosa thickness, and muscle thickness) and jejunal microstructure (villus height, villus surface, and muscle thickness). Moreover, two rumen bacterial indices, PD_whole_tree (<i>p</i> = 0.06) and Shannon (<i>p</i> = 0.07), demonstrated increasing trends in both FB groups relative to the control group. In the rumen, 1:500 FB supplementation increased the abundance of Firmicutes (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and decreased Bacteroidota abundance (<i>p</i> < 0.01). In the jejunum, 1:500 FB supplementation decreased the abundance of Euryarchaeota and <i>Methanobrevibacter</i> (both <i>p</i> = 0.02) while increasing the abundance of Actinomycetes and <i>Aeriscardovia</i> (both <i>p</i> = 0.01) compared to the control.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>In summary, FB supplementation in lambs' drinking water at a ratio of 1:500 (FB: diet, mL/g) improved rumen fermentation and promoted microecological balance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1584930"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12466216/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185784","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":"Pilot study on the population genetics structure of <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> from seven provinces of South Africa.","authors":"Sophy Nukeri, Mokgadi P Malatji, Clearance M Mnisi, Mamohale Chaisi, Samson Mukaratirwa","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1659523","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fvets.2025.1659523","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;Fasciolosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by &lt;i&gt;Fasciola hepatica&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Fasciola gigantica,&lt;/i&gt; affecting livestock, wildlife, and humans globally. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of &lt;i&gt;Fasciola&lt;/i&gt; spp. is essential for tracking transmission patterns, detecting drug resistance, and guiding targeted control efforts. In South Africa, where such data are lacking, this study provides critical insights to support evidence-based interventions. This study aimed to assess genetic structure of &lt;i&gt;Fasciola&lt;/i&gt; populations collected from cattle across seven provinces in South Africa.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Liver flukes were collected from 57 cattle from 13 provincial abattoirs across South Africa, and DNA was extracted from 189 &lt;i&gt;F. hepatica&lt;/i&gt; specimens. Although sampling efforts varied slightly due to abattoir throughput, efforts were made to maximize geographic and ecological representation. Six polymorphic microsatellite loci were selected to assess genetic diversity based on their broad allelic range and prior validation for &lt;i&gt;F. hepatica&lt;/i&gt; population genetic studies. The allele frequencies, F&lt;i&gt;is&lt;/i&gt; and F&lt;i&gt;st&lt;/i&gt; values, heterozygosity, and genetic distances were calculated on GenAlEx 6.51b2. Structure 2.3.4 was used to detect population structure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 277 alleles were identified across loci, with allelic richness varying by province. All loci were polymorphic, and the mean number of alleles varied from 3.667 to 9.667. Moreover, out of the total number of alleles identified, 3% were private alleles. Observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.182 to 1.000, while the expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.165 to 0.899. These ranges suggest differences in genetic diversity and potential inbreeding or population structure across the samples studied. The fixation index (F) value ranged from -0.017 to 0.426. F&lt;i&gt;st&lt;/i&gt; values varied from 0.064 to 0.107, suggesting moderate genetic differentiation between the populations, and the number of migrants per generation (Nm) varied between 2.080 and 3.898, with an average of 3.173, which indicated a high gene flow between provinces.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;The Ho and He indicated moderate genetic diversity within populations, while the &lt;i&gt;F&lt;/i&gt;-value showed moderate differentiation among populations. Geographic structuring of populations was observed, with the STRUCTURE and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealing four distinct genetic clusters across seven provinces. Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces displayed high genetic diversity and a high number of private alleles, suggesting potential reservoirs of genetic variation. Genetic distances varied by region, with neighboring provinces showing lower genetic distances, indicating gene flow and genetic connectivity across regions, which might be supported by the movement of livestock for trade. These findings highli","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"12 ","pages":"1659523"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12461863/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185766","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}