Open Veterinary Journal最新文献

{"title":"Prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in poorly performing horses.","authors":"Osamah Muwaffag Aliraqi, Basima Abdulfatah Albadrani","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.39","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.39","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Electrocardiogram abnormalities are common in racehorses and can affect performance.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to analyze the results of electrocardiographic problems and measure the frequencies of various cardiac arrhythmias.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2023 and August 2024. Standard electrocardiographic recordings were obtained from all horses, and cardiac troponin levels were measured. Out of the 114 poorly performing adult horses, 10 cases without arrhythmia were considered the control group. Seventy-four horses (64.9%) had at least one type of cardiac arrhythmia, 60 (52.63%) had atrial fibrillation, and 29 (25.44%) had left axis deviation and left ventricular hypertrophy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The most frequent conduction anomaly was atrioventricular block in 34 horses (29.82%), followed by QT prolongation in 54 horses (47.36%), and QTc prolongation in 50 horses (43.85%). Bradycardia was detected in 20 (17.54%) horses, and ST-segment depression was present in 25 (21.93%) horses. Conduction disturbances, including left bundle branch block in 13 horses (11.40%) and right bundle branch block in 26 horses (22.81%). Troponin levels were significantly elevated in cases of arrhythmia. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in male horses in all age groups except the oldest.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Because cardiac arrhythmia may lead to racehorse exercise intolerance and suboptimal performance, early diagnosis is important to allow veterinarians to develop long-term treatment strategies. Furthermore, electrocardiography, along with cardiac biomarker cardiac troponin, is essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"2961-2969"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13313875/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148352990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seed-extracted ZnO nanoparticles from <i>Moringa peregrina</i> to suppress aphid (<i>Aphis craccivora</i>) infestation on okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>) using <i>ace</i> and <i>COI</i> RT-qPCR markers.","authors":"Akmam Ali Habeeb","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.17","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.17","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Aphids are serious sap-sucking pests that damage okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>) and reduce yield through feeding and virus transmission. Conventional insecticides create resistance, environmental pollution, and health hazards. Eco-friendly nanotechnology offers a new direction for insect control using safe, plant-based materials.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the insecticidal and molecular effects of ZnO nanoparticles derived from <i>Moringa peregrina</i> against <i>Aphis craccivora</i> on okra using <i>ace</i> and <i>COI</i> gene expression analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong><i>Moringa peregrina</i> seed extract was used to reduce zinc acetate at 70°C for 2 hours under alkaline pH. ZnO nanoparticles were purified and characterized by gravimetric yield, conductometric stability, filtration stability, sedimentation index, and optical density at 600 nm. Aphid-infested okra leaves were treated with three ZnO concentrations (25, 50, 100 µg/ml) and controls. Mortality rates were recorded at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Total Ribonucleic acid was isolated from surviving aphids, and Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid was synthesized. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) used <i>ace</i>, <i>COI</i>, RPS8, and RPL14 primers. The relative expression was calculated by 2^-ΔΔCt.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mortality increased significantly with concentration, reaching 85% at 100 µg/ml (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Aphid reproduction decreased by 60% at the same concentration. The methods confirmed ZnO formation at λmax = 370 nm, and the methods showed a mean particle size of 92 nm. RT-qPCR showed the downregulation of <i>ace</i> and <i>COI</i> genes with ΔΔCt values indicating a 4.2- and 3.7-fold reduction, respectively. These molecular reductions were correlated with mortality and decline in reproduction, confirming that nanoparticles induced neural and mitochondrial inhibition.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong><i>Moringa peregrina</i> seed-derived ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated strong aphidicidal action on okra by suppressing both survival and gene expression. These molecular reductions correlated with mortality and decline in reproduction, supporting the hypothesis that nanoparticles induce neural stress and population suppression. Green ZnO nanoparticles are efficient, eco-safe, and suitable for molecular-level pest management.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"2746-2756"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13314184/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148352997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Algeria.","authors":"Leila Bouzabata, Mourad Zeghdoudi, Ahlem Chettibi, Amel Bouzabata, Zihed Bouslama","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.23","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an unstable disease characterized by unpredictable spatio-temporal fluctuations.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to identify the main risk factors involved in the persistence of this disease in Algeria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted over 4 years in three regions of the country with different geoclimatic characteristics. The epidemiological features of the disease, its temporal dynamics during the study period, the historical background of the disease in the investigated regions, geoclimatic variations, seasonality, and sandfly abundance were investigated using statistical analyses. The investigations were conducted within the framework of an epidemiological surveillance network between 2019 and 2023. Field missions were conducted out periodically in each study region, combining active case detection in human populations with entomological surveys aimed at identifying and quantifying sandfly species.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Latitude and semi-arid climatic conditions have a significant impact on cutaneous leishmaniasis in Algeria. The disease's endemic character is mainly linked to its historical presence in the affected regions, where it remains stationary. Tebessa recorded the highest mean incidence (919.2 ± 762.5), followed by Annaba (19.2 ± 14.5), whereas Tamanrasset showed the lowest (8.0 ± 5.8). A one-way ANOVA confirmed a statistically significant difference in cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence among the regions (<i>F</i> = 7.05, <i>p</i> < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings indicate a stable endemic pattern of cutaneous leishmaniasis in all three regions of Algeria, with the highest incidence observed in the semi-arid region of Tebessa. This study highlighted the presence of new factors influencing the endemicity of cutaneous leishmaniasis in certain parts of the world, where effective control requires coordinated interregional or international strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"2812-2822"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13314116/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genotypic detection of some virulence factors and genetic tree of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> isolated from buffalo with subclinical mastitis in Nineveh governorate.","authors":"Fahad Yaseen Taha, Ayman Hani Taha, Omar Hashim Sheet","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.59","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.59","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) is identified as the foremost cause of inflammation of the milk-secreting glands of buffalo and all ruminant animals. This bacterium carries various genes that encode virulence factors.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study aimed to identify the prevalence of <i>S. aureus</i> in milk specimens from buffalo farms, identify specific genes associated with virulence, and compare the genetic similarity of the study isolates with <i>S. aureus</i> isolates from different regions worldwide.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty subclinical milk samples were collected from buffaloes from October to December 2024 across various locations in the Nineveh governorate. This study employed standard microbiological procedures, including the use of various types of media and biochemical tests. Additionally, the presence of <i>nuc, mecA, clfA, clfB, sea, seb</i>, and <i>sec</i> genes in the isolates was determined using polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> was detected in 15% (9/60) of buffalo subclinical mastitis milk samples, with a higher prevalence rate of 30% (3/10) in buffalo milk samples from the Kaneitra district. While <i>nuc</i>, <i>clfA</i>, and <i>clfB</i> were present in all <i>S. aureus</i> isolates, the <i>mecA</i>, <i>sea</i>, <i>seb</i>, and <i>sec</i> genes were not. Using <i>clfA</i> gene analysis, five distinct strain sequences were identified and deposited to GenBank.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Five <i>S. aureus</i> strains were found to share characteristics with strains from all over the world using phylogenetic analysis; the isolates exhibit distinct characteristics according to strain type and global distribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"3192-3202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13314351/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does the spleen regenerate in rabbits after partial splenectomy?","authors":"Asmaa Bouknine, Mira Chiraoui, Abdelhak Bouknine, Hemida Houari, Sidi Ali Selmani","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.34","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.34","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The spleen plays a vital role in the regulation of immunity and blood complete splenectomy can increase vulnerability to infection, whereas partial splenectomy preserves function. However, the ability of residual tissue to regenerate remains uncertain.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>Hematological and histological evaluation of spleen regeneration following partial splenectomy in Algerian rabbits.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifteen adult male rabbits were divided into three groups, with five animals in each group. Clinical evaluation, hematological analysis, and histological examination were performed to assess the extent of splenic regeneration following partial splenectomy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All animals recovered uneventfully. On day 15, mild anemia and inflammatory changes were observed. By day 30, the splenic tissue showed reorganization with active lymphoid follicles, angiogenesis, and restored hematologic values.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Partial splenectomy in rabbits allows for structural and functional regeneration within 1 month, indicating that it a safe and effective approach to preserve splenic activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"2922-2928"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13313890/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunohistochemical evaluation of Sertoli and Leydig cells of scotch cat testis (<i>Felis catus</i>) at diverse ages.","authors":"Durah Fares Hashem, Siraj Muneer Al-Kafagy","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.62","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.62","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The testicles are located in a muscular, skin-covered, highly pigmented sac called the scrotum. The testicles produce both sperm and androgens, such as testosterone.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The current study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical characteristics of the testis in three age groups (kitten, adult, and senior) of Scottish cat breeds (<i>Felis catus</i>) during the postnatal period, focusing on changes in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. These two cell types play essential roles in male reproductive function, as Sertoli cells provide structural and metabolic support for spermatogenesis, while Leydig cells are responsible for testosterone production.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Testicular samples were collected from clinically healthy cats and categorized into three age groups. The tissues were processed using routine histological techniques, followed by immunohistochemical staining to detect specific cellular markers for Sertoli and Leydig cells. The immunoreactivity and cellular distribution were evaluated and compared among the different age groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings demonstrated clear age-dependent variations in both cell populations. In kittens, weak immunoreactivity and incomplete development of seminiferous tubules were observed, indicating functional immaturity of the testis. Adult cats showed the highest immunoreactivity and well-organized seminiferous tubules, reflecting active spermatogenesis and optimal endocrine function. In contrast, senior cats exhibited a marked reduction in immunostaining intensity and structural degeneration of the seminiferous tubules, accompanied by a decrease in Leydig cell density.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study concludes that testicular structure and function in Scottish cats undergo significant age-related changes. Peak reproductive activity occurs in adulthood, while aging is associated with a decline in both cellular activity and structural integrity of the testis, affecting overall reproductive efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"3229-3236"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13313884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metabolic and reproductive responses to calcium propionate and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in transition dairy cows.","authors":"Ashraf Farag Al-Saied El-Hawary, Abd El-Fadeel Abd El-Hafeez Gabr, Tarek Messllam Mahmoud Mahdy, Ashraf Ali Mehany, Al-Moataz Bellah Mahfouz Shaarawy, Emad Fawzy Ali El-Maghraby","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.22","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The transition period in dairy cows, covering approximately 3 weeks before and after calving, represents a physiologically demanding phase characterized by profound metabolic and endocrine adjustments that strongly influence subsequent health and fertility.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oral calcium propionate (CP) and/or intramuscular 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3) supplementation on calving-related disorders, blood metabolites, and reproductive performance in Friesian dairy cows during this critical period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty multiparous cows were randomly assigned to four groups (<i>n</i> = 10 each): control (no supplementation), CP (125 g twice weekly, orally), VitD3 (10,000 IU once weekly, intramuscularly), and a combined CP + VitD3 group. Supplements were administered for 4 weeks before and after parturition.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the control group, cows supplemented with CP and/or VitD3 exhibited a significant improvement in uterine involution rate, time of placental expulsion, and duration of lochial discharge. The combined CP + VitD3 treatment resulted in earlier placental separation, a shorter duration of uterine involution, and a lower incidence of postpartum disorders, such as dystocia, retained placenta, uterine prolapse, abnormal lochia, endometritis, hypocalcemia, and repeat breeding. Moreover, treated cows showed higher serum glucose, calcium, total protein, and immunoglobulin G concentrations, alongside lower cortisol, non-esterified fatty acids, and aspartate aminotransferase activities, indicating improved metabolic adaptation and hepatic function. Reproductive performance was markedly enhanced, as reflected by a shorter interval to first estrus, reduced days open, fewer services per conception, and a higher conception rate, particularly in cows receiving the combined treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, concurrent supplementation with CP and VitD3 during the transition period effectively enhances metabolic stability, mitigates periparturient complications, and substantially improves reproductive efficiency in Friesian dairy cows.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"2803-2811"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13314355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf extract supplementation on motility and viability of Boer crossbreed buck spermatozoa during cold storage.","authors":"Rahmat Rahmat, Muhammad Rizal, Nursyam Andi Syarifuddin, Muhammad Riyadhi, Athhar Manabi Diansyah, Muhammad Fajar Amrullah, Andi Ni'mahtul Churriyah, Anis Wahdi, Ahmad Alfaruqi Syahrandi Adam, Andi Muhammad Alfian, Muhammad Rizal","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.24","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chilled semen preservation is essential for supporting artificial insemination programs in Boer goats, but spermatozoa rapidly deteriorate during cold storage due to cold shock and oxidative stress. Natural antioxidants such as <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf extract (MLE), which contains flavonoids, phenolics, and vitamin, may enhance extender performance for maintaining semen quality by reducing oxidative damage. However, Studies evaluating MLE supplementation in commercial extenders such as Andromed^® are still limited and have not been widely conducted, particularly for Boer goat semen stored at 5°C.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of MLE supplementation (2%, 4%, and 6%) in Andromed^® extender on the motility and viability of Boer goat sperm during 5 days of chilled storage.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semen from six Boer goats was diluted with Andromed^® containing 0% (T0 as control), 2% (T1), 4% (T2), and 6% (T3) MLE and stored at 5°C for 5 days. Sperm motility and viability were assessed daily using eosin-nigrosin staining.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sperm motility and viability showed distinct responses among treatments during storage. The 4% (T2) MLE treatment consistently maintained the highest sperm motility and viability from Day 2 onward. On Day 5, T2 exhibited the greatest motility (40.00% ± 0.00%) and viability (51.00% ± 2.16%), significantly outperforming T0, T1, and T3. Increasing the MLE concentrations to 6% did not provide further improvement and resulted in lower values than T2, suggesting that excessive extract may exert negative effects.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, supplementation of 4% MLEin Andromed^® extender effectively preserves sperm motility and viability in chilled Boer goat semen. MLE serves as a promising natural antioxidant additive for improving short-term semen preservation, particularly under tropical conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"2823-2830"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13314039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Osteopontin distribution and expression in the vas deferens and male accessory glands of camels (<i>Camelus dromedarius</i>) during the rutting season.","authors":"Abdulkarem Al-Shabebi, Abdelrahman M A Elseory, Khalid M Al Khodair, Saeed Y Al-Ramadan, Thnaian A Al-Thnaian","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.41","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.41","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The extracellular matrix glycoprotein osteopontin (OPN) is highly phosphorylated.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study investigates the expression and localization of OPN in the vas deferens, prostate, and bulbourethral glands throughout the rutting season to better understand its role in dromedary camels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Tissue samples were collected from the vas deferens (beginning, middle, and ampullary sections), prostate (corpus and disseminated regions), and bulbourethral glands of 12 adult male camels. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to determine the distribution and expression levels of OPN protein and mRNA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>IHC revealed strong OPN expression in the epithelial cells of the ampullary part of the vas deferens and the disseminated prostate. Moderate immunoreactivity was observed in the corpus prostate and the vas deferens' beginning and middle sections. Among all examined regions, the bulbourethral gland exhibited the lowest expression levels. The qRT-PCR results showed that OPN mRNA expression was significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the ampullary part of the vas deferens and the disseminated prostate than in other sections of the vas deferens and the compact prostate gland. The lowest mRNA expression was detected in the bulbourethral gland.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>OPN expression in the vas deferens and male accessory glands of the dromedary camel may facilitate sperm immigration through these organs. Additionally, the secretion of OPN into the seminal fluid by the accessory glands may influence sperm function within the female reproductive tract. Therefore, OPN could serve as a potential breeding selection marker.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"2979-2986"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13314261/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148352975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relative importance analysis of correlated predictors in aquatic veterinary science: Application to an abalone dataset.","authors":"Elmabrok Masaoud, Abulwahid Sirtiyah, Mohammed Abdulqadir, Asem Mohamed, Abdeulmajid Khapoli, Kamal Alshaybani","doi":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.55","DOIUrl":"10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i5.55","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Relative importance refers to the process of quantifying how much each predictor in a linear regression model contributes to explaining the outcome variation. In veterinary science, linear regression is widely applied as an analytical tool, allowing researchers to examine relationships between predictors and outcomes of interest in animal populations.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aims to provide an introduction to statistical approaches for quantifying the relative importance of correlated predictors. This study focuses exclusively on statistical procedures implemented in R software that are applicable to linear regression within veterinary science. Additionally, the study demonstrates relative importance analysis for correlated predictors using the abalone dataset as an example.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study evaluates several statistical approaches for assessing predictor importance, including Shapley value-based decomposition, Genizi method, relative weights analysis, and dominance analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The shell weight of abalone was consistently ranked as the most influential predictor in predicting the ring count, which serves as a proxy for abalone age, across all methods. The Proportional Marginal Variance Decomposition (PMVD) metric showed overlapping importance among predictors, while the Genizi metric provided clear separation between all predictors. The Genizi metric and relative weight method consistently produced narrow confidence intervals (CIs) across all estimates, while the PMVD produced wider bootstrap intervals, Lindeman, Merenda, and Gold (LMG) method showed moderate variability, indicating a slight difference in estimates across both metrics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Shell weight is the most dominant predictor of ring count, serving as a proxy for the age of abalone. Both the relative weights and the Genizi method performed well, resulting in narrow CIs. Dominance analysis provided deeper hierarchical insights into predictor importance but requires greater computational resources, particularly for complex models.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Abalone dataset, Correlated predictors, Dominance analysis, Relative weights analysis, Shapley value.</p>","PeriodicalId":19531,"journal":{"name":"Open Veterinary Journal","volume":"16 5","pages":"3144-3154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13314151/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148353023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}