Veterinary journal最新文献

{"title":"Feasibility and cartilage injury of an all-inside arthroscopic meniscal repair application in a canine cadaveric study","authors":"David Michalik ,&nbsp;Robert A. Pettitt ,&nbsp;Alexander Tichy ,&nbsp;Eva Schnabl-Feichter","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Meniscal injury is the most common comorbidity in canine stifles with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) pathology. Arthroscopic repair for acute tears can be technically challenging and is rarely described. This study evaluates the feasibility of using an all-inside arthroscopic meniscal repair device, Arthrex Meniscal Cinch II™ (MCII) in canine cadaveric stifles and the associated risks of iatrogenic vascular injury (IVI) and cartilage injury (ICI). 20 healthy paired canine cadaveric stifles (25 – 45 kg BW) were divided randomly into two groups of 10. Both groups received transection of the CCL via mini arthrotomy, joint distraction and diagnostic arthroscopy with meniscal probing. No further procedures were performed in the control group whereas the implant group underwent placement of the MCII-implants in the caudal horn of the medial meniscus. Angiography of the femoral artery was performed for each limb before and after operation and vascular trauma was assessed on radiographs. After disarticulation, the cartilage was stained via Indian ink assay and underwent blinded scoring for ICI. Implants were evaluated for desired position. Correct position of the MCII-implants was achieved in all stifles. No IVI was detected. Implant placement created more ICI on the medial femoral condyle (1.33 mm²) than arthroscopy alone (0.15 mm²) (p = 0.03). Implant associated complications occurred in 30 %. Arthroscopic use of MCII is feasible and carries minimal risk for vascular damage. Despite joint distraction, implant placement using the MCII is associated with significant cartilage damage. Although technically challenging, all-inside meniscal repair appears to carry limited risk in canine patients over 25 kg bodyweight.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106339"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143777269","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":"Pharmacokinetic evaluation of meloxicam following intravenous and intramuscular administration in Crocodylus siamensis, a freshwater crocodile","authors":"Seavchou Laut ,&nbsp;Saranya Poapolathep ,&nbsp;Kraisiri Khidkhan ,&nbsp;Narumol Klangkaew ,&nbsp;Napassorn Phaochoosak ,&nbsp;Tara Wongwaipairoj ,&nbsp;Mario Giorgi ,&nbsp;Pedro Marin ,&nbsp;Elisa Escudero ,&nbsp;Amnart Poapolathep","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pharmacokinetics of meloxicam (MLX) remain largely unexplored in reptiles, particularly in Siamese crocodiles (<em>Crocodylus siamensis</em>). This study characterized the pharmacokinetic profiles of MLX following intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) administration in Siamese crocodiles. Fifteen Siamese crocodiles were divided into three groups (n=5) using a randomization procedure according to a parallel study design. MLX was administered IV at 0.2<!--> <!-->mg/kg b.w. or IM at two different doses (0.2<!--> <!-->mg/kg b.w. or 0.4<!--> <!-->mg/kg b.w.). Plasma concentrations of MLX were measured using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed using a non-compartment model. The elimination half-life (t_1/2λz) was long for all administration routes, with values of 132.34<!--> <!-->hr (IV), 121.35<!--> <!-->hr (IM 0.2<!--> <!-->mg/kg b.w.), and 181.44<!--> <!-->hr (IM 0.4<!--> <!-->mg/kg b.w.). The volumes of distribution (Vd) and clearance (Cl) after IV administration were 104.59<!--> <!-->mL/kg and 0.55<!--> <!-->mL/hr/kg, respectively. Based on these results, there was an extended t_1/2λz of MLX in this species of freshwater crocodiles, highlighting significant differences in drug disposition compared to other reptilian and non-reptilian species. The findings contribute to an understanding of MLX pharmacokinetics in this animal species, and emphasize that the selection of the optimal dose of MLX should be considered based on disposition kinetics, efficacy, safety, and species-specific differences. Further investigation is required to identify the effective plasma concentration, which is critical for establishing the appropriate dose for the management of pain and inflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106342"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143768453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High prevalence of virulence genes and multi-drug resistance in Pasteurella multocida from goats in Sichuan, China","authors":"Shenglin Li ,&nbsp;Qibing Gu ,&nbsp;Benrun Li,&nbsp;Kehamo Abi,&nbsp;Falong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Pasteurella multocida</em> is one of the most important pathogens that infect goats, causing serious economic losses in the goat breeding industry. To understand the biological characteristics of <em>P. multocida</em> from goats, a comprehensive characterization of bacteria isolated from 342 nasal swabs and 8 lung tissue samples from goat farms in Sichuan, China, was performed. A total of 34 isolates were assigned to one capsular type, D, and one lipopolysaccharide (LPS) genotype, L3, indicating that the D: L3 was the predominant serotype in goat farms. In the 34 isolates, multiple virulence-related genes were identified, with a detection rate of 100 % (34/34) for the genes <em>ompA</em>, <em>ompH</em>, <em>oma87</em>, <em>exbB</em>, and <em>exbD</em>. It is noteworthy that the prevalence of the <em>toxA</em> gene, which encodes the <em>P. multocida</em> toxin (PMT), was found to be 85.2 % (29/34). Furthermore, antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated a high prevalence of multidrug resistance, with resistance rates of 41.1 % for ampicillin, 38.2 % for tetracycline, and 32.3 % for kanamycin. Overall, this study provides a foundational understanding of the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of <em>P. multocida</em> in goats, offering insights for future prevention and control measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106344"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143768471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of an in-home screening tool for canine periodontitis.","authors":"C Wallis, A Ruparell, M Soltero-Rivera, C Harvey, L Carvell-Miller, A Colyer, R M Reynolds, T S McKee, T Mills, P J Bergman, P Watson, L J Holcombe","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106341","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Periodontal disease is a common condition in dogs but frequently goes unnoticed by owners. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an in-home screening tool for the detection of canine periodontitis based on the identification of bacterial biomarkers in supragingival plaque. A series of studies were undertaken to establish methods for collecting dental plaque and stabilising its bacterial profile. These were used by owners to collect supragingival plaque samples in a home setting from their dogs (n=127) whose periodontal health state had been determined by a veterinarian. Samples were screened for the presence of a bacterial biomarker of periodontitis using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Evaluation of six swabs (10 samples each) for plaque collection indicated the CytoSoft™ cytology brush yielded the highest amount of bacterial DNA, determined using a universal bacterial qPCR assay. Evaluation of six stabilisation methods (10-11 samples each) showed no significant differences between air-dried swabs stored at ambient temperatures and those maintained at -80^oC for 5 days. qPCR data from plaque samples collected by owners indicated an accuracy at predicting disease of 80.9%, a specificity of 80.0% and a sensitivity of 80.9%. Collection of supragingival plaque by dog owners using the CytoSoft™ cytology brush and postage to a laboratory for qPCR analysis is a practical method of screening for canine periodontitis. The simple, cost-effective method is a viable proposition to enable the detection of periodontitis in client-owned dogs ultimately improving their oral health and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"106341"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143773576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surveillance of leptospiral reservoirs in synanthropic rodents using loop-mediated isothermal amplification","authors":"Micaela Hamer ,&nbsp;Vanina Saraullo ,&nbsp;Emiliano Muschetto ,&nbsp;Micaela Esteban ,&nbsp;Mariel Alejandra Tripodi ,&nbsp;Cristina Sánchez ,&nbsp;Diego Hancke ,&nbsp;Olga Virginia Suárez ,&nbsp;Bibiana Brihuega ,&nbsp;Mara Leila Martínez","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic <em>Leptospira</em> spp., represents a major public health concern due to its impact on both rural and urban populations. Rodents, particularly <em>Rattus norvegicus</em>, <em>Rattus rattus</em>, and <em>Mus musculus</em>, are key reservoirs, excreting leptospires in their urine and contributing to environmental contamination. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a molecular diagnostic tool, for detecting leptospiral DNA in kidney samples from captured rodents. LAMP results were compared with the standard <em>lipL32</em> PCR assay. Leptospiral DNA was detected in 9.0 % (14/156) of samples, with 5.8 % positive by both LAMP and <em>lipL32</em> PCR and 3.2 % positive by LAMP alone. No samples were positive by PCR and negative by LAMP. Cohen's Kappa index (0.77) indicated substantial agreement between the two methods. The higher sensitivity of LAMP, its ability to detect both pathogenic and intermediate leptospiral strains, and its cost-effectiveness make it a valuable tool for low-resource settings. However, the technique’s inability to differentiate between <em>Leptospira</em> species highlights the need for complementary methods for epidemiological studies. These findings contribute to the understanding of rodent leptospirosis reservoirs and offer practical diagnostic solutions for veterinary and public health surveillance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106340"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143754229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exudative epidermitis by Staphylococcus hyicus producing ExhC: Control proposals against an emergent pathogen in intensive pig production","authors":"Antonio Romero-Salmoral ,&nbsp;Carmen Álvarez-Delgado ,&nbsp;Rafael A. Muñoz-Jiménez ,&nbsp;Paula Barraza ,&nbsp;Ana I. Vela ,&nbsp;José Francisco Fernández-Garayzábal ,&nbsp;Jaime Gómez-Laguna ,&nbsp;Inmaculada Luque ,&nbsp;Carmen Tarradas","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exudative epidermitis (EE) is an occasional infectious disease affecting suckling and weaned piglets, with severe presentation in outbreaks. We described the diagnosis and control measurements conducted after an outbreak of EE caused by <em>Staphylococcus hyicus</em> producing an exfoliative toxin type C (ExhC) in a commercial 4000-head sow farm. Clinical disease was observed in suckling piglets, with a 70 % of morbidity, and a significant increase of mortality rate of 5 % during this period (p &lt; 0.0001) was detected. The bacteria could be recovered from skin and internal organs of affected animals, and the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis showed that all the isolates were genetically indistinguishable, suggesting a common origin. Certain deficiencies in the cleaning and disinfection protocols carried out in the farrowing unit could be responsible for the severity of the outbreak. The efficacy of autogenous vaccination in sows with an inactivated vaccine based on complete ExhC-positive <em>S. hyicus</em> isolates at five and two weeks before farrowing in combination with the improvement of managements measures and selection of healthy animals for replacement allowed the resolution of the outbreak, completely reducing the morbidity and mortality rates after three months. The importance of an adequate diagnosis, biosecurity evaluation and the use of appropriate immune prophylaxis based on autogenous vaccines, are essential tools for the rapid and effective resolution of disease outbreaks of EE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106338"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial pressure in healthy breeding dogs vs household animals assessed through the resistance profile of Escherichia coli and coagulase positive Staphylococci","authors":"A. Bertero ,&nbsp;M. Corrò ,&nbsp;A. Del Carro ,&nbsp;E. Spagnolo ,&nbsp;C. Milani ,&nbsp;A. Diana ,&nbsp;A. Rota","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106337","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106337","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobials are sometimes inappropriately administered in dog breeding facilities in an attempt to improve fertility or reduce neonatal losses, but these practices lead to an increased prevalence of resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to assess antibiotic use intensity in breeding kennels by comparing the resistance profiles of <em>Escherichia coli</em> and coagulase positive Staphylococci isolated from breeding bitches and from household animals. A rectal and a perivulvar swab were collected from 80 healthy bitches, half of which were housed in breeding kennels and the other half in domestic environments. The resistance of <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</em> and <em>S.aureus</em> to a range of antimicrobials was evaluated through the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration test. Antibiotic resistance rates, the percentage of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing <em>E.coli</em> strains, the percentage of <em>mecA</em> positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococci and of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) isolates were compared between breeding bitches and privately owned ones using Fisher's exact test. The percentage of resistance to the antimicrobials tested was generally higher in dogs from breeding kennels than in owned animals, with statistically significant differences in <em>E.coli</em> for cefazolin (p &lt; 0.0001), third-generation cephalosporins (p = 0.0015), tetracycline (p = 0.0079), kanamycin (p = 0.0291) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (p = 0.0007). Furthermore, the prevalence of ESBL <em>E.coli</em> was significantly higher in breeding dogs (p = 0.0002). 38.5 % of breeding bitches and 12.5 % of household dogs carried methicillin-resistant <em>mecA</em> positive S<em>.pseudintermedius</em> strains. <em>S.aureus</em> was only isolated from household animals, and one of the three isolates was <em>mecA</em> positive and MDR. Our data indicate a higher exposure of kennel dogs to antimicrobials. The pattern of antibiotic resistance, particularly to aminopenicillins but also to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, suggests a large use of these agents. The results confirm that healthy dogs can harbour commensal bacteria that have acquired antimicrobial resistances, which may be exchanged between hosts; the potential role of the two dog typologies as reservoirs for resistance genes was demonstrated. The risk of household dogs being exposed to resistant bacteria, probably of human origin, was also observed. Our study reveals a generally high exposure of dogs to antimicrobials and highlights the need to sensitise veterinarians and breeders to better antibiotic stewardship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106337"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143693566","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":"Hormonal Trends During Reproductive Stages and Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Gestational Age in British Shorthair Cats.","authors":"Tingting Jiang, Wenwen Zhao, Li Han, Jianguo Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106321","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106321","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As seasonal animals with multiple estrus cycles, cats have unique breeding characteristics. However, the trends of key hormone changes during the estrous, pregnancy, and lactation periods are not well understood, and there is a lack of ultrasound-based formulas for predicting fetal development at different stages. This study aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes in key reproductive hormones and establish ultrasound-based methods to assess fetal development and predict gestational age in purebred British Shorthair cats (n=5). Plasma concentrations of estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P₄), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and melatonin (MT) were analyzed across estrous, pregnancy, and lactation. The correlations between ultrasound measurements and gestational age were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Additionally, we used ultrasound measurements to develop methods for assessing fetal development and predicting gestational age. E₂ peaked at 230.8 used ultpmol/L during estrus and showed a secondary peak around day 15 post-mating; P4 remained at baseline (1.02 ± 0.58 nmol/L) during estrus but reached a peak of 123.11.11 daynmol/L around day 21 of pregnancy. FSH and LH showed characteristic fluctuations, with peak concentrations of 29.2 ± 6.19 IU/L and 43.3 ± 12.23ng/L, respectively. Gestational age correlated strongly with ultrasound measurements of fetal length (r > 0.90), biparietal diameter, and femur length (all P < 0.001). Regression equations for these parameters were developed, enabling precise gestational age predictions. Notably, fetal heart rate followed a characteristic pattern, stabilizing at ~250 bpm mid-pregnancy before declining near parturition. These findings advance the understanding of feline reproductive physiology, providing critical benchmarks for reproductive monitoring, improved veterinary care, and breeding management.</p>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"106321"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143650975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variations in packed cell volume among Gambian cattle: Assessment of biological and environmental determinants in free-range systems","authors":"Olawale F. Olaniyan ,&nbsp;İbrahim Kaya ,&nbsp;Momodou Jeng ,&nbsp;Lamin F. Ceesay ,&nbsp;Amadou Keita ,&nbsp;Fatou Janneh ,&nbsp;Modou Gaye","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of packed cell volume (PCV) to monitor health status of cattle is widely known but this prognostic approach can be complex to interpret due to several factors affecting its values. This research therefore aims to explain variations in PCV values with focus on the biological and environmental fixed determinants that would assist veterinary practitioners and scientists in better understanding of such information, especially in the free-range cattle husbandry systems. A total of 921 blood samples covering three cattle genotypes were collected from almost the entire length of The Gambia for PCV analysis by the microhaematocrit technique and then, trypanosomosis diagnosis based on microscopy. The data were analysed using general linear model with the univariate procedure. Further, pairwise comparisons of estimated marginal means were conducted using least significant difference option. Standard errors of means, 95 % confidence intervals, and also descriptive statistics were presented. The overall mean of PCV was 26.6 %, with the minimum and maximum values as 12.0 and 44.0 %, respectively. Trypanosomosis status, sex, age, body condition, feeding type, region of sampling, season of sampling, and region × season interaction are determinants with statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05) effect on PCV. However, there was no significant effect (P &gt; 0.05) of coat colour and genotype on PCV. Considering the observed trypanosome-induced complexity, the effect of trypanosomosis progression on PCV variation requires further investigation. This study demonstrates that there are many determinants that should be carefully considered in routine screening, interpretation, and determination of cattle health status based on PCV.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106336"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143596865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differentiating the estrous cycle phases using vaginal vestibule pH and cytology in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in human care","authors":"Yuqing Yang ,&nbsp;Narueporn Kittisirikul ,&nbsp;Warangkhana Langkaphin ,&nbsp;Taweepoke Angkawanish ,&nbsp;Pierre Comizzoli ,&nbsp;Kaywalee Chatdarong","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reproductive dysfunction in elephants is often confirmed through blood hormonal assays, as behavioral observations alone are insufficient. While fecal and saliva hormonal analyses offer welfare-friendly alternatives, significant resources are required, limiting practicality in field applications. To improve reproductive management and ensure animal welfare, this study aimed to investigate pH measurements and cytological analysis of the vaginal vestibule to differentiate estrous cycle phases in female elephants, both those with regular and irregular cycling. A total of 106 vaginal vestibule cytological smears from eight regularly cycling females and 39 smears from three irregularly cycling females (confirmed by progesterone and luteinizing hormone [LH] enzyme immunoassays, n = 308 serum samples) were analyzed using staining techniques and pH strip measurements. Based on pH, smears were categorized into acidic, neutral, and alkaline groups. Intermediate cells (ICs) varied significantly across the three groups. In regularly cycling females, ICs dominated during diestrus (67.5 %), whereas estrus was characterized by the absence of ICs and a predominance of superficial cells. ICs decreased in metestrus (36.3 %; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Mean pH levels ranged from acidic in diestrus (5.8) to alkaline in estrus (8.5). In irregularly cycling elephants, pH (6.3) differed from proestrus and estrus in irregularly cycling elephants. Moreover, pH was significantly correlated with progesterone (<em>r</em> = -0.25) and LH (<em>r</em> = 0.4) among all females. Using cytology exclusively was insufficient to differentiate between regular and irregular cyclic statuses; however, when combined with pH measurements, it effectively identified the estrous phases in regularly cycling elephants. This study offers novel findings that could serve as practical, welfare-focused metrics for reproductive assessments in elephants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"311 ","pages":"Article 106324"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143596863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}