F.H. Aae , M. Stokstad , M. Myrmel , R. Sørby , A. Bergfeldt , B. Ranheim
{"title":"Tremor tales: A cohort study of general and neurological signs in pigs with atypical porcine pestivirus-induced congenital tremor","authors":"F.H. Aae , M. Stokstad , M. Myrmel , R. Sørby , A. Bergfeldt , B. Ranheim","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Congenital tremor (CT) caused by atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) is a widespread disease in the swine industry. It is characterized by tremors in newborn piglets, but tremor description and association to other clinical signs are not well documented. This study’s objectives were to characterize general and neurological clinical signs of APPV-induced CT and describe the progression and associations between the different signs. A cohort study was conducted including 37 pigs from litters with APPV-confirmed CT and 27 control pigs from healthy litters. All pigs were examined five times from birth to slaughter, including general and neurological parameters, and detailed tremor characterization. All levels of tremor, from grave severity to no tremor, were seen within litters. Tremor persisted throughout the suckling period for all, to weaner age for 60 % and to slaughter age for 40 %, unrelated to the initial degree of tremor <em>(P</em> = 0.9). Tremors were consistent with intention tremor and typically went from affecting the whole body to smaller regions as the pig aged, while frequency increased, and amplitude decreased. Tremor was associated with hypermetria (<em>P</em> = 0.0018) and a broad stance (<em>P</em> = 0.0198) during the suckling period. No other neurological signs, or splay leg, were observed. Severe tremor inhibited voluntary movement and was associated with reduced general condition (<em>P</em> = 0.0017), lower body condition score (<em>P</em> = 0.0044), more carpal lesions (<em>P</em> = 0.0163) and arthritis (<em>P</em> = 0.0198). Intention tremor and hypermetria corresponds to cerebellar diseases, although other typical signs of this were absent. Both the tremor observed, and the associated clinical manifestations appear to have severe animal welfare implications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"309 ","pages":"Article 106288"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142792359","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}
Xiaohua Yi , Xiangyu Liu , Xiuzhu Sun , Shuhui Wang
{"title":"Structural profile and diversity of immunoglobulin genes in the Arctic Fox","authors":"Xiaohua Yi , Xiangyu Liu , Xiuzhu Sun , Shuhui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Immunoglobulins are important components of humoral immunity and play a crucial role in protecting the body from external antigens. The Arctic fox is an important member of furbearer farming, but due to the lack of research on the immune system of the Arctic fox, animal welfare regarding Arctic fox farming has still not received enough attention. In this study, we used the Arctic fox as a research subject, described the gene locus structure of the Arctic fox immunoglobulin germline by genome comparison, and analysed the mechanism of expression diversity of the antibody pool of the Arctic fox by rapid amplification of cDNA 5’ ends and high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the Arctic fox IgH, Igκ and Igλ loci were located on chromosome 6, chromosome 5 and chromosome 14, respectively. The number of variable (V) genes identified were 18, 11 and 10, and the number of joining (J) were 3, 4 and 13 and six diversity (D) genes in the heavy chain, respectively. Among them, the D genes, J genes and constant region genes of the heavy chain were arranged in the middle of the two variable heavy gene clusters; Arctic fox had a strong preference for the use of V genes, D genes and J genes, which resulted in a low level of V(D)J recombination diversity; linkage diversity analyses showed that random deletion of the V and J genes and insertion of the N and P nucleotides of the immunoglobulins of the Arctic foxes had a large impact on the linkage diversity of the IgH, whereas the light chain The linkage diversity was mainly contributed by the random deletion of V and J genes, and the insertion of N and P nucleotides had a smaller effect; somatic hypermutation (SHM) analysis showed that the mutation types of SHM of the heavy and light chains of the Arctic fox had a strong bias towards G>A and A>G, and the bias exhibited by the three chains was basically the same. By analysing the structure and expression diversity analysis of the Arctic fox gene loci, this study could provide a theoretical basis for antibody design and vaccine development in the Arctic fox, and provide new insights to further improve the animal welfare level of Arctic fox farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"309 ","pages":"Article 106295"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142883097","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}
Elena Bertos , Mariola Sánchez-Cerdá , Emilio Virgós , Marcos Moleón , José María Gil-Sánchez
{"title":"Physiological and morphological characterization of endangered European wildcats from the Iberian lineage: Reference values for conservation","authors":"Elena Bertos , Mariola Sánchez-Cerdá , Emilio Virgós , Marcos Moleón , José María Gil-Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The European wildcat (<em>Felis silvestris</em>), particularly its Iberian lineage, is experiencing an important population decline due to various threats. For this reason, we started in 2017 an intensive monitoring of a population of this species in southeastern Spain. To determine their physiological status, we conducted health checks on wildcats during 2017–2023. We captured and anesthetized 10 males (six adults and four non-adults) and 14 females (eight adults and six non-adults) for the collection of biometric measurements and biological samples through a standardized handling protocol. All sampled wildcats were monitored after their release through radio-tracking and/or camera-trapping for at least three months. The collected samples were used to perform morphological, hematological, biochemical, and endocrine analyses. We found that all the physiological parameters fell within previously established ranges (when available) and may serve as a reference for future studies on the wildcat. The studied Iberian wildcats were larger than the wildcats from temperate Europe, which do not conform to Bergmann's rule. This could be the result of an adaptation of Iberian wildcats to capture larger prey (i.e., European rabbit <em>Oryctolagus cuniculus</em>) in the Mediterranean region, and calls for a reassessment of the taxonomic status of the Iberian lineage of this felid. Finally, as revealed by the monitored individuals, the handling protocol proved to be optimal, resulting in a practical guidance for further field surveys.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"309 ","pages":"Article 106272"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142751771","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":"Tremors in cats: 105 cases (2004–2023)","authors":"T. Liatis , S.F.M. Bhatti , S. De Decker","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although tremors are common neurological presentations, there is little known about their clinical features and underlying etiologies in cats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, and underlying diagnoses in cats with tremors. We hypothesized that the results of this study would provide clinically useful information for clinicians when evaluating cats with tremors. This is a retrospective, single-center, study of cats with tremors between 2004 and 2023. Inclusion criteria included complete medical records, presence or report of tremor or twitch, and a final or presumptive diagnosis.</div><div>One hundred five cats met the inclusion criteria. The most common diagnoses associated with tremors were degenerative encephalopathy (19/105; 18.1 %), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) (17/105; 16.2 %), congenital portosystemic shunt (17/105; 16.2 %), intoxication (16/105 15.2 %) and polyneuropathy (8/105; 7.6 %). Most common degenerative encephalopathies were suspected cerebellar cortical degeneration (7/19; 50 %) and lysosomal storage diseases (7/19; 50 %) and manifested intention head tremors. Intention head tremors were also seen in cats with FIP and thiamine deficiency encephalopathy. Portosystemic shunt tremors were of variable features, focal or generalised, intentional, nonintentional or both. The most common intoxication was permethrin ingestion and was most commonly associated with generalized tremors as the main presenting complaint. The most common type of tremor in cats with a polyneuropathy was a generalised tremor or limb tremor. Different tremor phenotypes occur and are associated with specific underlying diagnoses in cats. This information can aid clinicians on the best way to approach cats with a variety of tremor phenotypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"309 ","pages":"Article 106292"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142865666","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}
Haolong Wang , Qian Liu , Mahmoud M. Abouelfetouh , Hao Li , Hongmei Zhu , Cong Zhu , Faisal Ayub Kiani , Yi Ding
{"title":"The role of the hypothalamus-gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of periparturient fatty liver disease in dairy cows","authors":"Haolong Wang , Qian Liu , Mahmoud M. Abouelfetouh , Hao Li , Hongmei Zhu , Cong Zhu , Faisal Ayub Kiani , Yi Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the periparturient period, dairy cows experience negative energy balance due to reduced feed intake, leading to adipose tissue breakdown, liver damage, and fat accumulation. This study examined the gut-liver-brain axis to explore the link between fatty liver disease, changes in hypothalamic appetite-related neurons, and microbiome shifts in dairy cows. Thirty cows were monitored, with daily DMI recordings and blood sampling. Postpartum brain, liver, and ileal contents were collected from 10 selected cows, divided into two groups: H-DMI (slight DMI decrease) and L-DMI (severe DMI decrease). The L-DMI group of cows exhibited higher plasma NEFA, BHBA, ALT, and AST levels, along with severe hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation. Transcriptome sequencing of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) revealed decreased expression of Hypocretin Neuropeptide Precursor (HCRT), orexin-A (OX-A), Orexin Receptor Type 1 (OX1R), and Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) in the L-DMI group, while Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) expression increased. Metagenomic analysis of ileal contents showed reduced abundance of <em>Ruminococcus spp.</em> in the L-DMI group, which may be associated with fatty liver disease (FL). Integrated omics analysis showed that increased MC4R expression was correlated with the elevated abundance of bacteria such as <em>Akkermansia glycaniphila</em>, and reduced abundance of species such as <em>Methanobrevubacter thaueri</em> and <em>Ruminococcus spp</em>. Decreased HCRT expression was also linked to <em>Akkermansia glycaniphila</em>. In conclusion, these changes may affect DMI through the OX-A/POMC pathway, with neurological and gut microbiome alterations potentially leading to appetite suppression, negative energy balance, and the development of fatty liver disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"309 ","pages":"Article 106290"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142830056","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}
Min Wei, Shaobo Liang, Yuting Wang, Jingjin Hu, Feng Pang
{"title":"Design and assessment of two broad-spectrum multi-epitope vaccine candidates against bovine viral diarrhea virus based on the E0 or E2 envelope glycoprotein","authors":"Min Wei, Shaobo Liang, Yuting Wang, Jingjin Hu, Feng Pang","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a significant pathogen that exerts substantial economic influence on the global cattle industry. Developing a safe and effective novel vaccine targeting various BVDV subtypes is critical for controlling BVDV infection. In the study, we created two distinct multi-epitope vaccines by linking highly conserved and dominant cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL), helper T-lymphocytes (HTL), and B-cell epitopes from either the E0 or E2 envelope glycoprotein of diverse BVDV subtypes. To enhance immunogenicity, β-defensin-3 was fused to the N-terminus of these constructs as an adjuvant. Using multiple immunoinformatics tools, we conducted an analysis and assessment of the vaccine constructs' physicochemical properties and immunological features. Consequently, two prospective vaccine candidates named BVDV-M1 and BVDV-M2 were successfully designed and shown to be stable, antigenic, non-allergenic, and non-toxic. The optimized vaccine 3D models exhibit excellent structural quality. Molecular docking revealed a strong interaction between the vaccines with bovine TLR2 and TLR4. The stability of the docked vaccine-TLR complexes was confirmed through molecular dynamics simulation. Immune simulation analyses indicated that both vaccines have the potential to induce high levels of antibodies IgM, IgG and the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2. Furthermore, the vaccine's efficient expression in the <em>E.coli</em> system was secured through codon optimization coupled with in silico cloning. Summarily, the designed multi-epitope vaccines have the potential to elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses, positioning them as hopeful broad-spectrum vaccine candidates against the currently prevalent BVDV subtypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"309 ","pages":"Article 106296"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898551","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}
Jane HC Huang, Bianca N. Lourenço, Amanda E. Coleman
{"title":"The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in kidney diseases of cats and dogs","authors":"Jane HC Huang, Bianca N. Lourenço, Amanda E. Coleman","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has a well-established key pathophysiologic role in kidney diseases, and pharmacotherapy targeting this system is a mainstay of treatment of affected human beings, cats, and dogs. Several studies have evaluated the circulating RAAS in animals with spontaneous or experimentally induced kidney diseases. Evidence supporting the activation of this system has been demonstrated in some – but not all – studies and individuals, and the interindividual variability in circulating RAAS markers is high. Advances over the last few decades have expanded our understanding of the system, which now includes the existence of a counterbalancing “alternative” RAAS and tissular renin-angiotensin systems (RASs), the latter regulated independently of the circulating endocrine RAAS. The local RAS in the kidney, termed the intrarenal RAS, is currently recognized as an important regulator of kidney function and mediator of kidney disease. In general, information on the intrarenal RAS is lacking in cats and dogs with kidney diseases; however, existing limited data suggest its activation. Despite the inconsistent evidence for circulating RAAS activation in chronic kidney diseases, RAAS inhibitors have proven effective for the treatment of its common comorbidities, systemic arterial hypertension and renal proteinuria, in both cats and dogs. Further research of the circulating RAAS, the intrarenal RAS, and the interplay between these systems in the context of kidney diseases in companion animals might contribute to the development or refinement of future treatment strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"309 ","pages":"Article 106287"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142822782","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}
L. Costa , I. Tomé , B. Colaço , S. Alves-Pimenta , R. Sargo , J. Pereira , I. Pires , J. Prada , M. Ginja
{"title":"Hip dysplasia induction: Establishment of a new surgical model in rabbits","authors":"L. Costa , I. Tomé , B. Colaço , S. Alves-Pimenta , R. Sargo , J. Pereira , I. Pires , J. Prada , M. Ginja","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hip dysplasia (HD) is an arthropathy with an incompletely understood pathophysiology. Existing induction HD models fall short of providing feasible data to test new therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to characterize and validate a new surgical model of HD in rabbits. Seventeen 6-week-old male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to 3 groups: GI (n = 3) – control group, with six normal hips (NH); GII (n = 7) – seven left instability surgery hips (ISH) and seven right surgery sham hips (SSH); GIII (n = 7) – seven left instability surgery hips, followed by hindlimb bandage immobilization for 3 days (ISHI) and seven right hips without surgery (HWS). The instability surgery was performed by sectioning the teres ligament and the sham by accessing the capsule without its section. After 14 weeks following the induction surgery, the rabbits underwent radiographic and computed tomographic studies and histopathological characterization of the hip joint based on the severity of cartilage structure and chondrocyte pathology. In the imaging assessment, the ISHI group was the only group presenting statistically significant differences in all four parameters, consistent with HD development (<em>P</em> < 0.05). In the histopathologic evaluation, the ISHI group showed a higher severity of cartilage damage and chondrocyte pathology with statistically significant differences when compared with the NH group (<em>P</em> < 0.05). As a result, the proposed rabbit model can be recommended for HD studies aiming to test therapeutic responses to osteoarthritis in vivo, representing a valuable tool in veterinary research fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"310 ","pages":"Article 106308"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081182","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}
Didik T. Subekti , Sulinawati Fong , Dyah A. Kurniawati , Nur Jannah , Ichwan Yuniarto , Lucia T. Suwanti , Sunarno Sunarno , Mufasirin Mufasirin , Ali Rohman
{"title":"Nucleic acid amplification–lateral flow immunoassay (NAA-LFIA) for the rapid differentiation of Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma equiperdum","authors":"Didik T. Subekti , Sulinawati Fong , Dyah A. Kurniawati , Nur Jannah , Ichwan Yuniarto , Lucia T. Suwanti , Sunarno Sunarno , Mufasirin Mufasirin , Ali Rohman","doi":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Trypanosoma evansi</em> and <em>Trypanosoma equiperdum</em> are very difficult to distinguish morphologically. However, molecular identification algorithms sequentially using Mini and Maxi primers can distinguish the two species. Duplex polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) facilitates simultaneous amplification but is difficult to visualize with gel electrophoresis because it produces overlapping amplicons. Meanwhile, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) samples using two pairs of primers must be incubated separately due to differences in incubation temperature. This study aimed to evaluate the initial use of duplex lateral flow immunoassay (dLFIA) to distinguish <em>T. evansi</em> and <em>T. equiperdum</em>. The dPCR was performed by mixing two pairs of primers with the DNA template in one master mix tube, while for RPA, the Mini primer was incubated at 40 °C for 30 minutes and the Maxi at 42 °C for 60 minutes. The dPCR product was diluted and dropped onto the sample pad of dLFIA, while the RPA products were diluted and mixed before being dropped onto the sample pad. The results showed that dPCR had a limit of detection for nucleic acids of 10<sup>2</sup> trypanosomes/mL, while that of RPA was only 10<sup>3</sup> trypanosomes/mL. The highest agreement coefficient for trypanosome detection between dPCR-dLFIA and RPA-dLFIA was 0.875, while that for trypanosome identification and differentiation was 0.571. dLFIA revealed separate bands of the two amplicons from dPCR using Mini and Maxi primers, unlike agarose gel electrophoresis. Thus, dPCR-dLFIA successfully identified <em>T. evansi</em> and <em>T. equiperdum</em>. On the other hand, RPA-dLFIA needs further improvement to reduce species misidentification and increase its agreement with dPCR-dLFIA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23505,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary journal","volume":"310 ","pages":"Article 106306"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143075722","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}