Animals最新文献

{"title":"Early Detection of Chronic Kidney Disease Using Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 in Small-Breed Dogs: A Retrospective Pilot Study","authors":"Hyo-Sung Kim, Han-Jun Kim, Sunhee Do","doi":"10.3390/ani14162313","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162313","url":null,"abstract":"Multiple diagnostic modalities are urgently needed to identify early-stage kidney diseases. Various molecules have been investigated; however, most studies have focused on identifying specific biomarkers in urine. Considering that assessing the symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA) plasma concentration is more suitable as an early diagnostic test for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in routine veterinary practice, we aimed to investigate the clinical usefulness of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL) and plasma kidney injury molecule-1 (pKIM-1) concentrations for CKD detection in small-breed dogs. Through a retrospective analysis, we found that numerous clinicopathological data showed a log-normal distribution, even when they satisfied normality tests. Moreover, the log-transformed pNGAL and pKIM-1 concentrations successfully identified CKD International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stages 1–4 and the risk group with underlying CKD risk factors. Correlation analysis and group comparison of other factors confirmed the possibility of using these two biomarkers for detecting the CKD risk group and IRIS stage 1. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the diagnostic accuracy for discriminating the risk group was superior in the order of pKIM-1, pNGAL, SDMA, and serum creatinine levels. In conclusion, these results suggest that pKIM-1 and pNGAL are possible early or quantifiable markers of insignificant CKD or can be at least used as an adjunct with traditional indicators.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"4 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141921186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Amur Tiger Individual Identification Based on the Improved InceptionResNetV2","authors":"Ling Wu, Yongyi Jinma, Xinyang Wang, Feng Yang, Fu Xu, Xiao-Ting Cui, Qiao Sun","doi":"10.3390/ani14162312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162312","url":null,"abstract":"Accurate and intelligent identification of rare and endangered individuals of flagship wildlife species, such as Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), is crucial for understanding population structure and distribution, thereby facilitating targeted conservation measures. However, many mathematical modeling methods, including deep learning models, often yield unsatisfactory results. This paper proposes an individual recognition method for Amur tigers based on an improved InceptionResNetV2 model. Initially, the YOLOv5 model is employed to automatically detect and segment facial, left stripe, and right stripe areas from images of 107 individual Amur tigers, achieving a high average classification accuracy of 97.3%. By introducing a dropout layer and a dual-attention mechanism, we enhance the InceptionResNetV2 model to better capture the stripe features of individual tigers at various granularities and reduce overfitting during training. Experimental results demonstrate that our model outperforms other classic models, offering optimal recognition accuracy and ideal loss changes. The average recognition accuracy for different body part features is 95.36%, with left stripes achieving a peak accuracy of 99.37%. These results highlight the model’s excellent recognition capabilities. Our research provides a valuable and practical approach to the individual identification of rare and endangered animals, offering significant potential for improving conservation efforts.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141922708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adaptive Evolution and Functional Differentiation of Testis-Expressed Genes in Theria","authors":"Yukako Katsura, Shuji Shigenobu, Yoko Satta","doi":"10.3390/ani14162316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162316","url":null,"abstract":"Gene expression patterns differ in different tissues, and the expression pattern of genes in the mammalian testis is known to be extremely variable in different species. To clarify how the testis transcriptomic pattern has evolved in particular species, we examined the evolution of the adult testis transcriptome in Theria using 10 species: two marsupials (opossum and Tasmanian devil), six eutherian (placental) mammals (human, chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, rhesus macaque, and mouse), and two outgroup species (platypus and chicken). We show that 22 testis-expressed genes are marsupial-specific, suggesting their acquisition in the stem lineage of marsupials after the divergence from eutherians. Despite the time length of the eutherian stem lineage being similar to that of the marsupial lineage, acquisition of testis-expressed genes was not found in the stem lineage of eutherians; rather, their expression patterns differed by species, suggesting rapid gene evolution in the eutherian ancestors. Fifteen testis-expressed genes are therian-specific, and for three of these genes, the evolutionary tempo is markedly faster in eutherians than in marsupials. Our phylogenetic analysis of Rho GTPase-activating protein 28 (ARHGAP28) suggests the adaptive evolution of this gene in the eutherians, probably together with the expression pattern differentiation.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"51 47","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141923557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of ActivinβA and Gonadotropin Regulation of the Activin System in the Ovary of Chinese Sturgeon Acipenser sinensis","authors":"H. Yue, H. Ye, Rui Ruan, Hao Du, Chuangju Li","doi":"10.3390/ani14162314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162314","url":null,"abstract":"Activin is a dimeric growth factor with diverse biological activities in vertebrates. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of the activin signaling pathway in the ovary of the endangered, cultured sturgeon species Acipenser sinensis. One activinβA subunit was identified, with a full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence of 1572 base pairs. Multiple sequence alignment suggested that ActivinβA shared high sequence identities with its counterparts in four other sturgeon species. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the conserved evolution of ActivinβA among vertebrates from mammals to fish species. Transcripts of activinβA were distributed ubiquitously in the liver, kidney, intestine, ovary, midbrain, hypothalamus, and pituitary, with the highest transcription found in the pituitary. In Chinese sturgeon ovarian cells, in vitro human recombinant Activin A incubation stimulated the activin system-related gene transcriptions of activinβA, follistatin, its receptors -activinRIIA and activinRIIB, and drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic proteins (smads) smad2, smad3, and smad4. Ovary development-related mRNA levels of cyp19a1a and aromatase receptors of erα and erβ were enhanced by Activin A or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) incubation. Furthermore, 15 IU/mL hCG treatment increased the transcription levels of activinβA, follistatin, activinRIIA, and smad2. This suggested that the activin system was functional for the regulation of ovary development in Chinese sturgeon, possibly under the regulation of gonadotropin, by recruiting activinβA, follistatin, activinRIIA, and smad2. These results were helpful for the molecular exploration of activin signaling in fish species, as well as the ovarian maturation regulation of A. sinensis.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"8 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141923426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reconstruction of the Quadriceps Extensor Mechanism with a Calcaneal Tendon–Bone Allograft in a Dog with a Resorbed Tibial Tuberosity Fracture","authors":"Hyunho Kim, Haebeom Lee, Daniel D. Lewis, Jaemin Jeong, Gyumin Kim, Young-Seok Jeon","doi":"10.3390/ani14162315","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162315","url":null,"abstract":"A non-reducible tibial tuberosity fracture is a rare complication of tibial tuberosity transposition performed during correcting of medial patella luxation (MPL) in dogs. This condition severely disrupts the quadriceps extensor mechanism, leading to significant pelvic limb lameness. An 11-year-old, 1.8 kg spayed female Yorkshire Terrier sustained a comminuted left tibial tuberosity fracture during surgical correction of an MPL. Six months after surgery, the dog was markedly lame and unable to extend the left stifle. Radiographs revealed patella alta and resorption of the fragmented tibial tuberosity. A composite frozen allogeneic calcaneal tendon–bone block was utilized to reconstruct the tibial tuberosity and reattach the patellar ligament. Initial postoperative radiographs confirmed restoration of a normal patellar ligament to patella length ratio (1.42). Both the allogeneic bone used for tibial tuberosity reconstruction and the tendon used to reattach the patellar ligament were successfully integrated. The dog regained satisfactory limb function without recurrence of patella luxation, as reported by the owners 29 months postoperatively. The use of a calcaneal tendon–bone allograft effectively restored the functional integrity of the quadriceps extensor mechanism, providing a viable option for addressing quadriceps insufficiency resulting from the loss of the osseous tibial insertion.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"6 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141923437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolation of Aerobic Bacterial Species Associated with Palpable Udder Defects in Non-Dairy Ewes","authors":"M. Zeleke, P. R. Kenyon, K. J. Flay, Danielle Aberdein, Sarah J. Pain, N. Velathanthiri, A. Ridler","doi":"10.3390/ani14162317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162317","url":null,"abstract":"The objectives of these studies were to identify associations between udder half defects (hard or lump) and bacteria isolated from milk or mammary tissue swabs, to compare with samples from normal udder halves at different physiological time points and to compare bacterial species isolated via milk and swabs of mammary tissue from within the same udder halves. A total of 1054 samples were aseptically collected from each udder half of 199 non-dairy breed (Romney) ewes from three different studies (Study A, n = 77; Study B, n = 74; and Study C, n = 48). Conventional bacterial culture and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry were used for bacterial identification. Of the 225 samples from which bacteria were isolated, Mannheimia haemolytica and Streptococcus uberis were the dominantly identified species from defective udder halves, whereas coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) species, mostly Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus chromogenes, were more frequently isolated from normal udder halves. The ongoing presence of bacterial species over time was variable, although less frequently identified species showed less stability over time. A very high agreement (91.5%) of bacterial species identified was observed between the mammary tissue swab and udder half milk samples during post-weaning. In summary, palpable udder half defects were associated with bacterial positivity, and the ongoing presence of the bacteria over time was dependent on the species involved. Hence, culling ewes with palpable udder half defects that had more stable bacterial species could contribute to reducing the recurrence of palpable defects or mastitis.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"85 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141922136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agreement of Pain Assessment Using the Short Form of the Canine Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale between Veterinary Students, Veterinary Nurses, Veterinary Surgeons, and ECVAA-Diplomates","authors":"Mireia Marco-Martorell, Natalie Duffy, Miguel Martínez, Thomas Maddox, Katherine Robson","doi":"10.3390/ani14162310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162310","url":null,"abstract":"Several pain scoring systems have been validated to measure pain in dogs. However, pain may not be adequately assessed since these tools are associated with high-level inter-observer variation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the agreement of pain assessment using the CMPS-SF between veterinary students, veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons, and European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA) diplomates. Forty-five client-owned dogs presented to a teaching hospital were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. All dogs were pain-scored in vivo, while a video of the assessment was recorded and subsequently evaluated by twenty assessors, with five per group. Mean scores between groups were compared, and agreement within groups and agreement of the average scores between groups were assessed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The intervention point at which dogs were deemed to require additional analgesia was also evaluated. Overall agreement of pain assessment was poor (ICC = 0.494). Nurses had the best inter-observer agreement (ICC = 0.656), followed by ECVAA diplomates (ICC = 0.540), veterinary surgeons (ICC = 0.478), and veterinary students (ICC = 0.432). The best inter-group agreement was between veterinary surgeons and nurses (ICC = 0.951) and between ECVAA diplomates and nurses (ICC = 0.951). Students were more likely to determine that additional analgesia was required compared to other groups. Pain assessment is key for animal welfare, and training in this area should be reinforced to improve consistency.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"53 42","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141929552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Silent Threat: Unraveling the Impact of Rabies in Herbivores in Brazil","authors":"Marcelo Cardoso da Silva Ventura, Jéssica Milena Moura Neves, Randyson da Silva Pinheiro, Marcos Vinicius Costa Santos, E. S. D. de Lemos, Marco Aurélio Pereira Horta","doi":"10.3390/ani14162305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162305","url":null,"abstract":"Rabies, a zoonotic viral disease, poses a significant threat due to its adaptability to diverse environments. Herbivore rabies, predominantly affecting cattle, horses, and goats in Brazil, remains a concern, results in substantial losses in the livestock industry, and poses risks to public health. Rabies virus transmission, primarily through hematophagous bats in Latin America, underscores the need for effective strategies, and vaccination plays a crucial role in controlling herbivorous rabies, with systematic vaccination beingly the primary method. Efforts to control rabies in herbivores include vaccination campaigns, public awareness programs, and the enhancement of surveillance systems. Despite these initiatives, rabies persists and imposes an economic burden and a significant health risk. Economic impacts include losses in the livestock industry, trade restrictions on livestock products, and financial burdens on governments and farmers owing to control measures. Despite the considerable costs of campaigns, surveillance, and control, investing in rabies vaccination and control not only safeguards livestock, but also preserves public health, reduces human cases, and strengthens the sustainability of the livestock industry. Mitigating the impact of herbivorous rabies in Brazil requires integrated approaches and continuous investments in vaccination, surveillance, and control measures to protect public health and ensure the sustainability of the livestock industry, thus contributing to food and economic security.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"36 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141927304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pet Owners’ Preferences for Quality of Life Improvements and Costs Related to Innovative Therapies in Feline Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis—A Quantitative Survey","authors":"Andrea Wright, Edwina Gildea, Louise Longstaff, Danielle Riley, N. Nagda, Kristina DiPietrantonio, A. Enstone, Robin Wyn, David Bartram","doi":"10.3390/ani14162308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162308","url":null,"abstract":"This research aimed to explore UK cat owners’ preferences for treatments for feline osteoarthritis (OA) by exploring preferences around quality of life (QoL) improvements, safety considerations, and costs associated with hypothetical innovative pain therapies. Aspects identified in an existing conceptual framework were extracted for inclusion in exploratory interviews with cat owners (n = 3) to identify key domains that contribute to the QoL of cats. QoL descriptions for cats with OA and hypothetical product attributes were developed and validated through interviews with veterinarians (n = 3). An online survey was subsequently shared with 255 pet owners in the UK. Pet owners were presented with QoL descriptions and hypothetical product attributes to gather their preferences for QoL improvements and their willingness to pay (WTP) for (unbranded) pain therapies at various price points. Pet owners were motivated to improve their cats’ QoL, which translated into WTP for therapies; specifically, pet owners valued QoL improvements in mobility, pain expression, and well-being. When presented with a product profile of the hypothetical novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) and cost, 50% of cat owners were willing to pay more for a mAb that is expected to have improved efficacy and safety when compared to a hypothetical standard of care (SoC). Significantly more pet owners preferred the mAb than the SoC when price was not presented (p < 0.01), with product efficacy and safety driving pet owners’ decision-making. The majority of pet owners did not agree that taking their cats to the veterinarian once a month for their treatment would be burdensome. Cat owners in the UK are motivated to improve their cats’ QoL, which translates into WTP for the efficacious treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis. Veterinarians should offer cat owners the pain treatment they feel is best suited for improving the cat’s QoL and to ensure subsequent owner-pet bond is preserved.","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"55 28","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141928959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations between Ultrasonographically Diagnosed Lung Lesions, Clinical Parameters and Treatment Frequency in Veal Calves in an Austrian Fattening Farm","authors":"Julia Hoffelner, Walter Peinhopf-Petz, Thomas Wittek","doi":"10.3390/ani14162311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162311","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluated the significance and predictive value of ultrasonographic and physical examination on arrival at an Austrian fattening farm. Treatment frequency and average daily weight gain (ADG) were related to physical and ultrasonographic examination results. Additionally, the effect of an intranasal vaccination in half of the examined calves was studied. The clinical and ultrasonographic health status 600 calves was recorded at the beginning and end of fattening. Half of the calves received an intranasal vaccination (Bovalto® Respi Intranasal). Overall, 44.5% showed an abnormal respiratory scoring (RS) and 56.0% showed signs of respiratory diseases in transthoracic ultrasonography (TUS) at arrival on the farm. For both RS and TUS, a categorization between ILL and HEALTHY was conducted. Results showed lower ADG in ILL calves (RS median: 0.93 kg/d; TUS median: 0.96 kg/d) compared to HEALTHY calves (RS median: 1.01 kg/d; TUS median: 1.01 kg/d). The median ADG was lower in not treated and ILL calves (RS median 0.90 kg/d; TUS: 0.93 kg/d) compared to treated and ILL calves (RS median 1.01 kg/d; TUS: 1.02 kg/d). Vaccination did not affect growth performance or occurrence of ILL, though treatment frequency was lower in VAC calves (17.0% in NVAC; 11.3% in VAC). The implementation of examination protocols for respiratory diseases may have a positive impact on production parameters (e.g., treatment frequency and ADG).","PeriodicalId":502248,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"54 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141929037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}