Einar Ringø, Ramasamy Harikrishnan, Mehdi Soltani, Koushik Ghosh
{"title":"The Effect of Gut Microbiota and Probiotics on Metabolism in Fish and Shrimp.","authors":"Einar Ringø, Ramasamy Harikrishnan, Mehdi Soltani, Koushik Ghosh","doi":"10.3390/ani12213016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present paper presents an overview of the effects of gut microbiota and probiotics on lipid-, carbohydrate-, protein- and amino acid metabolism in fish and shrimp. In probiotic fish studies, the zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) model is the most frequently used, and probiotic administration reveals the effect on glucose homeostasis, anti-lipidemic effects and increasing short-chain fatty acids, and increased expressions of genes related to carbohydrate metabolism and innate immunity, along with down-regulation of oxidative stress-related genes. Further, improved length of the intestinal villi and expression of nutrient transporters in fish owing to probiotics exposure have been documented. The present review will present an appraisal of the effect of intestinal microbiota and probiotic administration on the metabolism of nutrients and metabolites related to stress and immunity in diverse fish- and shrimp species. Furthermore, to give the reader satisfactory information on the topics discussed, some information from endothermic animals is also presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9655696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677010","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}
Milan Marković, Dušica Radonjić, Minja Zorc, Milena Đokić, Božidarka Marković
{"title":"Genetic Diversity of Montenegrin Local Sheep Breeds Based on Microsatellite Markers.","authors":"Milan Marković, Dušica Radonjić, Minja Zorc, Milena Đokić, Božidarka Marković","doi":"10.3390/ani12213029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Montenegrin sheep population mostly consists of local breeds and their crossbreeds that are very valuable from their genome preservation point of view. The aim of this study was the investigation of the genetic diversity of seven Montenegrin sheep breeds (Jezeropivska-JP, Sora-SOR, Zetska zuja-ZZ, Bardoka-BAR, Sjenička-SJ, Ljaba-Lj, and Piperska zuja-PIP) using 18 microsatellite sets of markers. The genotyping was done for 291 samples from seven populations using the multiplex amplification of sequences with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The parameters of genetic diversity were estimated using several software tools. In total, 243 alleles were found, with a range of 6 to 25 by locus. The mean observed heterozygosity (Ho), polymorphism information content (PIC), and Fis values (fixation index) per marker were 0.728, 0.781, and -0.007, respectively. The mean number of alleles per breed varied from 4.889 in ZZ to 10.056 in JP. The highest Ho was estimated for JP (0.763) and the lowest for ZZ (0.640). The genetic structure showed close relations between SOR and JP, and both of them with SJ, while ZZ, LJ, and PIP were more distanced. This study provides useful indicators for the development of further in-depth studies and the creation of appropriate conservation programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9653887/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677906","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":"Limitations of Spatial Judgment Bias Test Application in Horses (<i>Equus ferus caballus</i>).","authors":"Giovanna Marliani, Irene Vannucchi, Irini Kiumurgis, Pier Attilio Accorsi","doi":"10.3390/ani12213014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Affective states are of increasing interest in the assessment of animal welfare. This research aimed to evaluate the possible limitations in the application of a spatial judgment bias test (JBT) in horses, considering the influence of stress level, personality traits, and the possible bias due to the test structure itself. The distinction between two positions, one rewarded (Positive) and the other not (Negative), was learned by 10 horses and 4 ponies,. Then, the latency to reach three unrewarded ambiguous positions (Near Positive, Middle, Near Negative) was measured. Furthermore, the validated Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) was employed to assess personality traits. Fecal and hair cortisol levels were measured through radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the frequency of behavioral stress indicators was recorded. Results showed that horses that had the rewarded position (Positive) on the right approached Near Negative and Middle faster than those that had Positive on the left. Certain personality traits influenced the latency to reach Middle and Near Positive, but chronic stress did not seem to affect horses' judgment bias. This preliminary study highlighted several limitations in the employment of spatial JBT for the assessment of affective state in horses and that personality traits can partially influence the cognitive process. Further research is needed to refine the use of this test in horses, considering the peculiarities both of species and of individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9654000/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677008","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}
Michaela J Gibson, Kylie A Legg, Erica K Gee, Chris W Rogers
{"title":"Race-Level Reporting of Incidents Using an Online System during Three Seasons (2019/2020-2021/2022) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand.","authors":"Michaela J Gibson, Kylie A Legg, Erica K Gee, Chris W Rogers","doi":"10.3390/ani12213028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the 2019/20 Thoroughbred racing season, the paper-based reporting process of stipendiary steward reports was upgraded to an online system ('Infohorse database') to allow for the rapid entry of precise event and injury data. The objectives of this study were to describe the incident and non-incident examinations during the 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22 Thoroughbred flat racing seasons in New Zealand and describe the primary injury and reporting outcomes. The introduction of the online system was associated with fewer miscoding events with horse identification (0.1%). An improvement in the definition and prompts in reporting within the online system compared with the previous paper-based system resulted in a greater frequency of non-incident examinations being undertaken. The increased frequency of reporting the clinical outcome, 'no observable abnormalities detected' (NOAD), demonstrates the role of stipendiary stewards to carry out routine screening. The frequency of most clinical findings, such as musculoskeletal fractures (0.5 per 1000 starts, 95% CI = 0.3-0.6), remained similar compared to previously reported data using the paper-based system. The online system provided a more structured dataset compared with the paper-based system, making it a useful tool for the monitoring of incidents, injuries, and potential risk factors within Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. Therefore, evidence-based changes to the management and structure of racing can be undertaken to ensure the industry meets its duty of care for racehorse and jockey welfare.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9658589/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677500","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":"Clinical Scoring Systems in the Newborn Calf: An Overview.","authors":"Monica Probo, Maria Cristina Veronesi","doi":"10.3390/ani12213013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A scoring system is an instrument that enables the scorers, including farmers, technicians, and veterinarians, to adopt a systematic approach for diagnosis or monitoring, as it decreases bias and confounding and increases objectivity. Practically, it is a number assigned to a patient that correlates with a probability that a diagnosis can be confirmed or that a specific outcome will follow. This article examines the clinical scores designed or adapted to bovine medicine that aim to assess newborn calf viability and to diagnose and monitor neonatal calf diarrhea and respiratory diseases, helping the clinician promptly recognize calves needing medical assistance. Despite the large number of clinical scores described in the literature, these are still barely used in farm animal practice; possibly, the complexity of the scores and missing recommendations for intervention are reasons for their lack of popularity as well as the crosswise lack of consistency among scores designed for the same purpose. Further research is needed in this regard to increase scores validation and encourage their application in bovine calf neonatology.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9658896/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677007","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":"Reproductive Losses and Their Causes in Alpacas-A Survey-Based Study.","authors":"Joanna Kapustka, Monika Budzyńska","doi":"10.3390/ani12213030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The profitability of alpaca breeding depends on satisfactory reproductive results. The study aimed to analyze the frequency and causes of reproduction-related problems in alpacas, in particular miscarriages, stillbirths, preterm births, twin pregnancies, and falls of crias within 12 months after birth. This analysis was carried out with the use of questionnaires completed voluntarily by 109 alpaca owners in three regions (British Isles, Continental Europe, and North America). Cases of miscarriage and stillbirths were reported from 44% and 36% of the farms, respectively. In half of the farms, the cases of falls of crias and young alpacas within 12 months after birth were reported. Preterm births were reported from almost half of the farms. A large number of alpaca owners did not identify the cause of fetal death. An important element increasing the cria survival rate of is the birth weight (the higher cria birth weight, the lower risk of perinatal complications and less necessity of bottle feeding). Crias from dams receiving mineral supplements had higher birth weight. This study indicated a relationship between fetal death and the occurrence of infectious diseases and scabies infestation in the herd. They may be potential causes of reproduction-related problems that are not discerned in time.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9657741/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677907","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}
Carla Teixeira, Diogo Peixoto, Mariana Hinzmann, Paulo Santos, Inês Ferreira, Gabriella V Pereira, Jorge Dias, Benjamín Costas
{"title":"Dietary Strategies to Modulate the Health Condition and Immune Responses in Gilthead Seabream (<i>Sparus aurata</i>) Juveniles Following Intestinal Inflammation.","authors":"Carla Teixeira, Diogo Peixoto, Mariana Hinzmann, Paulo Santos, Inês Ferreira, Gabriella V Pereira, Jorge Dias, Benjamín Costas","doi":"10.3390/ani12213019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Several feed additives have proved to be beneficial in eliciting fish health. Β-glucans and curcumin are compounds with immunomodulatory capacities known to increase growth performance, stimulate immunity, improve general health, and enhance disease resistance in fish. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> extracts rich in β-glucans and curcumin on gilthead seabream health status prior to and following an intestinal inflammatory stimulus. Three experimental diets were formulated: a practical commercial-type diet (CTRL), a CTRL diet supplemented with 1% microalgae-derived β-glucans extract (BG), and a CTRL diet supplemented with 0.2% of curcumin (CUR). After 30 days of the feeding trial, fish were sampled and subjected to an oral administration of 1% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) to induce intestinal inflammation. Four groups were considered: a group of fish continued to be fed on the CTRL diet while the remaining groups were exposed to DSS, including CTRL-D (CTRL + DSS), BG-D (BG + DSS), and CUR-D (CUR + DSS), for 6 days. Growth, plasma and gut humoral immunity, liver and gut oxidative stress biomarkers, and intestinal gene expression were evaluated. No significant differences were found in growth after 30 days of feeding; however, seabream fed BG had decreased anti-protease activity and nitric oxide concentration in plasma while those fed CUR had increased mRNA levels of the <i>tnfα</i>, <i>csf1r</i>, and <i>hep</i> genes compared to those fed CTRL. After the inflammatory stimulus, hematocrit was enhanced in fish fed BG-D and CUR-D while red blood cell counts increased in those fed CTRL-D. Superoxide dismutase activity decreased in the intestine of all DSS groups while lipid peroxidation increased in the gut of fish fed CTRL-D and BG-D compared to CTRL. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of <i>csfr1</i> and <i>sod</i> decreased in fish fed CTRL-D and BG-D compared to CTRL, respectively. Despite the mild intestinal inflammatory condition induced by DSS, CUR was able to partially ameliorate its effects, improving the hematological profile and assisting against the oxidative stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9657010/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677012","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 Zearalenone-Induced Ferroptosis on Mice Spermatogenesis.","authors":"Yajing Li, Zhendong Zhu, Haixiang Cui, Kexin Ding, Yong Zhao, Xiangping Ma, Adedeji Olufemi Adetunji, Lingjiang Min","doi":"10.3390/ani12213026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Male reproductive health is critically worsening around the world. It has been reported that the mycotoxin ZEA causes reproductive toxicity to domestic animals and affects spermatogenesis, thereby inhibiting male reproductive function. Ferroptosis is a newly identified type of programmed cell death that is different from apoptosis and it depends on iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Whether ferroptosis is linked to ZEA's detrimental effect on spermatogenesis needs to be further explored. This study clarifies ferroptosis's involvement in ZEA-induced damage on spermatogenesis. The reproductive injury model used in this study was induced by gavaging male mice in the ZEA treatment group with 30 μg/kg of ZEA for five weeks. Results show that ZEA treatment reduced mouse sperm motility and concentration, destroyed the structure of the seminiferous tubules of the testis, damaged the antioxidant defense system, and blocked spermatogenesis. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) inhibition of ferroptosis partially alleviated ZEA-induced oligozoospermia in mice. In addition, ZEA treatment was found to activate a signaling pathway associated with ferroptosis in mouse testis. ZEA also downregulated the expression of <i>Nrf2</i>, <i>SLC7A11</i>, and <i>GPX4</i>, and decreased the protein expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4, resulting in the accumulation of lipid peroxides and an increase in the level of 4-HNE protein in the testis. Importantly, these changes were accompanied by an increase in the relative contents of Fe<sup>2+</sup> and Fe<sup>3+</sup>. Iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation are the causes of ferroptosis in spermatogenic cells, leading to a decrease in sperm motility and concentration. While the administration of Fer-1 at 0.5 and 1 mg/kg also increased the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 proteins by upregulating <i>Nrf2</i> expression, reducing iron accumulation, and reversing ZEA-induced ferroptosis, Fer-1 at 1.5 mg/kg had the best repairing effect for all parameters. In conclusion, ZEA-induced ferroptosis may be mediated by a notable reduction in <i>Nrf2</i>, <i>SLC7A11</i> and <i>GPX4</i> expression levels. Overall, ferroptosis is a novel therapeutic target for mitigating ZEA-induced reproductive toxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9657494/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677499","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}
Aleksandra Rawicka, Manuela Crasta, Adolfo Guandalini, Claudio Peruccio, Domenico Multari, Marco Rondena, Nunzio D'Anna, Chiara Giudice
{"title":"Conjunctival Extramedullary Plasmacytoma in Dogs and a Cat: Clinical Characteristics and Histopathological Findings.","authors":"Aleksandra Rawicka, Manuela Crasta, Adolfo Guandalini, Claudio Peruccio, Domenico Multari, Marco Rondena, Nunzio D'Anna, Chiara Giudice","doi":"10.3390/ani12213015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a plasma cell tumor that is very rarely reported in ocular and adnexal tissue and is usually solitary and benign.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study evaluated seven cases from different ophthalmology referrals submitted for histopathological analysis between 2013 and 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>EMPs were diagnosed in a 9-year-old domestic short-haired cat and in six dogs (median age, 10 years): three English Cocker Spaniels, a Golden Retriever, a Maltese, and a Pinscher. EMPs affected the third eyelid conjunctiva in five cases (5/7), followed by the superior bulbar (1/7) and palpebral conjunctivae (1/7), respectively, and were presented mostly as well-defined, salmon-colored nodules. Histopathologically, the masses were composed of sheets and packets of round cells morphologically consistent with mature plasma cells with mild anisocytosis and anisokaryosis; mitosis and binucleated giant cells were rarely observed. Follow up for 6/7 cases ranged from 6 months to 2 years. No signs of recurrence or systemic involvement (multiple myeloma) were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>EMP should be included in the differential diagnoses of canine and feline conjunctival masses. Staging recommendations should include multiple myeloma diagnostic evaluation. Our results suggest that primary conjunctival EMP does not appear to be locally aggressive and has low systemic involvement behavior. The local surgical excision alone or combined with cryotherapy should be curative.</p>","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9653729/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40677009","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}