Animals最新文献

{"title":"Animal Welfare, Agency, and Animal-Computer Interaction.","authors":"Heather Browning, Walter Veit","doi":"10.3390/ani15020219","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent discussions in animal welfare have emphasised the importance of animal agency-the ability of animals to make choices and exert control over their environment in a way that aligns with their needs and preferences. In this paper, we discuss the importance of animal agency for welfare and examine how use of some types of animal-computer interaction can enable animals to exercise more agency in captive environments through increased choice and control, cognitive challenge, and social interactions; as well as considering some of the potential limitations of such efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758648/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143035670","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":"Farming of Indigenous Crayfish in Russia: A Mini-Review of Recent Studies.","authors":"Alexander G Dvoretsky, Vladimir G Dvoretsky","doi":"10.3390/ani15020223","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020223","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Natural populations of crayfish in Europe have experienced significant declines due to the spread of crayfish plague, overfishing, competition with invasive crayfish species, and habitat degradation. Consequently, crayfish farming has gained importance in meeting the increasing demand for crayfish products. Although Russia boasts abundant water resources, the development of crayfish aquaculture remains nascent. In this review, we consolidate recent studies by Russian researchers that focus on various aspects of crayfish cultivation. Extensive cultivation in open ponds is the most suitable method, owing to its accessibility and lower costs; however, it necessitates suitable environmental conditions within the water bodies. The production cycle encompasses pond preparation, stocking, exploration, restoration, and monitoring. Controlled cultivation of egg-bearing females is essential for producing high-quality seedstock for subsequent rearing. Experimental evidence suggests that crayfish exhibit high adaptability to artificial conditions, with formulated diets comprising artificial feeds for sturgeon and powdered dried beef by-products demonstrating promising results in terms of growth performance. Plastic tangled threads and mink shelters are recommended to reduce cannibalism. Short-term grow-out of juvenile crayfish can yield a profit margin of 17%, while a complete two-year production cycle is projected to achieve financial break-even over three years. The primary challenges confronting the industry include disease management, cannibalism, the need for skilled technical personnel, and insufficient financial and policy support.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758663/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143035912","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":"Effect of <i>FABP4</i> Gene Polymorphisms on Fatty Acid Composition, Chemical Composition, and Carcass Traits in Sonid Sheep.","authors":"Jiada Xiang, Haofan Li, Zhaoxin Guo, Terigele Li, Takahisa Yamada, Xihe Li, Siqin Bao, Lai Da, Gerelt Borjigin, Ming Cang, Bin Tong","doi":"10.3390/ani15020226","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020226","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fatty acids (FAs) are a group of organic compounds that are regulated by polygenic and environmental factors and affect the taste, nutritional value, and quality of meat. Lamb meat is rich in FAs required by the human body, which has directed more attention to sheep research and meat production. The fatty acid-binding protein 4 (<i>FABP4</i>) gene is considered a candidate gene that can affect FA composition in livestock. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen for genetic polymorphisms of <i>FABP4</i> and confirm the association between these polymorphisms and FAs, chemical composition, and carcass traits in Sonid lambs. The results of the association study showed that g.57764667T>C, g.57764436T>G, g.57764242G>A, and g.57757988A>G were associated with the composition of certain long-chain FAs, and g.57764242G>A, g.57764436T>G, and g.57758026G>A were associated with free amino acid levels. In addition, g.57764667T>C and g.57757988A>G were associated with carcass weight and live weight in Sonid lambs. Therefore, the polymorphisms of the <i>FABP4</i> gene are expected to be a genetic selection marker for superior traits in Sonid sheep breeding, which also provides new insights into how the ovine <i>FABP4</i> gene affects traits of lamb quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758647/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036016","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":"Effects of Dietary Tea Polyphenols on the Growth, Antioxidant Status, Immune Function, and Intestinal Microbiota of Largemouth Bass (<i>Micropterus salmoides</i>).","authors":"Zixin Yang, Qiuwen Su, Jiafa Yang, Zhijun Li, Shanren Lan, Xu Jia, Paihuai Ouyang, Huijuan Tang","doi":"10.3390/ani15020222","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020222","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This research aimed to explore the impact of tea polyphenol (TP) supplementation on the development, antioxidant properties, immune responses, and gut wellness in largemouth bass (<i>Micropterus salmoides</i>, LMB). Four diets with varying levels of TPs (0.00%, 0.02%, 0.04%, and 0.08%) were devised to feed LMB with an initial weight of 4.3 ± 0.02 g for 56 days, among which the intermittent feeding (IF) group was fed a diet supplemented with TP8 for 7 days, followed by a basal diet for another 7 days, and this was repeated until the end (56th day). The results demonstrated that supplementation with 0.04% or 0.08% TPs in the diet could reduce the crude lipid content and increase the crude protein content of LMB (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The levels of total cholesterol (CHO) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the serum significantly decreased with the addition of 0.08% dietary TPs to the diet (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Dietary TPs can stimulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and enhance the antioxidant capacity of LMB (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The activities of immune enzymes such as acid phosphatase (ACP) were increased to improve the immune response via the addition of TPs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Supplementation with 0.02% and 0.04% TPs reduced liver fatty infiltration and alleviated hepatocyte damage. Compared with the control diet, dietary TPs significantly increased villus height (VH), villus width (VW), and lipase (LPS) activity in the intestine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and supplementation with 0.04% TPs significantly increased muscular layer thickness (MT) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). With the increase in dietary TPs, distinct differences were observed in the intestinal microbial composition and the relative abundance of potential pathogens, especially <i>Clostridiaceae</i>, which decreased, along with the enrichment of pathways related to metabolism, including amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Additionally, intermittent feeding could alleviate the adverse effects caused by a high dosage. In conclusion, dietary TPs of LMB could enhance antioxidant capacity and immunity and improve intestinal health, and intermittent feeding could mitigate the adverse effects caused by a high dosage.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758657/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036035","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":"Assessing Facial Thermal Nociceptive Response in Female Dogs After Elective Ovariohysterectomy Anesthetized with Isoflurane and Treated with Cannabidiol and Meloxicam Analgesia.","authors":"Alejandro Casas-Alvarado, Patricia Mora-Medina, Ismael Hernández-Avalos, Julio Martínez-Burnes, Agatha Miranda-Cortes, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Daniel Mota-Rojas","doi":"10.3390/ani15020227","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pain management requires the identification of certain indicators to recognize pain. Various tools have been suggested to achieve an objective evaluation, including infrared thermography (IRT). The objective of this study was to assess the facial thermal nociceptive response produced by the use of cannabidiol (CBD) alone and in combination with meloxicam in female dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy anesthetized with isoflurane. Sixty-four female dogs of different breeds were randomly distributed into four study groups according to the treatment received. G1: Placebo group (<i>n =</i> 16); G2: Group receiving intravenous meloxicam as premedication (0.2 mg Kg^-1) and every 24 h postoperatively 0.1 mg Kg^-1 (<i>n =</i> 16); G3: Group treated with CBD (<i>n =</i> 16) at a dose of 2 mg kg^-1 orally every 12 h; and G4: Group medicated with the combination of both treatments (<i>n =</i> 16). All treatments were administered for 48 h postoperatively. After the anesthetic surgical procedure, radiometric images were captured using IRT and physiological parameters during the events E_Basal, E_30min, E_1h, E_2h, E_3h, E_4h, E_8h, E_12h, E_24h and E_48h. Overall, it was found that the high, medium and low temperatures of the thermal windows of the eye, upper eyelid and lower eyelid, as well as the average temperature of the lacrimal gland in G1 between events, were significantly lower at E_30min, E_1h and E_2h compared to E_Basal (<i>p =</i> 0.01). Among treatments, a significantly higher temperature was observed in groups G2, G3 and G4 compared to G1 (<i>p =</i> 0.001) in the thermal windows of the upper eyelid, lower eyelid, lacrimal gland and ocular areas. Regarding physiological parameters, heart rate (HR) was higher in G1 compared to the animals in G2, G3 and G4 (<i>p =</i> 0.03). The respiratory rate (RR) was significantly lower in all four study groups during the postoperative events compared to their respective E_Basal (<i>p <</i> 0.05), while among treatments, G2, G3 and G4 had a lower RR compared to G1 (<i>p =</i> 0.03). Mild hypothermia was observed in all study groups at E_30min and E_1h compared to E_Basal (<i>p =</i> 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the temperatures of the assessed thermal regions and the physiological traits. In conclusion, CBD, whether administered alone or in combination with meloxicam, demonstrated comparable analgesic efficacy, which could control nociceptive cardiorespiratory and hemodynamic autonomic responses, as there were no significant changes in the facial thermal response between treatments G2, G3 and G4.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143035863","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":"Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of an Exotic Strain of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and Its Effect on an Affected Herd Immunized Against the Endemic Strain in Thailand.","authors":"Christopher James Stott, Patumporn Jermsutjarit, Pornchai Pornpanom, Hongyao Lin, Angkana Tantituvanont, Dachrit Nilubol","doi":"10.3390/ani15020225","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020225","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is caused by the PED virus, with <b>genogroup 2</b> (<b>G2</b>), comprising <b>G2a</b> and <b>G2b</b>, being the primary contributors to outbreaks worldwide. In Thailand, <b>G2a</b> was the only virulent strain identified until the emergence of the first <b>G2b</b> strain in 2014, followed by additional <b>G2b</b> strains in 2015-2016, particularly those closely related to virulent strains from China. This led to increased awareness of more frequent and complex outbreaks. This study examined farms affected by <b>G2a</b> and <b>G2b</b> strains, both employing planned exposure of sows to intestines from <b>G2a</b>-affected piglets, a traditional practice in Thailand. The analysis focused on the milk and colostrum profiles of sows, including viral neutralization and ELISA methods, as well as histopathological assessments of piglet intestinal villi. Additionally, a novel <b>G2b</b> strain was sequenced for phylogenetic and protein structure analyses. The results revealed no significant differences in colostrum and milk profiles between the farms. However, piglets infected with <b>G2b</b> showed significantly more severe intestinal damage. A unique insertion in the protein structure of the novel <b>G2b</b> strain led to the identification of a new epitope and potential changes in viral properties. This study highlights the importance of monitoring emerging strains and provides valuable insights for enhancing preventive strategies and advancing phylogenetic research.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11759134/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036009","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":"Effect of Gardeniae Fructus Powder on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Intestinal Barrier Function, and Colonic Microbiota of Weaned Piglets.","authors":"Shilong Liu, Min Tian, Ming Ma, Yueqin Qiu, Jiaxi Tang, Jing Hou, Qi Lu, Chaoyang Tian, Guohao Ye, Li Wang, Kaiguo Gao, Shining Guo, Zongyong Jiang, Xuefen Yang","doi":"10.3390/ani15020221","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020221","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The present study aimed to explore the effect of GF powder on the growth performance, diarrhea rate, antioxidant and immune capacity, and intestinal health of weaned piglets. A total of 144 weaned piglets (8.29 ± 0.11 kg) at 21 d old were randomly assigned to four groups, with each treatment consisting of six replicate pens, with six piglets per pen, and each pen containing three barrows and three gilts. The piglets were fed a basal diet supplement with 0%, 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% GF powder (n = 36). Our results indicated that compared with the basal diet, the F/G and diarrhea rate were remarkably decreased in the 0.8% GF group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). Serum biochemical parameters showed that supplementation with GF significantly increased the content of HDL-C (0.6 and 0.8% levels), IL-6 (0.8% level), IL-10 (0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% levels), Ig G (0.4% level), and Ig A (0.8% level) compared with the basal diet (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). The index of antioxidant capacity showed that compared with a basal diet, supplementation with GF significantly decreased serum MDA content (0.4% and 0.8% levels) and jejunal and ileal MDA content (0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% levels) (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). Additionally, compared with the basal diet, supplementation with GF significantly increased serum and ileal T-AOC content (0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% levels), serum T-SOD content (0.4% and 0.8% levels), ileal T-SOD content (0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% levels), CAT content (0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% levels), and jejunal GSH-Px content (0.8% level) (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). The results of gene expression indicate that compared with the basal diet, supplementation with GF significantly increased &lt;i&gt;Nrf 2&lt;/i&gt; (0.4% level), &lt;i&gt;NQO&lt;/i&gt; (0.4% level), &lt;i&gt;SOD 1&lt;/i&gt; (0.4% and 0.8% levels), and &lt;i&gt;GCLC&lt;/i&gt; (0.4% level) and &lt;i&gt;GCLM&lt;/i&gt; (0.8% level) abundance in jejunal mucosa; supplementation with GF significantly increased &lt;i&gt;Nrf 2&lt;/i&gt; (0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% levels), &lt;i&gt;HO-1&lt;/i&gt; (0.4% level)&lt;i&gt;, NQO&lt;/i&gt; (0.8% level), &lt;i&gt;SOD 1&lt;/i&gt; (0.4% and 0.8% levels), and &lt;i&gt;GCLC&lt;/i&gt; (0.4% level) and &lt;i&gt;GCLM&lt;/i&gt; (0.8% level) abundance in ileal mucosa (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). Ulteriorly, the present results indicate that supplementation with GF at the 0.8% level significantly increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum as well as the villus/crypt ratio in the ileum compared with the basal diet (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). Compared with the basal diet, 0.4% GF significantly increased &lt;i&gt;Occludin&lt;/i&gt; gene expression in ileal mucosa (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), 0.6% GF significantly increased &lt;i&gt;ZO-1&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Claudin-1&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;Occludin&lt;/i&gt; gene expression in jejunal mucosa (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), and 0.8% GF significantly increased &lt;i&gt;ZO-1&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Occludin&lt;/i&gt; gene expression in jejunal mucosa along with &lt;i&gt;Occludin&lt;/i&gt; expression in ileal mucosa (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, colonic microbiota composition showed that Shannon, observed species, and Chao 1 indices were significantly increased in the 0.8% GF group compared with the basal diet (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05)","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758313/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143035948","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":"Identification of the Highly Polymorphic Prion Protein Gene (<i>PRNP</i>) in Frogs <i>(Rana dybowskii</i>).","authors":"Chang-Su Han, Sae-Young Won, Sang-Hun Park, Yong-Chan Kim","doi":"10.3390/ani15020220","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020220","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that can be transmitted by infectious protein particles, PrP^Scs, encoded by the endogenous prion protein gene (<i>PRNP</i>). The origin of prion seeds is unclear, especially in non-human hosts, and this identification is pivotal to preventing the spread of prion diseases from host animals. Recently, an abnormally high amyloid propensity in prion proteins (PrPs) was found in a frog, of which the genetic variations in the <i>PRNP</i> gene have not been investigated. In this study, genetic polymorphisms in the <i>PRNP</i> gene were investigated in 194 Dybowski's frogs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplicon sequencing. We carried out in silico analyses to predict functional alterations according to non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using PolyPhen-2, PANTHER, SIFT, and MutPred2. We used ClustalW2 and MEGA X to compare frog <i>PRNP</i> and PrP sequences with those of prion-related animals. To evaluate the impact of the SNPs on protein aggregation propensity and 3D structure, we utilized AMYCO and ColabFold. We identified 34 novel genetic polymorphisms including 6 non-synonymous SNPs in the frog <i>PRNP</i> gene. The hydrogen bond length varied at codons 143 and 207 according to non-synonymous SNPs, even if the electrostatic potential was not changed. In silico analysis predicted S143N to increase the aggregation propensity, and W6L, C8Y, R211W, and L241F had damaging effects on frog PrPs. The <i>PRNP</i> and PrP sequences of frogs showed low homology with those of prion-related mammals. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first to discover genetic polymorphisms in the <i>PRNP</i> gene in amphibians.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758322/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036064","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":"Prevalence of Reasons for Tooth Extraction in Small- and Medium-Breed Dogs.","authors":"Chun-Geun Kim, Daehyun Kwon, Kyuyoung Lee, Se Eun Kim, Hyun Min Jo","doi":"10.3390/ani15020224","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020224","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As the life span of companion animals increases and their owners' concern for their quality of life increases, interest in dental diseases has also gained attention. While many studies have explored oral diseases in general, research on small-breed dogs remains limited. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed various diseases that led to tooth extraction in small- and medium-breed dogs. A study involving 2201 client-owned small- and medium-breed dogs was conducted. All dogs were categorized by sex, age, breed, and tooth position. Teeth were classified into untreated, missing, or extracted categories. For extracted teeth, 14 causes were identified. The results revealed that periodontal disease was the primary cause of tooth extractions, particularly in older dogs and small breeds. In addition to periodontal disease, various other diseases that led to tooth extraction were identified. For these other diseases, the number of extracted teeth increased with age, and brachycephalic breeds exhibited higher extraction rates. The study emphasizes the need for personalized oral care and further research into other contributing factors such as diet and genetics to better understand and manage oral health in dogs. It also offers valuable insights into the broader patterns of tooth extraction associated with various dental diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758340/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143035903","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":"Ecological and Functional Changes in the Hindgut Microbiome of Holstein Cows at High Altitudes.","authors":"Gong Chen, Haibo Lu, Shangzhen Huang, Congcong Zhang, Xiaojuan Ma, Bin Li, Lingling Hou, Qing Xu, Yachun Wang","doi":"10.3390/ani15020218","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15020218","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The extreme environmental conditions of the Qinhai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) challenge livestock survival and productivity, yet little is known about how high-altitude environments impact the gut microbiota of dairy cows. To fill this gap, we systematically investigated the differences in the hindgut microbiome between 87 plateau Holstein cows and 72 plain Holstein cows using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our analysis revealed that the hindgut microbiota of the plateau group exhibited lower species richness but higher evenness than that in the plain group. Additionally, significant separation in hindgut microbiota composition between the two groups was observed based on altitude, while parity, days in milk, and age did not show a comparable impact. Moreover, altitude had a lasting impact on bacterial communities and their co-occurrence networks, resulting in reduced microbial interactions and lower modularity in the plateau group. Furthermore, we identified four key microbial taxa, the <i>Bacteroidaceae</i> and <i>Rikenellaceae</i> families, as well as the <i>Prevotella</i> and <i>Treponema</i> genera, which were associated with the regulation of carbohydrate digestion and energy metabolism and might help the Holstein cows adapt to the plateau environment. Our findings provide insights into strategies for enhancing the adaptability of dairy cows to high-altitude environments through microbiota modulation, which could ultimately contribute to improving livestock management and sustainability in these extreme environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11758639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143036015","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}