BMC Veterinary Research最新文献

{"title":"Efficacy and mechanism of action of harmine derivative H-2-104 against Echinococcus granulosus infection in mice.","authors":"Huijing Gao, Qinwei Xu, Jiang Zhu, Kadierya Kuerban, Bei Chen, Jun Zhao, Kalibixiati Aimulajiang, Liang Teng","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04642-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04642-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). Currently, pharmacologic treatments are limited to albendazole and mebendazole; however, these treatments are associated with significant side effects and limited therapeutic efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for the development of new drugs. Harmine (HM) has been reported to exhibit potent antiparasitic effects, although it is also accompanied by notable neurotoxicity. H-2-104, a derivative of HM obtained through structural modification of its parent nucleus, represents a promising candidate for further investigation. This study aims to assess the in vivo and in vitro efficacy of H-2-104 against E. granulosus and to elucidate the mechanism of action of H-2-104 against CE from a metabolomics perspective.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In vitro pharmacodynamics experiments were conducted to assess the inhibitory activity of H-2-104 against E. granulosus protoscoleces (PSCs). Following this, a mouse model of E. granulosus infection was established to explore the inhibitory effects against E. granulosus of H-2-104 at low, medium, and high concentrations. Additionally, non-targeted metabolomic approaches were utilized to analyze the serum and liver samples from mice in the control group, model group, and H-2-104 treatment group with the aim of identifying relevant biomarkers and crucial metabolic pathways involved in the response to H-2-104 treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The in vitro results demonstrated that H-2-104 exhibited significantly superior inhibitory activity against PSCs compared to harmine and albendazole. Morphological observations revealed marked alterations in the ultrastructural characteristics of PSCs treated with H-2-104. In vivo pharmacodynamic studies showed that H-2-104 at a dosage of 100 mg/kg exhibited the highest cyst inhibition rate, which was (73.60 ± 4.71)%. Metabolomics analysis revealed that 64 serum metabolites were significantly altered, primarily involving metabolic pathways such as necroptosis, linoleic acid metabolism, and phenylalanine metabolism. Additionally, 81 liver metabolites were identified with significant differences, mainly involving metabolic pathways like fructose and mannose metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>H-2-104 exhibits significant activity both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its potential as a promising new drug for the treatment of CE. The anti-CE effects of H-2-104 may be attributed to its regulation of multiple biological pathways, including cell apoptosis, amino acid metabolism, and glucose metabolism.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"174"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11912776/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143647265","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":"Surveillance of hoof disorders in Korean dairy cattle and the correlation of farm condition risk factors to their prevalence.","authors":"Hector M Espiritu, Seok-Won Kwon, Sang-Suk Lee, Yong-Il Cho","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04628-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04628-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study investigated the prevalence of hoof disorders (HDs) in intensive dairy farms in Korea and their association with farm conditions. A total of 877 cattle from 15 farms were examined for infectious, noninfectious, and non-lesion HDs at the animal, foot, and farm levels. Risk factors such as bedding depth, floor wetness, floor elevation transitions, and aggressive hoof treatment were evaluated. Correlation and clustering analyses were used to assess the relationship between HDs and farm conditions and classify farms based on disease prevalence and management conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hoof disorders were identified in 31.5% of cattle, with hoof overgrowth (OG) (24.1%) being the most common. Infectious and noninfectious HDs were observed in 6.2% and 4.6% of cattle, respectively, with bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) (3.2%) and laminitis/corium damage (LCD) (3.1%) as the most prevalent. OG was more frequent in the front feet, while lesion HDs were more common in the rear feet. Correlation analysis showed that poor farm conditions, particularly aggressive hoof treatment and sharp floor elevation transitions, were linked to higher prevalence of BDD, LCD, and coronet swelling (CS). Hierarchical clustering classified farms into two main groups, distinguishing those with higher disease prevalence and poor conditions from those with lower prevalence and better management. This highlights differences in disease control across farms and the need for targeted interventions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides an updated assessment of HD prevalence in intensive dairy farms in Korea, the first in nearly two decades. The reported prevalence of OG, BDD, LCD, and CS underscores the need for improved hoof care and farm management. Farms with better conditions had lower disease prevalence, serving as benchmarks for improvement, while farms with poor conditions require targeted interventions. Enhancing hoof care practices and farm management strategies could reduce HD incidence and improve dairy cattle welfare.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143633482","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":"Bovine coronavirus presence in domestic bovine and antelopes sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from Namibia.","authors":"Umberto Molini, Lauren M Coetzee, Maria Y Hemberger, Mark Jago, Siegfried Khaiseb, Kalihulu Shapwa, Alessio Lorusso, Giovanni Cattoli, William G Dundon, Giovanni Franzo","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04625-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04625-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bovine coronavirus (BoCV) causes significant economic losses to cattle farming due to mortality in calves, reduced growth performances and milk production in feedlots and dairy cattle. Worldwide distribution of BoCV has been demonstrated, although knowledge of its epidemiology in Africa, especially in the sub-Saharan region, is limited.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the present study, a total of 208 swab samples of wild ruminants and 435 bovines from different regions of Namibia were obtained and tested by a BoCV-specific qRT-PCR. Twenty-six bovine samples tested positive [26/435 (5.98%; 95CI: 3.94-8.64%)] while, among the wild ruminants, only Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) were shown to be positive [13/52 (25.00%; 95CI: 14.03-38.95%)] of which 8 showed clinical signs. Analysis of partial nucleoprotein and spike protein gene sequences and comparison with international reference sequences demonstrated the existence of a unique Namibian clade, resulting from a single introduction event around 2010 followed by local evolution. Although the introduction source remains unknown, contact between bovine and wild animals appears likely.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The present study represents the first report of BoCV circulation in southern Africa, which showed a relatively high frequency and the ability of persisting and evolving locally in the absence of further foreign introductions. The implications for disease spread among domestic bovines and the potential impact on wildlife should encourage broader investigations on BoCV involving other African countries. Moreover, the Greater Kudu's susceptibility to BoCV infection was also proven, further highlighting the host plasticity of this virus.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"170"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909852/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143633366","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":"Physio-metabolic response, immune function, epigenetic markers, and reproductive performance of rabbits under environmental stress: the mitigating role of boswellia essential oil nanoemulsion.","authors":"Sameh A Abdelnour, Mahmoud Abdelaal, Ramya Ahmad Sindi, Mohammed A Alfattah, Wael A Khalil, Laila B Bahgat, Asmaa M Sheiha","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04587-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04587-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Global warming poses a significant threat to reproductive health of rabbits. Sustainable nutritional strategies are crucial for ensuring rabbit production and maintaining food security under these challenging conditions. This study sought to assess the protective benefits of dietary boswellia essential oil nano-emulsion (BEON) against oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, ferroptosis, and organ damage in female rabbits exposed to severe thermal stress. A total of 120 female rabbits were divided into four groups of 30 rabbits each. The rabbits were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (BEON0), 0.25 (BEON0.25), 0.5 (BEON0.5), and 1.0 (BEON1.0) mL of BEON per kilogram of diet. Results demonstrated that the BEON1.0 group exhibited significantly higher levels of IgG, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while the BEON0.25 group showed elevated levels of IgM, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (P < 0.05). All BEON treatments significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P < 0.01). Serum levels of progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were significantly elevated in the BEON0.5 and BEON1.0 groups compared to the control group (P < 0.01). A significant decrease in adipokine levels was observed in all BEON-supplemented groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). All BEON groups demonstrated a modulation of ferroptosis pathways, characterized by decreased heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression and upregulated expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and cystine transporter solute carrier 7A11 (SLC7A11) in ovarian tissues (P < 0.01). Furthermore, DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expression increased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing BEON supplementation. Histological analysis revealed an improvement in the architecture of the liver, uterine horns, and ovarian tissues in rabbits fed BEON. Integrating BEON at doses of 0.5-1.0 mL/kg diet significantly improved reproductive performance in stressed female rabbits. PCA and correlation analyses demonstrated a positive correlation between BEON supplementation and immune function, reproductive hormone levels, and antioxidant status, while a negative correlation was observed with MDA and adipokine concentrations in rabbit serum. In conclusion, BEON supplementation demonstrates promise as a sustainable nutritional strategy for the rabbit industry, particularly in mitigating the challenges posed by global warming.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909900/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143633480","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":"A comparison of two cleaning methods applied in a small animal hospital.","authors":"Todd Alsing-Johansson, Elin Torstensson, Karin Bergström, Susanna Sternberg-Lewerin, Anna Bergh, Johanna Penell","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04631-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04631-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Environmental cleaning of near-patient surfaces in animal healthcare is an important infection prevention and control measure to lower the risk of spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). There is a lack of reports on the effect of cleaning of near-patient surfaces in animal hospital wards. The aims of this study were to (1) determine bacterial load before cleaning, on near-patient surfaces in dog cages in a mixed medical and surgical ward and investigate factors associated with this bacterial load (2) compare the bacterial reduction on these surfaces after cleaning with (a) a scrubbing brush with detergent and rinsing before and after cleaning, and (b) a microfibre mop moistened with water, and after disinfection carried out after each cleaning method. In each cage the floor and the wall were sampled before cleaning, after cleaning, and after disinfection. Bacterial load and reduction were log₁₀-transformed and for comparisons t-test, one-way Anova and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used. A generalized additive model was performed for analysis of the association between factors and bacterial load.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The bacterial load in dog cages before cleaning varied, higher loads were noted after longer stay in the cage. The bacterial reduction was in most cases more effective after cleaning with scrubbing brushes with detergent compared to cleaning with damp microfibre mops. After cleaning, a majority of the samples were below the suggested threshold value 2.5 CFU/cm², except for floor samples after microfibre cleaning. No significant difference in bacterial load, between cleaning methods was noted after disinfection. Overall, the bacterial load was significantly lower on walls than on floors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, the bacterial load was below the suggested threshold value after decontamination, except after microfibre cleaning of the floor. Scrub cleaning with a detergent should be considered for cleaning of anti-slip surfaces like the cage floor. The study shows a need for evidence-based cleaning and disinfection routines for near-patient surfaces and evidence-based threshold values for bacterial load, to reduce the risk of HAIs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"171"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11910008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143633364","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":"Oral and parenteral vaccination of broiler chickens with Recombinant NetB antigen from Clostridium perfringens confers significant protection against necrotic enteritis.","authors":"Mohammad Ali Shamshirgaran, Mehdi Golchin","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04624-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04624-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Necrotic enteritis is a devastating economic disease caused by Clostridium perfringens in poultry. NetB toxin from C. perfringens type G is the major responsible cause of necrotic enteritis. After the ban on growth-promoting antibiotics, alternative effective intervention approaches such as the vaccination of birds were considered critical to control necrotic enteritis. To date, no commercial vaccines with proven efficacy have been approved against necrotic enteritis. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the oral and parenteral vaccines based on NetB antigen from C. perfringens to choose the best prime-boosting vaccination strategy against necrotic enteritis. The broiler chickens were orally vaccinated with either previously developed recombinant probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus casei strain expressing NetB toxoid, followed by a parenteral booster by the purified recombinant NetB toxoid (oral/parenteral), or the recombinant NetB toxoid alone (parenteral-only).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Immunizations of birds with these vaccines elicited strong specific anti-NetB antibody responses and provided significant protection against the infectious challenge. Additionally, the vaccinated birds represented significant mean body weight gains compared with birds in control groups during the experiment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The current study showed that oral and parenteral vaccines using NetB antigen from C. perfringens could provide significant protection against necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"167"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11907976/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143633381","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 and characterisation of LEAP2 from Chinese spiny frogs (Quasipaa spinosa) with antimicrobial and macrophage activation properties.","authors":"Ping Ying, Xin-Yi Qian, Zi-Xuan Wang, Jia-Le Wu, Jia-Yin Huang, Zi-Yi Ren, Jie Chen","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04617-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04617-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) family is an important group of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) involved in vertebrate defence against bacterial infections. However, research on LEAP2 in amphibians is still in its infancy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study aimed to explore the role of LEAP2 in the Chinese spiny frog (Quasipaa spinosa). The cDNA of the LEAP2 gene (QsLEAP2) was cloned from a Chinese spiny frog. The QsLEAP2 protein comprises a signal peptide, a prodomain, and a mature peptide. Sequence analysis indicated that QsLEAP2 is a member of the amphibian LEAP2 cluster and closely related to the LEAP2 of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Expression of QsLEAP2 was detected in various tissues, with the liver exhibiting the highest expression. Following infection with Aeromonas hydrophila, QsLEAP2 expression was significantly upregulated in the spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver, and gut. The synthetic mature peptide QsLEAP2 exhibited selective antimicrobial activity against several bacterial strains in vitro. It disrupted bacterial membrane integrity and hydrolysed bacterial genomic DNA, exhibiting bactericidal effects on specific bacterial species. Furthermore, QsLEAP2 induced chemotaxis in RAW264.7 murine leukemic monocytes/macrophages, enhancing their phagocytic activity and respiratory bursts. Docking simulations revealed an interaction between QsLEAP2 and QsMOSPD2.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings provide new insights into the role of LEAP2 in the amphibian immune system.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"163"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905587/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143623342","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":"Expression of AMPK and PLIN2 in the regulation of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in bitches with open cervix pyometra.","authors":"Xin Deng, Hui Liu, Wei Zhao, Rui Wu, Kuo Chen, Qing Li, Murat Onur Yazlık, Hüseyin Özkan, Jingyuan Ren, Jiacheng Zhang, Shiyi Liu, Ling Mei, Shangfeng Li, Jiasui Zhan, Binhong Hu","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04622-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04622-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The pathogenesis of canine pyometra is multifactorial, involving hormonal imbalances, aberrant immune responses, and metabolic dysregulation includes lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. This study focuses on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress, revealing the key regulatory role of AMPK and PLIN2 in canine pyometra. Bitches with open cervix pyometra (n:8) and healthy bitches undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (n:4) were enrolled to the study. In experiment one, the serum and tissue levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity were assessed. Additionally, uterine histopathological analysis, AMPK and PLIN2 expressions were determined through immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism-related factors were evaluated using Western blot analysis. In experiment two, primary cell cultures were prepared from healthy uterine endometrial cells of the dogs in control group. Cultured canine endometrial epithelial cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) along with oleic acid (OA) to induce an inflammatory response. Tissue and serum MDA and SOD levels were greater in dogs with pyometra. Accumulated lipid droplets were observed in the uterine tissue of bitches with pyometra. The phosphorylation of AMPK and the expression of PLIN2 significantly increased in the pyometra group. The expression of related lipid synthesis proteins such as ACC1, FASN, SREBP-1c, and PLIN2 was upregulated, while PPARα and PGC1α were downregulated in bitches with pyometra. In experiment two, activation of AMPK and PLIN2 not only restores the expression of PGC1α, but also effectively alleviates inflammation and oxidative stress. The role of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in canine pyometra is elucidated, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of pyometra in dogs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"164"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905669/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143623396","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":"Comparative evaluation of three herbal extracts on growth performance, immune response, and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Litopenaeus vannamei.","authors":"Amr Fadel, Amal Khafage, Mohamed Abdelsalam, Mohamed M Abdel-Rahim","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04588-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04588-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with herbal extracts from Artemisia herba-alba, Lonicera japonica, and Lilium candidum on growth performance, survival, feed utilization, antioxidant capacity, and immune response in Litopenaeus vannamei. The efficacy of these herbal-supplemented diets was assessed in enhancing resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus-induced Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (Vp _AHPND). A total of 2,400 shrimp post-larvae (initial weight 0.74 ± 0.02 g) were randomly assigned to four triplicate groups. Shrimp were fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets: T1 (control, basal diet), T2 (basal diet + 250 mg/kg A. herba-alba), T3 (basal diet + 250 mg/kg L. japonica), and T4 (basal diet + 250 mg/kg L. candidum). Herbal-supplemented groups showed significantly improved (_P ≤ 0.05) growth performance, feed utilization, and survival rates compared to the control, with T4 exhibiting the highest values. Significant enhancements of immune assays were observed in total hemocyte count, phagocytosis activity, total protein, glutathione peroxidase, and lysozyme activity in herbal-supplemented groups. Antioxidant indicators (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and phenoloxidase) were boosted while malondialdehyde levels decreased in herbal-treated shrimp. Following V. parahaemolyticus challenge, herbal diets effectively reduced cumulative mortality in L. vannamei. Histopathological examination revealed milder AHPND-associated alterations in A. herba-alba and L. candidum-treated groups, contrasting with atrophy, necrosis, and epithelial cell sloughing observed in the positive control. These findings demonstrate the immunostimulatory potential of A. herba-alba, L. japonica, and L. candidum as dietary supplements to enhance growth performance, immune function, and disease resistance in L. vannamei aquaculture, offering a promising strategy for sustainable shrimp farming.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"166"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905464/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143623392","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":"Selection of density standard and X-ray tube settings for computed digital absorptiometry in horses using the k-means clustering algorithm.","authors":"Bernard Turek, Marek Pawlikowski, Krzysztof Jankowski, Marta Borowska, Katarzyna Skierbiszewska, Tomasz Jasiński, Małgorzata Domino","doi":"10.1186/s12917-025-04591-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12917-025-04591-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In veterinary medicine, conventional radiography is the first-choice method for most diagnostic imaging applications in both small animal and equine practice. One direction in its development is the integration of bone density evaluation and artificial intelligence-assisted clinical decision-making, which is expected to enhance and streamline veterinarians' daily practices. One such decision-support method is k-means clustering, a machine learning and data mining technique that can be used clinically to classify radiographic signs into healthy or affected clusters. The study aims to investigate whether the k-means clustering algorithm can differentiate cortical and trabecular bone in both healthy and affected horse limbs. Therefore, identifying the optimal computed digital absorptiometry parameters was necessary.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>Five metal-made density standards, made of pure aluminum, aluminum alloy (duralumin), cuprum alloy, iron-nickel alloy, and iron-silicon alloy, and ten X-ray tube settings were evaluated for the radiographic imaging of equine distal limbs, including six healthy limbs and six with radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. Density standards were imaged using ten combinations of X-ray tube settings, ranging from 50 to 90 kV and 1.2 to 4.0 mAs. The relative density in Hounsfield units was firstly returned for both bone types and density standards, then compared, and finally used for clustering. In both healthy and osteoarthritis-affected limbs, the relative density of the long pastern bone (the proximal phalanx) differed between bone types, allowing the k-means clustering algorithm to successful differentiate cortical and trabecular bone.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Density standard made of duralumin, along with the 60 kV, 4.0 mAs X-ray tube settings, yielded the highest clustering metric values and was therefore considered optimal for further research. We believe that the identified optimal computed digital absorptiometry parameters may be recommended for further researches on the relative quantification of conventional radiographs and for distal limb examination in equine veterinary practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":9041,"journal":{"name":"BMC Veterinary Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"165"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905476/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143623423","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}