Economy

The transition period (TP), which extends from 3 weeks prior to 3 weeks post parturition, is a critical period regarding the health, productivity, and profitability of dairy animals, during which most health disorders arise, include lameness, mastitis, rumen acidosis, ketosis, hypocalcemia (milk fever), left-displaced abomasum, fatty liver, hypophosphatemia and post-parturient hemoglobinuria, subacute ruminal acidosis, retained placenta, and metritis. Biomarkers are biological molecules distributed in blood, body fluids or tissues that represent physiological or pathophysiological indicators of events, processes, or conditions happening within the animal’s body. In the field of veterinary medicine, biomarkers are thought to have enormous valuable potentials in the field of clinical diagnosis, therapeutical research, surgery and obstetrical outcome. This review article aims to explore the significance of biomarkers used to predict pathological conditions and health status of cattle during the TP to facilitate the early clinical diagnosis and prompt treatment of TP-related diseases/or conditions and thus improve animal welfare, health and increase productivity.

Background: Sodium-Glucose CoTransporter-2 [SGLT2] inhibitors, the -flozin group of drugs, which block glucose reuptake in the renal proximal tubule, are being increasingly used off-label to treat horses with refractory hyperinsulinemia. After two years of use by animals in our group, a horse on canagliflozin was incidentally noted to be hyperlipemic. Case Description: We have been following a cohort of equines (n=20) treated with SGLT2 inhibitors due to refractory hyperinsulinemia. The animals are owned by members of the Equine Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance Group (ECIR) and treated by their attending veterinarians. The index case was a 23 year old gelding with a 2 year history of recurring laminitis that began canagliflozin therapy to control hyperinsulinemia which was no longer responsive to metformin. Between 6-10 weeks post therapy, significant weight loss was noticed. Two days later he was hospitalized with colic symptoms and hyperlipemia but was bright, alert and eating well throughout. Canagliflozin was discontinued and triglycerides returned to normal reference values within 10 days. Subsequent study of 19 other horses on SGLT2 inhibitors revealed varying degrees of hypertriglyceridemia, all asymptomatic. Conclusion: While this class of drugs holds great promise for cases of refractory hyperinsulinemia and laminitis that do not respond to diet or metformin therapy, hypertriglyceridemia is a potential side effect. In our experience, animals remained asymptomatic and eating well. Further study of hypertriglyceridemia in horses on SGLT2 inhibitors and the possible mitigating effect of diet is indicated. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of hypertriglyceridemia with SGLT2 inhibitor treatment in equines.

Background: Hydroponic feeding system enables more effective utilization of the entire plant than typical grazing, which only consumes the plant's shoot. Aim: This study evaluated the effects of feeding maize hydroponic fodder on growth performance, nitrogen balance, nutrient digestibility, hematology and blood metabolites of buffalo calves. Methods: Twelve water buffalo calves, weighing an average of 112 +1.18 kg and between 8 and 10 months old, were divided into three treatments, each with four calves. Each group received one of the treatment diets: T1: the basal diet (BD) at 100%; T2: the BD plus hydroponic feed meal (HFM) at 80%: 20%; and T3: the BD plus HFM at 60%: 40%. For 100 days, each animal was fed ad libitum; the first ten days were used for nutritional adaptation, and the final ten days were used for collection. In addition to their basal diet, each animal received 200 g/day of a normal concentrate mixture to meet their maintenance needs. The basal diet included Green Hay (Lucerne) 80% and Wheat straw 20%. Each animal's daily feed consumption was noted. Calves were weighed biweekly to track growth. Upon completion of the experiment, blood samples were obtained. Results: The amount of DM consumed by ruminants fed diets, including hydroponic fodder, was considerably higher (P< 0.05). Similar trends were seen in CP, ADF, and NDF intake. Ingesting of CP was highest in animals fed T3. Animals fed diets comprising Basal diet 60% + HFM 40% had the highest levels of DM and CP digestibility. Animals fed the T3 diet (Basal diet 60% + HFM 40%) showed the best feed conversion values (P˂0.05). Blood metabolites like blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose showed non-significant variations in all experimental animals. In haematology, a similar trend was seen. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be said that supplementing the diet with more HFM helped growing buffalo calves gain weight, have a lower FCR, and digest their food more efficiently.

Background: Luxation of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon involves the dislocation of the tendon from the groove of the calcaneal tuberosity. Although it is common in Shetland sheepdogs and collies presenting with acute, severe, and non-weight-bearing lameness, it is a rare orthopedic disease in golden retrievers. Case Description: A 13- month-old neutered male golden retriever (32.2 kg) with acute right hind lameness and pain, was diagnosed with SDF luxation based on physiological, radiographic, and ultrasound examinations. The surgical procedure used was capsulorrhaphy of the tarsal joint and fixation with Kirschner wire. Postoperatively, the tarsal joint was stretched and externally fixed to prevent tension. The patient showed good gait without pain after pin removal on postoperative day 88. Conclusion: In clinical practice, the possibility of this condition should be considered in golden retrievers presenting with lameness.

Background: African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most important foreign animal diseases to the U.S. swine industry. Stakeholders in the swine production sector are on high alert as they witness the devastation of ongoing outbreaks in some of its most important trade partner countries. Efforts to improve preparedness for ASF outbreak management are proceeding in earnest and mathematical modeling is an integral part of these efforts. Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact on within-herd transmission dynamics of African swine fever (ASF) when the models used to simulate transmission assume there is homogeneous mixing of animals within a barn. Methods: Barn-level heterogeneity was explicitly captured using a stochastic, individual pig-based, heterogeneous transmission model that considers three types of infection transmission, 1) within-pen via nose-to-nose contact; 2) between-pen via nose-to-nose contact with pigs in adjacent pens; and 3) both between- and within-pen via distance independent mechanisms (e.g., via fomites). Predictions were compared between the heterogeneous and the homogeneous Gillespie models. Results: Results showed that the predicted mean number of infectious pigs at specific time points differed greatly between the homogeneous and heterogeneous models for scenarios with low levels of between pen contacts via distance independent pathways and the differences between the two model predictions were more pronounced for the slow contact rate scenario. The heterogeneous transmission model results also showed that it may take significantly longer to detect ASF, particularly in large barns when transmission predominantly occurs via nose-to-nose contact between pigs in adjacent pens. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the need for completing preliminary explorations when working with homogeneous mixing models to ascertain their suitability to predict disease outcomes.

A total of 359 sheep samples from 15 flocks were analyzed for the presence of antibodies against Chlamydophila abortus using a commercial Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Antibodies were detected in 19 (5.29%) sheep from 12 (80%) flocks. Seropositive animals were found in all analyzed regions (Central, Chorotega, Atlantic Huetar, North Huetar and Central Pacific) determining prevalence between 0.28% and 4.4%, and intra-flock positivity between 3.7% and 25.0%. The survey revealed two risk factors associated with seropositivity; introducing animals (males and females), embryos, or semen from other farms or from abroad without any sanitary certification, and flocks not having quarantine areas or separated boxes for diseased animals. No clinical signs of disease were observed in positive seroreactors. C. abortus seems to be present in Costa Rica in a very low prevalence in sheep flocks. Further studies, to isolate the bacteria are required. Finally, implementation of control measures to prevent the spread of C. abortus is recommended.

Background: Dietary fat composition is a potential major factor affecting energy metabolism. Crocodile oil (CO) is rich in mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids exhibiting anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Aim: This study investigated different levels of CO consumption on alterations and expression of proteins involved in energy metabolism in rats. Methods: Twenty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups and administered sterile water (N) or different doses of CO (1% or 3% [v/w] CO) orally once daily for 8 weeks. Body weight gain, food intake, energy intake, blood lipid profiles, and serum energy-related metabolites were determined. The serum proteome was analyzed using shotgun proteomics, and the functions of several candidate proteins were classified using PANTHER software. Results: There were no significant differences in body weight or energy intake were observed between groups. However, both CO-treated groups showed significantly decreased serum triglyceride (TG) levels (p<0.05). Moreover, post-treatment serum TG levels in the 1% CO group were significantly lower than pre-treatment compared with other groups. The serum oxaloacetate level was also significantly higher in both CO groups than in the N group. The proteomic analysis classified 4,525 serum proteins and revealed more unique proteins involved in cellular metabolic activity in both CO-treated groups than in the N group. Self-organizing tree algorithm clustering of 295 shared differentially expressed proteins in both CO-treatment groups showed that upregulated hyper-expressed protein clusters in both CO groups were associated with catalytic activity and molecular activity on the same levels. Conclusion: CO simultaneously enhances energy metabolism and improves lipid profiles.

Influenza A viruses (IAV) cause persistent epidemics and occasional human pandemics, leading to considerable economic losses. The ecology and epidemiology of IAV are very complex and the emergence of novel zoonotic pathogens is one of the greatest challenges in the healthcare. IAV are characterized by genetic and antigenic variability resulting from a combination of high mutation rates and a segmented genome that provides the ability to rapidly change and adapt to new hosts. In this context, available scientific evidence is of great importance for understanding the epidemiology and evolution of influenza viruses. The present review summarizes original research papers and IAV infections reported in dogs all over the world. Reports of interspecies transmission of equine influenza viruses (EIV) H3N2 from birds to dogs, as well as double and triple reassortant strains resulting from reassortment of avian, human and canine strains have amplified the genetic variety of canine influenza viruses. A total of 146 articles were deemed acceptable by PubMed and the Google Scholar database and were therefore included in this review. The largest number of research articles (n=68) were published in Asia, followed by the Americas (n=44), Europe (n=31), Africa (n=2) and Australia (n=1). Publications are conventionally divided into three categories. The first category (largest group) included modern articles published from 2011 to the present (n=93). The second group consisted of publications from 2000 to 2010 (n=46). Single papers of 1919, 1931, 1963, 1972, 1975, and 1992 were also used, which was necessary to emphasize the history of the study of the ecology and evolution of the IAV circulating among various mammalian species. The largest number of publications occurred in 2010 (n=18) and 2015 (n=11), which is associated with IAV outbreaks observed at that time in the dog population in America, Europe and Asia. In general, these findings raise concerns that dogs, may mediate the adaptation of IAVs to zoonotic transmission and therefore serve as alternative hosts for genetic reassortment of these viruses. The global concern and significant threat to public health from the present COVID-19 pandemic confirms the necessity for active surveillance of zoonotic viral diseases with pandemic potential.

Background: Recently, attention has been paid to using plants with medicinal efficacy as alternates to antibiotics and growth promoters. Garlic is a traditional plants used as a spice and herb in broilers. Aim: The objective of the current feeding trial was to investigate the effect of garlic powder on broiler performance, carcass characteristics, blood hematology and biochemistry. Method: A total of 240 one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb500) were purchased from local hatchery and randomly distributed into four dietary treatments. Each treatment comprised of five replicates with 12 chicks each. Garlic powder (Allium sativum) was supplemented as follows: 0.0%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%. The diets were formulated to be approximately isocaloric and cover all nutrients requirements for broiler throughout two stages of growth periods, starter diets (1 - 21) and finisher diets (22 - 42) days. At the end of the experiment, one bird was chosen from each replicate to measure the carcass characteristics and blood was collected. Results: The findings showed that birds fed diet supplemented by 0.3% garlic powder was significantly (P<0.05) better in terms of body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio compared to those birds fed 0%, 0.1% or 0.2% garlic powder. In addition, feeding 0.1% or 0.2% garlic powder significantly increased (P<0.05) packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte and lymphocyte compared to the control group. Furthermore, garlic supplementation led to a decrease alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) compared to the control. At the same time, high density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly increased (P<0.05) by garlic supplementation. Conclusion: It can be concluded that supplementation of 0.3% garlic powder as growth promoter lead to reducing the cost of production through improving growth performance and enhance the birds’ health.

Abstract Background: Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis (PTB), an incurable enterocolitis, affecting domestic and wild ruminants. Economic losses, impacts on animal health and welfare, and public health concerns, justify its herd-level control. Aim: to systematically collect information to answer: What are the control and eradication strategies of PTB in dairy cattle worldwide? Methods: the search procedure was carried out on October 2nd, 2019 and updated on August 3rd, 2021, using OVID®, SciELO, and Redalyc databases, and the registers from the International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis (1991-2018). The inclusion criteria considered articles published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and in peer-reviewed journals. The exclusion criteria included irrelevant topics, species other-than bovines, and not original articles. Definitive studies were obtained through consensus of the authors on eligibility and quality. Data extraction was performed, considering bibliographic information, control and outcome strategies, follow-up time, and results. Results: twenty-six relevant studies were found, reporting the use of three grouped control strategies: hygiene and management strategy (HMS), test-and-cull strategy (TCS), and vaccination strategy (VS). The HMS was the most common one (20/26), followed by TCS (17/26) and VS (7/26). Combined control strategies such as TCS-HMS (12/26), TCS-VS (1/26), and HMS-VS (1/26) were also described, and the consideration of the three control strategies (TCS-HMS-VS) was reported in two articles. The HMS included practices such as neonates/juvenile livestock hygiene, biosecurity, prevention of infection introduction into the herd, and environmental management. Within HMS, the most frequent practices were to remove calves from their dams as soon as possible after birth and to keep the minimal exposure of calves and heifers to adult cattle. As limitations, within the HMS it is considered that some strategies cannot be included due to lack of compliance, or the application of the same strategy among one study and another may have a different degree of interpretation; publication bias was not controlled since the results of the control programs in endemic countries may be not available. Conclusion: the main PTB control strategies in dairy cattle worldwide are HMS, TCS, and VS. The use of one or several combined strategies has been found to succeed in controlling the disease at herd-level.

Background and aim: Plants, including invasive ones, can play a significant role in the fight against antibiotic resistance and the search for new antimicrobials. The present study aimed at assessing the antimicrobial activity, antibioresistance reversal properties, and toxicity of 4 samples from invasive plants, namely leaves and flowers of Heracleum mantegazzianum, leaves of Chenopodium album and flowers of Centaurea jacea. Method: The extraction of active compounds was done with 80% ethanol, and the extraction yields were calculated. Antimicrobial activity was studied using the well diffusion method against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and ATCC Candida albicans 10231. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined using the mircodilution method. The antibioresistance reversal properties was assessed using the checkerboard method and the toxicity of the extracts was studied using the larval form of the Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella). Results: The mass yields were 11.9, 15.0, 18.2 and 21.5 respectively for C. jacea flower (CJF), H. mantegazzianum flower (HMF), H. mantegazzianum leaf (HML) and Chenopodium album leaf (CAL). The highest inhibition diameters (ID) were found with HMF, CAL, CJL and HML against S. aureus ATCC 6538 with 26.6±1.5, 21.6 ± 2.8, 21.0 ± 0.9 and 20.0 ± 1.4 mm respectively. Only CJL and HMF were active against E. coli ATCC 25922 with respective ID of 15.3 ±1.1 and 19.0 ± 1.7 mm. Except HMF (ID = 13.6 ± 2.0 mm), no other extract was active against C. albicans ATCC 10231. Moreover, HMF exhibited the lowest MIC (0.5 mg / ml) and the lowest MBC (1 and 4 mg / ml) against both S. aureus and E. coli. Regarding the synergy test, an additional effect (0.5≤FIC≤1) was found in almost all the combinations antibiotics + extracts excepted for HMF + (Kanamycin or Ampicillin) against S. aureus ATCC 6538 and CJF + Ampicillin against E. coli ATCC 25922 where we found synergy effect (FIC≤0.5). The median lethal doses (LD50s) of HMF, HML, CAL and CJF were 20.2, 0.58, 13.2 and 4.0 mg / ml respectively. Conclusion: Only the ethanolic extract of Heracleum mantegazzianum flowers showed noteworthy broad spectrum antimicrobial activity but further preclinical and clinical studies are required to evaluate the composition, the cytotoxicity and safety issues of these plant extracts and their combinations with common antibiotics before they can be recommended for antimicrobial therapy.

Ten laminitic horses with hyperinsulinemia refractory to diet control, metformin, levothyroxine and pergolide (if diagnosed with PPID) were treated with the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor canagliflozin (Invokana®). Nine horses were hyperglycemic (>5.5 mmol/L) or had a history of hyperglycemia. Prior to instituting therapy, renal function was assessed by determining serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. Canagliflozin was administered orally once a day, with food. Dipstick urinalysis was performed every 2 wk to confirm glucosuria and screen for proteinuria. Owners were also instructed regarding clinical signs consistent with urinary tract infection. All horses responded with a substantial decrease in serum insulin concentrations to normal or near normal values. Laminitis pain resolved in all cases, with regression of fat deposits. Owner satisfaction with outcomes was 100%.

Background: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is endemic in Egypt despite the Egyptian authorities’ annual mass vaccination of animals with sheep pox vaccine (Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute, Egypt), and the LSD virus (LSDV) continues to thrive practically every summer. The disease has a huge economic impact on the trade of the animal and its by-product. Aim: This paper study the molecular characterization of LSDV strains that have been circulating in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, during 3 successive years (2018, 2019, and 2020). Methods: A total of 61 specimens (26 skin nodules and 35 oculonasal swabs) were collected from a clinic in the hospital of veterinary medicine, Zagazig University, during the summer months (July, August, and September) of three outbreaks in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on open reading frame 103 (ORF103) gene to confirm the suspected cases and determine the degree of homology between the three different outbreaks during 3 successive years between each other and between the derived sequences of GenBank. Results: Cattle is thought to be infected with LSDV due to the presence of scattered local or diffuse circumscribed skin nodules along with fever and lymph node enlargement and sometimes leg edema. The PCR approach proved rapid, sensitive, and specific for the detection of the (LSD) virus and confirmative diagnosis of disease. Forty-six were detected to be positive by PCR (75.4%). The seven sequenced samples were translated to amino acid and registered in GenBank under accession number MW357655-MW357661. A single nucleotide mutation and amino acid variation mutation were observed at positions 161 C/T and 54 P/L between the outbreak in 2020 and those in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The field LSDV isolates from Egypt cattle were more closely related to other LSDV sequences from Africa (Kenya), Asia, Europe, and the United States. Conclusion: These findings highlight the necessity of ongoing surveillance and characterization of circulating strains and the need to improve procedures for distinguishing vaccine strains from field viruses.

Background: Today, animals, like humans, suffer from spinal illnesses, which are aggravated in old age. Much emphasis is placed on diagnosis and treatment, but little focus is given to the spine's mechanical properties. Degenerative spine diseases are a major problem throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization, osteoporosis is a world-class public problem that reduces bone mass, resulting in bone fracturing and increased risk of bone fracturing. Therefore, the mechanical investigation of vertebrae can provide more information about the development of osteoporosis. Case Description: For our case report, we used spayed mongrel lumbar vertebrae samples obtained from a canine which was about 8 years old and weighed 28 kg. The dog was diagnosed with a mammary tumour, and the dog’s owners decided to euthanise the dog. All consent forms were filled. Conclusions: Mechanical tests were performed on three vertebrae, and a noticeable difference was observed in the first cycle of the first vertebra (L1). Second-order polynomials for displacement and seventh-order polynomials for pressure were proposed for describing the stress–strain relation of the vertebrae under the cyclical loads. Our research protocol has been broken down into several parts. After measuring the area of the loaded surface, the largest area was in the L2 vertebra (176 mm ± 16; 177 mm ± 3 mm), and the smallest was in the L7 vertebra (156 mm ± 4 mm; 151 mm ± 33 mm). The smallest distance was recorded between the first (L1) and seventh (L7) lumbar vertebrae (L1) (15.17 mm ± 0.93 mm), and the largest distance was recorded between the L3 and L4 vertebrae of the lumbar (19.8 mm ± 3.7 mm).