Paratuberculosis, also known as Johne’s disease, is a granulomatous enteritis in both domestic and wild ruminants caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Understanding the prevalence of this disease in small ruminants is essential for disease control and prevention strategies. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases to identify all articles reporting Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) seroprevalence in sheep and goats in Europe, published from January 2006 to December 2023. The initial search for existing publications reporting systematic reviews and primary studies was carried out by searching the available databases. For the final selection of studies, an initial screen for basic eligibility and a detailed appraisal of quality were performed. After the study selection, the relevant data was extracted. The detailed appraisal generated 21 publications that reported 55 studies, 22 (40.0%) from sheep (12 at the animal-level and 10 at the flock-level) and 28 (50.9%) from goats (17 at the animal-level and 11 at the flock-level), and 5 (9.1%) from mixed small ruminant species at the animal level. In total, 34 (61.8%) were animal-level studies and 21 (38.2%) were flock-level studies. Population and inclusion criteria were highly variable among studies. Sample sizes ranged from 291 to 15,585 animals. Most studies reported testing adult animals (over 24 months of age). Commercial ELISA kits were used in most studies. The highest prevalence was obtained in sheep (100%) in Türkiye, and the lowest was found also in sheep (0.7%) in Austria. Overall, the results suggest that MAP antibodies have been frequently detected among small ruminants in some countries and there is a need for standardisation of case definitions to improve the accuracy of prevalence estimates. Further research is needed to understand the risk factors associated with MAP infection in small ruminants and to develop effective control and prevention strategies.

The use of antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production has resulted in the development of drug resistance, and destruction of the normal beneficial intestinal flora. Therefore, the task of poultry industry is to find alternative solutions to ensure safe products. The aim of this review article was to understand the potential use of bee pollen in poultry production system regarding its impact on performance, carcass traits, immunity, bacterial community, and blood parameters. Bee products such as pollen have been used in traditional medicine and have recently appeared as possible feed additives. Bee pollen is considered the most important substance in the hive, as a basic feed for bees. It consists of a mixture of proteins, amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, and multiple vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. The chemical composition of bee pollen depends mainly on the plant species, geographic region, and season of collection. Bee pollen has many uses in human medicine and livestock production. It has been used to improve general health, and may also act as an antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-radiation, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, hepato- and cardio-protective, and antidiabetic. Dietary supplementation of bee pollen could increase performance parameters as a growth promotor, enhancing carcass quality. In addition, bee pollen can enhance the immune response, reduce the pathogenic bacterial count, and enhance important blood parameters.

The Bohemian Shepherd Dog is a Czech working dog breed of medium size with a long black and tan coat and characteristic ear shape. The dogs of this breed are friendly, trainable, and with no sign of nervousness. The population of this historic breed of dogs, known since the 13th century, was almost destroyed until 1984, when Jan Findejs and Dr. Vilém Kurz partnered to take the first steps to regenerate the breed. One of the sires used in the project was a sire named Alex. This study aimed to determine the state of Alex’s line (IV. line), and the number of descendant dogs born from 2021 until the first quarter of 2024. Used 13 years after the start of the breed regeneration project, and with only two breeding first-generation descendants, Alex’s line accounted for 2.7% of the population from the beginning in 1996 until 2008. In 2009 an expansion started, caused by three of his male descendants who sired more than 100 puppies each, resulting in Alex’s progeny accounting for 41.25% of all registered puppies from 2021 to 2024. Therefore, genetic testing before mating is now an essential measure to prevent genetic diseases in purebred dogs.

Small strongyles are the most common parasites of horses, capable of surviving different climate conditions. Though the infection is usually asymptomatic, young horses are considered more prone to developing a parasitic syndrome called larval cyathostominosis. In most cases, gastrointestinal symptoms are most prevalent. Treatment is based on the use of fenbendazole and moxidectin. Diagnosis is difficult and serological methods are still under development. The main prevention methods include regular coprological testing, pasture rotation, co-grazing with ruminants, and regular removal of faeces from the pasture.

Thyroid hormones have an important function in numerous physiological processes in humans and animals, including the regulation of metabolism, growth and development of individual and reproductive function. The thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), have a direct effect on the reproductive organs and an indirect effect in interaction with other hormones. Thyroid hormones influence the reproductive system by regulating metabolism and tissue development of the ovaries, uterus and placenta. Changes in the serum concentrations of T3 and T4 lead to disturbances in overall body function. Thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can lead to significant reproductive problems. The aim of this review was to describe the functions of thyroid hormones and the effects of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on the animal reproductive system. Hypothyroidism is often caused by autoimmune diseases such as lymphocytic thyroiditis, and is associated with later puberty, reduced fertility and abnormalities in reproductive organ development. Hypothyroidism can lead to a prolonged interval, absent cycles, silent oestrus cycles, prolonged oestrus bleeding, and a lack of libido, with the occurrence of infertility, miscarriages, stillbirths and mummified foetuses. In males, hypothyroidism leads to a decrease in libido, semen quality, ejaculate volume, testicular atrophy, hypospermia and azoospermia. Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, is usually the result of thyroid cancer, which produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. Increased concentrations of thyroid hormones lead to disturbances in the physiological balance of reproductive hormones, irregular oestrus cycles, anovulation and reduced fertility, as well as a decrease in the weight of the ovaries and the number of healthy follicles, with a simultaneous increase in the number of atretting follicles. The effects of hyperthyroidism on male fertility include disorders of spermatogenesis, changes in sex hormone levels and changes in sperm quality, such as hypospermia, oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. It is important to diagnose and treat thyroid disorders in time in order to prevent negative effects on fertility and reproduction in animals.

This work describes a spontaneous Zymbal’s gland tumor in a 25-week old Wistar male rat that had been included in the control sedentary group of an assay of hormone and chemically-induced prostate cancer. The animal exhibited a unilateral, round, ulcerated mass, ventral to the left ear. Histopathologically, it was a non-encapsulated mass composed of solid sheets of basaloid epithelial cells with occasional sebocyte differentiation. Multiple cells presented variable sized eosinophilic granules. The histopathological data were compatible with a basaloid carcinoma, and its location is suggestive of Zymbal’s gland (auditory sebaceous gland) origin.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic infectious disease that affects small ruminants and is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. This highly contagious pathogen leads to significant economic losses in the livestock industry due to loss of productivity, rejection of carcasses, and increased veterinary costs. CLA is characterised by the formation of abscesses in lymph nodes and internal organs. Rupture of these nodes can lead to additional contamination of the environment and further transmission. Diagnosis of CLA involves clinical examination, bacterial cultures, serological testing, and advanced molecular techniques for more accurate detection. Treatment options are limited and often ineffective as the pathogen can survive in abscesses and evade the host's immune response. Antibiotic therapy can provide temporary relief but does not eliminate infection, emphasising the importance of prevention measures. Control strategies focus on biosecurity, culling infected animals, and vaccination. While currently available vaccines reduce the incidence and severity of the disease, they do not provide complete immunity and need to be further improved. Understanding the virulence mechanisms of the pathogen and the interactions between the host and pathogen is crucial for the development of more effective vaccines and therapeutic approaches. Ongoing research and new ideas are crucial to reduce the impact of CLA on animal health and the farm economy. This emphasises the need for comprehensive management strategies, including strict hygiene measures, regular checks, and targeted vaccination plans. In addition, due to its zoonotic potential, C. pseudotuberculosis can contaminate meat and milk from infected animals, posing a risk to consumers. The ability of the pathogen to infect both animals and humans emphasises the importance of research into its prevention and diagnosis.

Bovine neonatal diarrhoea (BND) is a problem of great relevance in cattle herds, resulting in a decline in productivity and performance in production units, and causing great economic losses. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of BND in the state of Veracruz. In total, 300 lactating calves were sampled. Samples were analysed for Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Escherichia coli and Cryptosporidium spp. Differences between groups were determined by chi-square and risk factors were determined by Odds Ratio. The general prevalence of three geographical areas sampled was 85%. Regarding the analysed pathogens, Cryptosporidium spp. Had the highest prevalence with 76%, followed by E. coli with a prevalence of 42%. Two pathogens were present in coinfections with a 32% prevalence, unlike diarrhoea caused by one, three or four pathogens. Calves that consume standing water after birth present a higher risk of infection. It is necessary to establish sanitaryprogrammes to reduce the risk of infection, help to avoid economic losses, and improve the productivity of the herd. BND related pathogens Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Escherichia coli and Cryptosporidium spp. are present in the sampled areas.

Foodborne pathogens are a continuous problem attracting the attention of public health institutions, microbiologists and food producers globally. The scientific community has therefore been focused for years on finding “new” and “better” methods, all in an effort to detect foodborne pathogens in the timeliest manner possible. It should be emphasized that the development of molecular genetics – the use of genetic information of biological macromolecules in routine testing in particular – has led to a revolutionary turn in biological science research. Almost all procedures detect different bacterial genetic footprint or biomarkers, which makes bacterial isolation unnecessary. However, these recent studies of “fast microbiological methods”, which require only a fewhours, rather than a few days, have not supplanted the classic way of microbiological food testing, i.e. the classic microbiological methods and the gold standard. The new methods are therefore faced with high requirements such as great detection limits, speed of analysis, relatively low costs and high sensitivity to identify various foodborne pathogens. Some of them provide the possibility of monitoring the pathogens, which is an important part of establishing a pathogen control network in the agri-food production chain at the international level. In this comprehensive literature review the authors present and review identification and quantification methodswith emphasis on the most important EU foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichiacoli – STEC, Yersinia and Listeria). Methods have been divided into two large groups – Contemporary methods (Immunoassays and Polymerase Chain Reaction) and Novel approach methods (Biosensors, Bacterial typing, and Omics), and assessed by their functionality, advantages and disadvantages.

Salmonellosis is one of the most common food-borne zoonoses, and the most common source of infection for humans is meat and meat products. In 2023, 1125 samples of portioned meat (chicken, pork, beef) were tested in butcher shops in five districts of northern Croatia. The samples were tested for the presence of bacteria of the genus Salmonella, which were isolated in 88 (7.82%) samples. Salmonella was isolated from 604 chicken meat samples in 69 (11.4%) samples, from 319 pork samples in 10 (3.1%) samples and from 202 beef samples in 9 (4.5%) samples. Serological typing identified S. Infantis in 60 (87%) isolates from chicken meat samples, S. Mbandaka in 6 (8.7%) and S. Enteritidis in 3 (4.3%) samples. In pork, S. Derby was identified in 2 (20%) isolates, S. Typhimurium, S. Typhimurium (monophasic), S. London and S. Rissen in one isolate each (10%). In beef, S. Bovismorbificans was detected in 5 (55.6%) and S. Muenster in one (11.1%) isolate. Salmonellosis can be an economic problem due to the damage it causes in intensive production, but also a significant public health challenge as it spreads into the environment through the consumption and handling of contaminated meat in slaughterhouses, food processing and retail facilities. The implementation of appropriate hygiene measures and good hygiene practices from farms and slaughterhouses to butchers could help to reduce the contamination of meat with bacteria of the genus Salmonella.