Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tick-borne and fatal disease that induces a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which underscores the importance of assessing the level of inflammation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate changes in the SII and SIRI indexes in dogs with CME based on the presence of SIRS criteria. A total of 53 dogs affected with CME and 13 healthy dogs were included in the study. Haematological data, including neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic inflammatory index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), were collected and statistically compared between groups based on SIRS status. The NLR and SIRI indexes were significantly higher in dogs with CME that meet the criteria for SIRS compared to dogs without SIRS and healthy controls. In summary, monitoring the SIRI index can aid in evaluating SIRS criteria in dogs with CME, which can help improve their treatment and overall prognosis.

Food of animal origin is a potential source of pathogenic E. coli that are dangerous to humans. While most strains are intestinal commensals, some can cause intestinal and extraintestinal infections. Their pathogenicity is associated with the presence of virulence genes, phylo-group and, in some strains, biochemical characteristics. In this study, a total of 61 E. coli isolates from meat, minced meat, meat preparations and carcass swabs from different animal species were analysed. The biochemical properties of the strains were determined using VITEK2 system and the data was compared with the presence of virulence genes from previous studies. The results showed a correlation between the presence of the eae virulence gene and the alkalinization of succinate. In addition, the presence of the virulence gene cnf1 was correlated with the enzyme tyrosine arylamidase, though the correlation between biochemical characteristics and the presence of virulence genes is questionable due to the small sample size and more strains need to be tested for further conclusions. Although no significant correlations were found between biochemical characteristics and the presence of virulence genes, this study describes the diversity of E. coli in the Republic of Croatia. The collected data also reveal new insights into biochemical characteristics of E. coli isolated from domestic and wild animals in the Republic of Croatia.

Biosecurity is a multicomponent procedure that encompasses risk analysis and management strategies relevant to human, animal and plant life, as well as environmental risk assessment. The aim of this study was to assess data related to biosecurity measures implemented by farmers on cattle, sheep and goat farms in Kosovo. A total of 36 farms from three regions of Kosovo, Pristina, Ferizaj and Peja were included. A questionnaire consisting of one open-ended question and 37 closed questions was administered directly to farmers, and the current on-farm situation was observed by the investigators. Based on the collected results, 86% of farms were cattle farms, 8% were sheep farms, and 6% were goat farms. Among all the farms visited, 67% of them operated with a combined system, 28% with a closed system and only 5% operated with an open system. The vast majority of participants (81%) declared that they did not have sufficient knowledge about the term biosecurity, whereas 11% of them were moderately familiar with the term biosecurity and only 8% of them were quite familiar with the term. 83% reported that their animals undergo a veterinary health check only when necessary. Other biosecurity measures applied less frequently included: showering before entering the farm, specific clothing and shoes for visitors, animal quarantine, disinfection and systematic plan for insect and rodent control. We propose that there is room for improving the level of on-farm biosecurity by enhancing practical training and information from localinstitutions. We conclude that routine integration of biosecurity measures was not demonstrated by most farmers in their management practices and that there is significant room for improvement concerning the level of biosecurity in Kosovo.

The study analysed the results of showjumping competitions of 41 warmblood horses of varying reproductive status, age and personality. In total, 8 stallions, 18 mares, and 15 geldings were included. Horses were divided in the following age groups: young horses 4-7 years old (n=15), mature horses 8-13 years old (n=13) and older horses 14-20 years old (n=13). Horses were also divided according to dominant personality component, obtained by questionnaires: excitability (n=4), protection (n=7), sociability (n=15), curiosity (n=9), horses without a dominant personality component (n=6). Horses in this study were compared to the results of showjumping competitions of the Croatian Equestrian Federation in the past two consecutive years, considering data from 80 classes, 44 tournaments and 3280 starts. The Winter Cup (1.10-1.3) was considered the time of absence of cyclicity in mares while the Summer Cup (1.3-1.10) was considered the full season of reproductive cyclicity of mares. The aim of the study was to determine correlations between the dominant personality component, reproductive status and age of the horse in obtaining optimal results in showjumping competitions. Based on the results, the dominant personality component positively influences the horse’s success in showjumping(ranking, penalties). Excitable horses had the poorest results, especially during the reproductive season (P<0.05). Protective horses had the best results regardless of season. It is likely that determination of the dominantpersonality component could help in better selection of showjumping horses. Geldings had the least seasonal variations, while mares had significantly better results out of season (P<0.05). Stallions also had better results out of season, though the difference was not statistically significant. Recommendations include introducing methods of cycle blockage in mares to improve focus and results in all categories. Contrary to expectations, older horses (14-20 years old) obtained better results than mature horses (8-13 years old). Further research of all observed parameters on a significantly higher sample of showjumpers is required to determine whether the findings here could be applied to the complete population of warmblood horses used in showjumping competitions in Croatia and abroad.

Listeria monocytogenes is ubiquitous and causes listeriosis, which manifests in animals in the form of septicaemia, encephalitis, abortions, and, rarely, mastitis. In humans, food is the main source of infection, which is the reason food business operators take samples and test for Listeria. We report a case of L. monocytogenesdetection in traditional cheese made from raw milk, and subsequent investigation revealed that L. monocytogenes was excreted from a cow mammary gland. Although treatment was carried out according to the results of the antibiogram, there was no improvement in the subclinical mastitis and the excretion of L. monocytogenes after treatment was 8.8x102cfu/mL, and therefore the cow was removed from the herd.

The biomedical research field’s continuous search for innovative technologies has led to improved disease diagnosis, novel drug discovery, and therapeutic interventions, all aimed at enhancing animal and human health alike. In this context, proteomics has emerged as a critical new technology, focusing on detailed examinations of protein composition, abundance, structure, function, and interactions. Proteomics, the study of the entire set ofproteins expressed by an organism, plays a crucial role in disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and therapeutic interventions in both human and animal health. Proteomics in veterinary medicine and animal health is an evolving field that holds significant promise for fundamental and applied discoveries related to the biology and pathology of domestic and companion species. It encompasses a broad spectrum of applications, including disease diagnosis, comparative medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, reproductive biology, livestock production,and pathology. By analysing protein profiles and interactions, proteomics contributes to enhancing animal health, welfare, and productivity across various fields of veterinary research and practice. Experimental proteomics in domestic animals offers advantages over the use of rodents, such as the ability to conduct multipletime-series samplings of biological samples for extensive analysis, allowing for the investigation of experimental and natural disease processes. This review highlights the current application of proteomics in veterinary medicine, focusing on its potential to advance diagnostics, research, and treatments in veterinary science. The current limitations of proteomics are also discussed.

Antimicrobial substances are used on farms for therapeutic, prophylactic, or growth-promoting purposes. Antibiotic residues can be detected in animal feed due to unauthorised use for prophylaxis and as growth promoters, or as a result of unintentional cross-contamination during feed production. The presence of antibiotic residues in food has been linked to allergic reactions, gut microbiota imbalance, development of antibacterial resistance, or potential toxic effects. A multi-residue method was developed for the detection and quantification of 43 analytes from 9 antibiotic classes (penicillins (2), quinolones (2), macrolides (3), lincosamides (1), phenicols (2), pleuromutilins (2), tetracyclines (4), sulfonamides (25), quinoxalines (2)) in animal feed. The method was designed for feed samples with varying contents and particle sizes. Extraction and purification were based on the addition of organic solvents and the solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup method to achieve the best analyte response. Antibiotics were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) within 17 minutes in positive and negative scan modes. Average recovery rates ranged from 75.7% (sulfamethazine) to 121.3% (carbadox) with corresponding relative standard deviations of 9.2% and 49.6%. The method is suitable for screening antibiotic contamination in animal feed in the range from 1 to 50 μg/kg and for confirming substances in the range from 10 to 1000 μg/kg. A significant matrix effect was observed when comparing the analysed signals between different feeds, indicating the necessity of using a matrix calibration curve and a standard addition method.

This study presents the results of a clinical administration of meloxivet nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatment against the background of the docetaxel + cyclophosphamide regimen chemotherapy following bilateral mastectomy in cats with mammary gland carcinoma. The inclusion of meloxivet in complex chemotherapy against breast carcinomas bilateral mastectomy improved treatment results. In particular, survival was extended in the clinical stages: I and II - by 1.3 times, III - by 1.6 times, and the disease-free period was increased by 1.5, 1.4 and 1.9 times, respectively. Complex treatment of cats including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy reduced the risk of disease progression depending on the clinical stage during the first six months after the end of the course. An increase in the number of patients with subsequent metastasis (after six to twelve months) was also noted. The use of meloxivet made it possible to avoid disease progression in cats up to three years of age, and to reduce its probability and delay the onset of metastasis in all age categories. The proposed scheme of treatment of cats with mammary gland carcinomas reduced side effects, indicating an insignificant risk of negative effects of long-term meloxivet use against the background of a 1.5- fold reduction in the frequency of recurrences in the surgical intervention area.

There are few studies on oxidative stress in reptiles and there is a lack of basic knowledge on oxidative stress in the tissues of the widely distributed Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). The aim of the present preliminary study was to test and compare the biological antioxidant potential (BAP), total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM) of muscle tissue between two populations of P. siculus. Two free-living groups of eight adult males were included in each group (N=16). One group was caught on the island of Pag (at Novalja), and the second from the mainland (at Knin) in Croatia. Animals were kept in the same, optimal conditions for two months. After muscle tissue homogenisation and centrifugation in the supernatant, the activities of GSH-Px, SOD and concentrations of BAP and d-ROM were determined using commercial biochemical kits on a biochemical analyser. The results of this study showed that although there were no statistically significant differences in the values of oxidants and antioxidant parameters determined in muscle tissue supernatants between these two populations, values of all determined parameters were higher in the Pag group especially BAP values that approached statistical significance. No differences were found in d-ROM/BAP and GSH-Px/SOD ratios, but all parameters showed significant positive correlations, with the strongest positive correlation between GSH-Px and BAP, and SOD and BAP. These findings can serve as a base for future studies with a larger sample size, different tissue, different locations, between sexes or between species at the same location.

Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of caprine brucellosis and identify factors influencing its persistence in Algeria. Over the span of a decade, from 2009 to 2018, a sero-epidemiological survey was undertaken, covering a significant population of 51,475 goats. The screening process involved the use of the card agglutination test to detect potential positive samples. Subsequently, positive samples were subjected to confirmation using the complement fixation test. The study revealed an average seropositivity prevalenceof 14.7% over the ten-year duration. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between Southern and Northern provinces, registering respective rates of 20.2% and 6.9%. Furthermore, a pronounced effect of gender was evident (P<0.05), with females exhibiting a higher infection prevalence (15.6%) compared to males (7.1%). Similarly, a significant difference was observed concerning the age of animals, with aged individuals showing a prevalence of 15.8% in contrast to young animals at 8.5%. In our current investigation, we observed thepersistence of caprine brucellosis across various provinces in Algeria. Consequently, there is a pressing need to establish and execute a comprehensive strategy aimed at combating and preventing this infection.