Animal Diseases Research Articles

Polyphenolic content, phytochemical profile composition, and bioactive properties of Castilla Rose (Purshia plicata)

One of the greatest risks to human and animal health are infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, as these microorganisms develop mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobials, as a consequence of the indiscriminate and prolonged use of antimicrobials. This makes the treatment of infectious diseases increasingly difficult, in addition to an increase in treatment costs. These disadvantages have led to the search for alternative therapies based on bioactive compounds such as tannins, and flavonoids. Thus, some plant-derived compounds have been used to counteract infectious diseases and other health disorders. This study aimed to identify polyphenols of purified extract from Purshia plicata, and evaluate the antioxidant potential and the response of in vitro antibacterial activity against pathogen microorganisms of clinical importance for humans and animals. An aqueous extraction was performed and the compounds were purified using liquid chromatography. The total polyphenolic content was measured employing the Folin Ciocalteu and butanol-HCI methods. The polyphenolic profile was identified by HPLC/ESI/MS. These compounds were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity using the agar diffusion method and antioxidant activity was determined by ABTS•+, DPPH•, and FRAP methods. The compounds showed effectiveness against Klebsiella sp, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella sp, and moderate inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. The total hydrolyzable polyphenols content was 45.7 mg g-1; the total condensed polyphenols content was 27 mg g-1. The results of the antioxidant activity showed that IC50 was reached at 150 µgml-1, 250 µgml-1, and 150 µgml-1. Twelve compounds were identified by HPCL/ESI/MS, the most important being anthocyanins and ellagitannins. The polyphenolic compounds of P. plicata have the potential to be used as pharmacological products with antibacterial and antioxidant properties for the treatment of infectious diseases in animals and humans.

Gut microbiota in multiple sclerosis and animal models.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system (CNS) neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disease marked by a host immune reaction that targets and destroys the neuronal myelin sheath. MS and correlating animal disease models show comorbidities, including intestinal barrier disruption and alterations of the commensal microbiome. It is accepted that diet plays a crucial role in shaping the microbiota composition and overall gastrointestinal (GI) tract health, suggesting an interplay between nutrition and neuroinflammation via the gut-brain axis. Unfortunately, poor host health and diet lead to microbiota modifications that could lead to significant responses in the host, including inflammation and neurobehavioral changes. Beneficial microbial metabolites are essential for host homeostasis and inflammation control. This review will highlight the importance of the gut microbiota in the context of host inflammatory responses in MS and MS animal models. Additionally, microbial community restoration and how it affects MS and GI barrier integrity will be discussed.

COVID-19 and cardiac complications: Myocarditis and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

Coronavirus is an important pathogen causing disease in humans and animals. At the end of 2019, an investigation into an increase in pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, found that the cause was a new coronavirus. This disease, which spread rapidly across China and caused an outbreak worldwide, resulted in a pandemic. Although this virus has previously been referred to as 2019-nCoV, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), later it was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Children were usually asymptomatic and rarely severely affected. In April 2020, reports from the United Kingdom indicated that children may have Kawasaki disease or a clinical condition similar to toxic shock syndrome. This clinical picture was later defined as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Since then, similarly affected children as well as cases with other cardiac complications have been reported in other parts of the world. In this review, we aimed to evaluate COVID-19 in terms of cardiac involvement by reviewing the literature.

Bioinformatics approach for structure modeling, vaccine design, and molecular docking of Brucella candidate proteins BvrR, OMP25, and OMP31

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with significant economic and healthcare costs. Despite the eradication efforts, the disease persists. Vaccines prevent disease in animals while antibiotics cure humans with limitations. This study aims to design vaccines and drugs for brucellosis in animals and humans, using protein modeling, epitope prediction, and molecular docking of the target proteins (BvrR, OMP25, and OMP31). Tertiary structure models of three target proteins were constructed and assessed using RMSD, TM-score, C-score, Z-score, and ERRAT. The best models selected from AlphaFold and I-TASSER due to their superior performance according to CASP 12 – CASP 15 were chosen for further analysis. The motif analysis of best models using MotifFinder revealed two, five, and five protein binding motifs, however, the Motif Scan identified seven, six, and eight Post-Translational Modification sites (PTMs) in the BvrR, OMP25, and OMP31 proteins, respectively. Dominant B cell epitopes were predicted at (44–63, 85–93, 126–137, 193–205, and 208–237), (26–46, 52–71, 98–114, 142–155, and 183–200), and (29–45, 58–82, 119–142, 177–198, and 222–251) for the three target proteins. Additionally, cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes were detected at (173–181, 189–197, and 202–210), (61–69, 91–99, 159–167, and 181–189), and (3–11, 24–32, 167–175, and 216–224), while T helper lymphocyte epitopes were displayed at (39–53, 57–65, 150–158, 163–171), (79–87, 95–108, 115–123, 128–142, and 189–197), and (39–47, 109–123, 216–224, and 245–253), for the respective target protein. Furthermore, structure-based virtual screening of the ZINC and DrugBank databases using the docking MOE program was followed by ADMET analysis. The best five compounds of the ZINC database revealed docking scores ranged from (− 16.8744 to − 15.1922), (− 16.0424 to − 14.1645), and (− 14.7566 to − 13.3222) for the BvrR, OMP25, and OMP31, respectively. These compounds had good ADMET parameters and no cytotoxicity, while DrugBank compounds didn't meet Lipinski's rule criteria. Therefore, the five selected compounds from the ZINC20 databases may fulfill the pharmacokinetics and could be considered lead molecules for potentially inhibiting Brucella’s proteins.

Evaluation of stem-cell therapies in companion animal disease models: a concise review (2015-2023).

Companion animals in veterinary medicine develop multiple naturally occurring diseases analogous to human conditions. We previously reported a comprehensive review on the feasibility, safety, and biologic activity of using novel stem cell therapies to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions in dogs and cats (2008-2015) [Hoffman AM, Dow SW. Concise review: stem cell trials using companion animal disease models. Stem Cells. 2016;34(7):1709-1729. https://doi.org/10.1002/stem.2377]. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated summary of current studies in companion animal disease models that have evaluated stem cell therapeutics that are relevant to human disease. Here we have reviewed the literature from 2015 to 2023 for publications on stem cell therapies that have been evaluated in companion animals, including dogs, cats, and horses. The review excluded case reports or studies performed in experimentally induced models of disease, studies involving cancer, or studies in purpose-bred laboratory species such as rodents. We identified 45 manuscripts meeting these criteria, an increase from 19 that were described in the previous review [Hoffman AM, Dow SW. Concise review: stem cell trials using companion animal disease models. Stem Cells. 2016;34(7):1709-1729. https://doi.org/10.1002/stem.2377]. The majority of studies were performed in dogs (n = 28), with additional studies in horses (n = 9) and cats (n = 8). Disease models included those related to musculoskeletal disease (osteoarthritis and tendon/ligament injury), neurologic disease (canine cognitive dysfunction, intervertebral disc disease, spinal cord injury) gingival/dental disease (gingivostomatitis), dermatologic disease (atopic dermatitis), chronic multi-drug resistant infections, ophthalmic disease (keratoconjunctivitis sicca, eosinophilic keratitis, immune-mediated keratitis), cardiopulmonary disease (asthma, degenerative valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy), gastrointestinal disease (inflammatory bowel disease, chronic enteropathy), and renal disease (chronic kidney disease). The majority of studies reported beneficial responses to stem cell treatment, with the exception of those related to more chronic processes such as spinal cord injury and chronic kidney disease. However, it should also be noted that 22 studies were open-label, baseline-controlled trials and only 12 studies were randomized and controlled, making overall study interpretation difficult. As noted in the previous review, improved regulatory oversight and consistency in manufacturing of stem cell therapies are needed. Enhanced understanding of the temporal course of disease processes using advanced-omics approaches may further inform mechanisms of action and help define appropriate timing of interventions. Future directions of stem-cell-based therapies could include use of stem-cell-derived extracellular vesicles, or cell conditioning approaches to direct cells to specific pathways that are tailored to individual disease processes and stages of illness.

Influence of cellulolytic preparation on the productive qualities of snails of the Helix Aspersa Maxima species

Heliciculture is a branch of animal husbandry that deals with cultivation and using edible terrestrial snails for food and cosmetic purposes. This type of animal husbandry has an advantage over others in terms of simplicity of technology, as snails do not require complex technical equipment and care. In addition, they are unpretentious in feeding and resistant to diseases. Heliceculture has signifcant potential for development in Ukraine, as there is already considerable demand for snails in the food and cosmetics market. This industry is also developing rapidly and becoming increasingly popular among farmers and businessmen worldwide. At the same time, achieving success in snail farming requires specifc knowledge and skills. For example, it is essential to choose a suitable cultivation method, ensure optimal keeping and feeding conditions, and adhere to the standards of product storage and processing. It is also worth considering the specifcs of the legislation regulating the breeding and circulation of snails and the possible risks associated with pollution and animal diseases. An essential aspect of the development of helicopter culture is research and development to improve the quality and quantity of products, as well as the technology for reproduction and keeping snails. Such research should help improve efciency and make the industry more competitive. Exploring opportunities to improve the efciency of nutrient use in snail feed can signifcantly increase the proftability of production. Enzyme preparations are widely used in heliceculture to enhance the digestion of complex compounds, reduce the negative impact of anti-nutrients, and improve feed conversion. The use of such products in heliculture is reasonable and can have a positive impact on production efciency. The direction of complex feeding in heliceculture has not been studied much, and the influence of this cellulolytic drug on the productive qualities of Helix Aspersa Maxima species snails has yet to be clarifed. The results obtained during the study can substantiate the positive aspects of using special preparations to increase snail cultivation efciency and the use of nutrients in the diet. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of cellulosolytic enzyme preparation «AGROCELL» on the productivity of snails of the species Helix Aspersa Maxima. The results of the work showed that the addition of the enzyme preparation «AGROCELL» to the diet increases the absolute increase in live weight of snails by 1.2 g and the chain weight by 0.1-1.1 g. Key words: snails, industry, enzyme preparation, productivity, feeding, technology, cultivation.

Analysis of the parasitological situation regarding eimeriosis in cattle in the Russian Federation

The purpose of the study is to review the spread of bovine eimeriosis in the territory of the Russian Federation. Objectives of the study: to analyze the epizootic situation of bovine eimeriosis in the territory of the Russian Federation. Bovine coccidiosis is widespread in many regions of Russia and in other countries of the world. The pathogens are more than 10 species of eimeria, which have a specific localization in the body of animals, as well as morphological differences from each other. Three species (E. zuernii, E. bovis and E. alabamensis) are characterized by the highest pathogenicity and are most often associated with the clinical manifestation of the disease. Mostly young animals aged from 2 weeks to 1 year are ill, and adult animals have an asymptomatic form of invasion. In many animals, eimeria causes dangerous diseases, accompanied by a decrease in productivity, the birth of weak offspring, often the death of young animals, and additional feed costs per unit of production. In livestock complexes, the incidence of calves with eimeriosis is 10–100%, and mortality is 25–60%. The maximum infection of calves and adult animals is observed in the spring and autumn periods, and in some regions in the autumn-winter period. It was found that with an increase in the density of calves in the machine, their infection with eimeria increases significantly. The invasion of calves was minimal when kept in individual machines. Given that parasites have a complex developmental biology, one of the most importantmeasures in the complex of measures ensuring the prevention and elimination of animal diseases with coccidiosis is currently still pharmacotherapy and prevention, contributing not only to the liberation of animals from parasites, but also to prevent the dispersion of the invasive origin in the environment and to prevent the threat of new infection.

The protective role of phlorizin against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute orchitis in mice associated with changes in gut microbiota composition

ObjectiveOrchitis is a common reproductive disease of male animals, which has serious implications to human and animal reproduction. Additionally, phlorizin (PHN), a common polyphenol in apples and strawberries, has a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-aging activities. We aimed to determine the protective effects and potential mechanisms of PHN in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute orchitis in mice.MethodAfter 21 days of PHN pretreatment, mice were injected with LPS to induce testicular inflammation, and then the changes of testicular tissue structure, expression of inflammatory factors, testosterone level, expression of testosterone-related genes, adhesion gene and protein expression were detected, and the structural changes in the intestinal flora after PHN treatment were further detected by 16SRNA.ResultOur results demonstrated that PHN treatment reduced LPS-induced testicular injury and body and testicular weight losses. The mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines-related genes and antioxidant enzyme activity were also decreased and elevated, respectively, by PHN administration; however, PHN treatment also reduced the LPS-induced decrease in testosterone levels in the testes. Additionally, further studies found that PHN increased the expression of marker proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin associated with the blood testosterone barrier compared with that in LPS treatment groups. To further examine the potential mechanisms of the protective effect of PHN on LPS-induced testicular injury, we compared the differences of gut microbiota compositions between the 100 mg/kg PHN treatment group and the control group using 16SRNA. Metagenomic analyses indicated that the abundances of Bacteroidetes, Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillaceae, uncultured bacterium f Muribaculaceae, and Lactobacillus in the PHN treatment group improved, while potential microbes that can induce intestinal diseases, including Verrucomicrobia, Epsilonbacteraeota, Akkermansiaceae, and Akkermansia decreased in the PHN treatment group.ConclusionOur results indicate that PHN pretreatment might alleviate orchitis by altering the composition of gut microflora, which may provide a reference for reducing the occurrence of acute orchitis in male animals.

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis in a Mixed-Breed Dog with a Splice Site Variant in CLN6.

A 23-month-old neutered male dog of unknown ancestry presented with a history of progressive neurological signs that included anxiety, cognitive impairment, tremors, seizure activity, ataxia, and pronounced visual impairment. The clinical signs were accompanied by global brain atrophy. Due to progression in the severity of disease signs, the dog was euthanized at 26 months of age. An examination of the tissues collected at necropsy revealed dramatic intracellular accumulations of autofluorescent inclusions in the brain, retina, and cardiac muscle. The inclusions were immunopositive for subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase, and their ultrastructural appearances were similar to those of lysosomal storage bodies that accumulate in some neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) diseases. The dog also exhibited widespread neuroinflammation. Based on these findings, the dog was deemed likely to have suffered from a form of NCL. A whole genome sequence analysis of the proband's DNA revealed a homozygous C to T substitution that altered the intron 3-exon 4 splice site of CLN6. Other mutations in CLN6 cause NCL diseases in humans and animals, including dogs. The CLN6 protein was undetectable with immunolabeling in the tissues of the proband. Based on the clinical history, fluorescence and electron-microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular genetic findings, the disorder in this dog was classified as an NCL resulting from the absence of the CLN6 protein. Screening the dog's genome for a panel of breed-specific polymorphisms indicated that its ancestry included numerous breeds, with no single breed predominating. This suggests that the CLN6 disease variant is likely to be present in other mixed-breed dogs and at least some ancestral breeds, although it is likely to be rare since other cases have not been reported to date.

Ethical considerations in companion animal care: Examining the consequences of rabies in an unvaccinated Boerboel dog and implications for animal welfare policies

AbstractThis case investigates and documents the occurrence of rabies in an unvaccinated 4‐month‐old Boerboel dog in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, emphasising the ethical considerations and implications for existing animal welfare policies. Despite Nigeria enacting the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, 2022, cases of rabies persist, contributing to thousands of human rabies cases annually. The legal framework highlights the ethical responsibilities of pet owners, mandating annual rabies vaccinations and holding owners accountable for their pets' actions. This case report details the dog's behavioural changes, subsequent euthanasia and laboratory confirmation of rabies. Investigations reveal gaps in vaccination compliance with challenges in community cooperation for free vaccination initiatives. The case highlights the global significance of rabies control, highlighting the ethical responsibilities of pet owners, emphasises the consequences of rabies, and advocates for strengthened policies and improved compliance to effectively combat rabies and protect both animal and human welfare in Nigeria.

Oregano Essential Oil in Livestock and Veterinary Medicine.

With a growing global concern over food safety and animal welfare issues, the livestock and veterinary industries are undergoing unprecedented changes. These changes have not only brought challenges within each industry, but also brought unprecedented opportunities for development. In this context, the search for natural and safe products that can effectively replace traditional veterinary drugs has become an important research direction in the fields of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. Oregano essential oil (OEO), as a natural extract, is gradually emerging in the fields of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine with its unique antibacterial, antioxidant, and multiple other biological activities. OEO not only has a wide antibacterial spectrum, effectively fighting against a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, but also, because of its natural properties, helps us to avoid traditional veterinary drugs that may bring drug residues or cause drug resistance problems. This indicates OEO has great application potential in animal disease treatment, animal growth promotion, and animal welfare improvement. At present, the application of OEO in the fields of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine has achieved preliminary results. Studies have shown that adding OEO to animal feed can significantly improve the growth performance and health status of animals and reduce the occurrence of disease. At the same time, pharmacokinetic studies in animals show that the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion processes of OEO in animals shows good bioavailability. In summary, oregano essential oil (OEO), as a substitute for natural veterinary drugs with broad application prospects, is gradually becoming a research hotspot in the field of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. In the future, we look forward to further tapping the potential of OEO through more research and practice and making greater contributions to the sustainable development of the livestock and veterinary industries.

Ciprofloxacin Electrochemical Sensor Using Copper-Iron Mixed Metal Oxides Nanoparticles/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite.

The harmful effects of antibiotic proliferation on the environment and its persistent nature are urgent global problems. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a fluoroquinolone-class antibiotic agent used widely to treat pathogen-related diseases in humans and animals. Its excretion into surface water causes antibiotic resistance in microbes, resulting in difficult-to-treat or untreatable infectious diseases. This study developed a simple and efficient electrochemical sensor to detect CIP. Hydrothermal chemistry was utilized to synthesize an electrophotocatalytic composite of copper-iron mixed metal oxides (CIMMO) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (CIMMO/rGO). The composite was employed in an electrochemical sensor and exhibited outstanding performance in detecting CIP. The sensor was operated in differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) mode under light source illumination. The sensor yielded a linear response in the concentration range of 0.75 × 10-9-1.0 × 10-7 mol L-1 CIP and showed a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.74 × 10-10 mol L-1. The excellent sensing performance of the composite is attributable to the synergic effects between CIMMO nanoparticles and rGO, which facilitate photoinduced electron-hole separation and assist in the indirect electrochemical reactions/interactions with CIP.

The effects of hoof health and hoof trimming on farm profitability

Animal diseases pose a significant threat to the global livestock industry, with severe economic consequences. To minimize this impact, farmers employ various preventative measures, with hoof trimming being the most common method for addressing hoof disorders. This study analysed the economic effects of hoof trimming on dairy farms, using a panel dataset containing three years of hoof health data across Finland. This was an observational study that also addressed the issue with unavoidable confounders. To reduce bias, inverse propensity score weighting (IPW) was used, which assigned weights based on the probability density function of treatment frequency. By reweighting the data, this study improved the validity of the causal inference in the presence of confounding unobserved variables. The results of the study indicated that both infectious and non-infectious hoof disorders were notable on dairy farms in Finland. Furthermore, frequency of hoof trimming was influenced by several factors, including hoof health, farm characteristics, and management decisions. The analysis suggested a U-shaped relationship between hoof trimming and farms' profitability. Although the profitability ratio initially decreased, it increased after reaching a hoof trimming level of 97 %. The study highlighted how important systematic and regular hoof trimming is to maintain profitability.

Osteoarthritis, adipokines and the translational research potential in small animal patients.

Osteoartritis (OA) is a debilitating disease affecting both humans and animals. In the early stages, OA is characterized by damage to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and apoptosis and depletion of chondrocytes. OA progression is characterized by hyaline cartilage loss, chondrophyte and osteophyte formation, thickening of the joint capsule and function loss in the later stages. As the regenerative potential of cartilage is very limited and osteoarthritic changes are irreversible, prevention of OA, modulation of existing osteoarthritic joint inflammation, reducing joint pain and supporting joint function are the only options. Progression of OA and pain may necessitate surgical intervention with joint replacement or arthrodesis as end-stage procedures. In human medicine, the role of adipokines in the development and progression of OA has received increasing interest. At present, the known adipokines include leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, progranulin, chemerin, lipocalin-2, vaspin, omentin-1 and nesfatin. Adipokines have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in joint homeostasis by modulating anabolic and catabolic balance, autophagy, apoptosis and inflammatory responses. In small animals, in terms of dogs and cats, naturally occurring OA has been clearly demonstrated as a clinical problem. Similar to humans, the etiology of OA is multifactorial and has not been fully elucidated. Humans, dogs and cats share many joint related degenerative diseases leading to OA. In this review, joint homeostasis, OA, adipokines and the most common joint diseases in small animals leading to naturally occurring OA and their relation with adipokines are discussed. The purpose of this review is highlighting the translational potential of OA and adipokines research in small animal patients.

Animal Shelter Wastewater Sampling for Pathogens With Epidemic Potential

Canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), and Streptococcus zooepidemicus (S. zoo) represent a range of infectious agents that can cause epidemic disease in dogs, particularly those housed in animal shelters. Outbreaks of disease associated with these agents are relatively common in shelters, resulting in isolation, quarantine, euthanasia, and in some cases, shelter closure in efforts to manage the outbreak. In recent years, outbreaks of CDV and S. zoo have been particularly challenging for shelters in Arizona. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has proven useful in disease monitoring and outbreak prediction in human populations, including congregate locations, and we hypothesized that it may also be useful in surveillance and prediction for agents responsible for either gastrointestinal (GI) or respiratory disease in shelter animals. Our specific aims were to develop and validate a protocol for detecting infectious agents from wastewater samples collected from shelter run sections and to investigate associations with agent burden and counts of animals with clinical signs. Once protocols for sampling and preparation were optimized, environmental wastewater samples were collected weekly between November 2023 and April 2024 at a large open intake municipal animal shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. The samples were collected from seven drains located in seven run sections in three separate buildings, and were evaluated for the presence of the three agent nucleic acids using quantitative, multiplex PCR. The counts of dogs actively showing GI and respiratory symptoms, graded as mild, moderate, and severe, were collected the afternoon of the day of sampling. Biosafety committee approval was granted for the viruses in this study. Shedding of CPV was found to be widespread and variable over time. S. zoo was detected five times on five different weeks in five different run sections. CDV was found once. There were only six dogs reported with GI signs during the study period. Counts of respiratory disease ranged from 42-132 dogs per run section with most cases being mild in severity and reported in the isolation run section. There is no apparent association between counts of either respiratory or GI cases and the three agents detected through wastewater sampling. During the study there was a single incident of a S. zoo PCR positive dog being isolated and later dying at the shelter. S. zoo was detected through wastewater sampling the week prior to the incident, however, in a run section located in a different building than where the PCR positive dog was housed. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to develop protocols to detect critical pathogens in wastewater samples from an animal shelter. CPV has been the pathogen most frequently detected, which we speculate may be largely due to the shedding typically observed in dogs post-vaccination, given the absence of GI signs. Further investigation is warranted to better characterize the absence of amplifiable CDV nucleic acids and to examine these samples for other common shelter pathogens.

Identification of a New Domestic Pig Cell Line for Growth of African Swine Fever Viruses for Vaccine Production in Uganda.

In this study, a basis for the feasibility of a successful ASF vaccine design program using live attenuated vaccines was sought. One of the challenges to African swine fever (ASF) vaccine development is having a cell line that will provide commercial utility for vaccine production. We set out to address this problem by innovatively identifying possible cell lines from local domestic pigs in the country. Eight tissue types from ASF-negative animals were identified for incorporation into cell line development. These were degraded, incubated, and monitored for cell growth. One cell line, the SIR2-P, grew consistently and confluently and was tested for the ability to grow and isolate field ASF viruses. We report the isolation of ASF viruses in our laboratory for the first time. The P9C virus from Namayingo district exhibited the largest plaque sizes compared to the SQ517B virus from Mukono. The innovative identification of the SIR2-P cell line is proof of concept that newer speciesspecific cell lines can be developed in the Infectious Animal Disease Laboratory (IADL), and utilized to study other animal viruses like Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus, Foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus, and Swine Influenza. Such cells can be used in vaccine production for other endemic diseases in Uganda. The SIR2-P cell line is currently at passage 65.

First molecular survey of tick-borne protozoan and bacterial pathogens in the questing tick population in Bangladesh

Questing ticks carry various tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) that are responsible for causing tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in humans and animals around the globe, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. Information on the distribution of ticks and TBPs in a specific geography is crucial for the formulation of mitigation measures against TBDs. Therefore, this study aimed to survey the TBPs in the questing tick population in Bangladesh. A total of 2748 questing hard ticks were collected from the pastures in Sylhet, Bandarban, Sirajganj, Dhaka, and Mymensingh districts through the flagging method. After morphological identification, the ticks were grouped into 142 pools based on their species, sexes, life stages, and collection sites. The genomic DNA extracted from tick specimens was screened for 14 pathogens, namely Babesia bigemina (AMA-1), Babesia bovis (RAP-1), Babesia naoakii (AMA-1), Babesia ovis (18S rRNA), Theileria luwenshuni (18S rRNA), Theileria annulata (Tams-1), Theileria orientalis (MPSP), Anaplasma marginale (groEL), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (16S rRNA), Anaplasma bovis (16S rRNA), Anaplasma platys (16S rRNA), Ehrlichia spp. (16S rRNA), Rickettsia spp. (gltA), and Borrelia (Bo.) spp. (flagellin B) using genus and species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The prevalence of the detected pathogens was calculated using the maximum likelihood method (MLE) with 95 % confidence interval (CI). Among 2748 ixodid ticks, 2332 (84.86 %) and 416 (15.14 %) were identified as Haemaphysalis bispinosa and Rhipicephalus microplus, respectively. Haemaphysalis bispinosa was found to carry all the seven detected pathogens, while larvae of R. microplus were found to carry only Bo. theileri. Among the TBPs, the highest detection rate was observed in A. bovis (20/142 pools, 0.81 %, CI: 0.51–1.20), followed by T. orientalis (19/142 pools, 0.72 %, CI: 0.44–1.09), T. luwenshuni (9/142 pools, 0.34 %, CI: 0.16–0.62), B. ovis (4/142 pools, 0.15 %, CI: 0.05 – 0.34) and Bo. theileri (4/142 pools, 0.15 %, CI: 0.05–0.34), Ehrlichia ewingii (3/142 pools, 0.11 %, CI: 0.03–0.29), and Babesia bigemina (1/142, 0.04 %, CI: 0.00 – 0.16). This study reports the existence of T. luwenshuni, E. ewingii, and Bo. theileri in Bangladesh for the first time. The novel findings of this study are the foremost documentation of transovarian transmission of B. bigemina and E. ewingii in H. bispinosa and also provide primary molecular evidence on the presence of E. ewingii and Bo. theileri in H. bispinosa. Therefore, this study may shed light on the circulating TBPs in ticks in the natural environment and thereby advocate awareness among physicians and veterinarians to control and prevent TBDs in Bangladesh.

Analysis of Acute Phase Response Using Acute Phase Proteins Following Simultaneous Vaccination of Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

Since 2011, South Korea has implemented biannual vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and recently, lumpy skin disease (LSD), to mitigate the spread of transboundary animal diseases. However, due to past adverse reactions, potentially linked to acute phase responses from FMD vaccinations, there is hesitancy among Korean livestock farmers regarding new strategies for simultaneous vaccinations against both FMD and LSD. This study was conducted to assess possible adverse reactions to the LSD vaccination by analyzing acute phase proteins (APPs) in three groups: cows vaccinated against FMD (G1-FMDV), LSD (G2-LSDV), and both (G3-FMDV/LSDV). In G1-FMDV, APP levels peaked on day 3 post-vaccination (p < 0.001) and returned to baseline. In G2-LSDV, APP levels increased gradually, peaking on day 10 post-vaccination. In G3-FMDV/LSDV, APP levels peaked on day 3 post-vaccination and remained high until day 10 (p < 0.001). These results indicate that LSD vaccines trigger a later immune response compared to FMD vaccines, possibly due to different adjuvants. Therefore, a longer follow-up period for monitoring adverse reactions to LSD vaccinations may be required to understand and mitigate potential risks.

Человек - мессия

This lecture is dedicated to the messianic activity of Louis Pasteur, one of the most outstanding figures in humane and veterinary medicine, the founder of microbiology and immunology, who made the most significant fundamental contribution to the scientific solution of microbiological problems of global significance. Together with his colleagues and followers, he was the first to establish the role of microbes in life on Earth, including in pathology, the bacterial etiology of infectious diseases and the universal nature of anti-infective immunity, discovered the phenomenon of artificially attenuation the pathogenic properties of infectious agents and created means and methods of protection against the most malignant diseases of animals and humans - vaccines against anthrax and rabies, immediately, even during his lifetime, which found wide application in veterinary and medical practice around the world with outstanding socio-economic efficiency.

High frequency of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli from cattle in the Cerrado and Pantanal biomes of Brazil

The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria, especially pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, which are associated with diseases in animals and humans. The aim of the present study was to characterize E. coli isolates in calves with regards to the presence of virulence genes and investigate the resistance of the isolates to different antimicrobials. Between 2021 and 2023, 456 fecal samples were collected from calves in the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. All samples were subjected to microbiological analysis and disc diffusion antibiogram testing. The polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect virulence genes. Bacterial growth was found in 451 of the 456 samples and biochemically identified as Escherichia coli. All 451 isolates (100 %) exhibited some phenotypic resistance to antimicrobials and 67.62 % exhibited multidrug resistance. The frequency of multidrug-resistant isolates in the Cerrado biome was significantly higher than that in the Pantanal biome (p = 0.0001). In the Cerrado, the most common pathotype was Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (28 %), followed by toxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (11 %), enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) (8 %) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (2 %). In most cases, the concomitant occurrence of pathotypes was more common, the most frequent of which were ETEC + STEC (33 %), ETEC + EHEC (15 %) and ETEC + EPEC (3 %). The STEC pathotype (30 %) was also found more frequently in the Pantanal, followed by EHEC (12 %), ETEC (9 %) and EPEC (6 %). The STEC pathotype had a significantly higher frequency of multidrug resistance (p = 0.0486) compared to the other pathotypes identified. The frequency of resistance was lower in strains from the Pantanal biome compared to those from the Cerrado biome. Although some factors are discussed in this paper, it is necessary to clarify the reasons for this difference and the possible impacts of these findings on both animal and human health in the region.