Dog Breeds Research Articles

Study of Bacterial Isolates in Eye Infection Cases of Dogs

One hundred dogs of different breeds, sexes, and ages with various eye infections were examined over a year. Bacteriological examination of conjunctival swabs taken from both eyes revealed that 38 dogs, 38%, were positive for pathogenic microorganisms. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant 86.4% among isolates. Other microorganisms isolated were Beta-Streptococci 9.1%, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4.5%. Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics indicated that they were susceptible to most antibiotics used but less sensitive to Erythromycin and Ampicillin. Infected dogs showed excellent response to gentamycin (drops and ointment) treatment. A higher incidence of infection was significantly 0.05, revealed in females at 57.9%, than in males at 42.1%. The age group of four years in females and two years in males were highly susceptible to infection. The mixed terrier was the most common breed examined at 38%, followed by Shihtzu at 16 %. The maltase breed was susceptible to Pseudomonse aeruginosa.

”You don’t have the right to steal my life”: Exploring the harms of puppy farming on ex-breeding dogs

The last decade or so has witnessed a growing body of work within green criminology exploring forms of non-human animal abuse and harms involving companion animals. To date, however, comparably less attention has been paid to the puppy trade and the phenomena of commercial dog breeding facilities (or puppy mills/puppy farms). The aim of this article is to add to this literature by exploring the multiple harms of puppy farming, focusing on its impact on the breeding dogs themselves; specifically breeding bitches. Adopting a green criminological perspective and drawing on interviews with animal rescue staff, foster carers and those who have adopted ex-breeding dogs within the UK, the article explores the harms of puppy farming on their bodies and behaviours. Interviewees describe how ex-breeding dogs are physically worn out after a life of constant breeding and often suffer from a range of often serious medical issues. In addition, they were invariably emotionally shut down, exhibiting anxiety and phobic responses when confronted with new situations, people and sounds, as well as ones that recalled the conditions in which they were kept while in the puppy farm.

Pulmonary interstitial emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum are more prevalent in sighthounds than other dog breeds undergoing thoracic CT.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon condition described in veterinary medicine with concurrent respiratory disease. It can be caused by the Macklin effect, which is when gas leaks from the alveoli into the surrounding interstitial lung tissue. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) is the presence of gas within the pulmonary vascular sheaths and indicates the presence of the Macklin effect. In the authors' experience, spontaneous pneumomediastinum and PIE are more prevalent in sighthound dogs than in other breeds and are often considered incidental findings. This retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of PIE and subsequent pneumomediastinum in sighthound with other purebred dogs. It characterized the appearance of PIE in CT and analyzed a possible association with concomitant pulmonary pathologies or with the use of general anesthesia. Medical records and thoracic CTs of sighthounds and nonsighthound dogs from two institutions were reviewed. A total of 256 dogs, comprising 127 sighthounds and 129 other purebred dogs, were included. The prevalence of PIE and pneumomediastinum was statistically higher in sighthound (14.2%) compared with other nonsighthound dogs (2.2%). There was no statistical association between the presence of PIE and pneumomediastinum with different age and weight groups or with sex. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of PIE and pneumomediastinum between dogs with and without pulmonary pathology or in dogs undergoing CT with sedation or general anesthesia. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in sighthounds is more prevalent than in other breeds, and its prevalence is not associated with the presence of pulmonary pathology or the use of general anesthesia.

Survey of Animal Neoplastic Cases Diagnosed in Nigerian Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, 2000-2017.

Incidence data from 17-year veterinary neoplasm surveillance and registration were reviewed. Most of the neoplastic cases diagnosed in Nigerian veterinary teaching hospitals (VTHs) were in the avian (49%) and canine species (44%). Fewer cases were recorded in the equine (3.2%), bovine (2.4%), ovine (1.5%), caprine (0.3%) and porcine (0.15%) species. Marek's disease was the most prevalently diagnosed neoplastic disease of domestic animals in Nigerian VTHs from 2000-2017. Also, the Nigerian local breed had a higher mean distribution than any other dog breed and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Nearly all of the neoplastic cases diagnosed, were found in females (60.4%) and so the mean distribution of sex was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The digestive system, with 296 (46.25%) cases, was the anatomic location where the majority of the neoplastic cases were found. However, the mean distribution of different neoplastic anatomic sites was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, little emphasis is given to the appropriate diagnosis and recording of neoplastic cases that are diagnosed. The study provides information regarding the prevalence and distribution of tumours in different animal species consulted in Nigeria veterinary teaching hospitals. To illustrate all of this, ArcGIS software was used. Veterinary clinicians, pathologists and epidemiologists from Nigeria may benefit from the results of this study by freely accessing some specific data regarding the breed, the age group or the gender of some animal species diagnosed with different tumours.

Assisting decision-making on age of neutering for German Short/Wirehaired Pointer, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Siberian Husky: associated joint disorders, cancers, and urinary incontinence.

Spaying female and castrating male dogs, hereinafter referred to as neutering, is a US convention for the first year in the dog's life. Research on 35 breeds of dogs revealed that early neutering increases risks of joint disorders, such as hip dysplasia (HD), elbow dysplasia (ED), or cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear, or cancers, such as lymphosarcoma (LSA), mast cell tumor (MCT), hemangiosarcoma (has), or osteosarcoma (OSA), for some breeds. Joint disorder risks are heightened for some larger breeds and for mixed-breed dogs weighing more than 20 kg. Some breeds had elevated risks for cancers. Several other research teams have reported health complications associated with neutering. The study goal includes using the same methodology for data collection and analyses as in the study on 35 breeds for five additional dog breeds weighing at least 20 kg. The breeds were: German Short/Wirehaired Pointer, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Siberian Husky. Major differences among breeds appeared in vulnerability to joint disorders and cancers with early neutering: male and female Pointer breeds had elevated joint disorders and increased cancers; male Mastiff breeds had increased CCL and LSA and females had non-significant elevated CCL risks; female Newfoundland breeds had heightened risks for joint disorders and males had non-significant elevated risks; female Ridgeback breeds had heightened MCT with very early neutering; and Siberian Huskies showed no significant effects on joint disorders or cancers, but female breeds showed a non-significant but elevated CCL. Updated guidelines cover 40 dog breeds. These results further emphasize the importance of personalized decisions regarding the neutering of dogs, considering the dog's breed, sex, and context.

Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings in Irish Wolfhounds eating high-pulse or low-pulse diets.

Apparently healthy dogs of various breeds eating nontraditional, high-pulse diets can have larger left ventricular diameter, lower systolic function, and more ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) compared with dogs eating traditional, low-pulse diets. It is unknown whether Irish Wolfhounds eating high-pulse diets have similar cardiac abnormalities. To compare electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings between Irish Wolfhounds eating high- or low-pulse diets. Ninety-seven Irish Wolfhounds. Retrospective study of Irish Wolfhounds that had echocardiography performed at dog shows between October 2018 and May 2021. Demographic information, echocardiographic measurements, cardiac rhythm (1-minute lead II rhythm strip), and main diet were recorded retrospectively. Diets were classified as high-pulse or low-pulse based on the presence and location of pulses (peas, lentils, chickpeas, or dry beans) on the ingredient list. Thirty-five of 97 Irish Wolfhounds (36%) were eating high-pulse diets and 62 of 97 (64%) were eating low-pulse diets. There were no significant differences between diet groups in echocardiographic measurements. A significantly higher percentage of dogs in the high-pulse diet group (6/35 [17%]) had VPCs compared with those in the low-pulse diet group (1/62 [2%]; effect size = 0.15 [95% confidence interval: 0.004-0.31]; P = .005). In this retrospective study of apparently healthy Irish Wolfhounds, high-pulse diets were associated with a higher prevalence of VPCs which could represent early cardiac abnormalities.

Structure and scaling of the middle ear in domestic dog breeds.

Although domestic dogs vary considerably in both body size and skull morphology, behavioural audiograms have previously been found to be similar in breeds as distinct as a Chihuahua and a St Bernard. In this study, we created micro-CT reconstructions of the middle ears and bony labyrinths from the skulls of 17 dog breeds, including both Chihuahua and St Bernard, plus a mongrel and a wolf. From these reconstructions, we measured middle ear cavity and ossicular volumes, eardrum and stapes footplate areas and bony labyrinth volumes. All of these ear structures scaled with skull size with negative allometry and generally correlated better with condylobasal length than with maximum or interaural skull widths. Larger dogs have larger ear structures in absolute terms: the volume of the St Bernard's middle ear cavity was 14 times that of the Chihuahua. The middle and inner ears are otherwise very similar in morphology, the ossicular structure being particularly well-conserved across breeds. The expectation that larger ear structures in larger dogs would translate into hearing ranges shifted towards lower frequencies is not consistent with the existing audiogram data. Assuming that the audiograms accurately reflect the hearing of the breeds in question, oversimplifications in existing models of middle ear function or limitations imposed by other parts of the auditory system may be responsible for this paradox.

Evaluation of Cardiac Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

Cardiac biomarkers play a crucial role in diagnosing heart disease in veterinary medicine. This collaborative study, involving 2497 dogs of various breeds, ages, and genders, was conducted collaboratively at the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, RAJUVAS, Bikaner, and the Chandrika Chimanlal Doshi Cardiovascular Unit for Animals, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics, and Jurisprudence, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai-12.Through meticulous examination, including historical analysis, clinical evaluation, and advanced diagnostic techniques like echocardiography, researchers conclusively diagnosed 29 cases of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Canine-specific cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) levels were measured, showing significant differences between healthy and DCM-affected dogs. Among DCM cases, bilaterally affected dogs exhibited the highest cTnI levels. Similarly, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) analysis revealed significant differences between healthy and DCM-affected dogs, with notably elevated levels in bilaterally affected dogs. N-Terminal-pro-BNP analysis also indicated significant differences between healthy and DCM-affected dogs. However, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) analysis showed no significant differences between healthy and DCM-affected dogs, except for lower levels observed in right DCM cases. Endothelin 1 analysis showed non-significant differences between healthy and DCM-affected dogs, except for higher levels in bilateral DCM cases. While these biomarkers offer promising diagnostic insights, they have limitations. Proper sample handling, longer turnaround times, and the necessity for concurrent analysis of renal and hepatic function are crucial considerations. Additionally, these biomarkers complement but do not replace other diagnostic methods such as radiography and echocardiography. Further research in larger dog populations is warranted to validate and refine these findings.

Factors associated with adherence to the principles of responsible companion animal guardianship in a municipality in southeastern Brazil

Responsible companion animal guardianship (RCAG) covers aspects that are relevant to both animal and human health. Understanding the factors associated with adherence to RCAG principles can guide accountability, animal welfare and disease control. The present observational study describes the level of adherence to RCAG by guardians living in a medium-sized Brazilian municipality and identifies the factors associated with inadequate guardianship. Questionnaires were administered to randomly selected guardians of 704 dogs. The binary outcome of the study, namely more and less adequate compliers to RCAG principles, was analyzed using a score list comprising eight variables relating to the care provided to the dogs, namely provision of veterinary services, vaccination against rabies, deworming, no access to the streets without supervision, walking with guardian, dog freedom at home, registration (microchipping) and satisfactory food supply. Factors possibly associated with less adequate adherence to RCAG by the guardian, such as socioeconomic and cultural features of the guardians, characteristics of the dogs and attributes of the guardian-animal interactions, were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. The RCAG actions least adopted by guardians were animal registration, provision of veterinary care, walking with the dog and preventing access of the dogs to the streets without supervision. Individuals who cared for a single dog, a mixed breed dog or had previously lost a dog were less likely to show adequate adherence to RCAG. Conversely, guardians who owned cars, acquired dogs as puppies, lived in households with a maximum of four residents, cared for a sterilized dog or thought that caring for a dog was easier than (or as) expected, had a higher chance of showing adequate adherence to RCAG. The results verify that the socioeconomic and behavioral characteristic of guardians must be taken into consideration for understanding the adherence to RCAG. In addition, it is important to facilitate access to veterinary services and to raise awareness about the significance of a safe and healthy environment for companion animals.

MALASSEZIA FUNGAL DERMATITIS AND RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS TICK INFESTATION IN MIXED BREED DOGS

Dermatitis is the most common skin health problem in dogs whose causative agents are parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The purpose of this paper is to diagnose and determine the success of dermatitis therapy due to Malassezia spp fungal infection and Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick infestation. A 7-month-old mixed breed dog weighing 4.5 kg was examined with complaints of itching and hair baldness. Clinical examination revealed alopecia on the face, chin, body and legs, scale on the head, papules on the abdomen, erythema on the cranial and caudal extremities with oily, rancid skin and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks on the hind legs. The results of cytological examination of skin taken by impression smear found the presence of Malassezia fungal agents. The results of the examination using the antibody kit showed negative results. Routine hematology examination showed the case dog had lymphocytosis and hyperchromic macrocytic anemia. Based on the history, physical examination, and supporting examination, the case dog was diagnosed with Malassezia fungal dermatitis and tick infestation with a prognosis of fausta.The therapy given was oral itraconazole, loratadine, fish oil, sebasol shampoo and multivitamin (sakatonic active). The results of therapy observed on day 14 showed that the condition of the case dog began to improve, characterized by a reduced scratching reaction, reduced scale, erythema, and papules, and superficial skin that was initially oily and rancid smelling had also begun to decrease. The case dog's hair has grown on the head, abdomen and legs. Therefore, to avoid recurrent infections, owners need to avoid keeping the animal in a humid place and keep the animal's body clean as favorable conditions can trigger recurrent events, as well as reduce direct contact with stray dogs to prevent ticks.

Emergency department visits for dog bite injuries in Missouri municipalities with and without breed-specific legislation: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Breed-Specific Legislation is a type of law that bans or restricts ownership of specific dog breeds. Some local governments - including over seventy municipalities in the state of Missouri - have enacted Breed-Specific Legislation to prevent injuries from dog bites. Several studies from the peer-reviewed literature have found that aggressive behavior is not associated with any particular dog breeds and, since 2018, at least a dozen municipalities in Missouri have repealed these laws. To evaluate the impact of Breed-Specific Legislation on public safety, the 2010-2015 rates of emergency department visits for dog bite-related injuries in Missouri municipalities with and without Breed-Specific Legislation were compared. Propensity-score matched negative binomial regression models were used to assess the effect of breed restrictions on injury rates while balancing the samples on population characteristics and estimates of dog ownership. After matching the sample on population, housing and dog ownership estimates, no association was found between emergency department visits for dog bite injuries and whether the municipality enacted Breed-Specific Legislation. However, the incidence rate ratio of emergency room visits for dog bite-related injuries increased by 13.8% for every 1% increase in the percentage of males aged 5 to 9 in the population (p < 0.01). This study has found breed discriminatory laws have not reduced the risk of emergency department visits for injury from dog bites in Missouri. There appears to be no greater risk to public safety as local governments move to repeal existing breed bans.

Characterization of oral microbiota in 6–8-month-old small breed dogs

BackgroundPeriodontitis is the most common oral disease in dogs, and its progression and severity are influenced by risk factors, such as age and body size. Recent studies have assessed the canine oral microbiota in relation to different stages of periodontitis and niches within the oral cavity. However, knowledge of the bacterial composition at different ages and body sizes, especially in puppies, is limited. This study aimed to characterize the oral microbiota in the healthy gingiva of small breed puppies using next-generation sequencing. Additionally, we assessed the impact of dental care practices and the presence of retained deciduous teeth on the oral microbiota.ResultsIn this study, plaque samples were collected from the gingival margin of 20 small breed puppies (age, 6.9 ± 0.6 months). The plaque samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16 S rRNA. The microbiota of the plaque samples was composed mostly of gram-negative bacteria, primarily Proteobacteria (54.12%), Bacteroidetes (28.79%), and Fusobacteria (5.11%). Moraxella sp. COT-017, Capnocytophaga cynodegmi COT-254, and Bergeyella zoohelcum COT-186 were abundant in the oral cavity of the puppies. In contrast, Neisseria animaloris were not detected. The high abundance of Pasteurellaceae suggests that this genus is characteristic of the oral microbiota in puppies. Dental care practices and the presence of retained deciduous teeth showed no effects on the oral microbiota.ConclusionsIn this study, many bacterial species previously reported to be detected in the normal oral cavity of adult dogs were also detected in 6–8-month-old small breed dogs. On the other hand, some bacterial species were not detected at all, while others were detected in high abundance. These data indicate that the oral microbiota of 6–8-month-old small breed dogs is in the process of maturating in to the adult microbiota and may also have characteristics of the small dog oral microbiota.

Haofa dog – An indigenous canine germplasm from Manipur, India

A study on Haofa dog was carried out at its breeding tract in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts of Manipur to find out its origin, distribution and phenotypic characteristics. A total of 100 adult Haofa dogs (50 male and 50 female) were recorded for studying physical characters and body measurement. Further, 69 number of observation were also recorded for studying body weights of adult male and female. In addition, 100 Haofa owners were interviewed to study the reproductive characteristics, management practices followed and their utility, etc. The study revealed that Haofa were of medium size with a compact body, broad chest, straight top line and slightly tucked up abdomen. The coat colour is usually black with grey skin while some dogs have black coat colour with white markings in ventral parts and tips of legs. The head of a Haofa dog is medium in size with a slightly trapezoid shape, while the forehead is usually prominent with the straight nasal bridge. Eyes are oval shaped with golden colour. Ears are erect and usually cropped at an early age. The dogs have short coats and their tails are usually semi-curved and docked usually at a young age. The adult body weight and average litter size at birth ranges from 22-31 kg and 3-8, respectively. Haofa is morphologically different from the other exotic breeds, crossbreeds or local dogs found in the state. Hence, it deserves to be recognized as a distinct breed of dog.

The technique of transosseous osteosynthesis in traumatic dislocation of the femur in the hip joint in dogs

At the Ilizarov Centre, various techniques of transosseous osteosynthesis of the hip for traumatic dislocations of the femoral head have been developed and introduced into veterinary practice. Clinical use of external fixation has demonstrated both advantages and disadvantages of a number of techniques. In order to optimize, while preserving the anatomical structures of the joint, some changes in the technique were made. The technique with a hinged connection between the external supports of the pelvis and thigh has found application to a greater extent. The hinged connection of the pelvic and femoral supports was replaced with an immobilizing structure, and the hip fixation became less traumatic. 20 dogs of different breeds and different sizes were operated on, using the proposed optimized technique. To fix the hip, transosseous osteosynthesis of the pelvis according to Ilizarov and external osteosynthesis of the femur were performed. Transosseous osteosynthesis was performed no later than 3 days after injury. Immobilization of the hip was performed within the periods of 21 to 35 days. The assessment of the functions of the pelvic limbs was determined by clinical research methods. A detailed description of the technique for performing external fixation of the hip is provided in the article. The good results of using this technique with restoration of the functions of the pelvic limb have been clinically confirmed. Scientific data on experimental modeling of arthroses are presented and temporary stabilization of the joint isjustified. The main advantage of the proposed technique is short-term immobilization of the hip in a physiological position without compression with maintaining the blood supply to the femoral head and in conformity with the viability of the articular cartilage.

„Nie daję łajbie żadnych szans”. Depresja: choroba czy rozczarowanie?

The subject of depression, often driven by personal experience, has lately become very prominent in the public sphere. Olga Hund's Psy ras drobnych [Dogs of Smaller Breeds] (2018) is a novel about depression, though unlike many European films and novels, it does not blame the condition on the individual – the main character of the story. Her book is memoir of sorts, a series of dramatic scenes from a mental ward of the Kobierzyn Psychiatric Hospital in Cracow. The whole is written, we may assume, to provoke out-rage: it is an accusation of the health care system, yet the blame for the mental condition rather than the wrong therapy, is put squarely on the structures and socio-economic mechanisms of the neoliberal society. The book makes two points. First, the psychiatric hospital by its very nature is a total institution that’s totally indispensable; and second – as seen from the interface of the ‘normal’ people and the mental patients – the social, economic and ideological factors have a significant role in generating suffering and the mental illness itself.

Anatomical and topographic substantiation of various accesses to the proximal epiphysis of the tibia

One of the most frequently performed accesses in the practice of an orthopedic veterinarian is access to the proximal epiphysis of the tibia. Access to the proximal epiphysis of the tibia is necessary in many cases of treatment of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system in cats and dogs and can be used in such surgical pathologies. The aim of the study was to consider options for surgical access to the proximal epiphysis of the tibia to perform osteosynthesis of fractures according to the Salter–Harris type, and osteotomy leveling the slope of the tibial plateau (TPLO) with anatomical and topographic justification. The study was conducted in the Network of veterinary centers "Kotonai" and the Department of Animal Anatomy of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine. The object of the study was dogs of small and medium breeds in the number of twelve individuals. The average age of the patients ranged from 6 months to 12 years. The study involved 5 intact females and 7 intact males. The average weight at the time of the study ranged from 2.5 to 21.0 kg. In the process of collecting the life history of all patients, the presence of chronic diseases, allergies and infectious diseases is excluded. The initial examination of the animal included: collection of anamneses of life and illness, general clinical examination, thermometry, neuroorthopedic examination, auscultation of the heart and lungs, X-ray examination under sedation. General clinical examination, thermometry and auscultation of the heart and lungs did not reveal pathological changes in all cases. According to the results of the study, it was found that there were no severe postoperative complications requiring repeated treatment in the studied patients. With the observance of clear anatomical and topographic landmarks in the formation of accesses, a good understanding of the anatomy of the medial and cranial surfaces of the tibia, visualization in the wound during surgical interventions (osteosynthesis of SalterHarris fractures, TPLO osteotomy) in the area of the proximal epiphysis of the tibia is convenient and safe.

Three-dimensional pelvimetric evaluation of the pelvic cavity in different dog breeds

Objective:The mean of pelvis diameters and development of pelvis: It is known that it varies depending on many factors such as race, body size, gender, nutrition, movement rate and hormone. In this context, the study was carried out to examine the cavum pelvis of different breeds of dogs using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Materials and Methods:A total of 43 dogs, 19 different breeds, were used in the study. Pelvis region was scanned with a 64-detector MDCT device with a section thickness of 0.625 mm. The obtained images were transferred to the RadiAnt DICOM Viewer program to create a three-dimensional model of the cavum pelvis, and then pelvic measurements were taken. Results: In the pelvimetric examination, it was determined that conjugated Diameter was highest in Kangal Shepherd dogs and vertically Diameter was highest in Kangal Shepherd dogs. The lowest average of both diameters was found in Pomeranian dogs. Pelvis slope formed between these two ages was observed to be highest in Alabai breed dogs with 38° and lowest in Pekingese, Pomeranian and Setter breed dogs with 18°. Conclusion: it is thought that it will be beneficial for many disciplines, especially gynecology, to reveal the differences between the breeds by comparing the results of the dog breeds whose metric characteristics of the cavum pelvis were examined.

Exploring the impact of epidemiological and clinical factors on the progression of canine leishmaniosis by statistical and whole genome analyses: from breed predisposition to comorbidities

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL), caused by Leishmania infantum, is a complex disease of growing importance in Europe. Clinical manifestations result from the down-modulation of the host immune response through multiple host-parasite interactions. Although several factors might influence CanL progression, this is the first known study evaluating risk factors for its different clinical stages in a large referral hospital population (n = 35.669) from an endemic area, over a 20 year period. Genome-wide scans for selection signatures were also conducted to explore the genomic component of clinical susceptibility to L. infantum infection. The prevalence of CanL was 3.2% (16.7% stage I; 43.6% stage II; 32.1% stage III; 7.6% stage IV). Dog breed (crossbreed), bodyweight (<10 kg), living conditions (indoors), regular deworming treatment, and being vaccinated against Leishmania significantly decreased the transmission risk and the risk for developing severe clinical forms. Conversely, the detection of comorbidities was associated with advanced clinical forms, particularly chronic kidney disease, neoplasia, cryptorchidism, infectious tracheobronchitis and urate urolithiasis, although those did not impact the clinical outcome. Significant associations between an increased risk of severe clinical stages and findings in the anamnesis (renal or skin-related manifestations) and physical examination (ocular findings) were also detected, highlighting their diagnostic value in referred cases of CanL. Sixteen breeds were found to be significantly more susceptible to developing severe stages of leishmaniosis (e.g. Great Dane, Rottweiler, English Springer Spaniel, Boxer, American Staffordshire Terrier, Golden Retriever), while 20 breeds displayed a clinical resistantance phenotype and, thus, are more likely to mount an efficient immune response against L. infantum (e.g. Pointer, Samoyed, Spanish Mastiff, Spanish Greyhound, English Setter, Siberian Husky). Genomic analyses of these breeds retrieved 12 regions under selection, 63 candidate genes and pinpointed multiple biological pathways such as the IRE1 branch of the unfolded protein response, which could play a critical role in clinical susceptibility to L. infantum infection.

Analysis of the level of inbreeding and relatedness of Bull Terrier dogs – the popular stud dog effect

The aim of the study was to analyze the level of homozygosity of a bull terrier dog population due to its small size, forcing mating in kinship and, possibly, overuse of popular stud dogs. The pedigrees of 107 bull terrier dogs (35 males and 72 females), born in 2008-2016 were used to obtain the inbreeding coefficients for all animals and relatedness coefficients between dogs, between bitches and between bitches and dogs. Pedigrees of bull terriers were also analyzed for occurrence the most common stud dogs. The frequency of occurrence of a popular sire was found according to its position in the pedigree. For the most common stud dog, a list of his sons and their progeny was created. In total about 75% of individuals from the studied population were inbred and their average inbreeding was over 0.04. Almost 95% of bull terriers were related with the average relatedness amounting to over 0.07. The highest value of an individual's inbreeding was almost 0.18, and the highest relationship coefficient was between bitches (over 0.61). There was a popular stud dog in the analyzed population that appeared 113 times in the pedigrees of 107 tested animals and his genes were passed on by his 10 sons as well. It should be noticed that the studied population requires constant monitoring of genetic variability and limiting the overuse of popular stud dogs, which should lead to maintain the variability.

A Fractional-order mathematical model to analyze the stability and develop a sterilization strategy for the habitat of stray dogs

Today, the socio-cultural lack of some countries with increased urbanization has led to the unconscious breeding of stray dogs. The failure to care for the offspring of possessive dogs or ignoring the responsibility to find a suitable family for the offspring increased the dog population on the streets and in the shelters. In this study, our main target is to analyze the habitat of stray dogs and the strategy of how to control the population without damaging the ecosystem of the species. For this aim, we establish a fractional-order differential equation system to investigate the fractal dimension with long-term memory that invovles two compartments; the non-sterilized dog population (x(t)) and the sterilized one (y(t)). Firstly, we analyze the stability of the equilibrium points using the Routh-Hurwitz criteria to discuss cases that should not affect the ecosystem of the dog population, but control the stray dog population in the habitat. Since the intervention to the stray dog population occurs at discrete time impulses, we use the Euler method's discretization process to analyse the local and global stability around the equilibrium points. Besides this, we show that the solutions of the system represent semi-cycle behaviors. At the end of the study, we use accurate data to demonstrate the sterilization rate of stray dogs in their habitat.