Domestic Animals Research Articles

Occurrence of Trypanosoma evansi Infection in Rottweiler Dog from Cauvery Delta Region of Tamil Nadu, India: A Case Report

Trypanosomes are the extraerythrocytic haemoflagellate protozoan parasites of domestic and wild animals including dogs. A male Rottweiler dog was presented with the history of anorexia, cloudy eyes and vomiting for a week. The dog was examined both physically and clinically. Blood was collected and subjected to haematological and biochemical analysis. Echocardiography of the thoracic cavity and ultrasonography of the abdominal cavity were performed. Molecular confirmation of parasite was carried out by PCR and DNA was sequenced to identify strain variations. Upon clinical examination, the dog revealed emaciation with high fever, unilateral corneal opacity, anemia, enlarged lymph nodes and distended abdomen. Echocardiography of the thoracic cavity showed ventricular hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy. Ultrasonography of the abdominal cavity showed splenomegaly and renomegaly. Haematological findings revealed decreased haemoglobin and erythrocyte count and biochemical findings revealed increased BUN and creatinine, hypoglycemia and hypoalbuminemia. Wet film and blood smear examination revealed actively motile trypanosomes and massive infection of trypanosomes, respectively. Molecular confirmation of species was carried out by amplification of 227 bp partial VSG gene of Trypanososma evansi, subsequently sequenced and phylogenitically analysed. The infected dog was treated intramuscularly with diminazene aceturate @ 3.5 mg /kg b.wt along with the supportive therapy. The study described the occurrence and diagnosis of trypanosomosis in dog. Early diagnosis and timely treatment is the most reliable way to safeguard the companion animals. It is the first report on trypanosomosis in dog from Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu, India.

A type 2 immune circuit and arachidonic acid metabolism role in anti-nematode infection: evidence from transcriptome and targeted metabolome data in goat

The gastrointestinal nematode infection poses a covert threat to both humans and domestic animals worldwide, eliciting a type 2 immune response within the small intestine. Intestinal tuft cells detect the nematode and activated group 2 innate lymphoid cells. Tuft cells derived leukotrienes (one of the metabolites of arachidonic acid) were found to drive rapid anti-helminth immunity, but it is still poorly understood whether the tuft cell mediated type 2 immune circuit and arachidonic acid metabolism modulate anti-parasitic immunity in the gastric epithelium. This study was designed to evaluate the immunological responses of goats inoculated with or without Haemonchus contortus. Results showed that H. contortus infection induced a systemic type 2 immune response, characterized by lymphocytes proliferation and greater eosinophils both in peripheral blood and abomasal mucosa, as well as increased type 2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Infection of H. contortus altered the transcriptome of the abomasum epithelium, especially tuft cells mediated circuit-key genes. The infection also influenced the abomasal microbiota, arachidonic acid metabolism and related lipid metabolites, accompanying with great increases in the secretion of leukotrienes and prostaglandins. These findings demonstrate the role of tuft cells mediated circuit in sensing H. contortus infection and immune activation, reveal candidate function of arachidonic acid involved in anti-helminth immunity, and suggest novel strategies for the control of parasitic diseases in livestock and humans.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for brucellosis in cattle and rodents in Kilosa district, Morogoro, Tanzania

Background: Brucellosis is a global zoonosis caused by gram-negative bacteria that affects a diverse array of hosts including humans, domestic animals as well as wild animals such as cattle (B. abortus), goats, and sheep (B. melitensis), pigs (B. suis), and rodents (B. neotomae), and results in financial setbacks in the livestock industry. This study aimed to identify risk factors and estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle and rodents in Kilosa district, Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to March 2023, cattle were randomly selected and rodents were trapped using Sherman, wire cages, and havahart traps. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and heart of the cattle and rodents, respectively. Sera were harvested from the collected blood and stored at – 20 ºC. All the sera were screened for brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and confirmed by competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (c-ELISA). The risk factors were captured using a structured questionnaire and analyzed by computing the Chi-square test and generalized linear model. Results: The seroprevalence of brucellosis was found to be 5.31% in cattle (95% CI: 0.0286-0.089) and 0.72% in rodents (95% CI: 0.0002-0.0397). A significant association was observed between grazing style and brucellosis seropositivity in cattle, with cattle that grazed together with sheep and goats having significantly higher odds of seropositivity (OR=6.5; 95% CI: 1.74-42.17, **p < 0.01). Conclusion: The detection of Brucella antibodies in both species indicates ongoing transmission and potential risk to public health. Our findings suggest that rodents may serve as reservoirs of brucellosis, contributing to its persistence and spread. Further research is essential to characterize the specific brucella species circulating among cattle and rodents and to understand the dynamics of interspecies transmission.

Pseudorabies virus infection triggers mitophagy to dampen the interferon response and promote viral replication.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) utilizes multiple strategies to inhibit type I interferon (IFN-I) production and signaling to achieve innate immune evasion. Among several other functions, mitochondria serve as a crucial immune hub in the initiation of innate antiviral responses. It is currently unknown whether PRV inhibits innate immune responses by manipulating mitochondria. In this study, we found that PRV infection damages mitochondrial structure and function, as shown by mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, reduction in mitochondrial numbers, and an imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics. In addition, PRV infection triggered PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy to eliminate the impaired mitochondria, which resulted in a suppression of IFN-I production, thereby promoting viral replication. Furthermore, we found that mitophagy resulted in the degradation of the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein, which is located on the mitochondrial outer membrane. In conclusion, the data of the current study indicate that PRV-induced mitophagy represents a previously uncharacterized PRV evasion mechanism of the IFN-I response, thereby promoting virus replication.IMPORTANCEPseudorabies virus (PRV), a pathogen that induces different disease symptoms and is often fatal in domestic animals and wildlife, has caused great economic losses to the swine industry. Since 2011, different PRV variant strains have emerged in Asia, against which current commercial vaccines may not always provide optimal protection in pigs. In addition, there are indications that some of these PRV variant strains may sporadically infect people. In the current study, we found that PRV infection causes mitochondria injury. This is associated with the induction of mitophagy to eliminate the damaged mitochondria, which results in suppressed antiviral interferon production and signaling. Hence, our study reveals a novel mechanism that is used by PRV to antagonize the antiviral host immune response, providing a theoretical basis that may contribute to the research toward and development of new vaccines and antiviral drugs.

Mite composition in nests of the Japanese wood mouse, Apodemus speciosus (Rodentia: Muridae).

Acari is a diverse group of arthropods that include well-known parasites of animals. Rodents, particularly, serve as common hosts of mites and ticks, transmitting pathogens to domestic animals and humans. Understanding the ecological dynamics between parasites and rodent hosts is crucial for ecosystem management. Due to limited knowledge about the life history of ectoparasites in wild mouse nests, we collected four nests of Apodemus speciosus, the most common rodent species in the wild areas of Japan, along with soil samples near the nests to study arthropod communities. Mites overwhelmingly populated the mouse nests, comprising approximately 90% of all arthropods, while both mites and collembolans were prevalent in soil. Various species identified in our study, such as those from the families Laelapidae, Pygmephoridae, Cheyletidae, Trombiculidae, Glycyphagidae, and Thyrisomidae align with known ectoparasites or species found in the nests of other rodent species, but most parasitic species were never collected in the surrounding soil except for trombiculids. The dominance of mites in mouse nests suggests selective preference for inhabiting these host environments, although the exact reasons driving this dominance remain unclear. Further investigations into the food web within mouse nests will aid in characterising faunal composition and understanding the ecological interaction among rodents, mites, and other nest symbionts.

Molecular analysis of feces reveals gastrointestinal nematodes in reintroduced wild asses of the Negev desert

Reintroduced animals face disease risks, potentially impacting both the reintroduced and the local wildlife/domestic populations. This study focuses on the Asiatic wild asses (Equus hemionus) reintroduced to the Negev desert in southern Israel. Despite potential threats of disease spill-over to and from domesticated donkeys and horses in the area, there are no records of the gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of the wild ass population. We used DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples of wild asses collected across seasons and habitats, near water sources that they frequently use. Ten GIN species were detected in the feces, nine belonging to the family Strongylidae, which commonly infects and causes disease in equids worldwide, such as horses, zebras, and donkeys. Some of these Strongylidae species are also found in domesticated equids in Israel, thus raising concerns regarding potential parasite transmission between wild and domestic animals. The high prevalence of certain GIN species suggests frequent transmission, likely due to the congregation of the wild asses around water sources. While we observed statistically significant variations in some GIN species across seasons and habitats, we did not find clear overall differences between GIN communities. DNA metabarcoding proves to be a valuable tool for identifying GIN species in wild animals, with potential applications in monitoring their health and preventing disease transmission to and from domestic animals.

Effect of infestation with Psoroptes cuniculi on reproduction and behavior of obese rabbit does (Oryctolagus cuniculi).

Parasites and obesity are health problems worldwide. Rabbits are production animals yielding one of the healthiest meats, also taking advantage of skin, hair, limbs and excreta. It is among the most frequent pets in some countries and widely used as animal model in research. Psoroptes cuniculi is a mite of high transmission rate, affecting welfare and production and obesity causes multiple metabolic, endocrine and immunological disorders, being an emerging problem in domestic animals. Obesity and acarosis are prolonged stressors, modifying the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that can induce metabolic and behavioral disorders. Alterations caused by comorbidities could be similar to or different from those induced by each morbidity separately. We analyzed the influence of obesity on the infection degree with P. cuniculi and on behavior and production. Rabbit does induced to obesity were infected and mated; behaviors in the open field test, obesity estimation indices and productive parameters at delivery and weaning were analyzed. The acarosis induced a decrease in feed intake and a decrease in body weight, a decrease in locomotor, exploratory and chinning behaviors in normal weight and obese does. The infection induced 23% mortality at birth, obesity 45% and comorbidity 74%, while in normal weight rabbits a 6.5% was observed. Weight gain from birth to weaning was lower in the comorbid group, reaching a litter weight of 4.5±0.13 kg in healthy normal weight does and 2.6±0.67 kg in comorbid does. The disturbances induced by the comorbidity were magnified in both behavioral and productive parameters.

Milteforan, a promising veterinary commercial product against feline sporotrichosis.

Sporotrichosis is an endemic disease in Latin America caused by different species of Sporothrix. This fungus can infect domestic animals, mainly cats and eventually dogs, as well as humans. Few drugs are available to treat this disease, such as itraconazole, terbinafine, and amphotericin B, but resistance to these agents has risen in the last few years. Alternative new therapeutic options to treat sporotrichosis are essential. Here, we propose milteforan, a commercial veterinary product against dog leishmaniasis, whose active principle is miltefosine, as a possible therapeutic alternative for treating sporotrichosis. Milteforan decreases S. brasiliensis fungal burden in human and mouse cells and has an immunomodulatory effect by decreasing several cytokine production.

Approaches and methods to study wildlife cancer.

The last few years have seen a surge of interest from field ecologists and evolutionary biologists to study neoplasia and cancer in wildlife. This contributes to the One Health Approach, which investigates health issues at the intersection of people, wild and domestic animals, together with their changing environments. Nonetheless, the emerging field of wildlife cancer is currently constrained by methodological limitations in detecting cancer using non-invasive sampling. In addition, the suspected differential susceptibility and resistance of species to cancer often make the choice of a unique model species difficult for field biologists. Here, we provide an overview of the importance of pursuing the study of cancer in non-model organisms and we review the currently available methods to detect, measure and quantify cancer in the wild, as well as the methodological limitations to be overcome to develop novel approaches inspired by diagnostic techniques used in human medicine. The methodology we propose here will help understand and hopefully fight this major disease by generating general knowledge about cancer, variation in its rates, tumour-suppressor mechanisms across species as well as its link to life history and physiological characters. Moreover, this is expected to provide key information about cancer in wildlife, which is a top priority due to the accelerated anthropogenic change in the past decades that might favour cancer progression in wild populations.

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in veterinary medicine: practical applications and tissue distribution in terrestrial vertebrate animals.

Rare earth elements (REEs) have shown promising potential in veterinary medicine, particularly as feed additives and diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Moreover, the increasing industrial use of REEs has raised concerns about their potential environmental contamination and bioaccumulation in animal tissues. While numerous studies have focused on the distribution of REEs in marine and freshwater ecosystems, information regarding their presence in terrestrial environments remains fragmented. This narrative review aims to describe the practical applications of REEs in veterinary medicine, with a specific focus on studies evaluating the potential accumulation of these elements in the tissues of terrestrial vertebrate animals. Additionally, the review addresses research on the intentional residual presence of REEs and in-field studies evaluating the contamination burden from REE exposure in domestic and wild animals. In conclusion, this review identifies critical scientific gaps and provides future research directions to advance understanding of the long-term effects, mechanisms of action, and environmental impacts of REEs in veterinary practices.

Assessing the public health and zoonotic impacts of Giardia duodenalis assemblages in domestic animals of southwestern Iran

Assessing the public health and zoonotic impacts of Giardia duodenalis assemblages in domestic animals of southwestern Iran

The Determination of the Prohibited Herbicide 4,6-Dinitro-Ortho-Cresol (DNOC) in Poisoned Domestic and Wild Animals in Italy.

This study reports the determination of DNOC in the baits and gastric contents of poisoned dogs and wild canids collected in the Abruzzo region between 2014 and 2022. A total of 663 samples of the baits and carcasses of domestic and wild animals were analyzed for the determination of DNOC through GC-MS. DNOC was found to be present in 58 cases from 663 analyzed samples, with 49 poison baits and nine gastric content samples from dogs and red foxes. This study confirms for the first time that the banned pesticide DNOC still poisons both domestic and wild animals in the Abruzzo region. It should be considered that this study was carried out on a population of animals from a regional geographical area, and more detailed country-wide studies need to be carried out to obtain the incidence of poisoning from this herbicide in Italy. Furthermore, these findings emphasize the importance of considering this chemical in differential diagnosis during toxicological investigations of animal poisoning.

Influence of Fix Schedule on the Location Accuracy of a Low-Cost GPS Data Logger on Cattle

ABSTRACT Global positioning system (GPS) data loggers are commonly used to track the movements and distribution of both wild and domestic animals. However, the expense often poses a challenge for researchers. Recently, there has been a rise in the utilization of affordable and user-friendly GPS data loggers for tracking animal movements, albeit with compromised accuracy. We aimed to identify factors influencing the accuracy of a low-cost GPS data logger (I-gotU GT-600) and to enhance its location accuracy. Initial investigations revealed that recording intervals impacted the location error of the GPS data logger. To elucidate the relationship between recording intervals and location accuracy, we conducted stationary and motion tests. Our findings indicated that recording intervals of less than 15 sec substantially enhances the location accuracy of the low-cost GPS data logger. Our results highlight the relationship between the fix schedule and location accuracy for these GPS data loggers. Our study provides information that enhances the quality of data for researchers using low-cost GPS data loggers for short-term studies in various settings, such as zoos and livestock facilities.

Genomic analysis of two penicillin- and rifampin-resistant Corynebacterium rouxii strains isolated from cutaneous infections in dogs

Although diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease, numerous cases are still reported around the world, as well as outbreaks in countries, including European ones. Species of the Corynebacterium diphtheriae complex are potentially toxigenic and, therefore, must be considered given the possible consequences, such as the circulation of clones and transmission of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. Recently, Corynebacterium rouxii was characterized and included among the valid species of the complex. Therefore, two cases of C. rouxii infection arising from infections in domestic animals are presented here. We provide molecular characterization, phylogenetic analyses, genome sequencing, and CRISPR-Cas analyses to contribute to a better understanding of the molecular bases, pathogenesis, and epidemiological monitoring of this species, which is still little studied. We confirmed its taxonomic position with genome sequencing and in silico analysis and identified the ST-918 for both strains. The clinical isolates were sensitive resistance to benzylpenicillin and rifampin. Antimicrobial resistance genes, including tetB, rpoB2, and rbpA genes, were predicted. The bla and ampC genes were not found. Several virulence factors were also detected, including adhesion, iron uptake systems, gene regulation (dtxR), and post-translational modification (MdbA). Finally, one prophage and the Type I-E CRISPR-Cas system were identified.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in wild rats in Egypt during 2023

ABSTRACT We detected highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in wild rats collected from a rural area in Giza, Egypt, near poultry farms, markets, and backyard flocks. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the virus from the rats belonged to clade 2.3.4.4b, which has been the predominant virus genotype circulating in Egypt and worldwide since 2021-2022. Active surveillance of avian influenza viruses in wild and domestic mammals is recommended to prevent further spread to mammals and humans.

Serologic Survey of Brucella spp. in Culled Invasive Alien Mammals from El Palmar National Park, Argentina and in Exposed Consumers.

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp. and transmitted from domestic and wild animals to humans. Brucellosis causes important economic losses in livestock, has a significant impact on public health, and may affect the health of wildlife. Hunting and consumption of meat from culled wildlife constitute a risk for Brucella spp. infection in humans and hunting dogs. In El Palmar National Park (EPNP), Argentina, the invasive alien mammals wild boar (Sus scrofa) and axis deer (Axis axis) are controlled, slaughtered in situ, and consumed by hunters, with meat trimmings and offal often fed to dogs. In this study, we evaluated but did not detect anti-Brucella antibodies in wild boar (n=95) and axis deer (n=238) from EPNP or in game consumers, dogs (n=39) and humans (n=61). These results suggest a lack of exposure to Brucella spp. at this site during the study period. Despite negative findings in the sampled location, One Health surveillance across multiple species contributes to our understanding of pathogen dynamics and enables targeted interventions to minimize health risks.

A colorimetric assay for Neospora caninum utilizing the loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique

Neospora caninum (N. caninum) is a protozoan parasite that poses a serious risk to livestock by infecting various domestic and wild animals. Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) offers a cost-effective, highly sensitive, and specific method for detecting protozoan parasites. This study aims to develop a precise, rapid, and visually assessable colorimetric LAMP method, improving on traditional techniques. We employed a rigorous screening process to identify the optimal primer set for this experiment. Subsequently, we fine-tuned the LAMP reaction at 65 °C for 40 min with 270 μmol/L neutral red. We then confirmed the specificity of primers for N. caninum through experimental validation. The LAMP method demonstrated a lower detection limit compared to traditional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques. While LAMP offers clear advantages, the prevalence of DNA detected in 89 sheep serum and 59 bovine serum samples using the nested PCR method was 3.37 % (3/89) and 1.69 % (1/59), respectively. In contrast, when the LAMP method was employed, the prevalence of detected DNA rose to 5.61 % (5/89) for sheep and 3.38 % (2 /59) for bovine. A comparison of two molecular assays using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC) resulted in a value of 0.999 (95 % CI: 0.993–0.996, p < 0.001), indicating the LAMP method is in the “better” range according to James Lee's categorization. The LAMP technique, optimized with specific primers of N. caninum and neutral red dye, not only exhibited higher sensitivity but also provided convenience over conventional PCR methods, highlighting its potential for on-site applications and cost-effective field detection.

Comparative Morphological Studies on the Lungs of Domestic Animals (Bases for Developing Electronic Learning Module)

Comparative Morphological Studies on the Lungs of Domestic Animals (Bases for Developing Electronic Learning Module)

Patterns of pastoralism: Temporal and regional variation within the Indus Valley Civilisation

The archaeozoological study of the Indus Valley Civilisation, particularly in the last few decades, has resulted in a better understanding of human-animal interactions, providing information about species that have been commonly found at Indus Valley sites, both wild and domestic. This is also indicative of the nature of animal-based subsistence at these settlements and the interplay between humans, animals, and the environment. However, these studies have largely been conducted at the level of individual sites, and despite extensive analysis of excavated faunal materials, synthesis of faunal data across different developmental phases of this civilisation and its regions, has rarely taken place. As a result, there exists little understanding of broader animal utilisation patterns within the Indus Valley Civilisation and their relation to climate and landscape. This article produces a comparative analysis of domestic animal utilisation by combining and reanalysing faunal data from different regions of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Our analysis reveals extreme disparity in the spatial and temporal distribution of domesticated animals within this Civilisation. Of the different regions, the amount of data required for interpretation is only available from Haryana and Gujarat, and this largely pertains to the Mature Harappan period, with the Early and Late Harappan phases being grossly underrepresented. Although cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, and pigs were the primary domesticates across regions, their distribution and economic importance varied and changed over time. This variation may indicate differentiated regional and temporal cultures and adaptations to climatic change.

Evaluation of Population Management Based on Trap-Neuter-Return and Trap-Neuter-Adoption Practices in a Free-Roaming Cat Colony in the Federal District, Brazil.

Overpopulation of domestic animals leads to various problems, such as the formation of feline colonies. Population management methods for these colonies have been studied previously; however, no scientific consensus has been reached. This study evaluated the use of trap-neuter-return (TNR) in a free-roaming cat colony in Brazil's Federal District. The study was conducted over 18 months and involved 157 cats that had not previously been managed. The experiment had three parts: recognition and preparation, TNR intervention, and monitoring. The results showed a 47.8% reduction in colony size. Additionally, 98.8% of the animals were sterilized. The adoption, death, disappearance, abandonment, and immigration rates were 19.7%, 14.0%, 14.0%, 7.6%, and 4.5%, respectively. The TNR experiment conducted in the proposed manner, which included detailed pre-planning, mass sterilization, active management, continuous monitoring, and educational actions, proved to be efficient and humane. However, guidelines aimed at managing animal populations, promoting adoption, preventing abandonment, and educating people about responsible pet ownership are essential for achieving sustainable results.