Ovine Samples Research Articles

Molecular detection of Chlamydiales organisms in ruminant abortions in Brazil.

Infections caused by the Chlamydiales order are highly prevalent worldwide and have a well-known association with reproductive and non-reproductive disorders in livestock and humans. This study aimed to identify Chlamydiales organisms in ruminant abortions using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in samples collected from three Brazilian states: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. The Chlamydiales order was found in 7.8% (18/231) of the samples, including 10 bovine and 8 ovine samples. For the Chlamydiaceae family, the positivity was 2.2% (5/231), with detection in one bovine and two ovine fetuses from Rio Grande do Sul, one ovine fetus from Santa Catarina, and one bovine from São Paulo. Chlamydiales positive samples detection with Ct value lower than 35 were subjected to Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, which revealed the presence of an organism belonging to the Waddliaceae family in a bovine fetus and two Simkaneceae bacteria in ovine fetuses. This study is the first report of Chlamydia-like organisms in ruminant abortions in Brazil, highlighting the importance of conducting further surveys to evaluate their role as abortifacient pathogens in the country.

First Detection of Hepatitis E Virus RNA in Ovine Raw Milk from Herds in Central Italy.

HEV mainly enters animal and human hosts through the orofecal route, which presents a critical health concern alongside the associated environmental variable. Among products of animal origin, milk (both ovine and bovine) can harbor HEV RNA, which can potentially be transmitted to consumers. In this study, a total of 220 raw ovine milk samples were collected from Apennine breed subjects farmed (transhumance method) in three different Italian provinces, L'Aquila, Pescara, and Teramo, located in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy). All the specimens were screened using one-step real-time RT-qPCR and nested RT-PCR assays. Among them, 5/220 or 2.27% harbored HEV RNA fragments belonging to the ORF1 and ORF2 codifying regions of the genotype 3c. The average viral amount discovered was 102 GE/mL. These subjects represented 2/57 or 3.51% of the Pescara herd, and 3/105 or 2.86% of the Teramo herd. Although HEV RNA was discovered in sheep fecal samples, the original data obtained in the present study represent the first HEV RNA detection in ovine raw milk from Italy.

Serological and molecular survey of Toxoplasma Gondii in aborted livestock fetuses from Northeast Iran

BackgroundToxoplasmosis not only leads to abortion in humans but also in herbivores, which causes significant financial and quality-adjusted life-year losses. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in aborted fetuses via serological and molecular assays. Moreover, the genotypes of the obtained isolates were detected.MethodsSerological and molecular methods were used to study aborted fetuses from Bojnourd City, North Khorasan Province, Iran, which included 52 ovines and 16 bovines. Nested PCR of the B1 gene was used to detect parasite DNA in brain tissues. The PCR-RFLP method for the GRA6 gene was used to determine the genotype of T. gondii.ResultsOut of 68 aborted fetuses, 16.1% showed the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG. Among these, 11.7% were identified in bovine fetuses and 4.4% in ovine fetuses. Additionally, two (2.94%) samples of ovine tested positive for anti-T. gondii IgM. Our PCR analysis detected parasite DNA in two cases (2.94%) among 11 IgG-positive samples. All obtained isolates belong to type I of T. gondii.ConclusionInfection with Type I of T. gondii during the neonatal period may partly be responsible for abortion and economic losses in livestock farming in our studied region. To understand the molecular epidemiology and genotypes of T. gondii associated with abortion, further evaluation of aborted samples from different geographical locations is necessary.

The Development of Spinal Endoscopic Ultrasonic Imaging System with an Automated Tissue Recognition Algorithm.

Preclinical experimental study. To develop an intraoperative ultrasound-assisted imaging device, which could be placed at the surgical site through an endoscopic working channel and which could help surgeon recognition of different tissue types during endoscopic spinal surgery (ESS). ESS remains a challenging task for spinal surgeons. Great proficiency and experience are needed to perform procedures such as intervertebral discectomy and neural decompression within a narrow channel. The limited surgical view poses a risk of damaging important structures, such as nerve roots. We constructed a spinal endoscopic ultrasound system, using a 4-mm custom ultrasound probe, which can be easily inserted through the ESS working channel, allowing up to 10 mm depth detection. This system was applied to ovine lumbar spine samples to obtain ultrasound images. Subsequently, we proposed a two-stage classification algorithm, based on a pretrained DenseNet architecture for automated tissue recognition. The recognition algorithm was evaluated using accuracy and consistency. The probe can be easily used in the ESS working channel and produce clear and characteristic ultrasound images. We collected 367 images for training and testing of the recognition algorithm, including images of the spinal cord, nucleus pulposus, adipose tissue, bone, annulus fibrosus and nerve roots. The algorithm achieved over 90% accuracy in recognizing all types of tissues with a Kappa value of 0.875. The recognition times were under 0.1 s using the current configuration. Our system was able to be used in existing ESS working channels and clearly identified at-risk spinal structures in vitro. The pretrained algorithms could identify six intraspinal tissue types accurately and quickly. The concept and innovative application of intraoperative ultrasound in ESS may shorten the learning curve of ESS and improve surgical efficiency and safety.

Bovine and Ovine Teeth as a Substitute for the Human Teeth: An Experimental Study.

Although various kinds of research have been conducted to compare the physical and chemical properties of dentin and enamel in animal and human samples, proving the ability of animal dentin material as a good substitute for human specimens is always a challenge for experimental studies. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether the changes in the dentin microhardness of animal samples are similar to those of human samples or not. In this in vitro study, sixty single-rooted human, bovine, and ovine teeth (n=20 in each group) were decoronated at CEJ. The remaining roots were embedded in acrylic resin and a cross-section cut was made in the middle of the samples in order to achieve dentin disks. All of the 120 samples were randomly assigned to three control (n=20 for each group) and three experimental groups (n=20 for each group). In the experimental groups, calcium hydroxide with a creamy consistency was prepared and the disks were embedded in dishes containing calcium hydroxide. Control groups were embedded in physiological saline. The samples were incubated for seven days at the 37oC and Vickers microhardness test was performed immediately. The average of three yielded values was considered as the final value of microhardness. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc tests. In the control group, the human samples showed the highest microhardness value, while the bovine teeth had the lowest microhardness value (p< 0.001). In the calcium hydroxide group, the human samples showed the highest microhardness value in comparison to bovine and ovine to teeth. However, no significant difference was observed between the bovine and ovine samples in microhardness value. Based on our research, substituting bovine and ovine samples with human samples in experimental studies is not recommended. Nevertheless, more studies are needed in this regard.

A metabolomics analysis of interspecies and seasonal trends in ruminant milk: The molecular difference between bovine, caprine, and ovine milk

Ruminant milk composition can be affected by many factors, primarily interspecies differences, but also environmental factors (e.g., season, feeding system, and feed composition). Pasture-based feeding systems are known to be influenced by seasonal effects on grass composition. Spring pasture is rich in protein and low in fiber compared with late-season pasture, potentially inducing variability in the composition of some milk metabolites across the season. This study aimed to investigate interspecies and seasonal differences in the milk metabolome across the 3 major commercial ruminant milk species from factories in New Zealand: bovine, caprine, and ovine milk. Samples of bovine (n = 41) and caprine (n = 44) raw milk were collected monthly for a period of 9 mo (August 2016-April 2017), and ovine milk samples (n = 20) were collected for a period of 5 mo (August 2016-January 2017). Milk samples were subjected to biphasic extraction, and untargeted metabolite profiling was performed using 2 separate liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry analytical methods (polar metabolites and lipids). Major differences in the milk metabolome were observed between the 3 ruminant species, with 414 of 587 (71%) polar metabolite features and 210 of 233 (87%) lipid features being significantly different between species. Significant seasonal trends were observed in the polar metabolite fraction for bovine, caprine, and ovine milk (17, 24, and 32 metabolites, respectively), suggesting that the polar metabolite relative intensities of ovine and caprine milk were more susceptible to changes within seasons than bovine milk. We found no significant seasonal difference for the triglycerides (TG) species measured in bovine milk, whereas 3 and 52 TG species changed in caprine and ovine milk, respectively, across the seasons. In addition, 4 phosphatidylcholines and 2 phosphatidylethanolamines varied in caprine milk within the season, and 8 diglycerides varied in ovine milk. The interspecies and seasonal metabolite differences reported here provide a knowledge base of components potentially linked to milk physiochemical properties, and potential health benefits of New Zealand pasture-fed dairy ingredients.

Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Combined With Ocimum sanctum and Tendon-Derived Extracellular Matrix Enhances Tenogenesis in Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells.

Background Ocimum sanctum (OS) is a medicinal plant with antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Extracellular matrix (ECM) maintains the structural stability of tissues. Hyaluronic acid (HA), which is used in hydrogel fabrication and osteochondral regeneration, increases cell viability and the expression of marker genes. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC), which are a type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), have self-renewing capacity and they prevent teratoma formationand promote tendon (TEN) regeneration. The aim of this study is to incorporate the phytochemical effects of Ocimum sanctuminto hyaluronic acid hydrogel scaffolds made with the MSCs in tendon ECM for increased tissue regeneration. Materials & methods Ocimum sanctum extract and methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HA-MA) were prepared. An ovine tendon sample was decellularised to obtain the ECM. The study groups of HA, TEN, HA_OS, HA_TEN, and HA_OS_TEN were prepared. The presence of tendon cells was confirmed by picrosirius red staining and the hydrogel scaffolds were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling, differentiation, compression, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) compatibility analyses. Results The morphology of the samples was analysed by SEM analysis. The HA_OS_TEN sample showed the highest rate of tenogenesis, lowest swelling, high cell viability and differentiation, and optimal compression rates. Conclusion This study showed that hyaluronic acid combined with Ocimum sanctumand tendon ECM is a very good conjugation for the preparation of hydrogel scaffolds for tendon tissue regeneration using MSCs.

Serological Evidence for Circulation of Influenza D Virus in the Ovine Population in Italy.

Influenza D virus (IDV) is a novel orthomyxovirus initially isolated from pigs exhibiting influenza-like disease in the USA. Since then, IDV has been detected worldwide in several host species, including livestock animals, whilst specific antibodies have been identified in humans, raising concerns about interspecies transmission and zoonotic risks. Few data regarding the seroprevalence of IDV in small ruminants have been available to date. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of antibodies against IDV in ovine serum samples in Sicily, Southern Italy. Six hundred serum samples, collected from dairy sheep herds located in Sicily in 2022, were tested by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and virus neutralization (VN) assays using reference strains, D/660 and D/OK, representative of two distinct IDV lineages circulating in Italy. Out of 600 tested samples, 168 (28.0%) tested positive to either IDV strain D/660 or D/OK or to both by HI whilst 378 (63.0%) tested positive to either IDV strain D/660 or D/OK or to both by VN. Overall, our findings demonstrate that IDV circulates in ovine dairy herds in Sicily. Since IDV seems to have a broad host range and it has zoonotic potential, it is important to collect epidemiological information on susceptible species.

A liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric procedure for analysis of pentaerythrityl tetranitrate metabolites – Development, validation and application to ovine serum and human plasma samples

Pentaerythrityl tetranitrate (PETN) is an established drug in the treatment of coronary heart disease and heart failure. It is assumed, that the vasodilative and vasoprotective effects of PETN also have a positive impact on pregnant patients with impaired placental perfusion and studies evaluating the effect of PETN in risk pregnancies have been carried out. In the context of these clinical trials, measuring of serum levels of PETN and its metabolites pentaerythrityl trinitrate (PETriN), pentaerythrityl dinitrate (PEDN), pentaerythrityl mononitrate (PEMN) and pentaerythritol (PE) were required. To evaluate the transfer of PETN and its metabolites (PEXN) from the mother to the fetus using samples from a human clinical trial and animal study, the present work aimed to develop a rapid and simple method to simultaneously analyze PEXN in human and ovine samples.A method employing a rapid and simple liquid–liquid extraction followed by reversed-phase (C18) liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry with negative electrospray ionization was developed and validated for the detection of PETN and PEXN in human and ovine samples. PE could only be qualitatively detected at higher concenrations. Method validation requirements, including accuracy, repeatability and intermediate precision were fulfilled in ovine and human samples for all other PEXN with exception PETriN in human samples. The recovery (RE) in ovine samples was 76.7 % ± 12 % for PEMN, 98 % ± 23 % for PEDN, 94 % ± 22 % for PETriN, in human samples RE was 59 % ± 16 % for PEMN, 67 % ± 19 % for PEDN, 71 % ± 17 %. The matrix effects (ME) in ovine samples were 90 % ± 11 % for PEMN, 70 % ± 30 % for PEDN, 107 % ± 17 % for PETriN, in human samples the ME were 93 % ± 13 % for PEMN, 84 % ± 17 % for PEDN, 98 % ± 16 % for PETriN. The limits of quantification (LOQ) in ovine samples were 1.0 ng/mL for PETriN and 0.1 ng/mL for PEMN and PEDN. The LOQs in human samples were 5.0 ng/mL for PETriN and 0.3 ng/mL for PEMN und PEDN. The newly developed method was used to analyze 184 ovine serum samples and 18 human plasma samples.In ovine maternal samples, the highest observed PEDN concentration was 3.5 ng/mL and the highest PEMN concentration was 10 ng/mL, the respective concentrations in fetal serum samples were 4.9 ng/mL for PEDN and 5.4 ng/mL for PEMN. PETriN was only detected in traces in maternal and fetal samples, whereas PETN could not be detected at all. In human maternal samples, the highest concentration for PEDN was 27 ng/mL and for PEMN 150 ng/mL. In umbilical cord plasma, concentrations of 2.3 ng/mL for PEDN and 73 ng/mL for PEMN were detected. Although the PEMN and PEDN concentrations in the human samples were several times higher than in ovine samples, neither PETN nor PETriN signals could be detected. These results demonstrated that the metabolites were transferred from mother to fetus with a slight time delay.

Survey of antibodies to Peste des petits ruminants virus in small ruminants in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease affecting sheep and goats caused by peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) has a serious economic impact due to the restrictions on animal trade and animal movements and high mortality rates in small ruminant populations. The common clinical sings of the PPR are fever, muco-purulent nasal discharge, diarrhoea and abortion. Seroepidemiological studies of PPRV infection in sheep and goats in Turkey are scant. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of PPR in small ruminants in Turkey. Ovine blood samples were collected by random sampling method from sheep (n = 77) and goats (n = 61) from unvaccinated flocks (n = 40) in the Antalya Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) kit was used to detect antibodies against PPRV in sera samples. Out of 138 sera samples analysed, eighteen sera samples (13%, 95% CI: 7.4 - 18.7) were PPRV seropositive, of which 18.2% (95% CI: 9.6 - 26.8; 14/77) were from sheep, whereas 6.6% (95% CI: 0.3 - 12.8; 4/61) were from goats. Although PPRV seropositivity rate was higher in sheep than goats, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.07). PPRV seropositivity was higher in small ruminants older than 24 months (19.4%) compared with less than or equal to 24 months (7%) (P = 0.04). Although, there was no statistically significant difference between sexes, PPRV seropositivity rate was higher (14.5%) in females than males (10.9%) (P = 0.61). The flock-level seroprevalence was 30% (12/40). The result of the present study showed that seroprevalence of PPRV infection is high in sheep and goats in the Antalya Province. However, results of the study are not enough to determine the regional and country-based profile of the PPRV infection in Turkey. Further epidemiological studies are required to get more epidemiology data on PPR in Turkey.

Effect of Milk Origin and Seasonality of Yogurt Acid Whey on Antioxidant Activity before and after In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion.

Yogurt acid whey (YAW) is a by-product of Greek strained yogurt production. The disposal of YAW constitutes an environmental problem, and given the increasing demand of Greek yogurt worldwide, its handling is a challenge. However, whey-derived peptides, resulting from microbial fermentation as well as those resulting from further hydrolysis during the digestion process, have been linked to enhanced biological activities. In this study, the antioxidant capacity of 33 samples of YAW obtained from Greek dairy companies of bovine, ovine or caprine origin was investigated using both cell-free and cell-based assays. The YAW samples, their in vitro digestion products (YAW-Ds) and a fraction of the digests (less than 3 kDa; YAW-D-P3) were assessed using four biochemical assays, namely ORAC, ABTS, FRAP and P-FRAP. Our data revealed a higher antioxidant capacity for digested samples compared with undigested samples, with all four methods. ORAC values after in vitro digestion were higher for the ovine samples compared to their bovine (YAW-D and YAW-D-P3) and caprine (YAW-D-P3) counterparts. Furthermore, the YAW-D-P3 fraction derived from samples collected in the summer months exhibited higher ORAC values when compared to the respective fraction from the winter months' samples. The cellular antioxidant activity of ovine YAW-D-P3 was improved in H2O2-treated HT29 cells compared to the control H2O2-treated cells. However, YAW-D-P3 could not trigger either the pathways involving the transcription factors NF-κB or NFE2L2 or the gene expression of SOD1, CAT and HMOX1 in LPS-challenged THP-1-derived macrophages. These results suggest that YAW, and particularly YAW from ovine origin, could be used as a natural source for its antioxidant potential in human and animal nutrition.

Combined fluorescence lifetime and surface topographical imaging of biological tissue.

In this work a combined fluorescence lifetime and surface topographical imaging system is demonstrated. Based around a 126 × 192 time resolved single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array operating in time correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) mode, both the fluorescence lifetime and time of flight (ToF) can be calculated on a pixel by pixel basis. Initial tests on fluorescent samples show it is able to provide 4 mm resolution in distance and 0.4 ns resolution in lifetime. This combined modality has potential biomedical applications such as surgical guidance, endoscopy, and diagnostic imaging. The system is demonstrated on both ovine and human pulmonary tissue samples, where it offers excellent fluorescence lifetime contrast whilst also giving a measure of the distance to the sample surface.

Adrenal ablation as a treatment for hypertension: analyzing the dielectric properties of adrenal glands for microwave ablation technologies

Abstract Adrenal gland-induced hypertension, also known as secondary hypertension, is a medical condition caused by an underlying adrenal pathology, most typically adrenocortical adenomas. Current clinical practices involve pharmacotherapy or surgical resection to treat adrenal gland diseases that cause hypertension. However, due to the limitations of these treatment options, microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive alternative. An accurate understanding of the dielectric properties of adrenal glands would support the further development and optimization of MWA technology for treating adrenal tumors. Only a few studies have examined the dielectric properties of both human and animal adrenal glands, and the sample sizes of these studies have been relatively small. Therefore, further dielectric data of human and animal adrenal glands are warranted. This paper presents the ex vivo dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal glands (medulla and cortex) and summarizes the published literature on dielectric data of adrenal glands from porcine, bovine, ovine, and human samples in the microwave frequency range to analyze the consistency and reliability of the reported data. The dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal glands (N = 8) were measured using an open-ended coaxial probe measurement technique at frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 8.5 GHz. This study also investigated the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal medulla ranging from 37 to 64°C at frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 8.5 GHz. The dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal medulla measured in this study were found to be consistent with the literature. Moreover, the review suggests that variations exist in the dielectric properties of the adrenal medulla and cortex among species. The study also found that the dielectric properties of the adrenal medulla decrease with increasing temperature, similar to other tissues for which temperature-dependent dielectric data have been reported. This summary of dielectric data of adrenal glands and the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of the ovine adrenal medulla will accelerate the development of MWA technologies for hypertension treatment.

The Detection of Bacterial Pathogens, including Emerging Klebsiella pneumoniae, Associated with Mastitis in the Milk of Ruminant Species

Milk is an excellent medium for the growth of several bacteria and other microorganisms and thus, it has been extensively studied. An always current issue in the dairy industry is mastitis, which causes losses in milk volume and profits. In many cases, milk is used raw or treated at low temperatures for further dairy processes while there are quite a few cases in which foodborne-related outbreaks have occurred. Both culture-based methods and PCR were used to assess the presence of certain pathogens related to both contagious and environmental pathogens, especially the emerging pathogenic bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as Staphyloccocus aureus and Enterobacter spp., which are associated with mastitis in milk samples from different lactating ruminant species (cows, goats, and sheep) and to further evaluate the significance of the isolated pathogens to public health. Even though significant mastitis contagious pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were not detected, environmental pathogens related to poor hygiene conditions at the farm level (K. pneumoniae, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Enterococcus spp.) were detected. In particular, K. pneumoniae and Staphylococcus saprophyticus were present in ovine milk samples while bovine and caprine milk samples were contaminated with Enterococcus spp. The presence of these bacteria underlines the significant role of environmental hygiene especially since Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Enterococcus spp. are related to urinary tract infections and all of the tested pathogens may carry antibiotic resistance genes. More specifically, 20% of the isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were found resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. The presence of emerging K. pneumoniae in ovine milk samples also indicates the need for new policies in terms of safety testing. Suggestions of monitoring processes carried out by the relevant authorities are discussed.

The genomic and epidemiological investigations of enteric viruses of domestic caprine (Capra hircus) revealed the presence of multiple novel viruses related to known strains of humans and ruminant livestock species.

In this study, the enteric virome of diarrheic caprine was investigated using next-generation sequencing, reverse transcription PCR methods, and bioinformatics analyses. The complete or nearly complete genomes of seven novel viruses including (i) a caprine astrovirus (OQ758025) of family Astroviridae, four picornaviruses in genera (ii) Boosepivirus (OQ758026), (iii) Enterovirus (OQ758028), (iv) Kobuvirus (OQ758029), and (v) an unassigned picornavirus provisionally called as capripivirus (from the term caprine picornavirus) of the family Picornaviridae (OQ758027), as well as (vi) a tusavirus of family Parvoviridae (OL692339.2) and an (vii) unassigned CRESS DNA virus (OQ758030) have been identified. Structural analyses of the internal ribosomal entry sites revealed the presence of unique motifs and suggest the modular exchange of certain elements between co-infecting viruses. Epidemiological investigations and genotyping PCR reactions of identified RNA virus groups were also conducted using multiple "in-house" developed SYBRgreen-based screening quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays and generic capsid primers on additional fecal samples from ruminant livestock species (n = 62 caprine, n = 32 ovine, and n = 94 cattle) of three different age groups from n = 12 geographically distant sampling sites in Hungary. The results of qPCR screening assays as well as K-means cluster and phylogenetic analyses of the determined sequences suggest that diverse members of the above RNA virus groups were found in all age groups, but mostly in <1-year-old ruminants. Members of the analyzed virus groups were found frequently (37.2%) in multiple (even in quintuple) co-infections, while strains related closely to the identified index viruses were detectable only in certain caprine and ovine samples indicating a wide range of viral diversity. IMPORTANCE Compared with other domestic animals, the virome and viral diversity of small ruminants especially in caprine are less studied even of its zoonotic potential. In this study, the enteric virome of caprine was investigated in detail using next-generation sequencing and reverse transcription PCR techniques. The complete or nearly complete genomes of seven novel viruses were determined which show a close phylogenetic relationship to known human and ruminant viruses. The high similarity between the identified caprine tusavirus (family Parvoviridae) and an unassigned CRESS DNA virus with closely related human strains could indicate the (reverse) zoonotic potential of these viruses. Others, like astroviruses (family Astroviridae), enteroviruses, or novel caripiviruses (named after the term caprine picornavirus) of family Picornaviridae found mostly in multiple co-infections in caprine and ovine, could indicate the cross-species transmission capabilities of these viruses between small ruminants.

Handheld wide-field fluorescence lifetime imaging system based on a distally mounted SPAD array.

In this work a handheld Fluorescent Lifetime IMaging (FLIM) system based on a distally mounted < 2 mm2 128 × 120 single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array operating over a > 1 m long wired interface is demonstrated. The head of the system is ∼4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm making it suitable for hand-held ex vivo applications. This is, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first example of a SPAD array mounted on the distal end of a handheld FLIM system in this manner. All existing systems to date use a fibre to collect and relay fluorescent light to detectors at the proximal end of the system. This has clear potential biological and biomedical applications. To demonstrate this, the system is used to provide contrast between regions of differing tissue composition in ovine kidney samples, and between healthy and stressed or damaged plant leaves. Additionally, FLIM videos are provided showing that frame rates of > 1 Hz are achievable. It is thus an important step in realising an in vivo miniaturized chip-on-tip FLIM endoscopy system.

Comparison of ovine faecal Strongyle egg counts from an accredited laboratory and a rapid, on-site parasite diagnostic system utilising a smartphone app and machine learning

Traditional treatment for gastrointestinal helminths in grazing livestock often involves untargeted, metaphylactic blanket treatment of animals with anthelmintics. As a result, resistance to anthelmintic drugs has become a significant issue for farmers and veterinarians worldwide, impacting farm profitability and animal welfare. Faecal egg counts (FECs) are an important diagnostic test to combat further anthelmintic resistance as they enable practitioners to better distinguish between animals that require treatment and those that do not. FECs are labour-intensive, time-consuming and require trained personnel to process the samples and visually identify the parasite eggs. Consequently, the time between sample collection, transport, analysis, results, and treatment can take days. This study aimed to evaluate a rapid, on-site parasite diagnostic system utilising a smartphone app and machine learning in terms of its capability to provide reliable egg counts while decreasing the turnaround time for results associated with outsourcing the analysis. A total of 105 ovine faecal samples were collected. Each sample was homogenised and split equally between two containers. One container per sample was processed using the on-site, app-based system, the second container was sent to an accredited laboratory. Strongyle egg counts were conducted via video footage of samples by the system’s machine learning (ML) and a trained technician (MT) and via microscopic examination by an independent laboratory technician (LAB). Results were statistically analysed using a generalised linear model using SAS® (Version 9.4) software. The ratio of means was used to determine non-inferiority of the ML results compared to the LAB results. Both system egg counts (ML and MT) were higher (p < 0.0001) compared to those obtained from the laboratory (LAB). There was no statistically significant difference between the ML and MT counts. The app-based system utilising machine learning has been found to be non-inferior to the accredited laboratory at quantifying Strongyle eggs in ovine faecal samples. With its quick result turnaround, low outlay cost and reusable components, this portable diagnostic system can help veterinarians to increase their testing capacity, perform on-farm testing and deliver faster and more targeted parasite treatment to combat anthelmintic resistance.

Dielectric Properties of Healthy Ex Vivo Ovine Lung Tissue at Microwave Frequencies

Knowledge of dielectric properties of lung tissue is fundamental for the improvement of lung disease diagnostics and therapeutic solutions (e.g. microwave imaging and microwave thermal ablation treatment). Although lung disease rates are increasing, lung tissue remains one of the least characterized tissues due to its heterogeneity, variability in air content, and handling difficulties. In this work, dielectric properties of ex-vivo ovine lung tissue samples were measured in the frequency range 500 MHz – 8 GHz, together with measurements of sample density (air content). Different Cole-Cole models were applied to the measured dielectric properties values. The best fitting model was chosen, and results were compared with available literature. Furthermore, the dielectric property measurements were correlated with the air content of the samples. Updated Cole-Cole models for lung tissue of different density is provided in the 500 MHz – 8 GHz range. The existence of air content threshold in lung is shown. Below this limit, the properties begin to change drastically with the change in density.

The influence of out-of-plane motion on the deformation measurement of planar biaxial tests on biological soft tissue

Planar biaxial testing is a popular technique to characterize a wide range of biological soft tissues. Nevertheless, a lot of variability exists between experimental setups. One particularly important variation relates to the difference in strain measuring techniques to characterize the deformation during the test: digital image correlation using one camera (measuring the out-of-plane motion as false strain), or two cameras (providing a stereo view). This study aimed to compare the two methods and provide practical guidelines for their use. A planar biaxial experiment was performed on ovine arterial samples on which both methods produced similar results in terms of strain measurements and material properties. The two-dimensional approach using a single camera is an appropriate and less time-consuming alternative to measure the deformation of soft biological tissue during planar biaxial loading conditions for similar setups.

Micro-CT Imaging and Mechanical Properties of Ovine Ribs.

The use of ovine animal models in the study of injury biomechanics and modeling is increasing, due to their favorable size and other physiological characteristics. Along with this increase, there has also been increased interest in the development of in silico ovine models for computational studies to compliment physical experiments. However, there remains a gap in the literature characterizing the morphological and mechanical characteristics of ovine ribs. The objective of this study therefore is to report anatomical and mechanical properties of the ovine ribs using microtomography (micro-CT) and two types of mechanical testing (quasi-static bending and dynamic tension). Using microtomography, young ovine rib samples obtained from a local abattoir were cut into approximately fourteen 38mm sections and scanned. From these scans, the cortical bone thickness and cross-sectional area were measured, and the moment of inertia was calculated to enhance the mechanical testing data. Based on a standard least squares statistical model, the cortical bone thickness varied depending on the region of the cross-section and the position along the length of the rib (p < 0.05), whereas the cross-sectional area remained consistent (p > 0.05). Quasi-static three-point bend testing was completed on ovine rib samples, and the resulting force-displacement data was analyzed to obtain the stiffness (44.67 ± 17.65 N/mm), maximum load (170.54 ± 48.28 N) and displacement at maximum load (7.19 ± 2.75mm), yield load (167.81 ± 48.12 N) and displacement at yield (6.10 ± 2.25mm), and the failure load (110.90 ± 39.30 N) and displacement at failure (18.43 ± 2.10mm). The resulting properties were not significantly affected by the rib (p > 0.05), but by the animal they originated from (p < 0.05). For the dynamic testing, samples were cut into coupons and tested in tension with an average strain rate of 18.9 strain/sec. The resulting dynamic testing properties of elastic modulus (5.16 ± 2.03 GPa), failure stress (63.29 ± 14.02MPa), and failure strain (0.0201 ± 0.0052) did not vary based on loading rate (p > 0.05).