Quality Of Life In Animals Research Articles

Quality of Life Assessment: The Value of Longitudinal Data in Making the End-of-Life Care Decision for a Macaque (Macaca Silenus/Macaca Nemestrina)

ABSTRACT Assessing quality of life in animals is an art as much as a science. Despite the use of questionnaires and keeper reports which consider several aspects of well-being, the process often remains subjective. Keepers have unique insights, and anecdotal observations can be enhanced with objective data. We combined the art and science of assessments in this study on a geriatric macaque (1.0 lion-tailed/pig-tailed (Macaca silenus/macaca nemestrina) hybrid), using historic data to inform management decisions. Following the unexpected death of his cage mate, his activity and engagement with keepers decreased, and new concerning behaviors presented. While the zoo worked to identify new social opportunities, we used these data to develop a plan to improve his quality of life (e.g., increase training sessions, enrichment, social interactions). After intense implementation, we saw a significant increase in activity level and engagement with keepers; the frequency of unexpected behaviors suggesting a lower quality of life, however, increased over time. Our data allowed us to objectively compare changes in behavior, enabling the zoo to make the most informed animal management decision possible.

Bienestar del ganado engordado en corral: ¿Qué se debe considerar?

The growth of the world population creates the need to increase the production of food, and consequently of animal protein. Feed-lot emerges as an alternative for the intensification of the production system, producing more kilograms of meat in less time. In this way, numerous questions arise regarding the welfare of animals finished in feed-lot. In order to clarify and have the points that must be clearly considered, the “Five Domains” of animal welfare aim to incorporate and relate minimum standards of quality of life for animals. In addition to maintaining the minimum parameters for the animal's life, welfare is integrally related to sustainable production, profitability, and quality of the total process. The objective this review is to present information on how to minimize management stresses, the impacts that good practices cause on the system and how it can interfere with the final consumer.

Bienestar animal y medicinas integrativas

Currently, animal welfare has a significant impact on animal production, whether in the economic or social aspect, as it is increasingly in importance in public opinion. It can be defined as the state of an individual in the face of its attempts to adapt to the environment in which it is inserted, being quite complex and individualized for each species, breeds and production systems. This definition also extends to companion animals, which are currently experiencing the effects of domestication and anthropomorphization, and it reflects in behavioral problems. In this context, complementary medicines emerge as allies, adding benefits to different species. They aim to restore and maintain health, addressing the individual as a whole, and taking into account the environment in which they live, their food, their interaction with other animals and with tutors. Within this scenario, it is expected that knowledge and practices related to animal welfare and complementary medicines will grow together, towards a better quality of life for animals in production and domestic environments.

First study on the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 and insulin-like growth factor 1 on the chondrogenesis of elephant articular chondrocytes in a scaffold-based 3D culture model.

Background and Aim:Osteoarthritis (OA) is recognized as a degenerative joint disease that leads to chronic pain and low quality of life in animals. Captive elephants, the largest land mammals with a long lifespan, are more prone to develop OA due to restricted spaces and insufficient physical activity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on elephant chondrogenesis in a scaffold culture of articular chondrocytes.Materials and Methods:Elephant chondrocytes-seeded gelatin scaffolds were cultured in chondrogenic media with or without 10 ng/mL of TGF-β1 or IGF-1 alone or 5–10 ng/mL of their combination for up to 21 days. The mRNA expression of cartilage-specific anabolic genes, ACAN and COL2A1, was analyzed using a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The amounts of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs) in conditioned media and contents in cultured scaffolds were determined through dimethylmethylene blue assay. Cell morphology, accumulation of proteoglycans, and details of the cultured scaffolds were determined using hematoxylin-eosin staining, safranin O staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively.Results:TGF-β1 alone significantly upregulated ACAN gene expression but not COL2A1, while IGF-1 alone did not enhance both ACAN and COL2A1 genes. The combination significantly upregulated both mRNA expression levels of ACAN and COL2A1 gene at day 14. The sGAGs accumulation and contents in the treatment groups, except IGF-1 tended to be higher than the controls, concomitantly with the production of the extracellular matrix, showed the formation of a cartilage-like tissue through histological and SEM analyses.Conclusion:Together, our results suggest that the single treatment of TGF-β1 has a selective effect on ACAN gene, while the combined growth factors seem to be an advantage on elephant chondrogenesis. This three-dimensional culture model is probably helpful for developing cartilage regeneration in vitro and is further applied in tissue engineering for OA treatment in vivo.

The unmet potential of artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine.

Veterinary medicine is a broad and growing discipline that includes topics such as companion animal health, population medicine and zoonotic diseases, and agriculture. In this article, we provide insight on how artificial intelligence works and how it is currently applied in veterinary medicine. We also discuss its potential in veterinary medicine. Given the rapid pace of research and commercial product developments in this area, the next several years will pose challenges to understanding, interpreting, and adopting this powerful and evolving technology. Artificial intelligence has the potential to enable veterinarians to perform tasks more efficiently while providing new insights for the management and treatment of disorders. It is our hope that this will translate to better quality of life for animals and those who care for them.

The oromaxillofacial region as a model for a one-health approach in regenerative medicine.

The concept of a one-health approach in regenerative medicine has gained tremendous momentum in the scientific and public communities in recent years. Knowledge derived from this approach informs innovative biomedical research, clinical trials, and practice. The ultimate goal is to translate regenerative strategies for curing diseases and improving the quality of life in animals and people. Building and fostering strong and enthusiastic interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration between teams with a wide range of expertise and backgrounds is the cornerstone to the success of the one-health approach and translational sciences. The veterinarian's role in conducting clinical trials in client-owned animals with naturally occurring diseases is critical and unique as it may potentially inform human clinical trials. The veterinary regenerative medicine and surgery field is on a steep trajectory of discoveries and innovations. This manuscript focuses on oromaxillofacial-region regeneration to exemplify how the concept of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration and the one-health approach influenced the authors' work experience at the University of California-Davis.

Assessing North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) Welfare

Welfare assessments have been largely successful in improving management and quality of life for animals in human care. This has prompted an increased interest in their use for free-ranging wild animals to assess health, environment, and human-induced impacts that influence policy decisions. The North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW, Eubalaena glacialis) is one of the most endangered whale species. NARWs constantly face serious injuries and mortalities due to human activities, which poses both a species conservation and an individual welfare concern. Establishing a standardized welfare assessment for the NARW is a holistic way to understand the cumulative effects of anthropogenic activities at both the individual and population levels. To investigate the potential use of welfare assessments in NARWs, we performed a brief literature review to explore the history and utility of animal welfare assessments. Following the review, we developed a welfare assessment tool specific to the NARW. The goal is for biologists to apply this tool to understand NARW welfare in conjunction with research in the field. Ultimately, the information gained from this review can aid in public dissemination of the results of human impacts on NARW welfare and may help influence future conservation policies.

Integrative homeopathic treatment and pharmacopuncture with Viscum album in canine mammary carcinoma: Case report.

Inflammatory mammary carcinoma is a highly aggressive tumor that affects dogs, characterized by progressive disease and a high mortality rate. Affected dogs have diffuse swollen mammary glands with little demarcation between tissues, making the region firm, in the form of plaques, hot and painful on palpation with possible thickening of the skin and sero-bloody secretion. Acupuncture is considered as an adjunctive treatment modality, as it improves the quality of life of cancer patients, in addition to controlling these metabolic changes. This paper reports the case of a female dog treated with pharmacopuncture in association with the Viscum album. The animal arrived with normocardia, eupnea, pale mucous membranes and a lump in the breast region. Preoperative and imaging exams were carried out, followed by a pan-hysterectomy and partial mastectomy procedure, with sample collection for histopathological analysis. A Grade II Mixed Tumor Carcinoma was diagnosed and then the pharmacopuncture treatment with Viscum album was proposed. Sessions were held weekly for 9 months and there was an improvement in the clinical and physical aspect of the animal. The growing development of medicine associated with new treatment techniques promotes better results and favorable quality of life for animals. As a prophylactic measure of the disease, castration remains the best option, especially when used before the first heat.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ДОКЛИНИЧЕСКИХ ИСПЫТАНИЙ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ РАДИОФАРМПРЕПАРАТА «ДТПА-МИКРОСФЕРЫ АЛЬБУМИНА, 90Y»

Purpose: Development of technology for producing a radiopharmaceutical based on 90Y labeled modified human blood albumin microspheres, and the study of the functional suitability of this drug in experimental animals.
 Material and methods: The research team studied the following characteristics of the drug: the distribution and excretion of the drug after its intra-arterial administration; the mechanism of action of the drug in animals with model pathology; therapeutic efficacy of the drug in animals with a liver tumor model.
 The following physicochemical characteristics of the developed radiopharmaceutical were announced: modified with DTPA and labeled 90Y human blood albumin microspheres, particle size 25-40 microns, radiochemical impurities less than 5.0%, 90Sr radionuclide impurities less than 0.002%, the amount of chemical impurities (Na, Al, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) not more than 10 μg / GBq, volumetric activity up to 150 mCi / ml at the date of preparation. 
 Sprague Dawley female rats were taken as experimental animals (body weight 220-260 g). Studies were conducted on a model pathology - hepatocellular carcinoma, which occurs in 85% of all malignant tumors of the human liver.
 Results: in 2018-2019, nine pilot batches of the radiopharmaceutical product satisfying the declared characteristics were developed. Stable inhibition of the growth of tumor lesions by 7.62% was noted. The quality of life in animals with orthotopic tumor foci of hepatocarcinoma treated was better than in animals not treated. Life expectancy in the group of animals treated with the drug was higher than in the group of animals that did not receive treatment by 7.1%. The distribution of the drug was characterized by pulmonary bypass, not exceeding 9% of the injected activity and minimal forwarding into the circulating blood. The radiopharmaceutical was firmly held at the injection site and remained almost unchanged throughout the study. Binding to the tumor site of the drug was characterized by retention of at least 78% of the introduced activity. 
 Conclusion: Conducted preclinical studies of the pharmacokinetics of the drug show its potential suitability for the treatment of liver cancer by radionuclide embolization. According to the results of preclinical studies of the therapeutic effectiveness of the radiopharmaceutical, it should be considered effective for use.

Owner quality of life, caregiver burden and anticipatory grief: How they differ, why it matters.

Understanding client perspective is important for veterinary communications, particularly during problem visits. Key client experiences of caregiver burden, anticipatory grief and quality of life (QoL) have been previously examined in this context, but never simultaneously considered. A sample of 393 owners of an elderly or seriously ill companion animal was recruited online to complete cross-sectional measures of psychosocial function, companion animal presentation and demographics. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that owner caregiver burden, anticipatory grief and QoL reflect distinct constructs. Cluster analysis showed these experiences occur in four separate owner profiles: 'distressed', 'resilient', 'non-distressed' and owners experiencing strain due to 'other influences'. These groups appear to be differentially influenced by various factors, such as the companion animal's QoL, nature of the illness and the owner's attachment. They also show distinct differences in consideration of euthanasia and emotional functioning, including experience of stress and depressive symptoms. Constructs of caregiver burden, anticipatory grief and QoL are not interchangeable and may differentially impact owner decisions and behaviour. The veterinarian's understanding of owner profiles relevant to these issues and distinguishing underlying features may foster effective communication.

Engage with animal welfare in conservation.

Conservation could better promote not just the quantity of species but the quality of animal life

Food Transparency as a Useful Guide to Optimal Food Purchases

The present interview study, with consumers living in Washington state, USA, set out to explore consumers’ perceptions of quality, safety and transparency and see how these influence shopping preferences. The results indicate that consumers are guided by subjective perceptions of food quality, as well as concerns driven by personal values and ethical and environmental considerations. Food safety was found to be confusing for almost all of the consumers in this study, with many expecting stores to provide safe foods. The study also utilized a concept testing method, to evaluate the concept of food transparency and examine how it compares against the established food certifications (organic and free range). Consumers exhibited trust in organic labels, expecting organic farming to ensure good farming practices and quality of life for animals reared for consumption, however they were also aware that this trust is based on assumptions. As a result, they were receptive to more accurate and informative solutions, such as transparency, that could guide their decisions and give them more certainty. Transparency was seen as a useful tool in identifying quality products, which align with personal values and as such, it was received well with consumers in the present study.

Consciousness for animal welfare: A trial of multidisciplinary education.

Cats and dogs have been living with humans for centuries in various conditions and for various reasons. Various factors such as different housing conditions, owner’s expectations and attitudes may affect the well-being of domestic animals. It is the responsibility of Veterinarians to ensure that the environment meets their needs, which further determines the welfare levels of animals. In order to meet the needs of different pets, the products used for pets should be designed in line with these needs. It can be suggested that products that fully meet the needs of pets are possible only with a multidisciplinary education model including design and veterinary behavior. In this study, a multidisciplinary education model was used for the 3rd-grade industrial design students at the Department of Industrial Product Design, Middle East Technical University in the autumn 2018-2019 Semester to develop design solutions for improving the well-being of cats and dogs as well as their owners. 30 design students attended the program. They divided into 9 teams according to the species, and environment they chose. Two lecturers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine gave lectures about the emotional needs of dogs and cats to the design students and supervised them during the design process. As a result, significant improvements were detected in the awareness of the industrial design students of biological, emotional and behavioral needs of cats and dogs. Thirty different products with ideas targeting different problems such as dental health, drug application, grooming were designed by different teams. Most of the end products were scored between good (75-79) and outstanding (90-100) by the instructors from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The results of this study show that multidisciplinary education and the exchange of information between different professions have a significant impact on product development success to improve the quality of life in animals.

Environmental enrichment techniques and tryptophan supplementation used to improve the quality of life and animal welfare of Nile tilapia

The adoption of high standards of animal welfare improves the quality of life for animals being reared and produces improved end products for consumers. In this study, we investigate the role of environmental enrichment and tryptophan supplementation in increasing animal welfare indices in tilapia. To do this, the environment where fish are reared is enriched using artificial aquatic plants and shelters, and their diet is supplemented with tryptophan. Animal welfare parameters are estimated and compared to verify this enrichment. The use of environmental enrichment and tryptophan supplements significantly influences the parameters of animal welfare in Nile tilapia, indicating their preference for enriched environments by reducing stereotypical and aggressive behavior. We emphasize the contribution that this study has in applying the concept of animal welfare in fish production, given that the simple and low cost enrichments used had a positive impact on the quality of life of the animals.

Transparency As A Way Of Attaining Quality, Safety And Optimal Food Purchases

The present extensive literature analysis and interview study, with consumers living in Washington state, USA, set out to explore consumers’ perceptions of quality, safety, and transparency and see how these influence shopping preferences. Literature review included global studies which looked at food transparency, safety, quality, food certifications and environmental concerns. The findings indicate that organic foods are often linked to health, nutrition, environmental concerns as well as presence of children, and quality is measured by assessing freshness, taste, nutrition and traceability. Consumers are increasingly interested in knowing where their food comes, expressing willingness to switch to more transparent brands. Additionally, welfare of animals reared for consumption and support for local agriculture is also important to consumers, who are willing to pay more for organic products. However, this willingness also depends on demographic factors, such as gender, educational level, income or age. The results of the interviews yielded similar findings. Participants were guided by subjective perceptions of food quality and concerns driven by personal values and ethical and environmental considerations. Food safety was confusing for almost all of the consumers in this study, with many expecting stores to provide safe foods. The study utilized a concept testing method to evaluate the concept of food transparency and examine how it compares against the established food certifications (organic and free-range). Consumers exhibited trust in organic labels, expecting organic farming to ensure good farming practices and quality of life for animals reared for consumption; however, they were also aware that this trust is based on assumptions. As a result, they were receptive to more accurate and transparent information, that could guide their decisions and give them more certainty. Transparency concept was seen as a useful tool in identifying quality products that align with personal values, such as supporting local food producers, and was received well with consumers in the present study. Keywords: food transparency, food quality, food safety, ethics, values, environment, agriculture, grocery shopping, food.

Nutritional interventions for promoting stress resilience: Recent progress using psychosocial stress models of rodents.

Prevention of stress‐induced adverse effects is important for animals and humans to maintain their quality of life (QOL). Stress decreases the productivity of farm animals and induces abnormal behaviors, which is one of the major problems in animal welfare. In humans, stress increases the risk of mental illness which adversely impacts QOL. Stress is, thus, a common health problem for both animals and humans, and stress prevention and promotion of stress resilience could improve animal and human health and QOL. Among various stresses, psychosocial stress experienced by individuals is particularly difficult to prevent and it could, thus, prove beneficial to attempt to increase resilience to psychosocial stress. There exist a few critical interventions for promoting such resilience, environmental enrichment being one. However, this review describes recent progress in nutritional interventions that could confer resilience to psychosocial stress. The efficacy of this intervention is studied in the social defeat model mouse, which is a standard model for studying psychosocial stress. Several nutrients were found to rescue stress vulnerability using the models. Furthermore, probiotics and prebiotics became crucial dietary interventions for combating psychosocial stress. Collectively, dietary intake of appropriate nutrients will be more important for maintaining QOL in animals and humans.

Impact of the “Bacteria-Parasite Interaction” in Animal Health and their Participation in the Control of Parasites

The parasite infections of animals (production and pets) affect the health and quality of animal life, the parasites frequently present a microbiome associated which play several functions, like nutrition, reproduction or defense against the host immune system, and in some cases are opportunistic microorganisms. These bacteria might cause secondary infections to animals, so the parasite can become a vector of pathogenic bacterial, reason why the understanding of the interaction” is important to combating of parasitic infestations. The current resistance to conventional dewormers or ixodicides, are issue in parasitology; attack a vital bacteria of parasites through antibiotics possibly can be a control alternative, at the same way, the use of bacteria capable to control to parasitic diseases by antagonist interaction, like lethal toxins or adhesion at the site invasion of the parasites, are alternatives to explore. Understand the bacteria-parasite will help us to the control of parasitic diseases in an integral form, as well know as the bacterial infections that can develop from the parasitic infestation. The use of antagonist bacterial is a biotechnological option in the control of parasites as therapy on the animal biomedicine, so in this review, we have a general idea of the “bacteria-parasite interaction and their impact on the animal’s health.

Immunoadhesive regulation using multiphytoadaptogene for spontaneous hepatocarcinomas prevention

The purposeof this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of correcting the LFA-1 and Mac-1 leukocyte integrins expression on peripheral blood cells as well as IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels using liquid form multiphytoadaptogene preventive application for hepatocarcinomas incidence suppression and life-span increase of CBA inbreed mice.Materials and methods.The study was carried out on 439 males of inbred CBA mouse strain (subline CBA/LacY). The experimental mice received 10 % liquid form multiphytoadaptogene complex (MPAC) solution in drinking water during the first month of life including the final time period of liver differentiation (preventive administration). MPAC is the standardized herbal formula composed of 40 plant extracts components including adaptogenes Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea, as well as compounds with phenolic structure (flavonoids, triterpene glycosides, etc). Anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, immunomodifying activities of MPAC were demonstrated. The CD11a and CD11b antigens expressions on peripheral blood cells were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence reaction, serum cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as well as the liver tissue morphology were analyzed at the age of 4, 8, 22 months. Tumor incidence and volumes were evaluated at the age of 8 and 22 months. Motor activity and physical status (body weight, coat state) were estimated in the ontogenesis. The average life-span and survival median was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method. Statistical analysis was performed with the program STATISTICA 6.0.Results.Inhibited expression of LFA-1 and Mac-1 leukocyte integrins on peripheral blood cells as well as elevated IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels, high incidence of liver tumors (100 % of mice-males), their high number and big sizes in the late period of postnatal ontogenesis in CBA high-cancer inbrede mice, also as life-span not reaching two years was demonstrated. At the same time plural tumor-infiltrating limphocytes were not found. Short-term MPAC preventive administration (during the first month of mouse life occupying the final differentiation period of liver tissue genetically predisposal to hepatoms incidence) revealed the long-term heterotypic adhesion molecules leukocyte integrins LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) and Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) up-regulated expression, providing the contact interactions of immune effectors and cancer cells. The events shown is able to enhance the anti-tumor activity of immune reactions including spontaneous hepatocarcinomas lymphocytes infiltration and destruction of tumor tissue. As a result, the hereditary tumors incidence, their number and sizes were reduced as well as life-span and life quality of animals were improved.Conclusion.Up-regulated leukocyte integrins expression on peripheral blood cells, reduced IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels accompanied by tumors lymphocyte infiltration and destruction using MPAC preventive administration is essential for tumor incidence down-regulation. The herbal formula with multiple components is capable to controle anti-tumor immune reactions, as well as the life-span and life quality of high-cancer animals. Hence, the regulation of adhesion violations involved in tumor incidence can be cancer preventive.

Prospective study of a Bothrops jararacussu venom batch (Bj2015) – phospholipase A2 activity, immunogenicity, neurotoxicity, and myotoxicity parameters

Bothrops jararacussu venom’s (Bj2015) batch was biomonitored quarterly for one year to assess phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, immunogenicity, neurotoxicity, and myotoxicity. In silico models were applied to evaluate losses using decay model and recoveries by predictive trend analysis. Mice were immunized with Bj2015. Antibodies were detected by double-immunodiffusion and total protein and albumin were measured. Neuromuscular blockade-induced by 40 μg mL−1 venom solution was carried out using mouse nerve phrenic-diaphragm preparation. Resulting muscles were submitted to light microscopy to evaluate the myotoxicity. PLA2 activity of 0.1 mg mL−1 Bj2015 was measured using 4-nitro-3-(octanoyloxy)benzoic acid as substrate. Over time, greater losses occurred in neurotoxicity than PLA2, but not in myotoxicity and immunogenicity. Concluding, the neurotoxicity decrease can be related to enzymatic losses, including PLA2. Depending on the purpose of use, the collected venom responds on a long time, avoiding unnecessary new collections, improving life quality of animals in captivity and increasing their longevity.

726 Are there only 2Rs in agricultural animal research and production?

Care of agricultural animals is a topic increasingly addressed through a lens and language identified as animal welfare. Welfare inherently is about how animals should be treated. Thus, animal care oversight is unavoidably normative; meaning the topic is undeniably one of ethics. Oversight of USA animal care arose first in publically funded laboratory animal use with the adoption of principles, codes and standards of practices. More recently, oversight has expanded to include agricultural animal research. While the goal of ensuring appropriate animal treatment is common to both lab and agricultural research, there are differences. Consequentially, principles initially implemented for lab animals with specific purpose and positive outcome can be shown to have a counter intuitive outcome when broadly applied. As an example, the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) were initially specific to lab animal research but are mandated for all animal research today. Lab animals serve only one purpose. They are solely research subjects. Agricultural research animals have utility beyond serving as data points. Specifically, when not contrary to health food standards, they are marketed as food. Thus, an IACUC that attempts to Reduce the herd size may be acting in a manner contrary to both better research numbers and also the maintenance of brood cow numbers necessary for a viable operation. Attempts to expand the application of the 3Rs beyond public institutions and to private animal agriculture raise even more questions. Production of beef or pork and not poultry would considerably Reduce the number of animals used in food production. But a question that remains unanswerable is how to compare the value of an animal life of one species to another. Thus, a measure of total harm using animal numbers alone becomes problematic for both science and ethics. Futurists suggest it may become possible to Replace the food animal altogether. But is a steak without the steer a higher moral position? Is the Replacement of animal discomfort and death through their non-existence more ethically defensible? Yes, Refinement in care animals regardless of purpose should be employed to attain appropriate animal quality of life. Additionally, Reduction of animal numbers would be consistent with better welfare, e.g., sexing offspring in dairy breeding. In summary, the 3Rs proposed by Russell and Burch in 1959 have continued application to lab animal oversight, but a simplistic application of these principles to animal agriculture can be shown to not always be the most defensible position.