Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol-rich Cannabis sativa to mitigate the severity of inflammation and pain: A pre-clinical study.

Engineered reconstructed extracellular vesicles coloaded with Astragaloside IV/Paeoniflorin improve cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injurybyinhibiting the inflammatory response.

Objective. Penetrating polymer-based microelectrode arrays (pMEAs) offer the potential for long term high-quality electrophysiological recordings of dynamic neural activity. Compared to rigid metal wire and silicon MEAs, improved device-tissue interface stability has been reported. However, accurate surgical placement of long, thin shanks in deeper brain regions is challenging as flexibility is achieved at the expense of axial stiffness. This study systematically evaluates then compares two pMEA placement strategies-dissolvable dip coating and molded brace, both with bare, exposed pMEA tips-to address the need for consistent, reliable, and accurate surgical targeting. These methods were selected based on the criteria of ease of fabrication, surgical feasibility, and mechanical performance.Approach. Sham (mechanical model with no electrodes) and fully functional pMEAs with shanks up to 5.5 mm long were fabricated and then modified using biodegradable polyethylene glycol (PEG) to support implantation. PEG was applied to shanks by motorized dip coating or a mechanical mold. Dissolution time and insertion in agarose gel brain models and rat cortex were evaluated followed by targeting of dip coated pMEAs to the rat hippocampus.Main results. Dip coating at high withdrawal speeds achieved uniform coating on shanks. Both strategies yielded similar critical buckling forces and insertion forces for single shank and arrayed pMEAs. Dip coated pMEAs were successfully placed in hippocampal regions without severe tissue damage as confirmed by histology and recordings obtained.Significance. Dip coating is a simpler method to prepare pMEAs for surgical targeting of deep brain regions compared to the bracing technique, as it does not require both a specialized mold and application process. This work provides a guide for researchers using single or multi-shank pMEAs to an accessible insertion strategy for implanting into deep brain regions in rodents and other small animal models.

The ability to learn and form memories is critical for animals to make choices that promote their survival. The biological processes underlying learning and memory are mediated by a variety of genes in the nervous system, acting at specific times during memory encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. Many studies have utilised candidate gene approaches or random mutagenesis screens in model animals to explore the key molecular drivers for learning and memory. We propose a complementary approach to identify this network of learning regulators: the proximity-labelling tool TurboID, which promiscuously biotinylates neighbouring proteins, to snapshot the proteomic profile of neurons during learning. To do this, we expressed the TurboID enzyme in the entire nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans and exposed animals to biotin only during the training step of an appetitive gustatory learning paradigm. Our approach revealed hundreds of proteins specific to 'trained' worms, including components of molecular pathways previously implicated in memory in multiple species such as insulin signalling, G-protein-coupled receptor signalling, and MAP kinase signalling. Most (87-95%) of the proteins identified are neuronal, with relatively high representation for neuron classes involved in locomotion and learning. We validated several novel regulators of learning, including cholinergic receptors (ACC-1, ACC-3, LGC-46) and putative arginine kinase F46H5.3. These previously uncharacterised learning regulators all showed a clear impact on appetitive gustatory learning, with F46H5.3 showing an additional effect on aversive gustatory memory. Overall, we show that proximity labelling can be used in the brain of a small animal as a feasible and effective method to advance our knowledge on the biology of learning.

BackgroundMice are useful small animal models to study the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. As the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strains did not utilize murine Ace2 as a receptor, wild-type mice were not susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Infection of human ACE2-expressing transgenic mice with SARS-CoV-2 induces fatal encephalitis, which is not commonly observed in humans. We and others have previously demonstrated the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant to productively infect wild-type mice. Herein, we employed RNA-seq to investigate the transcriptomic landscapes in the lungs after the infection of wild-type mice with SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant.MethodsWe intranasally infected 6-week-old wild-type C57BL/6J mice with the SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.351 strain) and collected lungs at 3- and 6-days post-infection for RNA-sequencing. We used the Limma-Voom package to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the fgsea package for pathway enrichment analysis. We used Cytoscape to identify hub genes and gene networks. Lastly, we employed RT-qPCR and multiplex assay to validate the RNA-seq data.ResultsUsing a cutoff of an adjusted p-value below 0.05 and an absolute log2 fold change value greater than 0.75, we identified 285 DEGs on day 3 and 46 DEGs on day 6. The canonical pathways analysis showed that several key pathways such as apoptosis and cytokine response were upregulated in the infected lungs. Protein-protein interaction analyses identified innovative target genes such as Kif11, Ccna2, and Aurkb. We also identified the top 10 hub genes that included Prc1, Ube2c, Ccnb2, Ncapg, Aurkb, Cep55, Mki67, Dlgap5, Ccna2, and Kif11. RT-qPCR analysis for Tnfa, Il6, Ccl2, and Ccl3 further validated the RNA-seq analysis. Consistent with gene expression results, we detected significantly increased protein levels of various inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, CCL2, CXCL2, and CXCL10 in the infected lungs.ConclusionsThis is the first transcriptomic analysis of the lungs of wild-type mice infected with a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings provide a further understanding of the pathogenic events that occur in this mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42826-025-00264-4.

Vaccinia virus (VACV) confers cross-protective immunity against monkeypox virus (MPXV), the causative agent of mpox, and has therefore been extensively exploited as a preventive vaccine. VACV Tiantan strain (VTT) is a second-generation smallpox vaccine used in China in the last century, and there are consistent efforts to minimize its virulence and ensure its best safety for potential clinical applications. In this study, an attenuated VACV rVTT△C12K2△A45 was constructed by deletion of gene segments related to virulence genes, host range genes, immune regulatory genes, and other functional genes from the VTT genome by genetic engineering. Attenuation characteristics of rVTT△C12K2△A45 were confirmed by smaller plaque size, lower replication capacity in various mammalian cell lines along with tests for neurotoxicity in mice, and lesion formation on rabbit skin. Immunization in BALB/c mice with rVTT△C12K2△A45 induced both anti-MPXV and anti-VACV neutralizing antibodies. Animals vaccinated with rVTT△C12K2△A45 showed lower MPXV viral loads in the lungs and genital organs compared to the non-immunized mice.IMPORTANCEThe World Health Organization declared monkeypox a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" twice, in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Smallpox vaccines have shown efficacy in protecting against monkeypox because of the cross-protective immunity among orthopoxviruses. The vaccinia virus Tiantan strain (VTT) played a critical role in China's smallpox eradication campaign. Here, we construct an attenuated vaccinia virus by deletion of different ranges of genes in the VTT genome. This attenuated vaccinia virus replicates like its parental VTT strain in production CEF cells but is severely impaired in human-derived cells like 2BS, MRC-5, and WI-38 cells. Meanwhile, this virus shows significantly reduced virulence in small animals. Animals vaccinated with this attenuated vaccinia virus showed lower monkeypox virus (MPXV) viral loads in the lungs and genital organs compared to the non-immunized mice after MPXV challenge. Our data suggest the potential of this genetically engineered VTT strain as a MPXV vaccine candidate.

Chronic enteropathy, manifesting itself as chronic gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, altered appetite and weight loss, is common in general practice. Patients can respond to a variety of treatment modalities including diet and immunosuppression. Interest in the use of probiotics to treat chronic gastrointestinal disease has increased in recent years, bolstered by a better understanding of the gastrointestinal microbiota and the effects probiotics may have on gut health. Studies into probiotic use in chronic enteropathy are variable in their design and examined outputs, making application of their results somewhat challenging in practice. In this article, the current evidence on probiotic use in companion animals with chronic enteropathy is reviewed and summarised.

To observe the effect of acupuncture of "Guanyuan" (CV4)-"Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on ovarian angiogenesis in rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) by regulating the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5)/mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIFM1) pathway, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of DOR. Eighteen female SD rats were randomly divided into blank, model, and acupuncture groups, with 6 rats in each group. The DOR model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of 75 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. After modeling, the rats of the acupuncture group received manual acupuncture stimulation of CV4 and SP6 for 1 min, with the needle retained for 20 min, once every other day, for a total of 15 times. Vaginal exfoliated cytology was used to observe the rat's estrous cycle. The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in the serum were detected by ELISA. The ovarian area and the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) of the ovarian artery were estimated using a small animal ultrasonography, and the PSV/EDV (S/D) was calculated. Morphological changes of ovarian tissue and follicle growth were observed by H.E. staining, and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ovarian tissue was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (CD31), KEAP1, PGAM5 and AIFM1 in the ovarian tissue were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Compared with the blank group, the model group had a significant decrease in the ovarian area, serum E2 and AMH contents, numbers of the primordial follicles, secondary follicles and mature follicles, and the levels of VEGF and CD31(P<0.05), and a striking increase in the PI, RI and S/D of the ovarian artery, serum FSH and LH contents, ovarian ROS, immunoactivity of ovarian KEAP1, PGAM5 and AIFM1(P<0.05). In comparison with the model group, both the decrease and increase of the indexes mentioned above were significantly reversed in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), except the number of mature follicles. H.E. staining showed structural disorder, reduction of the vascular distribution and the number of primordial follicles, secondary follicles and mature follicles in the ovarian tissues of the model group, which was relatively milder in the injury degree in the acupuncture group, including clearer ovarian tissue structure, and increase of the distribution of blood vessels, and the number of primary and secondary follicles. Acupuncture of CV4 and SP6 can improve the ovarian reserve function of DOR rats, which may be related to its functions in inhibiting the KEAP1/PGAM5/AIFM1 pathway of ovarian tissue, promoting ovarian angiogenesis, and ultimately improving blood perfusion.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the activities of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/neurogenic site-gap homologous protein (Notch) signaling pathway and related factors in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF), so as to explore its regulatory mechanism underlying improvement of CHF. Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, CHF model, EA and EA+inhibitor [DAPT (GSI-IX), a γ-secretase inhibitor] groups (n=6 in each group). The CHF model was established by ligating the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. EA (2 Hz, an electric current intensity to induce slight shaking of the inserted acupuncture needles) was applied to bilateral "Neiguan"(PC6) and "Shenmen"(HT7) for 30 min, once daily, for 7 d. Rats of the EA+inhibitor group received intraperitoneal injection of DAPT (3 mg/kg) 30 min before each EA intervention. A small animal color Doppler ultrasound machine was used to collect the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening rate (LVFS), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVIDs) for evaluating the left ventricle function. Histopathological changes of the cardiac tissue were observed by H.E. staining and Masson staining. The contents of serum NT-proBNP and VEGF were detected by using ELISA. The microvascular density (MVD) of the left ventricular myocardium was observed by CD34 immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of myocardial Notch signaling pathway-related proteins Notch1 and Delta-like 4 ligand (DLL4) were detected by using Western blot. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group had a significant increase in the LVIDs, serum NF-proBNP content, MVD and expression levels of Notch1 and DLL4 protein in the left ventricular myocardial tissue (P<0.000 1, P<0.001, P<0.01), and a significant decrease in the LVEF, LVFS and serum VEGF content (P<0.000 1). In comparison with the model group, the EA group had a significant decrease in the LVIDs and serum NF-proBNP content(P<0.001), and a significant increase in the LVEF, LVFS and serum VEGF content (P<0.001, P<0.000 1), while the MVD and expression levels of Notch1 and DLL4 protein in the left ventricular myocardial tissue were more increased (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.01). In comparison with the EA group, both the striking increase and decrease of the indexes mentioned above were all reversed in the EA+inhibitor group (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.000 1, P<0.001) except LVIDs. Histopathological observation showed obvious myocardial fiber rupture, irregular arrangement, cell necrosis, unclear nucleoli, fibrous hyperplasia, deposition of collagenous fibers, and a large number of inflammatory infiltration in the myocardial tissue of the model group, which was relatively milder in the EA group but not in the EA+inhibitor group. EA of PC6 and HT7 can improve the cardiac function of rats with CHF, which may be associated with its functions in promoting the neovascularization of ischemic myocardium, reducing ischemic injury, and protecting myocardial tissue structure via up-regulation of the serum VEGF content and the expressions of Notch1 and DLL4 protein.

Wireless power transfer (WPT) is a key enabler for long-term operation of implantable medical devices, eliminating the need for percutaneous drivelines and frequent surgical device replacements. This paper presents the design and validation of a fully wireless, rechargeable implantable drug delivery system (nDS) with an integrated power management and control system, specifically developed for use in freely moving animal models. The proposed system consists of a subcutaneous implant with an inductive power receiver and an external, backpack-mounted power transmitter that dynamically adjusts energy delivery in response to real-time implant feedback. A closed-loop power control strategy, implemented via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, ensures adaptive power transfer to maintain system efficiency despite coil misalignment and animal movement. Building on a previously characterized inductive link, the present work extends the validation from benchtop characterization to in vivo operation in freely moving rats, demonstrating safe and repeatable wireless battery recharging of an implantable nanofluidic drug delivery system. Across four in vivo recharging sessions, the median average power transfer efficiency during constantcurrent phase was 22.9% with a median average power delivered to the load of 104.7 mW. The charging sessions lasted from 90 (first) to 30 (last) minutes, performed once per week over 4 weeks. The proposed closed-loop WPT implementation enabled reliable battery recharging within clinically relevant time scales while maintaining operation in compliance with thermal safety constraints, thereby supporting chronic, fully untethered drug delivery studies in small animals.

A rat model for patulous Eustachian tube (PET) can be used to assess the therapeutic efficacy of different injection materials for Eustachian tube (ET) mucosal injection. A small animal model is required to determine the optimal injection material for PET treatment. We aimed to develop an experimental rat model to investigate a suitable injection material for ET mucosal injection. After developing a submucosal injection technique in 12-week-old male Crl:CD Sprague-Dawley rats, the optimal injection volume was determined using cadaver rats by injecting saline into the ET mucosa. In live rats, we injected saline or atelocollagen under the ET mucosa and analyzed the passive opening pressure (POP) changes over time. Histologic evaluation was performed after atelocollagen injection. Changes in the POP after atelocollagen injection were also examined using a rat model of PET created by transecting the mandibular nerve. The optimal injection volume was determined to be 20µL. The increase in the POP was observed from immediately after injection to 4 days post-injection with saline and from immediately after injection to 7 days post-injection with atelocollagen. Histopathologic evaluation showed that atelocollagen remained in the submucosal layer of the ET even 28 days after injection. In the PET rat model, the POP increased immediately after injection and remained stable for 7 days, reaching levels equivalent to those before mandibular nerve transection. This model has the potential to be widely used as a test system for investigating the efficacy and safety of suitable substances for ET mucosal injection in PET treatment.

Background: During hemodialysis (HD), microvascular perfusion is often compromised. These repeated ischemic insults can cause irreversible tissue damage in a variety of crucial organs. The role of dialyzer characteristics and general biocompatibility in this process is unknown. Clinical studies suggest a better biocompatibility profile for newer mid-cut-off (MCO) dialyzers when compared to conventional high-flux polysulfone (PSF). This study compared the effects of HD using either high-flux PSF or MCO dialyzers on microvascular perfusion in an established preclinical rat model of HD. Methods: HD using in-house manufactured mini-dialyzers was performed on 30 male Wistar Kyoto rats while simultaneously observing and quantifying microvascular perfusion in skeletal muscle using intravital microscopy. Results: HD using PSF dialyzers resulted in a significant reduction (25%) in microvascular perfusion, which was not found in HD using an MCO dialyzer. Blood pressure reduction was similar between the two groups, while the expected tachycardic response was better conserved in the MCO group. We found no difference in solute clearance or circulating electrolyte levels during the procedure. The mini-dialyzers effectively removed urea and creatinine, indicating the functionality of this experimental procedure. We observed increased plasma levels of C5b-9 following a PSF-HD, indicative of a higher bioactivation of the complement pathways. Conclusions: The results in our study show that this small animal model allows to preclinically evaluate new membrane materials and dialyzer designs in vivo . Our results show that different dialyzer membranes have different effects on microvascular perfusion. Although our analysis suggests a potential role for complement activation, the mechanisms underlying these differences and their clinical significance require further study.

Introduction Telemedicine is becoming relevant for veterinarians and pet owners alike. It is insufficient to merely consider the technical requirements. Acceptance, practical applicability and actual user demand are equally important. This research study explores the potential for telemedicine services in small animal practices, examining the perspectives of pet owners and veterinary experts. Methods A parallel mixed-method design was conducted, comprising a survey of 404 pet owners and interviews with veterinary experts. The primary objective of the study was to explore whether consumers would find an expanded range of telemedicine services appealing and to evaluate the (dis-)advantages of digital veterinary services with respect to animal welfare and owner satisfaction. Additionally, the role of digital services and a first overview of the willingness to pay for these were investigated. Results The survey indicated that digital forms of communication are frequently utilised to contact veterinary practices. Conversely, audiovisual formats play a minor role. Veterinarians and pet-owners appreciate time savings, flexibility and stress reduction for animals as advantages. The lack of physical examination and technical hurdles are considered the main disadvantages. The willingness to pay for healthcare services is influenced by the format: video consultations are more likely to be accepted, while text-based services are often expected to be free. Expert interviews served to broaden the scope of discussion, offering insights into the practical implementation of telemedicine methodologies. SWOT analysis revealed that primary strengths of veterinary telemedicine are time savings, flexibility and stress reduction for both animals and their owners. Discussion This digitalisation is regarded as a potential catalyst for enhancing access to and quality of veterinary care, particularly in regions characterised by structural deficiencies or for cases that necessitate specialists´ expertise. Conversely, the following limitations must be acknowledged: firstly, absence of physical examinations; secondly, presence of technical challenges; thirdly, occasional inadequacy of digital competencies. Risks associated with telemedicine include legal uncertainties, data protection concerns and the potential weakening of the personal veterinarian-client relationship due to external providers. Achieving sustainable integration necessitates the establishment of clear legal requirements, technical standards and educational initiatives. These measures are crucial for fostering trust and ensuring the effective incorporation of telemedicine into routine clinical practice.

Background/Objectives: Antibiotic use (ABU) in cats and dogs is a potential public health issue due to its direct contribution to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. In Switzerland, data on animal antibiotic treatments has been collected since 2020 via the Information System for ABU in Veterinary Medicine. This study focuses on the first implementation of a national benchmarking tool for ABU in cats and dogs in veterinary practices. Methods: The benchmarking tool is based on a practice-level indicator derived from the number of therapy days (pATI). Practices are compared separately for small animal practices and mixed practices, and for each animal species. The pATI is calculated based on the number of therapy days and is normalized by the number of consultations per species and per year. Practices were classified into four ABU categories based on their pATI: very high, high, acceptable, and no ABU. Thresholds for these categories are set according to Swiss legislation, using the 75th and 95th percentiles of the pATI values of all comparable practices. Results: By 2025, benchmarks were implemented in 686 veterinary facilities; a total of 667 (97.2%) received a pATI classification for ABU in dogs and 670 (97.7%) for ABU in cats. The median pATI was higher for cats than for dogs across all practice types. Similarly, the 75th and 95th percentile thresholds were also almost always twice as high for cats as for dogs across all practice types. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first time a benchmarking tool for ABU has been implemented at a national level for cats and dogs. The benchmarking tool is expected to drive long-term changes in ABU practices.

To describe a modified surgical technique for treating pectus excavatum (PE) in small animals and report the outcomes by evaluating preoperative and postoperative lung and total chest volumes, as well as complications and short-term outcomes. Owned pets between 8 and 20 weeks of age with PE were enrolled in the study between February 28, 2024, and September 26, 2025. Preoperative evaluation included thoracic radiographs, baseline blood work, and whole-body CT scans. A noncontoured bone plate was secured along the entire length of the sternum with multiple cerclage wires. Animals had physical examinations and imaging performed at 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively, and again when they were between 8 and 12 months of age. This study included 6 cats and 1 dog, all of which recovered successfully from surgery. Lung and chest volumes improved immediately after surgery. Pectus excavatum was corrected in all animals. At the final recheck, 2 cats had reduced lung volume compared to immediately after surgery along with new pulmonary pathology; however, the total chest volume increased in these cats. Complications observed in this study included pneumothorax in 1 cat, fracture of the eighth sternebrae in 1 cat, and cerclage wire breakage in another cat, which had no clinical impact. The use of internal plate and cerclage wires to correct PE was a simple, well-tolerated technique that improved lung and chest volumes and had minimal complications. Internal plating could be used for correction of PE in young cats and dogs.

To monitor the changes in oxygenation levels of rat kidneys under step oxygen stimulation by high temporal resolution dynamic T2* weighted planar echo imaging (T2*W-EPI). Step oxygen stimulation was applied to SD rats (n=10) in the sequence of 2 min of hyperoxia (100% O2) -10 min of hypoxia (10% O2) -10 min of hyperoxia (100% O2). Dynamic MRI data of the kidneys of multi-echo gradient echo (mGRE) sequence and gradient echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence were continuously acquired on a 9.4T small animal magnetic resonance scanner. The time resolution of the two sequences were 9 s and 1 s, respectively. A second-order step response model was established for the dynamic time series curves of different regions of interest (ROIs) in rat kidneys, and the parameters of the step response model were obtained, including time delay ∆t, natural frequency ωn, damping constant D and oscillation period T. The performance of two MRI imaging methods with different temporal resolution in response to the step oxygen stimulation in the kidneys was compared. Compared with the control experiment results of mGRE, the dynamic T2*W-EPI technology proposed in this study increased the temporal resolution of monitoring renal step oxygen stimulation by 8 folds and improved the goodness of fit of the step response model. The model showed a shorter time delay ∆t (shortened by 29.4%, 42.6%, 56.4%, and 47.4%, respectively, in the CO, OSOM, ISOM and IM), a larger natural frequency ωn (increased by 21.1%, 28.6%, 52.2%, and 61.9%, respectively), and oscillation of each ROI (damping constant D<1) under the step oxygen stimulation. In a step oxygen stimulation model of rat kidneys, the high temporal resolution dynamic T2*W-EPI technique proposed in this study is capable of real-time monitoring of the changes in renal oxygenation levels for detection of abnormal renal conditions.

In Brazil, veterinary homeopathic practice is regulated by the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine, yet it is the domain mainly of specialized professionals and those aware of its therapeutic benefits. In small animal practice, homeopathy is commonly used for chronic conditions including behavioral disorders, autoimmune diseases and dermatopathies. In livestock, herd-level application has been linked to improved zootechnical indices, nutritional quality, large-scale productivity, animal welfare, and support in controlling metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Despite reported benefits, the consolidation of veterinary homeopathy encounters substantial challenges. The scarcity of controlled clinical studies, the lack of standardized therapeutic protocols, and the limited knowledge of many professionals contribute to skepticism regarding its effectiveness. Moreover, homeopathy is often superficially addressed, or absent, in veterinary college curricula, reinforcing resistance among clinicians and perpetuating misconceptions. Nevertheless, increasing demand for alternative therapies, particularly those based on natural products, has stimulated greater interest among animal owners. Strengthening veterinary homeopathy in Brazil and elsewhere requires rigorous scientific validation, academic training, and dissemination through events and congresses by institutions. These actions are essential to demonstrate its potential contributions, ensuring complementary use alongside conventional veterinary medicine and broader acceptance among professionals and owners.

Crew members on missions beyond low-earth orbit receive considerable radiation doses, but the effects and relative biological effectiveness of many relevant types of irradiation, including neutrons with energies of hundreds of MeV, largely remain under-investigated. Such small animal irradiations can only be compared to respective photon irradiations if comparable doses can simultaneously be delivered to a variety of organs during both irradiations, despite the different underlying dose deposition patterns. To evaluate the dosimetric comparability of upcoming small animal neutron and photon irradiations, experimental depth-dose measurements were performed at the TRIUMF neutron facility and the British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, using a neutron beam with energies of up to 450 MeV and a Cs-137 irradiator. The MOBY digital mouse phantom was used to perform Monte Carlo simulations of neutron and photon animal irradiations. Evaluated metrics included the ratio between the dose delivered to a variety of different organs (including lungs, brain, and heart) during neutron and photon irradiation. A sensitivity analysis including a variety of animal parameters (tissue elemental compositions and mass densities, animal size, and animal orientation) was performed, and the statistical significance (p< 0.05) of the dosimetric impact of uncertainties in simulation parameters was analyzed. During nominal simulations, differences in organ doses during neutron and photon irradiation were <9% in all organs except the lungs (13%), in agreement with the dosimetric measurements performed, which exhibited differences of up to ≈20% depending on depth. During sensitivity analysis, no investigated source of uncertainty had a statistically significant dosimetric impact. Organ doses during simulated neutron and photon irradiations were found to be comparable for various organs. Investigated sources of uncertainties had no statistically significant impact. These findings are therefore expected to be robust to realistic variations in animal parameters during upcoming small animal irradiations.

BackgroundPublic spaces such as parks and playgrounds offer social and ecological benefits to communities, but it might also pose public health risks. This epidemiological survey investigated the presence and risk factors of zoonotic parasites in faecal and soil samples collected from 60 public spaces across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia.MethodsEggs, cysts and larvae of parasites were collected from 71 faecal and 300 soil samples using flotation-sedimentation techniques. Species identification was done using both morphological and conventional PCR.ResultsA total of 71 faecal samples were collected, comprising 40 cat faeces and 31 dog faeces. Of these, 63 samples (88.7%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. The prevalence of parasite in cat faeces (95.0%, 38/40) was higher than dogs (80.7%, 25/31). Overall, six genera of parasites were detected in faecal samples. Cystoisospora spp. (62.0%) was the most prevalent, followed by hookworms (46.5%) and Giardia spp. (22.5%). Among the 33 faecal samples that tested positive for hookworms, Ancylostoma ceylanicum was the most common species (81.8%). Hookworm coinfections with Cystoisospora spp. were commonly detected in faecal samples (37.5%). Viability testing revealed that 37.7% of collected hookworm eggs and 74.6% of collected Toxocara eggs were viable. In soil samples, hookworm larvae were found in 28 out of the 300 samples, and 16 out of 60 sampling sites (26.7%). Hookworm burdens were significantly higher in rural areas and beaches. Risk factor analysis revealed that the presence of dustbin was associated with reduced hookworm infections (OR=0.075, 95% CI: 0.007–0.520) in dogs. Higher odds of hookworms were found in cat faeces (OR=4.961, 95% CI: 1.10–25.98) and soil (OR=5.77, 95% CI: 1.54–20.26) from residential parks. Notably, faecal-soil concordance was observed at 43.8% sampling sites, all located in residential parks. It highlights that these areas are potential active transmission hotspots.ConclusionsThese findings provide essential information for public health officials to develop targeted interventions to reduce the risk of transmission of zoonotic parasites in public spaces. Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44197-025-00511-w.

Burgess expands hay range for small animals