Veterinary Institute Research Articles

Local investigation into the role of Culicoides species diversity (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in recurrent horse dermatitis cases in southwest France

BackgroundInsect bite hypersensitivity in horses (“sweet itch”) is a common pruritic, chronic, seasonal, and recurrent dermatitis affecting approximately 10% of horses in France and is a major concern for the horse industry and private owners. This dermatitis results from an allergic reaction to the saliva of specific biting flies (Diptera: Nematocera), primarily from the Culicoides genus. Given the frequent occurrence of this health problem and the limited investigation in France, we conducted a field survey in the vicinity of a riding stable in southwestern France with a reported chronic case of recurrent horse dermatitis to (i) characterize the Culicoides species associated with horse populations and (ii) estimate the relative abundance of the different species identified based on the trapping site location.MethodsFor this purpose, three Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) traps were set up for one night once a week, from mid-June to the end of July 2022, the known adult peak activity period. Traps were placed either indoors or outdoors at horse facilities.ResultsCulicoides obsoletus/scoticus were more abundant (58.3%), followed by C. circumscriptus (12.1%), C. nubeculosus (11.5%), C. punctatus (5.6%), C. festivipennis (3.8%), C. pulicaris (2.3%), C. riethi (2.3%), C. parroti (2.2%), and the remaining species, C. lupicaris, C. dewulfi, C. brunnicans, C. flavipulicaris, and C. picturatus, collectively representing only 1.4%. Importantly, C. obsoletus/scoticus and C. circumscriptus were found indoors in notable proportions (54% and 11.4% of captures, respectively).ConclusionsThe findings highlight the continuous exposure of horses to Culicoides bites during the warm season, including at night and indoors, from C. obsoletus/scoticus, but also including low-impact species like C. punctatus and C. pulicaris. This underlines the need for ongoing research and surveillance.Graphical

Host blood meal analysis of Culicoides oxystoma (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Tunisia

Culicoides are small hematophagous biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. The genus is distributed worldwide yet remains poorly studied. This study investigated the vector and host specificity of Culicoides oxystoma, a species of significant relevance to the surveillance of vector-borne diseases in Tunisia and globally. The research was conducted in two Tunisian governments: Tozeur and Kairouan. A total of 24,366 adult midges were collected using two types of suction traps: the Center for Disease Control trap and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute trap. Females of Culicoides oxystoma were isolated, carefully dissected, and slide mounted in a phenol alcohol balsam mixture. A portion of the abdomen was excised for total DNA extraction to identify the origin of the blood meal. A total of 108 engorged females were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify specific fragments of the cytochrome b gene, followed by sequencing and sequence analysis. However, DNA sequences were successfully obtained for only 56 individuals. Sequence analysis revealed that the midges fed on a variety of mammalian hosts, including humans, with a prevalence of Mus musculus and Bos taurus. This represents the first study aiming to identify a wide range of hosts in Tunisia and North Africa, providing valuable insights into the hosts utilized by Culicoides oxystoma for blood feeding.

Introducing AI-generated cases (AI-cases) & standardized clients (AI-SCs) in communication training for veterinary students: perceptions and adoption challenges.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into medical education and healthcare has grown steadily over these past couple of years, though its application in veterinary education and practice remains relatively underexplored. This study is among the first to introduce veterinary students to AI-generated cases (AI-cases) and AI-standardized clients (AI-SCs) for teaching and learning communication skills. The study aimed to evaluate students' beliefs and perceptions surrounding the use of AI in veterinary education, with specific focus on communication skills training. Conducted at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (TTU SVM) during the Spring 2024 semester, the study included pre-clinical veterinary students (n = 237), who participated in a 90-min communication skills laboratory activity. Each class was introduced to two AI-cases and two AI-SCs, developed using OpenAI's ChatGPT-3.5. The Calgary Cambridge Guide (CCG) served as the framework for practicing communication skills. Results showed that although students recognized the widespread use of AI in everyday life, their familiarity, comfort and application of AI in veterinary education were limited. Notably, upper-year students were more hesitant to adopt AI-based tools, particularly in communication skills training. The findings suggest that veterinary institutions should prioritize AI-literacy and further explore how AI can enhance and complement communication training, veterinary education and practice.

Exploring the Potential and Limitations of Artificial Intelligence in Animal Anatomy

Exploring the Potential and Limitations of Artificial Intelligence in Animal Anatomy

Assessment and Categorization of Medication Errors in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Assessment and Categorization of Medication Errors in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Evaluation of DF-1 cell culture based vaccine development for infectious bursal disease virus in Ethiopia.

Evaluation of DF-1 cell culture based vaccine development for infectious bursal disease virus in Ethiopia.

The future of flourishing in veterinary medicine: a systems-informed positive psychology approach in veterinary education.

Individuals in the veterinary profession are experiencing significant mental health and wellbeing challenges. A holistic view of wellbeing, which encompasses both physical and mental health, underscores their interconnected nature. This integrated approach reduces the artificial separation of wellbeing facets, and highlights how mental states influence not only individuals, but also their interactions with animals, the environment, and others in the workplace. Wellbeing challenges in veterinary medicine may contribute to negative impacts in animal, human, and environmental health. Veterinary education institutions and systems are also experiencing complex challenges as they adapt to rapidly changing societal, workforce, and professional wellbeing related pressures. This review paper explores the field of positive psychology and its application in educational contexts, commonly known as positive education. A thorough exploration of the systems-informed positive education approach and ways in which it can proactively enhance veterinary professional wellbeing from within the veterinary education ecosystem are presented. It is important to recognize that individual self-care, while valuable, cannot compensate for systemic dysfunctions such as poor team dynamics, ineffective leadership, or organizational culture issues. Addressing these systemic factors is critical for creating environments that support sustained flourishing. Positive psychology interventions delivered through the pathways of individuals, groups, and organizations specifically within a veterinary education context are discussed. Limitations, considerations, and proposed measurement strategies are reviewed. The implications of implementing a systems-informed positive psychology approach to enhance wellbeing in veterinary education include creating curriculum and cultures that enable flourishing within veterinary education institutions. Strengthening the individual and collective wellbeing of veterinary professionals has the potential to enhance the quality of care provided to animals, which has myriad positive implications for animal caregivers, their communities, the environment, and society.

ESBL- and pAmpC-producing Enterobacterales from Swedish dogs and cats 2017-2021: a retrospective study.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a threat to both human and animal health. Of special concern are resistance mechanisms that are transmissible between bacteria, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC). ESBL/AmpC resistance is also of importance as it confers resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics including third generation cephalosporins. The Swedish Veterinary Agency (former English name National Veterinary Institute) performs confirmatory testing of suspected ESBL-/pAmpC-producing Enterobacterales. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical background, antibiotic susceptibility, and genetic relationships of confirmed isolates from dogs and cats in Sweden from 2017 to 2021. The study includes 92 isolates of ESBL/pAmpC-producing bacteria from 82 dogs, and 28 isolates from 23 cats. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated bacteria, and the most frequent sampling site was the urinary tract. From eight dogs and two cats, ESBL/pAmpC-producing bacteria were isolated on more than one occasion. Multi-resistance was more than twice as common in samples from dogs (50%) than in samples from cats (22%). Among dogs, sequence type (ST) 131 and ST372 were the dominant strains and blaCMY-2 and blaCTX-M-15 the dominant genes conferring reduced susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins. Among cats, ST73 was the dominant strain and blaCTX-M-15 the dominant gene. Monitoring the resistance patterns and genetic relationships of bacteria over time is important to follow the results of measures taken to reduce resistance. Knowledge of the appropriate antibiotic usage is also crucial. In this study, a variety of STs and ESBL/pAmpC-genes were detected among the isolates. There were available antibiotics likely effective for treatment in all cases, based on resistance pattern, infection site and host species.

Characterization of bone marrow aspirate reports in dogs and cats: A retrospective study

Background: Bone Marrow Aspirate (BMA) allows the study, staging and monitoring of multiple conditions with bone marrow involvement. The BMA report is a crucial component of the post-analytical stage and significantly influences the veterinarian's understanding and decision-making process. Objective: To describe the zoographic, clinical, and quality characteristics of BMA reports, as well as the frequency of diagnoses and associated factors in dogs and cats treated at veterinary centers in Colombia from 2012 to 2023. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data on zoographic and clinical variables were extracted from BMA reports and consultations; the frequency of diagnoses and associated factors were determined. Adherence to reporting quality was evaluated using established guidelines for BMA in dogs, cats, and humans. Results: A total of 135 BMA reports were reviewed from eight veterinary institutions: 116 for dogs and 19 for cats, with a mean age of 5.22 ± 3 years; 53% were males. The most common indication for BMA was anemia, alone or with other abnormalities. The least adhered-to reporting elements were puncture site (91.9%), relevant clinical data (85.2%), and morphological evaluation by cell line (52.6%). Additionally, 27.4% of the reports were excluded due to poor sample quality. The most frequent diagnosis in dogs was hypoplasia (36.1%), while in cats, it was neoplasia (40.0%). Erythroid hyperplasia and neoplasms were more prevalent in males, whereas granulocytic hypoplasia was more common in females. Conclusions: BMA as a diagnostic tool in dogs and cats in Colombia is rare. A significant proportion of samples did not meet quality criteria, and there was low adherence to reporting guidelines.

Characterization of Culicoides and mosquito fauna at the National Zoological Garden of Rabat, Morocco

Characterization of Culicoides and mosquito fauna at the National Zoological Garden of Rabat, Morocco

Evaluation of a Training Model to Teach Skills Associated with Esophagostomy Tube Placement in Companion Animals.

Models and simulations are used in veterinary education to allow students to practice surgical skills in order to obtain clinical competence. Further development of models is also driven by the requirement of veterinary institutions to reduce the use of animal patients in teaching (live or cadaver). Esophagostomy tube placement is a common therapeutic procedure performed in companion animal critical care cases, and a model was developed to help teach this skill. Validity evidence was collected and analyzed to evaluate this model at the University of Surrey. Veterinarians (n = 14) provided content validity evidence on using the model, and students (n = 19) provided further construct evidence. Students were taught the skill on either a model or a cadaver. These students were then assessed on a cadaver the following week. Global rating scales were used as a measure of performance, and data were recorded on confidence ratings after both teaching and assessment. Comparisons of the global rating scales and confidence levels were evaluated for both the model and cadaver-taught groups. There were no statistical differences in the performance data or confidence levels of the two groups. Most of the veterinarians believed the model was easy to use (13/14), had realistic landmarks (11/14), and was a suitable alternative to learning the skill than in the animal patient (12/14). The esophagostomy tube model is a low-cost easy-to-make alternative to help teach aspects of this skill before performing on an animal patient.

Prevalence of mistreatment in dogs and cats attended in a private veterinary establishment

Prevalence of mistreatment in dogs and cats attended in a private veterinary establishment

Zakhar Saulovich Katsnelson: the true knight of Science

The article is devoted to an outstanding histologist, an outstanding teacher, a man of exceptional integrity and integrity - Zakhar Saulovich Katsnelson. The authors of this article were interested in him primarily because he is their countryman, a native of the small Ural city of Irbit. Zakhar Saulovich also received his education in the Urals. He entered the medical faculty of the Ural State University in Yekaterinburg, graduated from the Medical faculty of Perm State University. Then Zakhar Saulovich worked for 3 years in Moscow. Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk from 1924 to 1991), and in 1929 he was elected by competition to the advanced postgraduate (doctoral) program He moved to Leningrad, where he lived and worked until the end of his days. Zakhar Saulovich worked as the head of the Department of General Biology at the I Leningrad Medical Institute, then as the head of the Department of General Biology at the Naval Medical Academy. In 1948, he was elected by competition as the head of the Department of Cytology, Embryology and Histology of the Leningrad Veterinary Institute, where he worked until his retirement in September 1976. Z.S. Katsnelson's scientific research covered a wide range of issues of important theoretical and practical importance. In agricultural artiodactyls, he studied the embryogenesis of the adrenal gland, in particular, its fetal cortex, revealed the unfounded theory of capsular blastema, and proved the presence of cellular dimorphism in the medulla. Being a true knight of science and a very principled man, Zakhar Saulovich actively participated in the fight against the pseudoscientific views of T.D. Lysenko and O.B. Lepeshinskaya, which were planted in the first post-war years. He became one of the authors of the famous "Letter of the Thirteen", which debunked O.B. Lepeshinskaya's theory about the formation of cells from non-cellular matter. Professor Z.S. Katsnelson was a talented teacher, a brilliant lecturer, he showed a deep interest in the history of morphology and teaching methodology. The article dedicated to the memory of Professor Z.S. Katsnelson examines the main stages of his life and work, the main scientific achievements, professional and personal qualities.

Health Monitoring of Invasive Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha in Norway in 2023

ABSTRACTSince 2019, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI) has conducted health monitoring of pink salmon in Norway. The primary purpose of health monitoring has been to examine the presence of selected notifiable infections in pink salmon, but also to gain general knowledge regarding the health of pink salmon to inform assessments of risks to wild and farmed native salmonids. In 2023, post‐mortem examinations were performed on 184 pink salmon captured in rivers Lakselv, Tana, Neiden, Komagelva, Kongsfjordelva and Karpelv in the County of Finnmark, Norway. Tissue samples from 161 of these were analysed with specific PCR assays aimed at detecting infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV), viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) and Renibacterium salmoninarum. In addition, cultivation methods were applied to detect the presence of cultivable virus and bacteria. ISAV, VHSV, IHNV PRV‐1 and R. salmoninarum were not detected by PCR. Furthermore, R. salmoninarum, Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida and cultivable virus were not detected by cultivation. With the exception of the absence of PRV‐1, the results correspond to previous years' health‐monitoring projects.

Empowering Veterinary Herd Health Management: Insights into Education, Implementation, and Regulation Across Europe.

In recent years, integrated veterinary herd health management (VHHM), improving animal health, welfare, food safety, public health, farm management, and economics, has become ever-more important in the European Union due to structural and regulatory advancements. A mixed-methods study analyzed the current state and gaps in VHHM education and training across Europe. Data from 41 European veterinary institutions showed that 83% (n = 34/41) offered VHHM education, either as standalone courses and/or integrated into other subjects. An online survey for veterinarians, primarily working with cattle, poultry, pigs, and small ruminants (75%; n = 86/114), assessed perceived training knowledge gaps and needs. The majority of respondents were unaware of VHHM training programs (69.4%, n = 43/62) or projects (59.6%, n = 59/99) and reported the biggest gaps in VHHM training certification (14%, n = 7/49), followed by soft skills (12%, n = 6/52) and demonstrating VHHM benefits to their clients (9%, n = 5/53). To conclude, while undergraduate VHHM education was generally adequate, enhancing post-graduate certified multi-species training opportunities, incl. soft skills VHHM training were perceived as essential. Our findings also underscored the urgent need for robust economic evaluations of preventive strategies across various animal species to allow veterinarians to better demonstrate VHHM's direct and indirect benefits to farmers.

Pathogenicity of Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated from Ethiopia

Newcastle disease represents an enormous problem for African breeders, and country-specific fears and economic exchanges complicate its elimination and control. Slow laboratory diagnosis creates additional delays during initial epidemic discovery. To address these concerns, researchers undertook a study in Ethiopia to examine the impact of the circulating Newcastle disease virus on chicken farms. The aim of the study is to identify the virus from likely outbreak cases, confirm its pathogenicity, and evaluate its effects on vaccinated and uninfected chicks Forty chicks were separated into 02 groups and exposed to 02 virus samples at the National Veterinary Institute in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The isolated viruses were classified as velogenic, with the BOG strains scoring 1.67 and the HAR strains rating 1.55. Immunized chicks demonstrated high herd immunity, while single immunization failure was observed. In the challenged group, the death rate was 55%, with all 20 unvaccinated chicks dying from the sickness, whereas just 2 out of 20 vaccinated chicks were afflicted. Statistical analysis showed that the virus produced general inflammation, which was more common in the BOG group (87.50%) than in the HAR group (12.50%). Vaccination significantly reduced clinical signs and gross lesions, such as irritation in multiple organs. The study showed the persistence of velogenic Newcastle disease virus strains in Ethiopia and the importance of vaccination. The findings have improved our understanding of the disease's physiopathology and provided vital information for responsible authorities to implement early intervention techniques.

Occurrence of Salmonella spp. in flocks of laying hens in different housing systems in eastern Croatia from 2020 to 2023

Human Salmonella infections are often associated with the consumption of infected eggs and egg products. Therefore, knowing the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in flocks of laying hens and the factors that influence the occurrence of Salmonella on farms is of the utmost importance. Since 2012, housing laying hens in conventional cages has been prohibited in the European Union, and hens may only be kept in enriched cages or alternative housing systems. The prohibition of conventional cages has improved the welfare of laying hens, but has raised issues concerning the detrimental consequences for the spread and occurrence of infectious diseases in hen flocks. The aim of this study was to analyse the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in laying hen flocks in eastern Croatia in the period from 2020 to 2023, and to determine whether housing systems have an impact on occurrence. During this period, a total of 1534 samples of laying hen faeces from 191 flocks (106 flocks housed in enriched cages and 85 flocks in housing systems with closed outdoor runs) were tested at the Diagnostics Laboratory of the Croatian Veterinary Institute, Veterinary Department Vinkovci, as part of implementation of the National Salmonellosis Control Programme and official sampling in the Republic of Croatia for the presence of Salmonella spp. Isolation, identification and serotyping of Salmonella was conducted in accordance with the standard HRN EN ISO 6579-1:2017/A1:2020 method. Salmonella spp. was confirmed in the faeces of seven laying hen flocks (6.60%) housed in enriched cages, and 11 flocks (12.94%) of laying hens in housing systems with outdoor runs. The research results showed that there was no significant difference in the total occurrence of Salmonella between flocks of laying hens housed in housing systems with outdoor runs and those in enriched cages. The highest percentage of positive flocks was found in 2020 in 11.11% of flocks of laying hens housed in enriched cages and 18.18% of flocks of laying hens kept in housing systems with outdoor runs. When observed by county over the four-year study period, the percentage of positive flocks was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Brod-Posavina County in comparison with Osijek-Baranja County and Vukovar-Srijem County. The research results suggest that there is small possibility that transitioning from enriched cage systems to alternative housing systems, with strict biosecurity measure implementation, would increase Salmonella infections in laying hen flocks.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Three Newcastle Disease Vaccines Produced at the National Veterinary Institute, Bishoftu, Ethiopia, at Different Temperature Storage Conditions

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Three Newcastle Disease Vaccines Produced at the National Veterinary Institute, Bishoftu, Ethiopia, at Different Temperature Storage Conditions

Analysis of the immunological response elicited by a polyvalent foot and mouth disease vaccine and its compatibility with a diva test in Jimma Town, Ethiopia

The research was conducted in Jimma town, Oromiya Regional State, from October 2022 to June 2023, with the aim of assessing the immune response of polyvalent FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) vaccine. The study involved 34 cattle in a longitudinal study, divided into two groups: 29 vaccinated and 5 unvaccinated. The vaccinated cattle received an inactivated polyvalent FMD virus vaccine produced by the National Veterinary Institute. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 14, 21, 35, 80, and 125 after vaccination and tested using Virus Neutralization Test and 3ABC ELISA. The results showed a significant increase in neutralizing antibodies against structural proteins in all vaccinated cattle on day 14 after vaccination for all three serotypes. (A/ETH/21/2000, p = 0.015; O/ETH/38/2005, p = 0.017; SAT2/ETH/64/2009, p = 0.007). On day, fourteen of post-vaccination vaccinated group showed immune response equal or above 1.5 log10 in a proportion of 69%, 73% and 94% for serotype A/ETH/21/2000, O/ETH/38/2005 and SAT2/ETH/64/2009 respectively. The status of raised antibody titer on day 125 post-vaccination showed decreasing by 14%, 18% and 4% for serotype A/ETH/21/2000, O/ETH/38/2005 and SAT2/ETH/64/2009 respectively. The DIVA test, or 3ABC ELISA, used to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals, revealed the absence of immune response to the Non-structural protein in the vaccinated cattle group. Conversely, the unvaccinated group showed no recorded antibody titer to both structural and non-structural proteins. In summary, the commercially available FMD vaccine, comprising serotype A, O, and SAT2, triggers an immune response to the structural protein rather than the non-structural protein after the initial administration. This outcome implies that FMD vaccines from the National Veterinary Institute align with the DIVA test. Nevertheless, additional efforts may be necessary to bolster the strength and duration of the vaccine-induced immune response.

One Health approach triggered by environmental contamination events

The global spread of emerging infectious diseases in the late 20th century contributed to the development of the One Health approach (OH). However, environmental issues were initially neglected by the OH agenda. This paper describes two case studies of environmental contamination in Italy that catalysed the integration of environmental health into OH practices. In the early 2000s, in the Susa Valley (Piedmont) and the Sacco Valley (Lazio), analyses of cow's milk revealed widespread chemical contamination. Monitoring campaigns, epidemiological studies and mitigation strategies saw the full collaboration of veterinary, medical and environmental institutions, effectively embodying the OH approach. The results of a SWOT analysis of these experiences indicate that strengthening institutional collaboration, proactive prevention strategies and transparent communication can significantly improve OH outcomes, ensuring a comprehensive response to environmental and health emergencies.