Previous Issue
Volume 15, May-1
 
 

Animals, Volume 15, Issue 10 (May-2 2025) – 3 articles

  • Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list.
  • You may sign up for e-mail alerts to receive table of contents of newly released issues.
  • PDF is the official format for papers published in both, html and pdf forms. To view the papers in pdf format, click on the "PDF Full-text" link, and use the free Adobe Reader to open them.
Order results
Result details
Section
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
13 pages, 1837 KiB  
Article
Supplementation of Arginine or N-Carbamylglutamate Affects Jejunum Development, Global Arginine Bioavailability Ratio, and Stress-Related Indices in Young Rex Rabbits
by Feng Qin, Linlin Zhang, Le Shao, Jian Li, Jie Yang, Pin Zhai and Xia Zhang
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1354; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101354 (registering DOI) - 8 May 2025
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of arginine (Arg) or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) on jejunum development, the global arginine bioavailability ratio (GABR), and stress-related indices in young rex rabbits. Forty-five litters of newborn rabbits with similar litter weights and sizes were randomly divided [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of arginine (Arg) or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) on jejunum development, the global arginine bioavailability ratio (GABR), and stress-related indices in young rex rabbits. Forty-five litters of newborn rabbits with similar litter weights and sizes were randomly divided into five groups and fed a basal diet (con group), basal diet + 0.3% Arg (0.3% Arg group), basal diet + 0.6% Arg (0.6% Arg group), basal diet + 0.03% NCG (0.03% NCG group), or basal diet + 0.06% NCG (0.06% NCG group). After weaning at 35 days, eight healthy young rabbits with similar body weights were selected from each group and slaughtered on the 36th day. Serum and jejunum samples were collected for index analysis. Arg or NCG significantly affected the jejunum structure development in the young rabbits. The villus height (V) in the treatment groups was significantly higher than that in the con group (p < 0.05) and was highly significantly improved in the 0.6% Arg group (p < 0.01). The crypt depth (C) in 0.6% Arg and 0.06% NCG groups was significantly lower than that in the con, 0.3% Arg, and 0.03% NCG groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the con group, the V/C ratio was significantly increased in the treatment groups (p < 0.05) and was excessively and significantly increased in the 0.6% Arg and 0.06% NCG groups (p < 0.01). Compared with the con group, the Nitric-Oxide (NO) levels and inducible Nitric-Oxide Synthase (iNOS) activity in serum were significantly increased in the treatment groups. The NO levels in the jejunum were also increased in the treatment groups; however, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05). The iNOS activity and mRNA expression in the jejunum of the 0.6% Arg and 0.06% NCG groups were significantly higher than those in the con group (p < 0.05). Compared with the con group, the concentration of serum corticosterone in the 0.3% Arg, 0.6% Arg, and 0.06% NCG groups was significantly reduced. Adding Arg or NCG to the basal diet significantly increased the concentration and gene mRNA expression levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the jejunum (p < 0.05). The expression level in the 0.6% Arg and 0.06% NCG groups was significantly higher than that in the con group (p < 0.01). At 36 days, Arg and NCG improved the GABR. In the 0.6% Arg group, the GABR was increased by 16.92%. The GABR was <0.8 at the time of weaning. The Arg levels in the body did not meet the needs of the young animals. In the trial, Arg or NCG supplementation in the diet significantly increased iNOS activity and gene mRNA expression, promoting NO synthesis. Thus, it can improve jejunal morphological and structural development. Adding Arg or NCG increased HSP70 mRNA expression levels, enhanced intestinal stress tolerance, and improved intestinal health. During the lactation period, adding Arg or NCG increased the GABR, but the GABR was <0.8 during weaning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Nutrition)
Show Figures

Figure 1

7 pages, 1772 KiB  
Communication
Nonerythroid Hemoglobin Present in Porcine Testes
by Jeffrey Li, Barbara Jean Nitta and Trish Berger
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101352 (registering DOI) - 8 May 2025
Abstract
The presence of hemoglobin beta mRNA and protein in the female gonad suggests that hemoglobin beta may be present in the male gonad as well. The frequent occurrence of hemoglobin beta in nonerythroid tissues with hypoxic environments further underscores a potential role for [...] Read more.
The presence of hemoglobin beta mRNA and protein in the female gonad suggests that hemoglobin beta may be present in the male gonad as well. The frequent occurrence of hemoglobin beta in nonerythroid tissues with hypoxic environments further underscores a potential role for hemoglobin beta in the testis to facilitate the regulation of oxygen availability for the developing germ cells and Sertoli cells since they are separated from the blood supply by multiple tissues. The presence of mRNA and protein were evaluated by qPCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The mRNA and protein for hemoglobin were detected in juvenile and postpuberal porcine testes. The most intense immunolabelling for the protein was present in testicular interstitial cells, in contrast to previously reported ovarian labelling in close proximity to the gamete and observed in porcine ovaries in the current study. The observed decrease in mRNA expression of hemoglobin beta with age is probably due to the change in testicular composition (increase in seminiferous tubule compartment) with age. The localization of hemoglobin beta in the testis will contribute to future understanding of its potential function in facilitating oxygen availability to seminiferous tubules or reducing oxidative damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Reproduction)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 2489 KiB  
Article
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus: Epidemiological and Genomic Findings of an Emerging Pathogen in Central Italy
by Francesca Cito, Cristina Esmeralda Di Francesco, Daniela Averaimo, Alexandra Chiaverini, Alessandra Alessiani, Marco Di Domenico, Marta Cresci, Marco Rulli, Maria Chiara Cantelmi, Maria Daniela Di Bernardo, Angelo Giammarino, Giacomo Vincifori and Antonio Petrini
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101351 (registering DOI) - 8 May 2025
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is a major problem in equine veterinary medicine. Typically, a commensal in horses, SEZ can cause severe disease including respiratory infections, septicaemia and reproductive tract infections under certain conditions. Recent evidence suggests that humans can also develop severe [...] Read more.
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is a major problem in equine veterinary medicine. Typically, a commensal in horses, SEZ can cause severe disease including respiratory infections, septicaemia and reproductive tract infections under certain conditions. Recent evidence suggests that humans can also develop severe disease infection through direct contact with infected animals or the consumption of contaminated unpasteurised milk and milk products. This study investigates SEZ strains isolated from nasal swabs of equidae in central Italy in 2023 to describe the epidemiology and genomic characteristics of circulating strains. A sampling plan was implemented to randomly collect nasal swabs from equid farms in the Abruzzo and Molise regions. In addition, a sampling form was designed to collect information on risk factors related to the presence of the bacterium and the potential development of respiratory disease. Relative risk was used to measure the association between the presence of SEZ in the samples and various variables. The swabs were analysed by real-time PCR and isolation. To confirm the identification and characterise the strains, the isolates were fully sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) using the Illumina platform. A total of 478 animals from 99 farms were sampled and 30% of the animals tested positive for SEZ (79% horses, 20% donkeys, 1% mules). Forty-five percent of the farms tested positive for SEZ. Monitoring the clonal spread of SEZ is essential to understand the ecology of this emerging zoonotic pathogen, to assess the risk, and to implement effective control measures. In addition, genomic assessments are recommended to investigate the pathogenicity of circulating strains. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology and genomic diversity of SEZ strains isolated in central Italy. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Previous Issue
Back to TopTop