Veterinary Sciences

The objective of this study was to compare fecal egg count (FEC) and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in naturally parasite-infected goats following administration of an anthelmintic drug and Mitragyna speciosa Korth. as the control and treatment groups, respectively. A total of 34 female goats were randomly allocated into two groups. The control group received albendazole at a dose of 15 mg/kg on the first day of the experiment. Then followed by a daily placebo until day 21. The treatment group was orally administered 5 g/head of dried Mitragyna speciosa Korth. daily for 21 days. Hematological parameters were evaluated on days 0 and 21, while blood biochemical parameters, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), were measured on day 0 and at 7-day intervals until day 35. Fecal egg count and serum MDA concentration were determined on day 0 and every 7 days until day 42. The results showed that plasma protein levels were significantly affected by time (p < 0.05) and group (p < 0.05), while red blood cell count was significantly influenced by time (p < 0.05). No significant group effects were observed for BUN, creatinine, AST, and GGT. However, AST showed a significant effect over time (p < 0.05). Hematological and blood biochemical parameters remained within physiological ranges in both groups, with no evidence of kratom-associated toxicity. Log₂-transformed fecal egg counts per gram of feces (Log₂-EPG) showed significant time and time × group interaction effects (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). Fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) showed significant time and time × group interaction effects (p = 0.009 and p = 0.013, respectively). Serum MDA was significantly lower in the kratom group only at day 7 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Mitragyna speciosa Korth. supplementation did not significantly reduce fecal egg count compared to conventional anthelmintic treatment but demonstrated a transient effect on oxidative stress, as indicated by changes in serum MDA concentration. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing concern in veterinary medicine and within the One Health framework, yet long-term data from companion animals remain limited in Jordan. This retrospective study characterized bacterial pathogens and archived antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among clinical samples from dogs and cats presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Jordan University of Science and Technology between 2012 and 2024. Records from 232 clinical cases comprising 248 submitted samples were reviewed. Among 237 samples with known culture outcomes, 121 yielded bacterial growth (51.1%), resulting in 141 bacterial isolates. Escherichia coli (E. coli) (33.3%) was the most frequently recovered organism, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (19.1%), Staphylococcus spp. (15.6%), and Proteus spp. (9.9%). AST results were available for 96/141 isolates (68.1%). Archived interpretations showed frequent non-susceptibility to several tested agents, whereas fluoroquinolone non-susceptibility was generally lower. Using the historical study rule of non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial classes, 87/96 isolates (90.6%) met the screening criterion. However, intermediate results were grouped with resistant results, AST panels and breakpoint standards varied over 13 years, and the archived records did not permit reliable exclusion of intrinsic resistance for every organism–drug combination. Accordingly, the MDR estimate is descriptive and should not be interpreted as a standardized contemporary prevalence. These data provide a baseline for companion-animal bacterial surveillance in Jordan and support prospective standardized AST and antimicrobial stewardship. Full article

Selective symmetrical encephalomalacia (SSE) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by bilateral and symmetrical areas of malacia within specific regions of the central nervous system and has been reported in humans and several animal species. This report describes a case of SSE in a six-month-old Maine Coon crossbred kitten from Italy that presented with central vestibular dysfunction, rapidly progressive neurological deterioration, proprioceptive deficits, respiratory impairment, seizures, and abnormal vocalization. Clinical evaluation, hematological and biochemical analyses, and ancillary diagnostic testing were performed to investigate the underlying cause and evaluate differential diagnoses. Despite supportive care, the animal died naturally a few days after the onset of clinical signs. A complete postmortem examination, including histopathological evaluation of the central nervous system, was subsequently performed. Neuropathological analysis revealed multifocal, bilateral, and symmetrical malacic and spongiform lesions affecting multiple brain regions, compatible with an SSE pattern. Comparison with previously reported cases in humans and dogs showed marked similarities in lesion distribution and morphology. This case expands the limited knowledge of SSE-like neuropathological lesions in cats and highlights the value of neuropathological examination in the diagnosis of rare neurological disorders presenting with rapidly progressive clinical signs. Full article

Background: Butyrophenone neuroleptics are used in veterinary practice—haloperidol in the capture and translocation of wild ungulates, azaperone in swine—and antipsychotics prescribed to owners are a recognised cause of accidental toxicosis in dogs and cats. Organ-level toxicity data for this drug class are nonetheless almost absent in any species. Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) is an established antidote in small-animal emergency medicine for lipophilic intoxications, but the veterinary evidence base consists of case reports with clinical endpoints, and no controlled study has examined what ILE does to the tissues themselves. This study used an acute rodent overdose model to provide that organ-level assessment. Methods: Forty male Wistar albino rats were randomised to four groups of ten: control (saline 2 mL/kg oral gavage), HP (17.5 mg/kg oral gavage), HP + ILE (17.5 mg/kg HP plus 20% ILE 7.5 mL/kg intravenously at 0.5 h and 8 h, an empirical regimen) and ILE alone. Endpoints were assessed at 24 h. Seventeen histopathological parameters across seven organs were scored semi-quantitatively by a blinded pathologist (n = 10 per group), with independent re-scoring of a stratified random 30% subsample by a second blinded pathologist. Serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and routine biochemistry were measured in animals with adequate serum (n = 34 and n = 35). Comparisons used Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) control. Results: Haloperidol produced significant injury in the liver, kidney, brain and testis (all p < 0.001 vs. control) and mild histological cardiac changes (degeneration p = 0.014; congestion p = 0.034); lung and eye were unaffected. Serum urea was markedly elevated in HP (67.4 ± 13.2 vs. 46.5 ± 8.8 mg/dL; p = 0.001, d = 1.82) and HP + ILE (61.5 ± 8.7 mg/dL; p = 0.003), with unchanged creatinine, and correlated strongly with renal histopathology (renal inflammation vs. urea ρ = 0.74, p < 0.001). ILE significantly attenuated histopathological injury in 8 of the 12 haloperidol-associated parameters after FDR correction (renal congestion q = 0.032, r = 0.70; testicular Johnsen score q = 0.032, r = 0.66); the testicular score improved significantly relative to HP (q = 0.032) but remained statistically indistinguishable from control (p = 0.072), which does not establish equivalence. ILE did not reduce serum urea (HP + ILE vs. HP, p = 0.26) and did not modify the mild histological cardiac changes (p ≥ 0.40); no functional or electrophysiological cardiac endpoint was assessed. No group difference was detected in serum TOS or OSI (p = 0.43 and p = 0.51), whereas TAS was significantly reduced in the ILE-alone group (p = 0.011); the biological interpretation of this TAS finding remains uncertain, because interference of residual lipaemia with the spectrophotometric assay could not be excluded and would also propagate to the derived OSI. No tissue oxidative marker was measured. Transaminases were not elevated by haloperidol and showed no correlation with hepatic histopathology (|ρ| ≤ 0.17, all p > 0.34). ILE alone caused no histopathological abnormality at this dose and time point. Inter-observer agreement was high (95.6% exact agreement; median weighted κ = 0.893). Conclusions: In this acute overdose model, ILE is associated with a differential and structurally incomplete histopathological response: microscopic injury improves in four organs while renal function does not, and the mild histological cardiac changes are unaltered. Serum transaminases did not reflect concurrent organ-level injury at 24 h. Serum TOS and OSI showed no detectable group differences, while TAS was reduced in the ILE-alone group with an uncertain biological interpretation. Given the analytical uncertainty and the limited sample size, these indices provided no usable surrogate information about organ-level injury in this model. These findings define which organ systems respond and require confirmation in target veterinary species before informing clinical practice. Full article

African swine fever virus (ASFV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), and porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) represent important viral agents that threaten pig health. To date, no triplex real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) method has been described for the concurrent identification of all three viruses. In this study, a triplex qPCR system was constructed using the ASFV B646L gene, PCV2 ORF1 gene, and PCV3 ORF1 gene as amplification targets, enabling simultaneous detection of ASFV, PCV2, and PCV3. The standard curves generated for the three viral targets all yielded R² values of 0.999. The detection thresholds for ASFV, PCV2, and PCV3 were 10 copies/μL. Specificity testing showed that the assay amplified only the three intended viral targets and did not cross-react with other prevalent swine pathogens. Intra-assay and inter-assay reproducibility analyses yielded coefficients of variation below 2%. Seventy-nine clinical samples were tested using the established triplex qPCR assay and a previously published reference method. Positive and negative results were identical between the two assays, giving a concordance rate of 100%. These findings indicate that the triplex real-time qPCR assay provides a sensitive, dependable, and specific method for detecting ASFV, PCV2, and PCV3 infections and may facilitate epidemiological surveillance, as well as pathogen prevention and control. Full article

Poultry nutrition has evolved beyond simply formulating diets to meet nutrient requirements, with greater attention given to feed efficiency, animal health, environmental challenges, and the quality of poultry products. This Special Issue brings together 11 studies covering a range of topics, including alternative ingredients, functional dietary additives, feed processing, heat-stress mitigation, intestinal microbiota, and poultry product quality. The studies investigated insect meals, Bombyx mori, Camelina sativa, and Spirulina platensis, in addition to phytogenic compounds, selenium, fermented feeds, and enzyme-based approaches. The results show that these nutritional strategies can influence growth performance, nutrient utilization, immune and antioxidant responses, as well as meat and egg characteristics. At the same time, several factors may limit their application in commercial poultry production. These include differences in the composition of alternative ingredients, variation in responses under different experimental conditions, and the relatively small number of studies carried out under commercial production settings. Future studies should place greater emphasis on understanding their mechanisms of action, establishing appropriate inclusion levels, and assessing potential interactions among different strategies. It will also be important to consider the economic feasibility and environmental consequences of their use. Such information will help translate experimental findings into practical and more consistent nutritional strategies for poultry. Full article

The early weaning of piglets is still widely practiced in modern swine production, although it is frequently associated with intestinal dysfunction, microbiota dysbiosis, and even diarrhea. A total of 126 piglets were randomly allotted to three groups (seven pens per group) and fed either a basal diet, a basal diet supplemented with 0.05% SJE, or a basal diet supplemented with 0.1% SJE. Supplementation with 0.1% SJE effectively decreased fecal scores on days 7 and 14 post-weaning and improved growth performance on day 14 post-weaning in early-weaned piglets. In addition, SJE supplementation improved jejunal morphology, increased antioxidant capacity indices, and reduced oxidative metabolites in jejunal tissue. Correspondingly, SJE supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the jejunum. Notably, SJE supplementation altered the gut microbiota structure and increased alpha diversity indices, including observed species, ACE, and Chao1. Specifically, SJE supplementation increased the relative abundances of Fibrobacteres, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Prevotella copri. The SJE-induced shifts in gut microbiota were signific antly correlated with early weaning–related indices. Overall, SJE supplementation alleviated intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis, which may contribute to its effects on alleviating diarrhea, intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis in early-weaned piglets. Full article

Tetanus is uncommon in dogs, which are considered relatively resistant to tetanospasmin, and detailed descriptions of the diagnostic evaluation of severe generalized cases remain limited. A 5.5-month-old intact male Miniature Schnauzer was presented four days after a puncture wound to the right pelvic limb. On admission the dog was alert but non-ambulatory, with generalized muscle rigidity, tremors, marked cervical hyperextension, hyperactive spinal reflexes, facial muscle spasms and dysphagia. Together with the wound history and rapid progression, these findings supported a presumptive diagnosis of generalized tetanus, clinically classified as Grade III. Serum collected before tetanus antitoxin administration contained no detectable antibodies against Clostridium tetani neurotoxin. Treatment comprised equine tetanus antitoxin, antimicrobials, multimodal sedation and muscle relaxation, enteral nutrition, intensive nursing and physiotherapy. Needle electromyography on day 10 showed increased insertional activity, positive sharp waves and fibrillation potentials, and continuous spontaneous motor unit activity. Despite patient young age and rapid disease progression, clinical improvement was evident from day 10, and the dog was discharged on day 16, ambulatory and eating voluntarily. This case highlights that severe generalized canine tetanus remains principally a clinical diagnosis, while serial neurological examination, clinicopathological monitoring and electromyography can strengthen diagnostic confidence, characterize disease progression and support clinical management. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN) and its masked form, zearalenone-14-glucoside (Z14G), are common mycotoxins found in feed that can threaten the intestinal health of piglets. To date, there has been a lack of systematic research on the toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of Z14G alone and in combination with ZEN on intestinal porcine epithelial cell-jejunal 2 (IPEC-J2) cells. This study found 80 µmol/L ZEN and 100 µmol/L Z14G were the selected experimental concentrations based on cell viability assays. Both ZEN and Z14G significantly inhibited cell viability and proliferation, induced apoptosis, and disrupted the expression of associated genes. They altered the expression of barrier-associated genes, evidenced by increase in lactate dehydrogenase release and downregulation of tight junction gene mRNA. ZEN and Z14G exposure increased oxidative stress, altered antioxidant defense, and modulated inflammatory responses, accompanied by changes in the expression of genes related to the TLR4/MyD88 and NLRP3 signaling pathways. Notably, Z14G alone exhibited a distinct transcriptional response of inflammatory-related genes, failing to upregulate IL-1β, TNF-α and STING. In conclusion, ZEN and Z14G disrupt intestinal epithelium homeostasis via interlinked oxidative, inflammatory and barrier-damaging pathways. The findings reveal the direct toxicity and unique properties of ZEN and Z14G, underscoring the need to consider masked mycotoxins in combined risk assessment. Full article

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe diseases including meningitis, septic shock, and endocarditis in both pigs and humans. In swine, S. suis is one of the most important bacterial pathogens causing invasive diseases such as meningitis, septicemia, arthritis, and sudden death, with serotypes 1, 2, 7, and 9 being among the most frequently recovered from clinical cases in affected herds across Southeast Asia. We developed a multiplex TaqMan qPCR assay targeting four serotype-specific genes (cps1I, cps2I, cps7L, and cps9J) for detection of major S. suis serotypes in porcine samples. The assay achieved a detection limit of 10 copies/μL for all four target serogroups, amplification efficiencies of 89.64% to 100.42% (R² ≥ 0.997), and no cross-reactivity with any of the negative controls, including SS4, APP, HPS, Salmonella, E. coli, and S. aureus. Intra-assay and inter-assay repeatability were below 3%. Testing 98 clinical porcine samples from Guangxi, China, yielded positivity rates of 26.53% for the serotype 1/14 group, 19.39% for the serotype 2/1/2 group, 17.34% for serotype 7, and 29.59% for serotype 9, respectively, with mixed-target detection in 30.61% of samples. This assay enables rapid, reliable detection of major zoonotic S. suis serotypes in porcine samples, though it detects serotypes 1 and 14 as a group, and serotypes 2 and 1/2 as a group, due to capsular locus sequence similarity—a limitation acceptable for surveillance given the high pathogenicity within each group. This tool supports One Health-based veterinary surveillance for zoonotic disease control. Full article

The study aimed to investigate the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TL106 (TL106) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and intestinal microbiota in Danzhou chickens. A total of 384 healthy female Danzhou chicks were randomly assigned to a control group (CON) and three experimental groups (Ba1, Ba2, Ba3), receiving basal diets supplemented with TL106 at 5 × 10⁷, 5 × 10⁸, and 5 × 10⁹ CFU/kg, respectively, for 55 d (divided into early [1–35 d] and later [36–55 d] phases). While no significant growth improvement was observed in the early phase, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and final body weight (BW) increased, and the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) during the later phase in Ba2 and Ba3, especially in Ba3. At d 55, TL106 supplementation significantly elevated serum IgM content (p < 0.001) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity (p < 0.05), reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.01), and enhanced albumin (ALB) levels (p < 0.05). The Ba3 group also improved the villus height-to-crypt depth ratios (VH/CD) of the ileum and duodenum (p < 0.05). Microbial analysis indicated that abundances of Bacteroidota and Firmicutes increased while Proteobacteria and butyrate-producing Faecalibacterium were enriched in the TL106 groups compared to CON. Cecal butyrate concentrations rose dose-dependently (p < 0.05), with most of the key parameters—including final BW, ADFI, F/G, serum ALB, IgM, T-SOD, GSH-Px, MDA (d 55), duodenal and ileal VH/CD, and cecal butyric, propionic, and valeric acids—showing significant quadratic responses (p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that TL106 in diets enhanced growth performance and intestinal health in Danzhou chickens by modulating immunity, antioxidant responses, and microbiota, with 5.0 × 10⁸ CFU/kg appearing to be the most effective dose among those tested under the conditions of this study. Full article

Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by the Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens; CP), is one of the most economically important diseases affecting the poultry industry worldwide. The pathogenicity of C. perfringens is attributed to the production of more than twenty extracellular toxins and enzymes, with strains classified into seven toxinotypes (A–G) based on their major toxin genes. While the alpha-toxin gene (cpa) is present across all C. perfringens toxinotypes, netB is recognized as the primary virulence determinant of avian NE. However, toxin-gene carriage alone does not establish toxin expression or disease causation. Cpb2 and tpeL have also been associated with virulence in some C. perfringens isolates, although their independent contributions to NE pathogenesis remain less firmly established. The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant C. perfringens strains, including multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pandrug-resistant (PDR) isolates, together with the organism’s ability to form biofilms, has complicated disease prevention and treatment by enhancing environmental persistence and tolerance to antimicrobial agents. Distinct from reviews that primarily address NE pathogenesis or antibiotic alternatives as broad terms, this review integrates antimicrobial resistance with planktonic and biofilm-associated C. perfringens. Furthermore, it critically evaluates alternative interventions based on their activity against these bacterial states and the strength of supporting in vitro, in vivo, and field evidence. In conclusion, this review highlights the urgent need for sustainable, antibiotic-free strategies to combat NE. Advancing the development and field validation of these alternative approaches may contribute to reducing antimicrobial resistance, limiting biofilm-associated persistence, and improving poultry health and productivity. Full article

Serum creatinine (sCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) reflect glomerular filtration only and are subject to non-renal confounders including lean body mass, limiting early detection of renal dysfunction in geriatric dogs. We evaluated serum cystatin C (sCysC) and the urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase-to-creatinine ratio (NAG index) as early renal markers in healthy geriatric dogs. Sixty-one neutered geriatric dogs, free of clinical disease and of extrarenal laboratory abnormalities, were stratified into three groups: controls (n = 36), subclinical (normal sCr, ≥1 elevated biomarker; n = 17) and azotaemic chronic kidney disease (CKD; sCr > 1.5 mg/dL; n = 8). sCysC was measured by a canine-specific ELISA and the NAG index by colorimetric assay. Of the 61 dogs, 17 (27.9%) had at least one elevated biomarker with normal sCr, and all 17 also had normal BUN, indicating pre-azotaemic changes identified predominantly by sCysC. The NAG index was elevated in 6/17 (35.3%) subclinical dogs and SDMA in none (0/17). Because sCysC status partly informed group allocation and no independent measure of glomerular filtration rate was obtained, these findings characterise an altered renal biochemical phenotype rather than establish diagnostic accuracy, and require prospective validation. Full article

The primary objective of this study was to determine if superficial pyoderma (SP) recurs sooner and at a higher rate in dogs not treated beyond clinical resolution. Sixty-seven client-owned dogs were randomly assigned to either group A (n = 37), treated with a culture-based oral antimicrobial for seven days beyond resolution, or to group B (n = 30), treated until resolution. After withdrawals, 60 dogs were analyzed for SP resolution. Dogs were examined every 14 days until D98, unless excluded due to unresolved SP by D42 or if SP recurred before D98. At each visit, a dermatologic exam and pyoderma severity score determination (0–21) were performed. Clinical resolution of SP was observed in 28 days (median) in 20/33 dogs in group A and in 18/27 in group B and not observed by D42 in 13/33 dogs in group A and 9/27 in group B. These dogs were considered treatment failures. SP recurred in 13/20 dogs in group A and 10/18 in group B after 67.5 days and 69 days (median) of follow-up time in group A and B, respectively. The median follow-up time to SP recurrence was 67.5 days and 69 days in group A and B, respectively. The hazard ratio for the risk of SP recurrence in group A compared to group B was 1.04 (95% CI 0.42–2.66; p = 0.9319). In this sample, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups for pyoderma score, resistance patterns, time to SP resolution, time to recurrence, recurrence rate, or probability of recurrence. Extending antibiotics seven days beyond clinical resolution is not necessary for canine SP treatment. Full article

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a highly aggressive vascular malignancy encountered in veterinary practice and exhibits histopathological and molecular similarities to human angiosarcoma (AS). Despite its clinical importance, the molecular mechanisms driving canine HSA remain poorly understood, limiting the development of effective therapeutic approaches. To address this challenge, we established patient-derived canine HSA 2.5D organoids as a preclinical model. Following validation of lineage-specific marker expression, we evaluated drug responses and performed transcriptomic analyses comparing HSA organoids with nodular hyperplasia (NH) samples to identify molecular alterations associated with malignant transformation. Differential gene expression analysis revealed several genes enriched in HSA, including Phospholipase A and Acyltransferase 3 (PLAAT3), which was significantly upregulated in HSA organoids. Functional studies demonstrated that both siRNA-mediated silencing and pharmacological inhibition of PLAAT3 markedly reduced the invasive capacity of HSA organoid cells while exerting only modest effects on cell proliferation. In addition, orthotopic implantation of HSA 2.5D organoids into the spleens of immunodeficient mice generated xenograft tumors with metastatic behavior and histopathological features closely resembling those of the original canine tumors. Collectively, these results establish a canine HSA 2.5D organoid model and identify PLAAT3 as a candidate molecule associated with the invasive phenotype of canine HSA, providing a valuable platform for investigating disease biology and for future comparative studies of canine HSA and human AS. Full article

Canine urothelial carcinoma (UC) is commonly managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alone or combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Evidence supporting subcutaneous keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in canine UC is lacking. We describe two client-owned dogs with presumptive lower urinary tract UC managed with NSAIDs, KLH, and selenium after cytotoxic chemotherapy was declined. Case 1 was an 11-year-7-month-old castrated male Maltese with bladder-neck/proximal-urethral thickening. A positive veterinary bladder tumor antigen test, compatible serial imaging, and low-cellularity urine cytology showing suspected urothelial hyperplasia with dysplasia supported clinical suspicion; however, BRAF and BRAF-PLUS assays were negative and histopathology was unavailable. Case 2 was an 11-year-old neutered male Poodle with a BRAF V595E-positive urethrovesical-junction lesion on imaging, without histopathologic confirmation. Both dogs received NSAIDs, Immucothel^® (1 mg subcutaneously), intravenous sodium selenite (200 μg/kg), and oral selenium (100 μg/dog q24h). Serial CT and ultrasonography documented persistent localized abnormalities over prolonged follow-up, but measurements obtained by different modalities were not treated as directly comparable. Adverse events were assessed retrospectively and not prospectively graded using VCOG-CTCAE criteria. Because the diagnoses were presumptive and the interventions were concurrent and uncontrolled, the independent contribution, efficacy, and safety of KLH cannot be determined. These cases are descriptive and hypothesis-generating. Full article

The canine gut microbiome plays a key role in digestive, immune, and metabolic health and is increasingly recognized as an important indicator of overall animal well-being. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants are emerging as a promising approach to support intestinal balance through modulation of the gut microbiome. This pilot study evaluated the effects of Aloe vera, Artemisia annua, and Curcuma longa on the gut microbiome of healthy dogs. The study included eighteen healthy dogs, divided into an Experimental group (n = 9) and a Control group (n = 9). Dogs in the Experimental group received a daily combination of the three plants for 30 days, while Control dogs received microcrystalline cellulose as a placebo. Fecal samples were collected on Day 30 and analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Differential abundance analysis revealed an enrichment of taxa associated with short-chain fatty acid production in the Experimental group, including Megasphaera elsdenii, Blautia, Butyricimonas, Bacteroides, and Phascolarctobacterium, together with a reduction in opportunistic and dysbiosis-associated taxa, such as Enterocloster bolteae, Anaerobiospirillum spp., and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Functional profiling showed a reduction in pathways related to virulence-associated mechanisms and iron siderophore systems, alongside an increase in pathways associated with GABA and putrescine metabolism and serine endopeptidase activity. Overall, these findings suggest that supplementation with these functional botanical ingredients may promote a more balanced and functionally beneficial gut microbiome in healthy dogs. Full article

The health of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) is threatened by a variety of biotic and abiotic stressors, among which pesticide exposure remains a major factor. Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid still authorized in the European Union despite the known toxic effects exerted on honey bees. To date, its impact on queens’ health remains largely unexplored although colony survival is strongly dependent on the reproductive success of the queen. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a 7-day sublethal exposure to acetamiprid (20 μg/L) on the ovarian structure using histological and immunohistochemical approaches. The histological analysis revealed structural alterations in the ovaries of exposed queens, including disorganization of the germarium and vitellarium, cytoplasmatic vacuolization in the interstitial connective tissue, oocyte degeneration and pyknotic nuclei in nurse cells, indicative of apoptosis. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased expression of HSP70 and HSP90, indicating a disruption of cellular proteostasis and cellular stress. These findings suggest that sublethal short-term exposure to acetamiprid may directly affect the queen bee reproductive apparatus. Full article