Search Results (40)

The microbiota, comprising microorganisms and their genes, plays a crucial role in health and disease susceptibility. Recent advances have enhanced our understanding of these microbial communities in dogs, which vary by body site—skin, ears, eyes, lungs, etc.—and are influenced by factors such as age, breed, sex, environment, and diet. Dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, is increasingly linked to various health conditions. Investigating these microbial communities can lead to improved strategies for maintaining pet health. This review explores the impact of microbiota across multiple canine systems, including dental, gut, cardiac, skin, renal, as well as dietary influences. Clinically, microbiome analyses can provide valuable insight into the bacterial changes in healthy versus diseased states and can be used as potential biomarkers for veterinary diagnostics. The information gained from these analyses can also allow for more effective management strategies to be developed, increasing treatment efficacy. This review seeks to demonstrate the crucial role that microbiome analyses could play in future veterinary preventative medicine, diagnostics, and treatment plans. Here we connect microbial dysbiosis, bacterial and fungal, to local and systemic health issues, and then examine the implications towards treatment, especially in cases of high resistance. As microbiota communities on and in dogs are a potential reservoir for human spread, the information elucidated within this review also helps future assessments of pathogenicity and transmission mechanisms that could lead to dangerous zoonotic spread of disease. Full article

Koalas are an iconic Australian species now classified as nationally endangered due to habitat loss, predation, disease, and vehicle collisions. Yet, because of their nocturnal and arboreal nature, koala movement on the ground between trees remains poorly described. Ground visits are fraught with danger, with two-thirds of koala deaths occurring due to vehicle strikes and dog attacks. Quantifying these behaviours can provide insights for conservation efforts targeted to their time on the ground. To quantify detailed movement patterns, we collared nine koalas in a highly fragmented agricultural landscape with tri-axial accelerometers for 8.50 ± 1.17 days. Using an annotated dataset of observed behaviours, we trained Random Forest models to classify four main behavioural states: Motionless in Tree, Feeding & Grooming in Tree, Other Movement in Tree, and Walking. Koalas spent 57.5% ± 14.2% of their time moving in trees, 26.8% ± 13.5% motionless in trees, 15.6% ± 2.7% feeding and grooming, and only 0.2% ± 0.1% walking on the ground (around 3 min daily). Koalas walked most frequently between 2 am and 5 am. Our findings highlight a major discrepancy between mortality rates on the ground and frequency of ground time, indicating that focused mitigation during these infrequent events could yield disproportionately high conservation benefits. Full article

The increasing number of owned and stray dogs in large cities is becoming a pressing issue due to rising population densities, urban conditions, and poor control over animal reproduction. This situation poses serious epidemiological risks, as dogs can act as reservoirs and transmitters of infectious and parasitic diseases dangerous to humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and carriage of infectious and parasitic diseases in stray dogs in the city of Uralsk as a factor of epidemiological risk. In 2024, 1213 stray dogs were captured from different city districts and examined at the veterinary clinic and laboratory of Zhangir Khan University. Biological samples (blood, urine, feces) from 10% of the animals were analyzed using molecular (PCR), serological (ELISA), and helminthological methods. Serological and molecular analyses revealed the widespread circulation of bacterial pathogens. Antibodies to additional bacterial agents, including Pasteurella multocida, Mycobacterium spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Leptospira spp., were detected in the samples, indicating an unfavorable sanitary and epidemiological situation in the urban environment. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) identified antibodies against Toxocara canis in 50.9% of the dogs and against Echinococcus granulosus in 76.4%, reflecting both active and past infections. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed the presence of Brucella canis DNA in blood and urine samples, while antibodies to Brucella spp. were detected in 57.8% of the examined dogs, underscoring the significant zooanthroponotic importance of this pathogen and its potential threat to human health. Additionally, T. canis DNA was found in 39.2% of the samples and E. granulosus DNA in 16.6%. A helminthological examination using the Fülleborn method revealed a high rate of helminth infection: Ancylostoma caninum—35.3%, T. canis—32.3%, and Toxascaris leonina—29.4%. The obtained results highlight the significant role of stray dogs as epizootiological and epidemiological reservoirs of zooanthroponotic infections. This poses a serious threat to public health and necessitates the implementation of effective control and prevention measures for infectious and parasitic diseases within urban fauna. Full article

Mycobacterium is one of the most dangerous pathogens of both animals and humans. Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a disease caused by mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), which spreads mainly among domestic cattle but also to mammals other than cattle. The transmission of MTBC between different species requires research and epidemiological investigations to control its spread. When multiple species are a reservoir of infection, it poses a significant public health and veterinary concern. In this study, the diagnosis of alpaca, cattle, horses, dogs, a sheep and a cat from one farm suspected of bovine tuberculosis was performed. The animals (except for one horse, the dogs and the cat) were euthanised after the intradermal tuberculin tests. Mycobacterial isolation from animal tissue samples was performed. The obtained Mycobacterium strains were genotyped using spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit–variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) methods. The isolates from a horse, two cows, a sheep and an alpaca were classified as Mycobacterium (M.) bovis. The single M. bovis spoligotype SB0666 pattern was isolated, and the MIRU-VNTR results presented the same 222632237401435 patterns. The molecular investigation uncovered information on the relationship of Mycobacterium bovis. Full article

Dogs and humans have shared a complex relationship throughout history, with law serving as an important tool to manage dogs’ integration into human societies. As dogs increasingly become regarded as family members in Western countries, and as similar trends emerge globally, it is vital to understand how legislation balances the interests of stakeholders. Existing studies often focus on localised disputes and fragmented legal areas, limiting understanding of how dog-related laws interact and potentially conflict. We developed a conceptual framework to systematically analyse dog-related legislation, using the United Kingdom as a case study. Identified through a systematic search, laws were evaluated using content analysis based on the benefits provided to stakeholders, the regulated aspects of dog ownership, and whether benefits afforded to stakeholders occur in public or private spaces. We found that the greatest legislative focus was on dog welfare, dangerous dogs, and dog control, with little emphasis on areas like the breeding and sale of dogs. Eighty-two percent of laws that manage dogs in public space predominantly benefit the general public, often disadvantaging dogs and their owners, while 81% of laws that govern dogs within the home favour dogs. Owners consistently face legal obligations, but gain few benefits. These findings highlight misalignments between the law and dogs’ evolving societal roles, potentially contributing to public space conflicts and low compliance. The framework offers a tool for cross-country comparisons and assessing legislation for other species with similarly shifting roles. Full article

Background/Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius are major opportunistic pathogens in both humans and dogs. In pets, the dissemination of methicillin-resistant isolates (MRSA or MRSP) is problematic for the treatment of animals and is a public health issue due to their zoonotic potential. MRSA and MRSP may also harbor virulent genes that increase their dangerousness. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of (MR)SA and (MR)SP in healthy dogs and their owners in Algeria. Methods: Swabs were collected from various body sites of healthy dogs (n = 88) and from the nose of their owners (n = 38). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by antibiograms according to the disc diffusion method, and clonality was assessed using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). All methicillin-resistant isolates were short-read whole-genome sequenced using the Illumina technology. Results: 26 S. aureus and 17 S. pseudintermedius isolates were respectively collected from 13 dogs (13/88, 14.8%). No MRSP isolate was detected, while MRSA was found in six dogs (6.8%). Isolates belonged to ST1 (n = 3), ST 80 (n = 1), and ST 22 (n = 2, including the single-locus variant ST7118). All MRSA displayed the immune evasion cluster (IEC) type E. The ST80 isolate presented the Panton–Valentine toxin, and the ST22/ST7118 isolates carried the tst gene coding for the toxic shock syndrome toxin. Conclusions: The epidemiology of MRSA in healthy Algerian dogs mirrors the one in Algerian people. This poses a zoonotic and public health concern due to the virulence and resistance genes displayed by these isolates. Our results indicate the need for developing One Health strategies to avoid a large-scale dissemination of MRSA in Algerian dogs. Full article

Aims: To investigate the road safety concerns associated with pet dogs in New Zealand. Methods: An online survey was developed and offered to New Zealanders via SurveyMonkey© from 8 January 2019 to 31 March 2019) using New Zealand residents aged ≥ 18 years. Questions about the demographics of respondents and their number of pet dogs along with those about dog transportation and dog roaming were asked. Results: Of 2744 respondents who completed the online survey, 1494 (65%) owned a dog. Of the total respondents, 1511 completed the question about how their dog or dogs travel in vehicles. Of these, 2% (n = 29) let their dog sit on the driver’s knee, and 12% (n = 179) allowed their dog to sit on the passenger’s knee. Only 7% (n = 105) allowed the dog to roam free throughout the vehicle, while 44% (n = 663) allowed their dogs to roam free in the backseat area only and 19% (n = 280) put their dog in the boot/hatchback area. A minority of respondents (2%, n = 22) indicated they let their dog travel unrestrained on the deck of a ute or truck. Approximately half, 51% (n = 767), of the respondents indicated that they restrained or crated their dogs in or on the vehicle. Respondents also expressed concerns about roaming dogs being a road safety hazard with the themes of responsible ownership, physical and psychological harm, and the dangers of rescue altruism emerging. Conclusions: Increased awareness about proper pet restraints during transportation and preventing dogs from roaming, especially near and on roads, is crucial to ensure traffic safety for humans and dogs. Full article

A cross-sectional study was carried out, between April 2021 and June 2022, to understand the role of dogs in the circulation of rickettsiosis in Tunisia. The presence of specific IgG antibodies against Rickettsia conorii was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence test. By qPCR, blood and ticks were collected from 136 dogs examined at the Canine Department of National School for Veterinary Medicine of Tunisia. These dogs were also analyzed to detect Rickettsia DNA. The rate of Rickettsia seropositivity in 136 dogs was 55.14%. A total of 51 (53%) seropositive dogs showed clinical and biological signs such as fever and anorexia as well as thrombocytopenia and anemia. By qPCR, targeting the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, no Rickettsia DNA was detected in the blood. On the other hand, qPCR followed by sequencing revealed the presence of R. conorii subsp. raoultii in 7 tick pools of the 51 pools composed of the 227 ticks collected. A One Health approach to raise the awareness of dog owners to control tick infestations is imperative, given the dangers of canine zoonoses. Full article

Parasitic diseases can affect animal health and welfare, and they may also constitute a danger to public health, particularly in island ecosystems. Fecal samples were collected from 205 dogs and 115 cats on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, Azores archipelago (Portugal), using the Willis flotation technique and modified Baermann method, for further analysis. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitism in dogs was 53%, with the following results: Ancylostomatidae (hookworms) (42.44%), Trichuris vulpis (17.56%), Toxocara canis (12.68%) and Cystoisospora spp. (4.39%). In cats, the overall prevalence was also 53%, with the following results: Toxocara cati (31.3%), Ancylostomatidae (30.43%), Cystoisospora spp. (14.78%) and Trichuris sp. (0.87%). The prevalence of lungworms was 0.49% in canines and 20.87% in felines, with Angiostrongylus vasorum and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus species being detected in dogs and cats, respectively. The present survey detected a high prevalence of gastrointestinal infection, in both dogs and cats, probably because the samples came mainly from kennels and catteries and due to the peculiar climatic conditions in this insular territory, with mild temperature and high relative humidity. A considerable prevalence of aelurostrongylosis was also detected (20.87%), so it should be included in the list of differential diagnoses of diseases concerning the respiratory tract in cats of the archipelago. Full article

There is a growing interest in the composition of amniotic fluid (AF) in both humans and animals. In addition to its nutritional and protective functions for the foetus, current knowledge demonstrates that AF also serves advanced diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic roles. Newborn dogs have an underdeveloped immune system, making them highly susceptible to dangerous pathogens such as canine parvovirus (CPV-2), canine infectious hepatitis virus (CAdV-1), and canine distemper virus (CDV), thus exposing them to a high risk of mortality in the first weeks of life. Immunoglobulins G (IgGs) represent the only antibody isotype capable of crossing the placenta in a small amount and have been detected also in canine AF. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of AF collected at birth as a marker of passive immunity in canine species. For this purpose, total and specific IgGs against CPV-2, CAdV-1, and CDV were investigated and quantified in both maternal plasma and AF collected at the time of caesarean section. The vaccination status of the bitches was also taken into consideration. Since the immune system can be influenced by gestational age, with preterm infants having immature innate and adaptive immunity, IgG concentrations were correlated with amniotic lecithin, sphingomyelin, cortisol, surfactant protein A, and pentraxin 3 levels. In a previous study from our group on foetal maturity these molecules were measured in the same samples. Finally, correlations between their amniotic content and neonatal outcomes were investigated. This study demonstrates that AF analysis at birth can provide valuable insights into neonatal immunity in puppies, offering a non-invasive method to detect potential early health risks, for improved puppy care and management. Full article

Terrorist organizations have compelled security authorities of every nation to make an increasingly significant commitment toward mitigating the risk of mass casualties and severe financial and property damages. As a result, various security measures have been implemented, including the use of advanced equipment and an uptick in intelligence activities. One of the most effective tools that has yielded outstanding results is the use of explosive detection dogs (EDDs). The nature of EDDs demands a high level of sensitivity given the inherent danger and severity of real threat situations that may involve the risk of explosion. Moreover, the operating procedures for EDDs are unique and distinguishable from other forms of detection. We conducted a review to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject, highlighting the EDDs’ personality profile, selection, training methods, performance, and employment, incorporating insights from diverse fields, conducting an analysis, and presenting a perspective on using EDDs to prevent explosion threats. Full article

Elderly dogs are steadily increasing worldwide as well as veterinarians’ and owners’ interest in their health and wellness. Aging is not a disease, but a combination of changes negatively affecting the organism in general and the immune system in particular, resulting in a decline in protection over time. The aim of this study was to measure the specific serum antibody titers against the main dangerous and widespread viral diseases preventable by core vaccinations in senior and geriatric dogs using the in-practice test VacciCheck. A cohort of three hundred fifty elderly dogs was analyzed for Protective Antibody Titers (PATs) against CPV-2, CDV and CAdV-1. The age ranged from 5 to 19 years, with two hundred fifty-eight seniors (73.7%) and ninety-two geriatrics (26.3%), and 97.4% of them were vaccinated at least once in their lives. More than half of the entire study population (52.9%) had PATs simultaneously for all three diseases, with 80.5% seniors and 19.5% geriatrics. Specific PATs were found in 88.6% of aging dogs for CPV-2, 82.3% for CadV-1 and 66.0% for CDV, demonstrating that unprotected aging dogs represent a minority. Unexpectedly, the larger elderly dogs resulted as more protected than smaller ones for CPV-2. Protection then decreases over time, with geriatric dogs less protected than senior ones. Veterinary practitioners should therefore always consider whether to maintain core vaccinations in aging dogs as in adults on a three-year basis or opt instead for closer boosters (every 1 or 2 years). PATs for core vaccines could then represent a good biomarker of protection and their titration could become a standard of care, especially in such a sensitive period of the dogs’ life. Full article

Occupational hazards, such as psychosocial stressors, physical injuries from human–animal interactions, and physically demanding work tasks, are common in the veterinary profession, and musculoskeletal discomfort and pain (MDP) may already be present in veterinary undergraduates. This preliminary study investigates the effects of very short, active interventions, called microbreaks, in 36 veterinary students. At the start, participants had a high prevalence of MDP, especially in the neck and lower back. Within a 12-week observational period, 6 weeks of active intervention comprised teaching microbreaks (nine strengthening, stretching, and relaxation exercises; 30–90 s each) and a weekly veterinary-specific ergonomics education and discussion. After the intervention, participants reported fewer painful body regions and an increase in their self-efficacy in potentially painful, risky, or dangerous human–animal interactions. After the 12-week observational period, participants had increased self-efficacy in the maintenance of physical health and self-protection but decreased self-efficacy in healing injuries after veterinary human–animal interactions. Participants felt to have increased and decreased control over dangerous situations with dogs and horses, respectively, although self-efficacy in handling horses increased. Participants integrated microbreaks well into their undergraduate activities and rated the topic relevant to their (later) profession. This should encourage the inclusion of similar programs in undergraduate curricula. Full article

Canine vaccination is the main tool for preventing dangerous and widespread diseases. The strongly recommended (core) dog vaccines are against Canine Parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), and Canine Adenovirus (CAdV-1), but vaccination protocols should be tailored to dog lifestyles. Vaccination guidelines suggest vaccinating adult dogs no more frequently than every 3 years using modified live (attenuated) vaccines (MLV), thus obtaining a long-lasting (sometimes throughout life) specific protection in many but not all animals. The aim of this study was to determine the actual levels of seroprotection against CPV-2, CDV and CAdV-1 in a cohort of Italian dogs by using the in-practice test VacciCheck. A total of 1,027 dogs (951 vaccinated and 76 unvaccinated) were analyzed for Protective Antibody Titers (PATs) against CPV-2, CDV, and CAdV-1. Differences related to sex, age, breed size, health status, and time elapsed since last vaccination were evaluated. Half of the entire canine cohort (50.6%) had PATs for all three viruses (68.5% considering only vaccinated dogs). In particular, 90.8% of dogs were protected against CPV-2, 68.6% against CDV, and 79.8% against CAdV-1. Most dogs remained protected for 3 years after vaccination or longer. Revaccination on a 3-year basis can then be recommended for core MLV vaccines without altering individual’s seroprotection or even herd immunity. Full article

Forests are increasingly exposed to natural disturbances, including drought, wildfires, pest outbreaks, and windthrow events. Due to prolonged droughts in the last years in Europe, European forest stands significantly lost vitality, and their health condition deteriorated, leading to high mortality rates, especially, but not limited to, Norway spruce. This phenomenon is growing, and new regions are being affected; thus, it is necessary to identify stress in the early stages when actions can be taken to protect the forest and living trees. Current detection methods are based on field walks by forest workers or deploying remote sensing methods for coverage of the larger territory. These methods are based on changes in spectral reflectance that can detect attacks only at an advanced stage after the significant changes in the canopy. An innovative approach appears to be a method based on odor mapping, specifically detecting chemical substances which are present in the forest stands and indicate triggering of constitutive defense of stressed trees. The bark beetle attacking a tree, for example, produces a several times higher amount of defense-related volatile organic compounds. At the same time, the bark beetle has an aggregation pheromone to attract conspecifics to overcome the tree defense by mass attack. These substances can be detected using conventional chemical methods (solid-phase microextraction fibers and cartridges), and it is proven that they are detectable by dogs. The disadvantage of classic chemical analysis methods is the long sampling time in the forest, and at the same time, the results must be analyzed in the laboratory using a gas chromatograph. A potential alternative novel device appears to be an electronic nose, which is designed to detect chemical substances online (for example, dangerous gas leaks or measure concentrations above landfills, volcanic activity, etc.). We tested the possibility of early-stage stress detection in the forest stands using an electronic nose Sniffer4D and compared the individual sensors in it for detecting the presence of attacked and dead trees. Our results indicate the promising applicability of the electronic nose for stress mapping in the forest ecosystem, and more data collection could prove this approach. Full article