Search Results (270)

Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne zoonotic disease associated with high case fatality rates in humans and represents a significant public health threat in endemic areas of Kosovo. However, data on viral circulation in ticks in non-endemic regions remain limited. CCHF is caused by Orthonairovirus haemorrhagiae, formerly known as the Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). In the present study, 745 ticks were collected from domestic animals and the environment throughout the years 2017–2019 in seven locations of non-endemic regions in the eastern part of Kosovo, respectively Prishtina, Gjilan and Kamenica municipalities. The ticks after species identification were analyzed using RT-PCR for detection of viral RNA of CCHFV. Seven ticks (0.94%) tested positive, including six Rhipicephalus bursa ticks, three of them collected from grazing cattle and sheep in the village Hajvali (Prishtina municipality) and three others in the village Busavat (Kamenica municipality) from grazing cattle, while one positive sample was detected in a Hyalomma marginatum tick collected from a grazing dairy cow in Bresalc village (Gjilan municipality). The virus detected in Rh. bursa is considered to be consistent with the Aigia virus, formerly classified as CCHFV Clade VI/Europe 2 or the AP92-like lineage, which has generally been associated with a lower pathogenic potential and the absence of reported human cases in these areas. The first reported human CCHF case in a non-endemic area occurred in the Bresalc locality (Gjilan Municipality) in June 2018 in a dairy farmer. This occurrence coincided with the detection of Orthonairovirus haemorrhagiae RNA in one Hyalomma marginatum tick among 36 sampled ticks collected from the same farm, following clinical and laboratory confirmation of CCHF in infected patients. Consequently, this finding indicated the circulation of CCHFV in this area. These results demonstrated active circulation of CCHFV in tick populations in regions previously considered non-endemic and highlighted a potential public health risk associated with pathogenic strains. Genomic and tick surveillance, combined with targeted vector control measures and public awareness, are essential for reducing CCHFV transmission and preventing human infections. Full article

Sex-related differences in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress are recognized as important modulators of cardiovascular physiology, but they are still insufficiently explored in large animal models. This study examined the influence of sex and gonadal status on oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and hematological parameters in clinically healthy domestic pigs. Twenty sexually mature pigs (10 months old) were divided into four groups: boars, barrows, gilts, and ovariectomized females (n = 5 per group). In serum, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-RD), total superoxide dismutase (TSOD), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), together with concentrations of triglycerides, phospholipids, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and malondialdehyde (MDA), were determined. In myocardial and liver tissues, antioxidant enzymes, lipid parameters, and MDA were analyzed. Spectrophotometric methods were used for enzyme activities and lipid parameters, while MDA was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Hematological parameters were determined using an automated hematology analyzer, and serum hormone concentrations were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassays. Group-dependent differences were observed, although the relatively small sample size warrants cautious interpretation. In serum, gilts had higher phospholipid, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol concentrations, along with the most favorable LDL: HDL ratio, whereas boars showed the least favorable ratio. Lipid peroxidation, assessed by MDA, was lowest in gilts and highest in barrows. In myocardial tissue, gilts showed higher GSH-RD and TSOD activities and lower MDA concentrations than barrows, suggesting potentially stronger antioxidant protection. In the liver, differences were found in cholesterol, triglycerides, and MDA concentrations, with higher cholesterol in barrows, higher triglycerides in boars, and higher MDA in gilts and ovariectomized females. Hematological differences were also evident, with lower leukocyte and lymphocyte counts in gilts and higher platelet count and plateletcrit in barrows and ovariectomized females. Overall, sex and gonadal status were associated with distinct patterns of metabolic and oxidative responses across serum and tissues. Given the small sample size and cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and as associative rather than causal. Full article

Rickettsia is an obligate intracellular genus of bacteria responsible for rickettsioses, a group of emerging vector-borne diseases. Their diagnosis remains challenging because of non-specific clinical manifestations, serological cross-reactivity, and low bacterial loads in clinical samples. In this study, a novel droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay was developed for the molecular detection of Rickettsia spp., and its performance was evaluated using clinical blood samples collected from dogs and cats in the Canary Islands, Spain. Primers and probes targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) were designed and optimized for ddPCR amplification. Analytical performance was assessed by optimising primer and probe concentrations, annealing temperature, specificity, and the limit of detection (LOD). Comparative analysis between quantitative PCR (qPCR) and ddPCR was also performed. The optimized assay employed primer and probe concentrations of 900 nM and 250 nM, respectively, with an annealing temperature of 56 °C. The assay achieved an analytical detection limit of 0.064 ng of clinical sample DNA, although sporadic positive droplets were still detectable at lower concentrations. Strong inverse correlations were observed between qPCR cycle threshold (C_T) values and ddPCR absolute quantification for both plasmid DNA (r = −0.997) and clinical sample DNA (r = −0.983). A total of 170 blood samples collected from domestic animals in the Canary Islands, with clinical suspicion of rickettsiosis, were analysed. Six canine samples (3.5%) tested positive for Rickettsia spp. The ddPCR assay developed in this study showed promising analytical performance for the molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. DNA and has the potential to become a valuable molecular tool for veterinary diagnostics and epidemiological investigations within a One Health framework. Further analytical and clinical validation studies are required before its implementation as a routine diagnostic assay. Full article

Akabane virus (AKAV) is an orthobunyavirus transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides. This virus mainly affects ruminant species and represents an important threat to animal health across the world, being distributed in regions of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. Although adult animals usually develop subclinical infection, AKAV can cross the placental barrier producing abortions, stillbirths, and severe congenital malformations that lead to substantial economic losses. Lately, AKAV has expanded its host range to non-ruminant species such as domestic pigs and bamboo rats, showing a marked virulence in these mammalian species. The host plasticity of AKAV together with the expanding distribution of Culicoides biting midges induced by global warming raise concerns about the potential arrival of AKAV into previously unaffected regions with naïve livestock populations. Due to the absence of therapeutic treatments, vaccination remains the main measure against AKAV. As climate change promotes vector expansion, AKAV can be considered as an increasingly relevant emerging pathogen in animal health, which enhances the need for strengthened surveillance programs, a deeper understanding of the virus biology, virulence and pathogenicity, and the development of novel vaccine candidates against this viral pathogen. This review provides an overview of current knowledge about AKAV biology, epidemiology, and disease, and a discussion about control strategies. Full article

Yak is a distinctive domestic animal adapted to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and its lactation performance is restricted by extreme high-altitude conditions. Despite the growing recognition of circRNAs as important regulators of mammary gland development in other species, no study has yet systematically investigated the stage-specific circRNA expression landscapes in yak mammary glands across gestation, lactation, and non-pregnant periods, or the potential ceRNA networks through which these circRNA may participate in regulating milk synthesis and mammary cell proliferation under high-altitude conditions. This study aimed to characterize circRNA expression features and lactation regulation in yak mammary glands at the gestation, lactation, and non-pregnant stages. Total RNA sequencing was performed on mammary specimens, followed by differential screening, functional enrichment, ceRNA network construction, and qPCR verification. Numerous stage-biased circRNAs were identified, among which circNFATC2, circTRPS1 and circTAF3 were highlighted as hub candidates potentially involved in mammary cell differentiation, milk synthesis, and energy metabolism, with qPCR validating sequencing outcomes. Our results provide a comprehensive circRNA expression atlas and candidate molecular markers for understanding lactation regulation in high-altitude yaks, offering a valuable foundation for the future genetic improvement of milk production traits. Full article

Anaerobic bacteria are the dominant group in the animal intestinal microbiota, and most strains cannot grow normally upon exposure to air. Blautia sp. AUH-JLD56 (KF374935) is a strictly anaerobic strain previously isolated by our research group from human feces. Under anaerobic conditions, this strain converts arctigenin to 3′-demethylarctigenin (3′-DMAG), reaching a maximum conversion concentration of 3.6 mM. To improve the oxygen tolerance of this wild-type strain, we performed long-term oxygen tolerance domestication and successfully obtained an oxygen-tolerant mutant. Phenotypic analysis showed that the growth of the oxygen-tolerant mutant under aerobic conditions (OD_600nm = 2.37) was slightly lower than that of the wild-type under strictly anaerobic conditions (OD_600nm = 2.82). Compared with the wild-type, the mutant exhibited an accelerated aerobic growth rate and enabled the stable conversion of arctigenin. Notably, under aerobic conditions, the mutant achieved a maximum conversion concentration of 8.2 mM, which was significantly higher than the 3.6 mM obtained with the wild-type under anaerobic conditions. Under the respective optimal conditions, the average conversion rate and product yield for the domesticated strain (aerobic) in this study were 90.01% and 77.15%, while those for the non-domesticated strain (anaerobic) were 90.09% and 83.31%, respectively. This study realizes, for the first time, the efficient aerobic bioconversion of arctigenin to 3′-DMAG using an oxygen-tolerant derivative of a strict anaerobe. Our approach provides a new strategy and technical reference for the oxygen tolerance domestication and industrial application of other intestinal strict anaerobes. Full article

The H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has caused severe global losses, reaching South America in 2022 and Antarctica in 2024. Here, we synthesize outbreak reports submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health by South American countries and overseas territories in this continent, and document the virus’s unprecedented expansion into Antarctica, affecting wild birds, wild mammals, and domestic poultry. Phylogenetic and time-calibrated Bayesian analyses were performed on available genomic sequences. Over 6 million domestic birds were lost, mostly from commercial operations. Of the 11 South American countries and overseas territories that reported H5N1 to WOAH, 10 reported infections in wild birds, spanning 104 species, 59.62% of which are migratory and predominantly non-trans-equatorial. Marine mammal outbreaks followed wild bird detections, with the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) being the most reported species. Several Antarctic bird species with migratory behavior were also reported in South America. Genomic analyses revealed multiple introduction events, regional viral diversification, and patterns consistent with repeated cross-species spillover events. These findings highlight H5N1’s extensive ecological reach in the Southern Hemisphere and underscore the urgent need for a One Health approach that strengthens wildlife and backyard-poultry surveillance, alongside coordinated regional action to control and prevent further HPAI spread. Full article

Ornamental aquarium keeping collectively involves millions of freshwater, marine, and reef systems in which fish, corals, invertebrates, biofilters, microbial communities, and human husbandry practices are closely interconnected. In these domestic aquatic animal systems, preventive and curative treatments may include antimicrobials, antiparasitics, antiseptics, oxidizing agents, copper-based products, dips, and commercial formulations targeting microbial proliferations or visible system deterioration. Many interventions occur without veterinary diagnosis, microbiological confirmation, standardized dosing, active-ingredient transparency, or post-treatment monitoring. This raises concerns for aquatic animal health and welfare, as whole-system treatments may affect not only the intended pathogen or pest but also non-target organisms, biofilter communities, animal-associated microbiota, and water quality stability. Digital communities and online platforms can rapidly circulate empirical treatment protocols, although they may also provide opportunities for stewardship education and improved husbandry guidance. Current evidence does not support interpreting ornamental aquaria as major independent drivers of antimicrobial resistance. The more defensible concern is stewardship: biologically active compounds may be used repeatedly and empirically in animal systems without diagnosis, professional guidance, or systematic monitoring. This Perspective argues that ornamental aquaria should be recognized as an overlooked interface between aquatic animal health, welfare, antimicrobial stewardship, and One Health. It proposes a research and communication agenda focused on treatment transparency, diagnosis, prevention, biofilter protection, and responsible care practices. Full article

Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular bacterium responsible for an anthropozoonosis that can be asymptomatic or manifest as acute or chronic Q fever. This extensive series of 588 patients represents one of the largest single-center studies on sporadic acute Q fever, highlighting the Canary Islands as a high-incidence region in Spain. Epidemiologically, the domestic cycle is the primary driver of infection, with caprine livestock serving as the main reservoir, showing a local prevalence of 60.4%. Transmission is predominantly airborne via aerosols; the environmental resilience of C. burnetii facilitates its transport into urban areas, where the majority of patients reside despite lacking direct animal contact. While fever, headache, and diaphoresis are hallmark symptoms, over 90% of patients exhibit transient urinalysis abnormalities, a finding that often leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate antimicrobial use. Clinically, the non-specific (45.7%) and hepatic (44.1%) forms are most prevalent, whereas the pulmonary form (7.8%) is strongly associated with smoking and alcohol consumption. Although localized forms affecting the nervous system or skin (such as panniculitis) were observed, the overall prognosis remains excellent with no progression to chronic Q fever in this series. In summary, the extensive series described characterizes acute Q fever patients in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, with features that are similar in some cases but also show notable differences compared to other national and international series. Furthermore, depending on the patients’ age, the time elapsed between the onset of clinical manifestations and hospital evaluation, and the clinical form, acute Q fever displays significant differences. Full article

Background/Objectives: Surveillance studies focusing on clinically relevant infections confirm that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widespread among bacterial isolates from European households and livestock domestic animals. Due to the shared interface between humans and these animals, as well as an increasing trend in the number of pets per person, the spread of AMR is of concern. Methods: In this study, antibiogram reports issued at the bacteriology laboratory of the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Bari from 2020 to 2025 were reviewed and analyzed using descriptive and statistical methods to explore the AMR patterns. Results: Two hundred and twenty-eight results were included, comprising 2599 individual tests. A total of 76 molecules across 25 antibiotic classes were tested. Ear swabs were the most common sample type, and Staphylococcus spp. and E. coli were the most isolated bacteria. Two-thirds of the isolates were susceptible to at least one substance classified by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) as category D. Fairly low non-susceptibility (NS) results were obtained for sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (D category), gentamicin (C category), and enrofloxacin (B category). Conclusions: An increase in the NS trend was observed over the five-year period. Overall, the results support the need for continuous antibiotic stewardship. Full article

The urban trade in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) plays a key role in sustaining livelihoods in the Global South, while also suggesting potential pressure on resource supply systems. This study provides an integrated analysis of NTFP diversity, market structure, economic importance, and perceived drivers of resource decline in Kolwezi, a rapidly expanding mining city where such dynamics remain poorly documented. Data were collected through surveys conducted with 35 sellers across two major urban markets and 384 consumers from different neighbourhoods and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to examine patterns, associations, and socio-demographic influences. A total of 65 NTFP species were recorded, including 49 plant, 14 animal, and 2 fungal species, reflecting strong dependence on Miombo ecosystems. Medicinal (59.3%) and food uses dominate, with multifunctional species such as Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.) J.H.Kirkbr. & Wiersama, Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Terminalia mollis M.A.Lawson, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc., and Albizia antunesiana Harms, playing a central role in both household use and market supply. The trade is largely female-dominated (79.1%) and constitutes a major component of the informal urban economy, with monthly incomes ranging from USD 9 to 429.3, primarily driven by sales volume rather than unit price. However, the sector is constrained by structural and logistical limitations, including remoteness of supply areas, seasonality, and limited value addition. The perceived declining availability of high-use-value species, attributed by respondents to deforestation, mining expansion, and overexploitation, highlights perceived sustainability concerns. These pressures are perceived differently across socio-demographic groups, indicating heterogeneous understandings of environmental change. Overall, the results indicate a perceived mismatch between rising urban demand and declining resource availability, which may reflect an emerging socio-ecological imbalance between urban demand and perceived resource availability. Addressing these challenges requires integrated strategies that combine the domestication of priority species, the development of processing chains, improved infrastructure, and strengthened governance mechanisms. Such approaches are essential to reconcile livelihood support with the sustainable management of NTFPs in rapidly transforming urban landscapes. Full article

Cigarette smoke contains a high concentration of carcinogenic substances to which smokers are regularly exposed. Passive smoking is seriously harmful to the health of non-smoking humans and animals. Domestic cats are particularly vulnerable because of their constant grooming activity, which can promote oral ingestion of smoke-derived residues. Cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, is a reliable biomarker for tobacco exposure. Considering these observations, our study aimed to (1) characterize cytological alterations in oral mucosal epithelial cells by conventional morphology and automated digital cytomorphometry; (2) quantify urinary cotinine concentration and investigate its possible correlation with oral epithelial cytological alterations. To this aim, oral smears were collected from 30 cats divided into two groups (20 exposed; 10 non-exposed). Smears were stained with May–Grünwald–Giemsa and Papanicolaou to assess inflammation and dysplasia; digital cytomorphometric analysis was used to quantify the nucleus-to-cytoplasm (N/C) ratio. Urinary cotinine was measured by ELISA. Our results showed that exposed cats had significantly higher urinary cotinine levels and higher N/C ratios (p < 0.01) than non-exposed controls, along with mild-to-severe inflammation and dysplastic-like epithelial alterations. These findings support urinary cotinine as a valid biomarker of household tobacco smoke exposure in domestic cats and suggest that such exposure may be correlated with early cytological and cytomorphometric changes in the oral mucosa. Further studies are needed to better investigate the relationship between exposure duration and cytological, cytomorphometric, and molecular alterations. Full article

Poisoning caused by Taxus baccata is a well-known cause of sudden death in domestic animals due to the cardiotoxic effects of taxine alkaloids. This study describes two cases of fatal intoxication in donkeys (Equus africanus asinus) and demonstrates a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach combining pathology, botanical identification, and toxicology. Two animals were found dead without prior clinical signs on a farm in north-eastern Italy. Necropsies were performed, and samples were collected for further investigations. Histopathological findings were limited and non-specific, consistent with the hyperacute course typical of yew poisoning. Fragments of plant material resembling yew needles and twigs were identified in the gastric contents. Toxicological analysis using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of taxane alkaloids, supporting the diagnosis of yew poisoning. These data highlight the importance of integrating necropsy results with botanical examination and targeted toxicological analyses in cases of suspected plant poisoning. This multidisciplinary approach provides a reliable diagnostic framework for confirming yew poisoning in veterinary investigations. Full article

Horizontal transfer of mitochondrial DNA into the nuclear genome generates nuclear mitochondrial sequences (NUMTs), which serve as molecular fossils reflecting long-term mitochondrial–nuclear interactions and genome evolution. However, the biological mechanisms governing NUMT integration, retention, and evolutionary fate remain incompletely understood in domesticated animals. Here, using the latest pig reference genome assembly (Sscrofa11.1), we present a comprehensive genome-wide characterization of NUMTs in pigs and provide new insights into their genomic distribution and evolutionary constraints. We identified 513 high-confidence NUMTs, of which 460 were chromosomally mapped, accounting for 0.0106% of the nuclear genome. Beyond increased detection, our analyses reveal that pig NUMTs exhibit non-random origins, preferentially integrate into genomic regions under weak selective constraint, and are frequently associated with repetitive elements, consistent with a DNA repair-mediated insertion mechanism. NUMTs predominantly occur as short, fragmented sequences and show signatures of long-term neutral evolution, while insertions disrupting coding sequences are strongly selected against. Synteny-based analyses further identified clustered NUMT regions and duplicated NUMTs, suggesting secondary genomic duplication events following initial integration. Comparative analysis with the earlier Sscrofa10.2 assembly demonstrates that improved genome quality substantially enhances NUMT detection, particularly in repetitive and GC-rich regions, clarifying previously ambiguous sequence-context associations. Together, this high-quality pig NUMT map provides a robust foundation for future functional, evolutionary, and population-level investigations and contributes to the conservation and utilization of pig genetic resources. Full article

The last few decades have provided mounting evidence that dogs are not only able to behave in intelligent ways but also that they have the capacity to make inferences by associating visible and imagined events. In particular, the kinds of inferences shown by dogs elevate them to ‘Popperian animals’, which are rational in the sense of being able to conduct trials and errors in the head. Here, I review a selection of studies with dogs that fulfil this attribution. Dogs have been found capable of (a) making inferences by exclusion, with both computer images and word-object associations, (b) drawing inferences about the efficiency of the observed methods, the situational constraints of the situation, and the goals of the model in the course of selective (‘rational’) imitation, and (c) going beyond directly observable cues when inferring the intention, the knowledge, or even the beliefs of humans in perspective-taking tasks. Despite the contamination with ambiguous data, open questions, and current debates about the possession of (non-linguistic) mechanisms for creating mental representations of the mental states of others (called mind reading), we may safely assume that domesticated dogs have become Popperian animals equipped with the cognitive tool set of inferential thinking and perspective taking. Full article