Search Results (2,002)

Long-term environmental change and local habitat variation may affect breeding birds in the Slovenian Karst landscape. The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), a species associated with open agricultural and wetland mosaics, was used as the focal species. We descriptively reviewed nest records collected between 2005 and 2025 from 17 nesting sites in five municipalities. Because monitoring periods differed among sites and reproductive records were incomplete, the analysis was limited to site-year summaries of nest status, egg records, recorded young, nest persistence, and selected weather variables. Nesting patterns varied markedly among sites. Planina and Nova vas showed persistent occupancy, whereas Rakitnik and Dilce had interrupted occupancy or periods in which the nest was no longer recorded. Persistent occupancy did not consistently coincide with complete reproductive records. Postojna weather records indicated generally higher annual mean temperatures and fewer snowy days in recent years, but these patterns are presented only as regional environmental context. The study demonstrates the value of standardised, long-term nest-level monitoring for identifying local changes that broader regional summaries may obscure. Full article

To reveal the regulatory role of miRNA in the estrous cycle transition of Kazakh horse ovaries and improve their reproductive efficiency, this study took the ovaries of Kazakh horses in the estrus period (DY group) and the quiescent period (DB group) as research objects. Small RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used to systematically analyze the expression characteristics and functional pathways of miRNA under the two physiological states. A total of 161 million high-quality miRNA tags were obtained through sequencing. Principal component analysis showed that the intra-group repeatability of the two groups of samples was good, and the expression patterns between the groups were significantly different. A total of 259 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified between the two groups, including eca-miR-21, eca-miR-378, eca-miR-142-3p, eca-miR-196a, and eca-miR-889, among which 99 were significantly up-regulated and 160 were significantly down-regulated. After screening with |log₂FC| ≥ 1.5, p ≤ 0.05 and q < 0.05 as strict multiple-testing correction thresholds, a total of 227 valid DEmiRNAs were retained, including 86 upregulated and 141 downregulated miRNAs; the remaining 32 transcripts showed nominal differential expression only without statistical significance after FDR correction. GO functional enrichment indicated that the differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in biological processes such as cellular processes, biological regulation, molecular binding, and catalytic activity. KEGG enrichment showed that they were significantly enriched in pathways closely related to follicular development, ovulation, and luteal function, such as the Ras signaling pathway and actin cytoskeleton regulation pathway. The RT-qPCR verification results were highly consistent with the sequencing data, confirming the reliability of the analysis results. The study demonstrated that the differentially expressed miRNAs could regulate processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, steroidogenesis, and follicular development by targeting key signaling pathways, mediating the sequential transition of the estrous–anestrus state of Kazakh horse ovaries. The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in ovarian tissues of Kazakh mares between anestrus (DB) and estrus (DY) states via small RNA sequencing, reveal the miRNA-mediated molecular regulatory mechanisms of seasonal ovarian cycle transition, and provide candidate molecular markers and theoretical basis for genetic improvement of reproductive performance in Kazakh indigenous horses. Full article

Reproductive activity imposes significant physiological demands on rams. This study evaluated metabolic and hormonal fluctuations in Sarda rams under semi-extensive management conditions, together with flock reproductive outcomes. Fourteen rams were isolated from ewes, subjected to nutritional flushing, and treated with melatonin implants (3 × 18 mg) before joining the flock. From June to December, body condition score (BCS), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), urea, triglycerides, cholesterol, testosterone, faecal thyroid hormone metabolites (FTMs), and faecal corticosteroid metabolites (FCMs) were measured every 45 days. Ewes’ pregnancy rates (PRs) and conception dates were determined by ultrasound scanning to estimate flock reproductive performance. BCS declined (p < 0.05) from June (3.11 ± 0.06) to November (2.80 ± 0.06). In November, NEFA, cholesterol and FCMs peaked (p < 0.05), whereas triglycerides and urea reached the lowest levels (p < 0.05). FTMs peaked in June and November (p < 0.05). Testosterone concentrations were three-fold higher in June than the rest of the mating season (p < 0.05), while overall PR was stable. Despite metabolic and endocrine changes in rams, overall flock reproductive performance remained stable. The final stage of mating season may represent a strategic period for targeted management strategies to sustain welfare and long-term performance. Full article

The simultaneous occurrence of amphetamine (AMP) and other illicit drugs, such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), butylone (BTL), and 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC), in wastewater and aquatic ecosystems has been frequently reported. These psychoactive substances share similar modes of action and pose a significant threat to freshwater organisms and human health due to their neurotoxicity and physiological harmful effects. The individual adverse effects of AMP and illicit drugs on non-target aquatic organisms have been demonstrated; however, the combined effects of these drugs have been considerably less explored. This study investigated the ecotoxicity of a mixture of these substances at an environmentally relevant concentration (0.1 μg L⁻¹) and at a 10-fold higher concentration (1.0 μg L⁻¹), using the freshwater microcrustacean water flea (Daphnia magna) exposed for 14 days. Several endpoints were evaluated. No significant changes were observed in swimming behavior or reproduction parameters, but some changes were noted for morphophysiological and biochemical endpoints. A significant increase was observed in the organisms’ heart rate and in catalase activity. Overall, the mixture did not induce significant ecotoxicological effects under the tested conditions. Nevertheless, the presence of other contaminants and longer exposure periods in natural environments may increase the ecological risks associated with these psychoactive substances. Full article

The Raramuri Criollo (RC) cattle is recognized for its adaptability, resilience, and low feeding requirements under low-input production systems. This study compared the productive and reproductive performance of purebred RC and Angus × Raramuri Criollo (AC) heifers with Hereford × Angus (HA) heifers. Experiment I evaluated post-weaning growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency in a 56 d individual feeding trial using 10 RC, 10 AC, and 8 HA heifers after a 14 d adaptation period; heifers received the experimental diet ad libitum throughout the trial. Experiment II evaluated puberty attainment and growth development of 14 RC, 17 AC, and 11 HA heifers under rangeland with limited supplementation (RLS) and 11 RC, 16 AC, and 10 HA heifers under annual irrigated pasture (AIP). Puberty attainment was determined from two consecutive serum progesterone concentrations >1 ng/mL, and body weight, average daily gain (ADG), age at puberty (AP), and body weight at puberty (BWP) were analyzed using mixed models and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Under individual feeding, RC and AC heifers gained 0.56 ± 0.06 and 0.32 ± 0.06 kg/d less and consumed 40.4% and 22.0% less feed than HA heifers (p < 0.05), whereas feed conversion and residual feed intake did not differ among breed groups. Heifers developed under AIP attained puberty earlier than those under RLS (median AP: 369 vs. 546 d; logrank p < 0.001). Overall, AC heifers combined the adaptive capacity of RC cattle with the productive potential of British breeds, achieving a favorable balance among growth, feed intake, feed efficiency, and reproductive development under contrasting development conditions, supporting their use in low-input beef production systems. Full article

This study focused on Platypharodon extremus, a species endemic to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and systematically analyzed its reproductive biology, sex steroid hormones, ovarian histology, and transcriptomic characteristics throughout its complete reproductive cycle (August 2020 to June 2021). The results demonstrated that the body length, height, body weight, and gonadal weight of female individuals continuously increased with age, while the Gonadosomatic index (GSI) was lowest during the breeding season (June–August) and gradually rose during the non-breeding period. Serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) exhibited rhythmic fluctuations corresponding to ovarian development: E2 rose from 25.77 ng/L in stage-I to 146.00 ng/L in stage-V, then declined post-ovulation; P4 increased from 59.88 pmol/L in stage-I to 239.03 pmol/L in stage-V, showing a significant decrease after ovulation. Histological observations classified ovarian development into stages I–VI, clearly delineating the complete process from oogonium proliferation, cortical vesicle formation, yolk accumulation, maturation to postpartum regression. To explore molecular changes during the transition from vitellogenesis to oocyte maturation, we built a reference transcriptome with 30,060 non-redundant transcripts (average length = 1975 bp) using PacBio and Illumina data, and 91.87% of these transcripts received functional annotation hits against public databases. A comparative differential expression analysis was performed between ovarian stage III (active yolk accumulation) and stage V (oocyte fully matured). A total of 11,324 differentially expressed genes were identified (5249 upregulated and 6175 downregulated) between these two stages. GO enrichment analysis revealed predominant involvement in cellular processes, cellular components, and catalytic activities, while KEGG analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in metabolic pathways, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and calcium signaling pathways. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation confirmed that candidate genes, including pik3a, calm, mapk1 map2k ddx49, and igf2 were significantly upregulated at stage V. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) may represent potential molecular signatures linked to the transition from vitellogenesis to oocyte maturation. Our integrated transcriptomic and qPCR data identify potential gene candidates involved in ovarian maturation; however, these findings reveal correlation rather than direct regulatory causality. This study offers fundamental data and theoretical insights for understanding the reproductive regulatory mechanisms and aquaculture management of this endemic species. Full article

Understanding physiology and the manner in which psittacine and other avian species cope with stress, as well as the physiological and psychological effects of acute and chronic stress on their body, is critical in learning how to best care for and manage these populations, both in captivity and in the wild. The way birds respond to and cope with both acute and chronic stress plays an important role in several physiological and metabolic functions, including homeostasis, glucose mobilization, activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, and the fear response. Corticosterone is a glucocorticoid that regulates secretion along the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and mediates neurotransmission and humoral regulation. There are different methods used in measuring corticosterone concentrations in birds. It is necessary for the reader to understand these methods when assessing the results and conclusions in a published study. Along with understanding the samples to be submitted and the time periods they represent, it is also important to consider what factors have been identified to cause variation in corticosterone concentrations. Many of the avian research studies involving corticosterone have looked at measurements related to how real or perceived stressors affect the overall condition of the bird. The overall condition of the bird may be evaluated as feather quality, immune status, quality of life, metabolic and reproductive activity, and/or response to a typical veterinary clinical setting. Full article

The reproductive efficiency of modern breeding sows is commonly restricted by a mismatch between high genetic reproductive potential and insufficient voluntary feed intake during critical physiological periods. This review comprehensively examines the physiological, nutritional, and management mechanisms regulating feed intake in sows and their implications for reproductive performance, synthesizing recent advances across neuroendocrine regulation, metabolic signaling, immune-related pathways, and precision feeding strategies. We construct an integrated framework involving three core dimensions: (1) Physiological regulation: the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal, hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal, and hypothalamic–pituitary–spleen axes functionally interact via shared neuroimmune pathways within the hypothalamic–pituitary–immune axis, coordinately regulating feeding patterns and reproductive cyclicity through core hormonal and inflammatory signaling molecules. Perinatal stress induces pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, activates the intestinal JAK-STAT3 pathway, and upregulates intestinal hepcidin expression, impairing intestinal barrier integrity and triggering persistent inflammation. These peripheral inflammatory signals modulate hypothalamic neuropeptide Y and Proopiomelanocortin expression, forming a negative feedback loop that suppresses feeding behavior. (2) Nutritional regulation: dietary nutrients and specific flavor compounds reshape intestinal satiety signaling, improving piglet growth performance and survival rates, while optimized dietary composition and functional additive supplementation enhance sow feed intake capacity. (3) Management strategies: standardized feeding regimes and optimal rearing environments regulate nutrient digestion and gut hormone secretion. Major knowledge gaps include the translational potential of precision nutrition approaches, biomarker validation for feed intake monitoring, and the scalability of integrated interventions under commercial production conditions. This review provides a multidimensional framework integrating physiological, nutritional, and management strategies to enhance sow feed intake, offering theoretical insights and practical guidance for sustainable pig production. Full article

Heat stress remains a significant issue in pig production, particularly in Mediterranean regions, due to the link between climate change and rising temperatures. This study evaluated the effects of heat stress on physiology, oxidative status, animal welfare, histopathological changes, and production in a commercial farrow-to-finish pig farm during the warm season of 2025. Environmental conditions, physiological parameters, welfare, and oxidative stress biomarkers were monitored throughout the study period, while continuous neck skin surface temperature monitoring in lactating sows was carried out using Bluetooth sensor technology. Heat stress was evident over an extended period, as indicated by increased temperature in lactating sows, compromised welfare, oxidative stress, reduced antioxidant capacity, poor reproductive and productive performance, decreased daily growth rate, and higher mortality-related indices. Histopathological examination also revealed multisystemic lesions, including fibrinous microthrombi in renal vessels, hepatocellular degeneration, perivascular oedema with vascular wall thickening in the skin, and lymphocyte depletion in splenic germinal centres. These findings are consistent with endothelial dysfunction, ischaemic tissue damage, and stress-induced immunomodulation. In conclusion, heat stress causes multi-dimensional biological and productive alterations in pigs under intensive farming systems, involving thermoregulatory, oxidative, welfare, reproductive, and histopathological impairments, which support the implementation of integrated precision livestock farming monitoring approaches. Full article

Tuta absoluta is a globally significant invasive pest that has rapidly developed resistance to multiple classes of insecticides, highlighting the critical need for RNA interference (RNAi) targets for sustainable pest management. The insulin signaling pathway is a key regulator of insect reproduction; however, the role of PIK3AP, an adaptor protein that links receptor tyrosine kinases to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, remains poorly understood in Lepidopteran pests. In this study, TaPIK3AP was identified in T. absoluta, exhibiting elevated expression levels in the heads of female adults and during the early reproductive period. RNAi-mediated knockdown of TaPIK3AP reduced fecundity by 76%, decreased egg hatching rate by 43%, shortened the oviposition period by two days, and caused pronounced ovarian atrophy accompanied by impaired yolk deposition. Mechanistically, knockdown of TaPIK3AP led to the suppression of Vg and VgR expression, a reduction in juvenile hormone (JH) titer, downregulation of JH signaling genes, and a significant decrease in the transcript levels of key components of the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway, including mTOR, Rheb, and S6K. These findings demonstrate that TaPIK3AP integrates Vg, JH, and TOR signaling pathways to regulate female reproduction in T. absoluta, thereby identifying it as a potential molecular target for RNAi-based sustainable pest management strategies. Full article

Objective: To evaluate reproductive outcomes following fertility-sparing surgery for deep endometriosis (DE), specifically assessing the impact of bowel resection on spontaneous conception rates and the predictive value of the Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI). Design: Retrospective observational cohort study. Setting: High-volume tertiary referral center for endometriosis. Patients: A total of 507 women with histologically confirmed endometriosis and documented infertility or active desire for pregnancy, managed between 2018 and 2025. Patients undergoing hysterectomy were excluded. Interventions: Laparoscopic complete excision of endometriotic lesions using a nerve-sparing technique. The surgical strategy for bowel involvement was tailored to nodule characteristics: 194 patients (38.3%) underwent segmental colorectal resection, 38 (7.5%) underwent rectal shaving, and 9 (1.8%) were treated with advanced organ-sparing techniques (lateral rectal resection or extra-mucosal excision—EMEB). Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative pregnancy rate (PR), mode of conception (spontaneous vs. ART), and factors influencing fertility. Results: The cohort presented with severe disease (mean rASRM stage 3.4) and a high prevalence of primary infertility (79.3%). During the follow-up period, 310 patients achieved pregnancy, resulting in an overall pregnancy rate of 61.1%. Notably, 70.3% of these pregnancies were achieved spontaneously. Radicality did not compromise fertility: the segmental resection group achieved a pregnancy rate of 91.2% (177/194), while patients treated with rectal shaving achieved 100%. The EFI score was identified as a robust predictor of success (mean score 5.5 in pregnant vs. 4.9 in non-pregnant patients, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Comprehensive nerve-sparing excision of DE, including segmental bowel resection, is associated with high pregnancy rates and a predominant restoration of natural fertility. Surgery should be considered a first-line strategy to reduce dependency on assisted reproductive technologies. Full article

There has been little research on the social behaviour of stallions and geldings kept together in group housing systems. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in behaviour and movement activity between stallions and geldings kept together in group housing. Behavioural observations and GPS measurements were conducted in Germany from July to September 2024 in four mixed groups of horses in Germany. The groups comprised 35 animals, 18 stallions and 17 geldings. The horses were observed for three consecutive days over eight hours per day. No injuries or stereotypic behaviours were observed throughout the observation period. Stallions displayed significantly higher levels of affiliative, agonistic, dominance, ritualised, reproductive and play behaviours than geldings (all p < 0.05). However, attack, threat, comfort, avoidance, and resting behaviours, as well as movement activity did not differ significantly between stallions and geldings. Greater space availability per horse was associated with increased comfort, resting, reproductive and play behaviours, and dominance behaviour decreased and attacks tended to decrease with increasing space availability. The horses moved an average distance of 2.36 km during the observation periods. Full article

Scythris sinensis (Felder & Rogenhofer) is a diurnal moth characterized by its distinct spring and autumn forms. In our study, we analyzed the compound eye morphology of both forms utilizing scanning electron microscopy. The eyes are ellipsoidal and symmetrical, consisting of hexagonal ommatidia characterized by convoluted folds but lacking corneal nipples. We found that female moths have slightly larger compound eyes than males. Our counts of ommatidia indicate that males emerging in autumn (589–675) typically possess a higher number than males emerging in spring (492–698). This finding suggests an adaptation specific to the autumn period, potentially enhancing visual search efficiency in response to seasonal light variations and a constrained reproductive schedule. This research provides a foundational understanding of the visual behavior of S. sinensis concerning photoreception and phototaxis. Full article

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a serious disease that causes reproductive failure and late abortion in breeder farms, as well as severe respiratory manifestations in pigs of all ages. In the United States, the swine industry has been affected by PRRSV-2, particularly due to control challenges and the virus’s ongoing evolution. In this study, we conducted a genetic characterization of the 642 PRRSV-2 ORF5 sequences generated from diagnostic submissions at the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL) at South Dakota State University (SDSU). These sequences were generated over a 3-year period from 2023 through 2025, with 208 (32.4%), 130 (20.2%), and 304 (47.4%) sequences in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively. These sequences were from swine diagnostic submissions from ten states in the Midwest, including Minnesota (MN; 350/642, 54.5%), South Dakota (SD; 182/642, 28.3%), and Iowa (IA; 73/642, 11.4%), collectively accounting for 94.2% of submitted sequences. The genetic typing revealed that the L1C sub-lineage was the most frequently detected among the submitted sequences, accounting for around 60%, with L1C.5 as the major contributor (371/642). Other sub-lineages, such as L5A, L1A, L1D, and L1H, were also detected, but in smaller numbers. More than 80% of the detected sequences were classified as wild-type or wild-like based on ORF5 identity to commercial vaccine reference strains. Interestingly, this study documented increased detection of the recently reported L1C.5.32 variant, which was the most frequently detected variant in 2025 (123 detections), particularly in Minnesota. Moreover, L1C.5.34, L1C.5.36, L1C.3.25, and L1C.2 variants were also detected, and the L1H.18 variant showed increased detection, especially in 2025. In conclusion, this study provides genetic characterization of PRRSV-2 ORF5 sequences from Midwestern U.S. diagnostic submissions (a key U.S. swine production region), submitted to the SDSU ADRDL. Full article

In this article, we formulated a mathematical model to describe SARS-CoV-2 development in humans, accounting for the dynamics of susceptible and infected epithelial cells, viral particles, ACE2 receptors, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and antibodies. The basic reproduction number and equilibrium points are derived, with stability analysis showing that the disease-free equilibrium is maintained when ${\mathcal{R}}_0<1$, while an endemic equilibrium arises for ${\mathcal{R}}_0>1$. Additionally, Hopf bifurcating periodic solutions are observed under elevated viral replication and infection rates. To capture therapeutic intervention, an impulsive control framework based on antibody-mediated drug administration is introduced. The existence and stability of a disease-free periodic orbit are established through the impulsive reproduction number ${\mathcal{R}}_0^{imp}$, with stability ensured when ${\mathcal{R}}_0^{imp}<1$. The findings from numerical simulations support the analytical outcomes, proving the efficacy of impulsive control in suppressing viral persistence. The current research work offers important knowledge on the interaction between immune system and impulsive control mechanisms, which serves as a basis to develop therapies against SARS-CoV-2. Full article