Search Results (757)

Pulmonic stenosis (PS) is one of the most common congenital cardiac diseases in dogs. Although echocardiography and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) provide valuable diagnostic and anatomical information, the hemodynamic consequences of PS remain incompletely characterized. This study describes patient-specific pulmonary artery hemodynamics in dogs with and without PS using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Contrast-enhanced CTA and echocardiographic data from five dogs with PS and five control dogs without PS were used to reconstruct three-dimensional pulmonary artery geometries and generate patient-specific CFD models. Pressure drop (Δp), blood flow velocity, mean wall shear stress (WSS), time-averaged WSS (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), and pulmonary artery resistance were quantified and compared between groups. Dogs with PS exhibited markedly increased transvalvular pressure gradients, peak flow velocities, and pulmonary artery resistance, together with high-velocity jets and localized post-stenotic recirculation that were absent in control dogs. Mean WSS and TAWSS tended to be higher in the PS group, whereas OSI values were similar between groups. In contrast, RRT was significantly lower (p = 0.032) in dogs with PS. These findings demonstrate that patient-specific CFD enables detailed characterization of pulmonary artery hemodynamics in canine PS, providing information that complements conventional imaging. Although its clinical utility in veterinary medicine has yet to be fully established, CFD can provide valuable insight into flow behavior and disease pathophysiology; however, its ability to yield precise, clinically applicable quantitative values remains limited. This approach shows promise for future applications in the clinical evaluation of PS and other cardiovascular diseases, although further studies are warranted to determine its clinical relevance in veterinary medicine. Full article

Rabbit odontogenic abscesses are among the most challenging chronic infections encountered in exotic animal medicine because of their polymicrobial etiology, biofilm-associated persistence, and poor response to conventional antimicrobial therapy. Biofilm formation plays a central role in disease pathogenesis by promoting bacterial adhesion, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, quorum sensing (bacterial cell-to-cell communication), metabolic heterogeneity, and the persister-cell formation (transiently antibiotic-tolerant bacterial subpopulations), collectively reducing antimicrobial susceptibility and contributing to treatment failure and recurrence. In addition to biofilm-mediated tolerance, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) further complicates disease management through mechanisms including horizontal gene transfer, efflux pump activation, enzymatic antibiotic degradation, reduced membrane permeability, and target modification. This review summarizes current knowledge on the microbiology, biofilm dynamics, and resistance mechanisms associated with rabbit odontogenic infections while examining recent advances in molecular diagnostics, including culture-independent sequencing technologies, metagenomics, and advanced imaging approaches. Current and emerging anti-biofilm strategies, such as local antimicrobial delivery systems, enzymatic biofilm disruption, quorum-sensing inhibitors, bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, photodynamic therapy, and nanotechnology-based approaches, are critically discussed in the context of their potential application in rabbits. Comparative evidence from human endodontic infections and other veterinary biofilm-associated diseases highlights the translational relevance of rabbit odontogenic abscesses as a naturally occurring model for chronic polymicrobial infections. Finally, key research gaps are identified, emphasizing the need for standardized experimental models, integrated multi-omics analyses, combining genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data, longitudinal clinical investigations, and evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship. By integrating microbiology, biofilm biology, antimicrobial resistance, and One Health concepts, this review provides a comprehensive framework to support future research and improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of rabbit odontogenic infections. Full article

Canine cancer screening has an important limitation in that organ-specific screening strategies used in human medicine cannot be directly applied across routine veterinary clinical practice. Blood-based volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling may provide a practical approach for pan-cancer screening; however, its application in multicenter and multinational settings requires evaluation that accounts for cohort heterogeneity and analytical variability. In this study, we evaluated the canine cancer screening performance of an integrated classification framework using a headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)-based targeted blood VOC panel in a retrospective multicohort dataset comprising dogs recruited in Korea and Thailand. Whole-blood samples from 590 dogs recruited in Korea and Thailand were analyzed, including 167 dogs in the malignant tumor group and 423 dogs in the non-cancer control group. The predefined targeted VOC panel consisted of aromatic compounds and straight-chain alkanes and was analyzed using HS-GC/MS. The Korea and Thailand cohorts were incorporated into a single integrated classification framework rather than being separated into country-specific models. To evaluate performance variability associated with data partitioning, cohort-aware stratified training–validation splitting was repeated 30 times within the integrated retrospective cohort, with both national cohorts represented in the training and validation sets in each repeat. Class imbalance correction was applied only to the training data, and validation performance was assessed using both threshold-dependent and threshold-independent metrics. Across the 30 repeated validations, the integrated framework achieved an AUROC of 0.926 ± 0.019 and an AUPRC of 0.894 ± 0.023. Balanced accuracy, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, MCC, and Cohen’s κ were 0.858 ± 0.024, 0.895 ± 0.018, 0.772 ± 0.048, 0.943 ± 0.022, 0.805 ± 0.033, 0.736 ± 0.046, and 0.734 ± 0.045, respectively. In the sample-level prediction score analysis, the median predicted cancer probabilities for cancer and non-cancer samples were 0.954 and 0.041, respectively, indicating clear probability-based separation between the two groups. In the cohort-specific analysis, the discrimination signal was maintained in both the Korea and Thailand cohorts, although threshold-dependent performance differed between the two cohorts. These findings indicate that an HS-GC/MS-based targeted blood VOC panel provided a consistent cancer-associated classification signal under repeated internal validation within the specific integrated retrospective dataset evaluated in this study. The results demonstrate the feasibility of evaluating a common classification framework across the Korea and Thailand cohorts without constructing separate country-specific models, while not establishing independent external generalizability or platform-independent robustness. Because the Korea and Thailand cohorts were completely confounded with the Agilent and Thermo Fisher analytical platforms, respectively, the independent contributions of cohort characteristics and analytical platform cannot be determined from the present data. Further independent prospective validation in newly recruited populations and institutions, together with disease-control evaluation including clinically relevant controls, cohort-specific calibration, evaluation across analytical platforms, and assessment of clinical utility within real-world workflows, is required before the external generalizability and clinical applicability of the framework can be determined. Full article

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects more than 95% of intact male dogs, yet most remain asymptomatic until prostatic enlargement causes clinical signs. Standardised assessment of BPH severity is therefore needed to improve clinical decision-making and enable comparable research outcomes. This study aimed to investigate current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to canine BPH and to develop and assess a web-based application implementing the Zambelli Symptom Index (ZSI), an established symptom-based scoring system for BPH severity. A voluntary questionnaire was completed by veterinary practitioners to assess current clinical practice, and agreement between the web-based and reference paper-based ZSI classifications was evaluated. The survey revealed considerable variability in the recognition of clinical signs, assessment of BPH severity, and selection of treatment strategies, despite broad agreement on the diagnostic value of ultrasonography and the need for further investigation of prostatic enlargement. The web-based ZSI showed very high agreement with the reference classification. These findings demonstrate that the ZSI can be implemented digitally without materially affecting severity classification. The web-based tool may improve the standardisation and reproducibility of BPH assessment in clinical practice and research. Further studies are warranted to evaluate interobserver variability, clinical validity, and responsiveness to treatment. Full article

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are heterogeneous, multipotent cell populations that have become one of the most extensively investigated cell types in veterinary regenerative medicine. They can be isolated from a wide range of adult and perinatal tissues and have attracted considerable interest because of their immunomodulatory properties, broad secretory activity, and potential to promote tissue repair. However, increasing evidence indicates that MSCs should not be regarded as a uniform therapeutic product, as their biological behaviour is influenced by tissue source, donor characteristics, manufacturing conditions, and the recipient microenvironment. Likewise, their therapeutic effects are now understood to arise predominantly through dynamic interactions with the host, including inflammatory licensing, immunomodulation, secreted bioactive factors, extracellular vesicles, metabolic exchange, and responses to apoptotic cells, rather than through durable engraftment and direct tissue replacement alone. Although clinical evidence supports the use of selected MSC products in canine osteoarthritis and suggests promise for equine musculoskeletal disorders, most other veterinary applications remain preclinical or investigational. This review critically examines current knowledge of MSC biological identity, tissue-source diversity, molecular mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and comparative translational roles in companion and farm animals. It also discusses the challenges that continue to limit clinical translation, including biological heterogeneity, product characterization, potency assessment, manufacturing standardization, and regulatory considerations, and highlights future directions for the development of safe, effective, and evidence-based MSC therapies in veterinary medicine. Full article

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics has emerged as a robust and reproducible analytical platform for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying disease and identifying candidate biomarkers with potential clinical relevance. Although initially developed for biomedical research, its application in veterinary medicine has expanded rapidly during the last decade, driven by the growing demand for precision medicine approaches capable of improving disease diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring. This review summarizes the current landscape of NMR metabolomics in veterinary medicine, highlighting its applications across major clinical areas, including oncology, infectious, respiratory, digestive, renal, endocrine and musculoskeletal diseases. Collectively, the available evidence demonstrates that NMR metabolomics consistently identifies disease-associated metabolic alterations, providing novel insights into pathophysiology while supporting biomarker discovery in naturally occurring animal diseases. Beyond current clinical applications, we discuss the major challenges that continue to limit routine implementation, including biological variability, standardization of analytical workflows, multicentre validation and clinical translation. Particular attention is given to recent technological advances, such as benchtop NMR instrumentation, artificial intelligence-assisted data analysis, multi-omics integration and the development of collaborative networks and standardized platforms. Together, these advances position NMR metabolomics as a promising technology to support precision veterinary medicine, facilitating its transition from biomarker discovery to routine clinical implementation. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) produces an array of virulence factors (VFs), which contribute to its pathogenicity. One of the VFs is the type VII secretion system (T7SS), a protein secretion apparatus present in many Gram-positive bacteria, which plays a major role during the onset of infection. This study aimed to investigate the presence of secreted effector proteins and core structural proteins of the T7SS of S. aureus isolated from raw meat, processed meat products, and veterinary samples of food-producing animals. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics tools were employed to analyze S. aureus (n = 27) isolates. The results revealed that all 27 isolates investigated harboured various genes encoded by the T7SSb: secreted effector proteins (EsxA and EsxB) and core structural proteins (EssA, EssB, EssC, EsaA, and EsaB). The presence and absence of certain genes were observed, but overall, all these isolates harboured the major protein EssC. The EssC C-terminal found in these isolates was found to be conserved, and they clustered between the EssC1 and EssC3 variants. Ramachandran plot validations and predictions indicated the stability and likely operating conservation of T7SSb proteins. An analysis of protein–protein interactions, transmembrane domains, and secondary structures offered a thorough understanding of T7SSb assembly and how various proteins interact with each other. The results revealed that the isolates contained an array of T7SSb proteins, indicating the presence of proteins associated with various human infections, which highlights the practical application of a continuous surveillance monitoring programme and investigation of S. aureus strains. Full article

RNA vaccines—comprising linear mRNA, self-amplifying RNA, and circular RNA (circRNA)—constitute a core next-generation platform for the prevention and control of viral diseases; among these, circRNA vaccines possess notable structural stability, yet their technical bottlenecks and application prospects in veterinary medicine have not been systematically reviewed. This review synthesizes current research on circRNA vaccine design, circularization strategies, translation mechanisms, delivery systems, and immunological outcomes, and compares their antiviral performance with that of linear mRNA vaccines. Owing to their covalently closed circular conformation, circRNA vaccines exhibit enhanced resistance to nucleases and superior thermal stability, enabling sustained transfection activity at ambient temperatures without reliance on strict cold chains; through cap-independent translation driven by internal ribosome entry sites or N⁶-methyladenosine modifications, and in conjunction with optimized circularization protocols and lipid nanoparticle carriers, circRNA vaccines elicit substantially higher antiviral IgG titers and durable antigen-specific T-cell memory relative to linear mRNA vaccines. These vaccines have been deployed against COVID-19, monkeypox, influenza, and livestock viral diseases, demonstrating strong adaptability to viral variants and compatibility with mucosal or needle-free administration routes. CircRNA vaccines are well suited for both emergency outbreak response and routine immunization programs; nevertheless, challenges persist, including low circularization efficiency for long sequences, elevated manufacturing costs, and inadequate quality control standards. Addressing these issues through improved production workflows and delivery technologies adapted to resource-limited settings will be critical to establishing circRNA vaccines as a pillar of livestock disease management and as a strategic reserve for emerging zoonotic threats. Full article

The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), is of medical and veterinary relevance and is primarily controlled with acaricides. Because acaricide resistance in this tick is a growing concern, evaluating effective acaricides is particularly important in Baja California, where tick-borne pathogens associated with R. sanguineus s.l. are endemic. This study aimed to estimate a candidate discriminating concentration (DC) for fipronil in R. sanguineus s.l. from the city of Mexicali and to assess fipronil susceptibility in three tick populations. Engorged female ticks were collected from naturally infested dogs in Valle de Puebla, Solidaridad Social, and El Encanto. After hatching, larvae were exposed to seven concentrations of a commercial fipronil formulation (0.0016%, 0.0032%, 0.0047%, 0.0062%, 0.0093%, 0.0125%, and 0.025%) using the larval packet test. Mortality at 24 h was analyzed by probit regression to estimate the median lethal concentration (LC50) and the lethal concentration for 99% mortality (LC99). The estimated LC50 and LC99 were 0.0031% (95% CI: 0.0022–0.0042%) and 0.025% (95% CI: 0.0178–0.0331%). A candidate DC of 0.05% was estimated for the Valle de Puebla population. Application of this concentration to the other populations showed 100% mortality when exposed to both 0.025% and 0.05% fipronil, indicating similar susceptibility across all evaluated populations. These findings provide preliminary susceptibility data for future monitoring of fipronil susceptibility in R. sanguineus s.l. populations from Mexicali and suggest that this acaricide may remain a useful option for urban tick control where local populations are susceptible. Full article

Veterinary institutions need practical methods to translate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into profession-specific priorities. This study developed a two-phase priority-setting framework linking systematic SDG screening with multi-criteria decision analysis. First, all 169 SDG targets were screened using four veterinary-relevant dimensions. The 48 retained targets were synthesized into 27 preliminary concepts, refined through two rounds of structured internal expert evaluation, and harmonized by the research team into 27 final decision alternatives. Second, Budgetary Burden, Accessibility and Scope, Implementation Timeline, and Sustainability Impact were weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the 27 alternatives were ranked using TOPSIS. Robustness was assessed through Monte Carlo criterion-weight perturbation, score aggregation, and leave-one-expert-out analyses. Budgetary Burden (0.4025) and Sustainability Impact (0.3526) received the largest weights. Prevention of Zoonotic Diseases ranked first (C_i = 0.8272), followed by Awareness-Raising Campaigns, Animal Welfare Inspections on Commercial Animal Farms, and Audits of Food Safety and Production Process Compliance Standards. Criterion-weight perturbation and score aggregation largely preserved the highest-priority set, whereas leave-one-expert-out analysis showed greater sensitivity to panel composition. The framework should therefore be interpreted as a transparent, context-dependent, priority-setting tool rather than as an externally validated or universally applicable hierarchy. Full article

Due to limitations in the use of antibiotics as feed additives to promote growth, the development of safe, effective, and environmentally friendly antibiotic alternatives is a critical and urgent research priority in animal nutrition and veterinary medicine. Plants contain abundant active substances, which are important sources for developing new feed additives or discovering new active substances. Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (A. adenophora) is an herb native to Central America and a globally invasive species that has spread across Asia, Australia, Africa, and other continents. Studies indicated that it possesses a complex chemical composition, with over 100 constituents identified, including terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which exhibit diverse biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, insecticidal, acaricidal, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antitumor, and gut health regulation effects. However, it also possesses distinct toxicity, primarily targeting organs such as the intestines, liver, and spleen, causing tissue damage by activating specific signaling pathways. This may limit its utilization as a feed additive or in medical drug development. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the botanical characteristics, geographic distribution, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and toxicological effects of A. adenophora. We also discussed its potential application and current challenges. We hope this review can promote its development and utilization as potential feed additives or medicinal resources. Full article

Background/Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed parasite responsible for significant morbidity in both humans and animals. VXN-Toxo, is an intranasal vaccine based on maltodextrin nanoparticles formulated with inactivated T. gondii parasites. A vaccination campaign conducted worldwide in zoological parks demonstrated high efficacy across multiple species and geographical regions. These findings suggest that VXN-Toxo may induce broad cross-reactive immunity against T. gondii strains circulating in various regions. Methods: To further characterize the immune mechanisms, we evaluated the cellular immune response induced by VXN-Toxo in C57BL/6 mice. Following vaccination, splenocytes were stimulated with antigens derived from multiple T. gondii strains, representing the major haplogroups (types I, II, III, and atypical strains). Results: ELISPOT analysis demonstrated that VXN-Toxo induced strong antigen-specific T cell responses, characterized by robust IFN-γ and IL-17 production upon stimulation with both homologous and heterologous antigens. Flow cytometry analysis further revealed the activation of both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, with the notable presence of IFN-γ–producing CD8⁺ central and effector memory cells and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells. Conclusions: Altogether, these results indicate that VXN-Toxo induces a broad, T cell–mediated immune response with cross-reactive properties and highlight its potential as a promising vaccine candidate for both human and veterinary applications. Full article

The origins of veterinary medicine remain a subject of debate. The search for the “first veterinarian” has often led to the application of modern professional concepts to ancient societies. Among the Mesopotamian sources, particular attention has been given to ARM XXVI/1, text 270 from the royal archives of Mari, in which Jean-Marie Durand described Ipiq-Enlil as une espèce de vétérinaire (“a kind of veterinarian”). Despite the potential importance of this interpretation for the history of veterinary medicine, it has never been critically examined in the veterinary literature. The present study reassesses the letter concerning Ipiq-Enlil in the light of Durand’s philological commentary and compares it with other key Near Eastern sources relating to animal healthcare, including the Kahun Veterinary Papyrus, §§224–225 of the Code of Hammurabi, the records concerning Abū-ilīšu, and the seal of Ur-lugal-edinna. Our analysis indicates that the expression une espèce de vétérinaire represents Durand’s philological interpretation rather than a literal translation of the cuneiform text. Comparison with other Near Eastern sources shows that practical knowledge relating to animal health was already well developed during the first half of the second millennium BCE. At the same time, the available evidence does not support the existence of a distinct veterinary profession in the modern sense. Instead, the case of Ipiq-Enlil points to an early stage in the differentiation of specialised animal healthcare from a shared medical tradition encompassing both humans and animals. Full article

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Although rodent models are widely used in OA research, the disease is often artificially accelerated in these systems, and joint biomechanics differ substantially from those of humans. In contrast, canine models offer greater translational relevance due to similarities in joint size, cartilage thickness, and physiological mechanical loading of the knee, making them suitable surrogates for evaluating regenerative therapies. In this study, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells, which exhibit greater cellular homogeneity and enhanced osteochondrogenic potential compared with conventional mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in a canine monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA model. OA was induced by intra-articular (i.a.) injection of MIA into the knee joints of beagles. Animals were allocated to three groups: an implant group receiving allogeneic DFAT cells via i.a. injection, a vehicle group, and a sham group. Therapeutic outcomes were evaluated through macroscopic scoring of cartilage surfaces and histological assessment using toluidine blue staining to examine proteoglycan depletion and structural integrity. The implant group demonstrated significantly lower Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores for cartilage erosion and osteophyte formation compared with the vehicle group, indicating preservation of joint surface integrity. Toluidine blue staining further showed that DFAT cell implantation significantly preserved extracellular matrix components, with greater proteoglycan retention relative to vehicle-treated controls. A key rationale for employing a canine model was the high prevalence of spontaneous OA in dogs, which closely resembles human disease in clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and molecular pathways. Unlike rodent models, dogs naturally develop OA with progressive degenerative features that mirror human conditions. By utilizing a large animal model, this study bridges the gap between preclinical in vitro findings and potential human clinical application. Collectively, these results provide strong evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of allogeneic DFAT cells and suggest that DFAT-based therapy may represent a promising treatment strategy for chronic, naturally occurring OA in both veterinary and human patients. Full article

Edible insects are increasingly promoted as alternative foods, but their chemical safety is difficult to assess because hazards may arise throughout the production chain and the regulatory framework remains incomplete. This structured narrative review synthesises current evidence on chemical hazards in edible insects and examines their interpretation within the European Union regulatory framework. The available literature indicates that rearing substrates and production environments are major sources of contamination, particularly for heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticide residues, veterinary medicinal product residues, and persistent or emerging contaminants. However, transfer into insect biomass is highly species-, life-stage-, and compound-dependent, and metabolism, excretion, or transformation may reduce parent-compound concentrations without eliminating uncertainty regarding metabolites and other transformation products. Processing and storage may further modify the chemical profile through the formation of acrylamide, furan derivatives, lipid-oxidation products, and biogenic amines. Although the EU novel food framework provides product-specific premarket assessment, representative market-occurrence and consumption data remain limited, and generally applicable insect-specific maximum levels for contaminants have not been established, whereas pesticide residues are governed by the horizontal EU MRL framework. Chemical safety assessment should therefore adopt a full-chain, species- and product-specific approach integrating substrate control, contaminant fate, processing, storage, and consumer exposure. Full article