Veterinary Research[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Molecular epidemiology and PFGE-based genetic diversity of Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens from Eastern Türkiye.
Karagulle B, Yerlikaya Z, Muz A
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42157262 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Clostridium perfringens is a ubiquitous foodborne and opportunistic anaerobe and a leading cause of necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens, with implications for animal health, food safety, and public he...
BACKGROUND: Clostridium perfringens is a ubiquitous foodborne and opportunistic anaerobe and a leading cause of necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens, with implications for animal health, food safety, and public health. While the pore-forming NetB toxin has been identified as a major virulence determinant in NE, its prevalence shows geographical variability, and the molecular epidemiology of C. perfringens populations circulating in clinically healthy broilers with subclinical intestinal and hepatic lesions remains poorly characterized. METHODS: A cross-sectional molecular epidemiological study was conducted using samples from broiler chickens originating from 100 commercial farms in Eastern Türkiye and sampled at slaughterhouses. A total of 1,000 samples (500 intestinal and 500 liver tissues) exhibiting hemorrhagic and lesion-associated tissues were analyzed. C. perfringens isolates were identified using phenotypic methods and PCR targeting the cpa and 16 S rRNA genes. Major toxin genes (cpa, cpb, etx, iap, cpb2, and cpe) were detected by multiplex PCR, and the netB gene was screened by singleplex PCR. Alpha-toxin production was quantified by ELISA, and clonal relatedness was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: C. perfringens was isolated from 66.0% (660/1,000) of the samples. Nearly all isolates (99.5%) carried the cpa gene and were classified as toxin type A, whereas none harbored the netB gene or other major toxin genes. Alpha-toxin expression was confirmed in 94.0% of tested isolates. PFGE analysis of 61 representative isolates identified 30 distinct pulsotypes distributed across 17 clusters, revealing pronounced genetic heterogeneity among farms and slaughterhouses. CONCLUSIONS: The C. perfringens population circulating in broiler production systems in Eastern Türkiye is dominated by genetically diverse, cpa-positive and netB-negative type A strains. From a One Health perspective, the high prevalence and diversity of these strains in food animals highlight their potential role as reservoirs at the animal-food-human interface, emphasizing the need for integrated molecular surveillance to mitigate risks to poultry health and public health. To our knowledge, no previous study from Türkiye has reported PFGE-based genetic diversity analysis of Clostridium perfringens isolates from broiler chickens within a slaughterhouse-linked, multi-farm epidemiological design, nor has the presence of the netB toxin gene been comprehensively evaluated in broiler-derived isolates from Türkiye.
Effect of water temperature on life history traits of Radix natalensis, the intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica.
Dube A, Kalinda C, Manyangadze T … +1 more , Chimbari MJ
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42157212 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Radix natalensis, a gastropod, serves as an intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica in tropical and subtropical regions, causing fascioliasis, a disease of public health and veterinary importance worldwide. P...
BACKGROUND: Radix natalensis, a gastropod, serves as an intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica in tropical and subtropical regions, causing fascioliasis, a disease of public health and veterinary importance worldwide. Predicting disease burden requires understanding how climate change influences its life-history traits. This study investigated the effects of temperature on the life-history traits of R. natalensis. Snails were exposed to six temperature treatments (15.5 ℃, 19.5 ℃, 20.3 ℃ (control), 24.6 ℃, 29.8 ℃, and 35.1 ℃). For each treatment, 10 jars served as replicates, each containing two snails. Observations were conducted over two follow-up periods (2 weeks and 9 weeks). Data analysis was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA, the Kruskal -Wallis test, and the log-rank test. RESULTS: In the first two weeks of the study, shell height was highest among snails exposed to 24.6 °C (4.14 ± 0.56 mm) and least among those at 35.1 °C (3.90 ± 0.50 mm. A significant increase in shell height was observed to be associated with the interaction between temperature and time (RM Anova F6,72 = 4.51, p < 0.001). In contrast, the effect of temperature alone was not statistically significant (RM Anova F = 1.95, p = 0.092). For the duration of the experiment, snails maintained at 19.5℃ attained a higher mean shell height (5.43 ± 1.04 mm) compared to those at 15.5 °C (4.85 ± 0.89 mm); however, the overall effect of temperature on shell height was not statistically significant (F = 0.07; p = 0.978). On the other hand, there were notable differences in reproductive production between temperature treatments. Egg masses were substantially higher in snails kept at 19.5 °C: 22 (11) than in those kept at 15.5 °C: 6 (8); (z = - 2.762; p = 0.003). Survival probability declined with increasing temperature, particularly at 29.8 °C and 35.5 °C. Overall, survival rates differed significantly across the temperature treatments (Log-rank test: p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Radix natalensis's survival and reproductive performance are temperature-dependent, whereas snail growth is influenced by the combination of incubation conditions and time. These findings imply that temperature fluctuations will play a critical role in shaping the future transmission dynamics of fascioliasis.
Prevalence of antibiotic residues in red meat across Mogadishu, Somalia.
Hersi MA, Ahmed AB, Mohamed MK … +10 more , Mohamed AY, Mohamed FA, Abdullahi AR, Abdullahi AM, Muhumed MH, Osman SM, Abdi AH, Hussein AB, Fiidow OA, Mohamed MA
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42157191 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Antibiotic residues in meat are a public health concern, especially in settings with veterinary drug regulations. In Somalia, where oversight of veterinary drug use could be strengthened. This study reports t...
BACKGROUND: Antibiotic residues in meat are a public health concern, especially in settings with veterinary drug regulations. In Somalia, where oversight of veterinary drug use could be strengthened. This study reports the findings of screening for antibiotic residues in beef, goat, and camel meat collected from five districts in Mogadishu. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2024 to March 2025 across five Mogadishu districts (Hodan, Howlwadaag, Warta Nabadda, Hamarwayne and Daynile). In total, 150 retail meat samples (50 per species) were collected using a purposive sampling approach. The samples were screened for antibiotic residues using the Premi Test, a qualitative microbial inhibition assay that does not identify specific antibiotic classes or quantify their concentrations. Prevalence was estimated using exact (Clopper-Pearson) 95% confidence intervals, and differences by meat type were assessed using chi-square and crude logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 10% of samples (15/150) were screening-positive for antibiotic residues. Prevalence was highest in beef 16.0% (8/50; 95% CI: 8.3-28.5), followed by goat at 10.0% (5/50; 95% CI: 4.4-21.4) and camel at 4.0% (2/50; 95% CI: 1.1-13.5). Differences across meat types were not statistically significant ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) although crude logistic regression suggested lower odds of contamination in camel compared to beef (OR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.05-0.96; [Formula: see text]). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic residues were detected in beef, goat, and camel meat sold in Mogadishu. Because the test used was qualitative and the number of positive samples was small, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. They offer preliminary surveillance information for the sampled districts and underscore the need for confirmatory, compound-specific testing to support the development of risk-based residue monitoring in Somalia.
Integrated analysis of transcriptome and proteome reveal that PDCoV infection induces autophagy-dependent ferroptosis to facilitate viral replication.
Yang X, Mi X, Liu W … +15 more , Zainab F, Wu M, Yin H, Liu M, Zhang T, Sun Z, Zhang D, Tang P, Song T, Duan L, Xi Y, Wang C, Li W, Wang H, Yang B
Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42152128 · Full text
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging enteropathogenic coronavirus that causes severe diarrhea in swine industries worldwide. However, the interactions between PDCoV and host cells remain poorly understood. In...
Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging enteropathogenic coronavirus that causes severe diarrhea in swine industries worldwide. However, the interactions between PDCoV and host cells remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to investigate host responses to PDCoV infection. Our results identified 1448 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 1.5 h post-PDCoV infection and 11,753 DEGs, along with 898 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) at 18 h post-PDCoV infection. Furthermore, several signaling pathways, including innate immunity, autophagy, and ferroptosis, were primarily enriched following an integrated analysis of the transcriptome and proteome. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis indicated that proteins closely associated with these pathways, such as interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1), myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2), interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), radical S-adenosyl methionine domain containing 2 (RSAD2), 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase like (OASL), autophagy related 14 (ATG14), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), were central to the interaction network. Importantly, we demonstrated that autophagy and ferroptosis were induced upon PDCoV infection, and that inhibition of autophagy significantly suppressed the induction of PDCoV-induced ferroptosis, which decreases the viral proliferation. Overall, our findings provide a comprehensive overview of transcriptomic and proteomic changes following PDCoV infection and enhance the understanding of PDCoV pathogenesis, which will be beneficial for improving strategies for the prevention and control of PDCoV infection.
Assessment of animal owners' compliance with short-course antibiotic treatment at the University of Gondar Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.
Aragaw ZJ, Tezera SD, Berihun AM … +4 more , Mekasha YT, Mekonen AW, Shiferaw DT, Beyene AM
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42152101 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Non-compliance with antibiotic treatment regimens can lead to treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance, compromised animal welfare, economic losses, and public health risks. Evidence on compliance among an...
BACKGROUND: Non-compliance with antibiotic treatment regimens can lead to treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance, compromised animal welfare, economic losses, and public health risks. Evidence on compliance among animal owners in Ethiopia is lacking, leaving a critical gap in understanding behaviors that affect antimicrobial stewardship and One Health strategies. This study provides the first evidence on compliance with short-course antibiotic treatments in Gondar Town, Ethiopia, by assessing factors that influence compliance, identifying reasons for non-compliance, and proposing evidence-based interventions. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted at the University of Gondar Veterinary Teaching Hospital from February to August 2025. A total of 106 animal owners (27 cattle, 27 sheep, 26 dogs, and 26 horses) were enrolled. Compliance, defined as completion of all prescribed doses, was monitored through direct observation using follow-up checklists. Non-compliers were interviewed to capture reasons for missed treatments. Logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 to identify predictors of compliance. RESULTS: The overall compliance rate was 68.9%, indicating a moderate level of compliance. Compliance was significantly associated with education, farming experience, and prior experience with animal illness. Owners with primary (aOR = 6.526, p = 0.044) and tertiary educations (aOR = 7.256, p = 0.033), as well as those with five to ten years of farming experience (aOR = 13.193, p = 0.008), had markedly higher odds of following prescribed regimens. In contrast, owners encountering animal illness for the first time (aOR = 0.029, p = 0.005) were less likely to comply. The main reasons for non-compliance included premature discontinuation of treatment after perceived recovery (27.3%), forgetfulness and time constraints (27.3%). CONCLUSION: Animal owners showed moderate compliance, but gaps due to perceived recovery, forgetfulness, and time constraints persist. Tailored counseling for owners with limited illness experience and low literacy combined with peer-to-peer learning should be implemented.
Establishment and evaluation of hematological and serum biochemical reference intervals in Chinese local donkey populations.
Zhu Q, Khan MZ, Jing Y … +8 more , Liu X, Chen W, Geng M, Liu B, Zhang Y, Xing S, Peng Y, Wang C
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42152089 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Reliable interpretation of hematological and serum biochemical test results in donkeys benefits from the use of population- and management-system-adapted reference intervals (RIs). However, standardized and C...
BACKGROUND: Reliable interpretation of hematological and serum biochemical test results in donkeys benefits from the use of population- and management-system-adapted reference intervals (RIs). However, standardized and CLSI-compliant RIs for Chinese local donkeys are still unavailable, limiting their clinical and epidemiological application. This study aimed to establish hematological and serum biochemical RIs for Chinese local donkeys using a large, multi-farm dataset, and to evaluate the effects of farm origin, age, and sex on these parameters. Blood samples were collected from healthy donkeys raised under different conservation levels and production systems, and RIs were constructed following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) C28-A3 guidelines using non-parametric methods. RESULTS: A total of 1,163 serum samples collected from five geographically distinct donkey farms were included for serum biochemical analysis. The study population was sourced from national conservation farms comprising Dong'e and Wudi, provincial conservation farms comprising Yucheng and Zhongrun, and one local farm in Xinjiang. Twenty serum biochemical parameters covering protein metabolism, liver function, energy and lipid metabolism, mineral balance, and renal function were assessed. Hematological analyses were performed using samples obtained from 935 donkeys from the Dong'e farm. The results demonstrated that farm origin was the primary source of variation for most serum biochemical parameters. In contrast, although age- and sex-related differences were observed for certain variables, Harris and Boyd partitioning analysis indicated that these effects were not of sufficient magnitude to justify separate reference intervals for either biochemical or hematological parameters. Juvenile donkeys exhibited physiological trends consistent with growth and immune system maturation; however, these differences remained within the limits of non-partitioning criteria. Overall, the reference intervals established in this study differed from those reported in horses and donkeys from other regions, highlighting the substantial influence of population background and management conditions on physiological profiles. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first large-scale, CLSI-compliant hematological and serum biochemical reference intervals for Chinese local donkeys. The findings indicate that population- and management-system-adapted reference intervals are important for accurate clinical interpretation. These reference values offer a useful baseline for veterinary diagnosis, health monitoring, and conservation management of Chinese donkey populations.
Novel B cell epitopes mapping in pD205R protein of African swine fever virus using monoclonal antibodies.
Lang C, Zhang Y, Zhang Y … +6 more , Gong W, Zhang D, Zhu Z, Bai J, Jiang P, Gao Y
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42152087 · Full text
BACKGROUND: African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly significant pathogen that causes hemorrhagic fever in domestic pigs and wild boars, resulting in substantial economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. The D...
BACKGROUND: African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly significant pathogen that causes hemorrhagic fever in domestic pigs and wild boars, resulting in substantial economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. The D205R protein (pD205R), which exhibits high similarity to the eukaryotic subunit 5 of RNA polymerase II (RPB5), has been identified as a component of the ASFV virion. However, the biological functions of pD205R remain largely unexplored. RESULTS: In this study, the recombinant pD205R (rpD205R) protein was expressed using a prokaryotic expression system, and five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting pD205R were generated. Among them, four mAbs - 5C8, 5C10, 6D5 and 9H8 - were identified as belonging to the IgG2a isotype with a kappa light chain, while mAb 3A5 was of the IgG1 isotype with a kappa light chain. The specific recognition of rpD205R by all five mAbs was demonstrated by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Moreover, mAbs 3A5, 5C8, 5C10 and 6D5 exhibited strong reactivity with the native viral pD205R protein. Furthermore, two novel linear epitopes, spanning amino acid residues 144QEEAQEFLGR153 and 174LGGRPGDFVQ183, were identified by epitope mapping using these mAbs. Sequence alignment analysis revealed that both epitopes are conserved among the analyzed representative strains. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, five monoclonal antibodies-designated 3A5, 5C8, 5C10, 6D5, and 9H8-targeting the ASFV pD205R protein were successfully generated, resulting in the identification of two novel linear epitopes. These findings not only offer valuable monoclonal antibody tools for future investigations into the biological functions of D205R but also contribute to the development of ASFV serological diagnostic methods.
Clinicopathologic variables according to disease severity in dogs with heartworm disease.
Kim M, Seo M, Cho J … +1 more , Park C
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42152057 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Canine heartworm disease is associated with various clinicopathologic abnormalities; however, most previous studies have focused on comparisons between infected and non-infected dogs rather than differences a...
BACKGROUND: Canine heartworm disease is associated with various clinicopathologic abnormalities; however, most previous studies have focused on comparisons between infected and non-infected dogs rather than differences according to disease severity. The American Heartworm Society (AHS) clinical classification reflects disease severity in clinical practice, but clinicopathologic changes based on this classification have not been fully characterized. This study aimed to evaluate clinicopathologic variables according to disease severity and to assess their associations with heartworm class in dogs with heartworm disease. METHODS: This retrospective study included 35 dogs diagnosed with heartworm disease. Dogs were classified according to Amearican Heartworm Society guidelines into mild (class 1-2) and advanced (class 3-4) groups. Clinicopathologic variables, including complete blood count, electrolyte, serum chemistry, and thromboelastography (TEG) parameters, were compared between groups, and correlations with heartworm class were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 35 dogs were retrospectively analyzed and categorized into mild (class 1-2, n = 17) and advanced (class 3-4, n = 18) groups. Compared with the mild group, dogs in the advanced group had significantly higher RDW, BUN, AST, CREA, and thromboelastography reaction time (R), and significantly lower Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cl⁻ concentrations. Spearman correlation analysis showed that heartworm class was positively correlated with RDW (ρ = 0.550), BUN (ρ = 0.601), AST (ρ = 0.788), and R (ρ = 0.730), and negatively correlated with Na⁺ (ρ = -0.430), Ca²⁺ (ρ = -0.422), and Cl (ρ = -0.392) (all P < 0.05). CREA was significantly different between groups but was not significantly correlated with heartworm class. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicopathologic variables differed according to disease severity in dogs with heartworm disease. These findings suggest that selected variables may reflect increasing clinical severity and provide adjunctive information for clinical assessment. Further studies are needed to validate these associations.
Cryptosporidiosis at the human-ruminant interface in Aswan, Egypt: a one health epidemiological study using microscopy, immunofluorescence, and PCR.
Gareh A, Elbarbary NK, Abd El-Halim MO … +7 more , Ali MA, Al-Essa LA, Taha R, Hazzazi Y, Sumayli M, Ahmed AE, Ragab MF
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42152050 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidiosis is a significant zoonotic enteric infection at the human-livestock interface. In Egypt, Cryptosporidium spp. has been widely reported in both humans and domestic animals, with prevalence var...
BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidiosis is a significant zoonotic enteric infection at the human-livestock interface. In Egypt, Cryptosporidium spp. has been widely reported in both humans and domestic animals, with prevalence varying across regions and host species, highlighting its importance as a public health and veterinary concern. This study investigated the prevalence and epidemiological correlates of Cryptosporidium spp. infection among domestic ruminants and closely exposed humans in Aswan Governorate, Egypt, using parasitological and molecular approaches. METHODS: A total of 870 fecal samples were collected, including 684 from domestic ruminants (cattle calves n = 238, buffalo calves n = 186, lambs n = 127, and goat kids n = 133) and 186 from humans (1-65 years) in close contact with the examined animals. Samples were initially examined using microscopy and an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). PCR was subsequently performed on IFA-positive samples to confirm the presence of Cryptosporidium DNA. Associations between infection and potential risk factors were assessed using logistic regression analysis, and results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in ruminants was 34.5% (236/684; 95% CI: 30.9-38.2) and 31.6% (216/684; 95% CI: 28.1-35.2) as determined by microscopic and immunofluorescence examination, respectively. Among humans in close contact with the examined ruminants, the prevalence was 25.3% (47/186; 95% CI: 19.4-32.0) and 18.8% (35/186; 95% CI: 13.5-25.2), respectively. Nested PCR analysis of immunofluorescence-positive samples confirmed infection in 89.8% (194/216; 95% CI: 85.0-93.4) of ruminant samples and 91.4% (32/35; 95% CI: 76.9-98.2) of human samples. In ruminants, univariable analysis showed that infection was significantly associated with sex (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.28-2.42; p < 0.05), age (highest in 1-3 months: OR = 4.58; 95% CI: 2.66-7.88; p < 0.001), season (spring: OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.59-4.38; p < 0.001), and fecal consistency (liquid feces: OR = 8.32; 95% CI: 3.75-18.47; p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified age and fecal consistency as independent predictors. In humans, age was the only significant factor, with higher odds in children aged 1-10 years (OR = 6.44; 95% CI: 1.75-23.77; p = 0.0412), remaining significant after adjustment. CONCLUSION: Cryptosporidiosis is highly prevalent in Aswan, particularly among young ruminants, with prevalent infection observed among closely exposed humans-especially children. These findings highlight the importance of improving hygiene in young livestock, managing diarrheic animals, and reducing environmental contamination of manure and water sources. Species-level identification was not performed; therefore, zoonotic transmission could not be confirmed. Further molecular characterization studies are needed to determine circulating Cryptosporidium spp. and better understand transmission dynamics within a One Health framework.
Cross-sectional study of calves from Norwegian dairy herds with enzootic pneumonia: pathogen occurrence, antimicrobial resistance, culture result interpretation, and sampling site agreement.
Ånestad LM, Falkeid SE, Oma VS … +5 more , Garmo RT, Bjelland AM, Woolums AR, Stokstad M, Klem TB
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42152043 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Enzootic pneumonia in calves is associated with pathogens such as Pasteurellaceae bacteria and Mycoplasmopsis bovis. Some of these bacteria are commensals in healthy calves, complicating culture interpretatio...
BACKGROUND: Enzootic pneumonia in calves is associated with pathogens such as Pasteurellaceae bacteria and Mycoplasmopsis bovis. Some of these bacteria are commensals in healthy calves, complicating culture interpretation, discouraging laboratory diagnostic use, and limiting knowledge of their impact. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of respiratory pathogens in calves from dairy herds with enzootic pneumonia. Culture results between upper and lower airway sites in healthy and diseased calves were also compared to evaluate their diagnostic value. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 131 calves (72 healthy and 59 diseased) from nine Norwegian dairy herds. Nasal swabs (NS), nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS), and serum were obtained from each calf, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from 113 calves. RESULTS: At the calf level, Pasteurella multocida was present in 60%, Mannheimia haemolytica in 55%, and Histophilus somni in 3%. At the sampling site level, from NS, NPS, and BAL, P. multocida was detected in 47%, 45%, and 27%, and M. haemolytica in 46%, 37%, and 8%, respectively. H. somni was detected in ≤ 2% per site. P. multocida appeared as pure culture in 73% (22/30) of positive BAL cultures. Serum antibodies to M. bovis were not detected. Most Pasteurellaceae isolates were susceptible to penicillin and other common pneumonia antimicrobials (disc diffusion). The exceptions were penicillin-resistant M. haemolytica isolates in two calves. Logistic regression identified an association between dominant, abundant cultures of P. multocida from BAL and clinical disease. Agreement for P. multocida detection between NS and NPS cultures and BAL was fair (kappa). Positive predictive values of P. multocida culture results at different abundance levels in NS and NPS, relative to BAL, were at most 49%. CONCLUSION: P. multocida was the predominant bacterium in lungs of calves from Norwegian dairy herds with enzootic pneumonia, and its abundance in the lungs may help differentiate infection from colonization in clinically diseased calves. M. haemolytica and H. somni appeared to have less clinical impact. Antimicrobial resistance appeared to be low. Upper airway cultures were inaccurate predictors of bacterial presence and abundance in the lungs and must be interpreted carefully alongside other diagnostic tools.
Combating antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture: the stakeholders survey in Nigeria.
Odumosu BT, Bamidele TA, Buraimoh OM … +2 more , Romiluyi B, Emmanuel BE
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42151968 · Full text
The aquaculture practices have contributed immensely to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in developing countries where antibiotic use is often poorly regulated. This study employed a cro...
The aquaculture practices have contributed immensely to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in developing countries where antibiotic use is often poorly regulated. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to assess the perceptions, knowledge, and practices among stakeholders in Nigerian aquaculture regarding AMR, with a particular focus on biosecurity measures. A one-day stakeholder engagement was conducted at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, involving 97 participants, including 40 researchers, 30 aquaculture farmers, 19 government officials, and 8 others. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics including weighted averages, standard deviations, and Pearson's Chi-square (X) tests of independence to evaluate associations between stakeholder categories and AMR-related variables. The study revealed a notable reliance on antibiotics for prophylactic disease control, rather than use as growth promoting agent. A significant number of farmers (83.3%) implemented some form of biosecurity, primarily through disinfection procedures, feed checks, and regular health monitoring of stocks. However, the perceived effectiveness of these measures varied among respondents, highlighting challenges in implementing truly effective biosecurity protocols. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to address the growing antimicrobial resistance threat in the Nigerian aquaculture sector, including enhancing understanding of responsible antimicrobial use, promoting alternative disease control strategies, and strengthening surveillance and monitoring systems.
Classification of different light colors applied during the incubation period based on small intestine morphology with XGBoost algorithm.
Şen U, Cilavdaroğlu E, Coşkun İ … +5 more , Tırınk C, Filik G, Çayan H, Kızılköy İC, Odu O
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42151964 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Light is a significant environmental stimulus affecting embryonic development during incubation, and it is known that different wavelengths can have distinctive effects on incubation performance and post-hatc...
BACKGROUND: Light is a significant environmental stimulus affecting embryonic development during incubation, and it is known that different wavelengths can have distinctive effects on incubation performance and post-hatching physiological characteristics. However, the extent to which the traces left by different light colors applied during incubation on the small intestine morphology of chicks can be classified has not yet been sufficiently clarified. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the classifiability of different light colors (red, white, and green) applied during incubation based on the small intestine morphological characteristics of chicks using the XGBoost algorithm. METHODS: Fertilized eggs were incubated under red, green, white, or dark conditions. At hatching, the small intestines of chicks were excised and divided into the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The villus characteristics in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined using an image analysis programme. Villus height, crypt depth, and morphological ratios based on these, obtained from the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, were used as classification inputs. RESULTS: The XGBoost model was trained over different hyperparameter combinations, and the best performance was achieved with max_depth = 5, eta = 0.1, and nrounds = 100. Optimized with 5-fold cross-validation, the model achieved 78.95% accuracy in classifying light groups in an independent test set. Furthermore, the macro precision, macro recall, and macro F1-score of the model were 0.7896, 0.7930, and 0.7878, respectively. These findings demonstrate that different light colors applied during incubation create discernible structural changes in the small intestine morphology of chicks, and these differences hold promising potential for classification using machine learning methods. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that intestinal histomorphology has promising biomarker potential not only for assessing biological effects but also for determining incubation lighting conditions using machine-learning-based approaches. The study reveals that using predictive models to explain the biological effects of incubation lighting can be an important tool for sustainable poultry production.
Risk assessment of West Nile fever in equines in Europe based on an ecological niche model.
Wang Y, An Q, Liu Y … +2 more , Yang T, Sun Z
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42151951 · Full text
West Nile fever is a zoonotic viral disease transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, capable of causing severe neurological illness in humans, equines, and birds. Over the past dozen years, Europe has experienced numerous WNF ou...
West Nile fever is a zoonotic viral disease transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, capable of causing severe neurological illness in humans, equines, and birds. Over the past dozen years, Europe has experienced numerous WNF outbreaks of varying severity, leading to significant public health and economic impacts. Consequently, WNF has emerged as a major concern for both public health and veterinary sectors. In this study, we employed spatiotemporal analysis techniques alongside an optimized ecological niche model to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of historical WNF outbreaks, predict high-risk areas for equine WNF occurrence in Europe, and identify associated risk factors. The spatiotemporal analysis revealed a distinct seasonal pattern, with most outbreaks occurring in September. Between 2010 and 2023, the overall spread direction of equine WNF outbreaks in Europe trended from southeast to northwest, forming seven statistically significant spatiotemporal clusters. Ecological niche modeling indicated that southern Portugal, southern and eastern coastal regions of Spain, southwestern and southeastern regions of France, most parts of Italy, northeastern Germany, western Poland, southwestern coastal regions of Croatia, southwestern coastal regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, southwestern coastal regions of Montenegro, western coastal regions of Albania, most parts of Greece, southwestern regions of Bulgaria, and Tekirdağ Province in Turkey are high-risk areas for WNF occurrence in equines in Europe. Isothermality, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, mean precipitation of the warmest quarter, elevation, and NDVI are important variables affecting WNF occurrence in equine. This study provides valuable insights to support targeted West Nile virus surveillance and optimized resource allocation across Europe.
Effects of supplementing concentrates with different energy levels on growth performance, blood indicators, and fecal microbiota of Mongolian horses in late gestation.
Liu Y, Wang X, Wang G … +9 more , Wu Z, He Q, Zhao B, Du M, Zhao Y, Bou G, Bai D, Dugarjaviin M, Zhang X
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42151949 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Horse breeding and management have a globally extensive history, with horses serving vital roles in transportation, warfare, agriculture, and cultural activities. In China, particularly in Inner Mongolia, the...
BACKGROUND: Horse breeding and management have a globally extensive history, with horses serving vital roles in transportation, warfare, agriculture, and cultural activities. In China, particularly in Inner Mongolia, the horse industry faces challenges such as harsh winters and limited nutritional research for local breeds, especially during late gestation. This critical period is essential for fetal development and maternal health, and inadequate nutrition can lead to complications like nutritional abortions and poor foal growth. Similar issues exist worldwide in cold climates or regions with seasonal pasture variations, emphasizing the need for comprehensive equine nutrition research. RESULTS: This study investigated the effects of supplementary feeding with concentrates of different energy levels-high (HEN), medium (MEN), and low (LEN)-on Mongolian broodmares during late gestation. Supplementation with MEN concentrate significantly improved the final body weight of mares, tended to increase average daily gain (ADG), and enhanced nutrient digestibility. Blood biochemical indicators showed that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was significantly higher in the MEN group compared to HEN and LEN groups, indicating enhanced anaerobic glycolysis. Conversely, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity was significantly lower in the MEN group, suggesting reduced hepatic or muscular stress. Antioxidant indices demonstrated reduced oxidative stress, with catalase (CAT) levels significantly higher and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels lower in the MEN group. Reproductive hormone analysis revealed that MEN supplementation increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, while the LEN group had significantly higher progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) levels. Fecal microbiota analysis indicated altered microbial community composition favoring beneficial bacteria, and metabolomic analysis revealed significant differences in metabolites related to energy metabolism and other physiological pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides compelling evidence that medium-energy (MEN) concentrate supplementation is an effective nutritional strategy for late-gestation Mongolian broodmares, promoting maternal health, metabolic efficiency, and physiological homeostasis. These findings have global implications, offering insights to optimize broodmare nutrition worldwide, particularly in cold climates or regions with seasonal pasture shortages. By adopting similar strategies, breeders can enhance reproductive outcomes and contribute to the sustainable development of the horse industry on a global scale.
Epidemiological and genetic variation analysis of emerging porcine circovirus type 3 in Henan Province, 2023-2024.
Song J, Zhai H, Cao J … +14 more , Jia M, Wang J, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Xiao L, Jia T, Li N, Zhang T, Shi H, Li D, Kan Y, Yao L, Tian Z, Leng C
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42151946 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is an emerging pathogen with high genetic variability, posing a continuous challenge to swine health and disease control. Ongoing viral evolution highlights the need for molec...
BACKGROUND: Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is an emerging pathogen with high genetic variability, posing a continuous challenge to swine health and disease control. Ongoing viral evolution highlights the need for molecular surveillance to monitor circulating PCV3 strains. RESULTS: From 2023 to 2024, 257 blood and tissue samples from pigs with reproductive and respiratory disorders were collected in Henan Province, China. PCV3 was detected in 21.79% (56/257) of samples by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Genetic characterization of 15 new PCV3 strains showed 98.95-99.95% nucleotide (nt) identity among themselves and 98.70-99.85% identity with global reference strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the ORF2 genes identified PCV3a-1, PCV3a-2, PCV3a-IM, PCV3b, and PCV3c subtypes, with PCV3b predominating. Notably, a genetically divergent strain, HN240609, clustered within the PCV3c subgroup. Additionally, multiple unique amino acid (aa) mutations were observed in the predicted T-cell and B-cell epitope regions of the capsid (Cap) protein (R10K, A35V, T102A, T102S, F104Y, T170A, and V180I). CONCLUSIONS: Genetically diverse PCV3 strains are co-circulating in Henan Province, and mutations in antigenic regions of the Cap protein may facilitate immune evasion. Continuous molecular surveillance is therefore essential for effective PCV3 prevention and control.
Evaluation of clinical chemistry using diluted sera in mice and rats.
Ha KW, Cho J, Kim KT … +1 more , Song J
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42151943 · Full text
BACKGROUND: In preclinical toxicity and efficacy studies, clinical pathology tests play a critical role in detecting pathological alterations, assessing drug effectiveness, and monitoring animal conditions. However, thei...
BACKGROUND: In preclinical toxicity and efficacy studies, clinical pathology tests play a critical role in detecting pathological alterations, assessing drug effectiveness, and monitoring animal conditions. However, their application is frequently restricted by the limited sample volumes that can be collected from laboratory animals such as mice and young animals. To overcoming this limitation, dilution of samples may be utilized. In this study, we investigated the impact of pre-dilution by using a Toshiba analyzer and saline as the diluent, comparing analytical results from diluted and undiluted specimens in both mice and rats. Seventeen biochemical analytes were assessed in serum samples diluted 2.5-, 5-, 7.5-, and 10-fold, and these results were compared with those of undiluted samples. RESULTS: We evaluated mean values, bias, two standard deviations (2SD), and the standard deviation index (SDI). To ensure data obtained from diluted samples are valid and dependable, we applied allowable total error (TEa), defined as the maximum acceptable error for a test result to remain reliable and clinically relevant. The mean values from 2.5-fold diluted samples exhibited no significant difference compared to those from undiluted samples in mice and rats, except Cl, Na, ALB, and TBIL. Furthermore, findings from bias, 2SD, SDI, and TEa analyses indicated that a 2.5-fold sample dilution is suitable for clinical chemistry analysis of multiple analytes, except for Cl, Na, and TBIL in both species. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results may serve as a reference for the suitability of diluted serum samples in clinical chemistry analysis. Further studies utilizing various analytical instruments, diluents, or animal species are recommended.
Breeding objectives, selection criteria and breeding practices of indigenous goats in Ahferom district of Central Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.
Woldegebriel D, Gebremariam T, Asmelash H … +1 more , Begashaw T
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42143367 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Sustainable utilization of farm animal genetic resources requires a comprehensive understanding of farmer breeding management and selection criteria. However, site-specific data for indigenous goats in the Ah...
BACKGROUND: Sustainable utilization of farm animal genetic resources requires a comprehensive understanding of farmer breeding management and selection criteria. However, site-specific data for indigenous goats in the Ahferom district of Northern Ethiopia was lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the breeding objectives and selection practices of 147 smallholder goat farmers across midland and lowland agro-ecologies. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather data. In addition, focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with eight to ten knowledgeable farmers and key informants. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: The goat flock structure (Mean ± Standard Error of the Mean = SEM; 17.35 ± 0.17) was characterized by a high proportion of breeding does. Farmers exhibited a strong market-oriented focus, prioritizing income generation (Index = 0.39) and meat production (0.21) as primary breeding objectives. While most farmers (61.2%) maintained their own breeding bucks, mating remained largely uncontrolled (83.0%). Selection for the next generation was driven by productivity and morphological traits, with litter size (0.29) and body conformation (0.29) identified as the top criteria for does and bucks, respectively. Castration, practiced by over 93% of respondents, was strategically timed (typically at 1-2 years of age) to maximize market value through improved body condition. CONCLUSIONS: In the Ahferom district, goat breeding objectives are multi-functional but lean toward market-oriented traits. Hence, breed improvement programs must prioritize marketable body size and rapid growth rates, which are the top ranked selection criteria for bucks while focusing on mothering ability and litter size for does. Furthermore, the significantly (p < 0.05) larger flock sizes, and higher proportion of breeding does in the lowland compared to the midland suggest that improvement strategies should be tailored to the specific management scales and environmental pressures of these distinct agro-ecological zones.
Comprehensive analysis of population structure and genomic diversity in fifteen Anatolian sheep breeds.
Bayraktar M, Durmuş M, Uyguner Ö … +3 more , Turan M, Özcan BD, Koluman N
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42143321 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Characterizing genomic diversity and population structure is essential for the conservation and sustainable utilization of indigenous sheep genetic resources. Anatolia represents an important center of sheep...
BACKGROUND: Characterizing genomic diversity and population structure is essential for the conservation and sustainable utilization of indigenous sheep genetic resources. Anatolia represents an important center of sheep diversity, harboring multiple populations shaped by diverse breeding histories, ecological conditions, and management practices. In this study, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide assessment of fifteen Anatolian sheep populations using SNP-based data to investigate their genomic diversity, population structure, and genetic relationships. RESULTS: Genetic diversity indices revealed substantial heterogeneity among populations in terms of heterozygosity, allelic richness, minor allele frequency, proportion of polymorphic loci, and inbreeding coefficients, indicating marked differences in within-population genomic variation. Analysis of molecular variance showed that most of the total genetic variation was distributed within populations, although a significant proportion was also attributable to among-population differences. Pairwise FST estimates and principal component analysis demonstrated a structured yet heterogeneous genomic landscape, with some populations exhibiting clear differentiation and others clustering more closely. Phylogenetic analyses further supported this pattern through differences in monophyletic clustering, branch-length dispersion within populations, and patristic distances between populations. Admixture analysis identified three major ancestry components and revealed population-specific differences in ancestry composition and admixture levels. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) analyses showed considerable variation among populations in both the abundance and length distribution of homozygous segments, which was also reflected in class-specific ROH-based genomic inbreeding coefficient (FROH) profiles. Gene flow estimates additionally indicated heterogeneous connectivity across populations. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings demonstrate that Anatolian sheep populations retain diverse and structured genomic backgrounds despite varying levels of differentiation, admixture, and genomic inbreeding. This study provides a robust genomic framework for understanding the evolutionary relationships among Anatolian sheep populations and offers valuable insights to inform future conservation, management, and breeding strategies.
Preparation and epitope mapping of broad-spectrum neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against economically important pestiviruses.
Liu Z, Mi S, He S … +9 more , Wu M, Bao F, Feng Y, Wang Z, Xu L, Pan X, Tu C, Li J, Gong W
Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42141466 · Full text
Pestiviruses are pathogens with broad host ranges, infecting domestic animals and wildlife, with some of them exhibiting antigenic similarity and cross-neutralization capability. However, the underlying molecular mechani...
Pestiviruses are pathogens with broad host ranges, infecting domestic animals and wildlife, with some of them exhibiting antigenic similarity and cross-neutralization capability. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. In this study, BALB/c mice were immunized with purified E2 protein of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) LPC strain to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using hybridoma technology. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and western blot were employed to determine the reactivity of mAbs with pestiviruses and E2 proteins. As a result, 31 mAbs against CSFV E2 protein were generated, with two mAbs TCH034 and TCH052 exhibiting broad-spectrum reactivity against different genotypes of CSFV, BVDV1 and BVDV2, as well as E2 proteins from 8 pestivirus species (CSFV, BVDV1, BVDV2, HobiPeV, BDV, AydinPeV, TSV and ovIT PeV). The pestivirus broad-spectrum mAbs demonstrated neutralizing activity against the available strains of CSFV, BVDV1, and BVDV2. Epitope mapping with truncated and point-mutated E2 proteins showed that TCH034 and TCH052 recognize a highly conserved antigenic epitope in E2 proteins among 8 pestivirus species, comprising residues G, K, W and G, which was further confirmed by the inability of TCH034 and TCH052 to react with or neutralize the rescued CSFV strain JL23 containing substitutions K114M, K114N, K114R and K114T. Taken together, the findings of this study elucidate the molecular basis underlying antigenic conservation and cross-neutralization among pestiviruses, providing valuable support for the development of diagnostic assays targeting economically important pestiviruses.
Collaboration, impact, and research trends at the veterinary research institutes of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences: a bibliometric analysis from 2009 to 2023.
Rehman ZU, Basra MJ, Tahir AH … +4 more , Manzoor Z, Ren S, Afzal A, Meng C
BMC Vet Res · 2026 May · PMID 42141427 · Full text
This paper examines the research output and impact of Veterinary Research Institutes (VRIs) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), namely Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute (SHVRI), Harbin Veterinary...
This paper examines the research output and impact of Veterinary Research Institutes (VRIs) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), namely Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute (SHVRI), Harbin Veterinary Research Institute (HVRI), and Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute (LVRI), to answer research questions. The study explores publication count, citation structure, h-index, most-cited articles, keyword trends, trend topics, co-authorship, thematic maps, and bibliographic coupling. The data is extracted from Scopus, covering publications from 2009 to 2023. Utilizing Excel, R (Biblioshiny), and VOSviewer (version 1.6.20, Leiden University, Netherlands), we found that VRIs of the CAAS demonstrated a steady upward trend in their research output, with SHVRI leading in top-cited articles, HVRI in citations and h-index, and LVRI in publications. Key journals include Veterinary Microbiology and Parasites and Vectors. Leading authors are Chan Ding (SHVRI), Xiaomei Wang (HVRI), and Xing-Quan Zhu (LVRI). Key research focus is on parasitology, virology, immunology, and molecular biology. SHVRI and HVRI's demonstrated focus is on virology, while LVRI's interest is in genetic analyses of the pathogens. Bibliographic coupling highlights core themes: SHVRI on Newcastle disease, Schistosoma japonicum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; HVRI on African swine fever virus, Influenza viruses, and Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus; and LVRI on Toxoplasma gondii, the parasitic mitochondrial genome, and Foot and Mouth disease virus. Findings reflect CAAS's commitment to addressing critical animal diseases for China's development and food security.
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