BACKGROUND: A comprehensive analysis of the relation between digital dermatitis (DD) and cow and herd characteristics in Canadian dairies is currently lacking. METHODS: A multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed using 12,260 cow records from 62 dairy farms to assess association between 27 cow and herd‐level variables, and presence of DD. RESULTS: The odds for a cow to have at least 1 DD lesion were higher in first‐parity cows and those in later lactation (≥45 days in milk). Housing cows on a concrete base was associated with higher odds (OR 2.24) for DD when bedding was added once a week or less. Bedding the concrete base more frequently reduced odds for DD. Wood shavings or other bedding types were more positively associated with DD (OR 2.31 and 1.87, respectively) compared to sawdust. Also, the odds of DD were lower on farms with a scraping manure frequency of every 2 h compared to less frequent scraping (OR 0.54). CONCLUSION: Nine risk factors for DD were identified and quantified, with stall base, bedding type, and manure scraping frequency associated with lower odds of DD. DD prevalence could be reduced by implementing management practices for first‐parity cows, as they had higher odds of DD.

BackgroundA comprehensive analysis of the relation between digital dermatitis (DD) and cow and herd characteristics in Canadian dairies is currently lacking.MethodsA multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed using 12,260 cow records from 62 dairy farms to assess association between 27 cow and herd-level variables, and presence of DD.ResultsThe odds for a cow to have at least 1 DD lesion were higher in first-parity cows and those in later lactation (≥45 days in milk). Housing cows on a concrete base was associated with higher odds (OR 2.24) for DD when bedding was added once a week or less. Bedding the concrete base more frequently reduced odds for DD. Wood shavings or other bedding types were more positively associated with DD (OR 2.31 and 1.87, respectively) compared to sawdust. Also, the odds of DD were lower on farms with a scraping manure frequency of every 2 h compared to less frequent scraping (OR 0.54).ConclusionNine risk factors for DD were identified and quantified, with stall base, bedding type, and manure scraping frequency associated with lower odds of DD. DD prevalence could be reduced by implementing management practices for first-parity cows, as they had higher odds of DD.

BACKGROUND: Ticks are vectors of disease‐causing pathogens that pose a serious threat to animals and people. Dogs and cats are exposed to tick infestation in multiple ways and can easily transport infected ticks into domestic environments and potentially transfer them to people. Pet owners are at increased risk of picking up ticks from their pets and developing tickborne diseases. This study aims to detect the presence of pathogens of potential public health interest in ticks removed from cats and dogs in Tuscany, Italy. METHODS: The collected ticks were screened for the presence of protozoan (Theileria species and Babesia species) and bacterial (Rickettsia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species, Chlamydia species, Bartonella species and Coxiella burnetii) pathogens using PCR. RESULTS: PCR and sequencing analysis revealed that 3 per cent of the ticks were PCR‐positive for the presence of Rickettsia helvetica DNA, 5 per cent of ticks were PCR‐positive for Bartonella henselae DNA, and 46 per cent of ticks were PCR‐positive for Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus DNA. None of the examined ticks was PCR‐positive for Theileria species, Babesia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia canis or Coxiella burnetii DNA. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study highlight the importance of monitoring companion animals as indicators to evaluate the health status of their owners. Preventive measures are necessary to limit the spread of zoonotic pathogens from companion animals to people within the home environment.

Background Ticks are vectors of disease-causing pathogens that pose a serious threat to animals and people. Dogs and cats are exposed to tick infestation in multiple ways and can easily transport infected ticks into domestic environments and potentially transfer them to people. Pet owners are at increased risk of picking up ticks from their pets and developing tickborne diseases. This study aims to detect the presence of pathogens of potential public health interest in ticks removed from cats and dogs in Tuscany, Italy.Methods The collected ticks were screened for the presence of protozoan (Theileria species and Babesia species) and bacterial (Rickettsia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species, Chlamydia species, Bartonella species and Coxiella burnetii) pathogens using PCR.Results PCR and sequencing analysis revealed that 3 per cent of the ticks were PCR-positive for the presence of Rickettsia helvetica DNA, 5 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Bartonella henselae DNA, and 46 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus DNA. None of the examined ticks was PCR-positive for Theileria species, Babesia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia canis or Coxiella burnetii DNA.Conclusion The results of this preliminary study highlight the importance of monitoring companion animals as indicators to evaluate the health status of their owners. Preventive measures are necessary to limit the spread of zoonotic pathogens from companion animals to people within the home environment.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in dogs and human beings, characterised by similar genetic and clinical features. With the aim to define similarities and differences in the biological aspects involved in OS progression, a comparative study was performed to create a model to improve patient outcome. METHODS: First, the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) belonging to the cluster miR‐106b‐25 (miR‐106b, miR‐25 and miR‐93‐5p) in human and canine OS tissue was compared. RESULTS: miR‐25 and miR‐106b presented a variable expression not significantly different from the corresponding normal bone, while miR‐93‐5p expression was increased in all OS specimens, with higher levels in the canine subset compared with human. Accordingly, its target p21 presented a weaker and less homogeneous immunostaining distribution in the canine group. Given the high expression of miR‐93‐5p in all OS specimens, the functional response of human 143B and canine DAN OS cells to miRNA inhibition was evaluated. Although p21 expression increased after miR‐93‐5p inhibition both at mRNA and protein level, a more significant cell response in terms of proliferation and apoptosis was seen in canine OS cells. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, canine OS tissue and cell line presented higher expression levels of miR‐93‐5p than human OS. In addition, the introduction of miR‐93‐5p inhibitor caused a cell response in 143B and DAN that differed for the more intense functional impact in the canine OS cell line.

Background Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in dogs and human beings, characterised by similar genetic and clinical features. With the aim to define similarities and differences in the biological aspects involved in OS progression, a comparative study was performed to create a model to improve patient outcome.Methods First, the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) belonging to the cluster miR-106b-25 (miR-106b, miR-25 and miR-93-5p) in human and canine OS tissue was compared.Results miR-25 and miR-106b presented a variable expression not significantly different from the corresponding normal bone, while miR-93-5p expression was increased in all OS specimens, with higher levels in the canine subset compared with human. Accordingly, its target p21 presented a weaker and less homogeneous immunostaining distribution in the canine group. Given the high expression of miR-93-5p in all OS specimens, the functional response of human 143B and canine DAN OS cells to miRNA inhibition was evaluated. Although p21 expression increased after miR-93-5p inhibition both at mRNA and protein level, a more significant cell response in terms of proliferation and apoptosis was seen in canine OS cells.Conclusions In conclusion, canine OS tissue and cell line presented higher expression levels of miR-93-5p than human OS. In addition, the introduction of miR-93-5p inhibitor caused a cell response in 143B and DAN that differed for the more intense functional impact in the canine OS cell line.

BACKGROUND: Cockatoo reproduction in captivity supplies a powerful tool to limit the economic motivation to capture endangered species from the wild; nevertheless, scientific data about reproductive parameters in cockatoos are very rare. The aim of the present work was to investigate the reproductive performance of different species of the Cacatua genus reared in the same facility to evaluate adaptability to captive breeding and to identify the main problems in ex situ conservation of some cockatoo species. METHODS: Data of 28 eggs from 19 reproductive pairs from 9 cockatoo species were analysed. Statistical analysis was carried out by SAS NPAR1WAY procedure: species was considered source of variation. RESULTS: Species effect does not significantly influence reproductive variables; differences were recorded in eggs fertility and embryo liveability. Bird adaptive ability to captive breeding has been described through reproductive parameters. CONCLUSION: Our results show the importance and the maintenance of natural species‐specific behaviours and habits, and they underline the relevance of data collection about reproductive performance in endangered species kept in captivity to improve breeding management in conservation programmes.

Background Cockatoo reproduction in captivity supplies a powerful tool to limit the economic motivation to capture endangered species from the wild; nevertheless, scientific data about reproductive parameters in cockatoos are very rare. The aim of the present work was to investigate the reproductive performance of different species of the Cacatua genus reared in the same facility to evaluate adaptability to captive breeding and to identify the main problems in ex situ conservation of some cockatoo species.Methods Data of 28 eggs from 19 reproductive pairs from 9 cockatoo species were analysed. Statistical analysis was carried out by SAS NPAR1WAY procedure: species was considered source of variation.Results Species effect does not significantly influence reproductive variables; differences were recorded in eggs fertility and embryo liveability. Bird adaptive ability to captive breeding has been described through reproductive parameters.Conclusion Our results show the importance and the maintenance of natural species-specific behaviours and habits, and they underline the relevance of data collection about reproductive performance in endangered species kept in captivity to improve breeding management in conservation programmes.