peer reviewed | [en] OBJECTIVE: Treatment of orofacial tumors in dogs is associated with high morbidity and reliable prognostic factors are lacking. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCECT) can be used to assess tumor perfusion. The objectives of this study were to describe the perfusion parameters of different types of orofacial tumors and to describe the changes in perfusion parameters during radiotherapy (RT) in a subset of them. ANIMALS: 11 dogs with orofacial tumors prospectively recruited. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND PROCEDURES: All dogs had baseline DCECT to assess blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), and transit time (TT). Five dogs had repeat DCECT during megavoltage RT. RESULTS: 5 squamous cell carcinomas, 3 sarcomas, 1 melanoma, 1 histiocytic sarcoma, and 1 acanthomatous ameloblastoma were included. Blood volume and BF were higher in squamous cell carcinomas than in sarcomas, although no statistical analysis was performed. At repeat DCECT, 4 dogs showed a reduction in the size of their tumor during RT. Among these dogs, 3 showed an increase in BV and BF and 1 a decrease in these parameters between the baseline and the follow-up DCECT. The only dog whose tumor increased in size between the first and the second DCECT showed a decrease in BV and BF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Perfusion parameters derived from DCECT were described in a series of dogs with various types of orofacial tumors. The results suggest that epithelial tumors could have higher BV and BF than mesenchymal tumors, although larger sample sizes are needed to support these preliminary findings.

International audience | Twelve rams were used to confirm whether rams sexually activated in spring by light treatment increase social and sexual activities of non-treated rams in the presence of ewes. Males were divided into 2 groups: light-treated rams (group L, n = 6), which were exposed to artificial long days (16 h light) for 2 months (1 Nov-31 Dec), or non-exposed, control rams (group C, n = 6), exposed to the natural pho-toperiod. At the end of the long-day period, light-treated rams were returned to the natural photoperiod, groups isolated from each other. In mid-Feb, 3 rams from each group were put together such that 4 ex-perimental groups were created: the remaining light-treated rams (L, n = 3), the remaining control rams (C, n = 3), and the other treated (L-mixed n = 3) and non-treated (C-mixed, n = 3) rams, exposed to 30, 30, and 60 ewes, respectively, in 3 separate paddocks. To identify each ram, large (30-cm-high) numbers were painted on the sides and rump of the males with washable sheep spray paint. Behaviors were doc-umented by 4 video cameras using 6 30-minute segments from 1600 to 1800 h the following day (27 hours). C rams presented the lowest proportion of activities ( P < 0.01), and C-mixed rams exhibited pro-portions similar to L and L-mixed rams. C rams exhibited the fewest fight attempts ( P < 0.001), fighting ( P < 0.05), pushing ( P < 0.001), and sniffing another ram. The groups differed significantly ( P < 0.001) in pushing, pawing, flehmen, and attempt mounting, and C rams had the fewest interactions. In conclusion, rams exposed to 2 months of long days at late-autumn early-winter increased social and sexual activities of unexposed rams. These observations can be explained by a "ram-to-ram effect", which can enhance the endocrine activity of rams in sexual rest if they are joined with rams who have been made sexually active by a photoperiodic treatment. These findings suggest that socio-sexual interactions could be used to restrict out-of-season reproduction in this species.

Campylobacteriosis is the most common human foodborne bacterial infection worldwide and is caused by bacteria of the Camplylobacter genus. The main source of these bacteria is poultry, but other food-producing animals such as pigs are also responsible for human infections. An increasing number of strains with resistance to fluoroquinolones and other antimicrobials such as macrolides were recently noted. The aim of the study was to investigate Campylobacter contamination of porcine carcasses and determine the antimicrobial resistance of the obtained isolates.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis, a chronic infectious intestinal disease occurring in domestic and wild ruminants. Early diagnosis of infected herds enabling timely adoption of control measures is tremendously important in view of the fact that the disease has a significant economic impact on farmers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of rapid detection of viable MAP on small ruminant farms based on environmental sample examination using a novel phage-based test named Actiphage.

Prior to the 2000s, swine dysentery was considered to be caused only by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae with contributing commensal intestinal anaerobes. Nowadays, it is known that the disease is caused by three strongly beta-haemolytic species of the anaerobic spirochaetal genus Brachyspira, i.e. B. hyodysenteriae and newly emerged B. hampsonii and B. suanatina.

Due to the growing interest in the use of cannabinoids in supportive therapies, they are increasingly used together with anti-inflammatory drugs. Cannabinoids inhibit gastrointestinal motility, while steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs influence motility in other ways. The aim of the research was to study the interactions between cannabidiol (CBD) and these two classes of anti-inflammatory drugs in the context of gastrointestinal motility. Dexamethasone (DEX) was selected as a steroidal drug and diclofenac (DCF) as a nonsteroidal counterpart.

Because of the activities and effects they induce, hormones are prohibited for use for anabolic purposes in farm animals intended for slaughter, which is regulated in the European Union by relevant legal provisions. Therefore, there is an obligation to monitor residues of hormones in animals and food of animal origin to ensure consumer safety. A hormone banned but used formerly for fattening cattle, stanozolol, and its metabolite 16β-OH-stanozolol are synthetic compounds that belong to a large group of steroid hormones. This study investigates residues of these compounds in animal urine.

The formation and function of the corpus luteum (CL) increase the likelihood of pregnancy and efficiently manage implantation. Apoptosis must occur at an appropriate time in the formation of the CL. This also affects its function. However, it is still unclear if the type of apoptosis affects the function.

To understand the prevalence of avian methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the current status of drug resistance in Qingdao, a comprehensive molecular epidemiological investigation and analysis of evolutionary relationships of MRSA isolates from broiler and layer chickens and waterfowl was conducted.

Alternative protein sources have recently been attracting growing interest as potential components of livestock nutrition. This study evaluated the effect on broiler health of replacing the soybean protein component of poultry feed with processed insect protein from farmed Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae.