Healthy eyes with good vision were important to any animal, to safely exist in their environments, for quality of life, and to successfully compete for food. The aim of present study was to set normal values for biometric intraocular dimensions in healthy mules for the right and left eyes in males and females. The study was conducted on clinically healthy mules (n=40) which were classified into two groups; male (n=20) and female mules (n=20). Complete clinical examination and ultrasonographic characterization of ocular structures were carried out for all clinically healthy mules. Biometric intraocular dimensions of the right eye and the left eye included anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial globe length (AGL), central lens thickness (CLT), lens pole diameter (LPD) and vitreous chamber depth (VCD), were described using ocular ultrasonography. It also showed normal intraocular structures of the right eye and the left eye that included, anterior chamber (AC), cornea (C), iris (I), lens (L), optic disk (OD), optic nerve (ON), retinochoroid unit (RCU), retrobulbar fat (RF), retrobulbar muscles (RM) and vitreous body (VB). Ocular ultrasonography reported no significant variations for biometric intraocular dimensions of the eye between male and female mules as well as between right and left eyes either in male mules or in female mules. The study reported normal values for ultrasonographic biometric intraocular dimensions of the right and left eyes in clinically healthy male and female mules.

There is a paucity of published research information on the quality of water used in the Malaysian ruminant livestock production system. Also, there are growing concerns about the sanitation standards of ruminant farms as it affects the management of wastewater in Malaysia. This study was designed to compile preliminary data on the drinking water and wastewater quality in designated dairy cattle farms in the Klang Valley. Seven dairy farms were randomly selected and visited to collect samples of drinking and wastewater for laboratory analysis. The water samples were analyzed to determine dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, electrical conductivity, turbidity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate, phosphates, total coliform count, iron, and magnesium content. The means of various parameters were compared with the National Water Quality Standards (NWQS) to determine the appropriate classification. We further streamlined the rating of water quality into three broad categories, namely, good (Class I and II), moderate (Class III) and unsatisfactory (Class IV and V). Analysis of drinking water revealed 1(14.29%), 2 (28.57%), 2 (28.57%) and 2 (28.57%) farms were categorized as Class II, III, IV and V, respectively. Meanwhile, all the wastewater samples analyzed in this study were classified as Class V. This study provides preliminary data on the quality of drinking and wastewater in select dairy cattle farms in Malaysia. The obtained findings indicate that the quality of drinking water in most of the cattle farms is below the National Water Quality Standards.

Respiratory diseases of cattle represented the most important health and economic problems of cattle rearing. It was possible to diagnose ultrasonographically bronchopneumonia, consolidation, pulmonary emphysema, pleural effusion and pleuritis. The study aimed to correlate between the changes in clinical findings and laboratory assays mainly haematological pictures and serum acute phase proteins (APPs) i.e. haptoglobin, and the characteristic ultrasonographic findings in bovine respiratory diseases and their importance in differentiation between upper respiratory diseases and lower respiratory diseases in cattle. A total number of 84 cattle were included in the study and divided into 3 groups: healthy control group (n=15), upper respiratory diseased group [URG] (n=29) and lower respiratory diseased group [LRG] (n=40). The animals were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Assiut University-Egypt with a history of anorexia, respiratory distress, nasal discharge, cough and/or abnormal lung sounds. These animals were undergoing clinical and ultrasonographic examinations as well as laboratory analyses. Regarding to the ultrasonographic findings, the diseased cases were classified into URG and LRG. Ultrasonography differentiated many of the affections such as bronchopneumonia (n=16), Lung consolidation (n=12), pulmonary emphysema (n=8), and pleuritis and pleural effusion (n=4). Neutrophilic leukocytosis was reported in URG and LRG. The biochemical assays revealed significant elevation in serum levels of haptoglobin, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein in URG and LRG. Serum albumins were remarkably (P<0.05) decreased in URG. The study concluded that thoracic ultrasonography considered a diagnostic tool in cows with respiratory diseases because it determined the location and extent of the lung lesions as well as the severity of the affection. APPs and lipid profile used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of bovine respiratory diseases.

Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is the human homologue of Drosophila zeste gene enhancer. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of EZH2 in canine mammary carcinomas (CMCs) and its relationship with clinicopathological features. The expression of EZH2 mRNA and protein in 53 CMC tissue and 8 normal mammary gland tissue samples was measured by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining assay, respectively. The relationship between EZH2 protein expression and clinicopathological features was analysed by χ2 test to further explore the clinical significance of EZH2 in CMCs. Compared with normal mammary gland tissues, EZH2 mRNA expressions were significantly increased in CMC tissues (P < 0.01). Moreover, normal mammary glands did not express the EZH2 protein but carcinomic glands did, and expression increased in CMCs with high histological grades, especially in histological grade II (P < 0.05). However, EZH2 expression was not related to age, tumour size, or metastasis (P > 0.05). The expression of EZH2 in one type of CMC was not significantly different from the expression in any other type (P > 0.05). EZH2 is highly expressed in CMCs, indicating that it can be used as a molecular marker for early diagnosis, prognosis, or therapy of CMCs.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks caused by the Gs/Gd lineage of H5Nx viruses occur in Poland with increased frequency. The article provides an update on the HPAI situation in the 2020/2021 season and studies the possible factors that caused the exceptionally fast spread of the virus. Samples from poultry and wild birds delivered for HPAI diagnosis were tested by real-time RT-PCR and a representative number of detected viruses were submitted for partial or full-genome characterisation. Information yielded by veterinary inspection was used for descriptive analysis of the epidemiological situation. The scale of the epidemic in the 2020/2021 season was unprecedented in terms of duration (November 2020–August 2021), number of outbreaks in poultry (n = 357), wild bird events (n = 92) and total number of affected domestic birds (approximately ~14 million). The major drivers of the virus spread were the harsh winter conditions in February 2020 followed by the introduction of the virus to high-density poultry areas in March 2021. All tested viruses belonged to H5 clade 2.3.4.4b with significant intra-clade diversity and in some cases clearly distinguished clusters. The HPAI epidemic in 2020/2021 in Poland struck with unprecedented force. The conventional control measures may have limited effectiveness to break the transmission chain in areas with high concentrations of poultry.

Johne’s disease, caused by infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), causes economic losses in dairy herds due to reduced milk production and premature culling. A test-and-cull strategy coupled with changes in calf rearing management preventing new infections has been introduced into infected herds to control MAP prevalence. This study appraised the effectiveness of these practice changes. In 19 large dairy herds (of a median 470 milk-producing cows), implementing MAP control measures for 3–7 years, a serum ELISA was used to detect infected cows in their dry-off period. The number of ELISA-positive animals per year (EPAY) was calculated and statistical analysis was used to test whether the EPAY total decreased during the control period and to analyse the EPAY in relationship to the duration of the control programme. Statistical support was found for a decrease of EPAY over time (P < 0.01, odds ratio 0.756) and in 14 herds a significant fall in the percentages of EPAY during the test period (P ≤ 0.05) was noted. Our results demonstrated the effectiveness of the control measures in place to reduce MAP infection in herds with initial EPAY ≥3.36%. The missing decreasing trend in the remaining five herds with low average initial EPAY suggested the need for additional measures to reduce the number of infected animals in these herds.

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry around the world. The bacterium often affects poultry as part of multiple infections causing very serious clinical signs that are usually not limited only to the respiratory system. This study’s main objective was the retrospective detection and identification of ORT in turkey flocks. ORT identification was performed in 6,225 samples taken from 133 different flocks between 2015 and 2020. Molecular methods were used, specifically real-time PCR and traditional PCR. We focused on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of isolates, which were compared with sequences obtained from GenBank. The reaction products were analysed phylogenetically. Molecular methods indicating secondary infections was carried out, and the bacterial composition of the upper respiratory tract was 16S metasequenced for selected flocks to identify any other pathogens. The presence of ORT was detected in 30.83% of samples by real-time PCR and 28.57% by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the PCR products from the turkeys samples showed that their sequences resolved into two main genetic groups. Tests for the occurrence of secondary infections showed the presence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae in some samples but the total absence of Bordetella avium. The upper respiratory tract in turkeys was dominated by two major phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the genera Ornithobacterium, Mycoplasma, Gallibacterium, Avibacterium, and Escherichia-Shigella were found which may include pathogenic bacteria that can cause clinical symptoms. The results of the analysis of multiple infection carried out in flocks with respiratory signs are probably associated with outbreaks of ornithobacteriosis in turkey flocks in Poland.

The prevalence of Dirofilaria repens in dogs in countries bordering Slovenia ranges from 1.5% to 47.3%. The aim of this study was to estimate its prevalence in Slovenian dogs and to present the cases of dirofilariasis diagnosed in humans from 2010 to 2020. Epidemiological data were collected and blood samples were taken from 465 dogs older than one year and born in Slovenia. A real-time PCR was performed on all samples to detect filarioid DNA, and a D. repens-and D. immitis-specific real-time PCR was performed on positive samples. Blood samples from 446 dogs were tested for Dirofilaria spp. using a modified Knott’s test. Human cases were diagnosed from histological sections of excised subcutaneous nodules. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise the samples. The one-sample nonparametric chi-squared test was used to assess whether categories of a variable were equally distributed. Three dogs’ samples tested positive for D. repens using the species-specific real-time PCR, while D. immitis DNA was not detected. The modified Knott’s test was positive in two of the three PCR-positive dogs, two of which had never travelled outside Slovenia’s borders. Four human patients with D. repens dirofilariasis were diagnosed. Since their travel history was unknown, autochthonous transmission could not be confirmed. Our study demonstrated a 0.64% prevalence of D. repens infection in dogs in Slovenia. Two cases could be autochthonous.

Inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis and one affecting dogs. Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) is a subtype of malignant breast cancer in humans with a high degree of malignancy and a similarly poor prognosis. Since the clinical symptoms and prognoses of both are similar, canine IMC has been considered as a model of human IBC. In this study, we newly established a stable IMC-derived cell line from a patient at the Yamaguchi University Animal Medical Center in Japan. The patient was a female toy poodle presenting with an inflamed mammary gland, which was diagnosed as IMC. The cell line was established from a tissue biopsy. Surface antigen marker (CD24 and CD44) expression was determined. Cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT) expression was determined by Western blotting, flow cytometry and fluorescence immunostaining, and sulfasalazine was administered to ascertain if it suppressed xCT expression. Stem cell marker (Nanog, Sox2, Myc and Klf4) expression and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity were also investigated. The cultured cells showed xCT, and its suppression showed downregulation of stem cell markers and ALDH activity. Stable cell proliferation was verified. A new canine IMC-derived cell line was established. In the future, we aim to study the effect of xCT on the maintenance of cancer stem cell properties in canine tumours, and propose a new therapeutic method for the treatment of canine IMC by targeting xCT.

Seal parapoxvirus (SPPV) infection has been reported among pinnipeds in aquaria in Japan; however, its seroprevalence is unknown. Therefore, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for serological diagnosis of SPPV infection. The gene encoding the major envelope protein of SPPV was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pAcGFP1-N1, which encodes the green fluorescence protein (GFP), thereby producing a fusion protein (Env-GFP). Parental and cloned vector DNA was independently transfected into cultured seal cells for the expression of GFP and Env-GFP. The wells of an ELISA plate were coated with either GFP- or Env-GFP-transfected cell lysates. The light absorbance of each serum sample was adjusted by subtracting the absorbance of GFP-coated wells from that of Env-GFP-coated wells. Sera from two spotted seals (Phoca largha), six beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), three Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and ten bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from an aquarium in Japan were examined using the ELISA. Positive reactions were not observed, except in one preserved sample collected ten years ago from a naturally SPPV-infected spotted seal. The established ELISA could be useful in screening marine mammal sera for anti-SPPV antibodies.