Biosilica is a silica-based substance derived from the cell walls (frustules) of diatoms. Recently, research into biosilica’s biological functions is underway, but little has been reported on the effects of biosilica on immune cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of ionized biosilica water (iBW) on dendritic cells (DCs), which play crucial roles as antigen (Ag)-presenting cells. Treatment with iBW increased the expression of immune response-related markers, closely connected to the maturation of DCs, and the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In addition, iBW-treated DCs (iBW-DCs) had a lower uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran than that of control DCs. Mixed leukocyte response analysis used for measuring the Ag-presenting capability of DCs, showed iBW-DCs had a higher capability than that of control DCs. Interestingly, DCs treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and iBW had a lower level of Ag-presenting capability than that of LPS-treated DCs. Taken together, the results indicate that iBW alone can mature DCs, but it decreases the Ag-presenting capability of DCs in the presence of LPS, a representative agent of inflammation. This study may provide valuable information regarding the effect of iBW on immune cells. Further research is needed to investigate how iBW induces the observed biphasic immunomodulatory activity.

The small intestine of two rallid aquatic birds (Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 and Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Bahr Al-Najaf depression, southwest of Al-Najaf city, mid-Iraq), were infected with the nematode Amidostomum acutum Seurat, 1918 with a prevalence of 25% and 50%, respectively, and a mean intensity of 24.5 and 30, respectively. The infected birds showed several gross pathological and microscopic lesions in their small intestine due to the infection with this nematode. The gross lesions included hypertrophy in the anterior part of the duodenum and small rough nodules on the small intestine wall. Microscopic lesions included necrosis and shortening of villi with their fullness with inflammatory cells, degeneration of villi, and an increased number of acini at the base of the intestinal villi.

The axolotl has extraordinary regeneration capacity compared to other vertebrates. This remarkable potential has been attributed to its life-long neoteny, characterized by the exhibition of embryonic characteristics at the adult stage. A recent study provided a detailed morphological analysis of the sperm morphology of the Ambystoma mexicanum using routine and detailed histological techniques. The primary purpose of the present study is to describe a simple and inexpensive method for evaluating the morphology of axolotl sperm. In this study, spermatophore structures were collected and spread on slides and air-dried. The slides were stained with periodic acid Schiff, toluidine blue, Masson’s trichrome, Giemsa, Spermac, and Diff-Quik dye for a morphological examination. The slides were coated with gold/palladium for a scanning electron microscopy examination. The sperm of the axolotl consisted of an elongated head, a neck, and a flagellum covered with an undulating membrane. The lengths of the midpiece, tail, and head were 8.575 µm, 356.544 µm, and 103.661 µm, respectively. In the flagellum part, the wavy membrane structure, whose function has not been explained, surrounds the tail. The data obtained from this study will constitute an important step in designing future research on the reproductive and regeneration capacity of the axolotl.

Acinetobacter is a bacteria found in the environment and clinical specimens, causing nosocomial infection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threats. This study examined the prevalence, species, and AMR characteristics of Acinetobacter isolated from surgical practice and the laboratory dog husbandry room environments (n = 235) at Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok veterinary hospital during 2018-2019. The prevalence of Acinetobacter in the laboratory dog husbandry room and veterinary belongings were 2.55% and 0.43%, respectively. Species determination was Acinetobacter hemolyticus (2.1%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (0.4%) from environments in the laboratory dog husbandry room, and Acinetobacter junii (0.4%) from the shoes used in the surgical practice room. AMR was observed in both study environments and the specimens sent to the Veterinary Diagnostic Center. These isolates had a high resistant percentage to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (84.62%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (61.54%), and cephalexin (53.85%) but were susceptible to imipenem. Compared to the isolates recovered from the clinical specimens, most isolates derived from environments exhibited multidrug resistance and shared correlated resistance patterns. These results highlight the need for sanitization in the dog husbandry room. Furthermore, the AMR results can be used as a preliminary baseline for studying AMR Acinetobacter contamination in animals and their environments.

Acid-base disorder is a common problem in veterinary emergency and critical care. Traditional methods, as well as the Stewart method based on strong ion difference concepts and the Fencl-Stewart method, can be used to analyze the underlying causes. On the other hand, there are insufficient comparative study data on these methods in cats. From 2018 to 2020, 327 acid-base analysis data were collected from 69 sick and 18 healthy cats. The three most well-known methods (traditional method, Stewart method, and Fencl-Stewart method) were used to analyze the acid-base status. The frequency of acid-base imbalances and the degree of variation according to the disease were also evaluated. In the traditional acid-base analysis, 5/69 (7.2%) cats showed a normal acid-base status, and 23.2% and 40.6% of the simple and mixed disorders, respectively. The Fencl-Stewart method showed changes in both the acidotic and alkalotic processes in 64/69 (92.8%), whereas all cats showed an abnormal status in the Fencl-Stewart method (semiquantitative approach). The frequencies of the different acid-base imbalances were identified according to the analysis method. These findings can assist in analyzing the underlying causes of acid-base imbalance and developing the appropriate treatment.

This study examined the anti-diabetic effects of aqueous extracts of Dendropanax morbifera leaves (DMWEs) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Thirty male SD rats (body weight [BW], 250.4 ± 19.7 g) were divided into the following six groups: normal control rats (NC), diabetic control rats (DC), diabetic rats treated with metformin HCl 100 mg/kg BW (DT), diabetic rats treated with DMWEs 50 mg/kg BW (DM-50), diabetic rats treated with DMWEs 100 mg/kg BW (DM-100), and diabetic rats treated with DMWEs 200 mg/kg BW (DM-200). From two weeks of administration of DMWEs, the BW of all groups treated with DMWEs increased significantly compared to DC (p < 0.05). At four weeks after treatment, the blood glucose levels in DT, DM-100, and DM-200 decreased below 200 mg/dL, while the glycated hemoglobin concentrations in all groups administered DMWEs were similar to those of NC and DT. Regarding the blood biochemical parameters, the levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine in DM-100 and DM-200 were similar to those in NC and DT. Overall, these results highlight the effectiveness of DM-100 in the treatment of diabetes.

The classification of the bone pieces excavated from Gasan-ri archaeological site Ⅰ in Jinju, presumed to be relics was investigated macroscopically. The remains of the animal bone were 3 classes (Mammalia, Aves, Amphibia), 5 orders (Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Passeriformes, Rodentia, Salientia), and 6 species (Sus scrofa, Cervidae sp., Nyctereutes procyonides, Passeriformes sp., Rattus norvegicus caraco, Rana nigromaculata). The total weight of the animal bone remains was 1,002.80 g, with the identified bones comprising 975.30 g and an identification rate of 97.26%. A total of 447 animal bone fragments were identified, including 204 bone pieces of S. scrofa (468.00 g, 47.99%), 102 bone pieces of Cervidae sp. (453.79 g, 46.53%), 68 bone pieces of R. nigromaculata (4.69 g, 0.48%), 59 bone pieces of N. procyonides (47.14 g, 4.83%), 9 bone pieces of Passeriformes sp. (0.98g, 0.10%), and 5 bone pieces of Rattus norvegicus caraco (0.70 g, 0.07%). The bone pieces of the animal relics consisted of 81 skull (18.12%), 161 axial skeleton (36.02%), 64 forelimb (14.32%), and 141 hindlimb (31.54%) fragments. The archaeological significance of the animal bones excavated in this investigation was that wild boars and deer were presumed to have been mainly used animals in the Gasan-ri area of Jinju during the Three Kingdoms period.

A 15-year-old Schnauzer, showing right exophthalmos, was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma originated from the third eyelid gland. On computed tomography, a normal right third eyelid gland was not observed. Instead, a heterogeneous cystic mass invaded the retrobulbar space and displaced the eye globe dorsolaterally. In addition, lysis of the bony nasolacrimal duct was found, which was considered the tumor invasion. These findings indicated that third eyelid gland adenocarcinoma should be considered when a retrobulbar mass is found ventromedial to the globe without observation of the normal third eyelid and accompanies osteolysis of the bony nasolacrimal duct in dogs showing exophthalmos.

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, is the aetiological agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease that affects approximately 25% – 30% of the world’s population. At present, no safe and effective vaccine exists for the prevention of toxoplasmosis. Current treatment options for toxoplasmosis are active only against tachyzoites and may also cause bone marrow toxicity. To contribute to the global search for novel agents for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, we herein report the in vitro activities of previously synthesised benzyltriazole derivatives. The effects of these compounds against T. gondii in vitro were evaluated by using a expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) type I strain parasite (RH-GFP) and a type II cyst-forming strain of parasite (PruΔku80Δhxgprt). The frontline antitubercular drug isoniazid, designated as Frans J. Smit -isoniazid (FJS-INH), was also included in the screening as a preliminary test in view of future repurposing of this agent. Of the compounds screened, FJS-302, FJS-303, FJS-403 and FJS-INH demonstrated 80% parasite growth inhibition with IC50 values of 5.6 µg/mL, 6.8 µg/µL, 7.0 µg/mL and 19.8 µg/mL, respectively. FJS-302, FJS-303 and FJS-403 inhibited parasite invasion and replication, whereas, sulphadiazine (SFZ), the positive control, was only effective against parasite replication. In addition, SFZ induced bradyzoite differentiation in vitro, whilst FJS-302, FJS-303 and FJS-403 did not increase the bradyzoite number. These results indicate that FJS-302, FJS-303 and FJS-403 have the potential to act as a viable source of antiparasitic therapeutic agents.

The reservoir host of Mokola virus (MOKV), a rabies-related lyssavirus species endemic to Africa, remains unknown. Only sporadic cases of MOKV have been reported since its first discovery in the late 1960s, which subsequently gave rise to various reservoir host hypotheses. One particular hypothesis focusing on non-volant small mammals (e.g. shrews, sengis and rodents) is buttressed by previous MOKV isolations from shrews (Crocidura sp.) and a single rodent (Lophuromys sikapusi). Although these cases were only once-off detections, it provided evidence of the first known lyssavirus species has an association with non-volant small mammals. To investigate further, retrospective surveillance was conducted in 575 small mammals collected from South Africa. Nucleic acid surveillance using a pan-lyssavirus quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay of 329 brain samples did not detect any lyssavirus ribonucleic acid (RNA). Serological surveillance using a micro-neutralisation test of 246 serum samples identified 36 serum samples that were positive for the presence of MOKV neutralising antibodies (VNAs). These serum samples were all collected from Gerbilliscus leucogaster (Bushveld gerbils) rodents from Meletse in Limpopo province (South Africa). Mokola virus infections in Limpopo province have never been reported before, and the high MOKV seropositivity of 87.80% in these gerbils may indicate a potential rodent reservoir.