Turkey coronavirus (TCoV) is a Gammacoronavirus causing acute contagious enteritis in young turkeys, leading to impaired growth, low feed conversion, and increased mortality. The TCoV infections, in association/combination with other enteropathogenic viruses, bacteria & protozoa, are associated with poult enteritis-mortality syndrome (PEMS) in turkeys of 1-4 weeks age. In this review, classification & genotyping of TCoV, the implications of its recombination, and challenges to develop efficient vaccines against it are discussed. Though TCoV is monophyletic with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) with a sequence similarity of ≥86, however a classification scheme gathering all avian coronaviruses (ACoVs) is not established. Based on the N gene, ACoVs are classified into five clades. Clades 1 & 2 (chickens), Clade 3 (pigeon) Clade 4 (duck), and Clade 5 (goose). The Spike (S) gene of ACoVs has shown exceptional lability of being easily switched with multiple recombination events suggesting that TCoV may be an IBV recombinant. Recombination events altered the pathogenicity, host specificity, and tissue tropism of TCoVs. Attempts to develop attenuated, inactivated, DNA, and virus-vectored vaccines are ongoing. Experimentally, the attenuated TCoV strains induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses and completely protected against the homologous challenge but not heterologous TCoV challenge. Meanwhile, genetically engineered vaccines, either DNA or virus vectored vaccines, are limited with either late induction of a protective immune response and/or inability of the elicited antibody to neutralize virus infection and protect against virus challenge. Future research should focus on improving vaccine efficiency against TCoVs by developing more immunogenic vaccines, determining the appropriate dosing regimens, and include potent adjuvants

In the United States, non-typhoidal Salmonella causes over one million food-borne infections every year and turkey meat contaminated with Salmonella has been associated from the farm to the processing plant. These outbreaks emphasize efforts on decreasing and preventing human illness associated with live poultry contact through comprehensive interventions from farm-to-fork levels. This review article revises the role of the turkey upper respiratory tract, which is now known to play a crucial role in colonization and as a source of contamination, for this remarkable bacterium that has co-evolved to infect plants and animals. Because agriculture represents over 60 % of the economy of the state of Arkansas, the mission of our laboratory over the last 21 years has been to evaluate and develop applied research to help reduce the incidence of Salmonella spp. from commercial turkey operations. A summary of the published research is presented.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-helminthic effect of a commercial formulation Bioverm® (Duddingtonia flagrans) in 28 sheep naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Animals were classified into two groups: G1 (n=14) treated with nematophagous fungi and G2 (n=14) untreated control. The efficacy of the anti-helminthic drug was assessed based on the egg count per gram of feces (EPG) of strongyles, larval culture, hemogram, leukogram, plasma protein levels, mucosal coloration using the FAMACHA© method, animals body weight, and evaluating the ocular mucosa for the FAMACHA© anemia guide were performed at days 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180. Additionally, the nematode larvae were quantified in the dry matter of the pastures of both groups. Results showed that the EPG was significantly decreased in animals receiving nematophagous fungi from D30 until the experiment end. The most common nematode genus was Haemonchus (63%), followed by Cooperia (23%) and Trichostrongylus (15%). Based on the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), treated animals showed a reduction of fecal egg count of 58.9%, 8.6%, 92.8%, 96.4%, and 96.2%, at D30, D60, D90, D120, and D180, respectively. The absolute values of red blood cells and leukocytes were significantly increased at D60 and D90, respectively, in the treated animals. A significant weight gain was observed in the treated ewes at the end of the experiment; however, there was no correlation between the EPGs values and hematocrit with the FAMACHA© degrees of animals in both experimental groups. The mean EPG of both groups and the number of infectious larvae in the pastures were not directly proportional. In conclusion, nematophagous fungi contributed to decreased parasitic load in sheep, and consequently, improve animal performance; they can be a suitable alternative to reduce problems associated with nematode infections.

Both of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infections are the most common Mycoplasma infection in domestic poultry. The disease is associated with economic losses in poultry. MG and MS are commonly spread within chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and turkey (Meleagris gallopavo domesticus) flocks; however, they are frequently isolated from quails (Coturnix coturnix) and several avian species. Diagnosis of MG or MS infections is confirmed by isolating the organism in a cell-free medium or directly detecting its DNA in infected tissues or swab samples. Serological tests are also widely used for diagnosis. However, advances in molecular biology represented a rapid and sensitive alternative to the traditional culture methods requiring specialized techniques and sophisticated reagents. Several Mycoplasma molecular diagnostic tests are implemented: including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), arbitrary primed polymerase chain reactions (AP‐PCR), and Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (Multiplex MGMS). Current control practices against Mycoplasma infection include intense biosecurity, biosurveillance, medication, and vaccination. However, the egg-borne nature of avian Mycoplasma infection complicates controlling the infection. This review focuses on the advances in diagnosis and control of avian Mycoplasma infection, especially MG and MS infections.

Given the high importance of animal uses for human being, avoidance of contact with animals is far from straightforward even if there is a risk of zoonotic diseases. Animal products or byproducts are essential source of food for human. Also, there are large numbers of companion animals worldwide which are important for the soundness of mental health for the owners. Understanding of the disease in animals is of paramount importance to control and prevent transmission to human. Zoonotic protozoan parasites, including malaria, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis, can cause severe infections to human and some of them can drastically affect both economy and society. Impacts of such infections are aggravated when asymptomatic animals being in contact with susceptible individuals including infants, pregnant women or immunocompromised people. Malaria, babesiosis and trypanosomiasis are vector-borne diseases that cause hemolytic anemia and high fever. Toxoplasmosis is a congenitally transmitted infection characterized by abortion and congenital abnormalities in infected persons and animals. Cryptosporidiosis is a highly contagious disease affecting human and various animal species and diarrhea is the main clinical form. These infections are globally distributed and affect various demographics. However, awareness of these often neglected diseases in almost all countries and communities are required for protecting animals, owners and customers. Thus, this review is aimed to provide the recent and current knowledge on transmission, epidemiology and control of some protozoan diseases of zoonotic importance.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe cases of feline intermediate- to high-grade alimentary lymphoma regarding signalment, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, response to therapy (modified 25-week University of Wisconsin-Madison [UW-25] vs. COP [cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone]), toxicosis, and outcomes and to identify prognostic factors. Sixteen cats were treated with chemotherapy protocols. Response rates and survival did not differ statistically between the two protocols. The progression-free interval (PFI) and median survival time (MST) in cats achieving a response to therapy were longer than in those with no response [NR] (complete remission [CR] vs. partial remission [PR] vs. NR; PFI, 124 vs. 49 vs. 12 days, p < 0.001; MST, 361 vs. 118 vs. 16 days, p < 0.001). Clinical stage was another prognostic factor for PFI and MST. The PFI and MST in cats in stage I were longer than in those in other stages (PFI, 107 days vs. 30 days; MST, 193 days vs. 54 days). Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicosis was mostly low grade. In comparing the modified UW-25 protocol with the COP protocol, there was not much difference in the number of neutropenic episodes and grade levels.

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is caused by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infection. We investigated antigen and antibody of EP in horses in the Republic of Korea during 2016-2017. Antigen and antibody of T. equi was detected 0.06% (1/1,650). Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA revealed that the T. equi was highly homologous with the strains from China, Mongolia, and Spain. Two Theileria spp. were also detected and highly homologous with T. buffeli, T. luwenshuni, and T. orientalis.

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.

To evaluate avian hepatitis E virus (aHEV) as an RNA vaccine platform, ORF2 of aHEV was replaced by heterologous genes, such as eGFP and HA-tag, in aHEV infectious cDNA clones. eGFP and HA-tag replicons were expressed in LMH cells. To confirm expression of the heterologous protein, ORF2 was replaced with the antigenic S1 gene of IBV. The IBVS1 replicon was expressed in LMH cells. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation the showing potential as a RNA vaccine platform using an aHEV. In the future, it may be used in the development of RNA vaccines against various pathogens.

A three-month-old, intact male Maltese dog was presented to the hospital with lethargy after taking a human medication, Motilitone. Physical examination, including a neurological examination, revealed no remarkable findings, but cholinergic crisis symptoms appeared gradually. Blood and radiological examinations showed no remarkable findings. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with a cholinergic crisis associated with Motilitone intake. Treatment included intravenous administration of atropine (0.02 mg/kg) every 30 minutes and supportive fluid therapy. After 12 hours of treatment, the patient’s clinical signs were resolved. This is the first case report describing Motilitone toxicity in a dog.