Investigating mutations in the genes GDF9 and BMP15 in Pelibuey sheep through the amplification-refractory mutation system with tetra-primers

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) or mutations are variations with a broad distribution in the genome and, as part of genetic studies, SNP allow the identification of allelic variants related to characteristics of economic importance in sheep production. However, the identification of SNP and their genotypes through sequencing is expensive, as it requires specialized materials and equipment. The objective of this study was to identify polymorphisms and their genotypes in the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) genes in Pelibuey sheep using the tetra-primer amplification-refractory mutation system through polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR). DNA extraction and amplification of BMP15 and GDF9 were conducted from blood samples contained in WhatmanTM FTATM cards from 60 multiparous Pelibuey ewes with reproductive records. The T-ARMS-PCR methodology allowed the identification of wild-type genotypes and mutated homozygous genotypes in polymorphisms G4 and G6 of GDF9, whereas mutations in the BMP15 gene were not found. These results were confirmed by sequencing. In conclusion, the T-ARMS-PCR methodology allowed the identification of mutated and wild-type genotypes in SNP G4 and G6 of GDF9, although no mutations were found in BMP15 in Pelibuey sheep. This technique was found to be reliable, rapid, and easily applied to identify polymorphic genotypes

Use of thermography and pressure sensors to evaluate the effect of load on pack mules

Mules performing pack work can develop skin wounds and lesions on harness related areas of the body, but also muscular and bone damage that are not always visible during clinical examination. Thermographic imaging and pressure sensors have emerged as non-invasive diagnostic alternatives that can provide valuable information about the welfare of working equids. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different loads on the back of mules through thermographic images and pressure sensors. A crossover design was used with twelve mules carrying three different loads (80, 105, and 130 kg) for two kilometers. Four pressure sensors were placed in the harnessing system to assess the pressure (N) of the loads. Thermographic images of the back were taken daily before and up to five days after the harnessing work. The results show that the heavy loads (105 and 130 kg) generated a significant increase of temperature in all the analysed areas of the mules’ back, with no significant differences between anatomical areas. The pressure sensors did not reveal significant differences between treatments or between anatomical areas and no evidence of a correlation between pressure and temperature. Further studies including physiological and behavioral measures to assess the effect of different loads are required to better understand the effect on working equids welfare.Keywords: mule, load, pressure, inflammation, welfare, working equid

The welfare and access to veterinary health services of mules working the mountain trails in the Gorkha region, Nepal

Working equid populations are mainly present in low to middle-income countries, their work directly contributing to the lives of people reliant on their presence. Although assistance from working equids is important to support people and their communities in these regions, their welfare is often poor. This study aims to provide insight into the welfare status of mules distributing supplies in the Gorkha region of Nepal; a population of working equids which has been largely overlooked and under recorded. The welfare of mules was assessed via the Equid Assessment Research and Scoping (EARS) tool using a trained assessor; livelihood surveys gathered basic demographic and ownership information; and semi-structured interviews gained the perspectives of 26 key informants. Mule body condition was found to be ideal in many cases, but their management was in the majority of cases inappropriate; characterised by integumentary trauma from equipment use and inhumane handling, unsuitable dietary provision, and insufficient access to water. This difficult situation was compounded by inadequate access to suitably qualified, experienced veterinary professionals able to offer appropriate levels of support. Organisations aiming to improve welfare in these remote locations need a multifaceted approach where owners are facilitated and empowered to improve the welfare of their own equids; in addition, industry professionals are encouraged to improve training and provision within veterinary service

Comparisons of beta2-microglobulin, apolipoprotein A1, and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) detected in the serum and urine from individual cats

Detection of serum and urinary proteins is important for normal conditions, but comparison of individual serum and urine proteins is rarely performed. The aim of this study was to examine beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) in the serum and urine of cats with chronic kidney disease and lower urinary tract disease (LUTD), in addition to healthy cats. Serum and urine samples were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by immunoblotting for beta2-MG, ApoA-I, IgG, and IgM. The molecular weight of serum beta2-MG was greater than the predicted molecular weight (11,472 Da), and different types of modified beta2-MGs were detected in the urine of healthy and diseased cats including original type in addition to grycocylated and partially digested types. Serum and urinary ApoA-I molecular weights were lower than the predicted molecular weight (28,943 Da), and high levels of urinary ApoA-I were detected in LUTD cats, although urinary ApoA-I was not detected in healthy cats. Under non-reducing conditions, H-chains of urinary IgM pentamers and IgG monomers were detected in healthy cats. These results suggest that urinary beta2-MG is modified in a different manner from serum beta2-MG, urinary ApoA-I is a potential marker of LUTD, and urinary IgM pentamer, IgG monomer, and their H-chains are found after glomerular filtration even in healthy conditions

Determination of copro-prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus and associated factors in domestic dogs: a household cross-sectional study in Huancarama, Peru

Echinococcosis is an important disease with regard to public health and the leading role that humans have in fulfilling the transmission cycle. The objective of this study was to determine the copro-prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus in dogs from homes in Huancarama, Peru, and the factors associated with this infection. The research was basic, prospective, quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and analytical. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee for the Use of Animals (CIEA) and the Institutional Research Ethics Committee (CIEI) of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. The sample comprised of 519 homes. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to develop layers of information on the study area with georeferencing of the locations of these homes. Information processing was performed using Excel for Windows 2010, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS 25 software, and ArcGIS 10.8. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were performed to determine the possible associations. Categorical variables were statistically contrasted using the chi-square test with 95% confidence intervals and P ? 0.05, which indicated the extreme degree of significance. It was found that 94.4% of the houses had dogs and that the prevalence of E. granulosus was 27.7% (95/343; 95% CI 22.8-32.6). The distance from the house to the cattle slaughterhouse was associated with disease occurrence (P < 0.01). Locations in the Suni altitude zone presented a higher prevalence (41.8%) (P < 0.05). Lack of knowledge that humans can contract echinococcosis was associated with disease occurrence (P < 0.05)

Clinicopathological Investigations Among Recurrent Camelpox Outbreaks in Omanis’ Arabian Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Camelpox remains a widespread viral disease in camelids, with socioeconomic relevance. The present study explored the hematological, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in dromedary-racing camels from the North of Oman infected with camelpox virus diagnosed by real-time PCR. Blood and skin samples were collected from camels with clinical signs and skin lesions (n=4) and from healthy camels (n=3) from 10 different camel herds. The results indicated that the infected camels showed clinical signs, including pyrexia, lacrimation, nasal mucus discharge, affixed and swollen eyelids, emaciation, and pimples on the skin of the head, legs, and abdomen. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets were significantly greater, with a significant reduction in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts in infected camels than in healthy camels. Infected camels had higher CK and creatinine levels and hepatic-related metabolites, including AST, ALP, AST, GGT, and LDH, than the apparently healthy camels. Histopathological examination of skin scab samples revealed ballooning degeneration of epidermal cells in the presence of typical large eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies and suppurative dermatitis following secondary bacterial infection in all examined infected camels. Camelpox viral DNA was detected using real-time PCR in the blood and skin samples of all infected camels. These findings in dromedary-racing camels associated with a molecular diagnosis of camelpox are described for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman. Therefore, further studies are warranted

Zoonoses and traumatic injuries among practicing veterinarians in the Los Lagos Region, Chile

This research addresses the occurrence of clinical signs and related symptoms of zoonotic diseases, traumatic injuries, and the frequency of healthcare seeking among practicing veterinarians, whose job was performed in the Los Lagos Region, Southern Chile. An online standardized survey collected from 140 practicing veterinarians was conducted between March and July 2020. The surveyed participants reported the occurrence of brucellosis, ringworm, scabies, cat scratch disease, anthrax, toxocariasis, salmonellosis, pediculosis, and flea infestation among veterinarians. The clinical signs and symptoms related to these events include diarrhea, allergies, and muscle pain. Mild and severe traumatic injuries were also declared by the participants, in which the frequency of severe trauma increased as the time of professional practice increased. Nevertheless, the use of professional healthcare was low among the surveyed veterinarians. This study emphasizes the need to consider veterinarians’ health-related occupational risks using the “One Health” approach

Diagnosis, treatment and outcome following chronic encircling hobbling wounds in a group of working Donkeys in Morocco

Owners of working equids in Morocco, as in other low and middle-income countries hobble their animals around the pastern using different materials (wire, baling twine and ropes). Resulting wounds are very common and can cause serious damage. Some hobbles even embed into the soft tissue and bony structures of the pastern. Using a retrospective study of The American Fondouk hospital’s clinical records, the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of embedding hobbling injuries are described. From 2012 to 2020, sixteen donkeys were presented suffering from unilateral severe lameness (4/5 to 5/5 lameness on AAEP scale) associated with hobble wounds. Circumferential wounds and/or fibrosis in the pastern were present in all these cases. Because of the suspicion of the presence of wire or baling twine, radiographs of the pasterns of all animals were routinely taken. Ten out of sixteen showed wire in situ encircling the pastern and the others showed a ghost outline of a baling twine hobble with similar periosteal reactions. All animals were treated by surgical removal of the hobble, wound flushing, systemic antibiotics, and bandaging. The outcome was good to excellent in all cases. In these authors’ knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of embedded hobbles in Equidae

Caesarean surgery and ovariohysterectomy in a precocial rodent Octodon degus

The common degu (Octodon degus) is a trendy rodent pet in Europe and the USA, but is also widely used in scientific research. Information about degu housing, nutrition, behavior, disease diagnosis, and disease treatment is abundant in scientific literature. However, information on reproductive management, such as cesarean section, ovariohysterectomy, ovariectomy, and orchiectomy, is scarce and anecdotal. Our general objective was to develop a protocol for cesarean section and ovariohysterectomy for degus. Our results indicated that cesarean post-surgical survival was 100% for mothers and 97% for offspring, while ovariohysterectomy female postsurgical survival was 100%. Cesarean surgeries lasted an average of 61.82 min, while ovariohysterectomies lasted an average of 32.65 min. The initial recovery times for cesarean sections and ovariohysterectomies were an average of 8.18 and 5.53 min, respectively. The full recovery time for cesarean section was an average of 50.18 min, whereas that for ovariohysterectomies was an average of 15.38 min. These results suggest that both protocols are viable for use in veterinary clinics that use mid-level equipment. We discuss our results with data from other rodent species and rabbits and with orchiectomy and ovariectomy procedures practiced in degu. Finally, we discuss in detail four critical considerations for cesarean and ovariohysterectomy surgeries performed on small mammals such as degu