Learning to Teach and Assess Problem Solving in Animal Sciences

Poster presented at the Assessment for Curricular Improvement Poster Exhibit 2023.Exploring curriculum assessment is an exciting but daunting activity, especially when you first dive in. Faculty are currently reviewing the Animal Sciences BS program to better meet the needs of their students in an ever-changing field. Student learning outcomes and curriculum mapping will be evaluated and updated in the spirit of simplification and streamlining. In one content-heavy course, problem-solving skills will be emphasized. Different methods of assessment of problem-solving skills will be utilized, and the results will be presented

First Documented Cases of Canine Neuroangiostrongyliasis Due to <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i> in Hawaii

ABSTRACT Two young dogs domiciled in Honolulu, Hawaii, were presented in November and December 2018 (respectively) for spinal hyperesthesia, hindlimb weakness, and proprioceptive ataxia. Both dogs had neurologic findings referable to spinal cord disease. Both dogs had a combination of lower motor neuron signs (reduced muscle mass, decreased withdrawal reflexes, low tail carriage) and long tract signs (conscious proprioceptive deficits, crossed extensor response, increased myotatic reflexes). Peripheral eosinophilia was present in the second case, but hematology and serum biochemistries were otherwise unremarkable. Plain radiographs and computed tomography scans ± contrast were unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from both patients demonstrated eosinophilic pleocytosis, and real-time polymerase chain reaction testing demonstrated Angiostrongylus cantonensis deoxyribonucleic acid in CSF, confirming a diagnosis of neuroangiostrongyliasis. Treatment included glucocorticoid therapy, ± anthelmintic (fenbendazole). Both dogs made a complete recovery. These are the first confirmed cases of autochthonous neuroangiostrongyliasis in canine patients in the United States and the first dogs anywhere to be diagnosed definitively with A cantonensis infection based on real-time polymerase chain reaction testing of CSF. A clinician examining a patient with severe spinal hyperesthesia and a combination of upper and lower motor signs should consider A cantonensis as a differential, especially in endemic areas.</jats:p

Malignant Edema in Postpartum Dairy Cattle

Five cases of postparturient vulvovaginitis and metritis in cattle caused by Clostridium septicum (malignant edema) are described in the current report. The diagnosis was established based on detection of C. septicum by culture and fluorescent antibody test. All animals were Holsteins, and 4 were primiparous (the parity of 1 animal was not reported). All animals developed clinical signs 1–3 days after calving, consisting of swelling of perineal and perivulvar areas, fever, and depression. Perineal, perivulvar, and perivaginal gelatinous and often hemorrhagic edema was consistently observed on gross examination. Longitudinal vulvar, vaginal, cervical, and uterine body tears, covered by fibrinous exudates, were also present. Microscopically, vulvar, vaginal, and uterine mucosae were multifocally necrotic and ulcerated. Large Gram-positive rods, some with subterminal spores, were present within the edematous subcutaneous and submucosal tissues. Clostridium septicum was demonstrated by culture and/or fluorescent antibody test in tissues of most animals. These cases of malignant edema were considered to be produced by C. septicum and predisposed by the trauma occurring during parturition. </jats:p

RNA-Sequencing based analysis of bovine endometrium during the maternal recognition of pregnancy

AbstractBackgroundMaternal recognition is the crucial step for establishing pregnancy in cattle. This study aims to identify endometrial genes and biological pathways involved in the maternal recognition of pregnancy. Caruncular endometrial tissues were collected from Day 15–17 of gestation (pregnant), non-pregnant (absence of conceptus), and cyclic (non-bred) heifers.ResultsTotal RNAs were isolated from the caruncular endometrial tissues of pregnant, non-pregnant, and cyclic heifers, and were subjected to high-throughput RNA-sequencing. The genes with at least two-fold change and Benjamini and Hochbergp-value ≤ 0.05 were considered differentially expressed genes and further confirmed with quantitative real-time PCR. A total of 107 genes (pregnant vs cyclic) and 98 genes (pregnant vs non-pregnant) were differentially expressed in the pregnant endometrium. The most highly up-regulated genes in the pregnant endometrium wereMRS2,CST6,FOS,VLDLR,ISG15, IFI6, MX2,C15H11ORF34,EIF3M,PRSS22,MS4A8, andTINAGL1. Interferon signaling, immune response, nutrient transporter, synthesis, and secretion of proteins are crucial pathways during the maternal recognition of pregnancy.ConclusionsThe study demonstrated that the presence of conceptus at Day 15–17 of gestation affects the endometrial gene expression related to endometrial remodeling, immune response, nutrients and ion transporters, and relevant signaling pathways in the caruncular region of bovine endometrium during the maternal recognition of pregnancy.</jats:sec

Causes of mortality in backyard poultry in eight states in the United States

A comprehensive understanding of common diseases of backyard poultry flocks is important to providing poultry health information to flock owners, veterinarians, and animal health officials. We collected autopsy reports over a 3-y period (2015–2017) from diagnostic laboratories in 8 states in the United States; 2,509 reports were collected, involving autopsies of 2,687 birds. The primary cause of mortality was categorized as infectious, noninfectious, neoplasia or lymphoproliferative disease, or undetermined. Neoplasia or lymphoproliferative disease was the most common primary diagnosis and involved 42% of the total birds autopsied; 63% of these cases were diagnosed as Marek’s disease or leukosis/sarcoma. Bacterial, parasitic, and viral organisms were commonly detected, involving 42%, 28%, and 7% of the birds autopsied, respectively, with 2 or more organisms detected in 69% of birds. Our findings demonstrate the importance of educating flock owners about disease prevention and biosecurity practices. The detection of zoonotic bacteria including paratyphoid salmonellae, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Mycobacterium avium, and the detection of lead and other heavy metals, indicate public health risks to flock owners and consumers of backyard flock egg and meat products. </jats:p

Causes of mortality in backyard poultry in eight states in the United States

A comprehensive understanding of common diseases of backyard poultry flocks is important to providing poultry health information to flock owners, veterinarians, and animal health officials. We collected autopsy reports over a 3-y period (2015-2017) from diagnostic laboratories in 8 states in the United States; 2,509 reports were collected, involving autopsies of 2,687 birds. The primary cause of mortality was categorized as infectious, noninfectious, neoplasia or lymphoproliferative disease, or undetermined. Neoplasia or lymphoproliferative disease was the most common primary diagnosis and involved 42% of the total birds autopsied; 63% of these cases were diagnosed as Marek's disease or leukosis/sarcoma. Bacterial, parasitic, and viral organisms were commonly detected, involving 42%, 28%, and 7% of the birds autopsied, respectively, with 2 or more organisms detected in 69% of birds. Our findings demonstrate the importance of educating flock owners about disease prevention and biosecurity practices. The detection of zoonotic bacteria including paratyphoid salmonellae, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Mycobacterium avium, and the detection of lead and other heavy metals, indicate public health risks to flock owners and consumers of backyard flock egg and meat products

Additional file 1 of RNA-Sequencing based analysis of bovine endometrium during the maternal recognition of pregnancy

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table S1. Primers used to quantify the expression of target genes by qPCR

Genome-informed loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for specific detection of Pectobacterium parmentieri in infected potato tissues and soil

AbstractPectobacterium parmentieri (formerly Pectobacterium wasabiae), which causes soft rot disease in potatoes, is a newly established species of pectinolytic bacteria within the family Pectobacteriaceae. Despite serious damage caused to the potato industry worldwide, no field-deployable diagnostic tests are available to detect the pathogen in plant samples. In this study, we aimed to develop a reliable, rapid, field-deployable loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the specific detection of P. parmentieri. Specific LAMP primers targeting the petF1 gene region, found in P. parmentieri but no other Pectobacterium spp., were designed and validated in silico and in vitro using extensive inclusivity (15 strains of P. parmentieri) and exclusivity (94 strains including all other species in the genus Pectobacterium and host DNA) panels. No false positives or negatives were detected when the assay was tested directly with bacterial colonies, and with infected plant and soil samples. Sensitivity (analytical) assays using serially diluted bacterial cell lysate and purified genomic DNA established the detection limit at 10 CFU/mL and 100 fg (18–20 genome copies), respectively, even in the presence of host crude DNA. Consistent results obtained by multiple users/operators and field tests suggest the assay’s applicability to routine diagnostics, seed certification programs, biosecurity, and epidemiological studies.</jats:p

sj-pdf-1-vet-10.1177_03009858231225500 – Supplemental material for Mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 in nondomestic felids

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-vet-10.1177_03009858231225500 for Mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 in nondomestic felids by Mary Drozd, Jana M. Ritter, Jonathan Peter Samuelson, Maryanna Parker, Leyi Wang, Samantha J. Sander, Jill Yoshicedo, Louden Wright, Jenee Odani, Trent Shrader, Elizabeth Lee, Shawn R. Lockhart, Ria R. Ghai and Karen A. Terio in Veterinary Pathology</p