Evaluation of CTX-I, CTX-II, TIMP-I, MMP-9 and PIICP in the population of working German Shepherd dogs in Slovakia.

The aim of this study was to determine the reference values of cartilage damage biomarkers in the blood and urine in 76 clinically healthy German Shepherd dogs. We grouped the dogs into 4 groups by age. All the groups were consistently made up of 19 dogs.

Detection of Periodontal Pathogens from Dental Plaques of Dogs with and without Periodontal Disease.

Dental plaque bacteria are one of the main factors responsible for the development of a periodontal disease, which is the most common infectious disease in dogs. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of periodontal disease-related bacteria in the dental plaque of dogs. Plaque samples were taken from dogs with and without periodontal disease.

A Survey of Intestinal Helminths of Dogs in Slovakia with an Emphasis on Zoonotic Species.

Dogs are the most popular pets worldwide; however, close contact with people increases the risk of transmission of different zoonotic parasites. This study aims to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in dogs in Slovakia. A total of 495 faecal samples collected from pet, shelter, guard, working (police), and hunting dogs, as well as dogs from segregated Roma settlements between 2016 and 2021, were examined using flotation and molecular methods.

Study of microbiocenosis of canine dental biofilms.

Dental biofilm is a complex microbial community influenced by many exogenous and endogenous factors. Despite long-term studies, its bacterial composition is still not clearly understood. While most of the research on dental biofilms was conducted in humans, much less information is available from companion animals.

Effect of Hydrolyzed Yeast Administration on Faecal Microbiota, Haematology, Serum Biochemistry and Cellular Immunity in Healthy Dogs.

Fungal microorganisms are regularly found in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy and diseased dogs especially from the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota; however, it is necessary to better understand their role in host health. One of the most commonly studied yeast species in humans or animals is Saccharomyces cerevisiae especially in its live cell form. Scarce knowledge on its hydrolysate product effects in dogs forced us to test diet supplemented with hydrolyzed brewery S.

Stem Cell Conditioned Medium Treatment for Canine Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot Feasibility Study.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves nerve damage and often leads to motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. In the present study, we have designed a clinical protocol to assess the feasibility of systemic delivery of allogenic canine bone marrow tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium (BMMSC CM) to dogs with SCI. Four client-owned dogs with chronic SCI lasting more than six months underwent neurological and clinical evaluation, MRI imaging and blood tests before being enrolled in this study.

Canine Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Genomics, Proteomics and Functional Analyses of Paracrine Factors.

Adult stem cells have become prominent candidates for treating various diseases in veterinary practice. The main goal of our study was therefore to provide a comprehensive study of canine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) and conditioned media, isolated from healthy adult dogs of different breeds. Under well-defined standardized isolation protocols, the multipotent differentiation and specific surface markers of BMMSC were supplemented with their gene expression, proteomic profile, and their biological function.

Oral administration of bacteriocin-producing and non-producing strains of Enterococcus faecium in dogs.

The current effort to incorporate microbial cultures in canine nutrition and thus intake of them on daily base increases our interest in careful and more complex study of their effects in dogs. Many of the commercially used strains have not been tested in dogs and are incorporated only on the base of beneficial effects observed in humans with specific disorders. Moreover, no information on the effects of bacteriocin-producing strains in dogs is available.

Evaluation of Probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum CCM 7421 Administration with Alginite in Dogs.

There are growing efforts to find applications for various naturally occurring organo-mineral rocks. They have so far been preferentially used in agriculture and forestry; however, medicine and nutrition may also be interesting areas for their application. This study investigates the effects of dietary supplementation with canine-derived probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum CCM 7421 in combination with alginite in dogs.

Risk factors for canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome in Slovakia.

Background: Increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment in an aging canine population poses a serious health problem. Identifying risk factors, which may influence the onset of cognitive decline, is becoming increasingly important. Here we investigated whether age, sex, weight, nutrition, dogs' housing and reproductive state were associated with increased risk of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) in Slovakia.

Tau-mediated synaptic damage in Alzheimer's disease.

Synapses are the principal sites for chemical communication between neurons and are essential for performing the dynamic functions of the brain. In Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies, synapses are exposed to disease modified protein tau, which may cause the loss of synaptic contacts that culminate in dementia. In recent decades, structural, transcriptomic and proteomic studies suggest that Alzheimer's disease represents a synaptic disorder.

Tau hyperphosphorylation in synaptosomes and neuroinflammation are associated with canine cognitive impairment.

Canine cognitive impairment syndrome (CDS) represents a group of symptoms related to the aging of the canine brain. These changes ultimately lead to a decline of memory function and learning abilities, alteration of social interaction, impairment of normal housetraining, and changes in sleep-wake cycle and general activity. We have clinically examined 215 dogs, 28 of which underwent autopsy.

Experimental application of Lactobacillus fermentum CCM 7421 in combination with chlorophyllin in dogs.

Chlorophyll belongs in a larger class of phytochemical plant pigments currently receiving more attention as a physiologically active dietary component. Although most research has focused on its biological activities such as its antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory or apoptotic effects in humans or rodents, there is limited knowledge at this time about the combinative possibilities of chlorophyll with probiotic bacteria. Our aim was to test the growth characteristics of canine-derived probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum CCM 7421 in the presence of different concentrations of chlorophyllin in vitro.

Oral administration of inosine promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury in rat.

Inosine, a purine nucleoside, is one of the novel substances, which can preserve the neuronal and glial viability and stimulate intact neurons to extend axons. We, herein, evaluated the effect of oral inosine treatment on spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery by means of locomotor and bladder function, quantification of neurons and spinal cord tissue sparing. Rats after compression SCI were divided into groups-SCI-Aqua and SCI-Inosine (daily application of aqua for injection or inosine)-locomotion of hind limbs (BBB score) and urinary bladder function were evaluated from day 1 to 28 after SCI.

Effect of Bifidobacterium animalis B/12 administration in healthy dogs.

Bifidobacterium species constitute the most frequently used health-enhancing bacteria in functional foods or probiotic products, and most of their health benefits have been demonstrated in human or mice studies. However, knowledge of the effects of these bacteria in the canine organism is very limited. In this study, the canine-derived strain Bifidobacterium animalis B/12 (10(9) CFU) was tested for its effects on faecal microbiota, faecal characteristics, faecal organic acid concentrations, blood biochemistry, haematological and immunological parameters in healthy dogs (C-control, BA-B.

Who fans the flames of Alzheimer's disease brains? Misfolded tau on the crossroad of neurodegenerative and inflammatory pathways.

Neurodegeneration, induced by misfolded tau protein, and neuroinflammation, driven by glial cells, represent the salient features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related human tauopathies. While tau neurodegeneration significantly correlates with disease progression, brain inflammation seems to be an important factor in regulating the resistance or susceptibility to AD neurodegeneration. Previously, it has been shown that there is a reciprocal relationship between the local inflammatory response and neurofibrillary lesions.