Molecular Investigation of Small Ruminant Abortions Using a 10-Plex HRM-qPCR Technique: A Novel Approach in Routine Diagnostics.

The objective of this study was to apply and preliminarily evaluate a High-Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis technique coupled with qPCR, that allows the simultaneous detection of 10 different ruminant abortogenic pathogens, for investigating abortions in sheep and goats throughout Greece. A total of 264 ovine and caprine vaginal swabs were obtained the week following the abortion from aborted females and analyzed using a commercially available kit (ID Gene™ Ruminant Abortion Multiplex HRM, Innovative Diagnostics). Results indicated a high prevalence of and spp.

Seroprevalence of IgG and IgM Antibodies against in Dogs in Greece.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan , is a zoonotic disease that affects various animal species, including dogs, that can serve as sentinels for indirectly estimating the environmental contamination. The current study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies in dogs across different regions of Greece and assess their living area as a potential risk factor. In total, 1282 blood samples were collected from dogs in urban and rural areas of Greece, including Attica and Thessaloniki.

Beyond Borders: Infection in Dogs Spreads to Previously Non-Enzootic Areas in Greece-A Serological Survey.

Although in dogs is considered enzootic in northern Greece, the available data on the occurrence of infection in southern parts of the country demonstrate its scarcity. The aim of this study was to update the current knowledge on infection in dogs in areas of Greece previously considered non-enzootic (Central Greece, Attica, Peloponnese, North Aegean, South Aegean, Crete and the Ionian islands). In total, 1528 dog blood samples were collected from the aforementioned areas and examined by Dirochek ELISA (Synbiotics).

Is the European badger a new host for Dirofilaria immitis? The first records in Greece.

Dirofilaria immitis is a ubiquitous nematode parasite with zoonotic potential, transmitted by mosquitoes, that causes heartworm disease in various animal species. Dogs are the parasite's typical final host, and wild carnivores represent the parasite's reservoir in nature. Studies on D.

Evaluation of porcine circovirus type 2 double vaccination in weaning piglets that reared for gilts under field conditions.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) double vaccination in weaning piglets reared for gilts under field conditions. The study was conducted at a Greek farrow-to-finish conventional pig farm with a previous history of PCV2 infections. The trial included 96 female piglets at 21 days of age, which were equally allocated to two different study groups.

Occurrence and Associated Risk Factors of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus and Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Infections in Greece.

The objective of the present study was to identify factors associated with the probability of being polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive and the level of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) occurrence in Greek farms. The study included 56 pig farms, with a total population of 22.500 sows, which represent about 40% of the entire capacity of the Greek swine production.

Effect of on Ram Sperm Quality After Experimental Infection.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of experimental infection on ram sperm quality. Five months old, pre-pubertal, rams were divided into four groups ( = 8 per group). Group A was the control group; the remaining animals received (p.

Histopathological Lesions Accompanied with First-Time Isolation of a PRRSV-2 Strain in Greece.

Genotype 2 strains of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV-2) have been reported sporadically in Europe. Even if, PRRSV-2 reported to be genetically homogenous in Europe due to the introduction of an MLV vaccine strain, independent introductions of PRRSV-2 field strains have been reported. The aim of the present study was to report the complete genome sequence and evaluate the histopathological lesions of a PRRSV-2 strain, isolated for the first time in Greece.