SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load and Cytokine Dynamics Profile as Early Signatures of Long COVID Condition in Hospitalized Individuals.

Background: The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in millions of people experiencing long COVID condition, a range of persistent symptoms following the acute phase, with an estimated prevalence of 27%-64%.

Materials And Methods: To understand its pathophysiology, we conducted a longitudinal study on viral load and cytokine dynamics in individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR to quantify viral RNA from nasopharyngeal swabs and employed multiplex technology to measure plasma cytokine levels in a cohort of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Comparison of the accuracy of minimally invasive techniques (cytology, cell block, immunocytochemistry and clonality assay) in the diagnosis of canine multicentric lymphoma.

Lymphoma ranks among the most prevalent neoplasms in veterinary oncology, frequently diagnosed in dogs, particularly in its multicentric form. While histopathology plays a crucial role in lymphoma diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of biological behavior, minimally invasive diagnostic methods are increasingly emerging as viable alternatives. This study aims to assess and compare various minimally invasive diagnostic techniques for multicentric lymphomas in dogs.

Multiple myeloma in dogs: Use of the cell block technique as a new diagnostic tool.

Background: The diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) in dogs may be challenging and complex. The cell blocks are a diagnostic technique that allows the characterization of neoplastic cells and, therefore, might help in the diagnosis of atypical MM.

Objective: The objective of the present work is to describe three clinical cases in which the cell blocks and immunohistochemistry contributed to the definitive diagnosis of canine MM.

A novel and simple heat-based method eliminates the highly detrimental effect of xylene deparaffinization on acid-fast stains.

Objectives: Histopathology is an important method for diagnosing extrapulmonary tuberculosis, yet tissue sections are often negative for mycobacteria after use of acid-fast stain (AFS). This study investigated the mechanism of AFS use and the detrimental effect of histologic processing-in particular, xylene deparaffinization-on AFS and mycobacterial detection.

Methods: The target of the fluorescent Auramine O (AuO) AFS was investigated using triple staining with DNA- and RNA-specific dyes.

Vet-OncoNet: Malignancy Analysis of Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats.

Analysis of canine and feline tumor malignancy data can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and make more accurate decisions. Based on a sample of 16,272 cancer records, including 3266 cats and 13,006 dogs, collected from January 2019 to December 2021 in the Vet-OncoNet Network database, this study aimed to compare the tumor malignancy profile between cats and dogs, considering animal-related factors (sex, age, and breed), topography, and geographic location using a mixed-effects logistic regression model. Cats had a higher proportion of malignant tumors (78.

Cross Species Analysis and Comparison of Tumors in Dogs and Cats, by Age, Sex, Topography and Main Morphologies. Data from Vet-OncoNet.

The animal cancer burden is essential for the translational value of companion animals in comparative oncology. The present work aims to describe, analyze, and compare frequencies and associations of tumors in dogs and cats based on the Animal Cancer Registry created by Vet-OncoNet. With 9079 registries, regarding 2019 and 2020, 81% ( = 7355) belonged to dogs.

Evaluation of Commercial Myxomatosis Vaccines against Recombinant Myxoma Virus (ha-MYXV) in Iberian Hare and Wild Rabbit.

The recent emergence of a new myxoma virus capable of causing disease in the Iberian hare () has resulted in numerous outbreaks with high mortality leading to the reduction, or even the disappearance, of many local populations of this wild species in the Iberian Peninsula. Currently, the available vaccines that prevent myxomatosis in domestic rabbits caused by classic strains of myxoma virus have not been assessed for use in Iberian hares. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial rabbit vaccines in Iberian hares and wild rabbits against the natural recombinant myxoma virus (ha-MYXV), bearing in mind its application in specific scenarios where capture is possible, such as genetic reserves.

A Quadruplex qPCR for Detection and Differentiation of Classic and Natural Recombinant Myxoma Virus Strains of Leporids.

A natural recombinant myxoma virus (referred to as ha-MYXV or MYXV-Tol08/18) emerged in the Iberian hare () and the European rabbit () in late 2018 and mid-2020, respectively. This new virus is genetically distinct from classic myxoma virus (MYXV) strains that caused myxomatosis in rabbits until then, by acquiring an additional 2.8 Kbp insert within the gene that disrupted it into ORFs and .

A Versatile qPCR for Diagnosis of Leporid Gammaherpesvirus 5 Using Evagreen or Taqman Technologies.

In late 2019, the first herpesvirus in the genus Lepus, named leporid gammaherpesvirus 5 (LeHV-5) was described. At the time, herpetic typical lesions were observed in hares infected by the myxoma virus, which is known to induce immunosuppression. Though the real impact of LeHV-5 is still poorly understood, since it affects reproduction, it poses an additional threat to the already fragile populations of Iberian hare, demanding prevalence investigations.

Spillover events of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (recombinant GI.4P-GI.2) from Lagomorpha to Eurasian badger.

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a major threat to domestic and wild European rabbits. Presently, in Europe, the disease is caused mainly by Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2/b or Lagovirus europaeus GI.2), the origin of which is still unclear, as no RHDV2 reservoir hosts were identified.

A Potential Atypical Case of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in a Dwarf Rabbit.

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly contagious infectious disease of European wild and domestic rabbits. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV, GI.1) emerged in 1986 in Europe, rapidly spreading all over the world.

Opinions of Portuguese Veterinarians on Telemedicine-A Policy Delphi Study.

Telemedicine has only received limited attention by veterinary professional regulatory bodies, particularly in Europe. In Portugal, telemedicine is currently outside what is considered acceptable practice by the regulator, the Portuguese Veterinary Order (Ordem dos Médicos Veterinários). As part of a wider research aimed at gathering evidence for developing a new veterinary Code of Professional Conduct, this study describes the use of the Policy Delphi technique to gather the views and perceptions of a purposeful sample of 41 Portuguese veterinarians regarding telemedicine.

Negative impact on the reproductive potential of blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus by Kudoa infection of the ovary.

Reproduction of Trachurus picturatus off the western Portuguese coast was studied over 1 yr. During histological analyses, the presence of Kudoa sp. was detected in advanced vitellogenic oocytes.

Establishing Animal Welfare Rules of Conduct for the Portuguese Veterinary Profession-Results from a Policy Delphi with Vignettes.

Promoting animal welfare is one of the basic tenets of the veterinary profession and, in doing so, veterinarians are expected to abide to the highest legal and professional standards. However, the Portuguese veterinary code of conduct, established in 1994, largely overlooks animal welfare and fails to address issues such as the euthanasia or humane killing of animals. As part of a wider research aiming to revise the Portuguese veterinary code of conduct, a Policy Delphi study was conducted in late 2018, using a pre-validated three-round structure and vignette methodology, to explore the range of opinions and the level of agreement on end-of-life dilemmas and animal welfare rules of conduct of a purposeful sample of forty-one (out of seventy) Portuguese veterinarians.

Recurrent horizontal transfer identifies mitochondrial positive selection in a transmissible cancer.

Autonomous replication and segregation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) creates the potential for evolutionary conflict driven by emergence of haplotypes under positive selection for 'selfish' traits, such as replicative advantage. However, few cases of this phenomenon arising within natural populations have been described. Here, we survey the frequency of mtDNA horizontal transfer within the canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT), a contagious cancer clone that occasionally acquires mtDNA from its hosts.

Polymeric nanostructure vaccines: applications and challenges.

Introduction: The use of biocompatible polymers, from natural or synthetic sources, opened the door for a new era in vaccine research. These polymers offer the possibility to develop nanostructured antigen carriers that can be easily internalized by antigen-presenting cells, due to their nanometric size. Besides, the incorporation of an adjuvant allows increasing and modulating the immune response for both, polymers with or without self-adjuvant properties.

Multi-parameter flow cytometry immunophenotyping distinguishes different stages of tuberculosis infection.

Objectives: To identify new potential host biomarkers in blood to discriminate between active TB patients, uninfected (NoTBI) and latently infected contacts (LTBI).

Methods: A blood cell count was performed to study parent leukocyte populations. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and a multi-parameter flow cytometry assay was conducted to study the distribution of basal and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-stimulated lymphocytes.

First description of a herpesvirus infection in genus Lepus.

During the necropsies of Iberian hares obtained in 2018/2019, along with signs of the nodular form of myxomatosis, other unexpected external lesions were also observed. Histopathology revealed nuclear inclusion bodies in stromal cells suggesting the additional presence of a nuclear replicating virus. Transmission electron microscopy further demonstrated the presence of herpesvirus particles in the tissues of affected hares.

The size and composition of polymeric nanocapsules dictate their interaction with macrophages and biodistribution in zebrafish.

Macrophages are pivotal cells of the innate immune system specialized in the phagocytosis of foreign elements. Nanoparticles intentionally designed to target macrophages and modulate their response are of especial interest in the case of chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer and for vaccine development. This work aimed to understand the role of size and shell composition of polymeric nanocapsules (NCs) in their interaction with macrophages, both in vitro and in vivo.