Rabbit teeth serve as a calcium source for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Rabbits have hypselodont (ever-growing) teeth; dental growth constantly replaces dental tissue lost due to abrasion and attrition. It has been suggested that rabbits must have high mineral requirements, in particular for calcium, to fuel this constant tooth growth. However, this assumption ignores the fact that tooth wear represents finely ground tissue that is not lost to the body but swallowed during food processing.

Longitudinal assessment of thyroid function in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism: Clinical outcomes and prevalence of autoantibodies.

Background: Knowledge about primary hypoadrenocorticism coexisting with immune-mediated thyroiditis (Schmidt's syndrome) in dogs is limited.

Objective: To evaluate thyroid function in dogs with naturally occurring hypoadrenocorticism before and during treatment.

Animals: Sixty-six client-owned dogs.

Canine Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis Using Two New Automated Techniques: The Sysmex XN-V Body Fluid Mode and an Artificial-Intelligence-Based Algorithm.

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is an important diagnostic test when assessing a neurological canine patient. For this analysis, the total nucleated cell count and differential cell counts are routinely taken, but both involve time-consuming manual methods. To investigate faster automated methods, in this study, the Sysmex XN-V body fluid mode and the deep-learning-based algorithm generated by the Olympus VS200 slide scanner were compared with the manual methods in 161 canine cerebrospinal fluid samples for the total nucleated cell count and in 65 samples with pleocytosis for the differential counts.

Serum vitamin D concentrations in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are more affected by UVB irradiation of food than irradiation of animals.

Rabbits kept under ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiation respond with increasing serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, but it is unknown whether irradiation of the animals or their feed contributes more. Twenty-four New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups for a four-week period: the control group (C) received no UVB-exposure and non-irradiated hay (ergocalciferol (vitamin D) concentration 2.22 µg/100 g dry matter).

Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein Quantification via Spatial Proximity Analyte Reagent Capture Luminescence Assay: Application as Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker in Serum and Effusions of Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis Undergoing GS-441524 Therapy.

Until recently, the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats usually led to euthanasia, but recent research has revealed that antiviral drugs, including the nucleoside analog GS-441524, have the potential to effectively cure FIP. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) has been suggested as a diagnostic marker for FIP. However, AGP quantification methods are not easily accessible.

Effects of prednisolone on 1,2-O-dilauryl-rac-glycero glutaric acid-(60-methylresorufin) ester-lipase activity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in healthy cats.

Background: Corticosteroids are among the most commonly used drugs in cats and are increasingly discussed as a treatment for feline pancreatitis. However, its effects on serum lipase in healthy cats remain unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of prednisolone on serum lipase activity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) in cats.

Validation of the Sysmex XN-V Automated Nucleated Red Blood Cell Enumeration for Canine and Feline EDTA-Anticoagulated Blood.

The enumeration of nRBCs (nucleated red blood cells) by manual counting is time-consuming and imprecise. As the first veterinary hematology analyzer, Sysmex XN-V provides automated nRBC counts. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Sysmex XN-V in the enumeration of nRBCs for cats and dogs by comparing automated nRBC counts to manual counts from a total of 3810 canine and 2844 feline specimens.

Comparison of Sysmex XN-V body fluid mode and deep-learning-based quantification with manual techniques for total nucleated cell count and differential count for equine bronchoalveolar lavage samples.

Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a diagnostic method for the assessment of the lower respiratory airway health status in horses. Differential cell count and sometimes also total nucleated cell count (TNCC) are routinely measured by time-consuming manual methods, while faster automated methods exist. The aims of this study were to compare: 1) the Sysmex XN-V body fluid (BF) mode with the manual techniques for TNCC and two-part differential into mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells; 2) the Olympus VS200 slide scanner and software generated deep-learning-based algorithm with manual techniques for four-part differential cell count into alveolar macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and mast cells.

Findings Related to Cerebrospinal Fluid and Central Nervous System Disorders in Small Ruminants-A Retrospective Study on Sheep and Goats.

Background: Small ruminants often suffer from central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis can be used as a diagnostic tool in this regard. In small animals and cattle, specific CSF patterns have been defined for specific disease categories. No data exist regarding CSF results obtained from small ruminants and their association with certain CNS diseases.

Acidification is required for calcium and magnesium concentration measurements in equine urine.

Background: Acidification of equine urine to promote dissociation of ion complexes is a common practice for urine ion concentration measurements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acidification and storage after acidification on calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphate (P) concentrations and on fractional excretion (FE) of these electrolytes. Thirty-two fresh equine urine samples were analysed between December 2016 and July 2020.

Evaluation of the Effect of Induced Endotoxemia on ROTEM S and Platelet Parameters in Beagle Dogs Anaesthetized with Sevoflurane.

Endotoxemia is thought to induce severe changes in coagulation status. In this study, blood samples from six beagle dogs receiving 1 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intravenously were analyzed to describe the concurrent changes in platelet count, platelet function assessed with impedance thromboaggregometry, thromboelastometry and d-dimers during artificially induced endotoxemia and its therapy with fluids and vasopressors at five timepoints (baseline, after LPS and 30 mL/kg Ringer's acetate, during noradrenaline ± dexmedetomidine infusion, after a second fluid bolus and a second time after vasopressors). Results were analyzed for changes over time with the Friedman test, and statistical significance was set at < 0.

Autosomal recessive hyposegmentation of granulocytes in Australian Shepherd Dogs indicates a role for LMBR1L in myeloid leukocytes.

Pelger-Huët anomaly (PHA) in humans is an autosomal dominant hematological phenotype without major clinical consequences. PHA involves a characteristic hyposegmentation of granulocytes (HG). Human PHA is caused by heterozygous loss of function variants in the LBR gene encoding lamin receptor B.

Clinical features and long-term management of cats with primary hypoadrenocorticism using desoxycorticosterone pivalate and prednisolone.

Background: Primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) is rare in cats and knowledge about treatment is sparse.

Objective: To describe cats with PH with a focus on long-term treatment.

Animals: Eleven cats with naturally occurring PH.

Comparison of alfaxalone and propofol on haematological and serum biochemical variables in cats undergoing radiotherapy with sevoflurane maintenance.

Objective: To evaluate effects of repeated alfaxalone or propofol administration on haematological and serum biochemical variables in cats undergoing radiotherapy.

Study Design: Prospective, block-randomized, clinical trial.

Animals: A group of 39 client-owned cats.

Cytauxzoon europaeus infections in domestic cats in Switzerland and in European wildcats in France: a tale that started more than two decades ago.

Background: Cytauxzoon spp. infection is believed to be a newly emerging tick-borne disease in felids in Europe, with three species of the haemoparasite having recently been differentiated in wild felids. In Switzerland, rare infections have been documented in domestic cats in the west and northwest of the country, the first of which was in 2014.

Management of Suspected Cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Eurasian Lynx () During an International Translocation Program.

The Eurasian lynx () population in Switzerland serves as a source for reintroductions in neighboring countries. In 2016-2017, three lynx from the same geographical area were found seropositive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in the framework of an international translocation program. This novel finding raised questions about the virus origin and pathogenicity to lynx, the emerging character of the infection, and the interpretation of serological results in other lynx caught for translocation.

Modified-Live Feline Calicivirus Vaccination Elicits Cellular Immunity against a Current Feline Calicivirus Field Strain in an Experimental Feline Challenge Study.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common cat virus associated with oral ulcerations and virulent-systemic disease. Efficacious FCV vaccines protect against severe disease but not against infection. The high genetic diversity of FCV poses a challenge in vaccine design.

Modified-Live Feline Calicivirus Vaccination Reduces Viral RNA Loads, Duration of RNAemia, and the Severity of Clinical Signs after Heterologous Feline Calicivirus Challenge.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common cat virus causing clinical signs such as oral ulcerations, fever, reduced general condition, pneumonia, limping and occasionally virulent-systemic disease. Efficacious FCV vaccines protect against severe disease but not against infection. FCV is a highly mutagenic RNA virus whose high genetic diversity poses a challenge in vaccine design.

Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in a Domestic Cat with Respiratory Signs in Switzerland.

Since the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late 2019, domestic cats have been demonstrated to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) under natural and experimental conditions. As pet cats often live in very close contact with their owners, it is essential to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats in a One-Health context. This study reports the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cat in a COVID-19-affected household in Switzerland.

Haematological findings in 158 cows with acute toxic mastitis with a focus on the leukogram.

Background: In cows with acute toxic mastitis (ATM), the leukogram aids in the assessment of the severity of disease. The goal of our study was to compare the leukogram of 158 cows with ATM (cases) and 168 clinically healthy cows (controls). We hypothesised that the leukograms of surviving and non-surviving cows differ and that there are variables of the leukogram with sufficient prognostic potential to be used in the decision to treat or not to treat a cow with ATM.

Antibody kinetics and exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in cats: a seroepidemiological study.

Domestic cats are the most important definitive hosts for Toxoplasma gondii, the agent of an important global zoonosis. Serial sera from cats orally inoculated either withT. gondii tissue cysts (n = 3) or sporulated oocysts (n = 3) and from 65 client-owned cats, plus sera from 1,757 client-owned cats presented to veterinarians in Switzerland were analysed for an antibody response to T.

[Diagnostic utility of creatine kinase elevation in the routine biochemical profile in cats].

Creatine kinase (CK) is a muscle enzyme that is very sensitive to muscle damage. Therefore, serum CK is measured particularly to confirm suspected myopathy. Since 2013, this enzyme has been included in the routine chemistry profile in our hospital.

Urinary tract infections in dogs with spontaneous hypercortisolism - frequency, symptoms and involved pathogens.

Dogs with hypercortisolism are predisposed to developing bacteriuria associated either with clinical signs of cystitis or without clinical signs (subclinical bacteriuria). Based on current guidelines, dogs with subclinical bacteriuria should not be treated with antibiotics because there is no evidence that treatment improves outcome and because unnecessary treatments should be avoided. Before these guidelines were published in 2019, dogs with hypercortisolism and bacteriuria were commonly treated with antibiotics irrespective of clinical signs.

The bovine cumulus proteome is influenced by maturation condition and maturational competence of the oocyte.

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes has still a negative impact on the developmental competence of oocytes. Therefore, this study analysed the cumulus proteome of individual cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) with and without maturational competence, matured under in vivo or in vitro conditions (n = 5 per group). A novel, ultrasensitive mass spectrometry (MS) based protein profiling approach, using label-free quantification, was applied.