Parasite Screening in Wild Passerines: Enhancing Diagnostic Approaches in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers.

The order Passeriformes is the richest and most abundant group of birds, but despite numerous parasites being identified in wild birds, this order has received limited focus. This study analyzed 17 passerines admitted to the Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat (GREFA), a wildlife rehabilitation center in Spain, during October to December 2022. Necropsies were conducted to determine the presence of parasites, and intestinal contents were analyzed using fecal smear, flotation and sedimentation techniques and the McMaster method.

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Mucus of the Tropical Sea Slug .

(Sacoglossa, Gastropoda) is a tropical sea slug known for its ability to incorporate functional chloroplasts from a variety of green macroalgae, a phenomenon termed kleptoplasty. This sea slug, amenable to laboratory cultivation, produces mucus, a viscous secretion that serves diverse purposes including protection, locomotion, and reproduction. In this study, we profiled the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of the mucus of this sea slug.

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.

The effect of the production system on the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle in Arouquesa cattle.

Arouquesa cattle breed is an autochthonous Portuguese breed produced under a traditional mountain system that need improvement without affecting beef quality. The aim of this work is to compare the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle from Arouquesa animals produced under different production systems. Sixty weaners were produced under the following systems: traditional (TF) and traditional with starter feed supplementation (TF + S1) with weaning and slaughtering at 9 months, the S1 + S2 (weaning at 5 months and grower supplement until slaughter) and two rearing periods with finishing supplementation (TF + S3 and S3).

Key co-expressed genes correlated with blood serum parameters of pigs fed with different fatty acid profile diets.

This study investigated how gene expression is affected by dietary fatty acids (FA) by using pigs as a reliable model for studying human diseases that involve lipid metabolism. This includes changes in FA composition in the liver, blood serum parameters and overall metabolic pathways. RNA-Seq data from 32 pigs were analyzed using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA).

The Impact of Avian Haemosporidian Infection on Feather Quality and Feather Growth Rate of Migratory Passerines.

Bird feathers have several functions, including flight, insulation, communication, and camouflage. Since feathers degrade over time, birds need to moult regularly to maintain these functions. However, environmental factors like food scarcity, stress, and parasite infections can affect feather quality and moult speed.

Companion Animal Owners' Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Antibiotic Use in Portugal.

While multiple studies have focused on the motivations surrounding antibiotic prescription among veterinarians, little is known about companion animal owners' knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) regarding the topic. A nationwide survey directed toward Portuguese dog and cat owners was conducted online and at veterinary practices to characterize their KAP regarding antibiotics. After database curation, a total of 423 valid submissions were considered.

Using Image Analysis Technique for Predicting Light Lamb Carcass Composition.

Over the years, numerous techniques have been explored to assess the composition and quality of sheep carcasses. This study focuses on the utilization of video image analysis (VIA) to evaluate the composition of light lamb carcasses (4.52 ± 1.

Impact of Production Systems on the Levels of Vitamin E, β-Carotene, and Cholesterol in the Liver of Cattle Raised in the Eastern Amazon.

The nutritional composition of bovine liver, particularly in terms of vitamins E, β-carotene, and cholesterol concentration, is significantly influenced by the cattle-rearing system and diet. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of four predominant cattle-rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon region on the vitamin E, β-carotene content, and cholesterol levels in bovine liver during the rainy season. Liver-tissue samples were collected from 48 cattle, with twelve specimens representing each rearing system.

Impact of rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon on cholesterol, β-carotene and vitamin E homologues in steer.

Introduction: The quality of meat, with a focus on compounds important for human health, is directly related to the rearing systems in which the animals are produced. The search for a balanced diet, with an emphasis on low cholesterol and adequate levels of vitamins, aligns with society's emphasis on healthy eating, directly correlated with the importance of the offer made by producers for the cattle's diet.

Objective And Methodology: The objective was to verify the impact of different rearing systems, in the Eastern Amazon, during the rainy season, on the concentrations of vitamins (A, E) and cholesterol in the muscle () of crossbred Nelore cattle, castrated, aged between 24 and 36 months, and weighing between 410 and 628 kg.

Clinical and computed tomography findings in cats with nasopharyngeal stenosis.

Objectives: Concurrent anomalies are often found in nasopharyngeal stenosis and choanal atresia; some seem to be of primary nature, whereas others may be coincidental. This study aimed to report the computed tomography features and related comorbidities of these diseases.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed using case and control groups defined according to the presence of signs of upper airway disease and the presence/absence of nasopharyngeal stenosis, respectively.

Avian Haemosporidian Infection in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres of Portugal: Causes, Consequences, and Genetic Diversity.

In the last decade, over 40% of bird species in Europe have experienced poor and bad conservation status, with more than 30% of bird species in mainland Portugal threatened with extinction. Along with anthropogenic factors, parasites and pathogens such as avian haemosporidians have been suggested to be responsible for these avian population declines. Wildlife rehabilitation centres play an essential role in species conservation and preservation.

The Influence of Noise Level on the Stress Response of Hospitalized Cats.

The study aimed to investigate the impact of noise levels in the hospital environment on the stress experienced by hospitalized cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy surgery. A total of 33 domestic female cats were included in the study, divided into four groups: a control group (CG) and three experimental groups based on ward noise levels: G1 (Quiet, <60 dB), G2 (Medium, between 60 and 85 dB), and G3 (Noisy, >85 dB). Behavioral assessments, respiratory rate (RR), and plasma cortisol levels ([Cort]p) were measured as indicators of stress.

When the solution becomes the problem: a review on antimicrobial resistance in dairy cattle.

Antibiotics' action, once a 'magic bullet', is now hindered by widespread microbial resistance, creating a global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. A primary driver of AMR is the selective pressure from antimicrobial use. Between 2000 and 2015, antibiotic consumption increased by 65%, reaching 34.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in companion animal surgery: A scoping review for European Network for Optimization of Antimicrobial Therapy (ENOVAT) guidelines.

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is widely used to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSI), but there is uncertainty as to what the proportion of SSI reduction is. Therefore, it is difficult for surgeons to properly weigh the costs, risks and benefits for individual patients when deciding on the use of SAP, making it challenging to promote antimicrobial stewardship in primary practice settings. The objective of this study was to map the veterinary evidence focused on assessing the effect of SAP on SSI development and in order to identify surgical procedures with some research evidence and possible knowledge gaps.

In-house three-dimensional printing for surgical planning: learning curve from a case series of temporomandibular joint and related disorders.

Three-dimensional (3D) printed models can improve the understanding of the structural anatomic changes in cases of temporomandibular joint ankylosis and pseudoankylosis leading to closed jaw locking. Their use in pre-surgical planning and intraoperative guidance has been reported, contributing to the predictability and success of these surgery procedures, which can be quite complex, especially in small animal patients. The use and production of 3D tools and models remain challenging and are so far limited to institutions with high (economical and human) resources.

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.

Snapshot of the Phylogenetic Relationships among Avian Poxviruses Circulating in Portugal between 2017 and 2023.

Avipoxvirus (APV), a linear dsDNA virus belonging to the subfamily of the family , infects more than 278 species of domestic and wild birds. It is responsible for causing avian pox disease, characterized by its cutaneous and diphtheric forms. With a high transmission capacity, it can cause high economic losses and damage to the ecosystem.

from Unexplored Tunisian Ecological Niches: Antimicrobial Potential, Probiotic and Food Applications.

The continued exploration of the diversity of lactic acid bacteria in little-studied ecological niches represents a fundamental activity to understand the diffusion and biotechnological significance of this heterogeneous class of prokaryotes. In this study, () strains were isolated from Tunisian vegetable sources, including fermented olive and fermented pepper, and from dead locust intestines, which were subsequently evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogenic bacteria, including O157:H7 CECT 4267 and CECT 4031, as well as against some fungi, including , , and . In addition, their resistance to oro-gastro-intestinal transit, aggregation capabilities, biofilm production capacity, adhesion to human enterocyte-like cells, and cytotoxicity to colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line were determined.

Biocides in the Hospital Environment: Application and Tolerance Development.

Hospital-acquired infections are a rising problem with consequences for patients, hospitals, and health care workers. Biocides can be employed to prevent these infections, contributing to eliminate or reduce microorganisms' concentrations at the hospital environment. These antimicrobials belong to several groups, each with distinct characteristics that need to be taken into account in their selection for specific applications.