Health Status and Stress in Different Categories of Racing Pigeons.

The influence of different stress parameters in racing pigeon flocks, such as the presence of diseases and environmental conditions at the time of the races, were described. A total of 96 racing pigeons from 4 pigeon flocks were examined, and health monitoring was carried out. No helminth eggs and coccidia were found.

Herpesvirus Infection in a Breeding Population of Two Coexisting Owls.

Birds are a frequent host of a large variety of herpesviruses, and infections in them may go unnoticed or may result in fatal disease. In wild breeding populations of owls, there is very limited information about the presence, impact, and potential transmission of herpesvirus. The herpesvirus partial DNA polymerase gene was detected using polymerase chain reaction in oropharyngeal swabs of 16 out of 170 owls examined that were captured in or near nest boxes.

Structurally Optimized Potent Dual-Targeting NBTI Antibacterials with an Enhanced Bifurcated Halogen-Bonding Propensity.

We designed and synthesized an optimized library of novel bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors with -halogenated phenyl right-hand side fragments and significantly enhanced and balanced dual-targeted DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV activities of and . By increasing the electron-withdrawing properties of the -halogenated phenyl right-hand side fragment and maintaining a similar lipophilicity and size, an increased potency was achieved, indicating that the antibacterial activities of this series of novel bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors against all target enzymes are determined by halogen-bonding rather than van der Waals interactions. They show nanomolar enzyme inhibitory and whole-cell antibacterial activities against and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains.

A Suggested Diagnostic Approach for Sporadic Anthrax in Cattle to Protect Public Health.

The repeated occurrence of anthrax in grazing animals should be a reminder of a widespread presence of spores in the environment. Its rapid diagnosis is critical to protect public health. Here, we report a case of anthrax in cattle that was investigated using conventional and molecular methods.

Overview of Cattle Diseases Listed Under Category C, D or E in the Animal Health Law for Which Control Programmes Are in Place Within Europe.

The COST action "Standardising output-based surveillance to control non-regulated diseases of cattle in the European Union (SOUND control)," aims to harmonise the results of surveillance and control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases to facilitate safe trade and improve overall control of cattle infectious diseases. In this paper we aimed to provide an overview on the diversity of control for these diseases in Europe. A non-EU regulated cattle disease was defined as an infectious disease of cattle with no or limited control at EU level, which is not included in the European Union Animal health law Categories A or B under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002.

The Comparison of Honeybee Viral Loads for Six Honeybee Viruses (ABPV, BQCV, CBPV, DWV, LSV3 and SBV) in Healthy and Clinically Affected Honeybees with TaqMan Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR Assays.

The viral loads of acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), deformed wing virus (DWV), Lake Sinai virus 3 (LSV3), and sacbrood bee virus (SBV) were determined in samples with the use of quantitative TaqMan real-time reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). A total of 108 samples of healthy adult honeybees from four differently located apiaries and samples of honeybees showing different clinical signs of viral infections from 89 apiaries were collected throughout Slovenia. The aim of this study was to discover correlations between viral loads and clinical signs in adult honeybees and confirm previously set threshold viral load levels between healthy and clinically affected honeybees.

The Pathogens Spillover and Incidence Correlation in Bumblebees and Honeybees in Slovenia.

Slovenia has a long tradition of beekeeping and a high density of honeybee colonies, but less is known about bumblebees and their pathogens. Therefore, a study was conducted to define the incidence and prevalence of pathogens in bumblebees and to determine whether there are links between infections in bumblebees and honeybees. In 2017 and 2018, clinically healthy workers of bumblebees ( spp.

A Fine-Tuned Lipophilicity/Hydrophilicity Ratio Governs Antibacterial Potency and Selectivity of Bifurcated Halogen Bond-Forming NBTIs.

Herein, we report the design of a focused library of novel bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors (NBTIs) based on innovative mainly monocyclic right-hand side fragments active against DNA gyrase and Topo IV. They exhibit a very potent and wide range of antibacterial activity, even against some of the most concerning hard-to-treat pathogens for which new antibacterials are urgently needed, as reported by the WHO and CDC. NBTIs enzyme activity and whole cell potency seems to depend on the fine-tuned lipophilicity/hydrophilicity ratio that governs the permeability of those compounds through the bacterial membranes.

Evaluation of Dietary Supplements Containing Viable Bacteria by Cultivation/MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and PCR Identification.

The insufficient quality of products containing beneficial live bacteria in terms of content and viability of labelled microorganisms is an often-reported problem. The aim of this work was to evaluate the quality of dietary supplements containing viable bacteria available in Slovenian pharmacies using plate counting, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and species- or subspecies-specific PCR with DNA isolated from consortia of viable bacteria, from individual isolates, or directly from the products. Twelve percent of the products (3 of 26) contained insufficient numbers of viable bacteria.

Overview of Slovenian Control Programmes for Cattle Diseases Not Regulated by the European Union.

The European Union (EU) regulates the control of cattle diseases listed in categories A and B of the Animal Health Law (AHL). However, the control of other cattle diseases that have no, or limited EU regulation, is left to each member state. Slovenia has five control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases: bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), bluetongue and anthrax.

Canine Leishmaniasis Prevalence in the Slovenian Dog Population.

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a life-threatening zoonosis of which dogs are the major reservoir and sandflies are the vectors. Until now, the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in the Slovenian dog population was unknown.

Material And Methods: Epidemiological data, eye swabs and blood samples were taken from 465 dogs born in Slovenia and older than one year.

Building antimicrobial stewardship through massive open online courses: a pilot study in Macedonia.

Background: The global struggle against antibiotic resistance requires antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Massive open online courses (MOOCs) offer health professionals unprecedented access to high-quality instructional material on AMS; the question is how apprehensible it is to non-native English speakers. Furthermore, to better understand how education interventions promote change towards rational antibiotic prescribing, leading institutions call for studies integrating behavioural science.

Impact of Type of Parturition on Colostrum Microbiota Composition and Puppy Survival.

The objective of our study was to determine whether the type of parturition affects the microbiota of the colostrum and the growth and survival of the puppies. Seventy-nine newborn puppies were divided into three groups regarding the type of parturition: vaginal delivery (VD), elective caesarean section (EL-CS), and emergency caesarean section (EM-CS). After the birth of the puppies, swabs of meconium were collected from the puppies and colostrum was obtained from the dam.

The First Detection and Genetic Characterization of Four Different Honeybee Viruses in Wild Bumblebees from Croatia.

To determine the presence and the prevalence of four different honeybee viruses (acute bee paralysis virus-ABPV, black queen cell virus-BQCV, chronic bee paralysis virus-CBPV, deformed wing virus-DWV) in wild bumblebees, pooled randomly selected bumblebee samples were collected from twenty-seven different locations in the territory of Croatia. All samples were prepared and examined using the RT-PCR methods for quantification of mentioned honeybee viruses. Determined prevalence (%) of identified positive viruses were in the following decreasing order: BQCV > DWV > ABPV, CBPV.

Feline Otitis Externa Caused by Methicillin-Resistant with Mixed Hemolytic Phenotype and Overview of Possible Genetic Backgrounds.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is an important cause of nosocomial infections in humans, but its importance in small animal practice is increasing. Here, we present a case of feline otitis externa (OE) caused by MRSA; both hemolytic and nonhemolytic variants with a stable phenotype were recovered from the external auditory canal after infection was detected by routine otoscopy. One isolate per variant underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by broth microdilution method, conventional typing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Genomic insights into the emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in veterinary clinics.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a common cause of skin and soft tissue infections in dogs but can also cause infections in cats and humans. The frequency of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) strains is increasing worldwide.

Identification of a Novel Papillomavirus Type (MfoiPV1) Associated with Acrochordon in a Stone Marten ().

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are an extremely large group of viruses that cause skin and mucosal infections in humans and various domestic and wild animals. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge about PVs in wildlife hosts, including mustelid species. This study describes a case in stone marten () with a clinical manifestation of skin tumor, which is rather atypical for infections with PVs.

Genetic Characterisation and Comparison of Three Human Coronaviruses (HKU1, OC43, 229E) from Patients and Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) from Cattle with Respiratory Disease in Slovenia.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are widely distributed pathogens of human and animals and can cause mild or severe respiratory and gastrointestinal disease. Antigenic and genetic similarity of some CoVs within the genus is evident. Therefore, for the first time in Slovenia, we investigated the genetic diversity of partial 390-nucleotides of RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase gene (RdRp) for 66 human (HCoV) and 24 bovine CoV (BCoV) positive samples, collected between 2010 and 2016 from human patients and cattle with respiratory disease.

Screening of Mosquitoes for West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus in Croatia, 2015-2020.

In the period from 2015 to 2020, an entomological survey for the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) in mosquitoes was performed in northwestern Croatia. A total of 20,363 mosquitoes were sampled in the City of Zagreb and Međimurje county, grouped in 899 pools and tested by real-time RT-PCR for WNV and USUV RNA. All pools were negative for WNV while one pool each from 2016 (), 2017 ( complex), 2018 ( complex), and 2019 ( complex), respectively, was positive for USUV.

Infectious Abortions in Small Ruminants: Challenges for Diagnosis and Public Health.

In this study, we report an abortion outbreak in a ruminant herd consisting of goats, sheep, and cows, with scenarios in two consecutive years. In early 2017, abortions occurred in ∼70% of goats and 66% tested positive for () and 40% of goats were positive for (). In February 2018, the same herd reported an abortion rate of 75%, with 55% positive for , 36% for , and 22% for .

The Successful Elimination of Sylvatic Rabies Using Oral Vaccination of Foxes in Slovenia.

Sylvatic rabies was present in Slovenia between 1973 and 2013, with the red fox as the main reservoir of the rabies virus. The first oral rabies vaccination (ORV) control program in foxes started in 1988, using the manual distribution of baits. Significant improvement of fox vaccination was achieved with the aerial distribution of baits, starting in 1995 and successfully finished with the final, fifty-ninth vaccination campaign in 2019.

[Inguinal lymphadenitis due to invasion of Dirofilaria repens].

The paper presents the case of the right-sided inguinal inflammation of a lymph node as a result of invasion of Dirofilaria repens, the parasitic pathogen of subcutaneous dirofilariasis in animals of the canine family. The diagnosis was verified on the basis of the parallel application of morphological studies of cross sections of the nematode in histological samples and the molecular biological method polymerase chain reaction of scrapings of histological material. The localization of this helminth inside the cavities of the human body is extremely rare.

Twenty Years of Passive Disease Surveillance of Roe Deer () in Slovenia.

In this paper, we provide an overview of the causes of death of roe deer () diagnosed within the national passive health surveillance of roe deer in Slovenia. From 2000 to 2019, postmortem examinations of 510 free-ranging roe deer provided by hunters were conducted at the Veterinary Faculty, Slovenia. A comprehensive necropsy was performed.