Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Balantioides coli in pigs raised in Italy.

Balantioides coli is the only ciliated protist of both human and veterinary interest and colonises the large intestine of several hosts, including humans and pigs. Given the scarcity of data on B. coli circulation in pigs in Italy, a study was planned to record its prevalence and genetic types and compare the analytical sensitivity of two copromicroscopic techniques.

A Moderate Intake of Beer Improves Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in a High-Fat Diet (HFD)-Induced Mouse Model.

Beer and its components show potential for reducing hepatic steatosis in rodent models through multiple mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate beer's anti-steatotic effects in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model of Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease (MASLD) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. In the HFD group, steatosis was confirmed by altered blood parameters, weight gain, elevated liver lipid content, and histological changes.

Investigating Endoparasites in Captive Birds of Prey in Italy.

Birds of prey can be parasitised by several endoparasites that can coexist without clinical signs of disease or occur in conjunction with stressful events. Because the number of birds of prey kept in captivity is copiously increasing due to their use for bird control, breeding programs, exhibition and falconry, the main endoparasites of 81 apparently healthy captive birds of prey from northern Italy were investigated by examining faecal and blood samples. Faeces were analysed by a quali-quantitative technique, i.

Antibacterial Effect of Canine Leucocyte Platelet-Rich Plasma (L-PRP) and Canine Platelet-Poor Plasma (PPP) Against Methicillin-Sensitive and Methicillin-Resistant .

(SP) is a commensal and opportunistic pathogen of skin and mucosal surfaces, isolated from healthy dogs and from canine pyoderma cases. It has recently gained attention due to its increasing antibiotic resistance. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a biological product, obtained through a blood centrifugation process, which has antibacterial properties evidenced by in vitro and in vivo studies conducted in both the human and veterinary field.

Impact of Nanoplastics on the Functional Profile of Microalgae Species Used as Food Supplements: Insights from Comparative In Vitro and Ex Vivo Digestion Studies.

The widespread use of plastics in the food industry raises concerns about plastic migration and health risks. The degradation of primary polymers like polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) can generate nanoplastics (NPs), increasing food biohazard. This study assessed the impact of PS, PE, and PS + PE NPs on (CV) and (HP) before and after in vitro and ex vivo digestion, focusing on particle size, polydispersity index, and surface charge.

Metabolomic Profiling of Reared on Chestnut Shell-Enriched Substrate Using NMR Spectroscopy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolomic profile of larvae reared on the following innovative growth substrates: wheat bran (control, CTRL); wheat bran supplemented with 12.5% / chestnut shell (TRT1); and wheat bran supplemented with 25% / chestnut shell (TRT2) for 14 days of trial. At the end of this experiment, larvae were transformed into insect meals for nutritional characterization.

Fecal Carriage and Risk Factors Associated with Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-/AmpC-/Carbapenemase-Producing in Dogs from Italy.

MDR bacteria are an emerging global threat to public health, and the role of dogs in the rise of antimicrobial resistance is under investigation. This study investigated the fecal shedding of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-, AmpC- and carbapenemase (CP)-producing and associated risk factors in dogs admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Lodi, University of Milan, or other veterinary clinics and kennels in Northen Italy. Feces collected in 2020-2022 were microbiologically and molecularly analyzed.

Inclusion of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal in the diet of barbary partridge (Alectoris barbara) improves caecal bacterial diversity and composition.

In this study, we investigated the influence of the inclusion of Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae meal in the diet on the diversity and structure of the bacterial community in the caecal content of Barbary partridges. A total of 36 partridges, selected randomly for slaughter from 54 animals, were divided equally into three treatment groups, including the control group (C) with a diet containing corn-soybean meal and two experimental groups, in which 25% (TM25) and 50% (TM50) of the soybean meal protein was replaced by the meal from TM larvae. After slaughtering, the bacterial community of the 30 caecal samples (10 samples per each experimental group) was analysed by high-throughput sequencing using the V4-V5 region of the 16 S rRNA gene.

Handheld NIR Spectroscopy Combined with a Hybrid LDA-SVM Model for Fast Classification of Retail Milk.

The EU market offers different types of milk, distinguished by origin, production method, processing technology, fat content, and other characteristics, which are often detailed on product labels. In this context, ensuring the authenticity of milk is crucial for maintaining standards and preventing fraud. Various food authenticity techniques have been employed to achieve this.

Ochratoxin A in Poultry Supply Chain: Overview of Feed Occurrence, Carry-Over, and Pathognomonic Lesions in Target Organs to Promote Food Safety.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by fungi species belonging to the genera spp. and spp. The proliferation of OTA-producing fungal species may occur due to inadequate practices during both the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages of feed.

Gallic and Ellagic Acids Differentially Affect Microbial Community Structures and Methane Emission When Using a Rumen Simulation Technique.

Dietary tannins can affect rumen microbiota and enteric fermentation to mitigate methane emissions, although such effects have not yet been fully elucidated. We tested two subunits of hydrolyzable tannins named gallic acid (GA) and ellagic acid (EA), alone (75 mg/g DM each) or combined (150 mg/g DM in total), using the Rusitec system. EA and EA+GA treatments decreased methane production, volatile fatty acids, nutrient degradation, relative abundance of , , but increased .

Multianalytical investigation reveals psychotropic substances in a ptolemaic Egyptian vase.

This study presents a comprehensive multimodal analytical study of an Egyptian ritual Bes-vase, of the 2nd century BCE employing cutting-edge proteomics, metabolomics, genetics techniques, and synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transformed Infrared microSpectroscopy (SR µ-FTIR) to characterize organic residues of its content. We successfully identified the presence of various functional, bioactive, psychotropic, and medicinal substances, shedding light on the diverse components of a liquid concoction used for ritual practices in Ptolemaic Egypt. Using LC-MS/MS with a new methodological approach, we identified key proteins and metabolites, enabling the identification of botanical sources, confirmed by genetic sequences.

Plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and urinary aldosterone-to-creatinine ratio in healthy Chihuahuas.

Background: Chihuahua represents an increasingly widespread breed predisposed to cardiac disease. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) might be a useful point-of-care biomarker for dogs suspected of having heart disease, but breed differences have been reported. The urinary aldosterone-to-creatinine ratio (UAldo: C) appears to be a good indicator of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity in dogs, but Chihuahuas showed significantly higher UAldo: C than other breeds.

Rapid Classification of Milk Using a Cost-Effective Near Infrared Spectroscopy Device and Variable Cluster-Support Vector Machine (VC-SVM) Hybrid Models.

Removing fat from whole milk and adding water to milk to increase its volume are among the most common food fraud practices that alter the characteristics of milk. Usually, deviations from the expected fat content can indicate adulteration. Infrared spectroscopy is a commonly used technique for distinguishing pure milk from adulterated milk, even when it comes from different animal species.

Effect of Using Prickly Pear Seed Cake ( L.) on Growth Performance, Digestibility, Physiological and Histometric Parameters in Rabbits.

Prickly pear ( L.) could be used in rabbit nutrition in compliance with circular economy principles, global warming issues, and reduction of production costs. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary incorporation of prickly pear seed cake (PPSC) on growth, physiological, and histometric parameters in rabbits.

Use of Decellularized Bio-Scaffolds for the Generation of a Porcine Artificial Intestine.

In recent years, great interest has been focused on the development of highly reproducible 3D in vitro models that are able to mimic the physiological architecture and functionality of native tissues. To date, a wide range of techniques have been proposed to recreate an intestinal barrier in vitro, including synthetic scaffolds and hydrogels, as well as complex on-a-chip systems and organoids. Here, we describe a novel protocol for the generation of an artificial intestine based on the creation of decellularized bio-scaffolds and their repopulation with intestinal stromal and epithelial cells.

Exploring the Relationship between Canine Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) Serum Activity and Liver Disease Classified by Clinico-Pathological Evaluation.

Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), a liver-synthesized enzyme, acts as a negative acute-phase reactant during systemic inflammation in dogs. Given the hepatic synthesis of this enzyme, the presence of liver diseases may influence PON-1, thus affecting its reliability as a biomarker for inflammatory/oxidative systemic diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate PON-1 activity variations among dogs suspected of liver injury or failure, evaluating the influence of hepatic diseases on PON-1 activity.

Genome-wide association studies for milk production traits in two autochthonous Aosta cattle breeds.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are used to identify quantitative trait loci for phenotypic traits of interest. The use of multilocus mixed models allows to correct for population stratification and account for long-range linkage disequilibrium. In this study, GWASs were conducted to identify the genetic bases of milk production (milk yield, protein and fat composition, and yield) in two autochthonous dual-purpose cattle breeds from the Aosta Valley.

A spotlight on factors influencing the in vitro folliculogenesis of isolated preantral follicles.

Female fertility preservation via complete in vitro folliculogenesis is still chimerical. Due to many factors affecting the efficiency of isolation and culture of preantral follicles, the improvement of techniques geared to fertility preservation in higher mammals seems to be at an impasse. We need an objective view of the current stand to understand how to progress further.