Pluronic F127 composite hydrogel for the repair of contraction suppressed full-thickness skin wounds in a rabbit model.

Hydrogels are commonly used as carriers for cell delivery due to their similarities to the extracellular matrix. A contraction-suppressed full-thickness wound model was used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Pluronic F127 (PF127) hydrogel loaded with adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (AdSVF), mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSC), and conditioned media (AdMSC-CM) for the repair of wounds in a rabbit model. The experimental study was conducted on forty-eight healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits randomly divided into eight groups with six animals each and treated with AdSVF, AdMSC, and AdMSC-CM as an injectable or topical preparation. The healing potential of different adipose-derived cell-based and cell-free therapeutics was evaluated based on percentage wound healing, period of epithelialization, epidermal thickness, scar evaluation, histopathology analysis, histochemical evaluation, immunohistochemistry (collagen type I), and hydroxyproline assay by comparing with the positive and negative control. Collagen density analysis using different staining methods, immunohistochemistry, and hydroxyproline assay consistently showed that delivering AdMSC and AdMSC-CM in PF127 hydrogel enhanced epithelialization, collagen production, and organization, contributing to improved tissue strength and quality. Even though allogeneic AdSVF was found to promote wound healing in rabbits, it has a lower potential than AdMSC and AdMSC-CM. The wound healing potential of AdMSC and AdMSC-CM was enhanced when loaded in PF127 hydrogel and applied topically. Even though wounds treated with AdMSC outperformed AdMSC-CM, a significant difference in the healing quality was not observed in most instances, indicating almost similar therapeutic potential. The findings indicate that the wound healing potential of AdMSC and AdMSC-CM was enhanced when loaded in PF127 hydrogel and applied topically. These treatments promoted collagen production, tissue organization, and epidermal regeneration, ultimately improving overall healing outcomes.

Operator impact assessment on qualitative and quantitative parameters of canine platelet-rich plasma.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a cornerstone in veterinary regenerative medicine. The present study evaluated the impact of the operator on the qualitative and quantitative features of non-activated PRP derived from canine whole blood. Blood was collected in anticoagulant acid citrate dextrose from twelve healthy adult dogs and PRP was prepared according to the double-spin method. Both operators followed an identical protocol and utilized the same equipment for PRP preparation from the pooled blood samples. The resulting PRP underwent characterization, classification and coding based on minimum reporting standards. The consistency and internal reliability of different parameters were also assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha values. Variables such as white blood cell (WBC) concentration, relative WBC composition and mean platelet volume (MPV) showed poor reliability, and WBC concentration and MPV also had unacceptable internal consistency. Significant differences were observed in several qualitative and quantitative parameters of the prepared PRP, highlighting the influence of the operator even when the same protocol and equipment were used. Our study has direct implications to regenerative medicine, reinforcing the urgency to set minimum requirements for reporting PRP in research studies.

Minimal criteria for reporting mesenchymal stem cells in veterinary regenerative medicine.

The widespread application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in veterinary regenerative medicine highlights their promising therapeutic potential. However, the lack of standardized characterization and reporting practices across studies poses a significant challenge, compromising the assessment of their safety and efficacy. While criteria established for human MSCs serve as a foundation, the unique characteristics of animal-derived MSCs warrant updated guidelines tailored to veterinary medicine. A recent position statement outlining minimal reporting criteria for MSCs in veterinary research reflects efforts to address this need, aiming to enhance research quality and reproducibility. Standardized reporting criteria ensure transparency, facilitate evidence synthesis, and promote best practices adoption in MSC isolation, characterization, and administration. Adherence to minimal reporting criteria is crucial for maintaining scientific rigor and advancing the field of veterinary regenerative medicine. Ongoing collaboration among stakeholders is essential for effective implementation and adherence to updated guidelines, fostering excellence and innovation in MSC-based therapies for animal patients.

Phylogenetic analysis and haplotype networking of Hepatozoon felis infecting wild animals in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India.

The present study was aimed to determine the phylogenetic relationship, haplotype network, and demographic dynamics of H. felis infecting the endangered Asiatic lions in Gir National Park, Gujarat, India, on the basis of partial 18S rRNA gene. The phylogenetic analysis based on the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences of H. felis exhibited the presence of two distinct genotypes of H. felis (HfG1 and HfG2) infecting the Indian wild felids, viz., the Asiatic lion, Royal Bengal tiger, and Indian leopard. The HfG1 and HfG2 genotypes exhibited 97.6-100% and 99.7-100%, and 96.9-98.7% nucleotide identity within and between themselves, respectively. The HfG1 genotype exhibited a higher genetic diversity as compared to HfG2. A total of 22 molecular signatures were identified in the 18S rRNA gene between these genotypes. Further, analysis of a total 67 sequences of H. felis (13 different host species from 13 countries of Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe) that were downloaded from GenBankTM, generated 30 haplotypes. Among all the haplotypes, Hap_17 (h=12) was the most frequent followed by Hap_12 (h=09) and Hap_4 (h=05). Out of 13 location-wise populations, India (h=12) shared the highest number of haplotypes followed by Japan (h=08), and the least number of haplotypes were found in Hungary (h=02). Population dynamics study involving neutrality tests and mismatch distribution, and genetic differentiation indices, revealed the presence of phylogeographic population structure and a constant population size indicating a uniform gene flow among the populations worldwide. In conclusion, a high genetic diversity along with the presence of two distinct genotypes of H. felis were observed on the basis of 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and its conditioned media for repairing acute and sub-acute peripheral nerve injuries in a rabbit model.

The present study evaluated healing potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and BM-MSCs-conditioned medium (BM-MSCs-CM) for acute and subacute injuries in the rabbit peripheral nerve injury model. The regenerative capacity of MSCs was evaluated in 40 rabbits divided into eight groups, four groups each for acute and subacute injury models. BM-MSCs and BM-MSCS-CM were prepared by isolating allogenic bone marrow from the iliac crest. After inducing sciatic nerve crush injury, different treatments consisting of PBS, Laminin, BM-MSCs + laminin, and BM-MSCS-CM + laminin were used on the day of injury in the acute injury model and after ten days of crush injury in the subacute groups. The parameters studied included: pain, total neurological score, gastrocnemius muscle weight and volume ratio, histopathology of the sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Findings indicate that BM-MSCs and BM-MSCS-CM have augmented the regenerative capacity in acute and subacute injury groups with a slightly better improvement in the subacute groups than the animals in acute injury groups. Histopathology data revealed different levels of regenerative process undergoing in the nerve. Neurological observations, gastrocnemius muscle evaluation, muscle histopathology, and the SEM results depicted better healing in animals treated with BM-MSCs and BM-MSCS-CM. With this data, it could be concluded that BM-MSCs support the healing of injured peripheral nerves, and the BM-MSCS-CM does accelerate the healing of acute and subacute peripheral nerve injuries in rabbits. However, stem cell therapy may be indicated during the subacute phase for better results.

Emergence of Mycobacterium orygis-Associated Tuberculosis in Wild Ruminants, India.

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium orygis was detected in 2 spotted deer from a wildlife sanctuary in western India and an Indian bison from a national park in central India. Nationwide surveillance is urgently required to clarify the epidemiology of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex at the human-livestock-wildlife interface.

Pathological and molecular studies on elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus haemorrhagic disease among captive and free-range Asian elephants in India.

In the present research pathology and molecular diagnosis of elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus-haemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) among Asian elephants was studied. Out of 76 cases, 20 were positive for EEHV infection in PANPOL and POL1 based semi-nested PCR. Out of 20 samples, 10 samples were fatal cases of EEHV-HD while 10 were of either subclinical or latent infection. Acute onset haemorrhagic disease with EEHV-HD had anorexia, facial and neck swelling, cyanotic buccal mucosa and tongue, nasal and ocular discharge, and colic. The hallmark of gross finding in all cases were severe haemorrhagic lesions in the internal organs viz. cyanosis of tongue with multifocal petechial haemorrhages, diffuse epicardial and endocardial haemorrhages, swollen liver (rounded edges) with parenchymal haemorrhages, serosal and mucosal haemorrhages in gastrointestinal tract, congested kidneys with corticomedullary haemorrhages, highly congested meninges, and brain capillaries with haemorrhages. Microscopic findings in all the cases had severe vascular changes in the visceral organs. Microthrombi was present in the vasculature of tongue, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and brain. The endothelial lining of most of the blood vessels were swollen with apoptotic changes. Amphophilic to basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in the endothelial cells. Immunostaining using anti-EEHV DNAPOL hyperimmune sera revealed intense positive signals in the endothelium of blood vessels and their walls. Quantification of viral load in necropsy tissue samples revealed highest in the heart (7.4 × 106/µg of sample) and least in the brain (9 × 103/µg of sample). The PCR amplicons from EEHV1 specific genes (POL1(U38) and TER were subjected to partial genome sequencing which had 99.9% similarity with the EEHV1A subtype. It was concluded that Asian elephants in India are latently infected for EEHV1 and in all the fatal EEHV-HD cases, EEHV1A subtype was the causative agent with characteristic pathomorphological changes in visceral organs.

The first record of Heterakis gallinarum as a cause of fatal nodular typhlitis in golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) in India.

Background: Heterakidosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in birds, the caecae of a variety of wild and domestic birds are infected with these nematodes. In pheasants, nodular typhlitis is a lethal disease caused mainly by infection with Heterakis isolonche alone or in conjunction with Heterakis gallinarum. H. gallinarum has long been recognized to infect birds with low pathogenicity, with only a few fatal cases previously reported. Case description: This paper describes a case of fatal nodular typhlitis due to H. gallinarum in a male and female pair of adult golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) from a zoological garden in Uttar Pradesh, India. Findings/treatment and outcome: The caecum had multiple serosal and mucosal nodules, the majority of which were found to contain various stages of parasites embedded in the center along with the free forms in the caecal contents. Histopathologically, these nodules were generally represented by granulomas centered on necrotic parasite debris, with the occasional reactive fibrous hyperplastic tissue reaction. Based on the morphology and nematode-specific internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ITS1-5.8 rRNA-ITS2 region-based PCR, the nematode was identified as H. gallinarum. The presence of H. gallinarum was further confirmed by sequencing the ITS region followed by phylogenetic analysis. According to the author's best knowledge, this is the first instance of H. gallinarum being linked to nodular typhlitis in pheasants in India. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that H. gallinarum, other than H. isolonche, can induce severe nodular typhlitis with a fatal outcome in pheasants.

Genetic and population diversity of Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) Brumpt, 1927, on the basis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.

The present investigation was aimed to study the sequence, phylogenetic and haplotype analyses of Toxocara cati based on the ITS region, along with the genetic diversity, demographic history and population-genetic structure. The maximum likelihood tree based on Kimura 2-parameter model was constructed using the complete ITS region of all the nucleotide sequences (n = 57) of Toxocara spp. and other related ascarid worms available in the GenBank™. It placed all the sequences of T. cati into four major clades designated as T. cati genotypes 1-4 (TcG1-G4). A total of 66 signature nucleotides were identified in the ITS region between genotypes. The median-joining haplotype network displayed a total of 24 haplotypes, with China exhibiting the highest number of haplotypes (h = 20) followed by India (h = 4), and Japan and Russia (h = 1). It indicated a clear distinction between all the four genotypes. The pairwise FST values between all the genotypes indicated huge genetic differentiation (> 0.25) between different T. cati genotypes. Moreover, the gene flow (Nm) between T. cati genotypes was very low. Results of AMOVA revealed higher genetic variation between genotypes (92.82%) as compared to the variation within genotypes (7.18%). The neutrality indices and mismatch distributions for the G1-G4 genotypes, Indian isolates and the overall dataset of T. cati indicated either a constant population size or a slight population increase. The geographical distribution of all the genotypes of T. cati is also reported. This is the first report of genotyping of T. cati on the basis of the ITS region.

Tuberculosis in free-ranging and captive wild animals: Pathological and molecular diagnosis with histomorphological differentiation of granulomatous lesions.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious zoonotic threat, impacting the human-livestock-wildlife interface globally. Here, we evaluated the status and histomorphological differentiation of TB lesions in 89 morbid cases of wild animals (bovids, cervids, carnivores, non-human primates, and pachyderms) in India. Histomorphological and molecular studies were done using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas cultural isolation was performed on selected samples. A total of 32 (35.95%) cases were confirmed as TB, comprising of 12 carnivores, 09 bovids, 06 cervids, 04 non-human primates, and a pachyderm. The TB lesions in the lungs, liver, and lymph nodes varied from the large-sized caseous nodules filled with dry cheesy material in bovids and cervids to variable-sized cavitations containing liquefied caseum in carnivores' lungs. The lungs, livers, and spleens of non-human primates exhibited small to medium-sized nodules. Histologically, lesions were divided into four categories (Types I, II, III, and IV) based on the extent of necrosis, the presence of mineralization, giant cells, and fibrous encapsulation. Extensive caseous necrosis with calcification, abundant giant cells, and thick fibroblastic encapsulation were consistent findings in the lungs, livers, and lymph nodes of bovids and cervids, whereas airway impaction with cellular exudate containing a teeming number of acid-fast bacilli and, at times, alveolar rupture leading to cavity formation was present in the lungs of carnivores. Absence of calcification and fibrous encapsulation was recorded in lungs of non-human primates. Immunohistochemical labelling with anti-early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) antibodies showed mild, moderate, and intense positive reactions in type II and III, type I, and type IV granulomatous lesions, respectively. Molecular detection by PCR revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (12 carnivores, 02 non-human primates and 01 pachyderm), M. bovis (02 cervids and 01 bovid) and M. orygis (02 cervids and 01 bovid). Cultural isolation confirmed M. tuberculosis in 03 carnivores and M. orygis in 02 cervids and 01 bovid. Our findings imply that TB is quite prevalent in the wildlife of India and there are considerable differences in the histomorphological lesions induced by distinct Mycobacterium species in different wild animals. The circulation of TB organisms in wild animals warrants a strict surveillance programme to identify the carrier status of these animals so that effective TB control strategies can be formulated to prevent spillover and spillback incidences at the human-livestock-wildlife interface.

First report on the detection of Japanese encephalitis virus in fruit bats from India.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito borne viral zoonotic disease and JE virus (JEV) is responsible for causing several children deaths every year in India. Since 1978, cases of JE have been reported from Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh state annually. The knowledge on the role played by wildlife reservoirs in the sylvatic transmission and maintenance of JE virus remains limited. Bats are reservoir hosts for several emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens but their role in zoonotic cycle of JEV has not been elucidated yet. In Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, 52 fruit bats were found dead on 26 May 2020. The post-mortem report of the bat samples conducted at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute stated that the bats died due to brain hemorrhage, caused by excessive heat. The brain tissue samples of the bats were subjected to investigation using molecular techniques to determine the presence of JEV. The present work reports for the first time the detection of JEV in brain samples of bats from India. The viral load ranging from 8 to 18 copies/reaction was detected in brain samples by TaqMan real Time RT-PCR. The low viral load might be the reason for the absence of apparent clinical signs in bats and suggests the probable role of fruit bats in maintaining the JEV in nature.

Mapping global trends in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell research: A bibliometric analysis using scopus database.

Background and objective: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSC) are multipotent adult mesenchymal cells isolated and cultured from the stromal vascular fraction derived from adipose tissue. The present study was conducted to analyze the global trends in AdMSC research using bibliometric and visual analysis tools. Methods: The literature search was done on February 13, 2022, using appropriate keywords and inclusion-exclusion criteria from the Scopus database. The extracted data were retrospectively analyzed and visualized using Bibliometrics and R packages and VOSviewer. Results: Preliminary analysis identified 1569 documents from the Scopus database published between 2005 and 2021. The average citations received per document was 26.51, whereas the average citations per year per document was 3.347. In addition, the selected documents had an h-index value of 90. China was the most productive country, whereas Seoul National University (South Korea) was identified as the most productive institute/university in AdMSC research. In addition, the National Natural Science Foundation of China funded the most research studies in AdMSC research. Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate a progressive increase in interest among the research community towards AdMSC, suggesting promising prospects in the coming years.

A study on clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis in free ranging and captive wild animals of India.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of paramount importance at the wildlife-livestock-human interface. Aims: To study the occurrence and Mycobacterium (M) species involved in the TB of free-ranging and captive wild animals in various Indian states. Methods: A total of 396 clinical samples from 207 different wild animal species from various Indian national parks, zoological gardens, etc., were analyzed by lateral flow assay (LFA), Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, and PCR. Clinical samples include blood (n=156), faecal swabs (n=103), serum (n=73), and nasal swabs or trunk wash fluids (n=64). Results: Clinical signs of TB were absent in 202 animals, although 21 wild animals were seropositive for pathogenic Mycobacterium antigens by LFA. Clinical signs like progressive weight loss, and respiratory distress were exhibited by 4 sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) and an elephant (Elephas maximus), which were also found positive for LFA, PCR, and ZN staining. ZN staining showed positivity for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in 9 (8.74%) faecal and 9 (14.06%) nasal swabs or trunk wash fluids of sloth bears (7 samples) and elephants (2 samples). M. tuberculosis was detected in 7 sloth bears and 2 elephants, whereas M. bovis was found in a spotted deer (Axis axis) by species-specific PCR. Conclusion: The circulation of TB organisms in wild animals warrants a strict surveillance programme to identify the carrier status of these animals so that effective TB control strategies can be formulated.

Evaluation of canine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for experimental full-thickness cutaneous wounds in a diabetic rat model.

BACKGROUND: The wound healing potential of canine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was evaluated in the excisional wound of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Xenogenic BMSCs were collected aseptically from the iliac crest of healthy canine donors under general anesthesia. Full-thickness experimental wounds (20 × 20 mm2) on the dorsum of forty-eight adult healthy Wistar white rats. The wounds were assigned randomly to three treatment groups: PBS (Group A) or BMSCs (Group B) injected into the wound margins on days 0, 7, and 14 or BMSCs (Group C) injected into the wound margins on days 7, 14, and 21 post-wounding. The degree of wound healing was evaluated based on macroscopical, hemato-biochemical, histopathological, and histochemical parameters. RESULTS: The results indicated granulation tissue formation with reduced exudation and peripheral swelling in the treatment groups compared to the control group A. Similarly, the degree of wound contraction was significantly higher in groups B and C animals than group A on days 14 and 21 post-wounding. The transplantation of BMSCs resulted in early drying of wounds, granulation tissue appearance, and enhanced cosmetic appearance. CONCLUSION: The histopathological, histochemical, and gross findings suggested the therapeutic potential of xenogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy in managing diabetic wounds. ABBREVIATIONS: BMSCs-bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, PBS-phosphate-buffered saline, MSCs-mesenchymal stem cells, FBS-fetal bovine serum, ECM-extracellular matrix.

Percutaneous transplantation of allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the management of paraplegia secondary to Hansen type I intervertebral disc herniation in a Beagle dog.

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is one of the common causes of spinal cord injury (SCI) in dogs. It is commonly treated by performing surgical decompression that involves the removal of the extruded disc material. However, the recovery rates after surgical interventions are variable and many times unsatisfactory. This report aims to document a case of paraplegia associated with IVDH in a Beagle dog and its therapeutic management using allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aBM-MSCs). CASE DESCRIPTION: The dog was presented with paraplegia that was initiated three weeks back. Based on the findings of computed tomography (CT), the condition was diagnosed as Hansen type I IVDH at T12-T13 intervertebral space. FINDINGS/TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Neurological examination was performed to grade the neurological deficit. The isolation, culture, and characterization of aBM-MSCs were done as per the standard protocol. The prepared cell suspension of aBM-MSCs was percutaneously transplanted to the spinal cord parenchyma at the site of injury. A total of four doses of 1 × 106 cells were given at an interval of 15 days along with methylcobalamin and gabapentin orally. Improvement was evaluated based on the neurological examination and grading. Considerable improvement was noticed after the first dose of aBM-MSCs. The animal started complete weight bearing on its pelvic limbs after two doses. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transplantation of aBM-MSCs might have played an important role in reversing the neurological deficits secondary to IVDH in this dog. Further studies are required preferably in a larger population to confirm the efficacy of aBM-MSCs therapy in ameliorating neural deficits associated with IVDH.

Multi-drug resistant (MDR), extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing and carbapenem resistant Escherichia coli in rescued Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), India.

The study reports the multi-drug resistant (MDR), extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing and carbapenem resistant Escherichia coli (CRE) isolated from rescued sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), India. Non-duplicate faecal samples from 21 adult rescued sloth bears were collected at once during 2015-2016 and processed for isolation of E. coli and antibacterial susceptibility pattern. From 21 samples, 45 E. coli were isolated and on phenotypic screening, 23 were MDR, 17 were ESBL producers, and five were carbapenem-resistant (CR). Three E. coli isolates (6.67%, 3/45) showed no resistance, however 42 isolates (93.33%, 42/45) exhibited resistant to at least one antibiotics. The MDR isolates carried beta-lactamase, chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides, tetracycline, fluroquinolone, and sulphadimidine resistance genes. All the phenotypic ESBL producing isolates harbored blaCTX-M genes. On genotypic screening, three CRE (60.0%, 3/5) were positive for blaNDM carbapenemase gene and efflux pump-mediated carbapenem resistance was detected in two CRE isolates (40.0%, 2/5) which were negative for carbapenemase genes. The CRE isolates (n = 5) also co-harbored AMR genes like blaTEM-1, blaAmpC, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, tetA, tetB and sulI. Virulence screening of the resistant isolates detected the presence of Stx1(n = 1), Stx2 (n = 3), eaeA (n = 4) and hlyA (n = 3) genes. Plasmid incompatibility (Inc) typing revealed that two isolates harboured blaNDM-5 gene on Incl1 and one isolate on IncF plasmid. Apart from the NDM gene, the plasmids also carried tetracycline, beta-lactamase and quinolone resistance genes. The plasmid multilocus sequence typing (pMLST) of the E. coli Incl1 plasmid showed the Sequence Type (ST) 297. This appears to be the first report of MDR, ESBL producing and blaNDM-5 genes on Incl1 and IncF plasmids from rescued sloth bear.

Therapeutic Potential of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Canine Medicine.

Platelets are the reservoir of growth factors and play a major role in several physiological processes, such as coagulation, angiogenesis, immune response, and tissue repair. Platelet concentrates are broadly classified into two groups depending on their fibrin content, namely platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). They are further divided based on their leucocyte contents. The PRP is plasma containing supra-physiological concentrations of the platelets. The growth factors present in the PRP play a crucial role in the promotion of local angiogenesis, regulation of cellular activity, stem cell homing, proliferation and differentiation of different stem cells, and deposition of matrix proteins contributing to tissue regeneration. This review aimed to establish the therapeutic potential of PRP in canine medicine with a particular focus on the applications in ophthalmology, dermatology, and musculoskeletal disorders. A systematic literature review was performed to identify the literature published during the past 20 years (2001-2021) using authentic academic databases, such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus. In the initial search, 556 articles were identified and based on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 59 articles were selected for further analysis. The clinical efficacy of PRP depends on the number of platelets and the growth factor concentration. The PRP-based biological therapy has broad clinical applications in musculoskeletal pathologies. It is a simple, safe, and cost-effective method that can be used to treat various diseases and disorders in canine practice. For example, PRP is used for managing corneal ulcers, corneal erosion, alkali burn, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, burn wounds, chronic wounds, cutaneous ulcers, acute traumatic bone fractures, tendinopathies, cartilage pathologies, osteoarthritis, and abdominal wall defects either as monotherapy or as an adjunctive therapeutic agent. In addition, PRP is widely used as a carrier of mesenchymal stem cells for transplanting into bone defects. Therefore, allogeneic PRP therapy can be considered a simple, safe, and cost-effective method for the treatment of various diseases and disorders in canine practice. The therapeutic application of PRP in canine medicine is limited in the present study due to the lack of consensus for collection, characterization, and clinical use. Hence, further studies are required to establish the actual worth of PRP-based regenerative strategies in canine medicine.

Diagnosis and surgical management of an intraocular foreign body secondary to ballistic wound in a Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta).

BACKGROUND: Intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) such as air gun pellet is a rare finding in wild animals like Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The purpose of the present scientific report is to describe the surgical retrieval of IOFB secondary to ballistic wound in a wild Rhesus macaque. CASE DESCRIPTION: A juvenile female wild Rhesus macaque was brought with the history of swollen and inflamed right eye for the past several days. FINDINGS/TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Clinical examination revealed presence of partially healed wound over the dorsal eyelid. Radiographic examination revealed the presence of a metallic foreign body inside the right orbit. Inflamed and persistently closed eyelid prevented the further localization of the metallic foreign body. Lateral canthotomy was performed under general anesthesia. Following the failure to recover the metallic foreign body from the ocular adnexa, right eye vitrectomy was performed to retrieve the IOFB. The metallic foreign body was recovered from the posterior chamber of the right eye. Due to the poor prognosis of the already damaged eye, enucleation of the eye was performed which was followed by tarsorrhaphy. Further examination of the foreign body identified it as a 4.5 mm (.177 Calibre) air gun pellet. Post-operatively animal was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The animal recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Intraocular foreign bodies secondary to gunshot wound should always be considered as a surgical emergency. Enucleation should be performed in cases having poor prognosis to avoid further complications especially in wild animals like Rhesus macaque.

Clinical evaluation following the percutaneous transplantation of allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aBM-MSC) in dogs affected by vertebral compression fracture.

Stem cell therapy has been extensively evaluated for its potential in managing neuronal diseases and disorders. The present study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aBM-MSC) for the management of neural defects associated with vertebral compression fracture (VCF) in canine. Six clinical cases presented with the history of neural defects secondary to non-deviating VCFs were included in the present study. All the animals were subjected to detailed clinical, radiological, and haematological investigations and observations were recorded. The neurological defects in each case were graded based on routine neurological examination. The aBM-MSCs were isolated, cultured, and characterized as per ISCT criteria from the bone marrow collected from healthy dogs presented for elective surgery. The prepared cell suspension containing aBM-MSC at 3rd passage was utilized for transplantation in the clinical cases of VCF. Following the intraspinal administration of aBM-MSC, the dogs were treated with methylcobalamin and gabapentin orally throughout the study period. Improvement was evaluated on the basis of a detailed neurological examination. Significant improvement in locomotor status and sensory functions was observed in all the cases. Findings of the present study suggest that intraspinal administration of aBM-MSCs along with supportive therapy can be recommended as a therapeutic strategy for managing neural defects associated with non-deviating VCFs in canine patients.