Copper Toxicity in Animals: A Review.

Copper is an essential trace element in animals and humans. However, excessive intake of copper can cause copper ions to accumulate in tissues and organs of animals, leading to copper toxicity. Copper ions induce apoptosis and autophagy through oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, copper induces cell death by targeting lipoylated tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycling proteins, termed cuproptosis. In recent years, copper cytotoxicity studies have attracted attention. In addition, the number of cases of copper toxicity in animals has been increasing over the past years due to environmental pollution and overdose from copper feed supplements. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of copper toxicity and the metabolism of copper ions can aid in devising strategies for preventing copper toxicity. This review introduces the tissue and organ toxicity and cytotoxicity caused by copper toxicity and reviews the metabolism of copper ions in tissues, organs, and cells. The paper also reviews the clinical cases and animal experiments of copper toxicity in recent years. Finally, the preventive and curative measures for copper toxicity and the future challenges are also discussed. The general objective of this paper is to provide a reliable reference for copper toxicity prevention.

MicroRNAs: exploring their role in farm animal disease and mycotoxin challenges.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as key regulators in gene expression and play a crucial role in immune responses, holding a significant promise for diagnosing and managing diseases in farm animals. This review article summarizes current research on the role of miRNAs in various farm animal diseases and mycotoxicosis, highlighting their potential as biomarkers and using them for mitigation strategies. Through an extensive literature review, we focused on the impact of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of several farm animal diseases, including viral and bacterial infections and mycotoxicosis. They regulate gene expression by inducing mRNA deadenylation, decay, or translational inhibition, significantly impacting cellular processes and protein synthesis. The research revealed specific miRNAs associated with the diseases; for instance, gga-miR-M4 is crucial in Marek's disease, and gga-miR-375 tumor-suppressing function in Avian Leukosis. In swine disease such as Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS) and swine influenza, miRNAs like miR-155 and miR-21-3p emerged as key regulatory factors. Additionally, our review highlighted the interaction between miRNAs and mycotoxins, suggesting miRNAs can be used as a biomarker for mycotoxin exposure. For example, alterations in miRNA expression, such as the dysregulation observed in response to Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in chickens, may indicate potential mechanisms for toxin-induced changes in lipid metabolism leading to liver damage. Our findings highlight miRNAs potential for early disease detection and intervention in farm animal disease management, potentially reducing significant economic losses in agriculture. With only a fraction of miRNAs functionally characterized in farm animals, this review underlines more focused research on specific miRNAs altered in distinct diseases, using advanced technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 screening, single-cell sequencing, and integrated multi-omics approaches. Identifying specific miRNA targets offers a novel pathway for early disease detection and the development of mitigation strategies against mycotoxin exposure in farm animals.

Medicinal ethnoveterinary plants used for treating livestock ailments in the omo-gibe and rift valley basins of Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Traditional medical practices have been used to maintain animal health for millennia and have been passed down orally from generation to generation. In Ethiopia also, plants are the primary means by which the indigenous people in remote areas treat the illnesses of their animals. The present study was therefore, carried out to document the type and distribution of medicinal plants of the county. METHODS: To collect ethnobotanical information, a total of 205 informants (133 men and 72 women) were selected. Among these 121 traditional medicine practitioners, while the remaining 84 were selected through a systematic random sampling method. Ethnobotanical data were collected between January 2023 and August 2023 through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, guided filed walks and focus group discussions. Using descriptive statistics, the ethnobotanical data were analyzed for the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity Level (FL) values, preference, and direct matrix rankings. SPSS 26.0 and PAST 4.11 software were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Totally, 78 ethnoveterinary medicinal plants distributed in 36 families were identified in the study area. Asteraceae was the dominant family with 9 species (14%), followed by Euphorbiaceae with 8 species (12%). Herbs 42(56%), wild collected 62 (66%), and leaf part (52%) made the highest share of the plant species. Hordeum vulgare L. had the highest fidelity level (FL = 98%) for treating bone fractures. Blackleg, bloat, and endoparsistes each had the highest values of the consensus factor among the informants (ICF = 1). According to preference ranking, Withania somnifera was the most potent remedy for treating blackleg. Knowledge of medicinal plants was shared through storytelling within families. CONCLUSION: In the study area, there is broad access to traditional medicinal plants that can treat ailments in animals. Conservation efforts should be prioritized to protect medicinal plants from threats such as agricultural expansion, drought, and development. Further research should be conducted to explore the potential of different medicinal plants for treating common livestock ailments.

Characterization of Mycobacterium orygis, Mycobacterium bovis, and Mycobacterium caprae Infections in Humans in Western Canada.

Epidemiologic research on zoonotic tuberculosis historically used Mycobacterium bovis as a surrogate measure, however, increased reports of human tuberculosis caused by other animal-associated Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex members like Mycobacterium orygis necessitates their inclusion. We performed a retrospective cohort study including persons infected with any animal-lineage M. tuberculosis complex species in Alberta, Canada, from January 1995 to July 2021, identifying 42 patients (20 M. bovis, 21 M. orygis, one M. caprae). Demographic, epidemiologic and clinical characteristics were compared against persons with culture-confirmed M. tuberculosis infection. The proportion of culture-positive infections caused by M. orygis increased continuously from 2016-2020. Significantly more females at a higher median age were impacted by M. orygis, with all patients originating from South Asia. M. bovis caused significantly more extra-pulmonary disease, and disproportionately impacted young females, particularly those pregnant or post-partum. All infections were acquired abroad. These findings can aid in developing targeted public health interventions.

Corrigendum: Examination of critical factors influencing ruminant disease dynamics in the Black Sea Basin.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1174560.].

The Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases - Strengthening Infectious Disease Management and Veterinary Systems Across the Continents: Origins and Testimony.

Transboundary animal diseases are defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation's Emergency Prevention System as those diseases that are of significant economic, trade and/or food security importance, which can easily spread to other countries and reach epidemic proportions, and where control/management including exclusion requires cooperation among several countries. The Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases represents a platform of the FAO and World Organisation for Animal Health to engage regional sub-regional organizations and national veterinary authorities in developing and monitoring progress in animal disease management efforts.

Rinderpest: A Disease of the Past, and a Present Threat.

Rinderpest is a highly contagious viral disease that affects ungulates such as cattle, buffalo, yak, and various wildlife species, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The global eradication of rinderpest was successfully accomplished in 2011 through extensive vaccination efforts. Today, safeguarding against the re-emergence of rinderpest in animal populations is paramount. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organization for Animal Health are entrusted through a series of resolutions with the responsibility to prevent the re-emergence of rinderpest in animals.

Zoonotic bacterial pathogens in bats samples around the world: a scoping review.

The aim of this scoping review was to describe the zoonotic bacterial pathogens already reported and their frequency in different bat species. Six databases were searched, without restriction on the year or location where the studies were carried out. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 146 studies that were published between 1964 and 2020 (most after 2005) were selected. In these studies, 102 zoonotic bacterial genera were described in different samples of fourteen bat families in 55 countries, suggesting the possible role of bats as hosts for these pathogens. The pathogens mainly identified in bats were Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp. and Staphylococcus spp. In conclusion, the information provided by this scoping review expands the knowledge about zoonotic bacterial pathogens already identified in bats, which can guide epidemiological surveillance policies for these pathogens in different countries.

Readiness and Response: The Practitioner's Role.

The threat of foreign animal diseases is steadily increasing. Veterinary practitioners play a vital role in a community's preparedness for, response to, and recovery from a foreign animal disease outbreak. This article examines the steps a practitioner needs to take to become ready to have a role in disaster readiness and response. Resources exist to provide the practitioner with tools needed to transition their normal daily activities to a larger integrated response. The knowledge and skills used by practitioners in disaster management lead to a more effective and efficient response to a foreign animal disease.

Systemic Erysipelas Outbreak among Free-Ranging Bottlenose Dolphins, San Diego, California, USA, 2022.

We diagnosed fatal Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae sepsis in 3 stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during summer 2022, in San Diego, California, USA. The previously undetected disease in this relatively small, regional population of dolphins most likely indicates an environmental or biological change in the coastal ocean or organisms.

Examination of critical factors influencing ruminant disease dynamics in the Black Sea Basin.

Introduction: Ruminant production in the Black Sea basin (BSB) is critical for national economies and the subsistence of rural populations. Yet, zoonoses and transboundary animal diseases (TADs) are limiting and threatening the sector. To gain a more comprehensive understanding, this study characterizes key aspects of the ruminant sector in nine countries of the BSB, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Methods: We selected six priority ruminant diseases (anthrax, brucellosis, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), lumpy skin disease (LSD), and peste des petits ruminants (PPR)) that are present or threaten to emerge in the region. Standardized questionnaires were completed by a network of focal points and supplemented with external sources. We examined country and ruminant-specific data such as demographics, economic importance, and value chains in each country. For disease-specific data, we analysed the sanitary status, management strategies, and temporal trends of the selected diseases. Results and discussion: The shift from a centrally planned to a market economy, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, restructured the ruminant sector. This sector played a critical role in rural livelihoods within the BSB. Yet, it faced significant challenges such as the low sustainability of pastoralism, technological limitations, and unregistered farms. Additionally, ruminant health was hindered by informal animal trade as a result of economic factors, insufficient support for the development of formal trade, and socio-cultural drivers. In the Caucasus and Türkiye, where diseases were present, improvements to ruminant health were driven by access to trading opportunities. Conversely, European countries, mostly disease-free, prioritized preventing disease incursion to avoid a high economic burden. While international initiatives for disease management are underway in the BSB, there is still a need for more effective local resource allocation and international partnerships to strengthen veterinary health capacity, protect animal health and improve ruminant production.

Usefulness of NT-proBNP in dogs with heartworm: could this biomarker be useful to evaluate pulmonary hypertension?

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the usefulness of echocardiography and serum biomarkers in the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs with heartworm disease has been studied. Previously, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has shown high concentrations in dogs with heart disease and/or PH as well as its usefulness as a prognostic indicator, but it has never been evaluated in the diagnosis and prognosis of PH in dogs with heartworm disease. The aim was to evaluate the serum concentrations of NT-proBNP in dogs infected by Dirofilaria immitis to determine its usefulness as a tool to detect precapillary PH. METHODS: NT-proBNP was determined in 50 heartworm-infected dogs. Presence/absence of PH was determined echocardiographically, using the Right Pulmonary Artery Distensibility Index (RPAD Index) and the systolic flow of tricuspid regurgitation mainly, together with other echocardiographic measurements following the guidelines of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) for the diagnosis of PH. Other epidemiological parameters (breed, age, sex, status: client-owned or shelter dogs) and clinical parameters (microfilaremia, parasite burden, presence of symptoms, body condition) were collected as well. RESULTS: Moderate-severe PH was present in 40% of the dogs (RPAD Index < 29.5%), NT-proBNP concentrations being significantly higher compared with dogs that did not have PH. A cutoff for NT-proBNP of ≥ 1178.45 pmol/l showed a sensitivity of 64.3% and a specificity of 95.5% for the presence of moderate-severe PH. Older dogs and dogs from shelters showed significantly higher NT-proBNP concentrations. Dogs with symptoms and low body condition presented significantly higher NT-proBNP concentrations as well. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of NT-pro-BNP concentration can be a useful tool in the diagnostic work-up of dogs with heartworm disease and associated PH and can help to identify animals in the more advanced stage of this disorder.

Postmortem diagnoses and factors influencing diagnoses in captive white-tailed deer in Wisconsin, 2009-2021.

There have been significant changes to Wisconsin agriculture since ~2010, one of which is the growth of commercial farming of white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus). These high-density populations may lead to the emergence of previously unrecognized or under-recognized disease trends. I evaluated archived pathology records at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) from 2009-2021 for captive WTD postmortem cases and included records from 277 WTD cases. Diagnoses were found in 81.9% of cases, with an average of 1.3 diagnoses per animal. Submissions with a clinical history of respiratory disease were 7.0 times more likely to have a diagnosis than the average case. Fawns were 1.9 times more likely to have a diagnosis. The most common diagnoses were bronchopneumonia and enteritis and/or enterocolitis (both 16.2% of total diagnoses). The most common isolates from bronchopneumonia cases were Pasteurella multocida, Bibersteinia trehalosi, and Trueperella pyogenes. The pathogens identified most often in enteritis and/or enterocolitis cases were rotavirus, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichia coli. The most common non-infectious diagnoses were poor nutritional status or inanition, hepatic lipidosis, and selenium and/or vitamin E deficiency. Focusing on testing for pathogens in fawns and in cervid respiratory disease complex submissions may be recommended for laboratories expanding their WTD testing.

Feline heartworm disease and environmental allergens hypersensitivity: is there a link?

BACKGROUND: Cats can be infected by Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of heartworm disease, characterized by respiratory signs, airway hyperreactivity, remodelling and inflammation. Allergy is a multifactorial pathology, and the role of a number of helminth parasites in the development of allergies in humans and other species has been demonstrated in many studies. The aim of the present study was to verify whether cats seropositive for D. immitis present hypersensitivity to some environmental allergens. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 120 cats and tested for the presence of specific immunoglobulin G antibodies against D. immitis and for hypersensitivity to 20 allergens, using commercial allergen test kits. RESULTS: Of the 120 cats tested, 72 (60.0%) were seropositive for anti-D. immitis IgG and 55 (45.8%) showed clinical signs of heartworm disease of a respiratory nature. The results of testing with the allergen kits showed that 50.8% of cats were seropositive for ≥ 1 allergens, with the most common allergens being Dermatophagoides farinae (25.8%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (20.0%), Malassezia (17.5%) and Ctenocephalides felis (14.2%). The prevalence of allergies was significantly higher-by almost threefold-in cats seropositive for D. immitis (68.1% vs. 25%). There were no significant differences between the prevalence of allergic cats and presence/absence of symptoms, and the results confirmed that symptoms were not a decisive factor for the presence of allergies. The risk for developing allergies was 6.3-fold higher in cats seropositive for D. immitis than in cats that were seronegative, confirming that seropositivity for D. immitis is a risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Cats with confirmed heartworm can develop serious respiratory signs, potentially leading to progression to permanent lung injury and predisposing cats to hyperresponsive airway disease. Previous studies have shown that seropositivity for D. immitis and Wolbachia is related to the presence of bronchoconstriction and bronchospasm in the affected cat. The results support the suspicion that contact with D. immitis may be a risk factor for the presence of allergies.

Informatics progress of the Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme towards data for One Health.

The Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme will provide data-driven evidence that policy-makers can use to evaluate options, inform decisions, and measure the success of animal health and welfare interventions. The GBADs' Informatics team is developing a transparent process for identifying, analysing, visualising and sharing data to calculate livestock disease burdens and drive models and dashboards. These data can be combined with data on other global burdens (human health, crop loss, foodborne diseases) to provide a comprehensive range of information on One Health, required to address such issues as antimicrobial resistance and climate change. The programme began by gathering open data from international organisations (which are undergoing their own digital transformations). Efforts to achieve an accurate estimate of livestock numbers revealed problems in finding, accessing and reconciling data from different sources over time. Ontologies and graph databases are being developed to bridge data silos and improve the findability and interoperability of data. Dashboards, data stories, a documentation website and a Data Governance Handbook explain GBADs data, now available through an application programming interface. Sharing data quality assessments builds trust in such data, encouraging their application to livestock and One Health issues. Animal welfare data present a particular challenge, as much of this information is held privately and discussions continue regarding which data are the most relevant. Accurate livestock numbers are an essential input for calculating biomass, which subsequently feeds into calculations of antimicrobial use and climate change. The GBADs data are also essential to at least eight of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Le programme " Impact mondial des maladies animales " (GBADs) a pour but de réunir des éléments probants axés sur des données, qui soient exploitables par les décideurs politiques pour évaluer les solutions envisagées, fonder leurs décisions et mesurer le succès des interventions dans les domaines de la santé et du bien-être des animaux. L'équipe informatique du GBADs a conçu un processus transparent pour l'identification, l'analyse, la visualisation et le partage des données, grâce auquel il sera possible d'estimer l'impact des maladies du bétail et de réaliser des modèles et des tableaux de bord sur le sujet. Les données ainsi réunies peuvent être combinées avec celles couvrant d'autres problématiques ayant un impact mondial (santé humaine, pertes de récoltes, maladies d'origine alimentaire) afin de fournir l'éventail complet d'informations Une seule santé requis pour faire face à des enjeux tels que la résistance aux agents antimicrobiens ou le changement climatique. La première phase du programme a consisté à recueillir des données ouvertes auprès de diverses organisations internationales (qui procèdent également à leur propre transformation numérique). Les efforts déployés pour parvenir à une estimation précise des effectifs des cheptels ont mis en lumière les difficultés à trouver les données détenues par différentes sources, à y accéder et à les recouper au fil du temps. Des ontologies et des bases de données graphiques sont en cours d'élaboration pour résoudre le problème des silos de données et pour améliorer la facilité de recherche et l'interopérabilité des données. Les données du GBADs sont désormais expliquées sous forme de tableaux de bord, de récits construits à partir des données, ainsi que dans un site web documentaire et un Manuel de gouvernance des données, tous disponibles via une interface de programmation d'applications. Le partage des évaluations de la qualité des données renforce la confiance dans ces dernières et encourage à les appliquer pour traiter les problématiques affectant l'élevage ou relevant de l'approche Une seule santé. Les données relatives au bien-être animal présentent une difficulté particulière : elles sont, pour l'essentiel, détenues à titre privé et la question de savoir quelles sont les données les plus pertinentes est toujours en discussion. Les effectifs des cheptels doivent avoir été déterminés de manière précise afin de calculer la biomasse animale, élément qui entre par la suite dans le calcul des quantités d'agents antimicrobiens utilisés et des indicateurs du changement climatique. Les données du programme GBADs sont également essentielles au regard d'au moins huit des objectifs de développement durable des Nations Unies.

El programa sobre el Impacto Global de las Enfermedades Animales (GBADs) proporcionará información contrastada y basada en el uso de datos de la que luego puedan servirse los planificadores de políticas para valorar distintas opciones, decidir con conocimiento de causa y medir la eficacia de una u otra intervención en materia de sanidad y bienestar animales. El equipo informático encargado del GBADs está preparando un proceso transparente destinado a seleccionar, analizar, visualizar y poner en común datos que ayuden a calcular la carga de enfermedades del ganado y a guiar la elaboración de modelos y paneles de control. Estos datos pueden ser combinados con datos referidos a otros grandes problemas planetarios (salud humana, pérdida de cultivos, enfermedades de transmisión alimentaria) para obtener el repertorio completo de información en clave de Una sola salud que se necesita para abordar problemáticas como la resistencia a los antimicrobianos o el cambio climático. El programa empezó por reunir datos abiertos procedentes de organizaciones internacionales (inmersas, por otra parte, en su propio proceso de transformación digital). La labor emprendida para estimar con exactitud las cifras de ejemplares del mundo pecuario reveló ciertos problemas a la hora de encontrar, obtener y conciliar datos de distintas fuentes a lo largo del tiempo. Ahora se están elaborando ontologías y bases de datos gráficos para crear conexiones entre los "silos de datos" y lograr que los datos sean a la vez más compatibles entre sí y más fáciles de localizar. Paneles de control, interpretaciones narrativas de los datos ("data stories"), un sitio web de documentación y un manual de gestión de datos ayudan a explicar y aprehender los datos del GBADs, accesibles ahora por medio de una interfaz de programación de aplicaciones. El hecho de poner en común las evaluaciones de la calidad de los datos genera mayor confianza en esta información, promoviendo con ello su aplicación en temas de ganadería y de Una sola salud. Los datos de bienestar animal plantean una particular dificultad, pues gran parte de esta información está en manos privadas y todavía no está claro cuáles son los datos de mayor interés. Disponer de cifras exactas sobre el número de cabezas de ganado es fundamental para efectuar los cálculos de biomasa que después se utilizan para hacer otros cómputos referidos al uso de antimicrobianos y al cambio climático. Los datos del GBADs son asimismo esenciales para al menos ocho de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de las Naciones Unidas.

Rapid Identification of ASFV, CSFV and FMDV from Mongolian Outbreaks with MinION Short Amplicon Sequencing.

African swine fever virus (ASFV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) cause important transboundary animal diseases (TADs) that have a significant economic impact. The rapid and unequivocal identification of these pathogens and distinction from other animal diseases based on clinical symptoms in the field is difficult. Nevertheless, early pathogen detection is critical in limiting their spread and impact as is the availability of a reliable, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic test. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility to identify ASFV, CSFV, and FMDV in field samples using next generation sequencing of short PCR products as a point-of-care diagnostic. We isolated nucleic acids from tissue samples of animals in Mongolia that were infected with ASFV (2019), CSFV (2015), or FMDV (2018), and performed conventional (RT-) PCR using primers recommended by the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The (RT-) PCR products were then sequenced in Mongolia using the MinION nanopore portable sequencer. The resulting sequencing reads successfully identified the respective pathogens that exhibited 91-100% nucleic acid similarity to the reference strains. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the Mongolian virus isolates are closely related to other isolates circulating in the same geographic region. Based on our results, sequencing short fragments derived by conventional (RT-) PCR is a reliable approach for rapid point-of-care diagnostics for ASFV, CSFV, and FMDV even in low-resource countries.

Orthopoxvirus Circulation in an Endemic Area in Brazil: Investigation of Infections in Small Mammals during an Absence of Outbreaks.

Vaccinia virus (VACV) is the causative agent of an emerging viral zoonosis called bovine vaccinia (BV). Several studies have documented characteristics of VACV infections in Brazil; however, the manner in which this virus is maintained in wildlife remains unknown. This work investigated the presence of viral DNA and anti-orthopoxvirus (OPXV) antibodies in samples collected from small mammals in a VACV-endemic area in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the absence of current outbreaks. Samples did not show amplification of OPXV DNA in molecular tests. However, 5/142 serum samples demonstrated the presence of anti-OPXV neutralizing antibodies in serological tests. These data reinforce the involvement of small mammals in the natural cycle of VACV, highlighting the need for further ecological studies to better understand how this virus is maintained in nature and to develop measures to prevent BV outbreaks.

Factors Influencing Disease Prevention and Control Behaviours of Hog Farmers.

Animal diseases are a serious threat to animal husbandry production and diet health, and effective prevention and control measures need to be explored. This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of biosecurity prevention and the control behaviours of hog farmers towards African swine fever and provides appropriate recommendations. Using research data from Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Liaoning, Jilin, and Hebei, we employed a binary logistic model to empirically analyse these factors. Regarding individual farmer characteristics, male farmers emphasised biosecurity prevention and control in farms, with higher education actively influencing the adoption of prevention and control measures. Farmers who received technical training were actively inclined to adopt such behaviours. Furthermore, the longer the duration of farming, the more probable the farmers were to neglect biosecurity prevention and control. However, the bigger and more specialised the farm, the more inclined they were to adopt prevention and control behaviours. With respect to disease prevention and control awareness, the more risk-averse the farmers were, the more they actively adopted epidemic prevention behaviours. As the awareness of epidemic risk increased, the farmers tended to adopt active epidemic prevention behaviours by reporting suspected outbreaks. The following policy recommendations were made: learning about epidemic prevention and improving professional skills; large-scale farming, specialised farming; and timely dissemination of information to raise risk awareness.

Echocardiographic Assessment of the Pulmonary Vein to Pulmonary Artery Ratio in Canine Heartworm Disease.

Background:Dirofilaria immitis produces proliferative pulmonary endarteritis and pulmonary thromboembolism in infected dogs. The pulmonary vascular lesions lead to irreversible and persistent structural damage and, as a consequence, sustained precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the pulmonary vein to pulmonary artery ratio (PV:PA ratio) to determine moderate or severe PH (>50 mmHg) in dogs with heartworm disease. METHODS: A total of 151 naturally heartworm-infected and 66 healthy dogs were included in the study. The presence/absence of PH was based on the right pulmonary artery distensibility index (RPAD index < 29.5%), and the PV:PA ratio was echocardiographically measured by the time-motion mode (M mode) and two-dimensional mode (2D mode). Other echocardiographic parameters were also assessed (pulmonary trunk to aorta ratio, tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient, and AT:ET ratio). RESULTS: The results of the PV:PA ratio showed a highly positive correlation between the M and 2D modes (r = 0.928). The PV:PA ratio obtained by the M mode was identified as the strongest predictor for RPAD index (R2 0.628, p < 0.0001) with a good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.99). The results of PV/PA by the 2D mode showed a similar prediction for the RPAD index (R2 0.606, p < 0.0001) with a good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.98). Both of the 2D and M modes' PV:PA ratios decreased significantly with the presence of PH. A cut-off value of ≤0.845 showed high sensitivity and specificity for the M mode (97% and 94%, respectively) and the 2D mode (96% and 93%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The PV:PA ratio may be useful as a complementary diagnostic method for the estimation of moderate or severe PH in dogs with heartworm.

High Biofilm-Forming Ability and Clonal Dissemination among Colistin-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates Recovered from Cows with Mastitis, Diarrheic Calves, and Chickens with Colibacillosis in Tunisia.

BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the main etiological agents responsible for bovine mastitis (BM), neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD), and avian colibacillosis (AC). This study aimed to assess resistance and virulence genes content, biofilm-forming ability, phylogenetic groups, and genetic relatedness in E. coli isolates recovered from clinical cases of BM, NCD, and AC. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of 120 samples including samples of milk (n = 70) and feces (n = 50) from cows with BM and calves with NCD, respectively, were collected from different farms in Northern Tunisia. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed. Then, E. coli isolates were examined by disk diffusion and broth microdilution method for their antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm-forming ability. PCR was used to detect antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), virulence genes (VGs), phylogenetic groups, and Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR) for their clonal relationship. RESULTS: Among the 120 samples, 67 E. coli isolates (25 from BM, 22 from AC, and 20 from NCD) were collected. Overall, 83.6% of isolates were multidrug resistant. Thirty-six (53.73%) isolates were phenotypically colistin-resistant (CREC), 28.3% (19/67) were ESBL producers (ESBL-EC), and forty-nine (73.1%) formed biofilm. The blaTEM gene was found in 73.7% (14/19) of isolates from the three diseases, whilst the blaCTXM-g-1 gene was detected in 47.3% (9/19) of isolates, all from AC. The most common VG was the fimA gene (26/36, 72.2%), followed by aer (12/36, 33.3%), cnf1 (6/36, 16.6%), papC (4/36, 11.1%), and stx1 and stx2 genes (2/36; 5.5% for each). Phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates belonged to three groups: A (20/36; 55.5%), B2 (7/36; 19.4%), and D (6/36; 16.6%). Molecular typing by ERIC-PCR showed high genetic diversity of CREC and ESBL E. coli isolates from the three animal diseases and gave evidence of their clonal dissemination within farms in Tunisia. CONCLUSION: The present study sheds new light on the biofilm-forming ability and clonality within CREC and ESBL-EC isolated from three different animal diseases in Tunisian farm animals.