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ß-glucans are produced by many organisms and could be used as supplementary feed to enhance immunity and growth in some aquatic animals. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ß-glucans derived from two marine diatoms (Chaetoceros muelleri and Thalassiosira weissflogii) as growth promoters and immunity enhancers in banana shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis). Shrimp were divided into 3 groups: the control group was fed without ß-glucan; the second and the third group were fed with 2 g kg-1 of ß-glucan derived from C. muelleri and T. weissflogii, respectively. Shrimp were fed over a 30-day period to determine growth performance (final weight, weight gain, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR)) at day 15 and day 30, respectively. The immune parameters determined were total hemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase activity (PO) and immune gene expression. Survival rates were measured after 14 days of the feeding trial and Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection (6, 24, 48 h post infection). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) for growth stimulation of shrimps between the two types of ß-glucans (C. muelleri or T. weissflogii). Notably, shrimps fed with ß-glucans had a higher final weight, weight gain, and ADG (P < 0.05) than shrimps fed with the control diet, while FCR of shrimps fed with both ß-glucans was lower when compared to the control diet. Immune parameters, THC, PO, and gene expression of anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) and crustin were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in shrimps fed with ß-glucans, especially with ß-glucans from C. muelleri than the control group both before and after V. parahaemolyticus infection. Expression of penaeidin 3 and peroxiredoxin genes was significantly higher in shrimps fed with ß-glucans after bacterial infection. Histopathology of hepatopancreas revealed an increase in blasenzellen hepatopancreatic epithelial cells (B cells) after 14 days of feeding which remained higher following infection with V. parahaemolyticus. The survival rate of shrimps fed with the diet containing ß-glucan derived from either C. muelleri (82.2%) or T. weissflogii (77.8%) after V. parahaemolyticus infection was significantly higher than for the control group (51.1%) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we propose that feeding banana shrimps with ß-glucans derived from marine diatoms either C. muelleri or T. weissflogii at a 2 g kg-1 diet can significantly improve their growth performance and immunity.
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Diatomáceas , Musa , Penaeidae , beta-Glucanas , Animais , Ração Animal/análise , beta-Glucanas/farmacologia , Dieta/veterinária , Imunidade Inata , Monofenol Mono-Oxigenase , Peroxirredoxinas , Aumento de PesoRESUMO
Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) cultured with MEK/ERK and GSK3ß (2i) inhibitors transition to ground state pluripotency. Gene expression changes, redistribution of histone H3K27me3 profiles and global DNA hypomethylation are hallmarks of 2i exposure, but it is unclear whether epigenetic alterations are required to achieve and maintain ground state or occur as an outcome of 2i signal induced changes. Here we show that ESCs with three epitypes, WT, constitutively methylated, or hypomethylated, all undergo comparable morphological, protein expression and transcriptome changes independently of global alterations of DNA methylation levels or changes in H3K27me3 profiles. Dazl and Fkbp6 expression are induced by 2i in all three epitypes, despite exhibiting hypermethylated promoters in constitutively methylated ESCs. We identify a number of activated gene promoters that undergo 2i dependent loss of H3K27me3 in all three epitypes, however genetic and pharmaceutical inhibition experiments show that H3K27me3 is not required for their silencing in non-2i conditions. By separating and defining their contributions, our data suggest that repressive epigenetic systems play minor roles in mESC self-renewal and naïve ground state establishment by core sets of dominant pluripotency associated transcription factor networks, which operate independently from these epigenetic processes.
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Repressão Epigenética , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Células-Tronco Embrionárias Murinas/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Metilação de DNA , Epigênese Genética , Glicogênio Sintase Quinase 3 beta/antagonistas & inibidores , Histonas/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Quinases de Proteína Quinase Ativadas por Mitógeno/antagonistas & inibidores , Células-Tronco Embrionárias Murinas/efeitos dos fármacos , Células-Tronco Embrionárias Murinas/enzimologia , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Transcrição GênicaRESUMO
The Wingless and Int-1 (WNT) and bone morphogenic protein/growth differentiation factor (BMP/GDF) signalling pathways contribute significantly to the development of the musculoskeletal system. The mechanism by which they contribute is as follows: BMP/GDF signalling usually promotes tendon differentiation, whereas WNT signalling inhibits it. We hypothesised that inhibiting WNT and subsequently stimulating BMP signalling may enhance the tenogenic differentiation of stem cells. The objective of this study was to determine whether a combination of WNT inhibitor (KY02111) and BMP12/GDF7 protein could enhance the differentiation of bone marrow-derived equine mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-eMSCs) into tenocytes. Cells were cultured in five treatments: control, BMP12, and three different combinations of BMP12 and KY02111. The results indicated that a 1-day treatment with KY02111 followed by a 13-day treatment with BMP12 resulted in the highest tenogenic differentiation score in this experiment. The effect of KY02111 is dependent on the incubation time, with 1 day being better than 3 or 5 days. This combination increased tenogenic gene marker expression, including SCX, TNMD, DCN, and TNC, as well as COL1 protein expression. In conclusion, we propose that a combination of BMP12 and KY02111 can enhance the in vitro tenogenic differentiation of BM-eMSCs more than BMP12 alone. The findings of this study might be useful for improving tendon differentiation protocols for stem cell transplantation and application to tendon regeneration.
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Hippotherapy in patients with neuromuscular dysfunction creates high focal pressure on the pony's back due to bareback riding and an asymmetrical riding position. This study aimed to investigate the acute effect of asymmetrical bareback riding on the pony's spinal kinematics, blood lactate, serum creatine kinase, heart rate, and temperament score. Eight ponies were selected, and they were walked on a treadmill for 45 min on each experimental day, including warm-up (5 min), weight-loading by mannequin (30 min), and cool-down (10 min) sessions. During the weight-loading session, three different weight distributions on the pony's back were applied between the left and right side: 50:50 (treatment M), 70:30 (treatment L), and 30:70 (treatment R) on the first, second, and third day of the experiment, respectively. The spinal kinematics at the end of the weight-loading session revealed a slight reduction in range of motion in both flexion-extension and lateral bending during treatment R. Stride length and stride duration showed no differences between treatments. The levels of blood lactate and serum creatine kinase and results of a back examination were normal. Heart rates and temperament scores revealed that all ponies were calm throughout loading of the mannequin. This information suggests that asymmetrical bareback riding did not cause acute or serious back injury, which indicates good equine welfare in ponies used for hippotherapy.
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Silent gastric ulceration occurs without evidence of clinical signs and is common in horses. There is currently no a simple and effective method to diagnose this disease. Proteomics can be used to identify serum biomarkers, but the most abundant serum protein, albumin, could conceal candidate biomarkers. Therefore, it is recommended to remove albumin before a proteomic study; however, there is no specific albumin depletion kit or standard protocol available for horse samples. The objectives of this study were to optimise a protocol to remove equine serum albumin and to use albumin-depleted serum to identify the protein biomarkers for silent gastric ulceration. Gastroscopy was used to identify gastric ulceration, and serum was obtained from horses with either a healthy gastric mucosa or gastric ulceration. Serum albumin was removed using the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) protein precipitation method, and this protocol was optimised by varying the concentration of TCA, type of organic solvents, ratio of serum to protein precipitation solution, and incubation times. Electrophoresis and image analysis were used to compare the amounts of albumin, immunoglobulins G (IgG), and protein degradation before and after TCA precipitation. The best protocol was chosen to remove albumin for a proteomic study (electrophoresis and mass spectrometry). The results revealed that protocol 2 (ratio of serum to solution 1:5, 10% TCA in acetone, and 90 min incubation) was the most efficient protocol to remove albumin (98%) and IgG heavy (80%) and light (98%) chains without degrading other proteins. After electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis, KRT1, KRT6A and KRT18 were identified as potential markers for silent gastric ulceration.
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Gastric tissue biopsy and gene expression analysis are important tools for disease diagnosis and study of the physiology of the equine stomach. However, RNA extraction from gastric biopsy samples is a complex procedure because the samples contain low quantities of RNA and are contaminated with mucous protein and bacterial flora. The objectives of these studies were to compare the performance of RNA extraction methods and to investigate the sensitivity of commercial qPCR master mixes for gene expression analysis of gastric biopsy samples. Three commercial RNA extraction methods (TRIzol™, GENEzol™ and MiniPrep™) and four qPCR master mixes with SYBR® green (qPCRBIO, KAPA, QuantiNova, and PerfeCTa) were compared. RNA qualification and quantitation were compared. Real-time PCR was used to compare qPCR master mixes. The results revealed that TRIzol and GENEzol obtained significantly higher yield of RNA (P<0.01) but that TRIzol had the highest contamination of protein and DNA (P<0.05). Conversely, MiniPrep resulting in a significantly higher purification of RNA (P<0.05) but provided the lowest yield of RNA (P<0.01). For PCR master mixes, KAPA was significantly (P<0.05) more sensitive than other qPCR kits for all amounts of DNA template, particularly at the lowest amount of cDNA. In conclusion, GENEzol is the best method to obtain a high RNA yield and purification and it is more cost-effective than the others as well. Regarding the qPCR master mixes, KAPA SYBR qPCR Master Mix (2x) Universal is superior to the other tested master mixes for studying gene expression in equine gastric biopsies.
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Background and Aim: Methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci (MRCoPS) cause pyoderma, dermatitis, and nosocomial infection. Numerous factors, including indiscriminate antimicrobial use (AMU) in veterinary medicine, cleaning practices, and AMU in hospitals, contribute to MRCoPS. However, the relationship between hospital age and MRCoPS has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MRCoPS in the treatment and operation rooms of new, middle-aged, and old veterinary hospitals. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected from small animal hospitals in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Songkhla in Thailand. Hospitals were defined as those that had been in operation for 5 years (new, n = 5), 5-15 years (middle-aged, n = 6), or >15 years (old, n = 3). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify 280 samples, and duplex polymerase chain reaction was used to identify resistance genes (mecA and blaZ). The VITEK2® automated system was then used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration. Results: A total of 57 Staphylococcus species were identified and classified as coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) (22/57, 38.60%) or coagulase-negative staphylococci (35/57, 61.40%), respectively. Nine of the 22 CoPS (40.90%) harbored the mecA gene, and 21 isolates (95.45%) harbored the blaZ gene. Interestingly, more MRCoPS was found in new hospitals (six isolates) than in middle-aged (one isolate) and old hospitals (two isolates), although there was no statistically significant difference in the presence of MRCoPS across new, middle-aged, and old veterinary hospitals (p = 0.095), Kruskal-Wallis test. There is a need for further detailed studies, including an increase in the number of hospitals in various locations. Conclusion: MRCoPS is a nosocomial pathogen that causes zoonotic and recurrent infections in veterinary hospitals. The prevalence of MRCoPS tended to be higher in new hospitals. Areas with heavy animal contact, such as hospital floors, are areas of particular concern, and cleaning/disinfection of these areas must be highlighted in hygiene regimens.
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Background and Aims: Melioidosis is a notable zoonotic disease in Thailand that can affect both humans and animals. Although dogs are one of the most popular pets worldwide, there is a remarkable lack of information on the prevalence and knowledge of canine melioidosis. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of melioidosis in sheltered dogs and its relationship with the blood profile and blood pathogens. Materials and Methods: Melioidosis in 156 dogs was analyzed using an indirect hemagglutination assay. Hematology and serum biochemistry tests were performed using an automated system. Blood pathogens (e.g., Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Hepatozoon, and Babesia) were diagnosed using conventional polymerase chain reaction. Results: The seroprevalence rates of canine melioidosis and blood pathogen infection were 5.77% (9/156) and 50.64% (79/156), respectively. Seropositive dogs generally have higher lymphocyte counts and aspartate aminotransferase levels but lower total white blood cell, neutrophil, and platelet (PLT) counts than seronegative dogs. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed between the seropositive and seronegative dogs' hematology and serum biochemistry findings. Neither the correlation between melioidosis and blood pathogen infection nor the association between melioidosis and thrombocytopenia was statistically significant (p > 0.05). Remarkably, dogs that had coinfections with both melioidosis and blood pathogens demonstrated a significantly reduced PLTcount (49,167 ± 7,167) compared with dogs that tested positive for melioidosis but negative for blood pathogens (139,333 ± 29,913) (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In southern Thailand, the prevalence of canine melioidosis was low but the prevalence of blood pathogens was high. Coinfection with blood pathogens can significantly reduce PLT counts, which may have a potentially serious impact. Future research should focus on conducting seroprevalence studies in the general dog population.
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Background and Aim: Burkholderia pseudomallei, a highly pathogenic bacterium responsible for melioidosis, exhibits ecological ubiquity and thrives within soil and water reservoirs, posing significant infection risks to humans and animals through direct contact. The aim of this study was to elucidate the genetic diversity and prevalence patterns of B. pseudomallei sequence types (STs) across a global spectrum and to understand the relationships between strains isolated from different sources. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis in this study. Extensive research was carried out across three comprehensive databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect with data collected from 1924 to 2023. Results: A total of 40 carefully selected articles contributed 2737 B. pseudomallei isolates attributed to 729 distinct STs and were incorporated into the systematic review. Among these, ST46 emerged as the most prominent, featuring in 35% of the articles and demonstrating a dominant prevalence, particularly within Southeast Asia. Moreover, ST51 consistently appeared across human, animal, and environmental studies. Subsequently, we performed a meta-analysis, focusing on nine specific STs: ST46, ST51, ST54, ST70, ST84, ST109, ST289, ST325, and ST376. Surprisingly, no statistically significant differences in their pooled prevalence proportions were observed across these compartments for ST46, ST70, ST289, ST325, and ST376 (all p > 0.69). Conversely, the remaining STs, including ST51, ST54, ST84, and ST109, displayed notable variations in their prevalence among the three domains (all p < 0.04). Notably, the pooled prevalence of ST51 in animals and environmental samples surpassed that found in human isolates (p < 0.01). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the intricate relationships between STs and their sources and contributes significantly to our understanding of B. pseudomallei diversity within the One Health framework.
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Chickens are the primary reservoirs of Campylobacter spp., mainly C. jejuni and C. coli, that cause human bacterial gastrointestinal infections. However, genomic characteristics and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. in low- to middle-income countries need more comprehensive exploration. This study aimed to characterize 21 C. jejuni and 5 C. coli isolates from commercial broilers and native chickens using whole genome sequencing and compare them to 28 reference Campylobacter sequences. Among the 26 isolates, 13 sequence types (ST) were identified in C. jejuni and 5 ST in C. coli. The prominent ST was ST 2274 (5 isolates, 19.2%), followed by ST 51, 460, 2409, and 6455 (2 isolates in each ST, 7.7%), while all remaining ST (464, 536, 595, 2083, 6736, 6964, 8096, 10437, 828, 872, 900, 8237, and 13540) had 1 isolate per ST (3.8%). Six types of antimicrobial resistance genes (ant(6)-Ia, aph(3')-III, blaOXA, cat, erm(B), and tet(O)) and one point mutations in the gyrA gene (Threonine-86-Isoleucine) and another in the rpsL gene (Lysine-43-Arginine) were detected. The blaOXA resistance gene was present in all isolates, the gyrA mutations was in 95.2% of C. jejuni and 80.0% of C. coli, and the tet(O) resistance gene in 76.2% of C. jejuni and 80.0% of C. coli. Additionally, 203 virulence-associated genes linked to 16 virulence factors were identified. In terms of phenotypic resistance, the C. jejuni isolates were all resistant to ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and nalidixic acid, with lower levels of resistance to tetracycline (76.2%), tylosin (52.3%), erythromycin (23.8%), azithromycin (22.2%), and gentamicin (11.1%). Most C. coli isolates were resistant to all tested antimicrobials, while 1 C. coli was pan-susceptible except for tylosin. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms concordance varied widely, with differences of up to 13,375 single-nucleotide polymorphisms compared to the reference Campylobacter isolates, highlighting genetic divergence among comparative genomes. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the molecular epidemiology of Campylobacter spp. in Thai chicken production systems.
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Anti-Infecciosos , Infecções por Campylobacter , Campylobacter coli , Campylobacter jejuni , Campylobacter , Animais , Humanos , Galinhas/genética , Tailândia/epidemiologia , Infecções por Campylobacter/epidemiologia , Infecções por Campylobacter/veterinária , Infecções por Campylobacter/microbiologia , Tilosina , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana/genética , Campylobacter/genética , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma/veterinária , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana/veterináriaRESUMO
We report here that the formation of heterochromatin in cell nuclei during mouse development is characterised by dynamic changes in the epigenetic modifications of histones. Our observations reveal that heterochromatin in mouse preimplantation embryos is in an immature state that lacks the constitutive heterochromatin markers histone H4 trimethyl Lys20 (H4K20me3) and chromobox homolog 5 (HP1α, also known as CBX5). Remarkably, these somatic heterochromatin hallmarks are not detectable--except in mural trophoblast--until mid-gestation, increasing in level during foetal development. Our results support a developmentally regulated connection between HP1α and H4K20me3. Whereas inner cell mass (ICM) and epiblast stain negative for H4K20me3 and HP1α, embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, by contrast, stain positive for these markers, indicating substantial chromatin divergence. We conclude that H4K20me3 and HP1α are late developmental epigenetic markers, and slow maturation of heterochromatin in tissues that develop from ICM is ectopically induced during ES cell derivation. Our findings suggest that H4K20me3 and HP1α are markers for cell type commitment that can be triggered by developmental or cell context, independently of the differentiation process.
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Antígenos de Diferenciação/metabolismo , Proteínas Cromossômicas não Histona/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Embrionárias/metabolismo , Heterocromatina/metabolismo , Histonas/metabolismo , Animais , Blastocisto/citologia , Blastocisto/metabolismo , Diferenciação Celular/genética , Homólogo 5 da Proteína Cromobox , Embrião de Mamíferos/citologia , Embrião de Mamíferos/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Embrionárias/citologia , Epigênese Genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Camadas Germinativas/citologia , Camadas Germinativas/metabolismo , Heterocromatina/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/genética , Histona-Lisina N-Metiltransferase/metabolismo , Humanos , Metilação , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Mórula/citologia , Mórula/metabolismo , Transcrição Gênica , Zigoto/citologia , Zigoto/metabolismoRESUMO
Background and Aim: Blood parasite infections such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis are commonly found in domestic dogs, which adversely influence their health. Many dogs are infected with multiple blood parasites that cause more severe diseases than a single infection. This study aimed to investigate the effect of multiple blood parasite infections on the hematological profiles of dogs at a shelter in Southern Thailand. Materials and Methods: The blood samples from 122 dogs were collected to assess the hematology profiles of uninfected, single-infected, and multiple blood parasite-infected dogs. The results were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner pairwise comparisons. The infections were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Results: The results showed that all the infected dogs had significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT), and platelet count (PLT) than the uninfected dogs. Although the dogs with triple infection had lower RBC, HB, HCT, and PLT than those with double and single infections, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: We proposed that triple blood parasite infection with Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli, and Ehrlichia canis caused more severe disease than double and single infections. Evaluating the hematological profiles of dogs naturally infected with single, double, and multiple blood parasite infections without clinical signs can enhance their health and welfare.
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Background and Aim: Mammaliicoccus sciuri, formerly known as Staphylococcus sciuri, is an opportunistic pathogen in the environment, human and animal mucosa, and skin. Although this pathogen is becoming more resistant to drugs and harmful to animals and humans, basic knowledge of this pathogen remains limited. This study aimed to investigate a new multilocus sequencing type (MLST) related to the antibiotic resistance pattern of M. sciuri from animals in southern Thailand. Materials and Methods: We used 11 methicillin-resistant M. sciuri (MRMS) isolates in this study which were obtained from six horses, four cows, and one chicken of the previous study. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was re-evaluated based on the minimum inhibitory concentration using the VITEK® 2 automated system. Three AMR genes were examined, namely mecA, mecC, and blaZ. Staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) gene detection was performed through the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Internal segments of the seven housekeeping genes, ack, aroE, ftsZ, glpK, gmk, pta1, and tpiA, were used for multilocus sequence typing. The population of resistant bacteria and the types of multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant, and pandemic drug-resistant bacteria were classified through descriptive analysis. Results: mecA and blaZ genes were detected in all isolates; however, the mecC gene was not observed in any isolate based on the PCR results. All MRMS isolates revealed a non-typable SCCmec. Seven MLSTs (71, 81, 120, 121, 122, 199, and 200) were identified in this study. Conclusion: The characteristics of MRMS in Southern Thailand were variable, particularly in cattle and horses. The antibiogram and SCCmec types of this pathogen remain concerns with regard to antibiotic-resistant gene transmission among Staphylococcus and Mammaliicoccus species. All MLSTs in Thailand revealed the distribution among clones in Asia, including the virulence of a zoonotic clone in Southern Thailand.
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Background and Aim: Dog behavior problems pose serious public health and economic and animal welfare concerns. There are many factors influencing dog behavior. This study aims to explore factors associated with pet dog behavior in Thailand using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). Materials and Methods: The Thai version of the C-BARQ was validated in 2022. The online C-BARQ survey (Google Forms) was advertised and distributed on social media for 3 months. There were a total of 1827 respondents to the survey. The relationship among 12 subscales and variables was analyzed using Spearman's correlation. Results: "Excitability," "attachment- and attention-seeking," and "chasing" were the three most reported behavior problems. "Trainability," a favored dog behavior, also had a high score in the study. These behaviors were associated with the owner's age, house type, the dog's historical background, the number of dogs and the presence of other species in the household, the dog's training, diet types, and the daily number of meals. The lowest mean score was for "owner-directed aggression," and it was associated with the dog's gender and size, the number of dogs and the presence of other species in the household, the dog's training, and the number of daily meals. Conclusion: This is the first empirical study demonstrating factors related to dog behavior in Thailand. It provides an in-depth understanding of the prevalence and factors associated with Thai pet dog behavior and important knowledge for further studies to advocate for dog-human relationships and contribute to a reduction in dog abandonment in Thailand.
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Background and Aim: A conventional feeding bowl is the primary method that dog owners use to feed their dogs, but this may not encourage natural behaviors and may even exacerbate unwanted behaviors. This study aimed to compare a conventional feeding bowl to a feeding toy in relation to behavior, cortisol levels, and heart rate variability (HRV). Materials and Methods: The behaviors of four dogs were recorded and analyzed while being fed using either a stainless bowl (B) or a feeding toy (T) and either alone (A) or accompanied by a dog owner (O) for 30 min with each treatment (BA, BO, TA, and TO treatments). The dogs that were fed alone with the stainless bowl (BC) or the feeding toy (TC) were fed for 15 min/day for 7 days with their treatment, and serum cortisol levels measured on the first and last days of treatment. The dogs fed by the stainless bowl (BH) or the feeding toy (TH) with the owner present for 15 min for each treatment had their heart rate (HR) and HRV recorded by Polar® H10 during feedings The results were compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measure ANOVA, and Student's t-test. Results: The dogs spent more time eating and interacting with the feeding toys than stainless bowls. The activity of the dogs was higher when using feeding toys, particularly with the TO treatment. Cortisol levels were significantly lower on day 7 than on day 1 of the TC treatment. The dogs' HR was higher during TH treatment than during BH treatment. All HRV parameters were decreased significantly when feeding the dog with the toys. Conclusion: The results of this study support the idea that feeding enrichment supports the natural feeding behaviors of dogs as they mimic hunting and playing behaviors. This reduced unwanted behavior, cortisol levels, and HRV, and increased food consumption, eating duration, and active behaviors. The presence of the dog's owner is important because it can enhance feeding and active behaviors, and feeding enrichment can improve the dog's welfare and the dog-human relationship.
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Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and biofilm formation are mechanisms employed by Escherichia coli to resist beta-lactam antibiotics. Thus, we aimed to examine antibiotic resistance associated with ESBL production and biofilm formation in E. coli isolates from swine farms in Southern Thailand. In total, 159 E. coli isolates were obtained, with 44 isolates identified as ESBL producers, originating from feces (18.87 %) and wastewater (8.80 %) samples. All ESBL-producing strains exhibited resistance to ampicillin (100 %), followed by the cephalosporin group (97.73 %) and tetracycline (84.09 %). Multidrug resistance was observed in 17 isolates (38.63 %). Among the isolates from feces samples, the blaGES gene was the most prevalent, detected in 90 % of the samples, followed by blaCTX-M9 (86.67 %) and blaCTX-M1 (66.67 %), respectively. In the bacteria isolated from wastewater, both blaGES and blaCTX-M9 genes were the predominant resistance genes, detected in 100 % of the isolates, followed by blaCTX-M1 (64.29 %) and blaTEM (50 %), respectively. Strong biofilm formation was observed in 11 isolates (36.67 %) from feces and 4 isolates (25.57 %) from wastewater samples. Notably, nearly 100 % of ESBL-producing strains isolated from feces tested positive for both pgaA and pgaC genes, which play a role in intracellular adhesion and biofilm production. These findings contribute to the understanding and potential control of ESBL-producing E. coli, and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and biofilm-related genes in swine farms.
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Infecções por Escherichia coli , Proteínas de Escherichia coli , Doenças dos Suínos , Animais , Suínos , Escherichia coli , Infecções por Escherichia coli/epidemiologia , Infecções por Escherichia coli/veterinária , Águas Residuárias , beta-Lactamases/genética , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla/genética , Biofilmes , Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana ExternaRESUMO
This study aimed to assess antibacterial activity of Knema retusa wood extract (KRe) against antibiotic resistant staphylococci which are causative agents of bovine mastitis. From 75 cases of intramammary infections in dairy cows, 66 staphylococcal isolates were collected, including 11 Staphylococcus aureus isolates (17%) and 55 coagulase-negative staphylococci (83%). Sixty isolates (91%) formed strong biofilms. KRe had minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) against the isolates ranging 32-256 ug/mL and 64-512 ug/mL, respectively. Two-hour KRe exposures at 4×MIC, viabilities of S. aureus and S. haemolyticus decreased by 3 log10 compared to the control. Scanning EM (SEM) showed that KRe disrupted the bacterial cells of both species. KRe at 1/16×MIC significantly inhibited biofilm formation (P < 0.05) in both S. aureus and S. haemolyticus. At 1/2×MIC, S. aureus and S. haemolyticus biofilm inhibition ranged from 75 to 99%. Cells within established biofilms were disrupted 66-83% by KRe at 32×MIC. Moreover, 1/2×MIC KRe reduced bacterial adhesion to glass surfaces observed by SEM. According to GC-MS analysis, the major compound in KRe was endo-2-hydroxy-9,9-(ethylenedioxy)-1-carbethoxy bicyclo [3.3.1] nonane (E2N). Molecular docking analysis of E2N has a high affinity for staphylococcal accessory regulator A (SarA), binding free-energy - 6.40kcal/mol. The results suggested that KRe may have medicinal benefits by inhibiting the growth, biofilm, and adhesion of antibiotic resistant staphylococci isolated from bovine mastitis.
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Doenças dos Bovinos , Mastite Bovina , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina , Infecções Estafilocócicas , Bovinos , Feminino , Animais , Staphylococcus aureus , Mastite Bovina/tratamento farmacológico , Mastite Bovina/microbiologia , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Infecções Estafilocócicas/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções Estafilocócicas/veterinária , Infecções Estafilocócicas/microbiologia , Staphylococcus , Biofilmes , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana/veterináriaRESUMO
Southeast (SE) Asia is a highly biodiverse region, yet it is also estimated to cumulatively contribute a third of the total global marine plastic pollution. This threat is known to have adverse impacts on marine megafauna, however, understanding of its impacts has recently been highlighted as a priority for research in the region. To address this knowledge gap, a structured literature review was conducted for species of cartilaginous fishes, marine mammals, marine reptiles, and seabirds present in SE Asia, collating cases on a global scale to allow for comparison, coupled with a regional expert elicitation to gather additional published and grey literature cases which would have been omitted during the structured literature review. Of the 380 marine megafauna species present in SE Asia, but also studied elsewhere, we found that 9.1 % and 4.5 % of all publications documenting plastic entanglement (n = 55) and ingestion (n = 291) were conducted in SE Asian countries. At the species level, published cases of entanglement from SE Asian countries were available for 10 % or less of species within each taxonomic group. Additionally, published ingestion cases were available primarily for marine mammals and were lacking entirely for seabirds in the region. The regional expert elicitation led to entanglement and ingestion cases from SE Asian countries being documented in 10 and 15 additional species respectively, highlighting the utility of a broader approach to data synthesis. While the scale of the plastic pollution in SE Asia is of particular concern for marine ecosystems, knowledge of its interactions and impacts on marine megafauna lags behind other areas of the world, even after the inclusion of a regional expert elicitation. Additional funding to help collate baseline data are critically needed to inform policy and solutions towards limiting the interactions of marine megafauna and plastic pollution in SE Asia.
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Caniformia , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Animais , Ecossistema , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Plásticos , Cetáceos , Poluição da Água , Monitoramento Ambiental , Resíduos/análise , Sudeste AsiáticoRESUMO
Objectives: The growth and differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) gene plays a significant role in facilitating chondrogenesis, and GDF5 polymorphism is a genetic factor contributing to osteoarthritis (OA). However, the role of GDF5 expression in the synovial membrane remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of GDF5 in the synovium in patients with primary knee OA. Materials and methods: Thirty patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty were enrolled. Patients were grouped according to the Kellgren and Lawrence classification (KL) as grade 3 (15 patients) and grade 4 (15 patients). Synovial tissue was collected, and the GDF5 expression level was determined by real-time PCR. Ten synovial samples were randomly selected to evaluate the degree of synovitis. Results: Baseline characteristics did not differ between the two groups. The expression of GDF5 was significantly higher in the KL4 group (median expression 3.50, range 1.45-13.62) than in the KL3 group (median expression 1.81, range 0-9.46) (p value = 0.02). Histological staining of the synovium indicated low-grade synovitis in both groups. Conclusions: GDF5 expression in the synovium was positively associated with the radiographic severity of knee OA. The difference in GDF5 expression between the KL3 and KL4 groups supports the hypothesis that, through GDF5, the synovium may have important roles in cartilage maintenance and homeostasis in primary knee OA.
RESUMO
Background and Aim: Female tabanids play a key role in disease transmission as mechanical vectors for various hemopathogens, but only a limited number of studies have been conducted on them. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of hemopathogens in tabanid flies compared to those found in nearby cattle hosts. Materials and Methods: Tabanids were collected using a Nzi trap for three consecutive days per month during the dry season (February-May 2021). Furthermore, blood samples were collected from 20 beef cattle (Bos taurus) raised in the same area where the flies were captured. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect hemopathogenic DNA in flies and beef cattle. Results: In total, 279 female tabanids belonging to five species were collected: Tabanus megalops, Tabanus rubidus, Tabanus mesogaeus, Chrysops dispar, and Chrysops fuscomarginalis. Notably, T. megalops was the most abundant species, accounting for 89.2% of the flies collected (n = 249). PCR technique revealed that 76.6% of T. megalops carried at least one pathogen (Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia, or Theileria). In addition, all beef cattle had multiple hemopathogenic infections (Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia spp., Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, and Theileria spp.). Conclusion: Although T. megalops could carry many hemopathogens, it might not be an important vector due to the limited number of flies and parasitic load. Furthermore, T. megalops could be utilized to monitor the presence of hemopathogens in the study area, but not the disease occurrence in the individual host species. Knowing the presence of hemopathogens in flies could help manage the disease in this area.