Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Stara Zagora

Babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease that impacts both domestic and wild animals, as well as humans, with its prevalence being particularly high in tropical and subtropical areas. Among small ruminants, Babesia ovis is a leading cause of babesiosis, especially in areas where Rhipicephalus bursa ticks are prevalent. The transmission of the disease occurs through tick bites, imposing a considerable economic strain on livestock industries in regions where it is prevalent. Clinical manifestations of the disease include hemolytic anemia, fever, jaundice, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, and, in some cases, hemoglobinuria. A key aspect of babesiosis pathogenesis is the oxidative stress it induces in the host. For diagnosis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has emerged as the most sensitive and specific method, surpassing traditional diagnostic approaches like blood smears and serological testing. The treatment of choice for B. ovis infections in sheep is imidocarb dihydrochloride, which is administered in divided doses of 2 mg/kg. This treatment has proven effective in eradicating the parasite without relapse. Alternative treatments, such as aromatic diamidines, are associated with several drawbacks, including adverse effects and incomplete parasite clearance. Currently, diminazene aceturate and imidocarb dipropionate are widely employed babesiacidal drugs. Efforts to prevent and control babesiosis focus primarily on tick management, the use of resistant livestock breeds, and vaccination. Tick control strategies have evolved significantly, moving from traditional chemical dips to the use of systemic acaricides and self-treatment devices. Furthermore, non-chemical interventions, such as environmental management and selective breeding for tick resistance, are increasingly recognized as vital components of a comprehensive prevention strategy. This review provides an in-depth examination of the life cycle, epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic methods, treatment options, and prevention strategies for B. ovis infection in small ruminants.

Leishmaniasis is a group of parasitic diseases whose etiological agent is the protozoa Leishmania. These diseases afflict impoverished populations in tropical and subtropical regions and affect wild and domestic animals. Canine leishmaniasis is a global disease mostly caused by L. infantum. Dogs are recognized as a good reservoir since harbor the infection long before developing the disease, facilitating parasite transmission. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that dogs may also be the reservoir of the American Leishmania spp. as L. amazonensis. The innate immune response is the first defense line against pathogens, which includes natural killer (NK) and dendritic cells (DCs). By recognizing and ultimately destroying infected cells, and by secreting immune mediators that favor inflammatory microenvironments, NK cells take the lead in the infectious process. When interacting with Leishmania parasites, DCs become activated and play a key role in driving the host immune response. While activated DCs can modulate NK cell activity, Leishmania parasites can directly activate NK cells by interacting with innate immune receptors. Once activated, NK cells can engage in a bidirectional interplay with DCs. However, the complexity of these interactions during Leishmania infection makes it challenging to fully understand the underlying processes. To further explore this, the present study investigated the dynamic interplay established between monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) and putative NK (pNK) cells of dogs during Leishmania infection. Findings indicate that the crosstalk between moDCs exposed to L. infantum or L. amazonensis and pNK cells enhances chemokine upregulation, potentially attracting other leukocytes to the site of infection. pNK cells activated by L. infantum infected DCs upregulate IL-10, which can lead to a regulatory immune response while moDCs exposed to L. amazonensis induced pNK cells to overexpress IFN-γ and IL-13, favoring a mix of pro- and anti-inflammatory response. In addition, parasite-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can modulate the host immune response by stimulating the upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines and perforin release, which may impact infection outcomes. Thus, Leishmania and parasitic EVs can influence the bidirectional interplay between canine NK cells and DCs.

Background: Opuntia spp. are prickly pear cactus species that have long been used for medical purposes. Mature cladodes are also used to feed animals during droughts. Aim: The phytochemical and chemical composition of cladode extracts from Opuntia streptacantha and thornless Opuntia ficus indica cultivated in Al-Zawia-Libya and to evaluate their antibacterial activity through both in vitro assay and molecular docking analysis. Methods: Cladode extracts from two Opuntia species cultivated in Libya were analyzed in this study to compare their chemical composition and evaluate their antibacterial properties explained by structure-function relationships studies. Results: The ethanolic extract of O. streptacantha registered the highest total polyphenolic content, total flavonoid content, and tannin contents (112.00 ± 0.58 mg GAE/g, 64.67 ± 0.88 mg CAT/g, and 0.408 ± 0.046 mg CAT/g, respectively). The ethanolic extract of thornless O. ficus-indica exhibited strong antibacterial activity against several bacterial strains, particularly colistin-resistant Escherichia coli. Rutin and luteolin-7-O-glucoside interact with key active-site residues, including the catalytic residues Thr285 and His395. Conclusion: Opuntia spp. cultivated in Libya are a valuable source of biomolecules with significant antibacterial properties and may be exploited as a functional food.

Urtica dioica L. is a perennial plant, widely distributed in temperate regions, traditionally used both as forage and as a medicinal plant. Numerous studies have shown that the aerial parts, roots and seeds contain high levels of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, chlorophyll, carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, lignans and lectins, which exhibit antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial and metabolic activity. In the field of animal nutrition, U. dioica has been investigated as a dietary supplement in rabbits, poultry, ruminants and fish, improving meat quality, haematological and immunological parameters, digestive efficiency and resistance to oxidative stress and infections. Experimental studies indicate organ protective effects, including hepatic and renal protection in toxic contexts. The aim of this review is to synthesise current data on the taxonomy, origin and distribution of U. dioica, its phytochemical composition and the medicinal effects documented in animals.

The phenomenon of bacterial antagonism was noted by Pasteur, who observed that a culture of Bacillus anthracis is arrested in development in the presence of the pyocene bacillus. Research to find new sources of antibiotics is mainly focused on new drugs that can successfully cope with resistance phenomena. The macrolide group includes large-molecule antibiotics, which include large lactone rings, linked together by dimethylated oses. They are antibiotics with a narrow but deep spectrum of action. The action is bacteriolytic or bactericidal, depending on the dose. It does not influence the normal intestinal flora. In high doses it acts on rickettsiae and treponema. In the present study, investigations were carried out on cattle, knowing the recommendations from the specialized literature and from various manufacturing companies. Therefore, it was preferred to study aspects related to respiratory diseases with recent and older evolution, which appeared in the visited units. The product Erythromycin PF 5% was studied on a total number of n=26 animals. The tests were carried out in two studies: Experiment 1 (on animals that were not treated with antibiotics) and Experiment 2 (on animals that were treated with antibiotics), in two cattle breeding units and one for finishing young cattle, in Alba County in: Câmpeni) (F1), Abrud (F2) and Ciuruleasa (F3). In the case of cattle, the preparation is preferable for the categories of young cattle for fattening (6-10 months). The results revealed the efficacy of erythromycin. The analysis of the post-treatment clinical condition confirms the results obtained in the three units and strengthens the conclusion that the product used was effective. The price-quality ratio for the product Erythromycin FP 5% injectable solution makes the product an economical and effective choice, especially for incipient or recently evolving, even associated, bacterial respiratory diseases.