The aim of this study was to obtain an overview of applied contraceptive methods, with a special focus on the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccination with Improvac®, in animals in zoological institutions in German-speaking countries. A survey was prepared inquiring commonly vaccinated species, application intervals and booster vaccinations over the past 11 years and sent to 84 zoological facilities. The questionnaire was answered by the respective veterinarians of 21 zoos (response rate 25%). In the study period, the GnRH vaccine was used in 188 individuals of 42 mammalian species. Bovids were vaccinated the most frequently, followed by giraffes, equids and camelids. Application intervals varied widely between zoos and animal species. The most frequently cited reasons for contraception were population management and breeding exclusion on the recommendation of the EAZA Ex situ Programmes. Undesirable pregnancies during vaccination were observed in 17 individuals (12.1%). Three animals successfully produced offspring after cessation of GnRH vaccination. Most common side effects after the injections were a localised swelling, slight lameness and sexual hyperactivity in some male individuals. It can be concluded that contraception with Improvac® is common in zoological institutions, although no consistent vaccination scheme was identified for most species.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes severe reproductive losses in pregnant sows and piglets, resulting in substantial economic impact on the swine industry worldwide. However, due to the significant genetic diversity and rapid evolutionary changes of the pathogen, continuous surveillance and detailed genetic analysis of circulating strains are essential. The current study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of the hypervariable (HV) region of non-structural protein 2 (nsp2) among North American PRRSV strains isolated from swine farms in Vietnam. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment were conducted to determine subtype classification and assess genetic variability. A total of 48 field isolates were obtained, of which 12.5% belonged to classical NA-PRRSV, 16.6% to NADC30-like and 70.9% to HP-PRRSV, primarily distributed across sublineages 1.4, 5.1, 8.7 and 8.9. Amino acid comparisons found multiple insertions, deletions and substitutions at various positions within the hypervariable region of nsp2. The study revealed substantial genetic variation in the HV region of nsp2 among NA-PRRSV field strains, largely associated with recombination and immune escape. These findings highlight epidemiological risks to vaccine efficacy and underscore the need for continuous molecular surveillance to support effective PRRSV control in Vietnam.
Inactivated FMD vaccine with aluminium hydroxide induces Th2 response. Glycyrrhizin is a triterpenoid saponin extracted from the licorice plant, which has immunomodulatory activities. In this study, two different formulations (oil- and alum-based adjuvants) of FMD vaccines were used to see if glycyrrhizic acid (GZA) has an enhancing effect on the adjuvant, and whether its impact depends on the nature of the co-administered adjuvant or not. Balb/c mice were immunised subcutaneously on days 0, 14, and 28 with 2 μg of inactivated FMD virus formulated in Alum or Montanide ISA206 adjuvant with or without GZA. Two weeks later, IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines, specific total IgG antibodies, IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes, IgG avidity index and serum neutralisation activity were evaluated. The results indicate that GZA enhanced IFN-γ, IL-2 and IFN-γ/IL-4 levels and specific IgG titre compared to the FMD-Alum group. In addition, FMD-Montanide ISA206-GZA enhanced IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, whereas it suppressed the specific IgG titre and the avidity index. Furthermore, serum neutralisation tests showed a significant increase in FMD-Alum-GZA group, while GZA in the Montanide-based vaccine suppressed the serum neutralisation response. These findings suggest that the adjuvant effect of GZA is dependent on the co-administered adjuvant.
Newcastle Disease (ND) is a major poultry disease worldwide causing substantial economic losses in the poultry production system. This research aimed to assess efficacy of the NewFluRazi vaccine to in protecting against Newcastle disease. In the study, 90 specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, 21 days old, were randomly divided into five groups-four groups were vaccinated while one group remained unvaccinated. At 42 days of age, all birds in the four vaccinated groups and the control group were exposed to a highly virulent genotype VII strain of the virus circulating locally. Hem-agglutination inhibition test was performed against the antigen on day 42 to assess immunogenicity. For pathological analysis, tissue samples were collected on days 3, 5 and 7 post-challenge. Lung, trachea, cecal-tonsil and spleen tissues were collected and analysed using real-time PCR on days 3, 5 and 7 post-challenge to detect the presence of the virus. The findings revealed that antibody titers increased in all groups 21 days' post-vaccination. Antibody levels in the NewFluRazi and the international bivalent groups were higher than in the national bivalent vaccine group with mean titers of 5.2, 5.2, and 5, respectively. Pathological assessment following the challenge showed no significant difference in the mean lesion scores between the groups. Viral gene expression in the tissues was significantly lower in the NewFluRazi vaccine group compared to the international bivalent vaccine group. For instance, on day 5 post-challenge, the mean CT value for the tissues in the NewFluRazi group was 34.12, whereas it was 22.08 in the international bivalent vaccine group. Overall, our results indicate that the NewFluRazi vaccine was more effective than the international bivalent vaccine in reducing viral presence in the target tissues following challenge.
Porcine Circovirus 3 (PCV-3) was first identified in 2016 and has since been detected in swine herds worldwide. The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of PCV-2 and PCV-3 in large Hungarian swine herds. Between July 2020 and April 2022, a total of 1,408 blood samples were collected from 18 large herds and pooled sampling was applied by combining equal amounts from five individuals per pool. PCV-3 positive samples were detected in 94.4% (17/18) of the farms, with an overall apparent prevalence of 30.4% (89/293) in the tested pools. PCV-2 was found in 50.0% (9/18) of the farms, with 14.7% (43/293) of pools testing positive. After correction for imperfect PCR sensitivity and specificity (assumed to be 95%), the corrected prevalence of PCV-3 was 28.2% (83/293) and 10.7% (32/293) for PCV-2, farm-level prevalence estimates remained unchanged. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that 24.2% of the PCV-3-positive pools had low (Cq > 30), 5.8% medium (28 < Cq < 30) and 1.0% high viral loads (Cq < 28). These results confirm that PCV-3 is widely present in large Hungarian swine farms. The relatively high prevalence, viral load and frequent co-infections raise the possibility of subclinical infections, although the clinical significance of PCV-3 requires further investigation.
Among dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), thrombocytosis is frequently reported and is considered to be associated with a hypercoagulable state. Substantial and easily accessible haematological evidence such as platelet count (PLT), plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) indicating hypercoagulability may serve as a basis for considering therapeutic management. This study was performed on 22 dogs diagnosed with uncomplicated pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). Twelve dogs were assigned to the control group by computer-based randomisations. A series of standard clinical procedures in all dogs, including clinical examination, blood analyses, urinalysis and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. Platelet-related indices such as PLT, PCT, MPV and PDW were also evaluated at the time of admission in all dogs. Dogs were excluded if they had a secondary disease or hypertension (≥160 mmHg). Although no statistical significance was present, PLT, PCT and PDW were higher in PDH dogs compared to healthy controls. In addition, MPV was lower in PDH dogs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, exhausted bone marrow activity associated with the chronicity of HAC may demonstrate lower MPV values in dogs with PDH. Further studies evaluating the relationship between platelet parameters obtained by whole blood samples and PDH dogs are needed.
Mammary gland tumours are the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms in female dogs, involving either the mammary gland parenchyma or the mammary papilla. This is a case report of a malignant adenomyoepithelioma with papillary arrangement in the mammary papilla of a 13-year-old female Lhasa Apso, highlighting the histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the tumour. Grossly, the sample consisted of a exophytic, soft to firm nodule measuring 1.0 × 1.0 cm. On the cut surface, the sample presented an irregular pattern and a cystic cavity. The cut surface of the sentinel lymph node showed a solid and heterogeneous aspect. Histologically, the mammary gland presented a neoplastic proliferation of epithelial and myoepithelial cells in a mostly papillary pattern. Myoepithelial cells exhibited elongated, manly vacuolated cytoplasm, with indistinct boundaries, moderate anisocytosis, anisokaryosis and moderate cellular and nuclear pleomorphism, with seven mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields (i.e., 2.37 mm2). The lymph node presented follicular hyperplasia. Immunohistochemical analysis of the primary tumour revealed neoplastic cells positive for pan-cytokeratin and p63, presented a Ki-67 index of 20% and were negative (score 0) for cyclooxygenase-2. Based on histomorphological and immunophenotypic findings, the mammary tumour was diagnosed as a malignant adenomyoepithelioma with a papillary pattern.
A Sarcocystis sarcocyst was found in skeletal muscle of an adult female Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) killed in 1999 in central Sweden and subjected to necropsy as part of a nationwide monitoring program. The sarcocyst was microscopic, and ultrastructurally it had a relatively thin ( 1 mm) sarcocyst wall with pleomorphic villar protrusions of Type 9 according to the classification of Dubey et al. [3]. This is the first record of a S. felis-like sarcocyst in the Eurasian lynx (L. lynx).
Abstract Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (ER) causes erysipelas in multiple animal species and may persist in the environment or be carried asymptomatically. It is estimated that 30–50% of apparently healthy or convalescent pigs harbour ER in their tonsils and other lymphoid tissues. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ER in the tonsils of healthy Swedish fattening pigs and wild boars. Tonsils were collected from 200 fattening pigs at slaughter from ten abattoirs across Sweden in 2017, with one pig per herd sampled. Wild boars ( n = 180) were sampled during hunting, primarily in Östergötland County, in 2018. Cultures were performed using selective media and isolates were confirmed as ER by MALDI-TOF MS. ER was recovered from 6/200 pig tonsils (3.0%), all originating from three abattoirs in southern Sweden. ER was isolated from 76/167 (45.5%) of wild boar tonsils. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a high genetic diversity among the isolates with no dominant clones. Overall, these results indicate that Swedish pig husbandry, characterized by indoor rearing of fattening pigs, age-segregated rearing, sow vaccination, enhanced biosecurity, and restricted straw access largely prevents tonsillar colonization by ER aligning with the low occurrence of clinically diagnosed erysipelas in such herds. For wild boars, the high isolation rate suggests that wild boar could act as a reservoir and potential source of infection for domestic pigs. The potential zoonotic risk should also be considered.
Abstract Heat stress is an increasing concern in pig production as ambient temperatures rise due to climate change. Pigs have limited physiological capacity to dissipate heat and rely largely on behavioural strategies to regulate body temperature. Floor cooling has therefore gained interest as a potential method to alleviate heat stress, particularly since pigs spend large proportions of time lying down. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether underfloor cooling influenced lying area preference of gestating sows during warm summer conditions. The study was conducted at the Swedish Livestock Research Centre, Lövsta, Uppsala, Sweden, during July 2025. A group pen (160 m²) housing 31 gestating sows included three concrete resting subsections (A–C) with a total area of 27 m². Underfloor cooling infrastructure had been installed in the concrete slab using embedded plastic tubing. During the experimental period, cold water circulation was applied in subsection A (17 °C) and subsection B (12 °C), while subsection C served as an uncooled control. Sow occupancy of the resting areas was recorded by video during 72 h before cooling commenced and during 72 h with cooling in operation (after a 72 h adjustment period). Still images taken at 30-min intervals were used to calculate occupancy (sows/m²). Data were analysed using mixed linear models. Before cooling, average occupancy did not differ between areas (0.24, 0.22 and 0.26 sows/m² in subsections A, B and C respectively). When underfloor cooling was applied, occupancy increased markedly in the cooled areas (0.44 and 0.41 sows/m² in A and B) compared with the uncooled control (0.27 sows/m²) ( P < 0.001). Outdoor temperature significantly influenced occupancy in subsection A and B during the cooling period ( P < 0.001), with higher densities observed at higher temperatures. These results indicate that gestating sows preferentially used cooled resting areas when average outdoor temperatures exceeded 20 °C, hence changing their preference for where to rest. Although based on a short pilot study in a single group pen, the findings indicate that underfloor cooling may be a promising strategy to alleviate heat stress however further studies are needed to examine the benefits and the motivations for the sow’s changes in preference of resting area.
Tilapinevirus tilapiae (TiLV) (formerly Tilapia Lake Virus) is a highly prevalent pathogen capable of inducing significant mortality rates in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The alterations induced by Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) in the gut microbiota composition, diversity and functional prediction of Nile tilapia have not been thoroughly investigated. This study investigated the gut microbiota of a healthy control group and a TiLV-infected group of Nile tilapia of size 30 ± 2.45g. The alpha diversity of microbiota was hardly affected by TiLV infection, whereas species richness and beta diversity patterns explained the significant differences between control and TiLV-infected groups. The study highlighted a decline in Cetobacterium and an increase in Mycobacterium in the TiLV-infected group. The phyla, including Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, exhibited a significant increase in the TiLV-infected group, while Bacteroidota and Fusobacteriota decreased substantially. The PICRUSt-based functional gene prediction revealed that TiLV infection had considerably changed the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways associated with membrane transport, amino acid metabolism, transcription, carbohydrate metabolism, cellular process and signalling in the gut microbiota of Nile tilapia. The results suggest that the infection by TiLV altered the composition and functional pathways in the gut microbiota of Nile tilapia.
Background:Failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) is the most important cause of sepsis and mortality in neonatal foals. Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the digital Brix refractometer for the diagnosis of FTPI in 12-h-old foals. Study design:Cross-sectional, diagnostic accuracy study. Methods:Jugular blood samples were collected from 124 foals at 12 ± 0.5 h after birth. IgG concentrations were estimated using a digital Brix refractometer and measured using the radial immunodiffusion test (RID). Correlation coefficients were calculated between serum Brix percentages and IgG concentrations. A receiver operating curve (ROC) was created to identify the Brix thresholds for diagnosing FTPI and to calculate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the tests. Optimum thresholds were selected based on the Youden index. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the discrimination ability of the Brix refractometer. Results:There was a high correlation (r = 0.72) between the Brix percentages and RID IgG concentrations of the foals at 12 h after birth. The optimum threshold of the digital Brix refractometer to diagnose complete FTPI (IgG of <400 mg*dL-1) was ≤7.5% with 77.8% Se and 76.4% Sp. The optimum Brix threshold to diagnose complete/partial FTPI (IgG of <800 mg*dL-1) was ≤7.8% with 79.5% Se and 78.8% Sp. The Brix refractometer was moderately accurate in differentiating between foals with or without complete/partial FTPI (AUC ranged from 0.7 to 0.9). Alternatively, when FTPI was diagnosed with >90% sensitivity, the Brix threshold was identified as ≤8.4% for both IgG concentrations (Se 92.9% at <400 mg*dL-1; Se 90.0% at <800 mg*dL-1). Conclusion:The digital Brix refractometer detected complete and partial FTPI in 12-h-old foals with a sensitivity below 80%. This constitutes a handicap for the use of Brix refractometry in the horse industry. Future studies should compare the diagnostic accuracy of on-site tests, directly measuring IgG concentrations and refractometry in newborn foals and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the combined use of these methods.
Canine pyoderma is a common bacterial skin infection predominantly caused by Staphylococcus species. This study, conducted from June to December 2024, analysed 71 PCR-confirmed cases of staphylococcal pyoderma to investigate epidemiological and host-associated risk factors and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns. Bacterial isolates from PCR-positive samples were identified using MALDI-TOF MS and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Of the cases analysed, 63.38% involved monomicrobial infections, whereas 36.62% were accounted for polymicrobial infections. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant pathogens in both infection types, occurring alone or in combination with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Polymicrobial infections were significantly associated with recurrent disease, longer disease duration, tissue invasion and allergic skin manifestations. Both major Staphylococcus species exhibited high resistance to β-lactams and third-generation cephalosporins, with notable interspecies differences in resistance to ceftizoxime, trimethoprim-sulfonamide, amikacin, enrofloxacin and clindamycin. Although overall AMR did not differ significantly between major staphylococci species associated to monomicrobial and polymicrobial infections, however isolates from polymicrobial cases showed a consistent trend toward higher resistance across multiple antimicrobial classes. The findings emphasise the complexity of canine pyoderma characterised by bacterial communities dominated by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and the increasingly relevant Staphylococcus aureus with potential zoonotic implications. Routine species-level identification, culture-guided therapy and continuous AMR surveillance are crucial for effective treatment and antimicrobial stewardship within a One Health framework.
Cushing syndrome develops when the body is exposed to excessive concentrations of cortisol. Hypercortisolism is well defined in dogs, with well established and extensively documented clinical signs, various diagnostic methods and treatment options available. As it is frequently the case in exotic pet medicine, only a small number of peer-reviewed case reports are available on guinea pig hypercortisolism. These typically rely on diagnostics and therapeutic techniques adapted from small animal medicine. Comparison of the findings of the guinea pig case studies to those on dogs reveals significant overlap in disease characteristics, though a number of species-specific distinctions are also evident. This literature review outlines and compares the similarities and differences of hypercortisolism in these two species.
Equine parapoxvirus (EqPPV) has emerged as a cause of recurring pastern dermatitis outbreaks in horses in Finland. First detected in 2013, EqPPV has since been associated with potentially hundreds of clinical cases and suspected zoonotic transmission. Based on serological data and field reports, EqPPV causes pastern dermatitis outbreaks in Finland every few years. This study aimed to investigate the environmental presence and plausible transmission dynamics of the virus to prepare for future outbreaks and give targeted guidelines to stable staff and veterinarians. After a large-scale EqPPV outbreak affecting hundreds of horses occurred in Finland in winter 2021–2022, PCR diagnostics was carried out whenever EqPPV was suspected to monitor the situation (25 trotting horses from 20 stables between April 2022 and May 2025). Following a period with no detected EqPPV cases from April 2022 to January 2025, a new outbreak occurred in early 2025. Between February and May 2025, the majority of Finnish trotting stables (8/10) submitting diagnostic equine samples, tested positive for EqPPV DNA. Environmental samples (n = 161) were collected from six case stables and two control stables from various surfaces in direct or indirect contact with horses. EqPPV DNA was detected on grooming tools, stall infrastructure, bedding, materials handled by humans, and hands of humans, suggesting multiple possible indirect transmission routes and large-scale spread of EqPPV DNA in infected stables. Notably, 83.3
The breeding of giant pandas is inherently difficult owing to the short oestrous cycles of the females. Determining the exact time of the oestrous cycle and when the females will attempt to mate may increase the chances of reproductive success. Because the female giant panda at the Everland zoo in Korea did not show signs of oestrus in 2019, her oestrous cycle could not be measured. In 2020, we induced oestrous behaviour in the same panda, used oestrogen peak and trough levels to predict her ovulation period, and two natural mating attempts were conducted in two days. We confirmed and monitored the pregnancy using progesterone measurements and ultrasonography, respectively, and the female successfully delivered and raised a single cub. In 2023, the same method was used on the female, with repeated success. Her urine showed a sharp increase in progesterone levels, unlike in 2020, indicating she was pregnant with twins, which she successfully gave birth to in July 2023. Herein, we share our findings on these giant pandas and the potential application of our methods to other endangered animals like rhinoceros and red pandas.
The aim of the present study was to determine whether L. monocytogenes bacteria from an invasive case of listeriosis cultured in a BacT/ALERT FA bottle in 1999 have survived, and if so, whether their pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles have changed. In 2024, after more than 25 years in a refrigerator, L. monocytogenes was isolated in pure culture from the BacT/ALERT FA bottle. All 100 selected isolates showed the same by PFGE profile with the restriction enzyme Asc I as the L. monocytogenes isolates did in 1999. L. monocytogenes can apparently survive for a long time in a nutrient-poor environment, and this must be taken into account by the food industry. Persistence in clinical samples has rarely been reported; however, several authors report persistence of L. monocytogenes in the food industry, with bacteria ending up in final products.
While the coccidian parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum have a worldwide distribution and wide host ranges, relatively few studies have investigated these parasites in Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). The aim of this study was to estimate prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum in semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer in Finland and northern Norway. Blood samples from 635 semi-domesticated reindeer were collected in 2015 and tested with commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Altogether 35 (5.5
Abstract Background This narrative literature review proposes an improved definition of herd health management and related terms. The role of veterinarians has shifted to a population-level oriented approach which may be denoted herd health management. Herd health management and related terms are used inconsistently in the scientific literature and theoretical deliberations around its practice are lacking. Results Herd health management was defined as a continuous, cyclic process dealing with planning, implementing, and evaluating decisions aiming to promote herd health, i.e., normal biological function, including homeostasis and the absence of disease among the animals populating a given farm, to achieve the producer’s goals regarding productivity, animal health, and externalities. Conclusions The paper proposes a theoretical framework describing how herd health management is practiced. Herd health management includes decisions at both strategic, tactical and operational level. The steps involved in tactical decisions are an evaluation of the current situation, defining goals, identifying risks and planning new practices to be implemented and a way to monitor indicators of success.
Abstract Background Cerebral hemangioma is a recognized cause of acute onset of epileptic seizures with interictal neurological abnormalities in dogs, although the number of cases reported is limited. Hemangiomas can affect dogs of all age groups, but there is an increasing risk with age, peaking at nine years. Case presentation This case report describes a 5-month-old female Chow Chow dog with an acute onset of epileptic seizures and interictal neurological deficits indicative of a right forebrain lesion due to a cerebral hemangioma and associated hemorrhage. Initially, extracranial causes were excluded, and magnetic resonance imaging of the head was performed, revealing a large well-delineated hemorrhagic mixed intra- and extra axial lobular mass in the right frontal lobe, generalized ventriculomegaly, and two intraventricular smaller, well-defined cyst-like structures in the right cerebellopontine angle and fourth ventricle. The dog was euthanized due to the severity of neurological deficits combined with imaging findings, suggesting a poor prognosis. Post-mortem gross examination, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry identified the larger structure as a hemangioma accompanied by extensive hemorrhage. The significant hemorrhage likely explained the acute onset of neurological signs. It is probable that the hemangioma might have remained subclinical, had this hemorrhage not occurred. The smaller cyst-like structures were identified as multilocular ependymal diverticula originating from the fourth ventricle. Conclusions This case report underlines the importance of considering cerebral hemangiomas accompanied by acute hemorrhage as a possible differential diagnosis in cases with an acute onset of epileptic cluster seizures with accompanying interictal neurological signs, here found in a juvenile dog.
