Cats can act as reservoirs of causative agents of vector-borne diseases and may facilitate spillover of these zoonotic pathogens to humans. Understanding the burden of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in cats in Hatay, a border province in Türkiye’s eastern Mediterranean region, is essential for One Health–oriented surveillance. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of selected vector-borne pathogens, including Bartonella henselae, Borrelia burgdorferi, Cytauxozoon felis, Hepatozoon felis, and hemotropic mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma spp.), in 200 cats of various breeds from Hatay Province, Türkiye, by means of a cross-sectional survey combining light-microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears with PCR assays. Amplicons from hemoplasma-positive samples were sequenced for species identification. Associations between hemoplasma positivity and host factors were assessed, including breed, age category, sex, and ownership status. Hemoplasma-compatible organisms were identified by microscopy in 5 of 200 cats (2.5%) and confirmed by PCR in all five. In total, PCR detected Mycoplasma spp. DNA in 8/200 (4.0%), yielding three additional PCR-only positive samples. All the sequenced hemoplasma amplicons were consistent with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm). No samples were positive for B. henselae, B. burgdorferi, C. felis, or H. felis by either microscopy or PCR. The molecular prevalence of CMhm showed no statistically significant association with breed, age group, sex, or ownership status (P>0.05). CMhm circulates at a low, yet detectable level among cats in Hatay, whereas the other pathogens investigated were not detected in this sample set. These findings underscore the value of molecular screening alongside microscopy for feline VBPs, and highlight the need for continued, region-wide surveillance, integrating vector data and longitudinal sampling, to refine risk assessments at the human–animal–vector interface.
Critically important antimicrobial resistance in companion animals is emerging as a global One Health concern with serious implications for both human and veterinary medicine. This study investigated 100 urogenital samples obtained from 86 cats and 14 dogs in Balıkesir, Türkiye, revealing widespread multidrug-resistant bacterial profiles. Bacterial growth was detected in 72 feline and 7 canine urine samples. Polymicrobial infections were observed exclusively in cats (14/86; 16.27%), indicating potential complexity in feline urinary tract infections. Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen across all infection types, including all canine pyometra cases, while Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus contributed to the polymicrobial burden. Phenotypic carbapenem resistance was identified in E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and P. aeruginosa isolates. Molecular confirmation of the IMP gene was obtained in selected strains, and, to our knowledge, this represents one of the first molecularly confirmed detections of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in companion animals in Türkiye. The methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were mecC-positive, and phenotypic colistin resistance was detected in ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp., indicating circulation of resistance to last-resort antimicrobials. ESBL production varied among Gram-negative pathogens, but did not differ significantly across species (Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact test, p = 0.18). Among the Gram-negative pathogen groups included in comparative analysis, the highest ESBL prevalence was observed in Klebsiella spp. (46.7%). These findings suggest that companion animals may act as reservoirs of high-priority multidrug-resistant uropathogens with potential for inter-species transmission. The co-occurrence of ESBL and carbapenem resistance in major pathogens underscores the urgent need for culture-guided therapy, strengthened antimicrobial stewardship, and integrated One Health surveillance to mitigate dissemination of last-resort antimicrobial resistance at the human–animal interface.
Mastitis is one of the most prevalent diseases in dairy cattle and leads to milk abnormalities and economic losses due to decreased milk yield. Among the mastitis-causing pathogens, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are major contributors, and of these the rise of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)producing strains has made treatment more difficult by conferring resistance to various beta-lactam antibiotics. The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae from mastitic milk samples in Jammu (India), identifying the major ESBL genes, and evaluating multidrug resistance and MAR (Multiple Antibiotic Resistance) index profiles. From a total of 100 mastitic milk samples collected from various cattle in and around Jammu, 22 E. coli (22%) and eight K. pneumoniae (8%) isolates were obtained. ESBL production of the isolates was determined by phenotypic methods, as well as detection of ESBL genes, viz. blaSHV, blaTEM, blaOXA and blaCTX-M genes. All the E. coli (n=22) and 75% of K. pneumoniae (6 of 8) isolates were ESBL producers on HiCrome ESBL agar, while 18 of the 22 E. coli (81.82%), and all eight K. pneumoniae isolates (100%) were found to be ESBL producers using the combined disc method. All the isolates were screened for ESBL genes by multiplex PCR, and the predominant ESBL gene identified was blaSHV, followed by blaTEM and blaCTX-M. The majority of the isolates demonstrated resistance to ampicillin, imipenem and cefotaxime, while most isolates were susceptible to tetracycline (for E. coli) and chloramphenicol (for K. pneumoniae). All of the ESBL-producing isolates had a MAR index >0.2, indicating potential overuse or indiscriminate administration of antibiotics on dairy farms in the region, thereby underscoring the need for strict antimicrobial stewardship there.
Cloning of animals through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a globally recognized technique for improving the genetic potential of livestock. Multiple factors influence the efficiency of SCNT, and the present study focused on two key determinants of cloning outcome: the type of donor somatic cell, and the protocol used for donor cell cycle synchronization. Donor karyoplasts were prepared either from adult skin fibroblasts or from cumulus cells recovered from ovarian follicles of slaughtered animals, while high-quality oocytes were matured in vitro in a defined maturation medium to serve as recipient cytoplasts. The donor cell cycle was synchronized using either a combination of aphidicolin and serum starvation or serum starvation alone. Significantly more NT embryos derived from cumulus cells developed to the morula stage (26.5%) than those derived from fibroblasts (16.8%), although fusion and cleavage rates did not differ significantly between the two donor cell types (P>0.05). The cleavage rate (65.2% and 72.7% for fibroblast- and cumulus-derived embryos, respectively) and the proportion of embryos reaching the morula stage (22.8% and 27.3%, respectively) were significantly higher when donor cells were synchronized with aphidicolin plus serum starvation, compared with serum starvation alone (P<0.05). These findings indicate that, in this SCNT system, cumulus cells are a more suitable source of donor nuclei than fibroblasts. They also demonstrate that donor cell synchronization using aphidicolin, followed by serum starvation improves embryonic development relative to serum starvation alone. Given the multiple practical applications of successful farm animal cloning for farmers, continued refinement of SCNT protocols is essential to enhance efficiency and increase the number of viable cloned animals produced.
This practical study was the first to examine the effects of melatonin implants on the reproductive performance of Blanc du Massif Central ewes in Hungary. The ewes were divided into two experimental groups: group A (n=66) was treated with melatonin implants and group B (n=66) was the control group. Four parameters were measured in the two groups: fertility rates, the average number of lambs born, the proportion of twin pregnancies, and embryo mortality rates. Fertility rates, the average number of lambs born per ewe were significantly higher (P<0.01) in group A (75.75% and 1.26 respectively) than in group B (36.36% and 0.23 respectively). The proportion of twin pregnancies was also significantly higher (P<0.05) in group A (74.46%) than in group B (40.00%). Embryo mortality rate was significantly lower in group A (6.00%) than in group B (54.17%). Each group was further divided into three age groups (1-2 years, 3-5 years and 6-10 years old). In group A, there was also a significant increase (P<0.01) in the average number of lambs born per ewe in age groups 1-2 years old (1.29) and 3-5 years old (1.47) in comparison with the respective age groups (0.21 and 0.19) in the control group. These results indicate that the use of melatonin in a continental area can improve the reproductive efficiency of ewes, but this effect may be age-dependent.
