The origins of veterinary medicine remain a subject of debate. The search for the “first veterinarian” has often led to the application of modern professional concepts to ancient societies. Among the Mesopotamian sources, particular attention has been given to ARM XXVI/1, text 270 from the royal archives of Mari, in which Jean-Marie Durand described Ipiq-Enlil as une espèce de vétérinaire (“a kind of veterinarian”). Despite the potential importance of this interpretation for the history of veterinary medicine, it has never been critically examined in the veterinary literature. The present study reassesses the letter concerning Ipiq-Enlil in the light of Durand’s philological commentary and compares it with other key Near Eastern sources relating to animal healthcare, including the Kahun Veterinary Papyrus, §§224–225 of the Code of Hammurabi, the records concerning Abū-ilīšu, and the seal of Ur-lugal-edinna. Our analysis indicates that the expression une espèce de vétérinaire represents Durand’s philological interpretation rather than a literal translation of the cuneiform text. Comparison with other Near Eastern sources shows that practical knowledge relating to animal health was already well developed during the first half of the second millennium BCE. At the same time, the available evidence does not support the existence of a distinct veterinary profession in the modern sense. Instead, the case of Ipiq-Enlil points to an early stage in the differentiation of specialised animal healthcare from a shared medical tradition encompassing both humans and animals.
Yaks (Bos grunniens) are important livestock on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, but the relationship between Blastocystis positivity, fecal bacterial communities, and microbial metabolites remains unclear. This cross-sectional study compared fecal bacterial profiles and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in six Blastocystis-positive and six Blastocystis-negative diarrheic yaks from Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Bacterial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and fecal SCFAs were quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Compared with negative yaks, positive yaks had lower concentrations of acetic acid (p < 0.01), propionic acid (p < 0.01), butyric acid (p = 0.000381), valeric acid (p < 0.01), caproic acid (p = 0.00359), and isobutyric acid (p < 0.01), whereas isovaleric acid did not differ between groups (p = 0.310). A total of 2,751,028 raw sequences were generated, of which 2,620,949 passed quality filtering. ACE (p = 0.0068), Chao1 (p = 0.0071), Faith’s phylogenetic diversity (p = 0.0019), observed ASVs (p = 0.0064), Pielou’s evenness (p = 0.011), Shannon diversity (p = 0.008), and Simpson diversity (p = 0.037) were lower in positive yaks. The groups also differed in bacterial community composition, and several taxa previously associated with fiber degradation or SCFA formation had lower relative abundances in positive yaks. PICRUSt2 indicated differences in predicted microbial functional potential. These findings indicate that Blastocystis positivity was associated with altered fecal bacterial communities and reduced concentrations of several SCFAs in diarrheic yaks. Because of the small sample size, cross-sectional design, and potential confounding by diarrhea and other unmeasured factors, causal relationships cannot be established.
Theileria annulata (T. annulata) is a parasite that causes tropical theileriosis, affecting around 250 million cattle in regions such as Turkey, Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. Anemia, a primary symptom of T. annulata infection, is critical to understanding the disease’s pathogenesis. Adipokines secreted from adipose tissue serve as signaling molecules influencing various systems, including energy metabolism and coagulation. This study aims to investigate the role of adipose tissue secretions (adiponectin, leptin, resistin, omentin-1) in the pathogenesis of the disease by evaluating the symptoms of anemia and inflammation associated with tropical theileriosis. The study involved 40 cattle, including 32 infected with T. annulata and eight healthy cattle. Hematological tests and measurements of serum adiponectin, leptin, resistin, and omentin-1 levels were conducted using ELISA kits. Adiponectin (p = 0.002) and omentin-1 (p = 0.001) levels were significantly higher in the infected groups compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found in leptin and resistin levels between the infected and control groups. Adiponectin exhibited a moderate negative correlation with HCT (p = 0.011, r = −0.397) and RBC (p = 0.033, r = −0.338). A moderate negative correlation was found between HCT concentration and omentin-1 (p = 0.039, r = −0.328). The findings of this study suggest that the levels of adiponectin and omentin-1 are associated with T. annulata infection in cattle and that these adipokines may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of tropical theileriosis. These biomarkers may also have potential diagnostic value in the diagnosis of T. annulata infection.
Veterinary institutions need practical methods to translate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into profession-specific priorities. This study developed a two-phase priority-setting framework linking systematic SDG screening with multi-criteria decision analysis. First, all 169 SDG targets were screened using four veterinary-relevant dimensions. The 48 retained targets were synthesized into 27 preliminary concepts, refined through two rounds of structured internal expert evaluation, and harmonized by the research team into 27 final decision alternatives. Second, Budgetary Burden, Accessibility and Scope, Implementation Timeline, and Sustainability Impact were weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the 27 alternatives were ranked using TOPSIS. Robustness was assessed through Monte Carlo criterion-weight perturbation, score aggregation, and leave-one-expert-out analyses. Budgetary Burden (0.4025) and Sustainability Impact (0.3526) received the largest weights. Prevention of Zoonotic Diseases ranked first (Ci = 0.8272), followed by Awareness-Raising Campaigns, Animal Welfare Inspections on Commercial Animal Farms, and Audits of Food Safety and Production Process Compliance Standards. Criterion-weight perturbation and score aggregation largely preserved the highest-priority set, whereas leave-one-expert-out analysis showed greater sensitivity to panel composition. The framework should therefore be interpreted as a transparent, context-dependent, priority-setting tool rather than as an externally validated or universally applicable hierarchy.
Chylothorax is a challenging condition in dogs, and although endoscopic thoracic duct ligation (TDL) combined with cisterna chyli ablation (CCA) is an established surgical treatment, adequate operative exposure and visualization remain technically demanding. This report describes the use of double O-ring wound retractors (OWRs) with endoscopic assistance to perform TDL and CCA in a dog with presumed idiopathic chylothorax. A 5-year-old castrated male French Bulldog presented with dyspnea caused by chylous pleural effusion. Computed tomographic lymphangiography identified abnormal thoracic duct branching with collateral lymphatic vessels and focal contrast leakage, supporting the diagnosis of presumed idiopathic chylothorax. Surgical treatment was performed through a right paracostal abdominal approach and a right circumcostal transdiaphragmatic approach using double OWR. Following methylene blue injection into a mesenteric lymph node, the thoracic duct and cisterna chyli were visualized endoscopically, and thoracic duct ligation, cisterna chyli ablation, and pleural port placement were performed under endoscopic visualization using conventional surgical instruments. The dog recovered uneventfully, with pleural effusion becoming radiographically undetectable by POD 34 and remaining absent on thoracic radiography at POD 48. No major postoperative complications were observed during follow-up. At POD 150, the owner reported no respiratory abnormalities or other clinical signs suggestive of recurrent chylothorax. This case demonstrates the technical feasibility of incorporating endoscopic assistance into a previously described double OWR-assisted approach for TDL and CCA in a dog with presumed idiopathic chylothorax. Because this technique was evaluated in a single dog without objective comparative assessment, the present report is intended to describe technical feasibility rather than demonstrate improved surgical or clinical outcomes.
Escherichia coli is a common porcine diarrheal pathogen transmitted via the fecal–oral route through contaminated environments and feed. This study evaluated the antimicrobial potential of a bacteriocin-like substance produced by Loigolactobacillus coryniformis WYQ-2 isolated from pickled vegetables. Its physicochemical stability, molecular mass, and antimicrobial spectrum were characterized, and the mode of action against Escherichia coli was investigated through intracellular ATP quantification, live/dead staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The substance exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, with the strongest inhibition against Escherichia coli (the diameter of the inhibition zone reached 41.35 mm). It remained stable under prolonged UV irradiation (0–2.5 h), under heating at 100 °C, and within the pH range of 3.0–9.0. Molecular mass determination revealed a low-molecular-weight peptide (<2.7 kDa). Protease susceptibility tests showed activity was reduced by trypsin and papain, slightly sensitive to proteinase K, yet relatively stable toward other tested proteases. Mechanistically, ATP levels declined markedly within 0.5–2 h of treatment, while live/dead staining and SEM confirmed membrane disruption, deformation, and surface indentations in treated Escherichia coli cells. These findings demonstrate that the WYQ-2-derived bacteriocin-like substance possesses favorable physicochemical traits and exerts antibacterial action primarily by compromising membrane integrity, highlighting its promise as a natural alternative for controlling porcine diarrheal diseases.
Brachycephalic dogs are predisposed to respiratory and thermoregulatory impairment, which may become evident during physical exertion. This study evaluated thermal and pulmonary ultrasonographic responses to standardized submaximal treadmill exercise in 41 clinically healthy brachycephalic dogs. Rectal temperature and infrared thermographic measurements of the ocular and facial regions were obtained before and immediately after exercise. Thoracic ultrasonography was performed at baseline and after a standardized 20-min post-exercise recovery period. The dogs walked on a treadmill at 1.3 m/s, with a 0° incline, for up to 6 min. Rectal temperature increased significantly after exercise (p < 0.0001), and significant changes were also observed in ocular thermographic regions R1 and R2 (p < 0.0001), whereas facial surface temperature did not differ significantly. No pulmonary ultrasonographic abnormalities were detected at baseline; after exercise, abnormalities were identified in 30/41 dogs (73%), including B-lines, pleural irregularity, pleural thickening, and, less frequently, discrete pleural effusion. These findings demonstrate measurable thermal responses and pleuropulmonary ultrasonographic changes following standardized submaximal exercise in brachycephalic dogs. Infrared ocular thermography and thoracic ultrasonography may provide complementary, non-invasive information for monitoring exercise-associated responses; however, the relationship between ocular and core body temperatures and the temporal and clinical significance of the pulmonary findings require further investigation.
Porcine rotavirus A (PoRVA) is an important cause of diarrhea in neonatal piglets, resulting in significant economic losses in the swine industry. In this study, a PoRVA strain, designated QY, was isolated from diarrheic piglets and systematically characterized. The virus was propagated in MA104 cells and identified by immunofluorescence assay and transmission electron microscopy, showing typical cytopathic effects and spherical particles of approximately 70 nm. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that QY was a G4P[13] strain with a genotype constellation of G4–P[13]–I1–C1–M1–R1–A8–N1–T1–E1–H1. Several genome segments showed close phylogenetic relationships with human- or bat-associated RVA strains, a pattern consistent with a possible reassortment history of QY. Experimental infection showed that QY caused watery diarrhea, intestinal lesions, and viral shedding in neonatal piglets under the experimental conditions used in this study. High viral loads were detected in small intestinal tissues, accompanied by villous atrophy and epithelial degeneration. These findings provide new insights into the genetic diversity and evolution of PoRVA and further characterize the pathogenicity of the G4P[13] QY strain in neonatal piglets.
Feline mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from adipose (A-MSCs) and uterine (U-MSCs) tissues during routine ovariohysterectomy represent valuable therapeutic sources in veterinary regenerative medicine. While quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) remains the gold standard for transcriptional profiling in these cells, its analytical reliability relies on empirically validated reference genes. In this study, we assessed the expression stability of nine candidate reference genes (ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, GUSB, HMBS, HPRT1, RPL7, TBP, and YWHAZ) in feline A-MSCs and U-MSCs using the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. Both computational approaches identified TBP and HMBS as the most stably expressed genes across both cell types, whereas the historically popular GAPDH was the least stable. All geNorm pairwise variation values were below the commonly used threshold of 0.15 in both A-MSCs and U-MSCs. To illustrate the impact of reference gene choice, we evaluated the pluripotency marker OCT4. Normalizing using TBP and HMBS revealed significant differences in OCT4 expression between A-MSCs and U-MSCs (p < 0.05). In contrast, applying the unstable GAPDH masked this difference. These findings identify TBP and HMBS as promising reference gene candidates for qRT-PCR normalization in P3 undifferentiated feline A-MSCs and U-MSCs.
This descriptive study aimed to assess the urgency of after-hours emergency visits in a small-animal practice using a structured triage system, and to characterize the associated presenting conditions and treatments. Medical records of 3189 dog and 1390 cat visits presented between 1 January and 31 December 2021 to an advanced small-animal practice were retrospectively reviewed. Retrieved data included temporal characteristics of presentation, species, signalment, clinical diagnosis, diagnostics, and treatments. Visits were retrospectively categorized using a triage approach based on the five-point Manchester Triage System (MTS). More than half of all events were classified as non-emergency visits (blue and green triage); the proportion of red triage (immediate) cases was higher among feline than canine emergency presentations. The most frequent patient presentations to the after-hours emergency service occurred in spring and summer, with May and April being the busiest; holidays and Sundays had the highest average number of cases per day during the day shift. Causes of emergency visits were mainly due to gastrointestinal disorders in dogs (32.3%) as well as in cats (28.6%). Symptomatic therapy was the most common intervention in dogs (75.1%) and in cats (49.6%), followed by diagnostics (dogs 17.5%, cats 36.0%). These findings highlight the broad spectrum of after-hours emergency presentations in small-animal practice and the high proportion of non-emergency visits, and may inform future resource allocation and emergency service planning. However, as this was a retrospective single-center study, transfer of results to other settings must be done with caution.
Bacterial pneumonia in horses typically occurs secondary to predisposing factors that compromise defence mechanisms. This 10-year retrospective study evaluated bacterial pneumonia in 81 horses treated at the equine clinic of Freie Universität Berlin from January 2015 to December 2024. Horses infected with primary pathogens such as Rhodococcus equi or Streptococcus equi ssp. equi were not included in the study. The most common predisposing events were aspiration, mainly following oesophageal obstruction (37.0%), post-anaesthetic disease (27.2%), primary respiratory signs (24.7%), and other conditions (11.1%). Horses with aspiration were significantly older than the “other” groups. Tachypnoea, tachycardia, and fever were common but not universal. Bronchopneumonia was the most frequent diagnosis overall and predominated after aspiration, whereas pleuropneumonia was more common after general anaesthesia and in horses with primary respiratory signs. Bacteriological examinations were performed in 51 horses. Mixed infections were common, and Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus was frequently isolated. Resistant isolates were detected in most tested cases, and multidrug resistance was especially common in post-anaesthetic horses. Overall survival to discharge was 77.8% and did not differ significantly between predisposing events. However, initial lymphopenia, pleural effusion, and the need for thoracic drainage were associated with reduced survival. Anaerobic bacterial isolation, pulmonary abscessation, and diagnosis were associated with readmission because of respiratory signs. Most survivors had acceptable long-term outcomes, although recurrent respiratory signs were common.
An osteosarcoma (OSA) is a malignant mesenchymal tumor characterized by osteoid production by neoplastic osteoblasts. Particularly, calvarial OSA is an uncommon form of canine OSA. A 10-year-old male Pomeranian dog presented with a palpable calvarial mass. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a well-defined osseous mass arising from the left parietal bone without intracranial invasion or regional metastasis. An en bloc craniectomy including the affected calvarial bone was performed, and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of OSA. Based on previous reports suggesting that PDGFR-mediated signaling may represent a potential therapeutic target in canine OSA, oral imatinib was planned to be administered for 1 year as postoperative adjuvant therapy. Seven months after surgery, follow-up CT showed no evidence of local recurrence or systemic metastatic disease. Ten months after surgery, the dog was re-evaluated for continued anticancer therapy, with no evidence of local recurrence on physical examination. This case suggests that satisfactory local tumor control can be achieved following surgical excision despite anatomically limited surgical margins. In addition, it provides clinical information regarding postoperative imatinib administration and CT follow-up for canine calvarial OSA. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report describing adjuvant imatinib therapy following surgical treatment of canine calvarial OSA. However, further studies are warranted to determine the long-term efficacy of this treatment approach.
The primary objective of this study was to determine if superficial pyoderma (SP) recurs sooner and at a higher rate in dogs not treated beyond clinical resolution. Sixty-seven client-owned dogs were randomly assigned to either group A (n = 37), treated with a culture-based oral antimicrobial for seven days beyond resolution, or to group B (n = 30), treated until resolution. After withdrawals, 60 dogs were analyzed for SP resolution. Dogs were examined every 14 days until D98, unless excluded due to unresolved SP by D42 or if SP recurred before D98. At each visit, a dermatologic exam and pyoderma severity score determination (0–21) were performed. Clinical resolution of SP was observed in 28 days (median) in 20/33 dogs in group A and in 18/27 in group B and not observed by D42 in 13/33 dogs in group A and 9/27 in group B. These dogs were considered treatment failures. SP recurred in 13/20 dogs in group A and 10/18 in group B after 67.5 days and 69 days (median) of follow-up time in group A and B, respectively. The median follow-up time to SP recurrence was 67.5 days and 69 days in group A and B, respectively. The hazard ratio for the risk of SP recurrence in group A compared to group B was 1.04 (95% CI 0.42–2.66; p = 0.9319). In this sample, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups for pyoderma score, resistance patterns, time to SP resolution, time to recurrence, recurrence rate, or probability of recurrence. Extending antibiotics seven days beyond clinical resolution is not necessary for canine SP treatment.
The objective of this study was to compare fecal egg count (FEC) and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in naturally parasite-infected goats following administration of an anthelmintic drug and Mitragyna speciosa Korth. as the control and treatment groups, respectively. A total of 34 female goats were randomly allocated into two groups. The control group received albendazole at a dose of 15 mg/kg on the first day of the experiment. Then followed by a daily placebo until day 21. The treatment group was orally administered 5 g/head of dried Mitragyna speciosa Korth. daily for 21 days. Hematological parameters were evaluated on days 0 and 21, while blood biochemical parameters, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), were measured on day 0 and at 7-day intervals until day 35. Fecal egg count and serum MDA concentration were determined on day 0 and every 7 days until day 42. The results showed that plasma protein levels were significantly affected by time (p < 0.05) and group (p < 0.05), while red blood cell count was significantly influenced by time (p < 0.05). No significant group effects were observed for BUN, creatinine, AST, and GGT. However, AST showed a significant effect over time (p < 0.05). Hematological and blood biochemical parameters remained within physiological ranges in both groups, with no evidence of kratom-associated toxicity. Log2-transformed fecal egg counts per gram of feces (Log2-EPG) showed significant time and time × group interaction effects (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). Fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) showed significant time and time × group interaction effects (p = 0.009 and p = 0.013, respectively). Serum MDA was significantly lower in the kratom group only at day 7 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Mitragyna speciosa Korth. supplementation did not significantly reduce fecal egg count compared to conventional anthelmintic treatment but demonstrated a transient effect on oxidative stress, as indicated by changes in serum MDA concentration.
The early weaning of piglets is still widely practiced in modern swine production, although it is frequently associated with intestinal dysfunction, microbiota dysbiosis, and even diarrhea. A total of 126 piglets were randomly allotted to three groups (seven pens per group) and fed either a basal diet, a basal diet supplemented with 0.05% SJE, or a basal diet supplemented with 0.1% SJE. Supplementation with 0.1% SJE effectively decreased fecal scores on days 7 and 14 post-weaning and improved growth performance on day 14 post-weaning in early-weaned piglets. In addition, SJE supplementation improved jejunal morphology, increased antioxidant capacity indices, and reduced oxidative metabolites in jejunal tissue. Correspondingly, SJE supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the jejunum. Notably, SJE supplementation altered the gut microbiota structure and increased alpha diversity indices, including observed species, ACE, and Chao1. Specifically, SJE supplementation increased the relative abundances of Fibrobacteres, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Prevotella copri. The SJE-induced shifts in gut microbiota were signific antly correlated with early weaning–related indices. Overall, SJE supplementation alleviated intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis, which may contribute to its effects on alleviating diarrhea, intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis in early-weaned piglets.
Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) is one of the oldest medicinal plants known to humankind, valued across ancient civilisations for treating parasitic, microbial, and metabolic diseases. Its exceptionally rich phytochemical composition, dominated by punicalagins, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, flavonoids, piperidine alkaloids, and the unique conjugated fatty acid punicic acid, confers a remarkably broad spectrum of biological activities of direct relevance to contemporary veterinary medicine. While human-health applications have been extensively reviewed, a comprehensive synthesis of veterinary evidence across multiple species remains lacking. This review consolidates current preclinical and field knowledge on the pharmacological effects of pomegranate preparations in poultry, ruminants, swine, fish, companion animals, and laboratory models. In poultry—the most extensively studied taxon—dietary inclusion of pomegranate peel powder or extract consistently enhances growth performance, antioxidant status, and humoral immunity while exerting meaningful anticoccidial activity. The antiparasitic properties are compellingly supported by evidence against gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants, tapeworms, schistosomes, and protozoa including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Leishmania spp., as well as monogenean fish parasites. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity extends to major veterinary pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), and Clostridium perfringens. Rodent models have validated antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and reproductive benefits, including improved post-thaw sperm quality and enhanced litter size. The safety profile is generally favourable at conventional doses, although high dietary inclusion elicits anti-nutritional effects from condensed tannins, and potential drug interactions via cytochrome P450 inhibition warrant clinical caution. Despite this substantial evidence, significant translational barriers persist, including extract heterogeneity, absence of pharmacokinetic data in target species, and scarcity of controlled clinical trials. By providing a species- and pathology-driven synthesis, this review identifies critical research priorities and highlights the immense potential of this ancient, accessible, and economically viable phytobiotic as a natural alternative to antibiotic growth promoters and synthetic antiparasitics in veterinary practice.
Ascaridia galli is a major gastrointestinal nematode of poultry that causes significant economic losses worldwide. In this study, we characterized a new isolate, A. galli AgSC_2025, obtained from Xichuan black-bone chickens in China, using an integrative approach by combining morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mitogenomics and then its complete developmental changes in eggs—the primary source of infection—was also documented using a high-resolution auto-microscopic imaging. The adult worms exhibited diagnostic characteristics of A. galli, including three distinct lips and a specific arrangement of male caudal papillae. Molecular analysis showed a 99.84% mitogenome identity with previously reported A. galli and positioned the isolate and A. galli in one branch which was sister to other congeneric species within the Ascaridia clade. Furthermore, the high-resolution auto-microscopic imaging system yielded a detailed and complete in vitro egg developmental dynamics with thirteen distinct stages, ranging from the initial 1-cell stage to the infective third-stage larva (L3); and further developmental timeline emphasized that the infective L3 larvae predominated by day 10, with 100% reaching this stage on day 13. Viability assays demonstrated a 79.8% ± 0.46% larval hatching rate and the high vitality of the liberated larvae among these infective eggs. These findings provide a comprehensive morphological and molecular reference for this A. galli isolate and also establish precise developmental biological parameters for egg embryonation, which should offer valuable insights for species-specific identification and the optimization of sanitation protocols to control avian ascaridiasis.
Judgment bias tasks are widely used to assess affective state in adult dogs but have rarely been applied before adoption age. To test whether a spatial version is viable, 82 puppies from 17 litters were tested at 60 days of age; 80 provided valid observations for analysis. After discrimination training, positive (P), negative (N) and ambiguous (A) locations were presented in up to three trials; latency to the bowl was recorded (30 s cut-off). Latencies from the first two trials (476 observations, 85 right-censored) were analyzed with mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models including puppy and litter as random intercepts. Median recorded times were 2.54 s (P), 13.25 s (N) and 3.86 s (A), with timeouts in 0%, 38.4% and 15.2%, respectively. Cue location affected approach rate (χ2 = 207.03, df = 2, p < 0.001); hazard ratios were N versus P 0.11 (95% CI 0.09–0.15), A versus P 0.32 (0.25–0.41) and N versus A 0.36 (0.27–0.47), all significant (Holm-adjusted). Trial number (p = 0.076) and sex (p = 0.483) were not significant. Random-effect variances were 0.180 (puppy) and 0.261 (litter). Puppies discriminated between outcome-associated locations and approached the ambiguous location at an intermediate rate, indicating that the task is feasible at 60 days of age.
Global poultry consumption continues to rise, while worldwide bans on in-feed antibiotic growth promoters raise an urgent requirement for eco-friendly alternatives to guarantee production efficiency and food safety. Probiotics, live beneficial microorganisms that improve host intestinal health, are reviewed. We elaborate four core functional pathways of probiotics: competitive exclusion of pathogens, enhancement of intestinal barrier integrity, immune modulation and regulation of microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. Their mitigating effects against heat stress, suboptimal rearing environments, mycotoxin contamination, heavy metal exposure and immune stress are analyzed. We further evaluate the capacity of single and compound probiotics to control major poultry diseases. Early-life intervention strategies and innovative preparations (multistrain probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics) are systematically summarized. Critical bottlenecks restricting industrial translation are highlighted, including empirical strain combination, non-standardized administration protocols, divergent evaluation indicators and single-factor laboratory challenge models inconsistent with actual farm conditions. Finally, we propose future research directions covering multi-omics-assisted strain screening, optimized delivery technology, unified industrial quality control standards and field verification under compound stress. This review offers integrated references for mechanistic research, strain development and precise industrial application of probiotics in sustainable antibiotic-free poultry breeding.
Cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (cIAP1) plays a crucial role in the apoptotic process. This study involved gene cloning, protein expression, bioinformatics analysis, and the preparation of a specific polyclonal antibody. First, the coding sequence of the duck cIAP1 was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Bioinformatics prediction indicated that this protein is a stable hydrophilic protein with no signal peptides and transmembrane domains. It contains characteristic BIR (bacterial IAP repeat) domains. The secondary structure consists of 43% random coils, 28% α-helix, and 8% β-strand, and its 3D structure is highly conserved compared with human and mouse cIAP1. Subsequently, the cIAP1 was cloned into the pET-28a vector. The recombinant His-tagged cIAP1 protein was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) upon induction and subsequently purified. Immunization of BALB/c mice with the purified protein emulsified in Freund’s adjuvant generated polyclonal antibodies. Indirect ELISA confirmed that the antibody titer exceeded 1:2,048,000. Additionally, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that the antibody specifically recognized native duck cIAP1 protein without non-specific reactions with negative serum. This study successfully achieved prokaryotic expression of duck cIAP1 and produced a high-titer, highly specific mouse polyclonal antibody. This antibody is suitable for experiments such as Western blotting and immunofluorescence, providing important biological materials and a theoretical basis for further investigation of the anti-apoptotic mechanism of cIAP1 in major diseases of ducks.
