Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis. Cattle, sheep and goats are considered the main reservoirs of the disease. Transmission to humans occurs mainly through the inhalation of infectious aerosols from milk, faeces, urine, and birth products from infected ruminants. In this study, a 2-year longitudinal approach was performed to ascertain the excretion of C. burnetii in bulk tank milk samples of sheep from a mountain plateau in central Portugal, with sampling conducted during the years 2015 and 2016. From a total of 156 bulk tank milk samples tested by qPCR, only one showed to be positive for C. burnetii (1.28% [95%CI: 0.03-6.94]), from 2015, the first year of collection. Bidirectional sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of IS1111 transposase partial region confirmed the presence of C. burnetii DNA. The presence of C. burnetii in raw milk samples highlights the necessity for additional research to determine if raw milk is a potential source for human infection. Animal health surveillance and prevention measures against this zoonotic disease should be considered.

Background and Aim: Papillomaviruses (PVs) infections have been documented in numerous animal species across different regions worldwide. They often exert significant impacts on animal health and livestock production. Scientists have studied natural products for over half a century due to their diverse chemical composition, acknowledging their value in fighting cancer. Acorns (Quercus ilex) are believed to have several unexplored pharmacological properties. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo safety and cancer chemopreventive activity of an infusion extract of Q. ilex in a transgenic mouse model of human PV (HPV)-16, which developed squamous cell carcinomas through a multistep process driven by HPV16 oncogenes. Materials and Methods: Q. ilex extract was prepared by heating in water at 90°C and then characterized by mass spectrometry. Phenolic compounds from this extract were administered in drinking water to female mice in three different concentrations (0.03, 0.06, and 0.09 g/mL) over a period of 28 consecutive days. Six groups (n = 6) were formed for this study: group 1 (G1, wildtype [WT], water), group 2 (G2, HPV, water), group 3 (G3, WT, 0.09 g/mL), group 4 (G4, HPV, 0.03 g/mL), group 5 (G5, HPV, 0.06 g/ mL), and group 6 (G6, HPV, 0.09 g/mL). Throughout the experiment, humane endpoints, body weight, food intake, and water consumption were recorded weekly. Following the experimental period, all mice were sacrificed, and blood, internal organs, and skin samples were collected. Blood was used to measure glucose and microhematocrit and later biochemical parameters, such as creatinine, urea, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and total proteins. Histological analysis was performed on skin and organ samples. Results: The administration of Q. ilex extract resulted in a statistically significant increase in relative organ weight among HPV transgenic animals, indicating adaptive biological response to the tested concentrations. Moreover, a reduction in characteristic skin lesions was observed in animals treated with the 0.06 and 0.09 g/mL extract. Conclusion: These results provide a favorable chemopreventive profile for Q. ilex extract at concentrations of 0.06 and 0.09 g/mL. This study highlights the potential of Q. ilex extract as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy against HPV16- associated lesions in transgenic mouse models. The limitation of our study was the durability of transgenic animals. As a more sensitive species, we must always be careful with the durability of the test. We intend to study concentrations of 0.06 and 0.09 g/mL for longer to further investigate their possible effects.

The production of small ruminant autochthonous breeds in the Centre region of Portugal is practiced in a semi-extensive husbandry system, exposing animals to parasitic infections. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lungworm infection and identify risk factors. Fecal samples of 203 goats and 208 sheep from 30 herds were collected per rectum and subjected to the modified Baermann test. The overall prevalence of infection was 57.7%, significantly higher in goats (95.6%) than in sheep (20.7%) (p < 0.001). According to the binary logistic regression model, sheep dewormed with albendazole, mebendazole plus closantel, or ivermectin plus clorsulon presented a risk of Protostrongylidae infection 29.702, 7.426, or 8.720 times higher, respectively, than those dewormed with eprinomectin. Additionally, the presence of gastrointestinal parasites was investigated in 307 fecal samples using Mini-FLOTAC®. The overall prevalence of infection was 86.3%, also significantly higher in goats (93.2%) than in sheep (79.9%) (p < 0.001). Strongyle-type eggs were the most frequently identified, both in sheep (69.8%) and goats (87.8%), followed by Eimeria oocysts (40.3% in sheep and 68.9% in goats). Considering the high prevalence and the burden of lungworm parasitic infection, it is urgent to determine its economic impact and the repercussions in animal health in the Centre region of Portugal to establish appropriate therapeutic guidelines.

Radical prostatectomy is a highly successful treatment for prostate cancer, among the most prevalent manifestations of the illness. Damage of the cavernous nerve (CN) during prostatectomy is the main cause of postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED). In this study, the capability of a personalized bioactive fibrous membrane to regenerate injured CN was investigated. The fibrous membrane bioactivity is conferred by the selectively bound nerve growth factor (NGF) present in the rat urine. In a rat model of bilateral CN crush, the implanted bioactive fibrous membrane induces CN regeneration and restoration of erectile function, showing a significantly increased number of smooth muscle cells and content of endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthases (eNOS; nNOS). In addition, the bioactive fibrous membrane promotes nerve regeneration by increasing the number of myelinated axons and nNOS-positive cells, therefore reversing the CN fibrosis found in untreated rats or rats treated with a bare fibrous membrane. Therefore, this personalized regenerative strategy could overcome the recognized drawbacks of currently available treatments for CN injuries. It may constitute an effective treatment for prostate cancer patients suffering from ED after being subject to radical prostatectomy.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of hosts worldwide. However, information on the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in cats from Portugal is limited. Thus, this study aims to evaluate anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and to identify risk factors using a panel of well-characterized sera. A total of 183 domestic cats were sampled and screened for antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum using commercial ELISA assays, and their owners answered an online questionnaire designed to obtain background information. The overall anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalences were 13.1% (CI: 8.97-18.77) and 3.8% (CI: 1.87-7.68), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that living strictly indoors was a significant protection factor (cOR: 0.053; CI: 0.005-0.627), and the presence of a chronic disease a significant risk factor (cOR: 3.106; CI: 1.062-9.082) to T. gondii seroprevalence. When performing multivariate analysis, only chronic disease (aOR: 57.527; CI: 1.7-1976.7) and seropositivity to N. caninum (aOR: 7.929; CI:0.8-82.9) were found to be a significant risk factor to anti-T. gondii antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N. caninum seropositivity in cats from Portugal.

Plant products have been used worldwide for thousands of years in traditional medicine for their potential health benefits. Nowadays, plant products still play an important role in healthcare, especially in developing countries where the access to basic medicines and health facilities is inadequate. Although the plant products are presumed safe and there is a conviction that "It is natural, then it is harmless", some of them have been associated with acute or chronic intoxications. The toxic effects include allergic reactions; carcinogenic action; cardiovascular, hematological, and neurological difficulties; gastrointestinal symptoms; renal or hepatic toxicity; and, in most severe cases, the death. Once safety is a major concern with the plant products to be used in animals or humans, it is important to conduct toxicity studies on them to ascertain their safety. Animals have been long used to study several diseases, and they are an invaluable tool to test the safety of plant products. This chapter aimed to offer a review concerning the animal models available for phytopharmacology and toxicological testing of plant products.

Canine Leishmaniosis (CanL) is a chronic and potentially fatal disease. In economically disadvantaged regions, costs associated with long-term patient monitoring may determine that some owners decline veterinary follow-up of their dogs. This online, questionnaire-based survey aimed to assess how Portuguese veterinary practitioners perform long-term patient monitoring and recognize relapses. More than 50% of respondents reported that 50–100% of dog owners declared financial restraints. Hence, in these circumstances, most veterinary practitioners only performed clinical examination and serology. However, when owners did not declare financial restriction, other tests were additionally performed, such as renal and hepatic profiles, hemogram, serum protein electrophoresis and urine protein creatinine ratio. The mean number of exams performed when owners presented financial restraints was significantly lower than the number of exams performed without economic limitations. Most veterinary practitioners prescribed allopurinol ad aeternum or until disease remission and domperidone. CanL relapses were recognized by more than half of respondents “Always”, through the reappearance or worsening of clinical signs, whereas about a quarter detected an increase in anti-Leishmania antibody levels and identified abnormalities in the serum protein electrophoresis profile. The relapse rate was higher in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and north, the most economically favored regions of Portugal. This study confirms that owner financial restraints negatively influence veterinary follow-up and relapse recognition, ultimately compromising clinical decision making and favoring the maintenance of Leishmania infantum infection endemicity.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a widespread zoonotic pathogen that can cause mild to severe hemorrhagic disease in humans. CCHFV may be transmitted through direct contact with tissue or blood of viremic animals; however, the primary transmission route is through infected tick bites. CCHFV RNA has been detected in ticks feeding on domestic and wild animals in western Spain, suggesting an established circulation of CCHFV in Western Europe. Ruminants have been recognized as important CCHFV reservoirs and have been linked to human cases in endemic regions. Given the emergence of CCHF in neighboring Spain, and a report of two CCHFV seropositive humans in southern Portugal in 1985, we investigated the potential circulation of this virus in the country by performing a nationwide anti-CCHFV IgG serosurvey in sentinel sheep of Portugal. Sera (n = 459) randomly selected from widely distributed farms (n = 20) of Portugal were tested using a commercial double-antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, yielding an overall seroprevalence of 0.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04–1.56%). Positive sheep were from the southern region of Portugal (Alentejo region), which raise the seroprevalence of this region to 0.74% (95% CI 0.09–2.66%). This is the first study reporting the presence of CCHFV antibodies in sheep of Portugal, thus suggesting a geographical expansion of CCHFV to this country. It seems likely that CCHFV may exist focally in southern Portugal.

Veterinary physiology is a basic curricular unit for every course within the veterinary field. It is mandatory to understand how the animal body works, and what to expect of a healthy body, in order to recognize any misfunction, and to be able to treat it. Classic physiology teaching involves wet labs, much equipment, many reagents, some animals, and a lot of time. But times are changing. In the 21st century, it is expected that the teaching and learning process can be more active and attractive, motivating students to learn better. It is necessary to understand what students like, and to introduce novelties into the school routine. The use of a game-based learning, using “new” technologies, creating virtual experiences and labs, reducing the costs of reagents, equipment, and especially reducing the use of animals, will be the future for physiology teaching.

(1) Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread zoonotic agent that greatly impacts Public Health, being responsible for one of the most important parasitic zoonosis worldwide. T. gondii has a heteroxenous life cycle, with cats being the definitive hosts and all warm-blooded animals, including humans, being intermediate hosts. Veterinary practitioners (VP) may be at a higher risk than the general population for T. gondii infection, as they have direct and daily contact with many animal species. The aim of the present study was to ascertain if VP were more likely to be anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive than the general population, as well as to understand if age, accidents with blood-contaminated sharps (cross-blood contamination), gender, working years, and geographic regions play a role as risk factors for T. gondii infection. For this purpose, a case–control study using archived samples was performed. (2) Methods: A total of 350 veterinary practitioners were tested using a commercial semiquantitative enzyme immunoassay for anti-T. gondii IgG. From the general population, 175 anonymous volunteers (matched with cases by region, age, and gender) were studied for anti-T. gondii IgG. (3) Results: There was no statistical difference found between the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG in practitioners (26%; CI = 21.40–30.60%) and the general population (33.14%; CI = 26.17–40.12%) (p = 0.108). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only age (older groups) was found to be associated with a higher prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG, with significant p values (p < 0.05) for both univariate and multivariate analysis. (4) Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case–control study fully focused on the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in VP in Portugal, showing that there was no significant risk for T. gondii infection in veterinarians exposed daily and repeatedly to different species of animals.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer is a frequent disease and the radical prostatectomy one of the most used treatment when the cancer is localized. This procedure commonly causes erectile dysfunction (ED) by injure the cavernous nerve (CN) during the surgery.With this research we investigate the ability of a bioactive fibrous membrane (FM) to regenerate the damaged CN in a rat model of CN injury. METHODS: Male SpragueeDawley (SD) rats were distributed by 4 experimental groups: sham (only a lower midline abdominal incision), negative control (lower midline abdominal incision with pelvic dissection and CN crush but no FM implantation), electrospun fibrous membrane [eFM] (with CN crush and FM implantation) and electrospun fibrous membrane biofunctionalized with NGF from rat urine [eFMuNGF] (with CN crush). Function was evaluated five weeks later after an injection of apomorphine by glans observation (visual scoring) and intracavernous pressure (ICP) measurements. Neurogenic genes expression and Histological and Immunohistochemical analysis of CN and cavernous tissue was performed. RESULTS: in this model of bilateral CN crush the treatment with implanted bioactive fibrous membrane induces CN regeneration and restoration of erectile function (p <0.001) (figure), showing a significant increased number of smooth muscle cells and nNOS and eNOS contents. Additionally, the bioactive fibrous membrane promotes a CN protective effect and increase the nerve regeneration capacity by increasing the number of myelinated axons and nNOS-positive cells, recovering from the CN fibrosis observed in rats not treated. CONCLUSIONS: This personalized regenerative strategy could help better recovery of erectile function after CN injuries, and it may constitute an effective novel option to prostate cancer patients suffering from ED after being subject to radical prostatectomy. Source of Funding: The authors would like to acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the PhD grant of M.R.C. (PD/BD/113797/2015) financed by the Doctoral Program on Advanced Therapies for Health (PATH) (FSE/POCH/PD/169/2013), the IF grant of A.M. (IF/00376/ 2014), the project Cells4_IDs (PTDC/BTM-SAL/28882/2017) and FCT Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UIDB/04033/2020

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite that is widespread in Europe, having been reported in ruminants of several European countries and causing an important economic impact. This study ascertained the occurrence and distribution of fasciolosis in Portuguese ovine livestock by assessing F. hepatica IgG antibodies in a cohort of confined sheep from a high-altitude region of central Portugal in a 2-year period. Positive animals were found in most locations and in both years, with 18 of the 92 animals (19.6% [95% confidence interval CI: 12.03–19.15]) and 17 of the same 92 animals (18.5% [95% CI: 11.15–27.93]) showing to be seropositive in the first year and second year, respectively (p = 0.85). Pasture contamination by F. hepatica eggs could be reduced by thorough anthelmintic treatments.

(1) Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonosis and one of the major causes of abortion in sheep worldwide. (2) Methods: We performed a 2-year longitudinal serological anti-T. gondii IgG screening on a cohort of a spatially confined population of a Portuguese autochthonous sheep breed in central Portugal. (3) Results: From the screening of the 2015 and 2016 sera, an increase of seroprevalence was observed (57.7% (95% CI: 49.9–65.3%) versus 69.1% (95% CI: 61.5–75.9), from 2015 and 2016, respectively) (p = 0.031). (4) Conclusions The present study is the first to provide prospective data on the anti-T. gondii serological status of a sheep cohort in Portugal, showing an increase in the occurrence of T. gondii. There is a need to provide a clearer understanding of T. gondii epidemiology in Portugal, ideally by implementing monitoring programs on sentinel herds, not only due to the high impact of T. gondii on animal health but also for it being a zoonosis.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an enteric RNA virus from the familyHepeviridaewith five genotypes (genotypes 1-4 and 7) known to infect humans. HEV infection is known to have a zoonotic swine origin in industrialized countries. The role of pigs and wild boars as major reservoirs for human infection is today well-established; however, the list of new animal reservoirs is ever-expanding as new HEV strains are continuously being found in a broad host range. The recent detection of HEV in sheep stools brings concerns on the possibility of HEV transmission from these animals to humans, particularly in those occupationally exposed. The present work investigated the potential occupational risk of HEV infection in shepherds and sheep milk cheesemakers-workers occupationally exposed to ovine (WOEOs;N = 96)-from a region of the Centre of Portugal ('Serra da Estrela') based on the differences of anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence rates between these professionals and the general population (N = 192). The presence of HEV-specific antibodies in sheep (N = 90) from the same region was also evaluated. The HEV seroprevalence in WOEOs (29.3%) was found to be significantly higher (p = .0198) when compared with population controls (16.1%) which suggests an increased risk for HEV infection in these workers. HEV-specific antibodies were also found in 16.6% of the studied sheep showing that HEV circulates in these animals. Further studies are needed to confirm the zoonotic potential of sheep HEV.

espanolIntroduccion: El proceso de mentor es dinamico, reciproco y reflexivo, de ahi que las competencias como disposicion para actuar de modo pertinente en relacion a una situacion especifica (Le Boterf, 2003), carecen de ser monotorizadas en el transcurso del proceso de mentorado. El mentor remite a un profesional con mas experiencia que orienta, ensena, encamina, apoya y aconseja a un estudiante con menos practica, desempenando un papel importante a nivel personal y profesional (Botti & Rego, 2007, p.368). Objetivo: Evaluar la percepcion de los estudiantes de ensenanza superior sobre las competencias de supervision a obtener por lo profesor mentor. Metodos: El estudio descriptivo de abordaje transversal fue realizado en una muestra de 306 estudiantes del area de la salud de la ensenanza superior politecnica con una media de edades de 21,15 anos y un mayor porcentual de mujeres (81,7%). La recogida de informacion fue apoyada en la aplicacion das escalas de Competencias genericas, especificas y metacompetencias del supervisor (Cunha, Cruz, Menezes & Albuquerque, 2017) y de Core de competencias del supervisor (Cunha & Albuquerque, 2017), via on-line, disponible en la pagina de la institucion academica. Resultados: Se ha inferido que para los estudiantes de ensenanza superior las caracteristicas mas importantes a obtener por lo lo profesor mentor, son las competencias genericas del supervisor (media = 4.36 y dp = 0.47), y los factores personales (promedio = 4.83 y dp = 0.46). El core de competencias del supervisor predice las competencias genericas, especificas y metacompetencias del profesor mentor y explica el 70% de su variacion. Los resultados evidencian de forma significativa (87,5%), que la asignacion de un profesor mentor a los estudiantes de ensenanza superior es importante, debiendo el acompanamiento ser efectivo del 1o al 3o / 4o ano (60,4%) con sesiones diarias (51,6%) en el lugar de practicas (52,4%), con una duracion inferior a una hora (49,7%). Conclusiones: Emerge del estudio la importancia de monitorear / supervisar las competencias pedagogicas de supervision y mentoria y los resultados sugieren que los estudiantes de ensenanza superior, valoran la existencia de un profesor mentor, por lo que su atribucion es pertinente para consolidar la mision de todas las dimensiones de la accion pedagogica. EnglishIntroduction: The mentoring process is dynamic, reciprocal and reflexive, hence skills as a disposition to act in a relevant way in relation to a specific situation (Le Boterf, 2003), need to be evaluated in the mentoring processes. The mentor refers to a more experienced professional who guides, teaches, directs, supports and advises a student with less practice, playing an important role on a personal and professional level (Botti & Rego, 2007). Objetive: To evaluate the perception of the college students about the supervisory skills that need to be obtained by the mentor teacher. Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on a sample of 306 college students of the health area, of a polytechnic, with an average age of 21.15 years and a higher percentage of women (81.7%). The gathering of Information was supported by the application of Generic, specific and meta-competences of the supervisor scale (Cunha, Cruz, Menezes & Albuquerque, 2017) and Supervisor Core competencies scale (Cunha & Albuquerque, 2017), available online in the academic institution site. Results: The study allows us to conclude that the most important characteristics necessary for the mentor teacher, for college students, are the supervisor's generic skills (average = 4.36 and SD = 0.47), and personal factors (averagde = 4.83 and SD = 0.46). The supervisor's core competencies predicts the supervisor's generic, specific and meta-competencies skills, explaining their 70% variation. The results support the importance of the assignment of a mentor teacher in college (87.5%), and the monitoring should be effective from the 1st to the 3rd / 4th year (60.4%). They also suggest the preference of daily sessions (51.6%) in the training place (52.4%), lasting less than one hour (49.7%). Conclusions: The importance of monitoring the pedagogical competences of supervision and mentoring emerges from the study and the results suggest that the students of higher education value the existence of a mentor teacher, so their attribution is pertinent to consolidate the mission all dimensions of pedagogical action. portuguesIntroducao: O processo de mentoria e dinâmico, reciproco e reflexivo, dai que as competencias enquanto disposicao para agir de modo pertinente em relacao a uma situacao especifica (Le Boterf, 2003), carecem de ser monitorizadas no decorrer do processo de mentorado. O mentor remete para um profissional com mais experiencia que orienta, ensina, encaminha, apoia e aconselha um estudante com menos pratica, desempenhando um papel importante a nivel pessoal e profissional (Botti & Rego, 2007, p.368). Objetivo: Avaliar a percecao dos estudantes do ensino superior sobre as competencias de supervisao necessarias ao professor mentor. Metodos: O estudo descritivo de natureza quantitativa com abordagem transversal foi realizado com uma amostra de 306 estudantes da area da saude do ensino superior politecnico com uma media de age s de 21,15 anos e um maior percentual de mulheres (81,7%). A recolha de informacao foi suportada na aplicacao de escalas de Competencias genericas, especificas e Metacompetencias do supervisor (Cunha, Cruz, Menezes, & Albuquerque, 2017) e de Core de competencias do supervisor (Cunha & Albuquerque, 2017), via on-line, disponivel na pagina da instituicao academica. Resultados: Inferiu-se que para os estudantes do ensino superior as caracteristicas mais importantes necessarias ao professor mentor, sao as Competencias Genericas (media= 4.36 e dp= 0.47), e os fatores pessoais (media= 4.83 e dp= 0.46). O core de competencias do professor mentor prediz as suas competencias genericas, especificas e Metacompetencias e explica 70% da sua variacao. Os resultados evidenciam atraves de um percentual significativo de 87,5%, que a atribuicao de um professor mentor aos estudantes do ensino superior e importante, devendo o acompanhamento ser efetivo do 1o ao 3o/4o ano (60,4%) com sessoes diarias (51,6%) a decorrer no local de estagio (52,4%), com duracao inferior a uma hora (49,7%). Conclusoes: Emerge do estudo a importância de se monitorizar as competencias pedagogicas de supervisao e mentoria e os resultados sugerem que os estudantes do ensino superior, valorizam a existencia de um professor mentor, pelo que a sua atribuicao e pertinente para consolidar a missao todas as dimensoes da acao pedagogica.

Introduction: In recent years, it has been found a significant increase in the incidence of human neoplasias worldwide, which is also one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in pets, highlighting the mammary tumors as neoplastic process that most affects our animals. Objectives: To analysis of the current paradigm of neoplasias in pets; Promoting awareness of tutors and professionals of the animal health team for a more assertive management, in particular with regard its detection and early exeresis.Methods: Retrospective study contemplating a sample of dogs (n=20) and cats (n=12) with mammary masses submitted to surgical excision and histopathological diagnosis. Results: In the analyzed sample, was observed a higher frequency of breast neoplasms in dogs of undetermined breed and Common European breed cats, with the mean age, for both species, close to 10 years of age. There was also a higher frequency of malignant breast neoplasms, 75% in bitches and 66.7% in the cats, in relation to the benign ones. Conclusions: It was possible to verify that, in the region of the country contemplated in this study, more malignant mammary neoplasms were diagnosed than benign ones, probably motivated by the late surgical excision of large mammary masses, sometimes ulcerated.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a novel Orthobunyavirus causing mild clinical signs in cows and malformations in aborted and neonatal ruminants in Europe. SBV belongs to the family Bunyaviridae and is transmitted by biting midges. This new virus was identified for the first time in the blood samples of cows in the city of Schmallenberg in NorthRhine-Westphalia in November 2011. Since then the virus spread to several European countries. Here we describe the origin and emergence, as well as the transmission and the differential diagnosis of this virus, now known to be a serious threat to Veterinary Public Health.

Introduction: Similar to what occurs in Human Medicine, also in Veterinary Medicine, the prevalence of oncological diseases has significantly increased.Development: The evolution of Veterinary Medicine, in last decades has brought changes in clinical paradigms, particularly concerning the relationship with the animal and also with the owner. More than any other specialty, members of the Veterinary Medical Team that work in the oncology field, are unavoidably forced to break bad news. This paper proposes the adaptation of the ABCDE model from Human Medicine to Veterinary Medicine.Conclusions: The adaptation of the ABCDE model for Veterinary Medicine improves communication with the owner and offers all the members of the Veterinary Medical Team better communication skills.