Genetic diversity and population structure of Polish Arabian horses assessed through breeding and microsatellite data

Polish Arabian horses are one of the most important populations of this breed in the world. Their post‐war history can be divided into two periods, with the dominant role of state studs until 1989, and the increasing significance of private breeding in the next years. The goal of the study was to evaluate genetic diversity and structure of the population under a new breeding policy. The analyses of breeding and microsatellite data from 1996 to 2012 provide a coherent picture of the population with constant flow of horses only in one direction from state to private studs. An increase in the number of broodmares was observed, from 396 mares in 1996 to 1021 mares in 2012. The proportion of foreign sires used in Polish studs also increased, from 7.1% to 37.0%. An increasing number of alleles and progressive differentiation in mares were observed. STRUCTURE analysis indicated that the Polish horses were clearly separated from foreign horses used in Polish breeding, although only one of the 75 alleles found can be considered as typically Polish. The high heterozygosity is an important feature of the Polish population; however, the decrease of heterozygosity in state broodmares was noted. This issue needs to be studied further.     

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-1β during lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation in ewes implanted or not with slow-release melatonin

Background: Interleukin-1β(IL-1β) is important mediator of inflammatory-induced suppression of reproductive axis at the hypothalamic level. At the beginning of inflammation, the main source of cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) is peripheral circulation, while over time, cytokines produced in the brain are more important. Melatonin has been shown to decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines concentration in the brain. In ewes, melatonin is used to advance the onset of a breading season. Little is known about CSF concentration of IL-1β in ewes and its correlation with plasma during inflammation as well as melatonin action on the concentration of IL-1β in blood plasma and the CSF, and brain barriers permeability in early stage of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation.Methods: Systemic inflammation was induced through LPS administration in melatonin-and sham-implanted ewes. Blood and CSF samples were collected before and after LPS administration and IL-1β and albumin concentration were measured. To assess the functions of brain barriers albumin quotient(QAlb) was used.Expression of IL-1β(Il1B) and its receptor type Ⅰ(Il1r1) and type Ⅱ(Il1r2) and matrix metalloproteinase(Mmp) 3 and 9 was evaluated in the choroid plexus(CP).Results: Before LPS administration, IL-1β was on the level of 62.0 ± 29.7 pg/mL and 66.4 ± 32.1 pg/mL in plasma and 26.2 ± 5.4 pg/mL and 21.3 ± 8.7 pg/mL in the CSF in sham-and melatonin-implanted group, respectively.Following LPS it increased to 159.3 ± 53.1 pg/mL and 197.8 ± 42.8 pg/mL in plasma and 129.8 ± 54.2 pg/mL and139.6 ± 51.5 pg/mL in the CSF. No correlations was found between plasma and CSF IL-1β concentration after LPS in both groups. The QAlb calculated before LPS and 6 h after was similar in all groups. Melatonin did not affected m RNA expression of Il1B, Il1r1 and Il1r2 in the CP. The m RNA expression of Mmp3 and Mmp9 was not detected.Conclusions: The lack of correlation between plasma and CSF IL-1β concentration indicates that at the beginning of inflammation the local synthesis of IL-1β in the CP is an important source of IL-1β in the CSF. Melatonin from slow-release implants does not affect IL-1β concentration in plasma and CSF in early stage of systemic inflammation.     

New molecular targets in canine hemangiosarcoma—Comparative review and future of the precision medicine

Human angiosarcoma and canine hemangiosarcoma reveal similarities not only in their aggressive clinical behaviour, but especially in molecular landscape and genetic alterations involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis formation. Currently, no satisfying treatment that allows for achieving long overall survival or even prolonged time to progression does not exist. Due to the progress that has been made in targeted therapies and precision medicine the basis for a new treatment design is to uncover mutations and their functions as possible targets to provide tailored drugs for individual cases. Whole exome or genome sequencing studies and immunohistochemistry brought in the last few years important discoveries and identified the most common mutations with probably crucial role in this tumour development. Also, despite a lack of mutation in some of the culprit genes, the cancerogenesis cause may be buried in main cellular pathways connected with proteins encoded by those genes and involving, for example, pathological angiogenesis. The aim of this review is to highlight the most promising molecular targets for precision oncology treatment from the veterinary perspective aided by the principles of comparative science. Some of the drugs are only undergoing laboratory in vitro studies and others entered the clinic in the management of other cancer types in humans, but those used in dogs with promising responses have been mentioned as priorities.     

Cross-sectional survey on Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle, sheep and pigs in Serbia: seroprevalence and risk factors

Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed zoonosis with a clinical impact in the unborn fetus and in the immunosuppressed individual. In Serbia, studies of risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans have shown that the relatively high prevalence is associated mainly with consumption of undercooked meat and/or meat products. However, data on T. gondii infection in domestic animals mostly used for human consumption are scarce. We thus conducted a cross-sectional survey on the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in a representative sample of cattle, sheep and pigs from different regions of Serbia between June 2002 and June 2003, and analyzed the main risk factors associated with the infection. Sera from 611 cattle (yearlings and adults of both sexes), 511 ewes, and 605 pigs (market-weight and sows), were examined for T. gondii antibodies by the modified agglutination test. The seroprevalences determined were 76.3% in cattle, 84.5% in sheep and 28.9% in pigs. The antibody levels ranged from 1:25 to 1:400 in cattle, and up to 1:25,600 in sheep and to 1:12,800 in pigs. Among the seropositive, the proportion of high antibody levels (> or =1:1600), suggestive of acute infection, was 10% in sheep, and 4% in pigs. Possible association of the infection with biologically plausible risk factors including gender, age, herd size/farm type, type of housing, feeding practices and region, was analyzed by univariate analysis, and variables significant at P< or =0.1 were included in multivariate logistic regression models. The results showed that risk factors for cattle were small herd size (odds ratio, OR=2.19, 95% confidence interval, CI=1.28-3.75, P=0.004) and farm location in Western Serbia (OR=2.04, 95% CI=1.10-3.79, P=0.024), while housing in stables with access to outside pens was protective (OR=0.37, 95% CI=0.21-0.67, P=0.001). In sheep, an increased risk of infection was found in ewes from state-owned flocks (OR=4.18, 95% CI=2.18-8.00, P<0.001) vs. private flocks, and, interestingly, also in those from Western Serbia (OR=4.66, 95% CI=1.18-18.32, P=0.028). In pigs, the risk of infection was highly increased in adult animals (OR=3.87, 95% CI=2.6-5.76, P<0.001), as well as in those from finishing type farms (OR=3.96, 95% CI=1.97-7.94, P<0.001). In addition to providing data on the current T. gondii seroprevalence in meat animals in Serbia, the results of this study show the main risk factors associated with infection, thereby pointing to the type of preventive measures to reduce T. gondii infection.     

Evaluation of the phospholamban gene in purebred large-breed dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of the phospholamban gene in purebred large-breed dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). ANIMALS: 6 dogs with DCM, including 2 Doberman Pinschers, 2 Newfoundlands, and 2 Great Danes. PROCEDURE: All dogs had clinical signs of congestive heart failure, and a diagnosis of DCM was made on the basis of echocardiographic findings. Blood samples were collected from each dog, and genomic DNA was isolated by a salt extraction method. Specific oligonucleotides were designed to amplify the promoter, exon 1, the 5'-part of exon 2 including the complete coding region, and part of intron 1 of the canine phospholamban gene via polymerase chain reaction procedures. These regions were screened for mutations in DNA obtained from the 6 dogs with DCM. RESULTS: No mutations were identified in the promoter, 5' untranslated region, part of intron 1, part of the 3' untranslated region, and the complete coding region of the phospholamban gene in dogs with DCM. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that mutations in the phospholamban gene are not a frequent cause of DCM in Doberman Pinschers, Newfoundlands, and Great Danes.     

Comparative Analysis of the Functional Properties of Films Based on Carrageenans,Chitosan, and Their Polyelectrolyte Complexes

The influence of the structural features of carrageenan on the functional properties of the films was studied. The carrageenans and chitosan films, as well as three-layer films containing a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of the two, were prepared. The X-ray diffractograms of carrageenan films reflected its amorphous structure, whereas chitosan and three-layer films were characterized by strong reflection in the regions of 20° and 15° angles, respectively. The SEM of the cross-sectional morphology showed dense packing of the chitosan film, as well as the layer-by-layer structure of different densities for the PEC. Among the tested samples, κ/β-carrageenan and chitosan films showed the highest tensile strength and maximum elongation. Films containing the drug substance echinochrome were obtained. Mucoadhesive properties were assessed as the ability of the films to swell on the mucous tissue and their erosion after contact with the mucosa. All studied films exhibited mucoadhesive properties. All studied films exhibited mucoadhesive properties which depended on the carrageenans structure. Multilayer films are stronger than single-layer carrageenan films due to PEC formation. The resulting puncture strength of the obtained films was comparable to that of commercial samples described in the literature.     

Integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use: Evaluation of the status in Canada (2014–2019)

Objective Integrated surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use (AMU) across One Health sectors is critically important for effective, evidence-based policy, stewardship, and control of AMR. Our objective was to evaluate progress towards achieving comprehensive, integrated AMR/AMU surveillance in Canada.Materials and methods Based on an environmental scan, interviews of subject matter experts, and reports from the 2014 National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases and the 2016 Canadian Council of Chief Veterinary Officers, we identified 8 core surveillance requirements and their specific components; the latter were assessed using a 2-way classification matrix, with 7 common elements ranked according to development stage.Results Components that mapped to requirements of a comprehensive, fully integrated AMR/AMU surveillance system were mostly in the lowest stages of development (Exploration or Program Adoption). However, both the establishment of the Canadian AMR Surveillance System integrated reporting and expansion of existing components under the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program and the Canadian Integrated Program for AMR Surveillance are improvements. Regardless, obvious gaps in Canadian AMR/AMU surveillance prevent this from being a comprehensive and integrated One Health program.Conclusion Action is needed in 3 crucial areas: i) development of a complete, integrated AMR/AMU surveillance program, based on current success; ii) changes in Federal/Provincial/Territorial policies to require standardized AMR/AMU reporting; and iii) more resources for AMR/AMU surveillance (dedicated persons, funding, and enabling structures and policy). There is an urgent need for prioritization by Federal/Provincial/Territorial governments to address governance, leadership, and funding to create surveillance systems that inform stewardship and policy.     

Farmed fish welfare: stress,post-mortem muscle metabolism,and stress-related meat quality changes

Over the past few decades, a considerable scientific progress has been achieved in the area of fish welfare at all stages—farming, transportation, various pre-slaughter manipulations, stunning/killing procedures, etc. The increasing scientific interest is mainly due to the serious need of developing and implementing specific fish welfare requirements across the whole chain for both ethical (welfare) and commercial (meat quality) reasons. Since there has been substantial evidence that fish are able to experience pain and suffering, the provoked stress response could be a major cause of altered post-mortem metabolism and impaired meat quality. The present review was aimed to present the relationship between ante-mortem stress, course of post-mortem metabolic processes and the potential alterations in some quality traits of fish for human consumption.     

Prediction of Genetic Variation in Stocks of Offspring and Its Correlation with Viability and Growth Rate

This study tested the accuracy of predictions of genetic variation with Genassemblage 1.0 software and investigated whether offspring with greater genetic variation have higher survivability in aquaculture conditions than offspring with less genetic variation. To achieve these aims, microsatellite polymorphism was used to determine genetic variation in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, spawners and progeny. Spawning pairs were assembled based on the estimated genetic variation of their offspring. The offspring were divided into two groups: (H) group had higher expected values of heterozygosity (0.93) and allelic richness (41), whereas (L) group had lower expected values (0.63 and 31). The heterozygosity, survivability, and growth rate of these groups were recorded. The observed heterozygosity was 0.93 in (H) group and 0.62 in (L) group. (H) group had slightly higher survivability (89.8%) than (L) group (87.6%), but this difference was not significant (p ≥ 0.05), possibly due to residual tetrasomy in the rainbow trout genome. In the offspring, predicted and observed variations were very similar, indicating that Genassemblage 1.0 accurately predicts genetic variation in progeny.