Background: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a widespread environmental toxic heavy metal with strong oxidative properties; however, its immunotoxicity and metabolic mechanisms in rabbit spleen remain largely unclear. Methods: In this study, New Zealand rabbits were exposed to 0, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/L Cr(VI) (as potassium dichromate, K2Cr2O7) via drinking water for four weeks to investigate splenic damage and the underlying molecular pathways. Spleen pathological injury was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and the distribution of T cells, B cells, and macrophages was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Antioxidant enzyme activities and antioxidant substance levels were determined using ELISA, and the relative mRNA expression of immune factor genes, antioxidant-related genes, and ferroptosis-related genes was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In addition, the distribution of iron in splenic tissue was detected by enhanced Prussian blue staining. Results: Our results demonstrate that high-dose Cr(VI) significantly inhibited body weight gain, induced lymphocyte atrophy, vacuolization, and widening of intercellular spaces in the splenic white pulp. Furthermore, Cr(VI) reduced T and B lymphocyte populations, promoted macrophage infiltration and inflammatory cytokine gene expression in a concentration-dependent manner, impaired total antioxidant capacity, and led to a decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels in the spleen. Additionally, Cr(VI) exposure increased iron accumulation, activated the ACSL4-NOX lipid peroxidation cascade, and downregulated GPX4 expression, ultimately triggering ferroptosis. Conclusions: These findings reveal that Cr(VI) causes splenic immune injury by disrupting oxidative homeostasis and inducing ferroptosis, providing novel insights for evaluating immunotoxicity and identifying metabolic targets under Cr(VI) pollution.
Arrival of H5N1 virus on Australian mainland triggers ambitious vaccination program.
A new species of the genus Microscolia Betrem, 1927 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae, Scoliini) from Japan (Kyushu), Microscolia uenoi Castagnet, Mita & Cabon, sp. nov., a parasitoid of Parastasia ferrieri Nonfried, 1895 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae), is described and illustrated. Parastasia ferrieri is newly registered for Fujian Province and represents the second record for mainland China. Additionally, Microscolia kollari (Saussure, 1859) is newly reported from Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, and Microscolia hydrocephala (Micha, 1927) is newly recorded from Karnataka state (India). With these new data, the genus Microscolia is newly recorded for the Palaearctic Region (Japan: Kyushu) and for Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Biological information for M. kollari and M. uenoisp. nov. is given, along with an illustrated identification key and updated distribution maps to facilitate their differentiation and document their geographic ranges. The biology of the genus Microscolia is clarified and discussed, and possible synonymies are discussed pending a complete revision of the genus.
The genus Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 is found in all biogeographic regions and contains approximately 360 known species, including 24 recorded from Mexico. The larvae are generally saprophagous, feeding on decaying organic material, and some species are synanthropic being important from the medical, veterinary, forensic, and hygienic point of view. Several Fannia species are potentially useful in forensic studies, especially to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval (min. PMI) and as evidence of negligence of elderly individuals, children, or animals. There is a lack of information about the distribution and diversity of this genus in Mexico. Herein, we describe a new species of sarcosaprophagous Fannia from Mexico associated with a pig carcass, belonging to the Fannia pusio (Wiedemann, 1830) sub-group. We present an integrative taxonomic study of this new species, including the descriptions of the male, female, and third-instar larva; an identification key to the three species in the sub-group that occur in Mexico; a DNA barcode analysis; and information about the decomposition process stages at which the larvae occur, as well as the post-feeding larval dispersal behavior. The new species is forensically important considering that the larvae were found associated with the pig carcass from active decay until dry remains stages.
The African hinged terrapin genus Pelusios currently contains 17 recognized species. We describe an additional new species with two subspecies from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. According to phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA, the new species is closely related to P. subniger, whereas three nuclear loci (C-mos, RAG2, R35) suggest a closer relationship to P. bechuanicus and P. upembae. Morphologically, the new species resembles in plastral shape P. subniger, but differs in plastral coloration in having a diffuse dark plastral pattern instead of the blotched pattern of P. subniger. The two subspecies of the new species are characterized by distinct mitochondrial clades and private alleles in the nuclear RAG2 and R35 loci. According to an examination of museum specimens and photographic records, the new species occurs largely west of the Rift Valley, while P. subniger is distributed east of the Rift Valley. Museum specimens and iNaturalist records suggest that the two species could occur sympatrically in central Tanzania. Furthermore, we found no evidence for any genetic distinctness of P. subniger from the Seychelles, supporting that the subspecies from there is invalid.
Magnischistura khaokrajom, new genus and species, is described from a small tributary of the Pachi River in the Suan Phueng region of the Tenasserim Hills in western Thailand. Magnischistura shares with several recently described genera of nemacheilids a globulous suborbital flap with tubercles at its extremity and a highly modified pectoral fin on mature males, but molecular data failed to support a close relationship to any of them. Morphologically, the new genus is distinguished by the presence of a suborbital flap in the female. The highly modified pectoral fin of males is hypothesized to facilitate juxtaposition with a female during spawning.
Waterfowl, particularly Anas platyrhynchos and Cairina moschata, are important reservoirs and amplifiers of transboundary viral diseases, including Duck viral hepatitis (DVH), Avian influenza (AI), and Newcastle disease (ND). Despite their epidemiological significance, data from the Indonesia-Malaysia border region of West Kalimantan remain scarce. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and epidemiological patterns of DVH, AI, and ND in waterfowl populations in this high-risk transboundary interface. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sambas, Bengkayang, and Sanggau districts using purposive sampling. A total of 211 serum samples from ducks and Muscovy ducks across 26 backyard flocks were analyzed. Antibodies against DVH were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas AI and ND antibodies were assessed using hemagglutination inhibition tests following World Organization for Animal Health guidelines. Clinical examination, gross pathology, and histopathology were performed to support serological findings. Statistical analyses included prevalence estimation, Chi-square tests, and univariate logistic regression, with significance set at p < 0.05. No serological evidence of DVH was detected across all districts, species, or age groups, indicating an apparent absence of exposure in the study population. In contrast, AI and ND antibodies were detected with overall seroprevalence of 5.69% and 13.27%, respectively. ND showed a relatively uniform distribution across districts, whereas AI seroprevalence differed significantly, with the highest detection in Sanggau. Age-related trends suggested increased ND exposure in older birds, whereas AI exposure was higher in younger birds; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Clinicopathological findings, including hemorrhagic lesions and necrosis, were consistent with viral infections, particularly ND and AI, and supported serological evidence of circulating pathogens. The absence of DVH and the presence of AI and ND antibodies indicate differential circulation dynamics of major viral pathogens in waterfowl along the Indonesia-Malaysia border. These findings highlight the need for strengthened cross-border surveillance, improved vaccination strategies, and integrated One Health approaches to mitigate transboundary disease risks in backyard production systems.
Four new species of the head louse genus Schizosairhynchus Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 are described and illustrated based on specimens from Australo-Papuan starlings (Sturnidae). They are: Schizosairhynchus anahitaesp. nov. ex Mino anais orientalis (Schlegel, 1871); Schizosairhynchus bilobussp. nov. ex Aplonis panayensis strigatus (Horsfield, 1821) and Aplonis panayensis panayensis (Scopoli, 1786); Schizosairhynchus guadalcanalensissp. nov. ex Mino kreffti (Sclater, 1869) and Schizosairhynchus sarcoplestes sp. nov. ex Sarcops calvus melanonotus Ogilvie-Grant, 1906. The species Schizosairhynchus philippensis (Tandan & Kumar, 1969), Schizosairhynchus erysichthoni Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 and Schizosairhynchus minovenator Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 are reillustrated for comparison. A key to all known species of Schizosairhynchus is given. Also, a list of species of lice belonging to head ecomorph genera parasitizing species of Sturnidae is provided.
The École National Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT) holds the Neumann's collection of parasites. The depository, created by Louis Georges Neumann at the end of the 19th century, contains a large number of ixodid specimens and primary types, all listed in an accession book by Neumann himself. In an effort to enhance the visibility and accessibility of this collection for the scientific community, the curatorial personnel of the collection recently transferred all accession data to an electronic database and began inventorying the specimens that are still available. This offered us with an opportunity to examine all remaining primary types of Ixodidae in the collection and write this catalogue.
A global comparison of dairy cow breeding objectives provides valuable insight into areas of convergence and divergence, helping identify populations with compatible breeding goals for sourcing germplasm to strengthen domestic genetic improvement programs. The objective of this study was primarily to compare the rankings of Holstein-Friesian artificial insemination sires across countries on the total merit index value of each country. The study also examined how different countries present estimates of genetic merit and how frequently they update their base populations; Denmark, Finland, and Sweden (DFS) were treated as a single group. The partial correlation among 22 indexes (i.e., 21 national indexes plus the Holstein Association USA Total Performance Index) was estimated for 49,450 Holstein(-Friesian) sires born post-2000 with a reliability >70%, after adjustment for genetic trends. The partial correlations among the ranking of sires on different indexes varied from 0.24 to 0.87 with 41% of the pairwise correlations being stronger than 0.70 but just 11% being stronger than 0.80. Notably, indexes designed for indoor confinement-based systems had, on average, weaker correlations with grazing-focused indexes from Ireland and New Zealand (0.48 to 0.50). Stronger average correlations (0.69) were observed among the ranking of sires on confinement-based indexes; the correlation between the Irish Economic Breeding Index and New Zealand Breeding Worth was 0.56. When limited to just the milk production components of the different indexes, the partial correlations among the ranking of sires on subindexes were, on average, 0.78, varying from 0.29 (Uruguay with Poland) to 0.96 (Japan with Spain). Countries differ in their approach to trait weighting. Across the 21 countries examined in this study, 38% derived the weights assigned to traits solely from economic models or functions, whereas an additional 29% of the countries adopted only a desired-gains approach. The remainder of countries adopted a hybrid strategy, applying economic values to certain traits, typically the production traits, while using desired gains for others (e.g., the Netherlands, DFS). In some cases, initial weights were derived from economic principles but subsequently adjusted to achieve specific desired gains (e.g., Canada, Australia, Uruguay). Of the 21 milk production subindexes compared, 8 had a negative weight on milk yield (i.e., Canada, DFS, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Uruguay), 4 had a positive value (i.e., United States, Poland, Spain, South Africa), whereas Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, France, Slovenia, Italy, Israel, Switzerland, and Hungary did not consider milk yield in their total merit indexes. With the exception of Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Israel, and Uruguay who presented genetic evaluations of individual animals as PTA, genetic evaluations of milk production traits are presented as EBVs by all other countries. Of the 21 countries, 10% update their genetic evaluation base population more than once per year, 38% update it annually, 38% update it every 5 yr, and the remaining 14% update it periodically. Health traits are increasingly being considered for inclusion in future breeding objectives as are traits associated with both environmental impact and feed efficiency. The findings underscore how economic, biological, genetic, and policy factors shape national breeding objectives, helping interpret international differences in genetic trends and performance outcomes.
Mastitis continues to be a major financial and animal welfare concern for dairy producers globally. Interventions at the end of lactation (drying off) including internal teat sealants (ITS) and antibiotics which reduce the risk of new intra-mammary infection over the dry period, resulting in reduced clinical and subclinical mastitis incidence in the subsequent lactation. However, some ITS treated cows are diagnosed with clinical mastitis over the dry period or early in the subsequent lactation and loss of ITS may be a contributing factor. This study tested the effect of infusion of ITS (Interseal, Elanco New Zealand) at approximately 4 weeks following drying off in reducing the risk of subsequent subclinical and clinical mastitis in cows with a SCC of < 250,000 cells/mL at the last DHI test of lactation and cows > 4 years old. Cows from 23 spring calving herds in the Waikato region of New Zealand were randomly assigned to ITS or antibiotic dry cow therapy (DCT) at dry off (Dry Off treatment) and ITS or no treatment (negative control) at 4 weeks after drying off (Week 4 treatment) in a 2 by 2 factorial design. Cows were monitored until 30 d after calving for clinical mastitis, and the SCC from the first DHI test of the season for each cow were retrieved for analyses. Treatment groups were balanced for age, breed, previous SCC, milk yield, and lactation length. Cows treated with ITS at dry off were 2.1 (1.1-4.1) times more likely to get clinical mastitis first 4 weeks of the dry period than DCT treated cows. ITS administration at Week 4 reduced the cow-level clinical mastitis incidence in the first 30 d of lactation compared with negative control (OR = 0.59 (95% CI = 0.38-0.91)). There was no effect of dry off treatment on clinical mastitis incidence in the first 30 d of lactation. The geometric mean DHI SCC for DCT treated cows was 34 (95%CI = 31-53) vs 48 (95%CI = 43-53) x 1,000 cells/mL for ITS treated cows, with subclinical prevalence (i.e., SCC >200,000 cells/mL) being 10.3 (95% CI = 8.3-12.7) % vs 14.9 (95% CI = 12.3-17.9) % for DCT and ITS treated cows, respectively. There was no effect of Week 4 ITS administration on first DHI test SCC or subclinical mastitis prevalence. There was no interaction between Dry Off treatment and Week 4 treatment for any of the outcomes. We conclude that administration of ITS 4 weeks after drying off in low SCC, older cows following drying off with ITS or DCT alone resulted in a ∼40% decrease in cow-level early lactation clinical mastitis. Antibiotic DCT administration at dry off resulted in fewer cases of clinical mastitis in the first 4 weeks of the dry period, and a 31% relative reduction in subclinical mastitis prevalence at the first DHI test. Week 4 ITS administration is an intervention to reduce clinical mastitis in herds or sub-populations deemed at higher risk of clinical mastitis.
Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health threat, as resistant infections are harder to treat and carry greater risks. Using a One Health framework, this survey of freshwater samples investigated the influence of local land use on the occurrence of waterborne third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GC-E) mediated through extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) or plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC) genes. A cross-sectional survey of 339 freshwater samples from 49 New Zealand sites was undertaken, encompassing catchments with urban, agricultural (namely dairy; sheep and beef; and mixed dairy, sheep, and beef), avian-impact, and low-impact (exotic/native forest) dominant land uses. 3GC-E (n = 63), including E. coli, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Klebsiella, were isolated from freshwater samples (n = 35), where urban (32), dairy (1), avian (1), and sheep and beef (1) were identified as the dominant land use. 3GC-E genome assemblies (n = 43) from freshwater were compared with human ESBL-E. coli (n = 467) assemblies. Waterborne 3GC-E. coli were phylogenetically diverse, represented by seven phylotypes and 20 sequence types (ST131, ST38, ST68, and ST219) associated with human infections, suggesting contamination with urban wastewater. Two freshwater E. coli harbored the plasmid-associated carbapenemase-encoding blaNDM-5-bleMBL gene cassette, which was absent from the human isolates. Two further freshwater E. coli and four human E. coli isolates carried pAA plasmids containing agg genes encoding for enteroaggregative E. coli adherence factors. By linking local land use at a national scale with the occurrence of freshwater 3GC-E. coli, we demonstrate the value of a One Health approach for understanding how human activities influence the environmental dissemination of antimicrobial resistance with implications for infectious disease risk. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens public health by making infections harder and more expensive to treat. While AMR is often studied in clinical settings, environmental pathways that spread resistant bacteria remain less understood. Using a One Health approach, we investigated how land use influences the presence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales in freshwater across New Zealand. We found that resistant Escherichia coli, including strains carrying plasmid-associated virulence factors, were most frequently detected at sites impacted by urban land use and human fecal contamination. These findings show that human activities shape the environmental distribution of clinically relevant resistance and highlight freshwater as a potential exposure pathway. By linking national-scale land-use patterns with the occurrence of resistant bacteria in the environment, this study demonstrates how integrated environmental and public health surveillance can improve our understanding of AMR dissemination and inform strategies to reduce the spread of resistant pathogens.
Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection that requires prolonged and aggressive treatment. Local drug delivery systems have been investigated to improve recovery and reduce the need for extended systemic antibiotic therapy. This study evaluated composites of synthetic hydroxyapatite associated with cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) magnetic nanoparticles as a ciprofloxacin delivery system for infected bone defects. New Zealand rabbits were used as an experimental model, with osteomyelitis induced by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus into a humeral bone defect. Fifteen days after inoculation, the animals were allocated into five groups and underwent surgical debridement followed by implantation of biomaterials in the treated groups, while control groups received no biomaterial. Bone marrow samples were collected for bacterial culture before implantation. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 0, 15, and 42 days, and samples collected at 42 days were analyzed by micro-computed tomography and histology. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated a significant increase in bone density 15 days after bacterial inoculation. Micro-computed tomography revealed extensive cortical bone destruction and high cortical porosity in all groups, with no significant differences between treated and control groups. However, histological analysis showed significantly greater new bone deposition in treated groups, while necrosis was more frequent in controls. These findings indicate that the tested biomaterials positively influenced bone regeneration.
Restoring functional skin architecture following injury remains a central challenge in regenerative medicine, as adult wound healing typically culminates in fibrotic scarring rather than true tissue regeneration. The amniotic membrane (AM) harbors well-documented anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and pro-regenerative properties, with established clinical utility in human ocular surface repair. Nevertheless, its translational potential in veterinary cutaneous regeneration and the relative contributions of intact AM scaffolds (fresh as well as cryopreserved) versus AM-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretome remain insufficiently characterized. We conducted a systematic comparative evaluation of multiple AM-derived therapeutic modalities in a rabbit full-thickness cutaneous wound model. Fresh AM, cryopreserved amniotic membrane (cryo AM), cAM-derived MSCs (cAM-MSCs), and MSC-conditioned medium (CM) were assessed for wound healing efficacy. cAM-MSCs were characterized per International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) criteria, encompassing plastic adherence, trilineage differentiation capacity, and immunophenotypic profiling. Ultrastructural morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and global proteomic profiling was conducted via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Proteomic analysis identified significant enrichment of proteins involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, angiogenesis, and immunomodulatory signaling. In a standardized 2 × 2 cm² full-thickness dorsal wound model in New Zealand White rabbits, both fresh AM and cryo AM markedly accelerated wound closure over 28 days relative to cAM-MSC and CM monotherapies. Histological assessment confirmed superior re-epithelialization, organized collagen deposition, improved dermal architecture, and reduced fibrotic scar formation in AM scaffold-treated groups. Intact AM scaffolds both fresh and cryopreserved outperform cell-based and secretome-based monotherapies in promoting cutaneous wound repair, positioning placenta-derived biological matrices as scalable, clinically translatable biomaterials for regenerative medicine application.
The gut microbiota is increasingly recognised as a therapeutic target for mental disorders, with nutritional supplements providing a direct approach to modulating the gut microbiota. However, existing evidence largely focuses on single nutrients or phytochemicals, highlighting the need for novel multi-component interventions. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and tolerability of a dietary supplement powder derived from Musa sp. pseudo-stem core that contains a combination of microbiota-modulating nutrients and phytochemicals. We recruited 30 healthy adults, aged between 18 and 65 years, from the community to a triple-blinded, 4-week randomised placebo-controlled pilot trial. Participants were randomised to receive either 10 g/day of the Musa sp. pseudo-stem core powder or maltodextrin placebo. Supplement feasibility was defined as consuming at least 80% of the allocated supplement along with habitual diet. Tolerability was defined as no changes in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and stool consistency compared with placebo. Exploratory outcomes included psychological symptoms, quality of life, urinary hippurate measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and stool gut microbiota profiling using 16S rRNA sequencing. At the end of the study, 86% of the participants in the supplement group met the 80% consumption threshold, demonstrating intervention feasibility. There were no observed differences in the changes in GI symptoms or stool consistency between the supplement and placebo groups over the period of the study, indicating supplement tolerability. There were no observed differences in the changes in psychological symptoms, quality of life, and urine hippurate levels between groups at week 4. The weighted UniFrac distance showed a structural difference of the gut microbiota community between the supplement and placebo groups at week 4, although no observed differences were found in alpha diversity. Differences in the changes of two bacterial taxa each belonging to the family Anaerovoracaceae and Prevotellaceae were observed in the supplement group compared with the placebo group at week 4. Our pilot study showed that Musa sp. pseudo-stem core powder was feasible and well-tolerated as a dietary supplement, with potential for modulating the gut microbiota. Future adequately powered trials are warranted to evaluate its effect on mental health and to elucidate underlying biological mechanisms. The trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000454673) on 2 May 2023.
This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of Cyclosporine A (CsA) and Thymoquinone (TQ) in treating keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in an experimental rabbit model. The right eyes were assigned to CsA and the left to TQ. During treatment, one drop of each agent was applied twice daily for 45 days. An experimental dry eye model was established in 36 New Zealand rabbits (20 females, 16 males), aged 3 months and weighing 2-2.5 kg. KCS was induced with 5 μL of 0.1% benzalkonium chloride (BAK) applied twice daily for 14 days. Clinical evaluations included the Schirmer tear test I (STT-I), fluorescein staining, corneal opacity, neovascularization, conjunctival hyperemia, and chemosis. Measurements were taken on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 14 (induction) and 15-60 (treatment). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. By day 15, tear production had decreased, and clinical signs including conjunctival hyperemia and ocular irritation were observed. Epiphora became mucoid and corneal lesions appeared (p < 0.001). During treatment, both groups showed significant increases in tear production and decreases in hyperemia, chemosis, and corneal staining (p < 0.001). Differences between groups were noted in STT-I on days 28, 35, 50 (p < 0.05), and 54 (p < 0.001), and in corneal staining on several days (p < 0.001). Corneal opacity also differed on days 15, 18, 28, 35, and 38 (p < 0.05). KCS is a multifactorial condition involving inflammatory disruption of the tear cycle. In this contralateral-eye rabbit model, both CsA and TQ treated eyes showed clinical improvement over time; however, because untreated and vehicle control groups were not included, the findings should be interpreted primarily as a comparative assessment between the two active treatments rather than as definitive evidence of absolute therapeutic efficacy. Additional studies including appropriate control groups and mechanistic endpoints are needed to further clarify the therapeutic potential of TQ.
This study evaluated the effects of adding zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnNP), L-arginine (L-Arg), or a combination of both to the diets of growing rabbits to mitigate the physiological and productive consequences of heat stress. Two hundred and eighty 35-day-old New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments, with 70 rabbits per treatment and seven replicates (10 rabbits/replicate). The control group (Ctr) received the base diet without additives, while the diets of the other groups were fortified with arginine (L-Arg; 3 g/kg), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnNP; 40 mg/kg), or a combination of both (Arg-Zn). The results showed that the combined Arg-Zn significantly improved weight gain rate, feed conversion rate, carcass weight, and nutrient digestibility compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At the physiological level, we observed increased serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and triiodothyronine (T3), along with decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p < 0.05) in Arg-Zn-fed rabbits. However, adding the Arg-Zn mixture contributed to a reduction in pathogenic bacteria counts and increased the volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels. At the molecular level, the gene expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) decreased; however, the gene expression of claudins-1 (CLDN-1), cationic amino acid transporter-1 (CAT-1), mucin-2 (MUC-2), sodium-glucose co-transporter-1 (SGLT-1), and interferon gamma (IFNγ) increased (p < 0.05) in Arg-Zn-fed rabbits. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with ZnNP and L-Arg may serve as an effective nutritional strategy for improving growth performance, antioxidant status, immune function, and intestinal integrity in rabbits exposed to high ambient temperatures.
Calvarial bones, particularly the frontal and parietal bones, play a critical role in craniofacial research, however, comprehensive guidelines on their thickness and morphometry remain lacking. This study conducted detailed morphometric analyses using 3D reconstructions of 16 specimens each from New Zealand rabbits, domestic pigs, and Wistar rats (8 females and 8 males per species), as well as 20 specimens (8 females, 12 males) from Romanov sheep. Micro-CT imaging was utilized for rats and rabbits, while conventional CT imaging was used for sheep and pigs. Three-dimensional models were manually generated in 3D Slicer to measure precise bone thickness. The result showed that average calvarial thickness varied by species: rat (parietal 0.77 ± 0.01 mm, frontal 0.95 ± 0.02 mm), rabbit (frontal 2.19 ± 0.05 mm, parietal 1.72 ± 0.02 mm), sheep (parietal 7.75 ± 0.13 mm, frontal 7.49 ± 0.13 mm), pig (parietal 48.70 ± 7.16 mm, frontal 36.33 ± 5.06 mm). Our findings indicates that the rat skull, especially the parietal bone, is well-suited for anatomical and morphometric studies due to its consistent thickness and symmetrical structure. Among its bones, the parietal bone stands out as ideal for creating bone defect models due to its symmetrical structure and consistent thickness. These findings offer valuable guidance for selecting appropriate animal models and designing scaffold materials, enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of bone defect research and regenerative strategies.
Early identification of critically ill dogs and cats at high-risk of mortality is essential for timely intervention and improved clinical outcomes in veterinary emergency and critical-care practice. Several prognostic indicators, including the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA), blood lactate concentration, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), have been proposed for risk-stratification; however, comparative evidence in mixed populations of critically ill small animals remains limited. This study aimed to compare the prognostic performance of qSOFA, lactate, SIRS, and NLR for predicting mortality in critically ill dogs and cats admitted to a critical-care unit (CCU). A prospective cohort study was conducted on 76 client-owned critically ill animals, including 39 dogs and 37 cats, admitted to the CCU of the Small Animal Hospital, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Admission qSOFA scores, blood lactate concentrations, SIRS criteria, and NLR values were recorded. Survival status at 21 days post-admission was used as the primary outcome measure. Prognostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity at clinically relevant cut-offs. The overall 21-day survival rate was 47.4%, with survival rates of 51.3% in dogs and 43.2% in cats. qSOFA demonstrated the best prognostic performance for mortality prediction, with an AUC of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61-0.82). Animals with qSOFA scores ≥ 2 showed significantly higher mortality risk. The combined qSOFA+lactate model produced a slightly higher AUC of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.62-0.88), although the improvement was not statistically significant. Lactate thresholds showed high sensitivity but poor specificity, particularly at lower cut-offs. SIRS and NLR exhibited limited discriminative ability and poor overall predictive performance. Among evaluated triage rules, qSOFA ≥ 2 provided the most balanced sensitivity and specificity for identifying non-survivors. qSOFA was the most reliable and clinically practical prognostic indicator among the evaluated parameters in critically ill dogs and cats. Lactate may serve as an adjunctive escalation marker for closer monitoring, whereas SIRS and NLR showed limited prognostic utility. These findings support the integration of qSOFA into evidence-based triage and risk-stratification protocols in veterinary critical-care.
White's Skinks, Liopholis whitii (Lacépède 1804) are widely distributed throughout rocky habitats of temperate south-eastern Australia, with a highly disjunct population occurring in Mutawintji National Park in arid far western New South Wales. Based on an analysis of genome-wide nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and an assessment of variation in morphology, we provide an appraisal of the group's evolutionary history and re-evaluate the taxonomic status of candidate lineages. We reveal the presence of three major genetic lineages, including two lineages from temperate south-eastern Australia, and another representing the isolated arid population from Mutawintji National Park. We herein apply the name Liopholis whitii to the temperate "southern" lineage which occurs in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania; resurrect the name Liopholis compressicauda (Quoy & Gaimard 1824) for the temperate "northern" lineage from southern Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and north-eastern Victoria; and describe the arid lineage from Mutawintji National Park as Liopholis mutawintji sp. nov. Liopholis mutawintji sp. nov. is of particular conservation concern and likely eligible for listing as Critically Endangered under multiple IUCN Red List Criteria.