Many different active learning strategies that help students engage and interact with their own learning exist, and these range from simple, low-technology, individual-focused solutions to more complex, time-intensive group activities that require extensive preparation and access to technology. While active learning is becoming increasingly emphasized in the veterinary curriculum, a robust and recent review describing the techniques used in the veterinary field is not readily available. PubMed and ERIC databases were searched using the terms "active learning/teaching" and "student centered/focused." Ultimately, 147 references underwent full-text reviews, with active learning techniques categorized into three primary domains: collaborative activities, individual tasks, and educational gaming and simulation. Features of techniques within each category are summarized, as are some of the advantages versus limitations, previously published student and instructor experiences, examples, and outcomes. While there are numerous published studies from the health professions, those focused on veterinary medicine are few and often limited to qualitative or descriptive data with survey-based outcomes. While no method is a panacea for successful learning, our purpose was to highlight the existing best practices, delineating the status of active learning in veterinary medicine. More quantitative evidence on its effectiveness and impact in veterinary medicine can be gathered in the future to further guide teachers and educators.
What is the sustained impact of master's programs in reproductive science and medicine in meeting the growing global demand for expertise in this field? This study provides quantitative data supporting the value of master's degree programs in providing students with educational experiences to meet the increasing demands for a well-trained workforce of reproductive scientists. Master's programs focused on reproduction-ranging from animal science, clinical embryology, and reproductive health and biology-are expanding around the globe, providing students with a degree beyond the bachelor's or its equivalent and are an alternative or bridge to other advanced degrees. However, the impact of these programs in creating a well-trained next generation of reproductive scientists to support workforce needs and advance the field has not been systematically investigated. We performed a web search to define the landscape of master's programs offered across the globe. We also convened a meeting (Global Perspectives: A Think Tank for MS Programs in Reproductive Science and Medicine at Northwestern University on 24-25 June 2024) to establish a network between four master's programs (two in the United States and two in Europe), including the Master at Northwestern University (USA), at University of Dundee (United Kingdom), at Colorado State University (USA), and at the University of Murcia (Spain). These programs are established at public and private institutions, are varied with respect to class size and duration, and span focus areas ranging from veterinary to human reproductive health to Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). We obtained and analyzed enrollment and outcome data from the four featured master's programs to determine the profile of students who pursue these master's degrees in reproductive science and determine how they contribute to the field post-degree. The study relied on self-reported data from each participating program. The programs were selected because they represent a cross-section of established master's programs in reproduction that have collectively trained almost 1000 students since 2004. We analyzed enrollment and outcome data from these four established master's programs. Programs reported on student outcomes post-degree, including job categories, job titles, employers, and other impact (e.g. publications, awards and honors, and grants and independent funding). Master's programs in reproduction and related fields are on the rise, with the number of programs having almost doubled from 73 in 2022 to 145 in 2025. The four featured programs reported on at least 9 years of retrospective data. The University of Murcia program started in 2004, Colorado State University in 2013, University of Dundee in 2014, and Northwestern in 2016. To date, these programs have trained 366, 210, 244, and 108 individuals, respectively, with average class sizes for each program ranging between 12 and 22 students. Most students across programs (81% cumulatively) are female. The programs based in the USA primarily attract US students, whereas the programs in the United Kingdom and Spain have a more global footprint. Students matriculate into programs with academic backgrounds in life sciences and related fields and have obtained prior degrees in broadly defined fields including biology, chemistry, animal sciences, and medicine. After students complete their master's degrees, they are generally continuing within the reproductive science and medicine pipeline with careers spanning: advanced training (e.g. PhD, MD, and DVM programs), clinical careers (e.g. embryology and andrology), research careers (e.g. scientist or faculty), and careers in industry and education. Our study is limited to four master's programs that were invited to the Global Perspectives: A Think Tank for MS Programs in Reproductive Science and Medicine meeting. The analysis performed here can serve as a basic template for tracking student profiles and outcomes across all existing programs, so that we can glean a more wholistic understanding of the impact of master's degrees programs in reproductive science and medicine. This study provides quantitative data supporting the value of master's degree programs in providing students with educational experiences to meet the increasing demands for a well-trained workforce of reproductive scientists. This work lays the foundation for establishing a formal consortium of master's programs in reproductive science whereby prospective data can be collected in a standardized way across programs, alumni outcomes tracked, and an educational network created. This could be of value in disciplines where there is an increasing trend toward accreditation and adherence to legal frameworks, such as reproductive medicine and embryology. This work was supported by institutional funds from the Center for Reproductive Science, the Thomas J. Watkins Endowment, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University (F.E.D.) and the Makowski Family Endowment, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CU Anschutz School of Medicine (T.R.K.). C.L.R.B. is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Human Reproduction; he is a faculty member and deputy program lead for one of the courses discussed in this article (Dundee) for which salary is paid by the University of Dundee. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Not applicable.
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Veterinary admissions committees aim to select applicants who will successfully complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program and contribute effectively to the profession. Although traditional admission procedures emphasize academic indicators such as undergraduate grade point average (uGPA) and standardized test scores, increasing attention has been placed on assessing social-emotional skills and school-specific contextual attributes. Given the high-stakes nature of admissions and the claim that multiple attributes are assessed at the time of selection, internal structure validity evidence is required to support the use of scores from admissions measures in the selection process. This study examines whether commonly used admissions measures reflect distinct academic, social-emotional, and contextual factors. Participants included 338 applicants (78.17% female) in a retrospective cohort study from the 2022-2024 admissions cycles at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada. Admissions measures included uGPA, Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) total and subscores, Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) scores, Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (Casper) situational judgement scores, standardized essay ratings, and structured file review scores. Bivariate correlation and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) were used to explore the relationships and internal structure between the scores from these admissions measures. Correlations among admissions variables showed small to moderate associations, with expected clustering among academic indicators. EFA produced a three-factor solution accounting for 53.36% of the variance which were labeled: (1) Academic Ability (uGPA; MCAT academic subscores), (2) social- emotional skills (essay, Casper, MCAT social emotional sub score; partial MMI loading), and (3) contextual factors (file review; partial MMI loading). Findings provide internal structure validity evidence supporting the claim that admissions measures capture multiple attributes and these measures should be considered collectively as a system of assessment. Notably, the MMI contributed to both social-emotional and contextual factors, highlighting its multifaceted nature. These findings provide a foundation for longitudinal research examining the predictive validity of academic, social-emotional, and contextual factors for performance throughout veterinary training.
Differentiation between honey bee castes is essentially a nutritional phenotype, but the complex physicochemical inputs that play critical roles in endocrine and epigenetic programming are still poorly documented, particularly for worker jelly (WJ) and drone jelly (DJ), which are rarely characterized alongside royal jelly (RJ) and the larvae that metabolize them. Here, we compare RJ, WJ and DJ and queen (1-4 d), worker (1-5 d) and drone (1-6 d) larvae produced under standardized field conditions (15 colonies) in Ordu, Türkiye (18 biological groups) systematically with respect to caste and age. Moisture/dry matter and ash were determined gravimetrically, protein by Dumas combustion, sugars and 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) using HPLC (RID/UV), minerals and heavy metals by ICP-MS, and acidity based on pH and titration. RJ complied with international composition standards: protein (12.90%) and 10-HDA content at the authenticity threshold (1.41%). WJ exhibited elevated protein (16.80%) and the highest titratable acidity (48 mL 1 N NaOH/100 g), alongside relatively enriched macro- and microelement profiles, particularly K and Mg, providing a distinguishing nutritional "signature" of larval foods; DJ showed the highest protein density of all matrices (18.37%). Sugar profiles suggested that glucose and fructose predominated, but a strong developmental pattern for sucrose became clear: large amounts of sucrose were present in 1-day-old larvae but absent from all later developmental stages, consistent with rapid turnover of the carbohydrate pool during early growth. RJ was the most acidic matrix (pH 3.96), and pH increased with larval age across castes suggesting buffering, tissue growth and remodelling in the context of aligned biomass accumulation. Together, these data establish comparative baseline datasets for caste-related larval foods and larvae, reinforce authenticity quality-control frameworks beyond RJ alone, and furnish a physicochemical basis for mechanistic studies linking food chemistry with caste-linked developmental physiology. These baseline data also offer practical reference points for veterinary monitoring of larval nutrition and colony health. Beyond providing a comprehensive reference dataset, the divergent nutritional profiles we observed particularly in protein, sugar, and 10-HDA dynamics suggest that the temporal coordination of these components may contribute to the canalization of caste-specific developmental pathways.
Implementing integrated One Health surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (OH-AMR) remains a challenge globally, particularly in developing countries. Resource limitations, infrastructural gaps and inadequate technical capacity often hinder adherence to standardised antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance guidelines, resulting in suboptimal data coverage and quality in resource-constrained settings. Moreover, considerable disparities exist in the design and execution of OH-AMR surveillance systems across regions, further complicating global data harmonisation and comparative analyses. Therefore, considering the complex ecosystem of OH-AMR and its effective implementation in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a consensus-based multidisciplinary research agenda should be prioritised. In recent years, the Delphi method has become a popular tool in systematic and bias-free consensus building on a certain research domain or complex topics. Therefore, with the overarching objective of setting an operational standard for OH-AMR surveillance in LMICs, we aim to perform a Delphi study by engaging the experts from relevant domains. To streamline the traditional time-consuming Delphi technique, we plan to implement a real-time Table-Top Delphi exercise for rapid consensus building. Moreover, to capitalise on the convention of experts from diverse fields in real-time, we propose to conduct the study during an international conference on AMR. With systematic modification in the Delphi technique, the study will be conducted in two rounds where the first round will be performed in real-time followed by a second round online. For this purpose, a set of questions being prepared based on the identified gaps in existing scientific literature, evidence and guidelines for OH-AMR will be used. The questionnaire will be dispatched on an electronic platform to accumulate the responses from the experts in real-time while ensuring the anonymity and controlled feedback. Consensus will be defined as 70% or more of respondents selecting the same option for a given question. Considering the engagement of stakeholders from multiple domains of the trifecta, a total of 50 participants will be recruited in the study to have 70% replicable consensus where responses from at least 40 participants are expected in both rounds. The outcome of this Delphi study will pave the way for the implementation of an optimised OH-AMR surveillance strategy, especially in the global south, leading to actionable outcomes. The study will be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Ethics Advisory Board, Leipzig University, Germany. The Ethics Advisory Board has no concern on the study protocol (2025.08.27_eb_348) in terms of research ethics. Before participating in the survey, individuals will be required to provide informed consent through the Welphi electronic platform (Yes/No options). Participation will be entirely voluntary, and participants may withdraw their consent and discontinue participation at any stage of the study. The findings of the study will be shared with the major stakeholders including the quadripartite organisations, global and regional networks on AMR and presented in international conferences and social media forums on AMR. The outcome of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Unvetted scientific claims about vaccines can spread rapidly and undermine decades of progress in immunization and public trust. A recent non-peer-reviewed analysis, promoted at political hearings, in the documentary "An Inconvenient Study," and on social media, has been used to suggest that vaccinated children experience higher rates of chronic illness than unvaccinated peers. Despite standard regression models, critical flaws - uncontrolled confounding, exposure misclassification, unequal follow-up, and outcome multiplicity, invalidate causal inference. An independent group of international experts critically appraises this analysis and contrast its claims with the consistent evidence confirming vaccine safety and effectiveness. We also show how poorly designed studies can distort public discourse, amplify misinformation, and fuel vaccine hesitancy. We outline actions to strengthen research integrity, such as transparent data sharing, labeling of non-peer-reviewed content, and evidence-based communication. Safeguarding public health demands that vaccine evidence be methodologically sound, reviewed, and interpreted by qualified experts.
The global molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) has been well documented in North America and Europe, but the population-genetic framework of the East Asian lineages is underrepresented, hindering a complete understanding of the global genotype distribution and transmission dynamics. This study aimed to establish a regional molecular-typing framework for MAP in East Asia and investigate its genetic relatedness with global lineages to explore potential intercontinental connections associated with international livestock movements. The study integrated 12 newly characterized MAP isolates from South Korean ruminant herds (cattle and black goats, 2021-2024) with 34 global isolates across six continents. Genotypic characterization was performed using mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and multilocus short sequence repeat (MLSSR) approaches to evaluate the allelic diversity and subtyping resolution. All South Korean isolates were identified as "cattle-type" (Type II) and predominantly belonged to the INRA Nouzilly MIRU-VNTR (INMV) genotype. Age-associated differences in MAP prevalence were observed among Korean ruminant herds (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05), with distinct age-related patterns in beef and dairy cattle The integrated MIRU-VNTR and MLSSR approaches identified 14 and 31 distinct subtypes, respectively, with MLSSR showing superior discriminatory power (discriminatory index = 0.973 vs. 0.630 for MIRU-VNTR). This high allelic diversity in the global MLSSR dataset provided finer resolution than MIRU-VNTR for distinguishing the MAP subtypes across continents. This study provides a reference point for understanding the global diversity and distribution of MAP by bridging the genomic information gap in Asia. These findings underscore the potential of high-resolution, MLSSR-integrated surveillance as a practical tool for monitoring MAP across diverse geographical scales and for prioritizing isolates for future whole genome sequencing-based studies.
The integration of oral fluid (OF) sampling into veterinary diagnostics represents a significant shift in animal herd health monitoring, offering a noninvasive alternative to traditional blood-based methods. OF, predominantly composed of saliva, mucosal transudate and plasma-derived components, contains immunoglobulins, acute-phase proteins and nucleic acids that mirror both local and systemic physiological processes. These components enable a thorough evaluation of immune responses and inflammatory status, as well as the detection of economically significant infectious pathogens in swine. OF can be collected noninvasively using cotton ropes or swabs, which is feasible for individual or pen-level herd health sampling with minimal animal handling and fosters an animal-friendly approach. Several studies have demonstrated pathogen antigen detection, particularly PCR-based detection of shedding pathogens, as well as antibody and biomarker measurements in OF; however, concentrations are often lower than those observed in other biological fluids, especially in serum. In addition, diagnostic interpretation is further constrained by poor pig participation, rope chewing due to dominance, low prevalence within pens, contamination with feed or environmental material, instability of analytes during transport and storage, and the scarcity of validated assays specific to OF. This review summarises OF production, composition and diagnostic analyte entry pathways from blood to OF and current applications for detecting pathogens and biomarkers in pigs and critically examines methodological factors that influence diagnostic performance, including sample collection procedures, handling and assay optimisation, such as dilution and threshold selection. Finally, it outlines priorities for future development, including standardised OF collection and handling protocols, OF-validated pathogen and biomarker assays, matrix-specific thresholds, regulatory validation and proteomic biomarker discovery to enable earlier detection and support continuous herd health monitoring in global swine production.
Equine Rotavirus A (ERVA) is a major cause of acute diarrhea in neonatal foals, leading to significant economic losses. Genetic variation and global transmission complicate disease control efforts. To analyze the complete genome of an ERVA strain from Jeju Island, Korea, and assess its genetic and phylogenetic relationships with global ERVA strains. Twenty-five fecal and swab samples were collected from diarrheic horses in Jeju during spring and summer 2025. Samples were screened using antigen testing and RT-PCR. One PCR-positive, antigen-test-positive sample was selected for whole-genome sequencing. All 11 segments were amplified using segment-specific primers and sequenced by the Sanger method. The Jeju isolate exhibited a G14-P[12]-I2-R2-C2-M3-A10-N2-T3-E2-H7 genome constellation, matching the globally prevalent ERVA genotypes. Most segments showed > 99% identity to a South African strain (SA1), while the VP4 segment showed higher similarity to a Japanese BI strain, suggesting a reassortment event. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the Jeju strain with isolates from South Africa and Ireland, but distinct from recent Japanese strains, indicating independent transmission patterns. This is the first full-genome report of ERVA from Korea. The findings confirm the presence of globally related ERVA in Korean horses and suggest complex, international transmission dynamics. Continuous molecular surveillance is essential to support effective prevention and vaccine strategies.
Uniform measurement of the salivary flow rate is crucial in diagnosing hyposalivation and hypersalivation. However, there is considerable variation in the methods used to assess salivary flow rates. This variation of collection methods makes it difficult to compare data and to set well-established threshold values for hypo- and hypersalivation. Therefore, there is a need for standardised methods to measure the salivary flow rates in a clinical setting. This study describes the Dutch consensus statement for measuring unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates in a clinical setting. This may help in the development of an international standardised protocol for the assessment of salivary flow rates in clinical settings.
To collate perspectives on preoperative educational briefing practices, and assess the impact of the Goals, Autonomy, Preparation and Strategy (GAPS) framework on perioperative education and intraoperative cognitive load. Phase 1 of this mixed-methods study was a survey to ascertain perceptions of perioperative education from surgical trainers and trainees. Phase 2 was the introduction of the GAPS framework into routine surgical practice, with quantitative and qualitative data collected pre- and postimplementation. Intraoperative subjective cognitive load was self-reported (SURG-TLX) and assessed with a linear mixed-effects model. The Phase 1 survey was disseminated to attendees at surgical education workshops and operating surgeons at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE). Phase 2 took place within the Department of Vascular Surgery, RIE. Phase 1 included 46 faculty surgeons and 46 surgical trainees from an international cohort. Phase 2 included 7 faculty vascular surgeons and 8 residents/fellows. Ninety-two surgeons completed the Phase 1 survey, demonstrating trainee vs. faculty surgeon disparity in the perceived frequency (p = 0.05) of educational briefings, and discussion surrounding trainee educational goals (p = 0.05) and operative strategy (p = 0.04). Fifteen surgeons participated in 95 (51 pre-, 44 postimplementation) procedures in Phase 2. Following GAPS implementation, significant improvements were reported in briefing frequency (p = 0.008), discussion around resident learning objectives (p = 0.004) and autonomy (p = 0.02), and intraoperative teaching quality (p = 0.01). Higher rates of satisfaction were reported with briefing structure (p = 0.02), quality (p = 0.04) and frequency (p = 0.02). Similar improvements were observed in debriefing satisfaction and content. GAPS implementation did not significantly impact SURG-TLX score (+2.66 points; 95% CI -0.62 to 5.94; p = 0.10). There is a persistent lack of alignment between trainers and residents as to the quality and frequency of educational briefing. Implementation of the GAPS framework into daily surgical practice was feasible, and resulted in measurable improvement in perioperative education, with no significant impact on cognitive load.
Dog ownership provides physical and psychological benefits; however, inappropriate handling may lead to behavioural problems, particularly owner-directed aggression, which can compromise human wellbeing. This study investigated factors associated with owner-directed aggression and evaluated the effectiveness of interventions in Thailand. A randomised, single-blind clinical trial was conducted in 80 dogs exhibiting moderate to severe owner-directed aggression (including a history of biting). Aggression was assessed using owner questionnaires and veterinary interviews. Dogs were allocated to four groups: feeding toy (TOY), fluoxetine (DRUG), combination therapy (DRUG + TOY) and control. All groups received behavioural modification guidance. Aggression scores were measured before and after four weeks using a standardised scale. Multivariable analysis indicated that human-dog interactions and management practices were significantly associated with aggression scores, whereas owner and dog demographic factors were not. Baseline aggression did not differ among groups (p ≥ 0.05). Following treatment, all groups showed significant improvement (p < 0.05), with the DRUG and DRUG + TOY groups demonstrating greater reductions than the TOY and control groups. No significant differences were observed between DRUG and DRUG + TOY or between TOY and control. Mild side effects of fluoxetine, primarily drowsiness and reduced appetite, were observed during the first week and were less frequent in the combination group. Overall, fluoxetine (0.5-1 mg/kg) was more effective in reducing owner-directed aggression than environmental enrichment and owner education alone. However, enrichment and education play a crucial role in improving dog welfare and in sustainably reducing or preventing aggression and may enhance treatment outcomes when used alongside pharmacological intervention.
Antimicrobial resistance poses a global threat to public health. Mobile microbiological laboratories can enable environmental monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in geographically remote and resource-limited locations, such as the Galápagos archipelago. Here, we report the development of a mobile laboratory for antimicrobial resistance surveillance of marine sites surrounding San Cristóbal, the archipelago's second most populated island, which has experienced rapid urbanization and intense international tourism pressure. On-site metagenomic sequencing of wastewater-contaminated marine sites reveals a stark shift in microbial genera and a higher count of antimicrobial resistance genes compared to uncontaminated marine sites, mirroring metagenomic results of local untreated sewage. Over 40% of lactose-fermenting Enterobacteriaceae isolates collected directly from sewage or marine environments near sites of wastewater outfall exhibit multidrug resistance. Long-read sequencing and de novo assembly of bacterial genomes and plasmids from multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli reveal frequent and rapid reassortment of antimicrobial resistance genes on plasmids, generating a diverse and functional resistome on the island. This study not only provides a framework for conducting antimicrobial resistance research in low-resource settings but also underscores the impact of wastewater contamination on the environmental antimicrobial resistance landscape and highlights potential threats to human and animal health.
In 2024, an outbreak of piglet diarrhea occurred in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. RT-PCR assay of clinical samples confirmed that porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) was the primary pathogen. In this study, the PDCoV GX/2024 strain was successfully isolated in PK-15 cells with optimized trypsin treatment conditions. The cytopathic effect (CPE) of this strain gradually intensified during serial passages. After plaque purification, the strain achieved stable proliferation with high titer, reaching a peak titer of 107·2 TCID50/mL, which indicated its potential as an inactivated vaccine candidate. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the strain belonged to the Chinese lineage, with nucleotide similarity ranging from 97.89% to 99.76% compared with other domestic and international strains. Analysis of the Spike protein (S protein) revealed that the strain harbored critical amino acid substitutions in the S1 domain and the S1/S2 cleavage site, which led to conformational changes in the protein surface and might be associated with viral infection efficiency. Animal experiments verified that PDCoV GX/2024 exhibited strong pathogenicity in newborn piglets. Diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms appeared within 24 h post-infection. The virus mainly colonized the epithelial cells at the tip of intestinal villi and caused severe pathological damage. This study provides important theoretical basis for the genetic evolution, pathogenic mechanism and transmission potential of PDCoV, and offers reference value for disease prevention and control as well as vaccine development.
Humic acid and probiotics are increasingly used as natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production. Humic substances have been reported to support nutrient absorption and gut health, while probiotics enhance microbial balance and immune function. This study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of humic acid and probiotics on growth performance, carcass characteristics, immune parameters, caecal bacterial populations (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Lactobacillus spp.), and the financial feasibility of broiler production. A total of 195 one-day-old Lohmann Meat (Indian River) broiler chicks were allocated in a completely randomized design with five dietary treatments and 3 replicates of 13 birds each. Dietary treatments were as follows: a basal diet (control), a basal diet with 0.05% humic acid, a basal diet with 0.10% humic acid, a basal diet with 0.02% probiotics, and a basal diet containing both 0.05% humic acid and 0.02% probiotics. Dietary inclusion of humic acid or probiotics did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) body weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio at 28 days (market age), but significant improvements were observed at 7, 14, and 21 days. However, the combined supplementation of 0.05% humic acid and 0.02% probiotics significantly improved several carcass traits (thigh, drumstick, back, wing, and liver weights), reduced caecal pathogenic bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella spp.), increased beneficial Lactobacillus spp., and enhanced immune parameters (higher lymphocyte percentage and lower white blood cell counts) compared to the control (p < 0.05). Hematological values remained within normal physiological ranges across all treatments. Economic analysis revealed that the combined supplementation group recorded the highest net present value (176.44 USD), internal rate of return (43.51%), and benefit-cost ratio (1.22), and the shortest payback period (1.93 years). Overall, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with humic acid and probiotics, particularly in combination, improved carcass traits, reduced pathogenic bacterial loads, enhanced selected immune parameters, and increased economic returns without affecting growth performance at 28 days.
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) causes porcine contagious pleuropneumonia (PCP), a highly contagious respiratory disease that inflicts substantial economic losses to the global swine industry. Given the high serotypic diversity of APP and limited cross-protective efficacy of current vaccines, novel candidates are urgently needed. In contrast to commercial APP vaccines relying on formalin-inactivated native Apx toxoids, and to experimental antigens that frequently use truncated Apx fragments or proteins refolded from insoluble inclusion bodies, this study successfully expressed full-length, soluble recombinant ApxIA and ApxIIA. These novel recombinant antigens were combined with inactivated APP serotype 1 to construct an inactivated whole-cell subunit combination vaccine, designated BAA. Its protective efficacy against multiple APP serotypes was evaluated in a porcine challenge model. The BAA vaccine showed a favorable safety profile. Compared with control and toxin-free inactivated bacterial vaccine (Bac) groups, BAA-immunized pigs exhibited significantly higher levels of specific antibodies against ApxIA, ApxIIA, and bacterial antigens. After challenge with APP serotypes 1, 3, 5, and 7, BAA-vaccinated pigs achieved survival rates of 100%, 80%, 80%, and 100%, respectively, with milder clinical signs, reduced lung lesions, and significantly lower pulmonary bacterial loads than other groups. Histopathology confirmed markedly alleviated pulmonary pathology in BAA-vaccinated pigs. These results indicate that the BAA vaccine confers robust cross-protection against heterologous APP serotypes and is a promising candidate for PCP prevention.
Tuberculosis (TB) comorbidities and multimorbidity - the presence of two or more concurrent diseases or health conditions - are major contributors to TB incidence and mortality. We investigated the prevalence and associated mortality of TB comorbidities and multimorbidity in South Africa. We conducted a prospective cohort study of adults ≥15 years with bacteriologically-confirmed pulmonary TB, nested within a trial in two provinces of South Africa. We investigated five TB key comorbidities (HIV, undernutrition, diabetes, smoking and alcohol use), and assessed all-cause mortality over 15 months using Cox regression. TB comorbidity was defined as TB with one comorbidity, and TB multimorbidity as TB with two or more comorbidities. Of 1997 participants, 1896 (95%) had mortality data available at 15 months. Median age was 38 (IQR 29-48) years, 1203/1997 (60%) were male, 86·2% (95% CI 84·6-86·6) had TB comorbidity and 47·5% (45·3-49·7) had TB multimorbidity. TB comorbidity peaked in participants aged 40-49 years (93% [90-95]), was more prevalent in men vs women (90%[88-91] vs 81%[78-84], p < 0·001), and in urban vs rural areas (88%[86-90] vs 84%[81-86], p = 0·005). Mortality was higher for participants with TB multimorbidity with two (16·0%[13·0-18·8], HR 1·88[1·20-2·95], p = 0·006) and three or more (19·9%[14·9-24·6], HR 2·58[1·56-4·24], p < 0·001) TB key comorbidities than those with no comorbidities (11·2%[7·17-15·0]) or TB comorbidity (10·6% [8·32-12·8]). The joint population attributable fraction for the TB key comorbidities on mortality was 60·0% (49·6-69·2%). TB comorbidities and multimorbidity are highly prevalent and significantly associated with mortality. People with TB should be offered screening and management of comorbidities to reduce their risk of death.
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases affecting wildlife have highlighted the need for wildlife health surveillance (WHS), given the interconnected role of wildlife in maintaining the health of natural resources, agriculture, and human populations. Although global policies and guidelines exist, a key gap remains in the implementation of WHS systems at local and national levels. A working group of local, national, and global stakeholders in WHS was established to address this gap. In this Viewpoint, we report a theory of change (ToC) developed to support implementation of WHS from local to global scales. Using established methods for developing a collaborative ToC, we leveraged our expertise and identified six transformative pathways to be implemented via collaborations across scales and contexts: mindset change, policy and investment, evidence-based practice, user-driven technologies, capacity enhancement, and mobilisation of a global community of practice. This ToC serves as a roadmap for the development of effective WHS systems that support adaptive management and implementation. WHS is fundamental to understanding the impact of health threats on biodiversity, domestic animals, and humans. This ToC also presents an approach to operationalise the integration of wildlife health into collaborative One Health surveillance systems.
This dataset presents information on the viability of cryopreserved Echinococcus multilocularis (the Nemuro strain, Alaskan lineage) stored in liquid nitrogen. Protoscoleces and cyst residues were obtained from cotton rats experimentally infected with parasite eggs in the laboratory. These materials were mixed with a sperm cryopreservation solution and frozen in liquid nitrogen for one month. The viability of the cryopreserved material was evaluated by intraperitoneal injection into cotton rats, follows by the observation of cyst and protoscolex development within the peritoneal cavity at four months post-infection. The experiment was conducted independently on three separate occasions using two E. multilocularis strains (Nemuro and European strains). In total, E. multilocularis cysts were detected in 18 of the 20 inoculated cotton rats. Furthermore, the development of protoscoleces was observed in the cysts that developed in all animals. The protoscoleces purified from the cysts formed within the peritoneal cavity of a cotton rat were administered orally to a beagle dog, and the presence of parasite eggs in the feces was monitored. Consequently, parasite eggs were detected in the feces between days 30-35 post-infection. This confirms that the protoscoleces obtained from cryopreserved material can serve as an infection source for the definitive host. The methods described in this study will allow for the simple maintenance of E. multilocularis strains with minimal animal use and reduced costs.