Volume 73 (2023): Issue 1 (March 2023)

The first outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Romania was recorded in a backyard holding in Satu Mare County in July 2017 as a result of a previous large-scale spread of the virus in wild boars and domestic pig populations in two of Romania’s neighbouring countries, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Since then, more than 1.3 million domestic pigs have been infected in more than 5600 backyard holdings and commercial farms all over Romania where stamping out procedures have been performed afterwards. The spread of the disease could not be contained despite the contingency plans developed by the authorities based on the current EU and Romanian legislation, and currently, the entire territory of Romania is considered to be affected, leading to a significant decline of the pig inventory and major damages in the commercial farming system. Consequently, the amounts of pork imported from other EU member states have increased yearly, pig meat becoming the main commodity on the list of agricultural goods purchased by Romania. 2021 has been by far the worst year for Romanian pig meat production, generating the highest financial losses mainly due to the inability of authorities and policymakers to implement effective and efficient disease control measures.

Viral individual genes functions and their role in the interaction with the host cells remain the main area in the study of African swine fever virus (ASFV) biology. The extreme heterogeneity of the ASFV makes it difficult to develop vaccines against this pathogen. In this work, we generated the ASFV deletion mutant virus Volgograd/D(1L-5-6L) with the six genes deletion in multigenic family 110 (MGF110) (1L-5-6L) and studied its characteristics in vitro. The homologous recombination method was used for the deletion in ASFV parental strain Volgograd/14с. A series of six passages was carried out in the COS-1 cell culture using the limiting dilution method. The recombinant strain Volgograd/D(1L-5-6L) MGF110 was selected by the plaque formation method. Performed study of viral replication showed no changes in viral growth kinetics in comparison with the parental strain. The ASFV Volgograd/D(1L-5-6L) MGF110 is a great tool available to test the importance of MGF110 for virus virulence and vaccine development.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) infections occur commonly in cats, with entrocyte and monocyte-macrophage tropism. Most FCoV-infected cats remain asymp tomatic, but up to 10% develop fatal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This study aims to investigate the diagnostic utility of clinical and laboratory examinations including serum and effusion AGP levels in cats either with symptomatic effusive FIP or asymptomatic feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). The study included 40 cats with effusive FIP and 10 cats with FECV infection. The FIP group was divided into two subgroups: abdominal (AE; n=30) and thoracic effusion (TE; n=10). Clinical and laboratory examinations, including serum or effusion AGP measurement, were performed. Among all the groups, TE group had higher body temperature, heart and respiratory rates (P<0.000). Compared with the FECV group, the FIP group had lower pH and HCO₃ levels and higher base excess and lactate levels (P<0.05). The leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were higher and the hematocrit was lower in the AE group among all the groups (P<0.023). MCV was lower in the FIP group compared to the FECV group (P<0.002). In the AE group, total protein level was the lowest and the AST, GGT, total bilirubin and cholesterol levels were the highest (P<0.032) among all the groups. Magnesium level was lower in the FIP group compared to the FECV group (P<0.044). Although the serum AGP level was highest in the TE group among all groups (P<0.004), the AGP levels of cats with FECV were similar to the AE group (P>0.05). Since FECV-positive cats will likely develop FIP, differences in clinical and laboratory findings in FECV-positive cats were identified. Among them, pH, HCO3, base excess, lactate, MCV and magnesium were found to be important in the course of the disease, and AGP in the evaluation of the presence of an inflammatory state. It was concluded that clinical, laboratory and serum AGP evaluation could be used in the index of suspicion of development of FIP and FECV.

Intestinal parasites of dogs and cats may affect their health with a significant zoonotic risk to public health. Therefore, establishing an efficient control program should pass through the determination of the diversity, prevalence, and pathogenicity of those parasites. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats and proceed to infection comparisons between young and adult animals. The detection of parasites in fecal samples was determined using flotation and immunofluorescent methods across 320 dogs and 64 cats from the Kvarner region in Croatia. The prevalence was calculated for each detected parasite in its host. Differences in prevalence between young animals and adults were analyzed. Parasites were detected in 32 dogs and 34.4% of cats. In total, 12 different genera were detected; Giardia spp. was the most prevalent parasite in both species, infecting 24.7% and 18.8% of investigated dogs and cats, respectively. Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxocara cati had a prevalence of (18.4%) and (6.3%), respectively. Prevalences of Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Cystoisospora spp. were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in puppies compared to adult dogs. Pentatrichomonas hominis (P. hominis) was detected in one puppy. In addition to the first report of P. hominis, a relatively high prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats in the Kvarner region of Croatia was recorded, posing a potential zoonotic risk.

Numerous studies are based on the use of animal models; however, in bipedal and tetrapedal organisms there are significant differences in the biomechanics of the spinal column, which can significantly impair the quality and applicability of the results obtained. The aim of this study is to obtain basic data on the morphometric parameters of guinea pig lumbar vertebrae, the analysis of which will indicate the location of the biggest mechanical load. The lumbar vertebra morphometry test was performed by means of X-ray imageing obtained from 12 guinea pigs, with equal numbers of males and females. The results of investigations show that guinea pig lumbar vertebrae have an irregular trapezoid geometry and that the measured body lengths of L4 and L5 are the largest. The height parameters determined in the medial level showed that L4 had the most concave body. Moreover, L4 had the greatest depth of the spinal canal at the same measurement level. Consequently, in guinea pigs, the greatest load is in the L4 region, unlike in humans, where, due to the axial load of the spinal column, the highest pressure is exerted on the last lumbar vertebrae.

Ruminant husbandry contributes to global methane (CH₄) emissions and beside its negative impact on the environment, enteric CH₄ emissions cause a loss of gross energy intake in cows. The study is aimed to estimate CH₄ emission and metabolic status in dairy cows via the methane concentration profile as a tool for analyzing the CH4 production pattern. The study included eighteen cows whose enteric CH₄ emission was measured during three consecutive days in three periods: 2 hours before (P1), 2–4 hours (P2) and 6–8 hours (P3) after the morning feeding. Based on CH₄ enteric emissions, cows were divided into two groups (n=6, respectively): HM (average CH₄ concentration: 5430.08 ± 365.92 ppm) and LM (average CH₄ concentration: 1351.85 ± 205.20 ppm). Following CH₄ measurement, on day 3, venous blood was sampled to determine the indicators of the metabolic status. HM cows had significantly higher average CH₄ concentrations, maximum and average CH4 peak amplitude than LM cows in all measuring periods (P1-P3), while the number of CH₄ peaks tended to be higher in HM than in LM cows in P2. There were no differences in the maximum and average CH₄ peak width and average distance among two CH4 peaks between examined groups of cows. HM cows had significantly higher total protein concentrations and significantly lower total bilirubin and NEFA concentrations than LM cows. In conclusion, HM cows have a greater number of eructations and release more CH₄ per eructation than LM cows, hence the differences in metabolic status are most likely related to the differences in their liver function.

The effects of stress on processes in the body are becoming an increasingly relevant research subject. The reproductive ability of bovine animals largely depends on these effects, whilst embryo transfer is increasingly being used as a reproduction method. In this study, we established the differences in the implantation ability of heifers that were treated (N=17) with selenium (Se) and vitamins AD₃E, and non-treated heifers. Upon transfer, we took blood samples from both groups and used the total antioxidant status (TAS) value to analyze the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and the levels of vitamin E and Se in blood plasma. In the study, we were able to demonstrate that preventive measures in the form of supplementation of vitamin E and Se, mitigate the effects of oxidative stress, strengthen the ability of an organism to improve the dynamic relationship between free radicals and antioxidants, improve the energy status of cattle, positively impact reproductive parameters and increase the success rate of embryo transfer. The difference in the number of successful embryo implantations between the control and treated group was statistically significant, with 64.7% of treated heifers being pregnant after embryo transfer and giving birth to healthy calves. In the control group, the implantation success rate was 41.2%. The supplementation of antioxidants in the form of a combination of vitamin AD₃E and Se, proved to be a good method for strengthening the defense of an organism and an effective mean of preventive clinical approach for improving fertility parameters.

In this study, penicillin, oxacillin, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) resistance in S. aureus strains that were isolated from bovine mastitis cases, and human patients were investigated. Inducible clindamycin resistance (iML) was not found in 30 bovine isolates, while it was detected in 3 (10%) of 30 human isolates. MIC₉₀ values of penicillin, oxacillin and macrolide-lincosamides (ML) were 2, 0.19, >256 µg/ml in bovine isolates and were 3, 3 and 0.19-1.5 µg/ml in human isolates, respectively. Streptogramin resistance was not found in both bovine and human isolates. Although the mecA gene was detected in all of the oxacillin resistant isolates, blaZ gene could not be detected in penicillin resistant isolates. The erm(B) gene was detected in 5 (38.6%) of 13 ML-resistant bovine isolates, and the mph(C) gene was detected in 2 (66.66%) of 3 human isolates. As a result, resistance to penicillin and oxacillin was found to be higher in human S. aureus isolates, while ML resistance was found to be higher in bovine isolates in this investigation. It was concluded that the presence of genes in extra-chromosomal elements associated to penicillin and macrolide resistance should be investigated. The data obtained from this study will contribute to the studies on antimicrobial susceptibility in the field of human and veterinary medicine.

Intake of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) benefits human and animal health. Our study aimed to analyze the long-chain n-3 PUFA content of two types of food and their effect on plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids of Belgian Shepherd dogs. A total of 10 dogs were fed commercial granulated food (Food 1), and another 10 were provided commercial Premium granulated food of high quality (Food 2). All the analyses were performed using gas-liquid chromatography. Our results showed that Food 1 contained more n-3 PUFA than Food 2, which was reflected in higher n-3 PUFA in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids. Because long-chain n-3 PUFA in phospholipids are precursors for antioxidative molecules, further studies should investigate the effects of the analyzed commercial granulated food rich in n-3 on oxidative stress parameters in dogs.

Fowl adenovirus infections have a significant economic impact, especially in the production of broilers. It is considered the leading cause of three syndromes: adenoviral gizzard erosions and ulcerations, inclusion body hepatitis, and hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome. A critical feature of this virus is its immunosuppressive effect, via suppressing humoral and cellular immunity.

In this study, we examined the humoral immune response after administration of the Newcastle disease vaccine in broiler flocks with previously confirmed seroconversion against Fowl adenovirus. The study was conducted on 5 farms. A total of 220 chickens, five weeks of age, showing no clinical signs of the disease, were included in this study. The control group consisted of 20 chickens from a negative farm. Chickens were vaccinated with commercially available live NDV vaccines between 11 and 13 days of life. ELISA determined the presence of specific antibodies against FAdV in a total of 130/200 (65%) blood sera. Depending on the farm, seroprevalence ranged from 30-100%. The presence of specific antibodies against NDV was determined three weeks after vaccination using the hemagglutination inhibition assay. A positive hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer (≥ 16) was found in 41/200 (20.5%) sera, which was significantly less compared to the control farm, where a positive HI titer was found in 20/20 (100%) sera.

The results of our study indicate the immunosuppressive effect of FAdV in subclinically infected birds and highlight the need for its diagnosis, prevention, and control.

Feline nasal lymphoma is generally a localized radiosensitive tumor. Treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of both modalities. Radiation therapy (RT) in a combination with chemotherapy lead to median survival from 19 months to 955 days. The objective of this paper is to report a case of a large cell late stage invasive feline nasal lymphoma and to evaluate the results of orthovoltage radiation therapy and its side effects. A 12-year-old female mixed breed cat was presented with nasal discharge, sneezing and hyporexia. Definitive histopathology diagnosis was diffuse large cell lymphoma. Computed tomography revealed an advanced stage of the disease, an intranasal mass, bone lysis, invasion of the orbital space and central nervous system. A radical course of X-ray therapy was performed (SFD = 4 Gy, TSD = 40 Gy, 10 sessions, 3 times a week). Radiation side effects were well tolerated and resolved with supportive treatment. Lymphoma is a systemic process and requires a multidisciplinary approach. On most cases, the penetrating ability of radiation therapy of 3.5 cm in depth is enough for small domestic animals. A significant effect is noted in the middle of the treatment course. The fractionated regime did not cause early radiation damage. The relapse-free period was up to 8 months. The patient had a satisfying quality of life for 5 months. Orthovoltage X-ray therapy can be considered as a treatment choice for local nasal lymphoma. X-ray therapy is a widely used modality in veterinary medicine considering the price of machines and costs of treatment.