The prevalence of cancer in companion dogs is growing nowadays with the increasing worldwide population of domestic dogs. Since there is a less established standard of care in veterinary medicine, investigational treatments, such as the development of biomarkers can be considered as a therapeutic intervention for early diagnosis. Despite the enormous efforts that have been invested in the search of biomarkers, still, there is a need for easy detection of significant biological markers for predicting canine cancers at an early stage. In this study, we have analyzed the expression pattern of previously reported 46 canine cancer-associated candidate genes in blood specimens using real-time qPCR. We hypothesized that analysis of gene expression in blood would provide preliminary evidence of local or systemic immunogenic response which further contribute to the easy and early diagnosis of canine cancer from blood specimen as an analytical tool. The datasets included a total of 22 blood samples collected from different breeds of dogs diagnosed with cancer and five from healthy normal dogs. RT-qPCR analysis was performed by employing the SYBR Green PCR mix to assess the expression of these 46 genes in a total of 27 samples. From our result, a total of nine genes (ROS1, C1QA, CD48, IL1b, TLR2, IL2R, CHI3L1, CTSS, and TLR7) were found to be significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) in the cancer samples compared to non-cancer samples. The relative expression level of ROS1, C1QA, CD48, IL1b, TLR2, IL2R, CHI3L1, CTSS, and TLR7 genes was 5.74, 4.78, 3.94, 2.94, 2.57, 2.53, 2.50, 2.04, and 2.57, respectively, in cancer samples compared to non-cancer samples. Thus, our results reveal several highly expressed cancer genes that can be therapeutic target genes for further testing in canine cancers.
Long-term non-surgical contraceptive methods for cats, especially community cats, are of global interest for cost-effective and humane reasons. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-based vaccine for immunocontraception and to confirm its safety in intact female cats. Recombinant Salmonella typhimurium flagellin fljB (STF2)-GnRH protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. We divided female cats into vehicle control group (n = 4) and two experimental groups (100 μg injection group [n = 7] and 1000 μg injection group [n=7]), and immunized them twice intramuscularly (0.2 mL/cat at zero week and 4 weeks later into the other leg). Breeding trials started on day 120. All control cats (n = 4/4), 71% of the 100 μg injection group (n = 5/7), and 57% of the 1000 μg injection group (n = 4/7) became pregnant within 203 days after the introduction of male cats. The 1000 μg injection group had significantly a longer median time to conception following treatment (166 days) than the control (17 days, p < 0.05). Average litter size was significantly lower in the 1000 μg GnRH-vaccinated cats (2.8 ± 0.7) than in the control cats (4.5 ± 0.5, p < 0.05). Injection site reactions were not observed in any cat. The E. coli-expressed STF2-GnRH vaccine did not provide contraception in a sufficient proportion of the cats. However, it might be effective to suppress fertility through infertility vaccines before inducing permanent infertility through the trap-neuter-return.
Vaccinations, surveillance, quarantine, and disposal of the infected poultry are the common strategies for prevention and control of the highly infectious poultry diseases; however, many pathogens still persist and are potential causes threatening the nationwide spread of poultry diseases. A strict biosecurity strategy including disinfection is the key to control the spread of avian pathogens, such as the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). It is important to select and use the disinfectants whose efficacy and the effective concentrations against the specific pathogens are known. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the virucidal efficacy of five active substances of commercial disinfectants, namely potassium peroxymonosulfate (PPMS), sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), glutaraldehyde (GLT), benzalkonium chloride (BZK), and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), that are used against NDV. Further, we validated the efficacy of eight pre-approved disinfectants. The minimal virucidal concentrations of the active substances against NDV were as follows: PPMS, 2.50 g/L; NaDCC, 2.00 g/L; GLT, 0.40 g/L; BZK, 2.00 g/L, and DDAC, 1.00 g/L. Furthermore, all the eight disinfectants were found to be effective against NDV at the recommended concentrations, thereby confirming that the active substances are functional against NDV. This is the first study reporting the virucidal activity of the active substances of commercial disinfectants against NDV, in accordance with the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency guidelines, in South Korea. The results of the virucidal efficacy testing of chemical disinfectants from this study will help poultry industries implement improved strategies for controlling infection.
Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii (Tg), is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide. Currently, safe and efficient therapeutic options for this disease are still being developed, and are urgently needed. Agrimonia pilosa (A. pilosa) is a rosaceous plant, and widely distributed in Asia. The bioactive compounds in A. pilosa Ledeb include flavonoid, triterpenoids, and isocoumarin, and have been reported to show many pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities.The aim of this study was to determine Anti-protozoal efficacy of Agrimonia pilosa ethanol extract (APE) against Toxoplasma gondii (Tg). In this study, APE was examined and screened for anti-Tg activity. Seventy percent ethanol was used for herbal extraction. For anti-Tg activity screening, in vitro study with APE using tachyzoit of Tg RH strain infected HeLa cells were performed. Also, in vivo anti- Tg study using the mouse infection model was conducted. As the results, the selectivity of APE was 3.35, which was higher than Sulfadiazine selectivity (2.08). Also, we performed in vivo animal study to evaluate the anti-Tg activity of APE with mouse model. As the results, Anti-toxoplasma activity of the APE was as high as sulfadiazine. These results demonstrate that it can be successfully cured against Tg infection with APE. It could be a promising native herb treatment for the prevention of Tg infection.
Skin protects the body by mediating various immune responses against exogenous substances including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, in addition to its predominant role as a physical barrier. Despite the significant protection offered via various mechanisms, bacterial infection of the skin is one of the most common skin diseases in veterinary medicine. This study demonstrated the structural and immunological changes in the skin during infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius using skin explants from four healthy beagles. Skin structure was generally well preserved in uninfected controls, but defects in skin structure, including injury of keratinocytes and dermal–epidermal junctional disruption, were identified when skin explants were exposed to P. aeruginosa and S. pseudintermedius. On exposure to P. aeruginosa, marked linear cleft formation was noted along with acantholysis along the basal layer after 24 hours of culture. In addition to the defects in the skin structure, mRNA expression levels of the AMPs cBD103 and S100A8 were decreased, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Taken together, these results suggest that our ex vivo canine skin model is a research tool for investigating bacterial skin infections in dogs.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative change in the joint that causes damage to the articular cartilage, resulting in overexpression of inflammatory cytokine in the damaged chondrocytes, which leads to damage to the articular cartilage and is completely treated with antibiotics. We recovered the damage to the articular cartilage caused by osteoarthritis and investigated the effect of a low-molecular-weight collagen-based functional material without side effects. In this study, we investigated the ameliorative effects of YB in a monosodium idoacetate(MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rats. The experimental groups were divided with 5groups (n = 12) of SD rat: normal control(NC), MIA, MIA+L. plantarum (3×1011 CFU/ml), MIA+collagen and MIA+YB-21. Histological examinations indicated that YB-21 cartilage structure change, cartilage cell damage, and the loss of proteoglycan induced by MIA. Moreover, YB-21 reduced serum level expressions of, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), Interleukin6(IL-6), Interleukin1β(IL-1 β), Matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1(TIMP-1). These results suggest that YB has a positive effect on osteoarthritis by restoring joint cartilage and anti-inflammatory effects due to the reaction of osteoarthritis in the MIA-induced rat.
Inaccurate amounts of active ingredients in disinfectants can result in inefficiency or in potential toxicity to the environment and living organisms. This may lead to disinfection failure, and consequently, biosecurity failure. To ensure the efficiency of disinfectants and their ongoing compliance with safety and quality requirements, continuous and systematic post-market surveillance studies are needed. Herein, the content of ten commercial disinfectants purchased in 2021 was analyzed. Selective analytical techniques, such as automated titration, colorimetry, and high-performance liquid chromatography, were used to evaluate the content of several active ingredients present in disinfectants, such as potassium peroxymonosulfate, benzalkonium chloride, glutaraldehyde, phosphoric acid, citric acid, and malic acid. The obtained values were then compared with the label claims; the active ingredient contents of all disinfectants were within the acceptable range of 90–120% of the label claim.
In Korea livestock farms breeding cattle have been suffering from re-emerging problems of Brucella (B.) abortus infection while steady decline of bovine brucellosis. Therefore, this study underscored the identification and association of etiological agent of brucellosis in cattle in South Korea. The incidence of brucellosis in cattle was analyzed by bacteriological and molecular methods in 187 brucellosis-suspicious farms of 11 regions between 2018 and 2020. Brucella isolates from various specimens were identified by Brucella-specific multiplex PCR. Epidemiological data were collected by local official veterinarians through history taking from farmers and animal data systems. In 230 of 560 cattle (40.9%) and 94 of 187 farms (50.3%), a total of 313 B. abortus were isolated from various specimens, the majority of isolates were from supramammary lymph node (41%). In epidemiological findings, the majority of positive cases were mainly caused by resurgence (43.7%) and unknown (37.2%). Of 94 positive cases isolated B. abortus, abortion in cattle infected by B. abortus occurred in 51 farms (54.3%) where led to resurgence in 30 farms and environmental survival of B. abortus in 9 farms. Consequently, these findings revealed the existence of etiological agent of bovine brucellosis in Korea, which still occurred at low levels in distinct regions where are allowed to call for persistent biosecurity. Thus, we highlight that brucellosis in Korea needs to take more effective control strategies with potential evidence. Moreover it is ultimately important to maintain a constant monitoring for eradication of brucellosis.