Leinster Leader

Injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) has been explored for its regenerative potential, but its application in tendon healing remains unstudied. Autologous conditioned serum (ACS), commonly used in joint therapies, inhibits interleukin 1-mediated inflammation, though its role in tendon healing is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefits of I-PRF alone and in combination with ACS in tendon healing. Twenty-three donkeys with forelimb superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis were examined at admission (T0) and randomly assigned to PRF/ACS treated group (n = 10), PRF group (n = 7), or included as a control group (n = 6). Among clinical parameters, tendon shape and weight-bearing scores at T150 were significantly improved (P < 0.001) in the PRF/ACS group compared to the control group. Regardless of the tendon cross-sectional area (T-CSA), all other ultrasonographic parameters showed significant improvement in the PRF/ACS group compared to the control group. T-CSA increased throughout the study in PRF group but significantly decreased at T150 in control and PRF/ACS groups. The combination therapy had a significant improvement in fiber alignment score (FAS) and T-CSA compared to PRF group. Early lesion resolution in PRF/ACS at T90 and later in PRF at T150 suggests superior healing in PRF/ACS group. Persistent increase in T-CSA in the PRF group indicates ongoing healing, while its reduction in the PRF/ACS groups reflects more progressed healing stages and superior outcomes. Conversely, the presence of hyperechoic dots and misaligned tendon fibers in the control group suggests inferior healing outcomes. Intralesional I-PRF combined with ACS significantly enhanced clinical and ultrasonographic healing characteristics in donkeys with SDF tendonitis.

Irish Veterinary Journal

Clinical benefits of early-stage autologous conditioned serum and injectable platelet-rich fibrin on healing superficial digital flexor tendonitis in donkeys ↗

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Outdoor farming offers pigs considerable behavioural freedom and better consumer acceptance than intensive, indoor systems. However, gastro – intestinal (GI) parasites pose a significant health and welfare challenge for pigs reared outdoors. The aim of this study was to ascertain effects of management, season and animal factors such as age, on a range of different GI parasites in Irish pigs farmed outdoors. Sixty-five pig faecal samples (a mix from at least 2–4 animals per paddock) were collected from 65 paddocks across 20 outdoor pig farms, over two visits (1st visit – February/May-December 2023, n = 37, 2nd visit– July/October 2023, n = 28). Samples were collected and mixed thoroughly to achieve a paddock level sample. Data were also collected related to pig characteristics (grower/fatteners or sows and boars), anthelmintic usage (Yes/No) and paddock rotation (Yes/No) and categorized at paddock level. Samples were analysed using the McMaster floatation method, faecal egg count (FEC) was calculated, and GI parasites were identified by morphology. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyse the effect of season, age, anthelmintic usage and paddock rotation on FEC. Four parasite taxa were identified (Eimeria/Isospora spp., strongyles, Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis). Infection rates were > 80% for Eimeria/Isospora spp. and strongyles, 31% for A. suum and 9% for T. suis for both visits. Eimeria/Isospora spp. FEC was higher at the 2nd visit (P < 0.001) and strongyles FEC was higher at the 1st visit (P < 0.05). Fattener pigs had higher FEC for Eimeria/Isospora spp. (P < 0.01) and sows/boars had higher strongyle counts (P < 0.05). Strongyle count was lower with anthelmintic use (P < 0.05) and Eimeria/Isospora spp. count was lower (P = 0.05) with paddock rotation when anthelmintics were used. Lower winter temperatures may have influenced the seasonal variation in strongyle FEC. This study provides a comprehensive picture of GI parasites in outdoor pig farms in Ireland in terms of the taxa, their prevalence and risk factors.

Irish Veterinary Journal

Effects of season, age and parasite management practices on gastro – intestinal parasites in pigs kept outdoors in Ireland ↗

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Irish Veterinary Journal

Single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene expression and evaluation of immunological, antioxidant, and pathological parameters associated with bacterial pneumonia in Barki sheep ↗

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Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), a condition triggered by bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), is recognized globally as a prevalent pathogen among ruminants and markedly affects the economics of animal husbandry. MicroRNAs, a class of small noncoding RNAs, play pivotal roles in regulating a myriad of biological processes.The ATG7-LC3 pathway, a canonical autophagy mechanism, is integral in defending against pathogenic invasion and maintaining cellular homeostasis. In this study, we observed significant downregulation of bta-miR-221 in cells infected with BVDV. We further established that overexpression of bta-miR-221 markedly attenuated BVDV replication in Madin‒Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. Through bioinformatics prediction analysis, we identified ATG7, an autophagy-related gene, as a direct downstream target of bta-miR-221. However, the intricate relationships among bta-miR-221, the ATG7-LC3 pathway, and BVDV infection remained unclear. Our study revealed that ATG7 expression was significantly elevated in BVDV-infected cells, whereas bta-miR-221 mimics repressed both endogenous and exogenous ATG7 expression. Following BVDV infection, we noted a decrease in LC3I expression, its conversion to LC3II, a significant increase in ATG7 expression, and a notable decrease in SQSTM1/p62 expression. By employing laser confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation assays, we elucidated the regulation of the ATG7-LC3 pathway by bta-miR-221 in MDBK cells. Our findings recealed that BVDV infection enhanced the ATG7-LC3 interaction, inducing autophagy through the suppression of bta-miR-221 in MDBK cells. Consequently, bta-miR-221 emerged as a potent inhibitor of BVDV, impacting its proliferation and replication within the host. This research sheds light on novel aspects of virus-host interactions and lays a foundation for the development of antiviral therapeutics.

Irish Veterinary Journal

Reduction of microRNA-221 in BVDV infection enhances viral replication by targeting the ATG7-mediated autophagy pathway ↗

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Between October 2018 and December 2020, an opportunistic collection of tissues from 218 foxes was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) in this species. A pooled sample of lymph nodes, lung and other tissues from each fox, was cultured for the presence of M. bovis. The organism was not isolated from any fox samples, but non-tuberculous mycobacteria were recovered from 20 foxes. These results suggest that it is unlikely that foxes represent a significant wildlife source of M. bovis in Ireland.

Irish Veterinary Journal

A survey of Irish red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to establish the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis ↗

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Dairy cows commonly experience a negative energy balance (NEB) during early lactation as energy demands for maintenance and milk production exceed intake. Although most cows metabolically adapt to NEB and avoid ketosis, those that fail to adapt develop ketosis, which disrupts metabolism and reduces productivity. Haematological and serum biochemical parameters are crucial for understanding these metabolic disruptions. However, limited research has examined how these parameters change from calving to ketosis onset. This study aimed to investigate these changes, identify parameters associated with ketosis classification, and evaluate their implications for dairy cow health. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of Holstein cows and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) was tested once every three days during the postpartum period (8 times in 21 days). Cows were categorised into three groups based on their highest BHBA concentration: non-ketosis (NK; BHBA < 1.2 mmol/L; n = 75), subclinical ketosis (SCK; BHBA ≥ 1.2 mmol/L and < 3.0 mmol/L; n = 46), and clinical ketosis (CK; BHBA ≥ 3.0 mmol/L; n = 35). The NK group had the highest red blood cell and monocyte counts, red cell distribution width, and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations. However, this group had the lowest mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), and total bilirubin concentrations on the day of calving and at ketosis onset, followed by the SCK and CK groups (p < 0.05). In the NK group, counts of neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils, along with NEFA and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations, decreased from the day of calving to ketosis onset. Conversely, ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST), and magnesium concentrations increased in the SCK and CK groups (p < 0.05). The NK group had the most pronounced changes in glucose, triglyceride, and magnesium and the lowest BHBA, LDH, and AST concentrations, followed by the SCK and CK groups (p < 0.05). This study identified key haematological and serum biochemical changes associated with ketosis classification in dairy cows, highlighting metabolic adaptations in the NK group that mitigate ketosis risk and metabolic dysfunctions in the SCK and CK groups that develop ketosis. These findings provide practical markers for early detection and management of ketosis, supporting improved dairy cow health and productivity.

Irish Veterinary Journal

Changes in haematological and serum biochemical parameter concentrations from the day of calving to ketosis onset in Holstein dairy cows during the postpartum period ↗

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Foals commonly experience diarrhoea in the first weeks of life. Although this condition is rarely life-threatening, it can have significant health consequences. This study investigated whether new-born foals can benefit from a dietary supplement of nucleotides, as already demonstrated in other species. Dietary nucleotides have positive effects on rapidly proliferating tissues and are considered “semi-essential nutrients” since cells have only a limited capacity to synthesize these compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate whether providing foals with a dietary nucleotide supplementation, in the form of an oral paste, was able to affect diarrhoea incidence, systemic immunity, intestinal microbiota and volatile fatty acid production. Thirty new-born standardbred foals, from 3 different premises within the same area, were equally distributed between two groups: one group received an oral paste containing dietary nucleotides (NUCL group), while the other received a placebo paste (CTRL group). Faecal and blood samples were collected on days 1 and 35 after birth. No statistical differences in cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12) or faecal calprotectin levels were found between the two groups, suggesting that the level of nucleotide supplementation used in this study did not have significant effects on the systemic immune system and on the levels of faecal calprotectin. However, the NUCL group showed a lower relative frequency of number of days with diarrhoea (6.12% vs 13.33%; p < 0.001) and greater weight gain compared with the CTRL group (50.3 ± 5.65 kg vs 44.0 ± 8.65 kg; p < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acids, branched volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, succinic acid and iso-butyric acids in faecal samples were all higher in the NUCL group compared with the CTRL group. This outcome may explain an earlier establishment of a gut microbiota in the foals of the NUCL group that was closer to that typical of an adult horse, characterised by predominant fibrolytic populations. Volatile fatty acid production (especially butyric acid) has also been shown to correlate with the intestinal well-being of the horse, supporting the use of dietary nucleotide supplements for improved health and well-being in new-born foals. Although we noted no clear differences in the faecal microbial communities between the two groups, dietary nucleotide supplementation did appear to have a positive clinical outcome, reducing the number of days of diarrhoea and increasing the levels of volatile fatty acids.

Irish Veterinary Journal

Dietary supplementation of new-born foals with free nucleotides positively affects neonatal diarrhoea management ↗

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Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is a Cervidae species endemic to Southeast China and Taiwan. However, research on different anesthetic protocols, their effects, and their safety in Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is limited. This study evaluated the effects of ketamine-xylazine (KX) and alfaxalone-xylazine (AX) administered via blow darts to nine muntjacs. Induction and recovery times as well as the quality were assessed by a blinded observer. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were recorded for at least 30 min. Tolazoline (4 mg/kg) was used post-procedure to reverse xylazine’s effects. The mean doses were 4.68 ± 2.18 mg/kg for ketamine and 3.22 ± 1.33 mg/kg for xylazine in the KX group. In the AX group, the mean doses were 4.38 ± 0.31 mg/kg for alfaxalone and 1.19 ± 0.26 mg/kg for xylazine. The median induction times were 339.5 s (range 180.0-375.0) for KX and 125.0 s (range 71.0–334.0) for AX, with both groups scoring 3.0 for induction quality. The recovery times were 507.5 s (range 266.0–1081.0) for KX and 243.0 s (range 92.0–480.0) for AX, with recovery scores of 2.3 and 3.0, respectively, showing no significant difference. Hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) was more severe in the KX group when compared to the AX group (SpO2 > 92%), and rectal temperatures were higher in the former during the first 15 min. Heart and respiratory rates showed no significant differences between groups. Our findings demonstrate that both anesthetic combinations achieve reliable induction and satisfactory recovery in Formosan Reeve’s muntjac, with the ketamine-xylazine combination causing a more profound hypoxemia post-induction compared to the alfaxalone-xylazine combination.

Irish Veterinary Journal

Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus) ↗

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