The prevalence of Schistosoma mekongi in humans in the Lao People\'s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has been relatively well monitored and has decreased due to effective interventions such as preventative chemotherapy with mass drug administration of praziquantel and community awareness programs. However, the prevalence among potential domestic reservoir animals remains broadly unclear, except for a few villages in the endemic area. Therefore, we conducted S. mekongi surveys for the domestic animals that had contact with Mekong River water. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the domestic animals in the seven sentinel villages in the Khong and Mounlapamok Districts of Champasak Province in southern Lao PDR in 2018 by random sampling with a statistically reliable sample size. Stool samples of the five predominant domestic animal species, cattle (n = 160), pig (n = 154), buffalo (n = 149), dog (n = 143), and goat (n = 85), were collected and examined using parasitological FECT method and the LAMP technique. The microscopic analysis did not detect any eggs of S. mekongi in the stool samples of any animal species. However, S. mekongi DNA was detected by the LAMP test in dog stool samples (0.7%; 1/143). On the other hand, the prevalence of other helminths was quite high and heterogeneous among animal species and sentinel sites by the microscopic analysis. These findings suggested that an intervention for S. mekongi infection should focus solely on human populations. However, periodic surveillance for S. mekongi infection among dogs should be conducted to monitor a possible resurgence of S. mekongi infection in the domestic animal population.

UNASSIGNED: Domestic and wild animals are important reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to isolate Escherichia coli from feces of domestic and wild animals at an agricultural land interface area of Salaphra Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, and study the phylogenic characteristics and antibiotic resistance in these isolates.
UNASSIGNED: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, we randomly collected ground feces from free-ranging wild animals (deer and elephants) and domestic animals (cattle and goats). All fecal samples were inoculated onto MacConkey agar plates, and lactose-fermenting colonies were identified as E. coli. Antibiotic susceptibility of the E. coli isolates was determined using the disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction assays were used to detect antibiotic resistance and virulence genes.
UNASSIGNED: We obtained 362 E. coli isolates from the collected fecal samples. The E. coli isolates were categorized into four phylogenetic groups according to the virulence genes (chuA, vjaA, and TspE4C2). Phylogenetic Group D was predominant in the deer (41.67%) and elephants (63.29%), whereas phylogenetic Group B1 was predominant in the cattle (62.31%), and phylogenetic Groups A (36.36%) and B2 (33.33%) were predominant in the goats. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that most antibiotic-resistant E. coli were isolated from domestic goats (96.96%). Among the 362 E. coli isolates, 38 (10.5%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, 21 (5.8%) were resistant to two antibiotics, and 6 (1.66%) were resistant to three or more antibiotics. Ampicillin (AMP) was the most common antibiotic (48.48%) to which the E. coli were resistant, followed by tetracycline (TET) (45.45%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (3.03%). One isolate from an elephant was resistant to five antibiotics: AMP, amoxicillin, sulfisoxazole, TET, and ciprofloxacin. Determination of antibiotic resistance genes confirmed that E. coli isolates carried antibiotic resistance genes associated with phenotypic resistance to antibiotics. Most antibiotic-resistant E. coli belonged to phylogenic Groups A and B1, and most non-resistant E. coli belonged to phylogenic Groups B2 and D.
UNASSIGNED: Monitoring E. coli isolates from wild and domestic animals showed that all four phylogenic groups of E. coli have developed antibiotic resistance and are potential sources of multidrug resistance. High levels of antibiotic resistance have been linked to domestic animals. Our results support strengthening surveillance to monitor the emergence and effects of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in animals.

In tandem with the fast expansion of the pet-economy industry, the present aging research has been noticing the function of probiotics in extending the healthy lifetime of domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to understand the bacterial compositions of canine feces and isolating lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as commensal LAB as novel potential probiotics for the use of antiaging using Caenorhabditis elegans surrogate animal model. Under an anaerobic, culturomic, and metagenomic analysis, a total of 305 commensal LAB were isolated from diverse domestic dogs, and four strains, Lactobacillus amylolyticus, L. salivarius, Enterococcus hirae, and E. faecium, made prominence as commensal LAB by enhancing C. elegans life span and restored neuronal degeneration induced by aging by upregulating skn-1, ser-7, and odr-3, 7, 10. Importantly, whole transcriptome results and integrative network analysis revealed extensive mRNA encoding protein domains and functional pathways of naturally aging C. elegans were examined and we built the gene informatics basis. Taken together, our findings proposed that a specific gene network corresponding to the pathways differentially expressed during the aging and selected commensal LAB as potential probiotic strains could be provided beneficial effects in the aging of domestic animals by modulating the dynamics of gut microbiota.
In tandem with the fast expansion of the pet-economy industry, the present aging research has been noticing the function of probiotics in extending the healthy lifetime of domestic animals. In this study, collaborating with understanding the characteristics of gut microbiome from canine feces by multiomics approaches including culturomics, metagenomics, and transcriptomics, we isolate and identify commensal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as novel potential probiotics for the use of antiaging using Caenorhabditis elegans surrogate animal model and multiomics analysis. The selected commensal LAB could be provided beneficial effects in the aging of domestic animals by modulating the dynamics of gut microbiome and applied in the future companion animal market by clarifying their purpose and function.

An approximately 12-year-old, 31 kg, male neutered Labrador Retriever was presented to the referring hospital with an acute onset (less than 1 day) of hematemesis and melena. The dog was treated supportively for a presumptive gastric ulcer for 4 days with intravenous fluids, gastro protectants, such as pantoprazole, misoprostol, sucralfate, and barium, as well as an anti-emetic (maropitant) and analgesics (fentanyl, gabapentin, and tramadol). Throughout medical management, the dog continued to require blood transfusions approximately every 24 h. Given the poor medical response, the patient was subjected to an exploratory laparotomy. During surgery, a grossly raised, blister-like lesion on the mucosal surface of the stomach was appreciated on the lesser curvature of the stomach. A partial gastrectomy was performed, and the segment was submitted for histological evaluation. Histologically, there were multiple, tortuous, medium-caliber muscular arteries (>1.0 mm in diameter) in the submucosa. A single large-caliber artery (>0.75 mm in diameter) containing a partially occlusive thrombus extruded through the mucosa and projected on the ulcerated surface. The patient\'s signs were similar clinically and histopathologically to Dieulafoy\'s lesion in people. A Dieulafoy\'s lesion is a potentially life-threatening disorder that causes gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. This lesion is characterized by a dilated, large-caliber, aberrant submucosal artery that erodes through the epithelium and ruptures, resulting in massive and potentially fatal hemorrhage. This lesion has never been documented previously in a dog.

A 2.5-year-old, 25.5 kg, spayed female Australian Shepherd dog had a 2-month history of shifting leg lameness in all limbs, tetraparesis, progressive lethargy, and severe pain. On the physical examination, fever (40.61°C), tachycardia, tachypnea, mild diffuse pelvic limb muscular atrophy, left prescapular and right popliteal lymphadenomegaly were observed. Due to the poor prognosis and difficult pain management, humane euthanasia was elected. Macroscopic and histological findings revealed multifocal to coalescing granulomas with central areas of lytic necrosis within the right femur, left humerus, left scapula, left biceps brachii, right semimembranosus muscle, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. The necrotic areas contained myriad intralesional, intracellular, and extracellular negatively stained, non-pigmented, septate acute angle branching hyphae with parallel walls measuring 3-6 μm in width with polar bulbous projections measuring 7-13 μm in width. Fresh samples of the liver were submitted for fungal culture. Panfungal PCR targeting the major conserved genes-ITS, TUB, CAL-confirmed Paecilomyces formosus. Paecilomyces spp. are members of anamorphic fungi classified under the phylum Ascomycota. Paecilomycosis is an uncommon fungal infection caused by Paecilomyces spp with a disease reported in humans and animals ranging from superficial to systemic clinical forms affecting both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. In dogs, disseminated paecilomycosis has been reported, but the species of fungi are not always determined. To our knowledge, this is the first case of disseminated paecilomycosis caused by P. formosus infection in a dog.

An adult castrated male Vietnamese pot-bellied pig had a 1-week history of acute dyspnea and lethargy. Minimal diagnostic testing was authorized by the owner, resulting in treatment with a third-generation cephalosporin and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Partial improvement was observed after a week; however, the pig died 2 weeks after the initial onset of clinical signs. Macroscopically, ~90% of the left lung was effaced by large masses with a caseonecrotic center. Histologic examination revealed eosinophilic granulomas with myriad, intralesional, negatively staining hyphae highlighted by \"sleeves\" of hypereosinophilic material (Splendore-Hoeppli material). Infection with an oomycete or \"zygomycete\" (i.e., organisms of the order Entomophthorales or Mucorales) was initially considered. Pan-fungal PCR and sequencing performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissue identified Conidiobolus spp., consistent with a diagnosis of primary pulmonary conidiobolomycosis. There are only a few reports of infections with Conidiobolus spp. (and other members of the order Entomophthorales) in swine. Unlike humans and other animal species, conidiobolomycosis in pigs presents more commonly as a primary pulmonary disease rather than rhinofacial or nasopharyngeal disease.

Due to changing distemper issues worldwide and to inadequate results of an inter-laboratory study in Germany, it seems sensible to adapt and optimize the diagnostic methods for the detection of the canine distemper virus (CDV) to the new genetic diversity of virus strains. The goal of the project was the development, establishment and validation of two independent one-step reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods for the safe detection of CDV in domestic and wild animals. For this purpose, an existing CDV-RT-qPCR was decisively adapted and, in addition, a completely new system was developed. Both CDV-RT-qPCR systems are characterized by a very high, comparable analytical and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity and can be mutually combined with inhibition or extraction controls. The reduction in the master mix used allows for the parallel implementation of both CDV-RT-qPCR systems without significant cost increases. For validation of the new CDV-RT-qPCR duplex assays, a panel comprising 378 samples derived from Germany, several European countries and one African country were tested. A sensitivity of 98.9% and a specificity of 100% were computed for the new assays, thus being a reliable molecular diagnostic tool for the detection of CDV in domestic and wild animals.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules with a broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. These peptides are widely distributed in insects, amphibians and mammals. Indeed, they are key molecules of the innate immune system with remarkable antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity. Besides, these peptides have also shown regulatory activity for gut microbiota and have been considered inductors of growth performance. The current review describes the updated findings of antimicrobial peptides in domestic animals, such as bovines, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, canines and felines, analyzing the most relevant aspects of their use as potential therapeutics and their applications in Veterinary medicine.

Fertility refers to the ability of animals to maintain reproductive function and give birth to offspring, which is an important indicator to measure the productivity of animals. Fertility is affected by many factors, among which environmental factors may also play key roles. During the past years, substantial research studies have been conducted to detect the factors related to fecundity, including genetic factors and environmental factors. However, the identified genes associated with fertility from countless previous studies are randomly dispersed in the literature, whereas some other novel fertility-related genes are needed to detect from omics-based datasets. Here, we constructed a fertility index factor database FifBase based on manually curated published literature and RNA-Seq datasets. During the construction of the literature group, we obtained 3301 articles related to fecundity for 13 species from PubMed, involving 2823 genes, which are related to 75 fecundity indicators or 47 environmental factors. Eventually, 1558 genes associated with fertility were filtered in 10 species, of which 1088 and 470 were from RNA-Seq datasets and text mining data, respectively, involving 2910 fertility-gene pairs and 58 fertility-environmental factors. All these data were cataloged into FifBase (http://www.nwsuaflmz.com/FifBase/), where the fertility-related factor information, including gene annotation and environmental factors, can be browsed, retrieved and downloaded with the user-friendly interface.

Blastocystis is a common intestinal protozoan parasite of humans and a variety of animal species. To date, the prevalence of Blastocystis and major subtypes distribution in the domestic animals inhabiting in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA) of China is yet poorly studied. In this study, we investigated the distribution and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in seven animal species in QTPA in China. Four hundred and five fresh fecal samples were collected from domestic animals in Qinghai, Yunnan, and Tibet of China and analyzed using nested PCR and SSU rRNA gene sequencing. It was found that the overall prevalence of Blastocystis infection was 40.2% (163/405) in the animals studied. The most predominant subtype of Blastocystis was ST10 (57.7%) followed by ST14 (28.8%) and ST2 (13.5%). These results reveal the epidemiological features of Blastocytis infection in animals in the high altitude plateau area. The finding of presence of ST2 in a number of animal species suggests a zoonotic nature of Blastocystis and might be of importance of public health.