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Browsing CIMO by Field of Science and Technology (FOS) "Ciências Agrárias::Ciências Veterinárias"
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- Effects of Ladder-Climbing Exercise on Mammary Cancer: Data from a Chemically Induced Rat ModelPublication . Silva, Jessica; Azevedo, Tiago; Aires, Inês; Medeiros, Catarina; Neuparth, Maria J.; Seixas, Fernanda; Ferreira, Rita; Faustino-Rocha, Ana I.; Oliveira, Paula A.; Duarte, José AlbertoBreast cancer remains a significant global health issue, affecting both humans and companion animals, particularly female dogs and cats, where mammary tumors are among the most common cancers. Strategies to minimize the impact of this disease on patients, pet owners, and veterinary medicine are essential. This study analyses the effects of resistance training on the development of chemically induced mammary cancer in female Wistar rats, divided into four groups: sedentary control (CTR), sedentary induced (CTR+N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)), exercised control (EX), and exercised induced (EX+MNU). The exercise protocol involved ladder climbing three times a week for 18 weeks with the load progressively increasing. At the study’s end, blood and histopathological samples were collected and analyzed. Although tumor onset occurred two weeks earlier and incidence was slightly higher in the exercised group (EX+MNU) compared to the control group (CTR+MNU), the mortality rate was lower, and the malignancy was not as aggressive. No systemic inflammation was observed, as the levels of albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the MNU groups remained similar to the controls. Exercise has been shown to promote overall health by increasing physical fitness, boosting immunological function, and improving metabolic health. These findings may offer valuable insights into the potential role of resistance training in managing mammary cancer in companion animals. However, further research is required to assess clinical applicability and to establish safe and effective exercise protocols for veterinary oncology.
- Prevalence, diversity and risk factors of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs housed at official shelters across PortugalPublication . Lopes, Patrícia; Gomes, Jacinto; Lozano, João; Louro, Mariana; Carvalho, Luís Madeira de; Fonseca, Isabel Pereira da; Lobo, Ricardo; Monteiro, Fernando; Carvalho, Liliana; Afonso, Paulo; Almas, Miguel; Cunha, Mónica V.Gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) are among the most common pathogens that affect dogs globally, with some species representing a zoonotic threat. Stray and shelter dogs are especially vulnerable to parasitism as their clinical history is often unknown, and copro-parasitological analyses are seldom performed upon animal arrival at shelters. In Portugal, official shelters play a pivotal role in sheltering and managing stray dogs; however, little is known about the GIP infection status of these animals. This study thus aimed to determine the occurrence of GIP in dogs housed at official shelters in Portugal and explore potential variables contributing to the GIP burden. Between November 2021 and October 2022, a total of 355 dog faecal samples were collected from shelters across the country. These samples were either obtained individually from dogs or pooled from groups of animals housed together, and were analysed using the Mini-FLOTAC technique with zinc sulphate flotation solution (specific gravity 1.35) to detect, identify, and quantify GIP shedding intensity. Over 16 % (57/355) of the samples were GIP-positive. The most frequently observed parasites were Trichuris vulpis (20/355), Toxocara canis (19/355), Ancylostoma spp. (13/355), and Cystoisospora canis (8/355). Co-infections with two parasitic agents were detected in three individual samples: two dogs harboured both T. vulpis and C. canis, while one dog was co- infected with T. vulpis and T. canis. Most positive samples (53/59) exhibited a moderate to high shedding intensity, with over 50 eggs or oocysts per gram of faeces – EPG or OPG, respectively. Only a few showed a low shedding intensity of less than 10 EPG or OPG. When examining individual faecal samples, the average prevalence rate of GIP in shelter dogs across sampled regions was 15.9 % (33/208). A single taeniid infection was detected and confirmed, via molecular assays, to be due to Echinococcus granulosus. The occurrence of Ancylos-toma spp. and T. vulpis were significantly correlated with the number of dogs housed in shelters. The presence of Ancylostoma spp. eggs was significantly associated with season and region, while consistency of faeces was significantly associated with the presence of T. canis eggs and GIP co-infection status.
- Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Infections in Small Ruminants in EuropePublication . Quintas, Helder; Benavides, Júlio; Jacob-Ferreira, João; Afonso, Paulo; Coelho, Ana CláudiaParatuberculosis, also known as Johne’s disease, is a granulomatous enteritis in both domestic and wild ruminants caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Understanding the prevalence of this disease in small ruminants is essential for disease control and prevention strategies. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases to identify all articles reporting Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) seroprevalence in sheep and goats in Europe, published from January 2006 to December 2023. The initial search for existing publications reporting systematic reviews and primary studies was carried out by searching the available databases. For the final selection of studies, an initial screen for basic eligibility and a detailed appraisal of quality were performed. After the study selection, the relevant data was extracted. The detailed appraisal generated 21 publications that reported 55 studies, 22 (40.0%) from sheep (12 at the animal-level and 10 at the flock-level) and 28 (50.9%) from goats (17 at the animal-level and 11 at the flock-level), and 5 (9.1%) from mixed small ruminant species at the animal level. In total, 34 (61.8%) were animal-level studies and 21 (38.2%) were flock-level studies. Population and inclusion criteria were highly variable among studies. Sample sizes ranged from 291 to 15,585 animals. Most studies reported testing adult animals (over 24 months of age). Commercial ELISA kits were used in most studies. The highest prevalence was obtained in sheep (100%) in Türkiye, and the lowest was found also in sheep (0.7%) in Austria. Overall, the results suggest that MAP antibodies have been frequently detected among small ruminants in some countries and there is a need for standardisation of case definitions to improve the accuracy of prevalence estimates. Further research is needed to understand the risk factors associated with MAP infection in small ruminants and to develop effective control and prevention strategies.