Biology and Life Sciences

Abstract: Eimeria spp. causes severe production inefficiencies and welfare concerns in the poultry industry worldwide. Due to widespread resistance to anticoccidials, plant-derived bioactive compounds have emerged as alternative control strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro sporulation effect of methanolic extracts from of Melia azedarach and Senna spectabilis var. spectabilis against an Argentinian (Arg) isolate, containing a mix of three Eimeria spp., as well as pure Eimeria acervulina, and Eimeria tenella compared to the reference strains E. tenella Wisconsin and E. acervulina Houghton. A total of 4x105 unsporulated oocyst were incubated with six concentrations of extracts ranging from 2.5 to 80 mg/mL at 28ºC and 180 rpm for 72 h. The sporulation index (SI%) relativized to a negative control (NC) showed significant differences (p < 0.005) in all Eimeria spp. incubated with extracts of mature fruits of S. spectabilis at 80 and 40 mg/mL with SI ranging from 34.3 to 80% and 60 to 85%, respectively, depending on the species or strain. No significant differences were found with the other extracts assayed. Thus, S. spectabilis stands out as a strong candidate for use as a sustainable alternative in the prevention of chicken coccidiosis.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and cannabidiol (CBD) supplementation may alter chicken meat composition. This study investigated health indicators in rats consuming meat from chickens fed SeNPs-, and/or CBD-supplemented diets. Methods: Forty male rats received for 10 weeks a control diet without chicken meat or diets containing 24% meat from chickens supplemented with sodium selenate, SeNPs, CBD, or both. Body weight, fat mass, fecal calprotectin, hematological and biochemical parameters, and gene expression in epididymal white adipose tissue were measured. Results: Neither body weight nor fat mass differed significantly (P > 0.05). In the SeNPs and CBD groups, genes expressions of fatty acid synthase (FASN), solute carrier family 2 member 4 (SLC2A4), glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2 (PRKAA2) genes were lower than in control and the sodium selenate group (P<0.05). Fecal calprotectin was highest in the SeNPs/CBD group (p < 0.001). Blood hematological and biochemical indices did not show health disorders in rats fed experimental diets. Conclusions: The results indicate that following the enrichment of broiler chicken meat with selenium and/or CBD through dietary supplementation resulted that when being used in the chicken diets, they were well tolerated and did not adversely affect their health status, as evaluated based on the analyzed parameters and indicators. These findings provide valuable data that may contribute to the assessment of the safety of SeNPs and CBD in chicken nutrition and legislative regulations.

Abstract: Reference intervals (RIs) for newborn and suckling piglets are scarce, and their dependence on farm, sex and dam genotype is insufficiently known. We determined RIs for 19 haematological and biochemical blood parameters in piglets from three commercial farms on day 1 (n = 572) and day 21 (n = 487) of life. Because the distribution deviated from normality (all parameters on day 1, 18 of 19 on day 21), non-parametric RIs (2.5th–97.5th percentile) with 90% confidence intervals were calculated in line with veterinary clinical pathology guidelines. The effects of farm, dam genotype and their interaction were tested by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on litter means, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was estimated by variance components analysis. Sex was not associated with any parameter. The farm effect was significant for 13 of 19 parameters on day 1 and 11 of 19 on day 21, the dam genotype effect only for alanine aminotransferase on day 21, and the interaction for none. The ICC was at least 0.30 for five parameters on each day, indicating considerable litter-level variability. The intervals can be used to assess piglet health in commercial production, taking farm, age and analytical platform into account.

Abstract: Enterococcus species are common opportunistic pathogens infecting a wide range of hosts, and often presenting multidrug resistance. Our research has identified several species of Enterococcus infecting broiler embryos or newly hatched chicks. Genome assemblies for Enterococcus avium and Enterococcus gallinarum isolated from broilers were compared with genomes from poultry and other hosts for phylogenomic relationships and pangenome associations. Three different methods demonstrated that host preference in E. gallinarum is associated with genome evolution, with three prominent clusters. In E. avium there is no such evidence for clustering of isolates with respect to host range. The pange-nome analysis identified a 50- to 51-gene cluster spanning approximately 36 kbp enriched in avian and poultry isolates, relative to human isolates for both species. ChatGPT+ analysis of gene annota-tions from different pipelines for this cluster predicted the cluster is likely a new Integrative and Conjugative Element (ICE). Representative ICE inserts were identified: ICE3 in E. gallinarum EGM181, with ICE1 and ICE2 from our hybrid assembly for E. avium 1788. Boundaries of these ICEs were identified by alignment to closely related genomes that lacked the ICE. ICE1 and ICE3 are 99% identical, while ICE2 is 94% identical to ICE1/ICE3. Two pipelines were constructed using ChatGPT+ to screen all available genomes from both species, for ICE1-like and ICE2-like, and subsequently extract intact ICEs, including identification of flanking genes. E. gallinarum genomes contained 13 ICE1-like and 1 ICE2-like, while E. avium genomes contained 15 ICE1-like and 4 ICE2-like. Only 1788 contained two ICEs. For 31 genomes the ICE insert is downstream of UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-tripeptide--D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase (murF) and upstream of DEAD-box ATP-dependent RNA helicase (cshA), with all inserts in the same orientation relative to the flanking genes. In 1788 the upstream gene for ICE2 is murF, and downstream gene is glucose uptake protein, while for ICE1 the upstream gene is sapS and downstream gene is cshA. The pipelines identified an additional 6 E. gallinarum and 5 E. avium genomes with an ICE1 or ICE2 split across two contigs. While 20 of the gene annotations are for hypothetical or poorly defined polypeptides ChatGPT+ ascribes the remainder to Replication Control/Regulatory/Accessory, Conjugative Transfer, Stability/Maintenance, Recombination/Mobil-ity, or Adhesion/Biofilm. Therefore, the role of the ICE in associating bacterial isolates with avian/poultry cannot be determined at this time but likely resides in the 20 hypothetical/poorly defined genes in the adaptation region of these new ICE.

Abstract: Antler regeneration involves rapid chondrogenesis and ossification, yet the bone morphogenetic protein/growth differentiation factor (BMP/GDF) genes associated with skeletal development remain poorly characterized in sika deer. We identified 16 BMP genes and two GDF genes belonging to seven phylogenetic subfamilies. Synteny analysis identified segmental and putative tandem duplications; two duplicated pairs had K_a/K_s ratios below 1. RNA-seq data showed differences across regenerative stages, with BMP3B and BMP5 expressed during early regeneration, BMP2, BMP4, and BMP6 during rapid growth, and BMP7 and BMP3 during terminal ossification. RT-qPCR supported distinct spatial expression patterns for five genes in rapidly growing antler tips. AlphaFold 3 modeling and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the predicted BMP2–BMPR1A complex remained stable over the simulated trajectories. Free-energy decomposition and alanine scanning identified candidate interface residues. Sequence comparisons showed that these residues are conserved across the mammalian species examined. The results describe BMP/GDF family organization and expression during antler regeneration and identify candidate contacts for experimental analysis of BMP2–BMPR1A binding.

Abstract: The growing demand for healthier and more sustainable meat products has encouraged the devel-opment of alternative feeding strategies that improve resource efficiency while potentially enhancing meat quality. Among these strategies, the incorporation of agro-industrial by-products into pig diets represents a promising approach to promoting circular economy principles and reducing dependence on conventional feed ingredients. This review critically examines the effects of sustainable feeding strategies, particularly those involving olive cake, grape pomace, tomato pomace, and citrus-derived by-products, on pork quality and their potential contribution to the development of healthier tradi-tional meat products. Available evidence indicates that these ingredients can be incorporated into pig diets at appropriate inclusion levels without substantially compromising animal performance, carcass characteristics, or the physicochemical and sensory properties of pork. Furthermore, certain dietary interventions may modify fatty acid composition, enhance antioxidant status, and improve oxidative stability, although responses depend on the composition of the by-product, dietary inclu-sion level, and experimental conditions. Importantly, some diet-induced modifications, particularly those affecting lipid composition, may persist after processing into traditional meat products, in-cluding dry-cured products. Nevertheless, the limited number of studies evaluating the entire pro-duction chain and the variability in reported results highlight the need for further research. An in-tegrated feed-to-food approach, combining nutritional, technological, sensory, environmental, and economic assessments, is essential to determine the practical applicability of these strategies. Over-all, sustainable feeding strategies offer opportunities to improve the nutritional characteristics of pork and traditional meat products while promoting resource efficiency and preserving their tech-nological quality, sensory acceptance, and cultural identity.

Abstract: Congenital caudal malformations in domestic animals are traditionally reported as Perosomus elumbis (PE), but the associated spinal cord abnormalities are poorly characterised. This study describes the terminal spinal cord in five pigs with severe caudal malformations, comparing the findings with those of human caudal regression syndrome (CRS). Four formalin-fixed specimens (P1–P4) underwent radiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); one specimen (P5) was examined by anatomical dissection. All cases showed terminal spinal cord anomalies. The three pigs with complete lumbosacrococcygeal agenesis (P1–P3) had a high spinal cord termination at T12–T15. This resembled Pang group 1 of human CRS, and was either abrupt (P1) or with a bulbous end (P3), or elongated and rod-shaped (P2). In P2, the spinal cord and dural sac protruded through a vertebral closure defect covered by skin, which is suggestive of tethering. The two pigs that retained lumbar or sacral segments had lesions that were located more caudally: a gradually tapering termination at L3 (P4) and lumbosacral spinal dysraphism (P5). In P3 and P4, caudally projecting structures were interpreted as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled sleeves around paired nerve roots. Four pigs exhibited a Buddha-like posture of the pelvic limbs. This is the first MRI-based description of terminal spinal cord anomalies in porcine PE, supporting a comparative neuroanatomical approach to these malformations.

Abstract: During the Japanese invasion of China (1894 - 1945), the Japanese carried out compre-hensive surveys of natural resources in China, including amphibians and reptiles that this article focuses on. The surveys of herpetofauna were conducted by dozens of Japanese scholars from about a dozen Japanese universities and academic institutions. The surveys’ results were presented in the books, monograph, reports, articles, and lectures at the time. Now, about 100 years later, with the gradual release of these historical documents, it is possible to conduct research on the history of colonial science during the Japanese invasion of China. A total of 93 species, comprising 25 amphibians (4 Caudata + 21 Anura) and 68 reptiles (2 Crocodylia + 7 Testudines + 15 Lacertilia + 44 Serpentes), were discovered and recorded in those original documents. These 93 species account for 17.2% of the 540 species (168 amphibians + 372 reptiles) recorded in China before 1945, and the proportions of amphibians and reptiles were 14.9% (25/168) and 18.3% (68/372) respectively. In the present study, those names of species from approximately 100 years ago and their rec-orded distribution locations in the historical documents were listed and compared with their current scientific names and distribution areas. We also discussed the changes in taxonomy and natural history information of some species. This article aims to provide a new perspective for understanding the colonial nature of Japanese scientific expeditions to China and some basic information of the science history studies of Chinese herpetology.

Abstract: Caffeine is a common freshwater contaminant that can affect the physiology and behavior of freshwater invertebrates. This study evaluated the effects of magnesium and ubiquinol on physiological and behavioral responses in caffeine-exposed Daphnia magna. Methods: Seventy-five juvenile D. magna were assigned to five experimental groups (n = 15 per group): spring-water control, caffeine, caffeine plus magnesium, caffeine plus ubiquinol, and caffeine plus both magnesium and ubiquinol. Body-length change, heart rate, phototaxis speed, dissolved oxygen concentration, and lifespan were measured. A one-way analysis of variance was performed to evaluate overall treatment effects on each outcome. Results: Compared with the control, the caffeine-only group showed reductions of approximately 10-14% in body-length change, phototaxis speed, dissolved oxygen concentration, and lifespan, along with an 11% increase in heart rate. Across the measured outcomes, the groups receiving magnesium, ubiquinol, or both had mean values numerically closer to the control means than the caffeine-only group. The combined treatment produced the greatest overall numerical improvement, with the measured outcomes improving by approximately 10-18% relative to the caffeine-only group. One-way ANOVA showed significant overall treatment effects on body-length change (p = .021), heart rate (p < .0001), phototaxis speed (p < .0001), dissolved oxygen concentration (p = .002), and lifespan (p = .0006). Conclusion: These findings indicate that magnesium and ubiquinol may influence caffeine-associated physiological and behavioral responses in D. magna.

Abstract: Background: The cornea is a transparent, avascular, and highly specialized structure that serves as the eye’s primary refractive surface, making it essential for normal vision. Corneal ulcers, commonly resulting from trauma or infection, are a leading cause of ocular morbidity and blindness in dogs. Surgical intervention is often required for deep or non-healing ulcers. Conjunctival grafts help restore corneal integrity but may prolong recovery. Canine amniotic membrane (AM) possesses an-ti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and epithelialization-promoting properties that may enhance corneal wound healing. Methods: Twelve clinical canine cases with corneal ulcers were randomly allocated into two Groups (n = 6 each). Group A underwent bulbar conjunctival pedicle grafting, while Group B received canine amniotic membrane grafts prepared from placentas collected during elective cae-sarean sections. The amniotic membrane was applied in three layers and stabilized with a third-eyelid flap and partial tarsorrhaphy. Postoperative assessment included physiological pa-rameters, detailed ophthalmic examinations, tear production tests, fluorescein dye uptake, and rel-evant biochemical analyses. Results: Complete healing was achieved in five of six dogs in Group A and in all six dogs in Group B. Physiological and biochemical values did not differ significantly between Groups; however, Group B exhibited more rapid epithelialization, reduced postoperative complications, and overall better clinical recovery. Conclusion: Both surgical approaches were effec-tive in managing canine corneal ulcers, but the canine amniotic membrane graft provided superior healing, faster epithelial restoration, and improved clinical outcomes.

Abstract: Malassezia is a common fungus and one of the zoonotic pathogens. It is a common disease among pets including cats, which usually parasitizes the skin surfaces under suitable environmental conditions. Management of Malassezia dermatitis relies mainly on antifungal drugs. Repeated or prolonged usage may be accompanied by reduced susceptibility and concerns about recurrence. Natural compounds may offer advantages in the management of superficial fungal skin disease. In this study, thirty-eight clinical samples were collected from pet cats with Malassezia-associated skin lesions and a KM mouse dermatitis model was established for in vivo evaluation. Three M. pachydermatis isolates were screened against 11 antibiotics and 14 natural compounds. The most resistant Malassezia pachydermis strain SZ06 was selected for minimum inhibitory concentration determination using checkerboard assays, growth-curve analysis, scanning electron microscopy after treatment, and genome annotation. Plant-derived compound allicin, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and anisaldehyde showed significant antifungal activity. Checkerboard assays showed the strongest synergistic effect for allicin plus cinnamaldehyde, reducing the minimum inhibitory concentrations of allicin and cinnamaldehyde to one-eighth and one-quarter of their single-agent values, respectively. For the regression mice infected with SZ06, topical treatment with 0.5% allicin plus 0.5% cinnamaldehyde produced the best therapeutic response, improving lesions, fungal clearance, histopathology, and inflammatory cytokine levels. Genome sequencing of SZ06 suggested that this isolate carried multiple candidate genes involved in efflux, membrane transport, and drug-response pathways. The natural compound allicin-cinnamaldehyde combination demonstrated promising antifungal activity, representing a potential topical therapy for Malassezia dermatitis in pet cats.

Abstract: Rotavirus A (RVA) is an important enteric pathogen of neonatal animals, whereas the genomic diversity of donkey-origin RVA remains incompletely defined. In 2025, an RVA strain was recovered from a diarrheic donkey foal in Shandong Province, China, and designated RVA/Donkey-wt/CHN/SD2503/2025/G3P[59] (SD2503). Viral RNA was subjected to Illumina NovaSeq paired-end sequencing, de novo assembly, genotype assignment, sequence comparison, and segment-specific maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis. All 11 genome segments were recovered, yielding the constellation G3-P[59]-I3-R3-C3-M3-A9-N3-T3-E3-H6. The VP4 gene was highly divergent: the closest BLASTn match was the P[24] rhesus strain TUCH, with 79.58% nucleotide identity, below the 80% threshold used to assign VP4 sequences to the same P genotype. The VP4 sequence was subsequently confirmed by the Rotavirus Classification Working Group as P[59]. Other segments showed discordant relationships. VP7 clustered with rabbit strain rab1404 with strong bootstrap support, whereas several internal genes grouped within genotype backgrounds represented by simian, rabbit, pangolin, equine, and other mammalian RVAs. The topological incongruence across segments, together with the unusual genotype constellation, is consistent with a complex reassortant evolutionary history involving cross-species-associated RVA lineages. SD2503 provides an 11-segment genomic framework for an independently identified donkey G3P[59] RVA and supports broader genomic surveillance of RVA in equids.

Abstract: Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), caused by bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), is a highly contagious disease that causes substantial economic losses in the cattle industry. BoHV-1 is endemic worldwide and affects both beef and dairy cattle populations. However, data on the seroprevalence of BoHV-1 infection in Thailand remain limited. This cross-sectional study investigated BoHV-1 seroprevalence and potential risk factors among 290 randomly selected dairy cattle from 22 farms in western Thailand. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect an-tibodies against BoHV-1. In addition, farmer interviews were conducted to collect information on potential risk factors. Univariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed to assess asso-ciations between the investigated variables and BoHV-1 seropositivity. The overall apparent ani-mal-level seroprevalence was 18.28% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.83–22.72%), while the esti-mated true seroprevalence was 20.07%. At the farm level, 15 of the 22 farms were seropositive, cor-responding to a farm-level seroprevalence of 68.18% (95% CI: 48.77–87.59%). At the individual an-imal level, a history of respiratory problems was identified as potential risk factor associated with BoHV-1 seropositivity. At the farm level, farm certification for Good Agricultural Practices status tended to play as preventive risk factor. These findings provide preliminary epidemiological data on BoHV-1 seroprevalence in dairy cattle in western Thailand and highlight the importance of further investigation into factors associated with BoHV-1 exposure at both the animal and farm levels.

Abstract: This study aimed to characterize the mitochondrial (MT) genome of Tibetan fragrant chickens along an altitudinal gradient and to relate it to meat quality. Eighteen 150-day-old male chickens were selected from three groups (LX, 1500 m; MX, 2800 m; HX, 3500 m; n = 6 each; six birds were randomly chosen from 30 reared per group) and subjected to whole-genome resequencing (reference: Gallus gallus GCA_000002315.5). Ninety MT variants (85 polymorphic; transition/transversion 83:7) were identified, comprising 58 coding (42 synonymous, 16 non-synonymous), 20 D-loop/non-coding, 10 rRNA and 2 tRNA sites; no MT insertions/deletions or structural variants were found. The 18 birds clustered into three maternal lineages (A, B and C) that were only partially structured by altitude (A more frequent at low altitude; B at mid and high altitude). A neighbour-joining tree with 12 Gallus mitogenomes placed the population close to Gallus gallus gallus and Chinese local breeds. Fifteen heteroplasmic sites were detected, with 16S rRNA nt3946 (G/C/A) heteroplasmic in all birds. Relative mtDNA copy number did not differ among groups (P = 0.52). Meat quality varied with altitude (highest protein and lowest fat at 2800 m; highest inosine monophosphate at 3500 m) but not with maternal lineage, indicating that high-altitude adaptation is driven mainly by nuclear genes and environment, whereas the MT genome mainly harbours standing variation.

Abstract: Ten commercial mushroom products, sourced from resellers and labelled for veterinary use, were subjected to simple quantitative and qualitative polysaccharide analysis methods to differentiate products containing only mushrooms (the fruiting bodies of the fungal life-cycle) from those that include the whole solid fermentation resulting from the fungal mycelium of cereal grain. The therapeutic benefits of fungi are often attributed to their β-glucan content, which, unlike cereal grain β glucans, is uniquely characterized by 1,3-1,6 β glycosidic linkages. Fungal polysaccharide markers were used to distinguish mushroom-containing products from grain-based mycelial products in this study, which highlighted the compositional variability in marketplace products. Ten products labelled for pet use, and one for human use, were subjected to a multifaceted analytical approach by enzymatic quantification of α- and β-glucans and starch, and Lugol’s iodine staining for starch detection. The resulting analyses identified two distinct product profiles: 1) polysaccharide profiles consistent with mushrooms, exhibiting high β-glucan and low α-glucan content and 2) products consistent with fermentation of cereal grains by fungal mycelium that have lower levels of β-glucans, higher levels of α-glucans, and a strong positive iodine-starch test. This study provides objective, evidence-based criteria for differentiation of these product profiles; some products labelled as mushroom-derived contained predominantly grain. This method can be adapted to assess other fungal-derived products and verify the authenticity of mushroom-based veterinary products.

Abstract: The scientific work of Professor William W. Muir addresses a fundamental problem in oxygen therapeutics: increasing oxygen transport capacity does not necessarily mean that oxygen reaches the tissues where it is needed. Over several decades, Muir investigated cardiovascular physiology, respiratory gas exchange, hemorrhagic shock, microvascular perfusion, hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs), and tissue oxygenation. His scientific involvement with Biopure, collaboration with Carl W. Rausch, and subsequent reported advisory activities in veterinary product development form an important part of this history. This article traces the development of these ideas and their experimental evaluation, leading to a proposed next step: Precision Oxygen Therapeutics based on Biological Hemoglobin Oxygen Carrier (BHOC), with oxygen delivery treated as a distinct therapeutic function rather than an attempt to replace blood.

Abstract: Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, is a highly virulent zoonotic pathogen maintained in complex ecological systems involving wild mammals and their ectoparasites, especially fleas. Plague has caused three recognised pandemics and profoundly influenced demography, commerce, warfare, and public health practice. It remains endemic in natural foci across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. From 2019 to 2026, most cases reported to the World Health Organization occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar. People are infected mainly through bites from infected fleas, direct contact with infected animals or tissues, or inhalation of infectious respiratory particles. The principal clinical forms are bubonic, septicaemic, and pneumonic plague. Cats are particularly susceptible and can transmit infection to owners and veterinary personnel, while dogs more often serve as sentinels, mildly affected hosts, or carriers of infected fleas. Rapid clinical progression, high mortality without treatment, the potential for respiratory transmission, and a history of deliberate misuse make Y. pestis a high-consequence biological agent. The organism itself is not prohibited: peaceful research, surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development remain legitimate. International law prohibits its development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer, or use for hostile purposes. This review synthesises evidence on bacterial evolution and virulence, historical pandemics, pathogenesis, human and animal disease, zoonotic transmission, biosecurity, and integrated One Health preparedness. Emerging priorities include genomics-informed surveillance, field-deployable diagnostics, antimicrobial-resistance monitoring, ecological forecasting, improved vaccines, and stronger coordination across medical, veterinary, wildlife, environmental, and security sectors.

Abstract: Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) inflicts economic losses on global dairy production. In Thailand, BVD remains outside national control priorities, shifting the burden of disease management entirely to local biosecurity choices. Using a qualitative approach, this study investigated dairy farmers' perceptions and biosecurity practices within Thailand’s certified Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) sector. Semi-structured, face-to-face in-depth interviews and field observations were conducted with smallholders in western Thailand, and the transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results revealed a profound "biosecurity paradox" driven by salience bias: while farmers showed universal awareness and strictly enforced emergency protocols for highly visible epidemics like Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease, they exhibited an acute awareness deficit regarding subclinical pathogens like BVD. Crucially, visual animal selection and structural trust routinely led to introducing persistently infected replacement heifers without screening. Furthermore, unstandardized management of reproductive waste was widespread, with most participants discarding infectious tissues into open fields, occasionally commodifying high-risk biological waste into local human food networks. Rigid top-down GAP rules induced intense regulatory fatigue among financially stressed smallholders. Farmers explicitly rejected conventional extension group workshops due to acute labor constraints, preferring decentralized digital micro-learning (mobile short videos and on-farm posters) and clinical interactions with visiting practitioners. This study provides an empirical blueprint for livestock policy to shift from passive, farmer-dependent reporting to government-led active surveillance to protect national dairy herd health.

Abstract: 1. The exceptional navigational ability of bats relies on specialised sensory organs; specifically, the inner ear is optimised to process high-frequency sounds in total darkness. 2. Despite its clear functional importance, inner ear morphology remains an underutilised source of evolutionary insight in Chiroptera, particularly the origins of echolocation and deep-time phylogenetic divergences. 3. Here, we review specialised anatomy of the chiropteran inner ear and contrast bat inner ear ecology with recent insights from echolocating whales 4. We address methodological challenges of studying minute features, demonstrate how non-destructive digital imagery advances overcome traditional barriers, and consider how confounding effects of phylogeny could be addressed in quantitative analyses. 5. We argue that known strong correlations between echolocation strategy and flight space point to excellent opportunities to use chiropteran inner ear morphology to infer the origins and evolution of chiropteran ecology and echolocation behaviour.

Abstract: Background: The objective of our study was to identify supporting and/or opposing arguments regarding whether it is worthwhile to launch—or relaunch—a nationwide program against leptospirosis in Hungarian swine herds, modeled after the successful eradication programs for Aujeszky's disease and PRRS. It is essential to determine which Leptospira serogroups currently infect Hungarian swine herds and the nationwide distribution of this infection. It is of particular importance to ascertain the prevalence of the swine-adapted (hosted) Leptospira strains (pomona, tarassovi, bratislava)—specifically, in how many herds and across what geographical area they occur, and what percentage of breeding stock is affected—as well as how the infection was introduced to the farm. Furthermore, we sought to identify the available options for eliminating specific Leptospira serovars and achieving disease-free status for individual herds. Methods: We had analysis of more than 180,000 serum samples, across 4 years including seroprevalence for Pomona, Tarassovi, Bratislava and Icterohaemorrhagiae. Antibodies against incidental serovars (Sejroe, Canicola, Grippotyphosa) occurred rarely. Authors describe their experiences with establishing a new, import based unit with Bratislava, and an eradication method of a large-scale swine herd after pomona infection. Conclusion: Our aim was to define the current leptospirosis status in domestic herds and provide recommendations. Hungary must decide whether to preserve swine leptospirosis freedom—a status that delivers cost savings by eliminating routine vaccination and treatment costs, provides market value for domestic swine health, and protects against a zoonosis—or leave infection unregulated and manage disease conventionally through vaccines and antibiotics, as practiced elsewhere in the EU.