Abstract: Feline pulmonary carcinomas are rare and often carry a poor prognosis, particularly when associated with feline lung–digit syndrome. We report a cat with primary pulmonary carcinoma and extensive metastases—including digits, pleura, mandible, scapula, spleen, skeletal muscle, and distant lymph nodes—supporting the broader “MODAL syndrome” concept. Adjuvant therapy with toceranib phosphate and meloxicam achieved prolonged survival and excellent quality of life, with no adverse effects despite dose escalation. Rapid progression after discontinuation suggests a role for toceranib in delaying tumour growth. Immunohistochemistry revealed c-kit expression in one metastatic lesion but not in the primary tumour or most metastases, highlighting intratumoral heterogeneity and the complexity of targeted therapy. The observed benefit likely reflects toceranib’s multi-target activity (VEGFR2, PDGFR), impacting angiogenesis and tumour progression. This case represents the first report of toceranib use in feline pulmonary carcinoma and underscores its potential as a palliative option.

Abstract: This study was designed to explore the effects of Qi Ling Gui Fu Prescription on tissue fibrosis in broilers with ascites syndrome (AS). A total of 120 8-day-old Ross broilers were randomly divided into six groups: the Blank group (B group), the Model group (M group), the High and Low dose of Qi Ling Gui Fu Prescription groups (H and L groups), the Positive Chinese medicine group (P group), and the L-arginine group (L-arg group). The broilers at 35 days old were dissected to record the ascites heart index (AHI). The collagen fibers in the lung were observed using Masson’s trichrome stain, and the indexes of serum oxidative stress were measured. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-1β in different tissues. Compared to the B group, the ascites heart index in the M group was significantly increased (P < 0.01); the results of Masson’s trichrome stain showed an accumulation of collagen fiber in lung tissue; there was no significant difference in serum concentration of glutathione peroxidase (P > 0.05); the malondialdehyde concentration was notably elevated (P < 0.01), while the superoxide dismutase concentration was markedly decreased (P < 0.05); moreover, the contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-4, and IL-1β proteins were considerably raised in all tissues (P < 0.01), while the content of IL-10 protein was significantly reduced (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Relative to the M group, the above indexes in all treatment groups were improved to different degrees (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), with the H group showing the most significant effect. Qi Ling Gui Fu Prescription and L-arg can improve the fibrosis of broilers with AS by mediating oxidative stress, and moderating inflammatory responses. Notably, the effect of a high dose of Qi Ling Gui Fu Prescription was better, which can prevent and treat AS in broilers more effectively.

Abstract: The close physiological relationship between the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) suggests that an index assessing both the cardiac chambers simultaneously could provide useful information about disease severity. Consequently, investigators have proposed the atrioventricular coupling index (LACi), and demonstrated its utility in predicting the likelihood of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and other cardiovascular events in humans. No studies have been reported in veterinary medicine. Therefore, we measured the LACi in healthy dogs and dogs affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Two hundred and thirty-three dogs (105 healthy dogs and 128 dogs with MMVD) were retrospectively included in the study. The LACi (LA volume/LV volume*100) at LV end-diastole (LACi-ED) and LV end-systole (LACi-ES) of each dog was measured using a monoplane Simpson’s Method of Discs from the left apical four-chamber view. In healthy dogs, LACi-ED and LACi-ES showed no relationship with bodyweight, heart rate and age (R2 &lt; 0.03, for all variables). In MMVD dogs, LACi-ED and LACi-ES differed between ACVIM stages (P &lt; 0.00 and P &lt; 0.02, for all stages). The LACi-ED and LACi-ES had similar accuracy in identifying MMVD dogs with congestive heart failure (area under the curve of 0.920 and 0.906, respectively). Our data suggest that LACi can be useful in assessing left atrioventricular function in dogs with MMVD but the diagnostic accuracy in identifying dogs with congestive heart failure was not superior to left-atrial-to-aortic ratio. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the predictive value of this new echocardiographic index in dogs affected by MMVD.

Abstract: Exporting food products from the European Union (EU) to the United States of America (USA) involves navigating complex regulations and procedural barriers that hinder market access. Italian food businesses (FBs), particularly small and medium-sized enter-prises (SMEs), often face difficulties accessing clear guidance, as national procedures are scattered across multiple sources. This paper proposes a structured four-step analytical framework to support EU FBs: product-specific analysis, identification of relevant EU and USA legislation, comparative legislative analysis via concordance tables, and identifica-tion of procedures to integrate into the Food Safety Management System. The framework was applied to an Italian medium-sized FB exporting pork-based pasta sauce to the USA. Beyond the specific case study, the proposed framework was designed to be replicable and adaptable to different food products and third-country destinations. As such, it can support both FBs and Competent Authorities in conducting risk-based assessments of regulatory equivalence and export compliance. Results indicated the need for Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, thermal process validation, direct verification activities, and pre-shipment review. Findings emphasize that operational and procedural barriers disproportionately affect SMEs, highlighting the importance of targeted support to facil-itate market access and strengthen certification systems.

Abstract: Cantrell syndrome (CS) is a rare congenital disorder involving defects in the thoraco-abdominal midline, the diaphragm, the pericardium, the sternum and the heart. Since the first description of the syndrome, 165 well-documented cases in humans have been reported, reflecting remarkable heterogeneity ranging from complete pentalogy to partial or atypical variants. We conducted a systematic review and classified body wall defects and associated anomalies into the following nine categories: midline defects, lateral defects, and special cases. Each case was reassessed for umbilical cord status, body wall morphology, cardiac anomalies and additional malformations. Midline defects predominated (152/165), with variants of supraumbilical defect being the most frequent; umbilical hernias accounted for ten cases as a distinct subgroup. Lateral defects were rare (nine cases, 5.5%), typically presenting with thoracogastroschisis or lateral thoracoabdominoschisis, and often associated with normal cords. Across all categories, cardiac anomalies were universal, with ventricular and atrial septal defects being the most common. Reclassification revealed that many cases originally labelled as 'classic PC' were better defined as partial or atypical forms. This unified framework clarifies the epidemiology, enhances diagnostic accuracy and, from a One Health perspective, highlights CS as a shared developmental vulnerability across species.

Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human, animal and environmental health, underscoring the need for integrated surveillance to understand its dynamics and ecosystem interactions. This study investigated the potential of swifts (Apus spp.), long-distance migratory birds, as valuable bioindicator of environmental AMR dissemination. Four sampling sessions were conducted over two years (2023-24) at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Trieste, Italy. Buccal and cloacal swabs were collected from 47 swifts: 10 sampled at arrival and 37 before autumn migration. Swabs were streaked on selective media for targeted isolation of Enterobacterales, Bacillales and Lactobacillales, yielding 168 bacterial isolates. Bacteria were identified using MALDI-TOF and antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed through disk diffusion method. Of the 168 bacterial isolates, 51 (30.36%) were non-wild type (NWT), with highest per-centages of NWT isolates for clarithromycin (33.33%), erythromycin (31.50%), clindamycin (21.88%), and tetracycline (14.29%). Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (45.83%) and carbapenem NWT isolates (9.38%) were also detected. Bacillales isolates showed significantly higher NWT proportion (58.33%; p < 0.0001), compared to Enter-obacterales and Lactobacillales. These findings, in clinically healthy non-antimicrobial treated swifts, suggest environmental exposure to resistant bacteria, and support a possible role of swifts as bioindicators of environmental AMR contamination, high-lighting the need to strengthen environmental AMR surveillance within a One Health perspective.

Abstract: A retrospective study on 135 cases of teat and udder surgical conditions in 129 small ru-minants is described. On 19 repairs of teat lacerations, a primary and a secondary inten-tion healing in 13 (68%) and in 4 (21%) cases, respectively, was observed; 2 (11%) had poor response and consequent mastitis. Good outcome and first intention healing in 100% of the fistula repairs (2 cases), thelectomies (5 cases), teat neoplasm removals (14), and mas-tectomies (2 cases) were observed. Among 26 teat curettage cases, all 18 (69%) unilateral lesions treatment had a good outcome versus the 8 (31%) with bilateral lesion that suffered definitive relapse. On 67 skin udder neoplasms removal, a primary and a secondary in-tention healing in 59 (88%) and in 8 (12%) cases, respectively, was observed; however, 2 of the latter suffered mastitis. These procedures are associated with a good prognosis, and the percentage of favourable outcomes was high. Wound infections and dehiscence were the main complications observed. More interest in teat and udder surgery on small ruminants should be encouraged, and farmers should be made aware that the animal can often return into production at a reasonable cost, however, their post-operative care is the key to success.

Abstract: Forensic veterinary pathology is becoming increasingly important in investigation sit-uations of suspected animal abuse. A search for owner (private) or law-enforcement suspected animal abuse necropsy cases submitted at either the University of West In-dies Veterinary Hospital (UWI-SVM) or the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Vet-erinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MAF-VDL) for the period of 2008-2025 was performed. Based on pathology records and submission information, cases were categorized by signalment and cause of death (COD) or manner of injury (MOI) if the animal was eu-thanized. A total of 113 cases of suspected animal abuse were submitted in the years 2008-2025. The submission of these cases reached a peak in 2015 (n = 23) and has re-mained around 5 cases per year since then. The most commonly submitted animal species were dogs (77%) and birds (7%). Of the 113 cases, only 23 (20%) had a con-firmed COD/MOI. The most common confirmed COD/MOI was trauma. The majority of the unconfirmed COD/MOI involve suspected poisoning. The few confirmed cases of poisoning (n = 6) include carbamate, warfarin, malathion, and ethylene glycol. Owners are aware of the importance of pathology to help diagnose suspected animal abuse cases and are becoming more interested in trying to prosecute those suspected of harming their pets. One major limitation in advancing forensic veterinary pathology in the island, and prosecution of suspected animal abuse cases is the lack of a toxico-logical laboratory capable of handling animal samples.

Abstract: Dystocia represents a multifactorial and clinically significant reproductive disorder af-fecting a broad spectrum of reptilian species. Commonly resulting from prolonged vitellogenesis, endocrine disruption, or hepatic lipidosis, dystocia is often exacerbated by suboptimal husbandry or concurrent disease. This review critically evaluates the etiology, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic interventions associated with this condition. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between metabolic exhaustion and hepatic compromise, which may lower the threshold for surgical intervention. The efficacy and limitations of oxytocin-based protocols are discussed in the context of hormonal receptor variability and response attenuation. Advanced diagnostic modalities, including ultrasonography, radiography/CT, and biochemical profiling, are reviewed for their utility in case stratification. Finally, surgical management options are considered for cases refractory to medical treatment, with attention to timing, anaesthetic risk, and postoperative care. Collectively, this synthesis aims to inform evidence-based clinical decision-making and promote improved standards of care in reptile reproductive medicine.

Abstract: While essential for the ethical practice of veterinary medicine, euthanasia profoundly complicates research with a survival outcome. In particular, euthanasia can make it difficult to determine the extent to which a certain clinical sign, laboratory, or imaging finding is associated with poor prognosis since animals that die while receiving veterinary care are often euthanized rather than dying naturally. The reasons for euthanasia, however, could be dramatically different. Some are euthanized due to perceived poor prognosis, others due to client financial limitations, and others for multifactorial reasons. In addition, when a clinician-scientist veterinarian believes a clinical finding is associated with poor survival, they might consciously or unconsciously influence clients to euthanize their animals. In effect, this could create – or artificially inflate the strength of – an association between that finding and animal survival. In this viewpoint, I will discuss the use of causal inference tools like directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) to identify the treating veterinarian’s belief about prognosis as a variable that mediates the effect of clinical findings on the probability of survival. Then, I briefly discuss some statistical methods already in use to account for euthanasia in veterinary research and their limitations. Lastly, I speculatively propose the use of expert elicitation to estimate counterfactual survival probability distributions (CSPD) for euthanized animals. By using these CSPDs to weight survival probability in euthanized animals and DAGs to identify and adjust for potential confounding, investigators might be able to estimate the direct causal effects of different clinical findings on probability of animal survival.

Abstract: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) exhibits an unusually high prevalence of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). A potential link to MMVD for allele risk variants near the heart specific nebulette (NEBL) gene has been identified. Although these allele risk variants seemed fixed in the CKCS, wild-type (healthy) allele variants at NEBL1-3 have likewise been found in a larger cohort, in which it was associated with less severe heart enlargement. The frequency of the healthy wild-type allele var-iants in the asymptomatic breeding population is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the wild-type allele frequency through prospective genetic testing in a large sample of CKCS that were intended for breeding in both the Nether-lands and Australia. Blood samples of 371 CKCS with an unknown genetic status were collected, of which 175 from the Netherlands, and 196 from Australia. Deoxyribonu-cleic acid (DNA) was extracted for genotyping of NEBL allele variants. No dog was homozygous for the wild-type allele variants. Only 1 dog from the Netherlands was heterozygous, while 9 dogs from Australia were heterozygous for the wild-type allele variants. The prevalence of heterozygous dogs in the Australian breeding population was low (4.6%), but significantly higher compared to the prevalence in the Dutch breeding population (0.57%). In conclusion, selective breeding for the wild-type NEBL allele in the CKCS is nearly impossible, as it will result in the formation of a severe genetic bottleneck. Selection of breeding CKCS on wildtype NEBL variants should not be used on its own due to the low prevalence in this breed and due to the polygenic character of the disease.

Abstract: The article discusses the post-World War II activities of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) in supporting Polish veterinary medicine and ag-riculture. The program's primary objective was to restore the devastated livestock population, crucial for rebuilding the country and ensuring food security. The author examines the challenges of transporting animals from the USA and Europe to Poland, focusing on health issues resulting from harsh travel conditions. The text details vet-erinary procedures in loading ports and Polish clinics, outlining the extent of medical support, treatments used, and animal mortality rates. It also highlights UNRRA's con-tributions to strengthening Polish veterinary infrastructure through medical supplies, equipment deliveries, and training programs for veterinarians.

Abstract: T-2 mycotoxins are known to induce toxic effects in animals. Kidneys are highly susceptible to oxidative stress caused by toxins, leading to cellular injury, apoptosis, and altered cell cycle regulation. Critical regulators of these processes include tumor suppressor protein p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. As up to now knowledeges on immunolocalization of p53 and p21 during T-2 mycotoxicosis in avian kidney are limited, the study aims to investigate immunolocalization of two critical apoptosis regulatory proteins - p53 and p21 - in kidneys of broiler chickens exposed to T-2 mycotoxin. In the study ten 7-day-old female layer-type Ross chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were divided into control and T-2 toxin groups. For T-2 toxin group T-2 toxin was administered orally for three days. 24 hours after last dose, chickens were sacrificed, kidney tissues were collected and fixed for immunohistochemical staining. Immunohis-tochemical study using polyclonal primary antibodies p21 and p53 (Abcam, UK) revealed stronger expression of p53 and p21 in kidneys of T-2-treated chickens than in healthy chicken of control group. Both proteins localized mainly in renal proximal tubules’ epithelial cells. Increased expression of p53 and p21 highlights their role in T-2-induced renal toxicity and suggests potential biomarkers for early nephrotoxicity detection.

Abstract: The chromatin remodelling proteins DAXX and ATRX are key regulators of ge-nome stability and epigenetic processes. Alterations in their expression have been as-sociated with tumour stage and prognostic outcomes in various humane cancer types, whereas their role in veterinary oncology has received little investigation to date. We analysed canine prostate and urinary bladder samples, including 18 prostate carcino-mas (12 adenocarcinomas, 6 prostatic urothelial carcinomas), 10 non-malignant pros-tate tissues, 22 carcinomas of the urinary bladder and 6 non-malignant bladder tissues. Nuclear expression of DAXX and ATRX was assessed using fully quantitative digital immunohistochemistry. Overall, DAXX exhibited consistently higher expression than ATRX across benign and malignant samples from the prostate and bladder. DAXX and ATRX expression demonstrated a positive correlation across all prostate (ρ = 0.692, p < 0.05) and bladder (ρ = 0.488, p < 0.05) samples, suggesting coordinated regulation. They displayed organ-specific expression patterns: prostate carcinomas showed increased expression of both proteins compared with non-malignant prostate tissues. In contrast, in the bladder, expression declined with increasing tumour aggressiveness (p < 0.05). Our findings provide new insights into the potential of DAXX and ATRX as bi-omarkers, offering new insights into their clinical relevance in dogs.

Abstract: Feather-plucking is a behavioral disorder considered one of the most frequent syndromes in Psittacines under human care. The patient described here was a male 15-year-old green macaw which presented chronic severe feather-plucking, affecting several regions of his body, leaving him practically devoid of ventral feathers. At initial consultation, there was an active therapeutic plan that included non-pharmacological treatment with improvements in diet, environmental, and social enrichment. The goal of incorporating cannabidiol (CBD) treatment was to reduce or eliminate plucking and whether it reduced skin inflammation in the affected areas. CBD is one of most abundant and studied phytocannabinoids and has shown anxiolytic effects in humans and animals by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The patient remained behaviorally stable and without feather-plucking at an oral dose of 3 mg/kg every 24 hours. Although definitive plumage growth was not achieved, great improvement was observed in his mood, his behaviors relating to his macaw partner and chicks, and the staff who took care of him. Additionally, improvement was observed by decreased skin inflammation. There is evidence of the absence of CB2 receptors in Psittacines, which could signify that these species require higher doses of cannabinoids such as CBD to obtain positive results, and the responses related to this receptor may be more modest. This is the first case report of therapeutic CBD use in a green macaw and appears to support that these species require higher doses of cannabinoids to see clinical improvement. More research is required in these avians to better understand their ECS, as well as dosage ranges, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids in the Psittacidae family.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Canine Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (cDLBCL) is characterized by a high prevalence of MHC II DR (DLA-DR) antigen overexpression. Murine anti-pan-DLA-DR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) B5 and E11 have been previously shown to induce cDLBCL cell death in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, DLA-DR antigens are considered a promising alternative target to CD20 for passive immunotherapy. While infusion of anti-pan MHC II mAbs has demonstrated tumor suppression in cDLBCL xenografted immunodeficient mice, the relative contributions of direct cellular versus immune-mediated mechanisms to this therapeutic effect remain undefined. This study aimed to dissect these potential mechanisms of mAb E11.Methods: Canine lymphoma and leukemia cell lines CLBL1 and CLB70 were incubated with full E11 antibody or its F(ab’)2 and Fab fragments and cell viability was assessed with sub-G1 assay then, NOD-SCID mice were xenotransplanted with 15×106 canine CLBL1 cells expressing nanoluciferase and were infused either with mAb E11 or its fragments, each at 1 mg/kg body mass, twice weekly for three consecutive weeks. Tumor burden was monitored by assessing body weight, nanoluciferase activity in blood, and by flow cytometric analyses of bone marrow tumor cell content. Time to tumor progression (TTP) was calculated based on weight loss and luminescence measurements. Results: We observed cytotoxic activity of monovalent E11-Fab fragments in vitro and in vivo. The mean TTP for mice treated with irrelevant mouse IgG antibodies was 9.8±4.65 days. In contrast, treatment with E11 Fab fragments resulted in a TTP of 19.1±2.67 days, which was similar to that achieved with the full E11 mAb (19.5±1.73 days) and E11 F(ab')2 fragments (18.1±2.9 days). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a potent antibody cytotoxicity mechanism that operates in vivo and is independent of cell surface MHC II crosslinking or Fc engagement. These data support the promising potential of E11-Fab fragments for further clinical development as a therapeutic agent in canine lymphoma.

Abstract: West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease caused by West Nile virus (WNV), maintained in an enzootic cycle between avian hosts and Culex mosquitoes. While birds are the principal reservoirs, WNV also infects a wide range of mammals, including humans, horses, and wildlife species. In this study, we assessed WNV seroprevalence in wild ungulates, wild boars, golden jackals, and the invasive rodent nutria in Serbia. Antibodies against WNV were detected across all tested species, with seroprevalence rates of 37% in wild boars, 11.9% in nutrias, 32.4% in golden jackals, 50.6 % in red deer, and 9.1% in roe deer. Detection of antibodies in both adults and juveniles provides evidence of recent transmission during the study period. These findings confirm widespread circulation WNV in Serbian wildlife and suggest that wild ungulates, carnivores, and invasive rodents may serve as useful sentinel species for monitoring WNV prevalence and geographic spread in natural ecosystems.

Abstract: In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported cases of dilated cardiomyo-pathy (DCM) in dogs, including breeds without known genetic predisposition, fed diets containing a high proportion of legumes or potatoes, many labelled grain-free. Despite concerns, grain-free diets remain increasingly popular. This review summarizes recent studies on the effects of grain-free diets on cardiac health in dogs, exploring taurine deficiency, metabolic data, and emerging hypotheses beyond nutritional deficiency. These findings suggest a strong link between diet and DCM, particularly regarding legumes. Dogs of various breeds, show larger left ventricular diameters, reduced systolic function, and increased premature ventricular complexes when fed non-traditional, grain-free, legume-rich diets compared to those on traditional, low-legume diets. Many affected dogs improve clinically and functionally with dietary changes and treatment, suggesting nutritional DCM may be reversible. Though mechanisms remain unclear, research results highlight the role of legumes, especially peas, gut microbiota, and fiber-related bile acid metabolism. The review also distinguishes taurine-deficiency-related DCM as a separate form, with certain breeds, notably Golden Retrievers, being more susceptible. Overall, the analysis underscores the vital role of nutrition in canine cardiac health and calls for further studies.

Abstract:

The Moon is at the centre of many popular beliefs including that the number of births increases during Full Moon days, followed by many breeders to anticipate calving periods. However, it has been rarely explored in dairy cattle farming. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the association of lunar cycles on calving distribution, with particular focus on a potential increase during full-moon nights. Data from 383,926 calvings of Montbéliard breed that occurred between March 2022, and January 2025, mostly in Franche-Comté (98.2%), France were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM). Results revealed significant association of the lunar cycle on calving distribution, it was observed a higher calving probability than the average (p < 0.001, +15%) during the New Moon, and a lower calving probability than the average during the First Quarter and Full Moon phases (p < 0.001 for both and -1.5% and -11%, respectively) in all groups, primiparous, multiparous, male and female. The observed patterns may have practical implications for veterinarians and breeders, particularly in ensuring adequate colostrum intake, thereby supporting improved management of parturition periods.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum and synovial fluid (SF) samples of control horses and those with osteoarthritis (OA), to identify potential candidates for biomarkers of disease. Total RNA was extracted from serum and SF samples of control (n=4) and OA (n=9) horses, and sequenced. Differential expression analysis, pathway analysis and miRNA target prediction were performed. A group of six miRNAs (eca-miR-199a-3p, eca-miR-148a, eca-miR-99b, eca-miR-146a, eca-miR-423-5p and eca-miR-23b) were selected for validation in an independent cohort (serum, n=46; SF, n=88). The effect of clinical variables on miRNA expression was also assessed. Sequencing analyses found 43 and 23 differentially expressed miRNAs in serum and SF samples, respectively. Pathway analysis showed miRNA were involved in inflammatory disease/response and associated with OA pathways. miRNA expression in serum was strongly associated with the horses’ workload, while age had a pronounced influence on miRNA expression in SF. Distinct patterns of miRNA differential expression were observed in serum and SF samples from horses with OA compared to controls. miR-199a-3p and miR-148a warrant further investigation as potential biomarkers of equine OA. Further characterization of these molecular changes could provide novel insights into the mechanisms of early OA.