Accepted articles-next issues

This review provides exhaustive overview of the main cervid species in Europe, including the red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), moose (Alces alces) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) regarding the geographic distribution of the species, population trends, habitat preferences, and key biological traits. The present study focuses on the environmental factors that influence the well-being of cervids, such as habitat quality, competition, food availability, climate change, and contamination, but also anthropopression. Cervids are considered effective bioindicators of ecosystem stability and environmental contamination due to their status as large herbivores with wide-ranging movements and sensitivity to biotope changes. In addition, the impact of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the well-being of this taxonomic family was characterized. It is imperative to emphasis the significance of incorporating prey, predators, and humans as a comprehensive ecosystem within which cervids reside. The significance of habitat sharing is well documented, particularly in regard to definition of predator–prey mechanisms. The insights derived from this research are of particular relevance when seeking to define solutions that optimize human-wildlife coexistence, especially within the context of European highly anthropogenic systems. The review concluded with a view on future perspectives for cervid well-being in Europe and emphasizes the necessity of sustainable land use, pollution mitigation, and the establishment of conservation programs for cervid populations and the ecosystems they represent. The effective management demands long-term monitoring including significant fluctuations and the behaviour of the species.

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a protozoan disease in horses, mainly caused by Theileria equi, and is associated with non-specific signs such as fever, anemia, and edema. The lack of specific clinical signs, coupled with the high prevalence of carrier horses, highlights the critical need for a rapid and highly accurate diagnostic test for the detection of Theileria equi. Existing methods including molecular, serological, and microscopic techniques require specialized equipment, skilled personnel, and considerable time. The current study aims to develop a rapid and accurate assay for the detection of Theileria equi in horses by utilizing pre-labeled DNA in combination with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and a lateral flow device (LFD). The proposed assay was evaluated in terms of time efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity. Of the 30 samples tested, 23 were positive for Theileria equi, with no false positives observed. Moreover, the assay demonstrated a detection limit as low as 5 ng per microliters of input DNA, and the entire process from sample preparation to result interpretation was completed within 25 minutes without the need for specialized equipment. The findings demonstrate that the proposed assay exhibits 100% specificity, high sensitivity, and strong potential for clinical application. However, further studies are required to optimize the assay for direct pathogen detection from samples, eliminating the need for DNA extraction

Cartilage defects have limited regenerative potential and remain a significant clinical challenge. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy offers promise in tissue engineering, yet monitoring post-implantation responses remains difficult. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a biomarker of cell damage and inflammation, may provide insight into systemic and local tissue reactions. This study aimed to assess the levels of serum and synovial fluid LDH following the implantation of allogeneic MSCs into cartilage defects in a rabbit model. A total of 56 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control (Group A), and groups receiving fibrin glue with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs), or synovial-derived stem cells (SDSCs). Serum and synovial fluid samples were collected at baseline and 12 weeks post-surgery to measure serum and synovial fluid LDH levels. Serum LDH levels were significantly elevated in all MSC-treated groups relative to controls (p=0.019), potentially due to high anaerobic metabolism or implantation-related toxicity, systemic response and apoptosis. However, no additional adverse effects were observed, making toxicity or further articular damage unlikely. No significant changes were detected in synovial fluid LDH across groups (p=0.070), suggesting limited value as a biomarker for cartilage repair.

Anaplasma infects diverse cell types in animals and humans, worldwide. The current study was aimed to evaluate the occurrence, risk parameters and phylogeny of Anaplasma capra in small ruminants from three agro-climatically distinct regions of Pakistan. A total of 600 blood samples were randomly gathered from asymptomatic sheep and goats from Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, and Dera Ismail Khan districts of Pakistan using a multistage cluster sampling technique from January 2023 to May 2024. The blood samples were analyzed for Anaplasma infection targeting 16S rRNA gene using the PCR followed by sequencing. A pre-tested questionnaire was utilized to gather information regarding risk factors. The prevalence of anaplasmosis was revealed as 27.83% (167/600). The data suggested a higher frequency of disease in goats (30.37%) compared to sheep (24.82%). The analysis of multivariate logistic regression expressed that cracks in walls (p<0.0001, OR=2.240, CI=1.439-3.487) and grooming practice (p<0.01, OR=1.793, CI=1.235-2.604) were the significant risk factors. The phylogeny of 16S rRNA gene identified two separate clusters of A. capra exhibiting 99-100% similarity with various geographic isolates. The isolates of the current study exhibited higher homology with isolates from France, Ghana, South Korea, Turkey, China, and Pakistan traced from ticks, sheep, water buffalo, cattle, and water deer, respectively. In conclusion, anaplasmosis is widespread in the study regions with indication of genetic diversity. Additional research is required on the clinicopathological and potential vectors of zoonotic A. capra for devising better treatment and control measures.

Streptococcal diseases critically harm the health and productivity of animals as well as humans, and are generally considered an obstacle in the development of the breeding industry. However, there is little data on Streptococcus bovis in different seasons in different regions of Tibet. In this study, a total of 964 yak serum samples from three different cities in Tibet Autonomous Region, comprising of 326 samples from Lhasa city, 522 samples from Naqu City, and 116 samples from Xigatse city, were collected randomly. Enzyme-linked S. bovis i.e., ELISA kit (YJ233340) was employed for detection. An overall seroprevalence of 1.87% was revealed in Tibet during 2021-2024, in which the seroprevalence of Lhasa city was 3.99%, followed by Naqu City (0.96%), and Xigatse city (0%), respectively. Seroprevalence was more frequent in the Spring season (6.42%) and in 2024 (11.36%). The results of this study serve as a reference for the development of sustainable policies regarding cattle raising industry and the preventive measures of S. bovis in Tibet Autonomous Region.