Phaidra - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Not a member yet
3528 research outputs found
Sort by
The load of mycotoxins, phytoestrogens, pesticides and other toxins in a broad range of feedstuffs and implications for horse health
No full textDiplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2025Diploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2025This thesis investigates the prevalence of contaminants in horse feed and their potential implications for equine health. A total of 108 feed samples, including hay, grains, processed plant products, and supplementary feeds, were collected across Europe and analyzed for over 250 contaminants using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The study aimed to assess contamination levels, identify differences among feed types, and evaluate the potential health risks posed to horses. Findings revealed that 99 % of the samples contained fungal metabolites, with Fusarium toxins being the most prevalent. High concentrations of phytoestrogens and plant toxins were observed, particularly in lucerne-based and mixed processed plant products, raising concerns about their potential cumulative health effects. Single feed products like hay exhibited lower contamination levels compared to supplementary feeds such as grain-free mashes and mueslis. Additionally, pesticide and veterinary drug residues were detected, with mash products showing the highest contamination load. The study highlighted significant regulatory gaps, as current EU guidelines primarily focus on farm animals and inadequately address contaminants in horse feed. Hazardous substances like colchicine and monensin, which are toxic to horses, were identified in several samples, likely due to cross-contamination during production. The thesis underscores the need for stricter regulations, routine testing, and targeted research to better understand the synergistic effects of co-contaminants. These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety of horse feed and safeguarding equine healt
Challenges and opportunities in mitigating sarcoptic mange in wild South American camelids
No full textVicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are the two species of wild South American camelids whose distributions range from Peru to northern Argentina and southern Peru to southern Argentina, respectively. Listed as critically endangered in the 1960s due to poaching, vicuña numbers had been gradually recovering; however, new concerns about population stability have arisen with recent observations of sarcoptic mange outbreaks in this species. Sarcoptic mange is an infectious skin disease caused by the microscopic burrowing mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, which infects nearly 150 mammalian species globally, including guanaco and vicuña. Wild camelid populations across Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru have been affected by sarcoptic mange, with the most severe outbreaks resulting in localized extirpation. Population declines have conservation and economic implications, as many local communities harvest vicuña and guanaco fiber for profit. We review the current literature on sarcoptic mange in wild camelids from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru to establish a current state of knowledge on spatial prevalence, management, and therapeutics, and identify existing knowledge gaps. Critical next steps include 1) implementation of effective management strategies that limit the transmission of sarcoptic mange, 2) standardization of data collected during community capture (i.e., chaccu) events, 3) assessing the potential role of community captures in mite transmission, and 4) evaluation of treatment options and best practices for implementation. Further, there is a need for capacity building to improve disease diagnostics and surveillance in wild camelids. A multisectoral collaboration between governmental authorities, communities, academic institutions, and national and international organizations focusing on wild South American camelid conservation could contribute to building actions aimed at preventing future outbreaks and mitigating the current burden of sarcoptic mange disease.Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issu
Corrigendum to “A novel extraction method of prymnesins from Prymnesium parvum whole culture samples and re-evaluation of existing protocols” [Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 302 (2025) 118745]
No full textCorrigendum to “A novel extraction method of prymnesins from Prymnesium parvum whole culture samples and re-evaluation of existing protocols” [Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 302 (2025) 118745, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118745]
Modular comparison of untargeted metabolomics processing steps
No full textBackground: Untargeted metabolomics requires robust and reliable strategies for data processing to extract relevant information form the underlying raw data. Multiple platforms for data processing are available, but the choice of software tool can have an impact on the analysis. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of four workflows based on commonly used metabolomics software tools: XCMS, Compound Discoverer, MS-DIAL, and MZmine. These tools were applied to a dataset derived from bovine saliva samples spiked with small polar molecules analyzed by anion exchange chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry.
Results: The analysis revealed significant differences in the number and overlap of detected features, with only approximately 8 % of the features included in all four peak tables. Among the overlapping features, MS-DIAL demonstrated the greatest similarity to manual integration, while XCMS and MZmine also performed well. In contrast, Compound Discoverer had issues to reliably integrate high baseline peaks. This study also explores various post-processing strategies, including missing value imputation, transformation, scaling, and filtering. The assessment of missing values indicated that they primarily originated from low abundance, making imputation with small values the most effective approach. No clear evidence suggested that transformation is necessary for downstream statistical analyses. Auto scaling emerged as the most suitable strategy for data scaling. Low thresholds for blank filtering were found to be the most effective in enhancing data quality. The optimization of filtering thresholds required a careful balance to remove unnecessary information while retaining vital data.
Significance and novelty: This work provides an overview of commonly applied strategies in untargeted metabolomics analysis, emphasizing the importance of careful workflow selection and optimization. It serves as a resource for refining data processing strategies to achieve accurate and reliable results, while also offering fresh insights into the challenges encountered throughout the untargeted metabolomics processing pipeline
Hyperinflammatory repolarisation of ovarian cancer patient macrophages by anti-tumour IgE antibody, MOv18, restricts an immunosuppressive macrophage:Treg cell interaction
No full textOvarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer and treatment options remain limited. In a recent first-in-class Phase I trial, the monoclonal IgE antibody MOv18, specific for the tumour-associated antigen Folate Receptor-?, was well-tolerated and preliminary anti-tumoural activity observed. Pre-clinical studies identified macrophages as mediators of tumour restriction and pro-inflammatory activation by IgE. However, the mechanisms of IgE-mediated modulation of macrophages and downstream tumour immunity in human cancer remain unclear. Here we study macrophages from patients with epithelial ovarian cancers naive to IgE therapy. High-dimensional flow cytometry and RNA-seq demonstrate immunosuppressive, Fc?R-expressing macrophage phenotypes. Ex vivo co-cultures and RNA-seq interaction analyses reveal immunosuppressive associations between patient-derived macrophages and regulatory T (Treg) cells. MOv18 IgE-engaged patient-derived macrophages undergo pro-inflammatory repolarisation ex vivo and display induction of a hyperinflammatory, T cell-stimulatory subset. IgE reverses macrophage-promoted Treg cell induction to increase CD8+ T cell expansion, a signature associated with improved patient prognosis. On-treatment tumours from the MOv18 IgE Phase I trial show evidence of this IgE-driven immune signature, with increased CD68+ and CD3+ cell infiltration. We demonstrate that IgE induces hyperinflammatory repolarised states of patient-derived macrophages to inhibit Treg cell immunosuppression. These processes may collectively promote immune activation in ovarian cancer patients receiving IgE therapy
Subchondral bone density changes of the talus in dogs with tarsocrural osteochondrosis
No full textOsteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and osteochondrosis (OC) are multifactorial developmental joint diseases that can occur in various anatomical locations, including the tarsus of immature, rapidly growing large breed dogs. The pathogenesis of canine OCD and OC involves a disruption in endochondral ossification, resulting in a failure of matrix calcification and vascular invasion. This study aimed to investigate the subchondral bone density changes in Labrador Retrievers with tarsocrural OCD/ OC.A total of 8 dogs with unilateral tarsocrural OCD/ OC were included in the study and density was evaluated with Computed Tomography osteoabsorptiometry (CTOAM ). The findings revealed a significant decrease in subchondral bone density at the location of the OCD/ OC lesion, particularly at the medial trochlear ridge. This area of low density was surrounded by a higher density rim. Furthermore, the contralateral joint showed a significantly higher overall mineral density.These results highlight the significant changes in bone mineral density associated with tarsocrural OCD/ OC. The lower density in the affected joint suggests pathological alterations in the subchondral bone, which may impact the bone turnover and contribute to the development of secondary osteoarthrosis, subsequently. The higher density observed in the contralateral joint emphasizes the role of altered joint loading and adaptation in the subchondral bone
Fecal miRNA Profiling of Yorkshire Terrier Enteropathy
No full textMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation and are potential biomarkers for several diseases, including canine enteropathies. While metabolite profiling and microbiome in canine enteropathies have been previously explored, data on miRNA expression remain limited. This study aimed to profile miRNA expression in Yorkshire Terrier canine enteropathy using Illumina sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to compare miRNA levels between sick and healthy dogs from fecal samples. Despite the hypothesis that disease-related alterations in miRNA levels would differentiate sick dogs from controls, no significant differences were observed between the groups in either sequencing or qPCR analyses. These findings suggest that miRNA profiles may not vary significantly in the context of Yorkshire Terrier enteropathy and indicate that other molecular or metabolomic markers may be more indicative of disease state. This study also indicates that fecal samples may not be an ideal sample type for miRNA profiling. This study contributes to the understanding of molecular signatures in canine enteropathies and provides a basis for further research into alternative biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring
Draft genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis strains, isolated from soil samples from a historic tannery site in Upper Austria
No full textIn this announcement, we present the draft genomes of four Bacillus anthracis isolates, MH-MFM, MH-VW, MH-PR, and MH-JJ, originating from soil samples retrieved from a sludge disposal site of a historic tannery site in Upper Austria
Comparison of histochemical methods for the analysis of eosinophils and mast cells using a porcine model of eosinophilic esophagitis
No full textAccurate identification of eosinophils in tissue sections is required for diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis in humans and the assessment of severity of disease in allergy models. The pig may be a good model for sensitization and allergy models due to anatomical, physiological, and immunological similarities to humans. However, comparative studies on histochemical detection of eosinophils in fixed porcine tissue are lacking.Qualitative and quantitative comparisons were performed for six histochemical methods previously reported for eosinophil and mast cell detection in other species. Astra Blue/Vital New Red, Congo Red, Luna, Sirius Red, Toluidine Blue, and modified regressive Hematoxylin & Eosin were applied to formalin-fixed paraffin embedded full-thickness sections of porcine esophagus. Specimens were collected from young, crossbred pigs sensitized to ovalbumin with or without subsequent oral exposure to ovalbumin to produce eosinophilic esophagitis lesions for comparison to non-allergic controls.Ease of eosinophil quantitation was analyzed, and varied by histochemical stain, to determine whether stain selection increased accuracy and efficiency of evaluation. Noticeable differences in color contrast between intracytoplasmic granules, surrounding tissue, and cellular components aided detection and identification of eosinophils and mast cells with Astra Blue/New Vital Red and Toluidine Blue, respectively. For eosinophils, Congo Red and H&E were adequate, while Luna and Sirius Red presented challenges for quantitation. In this case, rapid and reliable characterization of porcine esophageal allergy models was made possible by using Astra Blue/New Vital Red for eosinophils and Toluidine Blue for mast cells
ColdZyme® reduces viral load and upper respiratory tract infection duration and protects airway epithelia from infection with human rhinoviruses
No full textUpper respiratory tract infection (URTI) has a significant economic and social impact and is a major factor compromising athletes\u27 training and competition. The effects of ColdZyme® Mouth Spray on URTI were investigated using an in vivo study in athletes, combined with a novel in vitro air-liquid interface human airway model. Endurance athletes were randomised to ColdZyme (n = 78) or placebo (n = 76) and monitored over 3 months. They completed daily symptom and training logs and collected throat swabs over 7 days during perceived URTI. In vitro studies examined rhinovirus infectivity and epithelial barrier integrity of airway epithelial cells. Eighty-two in vivo episodes were analysed with significantly lower (P = 0.012) episode duration in the ColdZyme vs. Placebo group (mean ± SD, 6.2 ± 2.6, (median [interquartile range]) 5.5 [4-9] days vs. 10.7 ± 10.2, 7.0 [5-11]). There was no difference in incidence (P = 0.149). Training absence and symptom ratings were lower (P < 0.05) in the ColdZyme group. Swabs were returned for 50 episodes, with at least one pathogen detected in all (rhinovirus was most abundant). Absolute quantification (qPCR) for rhinovirus revealed a significantly lower 7-day area under the curve in ColdZyme vs. placebo (median reduction, 94%, P = 0.029). In vitro, viral load was significantly lower (median reductions 80-100%), and epithelial barrier integrity better maintained, and no virus was detected by immunofluorescence analyses of pseudostratified epithelia, with ColdZyme treatment (all P < 0.05). ColdZyme is beneficial for reducing URTI duration, symptom ratings and missed training days. These novel data suggest that the mechanisms involve the protection of epithelial cells against rhinovirus infection and damage. KEY POINTS: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are a common complaint in the general population and athletes alike, with social, well-being and economic consequences, including performance detriments in athletes and reduced work productivity in the general population. Strategies to minimise the risk of contracting a URTI and/or reduce the time taken to clear an infection are desirable to athletes and the general population alike. The present study employed an in vivo study with athletes
in combination with a novel in vitro human airway cell model to examine the effects of ColdZyme Mouth Spray on URTI and viral infectivity. The duration for which URTI symptoms persisted was lower with ColdZyme treatment, which also resulted in fewer training absence days. Swabs from participants in the in vivo study and supernatants from the in vitro studies showed lower rhinovirus viral load with ColdZyme treatment compared with placebo or control