Phaidra - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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Personality matters – The interplay between consistent individual differences and mouse welfare in female C57BL6/J mice
No full textTo ensure good welfare of animals in human hands, it is essential to modify housing conditions according to the animals\u27 needs. Traditionally, the effects of such modifications are studied by means of group-level comparisons, thereby widely neglecting consistent inter-individual differences (i.e., so-called \u27animal personalities\u27). However, as animals with distinct personality types might differ in their environmental needs and hence react differently to the same environment, such systematic inter-individual differences might have important welfare consequences. This becomes particularly apparent under laboratory conditions, where animals are typically housed under highly standardized and barren environments. Against this background, we here aim to investigate personality-dependent welfare consequences in response to different housing conditions in laboratory mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were characterized for their personality type in exploration behavior and the most and the least explorative individuals were set up in either simple or in highly complex housing conditions that included constantly changing environmental
enrichment items. We monitored individual welfare by studying behavioral, physiological, and immunological outcome measures. Besides personality-dependent differences in immune parameters and overall improved welfare under complex housing conditions, we indeed found hints that individual mice were differently affected in their welfare depending on the specific combination of personality type and housing condition. Specifically, highly explorative mice appeared to be more adversely affected by simple housing, but also profited more from complex housing compared to low explorative mice. These findings indicate that welfare promoting adjustments do not necessarily benefit all individuals equally and therefore, call for a shift of perspectives in the evaluation of animal welfare
Preoperative detection of extraprostatic tumor extension in patients with primary prostate cancer utilizing [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI
No full textRadical prostatectomy (RP) is a common intervention in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa), with nerve-sparing RP recommended to reduce adverse effects on patient quality of life. Accurate pre-operative detection of extraprostatic extension (EPE) remains challenging, often leading to the application of suboptimal treatment. The aim of this study was to enhance pre-operative EPE detection through multimodal data integration using explainable machine learning (ML).Patients with newly diagnosed PCa who underwent [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI and subsequent RP were recruited retrospectively from two time ranges for training, cross-validation, and independent validation. The presence of EPE was measured from post-surgical histopathology and predicted using ML and pre-operative parameters, including PET/MRI-derived features, blood-based markers, histology-derived parameters, and demographic parameters. ML models were subsequently compared with conventional PET/MRI-based image readings.The study involved 107 patients, 59 (55%) of whom were affected by EPE according to postoperative findings for the initial training and cross-validation. The ML models demonstrated superior diagnostic performance over conventional PET/MRI image readings, with the explainable boosting machine model achieving an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI 0.87-0.89) during cross-validation and an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI 0.75-0.97) during independent validation. The ML approach integrating invasive features demonstrated better predictive capabilities for EPE compared to visual clinical read-outs (Cross-validation AUC 0.88 versus 0.71, p = 0.02).ML based on routinely acquired clinical data can significantly improve the pre-operative detection of EPE in PCa patients, potentially enabling more accurate clinical staging and decision-making, thereby improving patient outcomes.This study demonstrates that integrating multimodal data with machine learning significantly improves the pre-operative detection of extraprostatic extension in prostate cancer patients, outperforming conventional imaging methods and potentially leading to more accurate clinical staging and better treatment decisions.Extraprostatic extension is an important indicator guiding treatment approaches. Current assessment of extraprostatic extension is difficult and lacks accuracy. Machine learning improves detection of extraprostatic extension using PSMA-PET/MRI and histopathology
Hepatic transcriptomic analysis reveals differential regulation of metabolic and immune pathways in three strains of chickens with distinct growth rates exposed to mixed parasite infections
No full textDuring parasite infections, the liver may prioritise immune-related pathways over its metabolic functions. Intestinal infections caused by Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum impair feed intake, nutrient absorption, and weight gain. Histomonas meleagridis, vectored by H. gallinarum, can also damage liver tissues, potentially impairing liver functions. This study examined the hepatic gene expression in three strains of chickens: Ross-308 (R), Lohmann Brown Plus (LB), and Lohmann Dual (LD), 2 weeks after an experimental infection (n = 18) with both A. galli and H. gallinarum or kept as uninfected control (n = 12). Furthermore, H. gallinarum infection led to a co-infection with H. meleagridis. The mixed infections reduced feed intake and the average daily weight gain (P 0.05). For host molecular response, 1887 genes were differentially expressed in LD, while 275 and 25 genes were differentially expressed in R and LB, respectively. The up-regulated genes in R and LD were mostly related to inflammatory and adaptive immune responses, while down-regulated genes in LD were involved in metabolic pathways, including gluconeogenesis. Despite performance differences among the strains, worm burdens were similar, but hepatic molecular responses differed significantly. Moreover, there was an indication of a shift in hepatic functions towards immune-related pathways. We, therefore, conclude that the liver shifts its functions from metabolic to immune-related activities in chickens when challenged with mixed parasite species
Early human contact and housing for pigs - part 3: ability to cope with the environment
No full textEarly experiences can have long-term impacts on stress adaptability. This paper is the last of three in a series on early experiences and stress in pigs, and reports on the effects of early human contact and housing on the ability of pigs to cope with their general environment. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 48 litters of pigs were reared in either a farrowing crate (FC) or a loose farrowing pen (LP; PigSAFE pen) which was larger, more physically complex and allowed the sow to move freely. Piglets were provided with either routine contact from stockpeople (C), or routine contact plus regular opportunities for positive human contact (+HC) involving 5 min of scratching, patting and stroking imposed to the litter 5 days/week from 0 to 4 weeks of age. At 4 weeks of age (preweaning), C piglets that were reared in FC had considerably lower concentrations of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) than piglets from the other treatment combinations. Compared to C pigs, +HC pigs had fewer injuries at 4 weeks of age. There were no clear effects of human contact on BDNF concentrations or injuries after weaning, or on basal cortisol or immunoglobulin-A concentrations, behavioural time budgets, tear staining, growth, or piglet survival. Compared to FC piglets, LP piglets showed more play behaviour and interactions with the dam and less repetitive nosing towards pen mates during lactation. There was no evidence that early housing affected pigs\u27 behavioural time budgets or physiology after weaning. Tear staining severity was greater in LP piglets at 4 weeks of age, but this may have been associated with the higher growth rates of LP piglets preweaning. There was no effect of lactation housing on growth after weaning. Preweaning piglet mortality was higher in the loose system. The findings on BDNF concentrations, injuries and play behaviour suggest improved welfare during the treatment period in +HC and LP piglets compared to C and FC piglets, respectively. These results together with those from the other papers in this series indicate that positive human interaction early in life promotes stress adaptability in pigs. Furthermore, while the farrowing crate environment deprives piglets of opportunities for play behaviour and sow interaction, there was no evidence that rearing in crates negatively affected pig welfare or stress resilience after weaning. Whether these findings are specific to the two housing systems studied here, or can be generalised to other housing designs, warrants further research
Differential regulation of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 in cancer cells
No full textThe persistent growth of cancer cells is underscored by complex metabolic reprogramming, with mitochondria playing a key role in the transition to aerobic glycolysis and representing new therapeutic targets. Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) has attracted interest because of its abundance in rapidly proliferating cells, including cancer cells, and its involvement in cellular metabolism. However, the specific contributions of UCP2 to cancer biology remain poorly defined. Our investigation of UCP2 expression in various human and mouse cancer cell lines aimed to elucidate its links to metabolic states, proliferation, and adaptation to environmental stresses such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. We observed significant variability in UCP2 expression across cancer types, with no direct correlation to their metabolic activity or proliferation rates. UCP2 abundance was also differentially affected by nutrient availability in different cancer cells, but UCP2 was generally downregulated under hypoxia. These findings challenge the notion that UCP2 is a marker of malignant potential and suggest its more complex involvement in the metabolic landscape of cancer
Maternal stress effects across generations in a precocial bird
No full textPrenatal maternal stress (PMS) is known to shape the phenotype of the first generation offspring (F1) but according to some studies, it could also shape the phenotype of the offspring of the following generations. We previously showed in the Japanese quail that PMS increased the emotional reactivity of F1 offspring in relation to (i) a variation in the levels of some histone post-translational modification (H3K27me3) in their brains and (ii) a modulation of the hormonal composition of the eggs from which they hatched. Here, we wondered whether PMS could also influence the behaviour of the second (F2) and third (F3) generation offspring due to the persistence of the specific marks we identified. Using a principal component analysis, we found that PMS influenced F2 and F3 quail profiles with subtle differences between generations. It increased F2 neophobia, F3 fearfulness and F3 neophobia but only in females. Interestingly, we did not find any variations in the level of histone post-translational modification in F3 brains and we observed inconsistent modulations of androstenedione levels in F1 and F2 eggs. Although they may vary over generations, our results demonstrate that PMS can have phenotypical effects into the third generation
Untersuchung der Entwicklung von Ferkeln hochproliferativer Schweinelinien unter Verwendung von Ammensauen
No full textDiplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2024Durch den gesteigerten Einsatz von hochproliferativen Schweinelinien, welche mehr Ferkel gebären als sie selbst aufziehen können, werden auch auf immer mehr Betrieben außerhalb Dänemarks Ammensauensysteme angewendet, um die überzähligen Ferkel aufzuziehen und große Saugferkelverluste zu vermeiden. Es stellt sich jedoch die Frage welche Auswirkungen solche alternativen Aufzuchtmethoden auf die Leistung und das Tierwohl der betroffenen Ferkel haben. Dazu wurden Tageszunahmen, Häufigkeit von Karpalgelenks- und Gesichtsverletzungen, Mortalitätsraten und Behandlungshäufigkeit von Ferkeln von Ammensauen (Gruppe 3), Ferkeln, die im Zuge des Wurfausgleiches innerhalb der Abferkelgruppe versetzt wurden (Gruppe 2) und Ferkel, die von ihren eigenen Müttern aufgezogen wurden (Gruppe 1), auf einem österreichischen Betrieb mit Ein-Stufen-Ammensauen erhoben. Alle Ferkel eines Abferkeldurchgangs wurden am Tag der Geburt gewogen und markiert. Innerhalb von 2 Tagen erfolgte dann das betriebsübliche Versetzen der Ferkel zu Ammensauen oder zu Sauen innerhalb der Abferkelgruppe. Jedes Ferkelversetzen wurde tierindividuell dokumentiert und so konnten die Ferkel im Nachhinein den jeweiligen Versuchsgruppen zugeordnet werden. Obwohl Gruppe 3 und Gruppe 2 signifikant höhere Geburtsgewichte als Gruppe 1 aufwiesen, konnten im Laufe der Säugezeit keine unterschiedlichen Zunahmen zwischen den Gruppen detektiert werden. Auch die Absetzgewichte ließen keine signifikanten Differenzen erkennen. Nach dem Absetzen bis zum Alter von 10 Wochen jedoch konnten Gruppe 3 Ferkel signifikant höhere Tageszunahmen als Gruppe 2 Ferkel erzielen, und auch Gruppe 2 Ferkel nahmen signifikant mehr zu als Gruppe 1 Ferkel. Die Auswertung der Häufigkeit von Karpalgelenks- und Gesichtsverletzungen hingegen ergab keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen. Mortalitätsraten und Behandlungshäufigkeiten wurden rein deskriptiv analysiert, weil der jeweilige Wurf massiven Einfluss auf die Behandlungshäufigkeit hatte. Von Ammensauen aufgezogene Ferkel entwickeln sich folglich nicht schlechter als Gruppe 1 und Gruppe 2 Ferkel jedoch sollten beim Einsatz von hochproliferativen Schweinelinien auch Aspekte des Tierwohls und ethische Aspekte in eine kritische Beurteilung miteinbezogen werden.Diplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2024Durch den gesteigerten Einsatz von hochproliferativen Schweinelinien, welche mehr Ferkel gebären als sie selbst aufziehen können, werden auch auf immer mehr Betrieben außerhalb Dänemarks Ammensauensysteme angewendet, um die überzähligen Ferkel aufzuziehen und große Saugferkelverluste zu vermeiden. Es stellt sich jedoch die Frage welche Auswirkungen solche alternativen Aufzuchtmethoden auf die Leistung und das Tierwohl der betroffenen Ferkel haben. Dazu wurden Tageszunahmen, Häufigkeit von Karpalgelenks- und Gesichtsverletzungen, Mortalitätsraten und Behandlungshäufigkeit von Ferkeln von Ammensauen (Gruppe 3), Ferkeln, die im Zuge des Wurfausgleiches innerhalb der Abferkelgruppe versetzt wurden (Gruppe 2) und Ferkel, die von ihren eigenen Müttern aufgezogen wurden (Gruppe 1), auf einem österreichischen Betrieb mit Ein-Stufen-Ammensauen erhoben. Alle Ferkel eines Abferkeldurchgangs wurden am Tag der Geburt gewogen und markiert. Innerhalb von 2 Tagen erfolgte dann das betriebsübliche Versetzen der Ferkel zu Ammensauen oder zu Sauen innerhalb der Abferkelgruppe. Jedes Ferkelversetzen wurde tierindividuell dokumentiert und so konnten die Ferkel im Nachhinein den jeweiligen Versuchsgruppen zugeordnet werden. Obwohl Gruppe 3 und Gruppe 2 signifikant höhere Geburtsgewichte als Gruppe 1 aufwiesen, konnten im Laufe der Säugezeit keine unterschiedlichen Zunahmen zwischen den Gruppen detektiert werden. Auch die Absetzgewichte ließen keine signifikanten Differenzen erkennen. Nach dem Absetzen bis zum Alter von 10 Wochen jedoch konnten Gruppe 3 Ferkel signifikant höhere Tageszunahmen als Gruppe 2 Ferkel erzielen, und auch Gruppe 2 Ferkel nahmen signifikant mehr zu als Gruppe 1 Ferkel. Die Auswertung der Häufigkeit von Karpalgelenks- und Gesichtsverletzungen hingegen ergab keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen. Mortalitätsraten und Behandlungshäufigkeiten wurden rein deskriptiv analysiert, weil der jeweilige Wurf massiven Einfluss auf die Behandlungshäufigkeit hatte. Von Ammensauen aufgezogene Ferkel entwickeln sich folglich nicht schlechter als Gruppe 1 und Gruppe 2 Ferkel jedoch sollten beim Einsatz von hochproliferativen Schweinelinien auch Aspekte des Tierwohls und ethische Aspekte in eine kritische Beurteilung miteinbezogen werden.Diploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2024The usage of hyperprolific sows mostly dominant on Danish farms has also become a major topic in other countries. However, the fact that these sows give birth to more piglets than they can rear by themselves calls for alternative rearing methods to prevent high piglet mortality rates. As nurse sow systems appear to be the most common management intervention for raising surplus piglets from hyperprolific sows it is to be questioned which impact this method has on performance and welfare of the piglets. To answer this question daily gains, carpal and facial lesions, mortality rates and frequency of medical treatment from piglets, which were raised by their native mother (Group 1), piglets, which have been cross fostered to sows of the same lactation stage (Group 2), and piglets, which were moved to nurse sows (Group 3), were examined on a small scaled Austrian farm which uses a one-step nurse sow strategy. For this purpose, all piglets from one farrowing group were marked and weighed on their day of birth and within two days cross-fostering and moving piglets to nurse sows, as it is usually done on the farm, were performed. Every movement of each piglet was documented and so the piglets could be assigned to one of the three groups afterwards. Although group 2 and group 3 piglets had significantly higher birthweights than group 1 piglets, as the heaviest piglets per litter were moved, there was no significant difference in growth during lactation period. There was also no difference in weaning weights, in contrast from weaning to 10 weeks of live group 3 piglets could gain significantly more weight than group 2 piglets and group 2 piglets performed better than group 1 piglets. No significant difference could be shown on the occurrence of carpal and facial lesions. Mortality rates and frequency of medical treatment were only analysed in a descriptive way since the factor litter did influence the treatment frequency. In conclusion, piglets which were moved to nurse sows did not perform worse than group 1 and group 2 piglets but also animal welfare and ethical aspects should be considered when hyperprolific sows are used
The Amphibian Genomics Consortium: advancing genomic and genetic resources for amphibian research and conservation
No full textAmphibians represent a diverse group of tetrapods, marked by deep divergence times between their three systematic orders and families. Studying amphibian biology through the genomics lens increases our understanding of the features of this animal class and that of other terrestrial vertebrates. The need for amphibian genomic resources is more urgent than ever due to the increasing threats to this group. Amphibians are one of the most imperiled taxonomic groups, with approximately 41% of species threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, changes in land use patterns, disease, climate change, and their synergistic effects. Amphibian genomic resources have provided a better understanding of ontogenetic diversity, tissue regeneration, diverse life history and reproductive modes, anti-predator strategies, and resilience and adaptive responses. They also serve as essential models for studying broad genomic traits, such as evolutionary genome expansions and contractions, as they exhibit the widest range of genome sizes among all animal taxa and possess multiple mechanisms of genetic sex determination. Despite these features, genome sequencing of amphibians has significantly lagged behind that of other vertebrates, primarily due to the challenges of assembling their large, repeat-rich genomes and the relative lack of societal support. The emergence of long-read sequencing technologies, combined with advanced molecular and computational techniques that improve scaffolding and reduce computational workloads, is now making it possible to address some of these challenges. To promote and accelerate the production and use of amphibian genomics research through international coordination and collaboration, we launched the Amphibian Genomics Consortium (AGC, https://mvs.unimelb.edu.au/amphibian-genomics-consortium ) in early 2023. This burgeoning community already has more than 282 members from 41 countries. The AGC aims to leverage the diverse capabilities of its members to advance genomic resources for amphibians and bridge the implementation gap between biologists, bioinformaticians, and conservation practitioners. Here we evaluate the state of the field of amphibian genomics, highlight previous studies, present challenges to overcome, and call on the research and conservation communities to unite as part of the AGC to enable amphibian genomics research to "leap" to the next level
Neuroprotection with hypothermic reperfusion and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation - A randomized controlled animal trial of prolonged ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest in rats
No full textExtracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) facilitates resuscitation with immediate and precise temperature control. This study aimed to determine the optimal reperfusion temperature to minimize neurological damage after ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest (VFCA). Twenty-four rats were randomized (n = 8 per group) to normothermia (NT = 37°C), mild hypothermia (MH = 33°C) or moderate hypothermia (MOD = 27°C). The rats were subjected to 10 minutes of VFCA, before 15 minutes of ECPR at their respective target temperature. After ECPR weaning, rats in the MOD group were rapidly rewarmed to 33°C, and temperature maintained at 33°C (MH/MOD) or 37°C (NT) for 12 hours before slow rewarming to normothermia (MH/MOD). The primary outcome was 30-day survival with overall performance category (OPC) 1 or 2 (1 = normal, 2 = slight disability, 3 = severe disability, 4 = comatose, 5 = dead). Secondary outcomes included awakening rate (OPC ≤ 3) and neurological deficit score (NDS, from 0 = normal to 100 = brain dead). The survival rate did not differ between reperfusion temperatures (NT = 25%, MH = 63%, MOD = 38%, p = 0.301). MH had the lowest NDS (NT = 4[IQR 3–4], MH = 2[1–2], MOD = 5[3–5], p = 0.044) and highest awakening rate (NT = 25%, MH = 88%, MOD = 75%, p = 0.024). In conclusion, ECPR with 33°C reperfusion did not statistically significantly improve survival after VFCA when compared with 37°C or 27°C reperfusion but was neuroprotective as measured by awakening rate and neurological function
Assessing learning, behaviour, and stress level in goats while testing a virtual fencing training protocol
No full textVirtual fencing (VF) is a modern fencing technology using Global Positioning System-enabled collars which emit acoustic signals and, if the animal does not respond, electric pulses. Studies with cattle indicate successful learning and no distinct negative impact on the animals\u27 behaviours and stress level. However, the number of studies testing VF with goats is relatively small. In this study, we used VF collars to test a VF training protocol recently applied to heifers to assess the development of goats\u27 learning to avoid the electric pulse, their behaviour, and faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) as an indicator for physiological stress in a grazing experiment. Twenty adult \u27Blobe\u27 goats with offspring were divided into two groups and assigned to the VF or physical fencing treatment in a cross-over design with two periods of 12 days each. The VF treatment involved a virtual fence at one side of the paddock, to which the goats were gradually introduced over the first 2 days (additional physical fence or posts as visual support). On day eight, the grazing areas were enlarged by shifting the virtual fence and one side of the physical fencing treatment. The experiment lasted 4 h per day. During this time, the following behaviours were recorded via instantaneous scan sampling of all goats every 2 min: grazing, lying, standing, standing vigilant, walking, and running. Additionally, faecal samples were collected once, or twice daily and FCM concentrations were measured. The VF collars delivered the number of acoustic signals and electric pulses and the duration of the acoustic signals. The daily number of acoustic signals and electric pulses of each goat was used to calculate a \u27success ratio\u27. A significant increase in the success ratio and a general decrease in the signal duration indicate the successful association of acoustic signals and electric pulses at the group level. Behavioural analyses revealed no clear influence of the VF treatment except for standing vigilant. Virtually fenced goats stood significantly more vigilant than physically fenced ones. However, free-moving kids could have had an influence. The VF treatment had no significant effect on the FCM concentrations, which decreased significantly over time. In summary, goats showed signs of learning when avoiding receiving electric pulses by responding appropriately to the acoustic signals. A higher occurrence of vigilance behaviour may suggest insecurity, but FCM concentrations did not indicate increased physiological stress. Future research needs to confirm these results and test VF with goats under practical conditions