Phaidra - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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Impact of trainability on telomere dynamics of pet dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): An explorative study in aging dogs
No full textThis research studied the impact of various factors (including social and physiological parameters) on telomere dynamics in pet dogs. Telomeres, essential for maintaining genomic integrity, undergo shortening with each cell division, leading to cellular senescence. Previous studies in humans have linked cognitive and social factors with telomere dynamics but in animals, such associations remain understudied. This study is based on a previous study, where behavioral and cognitive changes in aging pet dogs were investigated. Together with standard variables (sex, age, body weight, diet), behavioral predictors that were assessed in the "Modified Vienna Canine Cognitive Battery" were used. This study aimed to investigate the influence of these factors on telomere dynamics in aging pet dogs. The relative telomere length of 63 dogs was measured, using a qPCR method and a model selection approach was applied to assess which variables can explain the found telomere patterns. Results revealed a strong association of the behavioral factor called trainability and telomere change. Trainability was the best predictor for telomere change over time and was the only predictor having a relative variable importance (RVI) above 0.7. This finding suggests that higher trainability positively affects telomere dynamics in aging dogs and factors like age, sex, diet, and other cognitive parameters are less important. The study sheds light on the potential role of cognitive factors in canine aging and offers insights into improving the quality of life for aging dogs, but further research is needed to comprehensively understand the interplay between behavior, cognition, and telomere dynamics in dogs
Examining holistic processing strategies in dogs and humans through gaze behavior
No full textExtensive studies have shown that humans process faces holistically, considering not only individual features but also the relationships among them. Knowing where humans and dogs fixate first and the longest when they view faces is highly informative, because the locations can be used to evaluate whether they use a holistic face processing strategy or not. However, the conclusions reported by previous eye-tracking studies appear inconclusive. To address this, we conducted an experiment with humans and dogs, employing experimental settings and analysis methods that can enable direct cross-species comparisons. Our findings reveal that humans, unlike dogs, preferentially fixated on the central region, surrounded by the inner facial features, for both human and dog faces. This pattern was consistent for initial and sustained fixations over seven seconds, indicating a clear tendency towards holistic processing. Although dogs did not show an initial preference for what to look at, their later fixations may suggest holistic processing when viewing faces of their own species. We discuss various potential factors influencing species differences in our results, as well as differences compared to the results of previous studies
International interlaboratory study to normalize liquid chromatography-based mycotoxin retention times through implementation of a retention index system
No full textMonitoring for mycotoxins in food or feed matrices is necessary to ensure the safety and security of global food systems. Due to a lack of standardized methods and individual laboratory priorities, most institutions have developed their own methods for mycotoxin determinations. Given the diversity of mycotoxin chemical structures and physicochemical properties, searching databases, and comparing data between institutions is complicated. We previously introduced incorporating a retention index (RI) system into liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based mycotoxin determinations. To validate this concept, we designed an interlaboratory study where each participating laboratory was sent N-alkylpyridinium-3-sulfonates (NAPS) RI standards, and 36 mycotoxin standards for analysis using their pre-optimized LC-MS methods. Data from 44 analytical methods were submitted from 24 laboratories representing various manufacturer platforms, LC columns, and mobile phase compositions. Mycotoxin retention times (tR) were converted to RI values based on their elution relative to the NAPS standards. Trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol,
3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol) showed tR consistency (± 20-50 RI units, 1-5 % median RI) regardless of mobile phase or type of chromatography column in this study. For the remaining mycotoxins tested, the RI values were strongly impacted by the mobile phase composition and column chemistry. The ability to predict tR was evaluated based on the median RI mycotoxin values and the NAPS tR. These values were corrected using Tanimoto coefficients to investigate whether structurally similar compounds could be used as anchors to further improve accuracy. This study demonstrated the power of employing an RI system for mycotoxin determinations, further enhancing the confidence of identifications
Haemoproteus tartakovskyi and Plasmodium relictum (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa) differentially express distinct 18S rRNA gene variants in bird hosts and dipteran vectors
No full textMost mammalian Plasmodium species possess distinct 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene copies, which are differentially expressed in vertebrate hosts and mosquito vectors. Although similar sequence patterns were found in avian haemosporidian parasites, expression patterns have not been studied yet. This study aimed to test whether 18S variants of Plasmodium relictum SGS1 and Haemoproteus tartakovskyi SISKIN1 are expressed differentially in bird hosts and dipteran vectors using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH).Eurasian siskins (Spinus spinus) experimentally infected with P. relictum SGS1 and naturally infected with H. tartakovskyi SISKIN1 were used. Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes (SGS1) and Culicoides nubeculosus biting midges (SISKIN1) were fed on the blood of infected birds and maintained for several days to allow for the development of oocysts and sporozoites. Total RNA was extracted from bird blood and a subset of the dipteran vectors during each stage of parasite development, followed by qPCRs specifically targeting distinct 18S variants of the two parasites. Organs of the donor birds and whole bodies of the vectors were examined histologically using CISH by targeting different 18S variants of the parasites.Plasmodium relictum SGS1 expressed two 18S variants in bird blood and mosquitoes, but their expression levels were reversed in birds and vectors, with one variant being preferentially expressed over the other. Using CISH, oocysts were stained with probes targeting both 18S variants, but sporozoites could not be detected, suggesting a suboptimal development of the parasites. Haemoproteus tartakovskyi SISKIN1, which features three distinct 18S variants, expressed one 18S variant in bird blood and two variants in the biting midges, while no signals were detected for the third variant. The results were corroborated by CISH, but surprisingly, some oocysts were also stained by the probe targeting the third variant.The results indicate that distinct 18S variants of the two parasite species are differentially expressed in bird hosts and vectors. Moreover, for the first time, we provide visualizations of avian haemosporidian oocysts in tissue sections of the vectors, with the discovery of extraintestinal development of oocysts in SISKIN1-infected biting midges
Jahresbericht 2024 / Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien
No full textDer Jahresbericht gewährt Einblicke und Rückblicke in das Universitätsleben und fasst Informationen zu Forschung, Lehre und den Universitätskliniken zusammen. Der Bericht liegt in deutscher und englischer Sprache vor
The type of food influences the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes in a food-gastrointestinal-infection model
No full textFood contaminated with Listeria (L.) monocytogenes is the main source of human listeriosis, but how different food matrices affect the survival and invasion in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is still unclear. This study examined three ready-to-eat foods - soft-cheese, smoked salmon, and sausage - using a food-GI-infection model. We observed strain-dependent growth rates, but food matrices did not significantly impact growth. However, nutrient sources altered gene expression. Passage through the GI model upregulated 23 stress genes and 29 virulence genes (e.g., clpE, hly, and plcB). L. monocytogenes survival was higher in cheese and fish compared to sausage, due to their lower buffer capacity. Invasion efficiency into Caco-2 cells was highest in fish, potentially linked to its fatty acid composition. Food matrices and GI conditions influenced the transcriptional profiles of stress-associated and virulence genes. This study highlights the significant role of food matrices in L. monocytogenes survival and infection
Establishment and Maintenance of Feline Pregnancy-A Comprehensive Review
No full textCats are different from dogs, and many questions remain open concerning the establishment of pregnancy. In cats, as in dogs, no feto-maternal signaling leading to establishment of pregnancy is known. But as opposed to dogs, the placenta is a source of steroid hormones and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Scarce information is available on physiological mechanisms at the uterine level during early gestation; more studies are needed on lymphocyte subsets, feto-maternal crosstalk and other mechanisms leading to local immunosuppression, allograft acceptance and embryo nidation and invasion. Recent studies investigate the function of extracellular vesicles (EVs); however, there is no study on embryo- or endometrium-derived EV. During pregnancy, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum concentrations were found to be higher than in non-pregnant cats, and a recent study found that supraphysiological levels may lead to pregnancy loss; the function of AMH during pregnancy warrants investigation. Most information is available on corpus luteum development and function, showing some similarities to dogs. Some information on maintenance of feline pregnancy was obtained by ovariectomy (OE) or the use of endocrine disruptors, showing that OE does not lead to pregnancy loss in all cases, especially when performed after day 35; the variable effect is still not fully understood. Antiprogesterone, dopamine agonists and prostaglandins were used in different dosages and treatment schemes and showed variable effect during the second half of gestation, highlighting progesterone and prolactin as key hormones for the maintenance of gestation. Some events during early gestation are comparable with the canine species, even though they appear earlier, like the entrance of the zygote into the uterus and implantation; however, significant differences are present concerning the histomorphology of the placenta and, in a few cases, even the gross morphology as in some cats, where the zonary placenta does not completely surround the fetus. Sonographical monitoring of feline pregnancy requires knowledge of species-specific developmental steps and the differential appearance of fetal and maternal structures in comparison with dogs
Equine epizootic lymphangitis: A synopsis and current development
No full textEquine Epizootic Lymphangitis (EEL) is a highly infectious and contagious systemic fungal disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum. It can affect all equids, but primarily horses and mules. Although the disease has been eradicated in many countries, it still exists in some Mediterranean countries, as well as in India, Pakistan, Japan, North Africa, and East Africa, notably Ethiopia. EEL is prevalent in rural, urban, and peri-urban areas where equids significantly contribute to the socioeconomic well-being of people who rely on these animals for their livelihood. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) classifies it as a listed disease due to its importance in economic and public health for countries involved in animal trade. Indeed, the disease can be transmitted through inhalation, ingestion, flies, fomites, and direct contact. The skin of equids typically becomes infected when the fungus enters through open wounds, which is the most common route of infection. Clinically, the disease presents in four forms: cutaneous, ocular (keratoconjunctivitis), respiratory (multifocal pulmonary lesions), and asymptomatic forms. The isolation is based on the isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum and serology; however, challenges arise due to the slow growth of the organism, which complicates isolation. Care must be taken to minimize contamination, as samples are primarily collected from abscesses, mucopurulent discharge, scabs, and tissues. This paper summarizes findings from various studies regarding the prevalence of EEL and its association with altitude and climate. In conclusion, implementing control measures is crucial for managing EEL. These measures include educating horse owners on the importance of regularly cleaning horse equipment, controlling flies, preventing wounds through proper harnessing, routine deworming, and protecting horses from feral dogs and hyena attacks
Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals a Dual Role of the Epidermal Differentiation Complex in the Skin and the Oesophagus
No full textThe epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) is a cluster of genes implicated in the control of the skin barrier. However, some EDC genes are also expressed at high levels in the human oesophagus. To determine whether the expression of EDC genes in the oesophagus is evolutionarily conserved, we performed comparative transcriptomic analyses of the skin and the oesophagus in humans, mice and chickens. Transcriptomes from public databases and newly generated RNA‐sequencing data of the chicken oesophagus were compared. We found that the EDC of both mammals and birds contains genes that are predominantly expressed in the skin and others that are predominantly expressed in the oesophagus. Cornulin is strongly enriched in the oesophagus of humans and chickens. Similar to small proline‐rich proteins in the human and murine oesophagus, an EDC protein rich in proline is predominantly expressed in the chicken oesophagus. Further oesophagus‐enriched EDC genes are specific to phylogenetic lineages. This study indicates that the EDC plays evolutionarily ancient roles not only in the epidermis of the skin but also in the epithelium of the oesophagus. In line with the dual function of the EDC, dysregulation of EDC gene expression is associated with pathological changes in both stratified epithelia
A survey on the implementation of environmental health monitoring in mouse facilities in German-speaking countries
No full textThe health status of laboratory animals plays a decisive role not only for the health and welfare of the animals but also for the validity of study results. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of publications on environmental health monitoring (EHM), which uses molecular biological methods to detect nucleic acids of infectious agents in individually ventilated cage systems, e.g. in exhaust air dust. This monitoring strategy can reduce the number of mice used for health monitoring in conformity with the 3Rs. Numerous studies have shown that EHM is reliable and sensitive and is, therefore, a useful method for health monitoring of mice. An online survey was created to assess the prevalence of the use of EHM in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and to better understand the factors influencing its use in animal facilities. The survey revealed that the majority of facilities primarily equipped with individually ventilated cage systems already use EHM to varying degrees, replacing between 8 and 1200 animals per year and facility. However, the predominant strategy is still the use of (sentinel) animals for health monitoring. Beliefs on factors such as cost, reliability and the number of false-positive results differ significantly between facilities that predominantly use either animals or EHM. Additionally, the choice of monitoring strategy may be influenced by the existing cage system and the availability of a decontamination option for the equipment. The evaluation of the survey showed that there is still a gap in knowledge and a demand for specific training on the topic of health monitoring and especially on EHM