Phaidra - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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Klauenrehe als Folge von Mastitiden durch Escherichia (E.) coli – retrospektive Studie zur Prävalenz und zum Langzeit-Outcome von Patienten der Klinik für Wiederkäuer 2012-2023 mit diesem Krankheitskomplex
No full textDiploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2025The aim of this retrospective case-control study was to investigate the relationship between the occurrence of mastitis caused by E. coli and acute laminitis. For this purpose, the medical records of 93 cows with E. coli mastitis were evaluated. The cows were divided into three groups: 1) cows with mastitisscore 1 or 2 without symptoms of acute laminitis; 2) cows with mastitis score 3 without symptoms of acute laminitis; 3) cows with mastitis score 3 and symptoms of acute laminitis. Out of the 93 cows with E. coli mastitis, 19 were assigned to group 1 (20.4 %), 46 to group 2 (49.5 %), and 28 to group 3 (30.1 %). A total of 74 cows (79.6 %) had score 3 mastitis, but only in 28 cows (37.8 %) was also diagnosed an acute laminitis. A higher mastitis score was significantly associated with a higher incidence of acute laminitis (P=0.0004). E. coli mastitis occurred in cows of all three groups mainly in the first third of lactation (53.6 % to 75.6 %) and increased in the third and later lactations (73.3 % to 78.6 %). In cows in groups 2 and 3, examination of the conjunctivae and skin elasticity frequently showed pathological findings in 51.7 % to 78.6 % of the animals. Additionally, the appetite and rumen activity of cows in all three groups were significantly impaired (84.2 % to 89.5 %). In all cows with acute laminitis, a palpable depression around the coronary band on two or more claws was detected by finger palpation. Positive pain palpation of the claws using a hoof tester was detectable in only 63.3 % of the cows, and an increased temperature of the claws was detectable in only 60.7 % of the cows with acute laminitis. All 28 cows showed a stiff gait and lameness. Regarding the survival time of the cows in the three groups, only a trend but no statistically significant differences were assessed. The cows in group 1 had a median survival time of 512 days, while for the cows in group 2 this value was 93 days, and for the cows in group 3 this value was 178 days. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that when a cow is diagnosed with E. coli mastitis with a score of 3, a careful examination of the claws should always be carried out in order not to overlook the acute laminitis that accompanied the E. coli mastitis in around 38 % of cases.Diplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2025Ziel dieser retrospektiven Fall-Kontroll-Studie war es Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Auftreten von Mastitiden durch E. coli und akuter Klauenrehe zu untersuchen. Dazu wurden die Krankenakten von 93 Kühen mit E. coli-Mastitiden ausgewertet. Die Kühe wurden in drei Gruppen unterteilt: 1) Kühe mit Mastitis-Score 1 oder 2 ohne Symptome einer akuten Klauenrehe; 2) Kühe mit Mastitis-Score 3 ohne Symptome einer akuten Klauenrehe; 3) Kühe mit Mastitis-Score 3 und Symptomen einer akuten Klauenrehe. Von den 93 Kühen mit einer E. coli-Mastitis wurden 19 der Gruppe 1 (20,4 %), 46 der Gruppe 2 (49,5 %) und 28 Kühe der Gruppe 3 (30,1 %) zugeordnet. Insgesamt zeigten 74 Kühe (79,6 %) eine Score 3-Mastitis, jedoch nur bei 28 Kühen (37,8 %) wurde auch eine akute Klauenrehe diagnostiziert. Ein höherer Mastitis-Score ging signifikant mit einem häufigeren Auftreten von akuter Klauenrehe einher (P=0,0004). E. coli-Mastitiden traten bei Kühen aller drei Gruppen zu 53,6 % bis 75,6 % im ersten Laktationsdrittel und vermehrt in der dritten und in höheren Laktationen auf mit 73,3 % bis 78,6 %. Bei den Kühen der Gruppen 2 und 3 zeigte die Untersuchung der Lidbindehäute und der Hautelastizität pathologische Befunde bei 51,7 % bis zu 78,6 % der Tiere. Zudem waren die Fresslust und Pansentätigkeit bei Kühen in allen drei Gruppen signifikant beeinträchtigt (84,2 % bis 89,5 %). Bei allen Kühen mit akuter Klauenrehe war das Einsinken des Saumbandes an zwei oder mehreren Klauen mittels Fingerpalpation nachweisbar, wohingegen eine positive Schmerzpalpation an den Klauen nur bei 63,3 % der Kühe, und eine erhöhte Temperatur der Klauen nur bei 60,7 % der Kühe mit akuter Klauenrehe feststellbar war. Alle 28 Kühe zeigten ein spießiges Gangbild und Lahmheit. Hinsichtlich der Überlebenszeit der Kühe in den drei Gruppen konnte nur ein tendenzieller aber kein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied festgestellt werden. Die Kühe der Gruppe 1 wiesen eine Überlebenszeit von 512 Tagen (Median) auf, wohingegen dieser Wert bei den Kühen der Gruppe 2 93 Tage, und bei den Kühen der Gruppe 3 178 Tage betrug. Aus den Resultaten dieser Studie lässt sich schlussfolgern, dass bei Diagnosestellung einer E. coli-Mastitis mit Score 3 bei einer Kuh immer auch eine sorgfältige Untersuchung der Klauen vorgenommen werden sollte, um eine in ca. 38 % der Fälle damit einhergehende akute Klauenrehe nicht zu übersehen
Colonization of equine patients with Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) upon admission and during hospitalization at a veterinary clinic
No full textDiplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2025Extended-Spektrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-produzierende, resistente Enterobacteriaceae werden vom Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) als ernsthafte Bedrohung eingestuft, da die verfügbaren Antibiotikaklassen zur Behandlung dieser Infektionen begrenzt sind und häufig nur Reserveantibiotika wie Carbapeneme als letzte Option verbleiben. Pferde können als Reservoir dienen und zeigen in den letzten Jahren eine zunehmende Prävalenz. Um die Situation in Österreich zu bewerten, wurden fäkale Proben von 40 Pferden, die die Pferdeklinik der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität stationär aufgenommen wurden, entnommen – bei Aufnahme (T1), nach 48 Stunden (T2) und nach 72 Stunden bzw. bei Entlassung (T3). Die Identifizierung der Bakterienspezies erfolgte mittels MALDI-TOF, während die Isolate mittels VITEK2 auf ihre phänotypische Resistenz untersucht wurden. Getestet wurden verschiedene Antibiotikaklassen, darunter Aminopenicilline, Cephalosporine der 3. Generation, Aminoglykoside, Chinolone, Tetrazykline und Sulfonamide. Zusätzlich wurde ein Carbapenem-Screening mit Imipenem durchgeführt. Unter den 40 Pferden waren 21 (52,5 %) zu einem oder mehreren Zeitpunkten (T1, T2 oder T3) positiv. Insgesamt wurden 28 ESBL-produzierende Enterobacteriaceae isoliert, jedoch enthielten 8 davon zwei oder drei unterschiedliche Kolonien, was insgesamt zu 37 Identifikationen führte. Der Anteil ESBL-positiver Proben stieg mit der Dauer des Klinikaufenthalts, beginnend mit 2,5 % bei Aufnahme, ansteigend auf 25 % beim zweiten Zeitpunkt und schließlich 42,5 % in der letzten Probe. Diese Ergebnisse sind mit anderen Studien zur Prävalenz von ESBL bei Pferden vergleichbar. Zwei der Isolate zeigten eine Resistenz gegenüber Imipenem, und ein weiteres erzielte ein intermediäres Ergebnis. Es wurde ein moderater statistischer Zusammenhang zwischen dem allgemeinen Einsatz von Antibiotika und dem Alter sowie der ESBL-Trägerschaft festgestellt, jedoch nicht mit chirurgischen Eingriffen. Obwohl weitere Forschung erforderlich ist, zeigt sich ein signifikanter Anstieg des Anteils ESBL-positiver Pferde in Abhängigkeit von der Dauer der Hospitalisierung. Dieser Trend weist auf ein potenzielles Risiko für die öffentliche Gesundheit hin, insbesondere im Rahmen des One-Health-Konzepts, das die Verflechtung von menschlicher, tierischer und Umweltgesundheit berücksichtigt.Diploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2025Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are recognized by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as serious threats because antibiotic classes to treat these infections are limited and often last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems are the remaining options. Horses may act as reservoirs and also show an increasing prevalence in the last years. To evaluate the situation in Austria, fecal samples of 40 horses attending and staying in the equine hospital of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna were collected upon admission (T1), at 48h (T2) and at 72h/release (T3). Species identification was performed using MALDI-TOF, while the isolates were assessed for phenotypic resistance through VITEK2. Different classes of antibiotics were tested, including aminopenicillins, 3rd generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, quinolones, tetracyclines and sulfonamides. Additionally, a carbapenem screening with imipenem was conducted. Among the 40 horses, 21 (52.5 %) of them were positive at either T1, T2 or T3 or several time points. In total, 28 of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were isolated but 8 of them contained two or three different colonies which made a total of 37 identifications. The percentage of ESBL-positive samples increased with the duration of hospitalization, starting at 2.5 % upon admission, rising to 25 % at the second time point, and reaching 42.5 % at the final sample. These results can be compared to other studies researching prevalence of ESBL in horses . Two of the isolates showed resistance to imipenem and one showed an intermediated result. There was a moderate statistical association between antimicrobial use in general and age, and ESBL carriage, but not surgery. Although further research is needed, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of ESBL-positive horses in relation to the duration of hospitalization. This trend highlights a potential public health risk, particularly within the One Health concept, where the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health must be considered
Associations Between Locomotion Scores and Specific Claw Lesions in Dairy Cows from Digital Dermatitis-Infected Herds
No full textLameness is a significant global welfare and economic problem in dairy farming. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between various claw lesions and locomotion scores (LCS). A total of 491 cows from ten Austrian dairy farms were included in the study. Each cow\u27s gait was individually evaluated and an ascending locomotion score ranging from 1 to 5 was assigned. Subsequently, functional hoof trimming was conducted on all cows. During this procedure the claws were examined and all lesions electronically documented. For statistical analysis, the prevalence of each LCS was calculated and the distribution of LCS in relation to parity and lactation stage examined. Additionally, a simple chi-square test and a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) were applied to identify associations between specific types of lesions and LCSs. The results from the GLMM showed significant associations (p = 2, between DD-associated claw horn lesions, thin soles, interdigital hyperplasia IH-DD-M2 and an LCS >= 3, and between DD-associated claw horn lesions, IH-DD-M2, and \u27infectious claw disorders\u27 and an LCS >= 4. The results emphasise the importance of early and accurate detection of lameness to promptly treat underlying painful claw lesions, thereby promoting improved animal welfare
A FoodSafeR perspective on emerging food safety hazards and associated risks
No full textThe recently launched FoodSafeR initiative is a cooperative and coordinated approach to the identification, assessment, and management of emerging food security challenges and associated risks-both chemical and microbial. The FoodSafeR consortium includes global stakeholders across governmental, inter-governmental, academic and industrial institutions involved in food safety, research, and production. Consortium members have led in-depth discussions on identifying, assessing and managing chemical and microbial food safety issues resulting from climate change, emerging microbial and chemical contaminants, and evolving dietary preferences. Food safety research often is episodic in nature, increasing after a crisis and then decreasing when there are no major problems. Timely communications about and a central source containing data on previous outbreaks were identified as crucial issues to reduce the harm that could result from a food safety issue. In the course of the discussions, both new and old microbial and chemical hazards were identified for inclusion in a central database. The database could be used to develop artificial intelligence (AI) models to explain existing and predict emerging food safety risks. The FoodSafeR hub continuously collects and merges government, academic and private sector data to enable all stakeholders to better understand emerging risks, both chemical and microbial, and where they are found. As the database expands, climate change impacts on food safety can be documented and then integrated with public health data to rigorously assess the contributions of food safety to public health risks. The overall goal is to enhance global data sharing, improve food safety standards, and ensure the production of safe, accessible food for all populations thereby reducing the economic burden of foodborne illnesses, enhancing food security, and promoting sustainable food systems. The goal of this paper is to alert the global food safety community of the availability of this new resource and to provide information on the types of data it contains while encouraging others to contribute data that would broaden the information available and enable more timely and accurate identification of potential food safety issues throughout the world
Balancing Objectivity and Welfare: Physiological and Behavioural Responses of Guide Dogs During an Independent Certification Protocol
No full textGuide dogs are essential in supporting the autonomy of blind and visually impaired individuals. Austria is the first country to implement a legally mandated, two-stage certification protocol for the official recognition of guide dogs, assessed by an independent authority. The first stage includes two evaluation phases: the dog guides its familiar trainer (Phase 1) and then an unfamiliar blind tester (Phase 2). While Phase 2 ensures an objective assessment of guiding performance, it may also introduce stress due to the unfamiliar handler and separation from the trainer that could impact welfare and behaviour. This study aimed to evaluate whether Phase 2 of the Austrian evaluation protocol elicits higher stress than Phase 1 in guide dogs and, hence, needs to be refined in this regard by comparing physiological and behavioural responses between the two test phases. Fourteen guide dogs were assessed during real evaluations. Salivary cortisol was collected before the evaluation day and at several time points on the evaluation day (before and after each phase). Behavioural responses were coded from video recordings of the first 5 and 15 min of each phase, including stress-related behaviours, task-related performance behaviours, and handler behaviours. Cortisol levels did not differ significantly between the phases. Dogs turned around significantly more often in Phase 2, potentially seeking reassurance, but showed a non-significant trend toward fewer stress-related behaviours. Verbal praise occurred more frequently with the unfamiliar tester. These findings suggest that the current evaluation protocol does not induce substantial physiological or behavioural stress when dogs are guided by an unfamiliar tester, supporting its continued use as a welfare-conscious and objective certification approach that could also potentially serve as a model for other countries
The Outcome of Cell Therapy Treating Urinary Incontinence Correlates with Precise Cell Localization in the Sphincter Complex
No full textUrethral sphincter muscle deficiency is the leading cause of stress urinary incontinence. Preclinical and clinical studies suggested that cell therapy may improve the situation. However, the overall efficacy of cell therapies did often not satisfy the patient\u27s needs. We, therefore, investigated in a large animal model of incontinence if the localization of injected regenerative cells in the deficient urethral sphincter muscle correlated with the outcome. Methods: Urethral sphincter insufficiency was induced in three cohorts of pigs and confirmed by urodynamics. Then, either myogenic progenitor cells (MPCs) or adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) were injected into the injured sphincter complex by Williams needle under visual using a cystoscope. Sham-treated animals served as controls. Functional sphincter muscle regeneration was monitored by urodynamics over 5 weeks of follow-up. The localization of the injected cells was investigated by histology of cryosections of the tissue targeted. Results: Injection of MPCs near the sphincter muscle yielded better functional recovery when compared to MPC injections in adjacent sides. By contrast, injection of ADSCs in the submucosal tissue adjacent to the muscle led to better regeneration when compared to ADSC injections into the sphincter muscle. After five weeks of follow-up, MPCs yielded an overall robust but not significant improvement when compared to mock-treated controls, while ADSC injections reached significance. Conclusions: This small proof-of-principle study suggests that the clinical outcome of cell therapy for urinary incontinence depends on the choice of therapeutic cells and the precise localization of the cells in the tissue targeted as well
Dexamethasone: a double-edged sword in the treatment of osteoarthritis
No full textGlucocorticoids are widely used to manage osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms, but long-term safety concerns exist. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of dexamethasone (DEX) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in chondrocytes, evaluating their anti-inflammatory effects and potential detrimental actions. This study evaluated the effects of DEX and TA on the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in inflamed chondrocytes. In addition, the effects of DEX treatment on chondrocytes were analyzed using next-generation sequencing, high-resolution mass spectrometry, proliferation and metabolic rate, wound healing capacity and senescence-associated B-galactosidase assays. A single therapeutic dose of DEX (40nM) effectively reduced the expression of inflammatory genes in chondrocytes, while TA showed no such effect. DEX significantly reduced inflammation but also ECM production in inflamed chondrocytes. At 24 h, DEX treatment led to 168 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared to untreated inflamed cells, decreasing to 5 DEGs by 48 h, indicating a rapidly diminishing anti-inflammatory effect. Conversely, the difference between DEX-treated and healthy cells increased over time, from 666 DEGs at 24 h to 1317 DEGs at 48 h. Pathway analysis revealed potential disruptions in cell cycle, mitosis, and ECM homeostasis in DEX-treated cells compared to both healthy and inflamed controls. Interestingly, repeated DEX administration at both a therapeutic (40nM) and a high dose (1µM) induced senescence in healthy cells but not in inflamed cells. In contrast, repeated high-dose DEX reduced apoptosis marker Caspase 3/7 in inflamed but not healthy cells. Despite the transient suppression of inflammation achieved with DEX treatment, the observed decrease in ECM production and induction of senescence in healthy chondrocytes at therapeutic doses, along with apoptosis in inflamed cells at higher doses, underscore the need for caution in its intra-articular administration
Loss of ING3 in the Prostate Leads to Activation of DNA Damage Repair Markers
No full textThe inhibitor of growth family member 3 (ING3) acts as an epigenetic reader through physical interactions with histone-modifying enzymes and subsequent chromatin remodelling processes. It is involved in various cellular functions, such as cell cycle control, cell growth, and apoptosis. Although ING3 was assigned tumour suppressor candidate status in some types of cancers, including prostate cancer, some studies suggest it acts to promote growth. To address these contradictory reports regarding its role in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer, we specifically addressed the question of whether ablation of ING3 in the mouse prostate is sufficient to initiate malignant transformation of the prostate and support its (candidate) tumour suppressor status.To generate the prostate-specific Ing3 knockout mouse, paternal inheritance of the PB-Cre4 transgene was used, while for the generation of a global knockout control, a female mouse harbouring the PB-Cre4 transgene was utilized. To determine the recombination efficiency of the Cre-LoxP system in the prostate at the Ing3 locus, a duplex probe-based digital PCR assay capable of counting undisrupted Ing3 copies was designed. The impact of DNA recombination on the protein level was investigated by immunohistochemical staining of prostate tissue samples.In the prostate-specific knockout, digital PCR analysis revealed mosaic gene deletion. We found recombination efficiencies in the anterior, dorsolateral, and ventral prostate lobes ranging from approximately 15 to 30%. ING3 staining in the prostate was faint with no detectable differences in signal intensity between the knockout specimen and wild-type controls. This low ING3 expression in the prostate is consistent with observations of X-gal staining of an Ing3-LacZ reporter allele. Immunohistochemistry showed increased expression of DNA-damage-associated markers ?H2AX and 53BP1. However, no gross anatomical abnormalities or prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions in the prostate of tissue-specific knockout animals compared to wild-type controls were observed.Altogether, our data provide evidence that disruption of ING3 expression in prostate cells does not lead to malignant transformation and challenges the idea that ING3 acts primarily in a tumour-suppressive manner. Furthermore, this work supports the crucial role of ING3 in maintaining genomic stability, and we confirmed the embryonic lethal phenotype of homozygous Ing3 null mice that is rescued by ectopic expression of ING3
Cyclin C promotes development and progression of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by counteracting p53-mediated stress responses
No full textDespite major therapeutic advances in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), resistances and long-term toxicities still pose significant challenges. Cyclins and their associated cyclin-dependent kinases are one focus of cancer research when looking for targeted therapies. We discovered cyclin C to be a key factor for B-cell ALL (B-ALL) development and maintenance. While cyclin C is not essential for normal hematopoiesis, Ccnc?/? BCR::ABL1+ B-ALL cells fail to elicit leukemia in mice. RNA sequencing experiments revealed a p53 pathway deregulation in Ccnc?/? BCR::ABL1+ cells resulting in the inability of the leukemic cells to adequately respond to stress. A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function screen supplemented with additional knock-outs unveiled a dependency of human B-lymphoid cell lines on CCNC. High cyclin C levels in B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL patients were associated with poor event-free survival and increased risk of early disease recurrence after remission. Our findings highlight cyclin C as a potential therapeutic target for B-ALL, particularly to enhance cancer cell sensitivity to stress and chemotherapy
Isoproterenol and phenylephrine infusions following external pacing failure in an anaesthetised dog with sick sinus syndrome undergoing unilateral mastectomy
No full textManaging anaesthesia in dogs with sick sinus syndrome poses significant challenges due to bradyarrhythmias and life-threatening hypotension. An 8-year-old, mixed-breed dog with sick sinus syndrome underwent general anaesthesia for unilateral mastectomy. Anaesthetic drugs with minimal cardiovascular impact and a multimodal analgesic approach, including loco-regional techniques, were employed. Initially, transcutaneous pacing ensured stable cardiovascular parameters, but surgical repositioning led to pacing failure, causing a rapid drop in heart rate and mean arterial pressure. Immediate infusion of isoproterenol and phenylephrine successfully normalised the dog\u27s haemodynamics, allowing the 100-minute surgery to proceed with stable vital parameters. The infusions were discontinued at the end of anaesthesia, leading to an uneventful recovery. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of isoproterenol and phenylephrine infusions in managing an anaesthetised dog with sick sinus syndrome, highlighting the importance of preparedness and having alternative pharmacological interventions ready for device-related challenges