Phaidra - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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Species comparison: human and minipig PBMC reactivity under the influence of immunomodulating compounds in vitro
No full textConsidering the similarities between swine and humans, it is a logical consequence to use swine as a translational model in research and drug development, including non-clinical safety. Here, we compared the reactivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from humans and minipigs under the influence of different compounds in vitro. We conducted a flow cytometry-based proliferation assay that focused on the T-cell response to three different stimuli: concanavalin A (ConA), phytohemagglutinin-L (PHA-L), and staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB). Furthermore, four approved immunosuppressive drugs-abatacept, belatacept, rapamycin, and tofacitinib-which are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis or rejection in transplant recipients, were combined with the different stimuli. This allowed us to study the effect of suppressive drugs in comparison with the different stimuli in both species. We examined proliferating T cells (CD3+) and investigated the presence of TCR-αβ+ and TCR-γδ+ T cells. Differences in the response of T cells of the two species under these various conditions were evident. CD4+ T cells were more activated within humans, whereas CD8+ T cells were generally more abundant in swine. The effectiveness of the used humanized antibodies is most likely related to the conserved structure of CTLA-4 as abatacept induced a much stronger reduction in swine compared with belatacept. The reduction of proliferation of rapamycin and tofacitinib was highly dependent on the used stimuli. We further investigated the effect of the immunosuppressive compounds on antigen-specific restimulation of pigs immunized against porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2). Treatment with all four compounds resulted in a clear reduction of the proliferative response, with rapamycin showing the strongest effect. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the effectiveness of suppressive compounds is highly dependent on the stimuli used and must be carefully selected to ensure accurate results. The results highlight the importance of considering the response of T cells in different species when evaluating the potential of an immunomodulatory drug
Demodicosis in a Kunekune pig and molecular characterisation of porcine demodectic mites involved: a case report
No full textIn January 2021, a female 1-year-old Kunekune was presented at the University Clinic for Swine with severe reduction of the field of vision resulting in prolonged reaction time when targeting barriers, due to moderate to severe thickening of the skin around both orbits also affecting the eyelids.Clinical examination revealed skin hyperplasia, nodular enlargement of the skin pores of the axillar and inguinal region. Ophthalmologists decided to remove parts of the thickened periocular skin, followed by histopathological examination.Once large amounts of demodectic mites were detected by histopathology, demodicosis could be diagnosed and treatment of the pig was started using sarolaner. Morphological and molecular analyses were performed. Histopathological and parasitological exams led to the aetiological diagnosis of demodicosis in the affected Kunekune pig. Severe skin lesions were revealed to be the consequence of an infestation with Demodex sp. Morphological analyses confirmed the involvement of D. phylloides. Molecular characterization indicated a Demodex species closely related to mites documented in wild boar - most probably D. phylloides for which no explicit sequences are available in GenBank yet. Treatment with sarolaner (2.6 mg/kg) resulted in a substantial regression of skin lesions, already detectable 1 month after first treatment.Demodicosis is a very rare disease in pigs that is most probably related to an impaired immune response to the mites. Demodectic mange should be included in the list of differential diagnoses in cases of periocular alterations of the skin of pigs
Street-wise dog testing: Feasibility and reliability of a behavioural test battery for free-ranging dogs in their natural habitat
No full textBehavioural scientists are increasingly recognizing the need to conduct experiments in the wild to achieve a comprehensive understanding of their species\u27 behaviour. For domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), such progress has been slow. While the life in human households is often regarded as dogs\u27 natural habitat, this classification disregards most of the global dog population. The value of experimentally testing free-ranging dogs\u27 cognition and behaviour is increasingly being recognized, but no comprehensive test batteries have been conducted on those populations so far, leaving the feasibility and reliability of such endeavours unknown. This study is the starting point to fill this gap by pioneering and validating an elaborate behavioural test battery on street-living dogs. Therein, six common temperament tests (human-/conspecific-directed sociability, neophobia, tractability) and dog-human communication paradigms (pointing, inaccessible object) were adapted to the street conditions. We evaluated the feasibility of the test battery, the coding reliability of the measures, and investigated their temporal consistency in a retest of the same individuals six weeks later (test-retest reliability). The test battery proved feasible with most dogs participating in all subtests, and it showed satisfactory inter- and intra-rater reliability (0.84 and 0.93 respectively), providing evidence that complex behavioural tests can be conducted even in highly variable street conditions. Retesting revealed that some behaviours could be captured reliably across time, especially when the subtest was particularly engaging (e.g., human approach, point following). In contrast, the low retest reliability for subtests relying on sustained novelty and behaviours that were highly susceptible to disturbances (e.g., gazing) reflects the difficulties of street dog testing, including standardisation in disturbance-prone environments, ecology-dependent adaptation of methods, and intrinsic differences between pet and free-ranging dogs. With some adaptations, this test battery can be valuable in investigating cognition and behavioural profiles in such an understudied population as free-ranging dogs
RNAscope in situ hybridization reveals microvascular sequestration of Plasmodium relictum pSGS1 blood stages but absence of exo-erythrocytic dormant stages during latent infection of Serinus canaria
No full textBirds chronically infected with avian malaria parasites often show relapses of parasitaemia after latent stages marked by absence of parasites in the peripheral circulation. These relapses are assumed to result from the activation of dormant exo-erythrocytic stages produced during secondary (post-erythrocytic) merogony of avian Plasmodium spp. Yet, there is no morphological proof of persistent or dormant tissue stages in the avian host during latent infections. This study investigated persistence of Plasmodium relictum pSGS1 in birds with latent infections during winter, with the goal to detect presumed persisting tissue stages using a highly sensitive RNAscope® in situ hybridization technology.Fourteen domestic canaries were infected with P. relictum pSGS1 by blood-inoculation in spring, and blood films examined during the first 4 months post infection, and during winter and spring of the following year. After parasitaemia was no longer detectable, half of the birds were dissected, and tissue samples investigated for persisting tissue stages using RNAscope ISH and histology. The remaining birds were blood-checked and dissected after re-appearance of parasitaemia, and their tissues equally examined.Systematic examination of tissues showed no exo-erythrocytic stages in birds exhibiting latent infections by blood-film microscopy, indicating absence of dormant tissue stages in P. relictum pSGS1-infected canaries. Instead, RNAscope ISH revealed rare P. relictum blood stages in capillaries of various tissues and organs, demonstrating persistence of the parasites in the microvasculature. Birds examined after re-appearance of parasitemia showed higher numbers of P. relictum blood stages in both capillaries and larger blood vessels, indicating replication during early spring and re-appearance in the peripheral circulation.The findings suggest that persistence of P. relictum pSGS1 during latent infection is mediated by continuous low-level erythrocytic merogony and possibly tissue sequestration of infected blood cells. Re-appearance of parasitaemia in spring seems to result from increased erythrocytic merogony, therefore representing recrudescence and not relapse in blood-inoculated canaries. Further, the study highlights strengths and limitations of the RNAscope ISH technology for the detection of rare parasite stages in tissues, providing directions for future research on persistence and tissue sequestration of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites
Fusarium sporotrichioides Produces Two HT-2-α-Glucosides on Rice
No full textFusarium is a genus that mostly consists of plant pathogenic fungi which are able to produce a broad range of toxic secondary metabolites. In this study, we focus on a type A trichothecene-producing isolate (15-39) of Fusarium sporotrichioides from Lower Austria. We assessed the secondary metabolite profile and optimized the toxin production conditions on autoclaved rice and found that in addition to large amounts of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, this strain was able to produce HT-2-glucoside. The optimal conditions for the production of T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, and HT-2-glucoside on autoclaved rice were incubation at 12 °C under constant light for four weeks, darkness at 30 °C for two weeks, and constant light for three weeks at 20 °C, respectively. The HT-2-glucoside was purified, and the structure elucidation by NMR revealed a mixture of two alpha-glucosides, presumably HT-2-3-O-alpha-glucoside and HT-2-4-O-alpha-glucoside. The efforts to separate the two compounds by HPLC were unsuccessful. No hydrolysis was observed with two the alpha-glucosidases or with human salivary amylase and Saccharomyces cerevisiae maltase. We propose that the two HT-2-alpha-glucosides are not formed by a glucosyltransferase as they are in plants, but by a trans-glycosylating alpha-glucosidase expressed by the fungus on the starch-containing rice medium
Application of anaesthetics in South American camelids : current knowledge
No full textDiplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2024Auf Grund zunehmender Populationsgrößen von Neuweltkameliden in Europe, hat diese Studie bestehende Literatur zum Thema Anästhesie bei Neuweltkameliden gesichtet, analysiert und im Rahmen einer Literaturarbeit zusammengefasst. Es wurden dabei sowohl publizierte Bücher, wissenschaftliche Studien als auch Fallberichte berücksichtigt. Um die umfangreichen Aspekte der Anästhesie abzudecken, wurden in der Analyse die Indikationen, prä-anästhetischen Überlegungen, Medikamentenauswahl, allgemeines Management während der Anästhesie als auch Komplikationen berücksichtigt. Neuweltkameliden werden in Europa als Lebensmittel liefernde Tiere klassifiziert. Da in Europa die EU-Verordnung 37/2010 festlegt, welche Medikamente für Lebensmittelliefernde Tiere verwendet werden dürfen, bildet diese Rechtsgrundlage die Basis für die zu analysierenden Medikamente. Die erworbenen Daten wurden zusammengetragen und deskriptiv analysiert. Genauer analysiert wurden die folgenden Medikamente: Alpha-2 Adrenozeptor Agonisten Xylazin und Detomidin, Ketamin, Butorphanol, Isofluran und Lokalanästhetika, wie Lidocain. Die in den Studien und Fallberichten angewendeten Protokolle erscheinen für den Gebrauch in Neuweltkameliden sicher zu sein. Für Europa relevante Kombinationen und Protokolle, die Xylazin gemeinsam mit Ketamin und Butorphanol verwenden, scheinen in gesunden Tieren unter Berücksichtigung der empfohlenen Dosierungen zu keinen nennenswerten Nebenwirkungen zu führen. Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass die vorhandene Literatur lückenhaft ist und vor allem wenig Schlüsse in Bezug auf kranke oder komprimierte Tiere zulässt. Weitere Forschungen und Studien, die verschiedene Protokolle, auch für kranke Tiere analysieren, wären zukünftig hilfreich, um Richtlinien für praktizierende Tierärzte sowohl für gesunde als auch für gesundheitlich komprimierte Tiere formulieren zu können.Diploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2024The present study aimed to collate available literature on safety and efficacy of anaesthetic drugs in South American camelids (SACs). The growing populations of SACs kept in private holdings, demands increasing awareness and knowledge by the veterinary professionals on safe drug use, side effects, pre anaesthetic considerations and management during peri anaesthetic phase as well as the recovery period. SACs in Austria is considered a food-producing animal, therefore the available medications are limited to the licenced drugs listed in the EU regulation 37/2010. A literature search was conducted, whereby original research papers, books, conference proceedings and case reports were considered. The identified literature was collated and data was extracted into an excel file for further analysis and data description. In total, 16 original research papers, 5 books, 4 conference proceedings, 1 review, 4 summaries and 36 individual case reports were screened for essential data. Most frequent indication for anaesthetic intervention was an abdominal and orthopaedic surgery. Literature is inconsistent regarding time of fasting period, reaching from 12 up to 48 hours. Little information is available concerning equipment and intubation technique. In conclusion, literature is sparse and incomplete. Further studies, exploring different protocols and other drug classes would be beneficial, to further the knowledge on safe anaesthetics and to develop guidelines on anaesthetic protocols safe for the use in both healthy and compromised SACs
Eine Studie zum Einsatz von Supplementen in der Pferdeernährung
No full textDiplomarbeit - Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien - 2024Als Supplemente werden Ergänzungen, Zusatzstoffe und Einzelfuttermittel genannt, die den Tieren zum Zwecke der Supplementierung der Tagesration gefüttert werden. Auch Pferden werden in der Praxis eine Reihe von Supplementen gefüttert. Es fehlen jedoch Informationen zur Art und zu Zielen des Supplemente-Einsatzes beim Pferd. Ziel dieser Studie war es daher, einen aktuellen Überblick über die Gabe von Supplementen in der Pferdeernährung zu bekommen. Vor allem ging es darum, wie diese in der Praxis eingesetzt wurden, welche Mengen verabreicht wurden, welche Beweggründe BesitzerInnen motivierten, Supplemente anzuwenden. Dabei wurde sowohl auf die Wahl von Supplementen, als auch auf die Häufigkeit der Gabe ein Augenmerk gelegt. Es wurde vermutet, dass BesitzerInnen eher über- als unterversorgen und bei einigen Wenigen womöglich sogar toxische Grenzen überschritten werden. Weiters wurden Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Ernährungs-, Gesundheits- bzw. Leistungszustand und den verabreichten Supplementen erwartet. Es wurde eine Umfrage mittels eines Fragebogens unter PferdebesitzerInnen durchgeführt. Die Umfrage wurde sowohl online als auch auf Papier zur Verfügung gestellt. Anschließend wurden die Daten ausgewertet und analysiert, um festzustellen, ob Supplemente richtig ausgewählt, dosiert und angewendet wurden. Es konnte bei lediglich vier Fragen ein Zusammenhang zu der Menge verabreichter Supplemente hergestellt werden. Neuere PferdebesitzerInnen (die kürzer als zehn Jahre Pferde besitzen), oft gerittene Pferde (4 - 5 mal pro Woche oder öfter), kranke und von einem Tierarzt bzw. einer Tierärztin oft besuchte Pferde (1 Mal pro Monat oder häufiger) erhielten demnach mehr Supplemente. Fehlende Leistungsbereitschaft oder die Vergabe spezifischer Grund-, Kraft- und Saftfutter waren jedoch keine Gründe für PferdebesitzerInnen, um mehr Supplemente zu verwenden. Bei der Einzelanalyse der Pferde, welche die meisten Supplemente verabreicht bekamen, konnten auf der einen Seite mehrere Überversorgungen, die aber immer noch keine gefährlichen Grenzen erreichten, und auf der anderen Seite einige Unterversorgungen, vor allem bei den Spurenelementen, trotz der hohen Anzahl an verwendeten Supplementen, festgestellt werden.Diploma thesis - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - 2024Supplements are known as additions, additives and food ingredients that help supplement the daily food ration of an animal. Therefore, horses also receive a variety of supplements. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information regarding the ways in which supplements are used but also their aim in the nutrition of a horse. The aim of this study was to gain an overview of supplements in equine nutrition, including their practical application, the quantities administered, and the motivations leading owners to use supplements. Both the selection of supplements and the frequency of administration were examined. It was believed that owners may tend to over- rather than under-supplement, and in some cases, may even exceed toxic thresholds. Additionally, connections between nutritional, health and performance status and the number of supplements administered were anticipated. A survey was conducted among horse owners using a questionnaire, which was made available both online and in print. Subsequently, the data was evaluated and analyzed to determine whether supplements were selected, dosed, and applied correctly. Only four questions showed a correlation with the quantity of supplements administered. Younger horse-owners (those who have owned horses for less than ten years), horses ridden frequently (4-5 times per week or more), those with health issues, and those visited frequently by veterinarians (once per month or more often) tended to receive more supplements. However, lack of performance or the provision of specific forage, concentrates, and roughage were not reasons for horse owners to use more supplements. In the individual analysis of horses receiving the most supplements, several instances of oversupplementation were observed. Despite exceeding recommendations by up to 400 %, no toxic threshold was reached
Jahresbericht 2023 / 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
Tracking data highlight the importance of human-induced mortality for large migratory birds at a flyway scale
No full textHuman-induced direct mortality affects huge numbers of birds each year, threatening hundreds of species worldwide. Tracking technologies can be an important tool to investigate temporal and spatial patterns of bird mortality as well as their drivers. We compiled 1704 mortality records from tracking studies across the AfricanEurasian flyway for 45 species, including raptors, storks, and cranes, covering the period from 2003 to 2021. Our results show a higher frequency of human-induced causes of mortality than natural causes across taxonomic groups, geographical areas, and age classes. Moreover, we found that the frequency of human-induced mortality remained stable over the study period. From the human-induced mortality events with a known cause (n = 637), three main causes were identified: electrocution (40.5 %), illegal killing (21.7 %), and poisoning (16.3 %). Additionally, combined energy infrastructure-related mortality (i.e., electrocution, power line collision, and wind-farm collision) represented 49 % of all human-induced mortality events. Using a random forest model, the main predictors of human-induced mortality were found to be taxonomic group, geographic location (latitude and longitude), and human footprint index value at the location of mortality. Despite conservation efforts, human drivers of bird mortality in the African-Eurasian flyway do not appear to have declined over the last 15 years for the studied group of species. Results suggest that stronger conservation actions to address these threats across the flyway can reduce their impacts on species. In particular, projected future development of energy infrastructure is a representative example where application of planning, operation, and mitigation measures can enhance bird conservation
The Cultivable Bacteria Colonizing Canine Vagina During Proestrus and Estrus: A Large-Scale Retrospective Study of Influencing Factors
No full textThe evaluation of canine vaginal bacteria during proestrus and estrus and the chosen parameters will help to prevent the misuse of antibiotics in veterinary medicine.This study carried out a retrospective analysis to obtain microbiological examination results for vaginal swabs from 696 healthy dogs, all of whom were patients from one clinic. Age, body weight, fur length (long or short hair), the time of sampling of vaginal swabs, the duration of proestrus/estrus, progesterone (P4) concentration (the first and last samples), and bacteriological findings were evaluated.Only 3.7% (26/696) of the samples were negative for bacteria. The impact of fur length was low. However, the calculation of the odds ratios revealed that the chance for a high-grade growth of Escherichia (E.) coli and Mycoplasma (M.) canis increases with body weight class. The earlier the sampling was performed, the lower the number of high-grade cultures (p< 0.01). The duration between the first and last measurement of progesterone (P4) was positively related to the cultural detection of Pasteurellaceae, Streptococcus spp., and Enterococcus spp. (p< 0.05) and negatively to the cultivation of Mycoplasma spp. (p< 0.01).Our findings reflect some likely factors contributing to the variability of the physiological vaginal flora in dogs, which may help interpret cultured bacteriological findings