A Measurement Equivalence Study of the Family Bondedness Scale: Measurement Equivalence Between Cat and Dog Owners

About 38.4% of U.S. households include a dog, and 25.4% a cat, as pets, and a recent poll suggested over 90% of pet owners feel their companion animal is a family member. Numerous studies have suggested pet ownership has physical, mental, and social health benefits, though much of this research has yielded mixed results. Results of a recent review suggested significant measurement problems in human-animal interaction (HAI) and human-animal bond (HAB) research, including the absence of validity evidence, overly long measures, lack of evidence for measurement equivalence across species of pets, and measures lacking a basis in important psychological, family, and attachment theories. This article describes the development and results of a measurement equivalence study of a new measure of the HAB called the family bondedness scale (FBS). This scale, and the research results, address multiple gaps in HAB measurement. Results of multi-group confirmatory factor analyses with multiple covariates indicated the scores on the FBS showed equivalence between cat and dog owners. The use of the FBS in both veterinary research and practice, as well as in research and practice in other disciplines, such as social work and psychology, are considered.

New approach for genomic characterisation of equine sarcoid-derived BPV-1/-2 using nanopore-based sequencing

Background Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 play a central role in the etiology of the most common neoplasm in horses, the equine sarcoid. The unknown mechanism behind the unique variety in clinical presentation on the one hand and the host dependent clinical outcome of BPV-1 infection on the other hand indicate the involvement of additional factors. Earlier studies have reported the potential functional significance of intratypic sequence variants, along with the existence of sarcoid-sourced BPV variants. Therefore, intratypic sequence variation seems to be an important emerging viral factor. This study aimed to give a broad insight in sarcoid-sourced BPV variation and explore its potential association with disease presentation. Methods In order to do this, a nanopore sequencing approach was successfully optimized for screening a wide spectrum of clinical samples. Specimens of each tumour were initially screened for BPV-1/-2 by quantitative real-time PCR. A custom-designed primer set was used on BPV-positive samples to amplify the complete viral genome in two multiplex PCR reactions, resulting in a set of overlapping amplicons. For phylogenetic analysis, separate alignments were made of all available complete genome sequences for BPV-1/-2. The resulting alignments were used to infer Bayesian phylogenetic trees. Results We found substantial genetic variation among sarcoid-derived BPV-1, although this variation could not be linked to disease severity. Several of the BPV-1 genomes had multiple major deletions. Remarkably, the majority of them cluster within the region coding for late viral genes. Together with the extensiveness (up to 603 nucleotides) of the described deletions, this suggests an altered function of L1/L2 in disease pathogenesis. Conclusions By generating a significant amount of complete-length BPV genomes, we succeeded to introduce next-generation sequencing into veterinary research focusing on the equine sarcoid, thus facilitating the first report of both nanopore-based sequencing of complete sarcoid-sourced BPV-1/-2 and the simultaneous nanopore sequencing of multiple complete genomes originating from a single clinical sample.

Narra J Co-Editor-in-Chief is awarded as Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) 2021

We acknowledge and congratulate Narra J Co-Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Kuldeep Dhama, as Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) 2021 by Clarivate. Dr. Kuldeep Dhama, is a Principal Scientist at ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Izatnagar, India. He is a NAAS (National Academy of Agricultural Science, India) Associate, Fellow-Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM), UK, and has worked as Nodal Officer, WTO, and a member of Wildlife Health Specialist Group (IUCN). His research and teaching experience cover microbiology, immunology, virology, public health, medicine, and biomedicine. He is actively serving as Editor-in-Chief, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Editor, Associate Editor, Guest Editor and Member of Editorial Board for more than 15 scientific journals. Dr. Kuldeep Dhama role as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Narra J will enhance the quality of the Narra J one of the reputable journals in the near future. In his 27 years of research experience, he has published not only a great quantity of research (over 578 research publications indexed in Scopus with h-index of 50), but has published in highly respected journals such as Nature. Congratulations on an impactful career!

SCIENTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL NUTRITION (IJAN)

Using scientometric analysis, animal nutrition research from 2016 to 2020 was collected from the quarterly journal of the Indian Journals of Animal Nutrition. According to the research, 384 papers were written between 2016 and 2020, with 24 papers being highly published in 2016. As a result, animal nutrition is the most popular topic among scientists interested in veterinary research, with 1838 papers published out of 384. In particular, author Chander Data published 15 publications in the years (2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020), and some authors published (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12) articles in the years (2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020).

Histological alterations in Rabbit liver after treatment with dexamethasone

Background One of the most potent glucocorticoids is known as Dexamethasone. Many metabolic side effect shave been reported on almost every organ after dexamethasone treatment specially its effect on liver. Aim: To investigate harmful side effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate on rabbit’s liver that serve as human liver model via using light microscope, by administration of two doses (extreme) and two durations in order to depict the duration as well as dosage dependency. Methods: Liver samples were taken via rabbits who were administered dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Then two Stratas were made namely, 1 and 2. The fixations of liver samples were carried out and underwent into evaluation in order to observe any histochemical and histological alterations. Study duration is from February to May 2021 Rabbits were brought from Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore. These Rabbits were kept in cages in the animal house of PGMI, Bird wood road Lahore. Results: The ballooning and vacuolation of hepatic cells were seen in the liver in case of Stratas that were treated along with the degenerative alterations of these cells, congestion and dilatation of central hepatic vein with sinusoidal capillaries, positive periodic acid schiff's stain (PAS) reactions. The severity of all these alterations was dependent upon duration and dosage. Conclusion: Morphological variations induced in the liver by dexamethasone sodium phosphate could be accepted as side effects of these drugs. Keywords: Liver, dexamethasone, histology, glycogen.

Cell-Free DNA as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Dogs With Tumors

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is derived from apoptosis/necrosis, active cellular secretion, and lysis of circulating cancer cells or micrometastases. In humans, cfDNA is widely used in cancer diagnosis, but veterinary research has yet to be actively conducted to establish it as a cancer biomarker. This retrospective study analyzed cfDNA levels in samples collected from dogs with neoplastic disease (n = 38), clinically ill dogs without neoplasia (n = 47), and healthy dogs (n = 35). cfDNA levels and clinical data were compared among groups, and prognostic analyses were performed within the neoplastic group. Furthermore, continual cfDNA measurements were performed during the chemotherapy of six dogs with lymphoma. Dogs with neoplasia showed significantly higher cfDNA concentrations than dogs without neoplasm, and the cfDNA oncentration in the lymphoid neoplasia group was significantly elevated among all neoplastic groups. Dogs with neoplasia and a plasma cfDNA concentration above 1,247.5 μg/L had shorter survival rates than those with levels below this threshold (26.5 vs. 86.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). In cases with complete remission in response to chemotherapy, the cfDNA concentration was significantly decreased compared with the first visit, whereas the cfDNA concentration was increased in cases with disease progression or death. Interestingly, a significant correlation was found between lymph node diameter and cfDNA concentration in dogs with multicentric lymphoma (R2 = 0.26, P < 0.01). These data suggest that changes in cfDNA concentration could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for canine neoplasia. Furthermore, increased plasma DNA levels might be associated with shorter survival time, and cfDNA concentrations may reflect the response to chemotherapy.

Biomechanics of the Canine Elbow Joint

The canine elbow joint is a complex joint, whose musculoskeletal anatomy is well investigated. During the last 30 years kinematic analysis has gained importance in veterinary research and kinematics of the healthy and medial coronoid disease affected canine elbow joint are progressively investigated. Video-kinematographic analysis represents the most commonly used technique and multiple studies have investigated the range of motion, angular velocity, duration of swing and stance phase, stride length and other kinematic parameters, mostly in the sagittal plane only. However, this technique is more error-prone and data gained by video-kinematography represent the kinematics of the whole limb including the soft tissue envelope. A more precise evaluation of the in vivo bone and joint movement can only been achieved using fluoroscopic kinematography. Based on recent studies significant differences in the motion pattern between healthy joints and elbows with medial coronoid disease could be detected. Thereby not only adaptive changes, caused by pain and lameness, could be described, but primary changes in the micromotion of the joint forming bones could be found, which potentially represent new factors in the pathogenesis of medial coronoid disease. This chapter gives a review of current literature on elbow joint kinematics, with particular focus onto pathologic biomechanics in dysplastic canine elbows.

Extended patient care report for a patient in anaphylactic shock

Anaphylactic shock is potentially life threatening, it is rare and can be difficult to diagnose. There is little veterinary research in this area, despite a quick diagnosis and treatment being essential to the recovery of these patients. This report discusses recognising the signs seen in anaphylaxis and the role of the nurse in monitoring and treating these emergency patients.

A retrospective study (2015-2019) of avian salmonellosis diagnosed at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory of the National Veterinary Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria

Salmonella organisms are widely distributed in nature and survive well in a variety of food and contamination and can occur at multiple steps along the food chain. The study was conducted at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute (N.V.R.I) located in Vom Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State Nigeria. Information was obtained via postmortem records and laboratory results that isolated Salmonella species were retrieved and analyzed retrospectively in the study area for five years. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data while tables were used for result proportions presented in percentages. A total of 2512 cases of poultry diseases were documented for a period of five years from 2015 to 2019 with an average of 502.4 cases annually. A total of 436 of salmonellosis was documented during the period under review and an average of 87.2 cases annually. 24.4% prevalence was recorded in 2018 and 12.4% in 2015. 2019 had the highest prevalence of 28.4 with an average avian salmonellosis prevalence of 19%. 24.6% avian salmonellosis was recorded in the age bracket of 5 to 8 weeks, 29.5% was documented in the age bracket of 9 to 12 weeks which was the second highest and 33.3% in the age bracket of 0 to 4 which was the highest. Avian salmonellosis affects all types of birds. Out of 436 positive avian salmonellosis cases recorded in the period under review, 251 were layers while 156 were broilers with 29 being local birds and cockerels. This study does explicitly indicate that avian salmonellosis is highly prevalence in the study area and this could play a great role in lowering poultry productivity in the study area, thereby highlighting the need for effective health programs like good biosecurity practices and vaccination in order to boost poultry production.

Bovine endometrium-derived cultured cells are suitable for lipofection

Bovine-derived cultured cells, including Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells, are used worldwide; however, lipofection tend to result in low transfection efficiency, which has impeded the progress of veterinary research. We performed experiments to confirm the lipofection efficiency of bovine-derived cultured cells, to identify cells that suitable for lipofection. Several bovine tissues (endometrium, testis, ear tissue and foetal muscle) were collected, and primary cultured cells were prepared. Lipofection assay showed that only bovine endometrium (BE)-derived cells could be transfected efficiently (50‒70%). BE cells can be divided into at least two types of cell populations (BE-1 and BE-2). The BE-1 cells, which were suitable for lipofection, were obtained by passages at short intervals and were negative for cytokeratin- and positive for vimentin-expression; the BE-2 cells did not have these characteristics and were not suitable for lipofection. Furthermore, the BE-1 cells and artificially immortalised cells of BE-1, iBE-1 cells, were utilised in a reporter assay requiring the introduction of multiple DNAs. Endometrial tissues can be collected from living cows, and BE-1 cells can be obtained easily by controlling passaging timing. The production of BE-1 cells and sharing the methods required to prepare them will contribute to the development of veterinary research.