Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract A 5‐year‐old, male, neutered, mixed breed dog initially presented with a large invasive mass located on the right lateral aspect of its prepuce. After an incisional biopsy was performed, we diagnosed a cutaneous combined tumour: a squamous cell carcinoma and a soft tissue tumour (sarcoma, Grade III) favouring fibrosarcoma. Based on current literature, this is the first veterinary report of a combined tumour (two admixed tumour types) consisting of these neoplastic entities. The dog underwent aggressive surgical resection comprising a total phallectomy and scrotal urethrostomy to achieve local tumour control. At the time of writing this report, 27 months following surgery, there are no signs of local recurrence or distant metastasis. The prognosis of combined malignant tumours in dogs is largely unknown. This report highlights that long‐term positive outcomes can be achieved in patients with rare combined tumours with aggressive surgical intervention.

BACKGROUNDTrigeminal neuralgia (TN) is typically caused by vascular compression, often at the root entry zone (REZ) of the trigeminal nerve. While most cases involve extraneural compression, rare instances of intraneural transfixion exist, posing unique surgical challenges.OBSERVATIONSThe authors report the case of a 77-year-old male with TN caused by intraneural vascular compression type 2, where a loop of the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) transfixed the portio major of the trigeminal nerve. MRI and intraoperative findings confirmed the SCA coursing through the nerve. He underwent microvascular decompression, during which internal neurolysis and Teflon pledget placement near the REZ were performed. Complete pain relief was achieved immediately postoperatively and sustained at the 7-month follow-up, with no associated postoperative numbness. A review of the literature reveals common themes of surgical intervention, including longitudinal dissection of the nerve, mobilization of penetrating artery outside of the REZ, and Teflon insertion.LESSONSFor type 1 penetrations, the authors suggest separating the motor and sensory roots, then mobilizing the motor root and artery. For type 2, they recommend either internal neurolysis with distal movement of the artery or horizontal transection to free the artery from the nerve. Patient-centered planning that balances risk of sensory loss against symptom recurrence is essential.https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE25403

Fasciolosis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, is a globally significant parasitic disease affecting livestock and humans. Both species exist in South Africa, however, information on their geographical distribution and genetic diversity is limited. This study investigated the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Fasciola species in South Africa using Pepck, COI and ITS markers. Two hundred and seven Fasciola spp. specimens analysed in this study showed that 74.4% of isolates identified as F. hepatica and 25.6% as F. gigantica based on the Pepck gene. The geographical distribution revealed that F. hepatica occurred in all surveyed provinces but was dominant in the temperate zones of South Africa. Fasciola gigantica was confined to subtropical zones, with co-occurrence observed in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The COI and ITS genes in both Fasciola species generated fourteen and eight haplotypes respectively, with low to moderate haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.287 – 0.509 for COI and 0.056 – 0.239 for ITS) and low nucleotide diversity (Pi = 0.00085 – 0.00284 for COI and 0.00024 – 0.00034 for ITS), suggesting recent population diversification between the two species. The study samples yielded six haplotypes based on COI, with three haplotypes comprising most samples i.e. Hap-1 (F. gigantica) and Hap-5 and Hap-6 (F. hepatica). With ITS, two haplotypes represented most samples, i.e. Hap-1 (F. gigantica) and Hap-3 (F. hepatica). There was no observed unique distribution of haplotypes based on provinces or agro-ecological climatic zones for both markers. Phylogenetic analysis of both COI and ITS genes confirmed the grouping of the haplotypes and reiterated their relatedness. However, one isolate identified as F. gigantica in COI and with F. hepatica in ITS based on BLAST and further formed haplotypes with F. gigantica and F. hepatica haplogroups for COI and ITS, respectively. This suspected hybrid Fasciola form was from an animal with a mixed infection. These findings highlight the complex genetic structure of Fasciola spp. populations in South Africa and provide new insights into their epidemiology, with implications for targeted control strategies and further investigation of cryptic/hybrid lineages.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-25952-y.

18F-Florbetapir PET imaging is widely used to assess amyloid-β (Aβ) burden in the brain, particularly in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Conventional assessments typically rely on selected individual slices, which may limit spatial accuracy and are prone to image blurring. In the present study, we introduce novel techniques to enhance the spatial resolution and clarity of Aβ signal visualization in individuals pretreated with 18F-florbetapir. PET scans were retrospectively obtained from the Imaging and Data Archive for twelve individuals, including six cognitively unimpaired subjects and six diagnosed with AD. Each dataset consisted of 346 raw images, comprising 90 axial, 128 coronal, and 128 sagittal slices. Images were reconstructed into a single 3D volume using the 3D Slicer platform. Crucially, we applied artificial intelligence or AI-driven signal enhancement techniques to suppress background noise and amplify Aβ signals. This AI-enhanced processing improved image clarity and enabled visualization of subtle and spatially organized signal patterns. To verify anatomical location, Aβ PET signals were registered with MRI. This integrated workflow allowed us to visualize Aβ signals across regions of interest, including the brain parenchyma, skull, and cervical tissues. Our analytical approaches revealed that Aβ signals are highly concentrated and confined within non-CNS fluid compartments, forming canal-like networks that extend from the brain parenchyma toward the skull base, particularly the occipital clivus, and connect to the cervical lymph nodes. Additional Aβ signals were observed along the internal carotid plexus. These findings suggest that, when reconstruction in 3D and enhanced with AI, 18F-florbetapir PET imaging may not only reflect Aβ plaque burden in the brain but also visualize soluble Aβ species concentrated within anatomical clearance pathways leading to the peripheral lymphatic system. This approach offers a new dimension to PET signal interpretation and highlights the potential of AI-enhanced 3D in advancing neuroimaging analysis.

Falciparum malaria is a life-threatening vector-borne disease prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. The complexity of severe malaria demands a thorough investigation of host–parasite interactions. Twenty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups: uninfected controls and Plasmodium berghei-infected rats, infected via intraperitoneal injection of parasitized red blood cells. Serum samples were analysed using high-resolution untargeted Gas Chromatography–Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. Metabolomic analyses revealed altered metabolites and enriched metabolic pathways. Distinct metabolite profiles were observed between infected and control groups. Infected rats showed elevated urea levels and reduced concentrations of 1,5-anhydroglucitol, D-(+)-Talose, and arachidonic acid. Pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of the glucose-alanine cycle, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism in infected rats. Minimal enrichment was observed in arachidonic acid metabolism and lactose biosynthesis. The upregulation of the glucose-alanine cycle suggests increased gluconeogenesis in response to parasite-induced glucose depletion and energy demand. Elevated urea indicates enhanced amino acid catabolism. These findings highlight the potential of metabolomics as a diagnostic tool for malaria detection and prognosis.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, was eliminated on the island of Saint Kitts in the 1950s after an intense program that targeted the snail intermediate host and improved sanitation. However, recently, 3 cases of schistosomiasis were identified in green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) imported from Saint Kitts over a period of 5 months from December 2023 to April 2024. The 3 cases each had hepatic manifestations of the disease. In addition, one animal had disseminated disease affecting the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and lung and is the first described case of neuroschistosomiasis in a non-human primate (NHP) due to infection with Schistosoma mansoni.

In recent times, the understanding of the human microbiome and its impact on health and disease has undergone a paradigm shift, leading to ground-breaking discoveries in the field of probiotics. Probiotics, live microorganisms known for conferring health benefits when administered adequately, have garnered significant interest for their potential to modulate the immune system's response to viral infections in both humans and animals. The emergence of enteric and respiratory viruses as significant global health threats has prompted intensive research efforts to identify novel therapeutic strategies. Traditional antiviral therapies often face challenges such as drug resistance, limited efficacy and adverse effects, underscoring the urgent need for alternative approaches. In this context, probiotics have emerged as a promising avenue for the prevention and treatment of viral infections due to their ability to modulate the host immune response, enhance mucosal barrier function and exert direct antiviral effects. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic landscape of probiotics against enteric and respiratory viruses. Based on latest findings from preclinical and clinical studies, we have explored the mechanisms underlying the antiviral activity of probiotics and their potential role in mitigating viral infections. Furthermore, promising avenues for harnessing probiotics as adjunctive or standalone interventions against enteric and respiratory viral infections have been discussed here.