Although harbour seals have often bred successfully in captivity, there is little information on the behaviour and welfare of captive mothers and their pups. This study used video of a mother with her newborn pup (P1) during the first 16 days post-partum and further video of the same mother with a second pup (P2) during days 19–22. The most frequent behaviours in the water were body nosing and close body contact. The observations with pup P2 allowed for expanded descriptions of contact and following behaviours in the water. With P1, the mother displayed most responsibility for following and approaching, i.e., for maintaining contact. Suckling usually occurred immediately after the mother led the pup from the water to an onshore suckling location. P1 often rested alone while its mother checked on it continuously from the water and signalled it to return to the water by nudging, nosing and splashing at it. This mother engaged in close contact with both her pups, with both the mother and both pups displaying body language suggestive of positive emotion and, therefore, indicative of good welfare. These observations offer an argument in favour of allowing female harbour seals in captivity to give birth and wean their pups naturally.

As an important member of non-coding RNAs, lncRNAs play a significant role in various biological processes, including regulating the immune response after bacterial infection. In this study, we identified a novel lncRNA (NLRP14-OT) in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). As a result, NLRP14-OT was more than 2234 bp in length and was detectable in the liver, spleen, head kidney, intestine, skin, gill, muscles, blood, and brain, with the highest expression levels in the blood, followed by the spleen. To better understand the biological significance of lncRNAs in the immune system, this study performed qPCR on mucosal tissues (intestine, skin, and gill) at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after Vibrio anguillarum (V. anguillarum) infection. Following infection with V. anguillarum, the expression of NLRP14-OT was significantly upregulated in the skin but significantly downregulated in the gill. Given that lncRNAs can regulate target genes through different mechanisms depending on their subcellular localization, we explored the localization of NLRP14-OT. Both RNA nucleoplasmic isolation and FISH experiments showed that NLRP14-OT was predominantly localized in the nucleus. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that NLRP14-OT was involved in several pathways related to the immune response such as the Tight junction, the Ras signaling pathway, and the Rap1 signaling pathway. Moreover, overexpression of NLRP14-OT in SMK cells significantly upregulated all tested immune genes, and this effect was further enhanced upon LPS stimulation at 6 h, suggesting a potential regulatory role for NLRP14-OT in the immune system. Meanwhile, it was found that overexpression of NLRP14-OT could activate the promoter activity of NLRP14 gene and inhibit the NF-κB activity. The above results enrich the information of lncRNAs in teleost and provide a resource base for further research on the immune function of lncRNAs.

Background: Canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is a common orthopedic condition leading to stifle joint dysfunction, discomfort, and reduced mobility. Diagnosis typically involves radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the use of infrared thermography in assessing local temperature and thermal patterns in dogs with acute-onset lameness due to CCL rupture compared to those with intact ligaments. Methods: The study involved 12 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture and nine dogs with intact ligaments. The stifle area of all dogs was clipped and scanned using a FLIR E50 thermographic camera. Two regions of interest (ROI), designated El1 and Bx1, were analyzed with FLIR Tools software 5.X by comparing the average of the maximum and of the mean temperature values between the two groups. Results: Thermal imaging revealed differences between the two groups of dogs, which were further supported by significantly higher temperatures in the El1 (lateral aspect of the stifle joint) and Bx1 (cranial aspect of the stifle joint) areas in the study group compared to the control group using a comparative analysis—two-sample t-test. In the El1 area, the study group showed a temperature increase of 1.8 °C compared to the control group, while in the Bx1 area, the difference was 1.76 °C. Conclusions: Infrared thermography shows potential to differentiate dogs with acute-onset lameness due to CCL rupture from dogs with intact ligaments, but further studies are needed to assess its accuracy in distinguishing it from other stifle pathologies.

Macrobrachium nipponense represents a commercial decapod species that predominantly inhabits freshwater ecosystems or environments with low salinity. However, the species exhibits normal survival and reproductive capacity in natural aquatic habitats with salinity levels up to 10 parts per thousand (ppt). The present study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying salinity acclimation in M. nipponense by investigating alterations in oxidative stress, morphological adaptations, and hepatopancreatic gene expression profiles following exposure to a salinity level of 10 ppt. The present study demonstrates that glutathione peroxidase and Na+/K+-ATPase play critical roles in mitigating oxidative stress induced by elevated salinity in M. nipponense. Furthermore, histological analysis revealed distinct pathological alterations in the hepatopancreas of M. nipponense following 7-day salinity exposure, including basement-membrane disruption, luminal expansion, vacuolization, and a marked reduction in storage cells. Transcriptomic profiling of M. nipponense hepatopancreas suggested coordinated activation of both immune (lysosome and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathways) and energy (pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and citrate cycle) metabolic processes during salinity acclimation in M. nipponense. Quantitative real-time PCR validation confirmed the reliability of RNA-seq data. This study provides molecular insights into the salinity adaptation mechanisms in M. nipponense, offering potential applications for improving cultivation practices in brackish water environments.

The Lidia cattle breed is featured in several traditional popular bullfighting festivals throughout Spain, including the “Toro de Cuerda” event, in which the animals are subjected to intense physical exercise. However, the physiological impact and welfare implications of these activities remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the stress response and muscle damage in Lidia breed bulls during roping bull celebrations through comprehensive blood analysis. Blood samples were collected from 53 adult male Lidia bulls before and after a standardized 45 min continuous running exercise during traditional roping bull events in four Spanish autonomous regions. Hematological parameters, muscle enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate), and stress hormones (cortisol and ACTH) were analyzed. Significant increases (p < 0.05) were observed in leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and post-exercise platelets. Muscle enzymes showed marked elevations, with creatine kinase increasing up to 10-fold above baseline values. Stress hormones, cortisol and ACTH, also demonstrated significant increases. Despite the magnitude of these changes, all parameters remained within established reference ranges for the bovine species. This study provides the first physiological assessment of Lidia cattle during popular bullfighting celebrations, establishing baseline data for evidence-based welfare evaluation and management protocols.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pigs’ weaning weight (WW) on their growth performance and blood immunological, antioxidant, and gut permeability parameters in the early nursery period. At weaning, a total of 48 pigs, weaned at 20.7 ± 0.74 d of age, were allotted to two WW categories—HWW, with a WW over 5.5 kg (average 6.79 ± 0.53 kg), and LWW, with a WW of less than 5.5 kg (average 4.43 ± 0.56 kg)—for a 14 d postweaning period. The WW did not affect the average daily gain (ADG) in d 0–7 postweaning or the plasma malondialdehyde levels over the entire period. HWW pigs had a higher body weight and ADG than LWW pigs (p < 0.05) in the overall period, with greater plasma immunoglobulin G (p < 0.05) and A (p = 0.06, tendency) levels at d 7 postweaning and superoxide dismutase activity at d 14 postweaning (p = 0.05, tendency), with positive correlations with the WW (p < 0.05). HWW pigs had lower plasma diamine oxidase (p < 0.05) and d-lactate (p = 0.06, tendency) levels at d 14 postweaning, with a negative correlation with the WW (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although there was no effect of the WW on growth rate in the first week postweaning and oxidative stress in the early nursery period, HWW pigs exhibited greater growth performance, immunoglobulin levels, and antioxidant capacity but lower gut permeability than LWW pigs in the early nursery period.

Maintaining genetic diversity is vital for biodiversity and livestock sustainability, with monitoring serving as a prerequisite for conservation strategies. As an initial step for developing future strategies, we analysed the genetic diversity and conservation priorities of 16 chicken breeds managed by a government institute in this study. The breeds were classified as native or locally adapted per FAO definitions and grouped by origin (i.e., governmental or private farms). Genetic diversity, assessed through observed and expected heterozygosity, inbreeding coefficients, and linkage disequilibrium, was high in native breeds from government institutions, such as Chungnam White Korean Native (CNW) and Gangwon Black Korean Native (GWL). Private farm breeds, including Hoeungseong-Yakdak (HYD), exhibited lower diversity. Conservation priorities based on contributions to total genetic diversity (HT) and allelic diversity (AT) revealed that locally adapted breeds, such as Cornish (S) and White Leghorn, significantly contributed to HT. Native breeds, such as CNW and Hyuin black, had higher contributions to AT. Combined assessments indicated that S, CNW, and GWL have the highest conservation priorities. Despite lower rankings, unique breeds such as HYD require targeted conservation owing to their distinctiveness. In conclusion, Korean chicken breeds such as S, CNW, and GWL are vital for maintaining genetic diversity among government-managed breeds.

Human studies suggest point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is superior to radiographs for diagnosing rib fractures, but its efficacy in veterinary medicine remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of POCUS and digital radiographs for detecting rib fractures in canine cadavers, using necropsy as the reference standard. Nine canine cadavers were randomly assigned to either a fracture or control group, with fractures created surgically. Blinded evaluations were performed by an expert and novice sonographer, as well as a board-certified radiologist and a novice radiograph interpreter. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting rib fractures were 83% and 99.74% for ultrasound and 82% and 99.22% for radiographs, with no significant difference between modalities. However, the time required to identify rib fractures varied significantly, with ultrasound taking considerably longer than radiograph interpretation. The expert and novice sonographers required an average of 26 and 64 min, respectively, whereas the radiologist and novice radiograph interpreter took 3 and 10 min. These findings suggest that POCUS and radiographs provide comparable accuracy in detecting rib fractures in canine cadavers. Excluding the time required to obtain radiographs, ultrasound takes longer than radiograph interpretation to identify rib fractures. While POCUS remains a valuable diagnostic tool, its practicality in a clinical setting needs further investigation.

Urban free-roaming cats present challenges like noise, urination, defecation, property damage, public health risks, and wildlife predation. Traditional enforcement methods, such as containment laws and impounding, are ineffective, especially in low-income areas, where many free-roaming cats live. These cats are often cared for by “semi-owners”, who feed them without formal ownership. Financial barriers to sterilization for owned and semi-owned cats in these areas result in unplanned litters, sustaining the free-roaming population and burdening local authorities and animal welfare organizations. Cats causing complaints are frequently impounded and euthanized, affecting the mental health of veterinary, shelter, and council staff. This paper critiques punitive, compliance-driven strategies and highlights the success of assistive Community Cat Programs offering free sterilization, microchipping, and registration. In Banyule, Victoria, such a program reduced cat impoundments by 66%, euthanasia by 82%, and complaints by 36% between 2013 and 2021. Two other programs in large cities and rural towns in NSW and a rural town in Queensland have now reported similar results. Based on the One Welfare framework, these programs address the interconnectedness of animal welfare, human well-being, and environmental health. By removing financial barriers, they build trust between authorities and caregivers, improving compliance and welfare for cats, communities, and wildlife. However, following the loss of key program staff and the reintroduction of financial barriers in Banyule, cat intake rose by 140% between 2022 and 2024, demonstrating the detrimental impact of financial barriers and punitive approaches. This underscores the importance of sustained, community-based solutions and legislative reforms that prioritize humane, barrier-free strategies. Understanding the critical success factors for Community Cat Programs is essential for effective cat management.

Ovine toxoplasmosis has a significant negative impact on sheep farming, and abortion is the main clinical manifestation. The objective of the present study was to survey ovine toxoplasmosis and assess its potential harm T. gondii in sheep. Sheep serum or heart fluid was collected from 1035 sheep, along with the tissue or blood samples collected from 164 of them. We investigated ovine toxoplasmosis by a modified agglutination test (MAT) (n = 1035 sheep) and by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (n = 164 sheep) in China. The results showed that 75 sheep were seropositive (titer ≥ 1:100), with a prevalence of 7.2%, as assessed by MAT. The molecular prevalence of T. gondii in sheep was 16.4% (27/164), as assessed by PCR. From these 164 tissue or blood samples, 22 tissues and 2 blood samples were selected in order to isolate T. gondii by mouse bioassay. A viable T. gondii strain (TgSheepCHn15, ToxoDB #10) was isolated from sheep tissues in the veterinary clinic. This strain was avirulent for Swiss mice, and the survival time of mice was 97 ± 31 days. This is the first instance of the isolation of a Type I strain from sheep with avirulence in mice. The prevalence of T. gondii has been decreasing in sheep from China. However, T. gondii remains present in sheep herds and should not be ignored.