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2024 Descuento MDPI, Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered a very promising alternative tool in cell therapies and regenerative medicine due to their ease of obtaining from various tissues and their ability to differentiate into different cell types. This manuscript provides a review of current knowledge on the use of MSC-based therapies as an alternative for certain common pathologies in dogs and cats where conventional treatments are ineffective. The aim of this review is to assist clinical veterinarians in making decisions about the suitability of each protocol from a clinical perspective, rather than focusing solely on research. MSC-based therapies have shown promising results in certain pathologies, such as spinal cord injuries, wounds, and skin and eye diseases. However, the effectiveness of these cell therapies can be influenced by a wide array of factors, leading to varying outcomes. Future research will focus on designing protocols and methodologies that allow more precise and effective MSC treatments for each case., Simple Summary: The search for alternative treatments is necessary for diseases where conventional therapies are ineffective. In recent years, therapies using mesenchymal stem cells have emerged as one of the most appropriate alternatives in regenerative medicine. Therapy with these types of cells is progressively increasing as a therapeutic option in veterinary medicine, leading to significant advances in treating certain pathologies. This review summarizes the current knowledge on mesenchymal stem cell therapies and their potential therapeutic and clinical effects on wound and skin, ocular, and neuromuscular diseases in dogs and cats., Sección Deptal. de Fisiología (Veterinaria), Sección Deptal. de Anatomía y Embriología (Veterinaria), Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub, Descuento UCM

Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) limit therapeutic options and pose a significant challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections in companion animals. Moreover, these strains pose a significant threat to global public health. This study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) causing skin and ear infections in dogs and to identify methicillin-resistant CoPS. A total of 79 staphylococcal strains were isolated from clinical samples collected from dogs with suspected skin and ear infections from the Dermatology clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Multiplex PCR was employed for species-specific identification of CoPS based on the sequence diversity of the nuc gene. Phenotypic characterization of methicilin resistance was performed using disc-diffusion and determination of minimally inhibitory concentrations values, while PBP2a (penicillin-binding protein 2a) was detected using latex agglutination and finally molecular detection of mecA and mecC genes was performed. Among the 76 CoPS isolates, 50/76 (65.8%) were identified as S. pseudintermedius, 17/76 (22.4%) as S. aureus, 6/76 (7.9%) as S. coagulans, and 3/76 (3.9%) as S. intermedius. The mecA gene was detected in 30% (15/50) of S. pseudintermedius isolates and 29.4% (5/17) of S. aureus isolates, classified as methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), respectively. No isolates tested positive for the mecC gene. These findings underscore the high prevalence of MRS in canine dermatological infections, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring as the first step in combating the high prevalence of MRS and robust infection control measures to mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Such efforts are crucial in addressing the public health implications associated with AMR and ensuring effective treatment strategies for both humans and animals considering that besides MRSA, newer

Dogs are the most popular pets worldwide. Close contact between dogs and people increases the risk of transmission of different zoonotic parasitic infections. Given the importance of veterinary medicine in preserving the One Health concept, the aim of this research was to identify the intestinal parasites that may have zoonotic potential and affect the health of dogs and to evaluate the risk factors (individual and environmental factors) that determine the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections. The research was conducted on the territory of the Republic of Serbia in 2022 and 2023 on 382 owned dogs, using qualitative methods of coprological examination with concentration of parasitic elements. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 58.7%, with detected protozoa: Cystoisospora spp. (9.2%), Sarcocystis spp. (4.5%), Neospora caninum/Hammondia spp. (3.7%), Giardia intestinalis (11.8%); nematoda: Toxocara canis (11.5%), Toxascaris leonina (4.2%), fam. Ancylostomatidae (38.0%), Trichuris vulpis (21,5%), Capillaria spp. (10.5%); trematoda: Alaria alata (1.6%) and cestodes from the Taeniidae family (1.3%). By analyzing the individual risk factors, a significantly higher (p<0.05) prevalence of intestinal parasites was found in dogs younger than one year (83.3%) and in dogs between one and five years old (64.4%). By analyzing the environmental risk factors, a significantly higher (p<0.001) prevalence was found in the dogs that were kept outdoor (67.7%) and indoor/outdoor (72.0%), as well as in the category of hunting dogs (81.6%). Additionally, a significantly higher (p<0.05) prevalence of intestinal parasites was found in the category of dogs fed combined diet (72.5%). Based on the results of coprological diagnostics, this research indicates the importance of educating dog owners, conducting routine parasitological tests on their pets and regular deworming strategies.

Routine health examinations are important for monitoring dog welfare but can be a source of fear in dogs due to the unfamiliar handling used during the examination. Little empirical evidence exists regarding recommendations for handling techniques and tools in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the influence of handling techniques and tools on dog behavioral and physiological responses during routine veterinary examinations. A total of 97 dogs (Mage = 3.48 ± 2.26; 49 female, 48 male; 40 small, 57 medium/large) were recruited from a local municipal shelter. Using a randomized block design balanced for age, sex, and size, dogs were sorted into one of five treatments: 1) passive restraint, 2) muzzle-hold, 3) basket muzzle, 4) soft muzzle, and 5) full-body restraint. A willingness to approach test was conducted to assess sociability toward the handler, followed by a handling phase (2-minute examination while in the handling treatment), and a post-handling phase (30-second observation period). Behavioral responses were measured during the handling and post-handling phase, and physiological responses (temperature, respiratory and heart rate) were recorded during the examination. Fear was also assessed during each phase using a 5-item scale (0=no fear, 4=extreme fear). Results indicated most dogs had reduced posture during handling (61/97, 63%), and neutral posture post-handling (92/97, 95%). During handling, dogs in the muzzle-hold treatment had increased escape attempts (p < 0.001) and dogs that received the full-body restraint had more vocalizations (p = 0.009) compared to the passive restraint. It took longer to place dogs in the soft (p = 0.001) and basket muzzles (p < 0.001) compared to in the passive restraint. Medium/large dogs in soft muzzles were less likely to display avoidance behaviors compared to small dogs in passive restraints (p = 0.001), muzzle-holds (p = 0.001), basket muzzles (p = 0.002) and full-body restraints (p < 0.001). Physiological measurement

Acute diarrhea is a common condition in dogs. Most cases are mild and self-limiting and according to guidelines, antimicrobial treatment is only indicated in dogs with severe systemic disease. However, antimicrobials are still prescribed in 50–65 % of mild cases. Multiple factors have been shown to influence the antimicrobial prescription decision, including perceived pressure from pet owners. This study aimed to investigate dog owners’ expectations regarding antimicrobial prescription for dogs with acute diarrhea and the attending veterinarians’ perceived owner expectation. To investigate this, a structured telephone interview with owners and a post-consultation questionnaire for the attending veterinarians were conducted. Ninety-nine unique dog-consultations were included with a 91 % owner response rate (n = 90), in these cases 63 % of veterinarians responded (n = 57). Only 6/90 (7 %) owners expressed an expectation of antimicrobial prescription. Of these, two expressed dissatisfaction that antimicrobials were withheld. In 5/57 cases, the attending veterinarian perceived an expectation to prescribe antimicrobials. Three cases aligned with an actual owner expectation, the latter two were pure perception. Eighty percent of owners expressed satisfaction with the consultation in general (n = 72/90), while 16 % (14/90) and 4 % (4/90) expressed minor or major dissatisfaction with non-treatment related issues, respectively. In this study, very few dog owners expressed an expectation of antimicrobials for treatment of acute diarrhea. Likewise, the veterinarians perceived an expectation in only a minority of cases, however, the actual and perceived expectation did not always align. In conclusion, this study suggests that an overall high owner satisfaction is feasible despite a non-antimicrobial approach.

This paper provides an update on general social aspects of migrations from the Ukrainian steppe in the 3rd millennium BCE from archaeology, DNA, and linguistics. It also provides a quantification of the prestige value of some tooth and shell status items in the Czech Corded Ware culture. Furthermore, it raises the issue of currently unconvincing archaeological evidence that wolves/dogs were linked with young male warrior bands in the formation of the Corded Ware culture, as suggested by Anthony (2022) and Kristiansen et al. (2017), showing that dogtooth (and shell) ornaments were in fact overwhelmingly associated with females in the Corded Ware culture. Although the paper does not give an exhaustive overview of all the available data, it attempts to inspire more detailed archaeolinguistic and bioarchaeological studies into human–canid gender and age relationships in early Indo-European societies.

Connections between dog ownership and socioeconomic position (SEP) are not well understood. This study examined associations between family and neighborhood levels of SEP and dog ownership, dog acquisition factors (purchase price and breed characteristics), and the purposes of owning a dog based on data from a survey carried out in Denmark in 2021. Participants (aged 18–89 years) were recruited using probability sampling (n = 2,112). Stepwise multivariable logistic or multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to identify significant associations with SEP. Approximately 20% of families in Denmark have a dog. Dog ownership was not found to be linked with income, education, or occupation when life course and lifestyle factors were taken into account. Neighborhood SEP was associated with dog ownership, but the association was not ordered. Payment of a high price for the dog was more prevalent both in high-SEP neighborhoods and in high-income families. Dog owners with low income and limited involvement in the labor market were more likely to have mixed-breed dogs. Those with a higher income and the self-employed were more likely to have a pedigree dog. Acquiring a dog to get physical exercise was more common among dog owners living in high-SEP neighborhoods. Owners with higher levels of education were more likely to have a dog because they liked the company of animals, and those with lower levels tended to keep a dog for instrumental reasons and for social support. The reason for keeping a dog for social support was mainly observed among those with lower levels of education who were also frequently (often/sometimes) involuntarily alone. As in many other areas of consumption, the results demonstrate that acquisition of, and reasons for keeping, a dog are linked to socioeconomic status. They also suggest that dogs play different roles in emotional and mental health at different educational levels.

Myostatin is a growth factor related to muscular mass atrophy via mTOR pathway inhibition. Mutations in this gene have been correlated with high muscular mass development in different species of mammals, including human and dogs. Different studies have shown that sport practice increases myostatin gene expression. Some of them were conducted in canine breeds selected for different sport practices, including mushing sports. In this study, body weight, muscular mass, and serum levels of myostatin were analysed in different canine breeds, selected, and not selected for sprint and middle-distance racing, and the effect on epidemiological factors was evaluated. Sex, reproductive status, and canine breed affects body weight and muscular mass, being higher in males, and in sled canine breed. Age has an effect in body weight and myostatin serum levels, being lower in elder dogs. Sport practice and type of diet had an effect in muscular mass development but not in myostatin serum levels. Results showed a high positive correlation between muscular mass and body weight but not with myostatin levels. These results suggest that independent-myostatin mechanisms of mTOR pathway regulation could be related to muscular mass development in dogs.

Studies in Pomeranians as well as other breeds have looked at clinical signs or external features as predictors of Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM). The aim of this study is to describe and analyze morphometric factors of the skull of Pomeranians with and without CM/SM by means of CT as well as manual external measurements. Ninety-two Pomeranians >12 months of age were included that underwent both CT and MRI studies of the head and cervicothoracic vertebral column. Two observers independently reviewed the CT imaging studies and performed quantitative measurements. External measurements were taken from the head of dogs when under general anesthesia using a tape measure and a caliper. Externally measured mandible length was associated with the probability of having SM (p = 0.043). Mandible length was moderately correlated with weight (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.585, p < 0.001). A cutoff for mandible length of 58 mm yielded a sensitivity of 96% (95% confidence interval 89-100%), meaning dogs in this study population with a mandible length shorter than 58 mm were highly likely to have SM. The measurement of the length of the mandible could help to determine the probability of a Pomeranian having SM, especially when combined with the presence or absence of owner reported clinicals signs as shown in previous studies.

Acute diarrhea is a common condition in dogs. Most cases are mild and self-limiting and according to guidelines, antimicrobial treatment is only indicated in dogs with severe systemic disease. However, antimicrobials are still prescribed in 50–65 % of mild cases. Multiple factors have been shown to influence the antimicrobial prescription decision, including perceived pressure from pet owners. This study aimed to investigate dog owners’ expectations regarding antimicrobial prescription for dogs with acute diarrhea and the attending veterinarians’ perceived owner expectation. To investigate this, a structured telephone interview with owners and a post-consultation questionnaire for the attending veterinarians were conducted. Ninety-nine unique dog-consultations were included with a 91 % owner response rate (n = 90), in these cases 63 % of veterinarians responded (n = 57). Only 6/90 (7 %) owners expressed an expectation of antimicrobial prescription. Of these, two expressed dissatisfaction that antimicrobials were withheld. In 5/57 cases, the attending veterinarian perceived an expectation to prescribe antimicrobials. Three cases aligned with an actual owner expectation, the latter two were pure perception. Eighty percent of owners expressed satisfaction with the consultation in general (n = 72/90), while 16 % (14/90) and 4 % (4/90) expressed minor or major dissatisfaction with non-treatment related issues, respectively. In this study, very few dog owners expressed an expectation of antimicrobials for treatment of acute diarrhea. Likewise, the veterinarians perceived an expectation in only a minority of cases, however, the actual and perceived expectation did not always align. In conclusion, this study suggests that an overall high owner satisfaction is feasible despite a non-antimicrobial approach.

Connections between dog ownership and socioeconomic position (SEP) are not well understood. This study examined associations between family and neighborhood levels of SEP and dog ownership, dog acquisition factors (purchase price and breed characteristics), and the purposes of owning a dog based on data from a survey carried out in Denmark in 2021. Participants (aged 18–89 years) were recruited using probability sampling (n = 2,112). Stepwise multivariable logistic or multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to identify significant associations with SEP. Approximately 20% of families in Denmark have a dog. Dog ownership was not found to be linked with income, education, or occupation when life course and lifestyle factors were taken into account. Neighborhood SEP was associated with dog ownership, but the association was not ordered. Payment of a high price for the dog was more prevalent both in high-SEP neighborhoods and in high-income families. Dog owners with low income and limited involvement in the labor market were more likely to have mixed-breed dogs. Those with a higher income and the self-employed were more likely to have a pedigree dog. Acquiring a dog to get physical exercise was more common among dog owners living in high-SEP neighborhoods. Owners with higher levels of education were more likely to have a dog because they liked the company of animals, and those with lower levels tended to keep a dog for instrumental reasons and for social support. The reason for keeping a dog for social support was mainly observed among those with lower levels of education who were also frequently (often/sometimes) involuntarily alone. As in many other areas of consumption, the results demonstrate that acquisition of, and reasons for keeping, a dog are linked to socioeconomic status. They also suggest that dogs play different roles in emotional and mental health at different educational levels.

The presence of aflatoxins in pet food is often overlooked in practice until an incident occurs, which has unfortunately become increasingly common in recent times. On the other hand, the perception of the danger of these secondary metabolites of moulds in the human food chain is generally at a satisfactory level. For both humans and livestock, the maximum permissible levels in food are regulated, so monitoring programs are part of the strategy of state control of food and feed safety in European countries, including Serbia. However, the mycotoxicological situation for pet food is different. Dogs are particularly sensitive to aflatoxins and often suffer fatal consequences. Considering that pets are referred to as "companion animals", it is clear that due to the emotional attachment of the owners, each case represents a very sensitive and complicated challenge that exceeds the financial losses typical for farms. The lack of knowledge about the effects of aflatoxins on the health of dogs and the lack of regulations and controls for this type of feed are the most common causes of recent outbreaks. The detour of contaminated grain from the human food chain into pet food is unacceptable and the frightening consequences can only be avoided by increasing the level of information and educating all stakeholders. The aim of this article is therefore to raise awareness of the importance of controls and conscientious behaviour in the pet food industry and to warn feed manufacturers and dog owners about the negative effects that aflatoxins have on these animals

C.H. recibió una beca para el desarrollo de doctorado de Becas Santander de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (CT15/23)., Chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIEs) are classified based on treatment trials, and new methods are being sought for earlier differentiation and characterization. Giardia infection (GIA) is one of the first differential diagnoses and may be present in CIE-affected dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the faecal characteristics and faecal fatty acid profile (short, medium, long, and branched-chain fatty acids) in dogs with food-responsive enteropathy (FRE), immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE), and dogs infected with Giardia compared to healthy control (HC) animals as a potential non-invasive indicator of intestinal health that helps in the differentiation of CIEs. The C16:1n-7 percentage (p = 0.0001) and C16:1n-7/C16:0 ratio (p = 0.0001) served to differentiate between HC, FRE, and IRE. IRE dogs presented lower levels of short-chain fatty acids (∑SCFAs) (p = 0.0008) and acetic acid (C2) (p = 0.0007) compared to the other three groups and lower propionic acid (C3) (p = 0.0022) compared to HCs. IRE and GIA presented higher faecal fat content (p = 0.0080) and ratio of iso/anteiso branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) compared to HC and FRE. Correlations between some fatty acids and desaturation indices with the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index and faecal characteristics were observed, suggesting that these compounds could play an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases., Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Depto. de Producción Animal, Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub

Epithelial cysts and organoids are multicellular hollow structures formed by correctly polarized epithelial cells. Important in steering these cysts from single cells is the dynamic regulation of extracellular matrix presented ligands, and matrix dynamics. Here, control over the effective ligand concentration is introduced, decoupled from bulk and local mechanical properties, in synthetic dynamic supramolecular hydrogels formed through noncovalent crosslinking of supramolecular fibers. Control over the effective ligand concentration is realized by 1) keeping the ligand concentration constant, but changing the concentration of nonfunctionalized molecules or by 2) varying the ligand concentration, while keeping the concentration of non-functionalized molecules constant. The results show that in 2D, the effective ligand concentration within the supramolecular fibers rather than gel stiffness (from 0.1 to 8 kPa) regulates epithelial polarity. In 3D, increasing the effective ligand concentration from 0.5 × 10 -3 to 2 × 10 -3 m strengthens the effect of increased gel stiffness from 0.1 to 2 kPa, to synergistically yield more correctly polarized cysts. Through integrin manipulation, it is shown that epithelial polarity is regulated by tension-based homeostasis between cells and matrix. The results reveal the effective ligand concentration as influential factor in regulating epithelial polarity and provide insights on engineering of synthetic biomaterials for cell and organoid culture.

The dog, Canis lupus familiaris, is an important model for studying human diseases. Unlike many model organisms, the dog genome has a comparatively poor functional annotation, which hampers gene discovery for development, morphology, disease, and behavior. To fill this gap, we established a comprehensive tissue biobank for both the dog and wolf samples. The biobank consists of 5485 samples representing 132 tissues from 13 dogs, 12 dog embryos, and 24 wolves. In a subset of 100 tissues from nine dogs and 12 embryos, we characterized gene expression activity for each promoter, including alternative and novel, i.e., previously not annotated, promoter regions, using the 5 targeting RNA sequencing technology STRT2-seq. We identified over 100,000 promoter region candidates in the recent canine genome assembly, CanFam4, including over 45,000 highly reproducible sites with gene expression and respective tissue enrichment levels. We provide a promoter and gene expression atlas with interactive, open data resources, including a data coordination center and genome browser track hubs. We demonstrated the applicability of Dog Genome Annotation (DoGA) data and resources using multiple examples spanning canine embryonic development, morphology and behavior, and diseases across species.

INTRODUCTION: Oral malignant melanoma (OMM) is the most common malignant oral neoplasm in dogs. Tumor recurrence, progression, and regional and distant metastasis remain major obstacles despite advanced therapy. Tumor size has been a consistent, key independent prognostic factor; however, other clinical and histopathologic features impact prognosis and likely influence optimal treatment strategies. Adoption of a risk stratification scheme for canine OMM that stratifies groups of dogs on defined clinicopathologic features may improve reproducible and comparable studies by improving homogeneity within groups of dogs. Moreover, it would aid in the generation of multidisciplinary prospective studies that seek to define optimal treatment paradigms based on defined clinicopathologic features. METHODS: To build a platform upon which to develop a risk stratification scheme, we performed a systematic review of clinicopathologic features of OMM, with particular attention to levels of evidence of published research and the quantitative prognostic effect of clinicopathologic features. RESULTS: Tumor size and presence of bone lysis were repeatable features with the highest level of evidence for prognostic effects on survival. Overall, with strict inclusion criteria for paper review, the levels of evidence in support of other, previously proposed risk factors were low. Factors contributing to the challenge of defining clear prognostic features including inconsistencies in staging and reporting of prognostic variables, incomplete clinical outcome data, inhomogeneous treatment, and absence of randomized controlled studies. DISCUSSION: To overcome this in the future, we propose a risk stratification scheme that expands the TNM system to incorporate specific designations that highlight possible prognostic variables. The ability to capture key data simply from an expanded TNM description will aid in future efforts to form strong conclusions regarding prognostic variables and their inf