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Simple Summary: The article studies the research output on sheep and goats from Greece; a country where small ruminant farming is the most important terrestrial animal farming business. Milk production from sheep and goats exceeds that from cattle and over 90% of total milk produced from sheep and goats is used for dairy products. Research output on sheep and goats have increased significantly from 1997 to 2022. The bulk of publications, 87.5% of relevant papers, has originated from four establishments: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; University of Thessaly; Agricultural University of Athens and Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra. Papers were published most frequently in the journals Small Ruminant Research and Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society. The most frequent general topics of study were animal health-welfare and animal products. The findings have indicated that research has focused on milk production and diseases of the udder of small ruminants; moreover, there was accumulation of relevant research in Greece in some establishments only. The findings of the study can be used by researchers; stakeholders and Government entities to improve relevant research and to better allocate resources in the country. The study is a scientometrics evaluation of published articles performed in Greece on sheep and goats during the last 25 years, a period coinciding with implementation of reforms to shape and consolidate tertiary education and research establishments in the country. Objectives were: evaluation of the relevant publications and presentation of quantitative characteristics regarding scientific content and bibliometric details. The Web of Science platform was used (search terms: [[sheep OR goat*] OR [Ovis aries OR Capra hircus]] (1997–2022)) and 1080 papers were considered in detail. Throughout the study period, there was a clear progressive increase in numbers of papers published. The papers originated from 39 different entities, most from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (34.0%), University of Thessaly (28.0%), Agricultural University of Athens (21.2%) and Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra (13.6%). Papers were published in 318 different journals. Journals with more published papers were Small Ruminant Research and Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society. The most frequent general topic of study in the papers was health and welfare (46.7% of papers); second most frequent topic was animal products (18.6%). The papers have received 16,558 citations, i.e., οn average 15.4 citations per paper; the h-index was 56, the i10-index was 518 and the yearly citations per paper were 1.71. Papers on goats had higher impact than papers on sheep. There were 1711 individual authors, of which 728 were first or last authors. In total, 24 authors have each co-authored ≥2.5% of all papers; five authors were each first or last in that proportion of all papers. The findings have indicated that relevant research has focused on milk production and diseases of the udder of small ruminants; moreover, there was accumulation of relevant research in Greece in some establishments only. The findings of the study can be employed to initiate improved relevant research approaches in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Considering that there are many ways to approach animal welfare, we aimed to study the value attributed to the animals themselves in scientific papers about farm animals published in animal welfare (AW) and animal production (AP) journals over time. All the papers were analyzed by five assessors, resulting in moderate agreement because the language used in the animal welfare scientific literature is ambiguous in relation to why and for whom it is performed. The overall mean score was 5.60, showing a low consideration of the interest of animals, close to neutrality. While AW journal scored higher and improved over the decades, the AP average score was below 5.0 and did not improve with time. The statement of the main justification for animal welfare papers, with an explicit declaration of their motivational priorities is important for the improvement of animal welfare science. There are, in the literature, distinct ways to approach animal welfare. The objective of this work was to study the value attributed to farm animals in the scientific papers published in animal welfare and animal production journals at three different points in time, separated by a decade each. The first ten papers mentioning "animal welfare" or "animal well-being" in their objectives or hypotheses from each journal and each focus year were selected. The 180 papers were blindly scored by five assessors between 1 and 10, according to the degree of intrinsic value attributed to animals. The overall mean score and standard deviation were 5.60 ± 2.49, with 6.46 ± 2.29 and 4.74 ± 2.40 for AW and AP journals, respectively, and 5.37 ± 2.44, 5.68 ± 2.52 and 5.75 ± 2.41 for the focus years of 2000, 2010 and 2020, respectively. There was an interaction between focus year and publication area: papers from AW journals scored better over time, in contrast with papers from AP journals, for which scores remained similar over decades. The inter-assessor agreement is moderate, which may reflect the subject complexity, as the language used in the papers studied was ambiguous in relation to why and for whom it is performed. The low overall mean score evidenced that the animal welfare scientific publications are, on average, not prioritizing the interests of the animals. Thus, our results evidenced the presence of animal welfarism in animal welfare science, a problem that seems not to be intrinsic to animal welfare science itself, but rather to the way research is frequently conceived, conducted, interpreted, summarized and applied. Therefore, it seems urgent to further study the motivation for animal welfare research. The statement of the main justification for animal welfare papers, with an explicit declaration of the motivational priorities that constitute each scientific animal welfare study, may be an interesting recommendation for the improvement of animal welfare science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many wild animals perform hiding behaviours for a variety of reasons, such as evading predators or other conspecifics. Unlike their wild counterparts, farmed animals often live in relatively barren environments without the opportunity to hide. Researchers have begun to study the impact of access to hiding spaces ("hides") in farmed animals, including possible effects on animal welfare. The aims of this scoping review were to: 1) identify the farmed species that have been most used in research investigating the provision of hides, 2) describe the context in which hides have been provided to farmed animals, and 3) describe the impact (positive, negative or neutral/inconclusive) that hides have on animals, including indicators of animal welfare. Three online databases (CAB Abstracts, Web of Science, and PubMed) were used to search for a target population of farmed animals with access to hiding spaces. From this search, 4,631 citations were screened and 151 were included in the review. Fourteen animal types were represented, most commonly chickens (48% of papers), cattle (9%), foxes (8%), and fish (7%). Relatively few papers were found on other species including deer, quail, ducks, lobsters, turkeys, and goats. Hides were used in four contexts: at parturition or oviposition (56%), for general enrichment (43%), for neonatal animals (4%), or for sick or injured animals (1%). A total of 218 outcomes relevant to our objectives were found including 7 categories: hide use, motivation, and/or preference (47% of outcomes), behavioural indicators of affective state (17%), health, injuries, and/or production (16%), agonistic behaviour (8%), abnormal repetitive behaviours (6%), physiological indicators of stress (5%), and affiliative behaviours (1%). Hiding places resulted in 162 positive (74%), 14 negative (6%), and 42 neutral/inconclusive (19%) outcomes. Hides had a generally positive impact on the animals included in this review; more research is encouraged for under-represented species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the threat of feed-, food-, water-, and plant-related toxins to animal and human health worldwide. It highlights the diverse range of toxins, including bacterial toxins, algal toxins, mycotoxins, and phytotoxins, and their impact on animals. The article also mentions the emerging nature of many phytotoxins, attributing this trend to climate change and the global trade in decorative plants. The Special Issue presented in the article covers various research topics related to plant toxins and feed-associated toxicants, including their determination, epidemiology, degradation methods, clinical signs, and pathologic changes. The article concludes with a list of contributions that discuss specific studies on mycotoxins, pesticide residues, gossypol degradation, plant identification, toxin profiles, and hypoglycin A poisoning. The Special Issue also includes review papers on emerging plant intoxications, the toxicity of house plants, and the co-exposure to mycotoxins. The conflicts of interest are declared, and a list of contributions with their respective authors and publication details is provided. [Extracted from the article]

This review is aimed at summarizing the current state of knowledge about the relationship between environmental exposure to the bioaerosol emitted by intensive livestock farming and changes in the microbiome of people living in livestock farm vicinity. The PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched by crossing keywords from the following 3 groups: a) "livestock," "animal farms," "animal breeding"; b) "microbiome," "resistome"; c) "livestock vicinity," "farm vicinity," "neighborhoods and health" in 2010-2022. Literature screening did not reveal any paper related to the full microbiome composition in the population studied. In the study, the authors included 7 papers (5 from the Netherlands, 1 from the USA, and 1 from China). The studies confirmed the carriage of Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), livestockassociated MRSA (LA-MRSA MC398) and multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MDRSA) in the nasal microbiome of adults and children living within 500-2000 m from a livestock farm. Clostridium difficile, including LA-ribotype RT078 carriage, was detected in the intestinal microbiome of adults living within 500-1000 m. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae were confirmed in the intestinal microbiome of adults living within 500-6200 m. Knowledge on the composition of the microflora of people living in livestock farm vicinity is insufficient to conclude about changes in the microbiome caused by the environmental emission of bioaerosol. The carriage prevalence of the LA-bacteria, including both strains with antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial resistance genes, confirms the presence of zoonotic bacteria in the human microflora in populations without occupational contact with animals. It cannot be ruled out that zoonotic bacteria, as a component of the microbiome, have a negative impact on people's health. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(2):138-52. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will argue six reasons why Kant is an anthropocentric, but not an anthropo-supremacist. It will lay out Kant's case against animal egalitarianism, and how Kant's moral theory nevertheless provides sufficient obligations not to be cruel to other animal species and to care about their welfare, at least in the case of a domesticated animal, the dairy cow. A dairy farmer who is also motivated by Kantian virtue will have enough moral incentive to care about their dairy cows even though Kant's duties to other animal species are indirect and not direct. The paper will then conclude by arguing that current Kantian attempts to rescue Kant from the reproach of anthropocentricism either result in some form of anthropo-supremacy or in an attempt to bring other ethical theories like Utilitarianism and Aristotle into the account to justify animal egalitarianism. These philosophical attempts to support animal egalitarianism do not succeed in overcoming anthropocentrism or anthropo-supremacy, but rather may be contributing to misanthropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science titled "Farm animal welfare and climate change: methods of assessment and mitigation." The editorial highlights the intersection of farm animal welfare and climate change as a critical area of concern in veterinary sciences. It emphasizes the need for innovative solutions to protect animal well-being and the environment. The editorial introduces a research topic that explores the relationship between farm animal welfare and climate change, focusing on assessment methods and mitigation strategies. The research papers included in the topic cover various aspects such as genetic merit in dairy heifers, thermal well-being of dairy calves, physiological response of pigs to heat stress, effects of transportation stress on piglets, and the unique adaptations of yaks in harsh environments. The interdisciplinary nature of the research presented underscores the importance of comprehensive strategies to address the challenges arising from the intersection of farm animal welfare and climate change. The editorial concludes by emphasizing the role of the veterinary community in promoting sustainable and humane livestock farming practices. [Extracted from the article]

Zootoxins are produced by venomous and poisonous species and are an important cause of poisoning in companion animals and livestock in Europe. Little information about the incidence of zootoxin poisoning is available in Europe, with only a few case reports and review papers being published. This review presents the most important zootoxins produced by European venomous and poisonous animal species responsible for poisoning episodes in companion animals and livestock. The main zootoxin-producing animal species, components of the toxins/venoms and their clinical effects are presented. The most common zootoxicoses involve terrestrial zootoxins excreted by the common toad, the fire salamander, the pine processionary caterpillar, and vipers. The lack of a centralized reporting/poison control system in Europe makes the evaluation of the epidemiology of zootoxin-induced poisonings extremely difficult. Even if there are many anecdotal reports in the veterinary community about the exposure of domestic animals to terrestrial and marine zootoxins, the number of published papers regarding these toxicoses is low. Climate change and its consequences regarding species distribution and human-mediated transportation are responsible for the emerging nature of some intoxications in which zootoxins are involved. Although new venomous or poisonous animal species have emerged in regions where they were previously unreported, zootoxins produced by native species remain the main concern in Europe. The diversity of poisonous and venomous animal species and the emerging nature of certain poisonings warrant the continuous update to such knowledge by veterinary professionals and animal owners. This review offers an overview about zootoxin-related poisonings in domestic animals in Europe and also provides important information from a health perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pastoral society, the reproduction of livestock is directly related to the survival and prosperity of herders. The key to domestic animal reproduction lies in the cognitive bond between mother livestock and their young. Herdsmen use various tools and techniques to help develop this cognitive bond. These human mediation tools have various characteristics such as 'restorative' or 'destructive'. The lamb bag, a widely used tool in pastoral society, has both 'restorative' and 'destructive' natures. Based on ethnographic data collected in Inner Mongolia, China, this paper first introduces the production method of lamb bags, then describes their structure, function and the multi-dimensional relationships generated during the application process, and finally discusses the cultural implications of 'restorative' and 'destructive' human mediation in pastoral culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) causing vector-borne diseases (VBDs) can circulate among humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, with cattle in particular serving as an important source of exposure risk to humans. The close associations between humans and cattle can facilitate the transmission of numerous VBPs, impacting public health and economic security. Published studies demonstrate that cattle can influence human exposure risk positively, negatively, or have no effect. There is a critical need to synthesize the information in the scientific literature on this subject, in order to illuminate the various ecological mechanisms that can affect VBP exposure risk in humans. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to review the scientific literature, provide a synthesis of the possible effects of cattle on VBP risk to humans, and propose future directions for research. This study was performed according to the PRISMA 2020 extension guidelines for systematic review. After screening 470 peer-reviewed articles published between 1999–2019 using the databases Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed Central, CABI Global Health, and Google Scholar, and utilizing forward and backward search techniques, we identified 127 papers that met inclusion criteria. Results of the systematic review indicate that cattle can be beneficial or harmful to human health with respect to VBDs depending on vector and pathogen ecology and livestock management practices. Cattle can increase risk of exposure to infections spread by tsetse flies and ticks, followed by sandflies and mosquitoes, through a variety of mechanisms. However, cattle can have a protective effect when the vector prefers to feed on cattle instead of humans and when chemical control measures (e.g., acaricides/insecticides), semio-chemicals, and other integrated vector control measures are utilized in the community. We highlight that further research is needed to determine ways in which these mechanisms may be exploited to reduce VBD risk in humans. Author summary: Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are caused by pathogens spread by blood-feeding arthropods from an infected to an uninfected organism. These infections may be caused by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or protozoans and arthropod vectors may spread these pathogens to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Humans and cattle spend a significant amount of time in close proximity with each other through various activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, trading, and animal farming, which can potentially increase risk to human health. Previously published studies indicated cattle can impact vector-borne pathogen (VBP) transmission both positively and negatively, however, there has not been a recent synthesis of the scientific literature on this subject. Through this global systematic review of the scientific literature, we found that cattle could have either harmful or beneficial impacts on human health when it comes to VBDs, but most often increase exposure risk to VBPs in humans. We identified various mechanisms from the scientific literature by which cattle can impact VBP risk in humans. Further research is needed to better understand specific ecological mechanisms by which cattle impact human health and develop measures that will prevent and reduce VBP exposure risk in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modality is characterized by the important fact that it may be found within the grammar of all languages, which cannot be said of mood, for instance, another category of grammar. The present paper aims to identify deontic modal markers, specifically four English modal verbs, in George Orwell's Animal Farm, and analyze the grammatical / lexical instruments used for rendering them into five Romanian translated editions. The conclusions reveal that, although English seems easier in lexicalizing the meanings of modality, Romanian tends to be more explicative and thus, more comprehensive, due to its analytic character, which provides it with more variety in the choice of words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the current state of production from cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats in the hilly, foot-hilly and mountain regions of Bulgaria, as well as the opportunities for its increase. Negative trend were observed in the populations of cattle, sheep and goats in the last two decades. 634,466 cattle were raised in Bulgaria in 2001, 371,901 of which were dairy cows. Data for 2020 showed values of 568,700 heads of cattle, 365,500 of which were dairy cows and pregnant heifers. In this period, the number of sheep decreased from 1,571,410 in 2001 to 1,307,800 in 2020, and the decline in goats was even more noticeable, from 675,292 in 2001 to 253,400 in 2020. The decline in the breeding of farm animals led to a decrease in the volume of animal milk and meat products. For the positive development of the volume of agricultural production in the foot-hilly and mountain regions of Bulgaria, decisions are needed to improve the gene pool, health care, feeding, as well as the application of advanced modern technologies. The advantage of mountain and foot-hilly agriculture is in the creation of high-quality food products and for this reason it is necessary to support it through appropriate measures and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Farm animal welfare research conducted in China is relatively less accessed and unknown outside of the country, which might create the impression that farm animal welfare receives limited attention in China. This paper aims to offer a comprehensive review of the existing Chinese farm animal welfare literature. CiteSpace software was employed for the analysis and visualization of various aspects of the literature, including the quantity, species, authors, institutions, journals, and keywords. This process helped reveal the research trends, hotspots, and frontiers in the field. The findings from this bibliometric analysis strongly indicate that farm animal welfare is a subject of considerable interest and research activity in China. Farm animal welfare research conducted in China is not commonly accessed or known outside of China, which may lead to the assumption that farm animal welfare receives relatively little attention in China. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on the existing Chinese farm animal welfare literature to provide robust evidence to refute this assumption. A total of 1312 peer-reviewed Chinese studies on farm animal welfare published between March 1992 and June 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. CiteSpace software was used to analyze and visualize the number, species, authors, institutions, journals, and keywords of the papers. In China, farm animal welfare research has gone through the processes of an early stage (1992–2001), rapid-growth stage (2002–2007), and mature stage (2008–present), and the scale of research continues to grow. Notably, swine and chickens have received priority attention in this area. A Matthew effect was observed for authors and institutions, with relatively little collaboration among authors and institutions. Most of the papers were published in a small number of journals, with an apparent agglomeration characteristic. The research hotspots, summarized as "feed and diet", "environmental impacts and control", "integrated rearing management", "injury and disease", "behavior and technologies for behavior monitoring", "genetic analysis", "welfare during transport and slaughter", "welfare-friendly animal product consumption", "attitudes toward farm animal welfare", and "healthy breeding". The keywords "computer vision", "recognition", "temperature", "precision livestock farming", "laying hen", and "behavior", represent the major research frontiers in the field, which could indicate potential areas of significant future research. The findings of the present bibliometric analysis confirm the fact that farm animal welfare is a field of interest in China. Farm animal welfare research in China tends to be pragmatic, with a strong emphasis on enhancing growth and production performance, as well as product quality, rather than solely concentrating on improving farm animal welfare. This paper provides insightful references that researchers can use to identify and understand the current status and future direction of the farm animal welfare field in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pigs are exposed to various stressors, which can disrupt their internal balance and compromise their well-being. Stress can adversely affect animal performance, fertility, and immunity, leading to economic losses for farmers. Incorporating antioxidants in pig breeding can counteract those changes. This review presents studies investigating the impact of additional vitamin supplementation on stress reduction in pigs. It highlights the potential benefits of these dietary antioxidants in maintaining pig health. Good practices in farm animal care are crucial for upholding animal well-being, efficiency, and health. Pigs, like other farm animals, are exposed to various stressors, including environmental, nutritional, chemical, psychological, physiological, and metabolic stressors, which can disrupt their internal balance and compromise their well-being. Oxidative stress can adversely affect animal performance, fertility, and immunity, leading to economic losses for farmers. Dietary considerations are hugely important in attaining these objectives. This paper reviews studies investigating the impact of additional vitamin supplementation on stress reduction in pigs. Vitamin A can be beneficial in counteracting viral and parasitic threats. Vitamin B can be a potential solution for reproductive issues, but it might also be beneficial in reducing the effects of inappropriate nutrition. Vitamin C plays a vital role in reducing the effects of heat stress or exposure to toxins in pigs. Vitamin D proves to be beneficial in addressing stress induced mostly by infections and weaning, while vitamin E has been shown to mitigate the effects of toxins, heat stress, or transport stress. This review highlights the potential benefits of these dietary antioxidants in maintaining pig health, enhancing productivity, and counteracting the adverse effects of various stressors. Understanding the role of vitamins in pig nutrition and stress management is vital for optimising farm animal welfare and production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a huge obstacle for public health and demonstrated weaknesses in surveillance and health promotion systems around the world. Its etiological agent, SARS-CoV-2, of zoonotic origin, has been the target of several studies related to the control and prevention of outbreaks and epidemics of COVID-19 not only for humans but also for animals. Domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, have extensive contact with humans and can acquire the infection both naturally and directly from humans. The objective of this article was to summarize the seroprevalence findings of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats and correlate them with the strength of infection risk between each of them. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis following the recommendations of PRISMA 2020. The search and selection of papers was carried out using in vivo experimental works with animals using the descriptors (MeSH/DeCS) "Animal", "Public Health", "SARS-CoV-2" and "Pandemic" (together with AND) in English, Portuguese or Spanish for Science Direct, PUBMED, LILACS and SciELO databases. The ARRIVE checklist was used for methodological evaluation and the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v2.2 software with the Difference Risk (RD) test to evaluate statistical inferences (with subgroups by continent). Cats showed greater susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 compared to dogs both in a joint analysis of studies (RD = 0.017; 95% CI = 0.008–0.025; p < 0.0001) and in the American subgroup (RD = 0.053; 95% CI = 0.032–0.073; p < 0.0001), unlike the lack of significant difference on the European continent (RD = 0.009; 95% CI = −0.001–0.018; p = 0.066). Therefore, it was observed that cats have a greater interest in health surveillance due to the set of biological and ecological aspects of these animals, but also that there are a set of factors that can influence the spread and possible spillover events of the virus thanks to the anthropozoonotic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are derived from regions that are transcribed but do not code for proteins. Instead, they form covalent closed-loop structures and play a crucial role in many biological processes. This literature review focuses on the function of circRNAs in cattle, goats, and sheep, with a particular emphasis on their impact on economically significant traits such as milk production, meat quality, muscle development, wool production, etc. Additionally, the review explores the potential of circRNAs as biomarkers for the assessment of animal health and welfare. An enhanced understanding of circRNAs' roles can significantly improve the management of farm animals and the quality of products derived from them. This is increasingly relevant in a context where consumer concerns about animal welfare and sustainable farming practices are growing. The insights provided here pave the way for future studies, highlighting the importance of circRNAs in advancing livestock practices. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are unique noncoding RNA molecules, notable for their covalent closed-loop structures, which play a crucial role in regulating gene expression across a variety of biological processes. This review comprehensively synthesizes the existing knowledge of circRNAs in three key livestock species: Bos taurus (cattle), Ovis aries (sheep), and Capra hircus (goats). It focuses on their functional importance and emerging potential as biomarkers for disease detection, stress response, and overall physiological health. Specifically, it delves into the expression and functionality of circRNAs in these species, paying special attention to traits critical to livestock productivity such as milk production, meat quality, muscle development, wool production, immune responses, etc. We also address the current challenges faced in circRNA research, including the need for standardized methodologies and broader studies. By providing insights into the molecular mechanisms regulated by circRNAs, this review underscores their scientific and economic relevance in the livestock industry. The potential of circRNAs to improve animal health management and the quality of animal-derived products aligns with growing consumer concerns for animal welfare and sustainability. Thus, this paper aims to guide future research directions while supporting the development of innovative strategies in livestock management and breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Toxocara canis is a common parasite that resides in the intestinal tract of dogs. It can be transmitted through soil, water, or vegetables that are contaminated with infected eggs. However, another transmission is through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected paratenic hosts. The paratenic host for T. canis includes various food-producing animals such as mammals and birds. Unfortunately, the infection has been largely overlooked by the general public. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to shed light on the parasitism, migration, and infection of T. canis in food-producing animals. We aim to raise public awareness about toxocariasis. Toxocariasis is a significant food-borne zoonotic parasitic disease, and a range of birds and mammals are the paratenic hosts of Toxocara canis. The consumption of raw or undercooked meat and viscera of these paratenic hosts frequently leads to T. canis infection and the development of human toxocariasis. In this review, we will perform an analysis of relevant papers published in the National Center for Biotechnology Infrastructure database on the parasitism, migration, and infection of T. canis in chickens, pigeons, quail, pigs, cattle, sheep, and other food-producing animals, so as to make the public aware of the risk factors of human toxocariasis, improve the public's understanding of T. canis infection, and provide evidence for targeted prevention and control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper looks at past relationships between humans and certain wild animal species, that is, raptors, bears, beavers, and elks. As we have observed, it was the behaviour of animals that caught the attention of humans, such as spectacular flights and hunting by raptors, the similarities in bear and human behaviour, the fascinating impressiveness and charisma of elks, and the landscape-shaping by enigmatic beavers. All these animals have special meanings to humans far beyond their economic significance. Wild goshawks, falcons, and other raptor species have acted as trained hunting companions, but they were never domesticated and had to be treated with care. As for bear, beaver, and elk, there were often complex rituals before, during, and after the killing, because there was no clear separation between humans and animals. The animals were not just prey but equal beings and other-than-human persons. However, there were also changes over time in the human–animal relationship, such as the advent of the farming way of life with a preference for domesticated animals, as well as the arrival of Christianity, by which animals became second to human. Humans have developed a special relationship with some animal species throughout history, even though these animals were never domesticated. Based on raptors, bears, beavers, and elks, the question of whether there are similarities between the perception of these animals that triggered a special kind of fascination in humans and how the relationship between humans and these animals changed between Mesolithic age and medieval times is addressed. As we demonstrate, the categorical antagonism between 'animal' and 'human' is a concept that saw different kinds of influence, from the advent of sedentarism and husbandry to Christianity and from philosophical thinking in Classical Antiquity and the Period of Enlightenment. In prehistory and early history, we find different, opposing world views across time, cultures, and periods. Differences between animals and humans have been considered as fluid, and humans have had to engage with animals and their needs. The well-known and famous 'bear ceremonies' attested to different peoples and times were not unique, but were a part of belief systems that also included other animal species. Among the considered animals, certain raptor species attracted the attention of humans who tried to establish contact with them, as companions, whereas bears were almost 'disguised humans' due to all their similarities with humans, but they were also tabooed beings whose real names had to be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles released by human and animal cells, parasites, microorganisms, and plants. They travel within bodily fluids, transferring the content of their cell of origin to other cells, being both intra- and inter-organism messengers. This EV-mediated method of communication governs many normal functions as well as disease processes. Because of this important role, EVs have been largely studied since 1984, mainly in humans, but more recently also in animals, parasites, and bacteria. In this review, we explore the literature on EVs in animals between 1984 and 2021 and summarize the most important results of approximately 220 scientific papers. Results are presented based on the main topic of research, such as EVs in physiology and pathophysiology, use of EVs as markers to diagnose diseases, or as possible natural transporters of therapies or vaccines. Since working with EVs is challenging, we also address the critical technical points found in the veterinary literature. Finally, we included a brief summary on EVs shed within animal milk, an area of large interest for the multiple applications for human health. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane-bound vesicles involved in many physiological and pathological processes not only in humans but also in all the organisms of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic kingdoms. EV shedding constitutes a fundamental universal mechanism of intra-kingdom and inter-kingdom intercellular communication. A tremendous increase of interest in EVs has therefore grown in the last decades, mainly in humans, but progressively also in animals, parasites, and bacteria. With the present review, we aim to summarize the current status of the EV research on domestic and wild animals, analyzing the content of scientific literature, including approximately 220 papers published between 1984 and 2021. Critical aspects evidenced through the veterinarian EV literature are discussed. Then, specific subsections describe details regarding EVs in physiology and pathophysiology, as biomarkers, and in therapy and vaccines. Further, the wide area of research related to animal milk-derived EVs is also presented in brief. The numerous studies on EVs related to parasites and parasitic diseases are excluded, deserving further specific attention. The literature shows that EVs are becoming increasingly addressed in veterinary studies and standardization in protocols and procedures is mandatory, as in human research, to maximize the knowledge and the possibility to exploit these naturally produced nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Salmonella is not a priority pathogen for wild boar health. However, it poses a hazard for meat safety. This paper presents the results of our multi-year research on the prevalence and epidemiology of Salmonella in hunting grounds in Vojvodina, Serbia. In total, 425 wild boars (25.3% of the total population) were studied. The overall Salmonella prevalence in Vojvodina boars was not high (3.1%) and was quite similar to findings from Spain, Germany and Japan. However, the prevalence in some hunting grounds was very high (13.3-33.3%). The anthropogenic impact is significant, as the prevalence is statistically significantly higher in open hunting grounds where animals have contact with domestic animals and access to animal waste. The pulsotype (PFGE) profiles confirmed a link between isolates from wild pigs and domestic animals. The category of wild boars in which Salmonella was most commonly found was sows older than 36 months and weighing more than 75 kg, which is a direct consequence of their increased need for protein during the lactation period when they exhibit scavenging and cannibalistic behaviour. The measures taken against Salmonella in hunting grounds need to incorporate biosecurity measures that prevent anthropogenic influence. The hygienic and sanitary measures for the control of caught animals should also include enhanced measures when processing risk categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores contradictions surrounding animal paintings in the Founding Collection of Seattle's Frye Art Museum. The collection, assembled by Charles and Emma Frye, who settled in Seattle in the late 1800s, features nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century paintings by European artists, and includes numerous images of farm animals in agrarian settings in which any evidence of modern agricultural advances is absent and idyllic depictions of close, peaceful bonds between humans and domesticated animals predominate. Such calm, anachronistic scenes contrast starkly with the source of wealth that funded the Fryes' acquisitions--meatpacking. While such imagery can be understood as concealing or deflecting attention from the bloody realities that funded the collection, it may also be regarded as offering hints of what less-exploitative relationships with animals can be. By focusing on painted renderings of domesticated animals' labor and communicative capacities, I argue these seemingly innocuous, nostalgic images contain potential to move viewers to rethink today's instrumentalized relationships with animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clostridium perfringens (CP) is an emerging anaerobic pathogen that can aggravate severe fatal infections in different hosts and livestock. Aim: This paper was designed to monitor the antibacterial efficacy of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) plant against different CP isolates of variant toxin genotypes comparing that with commercial antibiotics in the veterinary field. Methods: A total of 200 examined fecal, intestinal, and liver samples from cattle, sheep, and goat were investigated bacteriologically and biochemically for CP. Then, the isolates were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for toxin gene typing. Thereafter, the antimicrobial susceptibility testing as well as the antibacterial efficacy of M. oleifera were evaluated and statistically analyzed against recovered isolates. Results: The prevalence rate of CP was 51% (102/200); of which 54.5% was from cattle, 50% from sheep, and 40% from goat. Moreover, all CP isolates were highly resistant to tetracycline and lincomycin drugs; meanwhile, they were of the least resistance against ciprofloxacin (8.3%–16.7%), cefotaxime (16.7%–25%), and gentamycin (26.7%– 33.3%). For M. oleifera, high antibacterial efficacy with greater inhibition zones of the plant was recorded with its oil (20–24 mm) and ethanolic extracts (16–20 mm) against CP than the aqueous extract (≤ 10 mm). A good correlation was stated between M. oleifera oil and toxin type of CP isolates particularly type A followed by D and B types. Interestingly, the oil and ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera gave higher antibacterial efficacy than most commercial antibiotics against the recovered isolates. Conclusion: This study highlighted the potent antibacterial properties of M. oleifera for suppressing CP infections in farm animals. Hence, more investigations on M. oleifera are suggested to support its use as a medical herbal plant substituting antibiotics hazards and resistance problems worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that are the causative agent of rickettsioses and are spread to vertebrate hosts by arthropods. There are no previous reports of isolation of Rickettsia amblyommatis for Colombia. Methods: A convenience sampling was executed in three departments in Colombia for direct collection of adult ticks on domestic animals or over vegetation. Ticks were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplifying the citrate synthase gene (gltA), and the positive sample was processed for isolation and further molecular characterization by conventional PCR. The absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for several tick species variables. All products from conventional PCR were further purified and sequenced by the Sanger technique. Representative sequences of 18 Rickettsia species were downloaded from GenBank. Consensus phylogenetic trees were constructed for the gltA, ompB, ompA, and htrA genes with 1000 replicates, calculating bootstrap values through the maximum likelihood method and the generalized time reversible substitution model in the MEGA 7.0 software program. Results: One female Amblyomma mixtum collected on vegetation was amplified by qPCR (gltA), indicating a frequency of 1.6% (1/61) for Rickettsia spp. infection. Sequence analysis of a rickettsial isolate from this tick in BLASTn showed 100% identity with gltA (340 base pairs [bp]), 99.87% for ompB (782 bp), 98.99% for htrA (497 bp), and 100% for ompA (488 bp) to R. amblyommatis. Concatenated phylogenetic analysis confirmed these findings indicating that the isolate is grouped with other sequences of Amblyomma cajennense complex from Panama and Brazil within the R. amblyommatis clade. Conclusions: This paper describes the isolation and early molecular identification of a R. amblyommatis strain from A. mixtum in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the difference in the average daily gain recorded in the bulls of the Aubrac breed, exploited in the conditions of our country. The database was made up of data recorded in two fattening bull farms of the Aubrac breed. The average daily gain of the animals recorded at the age of 12 months, as well as the average daily gain at the age of 18 months, were measured. A total of 30 animals (15 animals from farm 1, and 15 animals from farm 2) were studied. The results were statistically interpreted, which showed that there were no significant differences between the animals from the two studied farms, but there were statistically significant differences between the average daily increase recorded at 12 months compared to the average daily increase recorded at 18 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Positive welfare represents an expansion of the traditional animal welfare understanding that animal welfare is defined by minimizing negative experiences such as stress, pain, suffering, and disease. Positive welfare as a concept shifts the narrative from just reducing negative experiences to intentionally providing animals with increased opportunities to have positive experiences and feelings. The concept, although around for several decades, is in its infancy in terms of developing ways of assessing positive welfare on farms. Therefore, the adoption of practices that promote opportunities for positive welfare and experiences faces challenges, especially in monitoring continuous improvement at the farm level. The most apparent challenge is the lack of validated indicators to characterize a full spectrum of positive welfare experiences and feelings for farm animals. Assessing positive welfare in extensively reared animals such as sheep may pose additional practical challenges too. Using an iterative approach, this critical review aims to explore the extent to which positive welfare interventions and indicators are positioned and have been developed within the literature on sheep welfare. This paper critiques existing literature in terms of potential indicators for current and future research and characterizes the practicality and suitability of these indicators for on-farm welfare assessments. Finally, potential aspects of positive welfare for sheep are highlighted so that they may guide future research and practical implementation on farms. The concept of positive welfare is an expansion of the traditional understanding that animal welfare is defined by minimizing stress, pain, suffering, and disease. Positive welfare shifts the animal welfare narrative from a focus on reducing negative experiences to proactively providing animals with opportunities to have positive experiences and feelings. The concept, although around for several decades, is in its infancy in terms of developing ways of assessing positive welfare on farms, especially in extensive systems, and there are challenges in the adoption of positive welfare practices and the monitoring of continuous improvement at the farm level. Using an iterative approach, this critical review aims to explore the extent to which positive welfare interventions and indicators are positioned and have been developed within the animal welfare literature for sheep. This paper critiques existing positive welfare indicators, such as choices in food and the physical environment, conspecific social synchronization, maternal bonds, intergenerational knowledge transfer, positive human–animal relationships, etc., as currently assessed by the 'good life framework'. It also reviews the characteristics of scientific measures for (positive) affective states in the current sheep literature and their potential contribution to understanding positive welfare states in sheep. In conclusion, this paper provides recommendations for future research regarding sheep welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to answer the following question: What can researchers learn from consumer research that can inform them about the consequences of consumption? Design/methodology/approach: This paper follows guidelines for a summarization conceptual model. First, the paper offers a review of consumption theories and research studies on a variety of consumption-related constructs. Then, a bird's-eye view is taken to critically synthesize the findings. Findings: The consequences of consumption can be summarized along a framework reflecting the positive and negative effects of consumption on oneself, one's relationships, one's society and the Earth. Knowledge gaps in previous research are identified, and a set of propositions is provided to enrich the understanding of the consequences of consumption. Research limitations/implications: The bird's-eye view of the studies addressing the impacts of consumption identified gaps of knowledge in this area; these gaps constitute valuable topics for future researchers to study. The findings of the paper stress the need for studying the boundaries of different consumption effects. The review emphasizes the complex intermingling between consumer motives (antecedents) to behave in certain ways and the impacts (consequences) of such behaviors. The major limitation to this research stems from the immensity of the task involved. Practical implications: This paper informs public policymakers on how to create realistic regulations that take into consideration the complexity of consumption. It calls on governments to provide an infrastructure that facilitates experiential consumption and to educate consumers, through the media and the public schools, to consume responsibly. Originality/value: Whereas previous researchers have focused on a particular consumption practice while studying the consequences of consumption, this paper provides a comprehensive review that includes an array of practices. This paper synthesizes previous research findings through presenting a framework delineating the effects of consumption and identifying knowledge gaps in this research domain. The paper also provides a set of propositions that can guide future research on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In many parts of the world, belted pig breeds have been selectively raised for their distinctive appearance for centuries. These pigs present a white belt of variable width, generally centred on the shoulders or trunk on a solid black background. The present review aimed to identify and describe, from a genetic point of view, all existing pig breeds with this peculiar coat pattern. Using the online database, 42 pig breeds, their origin, productive, and reproductive data, and conservation status have been identified. Most of them are local small-size breeds, some extinct or endangered. Highlighting the attention paid to these breeds and their role as local livestock is of great importance for conserving local biodiversity. Belted pig breeds have unique, distinguishing phenotypic characteristics. This review summarises the current knowledge on pig breeds displaying a belted coat pattern. Belts of different widths and positions around the animal's trunk characterise specific pig breeds from all around the world. All the breeds included in the present paper have been searched through the FAO domestic animal diversity information system (DAD-IS), Every country was checked to identify all breeds described as having black or red piebald coat pattern variations. Advances in genomic technologies have made it possible to identify the specific genes and genetic markers associated with the belted phenotype and explore the genetic relationships between different local breeds. Thus, the origin, history, and production traits of these breeds, together with all the genomic information related to the mechanism of skin pigmentation, are discussed. By increasing our understanding of these breeds, we can appreciate the richness of our biological and cultural heritage and work to preserve the biodiversity of the world's animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Animal welfare is a public good that is extremely important to stakeholders, who can hold conflicting values and viewpoints, on what animal welfare is, and how a good life is achieved. Various stakeholder groups tend to signal different problems, or problematize specific aspects of farm animal welfare, and propose different actions or interventions within food supply chains. In the paper we explore the contribution of narrative and argumentative discourse to the social construction and framing of animal welfare and its implications. Our findings demonstrate the contestation within the stakeholder discourse around animal welfare and farm animals. We demonstrate how performance-related perspectives are rooted in value-laden language within narratives that shape the discourse regarding notions of good and bad welfare; or positive or negative welfare. We suggest that future research should examine in more depth the socially constructed language, dialogues and discourses expressed among and between stakeholders in order to embody the breadth, depth, and understanding of the multiple meanings of farm animal welfare, and the emergent positioning of positive welfare for farm animals as well as how to achieve a good life in practice. The novel contribution of this review is the application of an explanatory word-language-discourse-person-situation-environment framework in this specific context to inform future research on animal welfare discourse analysis. Stakeholders can hold conflicting values and viewpoints, on what animal welfare is and how a good life is achieved and can signal different problems, or problematize specific aspects of farm animal welfare, and propose different actions or interventions within food supply chains. The aim of the study is to explore the contribution of narrative and argumentative discourse to the social construction and framing of animal welfare and its implications. The methodological approach in this research is composed of two phases with phase 1 being the foundational structured literature search in both academic and grey literature. Phase 2 was the analysis of the secondary data from the literature review to develop a synthesized iterative paper and in doing so develop a typology of five narratives: the 'farming as a business' narrative, the 'religion-based' narrative, the 'research, legislative and political based narrative', the 'higher welfare' narrative, and the "animal rights/power-based" narrative. Our findings demonstrate the contestation within the stakeholder discourse of the articulation of why farm animals should have a good life. Performance-related perspectives are rooted in the value-laden language and narratives that shape the arguments regarding notions of good and bad welfare; the emergent positioning of positive welfare for farm animals as well as how to achieve a good life in practice. The novel contribution of this review is the application of an explanatory word-language-discourse-person-situation-environment framework in this specific context to inform future research on animal welfare discourse analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Marsican brown bear is a subspecies of Eurasian bear, that lives in a few areas of Central Italy, with an estimated population of only 50 animals. For this reason, it is considered one of the most threatened Italian mammals, and specific Conservation Plans are applied with the focus to fight the mortality causes, mainly related to human activities or illegal practices. On the contrary, few reports describing infectious or parasitic diseases in Marsican brown bears are available. Among pathogens, the canine distemper virus (CDV) is responsible for a contagious and multi-organ disease, able to infect a wide range of domestic and wild carnivores. In 2013 a fatal outbreak of distemper was registered in Central Italy, involving dogs, Apennine wolves, badgers, and foxes, but apparently without any consequences for the Marsican brown bears living in the same territories. In this paper, we describe the first CDV infection detected in a live-trapped bear. The identified strain resulted in similarities to CDV recovered from foxes and dogs of the same area. Even if no clinical signs referred to the disease have been detected in the monitored bear, the evidence of a viral pathogen potentially able to menace the conservation of the Marsican brown bear population highlights the importance of continuing observation activities. In this paper, we report the first molecular detection of the canine distemper virus in the Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus). Three subadults and one adult were live-trapped and checked for the main viral pathogens responsible for infectious diseases in this species. The four bears were found to be negative for all investigated viruses except for one, which resulted in a positive outcome for CDV by means of RT-PCR targeting fragments of viral N and H genes. The sequence analysis revealed the specificity of amplicons for the Europe Wildlife lineage of CDV, the same viral strain recovered from three foxes and two unvaccinated dogs coming from the same territories where the positive bear was captured. These results confirm the receptivity of Marsican brown bear for CDV, apparently without any pathological consequences for the positive animal, and suggest the presence in the studied area of a unique wild host-adapted lineage of the virus, able to spread in domestic animals, too. In this respect, continuous and specifically targeted surveillance systems are necessary in order to highlight any changes in the epidemiology of the infection in the territories where the Marsican brown bear lives, along with a more effective vaccination program for domestic dogs co-existing with this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive use of antibiotics in animal production has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and the search for alternative antimicrobial agents in animal production. One such compound may be antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are characterized by, among others, a wide range of biocidal activity. According to scientific data, insects produce the largest number of antimicrobial peptides, and the changing EU legislation has allowed processed animal protein derived from insects to be used in feed for farm animals, which, in addition to a protein supplement, may prove to be an alternative to antibiotics and antibiotic growth promoters due to their documented beneficial impact on livestock health. In animals that were fed feeds with the addition of insect meals, changes in their intestinal microbiota, strengthened immunity, and increased antibacterial activity were confirmed to be positive effects obtained thanks to the insect diet. This paper reviews the literature on sources of antibacterial peptides and the mechanism of action of these compounds, with particular emphasis on insect antibacterial peptides and their potential impact on animal health, and legal regulations related to the use of insect meals in animal nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Brucella suis biovar 2's (BSB2) active circulation in wildlife, no canine infections have been reported. The present paper is the first to describe two cases of BSB2 infections in French dogs. The first case occurred in 2020 and concerned a 13-year-old male neutered Border Collie with clinical signs of prostatitis. The urine culture revealed the excretion of significant levels of Brucella in the sample. The second case concerned a German Shepherd with bilateral orchitis, in which it was possible to detect Brucella colonies following neutering. HRM-PCR and classical biotyping methods classified both isolated strains as BSB2, in contrast to expected B. canis, which is usually the etiological agent of canine brucellosis in Europe. The wgSNP and MLVA analyses highlighted the genetic proximity of two isolates to BSB2 strains originating from wildlife. No pig farms were present in the proximity of either dog's residence, ruling out potential spill over from infected pigs. Nevertheless, the dogs used to take walks in the surrounding forests, where contact with wildlife (i.e., wild boars or hares, or their excrements) was possible. These cases highlight the importance of adopting a One Health approach to control the presence of zoonotic bacteria in wild animals and avoid spillovers into domestic animals and, potentially, humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With over 300 terrestrial and aquatic mammalian species, Iran is considered a country with an ample mastofauna. Although many studies have assessed the distribution of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in animals and humans in Iran, lungworms have not received adequate attention. Following a previous article in which we reviewed the diversity and prevalence of lungworm infections in pastoral and wild ruminants of Iran, this report compiles the available scientific information about the occurrence of lungworms in non-ruminant mammals and humans from 1980 to 2022 to provide insights into the epidemiology of these infections. International and national scientific databases were searched, and twenty-six articles in peer-reviewed journals, one conference paper, and one D.V.M. thesis were included in the study. In total, 10 species belonging to seven genera, including Dictyocaulus, Deraiophoronema, Protostrongylus, Crenosoma, Eucoleus, Aelurostrongylus, and Metastrongylus, were reported in the respiratory tract or feces of humans, domestic animals (i.e., camels, equids, dogs, and cats), and wildlife species (i.e., hedgehogs, wild boars, and hares). Most of the studies (22/28) were performed using post-mortem examinations. The overall prevalence of respiratory nematode infection varied according to animal species in camels (14.83%), equids (13.31%), dogs (5%), wild boars (45.66%), hedgehogs (42.57%), and hares (1.6%). In addition, pulmonary capillariasis caused by Eucoleus aerophilus was reported in a 9 year old child. The prevalence of lungworm species in domestic camels, equids, and dogs, combined with a lack of labeled anthelmintic products, supports the need to improve our understanding of these important nematode parasites and inform the development of sustainable control strategies. From a zoo and wildlife medicine point of view, there is a shortage of information about the presence and prevalence of lungworm infections in the majority of mammalian species, pending epidemiological studies that integrate classical parasitology and molecular methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) is an online reporting system, essential for ensuring the transparency and accuracy of global animal health. One of the WOAH's objectives is to disseminate timely notifications to support countries' efforts to prevent and control the spread of animal diseases. This paper describes the 3,263 exceptional events notified through immediate notifications sent to WOAH from 2005 to February 2021 and their distribution in time and space and by disease. To evaluate the timeliness of reporting, we defined and analysed two periods: the confirmation period (CT), which is the time interval between the disease onset date and the confirmation date, and the notification period (NT), defined as the interval between the disease confirmation and the date of reporting to WOAH. The results showed that (1) the number of events increased over the analysis period; (2) the events were mainly reported for domestic animals and the data provided for wildlife were limited; (3) the official source of disease introduction was often unknown when the event was reported; and (4) the global median CT value was 5 days while the global median NT value was 4 days, with a decreasing trend in both cases over the study period. Divergences were found across world regions and country income categories. This analysis provides interesting insights into the early detection capabilities and transparency of countries, globally and over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Briefing paper: restitution of protected areas to Indigenous communities Indigenous communities in Africa are increasingly assertive about the need to have their customary ownership and custodianship of forests recognized by the state. As part of the current reintroduction effort, experts from Namibia and South Africa - the countries with the largest cheetah populations - trained Indian forest officers and wildlife experts on handling, breeding, rehabilitation, medical treatment and conservation of cheetahs. Sources: Animal Conservation (2023) doi.org/10.1111/acv.12854 & Mongabay (2023) news.mongabay.com/2023/03/new-map-boosts-philippine-eagle-population-estimate-but-highlights-threats Threatened wildlife available for selfies in Japan's animal cafés In Japan, exotic animal cafes are popular with local people and visitors seeking novelty and opportunities for taking selfies with wild animals. The Declaration also recognizes that Liberia can meet its 30% national forest conservation target through innovative means beyond the creation of government-controlled protected areas. [Extracted from the article]

Simultaneous use of domestic spaces by humans and wildlife is little understood, despite global ubiquity, and can create an interface for human exposure to wildlife pathogens. Bats are a pervasive synanthropic taxon and are associated with several pathogens that can spill over and cause disease in humans. Urbanization has destroyed much natural bat habitat and, in response, many species increasingly use buildings as roosts. The purpose of this study was to characterize human interactions with bats in shared buildings to assess potential for human exposure to and spillover of bat-borne pathogens. We surveyed 102 people living and working in buildings used as bat roosts in Taita-Taveta county, Kenya between 2021 and 2023. We characterized and quantified the duration, intensity, and frequency of human-bat interactions occurring in this common domestic setting. Survey respondents reported living with bats in buildings year-round, with cohabitation occurring consistently for at least 10 years in 38% of cases. Human contact with bats occurred primarily through direct and indirect routes, including exposure to excrement (90% of respondents), and direct touching of bats (39% of respondents). Indirect contacts most often occurred daily, and direct contacts most often occurred yearly. Domestic animal consumption of bats was also reported (16% of respondents). We demonstrate that shared building use by bats and humans in rural Kenya leads to prolonged, frequent, and sometimes intense interactions between bats and humans, consistent with interfaces that can facilitate exposure to bat pathogens and subsequent spillover. Identifying and understanding the settings and practices that may lead to zoonotic pathogen spillover is of great global importance for developing countermeasures, and this study establishes bat roosts in buildings as such a setting. Author summary: Many bat species share space with people and domestic animals. Bat use of buildings, which serve as roosts where they raise young and sleep, is increasing globally with the loss of natural habitat. In such settings, interactions between bats, people, and domestic animals may occur. This may be cause for concern as bats can carry pathogens that infect people or domestic animals and interactions with bats may create opportunities for exposure to these pathogens. Until now, the characteristics of human-bat interactions in buildings, and their potential for exposing humans and domestic animals to bat-borne parasites, were unknown. In our study, people living and working in buildings used simultaneously by bats reported frequent interactions with bats and their feces, which can facilitate human exposure to bat pathogens. These interactions happened frequently and over many years. We demonstrate that shared building use by bats and people in rural Kenya leads to prolonged, frequent, and sometimes intense interactions between bats, humans, and domestic animals, consistent with exposure opportunities that can lead to pathogen spillover. Identifying the settings that may lead to human contact with pathogens is critical for developing countermeasures to mitigate public health hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The diversity of animal gene pools in terms of species and numbers indicates a country's food security. In the past, Bhutan was very rich in livestock resources. However, if there is no plan to support the conservation and utilization of livestock resources well, it may inevitably cause food shortage problems. The main message of this paper is that some animal species are showing a steady decline in their numbers without the cooperation of many organizations, and the lack of knowledge, in particular the genetic improvement and breeding selection, for maintaining the integrity of the country's available animal genetic resources may soon enter a crisis. Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) ensures food security and maintains genetic diversity. The efforts to conserve FAnGR are minimal in Bhutan. In the pursuit of increasing livestock productivity, farmers are rearing livestock that narrows the range of genetic diversity. This review attempts to summarize the status of FAnGR and the efforts to conserve them. Some unique livestock breeds in Bhutan are Nublang (cattle breed), Yak, Saphak (pig breed), Yuta (horse breed), Merak-Saktenpa (horse breed), and Belochem (chicken breed). There was a drop in the yak, buffalo, equine, pig, sheep, and goat populations. Both in situ and ex situ conservation measures are in place for some of the breeds and strains (e.g., Nublang and traditional chicken). Conservation efforts are limited to the government, but other individuals, stakeholders and non-government organizations must play an increasing role in preserving genetic diversity. It is pertinent that Bhutan comes up with a policy framework to conserve its indigenous cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The term 'natural behaviour' is widely used by food companies to advertise their animal welfare credentials but the public needs to be made aware that there is no necessary connecton between naturalness and good welfare. Some natural behaviour contributes to good welfare but others, such as being chased and caught by a predator, does not. Used on its own without supporting evidence, 'natural behaviour' lacks the most essential criterion for good welfare—whether it matters to the animals themselves. There are now tried and tested methods for establishing what animals value ranging from simple choice tests to what they find rewarding in learning tasks and are prepared to work to obtain. In addition, the growth of animal behaviour studies over the last 60 years has yielded a wealth of new information about what animals respond to, what motivates them, how their behaviour develops during their lifetimes and how the behaviour of modern farm animals differs from that of their wild ancestors. By using all this information as well as just relying on the shaky concept of 'natural behaviour', there are thus now opportunities for improving farm animal welfare that are both more evidence-based and more animal-centred. Despite the many scientific objections that have been raise to it, 'natural behaviour' is widely used as an indication of good welfare by the food industry. The supposed link between welfare and natural behaviour derives, however, from a now outdated view of animals becoming frustrated if they cannot perform their natural instinctive behaviour. On the 60th anniversary of its publication, Niko Tinbergens' Four Questions framework is used to show why there is no necessary link between natural behaviour and welfare and why, therefore, reliance on natural behaviour in commercial farming may not result in the claimed improvements in welfare. Used on its own without supporting evidence, 'natural behaviour' lacks the most essential criterion for good welfare—whether it matters to the animals themselves. There are now a number of well-established methods for demonstrating what animals value, including choice tests and, particularly, what animals will work and pay a cost to obtain. Some of the evidence on what animals value is already available in published papers but some will require collaborative research between scientists and commercial farming to find practical and commercially viable ways of providing animals with what they value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Neolithic Abora settlement site occupies a prominent place in Lake Lubāns micro-region archaeology. The Lake Lubāns wetland, including the Abora site, has been systematically researched by the archaeologist Ilze Biruta Loze in 1962–1990 and episodically in 1999–2012. Besides the settlement culture layers, the Abora site includes human burials as well, providing both osteological and archaeological material. Altogether, 61 burials have been excavated within the settlement territory. The Abora settlement is a tempting site for further investigations of complexities of the transition to farming in the Late Neolithic in Latvia. This paper represents an attempt to apply palaeodemographic methodology, 14C dating, FRUITS analysis and estimates of the freshwater reservoir effect to preserved osteological and archaeological material of Abora site and discusses the results in context with the previous data and archaeological interpretations. The new radiocarbon dates of the human bones generally correspond with the previous absolute dating of the site, spanning from 3484–3102 calBC to 2137–1925 calBC. The adult and adolescent isotopic data (29 individuals) generally corresponds very well with the local Lake Lubāns wetland isotope ecology. However, it contradicts the previous interpretations that overemphasised the role of domesticated animals and cultivated crops in the Abora human subsistence strategies. The new data show that the majority of individuals had a freshwater diet and others — a mixed freshwater/terrestrial diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to analyze the number of animal holdings, their structure by species and size class and also the average farm size based on the data provided by Eurostat and National Institute of Statistics. Fixed and structural indices as well as comparisons were the main statistical tools to assess the results. Romania has a high number of animal farms being on the top position in the EU, but the smallest farm size. The decline of bovine, swine and poultry livestock has relatively contributed to the growth of farm size and production efficiency. About 72.7% of agricultural holdings have land and animals and 23.3% rear only animals. Individual holdings are dominant and keep 86.9% bovine farms, 53% pig farms, 93.3% sheep farms, 95.1% goats farms and 67.4% poultry farms. Commercial holdings represent 44.4% of pig farms and 31.7% of poultry farms de very small percentages in case of the other species. At the national level, the average farm size of animal farms is: 3.4 bovines, 2.4 dairy cows, 3.2 pigs, 43.7 sheep, 10.6 goats and 31.6 poultry. A smaller average farm size is in the individual holdings: 2.9 bovines, 2.2 dairy cows, 1.7 pigs, 41.3 sheep, 10.1 goats and 18.7 poultry. Commercial companies have in average a higher average size: 211 bovines, 97.8 dairy cows, 7,878 pigs, 942.6 sheep, 181.7 goats and 96,009.2 poultry. The gap between individual and commercial holdings is difficult to be reduced, as long as farm concentration is a slow process. The decline in livestock, farmers aging and the new modern farms established with EU financial support are expecting to contribute to the improvement of farm structures in animal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle were the predominant domestic animal in the Iron Age and Roman Netherlands, yet their management is still incompletely understood. Some aspects of cattle management, such as birth season and the provision of fodder, have received little or no attention so far. This paper is the first to investigate these aspects for the Iron Age and Roman Netherlands, through a case study of the site of Houten-Castellum. The rural settlement of Houten-Castellum was inhabited from the Middle Iron Age to the Middle Roman period, allowing a comparison between the Iron Age and Roman period. Excavations at this site have yielded a large, well-preserved animal bone assemblage. This paper investigates cattle husbandry by using an integrated approach, combining a multi-isotope analysis (oxygen, carbon and strontium) with archaeozoological and archaeobotanical results from Houten-Castellum and comparing the results with archaeobotanical evidence for fodder and evidence for dairy use for the Iron Age and Roman Netherlands in general. While our data set is small and results must therefore be interpreted cautiously, there is convincing evidence for an extended birth season in the Middle Iron Age, as well as the use of fodder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]