Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported gastrointestinal disease in humans in the EU, mainly from poultry meat consumption. C. jejuni is the main species involved in the human disease. However, little is known about the role of swine meat in its epidemiology. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of C. jejuni on swine processing at the slaughterhouse. To this end, a total of 21 pig herds were intensively sampled at the slaughterhouse. Campylobacter isolation was based on official method ISO 10272-1:2018, speciation was determined by the hippurate hydrolysis test, and antibiotic susceptibility was performed according to standard disc diffusion assay. The results showed that all batches shed Campylobacter in faeces upon arrival at the slaughterhouse and remained positive at the end of the slaughtering process (42.8%). Moreover, 41.5% of Campylobacter strains isolated were C. jejuni and all of them were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 96.3% were multidrug-resistant strains. In conclusion, the high level of multidrug-resistant C. jejuni swine batch contamination at the slaughterhouse makes it necessary to include the swine sector in national control programmes to reduce the bacterium and its resistance.

Mycobacteriosis is an important disease that affects captive and wild aquatic fish. Syngnathids are susceptible to infection by non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The aim of this study was to describe clinical signs, and macroscopic and histological lesions in 25 syngnathids and the molecular characterization of the causative mycobacteria. Clinical presentation ranged from sudden death to non-specific signs, including anorexia, poor body condition, weight loss and marked dyspnea with increased respiratory effort and rate. Gross lesions were mostly ulcers on the tail and small white nodules in the liver, coelomic cavity and inside the eye. The most affected organs were gills, liver, intestine and coelomic mesentery. Microscopic lesions consisted of areas of multifocal to diffuse granulomatous inflammation and bacterial emboli with numerous intralesional acid-fast bacilli. Epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes and fibrous connective tissue, which are commonly observed in granulomatous inflammation, were not observed here. In the real-time PCR, M. fortuitum, M. chelonae and M. marinum common primers, Mycobacterium spp. were detected in 4, 7 and 14 individuals, respectively. In addition, this is the first description of mycobacteriosis found in Syngnathus acus.

Syngnathids are teleost fishes that include seahorses, pipefishes, and seadragons, which are commonly displayed in public aquariums. There is limited bibliographic information available regarding the diseases affecting these species. A retrospective pathological study was conducted on 392 syngnathids: 274 seahorses, 92 pipefishes, and 26 seadragons from various aquaria. All individuals underwent necropsy and histopathology, with molecular (n = 63) and parasitological (n = 45) analyses conducted on selected cases. The identified pathologies were classified as either infectious or environmental based on their etiology. Among the infectious agents, non-mycobacterial bacteria were the most prevalent (15.1 %), followed by mycobacteria (6.1 %). Parasites represented the second most relevant group, ciliated protists (10.2 %) were most common; of which scuticociliates were most the frequently observed. Trematodes were detected in 6.1 % of cases, while cestodes and nematodes were each identified in 0.24 % of individuals. In addition, two species of myxozoans, as well as Sphaeromyxa sp., were identified (2.7 %). Lastly, phaeohyphomycosis was observed in 1.46 % of the specimens. Within the environmental category, the most frequent pathology was bilateral symmetrical myopathy (34.1 %), followed by gas bubble disease (4.63 %). No neoplastic or congenital diseases were observed. This study stands out for the large number and diversity of species analyzed, significantly advancing our understanding of pathology in this group of fishes. Several etiological agents not previously reported in syngnathids were observed for the first time (morphology compatible with C. longicollis, Sphaeromyxa sp., Trypanorhyncha gen. sp., among others).

An 11-year-old bay Warmblood mare with a long-standing history of liver disease was presented to the submitting veterinarian with a three-day history of colic and fever. Initial tests revealed an elevated PCV and leukopenia, accompanied by increased lactate and creatinine levels. Clinically, the horse exhibited swollen limbs and mucosal petechiae. After initial treatment, including intravenous fluids and anti-inflammatory medications, the horse improved briefly but subsequently deteriorated, showing signs of ataxia. Because of the poor prognosis, the horse was euthanized, and a full necropsy was performed.