The mammary gland is a dynamic organ with various physiological processes like cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis during the pregnancy-lactation-involution cycle. It is essential to understand the molecular changes during the lactogenic differentiation of mammary epithelial cells (MECs, the milk-synthesizing cells). The MECs are organized as luminal milk-secreting cells and basal myoepithelial cells (responsible for milk ejection by contraction) that form the alveoli. The branching morphogenesis and lactogenic differentiation of the MECs prepare the gland for lactation. This process is governed by many molecular mediators including hormones, growth factors, cytokines, miRNAs, regulatory proteins, etc. Interestingly, various signalling pathways guide lactation and understanding these molecular transitions from pregnancy to lactation will help researchers design further research. Manipulation of genes responsible for milk synthesis and secretion will promote augmentation of milk yield in dairy animals. Identifying protein signatures of lactation will help develop strategies for persistent lactation and shortening the dry period in farm animals. The present review article discusses in details the physiological and molecular changes occurring during lactogenic differentiation of MECs and the associated hormones, regulatory proteins, miRNAs, and signalling pathways. An in-depth knowledge of the molecular events will aid in developing engineered cellular models for studies related to mammary gland diseases of humans and animals.

Veterinary World publishes high quality papers focusing on Veterinary and Animal Science. The fields of study are bacteriology, parasitology, pathology, virology, immunology, mycology, public health, biotechnology, meat science, nutrition, gynecology, surgery, genetics, prion diseases and epidemiology. Food animals, companion animals, equines, wild animals, laboratory animals and animal models of human infections are considered. Studies on zoonotic and emerging infections are highly appreciated.

The present study aimed to investigate pathological epidemiology and molecular confirmation of Ehrlichia canis among pet dogs in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, a state in eastern India. A total of 178 dogs were screened for Ehrlichiosis based on history, clinical signs, blood, and buffy coat smear examination, resulting in only 56 dogs (31.46%) screening positive. The epidemiological study recorded a non-significant (p ≥ 0.05) increase in incidences among male dogs (68%), German Shepherds (25%), dogs more than 20 kg body weight (75%), in the summer months (55%), and dogs housed in pukka houses with exposure to the outside (59%). The majority of the infected dogs had a history of tick infestation (79%) at some point in their lives. Clinical signs showed non-typical manifestations like fever, lethargy, diarrhoea, epistaxis, hind limb edema, and corneal opacity. Haematological studies revealed anaemia and thrombocytopenia along with neutrophilia with relative lymphopenia and monocytosis. A decreasing trend was observed in the levels of total protein and albumin, with an increase in the levels of globulin, alanine aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine. The ultrasonography studies revealed hepatosplenomegaly along with hyper-echogenicity in various organs. Proteinuria and haematuria were consistent, along with the presence of bile salts in the urine of affected dogs. Molecular confirmation from n-type PCR data using Ehrlichia-specific primers targeting the p28 gene (843 bp) was done, and the identified gene sequences submitted to NCBI databases have accession numbers OQ383671-OQ383674 and OP886674-OP886677. Ticks collected from dogs were identified morphologically through microscopy and scanning electron microscopy as Rhipicephalus sanguineus.

Stem cells are unique, undifferentiated cells that have the ability to both replicate themselves and develop into specialized cell types. This dual capability makes them valuable in the development of regenerative medicine. Current development in stem cell research has widened their application in cell therapy, drug discovery, reproductive cloning in animals, and cell models for various diseases. Although there are substantial studies revealing the treatment of human degenerative diseases using stem cells, this is yet to be explored in livestock animals. Many diseases in livestock species such as mastitis, laminitis, neuromuscular disorders, autoimmune diseases, and some debilitating diseases are not covered completely by the existing drugs and treatment can be improved by using different types of stem cells like embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. This review mainly focuses on the use of stem cells for disease treatment in livestock animals. In addition to the diseases mentioned, the potential of stem cells can be helpful in wound healing, skin disease therapy, and treatment of some genetic disorders. This article explores the potential of stem cells from various sources in the therapy of livestock diseases and also their role in the conservation of endangered species as well as disease model preparation. Moreover, the future perspectives and challenges associated with the application of stem cells in livestock are discussed. Overall, the transformative impact of stem cell research on the livestock sector is comprehensively studied which will help researchers to design future research work on stem cells related to livestock diseases.

Issues related to malnutrition are addressed primarily through the consumption of fish meat, as it is both affordable and accessible to economically weaker sections of the population. Therefore, challenges observed in the aquaculture and fishery sectors, such as the detection of environmental changes, disease outbreaks, hindered growth, and poor fish health management, need to be addressed to increase production. The employment of modern technologies, such as (bio)sensors, helps to enhance production in artisanal and large aquaculture systems, because these can timely detect challenges, including climate change factors, sea-level-rise-induced salinity load, changes in inland temperatures, ocean acidification, changes in precipitation patterns, ammonia toxicity, infectious diseases, and stress factors in aquatic systems. As a result, appropriate and timely measures can be taken at various stages of fish culture to address common problems. Using major scientific electronic databases, we comprehensively reviewed the topic of emerging needs, expanding applications, and recent technological advances in biosensors, with a particular focus on pisciculture. We highlight the biosensor technology used in the fisheries industry, which represents a pivotal step towards addressing its various aspects.

Background and Aim: Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in small ruminants limit production efficiency and productivity growth in the livestock sector, thereby directly preventing farmers from augmenting their income. This study aimed to provide detailed insight into the etiology, hematobiochemical parameters, and epidemiological risk factors of GI disorders in goats and to determine the pathology associated with the disorders. Materials and Methods: Over the period of 2018-2019, 500 goats in and around Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, were screened for GI disorders based on clinical signs. Blood samples from the control (n=10) and treatment (n=25) groups were collected for both hematological and serum biochemical alterations. Fecal examinations (n=220) were conducted for parasitic, bacterial, and virological assessments. Detailed necropsy and histopathological evaluations were conducted on 27 goats. Results: The GI disorder prevalence rate and mortality rate among the 500 goats analyzed were 44.4% and 12.27%, respectively. Chi-square analysis showed a significantly higher occurrence of GI disorders among the goats that were between 6 months and 1.5 years old (58.72%), were of the Ganjam breed (45.49%), had a poor body condition (71.11%), and were housed with an earthen floor (55.22%). The most common etiological risk factor observed was parasitic infection (65.45%), followed by bacterial (18.18%) and mixed infection (9.54%). Blood analysis showed neutrophilia and eosinophilia in infected goats, in addition to anemia; significant decreases in total protein, globulin, albumin, and glucose levels; and significant increases in aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase levels. The major histopathological findings were infiltration of mononuclear cells and desquamation of the intestinal and ruminal mucosa. Conclusion: Stakeholders should focus not only on parasitic infections and other important etiological risk factors for GI disorders in goats but also on proper farming management practices to help enhance the income of farmers. The hematobiochemical alterations and pathomorphological changes reported in this study can be used by field veterinarians as guidelines for clinical evaluation and disease severity assessment.