This study aimed to assess the effects of a Lactobacillus helveticus ATCC 15009-derived postbiotic in mitigating experimental Salmonella Gallinarum infection. For this purpose, a sample of Lactobacillus sp. was inoculated in 2 different media, each containing different postbiotics (sensitized and nonsensitized). Both inocula had their antagonistic effect over S. Gallinarum tested through the spot-on-the-lawn method. It revealed that the sensitized postbiotic had a higher action potential over Lactobacillus sp. than the nonsensitized one (P < 0.05). Then, 48 day of hatch chicks were divided into 4 groups: A = Lactobacillus sp. (10⁹ CFU/mL) inoculum on the 18th day; B = Lactobacillus sp. (10⁹ CFU/mL) inoculum on the 18th day and postbiotic inoculum on the 19th day; C = postbiotic inoculum on the 19th day; and D = sterile saline inoculum on 18th and 19th days. On the 21st day, all chicks were infected with S. Gallinarum (10⁹ CFU/mL). On the 23rd day, the animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation, and the ceca and liver were aseptically removed. Bacterial count of S. Gallinarum with serial decimal dilution was performed with these organs. It revealed that the prophylactic treatment with the postbiotic that modulates the intestinal microbiota was as efficient as the probiotic administration in reducing S. Gallinarum in the cecum and liver of chicks (P < 0.05). These data point to a new range of alternatives for preventing S. Gallinarum, which might help the poultry industry produce safer food for human consumption.

Regarding the lack of standardized methods for beak trimming to reduce feather pecking in Japanese quail, the present study aimed to compare two ages and 3 methods of beak trimming, evaluating the performance, egg quality and feather pecking. One-day-old Japanese quails (n = 770; 22 birds cage-1), at the initial phase, and 36-day-old (n = 630; 18 birds cage-1), at the production phase, were assigned to a completely randomized design, consisting of 7 treatments with 5 replicates. The treatments were: non-trimmed (NT), cauterization of approximately 1/3 at 14 days-of-age (CAUT 14) and at 28 days-of-age (CAUT 28), moderately trimmed to approximately 1/3 beak at 14 days-of-age (MOD 14) and at 28 days-of-age (MOD 28), severely trimmed to 1/3-1/2 beak at 14 days-of-age (SEV 14) and at 28 days-of-age (SEV 28). Data were analyzed using Minitab®. The results indicated that beak trimming methods applied did not influence the performance and egg quality. Quails subjected to MOD 28 and SEV (14 and 28) presented lower feed conversion per egg mass compared to NT. However, MOD 14 and SEV were more efficient in preventing feather pecking behavior.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been used for various applications; however, studies investigating the immunohistochemical characteristics of the inflammatory and scarring component in BC implanted in the peritoneum in vivo have not yet been fully described. This study aimed to evaluate the systemic and organic safety of BC through oxidative stress, blood, and serum biochemical markers, as well as the late inflammatory response in rats, using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Forty-three rats (26 males; 17 females) received BC in the peritoneal cavity (implanted group—IG), while twenty-seven rats (12 males; 15 females) served as the control (sham group—SG). Sixty days after surgery, oxidative stress in tissues, blood biochemical markers, and histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses for lymphocytes, macrophages, collagen, and vascular response around the BC were assessed. Only one oxidative stress marker, glutathione peroxidase, was elevated in the liver of IG rats. Creatine kinase MB and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly lower in IG animals. Histopathological analysis showed granulomatous inflammation in 93% of IG rats, with 74% of mild intensity. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant macrophage presence (F4/80), with CD3, CD20, and F4/80 markers indicating differences favoring macrophages. In conclusion, BC implantation in the peritoneum induces a foreign body granulomatous response with prominent macrophage presence (F4/80). Type I and III collagen were observed around the membrane, and vascularization was intense 60 days post-implantation. From a biochemical and oxidative stress perspective, BC seems to be a safe material to be used in the peritoneal cavity.

Neste estudo, as principais variáveis do teste de antagonismo Spot-on-the-Lawn, como concentrações de Salmonella Heidelberg e Lactobacillus salivarius ATCC 11742 e volumes de meio foram investigadas, sendo ao final proposto um modelo de padronização, visando à diminuição de variações individuais e à replicabilidade do teste. Três concentrações de cada bactéria foram preparadas (concentrada, intermediária e diluída), além de três volumes de caldo Brain Heart Infusion (10, 15 e 20mL). O teste de antagonismo foi realizado, sob todas as variações, entre concentrações bacterianas e volumes de meio, resultando em 27 unidades experimentais diferentes e nove halos de inibição por unidade. As comparações permitem concluir que o uso de valores extremos para as concentrações de ambas as bactérias e os volumes de meio leva à super ou subestimação dos halos de inibição. Assim, o ideal é a utilização de concentrações bacterianas e de volumes de meio similares e intermediárias.

The Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is a unique neoplasm due to its ability to be transmitted between individuals of the same species, implant in a new host, and persist as clonal tumor cells. This study evaluates the use of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as prognostic biomarkers and their relationship with therapeutic response and cytological characteristics of CTVT. Cytological and hematological samples from 22 dogs diagnosed with CTVT were analyzed, classifying cytological subtypes into lymphocyte-rich, plasmacytoid, and mixed. Tumor-derived NLR showed a significant correlation with cytological subtypes and tumor stage, being higher in progressive tumors and in the mixed and lymphocyte-rich subtypes. In contrast, systemic NLR did not show significant differences at the onset of treatment but gained relevance during specific therapy stages. Pre-chemotherapy PLR values were associated with treatment response, highlighting its utility as a dynamic indicator. These findings underscore the importance of NLR and PLR as accessible and cost-effective tools for characterizing the tumor microenvironment and evaluating therapeutic response in veterinary oncology, offering potential applications for comparative oncology in humans.

Wild birds may be in charge of transmitting pathogens to production animals. Contact with humans can also favor the spread of pathogens and promote the birds crowding, especially in feeding places. The dynamics of Salmonella transmission this interaction is still uncertain, but it is believed that as much wild birds can be the source of the infection, as they can become infected through domestic birds. Therefore, in order to explore this dynamic, two experiments were carried out with the Typhimurium serovar (ST), using as experimental models white-rumped munia (WRM) (Lonchura striata) and broilers (Gallus gallus). Internal and external birds samples were evaluated, as well as their local environment. When the WRM were previously infected by ST the contamination of broiler chicks litter (23,3%) occurred into the first 6 hours. However, when WRM´s became infected through contact with broiler chicks (previously inoculated with ST) the contamination of non-infected broiler chicks was lower (5%), including periods in which positive birds were not detected, besides to litter, drinking water and feed from the environment of uninfected birds, remaining negative for ST throughout the experimental period. The results of experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that the most favorable situation for the establishment of ST contamination in broiler chicks was the one in which the WRM´s were already infected, however, ST transmission was also characterized when non-contaminated WRM´s had access to previously contaminated broiler chicks, which carried ST to a group of initially negative broiler chicks. According to the research, we found that the possibility of contamination and transmission occurs between wild birds and poultry, and the dynamics on farms must be better understood.