Background: Age and breed are considered the greatest risk factors for disease prevalence and mortality in companion dogs. Understanding the prevalence of diseases, in relation to age and breed, would support appropriate guidance for future health care strategies and provide useful information for the early diagnosis of diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the major medical causes for dogs visiting primary-care veterinary clinics in the Republic of Korea, stratified by age and breed.Methods: A total of 15,531 medical records of canine patients were analyzed from 11 veterinary clinics who shared data from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. An electronic medical record (EMR) system was used for data collection, which included the animal identification number, age, breed, gender, neuter status, clinical information, and diagnosis. EMR data were classified using the International Classification of Disease system from the World Health Organization; presenting signs or diagnoses were identified according to breed and life stage.Results: Within the age groups, preventive medicine (16.7% confidence intervals (CI) [15.9–17.5]) was the most common cause for clinic visits for the 10 year), the prevalences of heart disease, kidney disease, Cushing’s disease, and mammary tumors were higher than in the other age groups. Small and toy breed dogs comprised 67.7% of all dogs in this analysis. For all breeds, otitis externa, dermatitis or eczema, vomiting, and diarrhea were common medical problems.Discussion: This study identified the most common medical disorders and differences in prevalences of diseases, according to age and breeds. The information from EMRs for dogs visiting primary-care veterinary clinics can provide background knowledge that is required to enable a better understanding of disease patterns and occurrence by age and breeds. The information from this study could enable the creation of strategies for preventing diseases and enable the identification of health problems for more effective disease management in companion dogs.

Journal of Animal Science and Technology (JAST) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing original research, review articles and notes in all fields of animal science. Topics covered by the journal include: genetics and breeding, physiology, nutrition of monogastric animals, nutrition of ruminants, animal products (milk, meat, eggs and their by-products) and their processing, grasslands and roughages, livestock environment, animal biotechnology, animal behavior and welfare.

Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) is a natural flavonoid with multiple bioactivities, including hepatoprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate whether DHQ improved lipid dysmetabolism in the body, especially in the liver, and whether there is a relationship between hepatic metabolism and altered gut flora in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice. HFD-induced mice were given 50 mg/kg body weight DHQ intragastrically for 10 weeks. The data showed that DHQ reduced body weight, the weight of the liver and white adipose tissue as well as serum leptin, LPS, triglyceride and cholesterol levels. RNA-seq results indicated that DHQ down-regulated lipogenesis-related genes and up-regulated fatty acid oxidation-related genes, including MOGAT1 and CPT1A. Furthermore, DHQ had a tendency to decrease hepatic cholesterol contents by reducing the mRNA levels of cholesterol synthesis genes such as FDPS and HMGCS1. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis indicated that DHQ significantly decreased the richness of Lactococcus, Lachnoclostridium, and Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group. Correlation analysis further demonstrated that these bacteria, Lactococcus and Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group in particular, had significantly positive correlation with lipid and cholesterol synthesis genes, and negative correlation with fatty acid oxidation genes. In conclusion, DHQ could improve hepatic lipid dysmetabolism potentially by improved gut microbial community, which may be used as an intervention strategy in hepatic metabolism diseases.

Journal of Animal Science and Technology (JAST) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing original research, review articles and notes in all fields of animal science. Topics covered by the journal include: genetics and breeding, physiology, nutrition of monogastric animals, nutrition of ruminants, animal products (milk, meat, eggs and their by-products) and their processing, grasslands and roughages, livestock environment, animal biotechnology, animal behavior and welfare.

To evaluate the humoral immune response to the initial Lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccination in three cattle breeds, namely Korean native cattle (Hanwoo), Holstein, and Jersey, up to 18 weeks post-vaccination. Overall, 65 cattle were vaccinated with the live attenuated Neethling strain of the LSD vaccine (Lumpyvax®, MSD Animal Health). Antibody titers were measured using ELISA from blood samples collected before and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 weeks post-vaccination. Pre-vaccination complete blood count parameters were analyzed to determine their correlation with antibody responses. Significant breed-specific differences were observed in antibody titers and seropositivity rates. Eighteen weeks post-vaccination, Holstein cattle exhibited the most significant increase in LSD antibody concentrations, followed by Hanwoo and Jersey cattle (p < 0.05). Additionally, Holstein cattle achieved the highest seroconversion rates (73.3 %), whereas Hanwoo cattle showed the lowest seropositivity (33.3 %) during the same period. Additionally, pre-vaccination immune cell profiles, particularly lymphocyte and basophil levels, were correlated with antibody responses, emphasizing the role of innate immunity in vaccine efficacy. We should consider breed-specific immune responses and pre-vaccination immune cell profiles when developing vaccination strategies. Tailored approaches may enhance vaccine efficacy and improve disease control across different cattle breeds. We evaluated the antibody titers across different cattle breeds following LSD vaccination, providing critical insights into breed-specific vaccine efficacy. These findings support the development of tailored vaccination strategies, contributing to improved disease prevention, control measures, and overall livestock productivity.

Oh SI, et al. J Vet Sci. 2019 Oct;21:e41. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e41