The study was undertaken to investigate the main causes of carcass and organ condemnations, as well as to estimate the financial losses suffered by a cattle slaughterhouse. In this regard, an active abattoir survey, based on standard post-mortem inspection procedures for meat, was conducted on 151,741 cattle, from January 2021 to December 2022. Overall, 13.27% (n = 20,125) of the carcasses expressed lesions or pathological conditions and, out of them, 1.15% (n = 1738) were totally confiscated, while another 12.12% (n = 18,387) were partially admitted for human consumption. In the case of organs, the general inspection data reveal that 12.28% (n = 18,630), 7.56% (n = 11,477), 1.89% (n = 2862), and 0.27% (n = 412) of the examined liver, lung, heart, and kidney specimens presented one or more types of abnormalities. In addition, regarding the types of specific pathological findings, dystrophies/anomalies (69.8%), circulatory disorders (40.6%), fecal contamination (60.9%), and suspected bacterial/viral infections showed a dominant occurrence in the liver, lung, heart, and kidneys, respectively. Consequently, the total direct financial losses resulting from edible part condemnation over the two years was estimated at EUR 4,021,717.3, which represents 1.17% of the total achievable net revenue without carcass and organ condemnation. Of this, EUR 3,661,400.4 (1.07%) and EUR 360,316.9 (8.73%) was related to carcass and organ condemnation, respectively. The study results demonstrate that the post-mortem inspection of meat at the slaughterhouse level plays a crucial role in identifying pathological lesions, in addition to some other issues, such as fecal contamination or non-compliant laboratory results, relevant to both public health and economic factors.

Pythium oligandrum is an oomycete used in veterinary medicine to treat dermatophytosis in animals. The ovicidal potential against various types of parasite eggs has not been investigated. Ascarids are very common in young animals and the resistance of eggs in the external environment is very high. A commercial product containing P. oligandrum was used in the present study. Its ovicidal action against Toxocara spp. eggs was investigated. Thus, two categories of media (soil and sandstone) were used, on which the ascarid eggs were dispersed. The commercial product was prepared as a solution and was applied according to the manufacturer. The treatment scheme indicated in case of animals with dermatophytosis was used. Thus, the external natural conditions were recreated in the laboratory, in order to establish whether there is any applicability for this oomycete in the biological control of some parasitic diseases. The results indicated an ovicidal action of Pythium oligandrum, supporting the prospects of its use in the decontamination methods of various surfaces or environments where ascarid eggs from carnivores are found.

Introduction: Heartworm disease is increasingly diagnosed among the canine population from Romania. Methods: In this study, 34 dogs were necropsied between 2022 and 2023. Results: The prevalence of heartworm disease was 17.64% (6/34). Multiple organs were affected, including the pancreas, heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen, and liver. Generalized circulatory changes, with thrombosis and congestive-hemorrhagic foci, were observed, along with inflammatory processes. Acute pancreatitis has been very rarely reported by scientists, highlighting the importance of the present study. Conclusion: By knowing all the lesions that can evolve and the organs that can be affected, veterinarians can improve laboratory diagnostic methods. Thus, specific biomarkers indicating degenerative processes in different organs can be supplemented to provide a more accurate diagnosis.

The aim of this study was to identify and describe macrospcopic and microscopic liver lesions in pigs necropsied at the forensic discipline during 2 years of study; assessing the hepatopathies prevalence, based on morphopathological criteria (circulatory disorders, dystrophic processes, inflammatory and tumor processes). The study was conducted in the period November 2012 - 90 October 2014. It involved necropsies of 90 swine corpses, aged 3 weeks - 6 months, from intensive swine breeding systems, to elucidate the cause of death. After necropsy and thorough macroscopic examination of the liver and gall bladder samples were taken to carry out microscopic examination. Of the total of 90 necropsied pigs, 65 cases were diagnosed macroscopically and microscopically with hepatopathies (72.2%). In the pigs necropsied during the study the following were diagnosed, in decreasing order: dystrophic liver diseases (51.1%), inflammatory liver diseases (17.7%), circulatory liver diseases (2.2%) and liver necrosis (2.2%). The most numerous dystrophic liver diseases were lipidic hepatosis followed by protidic hepatosis and pigmentation hepatosis . The inflammatory liver diseases were represented by the parenchymal hepatitis or acute toxic hepatitis, and fibrous purulent hepatitis. Inflammatory liver diseases, histologically affect all structures: hepatocytes, blood vessels, bile ducts and the fundamental substance- predominantly collagen. Tumor processes have not been identified because they do not have time to express morphologically due to the short economic life that this species has.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as well as imbalances in their ratios, have a critical impact on bone and joint health in birds, leading to a range of osteo-articular disorders that affect skeletal development, productivity, and welfare. A primary example is the calcium-phosphorus ratio. In broilers, deficiencies halt bone mineralization, causing rickets, while in adults, the same deficit results in osteoporosis with reduced bone density, skeletal alterations, and increased fracture risk. The condition is exacerbated when calcium deficiency is combined with excess phosphorus, promoting tibial dyschondroplasia, characterized by abnormal cartilage development at the proximal tibial growth plate and spontaneous fractures. Electrolyte imbalances, such as excessive sodium with low potassium, further increase susceptibility. Trace elements play a similarly vital role. Manganese and zinc deficiencies lead to perosis, presenting as shortened bones, tibiometatarsal joint hypertrophy, and Achilles tendon malposition. Copper deficiency causes lameness, bone fragility, and epiphyseal thickening, emphasizing its importance in skeletal integrity. Vitamin D3 is central to calcium and phosphorus absorption; its deficiency promotes rickets and osteoporosis even with adequate dietary minerals. B-complex vitamin deficiencies correlate with neurological and musculoskeletal signs, including polyneuritis, myelin degeneration, tibiotarsal instability, varus/valgus deformities, and perosis. Vitamin A deficiency, typically after seven weeks, causes anorexia, weakness, and uncoordinated gait without directly affecting locomotion. Vitamin E deficiency leads to ataxic movements, though these signs indicate encephalomalacia rather than osteo-articular disease. Thus, skeletal health in birds depends on a precise balance of minerals, trace elements, and vitamins. Any deficiency or improper ratio can trigger pathological mechanisms compromising skeletal development and performance. Maintaining optimal nutritional balance, rather than focusing solely on individual supplements, is essential to ensure bone integrity and overall bird welfare.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of students' skills in behavioural assessment of animals as a teaching tool, specifically identifying errors in their evaluations and measuring their improvement over time. A group of 45 students assessed the behaviour of five distinct animals weekly over a five-week period, utilizing a standardized 5-point behavioural checklist to score each animal. The study compared students' ratings against those of their instructors, as well as among peer evaluations, to determine the consistency and reliability of their assessments. Analysis of the collected data assessed the degree of alignment between students and instructor evaluations, highlighted discrepancies, and identified patterns of improvement in students’ scoring accuracy throughout the assessment period. This evaluation method aimed to enhance understanding of the learning curve in behavioural assessment and improve pedagogical approaches that equipped students with the necessary skills in animal welfare evaluation. The findings can contribute towards refining educational methodologies in animal behaviour studies and promoting ongoing improvement in student assessment capabilities.