Constantin Cerbu

Fixed subaortic stenosis as a congenital heart defect has been reported in a relatively small number of cases. The classic description of feline subaortic stenosis reflects the presence of a fibrous ring just underneath the aortic valve. The present case has a unique morphological aspect, analogous with a rare human stenosis. A 15-month-old, ESH female presented with an anamnesis consisting of respiratory distress, apathy, and anorexia. The clinical examination displayed a patient with lethargy and severe dyspnea, whilst lung auscultation identified generalized bilateral pulmonary crackles. A systolic IV/VI parasternal murmur was identified on the left thorax, while the murmur intensity on the right side was III/VI. Electrocardiogram showed a sinus rhythm interrupted by ventricular ectopic beats. Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography revealed a concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle, with severe left atrium enlargement and mild pleural and pericardial effusion. A subaortic, hyperechoic structure was seen from the right parasternal five-chamber view, accompanied by post-stenotic aortic dilatation. The aortic peak velocity was 5.2 m/s, a feature that characterizes the severe form of aortic stenosis. The cat died shortly after presentation and necropsy was performed. Subaortic stenosis was confirmed on gross examination. The structure that induced stenosis of the left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT) had the appearance of a rudimental valve with moderator bands attached. Microscopically, it contains fibrous and smooth muscular tissue and cardiac conduction fibers. This type of subaortic stenosis resembles the cushion-like pseudovalve type described only in human cardiology. This is the first case describing clinical signs, ECG, echocardiography, and histopathological findings in a cat with cushion-like pseudovalve subaortic stenosis. Fixed subaortic stenosis is a rare congenital disease in cats, which should be taken into consideration in young cats with dyspnea and left ventricular hypertrophy.

Florfenicol (FF) is a widely used antimicrobial in veterinary medicine because of its broad antimicrobial activity, although it has certain limitations and raises concerns about the development of antimicrobial resistance genes. These limitations highlight the need to explore novel drug with controlled release systems to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of FF, while minimizing the potential for resistance development. This study introduces an innovative approach for the design, synthesis, and evaluation of lignin-poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)-FF nanoparticles. By leveraging the properties of PLGA and lignin, this study aimed to augment the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of FF, thereby enabling dosage reduction and consequently diminishing the likelihood of resistance emergence and other limitations. Lignin-PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating FF were synthesized and characterized to assess their physicochemical properties, such as particle size, zeta potential, and drug loading efficiency. The release profile, antimicrobial efficacy, and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Comparative analyses with standard FF formulations were performed to ascertain the superior performance and potential benefits of the nanoparticle-based antimicrobials. Our findings indicate that the synthesized lignin-PLGA nanoparticles exhibited favorable drug delivery attributes, including a controlled and sustained release mechanism, significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity at reduced concentrations relative to free FF, with minimal cytotoxic effects. Importantly, the nanoparticle system inhibited bacterial biofilm formation, which is a key factor in the onset and spread of antimicrobial resistance. These findings underscore the potential of integrating biodegradable polymers with natural compounds to forge innovative pathways in drug delivery, addressing critical challenges in veterinary medicine.

The widespread and uncontrolled use of anthelmintic products has contributed to the emergence of anthelmintic resistance (AR). This phenomenon globally threatens the productivity and welfare of small ruminants. A questionnaire consisting of 34 questions was handed to 234 goat farmers across Romania to gain insight into control practices against internal parasites and the farmers’ perception of the parasitic infections present in their herds and the efficacy of anthelmintic treatments. The majority of farmers (88.5%) admitted they had never submitted fecal samples for parasitological laboratory analysis, and 77.4% had treated the animals on their own. In general, the farmers dewormed their goats based on visual body weight estimation. Prophylactic anthelmintic treatment was practiced by more than 85% of the farmers. A traditional control approach based on treating the entire herd at fixed time intervals is widespread among Romanian goat and sheep farmers. The most commonly used anthelmintic drugs in the previous 3 years (2021–2023) were benzimidazoles (85.5%) and macrocyclic lactones (81.6%). Poor anthelmintic efficacy was suspected by 14.5% of farmers, and the minority (18.0%) considered internal parasites as a problem in their herds. Regarding the farmers’ perception of the presence of parasites, there was a significant level of uncertainty. This is the first survey carried out in Romanian goat herds, and it provides up-to-date information on practices aimed at controlling internal parasites.

Apple pomace resulting from juice processing and thermal processing (50 °C/12 h and 80 °C/5 h) were optimized in order to obtain apple pomace powders with an organoleptic profile suitable as ingredients in food products. Proximate composition (moisture, titratable acidity, ash, soluble substances, and fat content) was analyzed using ISO standard methods. The Folin–Ciocâlteu method, a DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test, and flavonoid determination were used to assess antioxidant potential and bioactive compound contents. Antimicrobial potential and cytotoxic and anti-proliferative potential were also assessed. Aroma was characterized by a volatile compound analysis performed using ITEX/GC-MS for the by-products, the powder, and some muffins developed with the proposed functional ingredient. For the sensory analysis of muffins, the acceptability was evaluated using the hedonic test and texture analysis was done using the CT3 Texture Analyzer. The cytotoxic potential of the methanol extracts of the by-products ranged between 70.42 and 78.80%. The hedonic test revealed that the evaluators highly appreciated the aroma, which was attributed to the volatile compounds responsible for the pleasant aroma. The addition of 20% apple pomace powder led to similar texture and sensory scores to the reference samples.

This study compares the effects of two different doses of propofol administered intravenously (IV), in the jugular vein, to red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). In this crossover study, 5 or 10 mg/kg propofol was administered to six Trachemys scripta elegans after cannulation of the jugular vein. Each turtle received each dose, G1 (5 mg/kg IV) and G2 (10 mg/kg IV), after a 7-day washout period. The parameters evaluated were heart rate, palpebral reflex, cloacal reflex, muscle relaxation, ease of handling, sensitivity to anterior and posterior pinch stimuli, and possibility of intubation. Additionally, respiratory rate was measured when possible, and the times from propofol administration to full recovery and from intubation to extubation were recorded. None of the turtles in G1 could be intubated, and this dose provided little relaxation and ease of handling, with a duration of effect until full recovery of 12.16 ± 8.32 (SD) min for this group. In G2, five out of the six turtles could be intubated, and the duration of effect was 32.33 ± 5.85 (SD) min. Heart rates were influenced by manipulation for catheter placement. There were statistically significant differences (p value ≤ 0.05) between the two groups in muscle relaxation degree, handling, cloacal reflex, and possibility of intubation. The 5 mg/kg propofol dose was not sufficient to induce anesthesia, even when administered in the jugular vein, in red-eared sliders. A dose of 10 mg/kg IV or higher should be used.

This review article focuses on the use of canine M-mode in veterinary medicine, specifically in assessing the left ventricle measurements in several breeds. It traces the historical development of echocardiography techniques, including A-mode, B-mode, and motion mode (M-mode), which provide accurate unidimensional records of cardiac structures. This article highlights the significance of M-mode measurements in diagnosing stage B2 of MMVD, where left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter corrected with body weight (LVIDdN) is essential for identifying cardiac enlargement. It also explains the role of M-mode in diagnosing DCM, outlining criteria such as left ventricular dilatation. The authors emphasize the importance of breed-specific reference values for echocardiographic measurements due to variations in somatotype among dogs. This review provides a comprehensive table summarizing M-mode measurements of the left ventricle for 44 different dog breeds, including interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular internal diameter, and left ventricular posterior wall thickness during systole and diastole. This review’s methodology involves compiling data from various scientific literature sources, providing an extensive tabular representation of M-mode measurements for different breeds, ages, and sexes. Overall, this review highlights the critical role of M-mode echocardiography in diagnosing and managing cardiac diseases in dogs, underscores the importance of breed-specific reference values, and presents a comprehensive summary of M-mode measurements for various dog breeds, aiding both clinicians and researchers.

As is the case with other veterinary antibiotics, florfenicol (FFC) faces certain limitations, such as low solubility in water, or the fact that it is reported to interfere with the immune response after some immunoprofilactic actions in livestock. Aiming to improve its efficacy and overall performance, FFC was loaded into a polymeric nanobased delivery system by succesfully using the emulsion-evaporation technique. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with FFC were characterized in terms of size (101 ± 0.52 nm), zeta potential (26.80 ± 1.30 mV) and poly-dispersity index (0.061 ± 0.019). The achieved loading was 2.24 μg FFC/mg of NPs, with an entrapment efficiency of 7.9%. The antimicrobial effect, the anti-biofilm formation and the cytotoxicity properties of the NPs were evaluated. The results indicated a MIC decreased by ~97.13% for S. aureus, 99.33% for E.coli and 64.1% for P. aeruginosa when compared to free FFC. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) obtained indicated the potential for using a significantly lower dose of florfenicol. The delivery system produced biofilm inhibition while showing no cytotoxic effects when tested on porcine primary fibroblasts and horse mesenchymal stem cells. These findings suggest that florfenicol can be improved and formulations optimized for use in veterinary medicine through its incorporation into a nanobased delivery system designed to release in a controlled manner over time.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to both human and animal health, necessitating the search for alternative antimicrobial agents and strategies. In this study, we aimed to identify and isolate clinical bacterial strains from chickens and evaluate their sensitivity to florfenicol, a common antimicrobial agent that is used exclusively in veterinary medicine, along with polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol at various concentrations. Three clinical bacterial strains were successfully isolated and identified from chicken presenting clinical signs. In order to assess their susceptibility, the isolated strains were subjected to a standard disc diffusion assay using florfenicol. Subsequently, polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol were tested at six different concentrations and compared their efficacy against the bacterial strains. Our results demonstrated that all three clinical bacterial strains exhibited varying degrees of resistance to florfenicol. Interestingly, the use of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol did not display enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to the free drug. Notably, the efficacy of the loaded nanoparticles did not significantly vary with different concentrations of active substance. This study highlights the importance of exploring novel therapeutic approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance. The use of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol presents a promising avenue for overcoming resistance mechanisms and improving the efficacy of antimicrobial treatments both in human and veterinary medicine. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the formulation of polymer nanoparticles for enhanced therapeutic outcomes in combating AMR.

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic used exclusively in veterinary medicine in order to treat the pathology of farm and aquatic animals. It is a synthetic fluorinated analog of thiamphenicol and chloramphenicol that functions by inhibiting ribosomal activity, which disrupts bacterial protein synthesis and has shown over time a strong activity against Gram-positive and negative bacterial groups. Florfenicol was also reported to have anti-inflammatory activity through a marked reduction in immune cell proliferation and cytokine production. The need for improvement came from (1) the inappropriate use (to an important extent) of this antimicrobial, which led to serious concerns about florfenicol-related resistance genes, and (2) the fact that this antibiotic has a low water solubility making it difficult to formulate an aqueous solution in organic solvents, and applicable for different routes of administration. This review aims to synthesize the various applications of florfenicol in veterinary medicine, explore the potential use of nanotechnology to improve its effectiveness and analyze the advantages and limitations of such approaches. The review is based on data from scientific articles and systematic reviews identified in several databases.