Mariana Grecu

Increasing antimicrobial resistance and restrictions on antibiotic use in poultry have drawn attention to phytogenic products as a complementary approach for controlling enteric bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a phytogenic product (Herba Top Salmonella, HTS) on selected cultivable intestinal bacterial populations, intestinal histomorphology and tissue distribution of Salmonella Typhimurium in experimentally infected broiler chickens. A total of sixty one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (10 birds/group; two pens/group, five birds/pen, with the pen considered the experimental unit. Birds in three groups were experimentally challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, and HTS was administered in drinking water for 14 consecutive days at two nominal concentrations (3 mL/L and 6 mL/L). Intestinal microbiological parameters, histomorphometric characteristics, and the presence of Salmonella Typhimurium in tissues by immunohistochemistry were evaluated. The effects of infection status, HTS concentration, and their interaction were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. HTS administration was associated with reduced counts of total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae counts. In experimentally infected broilers, HTS treatment was also associated with reduced Salmonella Typhimurium in intestinal tissue and significant changes in intestinal histomorphometric parameters, including increased crypt depth and mitotic activity. The observed responses were influenced by both infection status and the HTS nominal concentration. Because of the limited number of independent experimental units and the absence of individual HTS intake measurements, these findings should be considered exploratory preliminary findings, and further studies with larger animal groups under commercial production conditions are required.

Bacterial diseases remain a significant threat to salmonid aquaculture worldwide, especially in semi-open cage culture systems that are exposed daily to natural aquatic environments. This study investigates recurring bacterial disease events in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) raised in a semi-open cage culture facility in the Bicaz mountain reservoir in Romania. Longitudinal monitoring was conducted through clinical assessment of fish health, post-mortem examination of fish that died during recurrent mortality events, bacterial isolation followed by MALDI-TOF MS identification, and determination of antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolated bacteria from 2023 to 2026. These investigations demonstrated the presence of classical pathogenic bacteria found in salmonids as well as a diverse range of opportunistic environmental bacteria. Recurrently identified bacteria included Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia ruckeri, Aeromonas salmonicida, Aeromonas veronii, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Hafnia alvei, Enterobacter aerogenes, Providencia alcalifaciens, and Flavobacterium psychrophilum. Mixed bacterial infection resulted in several of the bacterial disease outbreaks, indicating that there are likely to be complex microbial relationships within this semi-open aquaculture environment. Susceptibility profiles of antibiotics tested against the isolated bacteria indicated that some antibiotic classes had varying degrees of susceptibility between different bacterial disease outbreaks and also varied between susceptible and resistant strains of the same bacterial species. Susceptibility profiles were most commonly noted for florfenicol and fluoroquinolone, while beta-lactams, macrolides, and lincosamides displayed variable levels of resistance or diminished susceptibility patterns, particularly among Aeromonas spp. strains. Therefore, the results highlight the dynamic epidemiological characteristics of bacterial infections occurring in semi-open mountain aquaculture systems and underscores the importance of longitudinal bacteriological surveillance under commercial farming conditions. Permanent interaction between cultured fish and the aquatic microbiota may influence the recurrence and microbial complexity of bacterial outbreaks in reservoir-based salmonid aquaculture.

The off-label and extra-label use of medicinal products is a common practice in veterinary medicine, driven by the diversity of species and the limited availability of authorized pharmaceuticals for all clinical indications. Under these conditions, veterinarians are often required to adapt the use of existing medications or to employ drugs intended for human use in order to provide appropriate treatment for their patients. This paper analyzes off-label and extra-label drug use from the perspective of applied pharmacology, highlighting the role of interspecies variability in generating therapeutic uncertainty. The main benefits and risks associated with these practices are discussed, along with the key factors influencing their use in clinical settings. In addition, a clinically oriented decision-making model is proposed, based on the assessment of therapeutic necessity, the analysis of available pharmacological data, and the evaluation of the risk–benefit ratio, with the aim of guiding rational and safe therapeutic choices. By integrating theoretical insights with relevant clinical examples, this paper supports the view that off-label and extra-label use should not be regarded as a deviation from medical practice, but rather as an essential component of modern veterinary medicine, requiring a rigorous, evidence-based, and patient-centered approach.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is among the most frequent and clinically relevant metabolic disorders in cats, affecting a substantial proportion of the adult and geriatric feline population. The prevalence of CKD increases with age, being estimated at 20–50% in cats over 10 years of age. The etiology of this disorder involves genetic predisposition, dietary factors, as well as exposure to toxins or concomitant diseases that may accelerate the progression of renal lesions. The present study synthesizes data from the scientific literature together with clinical-epidemiological analyses performed on a cohort of 120 cats over a four-year period. The results highlighted an overall prevalence of CKD in the studied cohort, with a significantly higher frequency in cats over nine years of age, particularly affecting purebred animals. A slightly higher prevalence was observed in males compared to females, while reproductive status indicated an increased risk of CKD in neutered patients. Living environment and nutritional status were also influential, with a higher disease prevalence in indoor-only cats and in those fed nutritionally deficient diets. The multifactorial nature of CKD pathogenesis, combined with the nonspecific clinical manifestations in its early stages, explains the frequent late diagnosis of most cases. Consequently, an in-depth understanding of the epidemiology and associated risk factors constitutes an essential prerequisite for the development of preventive strategies, early screening protocols, and personalized therapeutic management aimed at optimizing quality of life and longevity in feline patients.

In veterinary practice, otitis is the most commonly encountered condition in pet carnivores. Contributing factors and polyfactorial etiopathogenesis frequently lead to therapeutic failure in medical interventions. Using a limited range of topical medicinal products intended for these conditions inevitably results in resistance to these active substances. Our study, conducted on otic exudates (n=100) collected from dogs and cats, highlighted the complex polymicrobial etiology and the decrease in sensitivity to otic antimicrobials, culminating in the establishment of the multidrug resistance phenomenon. In vitro testing of the isolated bacterial strains across a broad spectrum of antimicrobials provided valid alternatives that prevented relapse. The obtained results are useful for practicing veterinarians and highlight the need for continued research to develop new therapeutic options for a favorable prognosis.

In this study, the potential use of Artemisia dracunculus essential oil in bio-applications was investigated. Firstly, the phytochemicals from Artemisia dracunculus were analyzed by different methods. Secondly, the Artemisia dracunculus essential oil was incorporated into the hydrogel matrix based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and agar (A). The structural, morphological, and physical properties of the hydrogel matrix loaded with different amounts of Artemisia dracunculus essential oil were thoroughly investigated. FTIR analysis revealed the successful loading of the essential oil Artemisia dracunculus into the PVA/A hydrogel matrix. The influence of the mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity of the PVA/A hydrogel matrix loaded with different amounts of Artemisia dracunculus was also assessed. The antimicrobial activity of Artemisia dracunculus (EO Artemisia dracunculus) essential oil was tested using the disk diffusion method and the time-kill assay method after entrapment in the PVA/A hydrogel matrices. The results showed that PVA/agar-based hydrogels loaded with EO Artemisia dracunculus exhibited significant antimicrobial activity (log reduction ratio in the range of 85.5111–100%) against nine pathogenic isolates, both Gram-positive (S. aureus, MRSA, E. faecalis, L. monocytogenes) and Gram-negative (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium, and A. salmonicida). The resulted biocompatible polymers proved to have enhanced properties when functionalized with the essential oil of Artemisia dracunculus, offering opportunities and possibilities for novel applications.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly pathogenic bacterium with high pathogenicity, that can cause serious infections in all species and especially in dogs. Treatment of the infection induced by this bacterium can be a challenge considering that some strains have developed resistance to most classes of antimicrobials. The use of bacteriophages to alleviate infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa has demonstrated their potential for both internal and external applications. This study aimed to illustrate the treatment with bacteriophages in bacterially complicated skin lesions that do not respond to antimicrobial therapy.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a family of carrier molecules used to improve the pharmacokinetic parameters of therapeutic molecules. These cyclic oligosaccharides have medical and pharmaceutical applications by being able to form inclusion complexes with molecules that are poorly soluble in water. The benefits of these complexes are directed towards improving the chemical and biological properties—i.e., solubility, bioavailability, stability, non-toxicity and shelf life of drug molecules. Since the 1960s, the first inclusion complexes used in therapeutics were those with α-, β- and γ-CD, which proved their usefulness, but had certain degrees of particularly renal toxicity. Currently, to correct these deficiencies, β-CD derivatives are most frequently used, such as sulfobutylether-β-CD, hydroxypropyl-β-CD, etc. Therefore, it is of interest to bring to the attention of those interested the diversity of current and potential future clinical applications of inclusion complexes in veterinary medicine and to present the contribution of these inclusion complexes in improving drug efficacy. The most important biological activities of β-CD complexed molecules in the veterinary field are summarized in this short review.

Paraplegic patients have always been ideal candidates for physiotherapy due to their body’s inability to recover on its own. Regardless of the cause that led to the onset of paraplegia (traumatic or degenerative), physiotherapy helps these patients with devices and methods designed to restore the proper functioning of their motility, as well as their quality of life. A total of 60 paraplegic dogs without deep pain in the hindlimbs caused by intervertebral disc extrusion or thoracolumbar fractures underwent physiotherapy sessions: manual therapy (massage), electrostimulation (10–20 min with possible repetition on the same day), ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, hydrotherapy, and assisted gait in supportive devices or on treadmills to stimulate and relearn walking, which was the main focus of the study. To maintain the standing position over time, we developed different devices adapted for each patient depending on the degree of damage and the possible associated pathologies: harnesses, trolleys, straps, exercise rollers, balancing platforms and mattresses, physio balls and rollers for recovery of proprioception. The main objective of our study was to demonstrate that physiotherapy and assisted gait in supportive devices to maintain the standing position may help paraplegic dogs to develop spinal walking. Concurrent pathologies (skin wounds, urinary infections, etc.) were managed concomitantly. Recovery of SW was evaluated by progression in regaining the reflectivity, nociception, gait score, and quality of life. After 125 to 320 physiotherapy sessions (25 to 64 weeks), 35 dogs (58.33%) developed spinal walking and were able to walk without falling or falling only sometimes in the case of a quick look (gait score 11.6 ± 1.57, with 14 considered normal), with a lack of coordination between the thoracic and pelvic limbs or difficulties in turning, especially when changing direction, but with the recovery of the quadrupedal position in less than 30 s. The majority of dogs recovering SW were of small size, with a median weight of 6.83 kg (range: 1.5–15.7), mixed breed (n = 9; 25.71%), Teckel (n = 4; 11.43%), Bichon (n = 5; 14.28%), Pekingese (n = 4; 11.43%), and Caniche (n = 2; 5.71%), while those who did not recover SW were larger in size, 15.59 kg (range: 5.5–45.2), and mixed breed (n = 16; 64%).

This study assessed seasonal incidence, economic losses, the efficacy of therapeutic protocols, the recovery time of affected animals and specific prophylactic measures applied to sheep with acute infectious pododermatitis. The studies were conducted over a period of 12 months in 3 different sheep farms from private units in the same area. The results of the study showed an increased incidence of the disease in all 3 farms, with an average of 26.94% of the sheep flock. The incidence of the disease was increased in the months of April-May-June-July and September-October (30%), when there were heavy rains. The high morbidity led to economic losses through the decrease in milk production by approximately 30% and the decrease in the weight of the sheep by 10.58% (4.2 kg) of their normal weight. The therapeutic protocol applied locally as well as parenterally, combined with a foot bath with 10% zinc sulphate solution, were effective in treating acute infectious pododermatitis of sheep. The average recovery time (days) was approximately the same in the three groups of sheep (5.25 ± 0.68 days for cases with moderate diseases and 10.2 ± 0.22 for cases with severe diseases).