Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pet animals in Croatia and potential public health impact.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late 2019 and has since caused a global pandemic. Experimental studies and sporadic reports have confirmed susceptibility of dogs and cats to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the importance of pet animals in the epidemiology of this infection is unclear. This study reports on a first large-scale serosurvey of SARS-CoV-2 infections in dogs and cats in Europe. From 26 February 2020, just one day after the first confirmed human case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Croatia, to 15 June 2020, dog and cat serum samples were collected from animals admitted to three veterinary facilities in Croatia. Additionally, on 25 May 2020, a total of 122 serum samples from employees of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb were collected. Total of 656 dogs and 131 cat serum samples were tested using an in-house microneutralisation test (MNT). Human serum samples, as well as 172 randomly selected, dog sera were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA-positive human sera were subsequently tested using MNT. Neutralising antibodies were confirmed in 0.76% cats and 0.31% dogs. ELISA reactivity was recorded in 7.56% tested dog sera. On the other hand, 5.19% of administrative, basic and pre-clinical sciences department personnel and 5.13% of animal health service providers and laboratory personnel tested ELISA positive. Neutralising antibodies were not confirmed in any of the human samples. In conclusion, seropositivity among pet animals in Croatia is low, especially when compared to results from China. A small number of seropositive animals with a low titre of neutralising antibodies suggest infections are rare and are following infections in the human population. Additionally, contact with animals does not seem to be an occupational risk for veterinary practitioners.

High dietary n6/n3 ratio decreases eicosapentaenoic to arachidonic acid ratios and upregulates NFκB/p50 expression in short-term low-dose streptozotocin and high-fructose rat model of diabetes.

We studied the influence of dietary n6/n3 ratio and docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids supplementation on fatty acid profile, lipid peroxidation and NFκ/p50 expression in diabetes type 2. Treatments consisted of three dietary n6/n3 ratios: 6 (Control), 50 (high n6) and 1 (DHA and EPA supplemented). Half of the rats in each of the dietary treatments were made diabetic using the fructose/low-streptozotocin model. The Control and high n6 diets decreased EPA/ARA (arachidonic acid) ratios in the plasma and in the hepatic tissue suggesting proinflammatory fatty acid profile. The high n6 diet additionally increased the 4-HNE and NFκ/p50 expression in the hepatic tissue. These changes were the consequence of a decrease in the plasma content of DHA and EPA and an increase in the content of arachidonic acid in the liver neutral lipids. The supplementation with the DHA and EPA attenuated the change in EPA/ARA ratios, which imply the importance of the n6/n3 ratio in diabetes type 2.

Effects of different n6/n3 ratios and supplementation with DHA and EPA on the testicular histology and lipogenesis in streptozotocin-treated rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of different dietary n6/n3 ratios and DHA/EPA addition on the testis histology, antioxidative status and lipogenesis of streptozotocin-treated rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). The rats were divided into five groups: CON (n6/n3 ratio, 7), CON-DM1 (STZ; n6/n3 ratio, 7), N3-DM1 (STZ; n6/n3 ratio, 1), N6-DM1 (STZ; n6/n3 ratio, 60) and DHA-DM1 (STZ; n6/n3 ratio, 1; added DHA/EPA). Antioxidative status was improved in the DHA-DM1 group. Seminiferous tubule diameter, testicular pathohistological scoring and total lipid content were improved in the N6-DM1 group compared to the other streptozotocin-treated groups. Streptozotocin treatment induced changes in testis fatty acid profile depending on n6/n3 ratio. The fatty acid profile of N6-DM1 group was characterised by similar or increased values for n6 fatty acids compared to the CON group, while the DHA-DM1 group had the lowest content of n6 fatty acids. The content of n3 fatty acids was increased in the N3-DM1 and DHA-DM1 groups. These results suggest that a n6/n3 ratio could significantly influence testicular antioxidative status, histology and lipogenesis and that these effects vary depending on the supplemented fatty acid.

Production performance, meat composition and oxidative susceptibility in broiler chicken fed with different phenolic compounds.

BACKGROUND: Various studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of phenolic compounds on production animals. Supplementation of animal diets with phytogenic compounds, such as different essential oils and polyphenols, could improve animal productivity as well as the chemical composition and oxidative stability of food derived from those animals. RESULTS: During the trial, 80 male broilers of the Ross 308 strain were allocated to four dietary groups: control and three groups supplemented with thymol, tannic acid and gallic acid. Feed utilisation was improved in all experimental groups and tannic acid also improved final body weight. Gallic acid significantly increased n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. A hypocholesterolaemic effect was noticed in all groups in liver, but not in muscle. The glucose lowering effect in serum was noticed in the tannic acid group in comparison to other experimental groups. Oxidative susceptibility was improved by tannic acid in liver and breast and by gallic acid in breast muscle. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of phenolic compounds enhanced growth performance, decreased lipid oxidation, decreased cholesterol value and increased beneficial fatty acids content. Positive effects varied depending on phenolic compound used and, therefore, it would be interesting to further investigate synergistic effects of investigated phenolic compound.