Veterinary Medicine Commons^™

Anabolic Properties Of The Progestin Altrenogest And Its Regulation As An Environmental Substance In Horse Racing – Review And Analysis, Andreas F. Lehner, Levent Dirikolu, Sarah Jacob, Kimberly Brewer, Abelardo Morales Briceñoe, Robert Holland, George Maylin, Clara Fenger, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Altrenogest is a progestogen substance used in equine medicine for the synchronization of ovulation during the spring breeding season and the control of estrus in mares. It accomplishes its actions by down-regulation of endometrial progesterone receptors and repression of estrogen receptor transcriptional activation. However, various groups have also measured androgen receptor binding activity for altrenogest in vitro; these findings combined with androgenic and anabolic properties roughly 1/20 in potency of testosterone and its structural similarity to the anabolic steroid trenbolone have created concerns among racing authorities of altrenogest’s potential abilities to alter the outcome of equine athletic performance, even though …

Antibiotic Alternatives And Next-Generation Therapeutics For Salmonella Control: A One Health Approach To Combating Antimicrobial Resistance, Mohamed Saleh, Ashutosh Verma, Khaled A. Shaaban, Yosra A. Helmy

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has significantly compromised the efficacy of conventional antibiotic-based interventions in controlling Salmonella infections across human and veterinary settings. This growing challenge necessitates a strategic rethinking of pathogen control, prompting the integration of next-generation therapeutics capable of disrupting Salmonella pathogenesis through novel, antibiotic-sparing mechanisms. In this context, a diverse array of emerging alternatives, including bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, prebiotics, short-chain fatty acids, nanoparticles, and host-directed immunomodulators, have gained prominence as a promising frontier in non-antibiotic therapeutics. These modalities offer targeted approaches to inhibit Salmonella colonization, virulence expression, and persistence, while minimizing collateral damage to the …

The Evolution Of Veterinary Technology Education: Growth, Accreditation, And The Role Of Murray State University’S Veterinary Technology Program, Tara Joiner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the evolution of veterinary technology education, focusing on the growth, accreditation, and role of Murray State University’s (MSU) veterinary technology program. The veterinary profession has experienced significant advancement and expansion in recent years. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technology programs, setting standards and conducting reviews to ensure quality. Murray State University’s veterinary technology program, accredited by the AVMA in 1986, prepares students for the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE) through a comprehensive curriculum and internships (practical experience). Findings from a three-year period (2022–2024) highlight mentor confidence in student readiness at 77.3%, with qualitative feedback …

Analyzing The Impact Of Geographic Location, Owner Knowledge, And Veterinary Guidance On Equine Vaccination Protocols, Colleen Mcanally

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how equine owners decide which diseases their horses are vaccinated for based on their geographic location, the knowledge they have on specific equine diseases, and how much they rely on their veterinarian’s recommendations. A total of 55 horse owners throughout the United States completed an online survey. The results showed that while most owners vaccinate for common core vaccines including West Nile Virus, Tetanus, and Rabies, fewer vaccinated for risk-based vaccines like Leptospirosis. Many owners felt confident in their knowledge of national guidelines for annual core vaccinations, but only a small number of owners were able to …

Immunoinformatics-Based Design And In Vitro Expression Analysis Of A Multi-Epitope Vaccine Against African Swine Fever Virus, Dhithya Venkateswaran

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal haemorrhagic disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, causing severe economic losses globally. The absence of an effective vaccine has hindered ASF control, as traditional approaches are challenged by the virus’s genetic complexity and immune evasion mechanisms. In this study, we employed immunoinformatics to design a multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) against African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), targeting conserved viral proteins—B646L (p72), CP204L (p30), E183L (p54), and EP402R (CD2v). Antigenic and non-allergenic BL and HL epitopes were selected and assembled with appropriate adjuvant and linkers to construct the MEV. No CTL epitopes were included, as they …

Canine Uterine Fibrosis Associated With Age And Pyometra, Maulida Selma Hanim

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigated whether aging and uterine pathology drive fibrosis in the canine uterus by quantifying collagen deposition in endometrial and myometrial compartments. Uterine samples from 55 small-sized, intact, nulliparous bitches were classified into five groups according to age and pathological conditions. Healthy group divided into juvenile, young adult, old adult, and the pathological group included cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), and pyometra. Fibrosis was assessed using Masson’s trichrome staining; collagen proportion was quantified with ImageJ and analysed in SAS. Across healthy age groups, collagen proportions in the endometrial stroma, circular myometrium, and longitudinal myometrium did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). …

Expression Of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha In Feline Mammary Carcinomas, Ngoc Anh Van Pham

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in normal tissue and feline mammary carcinomas. Thirty feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) and eight normal mammary tissues were used in this study. In the same FMC cats, tissues were collected from 2 regions which are the neoplastic tissue and the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. The study was composed of three parts: (1) clinical data collection and histopathological diagnosis; (2) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) evaluation of PPARα, Ki-67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); and (3) Western blot analysis of PPARα isoforms. The results revealed no significant differences in PPARα …

Diagnostic Approaches And Therapeutic Evaluation In Canine Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: An Integrated Analysis Of Prostatic Volume, Serum Canine Prostatic Specific Esterase (Cpse) Levels, And Proteomic Profiles, Panthipa Borikappakul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a highly prevalent condition in intact male dogs. However, its diagnosis and clinical management remain limited by the lack of clear thresholds for clinically significant prostatic enlargement, insufficient biomarkers to monitor treatment response, and an incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving disease progression. To address these gaps, this thesis integrated ultrasonographic, biochemical, and proteomic approaches across three complementary studies. First, the actual to expected normal prostatic volume ratio was evaluated to establish a clinically meaningful cutoff distinguishing subclinical from clinical BPH, providing an imaging-based indicator for early recognition of clinically relevant enlargement. Building on …

Community Ecology Of Domestic Animals And Wildlife At Solid Waste Disposal Sites Near Dong Phayayen – Khaoyai Forest Complex And Its Impacts On Zoonotic Diseases, Paisin Lekcharoen

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Solid waste disposal sites (SWS) at forest edges represent critical zoonotic transmission hotspots where wildlife, domestic animals, and humans converge. This study characterized host community structure, pathogen circulation, and network topology at SWS adjacent to the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, Thailand. Three study phases (2021-2023) comprised: (1) camera trapping at five SWS (3,907 trap-nights); (2) small mammal trapping across four habitats (1,420 individuals, 12 species), ectoparasite collection (20,560 chiggers, 14 species), and molecular pathogen detection; and (3) network analysis of connectivity among habitat, host, chigger, and pathogen. Domestic dogs dominated communities (88.3%), creating simplified assemblages. Potential transmission operated through …

Optimization Of Artificial Insemination In Swine Through Gnrh Agonist Application In Boar Semen With Special Emphasis On Epithelial Penetration And Pharmacokinetics, Preechaphon Taechamaeteekul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Induction of ovulation in pigs is a widely applied technique in commercial swine farms, using hormonal treatments to improve reproductive efficiency and productivity. The GnRH agonist buserelin acetate is widely used to induce ovulation and can be administered via intramuscular or intravaginal routes. However, the success of ovulation induction via the intravaginal route still depends on several factors, and information regarding the pharmacokinetics and tissue permeation of buserelin remains limited. This thesis aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile, endometrial permeability, and reproductive effects of buserelin to develop an effective and practical ovulation control strategy for commercial swine production. This thesis …

Surveillance And Genetic Characterization Of Atypical Porcine Pestivirus (Appv) In Central Thailand, Sana Shahid

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Atypical Porcine Pestivirus (APPV) is an emerging swine pathogen associated with congenital tremor (CT) Type A-II, a neurological condition characterized by tremors of the head, body, and limbs, as well as poor growth in piglets. From September 2023 to August 2025, nasal and blood samples were collected from 181 pigs from four commercial pig farms in Central Thailand, and APPV was detected in 17 samples. Notably, all APPV-positive samples come from one farm. A follow-up study was conducted at the infected farm to assess APPV persistence and its association with age groups and clinical signs. In total, 275 pigs were …

Genomic Characterization Of Streptococcus Agalactiae And Streptococcus Suis Isolated From Diseased Snakeskin Gourami (Trichopodus Pectoralis), Surawit Chueahiran

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates severe, recurrent mortality outbreaks in farmed snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) in central Thailand between 2021 and 2023. Characterized by exophthalmos and systemic hemorrhage, these incidents prompted an investigation to identify causative agents, assess antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and explore genomic adaptation. Bacterial isolates from moribund fish in Samut Sakhon province were identified via MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing, followed by whole-genome sequencing (Illumina HiSeq) and comparative pan-genomic analysis. Two primary pathogens, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus suis, were confirmed as causative agents of acute bacterial septicemia, occurring in both single and co-infections. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. suis …

Expression Patterns Of Alpha-Fetoprotein And Phosphodiesterase 4d In Canine Mammary Tumors, Thi Kieu Trinh Mai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) represent one of the most common neoplasms in female dogs, with a substantial proportion exhibiting malignant behavior and aggressive progression. Despite their clinical importance and relevance to comparative oncology, the molecular mechanisms underlying CMT development remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the expression patterns of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) in canine mammary tissues, and to investigate their correlations with Ki-67, a standard marker of cell proliferation. A total of 50 dogs were included in this study (40 diagnosed with CMTs and 10 without CMTs), yielding 90 FFPE tissue samples for protein analysis …

Leveraging Clinical Standards To Improve The Translational Relevance Of Therapies For Experimental Spinal Cord Injury, Aaron L. Silverstein

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Efforts to improve treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) often use animals to develop effective therapeutics, intending to improve the survival and the quality of life of persons with SCI. Over half of all SCIs in the United States occur at the cervical level and often cause locomotor deficits and life-threatening breathing dysfunction. Thus, my dissertation is focused on this important patient population.

After beginning with a description of translational research and surveying SCI from a clinical standpoint, I turned to describe experimental models of cervical SCI and more detailed neuroimmunological findings relevant to my work. Then, I conducted a …

Gene Expression In Relation To Bone Fractures In Throughbred Racehorses, Anna M. Rauber-Ramos

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Evidence that fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses are outcomes of chronic bone microdamage has led to extensive research into identifying horses at increased risk of fracture. This includes the use of biomarkers and messenger RNA (mRNA) as a measure of bone turnover. Previous research has found expression differences in horses with fractures compared to controls. Utilizing pre-race whole blood samples collected over an 18-month period from Thoroughbred racehorses in Southern California, RNA-sequencing was conducted on horses with bone fractures and race-matched controls to identify differences in gene expression. Focusing on third metacarpal (MC3) and proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures, differentially expressed …

Engineering Novel Biomimetic Models Of Equine Host-Microbe Interactions, Lynn M. Leedhanachoke

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

One major limitation to the study of equine disease is the lack of in vitro models that accurately reflect the dynamic physiology of the horse. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop in vitro systems that recapitulate diverse equine tissue and organ microenvironments. To overcome this deficiency, we developed multiple biomimetic equine organoid systems that can be employed for a variety of investigations aimed at resolving outstanding questions in infectious disease pathogenesis, therapeutic development and drug metabolism, host defense mechanisms, immune-modulated disease, and equine developmental biology. Our innovative platform incorporates novel equine intestinal enteroid and airway organoid models derived …

Impacts Of Early/Mid-Gestation Shearing On Umbilical Blood Flow And Lamb Birth Weight, Mara Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies outside the USA have reported that shearing pregnant ewes during mid to late gestation increases lamb birth weight. Our hypothesis was that shearing pregnant ewes on day 50 of gestation would increase umbilical blood flow (UBF), fetal size, lambing and placental weights. Twenty-eight Polypay ewes were randomly assigned to two treatments: shorn (S) and sham-shorn (Control, CON) and divided in singleton (S: n=4; CON: n=4), twins (S: n=5; CON: n=5) and triplets (S: n=5; CON: n=5). Umbilical BF and fetal and placental measurements were obtained via ultrasonography every 10 days from day 50 to 110 of gestation. Lamb birth …

Effect Of Forage Allocation On Steer Performance When Grazing Cereal Rye, Shelby L. Davies-Jenkins, Abigail M. Sartin, Daren D. Redfearn, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Cereal rye is the most common cover crop planted today. With its good winter tolerance and rapid spring growth during a gap in perennial pasture productivity, it is an attractive forage source in early spring. Unfortunately, optimum stocking rates and how they are related to forage biomass availability are unknown. The study objective was to understand the effect of forage allowance on steer performance when rotationally grazing fall-planted cereal rye in spring. Stocking rate was negatively correlated with pounds of forage offered. Surprisingly, amount of forage offered related to average daily gain. Growing steers grazing cereal rye …

Strategies Affecting Performance And Profitability Of May-Born Steers, Dempster M. Christenson, Jacki A. Musgrave, Richard N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

This study compared the performance and economic outcomes of differing backgrounding and feedlot systems in May-born yearling steers. We hypothesized reduced supplementation with adequate forage availability while backgrounding weaned steers will yield a similar carcass with greater profitability. It was hypothesized yearling steers backgrounded on pasture before finishing in feedlot would have a more valuable carcass that is more profitable than steers that enter the feedlot immediately. Weaned steer calves were backgrounded with ad libitum hay and 4 lb/d supplement in drylot or on pasture with 1 lb/d supplement. As yearlings, half of each backgrounding group immediately …

Impact Of Feeding Distillers Grains Compared To New Fractionated Distillers Grains (Solbran) On Feedlot Cattle Performance And Enteric Methane, Debora G. Sousa, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Mitchell M. Norman, James C. Macdonald, Rick Stock, Ryan A. Mass, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

This study evaluated feeding wet or dry traditional distillers grains with wet and dry fractionated distillers (Solbran) fed at 40% of diet DM compared to a corn control diet on enteric methane emissions and performance. Compared to the control, there was no difference in carbon dioxide production, but there was an increase in methane production in the steers fed fractionated distillers compared to conventional distillers. Feeding steers traditional or fractionated distillers grains increased consumption, increased gain, but improved conversions only for steers fed WDGS, while steers fed the other distillers grains had worse or the same feed …

Form And Function In Mobulids: A Comparative Analysis Of Filter Morphology With Bioinspiration Applications, J. B. Teeple, S. R. Kahane-Rapport, K. E. Cohen, L. Hamann, J. A. Strother, E. W. M. Paig-Tran

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mobulas (manta and devil rays) are large-scale ram filter feeders that separate planktonic food particles from large volumes of water with minimal clogging. This contrasts with most human-made filters that can suffer from problematic clogging requiring additional mechanisms for clearing blocked surfaces and maintaining performance. Prior studies have shown that mobulas employ a unique mechanism referred to as ricochet separation to filter feed, whereby captive vortices in filter pores cause particles to bounce off the filter surfaces and away from the filter pores. This mechanism enables the filtration of particles smaller than the pore size and reduced clogging. However, few …

Assessing Reproductive Health In Zoo-Managed African Elephant Bulls (Loxodonta Africana), Kaitlyn Marie Campbell

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Populations of zoo-managed African elephant (Loxodonta Africana) exhibit substantial individual- and population-level variation in reproductive success, yet research has largely focused on females, leaving male fertility poorly understood. Subfertility in bulls, characterized by low libido and inconsistent semen quality, poses significant challenges to genetic management and long-term population sustainability. This study a) systematically evaluates semen quality, b) identifies physiological, behavioral, social, and environmental determinants of fertility, and c) advances ex situ conservation through the expansion of the African elephant sperm bank. Between January 2023 and July 2025, 209 semen collection events were conducted from 13 sexually mature bulls …

A Two-Hit Model Of Executive Dysfunction: Simulated Galactic Cosmic Radiation Primes Latent Deficits Revealed By Sleep Fragmentation, Richard A. Britten, Ella N. Tamgue, Paola Arriaga Alvarado, Arriyam S. Fesshaye, Larry D. Sanford

Department Radiation Oncology & Biophysics Faculty Publications

Future Artemis-class missions to Mars will expose astronauts to prolonged space radiation (SR), sleep disruption, and operational demands requiring greater autonomy, placing decision making and executive function at heightened risk. Both SR and sleep fragmentation (SF) independently impair cognition, yet their combined effects remain poorly understood. Using the Associative Recognition Memory and Interference (ARMIT) task, we assessed cognitive performance in male rats exposed to 10 cGy of Galactic Cosmic Ray simulation (GCRsim), SF, or both. Under well-rested conditions, GCRsim-exposed rats exhibited overt deficits in the C.1.2 stage, performing at chance when reinforcement contingencies shifted, consistent with impaired cognitive flexibility. In …

Hair Growth Rate Estimation In North American Ursids, Jennifer H. Stern, Karyn D. Rode, Craig A. Stricker, Sheriden Ploof, Cindy L. J. Roberts, Celess Edinger, Mary Humbyrd, Nate Wagner, Megan A. Owen, John P. Whiteman, Thea Bechshoft, Brent White, Kristin L. Laidre

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The feeding ecology of wildlife populations has important implications for individual health, population productivity and distribution patterns. For ursids (bears), food resources and feeding behaviour primarily affect population dynamics via effects on cub production and survival. Much of what is known about the feeding ecology of bears is based on analyses of tissues collected from capture-based research efforts, harvested animals or non-invasive approaches. However, inference about diet from hair has been limited by a lack of quantitative data on the timing of the moult and hair growth rates. We conducted a study to develop and test two methods of quantifying …

Trace Level Benzoylecgonine Detections In Equine Plasma/Serum – A Proposed Interim Plasma Level Regulatory “Cut-Off“, Andreas F. Lehner, Kimberly Brewer, Levent Dirikolu, Abelardo Morales Briceñod, Robert Holland, George Maylin, Clara Fenger, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Cocaine is a widely used human recreational substance routinely transferring at pharmacologically irrelevant trace level amounts to non-user humans and horses. Horses and humans rapidly demethylate cocaine to benzoylecgonine which is excreted in urine at concentrations approaching two thousand times higher than the corresponding plasma cocaine concentrations. In human workplace drug testing, these usually pharmacologically irrelevant trace level urinary detections of benzoylecgonine are handled by application of a 100 ng/ml urinary “cut-off“, as presented by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In horse racing several American states have long used published urinary “cut-offs“ for benzoylecgonine of from …

Effects Of Ionophore And Yeast Addition To The Diet On Starch Digestion And Rumen Andblood Parameters In Sheep With Subacute Rumen Acidosis, Şevket Evci̇, Mehmet Aki̇f Karsli, Mehmet Demi̇rci̇, Gökhan Şen

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to investigate the prevention of acidosis in ruminants, which causes yield and financial losses, and toevaluate the effects of feed additives on starch digestion. Four male Bafra yearling lambs with cannulated rumens were used in a 60-daystudy. Each lamb underwent 10 days of adaptation to a ration and 5 days of sampling for four different rations including a control ration(CR), monensin ration (MR), Saccharomyces cerevisiae ration (SR), and a ration with the combination of monensin and Saccharomycescerevisiae (MSR). The experiment followed a 4 × 4 Latin-square design. Dry matter intake and digestion rates were recorded as 2404 …

Effects Of A Diet Supplemented With A Blend Of Protected Organic Acids And Essential Oilson Growth Performance And Cecal Microbiota Composition In Broilers, Mehmet Akan, Kadi̇r Serdar Di̇ker, Serdar Özlü, Murat Çelebi̇, Seyyi̇de Sariçam İnce, Barişhan Doğan, Okan Eli̇bol

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Organic acids (OAs) and essential oils (EOs) have several positive effects on the gut microbiota of broilers. In this study, weaimed to determine the efficacy of a blend of protected OAs and EOs [P(OA+EO)] on the growth performance and cecal microbiota ofbroiler chickens. A total of 160 Ross 308 broiler chickens, including 80 male and 80 female birds, all 1 day old, were randomly distributedbetween the control group (basal diet) and the treatment group [basal diet + 300 g/t P(OA+EO)] according to an 8-pen arrangementwith 4 replicates of 20 birds. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed consumption (FC), …

Characterization Of The Biofilm-Forming Ability And Certain Virulence Characters Ofaeromonas Spp. Isolates From Rainbow Trout, Türker Çelebi̇, Ertan Emek Onuk, Esra Demi̇rbaş, Gökçen Di̇nç

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Aeromonas spp., commonly found in the aquatic environment, cause infections in both fish and humans. Their pathogenicitydepends on various virulence factors and ability to form biofilm. The current study aimed to determine the biofilm-forming capabilitiesand certain virulence characteristics of 25 Aeromonas spp. isolates obtained from rainbow trout in Türkiye. The biofilm-forming abilitiesof isolates were investigated comparatively using Congo red agar (CRA), the tube method (TM), and tissue culture plates (TCPs).Potential virulence factors, including hemolytic activity, gelatinase production, serine protease activity, DNase activity, and motility,were evaluated using phenotypic tests. Additionally, the distribution of four known virulence genes, namely aerA, exu, fla, …