Table of Contents and Abstracts

The effects of more than 1 month of supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii on the gut microbiota of healthy young calves are unclear. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of 7 wk of supplementation with S. boulardii CNCM I-1079 on the fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy young Japanese black calves. Calves in the S. boulardii group (SB group) were fed 2.0 × 10¹⁰ CFUs/day of S. boulardii CNCM I-1079 in milk replacer starting at 2 wk of age. Fecal samples were collected and the V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA were sequenced. The SB group exhibited significantly higher fecal alpha diversity at 9 wk of age (7 wk after starting supplementation) than the untreated control group. Beta diversity differed at 6 and 9 wk of age (4 and 7 wk after supplementation). Analysis of the composition of microbiomes revealed that calves in the SB group had higher fecal levels of Bacilli_RF39 than the control group at 9 wk of age. Linear discriminant analysis of effect sizes revealed higher levels of Oscillospiraceae at 3 wk of age (1 wk after) and of Bacilli_RF39 and Atopobiaceae at 9 wk of age (7 wk after) in the SB group than in the control group. Furthermore, a higher abundance of bacteria-producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was observed at 9 wk of age than at 6 wk in the SB group. These findings indicate that S. boulardii CNCM I-1079 can increase bacterial alpha diversity and might increase the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria in the gut of healthy young calves.

The objective of this study was to determine how the use of 2 different peg sleeve designs would affect the scores of the peg transfer task in laparoscopic skills testing. A total of 22 participants were divided into 3 skill levels: inexperienced (DVM candidates), intermediate (ACVS residents), and expert laparoscopic surgeons (ACVS diplomates). All participants carried out the peg sleeve transfer task using 2 designs of peg sleeves on the same pegboard. The skills test was done in a laparoscopic trainer box using laparoscopic instruments. Participants were randomly assigned to the order in which the peg sleeve designs were tested. The score was based on time taken and errors made and was compared between peg transfers, while controlling for the skill level of the participant. Although no difference was detected between scores obtained using the 2 peg sleeve designs, a warm-up effect, i.e., a higher score on the second run, was detected across all experience levels in this study population. It was concluded that the 2 sleeve designs appeared to have a minimal impact on the score for the task.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are a rare type of tumor that occur in the anterior mediastinum. The biological behavior of these tumors and the prognostic factors in dogs remain unclear. Although several studies have suggested that clinical staging (Masaoka classification) is related to prognosis, the prognostic significance of histological subtypes (WHO classification) and paraneoplastic syndromes remains controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate whether paraneoplastic syndromes, Masaoka classification, and WHO classification are associated with the prognosis of canine TET. Hypercalcemia and anemia were observed as paraneoplastic syndromes in the 29 dogs included in this study. The presence of hypercalcemia did not result in a statistical difference in median survival time. Anemia could not be statistically analyzed due to the small number of cases. Our results suggest that the WHO classification, like the Masaoka classification, may also be useful for predicting the prognosis of canine TET.

Feline head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has limited treatment options. Previous studies suggest inflammation, mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), may play a developmental role. PGE2 signals through 1 of 4 receptors: EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4. Increased expression of EP4 is associated with the development of multiple human and canine cancers but has not been evaluated in feline neoplasms. The objective of this study was to describe the mRNA expression of the EP4 receptor gene (ptger4) in feline HNSCC compared to normal oral mucosal. Archived HNSCC (n = 18) and normal oral mucosa (n = 20) were evaluated for ptger4 using RNA in-situ hybridization (RNAscope). HALO was used to quantify RNAscope signals. Data were expressed as copy number, H-index, and percent probe positivity. In HNSCC and normal oral mucosa, mRNA of ptger4 was identified. The mRNA expression in HNSCC samples was significantly higher in copy number (P < 0.0001), H-index (P < 0.0001), and percent probe positivity (P < 0.0001) compared to normal oral mucosa. High EP4 receptor expression suggests inflammation may play a role in the development of feline HNSCC. Therapeutically targeting the EP4 receptor with antagonists may add to the current treatment options for this devastating cancer.