Fabrizio Passamonti

This study investigated the effect of environment, horse and type of different field standardised exercise tests (fSET) on incremental lactate concentration and recovery time in endurance horses. Forty-eight endurance horses underwent one or multiple fSET on a 700-m all-weather racetrack. The fSET comprised phase 1 canter at 19.5-21.5 km/h for 19 km (group N), or 37 km split by 20 minutes of rest (group E1) or 37 km (group E2), followed by phase 2 canter at 26-32.6 km/h and phase 3 at 27.7-42.8 km/h, for 1,400 m each for all groups. Blood lactates were recorded after each phase. Linear mixed models were built with blood lactate value and recovery time as dependent variables and horse and environment data, and type of fSET as fixed effect variables, with horse and horse × fSET group as random effects. Data from a total of 130 fSETs were considered; lactate values were 0.78-7.73 mmol/l (median 1.79 mmol/l) for phase 1, 1.70-10.68 mmol/l (median 3.89 mmol/l) for phase 2, and 3.7-20.86 mmol/l (median 8.74 mmol/l) for phase 3. Blood lactate values after phase 1 and phase 2 were significantly lower in group E1 (median 1.49 mmol/l; median 3.12 mmol/l) compared with group N (median 2.77 mmol/l; median 5.28 mmol/l; ) and group E2 (median 2.06 mmol/l; median 4.39 mmol/l; ). Blood lactate after phase 3 did not differ between groups. There were two medical and 19 minor musculoskeletal issues within 2 hours after the fSETs. Weather temperature affected blood lactate values after phase 1 and 2 (R = 0.62-0.63). Blood lactate after phase 1 (R = 0.93) and 2 (R = 0.66) affected values after phase 2 and 3, respectively. There was a considerable variation among horses and horse × fSET group random effects. Moreover, blood lactate values are affected by both weather conditions and by horse individual characteristics.

Background The considerable epidemiological and economic implications of paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), have placed importance on control efforts aimed at preventing MAP transmission. In this context, Italy issued national guidelines for the control and status certification of MAP in dairy cattle in 2013. Methods We assessed the long‐term outcomes of the Italian MAP control programme for 14 dairy farms located in northern Italy by retrospectively reviewing the results of yearly serological tests, presence of clinical cases, MAP faecal shedding in serologically positive animals, farm management and health ranking as indicators of herd health between 2014 and 2021. Results A significantly higher number of serologically positive animals were observed between 2014 and 2016 than between 2017 and 2021, as well as an improving trend in the paratuberculosis health ranking for nine of the 14 farms. No clinical cases were reported. MAP shedding was detected in 9.4% of serologically positive animals. Discarding colostrum and prioritised culling of seropositive animals assisted by adoption of standardised serological testing were presumed to have a key role in MAP control, despite the reluctance of some farmers to address hygienic issues and improve the separation of calves from adult animals. Limitations The small number of farms included in this study and the fact that these were not randomly selected may limit the generalisability of the findings. Conclusions The Italian paratuberculosis control plan has provided measures to limit the uncontrolled spread of MAP infection within and between herds by promoting animal trading between farms certified as negative or low risk.

In 2017, respiratory disease and low mortality were reported in domestic flying pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica) trained as hunting live bait in a breeding farm in Umbria, Italy. Clinically, open beak breathing, dropped wings, and pharyngeal and laryngeal hyperaemia were observed. Three birds were submitted for necropsy. Gross pathological evaluation revealed in all cases diffuses hyperaemia of the tracheal mucosa in association with mild emaciation and multiorgan congestion. Microscopically, diffuse epithelial hyperplasia of the trachea ( n = 3 ) and diffuse lymphocytic infiltration of the lamina propria ( n = 3 ) were observed. No lesions were reported in other organs. Based on reported clinical signs and lesions, Mycoplasma spp. were suspected, and molecular detection was performed on tracheal specimens leading to the identification of Mycoplasma columbinasale. Immunohistochemistry was subsequently performed to localize the microorganism within tissue lesions. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of Mycoplasma species on the tracheal epithelial cells of all birds. Following tylosin administration, complete resolution of the clinical condition and lack of recurrence of clinical signs were reported in the breeding farm. These findings suggest that M. columbinasale could potentially have a role in the respiratory disease and low mortality in domestic pigeons.