First Report of Marek's Disease Virus in Commercial Turkeys in Slovenia

Marek's disease (MD), caused by Mardivirus gallidalpha 2 (GaAHV-2), also known as MD virus (MDV), is a lymphoproliferative disease that primarily affects chickens. Recently, MDV has been detected in lymphomatous tumors in turkeys in various countries. Between 2021 and 2023, three cases ranging from no to severe clinical disorders (depression, lameness, and increased mortality) occurred in commercial turkey flocks in Slovenia. In all cases, MDV was detected by PCR in DNA samples extracted from organs developing tumor infiltrations. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the meq gene revealed that the GaAHV-2 detected has molecular features of a very virulent pathotype and genetic similarity with GaAHV-2 detected in chickens in Tunisia. This is the first report of MDV in commercial turkeys in Slovenia.

Extracellular Vesicles in Domestic Animals: Cellular Communication in Health and Disease

Apoptotic and healthy cells of domestic animals release membrane-enclosed particles from their plasma membrane. These special structures, called extracellular vesicles, play an important role in intercellular communication. In the past, it was believed that their function was mainly to dispose unwanted cell contents and to help maintain cell homeostasis. However, we now know that they have important roles in health and disease and have diagnostic value as well as great potential for therapy in veterinary medicine. Extracellular vesicles facilitate cellular exchanges by delivering functional cargo molecules to nearby or distant tissues. They are produced by various cell types and are found in all body fluids. Their cargo reflects the state of the releasing parent cell, and despite their small size, this cargo is extraordinarily complex. Numerous different types of molecules contained in vesicles make them an extremely promising tool in the field of regenerative veterinary medicine. To further increase research interest and discover their full potential, some of the basic biological mechanisms behind their function need to be better understood. Only then will we be able to maximize the clinical relevance for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in various domestic animal species.

Treatment of cranial cruciate ligament injuries in dogs using a combination of tibial tuberosity advancement procedure and autologous mesenchymal stem cells/multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells - A pilot study

In the present pilot study, we evaluated different supplemental therapies using autologous multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSCs) for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament defects in dogs. We used tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) and augmented it by supportive therapy with MMSCs in three patient groups. In the first patient group, the dogs were injected with MMSCs directly into the treated stifle one month after surgery. In the second group, MMSCs were delivered in a silk fibroin scaffold which was placed in the osteotomy gap during surgery. In the third group, MMSCs were first mixed with bone tissue and blood from the patient and delivered into the osteotomy gap during surgery. In the control group, patients underwent the TTA procedure but did not receive MMSC treatment. In the group of patients who received cells in the silk fibroin scaffold during surgery, the osteotomy gap did not heal, presumably due to the low absorption of silk fibroin. Patients who received MMSCs mixed with bone tissue and blood during surgery into the osteotomy gap recovered clinically faster and had better healing of the osteotomy gap than dogs from the other two treated groups and from the control group, as assessed by clinical examination and quantification of radiographs. In conclusion, dogs that received stem cells directly into the osteotomy gap (Group 3) recovered faster compared to dogs from Groups 1 (MMSCs injected into the joint one month after surgery), 2 (cells implanted into the osteotomy gap in a silk fibroin scaffold), and the control group that did not receive additional MMSCs treatment.