Untapped research opportunities in China: promising future avenues and potential concerns for aging companion animals

Companion animals have recently been proposed as ideal translational models of human aging due to their shared susceptibility for certain diseases, similar environments, and sophisticated veterinary medicine diagnostics, all of which are not possible in rodent laboratory models. Here, we introduce and propose the study of companion animals in China as a largely untapped resource in academic and veterinary aging research. Pet ownership rates along with economic gains in the pet industry have skyrocketed over the last decade in China. Yet, the majority of research institutions still focus on agricultural animal research, not companion animals. In this perspective, we compare available pet ownership rates between the USA, the European Union, and China before focusing on the potential of companion animal aging research in China. In addition, we highlight some ethical considerations that must be addressed before large-scale companion animal aging research can be completed.

agReg-SNPdb: A Database of Regulatory SNPs for Agricultural Animal Species

Transcription factors (TFs) govern transcriptional gene regulation by specifically binding to short DNA motifs, known as transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), in regulatory regions, such as promoters. Today, it is well known that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TFBSs can dramatically affect the level of gene expression, since they can cause a change in the binding affinity of TFs. Such SNPs, referred to as regulatory SNPs (rSNPs), have gained attention in the life sciences due to their causality for specific traits or diseases. In this study, we present agReg-SNPdb, a database comprising rSNP data of seven agricultural and domestic animal species: cattle, pig, chicken, sheep, horse, goat, and dog. To identify the rSNPs, we constructed a bioinformatics pipeline and identified a total of 10,623,512 rSNPs, which are located within TFBSs and affect the binding affinity of putative TFs. Altogether, we implemented the first systematic analysis of SNPs in promoter regions and their impact on the binding affinity of TFs for livestock and made it usable via a web interface.

From Livestock to Cell-stock

The nascent cellular agriculture industry seeks to produce cell-cultured animal tissue for human consumption. Effectively rendering farmed animals obsolete in food production could mitigate an array of harms inflicted by industrial animal farming on the environment, public health, and human and animal wellbeing, but achieving this outcome is contingent on cellular agriculture entrepreneurs successfully creating a product that closely resembles conventional meat enough to appeal to consumers despite its synthetic origins. This article examines how these politics of resemblance may shape and limit the realization of the industry’s potential benefits. Specifically, it argues that, while cellular agriculture can only realize such benefits through the facilitation of agricultural animal obsolescence, its potential for positive transformations in food production may ultimately be blunted by the degree to which a failure to extend the politics of resemblance from the consumer market to the labor market renders agricultural human laborers obsolete as well.

The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in the microbiota of yak, beef and dairy cattle characterized by a metagenomic approach

Drug resistance has been partly driven by the overuse of antimicrobials in agricultural animal feed. Better understanding of antibiotic resistance in bovine gut is needed to assess its potential effects based on metagenomic approach and analysis. In this study, we collected 40 fecal samples to explore drug resistance derived from antibiotic use in the bacterial community by an analysis of the diversities and differences of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in the gut microbiota from yak, beef, and dairy cattle. Overall, 1688 genes were annotated, including 734 ARG subtypes. The ARGs were related to tetracyclines, quinolones, β-lactam, and aminoglycosides, in accordance with the antibiotics widely used in the clinic for humans or animals. The emergence, prevalence, and differences in resistance genes in the intestines of yaks, beef, and dairy cattle may be caused by the selective pressure of different feeding patterns, where yaks were raised without antibiotics for growth promotion. In addition, the abundance of ARGs in yak was lower than in beef and dairy cattle, whereas the abundance of integron, a kind of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was higher in yaks than those in beef and dairy cattle. Furthermore, the results of this study could provide the basis for a comprehensive profile of various ARGs among yak, beef, and dairy cattle in future.

Opportunities and Challenges for Improving the Productivity of Swamp Buffaloes in Southeastern Asia

The swamp buffalo is a domesticated animal commonly found in Southeast Asia. It is a highly valued agricultural animal for smallholders, but the production of this species has unfortunately declined in recent decades due to rising farm mechanization. While swamp buffalo still plays a role in farmland cultivation, this species’ purposes has shifted from draft power to meat, milk, and hide production. The current status of swamp buffaloes in Southeast Asia is still understudied compared to its counterparts such as the riverine buffaloes and cattle. This review discusses the background of swamp buffalo, with an emphasis on recent work on this species in Southeast Asia, and associated genetics and genomics work such as cytogenetic studies, phylogeny, domestication and migration, genetic sequences and resources. Recent challenges to realize the potential of this species in the agriculture industry are also discussed. Limited genetic resource for swamp buffalo has called for more genomics work to be done on this species including decoding its genome. As the economy progresses and farm mechanization increases, research and development for swamp buffaloes are focused on enhancing its productivity through understanding the genetics of agriculturally important traits. The use of genomic markers is a powerful tool to efficiently utilize the potential of this animal for food security and animal conservation. Understanding its genetics and retaining and maximizing its adaptability to harsher environments are a strategic move for food security in poorer nations in Southeast Asia in the face of climate change.

Genome editing of avian species: implications for animal use and welfare

Avian species are used as model systems in research and have contributed to ground-breaking concepts in developmental biology, immunology, genetics, virology, cancer and cell biology. The chicken in particular is an important research model and an agricultural animal as a major contributor to animal protein resources for the global population. The development of genome editing methods, including CRISPR/Cas9, to mediate germline engineering of the avian genome will have important applications in biomedical, agricultural and biotechnological activities. Notably, these precise genome editing tools have the potential to enhance avian health and productivity by identifying and validating beneficial genetic variants in bird populations. Here, we present a concise description of the existing methods and current applications of the genome editing tools in bird species, focused on chickens, with attention on animal use and welfare issues for each of the techniques presented.

Wildlife-pet markets in a one-health context

Background and Aim: Wildlife markets are centers of trade involving live animals and their derivatives from wild-caught and captive-bred non-domesticated animals, including for the culinary, fashion, traditional medicine, curio, and pet sectors. These markets occur in Southeast Asia, India, North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and elsewhere. This study aims to address a diversity of related issues that have a one-health bearing while focusing on wildlife markets in relation to the pet trade. Across relevant regions and countries, all major animal classes are traded at wildlife-pet markets. Wildlife markets, in general, are considered distinct from so-called "wet markets" at which domesticated animals, fish, and other "seafood" are offered only for consumption. Several aspects of wildlife markets have attracted scientific and popular scrutiny, including animal welfare concerns, species conservation threats, legality, ecological alteration, introduction of invasive alien species, presence of undescribed species, and public and agricultural animal health issues. Materials and Methods: Onsite inspections were conducted for markets in the United States, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, and the UK, as well as observational research of visual imagery of market conditions, and we compared these conditions with evidence-based standards for animal welfare and public health management. Results: Wildlife markets globally shared common similar structures and practices including the presence of sick, injured, or stressed animals; mixing of animals of uncertain origin and health state; and no specific or any hygiene protocols, with issues of animal welfare, public health and safety, agricultural animal health, and other one-health concerns being inherently involved. Conclusion: We conclude that wildlife markets are incompatible with responsible standards and practices, and we recommend that such events are banned globally to ameliorate inherent major problems.

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A UNIVERSAL VACCINE AGAINST AGRICULTURAL ANIMAL CHLAMIDIOSIS ON RABBITS

The article presents data on laboratory tests of a universal vaccine against chlamydia of farm animals for sterility, safety, antigenic activity and immunogenicity. The sterility of the new vaccine preparation was evaluated on nutrient media (MPA, MPB, MPPB and Saburo), the vaccine was harmless according to the results of bioassays on laboratory white mice and guinea pigs. The vaccine was found to be sterile and harmless to laboratory animals. Evaluation of antigenic activity was car-ried out on rabbits, the study lasted 195 days, the results were taken into account on the basis of data obtained during systematic serological studies of blood serum immunized with rabbits. It was found that the vaccine stimulates the immune system of laboratory animals to produce complemen-tary chlamydial antibodies. After 6.5 months after the administration of the drug, the titers of chla-mydial antibodies remained above the protective titer and were equal on average 1:60. Evaluation of the immunogenicity of the vaccine was carried out in an acute experiment on rabbits (females). Dur-ing the experiment, it was possible to establish the ability of the vaccine to induce the production of immunity in laboratory animals that can overcome chlamydial infection. Healthy rabbits were ob-tained from rabbits vaccinated and infected at the 3rd week of pregnancy, while mass abortions, stillbirths and the birth of non-viable offspring were noted in the control groups. According to the results of post-mortem dissection of animals from the experimental and control groups, it was found that vaccinated and further infected animals did not reveal any pathological changes in the internal organs, in contrast to the animals from the control groups.

Improving animal welfare: a practical approach

The third edition of this book contains a total of 20 chapters (including 3 new chapters), including the implementation of an effective animal welfare programme; the importance of measurement to improve the welfare of livestock, poultry and fish; the social and ethical importance of agricultural animal welfare; the implementation of effective animal-based measurements for assessing animal welfare on farms and slaughter plants; how to improve livestock handling and reduce stress; painful husbandry procedures in livestock and poultry; the importance of good stockmanship and its benefits to animals; in-farm considerations of animal behaviour and emotions; improving livestock, poultry and fish welfare in slaughter plants with auditing programmes and animal-based measures; recommended on-farm euthanasia practices; welfare during transport of livestock and poultry; animal well-being on organic farms; a practical approach on sustainability for supply chain managers of meat, dairy and other animal proteins; the effect of economic factors on the welfare of livestock and poultry; practical approaches for changing and improving animal care and welfare; successful technology transfer of behavioural and animal welfare research to the farm and slaughter plant; technological innovations for individualized animal care and welfare; technology designed to enhance poultry welfare; precision livestock farming and technology in swine welfare and practical methods for improving the welfare of horses, donkeys and mules. There is also a list of videos that will allow students to see different types of farms and technology for raising broiler chickens, cattle, laying hens and pigs. This book provides practical information which will enable veterinarians, managers, animal scientists and policy makers to improve welfare. It will be especially useful for training animal welfare specialists.