Barbara Contiero

University of Padova | UNIPD · Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health MAPS

Background - Melting corneal ulcers are a serious condition that affects a great number of animals and people in the world and it is characterised by a progressive weakening of the tissue leading to possible severe ophthalmic complications, such as visual impairment or blindness. This disease is routinely treated with medical therapy and keratoplas...

Simple Summary Variations in the echogenicity of specific areas of the fetal kidneys, cortex and medulla are studied in this work during the last 10 days of pregnancy in bitches. The aim was to measure these variations and to identify any correlation with days before parturition (dbp). For this reason, 10 clinically healthy pregnant bitches (2–8 ye...

Background: Deslorelin implant use in cats is a medical alternative to surgical sterilization, and due to its prolonged efficacy, its use has shown growing interest in the veterinary community. In the case of breeding facilities, its removal is often requested for the early restoration of testicular function. As anti-Müllerian hormones (AMH) in mal...

Regenerative medicine for the treatment of skin lesions is an innovative and rapidly developing field that aims to promote wound healing and restore the skin to its original condition before injury. Over the years, different topical treatments have been evaluated to improve skin wound healing and, among them, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and plate...

Although the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a widespread free-living species in Europe and is often treated as a patient in wildlife rescue centers, peer-reviewed published reference intervals (RI) for hematologic and biochemistry variables are not available. The aim of this study was to determine routine RI for common clinical analyses for this specie...

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) frequently affects large-breed dogs. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for the development of atrial fibrillation in dogs of different breeds with an echocardiographic diagnosis of DCM. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, we searched...

Background: The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of adrenal lesions are poorly reported in veterinary literature. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative B-mode ultrasound and CEUS features of 186 benign (adenoma) and malignant (adenocarcinoma and pheochromocytoma) adrenal lesions were evaluated. Results: Adenocarcinomas (n = 72) and...

Contemporary zoos house polar bears (Ursus maritimus) to serve the conservation efforts of these institutions. However, evidence of behavioural problems in captivity has highlighted the need for methods to assess polar bear welfare, why valid and feasible animal-based welfare indicators are a prerequisite. Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) has...

Data concerning the use of the canine foetal kidney length (L) formula in the prediction of parturition timing are still lacking. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the L formula in predicting the parturition date during the last 10 days of pregnancy. Twenty-five clinically healthy pregnant bitches, aged 2–9 years and weighing 3.5–5...

Metabolic adaptations to negative energy balance as lipomobilization may influence inflammatory responses, immune function and oxidative stress in animals. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic, oxidoreductive and immune status of buffaloes from prepartum to postpartum period by grouping animals according to mild, medium, or severe lipo...

The Five Domains Model provides an assessment tool for the welfare of ornamental-birds; which includes appropriate housing conditions with environmental enrichment (EE), recognized to be an important factor to achieve good welfare standards. However, financial, practical and time-budget constraints in addition to human belief, may frequently preven...

Abstract Background Endotracheal intubation in rabbits is challenging and supraglottic airway devices, such as laryngeal masks (LMA), represent an alternative as they are easy to insert, and do not stimulate the larynx requiring therefore a lighter plane of anaesthesia for their insertion and positioning than the endotracheal tubes. We investigated...

Metabolic disorders as ketosis are manifestations of the animal's inability to manage the increase in energy requirement during early lactation. Generally, buffaloes show a different response to higher metabolic demands than other ruminants with a lower incidence of metabolic problems, although ketosis is one of the major diseases that may decrease...

For sows introduced into new groups, the aggressive behavior associated with establishing a social hierarchy represents a period of severe stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of providing sows with an improved pen environment (straw in racks and ropes) on aggressive behavior after mixing and to understand the role played by...

Tail biting is an economical and behavioral problem in the pork production system worldwide and systematic tail docking has been applied for decades to decrease the risk of its onset. However, legal and market-driven requirements are leading pig producers to rear undocked animals. The aim of this work was to monitor tail, pluck (lungs, pleurae, and...

Weather hazards and changing climatic regimes combined with socio-cultural changes are forcing farmers living in Algerian steppe territories to find new strategies to maintain their business, particularly in terms of animal feeding sources. Animal’s nutritional needs in the past used to be met mainly by grazing lands which nowadays cover less than...

This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of red cell distribution width (RDW) RDW-to-calcium ratio (RDW/Ca), neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (N/L), platelets-to-lymphocytes ratio (P/L) and other easy to obtain and inexpensive hematological and biochemical parameters in dogs with acute pancreatitis. This is a multicenter, retrospective cohor...

Background: Information regarding the frequency of L waves and their prognostic relevance in dogs with secondary atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited. Hypothesis/objectives: To determine whether L waves occur and ascertain their prognostic role, as well as the role of other clinical and echocardiographic variables in dogs with AF. Animals: Fift...

The present study describes Malassezia populations in clinically healthy dogs (HD) and dogs with Malassezia overgrowth (MO), and evaluates the correlation with clinical signs and previous treatments. Thirteen clinically HD and 84 dogs with MO were enrolled. Clinical history and previous treatments were recorded. After a complete physical and dermat...

This study investigates the impact of Ozonated Extra Virgin Olive Oil (OEVO) on the shelf life and quality of beef hamburgers during a 15-day storage period. Firstly, the Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVO) was ozonated, and its oxidative stability and Fatty Acid Profile (FAP) were evaluated before and after ozonation. The oxidative stability of EVO decre...

Fetal gastrointestinal motility (FGM) was suggested as useful to assess fetal maturity. Our study aimed to quantify FGM in relation to days before parturition (DBP), maternal size, and sex ratio of pups. During the last ten days of pregnancy, 23 clinically healthy pregnant bitches of 16 different breeds ranging in age from 2 to 9 years and body wei...

The transition from late pregnancy to early lactation is characterized by marked changes in energy balance of dairy ruminants. The mobilization of adipose tissue led to an increase in plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). The aim of this study was to analyze the total plasma fatty acids of healthy and hyperketonemic...

Objectives: To determine cutoff values in small (SB) and medium/large (MLB) breed dogs with and without medial patellar luxation (MPL) for identifying abnormal femoral trochlea morphology. Study design: Original research. Animals: A total of 80 computed tomographic (CT) scans from client-owned dogs METHODS: Four groups of 20 dogs were created:...

Objectives The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and to describe the clinical and diagnostic imaging features of the different types of feline intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). Methods Medical records and imaging studies were retrospectively reviewed for cats diagnosed with IVDH between January 2008 and October 2020. Informat...

CT femoral trochlear angular measurements in small and medium/larger breed dogs with and without medial patellar luxation

Dystocia in the canine species is a common problem, and elective cesarean sections (C-sections) have become more frequent in breeds that are at risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of C-section and contributing factors and to compare data on elective and emergency C-sections (e.g., regarding stillbirth). Using a questionnaire,...

Objective The use of deslorelin implants to control reproduction in cats is increasing but because of its prolonged duration, cat breeders often request implant removal before the end of the treatment. Assaying Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) concentrations might be useful to predict time of resumption of ovarian activity in deslorelin-treated queens...

Canine gestational age can be estimated based on fetal kidney length (L) although accuracy, sensitivity and specificity decrease during the last 5 days of pregnancy. In humans, fetal renal cortical and medullary thickness (CT and MT) and their ratio (CT/MT) are described as useful tools for monitoring the development of fetal kidneys. The aim of th...

A large overlap in the ultrasound (US) features of focal pancreatic lesions (FPLs) in cats is reported. Furthermore, only a small number of studies describing the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of FPLs in cats have been conducted today. The aim of this study is to describe the B-mode US and CEUS features of FPLs in cats. Ninety-eight...

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of pancreatic lesions are poorly reported in veterinary literature. Methods: Qualitative and quantitative features of pancreatic benign (nodular hyperplasia [NH], cyst and abscess) and malignant (adenocarcinoma and insulinoma) lesions during B-mode and CEUS examinations are described in 75...

Introduction Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is an immune-mediated disorder of young dogs for which there is no definitive ante-mortem diagnostic test. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used to explore other differentials and extensive reports about its usefulness in the diagnosis of SRMA are lacking. The aims of this study wer...

There is growing societal pressure to eliminate close confinement of farm animals. However, under current EU legislation, sows can be kept in gestation stalls for up to 28 days post-service. Pregnant sows fight to establish a dominance hierarchy at mixing. This poses welfare and productivity concerns particularly if sows are mixed in early pregnanc...

Claw disorders are a relevant welfare issue in the cattle industry, fast and accurate diagnoses are essential for successful treatment and prevention. The present study aimed to develop an equation to assess the presence of solar hemorrhages from real-time ultrasound images texture analysis at slaughter. Eighty-eight hind feet were collected at the...

The objective of this study was to calculate lateral ventricles dimension in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs with Chiari-like malformation and investigate the association between ventriculomegaly and signalment, clinical signs, ventricular asymmetry, grade of Chiari-like malformation, syringomyelia and index of medullary kinking. Retrospectively...

In recent years, the scientific community, institutions, and public opinion have shown a growing awareness towards the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Guidelines from the European Union aim at significantly reducing (even avoiding) the antimicrobial use for prophylactic and metaphylactic purposes in veterinary medicine and this represents an i...

Obesity in dogs is an emerging issue that affects canine health and well-being. Its development is ascribed to several factors, including genetic predisposition and dietary management, and recent evidence suggests that intestinal microbiota may be involved as well. Previous works have shown obesity to be linked to significant changes in gut microbi...

Estimating the dry matter losses (DML) of whole-plant maize (WPM) silage is a priority for sustainable dairy and beef farming. The study aimed to assess this loss of nutrients by using net-bags (n = 36) filled with freshly chopped WPM forage and buried in bunker silos of 12 Italian dairy farms for an ensiling period of 275 days on average. The prox...

The transition from late pregnancy to early lactation is characterized by marked changes in energy balance of dairy ruminants. The mobilization of adipose tissue led to an increase in plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). The aim of this study was to analyze the total plasma fatty acids of healthy and hyperketonemic...

The aim of the study was to describe the CT features of focal splenic lesions (FSLs) in dogs in order to predict lesion histotype. Dogs that underwent a CT scan and had a FSL diagnosis by cytology or histopathology were retrospectively included in the study. For the statistical analysis the cases were divided into four groups, based on the results...

Gliomas of the brain may appear as expansile ring‐enhancing masses in MRI studies, mimicking the appearance of intra‐axial abscesses. The aims of this study were to compare the MRI features of ring‐enhancing gliomas and intra‐axial brain abscesses in dogs and cats and to identify the characteristics that might help differentiate them. For this mult...

The Western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, has been a serious quarantine pest to maize in Europe since the mid-1990s. The integrated pest management of WCR requires an accurate knowledge of the factors that contribute most to risks of crop damage, as well as knowledge of effective area-wide strategies based on agronomi...

This study evaluated whether salivary alpha-amylase, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), calcium, and phosphorus can be used as markers of periodontal disease in dogs. Plaque, calculus, and gingivitis indexes were used to allocate 79 dogs in three groups: none (Group 1), moderate (Group 2), and severe (Group 3) periodontal disease. A blood sampl...

Today, consumers have a growing concern about the welfare of beef cattle, and specific schemes have been proposed to assess their wellbeing during the fattening. On-farm assessments can be integrated and partially replaced by animal-based measures recorded postmortem at the abattoir. Postmortem organ inspection data are of value, as several lesions...

The mobilization of body reserves during the transition from pregnancy to lactation might predispose dairy cows to develop metabolic disorders such as subclinical ketosis or hyperketonemia. These conditions are not easily identifiable and are frequently related to other diseases that cause economic loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the se...

The study aimed to define a grain-adapted quality score (GQS) to assess the fermentative pattern of ensiled high-moisture maize grain (EMG) based on organic acids, ammonia, and ethanol data of a lab-scale dataset. The GQS was validated by comparison with both the Flieg-Zimmer’s quality score (FQS) and a standardized quality score (SQS) by a receive...

Lameness represents one of the main causes of decreased productive performance and impaired animal welfare in the bovine industry. Young beef bulls are predisposed to develop diseases of the growing skeleton, especially growth plate lesions. Early diagnosis is indispensable for ensuring correct treatment, fast recovery and reduction losses. However...

Objective: The use of deslorelin implantsto control reproduction in cats is increasing but because of its prolonged duration, cat breeders oftenrequest implant removal before the end of the treatment. Assaying Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) concentrations might be useful to predict time of resumption of ovarian activity in deslorelin-treated queens f...

Background: Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is very resistant and highly contagious and infects domestic cats and other felids. FPV is particularly widespread among sheltered cats, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, causing severe gastroenteritis characterized by anorexia, lethargy, fever, dehydration, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and v...

Although there are many studies on the importance of fatty acids (FA) in our diet and on the influence of dairy diets on FA metabolism, only a few investigate their predictive capacity to discriminate the type, amount and conservation method of farm forages. This research quantifies differences in milk FA concentrations and, using a supervised fact...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may alter prostatic fluid biochemical composition causing reduced fertility. Osaterone acetate (OA) is an androgen receptor antagonist marketed for treatment of canine BPH. Little information exists on effects of OA administration on biochemical composition of canine prostatic fluid and its role on fertility. The...

Computed tomography (CT) is often performed to complement ultrasound following detection of focal liver lesions (FLL). There is no consensus in the literature regarding the CT features that might be helpful in the distinction between benign and malignant FLL. The aim of this meta-analysis was to identify, based on the available literature, the qual...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.611556.].

Behavioural observation is an essential part of routine welfare assessment protocols for captive wild animals and Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) can be included as measure of their emotional state. This study aims to develop a QBA Fixed List (FL) for brown bears (Ursus arctos), to test its reliability and to investigate the potential effe...

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is recognized as one of the most important disease in beef industry because it may negatively influence animal welfare and farm economy. An early diagnosis is necessary to improve prognosis and outcome, as well to provide for specific management treatment for the affected animals. The aim of this study is to assess...

Deslorelin implants are widely used in felines. Due to their prolonged duration cat breeders frequently request early implant removal. The interval between deslorelin implant removal and resumption of ovarian function in queens is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interval between the removal of a deslorelin implant and the resumpt...

The aerobic stability of silage is partially a consequence of its fermentative profile. The use of Lactobacillus buchneri (Lb) inoculant is widely adopted to promote a favourable quality of maize silage. Few studies investigated the effect of pre-ensiling composition on aerobic stability and the fermentative profile of silage. We evaluated the use...

Plasmatic dimethylarginines, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) are considered biomarkers of endothelial and renal dysfunction, respectively, in humans. We hypothesize that plasmatic concentration of dimethylarginines in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is influenced by heart disease stage. Eigh...

Background Worldwide, veterinary practitioners and students are reported to be at higher risk of suicide, burnout, and depression compared to other occupational groups. The aim of the current study was to apply text mining and topic modelling analysis on scientific literature regarding suicide, burnout, and depression among veterinary practitioners...

The attraction range of YATLORf pheromone traps to adults of four species of Agriotes (A. brevis, A. sordidus, A. litigiosus, and A. ustulatus) was studied to provide additional information about the most harmful Agriotes species in Europe. Male click beetles were marked and released at different distances from a pheromone trap. The recapture rate...

As forage may affect the environmental sustainability of a given dairy chain, this study evaluated the discriminant capacity of fatty acids (FAs) and NMR metabolomic profiles of milk from three dairy chains, where forage components of cows diets were: maize silage (MS), grass-legume and maize silage (GMS), grass and lucerne hay (HAY). Canonical dis...

In the transition period an excessive mobilization of adipose tissue in high milk production dairy cows predisposes to metabolic diseases as subclinical ketosis. The aim of this research was to identify the association between the concentration of milk fatty acids and the elevated plasmatic value of Non Esterified Fatty Acid (NEFA) for the diagnos...