The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Evaluation of serum microRNA-375 concentration in dogs with diabetes mellitus: A pilot study

2026-03-30T10:16:21+07:00

Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for various diseases. The serum concentration of miRNA-375 (miR-375), which is abundantly expressed in pancreatic islet cells, is increased in dogs with experimentally induced pancreatic injury and naturally occurring acute pancreatitis. However, this has not been reported in dogs with diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to compare the expression of serum cfa-miR-375 between dogs with DM and healthy dogs and examine changes in serum cfa-miR-375 levels after insulin administration in dogs with DM. Twenty dogs with DM and 18 healthy dogs were included. The relative expression of serum cfa-miR-375 using reverse transcription and real-time PCR were evaluated. The primary endpoint was the comparison of serum cfa-miR-375 expression between dogs with DM and healthy dogs. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) fold change (FC) of serum cfa-miR-375 was significantly higher (P = 0.048) in dogs with DM (2.30 ± 2.018) than in healthy dogs (1.294 ± 0.560). The FC of serum miR-375 was significantly increased (P = 0.01) after treatment (4.017 ± 2.054) than before treatment (2.322 ± 2.608) in dogs with DM. The percentage change in cfa-miR-375 levels was positively correlated with the concentration of serum fructosamine post-treatment (r = 0.62, P = 0.01). Increased serum miR-375 levels may be associated with direct leakage from the damaged pancreas and pathological glucose regulation in canine DM.

Reproductive performance and its association with ESR, PRLR, FSHB genes in indigenous “I” pigs

2026-03-30T10:30:04+07:00

Improving the reproductive performance of sows plays an important role in the pig industry, and it applies not only to commercial pigs but also to indigenous pigs. In this study, the polymorphisms of three genes, namely estrogen receptor (ESR), prolactin receptor (PRLR), and follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit (FSHB) in the “I” pig population were investigated, and their associations with reproductive performance were evaluated. Ear tissue samples were collected from 151 fattening pigs and 126 sows across breeding farms in Vietnam for polymorphisms of the ESR, PRLR and FSHB genes. Three genotypes (AA, AB, and BB) were detected at the ESR T1665G and FSHB T212C loci, whereas the AA genotype was not observed at the PRLR G1789A locus. Consequently, genotype frequencies of ESR and FSHB were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, while PRLR deviated significantly (P < 0.001). The ESR genotypes and parity showed no significant effects on the reproductive traits. The PRLR G1789A polymorphism showed a significant effect only on BWW, with sows carrying the BB genotype exhibiting more favorable values than those with the AB genotype. However, most of the traits differed across years, except age at first mating (AFM) and farrowing interval (FRI). The FSHB genotypes significantly affected reproductive performance, excluding AFM, age at first farrowing (AFF), FRI, and piglet birth weight (BWB). Sows with the FSHB^AA genotype had a higher number of total piglets born and greater piglet body weight at birth and weaning than those carrying FSHB^AB. These findings indicate that the FSHB^AA genotype may serve as a useful genetic marker for enhancing reproductive traits in the endangered “I” pig population.

Epidemiologic evaluation of canine urate urolithiasis in Thailand: A comparative cross-sectional study between 2016-2023

2026-03-30T10:52:07+07:00

A comparative cross-sectional study aimed to describe the epidemiological data of canine urate urolithiasis in Thailand by evaluating the change in proportion over the year and identifying risk-associated factors, including age, breed, sex, and neutered status, through comparisons with multiple comparison groups. The urate and non-urate group was dogs whose uroliths were submitted from Thailand to the Minnesota Urolith Center between 2016 and 2023, and the hospital group was dogs that were visited at the Small Animal Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, between 2020 and 2023. Of 6,171 canine urolith submissions, 210 samples (3.4%) were urate-containing uroliths submitted from twenty-eight canine breeds. Twelve breeds were identified as high-risk, and only one breed was recognized as low-risk. The majority of high-risk breeds were medium- to large-breed dogs. Intact male and younger age dogs were found to be at a higher risk of developing urate uroliths, with the mean age ± standard deviation at diagnosis of 6.07 ± 3.5 years. Based on these findings, a screening program for urate urolithiasis in dogs aged 1-6 years was recommended for these high-risk breeds, particularly in intact male dogs, to achieve clinical benefits through early detection of urate uroliths.

Successful treatment of juvenile sterile granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis in a Pomeranian aged 5 months using topical hydrocortisone aceponate and systemic antibiotic

2026-03-26T17:06:12+07:00

A 5-month-old intact male Pomeranian puppy was presented with a 2-week history of acutely swollen face, eyelids, lips, and muzzle. A physical examination revealed focal alopecia, folliculitis, and erythema on the muzzle, periocular, and perianal areas; crusts were also found around the muzzle. The puppy received monthly oral afoxolaner and milbemycin oxime. No ectoparasite was observed based on a trichogram test. Skin cytology revealed intracellular cocci and neutrophils. A skin biopsy taken from the muzzle revealed pyogranulomatous perifollicular dermatitis with epidermal spongiosis, intraepidermal pustules, and a superficial crust. This condition was diagnosed as juvenile cellulitis on the basis of age, clinical signs, distribution of the lesions, and the biopsy results. Initially, the puppy was treated with oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 25 mg/kg every 12 hours in combination with topical 4% chlorhexidine once daily. After 2 weeks of treatment, the puppy showed marked improvement, with only skin inflammation remaining. Therefore, 0.584 mg/ml hydrocortisone aceponate topical spray was additionally applied once daily for 2 weeks. Systemic antibiotic was continued for 6 weeks until clinically resolved.