Early Appearance

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a significant infectious disease affecting domestic dogs and wild carnivores worldwide. However, there is a lack of systematic, quantitative assessments of this topic in the literature. This bibliometric analysis examined 2,842 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning 45 years (1980–2024), evaluating research trends, geographical distribution by country and institution, and author collaboration networks in canine distemper studies. The analysis revealed distinct temporal phases in publication patterns, characterised by modest output during the foundation period (approximately 20 articles per year from 1980 to 1990), gradual acceleration coinciding with the adoption of PCR technology (mid-1990s to 2005), and exponential growth driven by advances in molecular diagnostics (2005–2015, reaching over 140 articles per year). A recent stabilization suggests that the field is maturing (2020–2024, approximately 115 articles per year). A geographic analysis revealed a regional concentration of research, with the United States dominating with 2,281 publications (38%). This was followed by China with 660 publications (11%) and Germany with 581 publications (10%). This reflects the importance of a well-established research infrastructure, as well as disparities in availability. Institutions such as the University of Bern (201 publications), the University of California system (186) and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (164) consistently showcased their research. Author impact analysis identified Zurbriggen A. and Vandevelde M. as the most influential researchers, with a high citation impact (h-index of 33 for both) and high productivity (84 and 64 publications respectively). Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed four distinct thematic clusters: molecular epidemiology and phylogenetics; wildlife conservation and interspecies transmission; clinical pathology and neurological manifestations; and diagnostic methodologies. This study provides a comprehensive, quantitative assessment of canine distemper research, identifying key contributors to veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, as well as collaborative networks, knowledge gaps and future research priorities.

Gastrointestinal parasite in turkeys are important because they cause clinical infections and pose a zoonotic risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in turkeys raised in Konya and to evaluate the obtained data from an epidemiological perspective. The study material consisted of the feces of 86 turkeys, aged 2 months (n=76) and 6 months (n=10), from an intensive farm. Descriptive information for the sampled turkeys was recorded for each animal. Freshly collected stool samples were brought to the Parasitology Department Laboratory of Selçuk University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Stool samples brought to the laboratory were first examined macroscopically to check for cestode segments or other adult helminths.  Subsequently, in order to perform parasitic examination under appropriate conditions, all stool samples were examined for gastrointestinal parasites using the Native examination, Fulleborn Flotation with saturated NaCl solution, and Modified Ziehl-Neelsen methods. In 56.97% (49/86) of the stool samples, cysts and oocysts of gastrointestinal protozoa were observed. Giardia spp. cysts were found in 54.65% (47/86) of turkeys, and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were found in 4.65% (4/86). No helminth eggs were observed. Of the turkeys whose feces were examined at least one parasitic agent was found in 49, while no parasitic agents were found in 37. Fisher’s exact test revealed that the difference was not statistically significant (p=1.000). When evaluating alternative production models for meeting Türkiye's animal protein requirements, turkeys hold a significant place. Considering the gastrointestinal parasites in turkeys, which can cause yield loss and mortality, it is recommended that research on these factors continue.

Water availability is a major environmental factor that influences the feed intake, nutrient utilization and productivity of ruminants, particularly during the dry season in tropical regions. This study examined the impact of different water restriction regimes on the nutrient digestibility of Red Sokoto goats fed groundnut straw in the hot, dry season in Savannah zone of Nigeria's. Six mature Red Sokoto bucks, aged between one and one-and-a-half years and weighing between 12 and 14 kg, were used in a multi-period crossover experiment involving ad libitum water supply (control), 30% water restriction and 50% water restriction treatments. Feed and water intake and fecal output were measured daily, while proximate composition and fiber fractions were analyzed using AOAC procedures. The results showed that water restriction significantly reduced the digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P<0.05). Dry matter digestibility decreased from 77.64% in the control group to 72.00% in the group subjected to a 50% water restriction, while crude protein digestibility declined from 50.43% to 29.18%. These findings are consistent with previous reports indicating that inadequate water intake negatively impacts nutrient utilization and rumen function in ruminants. The study concluded that restricting water adversely affects the digestibility of nutrients in Red Sokoto goats, which may consequently reduce their productivity during periods of water scarcity. Therefore, adequate access to clean drinking water should be prioritized in goat production systems, particularly in semi-arid environments during the dry hot season.

This study investigated the effect of seawater as a diluent in formalin- and ethanol-based fixation solutions on the histological preservation of sheep tissues. Liver, heart, and spleen samples obtained from 40 sheep were fixed using six different solutions prepared with distilled water, seawater, or their combinations. Tissue samples (approximately 3 mm in thickness) were fixed for 24 hours at room temperature, followed by routine histological processing, sectioning at 4 µm, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Histological preservation was evaluated using a semi-quantitative scoring system, and the resulting scores were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Formalin-based fixatives demonstrated superior structural preservation compared to ethanol-based solutions. Among the formalin groups, seawater-containing solutions yielded the highest histological scores across all tissues. In contrast, ethanol-fixed tissues exhibited reduced structural integrity and lower preservation scores. These findings suggest that seawater can enhance the efficiency of formalin-based fixation and improve histological outcomes, offering a simple and cost-effective alternative to conventional diluents.

Rearing is a behaviour in which a horse stands on its hind limbs while lifting its forelimbs off the ground. Although it can occur as part of the normal behavioural repertoire, repeated or contextually inappropriate rearing may compromise horse welfare and rider safety. This exploratory observational study described horses with and without reported rearing behaviour on horse farms in Adana, Mersin and Konya, Türkiye. Data were collected for 80 horses through farm records, semi-structured interviews with owners, consultations with farm veterinarians and observations in stables and paddocks. The study included 59 horses with reported rearing behaviour and 21 horses without reported rearing behaviour. The sample comprised 32 Thoroughbreds, 24 Arabians, 16 Belgian horses and 8 ponies. The observations underline the importance of evaluating potential health problems, management conditions, training practices and rider-horse interactions when a horse exhibits rearing behaviour. Differences in distributions were observed for sex (exact p=0.004; Holm-adjusted p=0.014), intended use (exact p<0.001; Holm-adjusted p<0.001) and recorded health status (exact p=0.003; Holm-adjusted p=0.014). No evidence of distributional differences was observed for breed (exact p=0.436; Holm-adjusted p=0.873) or age (exact p=0.444; Holm-adjusted p=0.873). Health problems were recorded in eight horses overall: two of the 59 horses with reported rearing behaviour and six of the 21 horses without reported rearing behaviour. Limited field-based information is available regarding the characteristics of horses exhibiting rearing behaviour in Türkiye. Therefore, the present exploratory observational study aimed to describe horses with and without reported rearing behaviour and to provide a basis for future analytical studies. Further studies with larger, prospectively selected samples and standardised behavioural assessments are required to identify factors associated with rearing behaviour.