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Calomeno SS, Freitas Santi TD, Barbosa B, Weber SH, Oliveira TM, Machado GF, Michelotto PV. Influence of climatic changes on respiratory health in a teaching herd of outdoor-housed horses. Vet J 2024; 307:106198. [PMID: 39059695 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Horses maintained outdoors may experience a lower-allergenic environment compared to their stabled counterparts. This study hypothesizes that climatic changes in southern Brazil can influence respiratory status. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the lower airways of 17 horses from a teaching herd in southern Brazil, maintained outdoors, during winter, spring, and summer. Except for one mare with a history of severe asthma, all horses were considered healthy and underwent a physical examination. Airway endoscopic evaluation included scoring for tracheal mucus (0-5) and bronchial septum thickness (1-5). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected at three time points, while bronchial septum biopsies were performed during spring and summer for airway epithelial investigation. Data analysis involved repeated measures ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests (p < 0.05). Tracheal mucus score and septal thickness did not differ across investigation periods. In BALF cytology, the mean percentage of neutrophils was higher in spring than summer (7.9 ± 13.4 % vs. 4.5 ± 11.7 %, P = 0.037), and eosinophil count was higher in winter than spring (0.64 ± 1.29 % vs. 0.03 ± 0.13 %, P = 0.034) and summer (0.64 ± 1.29 % vs. 0.14 ± 0.60 %, P = 0.023). Histopathological observations showed no differences between time points, and no correlations were observed with BALF analyses (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that, even in an outdoor environment, horses' airways exhibit cytological modifications associated with different seasons, indicating a need for deeper investigation; endobronchial biopsy did not contribute to the clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Strano Calomeno
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Rua Imaculada Conceição 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Paraná 80215-901, Brazil
| | - Thasla de Freitas Santi
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Rua Imaculada Conceição 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Paraná 80215-901, Brazil
| | - Bianca Barbosa
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Rua Imaculada Conceição 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Paraná 80215-901, Brazil
| | - Saulo Henrique Weber
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Rua Imaculada Conceição 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Paraná 80215-901, Brazil
| | - Tiago Marcelo Oliveira
- Internal Medicine Departament, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo 05508270, Brazil
| | - Gisele Fabrino Machado
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus Araçatuba, R. Clóvis Pestana 793, São Paulo 16050-680, Brazil
| | - Pedro Vicente Michelotto
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Rua Imaculada Conceição 1155, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Paraná 80215-901, Brazil.
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Rasmussen N, Karlsen P, Otten ND, Fjeldborg J, Hansen S. Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage cytology profiles in a warmblood horse population during a 1-year period. J Vet Intern Med 2024; 38:2391-2398. [PMID: 38780440 PMCID: PMC11256144 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology results from 1 lung might not be representative of both lungs. OBJECTIVES To determine whether the lung site sampled would influence the horse's BAL cytology profile, and if a pooled BAL sample would be superior with regard to BAL cytology diagnosis in a cohort of healthy and subclinical asthmatic warmblood horses. ANIMALS Fifty-nine horses in 2021 and 70 horses in 2022, the follow-up included 53 of the same in each year. METHODS A cross-sectional study with follow-up included BAL cytology samples from individual lungs and from pooled BAL samples. The BAL samples were enumerated and differential cell count were applied to categorize the horses as control or with airway inflammation (AI). RESULTS Bronchoalveolar lavage mast cell count was higher in left lung compared to right lung (2021; median 1.6 [range, 0.6-3.3] vs 1.2 [0.7-1.5] P = .009, 2022; median 3.1 [2.1-4.2] vs 2.4 [1.7-3.4], P < .001) and compared to pooled samples (2022; median 2.6 [1.7-3.7], P < .001). Between year 2021 and 2022, 17 of the horses had changes in BAL cytology from control to AI or vice versa. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Pooled BAL sample was the least reliable for detecting AI, and was not representative of the overall lung condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Rasmussen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Pernille Karlsen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Nina D. Otten
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Julie Fjeldborg
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Sanni Hansen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
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Lemonnier LC, Couroucé A, Cessans M, Petit L, Cardwell JM, Barbazanges P, Toquet MP, Richard EA. Detection of fungi in the airways of horses according to the sample site: a methodological study. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:345-355. [PMID: 37704768 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10213-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Fungal detection in equine airways may be performed on either tracheal wash (TW) or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by either cytology or culture. However, method comparisons are sparse. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of fungi in airways of horses according to the sample site and laboratory methodology. Sixty-two adult horses, investigated in the field or referred for respiratory disease, were included. Tracheal wash, and BALF collected separately from both lungs, were collected using a videoendoscope. Fungi were detected in cytologic samples examined by light microscopy, and by fungal culture. Hay was sampled in the field. Prevalence of fungi was of 91.9% in TW and 37.1% in BALF. Fungi were cultured from 82.3% of TW and 20.9% of BALF. Fungal elements were observed cytologically in 69.4% of TW and 22.6% of BALF. In 50% of horses, the same fungi were detected in both TW and hay, but fungi detected in BALF and hay differed in all horses. Poor agreement was found for the detection of fungi between TW and BALF and between fungal culture and cytologic examination (Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) < 0.20). Moderate agreement was found between cytologic examination of left and right lungs (κ = 0.47). The prevalence of fungi detected cytologically on pooled BALF was significantly different (p = 0.023) than on combined left and right BALF. Fungi were more prevalent in the TW than BALF, and results suggest that hay might not be the primary source of fungi of the lower respiratory tract of horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Lemonnier
- CISCO-ONIRIS, Department of Equine Internal Medicine, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Oniris, 44300, Nantes, France.
| | - A Couroucé
- CISCO-ONIRIS, Department of Equine Internal Medicine, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Oniris, 44300, Nantes, France
- Université de Caen Normandie, BIOTARGEN UR7450, F-14000, Caen, France
| | - M Cessans
- CISCO-ONIRIS, Department of Equine Internal Medicine, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Oniris, 44300, Nantes, France
| | - L Petit
- LABÉO (Frank Duncombe), 1 route de Rosel, 14053, Caen, France
| | - J M Cardwell
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - P Barbazanges
- CISCO-ONIRIS, Department of Equine Internal Medicine, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Oniris, 44300, Nantes, France
| | - M -P Toquet
- Université de Caen Normandie, BIOTARGEN UR7450, F-14000, Caen, France
- LABÉO (Frank Duncombe), 1 route de Rosel, 14053, Caen, France
| | - E A Richard
- Université de Caen Normandie, BIOTARGEN UR7450, F-14000, Caen, France
- LABÉO (Frank Duncombe), 1 route de Rosel, 14053, Caen, France
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Mönki J, Saastamoinen M, Karikoski N, Norring M, Rajamäki M, Mykkänen A. Effects of Bedding Material on Equine Lower Airway Inflammation: A Comparison of Two Peat Beddings, Wood Pellet, and Straw Pellet. Front Vet Sci 2022; 8:799645. [PMID: 34977227 PMCID: PMC8718510 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.799645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of bedding material on air quality are important amongst horses worldwide. Respiratory diseases, especially equine asthma, are highly prevalent with air hygiene playing a major role on the pathophysiology of these diseases. The objective of our study was to investigate the effects of four bedding materials on the respiratory signs, tracheal mucus score, and tracheal wash (TW) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology in healthy adult horses. The study design was a prospective controlled cross-over study, and the subjects were healthy adult riding school horses (n = 32) from a single stable. Wood pellet, straw pellet, and loosely stored peat (Peat 3) were compared to peat packed in plastic-covered bales (Peat 2). Lower airway endoscopy and sampling (TW and BALF) for cytological examination were performed after each 35-day bedding period. The tracheal mucus scores (P = 0.014) and respiratory rate (P = 0.026) were higher during the straw pellet period compared to the Peat 2 period. The respiratory rate was lower during the wood pellet period compared to the Peat 2 period (P = 0.004). The TW neutrophil percentage during the straw pellet period was higher compared to the Peat 2 period (P = 0.0003). The BALF neutrophil percentage was higher during the straw pellet period (P = 0.005) and during the Peat 3 period compared to the Peat 2 period (P = 0.04). We conclude that baled peat (Peat 2) caused lower neutrophil percentages in the airway samples compared to straw pellet and loosely stored peat (Peat 3). No difference was observed between Peat 2 and wood pellet. The information gained from this study may assist veterinarians and horse owners in selecting appropriate bedding materials, especially for horses with equine asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Mönki
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Ninja Karikoski
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marianna Norring
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Rajamäki
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Mykkänen
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Hansen S, Laustsen L, Otten ND, Skovgaard K, Bech R, Byrgesen S, Hopster-Iversen C, Fjeldborg J. Evaluation of Treatment With Respiratory Gene Technology and Serum in a Group of Standard Bred Racehorses With Cytological Evidence of Mild Equine Asthma. J Equine Vet Sci 2021; 101:103435. [PMID: 33993937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Alternative treatment options to glucocorticoids for equine asthma is desirable due to withdrawal time. The objective was to evaluate if serum and Respiratory Gene Technology (RGT), a commercial kit to produce autologous conditioned serum, was effective in reducing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophils and mast cells in racehorses with cytological evidence of mild equine asthma . Thirty-six Standardbred trotters in active training were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial; a healthy control group (n=11), a RGT group (n=12) and a serum group (n=13). Endoscopy including tracheal wash (TW) and BAL was performed before (T0), after a 6-week treatment period including 12 intramuscular injections of RGT or serum (T6) and as a follow-up 10 weeks after treatment (T16). A significant decrease in BAL neutrophils for the RGT group was found between T0 and T6 (P = .002, d=-1.51, CI: -2.43;-0.59) and for the serum group between T0-T6 (P = .002, d=-1.36, CI: -2.26;-0.46). Further, a significant decrease in BAL mast cells between T0-T6 for the both the RGT group (P = .019, d=-1.23, CI: -1.22;-0.34) and the serum group (P= .004, d=-0.81, CI: -1.65;0.04), and further between T0-T16 (RGT P= .011, d=-1.55, CI: -2.62;-0.48; serum P= .044, d=-0.65, CI: -1.68;-0.37). No significant difference in TW cytology was found for any of the time-points. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were regulated according to treatment. The control group showed no cytological differences between any time-point. Study results showed that intramuscular treatment with both RGT and serum was effective associated with reduction of BAL neutrophils and mast cells in horses with cytological evidence of mild equine asthma. Further large-scale studies are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanni Hansen
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, DK Taastrup.
| | | | - Nina D Otten
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, DK Frederiksberg C
| | - Kerstin Skovgaard
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DK Kongens Lyngby
| | - Rune Bech
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, DK Taastrup
| | - Simon Byrgesen
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, DK Taastrup
| | - Charlotte Hopster-Iversen
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, DK Taastrup
| | - Julie Fjeldborg
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, DK Taastrup
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Hansen S, Otten ND, Birch K, Skovgaard K, Hopster-Iversen C, Fjeldborg J. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytokine, cytology and IgE allergen in horses with equine asthma. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2019; 220:109976. [PMID: 31786444 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2019.109976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of equine asthma (EA) is still not fully described, but the involvement of an allergic reaction is strongly suspected. This theory has led to the use of allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E tests to support a diagnosis of asthma. The objective of this descriptive study was to evaluate the correlation between four subgroups of EA (mastocytic mild equine asthma [MEA], neutrophilic MEA, mixed MEA, and severe equine asthma [SEA]), allergen specific IgE (measured in both serum and BALF) and mRNA expression of selected genes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Serum and BALF were collected from 64 horses with a history of lower airway problems with or without poor performance. Differential cell counts from BALF were used to assign horses to one of four groups (mastocytic MEA; neutrophilic MEA, mixed MEA, and SEA). The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) coding for IL4, IL5, IL8, IL10, TGFB, TNFA, toll-like receptor (TLR)4, IL1RA, IL1B, matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP8), TLR9, chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) and cluster of differentiation (CD)14 in BALF were measured using reverse transcriptase (RT) quantitative PCR (qPCR). Allergen-specific IgE was measured in serum and BALF using an allergen-specific IgE ELISA test with the screening panel: house mites, storage mites, mould and pollen. As expected, the BALF neutrophil differential count correlated with mRNA expression of MMP-8 (r = 0.611, p < 0.001), TLR-4 (r = 0.540, p < 0.001), IL-1RA (r = 0.490, p < 0.001), IL-1β (r = 0.463, p < 0.001) and IL-8 (r = 0.302, p = 0.015). Cytokine expression of IL-1β (p = 0.014), MMP8 (p = 0.028) and IL-1RA (p = 0.037) was significantly higher in the SEA group compared to the MEA subgroups. The BALF mast cell count was correlated with allergen-specific IgE for insects (r = 0.370, p = 0.002) and pollen (r = 0.313, p = 0.011). Eosinophils in BALF were correlated with BALF mRNA expression of IL-4 (r = 0.340, p = 0.006) together with a significant correlation between BALF eosinophils and allergen-specific IgE for mites (r = 0.930, p < 0.001) and pollen in BALF (r = 0.837, p < 0.001). No correlation was found between allergen-specific IgE in serum and BALF for any of the allergen in the screening panel. Based on these results from allergen-specific IgE in horses with EA is not found in systemic circulation, and only the mastocytic and mixed subgroups of horses with EA had allergen-specific IgE in BALF. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationships identified here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanni Hansen
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Hoejbakkegaard Allé 5, DK-2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
| | - Nina D Otten
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Karin Birch
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Hoejbakkegaard Allé 5, DK-2630, Taastrup, Denmark
| | - Kerstin Skovgaard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Hopster-Iversen
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Hoejbakkegaard Allé 5, DK-2630, Taastrup, Denmark
| | - Julie Fjeldborg
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Hoejbakkegaard Allé 5, DK-2630, Taastrup, Denmark
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Davis KU, Sheats MK. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology Characteristics and Seasonal Changes in a Herd of Pastured Teaching Horses. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:74. [PMID: 30923711 PMCID: PMC6426765 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Equine asthma syndrome (EAS) is a common problem that affects horses of any age. Severe EAS is reported to affect 10-20% of adult horses in the northern hemisphere, while mild/moderate EAS is reported to affect 60-100% of adult horses, depending on the population and geographic region. For both severe and mild/moderate EAS, the presence of lower airway inflammation is attributed to airborne "triggers" such as dust, mold, and bacterial components that horses encounter in hay and stable-environments; and treatment recommendations for horses with EAS often include full-time pasture turnout. The caveat to this recommendation is horses with summer-pasture associated EAS (SP-EAS), who experience allergic lower airway inflammation when exposed to summer pasture. The prevalence of EAS in horses on pasture that do not have SP-EAS has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to use bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology to determine the prevalence of EAS in a herd of pastured, adult research horses with no history of respiratory disease. The horses were members of a teaching animal herd housed on pasture in the southeastern United States and fed round-bale Bermuda-grass hay. BAL fluid (BALF) cytology was analyzed in both summer (May-August 2017) and winter (November 2017-February 2018). Similar to previous reports, the prevalence of severe EAS in our study population was 10% in summer and 4.3% in winter. The prevalence of mild/moderate EAS was 60% in summer and 87% in winter. The high prevalence of mild/moderate EAS in this population was unexpected, given the 24-h, year-round pasture environment and the lack of history of respiratory disease. Additionally, 61.1% of horses with both summer and winter data had a different BALF cytology profile between the two seasons. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to use BAL cytology to diagnose, and monitor changes in, EAS phenotype in pastured adult horses. These results help to inform discussions regarding prevalence of EAS in pastured, adult horses in the southeastern region of North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Uchiumi Davis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.,Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Mary Katherine Sheats
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.,Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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