Javma-journal of The American Veterinary Medical Association最新文献

Objective: To examine the occupational experiences and well-being of laboratory animal professionals, with particular focus on the impact of perceived animal welfare, euthanasia experiences, and other factors on job fulfillment, burnout, and life satisfaction.

Methods: An online survey was distributed to members of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science from February to April 2025. The survey assessed demographics, work characteristics, euthanasia experiences, mental health impacts, organizational support, perceptions of existing regulations, perceived animal welfare, and potential adoption policies. Multiple regression analyses evaluated predictors of workplace well-being measures.

Results: Of 339 respondents, participants were predominantly White female (76%) veterinarians (38%), with a mean age of 42 years and > 11 years of experience (56%). Most participants (77%) reported envisioning long-term careers in laboratory animal research. Euthanasia conducted at least monthly was common (46%), and 57% reported negative mental health impacts from euthanasia participation. Although 69% felt well trained technically for euthanasia, only 23% felt emotionally prepared. Thirty-two percent experienced burnout, while 41% reported professional fulfillment. Perceived animal welfare and satisfaction with debriefing significantly predicted higher job fulfillment and lower burnout. Satisfaction with debriefing also predicted greater life satisfaction.

Conclusions: Results suggest that well-conducted debriefings following critical incidents and high animal welfare standards may improve job fulfillment and reduce burnout among laboratory animal professionals.

Clinical relevance: Given the emotional demands of laboratory animal work and high rates of euthanasia participation, implementing quality debriefing processes and ensuring animal welfare could significantly improve professional well-being.

Background: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-elimination methods vary greatly in their execution in the field. This review of the scientific literature was conducted to synthesize available methods and strategies for PRRSV elimination at the sow farm and regional levels to inform the decision-making of swine producers and veterinarians.

Methods: PubMed and the Journal of Swine Health and Production were searched for relevant publications on eliminating or eradicating PRRSV on sow farms and at regional levels. No date limit was set. All manuscripts were reviewed independently by at least 2 authors for inclusion with the criteria of being peer reviewed, containing data on eliminating PRRSV from a sow farm or a regional area, and including the method(s) used.

Results: 25 manuscripts were included from the initial 456 found on the search. The most cited PRRSV-elimination method was herd closure. Other documented farm methods included test and removal (TR), depopulation and repopulation (DRP), gilt acclimation without a herd closure, and a combination of herd closure with TR. Depopulation and repopulation was the most common method in regional control, followed by herd closure.

Clinical relevance: Herd closure with various exposure methods, DRP, TR, and combined approaches can effectively eliminate PRRSV at sow farms and the regional level. Regional elimination requires coordinated efforts, mandated testing, movement restrictions, and the use of predominantly DRP strategies. This review provides evidence-based options for veterinarians and producers to tailor PRRSV-elimination strategies and outcomes to farm-specific factors, such as size, biosecurity, pig flow, and resources, thereby improving elimination success rates.

Objective: To provide a video tutorial describing and demonstrating techniques to improve apposition of the continuous intradermal suture pattern.

Animals: With owner approval, a female cat undergoing ovariohysterectomy was used for demonstration.

Methods: To perform the buried continuous intradermal suture pattern, absorbable suture, needle drivers, and forceps are required. During intradermal bites, dermal apposition may be improved by needle positioning that promotes complete engagement of the dermis, backtracking to avoid skipping lengths of dermal tissue, and maintaining tension of the suture line. Exposed or unburied knots may impede incisional healing. Appropriate knot burial is promoted by ensuring correct orientation of knot-forming components and utilizing incisional dead space.

Results: Implementation of proper technique may result in improved dermal-to-dermal apposition, which may promote primary-intention healing and improve patient outcomes.

Clinical relevance: The continuous intradermal suture pattern is a common method for surgical skin closure, particularly for elective procedures including ovariohysterectomies and neuters. However, it is a challenging and time-consuming pattern compared to alternative methods for skin closure. Avoiding common mistakes may improve dermal apposition for incisional healing.

Service learning is an experiential form of learning that focuses on active community engagement followed by reflection. An emerging area of curricular interest and emphasis in veterinary education, service learning can provide opportunities for student training across the breadth of practice. In this review, we sought to examine the evidence of community impact and veterinary student outcomes following service-learning programs. Student outcomes were aligned with the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges' Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) Framework using domains of competence. To date, most studies provide evidence of outcomes through student surveys. Data collection was focused on Domain 5 (Communication) and Domain 6 (Collaboration), although there was some documentation of outcomes across all domains. In the future, inclusion of additional assessment measures of student performance, including direct measures, may allow for more robust understanding of the impact of service learning on student development of competence. Improved reporting of student and community outcomes is critical to assess the impact of service-learning activities during veterinary student training.

Background: Evidence guiding the optimal antibiotic duration for bacterial pneumonia in dogs and cats is limited, and recommended courses often exceed those used in human medicine. This review evaluated whether shorter systemic antibiotic courses are as effective as longer courses for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in these species.

Methods: This review was registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/c5n24). MEDLINE, EMBASE, CAB Abstracts, and Scopus were searched from inception to April 2025, and reference lists were hand-searched. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials or observational studies comparing different antibiotic durations in dogs or cats with suspected or confirmed bacterial pneumonia. Outcomes included clinical, microbiological, or radiographic resolution. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials and ROBINS-I for observational studies. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed.

Results: 3 studies involving 74 dogs met the inclusion criteria; no eligible studies of cats were found. Two studies were randomized controlled trials, and 1 study was observational. Comparisons evaluated shorter (10 to 14 days) versus longer (21 to 28 days) antibiotic courses. Pooled analysis showed no significant difference in treatment success between shorter and longer durations (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.28 to 4.56). Certainty of evidence was very low due to risk of bias, indirectness, and imprecision.

Clinical relevance: Shorter antibiotic courses may be as effective as longer courses for the treatment of canine bacterial pneumonia, but current evidence is insufficient. No data are available for feline pneumonia, highlighting a critical evidence gap. Well-designed trials are needed to inform veterinary guidelines and antimicrobial stewardship.

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with complete humerus fractures in Thoroughbreds in South Korea.

Methods: A retrospective case-control design with multivariable logistic regression was used. This study included 131 Thoroughbreds diagnosed with complete humerus fractures following racetrack activity between 2009 and 2022 (inclusive). Additionally, 660 healthy Thoroughbreds (699 observations) with at least 1 racetrack activity during the same period were included as controls.

Results: A total of 8 variables were associated with the risk of complete humerus fractures. Notably, horses within the first 20 days after resuming racetrack training following a lay-up longer than 60 days (OR, 13.5; 95% CI, 5.5 to 33.1), as well as those with no race starts in the 60 days preceding the event (OR, 11.6; 95% CI, 5.5 to 24.6), were associated with an increased risk of the fracture. The likelihood of fracture was higher during trials or races than during racetrack training (OR, 8.9; 95% CI, 4.3 to 18.7), and horses with only 1 to 5 prior starts were also at increased risk (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.0 to 11.3). Additional risk factors included sex (female and intact males), lack of prior trial race experience, and history of a prolonged lay-up exceeding 180 days.

Conclusions: This study identified risk factors for complete humerus fractures in Thoroughbreds in South Korea and emphasized the importance of preventive measures.

Clinical relevance: The implementation of risk profiling and other preventive measures (such as pre-exercise veterinary examination that incorporates diagnostic imaging) for horses returning after a lay-up or those with no recent race participation could help reduce the incidence of complete humerus fractures.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative gabapentin on stress, tolerance to handling, and pain in shelter cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OVH).

Methods: 34 healthy female cats were randomized to receive liquid gabapentin (20 mg/kg) or a placebo PO, 2 to 4 hours prior to anesthesia and surgery. Cats were scored by 2 masked individuals for stress, sedation, tolerance to handling, and pain using the cat stress score, feline multiparametric sedation score, a previously published handling score, and the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS). Scores were assigned prior to the first dose of medication, at anesthetic induction, and 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes after recovery. Data were analyzed with a linear mixed model to evaluate the effect of treatment, time, and treatment by time interaction.

Results: There was no evidence of a difference between treatment groups or treatment by time for any outcome measure. Cat stress score decreased and tractability score increased at 30 minutes after recovery in both treatments. Sedation score was higher than baseline at 30 to 90 minutes after recovery in both treatments. Cats treated with gabapentin had an increased FGS score at 30 to 90 minutes, and those that received placebo had an increased FGS score at 30 and 60 minutes. No cat required rescue analgesia at any time point.

Conclusions: The use of gabapentin in shelter cats presenting for OVH did not significantly decrease stress or pain or increase ease of handling perioperatively.

Clinical relevance: The results suggest a lack of evidence for gabapentin decreasing stress or providing perioperative analgesia when administered prior to anesthesia and surgery for OVH in shelter cats.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transmucosal administration of detomidine gel to induce emesis in cats.

Methods: Cats presenting on an emergency basis due to dietary indiscretion were eligible for enrollment at 2 emergency and specialty hospitals from January to August 2024. After baseline vital signs including heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure were obtained, cats were administered 4 mg/m2 detomidine gel (Dormosedan gel) transmucosally and monitored for emesis for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, 100 μg/kg atipamezole was administered IM for reversal, recheck vital signs were obtained, and a sedation score was recorded.

Results: 60 cats were enrolled, and 57 cats were included in the final dataset. Emesis was induced in 28 (49.1%) of the cats presented, and emesis did not occur in 29 cats (50.9%). The median time to emesis induction was 11 minutes (range, 2 to 18 minutes). Heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly reduced (-42.6 beats/min and -11.91 breaths/min, respectively) compared to baseline. Thirty-seven cats (69.8%) had recorded sedation scores of 0 to 1/4. No cats experienced complications from transmucosal detomidine that required medical intervention.

Conclusions: Transmucosal detomidine gel induced emesis in 49.1% of cats. Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and sedation were observed but did not result in significant complications.

Clinical relevance: Detomidine gel may be considered to induce emesis in cats, as it is moderately successful, is easy to administer, and appears to have manageable side effects.

Objective: To describe the clinical and histopathological features of glossitis in dogs and determine its clinical-pathological correlation.

Methods: Medical records and pathology reports of dogs diagnosed with glossitis at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, were reviewed (2009 to 2024). Dogs diagnosed with glossitis that was confirmed histologically were included in the study. Dogs that had concurrent histological diagnosis of lingual neoplasia were excluded.

Results: 100 dogs were included. Awake oral examination failed to detect 55% of the glossitis lesions. Six inciting causes of glossitis were identified, with trauma and idiopathy being the most common causes, followed by inflammatory causes (associated with concurrent local oral or dental disease), oral manifestations of systemic disease (other than immune-mediated or autoimmune etiology), immune-mediated or autoimmune causes, and foreign body. Pooled data revealed that glossitis commonly presented as either a unilateral or bilateral solitary lesion, affecting the ventral surface of the middle or rostral third of the tongue. The predominant histological features were chronic, severe ulcerative or erosive neutrophilic inflammation, myodegeneration, and fibrosis.

Conclusions: Glossitis may be presented as a primary disease or manifestation of underlying systemic conditions. The appearance and presentation of different causes of glossitis can be similar; hence, additional clinical information and ancillary testing should be applied to determine the pathogenesis.

Clinical relevance: This study emphasizes the importance of integration of clinical-pathological data in a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment planning to optimize clinical outcomes.

Objective: To determine disease progression and survival duration in cats diagnosed with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) continuously treated with a veterinary therapeutic renal diet versus those untreated at diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective study utilized a commercial database of medical records from veterinary practices located in Canada and the US. Cats born between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014, diagnosed with early-stage CKD were randomly selected. Records were reviewed to determine the date of diagnosis and whether treatment with a therapeutic renal diet was initiated. Progression of CKD and survival duration were evaluated with longitudinal targeted maximum likelihood estimation modeling.

Results: Of 1,430 cats with early CKD, 839 received a veterinary therapeutic renal diet and 591 did not. Dietary therapy was associated with reduced risk of progression. Treated CKD Stage 1 cats had a 45% lower hazard of progression (hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.58). Treated CKD Stage 2 cats that had creatinine within and above the reference intervals had 46% (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.58) and 41% (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.62) lower hazards of progression, respectively. Cats treated with a therapeutic renal diet had a longer survival over 3 years: restricted mean survival time was 31.0 versus 26.0 months in untreated cats.

Conclusions: Use of a veterinary therapeutic renal diet in cats with early CKD slows disease progression and improves survival.

Clinical relevance: Early diagnosis and intervention with a therapeutic renal diet may optimize long-term outcomes in cats with CKD.