New Zealand veterinary journal最新文献

Aims: To describe the characteristics of companion animal rescue organisations (CARO) in New Zealand; to describe current capacity, resource limitations and challenges of CARO with a particular focus on cats and dogs; and to explore support for creating a national database of CARO in New Zealand.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to CARO in New Zealand in May 2022. The survey asked about organisational characteristics, types and numbers of animals cared for, services provided, policies, staffing, funding sources, challenges, and attitudes towards a national database for rescue organisations. Descriptive statistics were provided for all quantitative study variables and free-text comments were analysed for common themes.

Results: The survey was completed by 106/208 (51%) known CARO distributed across the country. These CARO provided services to an estimated 59,874 homeless animals annually with 86/106 (81%) providing services to cats and/or dogs. Primary services provided by CARO who cared for cats or dogs included rehoming (72/86; 84%) and housing (70/86; 81%) animals. Intake was managed through a combination of strategies. Donations (72/86; 82%) were the main funding source. The 62 registered charities were more likely to report being funded by grants than the 23 non-charities (39/62 (63%) vs. 1/23 (4%); p < 0.001), and non-charities were more likely to self-fund (18/23 (78%) vs. 20/62 (32%); p < 0.001). Nearly half of the CARO that provided workforce information (35/72; 49%) had a workforce of 10 or fewer including volunteers. A total of 5,699 people worked for 86 CARO that care for cats or dogs of whom 4,847 (85%) were part-time volunteers. Of the 72 cat and dog CARO who provided workforce information, 57/72 (79%) relied solely on volunteers.The majority of all 106 CARO respondents (78/106; 73%) indicated they were likely to register on a national database of CARO, subject to addressing concerns about time required and information security.CARO respondents described challenges of insufficient funding, access to veterinary services, and a shortage of volunteers and foster homes, with additional concerns including a lack of public awareness, supportive legislation, and resources. Financial support (90/106; 85%) and policy change (76/106; 72%) were preferred support options.

Conclusions: This study highlights the significant role played by CARO in New Zealand and the challenges they face, emphasising the need for financial support, legislation, and initiatives extending beyond the rescue sector to reduce the number of animals being surrendered. The findings also suggest a willingness among CARO to participate in a national database.

Aims: To identify farm-level risk factors for dairy cow lameness, and to describe lameness treatment protocols used on New Zealand dairy farms.

Methods: One hundred and nineteen farms from eight veterinary clinics within the major dairying regions of New Zealand were randomly enrolled into a cross-sectional lameness prevalence study. Each farmer completed a questionnaire on lameness risk factors and lameness treatment and management. Trained observers lameness scored cattle on two occasions, between October-December (spring, coinciding with peak lactation for most farms) and between January-March (summer, late lactation for most farms). A four-point (0-3) scoring system was used to assess lameness, with animals with a lameness score (LS) ≥2 defined as lame. At each visit, all lactating animals were scored including animals that had previously been identified lame by the farmer. Associations between the farmer-reported risk factors and lameness were determined using mixed logistic regression models in a Bayesian framework, with farm and score event as random effects.

Results: A lameness prevalence of 3.5% (2,113/59,631) was reported at the first LS event, and 3.3% (1,861/55,929) at the second LS event. There was a median prevalence of 2.8% (min 0, max 17.0%) from the 119 farms. Most farmers (90/117; 77%) relied on informal identification by farm staff to identify lame animals. On 65% (75/116) of farms, there was no external provider of lame cow treatments, with the farmer carrying out all lame cow treatments. Most farmers had no formal training (69/112; 62%). Animals from farms that used concrete stand-off pads during periods of inclement weather had 1.45 times the odds of lameness compared to animals on farms that did not use concrete stand-off pads (95% equal-tailed credible interval 1.07-1.88). Animals from farms that reported peak lameness incidence from January to June or all year-round, had 0.64 times odds of lameness compared to animals from farms that reported peak lameness incidence from July to December (95% equal-tailed credible interval 0.47-0.88).

Conclusions: Lameness prevalence was low amongst the enrolled farms. Use of concrete stand-off pads and timing of peak lameness incidence were associated with odds of lameness.

Clinical relevance: Veterinarians should be encouraging farmers to have formal lameness identification protocols and lameness management plans in place. There is ample opportunity to provide training to farmers for lame cow treatment. Management of cows on stand-off pads should consider the likely impact on lameness.

Aims: To determine the concentration, in comparison with the maximum residue limit (MRL), of anthelmintic marker residues in the target tissues (liver and fat) of sheep treated concurrently with two oral drenches, one containing monepantel and abamectin and the other oxfendazole and levamisole.

Methods: On day 0 of the study, 12 sheep (six male and six female; 8-9-months old) were dosed according to individual body weight determined the day prior. Zolvix Plus (dual-active oral drench containing 25 g/L monepantel and 2 g/L abamectin) was administered to all animals prior to administration of Scanda (dual-active oral drench containing 80 g/L levamisole hydrochloride and 45.3 g/L oxfendazole). Six sheep (three male and three female) were slaughtered 21 and 28 days after treatment and renal fat and liver samples were collected.Using validated methods, analyses for monepantel sulfone, abamectin, levamisole and oxfendazole (expressed as total fenbendazole sulfone following conversion of the combined concentrations of oxfendazole, fenbendazole and fenbendazole sulfone) were performed on liver samples while renal fat specimens were analysed for monepantel sulfone and abamectin residues only. Detected concentrations were compared to the established MRL in sheep for each analyte determined by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Results: All residues detected in samples of liver and fat collected 21 and 28 days after treatment were below the MRL for each analyte. All liver samples collected on day 21 had detectable monepantel sulfone (mean 232 (min 110, max 388) μg/kg) and oxfendazole (mean 98.7 (min 51.3, max 165) μg/kg) residues below the MRL (5,000 and 500 μg/kg, respectively). Monepantel sulfone (mean 644 (min 242, max 1,119) μg/kg; MRL 7,000 μg/kg) residues were detected in 6/6 renal fat samples. Levamisole residues were detected in 3/6 livers (mean 40.0 (min 14.3, max 78.3) μg/kg; MRL 100 μg/kg), and abamectin residues in 1/6 livers (0.795 μg/kg; MRL 25 μg/kg) and 2/6 fat samples, (mean 0.987 (min 0.514, max 1.46) μg/kg; MRL 50 μg/kg) 21 days after treatment.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: These results suggest that concurrent administration of Zolvix Plus and Scanda to sheep is unlikely to result in an extended residue profile for any of the active ingredients, with all analytes measured being under the approved New Zealand MRL 21 days after treatment. This work was not completed in line with guidance for establishing official residue profiles, nor is it sufficient to propose a new withholding period.

Case history: Two mature, large breed dogs presented with chronic lameness and discomfort localised to the stifle.

Clinical findings: No hindlimb deformities were present on physical examination or radiographic evaluation. No stifle instability was present. Arthroscopy revealed severe (grade 5/5 modified Outerbridge score) cartilage erosion in the lateral compartment (femorotibial), marked degeneration of the lateral meniscus and early cranial cruciate ligament disease in both patients.

Treatment and outcome: Medial-closing, medially translating, centre-of-rotation-of-angulation-based, levelling osteotomy (mcmtCBLO) was performed in both patients. The procedure aims to shift the pelvic limb's mechanical axis medially to reduce pressure in the lateral compartment while also reducing craniocaudal shear forces by lowering the tibial plateau angle.Eight weeks after surgery one patient's lameness had resolved while the other had improved significantly. Second-look arthroscopy performed at this time revealed fibrocartilage formation in the lateral compartment without progression of cruciate disease in both cases. At long-term follow-up (approximately 3 and 5 years), favourable outcomes (no or minimal lameness, mild or moderate osteoarthritis) were identified on the long-term owner survey, lameness examination and radiographs.

Clinical relevance: mcmtCBLO reduced or eliminated short- and long-term lameness in these two cases afflicted by concurrent lateral compartment and early cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Case history: An outbreak of suspected Kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) intoxication among dairy cattle occurred on the island of Terceira in the Azores (Portugal), in October 2022. The animals affected were non-lactating dairy cows and heifers from five small farms grazing (free or tethered) a Kikuyu-dominant pasture. Of the 29 animals exposed, 17 were affected, and eight (five heifers and three adult cows) died, resulting in a morbidity rate of 58%, a mortality rate of 28% and a case mortality rate of 47%.

Clinical findings and treatment: The clinical signs were non-specific and inconsistent, and included dry faeces, some with dark red blood; apathy and prostration; abdominal dilatation; tachycardia; tachypnoea; pale or jaundiced mucous membranes; sham drinking; sialorrhoea; and moderate to severe dehydration. Symptomatic treatment was provided but was ineffective. Haematology and serum biochemistry revealed an acute inflammatory leukogram, increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, decreased gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity, and azotaemia.The most consistent necropsy findings were haemorrhages in the epicardium and endocardium, an enlarged liver with rounded edges, non-perforated abomasal ulcers, and haemorrhagic lesions in the small and large intestines. Histopathology indicated myocarditis, hepatitis, interstitial nephritis, enteritis and colitis.Several fungal species were isolated from grass samples taken from affected pastures including several Fusarium spp., the genus implicated in Kikuyu toxicosis. Immediate removal of the animals from the pasture with Kikuyu was the only measure that prevented new cases and resulted in the recovery of some of the less affected animals.

Diagnosis: The epidemiological features of this outbreak and the clinical signs and micro- and macroscopic lesions observed were highly suggestive of Kikuyu grass poisoning.

Clinical relevance: Although the weather conditions varied from other published cases, the grazing conditions (almost exclusive Kikuyu grass) and the post-mortem findings were very similar to those described in the literature, particularly the haemorrhages in the epicardium and endocardium. Kikuyu grass is very invasive and presents many desirable characteristics as cattle feed. Thus, an increase in cases of intoxication may be expected. Practitioners and farmers in areas where Kikuyu grass is abundant should be aware of the potential risks of grazing cattle exclusively on these pastures. They should also be aware of the early and subtle signs of Kikuyu intoxication to allow for timely removal of the animals from pasture.

Case history: Medical records from a single referral hospital (Davies Veterinary Specialists, Hitchin, UK) were reviewed to identify dogs (n = 8) with preputial cutaneous mast cell tumours (CMCT) that underwent surgical excision and primary preputial reconstruction, preserving the penis and urethra, after clients declined alternatives such as penile amputation and urethrostomy, from June 2017-June 2022.

Clinical findings: Tumours had a median diameter of 21.5 (min 15, max 30) mm, were located cranioventrally (3/8), caudoventrally (1/8), laterally (2/8) and dorsally (2/8) relative to the prepuce and were diagnosed as CMCT based on cytology. No dogs had hepatic or splenic metastasis on cytology but inguinal lymph node metastasis was identified in 3/4 dogs sampled.

Treatment and outcome: The owners of all dogs had declined penile amputation and scrotal urethrostomy. The CMCT were excised and primary reconstruction of the prepuce performed. Surgical lateral margins of 10, 20 or 30 mm were used and the deep margin excised the inner preputial lamina or underlying muscular fascia. The deep margin for caudoventral CMCT involved excision of the underlying SC adipose tissue. Preputial advancement was performed in 3/8 dogs to achieve adequate penile coverage. Histopathology confirmed all CMCT were Kiupel low grade, Patnaik grade II with complete margins in 6/8 dogs but identified metastasis only in one inguinal lymph node from one dog. Two dogs encountered minor complications (infection and a minor dehiscence) and one dog had a major complication (infection with major dehiscence). Median follow-up duration was 125 weeks, excluding one dog with 4 weeks of follow-up. None of the dogs experienced local recurrence or died of mast cell disease during the available follow-up period.

Clinical relevance:  This clinical study evaluated a surgical alternative to penile amputation and advanced reconstructive techniques for Kuipel low/Patnaik grade II preputial CMCT when these procedures were declined by owners. Surgical excision of preputial CMCT with lateral margins of 10, 20 or 30 mm with primary preputial reconstruction is achievable with low morbidity and a good outcome when penile amputation and scrotal urethrostomy is not an option.

Aims: To undertake a survey of the prevalence of tail deviations, trauma and shortening on a representative selection of New Zealand dairy farms, and to assess whether sampling based on milking order could be used instead of random sampling across the herd to estimate prevalence.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study, with 200 randomly selected farms enrolled across nine regions of New Zealand via selected veterinary practices (one/region). Veterinary clinics enrolled 20-25 farms each depending on region, with 1-2 trained technicians scoring per region. All cows (n = 92,348) present at a milking or pregnancy testing event were tail scored using a modified version of the New Zealand Veterinary Association Industry Scoring System. Palpated lesions were recorded as deviated (i.e. non-linear deformity), shortened (tail shorter than normal) or traumatic (all other lesions). The location of lesions was defined by dividing the tail into three equal zones: upper, middle and lower. A cow could have more than one lesion type and location, and/or multiple lesions of the same type, but for the prevalence calculation, only the presence or absence of a particular lesion was assessed. Prevalence of tail damage calculated using whole herd scoring was compared to random sampling across the herd and sampling from the front and back of the milking order. Bootstrap sampling with replacement was used to generate the sampling distributions across seven sample sizes ranging from 40-435 cows.

Results: When scoring all cows, the median prevalence for deviation was 9.5 (min 0.9, max 40.3)%; trauma 0.9 (min 0, max 10.7)%, and shortening was 4.5 (min 1.3, max 10.8)%. Deviation and trauma prevalence varied between regions; the median prevalence of deviations ranged from 6% in the West Coast to 13% in Waikato, and the median prevalence of all tail damage from 7% in the West Coast to 29% in Southland. Sampling based on milking order was less precise than random sampling across the herd. With the latter and using 157 cows, 95% of prevalence estimates were within 5% of the whole herd estimate, but sampling based on milking order needed > 300 cows to achieve the same precision.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: The proportion of cows identified as having damaged tails was consistent with recent reports from New Zealand and Ireland, but at 11.5%, the proportion of cows with trauma or deviation is below acceptable standards. An industry-wide programme is needed to reduce the proportion of affected cows.