Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde最新文献

Introduction: Good quality drinking water and adequate water intake is essential in ensuring the health of livestock. Various factors can cause the formation of a biofilm in water pipes that acts as a reservoir for many different pathogens. The addition of disinfection agents, such as chlorine dioxide or peracetic acid, is proven to improve the quality of permanent drinking water. To date this method has primarily been used in pig and poultry housing, however, it is increasingly under discussion for use in cattle husbandry. As the effects of disinfectants in drinking water on rumen fermentation are not yet known, we performed a digestibility test using the Hohenheim Feed Value Test to determine the in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVOMD). The influence of five different concentrations of chlorine dioxide and peracetic acid disinfectants on the IVOMD of hay and wheat were tested and rumen bacteria were counted under a microscope. The use of chlorine dioxide showed no major changes in the IVOMD of hay and wheat. At the recommended concentration of 0.5 mg/l, the IVOMD relative to the control was 97,1 % for hay and 102,7 % for wheat. The number of rumen bacteria was not affected by the use of chlorine dioxide. Conversely, the use of peracetic acid led to a significant reduction in rumen fermentation. At the recommended concentration of 15-25 mg/l (dosed at 15 mg/l and 25 mg/l), the IVOMD relative to the control was 38,2 % and 38,4 % for hay and 50,4 % and 22,4 % for wheat. The number of rumen bacteria also decreased significantly. Chlorine dioxide seemed to have little to no disinfection effect on in vitro ruminal fermentation, however, the exact mechanisms could not be determined in the present study. This trial shows that disinfectants for permanent drinking water disinfection in cattle farming should be used with caution. In particular, disinfection agents containing peracetic acid may impair fermentation of rumen microbes. Further research is required to determine if the results of the present in vitro study are transferable to practice.

Introduction: To objectify the oxygen debt in dogs with brachycephalic upper respiratory syndrome, eight mesocephalic dogs were subjected to a short running test on four test days and eight brachycephalic dogs on one test day. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after exercise and after 2 and 4 hours to assess cellular oxygenation. For this purpose, two available hypoxia markers, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin (EPO), were measured. The repeatability of the measurements was checked in the mesocephalic dogs. While VEGF measurement was repeatable over the 4 days of measurement, the EPO measurement was not. The VEGF basal values of the mesocephalic and brachycephalic dogs did not differ (7.6 ± 4.4 pg/ml and 6.9 ± 4.0 pg/ml, respectively). The measurement 4 hours after the running test showed significant differences. The VEGF value in the mesocephalic dogs increased by 42 % to 10.8 ± 4.7 pg/ml, while in the brachycephalic dogs it increased by 220 % to 22.1 ± 15.3 pg/ml. The EPO measurements showed a significant difference between the mesocephalic and brachycephalic dogs at all blood collection times; The basal value in mesocephalic dogs was approx. three times higher than in brachycephalic dogs (30.1 ± 22.6 mU/ml or 11.4 ± 3.5 mU/ml). However, the difference was not significant due to the large scatter in the mesocephalic dogs (p > 0.05). In contrast to the VEGF value, the EPO value did not change over the measurement period. The study shows that the presented method can be used together with the VEGF value for scientific and breeding purposes.

Introduction: Since 2010, genomic selection in Swiss cattle breeding has led to significant progress in the two local Braunvieh populations, Brown Swiss and Original Braunvieh. However, it has also contributed to further inbreeding, leading to an increased risk of outbreaks of monogenic recessive defects. Some long-known inherited diseases such as arachnomelia, spinal muscular atrophy, spinal dysmyelination, Weaver syndrome and renal dysplasia are now of little clinical importance, while new haplotypes and gene variants associated with reproductive disorders have recently been described. These include so-called fertility haplotypes and genetic diseases that rarely or never occur homozygous because the affected animals die shortly after birth or early in pregnancy. This work provides an overview of the known recessive genetic defects in Swiss Braunvieh cattle. Data from 56, 000 Swiss breeding cattle on 12 genetic defects show that known inherited diseases in Braunvieh only occur very sporadically (defect allele frequency < 1 %). Only the recently described achromatopsia (Original Braunvieh haplotype 1) has a relevant defect allele frequency of over 7 % and should be taken into account for mating plans in order to avoid calves with day blindness. In addition, the Braunvieh haplotypes 6 and 14 and the Original Braunvieh haplotypes 4 and 9 occur between 2-6 % and the mating of heterozygous carriers should be avoided in order to avoid homozygous offsprings that are presumably not embryonically viable. The further spread of known genetic defects can be prevented through comprehensive genotyping of the breeding populations and the careful selection of breeding animals, recently also with the help of digital apps for mating planning. Thus, genetically caused reproductive losses or the number of affected animals can be reduced, animal health and welfare can be sustainably improved through selective breeding.

Introduction: Cross-matching is used to determine the serological compatibility of donor and recipient blood. This procedure is used to detect possible antibodies against the donor's erythrocytes, thereby reducing the risk of immunological transfusion reactions. Various methods are available for cross-matching: In addition to the tube agglutination method, which is often viewed as a reference method, gel and immunochromatographic methods are available. In this study, a gel tube method, an antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method, and an immunochromatographic method were evaluated in comparison to the tube agglutination method in 28 different major cross-matches. The evaluation resulted in 85,7 % agreement between the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method, in 60,7 % agreement between the gel tube method and in 35,7 % agreement between the immunochromatographic method and the tube agglutination method. Considering the macroscopically positive test results alone, the agreement between the tube agglutination method and the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method was 100 %, the gel tube method 62,5 % and with the immunochromatographic 0 %. Using the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method, 4/9 weakly positive cross-matches, which were positive with a microscopic degree of agglutination of 1+ - 2+ using the tube agglutination method, were compatible. In all other cross-matches with a higher degree of agglutination, the results were consistent with those of the tube agglutination method. Transfusion of incompatible blood products may result in hemolytic transfusion reactions. However, the clinical relevance of microscopically weakly positive cross-matches is unclear. The application of the various test kits took significantly less time compared to the tube agglutination procedure. Due to the strong agreement and reduction in required time, the antiglobulin-enhanced gel tube method offers a good alternative to the reference method, especially in emergency situations. On the other hand, there was only a weak agreement between the gel tube and no agreement between the immunochromatographic method and the reference method.

Introduction: Research on naturally occurring hypothyroidism in adult cats is limited to 16 reported cases in the last three decades, highlighting the need for more comprehensive studies. This prospective multicenter study aimed to identify cases of spontaneous primary hypothyroidism (SPH) in adult cats presented over a one-year period . Staff members of two university hospitals and one private referral clinic screened for cats aged older than one year showing clinical signs suggestive of feline hypothyroidism including obstipation, obesity/weight gain, lethargy, goiter size, skin changes or mild azotemia. They were instructed to proceed with endocrine investigations if low or low-normal total T4 (TT4) concentrations were detected, using in-house analyses at two locations and external analyses at one university hospital. The continuative diagnostic investigations consisted primarily of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurements using leftover samples and TT4 reevaluation. Additional cats with possible SPH were recruited by screening the local documentation systems for low to low-normal TT4 concentrations recorded during the study period. Low (n = 253, 18,3 %) to low-normal (n = 377, 27,3 %) TT4 concentrations were observed in 630 (45,6 %) of 1382 cats. Of these 630 possible SPH cats, 566 (89,8 %) cats were excluded for the following reasons: TT4 was measured to rule out hyperthyroidism (299 cats, 47,4 %), they were treated with drugs that lower TT4 concentrations (anti-thyroid medications: 155 cats, 24,6 %; other drugs: 95 cats, 15,1 %), or follow-up investigations could not be conducted (17 cats, 2,7 %). In 64 (10,2 %) cats of the 630 cats with low or low-normal TT4 concentration, SPH was considered a realistic differential diagnosis based on clinical signs and further endocrine investigations were recommended. SPH was excluded by TSH (n=55) or repeated TT4-measurements (n=8). Hypothyroidism was diagnosed in one cat with palpable bilateral goiter and suspected congenital dyshormonogenesis. Results suggest that SPH remains rare and further endocrine investigations e.g. TSH measurement are needed to find additional cases without any clinical suspicion.

Introduction: Blackleg is an acute, lethal, infectious disease caused by Clostridium chauvoei. It affects mainly cattle and is characterized by severe necrohemorrhagic myositis and myocarditis. While the disease has caused substantial economic losses in the past, the number of diseased cattle has been decreasing in the last 30 years. Subsequently, the status of blackleg has been officially changed in Switzerland and the disease is no longer reportable since 2022. Considering the potential persistence of C. chauvoei spores in the environment, blackleg may however still be prevalent in certain areas of the Canton of Bern, an important and large agricultural region of Switzerland. In this study, we evaluated both the spatio-temporal distribution of blackleg from 1992-2023 and the currently implemented prophylactic measurements used by veterinarians in the risk areas of the Canton of Bern. Our results show that most of the cases occurred in areas still defined as risk areas by the Cantonal Veterinary Office, however some occurred in areas no longer listed as risk areas since 2020. In parallel, veterinarians reported suspected cases in recent years as well as a decreased acceptance of vaccination by farmers in risk areas. The combination of lack of blackleg monitoring, reduced disease awareness, decreasing willingness of farmers to vaccinate and the long environmental persistence of C. chauvoei spores represent a risk for reoccurrence of the disease. Veterinarians practicing in once affected areas, in the Canton of Bern and elsewhere in Switzerland, should be aware of this and act accordingly once blackleg outbreaks are suspected.

Introduction: The number of farms in Switzerland with suckler cow and dairy dam-calf contact housing systems is increasing, but basic knowledge on the needs and behaviours of cattle under these systems is lacking. This study offers an overview of cow-calf housing and management systems in Switzerland to provide insight into cows and calves' behaviour and use of barns' functional areas and to identify potentially problematic aspects of animal welfare within these systems. A total of 39 suckler cow farms and six farms with dairy dam-calf contact in Switzerland were each visited once. Welfare-relevant aspects of barn construction were measured, and the farmers on each farm were surveyed regarding their management and experiences. Animal behavioural observations were made using scan sampling (18 times every 10 minutes over a 3-hour time span) to analyse the animals' distribution and use of a barn's functional areas. Considerable farm-specific variance was found in how the farms managed and housed their livestock. About half the farms had drinking troughs over 60 cm in height, wich raised questions about the ability of these farms' young calves to access water. All farms had installed lying areas for calves, which varied in size, number and location. In the systems with a calf creep area separated from the lying area, the number of cows lying during observation was 10 % less (n = 11; 34,5 %) than the number of cows lying in the systems with a calf creep area in front of the cubicles (n = 13; 44,6 %; p = .063). The calves used the separate calf creep areas for lying (30,0 %) less than they used the calf creep areas in front of the cubicles (41,4 %; p = .001). This study does not provide a complete picture of cow-calf housing in Switzerland but contributes to the generation of new research questions.

Introduction: Very little is known about the prevalence of pruritic diseases in dogs in general and central Europe in particular. Therefore, the goal of this study was (i) to carry out a vertical prevalence study on pruritic diseases in dogs and (ii) to characterize the signalment, distribution of pruritus and secondary infections of atopic dogs in Switzerland. Seventeen veterinarians across Switzerland contributed to the study. All pruritic cases were collected in two cold and two warm months. A total of 743 cases were included. Canine atopic dermatitis was the most frequent diagnosis in this study (59,1 %), followed by otitis (26,1 %), pyoderma (22,6 %) and ectoparasites (7,1 %). French bulldog, West Highland White Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier were overrepresented in the group with atopic dermatitis compared to the general study population. Middle aged (49,9 %), male (58,8 %) atopic dogs between 10 and 25 kg (42,6 %) were affected more frequent. The majority of dogs with atopic dermatitis (56 %) exhibited pruritus in the paws, followed by pinna/ear pruritus (48,1 %). In total 54,7 % of atopic dogs showed pyoderma, while 31,8 % had Malassezia dermatitis. Our study confirms the clinical impression of the vast majority of veterinary dermatologists, that atopic dermatitis is by far the most frequent cause of pruritus in dogs. An intriguing finding is the remarkably low prevalence of ectoparasitic conditions (7,1 %). Overall, this study highlights the significance of allergic skin diseases in the Swiss dog population.

Introduction: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cardiac disease in dogs. Appropriate diagnosis and staging can be performed by means of an echocardiographic examination. Early disease stages might be accompanied by valvular insufficiency and, in more advanced phases, by cardiac dilatation. A correct diagnosis of this preclinical phase and identification of cardiac enlargement should be carried out in order to advise appropriate medical treatment. When echocardiography is not available or declined by the dog's owners, alternative methods to identify the disease and predict clinically relevant cardiomegaly, can be performed. Among these, cardiac auscultation and assessment of heart murmur intensity, cardiac dimensions obtained by thoracic radiography, by means of vertebral heart size, and cardiac biomarkers, in particular N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), can be carried out as single tests or in combination, in order to identify dogs with increased risk of congestive heart failure, and needing an early treatment with pimobendan. In particular, a heart murmur intensity ≥3/6 (moderate or louder), a vertebral heart size ≥11,5 units obtained from a latero-lateral thoracic radiographic view, and plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide value > 1100 pmol/l, are findings that might suggest presence of clinically relevant cardiomegaly with a good specificity. A practical algorithm to guide clinicians in managing dogs with suspicion of valvular disease has been created, starting from clinical examination, and using the aforementioned additional tests in order to advise the appropriate controls and therapy.

Introduction: Dermal melanoma is a common neoplastic disease in horses, which occurs particularly in gray horses. There are various local and systemic therapeutic approaches to treat this skin tumor. Vaccination with human tyrosinase, ONCEPT ® vaccine, is a newer type of systemic melanoma therapy. In this study, the effectiveness of this ONCEPT ® vaccine was retrospectively examined in eight treated horses. In half of the horses (4) a positive change in tumor growth in the sense of retardation, stagnation and, in one of these horses, even reduction in the size of the melanomas was observed. Of the remaining four horses, no change was found in three horses and an acceleration in growth was found in one horse. Half of the treated animals (4) showed side effects associated with the vaccine, three had mild and one moderate to severe side effects.