Veterinary Medicine and Science最新文献

Background: In the United Kingdom, spay surgery is routinely performed in dogs and cats by general practitioners. Data from a decade ago showed that, despite an increased attentiveness of veterinarians to peri-operative pain compared to the past, analgesia could be further improved.

Objectives: To investigate the current veterinary practice and attitude towards anaesthesia and analgesia for spay surgery in the United Kingdom.

Methods: An electronic questionnaire composed of 57 questions organised in 6 sections was designed using the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES guidelines) and distributed online via a hyperlink. Participants were recruited through both personalised email invitation and publication of the hyperlink on social media. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, analysis of means and analysis of proportions, using commercially available software.

Results: Entries from 150 participants were used for data analysis. The proportion of participants who were confident in treating pain did differ by decade of graduation, with a lower proportion of confident colleagues graduated before 2001 (6%) and from 2021 (14%), compared to those graduated in the decades 2001-2010 (43%) and 2011-2020 (37%) (p = 0.007). Colleagues reported to implement multimodal analgesia for spay procedures of cats and dogs in 43% and 44% of cases, respectively. The proportions of participants who reportedly used locoregional blocks, mostly with lidocaine, in dogs (82%), were higher than that in cats (43%) (p < 0.001). Post-spay surgery pain was perceived by the participants as more intense in dogs than in cats (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Despite an overall good level of attentiveness of British veterinary professionals to feline and canine analgesia during and following spay surgery, this study identified as areas of improvements perception and assessment of feline pain and implementation of locoregional anaesthetic techniques, particularly in cats.

Th₁/Th₂ polarisation and suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 (SOCS3) are important indicators of the humoral and cellular immune system activity in cows. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of postpartum diseases with the levels of Th₁/Th₂ polarisation and SOCS3 at the time of parturition. The study examined 180 cows (90 with normal parturition [NP] and 90 with dystocia [D]). Blood samples were taken from the cows once at the time of calving. Two subgroups were created among cows with NP: those without the postpartum disease (NP [-], n = 45) and those with postpartum disease (NP [+], n = 45). Likewise, two subgroups were created among D cows: those without postpartum disease (D [-], n = 45) and those with postpartum disease (D [+], n = 45). Cytokine analyses were performed using species-specific commercial ELISA kits. In the NP (-) group, it was found that Th₁/Th₂ cytokine polarisation was in the Th₁ direction due to the increase in the concentration of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 in four subgroups grouping with different types of parturition and diseases. It was concluded that it would be appropriate to strengthen cellular immunity. In cases of postpartum diseases, Th₁/Th₂ polarisation shifted towards Th₂ due to the increase in IL-4 and IL-5 concentrations in cows that performed NP and developed mastitis in the postpartum period. These results suggest that it would be beneficial to support the Th₂ aspect (i.e. humoral immunity) in cows that have undergone NP and develop mastitis in the postpartum period.

A 2-year-old female entire Golden Retriever with a history of being subdued was seen. Her physical and neurological examinations were initially unremarkable, but she acutely progressed to non-ambulatory paraparesis, with absent cervical or thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column was performed, showing a well-defined, intradural-extramedullary mass at the level of the caudal aspect of L2 causing right-sided ventrolateral marked cord compression. The lesion was T2W hyperintense and mildly hyperintense on T1W images. The signal intensity pattern of this lesion suggested the presence of an early stage hyperacute hemorrhagic process. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from the cisterna magna. CSF analysis exhibited a marked mixed pleocytosis with a slight neutrophilic predominance and elevated protein content. Due to the dog going from being ambulatory to non-ambulatory paraparetic with absent postural reactions in her pelvic limbs, surgery was performed to allow decompression of the spinal cord. A hemilaminectomy with durotomy was performed. Over the course of the dog's hospitalisation, she had two episodes of left-sided epistaxis which resolved with local application of adrenaline. Seven days post-operatively, the dog was discharged being non-ambulatory paraparetic with voluntary movement in both pelvic limbs. Three months after discharge, the dog was ambulatory with no ataxia noted in the pelvic limbs. As there is no current definitive diagnostic test for steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) available, the diagnosis of it in this case is supported by the dog's signalment, bloodwork, CSF analysis and response to corticosteroid therapy. This report details a rare clinical presentation, including epistaxis, intradural-extramedullary haemorrhage and absence of cervical or thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia, in a dog diagnosed with suspected SRMA.

Introduction: Increasing urbanization has particularly affected rivers and their outer edges in cities, including Kathmandu Valley, which encompasses Lalitpur, the nation's third-largest city. This study aims to conduct a parasitological survey to investigate the occurrence of zoonotic intestinal protozoa and helminths along the Karmanasa River bank in central Nepal.

Methods: Faecal samples from openly defaecating animals were collected via non-invasive techniques, and coproscopy was carried out using direct wet mount, concentration and acid-fast staining methods to ensure reliable findings.

Results: The findings showed that all the faecal samples were positive for intestinal parasites as follows: buffaloes (15/15), cats (5/5), cattle (30/30), chickens (7/7), dogs (15/15), goats (15/15), pigs (20/20) and rats (12/12). A total of 28 intestinal parasites were reported, out of which 21 species possess zoonotic potentialities, and each host was reported to harbour at least one zoonotic parasite. Entamoeba sp., Cryptosporidium sp., hookworm, Trichuris sp., Trichostrongylus and Balantidium coli were among the predominant zoonotic parasites. The use of the landscape for livestock grazing and the presence of free-ranging animals could have all added to the zoonotic risks. Moreover, the excretion of a moderate to large number of zoonotic parasite eggs in the faecal samples indicates a transmission risk.

Conclusions: The study detected 21 species of intestinal zoonotic parasites circulating along the landscape in the study area, indicating a higher risk of cross-transmission. Therefore, strategic treatment of livestock and free-ranging animals and periodic public health awareness programs for the local inhabitants are highly recommended.

Objectives: We report the use of intra-operative endoscopy, termed here 'surgically-assisted endoscopy'. The procedure spares a gastrotomy, therefore, shortening anaesthetic time, minimising potential complications and resulting in a quicker and less painful recovery.

Methods: Four dogs and one cat requiring surgical celiotomy for various conditions were treated. In all animals, a gastrointestinal foreign body (FB) was located at surgery. During the surgery, with the patient still in dorsal recumbency and the abdomen still open, in lieu of gastrotomy, the animals had their FBs removed via endoscopy, sparing a gastrotomy procedure and its potential complications.

Results: In all five cases, a gastrotomy was avoided and the FBs were successfully extracted using the endoscope. Only one minor complication was seen intra-operatively and none at short-term follow-up.

Clinical significance: Although prognosis after gastrotomy is considered excellent, potential complications still exist and include haemorrhage, intra-operative spillage, peritonitis and post-operative dehiscence. Alternatively, endoscopy negates many of those possible complications and shortens anaesthesia time. In many cases of gastric FBs, or where intestinal FBs can be safely manipulated into the stomach, surgically assisted endoscopy could be considered a viable and potentially preferred option to gastrotomy.

A 13-year-old intact female Shih Tzu presented with anorexia, panting and pain of unknown origin. Physical examination was normal except for a systolic murmur (grade 3/6). Abdominal radiographs revealed an ill-defined area of increased opacity in the mid-abdomen. A subsequent computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed a large, heterogeneously enhancing mass near the left adrenal gland, extensively invading the adjacent caudal vena cava, portal vein and splenic vein. This was accompanied by multiple metastatic lesions affecting the abdominal lymph nodes, lungs, liver and kidneys. Two distinct vascular anomalies were identified. The first was a shunt vessel that was diverting pre-occlusive blood from the caudal vena cava to the azygos vein, causing dilation of the azygos vein and forming a cavo-azygos shunt. The second was a significantly distended left gastroepiploic vein, forming a collateral pathway that rerouted blood from the splenic vein and ultimately drained into the gastroduodenal and portal vein. These findings are clinically significant as they demonstrate the formation of unique collateral pathways, specifically a cavo-azygos shunt and spleno-gastroepiploic bypass, which play a crucial role in maintaining venous drainage and systemic circulation in the presence of multiple venous obstructions. Recognizing such vascular anomalies through advanced imaging techniques like CT provides insights into underlying pathologies and aids in better clinical decision-making for chronic venous obstructions in veterinary patients.

Post-operative new-onset atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a possible complication following cardiac surgery. Digoxin is a drug with positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects and is listed among antiarrhythmic drugs that can be prescribed in dogs with atrial fibrillation. This report aims at describing the use of digoxin in two dogs with persistent POAF after mitral valve repair. Case 1 was a Toy Poodle, neutered male, 12 years old, weighing 5.0 kg. The patient was diagnosed with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Stage D myxomatous mitral valve disease without arrhythmia. The day of the surgery was defined as Day 1. Persistent POAF was diagnosed on Day 30 (1-min mean heart rate of 206 bpm by in-clinic electrocardiogram), and treatment with digoxin was started at a dose of 0.0040 mg/kg, p12h. The resolution of atrial fibrillation (AF) was confirmed at the follow-up visit on Day 58 (1-min mean heart rate of 162 bpm by in-clinic electrocardiogram). Case 2 was a mixed-breed dog, neutered male, 12 years old, weighing 7.6 kg. The patient was diagnosed with ACVIM Stage B2 myxomatous mitral valve disease without arrhythmia. After surgery, the patient had a normal sinus rhythm, but a paroxysmal ectopic atrial rhythm was observed on Day 32. Persistent POAF was diagnosed on Day 130 (1-min mean heart rate of 216 bpm by in-clinic electrocardiogram), and treatment with digoxin was started at a dose of 0.0037 mg/kg, p12h. The resolution of AF was confirmed on Day 151 (1-min mean heart rate of 107 bpm by in-clinic electrocardiogram). In this report, the authors suspected that digoxin therapy could have contributed, among other factors, to cardioversion. However, specifically designed studies are needed to confirm this preliminary hypothesis.

Background: Today, customers pay more attention to the feed composition and carcasses of poultry, and the interest in using natural and safe compounds such as medicinal plants and their extracts in animal feed is increasing.

Objectives: The present experiment was conducted to assess the effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) and mulberry (Morus alba) leaves powder on the meat quality, intestinal microbiology and serum biochemical parameters in broilers.

Methods: The experiment was conducted with 648 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler male chicks with a factorial arrangement including three levels of green tea powder (GTP) and three levels of mulberry leaf powder (MLP), with nine treatments and six replications in a completely randomized design for 42 days. Treatments included: (1) no GTP + no MLP (control), (2) 1% GTP + no MLP, (3) 2% GTP + no MLP, (4) no GTP + 1% MLP, (5) 1% GTP + 1% MLP, (6) 2% GTP + 1% MLP, (7) no GTP + 2% MLP, (8) 1% GTP + 2% MLP and (9) 2% GTP + 2% MLP.

Results: The results showed that the lowest lightness (L*), drip loss and total cholesterol levels, and the highest Lactobacillus population were observed in treatments: 1% GTP + no MLP, 2% GTP + no MLP, 1% GTP + 1% MLP, 2% GTP + 1% MLP, no GTP + 2% MLP, 1% GTP + 2% MLP and 2% GTP + 2% MLP (p < 0.05). The groups receiving 1% GTP + 1% MLP, 2% GTP + 1% MLP, no GTP + 2% MLP, 1% GTP + 2% MLP and 2% GTP + 2% MLP had the highest pH 24 h (p < 0.05). The chickens fed with 1% and 2% GTP showed lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and malondialdehyde (MAD) levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The results showed that using the GTP and MLP in the diet of broilers could improve meat quality traits and beneficial ileal bacteria populations and reduce serum lipid and MDA levels.

Background: The orf virus (ORFV) is a viral pathogen that primarily causes contagious ecthyma in humans and different ruminants. The infection, which is common worldwide, causes large-scale economic losses to animal breeders.

Objective and methods: In this study, tissue samples collected from eight randomly selected goats with dermatological lesions on the teats were examined in different goat herds. B2L gene-specific primer pairs (PP1, PP3 and PP4) were used to reveal the presence of ORFV by molecular methods and for phylogenetic analysis.

Results: Viral DNA was detected in four of eight tissues using the semi-nested PCR method. In addition, the data obtained by performing sequence analyses of the amplicons with positive results were compared with the information of different ORFV isolates registered in the GenBank database. Based on the sequence analysis of the field isolates obtained in our study, it was found that the nucleotide similarities among these isolates and those from Asian countries were 100%. Furthermore, ORFV isolates collected from different species and produced in Türkiye over various periods exhibited homologous nucleotide sequences with similarities ranging from 98.1% to 98.8%. In the phylogenetic tree drawn based on the B2L genomic region, it was observed that our field isolates were classified in Group I together with other Turkish and Asian strains.

Conclusion: As a result, while other pathogenic agents are considered the cause of disease in goats with dermatological lesions on their mammary tissue, the ORFV should also be evaluated, and protection and control programs should be prepared accordingly.

A major risk to the poultry industry is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), specifically with regard to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infections. The sensitivity patterns of 100 MG isolates to biocides and antibiotics were examined in this study to clarify the interactions between antimicrobial agents and resistance mechanisms. The antimicrobial activity against MG was assessed using broth microdilution, and the results are shown as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each strain, the MIC distribution (range), the MIC₅₀, and/or the MIC₉₀. The statistical associations between the MICs of the antibiotics and biocides were investigated using regression model analysis and correlation coefficients. The absence of a cell wall in MG inherently confers resistance to beta-lactams, thereby necessitating the utilization of enrofloxacin, difloxacin, flumequine, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, tylosin, tilmicosin, tylvalosin, erythromycin, spiramycin, tiamulin, lincomycin, spectinomycin and dihydrostreptomycin. These antibiotics exhibited MIC₅₀ values of 0.5, 0.5, 0.12, 0.062, 0.12, 0.031, 0.016, 0.016, 0.062, 16, 1, 0.008, 2, 0.5 and 32, respectively. In addition to antibiotics, disinfectants have garnered attention for their contribution to the development of AMR in MG. Notably, formalin, phenol, NADES, Halamid, Virkon-S, MicroSet and SteriSet exhibited MIC₅₀ values of 125, 500, 31.25, 15.63, 15.63, 7.81 and 62.5, respectively. Significant positive correlations and direct associations were identified between various biocides and the development of antibiotic resistance, with coefficients ranging from 0.098 to 1.176. This research highlights the intricate nature of resistance profiles in MG and underscores the necessity for a thorough understanding of antimicrobial interactions. This finding emphasizes the importance of managing emerging AMR stemming from disinfectant misuse in the poultry farms to prevent additional constraints on antibiotic treatment options.