Veterinary Record Open最新文献

Background: Industry-level figures suggest that up to two-thirds of Thoroughbred breeding operations in the UK are unprofitable and that around half of sales transactions of Thoroughbred yearlings, commercial breeders' predominant income source, return a loss. The industry strategy currently endorses investment in stallion covering fee; however, to date, a comprehensive evaluation of sales price determinants in the UK setting is lacking and could better inform economic decision making to improve profitability.

Methods: Sales catalogue and Weatherbys' stud book data from all Thoroughbred yearlings sold at the 2020 Tattersalls October yearling sale in the UK were used to build a hedonic sales price model. Explanatory variables representing sire, dam, yearling and sales attributes were evaluated. The final model's accuracy was assessed using out-of-sample data from all yearlings sold in the equivalent 2021 sale.

Results: In 2020, a total of 1506 catalogued yearlings, representing around 30% of the UK Thoroughbred foal crop, were sold, with a median price of £42,575 (interquartile range 15,750‒105,000; range 840‒3,570,000). The sires' covering fee, maternal siblings' race performance attributes, whether the yearling was the dams' first foal, consignment size, catalogue book and day of sale within book significantly influenced auction price; however, relationships were complex with significant interaction and confounding observed. The mean model forecasting error was £2074. The use of data from only one sale could affect generalisability.

Conclusions: These novel findings can inform breeding decisions to maximise profitability, give context for current industry strategies and can inform valuations of breeding stock.

Background: Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) is a freely available online artificial intelligence (AI) program capable of understanding and generating human-like language. This study assessed veterinary students' perceptions about ChatGPT in education and practice. It compared perceptions about ChatGPT between students who had completed a critical analysis task and those who had not.

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 498 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students at The University of Sydney, Australia. Second-year DVM students researched a veterinary pathogen and then completed a critical analysis of ChatGPT (version 3.5) output for the same pathogen. A survey based on the Technology Acceptance Model was then delivered to all DVM students from all years of the programme, collecting data using Likert-style, categorical and free-text items.

Results: Over 75% of the 100 respondents reported having used ChatGPT. The students found ChatGPT's output relevant and practical for their use but perceived it as inaccurate. They perceived ChatGPT output to be more useful for veterinary students than for pet owners or veterinarians. Those who had completed the critical analysis assignment had a more positive view of ChatGPT's practicality for veterinary students but noted its authoritative tone even when delivering inaccurate information. Over 50% of the students agreed that information about tools such as ChatGPT should be included in the veterinary curriculum. Students agreed that veterinarians should embrace AI but disagreed that AI would eventually replace the need for veterinarians.

Conclusions: A critical appraisal of outputs from AI tools such as ChatGPT may help prepare future veterinarians for the effective use of these tools.

Background: Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a group of canine inherited retinal disorders affecting up to 100 breeds. Genetic tests are available. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the genetic variants associated with PRA among dogs residing in Italy.

Methods: Genetic data of 20 variants associated with different forms of PRA were collected through DNA tests over a 10-year period for several dog breeds in the Italian canine population. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were calculated.

Results: A total of 1467 DNA tests were conducted for 1180 dogs. Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD) was the most tested form of PRA, with 58.15% (n = 853) of the DNA tests. Among the widespread breeds in Italy, Labrador retrievers and toy poodles showed a prevalence of heterozygous carriers higher than 15%. Among the others, 175 DNA tests for golden retrievers (GR) showed a prevalence of heterozygous carriers of 13.04% (n = 12) for GR-PRA1 and 8.43% (n = 7) for GR-PRA2. The zwergschnauzer breed was tested for the type B and/or the type B1 forms of PRA with 25.32% (n = 20) heterozygous carriers and 0%, respectively.

Conclusion: The study offers an overview of the prevalence of PRCD and other PRA forms within some of the most popular breeds in Italy.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, equine health care in the UK may have been adversely affected due to mandated changes in the delivery of veterinary healthcare and the potential for reduced health-seeking behaviour.

Methods: Electronic patient records (EPRs) were analysed to describe veterinary activity for all equids under the active care of 20 veterinary practices in the UK in the 12 months before and after the introduction of the first UK lockdown. Pre-pandemic and pandemic levels of clinical activity were compared. Further comparisons of care, including immediate management and treatment, were made following a detailed review of EPRs from randomly selected subsets of equids under care in four time periods.

Results: All measures of activity and face-to-face interaction were lower in the early pandemic period than in the equivalent pre-pandemic period. Compared to pre-pandemic, the early pandemic was associated with a decrease in prophylactic care and non-urgent diagnostic imaging and an increase in systemic non-steroid anti-inflammatory prescription. Convenience sampling of veterinary practices may have limited the generalisability of the findings. The quality of EPRs was variable.

Conclusions: While equine veterinary activity was significantly disrupted in the early pandemic period, there was a rapid return to pre-pandemic levels of activity. Subsequent lockdowns appeared to have had little effect on veterinary care.

Background: Management of pain is critical to improve the welfare of farmed livestock and meet consumer expectations. There is limited published information about the use of analgesic drugs in the sheep sector.

Methods: A mixed-method approach was followed. The range of analgesic drugs used on 52 Northern Irish sheep farms was determined through analysis of medicine purchase records. Through interview and discussion groups, with both farmer and veterinarian participants, attitudes towards the use and adoption of such medicines were explored.

Results: The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was widespread and highly variable. One-third of farmers in the sample did not purchase any NSAID. Meloxicam was the most commonly purchased NSAID by mass (72%) and standardised dose (73%). During interviews and discussions, farmers outlined the benefits they saw in using NSAIDs and how veterinarians influenced their uptake of these medicines. Use of corticosteroid was evidenced on 50% of the farms that supplied medicine records for analysis.

Conclusions: Veterinarians can influence farmers to adopt NSAIDs for the provision of analgesia in their sheep and farmers observed the benefits they delivered. However, many farmers are still to be reached with this message, perhaps due to being largely self-sufficient and rarely engaging with veterinarians. Veterinarians have the opportunity to challenge farmers about the provision of analgesia, especially when farmers seek antibiotics for painful conditions such as lameness. Currently, the lack of an authorised product in the UK, with associated treatment guidance and industry promotion, may limit veterinarians' confidence in prescribing drugs for pain control in sheep.

Background: Non-human animals are natural hosts for the virus causing COVID-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) and a diversity of species appear susceptible to infection. Cats are of particular concern because of their close affiliation with humans and susceptibility to infection. Cats also harbour feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). Our objectives were to document the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and FECV in feline populations with high turnover and movement among households in the Central Valley of California, USA.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 128 shelter and foster cats and kittens in the Central Valley of California was performed from July to December 2020. PCR was performed on rectal and oropharyngeal samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and on rectal samples to detect FECV RNA.

Results: Among 163 rectal and oropharyngeal fluid samples gathered from sheltered and fostered cats and kittens in central California, SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids were not detected from any cat or kitten. In contrast, FECV nucleic acids were detected in 18% of shelter-housed cats; 83% of these positive samples were collected from cats housed in adjacent cages.

Conclusions: These data may be helpful when considering the allocation of resources to minimise the harm of FECV and SARS-CoV-2 in household pets and shelter environments.

Introduction: Dog bites continue to be a serious public health issue due to their association with the transmission of rabies virus. In Kenya, there are no studies estimating dog-bite incidence. Annual mortalities resulting from dog-mediated rabies are estimated at 523 (95% confidence interval 134-1100). The main objective of this study was to assess major risk factors associated with dog bites in Kitui South subcounty, Kenya, between 2017 and 2021.

Methods: We recruited 387 dog-bite patients (cases) and 387 non-bite patients (controls) for the case-control study from the Mutomo Mission Hospital and the Ikutha Level 4 Hospital records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluated the association between risk factors and dog-bite cases. In the final model, pairwise interactions among variables were evaluated. The model fit was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics and area under the curve.

Results: The study found that the dog-bite incidence was highest in Kanziko ward in Kitui South subcounty. Fifty-one percent (108 bites) of dog-bite victims were children under 15 years of age, with 53% (N = 68) being men and 36% (N = 77) being bitten on the limbs. Dog bites mostly (44%, N = 93) occurred between October and December (short rainy season). Age group and season were identified as the most significant variables for high dog-bite incidence in Kitui South subcounty.

Conclusions: Promotion of responsible dog ownership and reinforcement of dog control policies may prove more effective in reducing dog-bite injuries in Kitui South subcounty.

Background: Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland has been enrolling dairy herds across Northern Ireland (NI) in a voluntary Johne's disease (JD) control programme since October 2020. A Veterinary Risk Assessment and Management Plan (VRAMP) questionnaire was completed for each herd enrolled and recommendations for improved farm management practices were provided to farmers. Herd JD testing was recommended but was not mandatory.

Methods: This study analysed VRAMP responses for 1569 dairy herds that had enrolled in the JD control programme up to October 2022. Univariate and multivariate regression models were applied to the data as appropriate.

Results: Overall, 21.4% of the dairy herds had completed herd JD screening, with 13.7% of herds reporting a confirmed case of JD. A further 31.5% of herds reported suspected case(s) of JD. Eighty-nine percent of farms had introduced animals from outside the herd. Herds that utilise a mixed calving pen and hospital pen, and herds that do not separate JD-positive or sick animals within the calving pen, were significantly (p > 0.001) more likely to be a high-probability JD herd. Accidental mixing of neighbouring herds significantly (p = 0.01) increased the risk of a suspected or confirmed case of JD. Herds that utilise rented land (70%) were significantly (p > 0.001) more likely to be at a high risk for JD.

Conclusions: The VRAMP analysis identified areas of JD control that should be focused on in NI dairy herds, such as calving pen management and hygiene. The results highlight the importance of common JD recommendations in the management of on-farm disease risk.

Aims: This retrospective study aimed to report clinical findings, treatment response and survival in cats diagnosed with precursor-targeted immune-mediated anaemia (PIMA) in a referral hospital in the UK.

Methods: Feline cases diagnosed with presumed PIMA between January 2010 and February 2021 were retrospectively recruited. Signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome were recorded. Descriptive analytics were performed. Outcomes were documented according to survival to discharge, 30-day survival, total survival time, response to immunosuppressive treatment and frequency of relapses.

Results: Thirty cats met the inclusion criteria. A higher prevalence of females (19/30) was identified (p = 0.001). Most cats (25/30) presented with haematocrit below 0.15 L/L. Concurrent cytopenias occurred in 18 of 30 cats. Bone marrow diagnosis was erythroid hyperplasia in 24 of 30 cases. Survival to discharge was documented in 26 of 30 cats, of which 23 survived more than 30 days since diagnosis. Initial treatment included blood products (26/30) and prednisolone (26/30) or prednisolone with ciclosporin (3/30); 18 of 30 cats responded to treatment, with a normal haematocrit at a mean of 28 days. The initial haematocrit and the presence of concurrent cytopenia were not statistically different between responders and non-responders. The median survival time was 140 days (range 1-3930 days).

Conclusions and relevance: The treatment response rate of feline PIMA was high (60%), with a mortality rate of 23% over the 30 days following diagnosis. Relapses occur frequently (77%) but the response rate after treatment modification was high (76%) and therefore ongoing treatment may be justified at that point. Long survival times (up to 3930 days) can be achieved.