Veterinary Record Open最新文献

Background: In the scientific literature, there are only a few manuscripts available on small animal faecal proteomics.

Methods: In the present pilot study, this evaluation was performed using pooled faecal samples from 10 clinically healthy dogs and, for the first time, in 10 clinically healthy cats by mean of two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Results: Our results showed the presence of nine (albumin, alkaline phosphatase, chymotrypsin-C-like, cytosol aminopeptidase, elastase-3B/proteinase E, immunoglobulins and nuclear pore membrane glycoprotein 210) and 14 (albumin, caspase recruitment domain-containing protein, chymotrypsin-like, deleted in malignant brain tumours 1 protein-like, hypothetical protein LOC107375, immunoglobulin, kallikrein-1, superoxide dismutase, transthyretin precursor, interstitial collagenase-like) different proteins in canine and feline faeces, respectively.

Conclusion: These preliminary findings document the presence of a range of proteins in the faeces of apparently healthy dogs and cats and may serve as a basis for larger, prospective studies to establish reference proteomic data against which diseased populations can be compared.

Background: Autopsy imaging (Ai) is used to determine the cause of death, providing pre-dissection information. Ai is often used in the field of human forensic medicine but has never been applied on farm animals.

Methods: Ai-computed tomography (CT) was performed before necropsy for farm animals (one goat, one ox, one cow and three calves) that died or were euthanised.

Results: Ai-CT findings of rib fractures (case 1), urethral calculi (case 2), multiple osteolytic bone lesions (case 3 and 4) and hair balls (case 4) were confirmed by dissection. However, a tentative diagnosis of actinomycosis was made in an ox (case 5) using antemortem radiography and Ai-CT, and the mass was identified as ameloblastic fibro-odontoma on histological examination. A tentative diagnosis of maxillary abscess was made from antemortem radiography in a cow (case 6); however, the lesion was shown to be maxillary neoplasia on Ai-CT. The mass was identified as hemangiosarcoma on histopathological examination.

Conclusion: Ai is helpful in pathological examination because the specific findings are known before the dissection, the lesions can be pinpointed in the pathological dissection, facilitating workflow; furthermore, the oversight of lesions can be reduced. In addition, Ai-CT images, including three-dimensional images and a three-dimensional printed model, allowed an easy understanding of pathology among students and farmers. Ai-CT for farm animals represents a novel option for veterinary education.

Background: Rabies is still endemic in India causing an estimated 20,000 human deaths a year. Free roaming dogs and unvaccinated owned dogs play a major role in the maintenance of the disease. Dog vaccination is the most crucial aspect of rabies prevention and control strategies; therefore vaccine immunogenicity and longevity are important determinants of the efficiency of rabies control efforts.

Methods: In this study at Madras Veterinary College, India, a total of 297 serum samples were collected from owned dogs that were vaccinated against rabies. Data regarding age, gender, breed, neuter status and last date of vaccination were collected at the time of blood collection. The level of rabies virus neutralising antibodies in the sera of these dogs was measured through rapid focus fluorescence inhibition test. The factors associated with protective level of rabies antibodies in vaccinated dogs were investigated through multivariable regression analysis.

Results: This cross-sectional investigation shows that only 40% (119/297) of the all the dogs in the study showed presence of protective level of anti-rabies antibodies, and 40% (72/180) of the dogs vaccinated within the last year showed presence of protective levels of antibodies causing concern about rabies vaccine quality and its impact on rabies control. The study also shows that older and neutered dogs are more likely to have protective titre among vaccinated dogs, while non-descript breed dogs are less likely to have a protective titre compared to pure breeds.

Conclusion: In this study 60% (108/180) of young prima dogs and adult dogs did not show protective levels of antibodies within the year of last rabies vaccination, although they had previous vaccination history. This high percentage of apparent non-responders is a cause of concern of administration, distribution, storage, potency and quality management of vaccines in India.

Background: Referral of cases is becoming more and more frequent in companion animal practice. The Infectious Diseases Isolation Unit (IDIU) admits first opinion, second opinion and referred patients with a confirmed infectious disease (ID) or a clinically suspected ID that is awaiting laboratory diagnosis. The primary aims of this study were to describe the annual number and characteristics of patients referred to the IDIU and identify the most frequent IDs in referred dogs and cats. A secondary aim was to investigate possible differences in the length of the hospitalisation and the clinical outcome among referred cases and those admitted to the IDIU after first and second opinion appointments.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on patients hospitalised at the unit over 5 years from 9th October 2013 to 31st December 2018.

Results: The study population consisted of 365 dogs and 515 cats to give a total of 880 patients hospitalised at the IDIU from October 2013 to December 2018. Among the 96 referred dogs, parvovirosis (37.7%) and leptospirosis (31.1%) were the most frequent IDs. Feline upper respiratory tract infection (38.2%) and feline leukaemia virus infections (36.4%) were the main causes in the 80 referred cats. Worrying noncompliance rates of dog (51.0%) and cat (52.5%) vaccination schedules were identified. The analysis of the length of hospitalisation in the three groups of patients was not statistically different. In both animal species there were statistically significant higher clinical discharge rates on the first opinion patients' group in comparison to referred patients and the second opinion group.

Conclusions: Parvovirosis and leptospirosis in dogs and upper respiratory disease and feline leukaemia virus infection in cats were the most common diagnoses for patients admitted to the IDIU, reinforcing the need for accurate vaccination. Discharge rates results pinpoint the need for timely accurate reference.

Introduction: Evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) is a fundamental core competency for new graduates. Our objectives were to evaluate clinical students' use, understanding of, and confidence in EBVM before undertaking an exercise consisting of an hour seminar in conjunction with a medical librarian, followed by a journal club and to evaluate students' knowledge of and ability to apply EBVM following the exercise.

Methods: In this cohort study, students undertaking a large animal ambulatory rotation completed questionnaires before the seminar, following the journal club, and at graduation. Students took a Fresno test evaluating EBVM knowledge at the end of the rotation.

Results: Prior to the seminar, 94% of students defined EBVM at least somewhat accurately, and 51% reported EBVM was at least 'quite important'. During previous rotations, 71% of students had performed literature searches to answer a clinician-assigned question; 89% had done this to answer their own questions. Students with previous research or EBVM training were more likely to perform self-directed literature searches. The most frequently used resource was textbooks. Eighty-seven per cent and 90% of students found the seminar and journal club, respectively, at least moderately useful in improving EBVM knowledge.

Conclusions: Our results support the inclusion of an EBVM exercise during the clinical year and suggest spaced repetition may be helpful in teaching this topic.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity is a major dose-limiting factor in dogs undergoing chemotherapy. A proposed mechanism of GI toxicity includes chemotherapy-driven GI dysbiosis. This study was designed to determine the effects of probiotic administration on GI side-effects in dogs receiving multi-agent chemotherapy.

Methods: Ten client-owned dogs with multicentric lymphoma were enrolled in a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled single-blinded study. On the first day of the cyclophosphamide doxorubicin vincristine prednisone (CHOP)-based chemotherapy protocol, dogs were randomised to receive either daily oral probiotic at a dose of 200 × 10⁹ cfu/10 kg (n = 5) or daily oral placebo (n = 5). Complete blood count, faecal score (FS), faecal microbiome analysis (qPCR) and adverse events scores were performed at baseline and on the day of each subsequent chemotherapy dose, as well as 3 days after doxorubicin (days 0, 7, 14, 21, 24 and 28).

Results: Overall, 40% of dogs had an abnormal GI microbiome at baseline, specifically decreased faecal C. hiranonis and Fusobacterium abundances. Dogs receiving probiotics had increased faecal Streptococcus (p = 0.02) and E. coli. (p = 0.01). No dogs receiving probiotics experienced diarrhoea (FS ≥ 3.5) compared to four of five receiving placebo. (F 2.895; p = 0.13).

Conclusion: GI microbiome dysbiosis was common in this group of dogs with multicentric lymphoma. Probiotics were well-tolerated, with no negative side effects. Further studies are needed to explore broader microbiome and metabolome changes, as well as clinical benefit.

Background: Due to compactness and cheapness, smartphone ECG (sECG) could be very useful to equine practitioners. However, previous studies have evaluated the accuracy of sECG in hospitalised horses only. Different conditions in the field could influence the accuracy of the device. The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of sECG in field and in hospital conditions.

Methods: This is a prospective study. Paired standard base-apex ECG (stECG) and sECG were recorded in hospitalised horses and in subjects examined in field conditions. ECGs were analysed for heart rate and rhythm, presence/type of arrhythmias, presence/duration of artefacts, electrocardiographic waves and interval parameters by a blinded clinician. Statistical analysis evaluated the agreement between stECG and sECG and the differences in the prevalence of artefact in field and hospital conditions.

Results: Nineteen (hospital) and 40 (field) paired ECGs were analysed. Agreement between stECG and sECG was found for heart rate and rhythm, evaluation of atrioventricular block and premature complexes, P wave and PQ interval duration, and QRS complex duration and polarity. No differences were found between artefacts recorded in hospital and in field conditions.

Conclusion: sECG is a feasible tool for evaluation of rhythm in horses and is as accurate in field as in ambulatory conditions.

Background: There is extensive literature on animal poisoning from plants and mushrooms worldwide; however, there is limited account of poisoning from South Africa.

Methods: This study sought to describe and provide an overview of animal poison exposures in South Africa. Poisoning episodes reported to the Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape, jointly run by the Poisons Information Centres at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Tygerberg Hospital over a period of approximately 2.5 years, from June 2015 to November 2017, were analysed to identify exposure patterns, severity and clinical outcomes.

Results: Alien plant species accounted for most cases (n=10) of reported poison exposures. Among the 26 recorded animal poisoning episodes, the dog was the most commonly implicated species (n=24), whereas just two enquiries were related to other animals (one rabbit and one cow). There were 20 plant cases and 6 mushroom cases (all dogs). There was only one fatal case involving cycad in a dog.

Conclusion: Features of animal poisoning in South Africa were similar to those in other countries. The reported cases of animals exposed to poisonous plants and mushrooms could represent only a fraction of the actual exposures. Since most reported cases involved taxa that could not be identified to species level, more attention should be paid in case reporting and in animal poisoning prevention, engaging the public to enable people to recognise potentially hazardous plants and reduce the risk of poisoning in animals.

Background: Annually, 800-1500 wild birds are admitted to the rehabilitation centre of the Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Lucerne, Switzerland. The workers of the centre come in close contact with the avian patients and might therefore be exposed to zoonotic agents shed by these birds, such as Chlamydia psittaci.

Methods: In the present study, 91 choanal, 91 cloacal and 267 faecal swabs from 339 wild birds of 42 species were investigated using a stepwise diagnostic approach.

Results: Chlamydiaceae were detected in 0.9 per cent (0.3-2.6 per cent) of birds (n=3), all of them members of the Columbidae family. The Chlamydiaceae species of two of these birds (one Eurasian collared dove, one fancy pigeon) were identified as C psittaci types B and E by PCR and outer membrane protein A genotyping.

Conclusion: The findings of the current study suggest that zoonotic transmission of Chlamydiaceae is very unlikely for songbird and waterfowl species tested herein, while pigeons might pose a risk to workers at rehabilitation centres.