Australian Veterinary Journal最新文献

Emerging fungal diseases pose a threat to reptiles globally. Increasing detections of onygenalean fungi, particularly Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, Nannizziopsis spp. and Paranannizziopsis spp. in clinically diseased free-ranging reptiles, indicate likely ongoing spread within wild reptile populations. These fungal pathogens have not previously been reported in free-ranging Australian reptiles, except for N. barbatae in select lizard species. We present 10 cases of onygenalean dermatomycoses in five free-ranging native Australian squamate species that presented to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital between 2023 and 2024. Coastal carpet pythons (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) represented five of the cases, with O. ophidiicola, N. barbatae and P. australasiensis detected in this snake species. In addition, we confirmed O. ophidiicola in an eastern bandy-bandy (Vermicella annulata) and white-crowned snake (Cacophis harriettae), Nannizziopsis barbatae in an eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii), and Paranannizziopsis spp. in two eastern bearded dragons (Pogona barbata). Clinical presentations ranged from mild to severe dermatitis, with secondary outcomes of dysecdysis, stomatitis, emaciation and moribundity. Diagnoses were confirmed using a combination of histopathology, PCR, DNA sequencing and/or culture and barcoding. Our study reports the first known cases of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola and Paranannizziopsis in free-ranging Australian reptiles, and the first case of N. barbatae in a snake species globally. These cases represent an expansion of the known host and geographic range of onygenalean fungi into free-ranging Australian reptiles. Importantly, these fungi were associated with debilitating disease that could threaten native reptile populations if not promptly addressed.

Objective: To describe Australian practices and attitudes regarding equine analgesia.

Study design: Cross-sectional anonymous, voluntary survey of Australian veterinarians treating equine patients.

Methods: Australian veterinarians in equine or mixed practices completed a six-section, 60-question survey between November 2019 to August 2020. Information was gathered on demographics, analgesia prescription, pain assessment and attitudes surrounding specific analgesics. Respondents assigned a pain score ranging from 0 to 10 for various conditions; these were averaged to give each respondent an "average pain score".

Results: Data from 153 respondents were included for analysis. The majority of respondents were female (68%). There was no obvious effect of gender on practice type, with approximately half of respondents working in equine exclusive (50.3%) or mixed (49.7%) practice irrespective of gender. Butorphanol was the most frequently used opioid, with 25.5% and 39.2% of respondents using it "every day" and "a few times a week", respectively. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was diverse, with phenylbutazone, flunixin and meloxicam being the most administered. Formal pain scales were infrequently used, with more than 35% of respondents reporting no pain scale being utilised commonly. In response to various clinical scenarios, veterinarians graduating less than 10 years ago were more likely to assign high average pain scores compared to respondents graduating more than 10 years ago (78.0% vs. 66.0%, respectively). Female veterinarians were more likely to assign high average pain severity scores than males (73.0% vs. 60.0%, respectively). However, in the multivariable analysis, none of the predictors were found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions: This survey demonstrates that demographic factors influence the attitudes of Australian equine veterinarians regarding pain and there may be opportunities to educate and optimise pain assessment and protocol choices.

Macropod progressive periodontal disease (MPPD) is a severe oral condition frequently observed in captive macropods, particularly red kangaroos (Osphranter rufus), yet its underlying biological features remain poorly understood. In this exploratory descriptive study, we investigated oral and fecal microbiomes and metabolomic profiles in captive red kangaroos to characterise microbial and metabolic patterns associated with MPPD. Oral swabs, fecal samples and serum were collected from clinically healthy individuals and animals diagnosed with MPPD. Microbiome profiling was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and untargeted metabolomic analyses were conducted using GC-MS. All analyses were conducted in a descriptive manner to summarise observed patterns and trends rather than to support formal statistical inference. Descriptive comparisons suggested differences in the oral microbiome composition of animals with MPPD, including increased representation of several taxa previously associated with periodontal disease in other species. Oral metabolomic profiling indicated variation in multiple metabolites, including lower relative levels of guanosine higher relative levels of suberic acid and lower relative levels of L-octanoylcarnitine and adipic acid in affected animals. In contrast, fecal microbiome and serum metabolome profiles showed comparatively limited variation across groups. Although limited by small sample size, this study provides preliminary, descriptive observations on microbiome and metabolome features associated with MPPD in captive red kangaroos. These findings offer an initial framework to inform future hypothesis-driven investigations using larger cohorts.

This article explains and discusses the similarities and differences in the way the veterinary profession and the medical profession are regulated in Australia. Historically, the veterinary profession and veterinarians have tended to be seen as completely separate to the medical profession and the work of medical practitioners. The veterinary profession, for example, was excluded from the National Law as it was not considered to be a ‘health profession’. This disparity is reflected in the different ways each profession is regulated in Australia. However, upon close inspection, the work and role of veterinarians have many similarities with the work and role of medical practitioners, and significant legal reforms are required to better align regulation of the two professions. Comparing the ‘status’ or ‘value’ of an animal patient with a human patient, and discussing whether a veterinarian is a ‘real’ doctor, introduces emotive and irrelevant considerations. The central issue is whether the veterinary profession deserves to enjoy the same regulatory benefits accorded to the medical profession since 2010. Given that veterinarians provide essential services, as do medical practitioners, and require the same sort of training, skills, experience and legal liabilities as their medical counterparts, the case for reform is overwhelming. The article sets out possible reforms.

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative analgesic effects of the combined transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and superficial serratus plane (SSP) blocks in dogs undergoing unilateral radical mastectomy.

Animals and procedure: A total of 16 client-owned dogs were enrolled. Animals were divided in two groups (n = 8 each) to receive TAP and SSP blocks alone (locoregional anaesthesia, LA) or with meloxicam and methadone (multimodal analgesia, MA). Acepromazine was given as premedication. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale Short Form (CMPS-SF) up to 24 h postextubation. Methadone was used for postoperative rescue analgesia when CMPS-SF scores ≥6/24. Data were analysed accordingly, and results considered statistically significant when P < 0.05.

Results: Postoperative rescue analgesia was required in two and one dogs for LA and MA, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between groups. The total number of methadone administrations was 3 for LA and 1 for MA. Rescue analgesia was required at 6- and 1-hour post extubating for LA and MA, respectively. The CMPS-SF did not vary between groups.

Conclusion: TAP-SSP blocks used alone or in combination with meloxicam and methadone, provided postoperative analgesia for 6 to 24 hours in dogs undergoing unilateral radical mastectomy.

Clinical relevance: Local anaesthesia was successful in providing postoperative pain management for at least 6 h after mastectomy in dogs.

Introduction: Dietary supplements (DS) are increasingly used in pet care, yet their use in cats remains underexplored, particularly in Southeast Asia. Understanding owner motivations, usage patterns and perceptions is essential for informing veterinary guidance and regulatory policies. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, usage patterns and associated factors of DS use for pet cats among Malaysian cat owners, while comparing perceptions between users and nonusers.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to April 2024 among Malaysian cat owners aged ≥18 years. A structured, content-validated questionnaire assessed sociodemographics, DS usage, perceptions and decision-making. Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with DS use.

Results: Among 352 respondents, 58.0% reported administering DS to their cats, with multivitamins (73.0%), omega-3 fatty acids (37.3%), probiotics (26.5%) and fibre supplements (22.1%) being the most common. Key motivations included health maintenance (81.9%) and disease prevention (62.3%). In multivariate logistic regression, DS use was more likely among female owners, those aged 30-39 years, suburban and urban residents, owners of four or more cats and those who had owned cats for more than 5 years. Veterinarians (68.6%) and social media (64.7%) were major information sources. While most users perceived DS as beneficial and accessible, nonusers cited product quality, safety concerns and cost as major barriers.

Conclusion: DS use for cats is widespread among Malaysian owners, and selected sociodemographic and ownership characteristics are independently associated with use. Nevertheless, concerns about quality, safety and professional oversight persist. Greater regulatory scrutiny, public education and veterinary-pharmacist collaboration are needed to ensure responsible supplement practices and protect feline health.

Progress in treating oomycete infections of animals has been slow. Much relevant biological and therapeutic knowledge originates from plant pathology and agricultural science, while medical and veterinary literature develops independently. This review integrates these fields to highlight key knowledge gaps and translational opportunities in animal health. Oomycetes are eukaryotic Stramenopiles, distinct from true fungi; their hyphae are diploid and coenocytic, with cellulose and glucan cell walls. They reproduce via motile zoospores and durable oospores, enabling environmental persistence. Although best known as plant pathogens, Pythium insidiosum and Lagenidium spp. infect mammals, while Aphanomyces astaci and A. invadans cause serious disease in crustaceans and fish. Infection begins when zoospores enter damaged skin or mucosa, inducing eosinophil-rich pyogranulomatous inflammation before extending into deeper tissues and vessels. Host responses are often ineffective because oomycetes skew immunity toward a non-protective Th2 pathway. Standard antifungal agents have limited efficacy due to the absence of ergosterol. Management relies on surgical resection supported by antimicrobial and immunomodulatory therapy. Prognosis is guarded in dogs but more favourable in cats and horses, with immunotherapy providing benefit, especially in equine cases. Emerging strategies include agricultural biocides such as metalaxyl-M, nanoparticle drug delivery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the potential use of cyazofamid, which has yet to be evaluated in animals. Diagnosis involves histopathology, culture on selective media, MALDI-TOF testing and PCR with sequencing. Oomycete infections lie at the interface of plant pathology, veterinary medicine, aquaculture, immunology and mycology. Cross-disciplinary research is essential to improve diagnostic and therapeutic options for these neglected pathogens.

Bovicola ovis (sheep body lice) pose significant challenges to the productivity and profitability of Australian sheep enterprises. A novel oral lousicide product containing fluranaler was registered in Australia in 2023. An online cross-sectional observational survey of Australian sheep producers (with greater than 500 sheep) was conducted in 2024 to determine: (1) producer perceptions of oral lice treatments and product efficacy; (2) current lice management strategies used by producers; (3) the biosecurity practices being implemented for lice mitigation; and (4) the sources utilised by producers for advice on lice treatment, including the role of veterinarians. A total of 100 usable responses were obtained. Lice were reported being present in flocks within the last year in 42% of respondents' flocks. Oral lice treatment had been used by 36% of participants, with 19% currently using it as their main lousicide application method. This treatment was deemed effective either in eliminating lice (62%, n = 21) or reducing lice numbers (32%, n = 11) of respondents. Quarantining introduced livestock specifically for lice management was undertaken by 51% of respondents, with 65% (n = 33) of these quarantining for less than one month duration. Only 12% of all respondents quarantined for a period likely to be adequate for lice management (>3 months), suggesting many producers have inadequate quarantine procedures. Rural merchandise agents were the main source consulted for lice management advice (73%). The adoption of oral lousicide products among participants suggested a willingness to seek new management options for lice elimination; however, further research is required to determine ongoing clinical efficacy.

Mural gallbladder haematomas are rare and can occur secondary to trauma, neoplasia, coagulopathies, vascular malformations and other medical aetiologies. This report describes a 5-year-old Parson Russell Terrier that presented with acute vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence and lethargy. Examination revealed mild icterus and abdominal pain. Serum biochemistry showed a marked biochemical cholangiohepatopathy. Abdominal ultrasound revealed marked thickening of the gallbladder wall that was asymmetrical and diffuse, an immobile hyperechoic intraluminal margin following the wall thickening, minimal intraluminal mobile content, dilation of the common bile duct, minimal peritoneal effusion and mild focal peritonitis. The interpretation was a suspected atypical biliary mucocele with possible gallbladder wall rupture or impending rupture. Exploratory coeliotomy revealed a large, discoloured, inexpressible gallbladder. The biochemical and gross findings were supportive of biliary stasis. A cholecystectomy was performed and histopathology of the gallbladder was consistent with a mural gallbladder haematoma. This case highlights the difficulty of preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder haematomas and reinforces the importance of considering a haematoma as a differential for mural echogenic gallbladder lesions.

Introduction: The accessibility of veterinary services, particularly in rural and regional areas, has been a topic of international discussion for some time. Little is known about the current distribution and accessibility of veterinary services in Australia. This study aimed to find out what parts of Australia are affected by veterinary 'care deserts' to help better inform the current debate.

Materials and methods: Open geospatial datasets and open-source tools were used to model accessibility to veterinary services across Australia. Veterinary Service Locations were compiled from Overture Maps and augmented via the Google Places Application Programming Interface (API). Travel-time isochrones were generated with Valhalla using OpenStreetMap roads, and population exposure was assessed using GHSL data.

Results: Veterinary services were found to be geographically inaccessible to more than 250,000 Australians. The Northern Territory was the worst affected jurisdiction, with more than 20% of the population not having access to a veterinary clinic. Rural and regional suburbs were overrepresented as having veterinary care deserts.

Conclusion: Inaccessible veterinary services is a human equity issue, as well as an animal health and welfare concern. Poor veterinary coverage in rural and regional areas increases the risk of disease outbreaks and leads to preventable diseases and deaths in animals. Innovative solutions are required to improve veterinary services in Australia's care deserts.