Australian Veterinary Journal最新文献

Whether as pets or livestock, South American camelids (SACs) have grown in popularity in recent decades and are now widespread. Disease management is therefore becoming more important, for productivity and welfare reasons. Very few treatments are currently approved for these species, and none for the treatment of mange. Yet acariases are common in SACs and result in loss of productivity, poor animal welfare and sometimes death. Chorioptic mange is a known therapeutic challenge in several species. The present paper reviews and assesses the published protocols for treating this disease in SACs. No successful protocol was tested in more than one trial. Three treatment protocols demonstrated complete cure in all animals; they concerned 14, two and 25 animals, respectively. All the studies had several weaknesses, most prominently small sample size and unstandardised outcome assessment. Herd sample sizes ranged from two to 50 animals. Due to insufficient evidence, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. Several protocols show promising results; newer options should be tested.

Aim: The aim of this case series was to review clinical outcomes and complications associated with the use of inverted circular-linear hybrid external skeletal fixator constructs with the ring positioned proximally in order to stabilise fractures with short proximal fracture segments.

Materials and methods: The medical records of dogs and cats with proximal juxta-articular fractures managed using an inverted hybrid construct at three institutions between December 2008 and October 2023 were reviewed. Data regarding animals' signalment, fracture description, construct configuration, subjective assessment of reduction and alignment, time to fixator removal and functional outcome were recorded at the time of the last clinical evaluation or via a follow-up phone conversation with the owner. Restoration of alignment of the healed bone was objectively assessed after fixator removal by comparison of joint orientation angles between the fractured and contralateral bone.

Results: Twenty dogs and two cats underwent fracture stabilisation with an inverted hybrid construct, including 18 tibial fractures (82%), three humeral fractures (14%) and one femoral fracture (4%). Postoperative reduction and alignment was subjectively considered anatomic in six fractures, near-anatomic in five fractures and acceptable in 11 fractures. Median time to fixator removal was 4.5 weeks (range: 2-20 weeks). Pin or wire tract inflammation developed in nine dogs and was the primary complication occurring during the postoperative convalescent period. Owners of 16 animals were contacted by telephone 7-88 months (median: 37 months) following surgery. Fourteen of those animals had no lameness, whereas two owners reported that their dog had an occasional, subtle weight-bearing lameness. All owners were highly satisfied with the outcome of their pet's surgery.

Discussion: This descriptive case series illustrates the utility of novel inverted hybrid constructs for stabilising proximal juxta-articular appendicular long bone fractures in small animals.

Detomidine hydrochloride is an alpha₂ adrenoceptor agonist that is commonly used in equine practice to provide sedation and analgesia for horses undergoing standing procedures. Reported effects following intravenous administration of detomidine in horses include bradycardia, bradyarrhythmias, transient hypertension, sweating, piloerection and dose-dependent sedation, ataxia and analgesia. This case report describes a novel response characterised by tachycardia and profound muscle tremors following the administration of intravenous detomidine to a horse undergoing a standing procedure.

Objective: To determine if the use of an algorithm for guiding treatment of hypotension during general anaesthesia was effective in limiting the severity or duration of hypotension. The algorithm-guided treatment included both fluid therapy and pharmacological interventions.

Design: Retrospective before-and-after cohort study.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

Animals: Anaesthetised healthy dogs undergoing elective desexing surgery. The before period included 72 dogs and the after period included 81 dogs.

Methods: Anaesthetic records for the 2 years before and after the algorithm was introduced were searched. Inclusion criteria were cases that underwent surgery within the specified time periods. Data extracted included signalment, preanaesthetic tests, drug doses, anaesthetic duration, interventions for hypotension, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate and temperature. Complications between the two time periods were compared.

Results: There was a greater proportion of female dogs in the after period. All other signalment details, preanaesthetic findings, drug doses and anaesthetic duration were the same. Hypotension defined as MAP <60 mmHg occurred in 65% of before and 74% of after cases. Hypotension duration was 40 ± 25.2 and 23 ± 16.9 min (P = 0.0001), and lowest MAP was 46 ± 8.2 and 51 ± 5.8 mmHg (P = 0.007) before and after, respectively. Hypothermia was less severe in the after period (P = 0.033). Algorithm use was associated with more frequent atropine use and lower cumulative volume of intravenous fluid administered.

Conclusions: Introduction of the algorithm significantly reduced the severity and duration of hypotension and the severity of hypothermia. The algorithm could be used by veterinarians to improve outcomes for dogs undergoing elective surgery.

Border disease viruses (BDV) and bovine viral diarrhoea viruses (BVDV) are members of the Pestivirus genus in the family Flaviviridae. While BVDV is one of the most significant endemic viral infections of cattle in Australia, BDV infection is generally considered to be uncommon in Australian sheep. This study describes the widespread detection of BDV on two properties in southern New South Wales following an investigation into poor pregnancy rates, resorbing foetuses and stillborn lambs. Extensive cross-sectional serological studies identified a high seroprevalence in some groups of sheep and low prevalence in others, demonstrating both the extent of infection and the number of susceptible breeding sheep remaining at risk. BDV-specific qRT-PCR confirmed BDV infection of stillborn lambs, and a large number of 'hairy' lambs were confirmed as BDV infected by use of a pestivirus antigen ELISA at marking. In a group of BDV persistently infected lambs that were monitored for 12 months, postweaning survival was low, with 21 of 120 still alive at 5 months of age and 14 still alive at 12 months of age. This study highlights the potential impact BDV can have on production and how management strategies, including breeding young primiparous ewes under intensive management conditions can result in large-scale virus transmission and disease.

Koalas are a native Australian species vulnerable to bushfire events, with 40,000 koalas estimated to have perished during the 2019-2020 summer bushfire event on Kangaroo Island. Determining the distribution and severity of burns is an important component in the treatment of burns in both human and veterinary patients. This project outlines the creation of a clinical chart to evaluate the surface area, distribution and severity of burns in koalas. This was achieved by three-dimensional computed tomographic segmentation to evaluate the surface areas of the whole koala and its external anatomy. The external anatomy was segmented into regions based on vulnerability to thermal injury. Segmentation and proportional surface area data are combined with an illustrated chart to create a chart-based triage tool. This clinical tool can be used to evaluate and document burn-affected surface area, distribution and severity to quantitatively inform prognosis and decision-making when triaging koalas during an Australian bushfire.

Strongyloides stercoralis, a soil-transmitted parasitic helminth, poses significant health risks for various species, including humans and canines. Despite previously being considered rare in Australia, recent findings indicate a higher than anticipated prevalence, suggesting it might be an underdiagnosed issue nationwide. This case report details a deceased 23-week-old female Boston Terrier that presented with severe gastrointestinal signs and died, despite intensive veterinary care. Subsequent histopathological and parasitological examinations confirmed a significant infestation of S. stercoralis, with severe intestinal damage typical of strongyloidiasis. This case underscores the capacity of S. stercoralis to cause severe disease and highlights the importance of considering strongyloidiasis in the differential diagnoses of gastrointestinal illness.

This case report presents the incorporation of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in the successful management of a deep, multiresistant surgery site infection after cementless total hip replacement (THR) in a dog. It outlines the rationale, technique used and clinical efficacy of the approach. The role of VAC in human orthopedic infections is discussed and potential refinements of the technique are proposed.

Introduction: Ingestion of skewer foreign bodies is a common veterinary presentation and can cause perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment strategies for retrieval include: induction of emesis, endoscopic or surgical retrieval. There is a lack of literature describing the treatment options and prognosis for skewer foreign bodies.

Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation of dogs with skewer foreign body ingestion, and to compare outcomes and complication rates between treatment with emesis, endoscopic retrieval or surgical intervention.

Methods: Retrospective study of dogs with confirmed ingestion of a skewer or popsicle stick. Data were collected on signalment, whether ingestion was witnessed, type of object, duration of clinical signs, location of the skewer and treatment performed. Outcomes and complication rates were compared between treatment modalities.

Results: A total of 114 dogs were included. Of these, 48 dogs had emesis induced, 14 dogs had endoscopy performed and 52 dogs underwent surgical removal. Skewers were successfully retrieved in 38/48 (79.2%) via emesis, and 100% by endoscopy or surgery. All dogs survived to discharge. Within the surgical group, the skewer penetrated the gastrointestinal tract in 40/52 dogs (75.5%). Minor complications occurred in 4/13 (30.8%) and 15/47 (31.2%) of dogs following endoscopy and surgery, respectively. Major complications occurred in 2/47 (4.3%) undergoing surgery. No complications occurred within the emesis group.

Clinical significance: Induction of emesis, endoscopic and surgical retrieval are feasible treatments for skewer foreign bodies in dogs. Emesis was effective in dogs who presented soon after ingestion. Complication rates were low, even with perforation of the gastrointestinal tract or other organs.

Chlamydia psittaci was detected by real-time PCR in the lung, liver and kidney of an equine foetus that had aborted in South Australia in August 2023. The corresponding microscopic lesions included lymphocytic and histiocytic chorionitis, necrosis of placental villi associated with bacteria in the cytoplasm of trophoblastic epithelial cells, and multiple microgranulomas in the liver. Equine chlamydial abortion had not been diagnosed previously in South Australia. Eight days after examining the foetus and placenta, the veterinary pathologist developed fever and subsequently was admitted to hospital. Specimens were obtained from the patient by bronchoscopy, and C. psittaci was detected by real-time PCR in the submitted bronchial washings. This is the first report of zoonotic C. psittaci infection acquired by handling infected equine tissues to be confirmed by real-time PCR.