Incidence of canine rabies in N'Djaména, Chad

This work describes for the first time the incidence risk of passively reported canine rabies, and quantifies reported human exposure in N'Djaména (the capital of Chad). To diagnose rabies, we used a direct immunofluorescent-antibody test (IFAT). From January 2001 to March 2002, we were brought 34 rabies cases in dogs and three cases in cats. Canine cases were geographically clustered. The annual incidence risk of canine rabies was 1.4 (95% CI: 1.2, 1.7) per 1000 unvaccinated dogs. Most of the rabid dogs were owned-although free-roaming and not vaccinated against rabies. Most showed increased aggressiveness and attacked people without being provoked. Eighty-one persons were exposed to rabid dogs and four persons to rabid cats (mostly children<15 years old). Most of the exposed persons were neighbours or family members of the animal owner. Most exposures were transdermal bites, but nearly half of all exposed persons did not apply any first wound care or only applied a traditional treatment. In N'Djaména, humans are often exposed to canine rabies but do not use the full-course post-exposure treatment and wound care is insufficient. Most rabid dogs would be accessible to parenteral vaccination. Pilot vaccination campaigns are needed to determine the success of dog mass vaccination in N'Djaména as a way to prevent animal and human rabies.     

Morphological characterization of Pelibuey sheep in Colima, México

A study was conducted with the objective to characterize the morphology of Pelibuey sheep in the state of Colima, Mexico. A total of 386 sheep were scored for 12 body measurements in addition to live weight and five racial and eight functional indices were calculated. The influence of sex on the body measurements and indices was analyzed, and morphological harmony was determined through Pearson correlation. The sexual dimorphism was 1.21, with males being 67 % heavier than females. Females and males had a high and moderate degree of harmony in their morphological model, respectively. Pelibuey sheep were dolichocephalous, tended to be medium- to large-sized according to the thoracic index, with a convex curve rump; they were a homogeneous breed, well adapted to environmental and production conditions of the state of Colima, Mexico, and show an undefined zootechnical aptitude and therefore a great potential to be oriented towards meat or milk production through genetic selection or terminal crossbreeding systems using specialized breeds.     

The state of the ecosystem on Anticosti Island, Québec

The state of the ecosystem of Anticosti Island, Québec, was studied by veterinary students (n = 17) and faculty (n = 4) in the summer of 1999. The field of ecosystem health is an integrative science requiring the expertise of professionals in several disciplines, including socioeconomic, ecological, biophysical, human health, and animal health (1).     

Prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle from Santarém, Pará, Brazil

Prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies was measured in serum samples randomly collected from dairy (40 cows from four farms) and beef cattle (120 animals from 12 farms) from the municipality of Santarém, Pará State, Brazil, calculated by using the Win Episcope 2.0 statistical program. The presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was determined by indirect immunofluorescence-antibody test with a cut-off value of 1:100. We found that 13 farms (81.25%) showed infection rates above 10%, which indicates widespread distribution of N. caninum in the region. The frequency per animal was 19%. No difference was observed between the prevalence values in dairy and beef animals or between farms, which was probably due to the small number of dairy farms examined. The results confirm, for the first time, the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in cattle from Pará State and the necessity to further investigate the epidemiology of N. caninum in the Amazon region.     

Wool traits of three sympatric sheep populations in Chiapas Region, México

A total of 344 pure animals, representing seven American and South European breeds (White Chiapas Blanca, Brown Chiapas Café, Black Chiapas Negra, Churra Badana, Churra da Terra Quente, Chilean Latxa, and Spanish Merino), were randomly sampled and wool evaluated for isoalcohol scouring yield, length, and proportion for each type of fiber (long-thick, short-thin, and kemp), average of fiber diameter, and F30 (percentage of fibers with a diameter of >30 μm). The objective of this study was to characterize these breeds according to their wool traits. A low percentage of the phenotypic variability in the analyzed animals was due to differences among breeds, and that the largest part of that variability is due to differences within breeds. The obtained topology in the principal coordinates analysis showed the grouping of the three Chiapas breeds clearly separated, but the similarity with their original breed was only evident for Brown Chiapas Café. The three Chiapas sheep breeds must be regarded as clearly sympatric populations.     

Adjuvants et stimulants de l'immunité: propriétés immunorégulatrices du muramyl-dipeptide, des corynébactéries anaérobies et du diéthyldithiocarbamate de sodium

Several immunomodulator agents may influence the host immune system. Among them there are the adjuvants and the immunostimulant agents. In this paper, after a brief review of the mechanism of action of adjuvants, we have described the adjuvant and stimulant properties of muramyl-dipeptide, anaerobic corynebacteria and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate.     

A hundred years of importation: The first animal quarantine station in North America; Lévis, Québec, 1876-1982

Quarantine, as a means of preventing disease importation, has been used for people and animals since the mid-19th century in Canada. The first animal quarantine facility in North America was established at Lévis, Québec in 1876. This quarantine station existed at Lévis until 1982 when it was closed and the function moved to Mirabel, Québec, near the International Airport. Veterinarians were in charge during the life of the Lévis Quarantine Station and some were also in charge of the Port of Quebec or a nearby District Office prior to the 1950's. In 1884 and 1886 the value of such a facility was illustrated in preventing the entry into Canada of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and a vesicular disease. It was described in 1933 as “undoubtedly our most important quarantine station” and a year's operating costs as “trifling in comparison to losses which could occur if a foreign plague invaded this country”. This facility's history also illustrated the close veterinary and human medical cooperation during the early days of organized veterinary medicine in Canada. The station was an example for the establishment of other such facilities in North America.     

Les milieux de contraste en radiographie: propriétés, applications, indications et contre-indications, I

The author describes the contrast media most commonly used in veterinary radiography. Emphasis is given to its physical properties and applications rather than examination techniques. There is also a reminder of the indications and contraindications for each examination using a given contrast medium.     

Entéropathie, avec perte de protéines, secondaire à une lymphangiectasie intestinale, chez trois chiens

Protein-losing enteropathy secondary to intestinal lymphangiectasia in three dogs

Three cases of protein-losing enteropathy secondary to intestinal lymphangiectasia in the dog are presented.

In the three cases, common clinical findings were nonresponsive diarrhea and weight loss. Subcutaneous edema was observed in case 1. Polyphagia and polydipsia were evident in cases 2 and 3.

Serum examinations revealed low values of protein with a normal albumin/globulin ratio. There was histopathological evidence of dilatation of lacteals, as well as plasma cell and lymphocyte infiltration in the small intestine.

In the three cases, a corticotherapy was instituted and gave good results.

     

Les milieux de contraste en radiographie: Propriétés, applications, indications et contre-indications, II

The author describes the contrast media most commonly used in veterinary radiography. Emphasis is given to their physical properties and their applications rather than examination techniques. There is also a reminder of the indications and contra-indications for each examination using a given contrast medium.     

A comparison of jump performances of the dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis, 1826) and the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835)

Jump performances of Ctenocephalides canis and Ctenocephalides felis felis have been measured and compared on unfed young imagos. The mean length of the C. felis felis jump was 19.9+/-9.1cm; minimum jump was 2cm, and the maximum was one 48cm. The C. canis jump was significantly longer (30.4+/-9.1cm; from 3 to 50cm). For height jump evaluation, grey plastic cylindric tubes measuring 9cm in diameter were used. Their height was increasing from 1 to 30cm by 1cm. Groups of 10 fleas of the same species were deposited on the base of the tube. The number of fleas which succeeded in jumping above the tube was recorded. The mean height jump carried out by 50% of fleas was calculated after linearisation of the curves: it was 15.5 and 13.2cm for C. canis and C. felis, respectively. The highest jump was 25 for C. canis and 17cm for C. felis.     

Evaluation of the relationship between personality traits, experience, education and biosecurity compliance on poultry farms in Québec, Canada

Biosecurity compliance is an issue in all types of animal production. Poor compliance is frequently related to lack of knowledge or comprehension. Human dimensions, such as personality and attitudes were also suggested as being related to compliance. As part of a larger study, personality traits, experience, education and training of employees, visitors and growers were evaluated to assess their relationship with their compliance with biosecurity measures when entering and exiting poultry barns. Biosecurity compliance was evaluated using hidden cameras. One hundred fourteen individuals involved in a total of 2379 visits on 23 poultry farms responded to a personality test. Results demonstrated that several determinants of compliance exist, and some are related to personality, experience and education. Three personality traits were significantly associated with compliance: responsibility, complexity and action-oriented. Such information has important implications for the selection of job applicants or task attribution and to enhance effectiveness of training programs.     

The susceptibility of Trypanosoma congolense isolated in Zambézia Province, Mozambique, to isometamidium chloride, diminazene aceturate and homidium chloride

Resistance to trypanocidal drugs has been detected in various African countries and is a serious impediment to the control of livestock trypanosomosis. To determine whether drug resistant trypanosome strains are present in the Zambézia Province of Mozambique a study was initiated. To assess the effect of the farming system and the drug-use regimen on the development of drug resistance, trypanosome isolates were collected from cattle from subsistence and commercial livestock production systems. The susceptibility of seven isolates against isometamidium chloride, diminazene aceturate and homidium chloride was tested in mice using a multiple-dose test. In four of the seven isolates high levels of drug resistance to diminazene aceturate and isometamidium chloride were detected. In most cases the observed levels of drug resistance correlated with the drug-use practices in the particular livestock production system.     

Canine dirofilariasis in the region of Conceição Lagoon,Florianópolis,and in the Military Police kennel,São José, State of Santa Catarina,Brazil

Eighty dogs from a locality west of the Concei??o Lagoon, in the Santa Catarina Island, Florianópolis Municipality, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, were examined for dirofilariasis by thick smear and by modified Knott's method. Twelve of them (15%) were positive, five only by Knott's, two only by thick smear and five by both methods. Positive dogs were observed in several parts of the locality, indicating that the parasite is widespread. Prevalence was significantly higher in older animals. Size, sex, hair length, place of sleeping and hour of blood collection did not significantly influence the results. Forty dogs of the Military Police kennel, at S?o José Municipality, Santa Catarina State, were all negative. Studies on the transmission and control of dirofilariasis in the region should be developed.     

Epidemiology behavior of leptospirosis in Ciénaga de Oro,Córdoba (Colombia)

The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiology of leptospirosis in rural areas of Ciénaga de Oro, Córdoba, Colombia, a convenience sampling was carried out on 13 farms. The sample size was 325 reproductive age cows, 11 canine samples, and 20 humans. The samples were subjected to MAT analysis with 11 serogroups of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato. Once the MAT results were received, urine samples were collected from 78 cows, along with 39 water samples, for bacteriological cultures and PCR for the 16S rRNA gene in L. interrogans sensu lato. Positive PCR samples were sequenced to determine the possible genome species. The leptospirosis seroprevalence was 74.5% in the cattle, 70.0% in the dogs, and 45.5% in the humans. Although isolation was not achieved, L. interrogans sensu lato was detected by PCR in three urine samples and in a sample of wastewater. The sequencing confirmed the circulation of pathogenic species. The high prevalence of antibodies for L. interrogans sensu lato and the molecular evidence led to the inference that the rural areas of Ciénaga de Oro are endemic and that cattle can act as renal carriers and contaminate water sources, which increases the risk of contracting leptospirosis.