A preliminary equine abuse policy with potential application to veterinary practice

An equine abuse policy was developed as an adjunct to an equine management survey. If at least 3 of 5 categories caused concern, a report to the authorities was indicated. The policy was not used but, in the absence of other guidelines, it might assist veterinarians considering potential abuse cases.     

Acral mutilation and analgesia in 13 French spaniels

Acral mutilation and analgesia (AMA) is reported in 13 French spaniels in Canada. This newly recognized disorder shares striking similarities in clinical features and biopsy findings to the other acral mutilation syndromes or hereditary sensory neuropathies reported in German short-haired pointer dogs, English pointer dogs and English springer spaniels. Clinical signs are first noted between 3.5 and 12 months of age. Affected dogs lick, bite and severely self-mutilate their distal extremities resulting in ulcers with secondary bacterial infection. Auto-amputation of claws, digits and footpads occurs in severe cases. Single or multiple feet can be affected. Affected dogs walked on their severely mutilated feet without evidence of pain, lameness, or ataxia. The majority of the dogs were euthanized within days to months of diagnosis.     

Oesophageal strictures in cats associated with doxycycline therapy

Four cases of oesophageal stricture subsequent to doxycycline administration are reported. All cases were young to middle age (median age 3 years; range 1-7 years), and either domestic shorthair or domestic longhair breed. In all cases the predominant clinical sign was regurgitation, which developed at variable times after doxycycline administration. In all cases the reason for doxycycline use was treatment or prophylaxis of suspected infections (Mycoplasma haemofelis, Chlamydophila felis or Bordetella bronchiseptica), and the duration of therapy was variable. In one case the stricture was definitively diagnosed at post mortem examination, in the three other cases, definitive diagnosis was by endoscopy. Balloon dilation was successful in the three cases that were treated. This is the largest case series, to date, of oesophageal disease in cats associated with doxycycline administration. Caution should be exercised when administering oral medication to cats, especially doxycycline, and should be accompanied either by a water or food swallow.     

Development and validation of species-specific primers that provide a molecular diagnostic for virus-vector longidorid nematodes and related species in German viticulture

The nematode species Longidorus attenuatus, L. elongatus, L. macrosoma and Paralongidorus maximusare economically important pests to the viticulture industry due to their ability to vector two nepoviruses (Raspberry Ringspot Virus and Tomato Black Ring Virus) to grapevines. In Germany, these species occur in vineyard soil with other non-vector but morphologically similar longidorid species, L. helveticus, L.profundorum and L. sturhani. Species-specific primers were designed from ribosomal DNA for all seven species to facilitate taxonomic identification for non-specialists. Primers were assessed for their reliability by screening, where possible, a number of populations of each species. Furthermore, their selectivity and sensitivity were determined when challenged with closely related longidorid species and general nematode communities typical of vineyard soil. A multiplex approach using a common forward primer combined with species-specific reverse primers enabled three target nematode species to be detected in the same PCR reaction. All primers were highly specific, detecting all nematode developmental forms from disparate populations and were sufficiently sensitive to detect a single target nematode within a whole nematode community typical of a vineyard soil comprising of a range of non-target species. Given their specificity, sensitivity and reliability, these diagnostic primers should be of great benefit to both phytosanitary/quarantine services related to the viticulture industry and also as a decision management tool for growers.     

Real-time detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora nicotianae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. citrophthora</Emphasis>in citrus roots and soil

Two primers, specific for Phytophthora nicotianae (Pn6) and P. citrophthora (Pc2B), were modified to obtain Scorpion primers for real-time identification and detection of both pathogens in citrus nursery soils and roots. Multiplex PCR with dual-labelled fluorogenic probes allowed concurrent identification of both species ofPhytophthora among 150 fungal isolates, including 14 species of Phytophthora. Using P. nicotianaespecific primers a delayed and lower fluorescence increase was also obtained from P. cactorumDNA. However, in separate real-time amplifications, the aspecific increase of fluorescence from P. cactorum was avoided by increasing the annealing temperature. In multiplex PCR, with a series of 10-fold DNA dilutions, the detection limit was 10 pg l^-1 for P. nicotianaeand 100 pg l^–1 for P. citrophthora, whereas in separate reaction DNA up to 1 pg l^-1 was detected for both pathogens.Simple and rapid procedures for direct DNA extraction from soil and roots were utilised to yield DNA whose purity and quality was suitable for PCR assays. By combining these protocols with a double amplification (nested Scorpion-PCR) using primers Ph2-ITS4 amplifying DNA from the main Phytophthora species (first round) and PnB5-Pn6 Scorpion and Pc2B Scorpion-Pc7 (second round), it was possible to achieve real-time detection of P. nicotianaeand P. citrophthora from roots and soil. The degree of sensitivity was similar to that of traditional detection methods based on the use of selective media. The analyses of artificially and naturally infested soil showed a high and significant correlation between the concentration of pathogen propagules and the real-time PCR cycle threshold.     

Evaluation of the bioequivalence of two formulations of deltamethrin for treatment of sheep with psoroptic mange

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of 2 deltamethrin emulsifiable concentrates that differed on the basis of vehicle (methyl glycol acetate [AMG] or 2-propylene glycol 1-methyl ether acetate [AMP]) for the treatment of sheep with mange. ANIMALS: 30 ewes between 11 months and 7 years old that weighed 16 to 71 kg and were naturally infested with Psoroptes ovis. PROCEDURE: Sheep were randomly allocated into 3 groups (13 sheep in group AMP, 13 sheep in group AMG, and 4 negative-control sheep). Each sheep was dipped twice (10-day interval between dippings) in the assigned formulation. Assessment of efficacy was performed on days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, and 63 after the first dipping. Efficacy was assessed by determining the number of eggs or live mites on those days, as well as regrowth of wool at the end of the study. RESULTS: Psoroptic mange infestation was maintained in the 4 control sheep throughout the study. We did not detect live Psoroptes mites in scrapings after day 7 (AMP group) or after day 14 (AMG group). No parasites were seen after day 14 in either treatment group. Therefore, efficacy was 100% for both treatment groups from days 14 to 63. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The 2 formulations of deltamethrin were equally able to eradicate Psoroptes infestation of sheep after 2 dippings performed in accordance with the label recommendations.     

Chronic wasting disease in Canada: Part 1

The purpose of part 1 is to provide an overview of published literature (1980-2002) on chronic wasting disease (CWD) to inform Canadian readers about the disease and to explain Canadian regulatory approaches to the surveillance and control of CWD. Much of the scientific information is drawn from American publications obtained from internet searches in PubMed and Medline databases. The following keywords were used: chronic wasting disease, prion, diagnosis, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, CWD and deer, CWD and elk, and CWD and environment. The article also presents information from Canadian publications and unpublished observations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) documents, and both government and nongovernment internet Web sites. The article highlights some different features of CWD in Canada, as compared with the situation in the United States, and mentions public health implications of the disease. It also describes the basis for development of Canada's surveillance and control program. Part 2 will detail the activities and results of the surveillance and control program during 2000 to 2002 and discuss factors that will influence the feasibility of eradicating CWD. Chronic wasting disease appears to have been introduced into Canada through the importation of infected farmed elk from the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s, at a time when little was known about the disease. Since then, eradication efforts in Canada have led to the control of the spread of CWD in the farmed elk industry. Still, management of this disease, especially in free-ranging cervids, is a challenge.