3品种工作犬幼犬警用行为测试

通过测试3品种工作犬幼犬的警用行为表现,为深入研究工作犬的品种特性,改进受训犬考评机制、提高训练的技术手段及有效建设种犬群提供数据支撑和理论依据。随机选取德国牧羊犬、昆明犬、马里努阿犬的幼犬,共计254头,测定其胆量、兴奋性及衔取等警用行为参数,以品种、品种间公母及本品种公母分组进行对比分析。结果显示,德国牧羊犬、昆明犬和马里努阿犬的各项警用行为指标达到A级和B级的较少,大多数分布于C级,警用素质综合评定为合格以上的犬总体衔取率不高,分别为41.18%、51.65%、35.71%。比较3品种犬的警用行为发现,马里努阿犬的衔取率与德国牧羊犬和昆明犬差异显著,兴奋性指标与德国牧羊犬差异显著,胆量指标与昆明犬差异显著;在3品种公犬间,马里努阿犬在衔取水平上与德国牧羊犬和昆明犬差异显著,马里努阿犬在兴奋性水平上与德国牧羊犬差异显著;母犬间差异均不显著;本品种内公母犬间差异均不显著。研究表明:一是通过改变训练技术手段提高幼犬警用性能的空间较大;二是公犬是各品种间警用行为指标存在差异的主要因素;三是无需考虑本品种的公母对训练影响。     

Prevalence of canid herpesvirus-1 infection in stillborn and dead neonatal puppies in Denmark

Background

Canid herpesvirus-1 (CaHV-1) infection in puppies less than three weeks of age is often reported to be associated with a lethal generalized necrotizing inflammation and since the discovery of the virus in 1965 several reports of neonatal infections have been published. However, the significance of CaHV-1 for peri- and neonatal mortality in puppies remains unclear. Therefore, we examined stillborn and dead neonatal puppies in Denmark to determine the prevalence of infection and further to correlate infection levels with necropsy findings to assess the possible significance of the infection.

Results

From a cross-sectional study of 57 dead puppies, 22.8% (n = 13) were confirmed positive for CaHV-1 by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of tissue pools of lung/liver and/or spleen/kidney. Specimens from PCR positive cases were further investigated by histology and in situ hybridization (ISH). High levels of CaHV-1 DNA were present in only one case in which lesions and ISH staining consistent with CaHV-1 infection were found as well. CaHV-1 concentrations in the other cases were low and a range of lesions not consistent with CaHV-1 were found. Similar, ISH staining was mostly negative in these except for one case with a few positive cells.

Conclusion

CaHV-1 infection in stillborn and dead neonatal puppies in Denmark seems to be common, but the direct significance for puppy mortality remains unclear as only one of 13 PCR positive puppies (7.7%) had pathognomonic lesions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13028-014-0092-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Recombinant bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (rBPI21) for treatment of parvovirus enteritis: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

We evaluated the ability of an antimicrobial and endotoxin-neutralizing agent, the recombinant amino terminal fragment of bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (rBPI21), to decrease plasma endotoxin concentration and severity of clinical signs of canine parvovirus and to improve survival. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 40 client-owned dogs and 9 normal puppies from a closed research colony. Dogs weighing >5 kg (11 lb) with fecal antigen-confirmed parvovirus and clinical signs of vomiting and diarrhea were randomly assigned to receive placebo or rBPI21 infusion over 6 hours. Plasma endotoxin concentration was measured at 0, 3, and 6 hours of infusion. Owners chose continued medical care with either the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Internal Medicine Service or a local veterinarian. Telephone follow-up was conducted at 14 days. Surviving dogs were reevaluated at >30 days (recovered group), at which time plasma samples for measurement of endotoxin concentration were obtained. Plasma endotoxin concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with parvovirus than in normal or recovered dogs. Despite 90% survival, the rBPI21 treatment did not have a significant effect on outcome, duration of hospitalization, or plasma endotoxin concentrations. Treatment in a tertiary care hospital, however, significantly improved survival but resulted in a significantly increased duration of hospitalization. Endotoxemia occurs in dogs with parvovirus enteritis, but rBPI21 is not associated with improved survival.