A postal survey of blowfly strike occurrence in two Queensland shires

OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of blowfly strike in sheep flocks in two shires located in south-eastern Queensland. DESIGN: Postal survey of woolgrowers within Stanthorpe and Inglewood shires. PROCEDURE: Questionnaire posted to woolgrowers in June 1999 seeking information on the monthly occurrence of flystrike and number of sheep at risk. RESULTS: Incidence of body strike and breech strike between August 1998 and May 1999 was 1.1 and 0.5%, respectively. The highest incidence of body strike and breech strike was reported in lambs (6.1%) and weaner sheep (1.5%), respectively. The seasonality of the incidence of body strike was bimodal (November and February), whereas the seasonality of the incidence of breech strike was unimodal (April). Occurrence of body strike within a 3-month period in flocks located within 40 to 50 km of each other was significantly (P < 0.05) clustered. CONCLUSION: Body strike appears to be more common than breech strike in the study area, mainly affects lambs and weaners and high-risk periods occur during late spring and autumn. Study results provide valuable information for planning blowfly strike control programs in the area such as timing of management procedures, use of fly traps), and enable the economic impact of flystrike on the industry in this area to be assessed.     

Post mortem survey of peripheral dental caries in 510 Swedish horses

Reasons for performing study: Peripheral caries (PC) of equine teeth is a poorly described disorder that can cause serious clinical problems if it progresses. Objectives: To assess the prevalence, sites and severity of PC in a population of Swedish horses. Methods: A post mortem study of 510 equine skulls was performed in 2 Swedish equine abattoirs. Results: PC only affected the cheek teeth (CT) and was present in 6.1% (31/510) of skulls. It affected mainly the peripheral cementum, and 87% of PC in the 29 affected mature horses occurred in the 3 caudal CT (Triadan 09‐11). Concurrent infundibular caries involving most maxillary CT (mean 9.7/skull) was present in 32% of skulls affected with PC. Trotting horses (mean age 8.1 years) believed to be on a high concentrate and silage diet were preferentially affected with PC in this population. Food was usually tightly adherent to the PC lesions and this feature may have promoted the progression of the disease. Significantly increased levels of diastemata were present in PC‐affected horses, and periodontal disease was present in areas adjacent to some PC lesions. Conclusions: PC is a relatively common disorder of horses under certain management conditions that can progress to cause serious dental disorders, especially if concurrent, widespread infundibular caries is present. Potential relevance: Equine clinicians should be aware of this significant dental disorder and research into its aetiopathogenesis, possible prevention and treatment are required.     

A post-mortem study on the prevalence of peripheral dental caries in Scottish horses

Peripheral caries (PC) is an increasingly recognised equine dental disorder with unknown predisposing factors that differs from the well described maxillary cheek teeth infundibular caries. Advanced PC can lead to premature wear and fracture of cheek teeth and thus is of welfare importance. Recent studies have shown large variation in the prevalence of PC in different European countries, with a trend towards a greatly increasing prevalence. One hundred and one equine heads sourced from a Scottish rendering plant were examined for the presence and grade of PC using the modified Honma equine dental caries grading system. The presence of cheek teeth calculus, diastemata and fractures was also recorded. Peripheral caries was present in 91% of horses; only affected the cheek teeth and was predominantly (72.6%) Grade 1 Class 1 (localised pitting lesions only affecting cementum). The caudal three cheek teeth were more commonly affected (74.7% prevalence) as compared to the rostral three cheek teeth (32.1% prevalence). The palatal aspect of maxillary and the buccal aspect of mandibular cheek teeth were significantly (245% and 170%, respectively) more commonly affected by PC than the opposite sides. Female horses were more commonly affected than males. Because post-mortem examination allows the most detailed oral examination to be performed, this may partly explain the higher PC prevalence found in the current, as compared to previous studies, in addition to the particular population examined in this study.     

A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Part 1: management and preventive health care

Objective To describe management practices and routine preventive care of aged horses in Queensland, Australia, including effects of owner characteristics, affiliation to an equestrian group and retirement of the horse. Methods Owners of horses were contacted via Equestrian Australia (EA) and asked to complete a questionnaire about their aged horses (e.g. age, breed, sex and colour); their use and management, including preventive health care; and use of equine healthcare providers. Results Horses aged 15 years or greater represented one-third of the total horses owned in the population sample. The median age of the horses was 20.7 years (range 15–44 years). Basic husbandry and preventive health care varied depending on demographic region, age of the horse and its use. Affiliation with EA was associated with the breed and use of the horse, but not with management or preventive health care other than frequency of hoof care visits. Retired horses had reduced basic husbandry and preventive health care compared with non-retired horses. There was reduced preventive health care in rural compared with urban areas. The majority (61%) of horses in the current study had not been visited by a veterinarian in the previous 12 months. Conclusion Aged horses constitute a large subgroup of the Australian horse population. Although basic management is at a high level for most aged horses, it appears to be reduced following the horse's retirement and in the more rural areas. There was limited veterinary involvement in preventive healthcare strategies for aged horses, especially in rural areas.     

An abattoir survey of reproductive organ abnormalities in beef heifers

During the period from April 1984 to March 1985, a survey of abnormalities in beef heifer reproductive tracts was performed in an Ontario abattoir. Data concerning both pregnancy and gross pathology were collected on 5800 heifers. Pregnancy was found in 382 (6.6%) of the heifers examined. Various abnormalities were detected in 1499 (27.7%) of the remaining 5418 heifers. Cystic ovaries were found in 807 nonpregnant heifers (14.9%) and ovarian bursal adhesions and mucometra affected 5.4% and 5.0% of heifers, respectively. The prevalence of cystic ovaries and mucometrs was higher (p<0.05) in heifers exposed to melengestrol acetate.     

A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Part 2: Clinical signs and owners' perceptions of health and welfare

Objective To describe the prevalence and risk factors for clinical signs of disease and owner-reported health or welfare issues of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Methods Owners of horses were contacted via an equestrian organisation in Queensland and asked to complete a questionnaire about their horses aged 15 years and older, to gain information about clinical signs observed in the horse and disease history. Owners were asked to identify health or welfare issues they felt were important in aged horses. Results Owners were able to identify many clinical signs of disease, with 83% of horses having at least one reported clinical sign of disease. Muscle stiffness (33%), lameness (28%), ocular discharge (22%), change in hair coat (22%) and skin problems (21%) were the most commonly reported signs. Increasing age was a risk factor for the presence of clinical signs of disease. Ponies had an increased risk of both laminitis and hirsutism, whereas Thoroughbreds had an increased risk of stereotypies, wounds, weight loss and musculoskeletal signs. Owners reported a known disease or disorder in their horses less frequently than the clinical signs of disease. Owners reported weight loss (28%), arthritis/lameness (24%) and teeth/dental care (18%) as the most important health issues, followed by welfare issues (8%). Conclusion Owners demonstrated concern for the health and welfare of their aged horses, but the lack of appropriate recognition of the significance of clinical signs and limited veterinary care suggest a need for increased client communication and veterinarian–client interaction.     

Molecular detection of equine infectious anemia virus in clinically normal, seronegative horses in an endemic area of Mexico

Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a highly infectious disease in members of the Equidae family, caused by equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The disease severity ranges from subclinical to acute or chronic, and causes significant economic losses in the equine industry worldwide. Serologic tests for detection of EIAV infection have some concerns given the prolonged seroconversion time. Therefore, molecular methods are needed to improve surveillance programs for this disease. We attempted detection of EIAV in 6 clinical and 42 non-clinical horses in Nuevo Leon State, Mexico, using the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test for antibody detection, and nested and hemi-nested PCR for detection of proviral DNA. We found that 6 of 6, 5 of 6, and 6 of 6 clinical horses were positive by AGID, nested PCR, and hemi-nested PCR, respectively, whereas 0 of 42, 1 of 42, and 9 of 42 non-clinical horses were positive by these tests, respectively. BLAST analysis of the 203-bp 5′-LTR/tat segment of PCR product revealed 83–93% identity with EIAV isolates in GenBank and reference strains from other countries. By phylogenetic analysis, our Mexican samples were grouped in a different clade than other sequences reported worldwide, indicating that the LRT/tat region represents an important target for the detection of non-clinical horses.     

Bovine cysticercosis in cattle slaughtered at Awassa municipal abattoir, Ethiopia: prevalence, cyst viability, distribution and its public health implication

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2005 to April 2006 on bovine cysticercosis in cattle slaughtered at Awassa municipal abattoir with the objective of determining the prevalence of Taenia saginata cysticercosis, cyst viability, distribution and its public health implication. Questionnaire survey involving 120 respondents was also conducted on human taeniasis. A total of 400 carcasses were examined during the study period, of which 105 (26.25%) were infected with T. saginata metacestodes. From a total of 3200 samples inspected, 500 cysticerci were detected in 141 samples, of which 221 (44.2%) were alive. The anatomical distribution of cysticerci were 65 (29.2%) heart, 56 (25.3%) shoulder muscle, 59 (26.7%) masseter, 23 (10.4%) tongue, 12 (5.4%) diaphragm, three (1.4%) liver, two (0.9%) lung and one (0.5%) kidney samples. The prevalence varied significantly between local and crossbred animals (OR = 3.15, P < 0.05), but not varied between sex, age groups and origin of the animals. T. saginata taeniasis was a widespread public health problem in the town with an overall prevalence of 64.2% (77 of 120). The potential risk factors for disease contraction were raw meat consumption, religion and occupational risks. In conclusion, the study revealed high prevalence of T. saginata metacestodes throughout the edible organs together with existence of deep-rooted tradition of raw meat consumption. This may magnify the public health hazards of T. saginata in the study area. As a result, the disease deserves due attention to safeguard the public health and further promote beef industry in the country.     

Treatment of equine cheek teeth by mechanical widening of diastemata in 60 horses (2000-2006)

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Cheek teeth (CT) diastemata are a significant cause of painful dental disease in horses and limited factual information is available on the treatment of this disorder. OBJECTIVE: To assess the response to mechanical widening in the treatment of diastema. METHOD: Details of the presenting signs and treatment of cases of CT diastema by widening were recorded and the response to treatment of these cases assessed by re-examinations and by obtaining follow-up information from owners. RESULTS: Sixty horses of various breeds, median age 9 years, with clinically significant CT diastemata were classified as having primary (inadequate rostro-caudal CT compression: n = 29) and secondary (to other dental abnormalities: n = 31) diastemata. Quidding was present in 82% of cases, weight loss in 35%, halitosis in 17% and bitting disorders in 12%; 85% of the identified CT diastemata involved mandibular CT and 15% maxillary CT, with caudal CT more commonly affected. Of 273 identified diastemata in the 60 horses, 207 were deemed to have significantly associated periodontal food pocketing and were widened to 4.5-5.5 mm diameter on their occlusal surface using a mechanical burr. The 29 horses with primary diastemata received a median of 1.3 treatments each and at 10 months following their last treatment 72% showed complete remission of signs and 28% showed good improvement. The 31 horses with secondary diastemata received a median of 2.2 treatments each and, at mean 9 months following their last treatment, 48% showed full improvement, 42% good improvement, 6% slight improvement and 3% no improvement. Inappropriate areas of the clinical crown were removed from 4 CT without causing pulpar exposure; one case was reported to have a transient oral infection post treatment and another developed an apical infection in a treated tooth that was unrelated to the diastema widening. CONCLUSION: Diastema widening is an effective treatment of periodontal pocketing in CT diastemata. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The described treatment of CT diastema widening by trained personnel is an effective and safe treatment, but repeated treatments are often necessary, especially with secondary diastemata.     

Significant features of the epidemiology of equine influenza in Queensland, Australia, 2007

An outbreak of equine influenza (EI) caused by influenza A H3N8 subtype virus occurred in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales in August 2007. Infection in the Australian horse population was associated with the introduction of infection by horses from overseas. The first case of EI in Queensland was detected on 25 August 2007 at an equestrian sporting event. Infection subsequently spread locally and to other clusters through horse movements prior to the implementation of an official standstill. There were five main clusters of infected properties during this outbreak and several outliers, which were investigated to find the potential mechanism of disease spread. To contain the outbreak, Queensland was divided into infection status zones, with different movement controls applied to each zone. Vaccination was implemented strategically in infected areas and within horse subpopulations. Control and eventual eradication of EI from Queensland was achieved through a combination of quarantine, biosecurity measures, movement control, rapid diagnostic testing and vaccination.     

Evaluation of the long-term oral consequences of equine exodontia in 50 horses

The aims of this study were to objectively evaluate and quantify the process of post-extraction cheek teeth (CT) dental drift in horses, and to report on associated disorders of CT wear and long-term periodontal health. Fifty horses that had CT oral extraction because of apical infection were prospectively re-examined and a full oral examination, including measurements of some dental parameters, was performed.Narrowing of the extraction space was noted in all cases with complete closure occurring in 18% of horses. The rate of dental drift was calculated as 15.7% of extraction space/year (range 4–50%) and was not associated with the age at extraction (P = 0.78) or frequency of dental care since extraction (P = 0.48). There was a significant negative relationship between the rate of dental drift and the duration of time since extraction (P = 0.008). Overgrowths were present on the opposite CT row in 98% of horses, including opposite the extracted CT and on the Triadan 06s and 11s. No significant difference was noted in either the number of diastemata (P = 0.9) or periodontal disease score (P = 0.8) between the extraction and the contralateral cheek tooth rows.     

Folliculogenesis, embryo parameters and post-transfer recipient pregnancy rate following equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment in cycling donor mares

Background Induction of multiple ovulations, or superovulation, may potentially increase the efficiency of equine embryo transfer programs. Our objective was to investigate the effects of equine follicle‐stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment on the success rate of embryo transfer programs in mares. Methods In the research facility of the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, we studied 12 donor mares and 37 recipient mares during the physiological breeding season. Donor mares were used in two consecutive oestrous cycles: the first served as the control cycle and in the second an eFSH regimen was applied (eFSH cycle). In the control cycle, mares were administered human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce ovulation when a follicle ≥35 mm in diameter was detected by transrectal ultrasonographic examination. In the second oestrous cycle, twice‐daily eFSH treatment was initiated when a follicle ≥25 mm was detected and treatment ceased when a follicle ≥35 mm was present, at which time hCG was administered. All donor mares were artificially inseminated while in oestrus using fresh semen collected from a stallion of proven fertility. At 8 days post‐ovulation, embryos were recovered transcervically and transferred individually to the uterus of a synchronised recipient mare. Results The eFSH treatment stimulated the ovary and resulted in greater numbers of ovulations and recovered embryos; however the recovered embryos tended to have a lower morphological grade than the control embryos, and the recipient pregnancy rate per transferred embryo was lower than anticipated. Conclusion The numbers of recipient pregnancies and foals born that resulted from eFSH treatment were not different from the control.