Pet ownership increases human risk of encountering ticks

We examined whether pet ownership increased the risk for tick encounters and tickborne disease among residents of three Lyme disease‐endemic states as a nested cohort within a randomized controlled trial. Information about pet ownership, use of tick control for pets, property characteristics, tick encounters and human tickborne disease were captured through surveys, and associations were assessed using univariate and multivariable analyses. Pet‐owning households had 1.83 times the risk (95% CI = 1.53, 2.20) of finding ticks crawling on and 1.49 times the risk (95% CI = 1.20, 1.84) of finding ticks attached to household members compared to households without pets. This large evaluation of pet ownership, human tick encounters and tickborne diseases shows that pet owners, whether of cats or dogs, are at increased risk of encountering ticks and suggests that pet owners are at an increased risk of developing tickborne disease. Pet owners should be made aware of this risk and be reminded to conduct daily tick checks of all household members, including the pets, and to consult their veterinarian regarding effective tick control products.     

宠物与宠物保健品

介绍了宠物的定义与分类,宠物与人类健康的新理念,宠物福利与保健等与宠物相关的常识。重点阐述了宠物保健品特别是宠物生物制品的研发现状,并对宠物保健品的监管提出了几点建议。     

Village level risk factors for foot-and-mouth disease in Northern Thailand

A study was undertaken in northern Thailand to identify factors which put some villages at higher risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks than others. The number of FMD outbreaks experienced in the previous 5 years and data on 145 putative risk factors were obtained by interview from 60 villages during 1991–1992. Univariable analyses identified 27 factors for further investigation using logistic regression. When villages were classified into three FMD frequency groups of zero to one, two to three or four or more outbreaks in the last 5 years, the important factors explaining the differences in risk were the total number of cattle and buffaloes purchased in the previous year, the number of neighbouring villages which shared a common water source and whether agriculture was the most important source of cash income for the village. These factors were also the most important variables in explaining the difference in risk when comparing villages with zero or one outbreak with those having four or more. We concluded that the greatest impact on reducing spread of FMD among villages would be obtained through the development of strategies to reduce the likelihood of introduction through livestock purchases and for villagers to take greater care when livestock are grazed with those from neighbouring villages and when sharing common water supplies.     

Pet owner attitudes to pets and people: a psychological study

A preliminary attempt was made to assess how pet owners view their relationships with their pets and how pet relationships compare with human relationships. In the sample studied there was a marked variation between individuals in their perceptions but two group trends emerged. First, the pet relationship was most similar to the relationship to the individual's own child and, secondly, the pet relationship was frequently valued because of the attributes of 'dependency', 'fun/play' and 'relaxation based on absence of demands'. It is suggested that the personal meaning of pets for people needs to be further explored.     

Climatic and aeroallergen risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in horses

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between climate and airborne pollen and fungal factors and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in horses. SAMPLE POPULATION: Data from 1,444 horses with a diagnosis of COPD. PROCEDURE: The Veterinary Medical Database was used to identify records of horses admitted to veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada between 1990 and 1999. Rainfall, mean minimum and maximum temperature, and maximum monthly pollen and fungal spore (mold) counts recorded at the city closest to where the hospital is located were identified for each month data were reported to the Veterinary Medical Database. Associations between climatic and aeroallergen data and monthly prevalence of COPD were estimated by use of cross-correlation and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Significant positive correlations were found between prevalence of COPD and rainfall 3 months previously, minimum temperature 1 and 2 months previously, total pollen counts measured 3 months previously, and total mold counts measured during the same month and 1 month previously. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Outdoor aeroallergens and climatic factors may contribute to the occurrence of COPD in horses.     

Environmental risk factors for equine West Nile virus disease cases in Texas

West Nile Virus (WNV) was first detected in the Texas equine population during June 2002. Infection has since spread rapidly across the state and become endemic in the equine population. Environmental risk factors associated with equine WNV attack rates in Texas counties during the period 2002 to 2004 were investigated. Equine WNV attack rates were smoothed using an empirical Bayesian model, because of the variability among county equine populations (range 46−9,517). Risk factors investigated included hydrological features (lakes, rivers, swamps, canals and river basins), land cover (tree, mosaic, shrub, herbaceous, cultivated and artificial), elevation, climate (rainfall and temperature), and reports of WNV-positive mosquito and wild bird samples. Estimated county equine WNV attack rate was best described by the number of lakes, presence of broadleaf deciduous forest, presence of cultivated areas, location within the Brazos River watershed, WNV-positive mosquito status and average temperature. An understanding of environmental factors that increase equine WNV disease risk can be used to design and target disease control programs.     

Risk factors for unsuccessful dog ownership: an epidemiologic study in Taiwan

This retrospective study of 259 Taiwanese dog owners in 2004 addressed one of the major contributors to dog overpopulation in Taiwan: unsuccessful dog ownership. We found an inverse association between age of the dog at acquisition and risk of unsuccessful dog ownership: the younger the dog at acquisition the higher the risk. The incidence-proportion ratios (IPRs) of unsuccessful dog ownership for the owners who had a history of pet abandonment or losing a pet compared with those without such a history were 1.8 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1, 3.0) and 2.1 (95% CI=1.3, 3.3), respectively. Soiling (IPR=2.0, 95% CI=1.3, 3.1) and barking (IPR=1.6, 95% CI=1.0, 2.6) problems had the strongest effects on unsuccessful dog ownership among the post-acquisition variables studied. Preventing owners with a history of unsuccessful dog ownership from acquiring dogs was predicted to yield the largest reduction of risk of unsuccessful dog ownership among the investigated variables (population attributable fraction=33%, 95% CI=11%, 50%).     

Johne's disease in Canada part II: disease impacts, risk factors, and control programs for dairy producers

Part I of this 2-part review examined the clinical stages, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and epidemiology of Johne's disease, providing information relevant to Canada, where available. In Part II, a critical review of the economic impacts of the disease, risk factors, and important control measures are presented to enable Canadian bovine practitioners to successfully implement control strategies and participate in control programs. In cattle positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, there is a 2.4 times increase in the risk of their being culled, and their lactational 305-day milk production is decreased by at least 370 kg. Reduced slaughter value and premature culling account for losses of CDN dollars 1330 per year per infected 50-cow herd. Research has failed to show a consistent association between Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis test status and reduced fertility or risk of clinical or subclinical mastitis. Host level factors include age and level of exposure, along with source of exposure, such as manure, colostrum, or milk. Agent factors involve the dose of infectious agent and strains of bacteria. Environmental management factors influence the persistence of the bacteria and the level of contamination in the environment. Emphasizing a risk factor approach, various control strategies are reviewed, including a number of national control programs currently in place throughout the world, specifically Australia, The Netherlands, and the United States. By reviewing the scientific literature about Johne's disease, control of the disease could be pursued through informed implementation of rational biosecurity efforts and the strategic use of testing and culling.     

Pharmacotherapy for Behavioral Disorders in Pet Birds

The effective use of psychoactive medications in avian patients is limited by the lack of controlled studies. Appropriate dosages, predictable therapeutic effects, pharmacokinetic data, and information about toxicity are often lacking. A variety of psychoactive agents have been used in avian patients to treat disorders such as feather chewing or picking, self-mutilation of soft tissue, and anxiety, but larger clinical trials and placebo-controlled trials are needed to determine efficacy and safety of these agents. The decision to use psychoactive medication in an avian patient and the choice of medication should be based on existing data for the particular species and an understanding of the drug’s mechanisms and indications. For any behavioral disorder, the need for pharmaceutical intervention requires the following: a thorough physical examination and baseline pretreatment laboratory testing, as indicated by physical examination findings and symptoms; an established diagnosis based on complete behavioral and medical histories; a signed owner consent statement; a behavior modification plan with appropriate environmental modifications; knowledge of the drug, side effects, indications, and mechanisms of action; and realistic expectations about treatment outcomes. Use of antipsychotic agents, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, opioid antagonists, benzodiazepines, and hormonal therapies are described.     

Seroprevalence and risk factors for bovine brucellosis in Jordan

We investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors for Brucella seropositivity in cattle in Jordan. The sera from 671 cows were randomly collected from 62 herds. The antibodies against Brucella were detected using a Rose Bengal plate test and indirect ELISA. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the cattle herds'' health and management. A multiple logistic regression model was constructed to identify the risk factors for Brucella seropositivity. The true prevalence of antibodies against Brucella in individual cows and cattle herds was 6.5% and 23%, respectively. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in cows older than 4 years of age was significantly higher than that in the younger cows. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in cows located in the Mafraq, Zarqa and Ma''an governorates was significantly higher than that of the other studied governorates. The multiple logistic regression model revealed that a larger herd size (odd ratio = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.6) and mixed farming (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.7, 3.7) were risk factors for cattle seropositivity to Brucella antigens. On the other hand, the use of disinfectants (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.1) and the presence of adequate veterinary services (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.2) were identified as protective factors.     

Elucidating the risk factors of feline lower urinary tract disease

A questionnaire-based case-control study investigating the association of a range of host-related, owner-related and environmental risk factors with feline lower urinary tract disease was conducted in New Zealand over a 2-year period from 1991 to 1993. The study was subsequently extended in two ways, to examine the influence of the use of litter trays and to correlate weather records with the appearance of the disease in one particular region of the country. A range of statistical techniques was employed to analyse the data, including univariate odds ratio and chi-squared calculations, time series analysis, Poisson regression and conditional and unconditional logistic regression. Variables that were positively associated with lower urinary tract disease included low activity levels, the use of a litter tray coupled with restriction indoors, a high number of rainfall days in the month preceding the appearance of clinical signs, stress factors such as moving house within the last 3 months or the presence of more than one cat in the household, and a diet high in dry cat food. There was some indication that high levels of fluid consumption reduced the effect of a diet high in dry cat food. Other variables that appeared to have some protective effects included a routine visit to the veterinarian in the last 12 months and the use of alternative food sources such as rodents and birds.     

Cystic ovarian disease in dairy cattle: aetiology, pathogenesis, and risk factors

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is an important ovarian dysfunction in dairy cattle, especially during the early postpartum period. The endocrinology and the symptoms of this disorder vary widely due to the many different forms of cysts that exist. For these reasons, there is currently no clear and unambiguous definition of COD. When ovulation does not occur, a follicle may evolve into an ovarian cyst. Folliculogenesis and ovulation are regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. A dysfunction can occur at different levels of this neuroendocrine system, causing COD. The primary factor is thought to be a deficient luteinizing hormone surge prior to ovulation. What causes this alteration is not yet known. Many factors increase the incidence of COD and are involved in the very complex pathogenesis of this disease.