Survey of flea infestation in dogs and cats in the United Kingdom during 2005

During 2005, 31 uk veterinary practices participated in a survey of flea infestation, during which 2653 dogs and 1508 cats were examined for evidence of flea infestation and skin disease compatible with flea allergy dermatitis (fad). The prevalence of flea infestation in the cats was 21.09 per cent, significantly (P<0.001) higher than in the dogs (6.82 per cent). The prevalence of skin lesions compatible with fad in the cats (8.02 per cent) was also significantly (P<0.001) higher than in the dogs (3.32 per cent). Flea infestations were more common in households with cats and with more than one pet. Of 467 fleas identified from the cats, 462 (98.93 per cent) were Ctenocephalides felis, one was Ctenocephalides canis, one was Archaeopsylla erinacei, two were Pulex irritans, and one was Spilopsyllus cuniculi. Of 336 fleas identified from the dogs, 313 (93.15 per cent) were C felis, five were C Canis, 12 were A erinacei, five were P irritans, and one was Ceratophyllus (Nosophyllus) fasciatus. Almost half of the owners of the dogs and cats were unaware of their pet's flea infestation. The overall prevalence of fleas and/or skin lesions that could potentially be compatible with fad was 7.46 per cent in the dogs and 22.28 per cent in the cats.     

河南省南阳地区黄牛狂犬病防制研究

由河南省南阳地区患“怪叫病”黄牛脑组织分离鉴定了5株狂犬病病毒,建立了检测狂犬病病毒抗原的夹心间接斑点酶联免疫吸附试验、检测狂犬病病毒抗体和中和抗体的夹心阻断酶联免疫吸附试验和微量免疫酶试验.应用所建立的方法,结合小鼠中和试验,对疫区牛、马、猪、羊、犬、猫、鸡、鼠和蝙蝠9种动物的1138份血清标本进行了检测,结果发现阳性率达12.65%,其中疫点内牛、猪、犬、猫和鼠的阳性率更高,为20%左右.根据动物群中较高阳性率,亦即隐性感染动物的存在,提出了南阳地区黄牛狂大病除因疯犬或带毒犬咬伤所致者外,可能还有因其他动物如鼠等咬伤甚至非咬伤感染途径的存在.在确定病性以及上述流行病学调查的基础上,实施了以管(制)、免(疫)、灭(扑杀)为中心的综合防制措施,经3年的工作,收到了明显的防制效果.     

Sentinel practice-based survey of the management and health of horses in northern Britain.

Details of the management, feeding, level of activity and routine health care of horses in Scotland and the five northernmost counties in England were recorded through a stratified random sample of horse owners who had responded to a previous survey. Sixty-eight per cent of the horses were kept where their owners resided, and 32 per cent were kept away from the owner's home. More than 99 per cent were turned out to grazing for at least part of the year and 81 per cent were stabled for at least part of the time, most commonly bedded on straw (50 per cent) or shavings (34 per cent). Hay was fed to 87 per cent, sugar beet pulp to 64 per cent and commercially prepared concentrate mixes to 60 per cent of the horses. Hacking was the most popular activity (52 per cent of horses) followed by riding/pony club events (28 per cent) and showing (21 per cent). The majority of the horses were involved in more than one activity. There were an estimated 0.88 veterinary visits per horse per year and 29 per cent of the horses were reported to suffer from at least one permanent or recurrent health disorder. The median annual numbers of administrations of vaccines (influenza and tetanus) and anthelmintics were one and seven respectively per horse, and each horse was shod a median seven times. There were significant differences in the management of horses kept in different types of premises and in areas of different human population density.     

Prevalence of Bartonella species causing bacteraemia in domesticated and companion animals in the United Kingdom

Between October 1999 and February 2000, 691 blood samples examined routinely for either haematological or virological assessment were screened by culture for the presence of Bartonella species. They came from 615 animals: 360 cats, 211 dogs, 27 horses, 16 cattle and a gorilla. The samples were incubated for long periods on 10 per cent horse blood agar at 37 degrees C in an atmosphere containing 5 per cent carbon dioxide. Isolates were obtained from 35 samples from 34 (9.4 per cent) of the cats, but not from any of the other animals. Comparison of citrate synthase gene sequences from the isolates indicated that they were all Bartonella henselae. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments indicated that 30 of the cats were infected solely with B henselae genotype II, two were infected solely with B henselae genotype I and two were infected with both genotypes.     

《活兽慈舟》在现代兽医治疗中的应用

《活兽慈舟》（清·李南晖）是继《元享疗法马集》之后,受到我国畜牧兽医界普通重视的一部清代中兽医专著,也是我国现存中兽医古书中内容比较全面的一部著作。《活兽慈舟》继承和发扬了中医药事业,辩证正确,立法恰当,遵循自然规律,集诊治牛、马、羊、猪、犬、猫等六畜疾病和它们的正确饲养方法,及相牛和相马常识于一体,主要流传于四川南部,甘肃通渭县乃至全国,为畜牧养殖生产发展保驾护航,一直为中兽医爱好者和学者提供兽疾病治疗的思路和方法。     

Epidemiologic analysis of oral and pharyngeal cancer in dogs, cats, horses, and cattle.

Four hundred sixty-nine oral-pharyngeal malignancies diagnosed in dogs, cats, horses, and cattle and submitted to the Viterinary Medical Data Program between March 1, 1964, and Dec 31, 1974, were analyzed. Of these cases, 84% were in dogs. The most frequent oral-pharyngeal cancer in dogs was melanoma; in cats and horses, it was squamous cell carcinoma. In dogs, the risk of developing melanoma increased more with age than did the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma and fibrosarcoma. Male dogs had significantly greater risk of developing fibrosarcomas and melanomas than did female dogs. The German Shorthaired Pointer, Weimaraner, Golden Retriever, Boxer, and Cocker Spaniel breeds had significantly higher risk and Dachshunds and Beagles had significantly lower risk, as compared with all breeds combined. There was no significant difference between observed and expected numbers of tonsillar carcinomas diagnosed at veterinary colleges located in small urban areas (less than 50,000 persons) as compared with large urban populations (greater than 500,000).     

Efficacy of nitenpyram as a systemic flea adulticide in dogs and cats

In a clinical trial involving 123 cats and 88 dogs, the efficacy of tablets containing nitenpyram against natural flea infestations was investigated. The animals were selected from the routine cases of nine veterinary clinics in the UK and 143 were treated with the tablets and 68 control animals were treated with placebo tablets. Each animal was maintained in an individual cage. The time when the first fleas fell off each animal was recorded between 30 minutes and five hours after treatment, and six hours after treatment the numbers of live, moribund or dead fleas on each animal were determined, and the flea survival rate was calculated. The drug's efficacy was assessed by comparing the mean survival rates of fleas on the treated and control animals. Fleas started to fall from the animals 30 minutes after treatment and two hours after treatment some fleas had detached from 81 per cent of the treated animals. After six hours the efficacy of the drug reached 96.7 per cent on dogs and 95.2 per cent on cats, and 85.9 per cent of the fleas were found off the treated animals, compared with 1.8 per cent in the controls. No adverse drug reactions were recorded during the trial.     

Veterinary service usage and animal ownership in Ohio, U.S.A.: Results of telephone surveys in 1983 and 1984

A telephone survey of three sub-populations in Ohio was conducted to compare the utilization of veterinary services in 1982 with 1983 and to characterize animal ownership. A response rate of approximately 90% was achieved for all three sub-populations namely (1) food-animal producers, (2) horse owners and (3) pet owners. There was no significant difference between the percentage of respondents using veterinary services in 1982 and 1983. In both years, over 85% of dairy producers purchased veterinary services compared with approximately 62% for beef producers, approximately 70% for swine producers, and over 97% for horse owners. In 1983, approximately 69% sheep producers, 50% of goat producers, 81% of dog owners, 67% of cat owners, 12% of bird owners and none of the fish owners used veterinary services during the previous year. The 1983 median expenditures for veterinary services per farm or household using veterinary services were $465 for horses, $450 for dairy cattle, $111 for beef cattle, $115 for swine, $66 for sheep, $0 for goats, $75 for dogs, $44 for cats and $18 for pet birds. The average number of times animals were seen by a veterinarian varied by species but did not vary much from year to year. For all three groups, preventive services were used more frequently than were treatment and surgical services.     

Comparison of flank and midline approaches to the ovariohysterectomy of cats

In a survey of uk veterinary practitioners, 96 per cent indicated that they performed ovariohysterectomy on cats via flank laparatomy rather than a midline coeliotomy. At a veterinary teaching hospital 32 cats were spayed by the midline approach and 34 by the flank approach, by undergraduate students under the continuous supervision of a veterinary surgeon. The duration of each part of the procedures was recorded and information was obtained from the students, the supervisors and the owners of the cats by means of questionnaires. The total duration of the surgery and the students' assessment of the difficulty of the surgery were not significantly different between the two groups. The time taken from the skin incision to entering the peritoneum was significantly longer with the flank approach, but finding the uterus took significantly longer with the midline approach. There was a high incidence of wound complications, in the form of swelling, redness or discharges, but the only statistically significant difference between the groups was a greater incidence of discharges in the cats spayed via the flank (five cases) than in the cats spayed via the midline (one case).     

Demographic survey of veterinarians employed in western Canada

The objective of this study was to generate demographic data on veterinarians working in western Canada. A sample of 551 veterinarians was randomly selected from a population of 2474 veterinarians employed in western Canada, 425 (77.1%) of whom responded to the survey. The respondents were evenly split between males (53.1%) and females (46.9%). More than half (58.0%) of the private practitioners practised exclusively on companion animals (small animals and horses), while 2.9% devoted 100% of their time to food animals. There were 351 respondents who had had ≥ 2 employers since graduation; 80% of those who had begun their careers in companion animal (CA) practice had remained in this type of practice, while 54.3% of those who had begun their careers in mixed animal practice had switched to CA practice. Analyses of wage and workload data from 85 full-time veterinary employees showed that CA practitioners worked the fewest hours/week (47.0), had the least number of evenings on-call/month (3.7), and earned the highest hourly wage ($35.79) as compared with non-CA practitioners.     

Survey of the views of graduates (1993 to 1997) on the undergraduate veterinary clinical curriculum in the British Isles

In 1998 a questionnaire was sent to graduates from all the veterinary schools in Great Britain and Ireland who had obtained their veterinary degree within the previous five years, to assess their opinions of the undergraduate clinical veterinary curriculum. Ninety-five per cent of the graduates who responded were working full time in veterinary practice, with small animal work occupying 90 per cent of them for a median of 70 per cent of their time. Their assessment of the curriculum suggested that they were generally satisfied, but that there were some subjects they considered important in which the teaching and extramural studies had failed to provide adequate learning opportunities. Twelve subjects were rated as 'very important', two subjects, small animal medicine and anaesthesia, were considered to be 'very well' taught, and extramural studies were considered to be 'very useful' for three subjects, small animal surgery, cattle medicine and cattle surgery. The survey provided evidence that graduates are keen to continue learning and specialise after they graduate.     

Longitudinal study of veterinary students and veterinarians: the first 20 years

OBJECTIVE: To describe the career paths of veterinary graduates from the University of Queensland during the first 15 years after they graduated, paying particular attention to the fifteenth year. PROCEDURE: Longitudinal study. Questionnaires were completed by 154 first year veterinary students in 1985 and 1986, then while they were in fifth year, and after 1, 5, 10 and 15 years after they graduated. This paper describes findings from the most recent questionnaire but includes comparisons with previous ones. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were received from 134 of the 137 graduates. They were spread widely, but 58% were in Queensland and 20% in New South Wales; 17% were overseas. Most (85%) were in private practice, and 56% of them were part or sole owners; 58% were working in cities with > 100,000 people, and 28% in centres with < 10,000 people. Overall 80% of the workload of the group was with dogs and cats, 8% with horses and 11% with farm animals. Most felt that their income was too low. Of those doing less than half-time or no veterinary work, 44% were at home with family, 8% in another business, 11% another profession, and the rest in a wide variety of occupations. Changed interests, need for greater challenges, poor remuneration, loss of interest in veterinary work, and caring for family were, in order, the top five (of 15) reasons for leaving veterinary work. Three-quarters (78%) of all those doing veterinary work, but 52% of those no longer doing veterinary work agreed that their career had lived up to their expectations. CONCLUSION: After 15 years 77% were still doing veterinary work, 85% in private practice, and 80% of their work was with dogs and cats. Almost all were either very glad or generally glad that they had done the veterinary course, though most (78%) felt that their income was too low.     

Assessment of the potential toxicity of a poison for rabbits, pindone (2-pivalyl 1, 3 indandione), to domestic animals

The toxicity of pindone, a rabbit poison, to horses, cattle, goats, chickens, dogs and cats was investigated, using extension of prothrombin time (PT) as an index of poisoning. The daily dose of pindone, administered for 5 days, ranged from 0.3 mg/kg for dogs to 2.5 mg/kg for chickens. This range of dose rates was considered to be indicative of the worst possible case that could arise following a campaign of baiting for rabbits. Although significant elevations in PT (more than double baseline values) were noted in all species other than horses, clinical signs of anticoagulant poisoning were not observed in any of the species tested. From the observed PT, cattle and cats appeared to be the most susceptible, and horses the least susceptible, to pindone toxicity. The half-lives of the elevated PT were calculated as 3.1 days for cattle, 2.8 days for goats and chickens, 1.9 days for horses and dogs and less than one day for cats. It is proposed that these half-lives can be used as a guide for determining the duration of treatment of pindone-affected animals.     

Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by veterinarians in Australia

Objective To estimate the prevalence of carriage of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Australian veterinarians. Methods Individuals attending veterinary conferences in Australia in 2009 were recruited to provide nasal swabs and complete a questionnaire about their professional activities. Swabs were processed by standard methods for detecting MRSA and questionnaire responses were used to group veterinarians according to their areas of major work emphasis (species and practice type). Prevalence was estimated for each of these grouping and contingency tables and regression tree analysis used to explain the variation in MRSA carriage. Results Among the 771 respondents ‘industry and government veterinarians’ (controls) had the lowest prevalence of MRSA carriage at 0.9%. Veterinarians with horses as a major area of work emphasis had a prevalence of 11.8% (13‐fold that of controls) and those whose only major emphasis was horses had a prevalence of 21.4% (23‐fold that of controls). Veterinarians with dogs and cats as a major activity had a 4.9% prevalence (5‐fold that of controls). Prevalence rates for other major activities (pigs, dairy and beef cattle, avian and wildlife) were also increased, but were estimated from smaller numbers of respondents. Regression tree analysis clearly isolated equine veterinarians and dog and cat practitioners as groups at increased risk of carriage of MRSA. Conclusion Carriage of MRSA is a notable occupational health issue for veterinarians in clinical practice in Australia, particularly those who work with horses.     

Efficacy of training in theriogenology as determined by a survey of veterinarians

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether veterinarians perceive that theriogenology training at veterinary medical schools in North America and the Caribbean is adequate for achievement of theriogenology skills commonly used in private practice. PROCEDURES: A survey was mailed to members of the veterinary medical associations of Alabama, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington. With regard to reproductive procedures in bovine, equine, porcine, small ruminant, camelid, and small animal species, veterinarians (predominantly practitioners) were asked to rate the importance of that procedure in their job and to assess their own degree of competency in that procedure at the time of their graduation from veterinary school. RESULTS: Procedures considered most valuable in practice were those that represent basic theriogenology education and training, such as transrectal palpation of cows and mares and interpretation of vaginal cytologic specimens in bitches. Dystocia management was a high priority in all species. Correlations between rankings for value in practice and competency at graduation were good, varying from 0.75 in cattle and 0.78 in horses to 0.98 in dogs and 1.0 in cats, small ruminants, and pigs. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of these data suggests that appropriate theriogenology procedures are being taught in veterinary medical schools but perhaps not to the extent required to achieve adequate competency immediately at graduation. Issues requiring further investigation include the effect of tracking in the veterinary curriculum on theriogenology training, methods by which more students could receive greater practical exposure during theriogenology training, and the apparent relative lack of theriogenology training (including contraception) in small animals and exotic animals.     

An outbreak of rabies in north-western Zimbabwe 1980 to 1983

The first case of rabies for 25 years was recorded in the Chinhoyi veterinary region of north-western Zimbabwe in September 1980. An epidemic in jackals (86 per cent of cases) with associated cases in cattle (7 per cent) spread rapidly northwestward through the commercial farming areas. Within 18 months the front had moved 180 km from the probable point of entry of the disease. One case was diagnosed a further 30 km to the north-west. Following a comparatively quiet period in 1982 a second epidemic developed in dogs and spread back 100 km south-eastward during the second half of 1983. Epidemiological factors, the behavioural features of cases and the ownership and vaccination status of dogs are reported. Dogs were a more serious threat to human beings than jackals and the only two known human cases occurred in late 1983. Factors contributing to the patterns of the epidemics are illustrated and discussed.     

Treatment of bitches with acquired urinary incontinence with oestriol.

Oestriol, a naturally occurring short-acting oestrogen, was used to treat acquired urinary incontinence in 129 bitches selected by 48 veterinary practitioners in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. The dogs were treated daily for 42 days with oestriol tablets, using a self-controlled study design. The dogs were examined and blood sampled at the beginning and end of the trial. According to the veterinary practitioners 83 per cent of the dogs either became continent or improved, but the others showed no change or became worse. The owners reported similar results: 82 per cent of the dogs responded to treatment and the others did not. The dose and treatment schedule for each dog were established on the basis of clinical efficacy. Mild and transient oestrogenic effects such as swelling of the vulva and attractiveness to male dogs were observed soon after the treatment began and at the higher dose schedule used in 12 of the dogs. A haematological examination of 114 of the dogs revealed no abnormalities.