Prairie dogs: vectors and victims

Prairie dogs (Cymonys spp.) are native to North America. They have proved to be a relatively popular pet in North America and in multiple countries around the world. All or the vast majority of prairie dogs sold in the pet trade are wild caught. Two zoonotic diseases that naturally occur in wild prairie dogs are tularemia and plague. Epizootics of both of these diseases have occurred in recently captured prairie dogs intended for the pet trade. The lot containing prairie dogs with tularemia was widely distributed within the United States and internationally before the disease was recognized. Recently, prairie dogs intended for the pet trade were exposed to monkeypox as the result of close contact with several species of wild caught African rodents. Infected prairie dogs developed a systemic disease with cutaneous manifestations. Prairie dogs were distributed to six states before the disease was recognized. As many as 76 people developed monkeypox from exposure to these prairie dogs. The last reported case was in June 2003. Currently, it is illegal to buy, sell, trade, or transport prairie dogs in the United States. However, veterinarians are still permitted to treat them.     

Factors affecting the prevalence of foot pad dermatitis, hock burn and breast burn in broiler chicken

1. Standardised data on flock husbandry were recorded on 149 broiler farms during the 4 d prior to slaughter. 2. Birds were examined at the slaughterhouse for contact dermatitis lesions. Foot pad dermatitis score (FPDS) and hock burn score (HBS) were measured on five point scales. Carcase rejection data were also collected. 3. The mean percentage of birds in each flock with: moderate or severe foot lesions was 11.1% (range 0-71.5%); moderate or severe hock burn was 1.3% (range 0-33.3%); and, breast burn was 0.02%. 4. A general linear model was developed to examine factors associated with mean flock FPDS. Assuming a linear relationship, within the range of data collected and with all other factors remaining the same, every 1% increase in the proportion of Genotype A birds in the flock was associated with an increase in mean FPDS of 0.003, every one-point increase in litter score was associated with a 0.326 increase in mean FPDS and every one-point increase in flock mean HBS was associated with a 0.411 increase in mean FPDS. Flock mean FPDS was associated with feed supplier and was higher in winter. 5. The general linear model developed for flock mean HBS, found that every one-point increase in mean FPDS increased mean HBS by 0.090, every one-point increase in litter score increased HBS by 0.119 and, every 1% increase in small/emaciated birds decreased mean HBS by 0.333. Reduced HBS was also associated with increased final litter depth, younger slaughter age and an increased percentage of dietary wheat. For every 1% increase in Genotype A birds, a decrease in flock mean HBS of 0.003 would be expected. 6. An effect of hatchery was also identified.     

Preliminary study to examine the utility of using foot burn or hock burn to assess aspects of housing conditions for broiler chicken

1. Eleven broiler chicken farms, representing 4 production system types, were visited during the last 5 d of the flock cycle: bird and flock details were recorded. Litter friability was assessed at 9 sites within the house, atmospheric ammonia was measured at three sites and bird cleanliness was assessed on a numerical rating scale. 2. For these flocks, hock burn, foot burn and breast burn were measured at the processing plant by standardised assessors. 3. Significant correlations were identified between the percentage of birds with foot burn and average litter score, average house ammonia concentrations and feather score. 4. No correlation was found between the percentage of birds with hock burn or breast burn and average litter scores, average ammonia concentrations or feather score. 5. No correlation was found between stocking density and foot burn, hock burn or breast burn.6. If confirmed, these findings may have implications for the draft EU Broiler Directive, for which it is proposed that permitted stocking density on farm may be determined by the incidence and severity of contact dermatitis measured on plant.     

Hock burn: an indicator of broiler flock health

This study aimed to identify risk factors for the prevalence of hock burn, a common disease of broiler chickens that influences the welfare and profitability of affected flocks, using hierarchical logistic regression analysis of routine flock management data. The study identified an association between hock burn and other diseases detected at slaughter and found that the management of flocks around the slaughter period was of particular importance for the control of hock burn, providing a rational basis for intervention.     

Patch grazing of Tall Grassveld by cattle after a spring burn

Patterns of herbage removal by rotationally stocked cattle (at a density of 4.85AUE ha^-1) on initially structurally homogenous Tall Grassveld were examined over a single season. Three unreplicated camps were stocked early (29 days), at the recommended '10-15cm' sward height (44 days), and late (80 days) after a spring burn. Temporal change in the spatial distribution of herbage in each treatment was described by intensive measurement of compressed sward height (CSH) with a disc pasture meter and analysed with parametric and spatial statistics. Grazing pressure at the start of the grazing was highest in the early graze, intermediate at the recommended, and least in the late graze treatment because of variation in initial herbage mass related to period of deferment after the burn. The early graze paddock was most spatially uniform and the late graze paddock the most uneven and patchy before grazing. Such initial conditions significantly affected subsequent herbage removal patterns: the greater the amount and spatial variability of herbage accumulated before grazing, the greater the chance for patches to develop through area-selective grazing. The early graze paddock was utilised non-selectively during the first two grazing periods but similar to other treatments, became patchier with time. Spatial pattern, a mosaic of short, intermediate and tall patches, peaked in late summer and was most pronounced in the late graze treatment. Intensive, early stocking after a burn is recommended for minimising intraseasonal development of patches and efficient use of high-quality forage available after a burn.     

Shockwave therapy for treatment of a burn injury in a horse

This article describes a horse that sustained burn injury wounds over the back extending from the withers to the tail head as a result of a fire in a trailer. The extensive nature of the burn prompted investigation into treatment options which may stimulate healing. Based on current applications in human medicine, shockwave therapy was administered. This horse recovered from a substantial burn injury. Shockwave therapy may be a viable supplemental option for treating burn injuries in the horse, with no noted adverse effects.     

犬急性胰腺炎并发急性肾衰竭临床分析

为探讨犬急性胰腺炎并发急性肾衰竭的发病因素、临床特点及防治措施,调查分析了本动物医院2012年9月-2014年10月84例犬急性胰腺炎中41例并发急性肾衰竭病例的临床资料。结果显示,该调查中犬急性胰腺炎并发急性肾衰竭的发病率为48.81%;发病与性别、年龄、品种有一定关系,主要表现为青年犬、雄性犬多发,贵宾犬、博美犬和雪纳瑞犬发病率较高;犬急性胰腺炎并发急性肾衰竭组与未并发组的病死率分别为51.2%和30.2%,并发组的病死率显著高于未并发组P0.05)。     

The effect of Alkanna tinctoria Tausch on burn wound healing in rabbits

Eighteen adult male New Zealand White rabbits were used in the treatment of partial thickness, severe and olive oil burns. Both right and left sides of the animals were burned to make partial thickness, severe and hot olive oil burn wounds. The solution of A. tinctoria TAUSCH in 16% prepared in medical olive oil in weight basis, were applied to the left, and right side served as control. It was topically applied twice a day by gently rubbing against the burn area. While complete healing of partial thickness and olive oil burn wounds occurred in 7 to 10, and 26 days, respectively, with well formed dermal-epidermal junctions in both groups, severely burned wounds appeared to be nonresponsive to A. tinctoria.     

Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis and Acute Suppurative Pancreatitis in the Cat

Medical records and histologic sections of 40 cats with acute pancreatitis were reviewed. Two distinct groups of cats with pancreatitis were established by histologic analysis of tissue. Group I (32 cats) had acute pancreatic necrosis (APN). Group 2 (8 cats) had suppurative pancreatitis. Ages of affected cats ranged from 3 weeks to 16 years. l h e majority consisted of indoor cats of the Domestic Short-Haired breed but Siamese cats were over-represented relative to the general population ( P > 0.05). Twenty-two percent of cats were obese and 57%were underweight. Thirty-eight percent of cats had acute disease. In the other cats, two stages in the progression of the disease were evident: (1) anorexia. weight loss, and lethargy, followed by (2) acute deterioration, development of shock, and a moribund state, despite fluid therapy. The most common clinical signs were severe lethargy (100%), reduced appetite (97%), dehydration (92%), and hypothermia (68%). The initial hemogram occasionally showed a neutrophilia (30%) and anemia (2670)but packed cell volume (PCV) decreased markedly to the extent that 555% of cats were anemic terminally. Serum biochemical abnormalities included increased activities of A1, T (68%) and ALP (50%). and increased conrentrations of bilirubin (64%) and cholesterol (64%).Cats with APN were hyperglycemic (64%)), glycosuric (60%) and ketonuric (20%), whereas cats with suppurative pancreatitis tended to be hypoglycemic (7%). Renal failure and electrolyte abnormalities were mild or infrequent escept for hypokalemia (56%)).This study characterizes a severe necrotizing pancreatitis in the cat similar to that reported in other species, and a histologically distinct suppurative pancreatitis.     

Intravascular hemolysis associated with severe cutaneous burn injuries in five horses

Five horses were evaluated because of severe cutaneous burn injuries following a barn fire. Gross hemolysis and morphologic changes in RBCs consistent with oxidative damage were detected in all of the horses. Of these horses, 4 became azotemic. The overall goals of treatment included wound care, correction of dehydration and provision of diuresis, control of inflammation, pain management, and prophylaxis against sepsis. After treatment, 2 horses survived and were discharged from the hospital. Red blood cell damage and hemolysis following cutaneous burn injury have been investigated in other species and appear to be a result of the release of oxygen radicals from complement-activated neutrophils. Early intervention with aggressive fluid therapy is recommended in the treatment of human burn patients and is likely to be of benefit in horses with burn injuries; a beneficial role of free radical scavengers and xanthine oxidase inhibitors has also been suggested.