Postgraduate training programs in veterinary clinical pathology in the United States and Canada (1998 to 2002)

Background: Residency and graduate programs in veterinary clinical pathology provide specialized training for board certification and are important pathways to careers in clinical pathology diagnostics, teaching, and research. Information about training opportunities is useful for assessing disciplinary needs, outcomes, and changes, garnering program support, and providing objective data for program evaluation by faculty, trainees, and prospective applicants. Objectives: The goals of this study were to 1) compile detailed information on the number and types of postgraduate training programs in veterinary clinical pathology in the United States and Canada, 2) describe the goals, activities, strengths, and weaknesses of the programs, 3) assess the desirability of program accreditation and program standards, 4) identify supplemental training opportunities, and 5) evaluate changes in programs, trainees, and faculty 4 years later. Methods: In July 1998, the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Education Committee sent a survey to representatives at the 31 schools and colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada and 31 diagnostic laboratories, private hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. Survey data were compared with updated information obtained from training program coordinators in November 2002. Results: Survey response rate was 94% for universities, 39% for nonuniversity institutions, and 66% overall. In 1998, there were 20 clinical pathology training programs, including residencies (n=10) and graduate programs combined with residency training (n=10), with 36 total training positions. In 2002, there were 25 training programs (14 residencies, 11 combined), with 52 total positions. The median faculty: trainee ratio was 2.0 in both years. Of 67 faculty members involved in training in 1998, 57 (85.1%) were board‐certified in clinical pathology and 53 (79.1%) had DVM/PhD degrees. Net faculty numbers increased by 17 (25.4%) but the median per institution remained at 3.0. Primary program goals were 1) eligibility for and successful achievement of board certification in clinical pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, 2) proficiency in laboratory diagnostics, and 3) contemporary basic or applied research training. Many programs cited research opportunities, caseloads, and training in hematology and cytology as strengths. Program weaknesses included insufficient funding, too few faculty, and limited training in clinical chemistry and laboratory operations/quality assurance. Trainees completing programs within the past 5 years (n=70) were employed in academia (28.6%), diagnostic laboratories (32.9%), and industry (18.6%). For trainees completing programs between 1999 and 2002 (n=38), these percentages were 52.6%, 21.1%, and 7.9%, respectively. Most (62.5%) respondents supported program standards and accreditation, and 76% supported board review sessions for trainees. Conclusions: Opportunities for postgraduate training in veterinary clinical pathology increased between 1998 and 2002, with 5 new programs and 16 new training positions. These additions and the increased emphasis on diagnostic proficiency, efforts to strengthen training in clinical chemistry and quality assurance, and continuation of combined PhD‐residency programs will help address the perceived need for increased numbers of qualified clinical pathologists in academia, diagnostic laboratories, and industry.     

ASVCP quality assurance guidelines: control of preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical factors for urinalysis, cytology, and clinical chemistry in veterinary laboratories

In December 2009, the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standards committee published the updated and peer-reviewed ASVCP Quality Assurance Guidelines on the Society's website. These guidelines are intended for use by veterinary diagnostic laboratories and veterinary research laboratories that are not covered by the US Food and Drug Administration Good Laboratory Practice standards (Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Chapter 58). The guidelines have been divided into 3 reports: (1) general analytical factors for veterinary laboratory performance and comparisons; (2) hematology, hemostasis, and crossmatching; and (3) clinical chemistry, cytology, and urinalysis. This particular report is one of 3 reports and documents recommendations for control of preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical factors related to urinalysis, cytology, and clinical chemistry in veterinary laboratories and is adapted from sections 1.1 and 2.2 (clinical chemistry), 1.3 and 2.5 (urinalysis), 1.4 and 2.6 (cytology), and 3 (postanalytical factors important in veterinary clinical pathology) of these guidelines. These guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive; rather, they provide minimal guidelines for quality assurance and quality control for veterinary laboratory testing and a basis for laboratories to assess their current practices, determine areas for improvement, and guide continuing professional development and education efforts.     

中兽医药技术是猪只康养最佳供给体系

在我国养猪业面临产品安全和环境污染两大瓶颈的情势下,如何使所生产的猪肉食用卫生,所排粪污环境安全,纯天然、无污染、广效低毒、绿色环保的中兽医药学为破解这两大瓶颈提供了技术支撑。充分发挥我国传统的中兽医药技术的特色和优势,构建以中兽医药为主体的猪只康养技术供给体系,旨在集生产管理"适其天性"、所喂药料"无污染"、治疗药物"纯天然"、预防措施治"未病"、治疗方法"和谐调节"和四季保健"药饲同源"于一体的技术供给体系,从源头上破解这两大难题,从而实现猪只康养,环境安全,猪肉安康,凸显出中兽医药是猪只康养的最佳供给体系。     

Receiver-operating characteristic curves and likelihood ratios: improvements over traditional methods for the evaluation and application of veterinary clinical pathology tests

Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves provide a cutoff-independent method for the evaluation of continuous or ordinal tests used in clinical pathology laboratories. The area under the curve is a useful overall measure of test accuracy and can be used to compare different tests (or different equipment) used by the same tester, as well as the accuracy of different diagnosticians that use the same test material. To date, ROC analysis has not been widely used in veterinary clinical pathology studies, although it should be considered a useful complement to estimates of sensitivity and specificity in test evaluation studies. In addition, calculation of likelihood ratios can potentially improve the clinical utility of such studies because likelihood ratios provide an indication of how the post-test probability changes as a function of the magnitude of the test results. For ordinal test results, likelihood ratios can be calculated on a category-specific basis from the empirical data or by using the slope of the line joining adjacent category limits on the ROC curve. For continuous test results, data need to be categorized into intervals for estimation of likelihood ratios, or they can be calculated as the slope (tangent) to the ROC curve at a unique test value. We use ROC analysis and calculate likelihood ratios to evaluate the performance of tests reported in 2 articles previously published in this journal.     

中兽药防治大肠杆菌性仔猪腹泻研究

仔猪腹泻是严重的仔猪疾病之一,常用抗生素进行治疗,但细菌耐药性导致药物的治疗效果下降。目前,有很多研究报道中草药防治仔猪腹泻取得了良好的疗效。本文从中药抗动物腹泻的作用机理、仔猪大肠杆菌性腹泻的中兽医辨证、中药抗仔猪大肠杆菌性腹泻的作用机理三个方面展开论述中药防治仔猪腹泻的研究进展,为防治仔猪腹泻的中兽药开发提供理论基础。     

Contribution of toxicologic pathologists for the safety of human health in biomedical research—past,present, and future of the JSTP

The research field of “Toxicologic Pathology” evaluates potentially toxic chemical exposures and chemically mediated illnesses in humans and experimental animals. Comparative studies of chemical exposures between model organisms and humans are essential for the risk assessment of chemicals and human health. Here we review the development and activities of the Japanese Society of Toxicologic Pathology (JSTP) during its 37-year history. Toxicological pathology studies provide many interesting and valuable findings. Rodent cancer bioassay data demonstrate the importance of dose levels, times, and duration of exposures to chemicals that possibly cause human cancers. Studies of toxic injuries in the nasal cavity demonstrate that specific chemical compounds affect different target cells and tissues. These observations are relevant for current air pollution studies in the preventive medicine field. Future toxicological pathology studies will be enhanced by applying molecular pathology with advanced observation techniques. In addition to the nasal cavity, another sense organ such as the tongue should be a potential next program of our mission for risk assessment of inhaled and ingested chemicals. As a message to the younger members of the JSTP, interdisciplinary and global cooperation should be emphasized. Elucidating the mechanisms of toxicologic pathology with a combination of advanced expertise in genetics and molecular biology offers promise for future advances by JSTP members.     

兽用疫苗中药佐剂发展与管理研究

本文聚焦兽用疫苗中药佐剂的研究与产业化发展，总结兽医领域在单味药与中药组份佐剂，以及配合疫苗使用的“免疫增强剂”效用，从现代免疫与中兽医理论两个角度分析作用机理，推动兽用疫苗中药佐剂在提高免疫效果、提高疫苗免疫应答方面的应用，提出产业发展对策与管理建议。     

基于文献计量分析的我国黄芪、当归、党参在畜牧与动物医学领域的研究

目的：了解国内黄芪、当归、党参等3类中草药在＂畜牧与动物医学＂领域的研究状况,为后续研究提供参考。方法：运用文献计量学与计算机统计分析的研究方法,以国内3种中草药在＂畜牧与动物医学＂领域研究的期刊文献为样本,进行文献学特征、文献主题内容的分析与研究。结果：当归是3种中草药中＂畜牧与动物医学＂领域研究最早、时间跨度最大的中药材;3种中草药的主要饲喂或治疗对象有鸡、猪、牛、鼠、犬等;主要饲喂或用药类型有单药、组方、提取物、注射液、散剂、汤剂等;主要对症有增强免疫机能、生长性能、生产性能、治疗前胃疾病等。结论：在国内,高校是3种中草药＂畜牧与动物医学＂领域研究最主要机构,3种中草药在＂畜牧与动物医学＂领域应用范围较广、应用技术日趋成熟,普遍遵循着扶正祛邪、调节阴阳平衡的中兽医治疗原则。     

Business intelligence tools to optimize the appropriateness of the diagnostic process for clinical and epidemiologic purposes in a multicenter veterinary pathology service

Laboratory tests provide essential support to the veterinary practitioner, and their use has grown exponentially. This growth is the result of several factors, such as the eradication of historical diseases, the occurrence of multifactorial diseases, and the obligation to control endemic and epidemic diseases. However, the introduction of novel techniques is counterbalanced by economic constraints, and the establishment of evidence- and consensus-based guidelines is essential to support the pathologist. Therefore, we developed standardized protocols, categorized by species, type of production, age, and syndrome at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), a multicenter institution for animal health and food safety. We have 72 protocols in use for livestock, poultry, and pets, categorized as, for example, “bovine enteric calf”, “rabbit respiratory”, “broiler articular”. Each protocol consists of a panel of tests, divided into ‘mandatory’ and ‘ancillary’, to be selected by the pathologist in order to reach the final diagnosis. After autopsy, the case is categorized into a specific syndrome, subsequently referred to as a syndrome-specific panel of analyses. The activity of the laboratories is monitored through a web-based dynamic reporting system developed using a business intelligence product (QlikView) connected to the laboratory information management system (IZILAB). On a daily basis, reports become available at general, laboratory, and case levels, and are updated as needed. The reporting system highlights epidemiologic variations in the field and allows verification of compliance with the protocols within the organization. The diagnostic protocols are revised annually to increase system efficiency and to address stakeholder requests.     

State-of-the-art review of goat TSE in the European Union, with special emphasis on PRNP genetics and epidemiology

Scrapie is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats. It is also the earliest known member in the family of diseases classified as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases, which includes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and chronic wasting disease in cervids. The recent revelation of naturally occurring BSE in a goat has brought the issue of TSE in goats to the attention of the public. In contrast to scrapie, BSE presents a proven risk to humans. The risk of goat BSE, however, is difficult to evaluate, as our knowledge of TSE in goats is limited. Natural caprine scrapie has been discovered throughout Europe, with reported cases generally being greatest in countries with the highest goat populations. As with sheep scrapie, susceptibility and incubation period duration of goat scrapie are most likely controlled by the prion protein (PrP) gene (PRNP). Like the PRNP of sheep, the caprine PRNP shows significantly greater variability than that of cattle and humans. Although PRNP variability in goats differs from that observed in sheep, the two species share several identical alleles. Moreover, while the ARR allele associated with enhancing resistance in sheep is not present in the goat PRNP, there is evidence for the existence of other PrP variants related to resistance. This review presents the current knowledge of the epidemiology of caprine scrapie within the major European goat populations, and compiles the current data on genetic variability of PRNP.     

中药制剂对禽流感病毒H9N2、新城疫病毒、传染性支气管炎病毒和鸡毒支原体的攻毒保护试验

采用以野菊花、穿心莲、柴胡等10味中药提取的中药制剂,连续给22日龄SPF鸡口服5 d后,以禽流感病毒H9N2、新城疫病毒F4、传染性支气管炎病毒强毒株M41和支原体S6强毒分别攻击,观察SPF鸡临床症状、发病率、病理学变化和分离病毒。结果表明,此中药制剂75 mg/只口服组,新城疫病毒、禽流感病毒和传染性支气管炎病毒攻击后发病率分别为12.5%,0%,10%;37.5 mg/只剂量口服组发病率分别为50%,10%,10%,且低剂量组病毒分离阳性。攻击支原体后,以上两个剂量组SPF鸡病变指数分别3.5和5.5,研究证实本中药制剂可以控制以上4种病原所致的家禽呼吸道病的发生。     

Skull size and shape variation in Psammomys spp. (Rodentia,Gerbillinae) from Tunisia,with emphasis on the impact of allometric variation on species recognition

In Tunisia both Psammomys obesus and P. vexillaris are found. These taxa have been the subject of taxonomic controversy for some time, due to variability in the classical morphological characters used for taxonomic recognition. In this study we investigated skull size and shape variation in the genus Psammomys by using geometric morphometrics to evaluate the extent of intra- and interspecific shape variation and explicitly tested for the impact of allometric shape variation on species discrimination. Eleven populations of the two species from 10 localities in Tunisia were studied. Statistical analyses of size and shape showed large size variation within P. obesus, but no shape differences were revealed among populations of this species. Interspecific analysis revealed that P. vexillaris had the smallest skull. Principal component analysis and Procrustes distances showed good discrimination between the two species after removal of the allometric component of shape variation. The results obtained show that allometric-related shape variation could mask discrimination between the two Psammomys species. This finding might explain the uncertainty in classification of these species in the past. The interspecific allometric-free phenotypic differences observed may be associated with adaptive processes linked to the different environmental and trophic preferences of the two species.     

Survey on the role of nutrition in first-opinion practices in Austria and Germany: An evaluation of knowledge,preferences and need for further education

A survey was conducted among first-opinion practices in Germany and Austria on dog nutrition consultation, food sold in the practice, recommendations given to owners, most commonly encountered consequences of malnutrition, need for further education and feeding of own dogs. Of the 169 participants, one third was from Austria, two thirds from Germany. Most practiced in the countryside or in suburbs, were female and between 36 and 55 years old. The majority felt that nutrition has become an important topic, and that “feeding myths” were on the rise. However, only in 18% of the practices at least one staff member had further education in nutrition, while none of the participants had a national or international degree. Only half of our participants felt qualified to give nutrition advice. A nutritional assessment was not regularly performed, and the Body Condition Score was not regularly assessed, often only when health problems were obvious. If a homemade diet was requested, practitioners rather referred to a nutritionist, while 25% left it up to the owners. Most relied on traditional premium diets for their patients and also for their own dogs. Feeding myths seemed to be widespread among veterinarians, too; even Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding and diets not complying with EU legislation were recommended. There is obvious need for further education and specialization to establish nutrition consultation as a profitable service in small animal practice.     

Effects of low and high levels of maternal nutrition consumed for the entirety of gestation on the development of muscle,adipose tissue,bone, and the organs of Wagyu cattle fetuses

This study aimed to investigate the effects of high and low levels of energy intake during the entire gestation period on the skeletal muscle development, organ development, and adipose tissue accumulation in fetuses of Wagyu (Japanese Black) cows, a breed with highly marbled beef. Cows were allocated to a high-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 120% of the nutritional requirement) or low-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 60% of the nutritional requirement). The cows were artificially inseminated with semen from the same sire, and the fetuses were removed by cesarean section at 260 ± 8.3 days of fetal age and slaughtered. The whole-body, total muscle, adipose, and bone masses of the fetal half-carcasses were significantly higher in the high-nutrition group than the low-nutrition group (p = 0.0018, 0.009, 0.0004, and 0.0362, respectively). Fifteen of 20 individual muscles, five of six fat depots, nine of 17 organs, and seven of 12 bones that were investigated had significantly higher masses in the high-nutrition group than the low-nutrition group. The crude components and amino acid composition of the longissimus muscle significantly differed between the low- and high-nutrition groups. These data indicate that maternal nutrition during gestation has a marked effect on the muscle, bone, and adipose tissue development of Wagyu cattle fetuses.