Housing and use of horses in Switzerland: a representative analysis of the status quo

Out of a representative sample of 1861 Swiss horse yards, 622 horse keepers (35.2%) with 2536 horses, ponies and donkeys sent back a questionnaire about general farm characteristics, their horse-specific training, horse stock, housing conditions, intraspecific social contacts, feeding, ability to move freely, use of the horses and management. 83.5% of horses were kept individually (thereof 18.3% tethered, 32.3% in a loose box indoors, 28.4% in a loose box outdoors, and 4.5% in a loose box with permanent access to a paddock or an individual pasture), and 16.5% lived in group housing systems. 36% of the horses had daily access to a pasture, 62.8% depending on the weather, and 1.2% never at all. Individually housed horses pastured significantly less than horses kept in groups. The mean use per week was 4.5 hours, depending on breed, type of use and housing system. Only 50% of the horse keepers were trained with respect to horses or farm animals (e.g. professional training graduation, license, military service, veterinarian, farmer). In Switzerland, horses are still housed and fed in a traditional way, despite considerable recent changes in the amount and type of use (65.1% leisure horses, 34.9% sport and working horses); this may result in health and behavioural problems. Therefore, information and education of horsewomen and horsemen should be emphasized in the future. For the transfer of knowledge, veterinarians are of high importance.     

Antimicrobial use in the Australian pig industry: results of a national survey

Objective   To describe how various antimicrobials are used in commercial pig herds in Australia and for what disease conditions.
Procedure   Managers of large pig herds (> 200 sows) across Australia and their veterinarians participated in an internet-based survey in 2006. Questions were asked about herd management, the occurrence of bacterial diseases and the type and frequency of antimicrobial use. An antimicrobial usage index for each herd was derived as a summary of the risk of selection for antimicrobial resistance. Relationships between responses were explored with univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results   Responses were received for 197 herds estimated to represent at least 51% of all large pig herds in Australia. Most piggeries relied on drugs of low importance in human medicine (e.g. tetracyclines, penicillins and sulfonamides). For the two drugs of high importance in human medicine that can be legally prescribed to pigs in Australia, ceftiofur use was reported in 25% of herds and virginiamycin in none. Infections attributed to Lawsonia , Mycoplasma and Escherichia coli motivated the most use of antimicrobials. No useful association was found between management factors and the antimicrobial use index.
Conclusion   Most antimicrobial use in the Australian pig industry is based on drugs of low importance to public health. Enhanced control of E. coli infections without reliance on antimicrobials would further reduce the risk of selecting for antimicrobial resistance relevant to public health. The amount of variation in the usage index between herds suggests that antimicrobial use should be constantly reviewed on a herd by herd basis.     

First results on the mandatory notification of dog bite injuries in Switzerland: a questionnaire survey among physicians and veterinarians

In order to expedite targeted interventions, mandatory notification of treated dog bite injuries for Swiss physicians and veterinarians was implemented in 2006. Since the number of notified cases was much lower than expected, the validity of the annually produced statistics with respect to the real situation in Switzerland was discussed controversially. In this study a questionnaire survey among physicians and veterinarians was carried out to evaluate the amount of and reasons for non-compliance with the mandatory notification. 81 % of the physicians and 97 % of the veterinarians reported the treatment of dog bite injuries in the year 2009. Among those, 60 % of the physicians and 41 % of the veterinarians indicated notification of less than 50 % of the treated cases. Our results indicate that the most relevant cases for targeted interventions seem to be notified, but that the statistical analyses have to be interpreted carefully.     

Husbandry,Use, and Orthopedic Health of Horses Owned by Competitive and Leisure Riders in Switzerland

The use of horses in competitive sports receives increasing criticism from the public, mainly due to the potential for injury. However, it is unclear if orthopedic and other health issues are more common in competition horses than those in leisure horses. The aim of this study was to assess husbandry, use, and orthopedic health in Swiss riding horses and to compare these aspects between horses owned by self-identified competitive riders (CR) and leisure riders (LR) in Switzerland. A total of 237 owners completed an online survey providing information on their athletic ambitions, their horse’s husbandry, health, training, and tack. Two experienced veterinarians assessed gait irregularities, muscular development, and back pain in the horses and evaluated saddle fit. Compared with horses owned by competitive riders (CH), a higher proportion of horses kept by leisure riders (LH) were kept unshod, under more natural conditions, and turned out with other horses. LH were exercised less frequently, and LR trained less frequently with instructors. CR reported less time since the last saddle check and the use of more training aids during riding. No differences between the two groups could be found in orthopedic health, muscular development, or back pain, but LH had higher body condition scores and a slightly higher proportion of saddles with at least one fit problem. Our data revealed no increased prevalence of the assessed health problems in competition horses compared with leisure horses in Switzerland. However, suboptimal saddle fit and muscular development, back pain, and gait irregularity are frequent in both groups and deserve more attention.     

Phytomedicine in dogs and cats: web-based survey among veterinarians in Austria, Germany and Switzerland

In the last decades phytopharmaceuticals have stabilized their significance in human medicine. The aim of this study was to obtain information about the present situation of phytomedicine in three German-speaking countries. For that purpose questionnaires were sent via internet to 2675 veterinarians in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and the collected 189 answers were statistically evaluated. As shown in this paper, there is an increasing interest in veterinary phytotherapy. Presently three-quarters of the veterinarians are using phytoproducts in clinical practice. Herbal medicinal products are only seldom used in eye and ear infections as well as in endo- and ectoparasitoses but more often in diseases of the liver, joints, kidneys, heart and skin. Generally, phytodrugs are more frequently applied in chronic diseases as well as secondary medication, whereas the time of treatment usually exceeds one month. Basic advantages of medicinal phytoproducts have been shown to be the low side effects and the acceptance of the pet-owners and the only disadventage has been reported to be the lack of information. This study clearly shows the upward trend in using herbal drugs by veterinarians but the results also point to the lack of scientific knowledge about phytotherapeuticals in animal health.     

Longevity of Swiss Brown cattle in different housing systems in Switzerland

A Weibull mixed survival model was used to study the effect of a change in the housing system on length of productive life (LPL) in dairy cows. The data set included records on 71,469 Swiss Brown cows in 1674 farms in eastern and central Switzerland. About 36% of the records were right-censored. The observation period lasted from January 1, 1988 to May 1, 2001. During this period, 517 farms changed their housing conditions from a tie-stall barn to a loose housing system. Besides a random time-dependent effect of herd–year–season, the model included fixed effects of housing system, lactation number and stage of lactation, within herd and parity production level (all time-dependent), and age at first calving (time-independent). All effects had a significant effect on LPL at a level of p < 0.001. Cows in loose housing systems showed the lowest risk ratios of being culled (0.93) compared to the reference system tie-stall barn (1.00). The highest relative culling rate (1.09) was observed within the changing period from tie-stall barn to loose housing system. Within the first three lactations, the relative culling risk increased stepwise with lactation stage. The hazard slightly increased from first until lactation number 8 and higher. The relative culling rates were highest (2.22) for cows yielding less than 90% compared to herd-mates of the same lactation number, whereas the lowest risk ratios were estimated for animals yielding more than 110% compared to their reference group (0.64). When heifers were older than 3 years at first calving, there was a tendency towards a higher relative culling risk (1.06).     

Management practices and use of anthelmintics on dairy cattle farms in The Netherlands: results of a questionnaire survey

In December 1996, a questionnaire about farm management and parasite control measures in calves was sent to 956 randomly chosen dairy cattle farmers in The Netherlands. Another 150 farmers in the vicinity of Deventer who had vaccinated their calves in 1995 against lungworm were approached with the same questions. Our objective was to investigate the consequences on worm control of the withdrawal of the lungworm vaccine from the market for reasons of possible BSE contamination of the vaccine. Of the returned questionnaires, 411 (43%) of the `at random' group and 89 (59.3%) of the `Deventer' group were valid. The most important data with regard to the farms of the `at random' group (411) were: mean area 31.6 ha, mean number of calves 23, heifers 23 and milking cows 53. Sheep (mean 37) were present on 18.3% of the farms. With regard to management: 74.5% of the farmers turned the calves in their first year onto pasture, 25.5% kept them indoors. The average time on pasture was ca. 5 months. Rotational grazing was practised on 81.4% of the farms, on 18.6% calves were set stocked. The first pasture of the calves was mown before turn-out on 72.9% of the farms. On 48.2% of these farms, calves were always moved to mown pastures. With regard to treatments: 33.8% of the farmers vaccinated their calves against lungworm in the years 1993, 1994 and 1995. Despite the withdrawal of the vaccine from the market in 1996, 7.2% of the farmers vaccinated their calves as recommended, with two doses, and 13.1% with a single dose. At turn-out, 41.5% of the farmers gave the calves a preventive anthelmintic treatment. Of these treatments, 66.9% were sustained of pulse release long acting devices. During the grazing season, 36.6% of the farmers treated their calves. After housing, 50.3% of the farmers gave a treatment. Signs of lungworm infection were noticed on 18.6% of the farms. Of the `Deventer' group (89 farmers), 96.6% turned the calves out. Of these farmers, 86.0% had used the lungworm vaccine in 1995. In 1996, 52.7% of the farmers had vaccinated the calves: 36.5% with a single dose and 16.2% with the double dose. Of the 35 farmers who did not vaccinate in 1996, 62.9% gave a preventive treatment at turn-out. Clinical signs of lungworm infection were not observed on the 12 farms which vaccinated the calves twice. On 11% of the farms which vaccinated once and on 14% of the farms which did not vaccinate, signs of lungworm infection were observed. It is concluded that more than 80% of Dutch dairy cattle farmers take appropriate measures to control gastrointestinal nematode and lungworm infections in calves in their first grazing season by grazing on aftermath, rotational grazing on mown pastures combined or not with preventive anthelmintic treatments. However, combinations of aftermath grazing and preventive treatment occurred on 30% of the farms. This may be overprotective and may prevent sufficient build up of immunity, causing worm problems at a later age. The withdrawal of the lungworm vaccine from the market did not cause a rise in lungworm problems. Some farmers did vaccinate, despite the withdrawal. The majority used other preventive treatment measures, mainly the application of long acting boli.     

Demographic characteristics of dog population in Switzerland

Dog Registration data from three Cantons, patient data of 13 veterinary practices and registrations in the Swiss Dog Pedigree Book were collected, analysed and compared to results of a commercial household survey, to assess demographic characteristics of dog population in Switzerland. The proportion of "pure-bred" dogs was different depending on how the term was used, varying from 24% regarding registrations in the Swiss Dog Pedigree Book, to 75% regarding dogs with only one breed recorded in Veterinarian's patient-history-management systems. Most popular breeds were dogs called "German Shepherd/Shepherd", followed by the Labrador and Golden Retriever. Comparison of different data sources suggested regional differences in popularity of breeds. The average life expectancy was estimated on 10.5 and 11 years. Sex distribution was equal. One third of all male dogs and half of the female dogs were neutered. Regardless sex, neutering was more common in cross-bred dogs than in "pure-bred" dogs (OR = 1.9). Some bias in all sources had to be considered and there was a major concern regarding definition of breeds. However, the study was able to add different parameters out of different sources to a homogenous picture of demographic data of dog population in Switzerland.     

Prevalence of classical swine fever, Aujeszky's disease and brucellosis in a population of wild boar in Switzerland

During two survey rounds of a national surveillance system for infectious diseases in wild boar in Switzerland, each lasting four months from November to February, between 2001 and 2003, 1949 blood samples and 62 tissue samples from the spleen and 50 from the reproductive organs were collected from hunted wild boar. The survey was designed so that freedom from infection could be detected with a probability of 95 per cent at a threshold prevalence of less than 1 per cent for classical swine fever and Aujeszky's disease and less than 1.5 per cent for brucellosis. There was no serological evidence of classical swine fever or Aujeszky's disease, but brucellosis due to Brucella suis biovar 2 was confirmed serologically and by bacterial isolation.     

Attitudes of Swiss consumers towards meat from entire or immunocastrated boars: a representative survey

Male piglets are castrated in order to prevent boar taint in pork. The surgical intervention is currently done without anaesthesia. Growing public concern about the welfare issue of this procedure forces the meat industry to evaluate alternative methods. The acceptance of such methods was studied in Switzerland within a large representative survey on the image of Swiss meat. Five questions were aimed at our subject. It was found that only a small part of the population has actually experienced boar taint. Nevertheless, the majority would not buy products made from tainted meat even if the absence of any perceivable boar taint and identical quality with current products could be guaranteed. The acceptance of meat from immunocastrated animals was low. Among the proposed four alternative methods, the production of entire males (with two options regarding processing of the tainted meat), immunocastration and castration with anaesthesia, only the last one seems to be acceptable to the interviewees.     

Serological cross-sectional survey of psoroptic sheep scab in Switzerland

Sheep scab, caused by the mite Psoroptes ovis, is a notifiable disease in Switzerland. Mandatory prophylactic treatments are carried out in spring for all sheep grazing on common alpine pastures. Despite these strict control measures the number of outbreaks has been increasing in recent years, raising questions on the spread of this epizootic disease. To improve the traditional microscopic diagnosis, we developed an ELISA for the specific determination of antibodies against psoroptic antigens with sensitivity and specificity of 93.7 and 96.5%, respectively. Using this test, a serum bank, representative of the sheep population in Switzerland (approximately 15% of registered sheep flocks, randomly chosen, collected between February and May 1998), was screened. The prevalence using 16,404 sera was 10.4, and 11.9% of the 2083 flocks were diagnosed as positive. Additionally, there was a significant increase found for mean seropositivity relative to the flock size (P<0.001, linear regression). Therefore, larger flocks had a higher risk of sheep scab, which may be caused by more frequent animal movement. Spatial analysis of the results revealed a region with significantly higher risk (relative risk = 3.5, P<0.001) of seropositivity, where no cases have officially been notified in the period between 1997 and 1999. The next goal is to establish an efficient control strategy based on serological monitoring of the total sheep population.     

Canine neurological diseases in a referral hospital population between 1989 and 2000 in Switzerland

OBJECTIVES: To merge clinical information from partly overlapping medical record databases of the Small Animal Teaching Hospital of the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne. To describe the frequencies and localisations of neurological diseases in dogs, as well as their age, gender, breed and geographical distributions. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a new database, with specific variables and a diagnosis key list 'VITAMIN D', was created and defined. A total of 4497 dogs (average of 375 per year) with a well-documented neurological disease were included in the study. A key list for the diagnoses was developed and applied to either the presumptive or the clinical and neurohistopathological diagnosis, with a serial number, a code for localisation and a code for differential diagnoses. RESULTS: Approximately 1159 dogs (26 per cent) had a neurohistopathological diagnosis confirmed, 1431 (32 per cent) had a clinical diagnosis confirmed and 1491 (33 per cent) had a presumptive diagnosis. The most frequent breeds were mixed-breed dogs (577 of 4497, 13 per cent), followed by German shepherd dogs (466 of 4497, 10 per cent). The most common localisations were the forebrain (908 of 4497, 20 per cent) and the spinal cord at the thoracolumbar area (840 of 4497, 19 per cent). Most dogs were diagnosed with degenerative diseases (38 per cent), followed by inflammatory/infectious diseases (14 per cent). The highest number of submissions originated from geographic regions around the referral hospital and from regions with higher human population densities. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: By defining closed-list fields and allocating all data to the corresponding fields, a standardised database that can be used for further studies was generated. The analysis of this study gives examples of the possible uses of a standardised database.     

Farm and slaughter survey of bovine tuberculosis in captive deer in Switzerland

In 1998, a survey was conducted by postal questionnaire to gather basic knowledge about the management, health and productivity of captive deer in Switzerland. In addition, lymph nodes were collected from slaughtered deer from 124 of the 262 holdings surveyed, and tested for Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The total farmed deer population was 8389 animals kept on 485 holdings; 87 per cent were fallow deer, 8 per cent red deer, 4 per cent sika deer, and there were small numbers of other species. The median herd sizes were 12 for fallow deer and eight for red deer. Few owners had handling facilities or crushes. In none of the lymph nodes examined were lesions typical of bovine tuberculosis observed, and neither M bovis nor M tuberculosis was cultivated from any of the samples.     

Clinical biochemistry in veterinary practice: results of a survey by questionnaire

A questionnaire on the use of clinical biochemistry in veterinary practice was circulated round the West of Scotland Division of the British Veterinary Association. The results indicated that clinical biochemistry was used in 9-6 per cent of cases, with liver and kidney function tests being the most useful performed. The analysis of samples either within a practice or by use of a central laboratory were shown to present different problems with quality control being the major problem for practice laboratories and delay in obtaining results being the major problem for central laboratories.     

Camel trypanosomosis in Morocco 1: results of a first epidemiological survey

An epidemiological survey of camel trypanosomosis was conducted for the first time in Morocco in 1997 and 1998. Five provinces located in the south and southeast of the High Atlas mountain chain were included in this study. A total number of 1460 serum samples were collected and tested by a card agglutination test for trypanosomosis (CATT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (Ab-ELISA) to detect anti-Trypanosoma evansi antibodies. The overall seroprevalence was 14.1% by CATT and 18.2% by Ab-ELISA. Two very active foci were identified in Zagora and Merzouga with high Ab-ELISA prevalences of 43.3 and 35.4%, respectively, for each area. The concordance between the CATT and Ab-ELISA was 94.1%. The age-related distribution of seroprevalence showed a tendency for the infection rate to increase with age up to a maximum in the 7-10 year-old group. Clinical examination revealed that enlargement of lymph nodes was the most frequent sign in seropositive animals (79.7%). The comparison of haematocrit values of seropositive and seronegative animals showed a significant difference that indicated severe anaemia in infected animals. Isolation of the parasite by inoculation of mice allowed us to collect 15 T. evansi isolates from Zagora and three from Merzouga. The study showed that the Saharan provinces of Morocco were slightly affected by camel trypanosomosis but two hyperendemic foci, Zagora and Merzouga, were found to be sources of contamination for the surrounding regions.     

Outbreak of Lice in Horses: Epidemiology,Diagnosis, and Treatment

The aim of this study is to report an outbreak of lice (Bovicola equi) in horses in southern Brazil, focusing on epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Twenty-three horses in a stud farm presented with intense itching, crusted lesions, focal alopecia, and scaly skin. The outbreak occurred during the winter and probably due to the absence of sanitary barriers on the property. The diagnosis was carried out based on clinical signs associated with macroscopic and microscopic visualization of lice identified as B. equi. The treatment was performed with a single dose of Fipronil (Topline® Merial Brasil, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil) spray (0.5%), eliminating immature and adult stages of lice. The clinical signs caused by the lice in horses disappeared few days after treatment.     

Descriptive epidemiology of scrapie in Great Britain: results of a postal survey

In 1998, a questionnaire was sent to 11,554 British sheep farmers to determine how many believed that scrapie cases had occurred in their flock; 61.4 per cent of them responded anonymously. The results indicated that 14.9 per cent of farmers with more than 30 breeding ewes thought that they had ever experienced scrapie in their flock and 2.7 per cent thought that they had had cases in the past 12 months. A comparison of these results with the number of farmers reporting suspect scrapie cases to MAFF, in accordance with the statutory requirement, suggests that only 13 per cent of farmers who suspect that they may have cases of scrapie are currently reporting them. Scrapie occurred in all regions of the country but there was an apparent regional variation. Larger farms and those with purebred sheep appeared to be at greater risk of having cases. Other differences between affected and unaffected farms included lambing practices and sheep purchasing policy. On the majority of farms the first case occurred in a purchased animal. The survey also revealed a need for the provision of further information about scrapie to farmers.