Vaccine efficacy for reducing turbinate atrophy and improving growth rate in piggeries with endemic atrophic rhinitis

Two vaccines, based on formalin-killed whole cells of toxigenic Pasteurella multocida type D and Bordetella bronchiseptica combined with a partially toxoided cell extract of P multocida, were prepared with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (vaccine 1) or by alum precipitation (vaccine 2). Each was tested for safety and efficacy in reducing the severity of nasal turbinate atrophy and improving the growth rate of pigs in three Western Australian commercial piggeries with endemic atrophic rhinitis. In safety experiments with vaccine 1, no adverse clinical effects were observed in vaccinated sows or their progeny. Piglets receiving vaccine 2 showed no injection site abnormalities, pyrexia or turbinate atrophy. In field trials, vaccine 1 significantly reduced the prevalence of moderate to severe nasal turbinate atrophy (Done score 3 to 5) when used in two piggeries (A and B). Progeny from vaccinated sows in piggery B also grew significantly faster than controls. When vaccine 2 was used in piggery A at a later date and in another piggery (C), growth rate was not improved in either piggery and the prevalence of moderate to severe turbinate atrophy was reduced only in piggery C.     

Diagnosing feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection: an update for clinicians

With the commercial release in Australia in 2004 of a vaccine against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV; Fel‐O‐Vax FIV®), the landscape for FIV diagnostics shifted substantially. Point‐of‐care (PoC) antibody detection kits, which had been the mainstay for diagnosing FIV infection since the early 1990s, were no longer considered accurate to use in FIV‐vaccinated cats, because of the production of vaccine‐induced antibodies that were considered indistinguishable from those produced in natural FIV infections. Consequently, attention shifted to alternative diagnostic methods such as nucleic acid detection. However, over the past 5 years we have published a series of studies emphasising that FIV PoC test kits vary in their methodology, resulting in differing accuracy in FIV‐vaccinated cats. Importantly, we demonstrated that two commercially available FIV antibody test kits (Witness? and Anigen Rapid?) were able to accurately distinguish between FIV‐vaccinated and FIV‐infected cats, concluding that testing with either kit offers an alternative to PCR testing. This review summarises pertinent findings from our work published in a variety of peer‐reviewed research journals to inform veterinarians (particularly veterinarians in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, where the FIV vaccine is currently commercially available) about how the approach to the diagnosis of FIV infection has shifted. Included in this review is our work investigating the performance of three commercially available FIV PoC test kits in FIV‐vaccinated cats and our recommendations for the diagnosis of FIV infection; the effect of primary FIV vaccination (three FIV vaccines, 4 weeks apart) on PoC test kit performance; our recommendations regarding annual testing of FIV‐vaccinated cats to detect ‘vaccine breakthroughs’; and the potential off‐label use of saliva for the diagnosis of FIV infection using some FIV PoC test kits. We also investigated the accuracy of the same three brands of test kits for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) diagnosis, using both blood and saliva as diagnostic specimens. Based on these results, we discuss our recommendations for confirmatory testing when veterinarians are presented with a positive FeLV PoC test kit result. Finally, we conclude with our results from the largest and most recent FIV and FeLV seroprevalence study conducted in Australia to date.     

Preference for and performance of some Australian native plants grown as hedges

Indigenous and other native plants are commonly restricted to informal or naturalistic designed landscapes. This research project investigates the use of native plants as a formal landscape element – the hedge. A multidisciplinary approach was used with distinct horticultural and social science components. The first study explored the response of 14 native and one exotic species to hedging every 4 months. Digital imaging techniques were used to measure changes in growth, density and canopy distribution. All species responded well to hedging, greatly increasing in density. Significant differences in growth rates and shoot regrowth patterns were recorded between the species. Some hedges grown from genetically diverse plant material had noticeable morphological variations and would be more suited to use as informal hedges, however growth rates were found to be a much better predictor of hedging performance than genetic uniformity. A second study explored gardeners’ (n=162) preference for these native hedges. Photomontages were created of the hedges grown in the horticultural experiment and a photo-questionnaire distributed to several groups of gardeners. The preference results showed that many gardeners did like some Australian plants used as hedges. Significant differences in preference were found between species. A principal components analysis found that factors positively affecting preference for hedges included neatness, foliage colour (green and grey), presence of flowers and the absence of visible woody stems. In general, genetically diverse hedges were slightly less preferred than genetically uniform hedges, but some genetically diverse hedges were highly preferred. Personal style preferences based on gardeners’ expressed gardening behaviour were also observed, with grey and softer hedges preferred by those participants with low-maintenance, drought tolerant or native gardens.     

Pyometra and unilateral uterine horn torsion in a sheep

A 13‐year‐old Romanov sheep presented for evaluation of vaginal discharge, depression and anorexia. Blood work demonstrated mature neutrophilia and marked hyperlactatemia. Transrectal and transabdominal ultrasound revealed echogenic fluid (pus) within the uterus. Purulent uterine fluid culture yield Escherichia coli. A diagnosis of pyometra was made. After medical treatment without clinical improvement, an exploratory laparotomy was performed, and a 360‐degree uterine left horn torsion was identified with the pyometra and multiple corpora lutea on both ovaries. Ovariohysterectomy was performed and the ewe recovered uneventfully.