Risk factors associated with short‐term mortality and recurrence of status epilepticus in dogs

BackgroundStatus epilepticus (SE) is an emergency associated with serious consequences for both patient and owner. Data regarding risk factors for short‐term mortality or recurrence in dogs with SE is limited.ObjectiveIdentify risk factors associated with short‐term mortality (euthanasia or spontaneous death) and recurrence of SE in dogs.AnimalsOne hundred twenty‐four client‐owned dogs that sustained an episode of SE.MethodsRetrospective multicenter study using data collected from medical records of dogs presented in SE to the contributing institutions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed using a manual backwards stepwise approach to identify risk factors associated with short‐term mortality and recurrence of SE after discharge.ResultsShort‐term mortality for affected dogs was 29.8%. Factors significantly associated with short‐term mortality included increased patient age, shorter duration of hospitalization, development of SE before arrival, and SE caused by a potentially fatal etiology. Status epilepticus recurred in 27% of dogs that survived to discharge. Factors significantly associated with recurrence of SE included prior history of pharmacoresistant epilepsy and predominance of a focal seizure phenotype.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceOur results may be used to inform clinicians and dog owners regarding risk factors for both short‐term mortality and recurrence in dogs with SE.     

Different cultures,different values: The role of cultural variation in public’s WTP for marine species conservation

Understanding the cultural variation in public preference for marine species is a necessary pre-requisite if conservation objectives are to include societal preferences in addition to scientific considerations. We report the results of a contingent study undertaken at three case-study sites: Azores islands (Portugal), Gulf of Gdansk (Poland) and Isles of Scilly (UK). The study considered species richness of five specific marine taxa (mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates and algae) as proxies of marine biodiversity and the aim of analysis was to estimate from a multi-site perspective public’s willingness to pay (WTP) to avoid increased levels of species loss (reduction of species richness) for different marine taxa. Results, based on 1502 face-to-face interviews, showed that income, education and environmental awareness of the respondents were significant predictors of WTP for marine species conservation. Results also indicated that respondents in each of the European locations had different preferences for marine taxa. In the Azores, although mammals and fish were valued highly, small differences occurred in the WTP among different taxa. Respondents in the Isles of Scilly put a relatively low value on fish while algae and marine mammals were highly valued. In Gdansk, respondents defined a clear order of preference for marine mammals > fish > birds > invertebrates and algae. These findings suggested that cultural differences may be important drivers of valuation and undermines the commonly held premise that charismatic/likeable taxa consistently have a disproportionately strong influence on WTP for biodiversity conservation. We conclude that conservation policy must take account of cultural diversity alongside biological diversity.     

AN INEXPENSIVE SEED CLEANER FOR USE WITH SINGLE HEADS OF TIMOTHY

Constructional details are given of an inexpensive seed cleaner capable of handling material from single heads of timothy, yielding cleaned seed of over 98% purity by weight. The conditions within the cleaner are reproducible and running costs negligible.     

Curcuminoids, curcumin, and demethoxycurcumin reduce lead-induced memory deficits in male Wistar rats

This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of the curcuminoids against lead-induced neurotoxicity. The results show that lead significantly increases lipid peroxidation and reduces the viability of primary hippocampal neurons in culture. This lead-induced toxicity was significantly curtailed by the co-incubation of the neurons with the curcuminoids. In a whole animal experiment, rats were trained in a water maze and thereafter dosed with lead and/or curcumin (CURC), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), or bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) for 5 days. Animals treated with curcumin and demethoxycurcumin but not bisdemethoxycurcumin had more glutathione and less oxidized proteins in the hippocampus than those treated with lead alone. These animals also had faster escape latencies when compared to the Pb-treated animals indicating that CURC- and DMC-treated animals retain the spatial reference memory. The findings of this study indicate that curcumin, a well-established dietary antioxidant, is capable of playing a major role against heavy metal-induced neurotoxicity and has neuroprotective properties.     

Testing novel methods for assessing rule breaking in conservation

Many approaches to conserving and managing natural resources depend upon rules, but the existence of rules alone does not guarantee compliance. Information on rule breaking behaviour is needed for designing interventions to improve compliance. However, directly investigating rule breaking is difficult as perpetrators may not wish to identify themselves. Other disciplines have developed methods for answering sensitive questions but so far these have not been widely applied in conservation. Using rule breaking among fly fishers as a case study, we tested two methods specifically designed for collecting sensitive data (the randomised response technique (RRT) and the nominative technique), against a conventional self-complete questionnaire. RRT resulted in much higher estimates of the prevalence of rule breaking than the self-complete questionnaire, particularly for more sensitive questions. The nominative technique yielded extremely low estimates, possibly because respondents did not know enough about their friends’ rule breaking behaviour, or did not want to discuss it in a face-to-face interview. Despite requiring large sample sizes we suggest that RRT is a useful method for obtaining information about rule breaking and could be more widely used, for example in studies of poaching and illegal resource extraction.     

Evaluating the Effects of a Short‐Term Feed Restriction Period on the Behavior and Welfare of Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salar,parr Using Social Network Analysis and Fin Damage

Social network analysis (SNA) was used to quantify the role of behavioral interactions on the frequency and severity of fin damage in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, parr subjected to a short feed restriction period of 10 d. Dorsal fin erosion was observed in both feed‐restricted (FR) and control (C) groups of fish, but was significantly more frequent and severe in FR groups. FR fish had a significantly lower weight, length, and poorer body condition in comparison to C groups. Social networks based on aggressive interactions showed significantly higher overall degree‐centrality, clustering coefficients, out and in‐degree centralities in FR groups. This led to the formation of clusters of fish into initiators and receivers of aggression. Only the receivers of aggression exhibited dorsal fin damage, while initiators did not. Initiators and receivers of aggression in FR groups retained their roles even after control conditions were restored, suggesting that short periods of feed restriction can lead to permanent modifications in aggressive behavior. This study demonstrates the applied value of using SNA to investigate the longer term effects that aggressive behavioral interactions have on fin damage and welfare in Atlantic salmon.     

Indications and outcomes for puppies undergoing mechanical ventilation: 59 cases (2006 to 2020)

The medical records of 59 puppies from 6 hospitals undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) between 2006 and 2020 were reviewed to describe the signalment, underlying disease, duration of ventilation, and outcome. The most common underlying diseases were pneumonia (n = 18), non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema (n = 16), and trauma (n = 8). Twenty-six (44%) puppies were weaned from the ventilator. The overall survival rate was 39% (23/59) including 19 non-brachycephalic dogs and 4 brachycephalics. Median duration of mechanical ventilation was 27 hours (range: 4 to 144 hours). Brachycephalic dogs were less likely to survive than nonbrachycephalic dogs (P = 0.032). English bulldogs were over-represented with pneumonia. No association between age and survival to discharge (P = 0.716) or outcome (P = 0.579) was detected. The survival rate, and underlying disease process and severity for mechanically ventilated puppies was similar to previous studies in adult dogs.     

Interpretation of canine and feline blood smears by emergency room personnel

Background: Interpretation of blood smears is commonly used to provide rapid laboratory evaluation of animals in veterinary emergency practice, but the accuracy of results of blood smear interpretation by emergency room personnel (ERP) compared with evaluation by trained veterinary clinical pathology personnel is unknown. Objective: The goal of this study was to compare blood smear evaluation by ERP with that of clinical pathology personnel. Methods: All animals that had a CBC determined by a diagnostic laboratory and had blood smears evaluated by personnel at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals Emergency Room between September 2008 and July 2009 were eligible for study inclusion. ERP who evaluated blood smears completed standardized forms with estimates of the WBC and platelet counts and evaluation of RBC and WBC morphology. Results from point‐of‐care assessment were compared with automated or manual results reported by the veterinary diagnostic laboratory. Results: One hundred and fifty‐five blood smears were evaluated. There was moderate agreement (κ value, 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52, 0.74) between estimated platelet counts by ERP and automated counts. Poor agreement was found between estimated WBC counts by ERP and automated counts (κ value, 0.48; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.60). Specific abnormalities with a high likelihood of clinical significance, eg, toxic change, nucleated RBCs, spherocytes, hemoparasites, and lymphoblasts, were not predictably identified by ERP. Conclusions: ERP interpretation of canine and feline blood smears should be used cautiously and should not replace evaluation by a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.     

HCN2 ion channels play a central role in inflammatory and neuropathic pain

The rate of action potential firing in nociceptors is a major determinant of the intensity of pain. Possible modulators of action potential firing include the HCN ion channels, which generate an inward current, I(h), after hyperpolarization of the membrane. We found that genetic deletion of HCN2 removed the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-sensitive component of I(h) and abolished action potential firing caused by an elevation of cAMP in nociceptors. Mice in which HCN2 was specifically deleted in nociceptors expressing Na(V)1.8 had normal pain thresholds, but inflammation did not cause hyperalgesia to heat stimuli. After a nerve lesion, these mice showed no neuropathic pain in response to thermal or mechanical stimuli. Neuropathic pain is therefore initiated by HCN2-driven action potential firing in Na(V)1.8-expressing nociceptors.