The use of relative value studies in the determination of veterinary fees

This paper discusses the methods which veterinarians in Australia use to calculate their fees and charges. Problems associated with these methods and the tendency to undervalue the professional component of veterinary services are discussed. The paper introduces the concept of a relative value study of veterinary professional services within Australia and recommends the development of a relative value scale and conversion factors, based on appropriate resource cost accounting methodology, as a method to quantify veterinary professional service charges. A relative value scale is a table of "weights" that defines the relative value of procedures or services one to the other. A conversion factor is used to change the relative value unit to a dollar price and thus convert a relative value scale to a fee schedule. The Australian Veterinary Association is suggested as the most appropriate organisation to initiate and co-ordinate the research necessary for the development of these recommendations on a national basis.     

Effects of flunixin meglumine and ketoprofen on mediator production in ex vivo and in vitro models of inflammation in healthy dairy cows

Donalisio, C., Barbero, R., Cuniberti, B., Vercelli, C., Casalone, M., Re, G. Effects of flunixin meglumine and ketoprofen on mediator production in ex vivo and in vitro models of inflammation in healthy dairy cows. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.  36 , 130–139. In this study, ex vivo assays were carried out in dairy cows to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory effects of two nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs: ketoprofen (KETO) and flunixin meglumine (FM). Twelve healthy Holstein dairy cattle were randomly allocated to two groups (n=6): group 1 received FM and group 2 received KETO at recommended therapeutic dosages. The anti‐inflammatory effects of both drugs were determined by measuring the production of coagulation‐induced thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂), lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (10 μg/mL)‐induced prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and calcium ionophore (60 μm )‐induced leukotrien B₄ (LTB₄). Cytokine production was assessed by measuring tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐8 (CXCL8) concentrations after incubation in the presence of 10 μg/mL LPS. The IC₅₀ of FM and KETO was determined in vitro by determining the concentration of TXB₂ and PGE₂ in the presence of scalar drug concentrations (10^?9–10^?3 m ). Both FM and KETO inhibited the two COX isoforms in vitro, but showed a preference for COX‐1. FM and KETO showed similar anti‐inflammatory effects in the cow.     

Specific binding of dl-cloprostenol and d-cloprostenol to PG F2α receptors in bovine corpus luteum and myometrial cell membranes

Prostaglandin F_2α receptors (PGF_2α Rs) were measured in bovine corpus luteum and myometrial cell membranes using a radiometric method. The inhibition of labelled PGF_2α binding exerted by d-cloprostenol, dl-cloprostenol, PGF_2α and PGE₁ (l0–¹¹ M to 10^–4 M) was evaluated in vitro. Results strongly suggest that cloprostenol binding to PGF_2αRs is stereospecific. d-Cloprostenol and PGF_2α were equipotent, about 150 times more potent than d-cloprostenol (P < 0.05) and approximately 280 times more potent than PGE, (P < 0.05) in inhibiting [3H]PGF_2α binding to corpus luteum cell membranes. Such differences were less evident in myometrial cell membranes, where d-cloprostenol and PGF_2α were about 10 times more potent than d-cloprostenol (P < 0.05) and approximately 95 times more potent than PGE_l (P < 0.05).     

Associations between Theileria orientalis Ikeda type infection and the growth rates and haematocrit of suckled beef calves in the North Island of New Zealand

AIMS: The principle aim of this study was to examine the association between infection with Theileria orientalis Ikeda type and growth rates of suckled beef calves on four beef farms. In addition, associations between calf sex, sampling time, and individual farm and T. orientalis Ikeda type infection intensity and haematocrit (HCT) were investigated.

METHODS: The study was a prospective longitudinal study in which 240 calves from four purposively selected beef farms in the North Island of New Zealand were blood sampled and weighed in late spring, mid-summer and early autumn. Two farms were from high-risk (A and B) and two from low-risk (C and D) tick areas. Blood samples were analysed to determine HCT, and the number of T. orientalis Ikeda type organisms/µL of blood (infection intensity) using a quantitative PCR assay. A calf was defined as infected if >415 organisms/µL were detected in a blood sample. Linear mixed models were used to examine associations between infection intensity, mean daily liveweight gain (MDG), HCT, calf sex and time of sampling on the four farms.

RESULTS: On Farms A and B nearly all calves were infected at each sampling time, on Farm C <30% were infected at any sampling and on Farm D infection prevalence increased from 32 to 79% between late spring and early autumn. On Farms C and D, from mid-summer to early autumn, mean MDG was 0.127 (95% CI=0.072–0.183) kg/day less for infected than uninfected calves (p<0.001). On all farms MDG was negatively associated with infection intensity for mid-summer and early autumn sampling times (p=0.037). The relationship between time of sampling and infection intensity varied between farms (p<0.001), and between male and female calves (p=0.018). Females had a higher infection intensity than males at the mid-summer and early autumn samplings. The association between HCT and infection intensity varied with sampling time and farm (p=0.018). There was a strong negative association between infection intensity and HCT at the late spring sampling, but in mid-summer there was no association, and in early autumn only a weak association.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has shown that beef farmers in the North Island of New Zealand should be concerned about the welfare effects and economic impacts of T. orientalis Ikeda type infection in suckled beef calves.     

Evaluation of intraperitoneal and subcutaneous lidocaine and bupivacaine for analgesia following ovariohysterectomy in the dog

The role of ketamine (K) in pain management is controversial. It is reported to provide visceral analgesia in cats. This study aimed to assess its somatic actions using a thermal threshold (TT) model. Six cats (four spayed females, two castrated males, 4.3–7.2 kg) participated in the study. The day before each study, the thorax of each of the cats was shaved and a cephalic catheter was placed. TT was measured using a device specifically developed for cats. A heater element and temperature sensor housed in a small probe were held against the thorax of the cats with an elastic band and pressure bladder to assure consistent contact. The skin temperature was recorded before each test, then the heater was activated. When the cat responded by flinching, turning, or jumping, the stimulus was terminated and the threshold temperature was recorded. Treatments were 2 mg kg^?1 of K (10 mg mL^?1), or 0.2 mL kg^?1 of saline (S) IV, given in a randomized cross‐over design with at least 1 week between treatments. The investigator was blinded to the treatment. TT was measured thrice before treatment (baseline threshold) at 15 minutes, then every 30 minutes for 8 hours and once at 24 hours after injection. Data were analyzed using a four‐factor anova . Cats were sedated for 45 minutes following K treatment. There was no difference in baseline TT between treatments (K = 41.9 ± 1.7 °C, S = 41.0 ± 1.45 °C), and no change in TT at any time in the S group. TT increased significantly at 15 and 30 minutes after K, then decreased below baseline values between 210 and 390 minutes, with a nadir of 38.8 ± ± 1.05 °C at 390 minutes. During this time period, cats exhibited normal activity, but responses to thermal stimuli were exaggerated. This study suggested that K caused a delayed onset hyperalgesia in cats.     

A comparison of stress in surgically and non-surgically mulesed sheep

Summary A comparison has been made in 9- to 10-month-old castrated male Merino sheep of the changes in plasma total cortisol concentration and behaviour after being treated by either the modified Mules operation or by topical application of a quaternary ammonium compound to achieve non-surgical mulesing. After surgical mulesing, plasma total cortisol concentration increased immediately and rapidly and reached a peak value in 15 minutes, whereas after non-surgical treatment an immediate rise did not occur, but a similar peak value was observed in blood samples collected 24 hours after treatment. The concentrations were lower in both groups at 48 hours. Likewise postural changes indicative of discomfort were immediately apparent in the surgically treated sheep, but not until 3 to 4 hours later in those treated non-surgically. Arena testing revealed that a lasting aversion to the person who restrained them during treatment developed in the surgically mulesed sheep, but not in those treated non-surgically. The non-surgical procedure did not create large open wounds, as did the surgical operation, but still achieved similar enlargement of the bare area on the breech, and healing was quicker in the non-surgically treated sheep.     

Viability of OPS Vitrified Sheep Embryos After Direct Transfer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability in the effect of open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification procedure of sheep embryos after direct transference. Embryos were produced in vivo and cryopreserved in slow freezing or OPS vitrification. The survival rates of cryopreserved embryos were compared to non-frozen standard pattern. In a first set of experiments, embryos at morula and blastocyst stages were dived in ethylene glycol (1.5 M) and frozen in an automatic freezer. After being thawed, they were directly or indirectly transferred to ewes recipient. A second group of embryos were drawn into OPS and plunged into liquid nitrogen after being exposed at room temperature for 1 min and 45 s in 10% EG plus 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), then again for 30 s in 20% EG + 20% DMSO + 0.5 M sucrose. After being warmed, embryos were also directly transferred using a French mini straw as the catheter for the transplantation process or after in vitro dilution of cryoprotectants (two-step-process). No significant difference was observed among fresh, frozen or vitrified embryos on pregnancy rate (50.0%, 38.6% and 55.8%). However, when we evaluated only the direct transference, the pregnancy rate of OPS vitrified embryos was higher than that of frozen embryos (57.1% vs 34.8%) (p = 0.07). In addition, vitrified morulae had a higher pregnancy rate than the one with frozen embryos (64.0% vs 38.9%) (p = 0.07). Finally, our results indicate that OPS vitrification technique in association with direct transference improves the viability of sheep embryos with potential applications to field conditions.     

Horizontal and vertical movements of juvenile bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in relation to seasons and oceanographic conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Electronically tagged juvenile Pacific bluefin, Thunnus orientalis, were released off Baja California in the summer of 2002. Time‐series data were analyzed for 18 fish that provided a record of 380 ± 120 days (mean ± SD) of ambient water and peritoneal cavity temperatures at 120 s intervals. Geolocations of tagged fish were estimated based on light‐based longitude and sea surface temperature‐based latitude algorithms. The horizontal and vertical movement patterns of Pacific bluefin were examined in relation to oceanographic conditions and the occurrence of feeding events inferred from thermal fluctuations in the peritoneal cavity. In summer, fish were located primarily in the Southern California Bight and over the continental shelf of Baja California, where juvenile Pacific bluefin use the top of the water column, undertaking occasional, brief forays to depths below the thermocline. In autumn, bluefin migrated north to the waters off the Central California coast when thermal fronts form as the result of weakened equatorward wind stress. An examination of ambient and peritoneal temperatures revealed that bluefin tuna fed during this period along the frontal boundaries. In mid‐winter, the bluefin returned to the Southern California Bight possibly because of strong downwelling and depletion of prey species off the Central California waters. The elevation of the mean peritoneal cavity temperature above the mean ambient water temperature increased as ambient water temperature decreased. The ability of juvenile bluefin tuna to maintain a thermal excess of 10°C occurred at ambient temperatures of 11–14°C when the fish were off the Central California coast. This suggests that the bluefin maintain peritoneal temperature by increasing heat conservation and possibly by increasing internal heat production when in cooler waters. For all of the Pacific bluefin tuna, there was a significant correlation between their mean nighttime depth and the visible disk area of the moon.     

Studies on failure of T strain live Babesia bovis vaccine

SUMMARY Field investigations of the protection afforded by the Australian live Babesia bovis vaccine used in the early 1990s (T strain) revealed inadequate vaccine-induced protection in certain herds. Vaccination/challenge trials using 207 experimental cattle were conducted to evaluate the protection afforded by T strain B bovis against field isolates from these herds. The trials investigated whether isolates that could ‘break-through’ T strain immunity were present in the field, the ability or inability of specific cattle to develop protective immunity after vaccination with T strain and the effect of attenuation and maintenance procedures on the immunogenicity of T strain. The results showed that B bovis parasites present early in the process of attenuation of T strain were more protective than those remaining late in the process. They also showed that cattle from properties experiencing vaccine failures were less protected by T strain vaccination than Bos taurus cattle randomly selected from the general population if vaccinated with highly attenuated T strain. A hypothesis is offered to explain these findings .