Characterizing 1341 cases of veterinary toxicoses confirmed in western Canada: A 16-year retrospective study

Veterinary toxicoses are frequently observed in western Canada. This study reports the frequency and characteristics of intoxications in animals reported between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2013. Information was obtained from toxicological case records from the Prairie Diagnostic Services, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. There were 1341 animal poisonings with 19 compounds over the investigational period. Lead poisoning was the most common toxicity (43.7%). Poisoning with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and strychnine were also common events. Poisonings were most common in 2001, 2009, and 2012. Intoxications occurred most frequently during the months of May through July. Cattle were the most commonly poisoned species (n = 696), followed by dogs and eagles.     

Morphology of alpaca (Vicugna pacos) embryos in the first third of pregnancy

The breeding of South American camelids is the main economic activity of the high Andean region of South America and it, is potentially, the most profitable resource in of the Puna environmental conditions of the Puna. The duration of the gestation in alpaca is 339.7 ± 12 days. The objective of the present work was to macroscopically and microscopically describe the ontogenic development of the splanchnic cavities of the alpaca and to determine the gestational time in which the post‐cranial ossification centers are observed in the embryos/fetuses of this species, from day 21 to 107 of gestation. The documentation of normal ontogenic development, which is vacant for this period, is of the utmost importance to understand the consequences of the alterations at the different gestational times, as well as for the estimation of the gestational age in the case of abortions. Forty‐seven alpaca specimens of both sexes, at different times of their gestational development, collected during slaughter at local slaughterhouses of the Department of Huancavelica, Peru, were evaluated. Specimens were assigned to seven groups according to their morphological characteristics. The embryogenesis in the alpaca was characterized by a series of changes comparable to those occurring in other mammals with similar gestational periods. Despite these similarities, species differences were found in some organs as stomach, which are observed too in adult individuals.     

Evaluation of the effect of mesotherapy in the management of back pain in police working dog

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of mesotherapy in dogs compared with a positive control group.

Lignans from Strophanthus gratus

Three lignans, pinoresinol (1), 8-hydroxypinoresinol (2) and olivil (3) have been isolated from the leaves of Strophanthus gratus by reversed-phase HPLC.     

Endometrial Expression of IFNAR‐1 and Oxytocin Receptor (OTR) is not Improved by Prostaglandin Analogues when Compared to Progestagens in Ewes

The objective of this study was to investigate differences on the endometrial immunoexpression of type I IFN receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR1) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) during the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep, when oestrus is synchronized with either prostaglandin analogues (group PG) or conventional progestagens (group P). Plasma progesterone was measured from day 0 to 21 post‐coitus (pc) (day 0 = day of oestrus). Immunohistochemistry was performed in samples of uterine horns from pregnant sheep on days 9pc, 13pc, 15pc, 17pc and 21pc to locate IFNAR1 and OTR expression in different endometrial compartments. Mean levels of plasma progesterone were different between treatments, obtaining higher levels in the PG group than in the P group (p < 0.05). Comparing days of pregnancy, IFNAR1 protein expression was different in the luminal epithelium (LE) (p < 0.05), while OTR was different in the LE and in the superficial glandular epithelium (SG) (p < 0.05). Temporal variation on the expression of both proteins from day 9pc to 21pc has been evidenced. IFNAR1 and OTR expression did not show significant differences between treatments. However, the response observed in the endometrium was highly inconsistent when prostaglandin analogues were used. Therefore, the protocol based on prostaglandin analogues still needs to be optimized before being considered as a better alternative to progestagens for oestrous synchronization in sheep.     

The impact of resistance on the use of second-generation anticoagulants against rats on farms in Southern England

Resistance amongst rats to second-generation anticoagulants, notably difenacoum, has been recognised since the 1970s. Although initially considered to be of practical significance, doubts were subsequently expressed that the degree of resistance was sufficient to explain ineffective rodenticide treatments. Research published elsewhere demonstrated the overriding importance of poor poisoned bait consumption, caused by the influence of certain ecological factors on rat behaviour, in reducing the effectiveness of second-generation anticoagulant treatments on farms in southern England. In this paper we consider, however, the subtle effects of resistance to anticoagulants on treatment outcome. The prevalence of resistance was increased amongst survivors of treatments and bait consumption by resistant survivors was higher than amongst susceptible survivors. The overall prevalence and degree of resistance to second-generation anticoagulants does not, however, currently represent a practical problem. Nevertheless, selection favouring increased resistance remains a long-term threat to the effectiveness of both difenacoum and bromadiolone.     

Mortality rate and movements of brushtail possums with clinical tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) infection

AIM: To describe the mortality rate and movements of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) with clinical tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) from a site in native podocarp/hardwood forest, in the Orongorongo Valley, Wellington. METHODS: Possums with clinical tuberculosis (Tb) were identified through routine trapping on live capture grids and were fitted with radio-collars, and located at approximately monthly intervals for 2.5 years. The survival times of radio-collared tuberculous and non-diseased possums were used to estimate the instantaneous additional mortality rate due to clinical Tb. The spatial behaviour of clinically tuberculous possums was compared with that of non-diseased possums, using both den and trap locations. The frequency of long-distance movements of both tuberculous and non-diseased possums was also determined. A possum was defined as having undertaken along-distance movement when it moved at least 200 m from the centre of its activity range and then returned to its established activity range or died. RESULTS: The mean survival time of clinically tuberculous possums was 4.7 (SE 0.79) months. The instantaneous additional mortality rate due to clinical Tb was estimated to be between 1.08 year-1 and 2.38 year-1, with the lower figure including an unknown portion of the incubation period in the estimate. Estimates of denning and activity ranges of tuberculous possums were approximately 22-30% larger, on average, than the ranges of non-diseased possums, but the differences were not significant. Both tuberculous and non-diseased possums undertook long-distance movements up to 700 m from the centre of their activity range. However, the majority of tuberculous possums died within or near their established activity range. CONCLUSIONS: This study estimated the mortality rate during the clinical stages of Tb and, as such, did not represent a true estimate of the disease-induced mortality rate (alpha) used in most epidemiological models of possums and Tb. However, the lower estimate of the additional mortality rate due to clinical disease could be considered an approximation to alpha. The movement patterns of clinically tuberculous possums were, overall, not substantially different from non-diseased possums. The occurrence of long-distance movements by tuberculous possums sometimes coincided with the advanced stage of clinical disease. However, the majority of tuberculous possums died within their established activity area. Long-distance movements by resident possums during the terminal stages of disease represent a direct risk for transmission of Tb to livestock on farms within approximately 1 km of infected possum populations.     

Endoparasites of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) from the South Island, New Zealand

As part of a study to assess whether endoparasites could assist in the biological control of brushtail possums in New Zealand, we investigated the composition and distribution of possum endoparasites in the South Island. Possums were collected near five of the original release areas in the South Island : Banks Peninsula, Hokitika, Nelson, Dunedin and Invercargill. Among the nematodes, those most frequently encountered were Trichostrongylus spp., which were present in possums from all five study areas. Trichostrongylus species from possums in the Invercargill area comprised 4.5% T. colubriformis, 0.9% T. vitrinus and 11.3% T. retortaeformis. Paraustrostnmgylus trichosuri and Parastrongyloides trichosuri were found only in the Invercargill area, where they infected 1.4% and 14% of possums respectively. The cestode Bertiella trichosuri was present in possums from all locations except Dunedin. The protozoan Eimeria spp. occurred in all areas. These are the first records of Parastrongyloides trichosuri, Paraustrostrongylus trichosuri, T. vitrinus, T. retortaeformis and Eimeria spp. in South Island possums. The prevalence of endoparasites and the intensity of infection was very low compared to the lower North Island of New Zealand. Endoparasites at the existing levels in the South Island probably have very little effect on possum populations.