Lung worm (Marsupostrongylus spp.) infection in common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Marsupostrongylus spp. are the metastrongyloid nematodes most commonly associated with verminous pneumonia in Australian marsupials. Currently, there is a scarcity of information regarding this parasite in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Thirty-four free-living possums submitted to two wildlife hospitals in Sydney, Australia, between 2008 and 2015 were diagnosed with verminous pneumonia on postmortem examination. The majority of possums presented ill with multiple comorbidities. However, only five cases had clinical signs of respiratory disease. Necropsy and histopathology revealed extensive lung lesions characterised by diffuse, mixed interstitial infiltrates of macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells with mild to marked concentrations of eosinophils. Bronchopneumonia, pulmonary oedema, interstitial fibrosis, atelectasis and type II pneumocyte hyperplasia were also present in most cases. Adult nematodes, first-stage larvae and embryonating eggs were present in the large airways and alveolar spaces. The parasites were definitively identified as Marsupostrongylus spp. in eight cases with presumptive diagnoses based on histopathological characteristics reached in a further 26 cases. Twenty-nine of the 34 affected possums were adults with no sex predisposition. A review of the brushtail possum records at Taronga Wildlife Hospital from 1999 to 2015 revealed no lungworm infections were reported in the 45 possums examined before 2008. However, between 2008 and 2015, 30 of 47 possums (63.8%) examined were diagnosed with metastrongyloid lungworms. This case series is the first detailed report of Marsupostrongylus nematodes in common brushtail possums and highlights the clinical and pathological features, along with epidemiological findings.     

Diethylstilboestrol—historical background and current regulatory status

Diethylstilboestrol is a non-steroidal orally active oestrogen that in the past has been widely used in a variety of conditions in both medical and veterinary fields. In recognition of potential systemic availability to man of DES in the tissues of treated food-producing animals, together with an understanding of the potential teratogenic and carcinogenic toxicity of DES in man, the veterinary use of DES has been restricted to oral use in small animals only. Use of DES is prohibited in all food-producing animals.     

Analysis of the clinical findings used to diagnose coliform mastitis in dairy cows, and comparison to a prediction model

Logistic regression was used to analyze the clinical findings (attributes) which predicted coliform mastitis in 113 dairy cattle, 36 of which had coliforms cultured from milk. Weakness of the cow, swelling of the udder, decreased body temperature and watery consistency of the milk were selected for the model. An analysis was then done to find the attributes which clinicians used when predicting that a cow would have a coliform cultured. Clinicians appeared to use water consistency of the milk, shivering, firmness of the udder, pulse rate, elevated body temperature, and respiratory rate. In a final analysis the clinicians' predictions were forced into the model to determine which attributes might be used by clinicians to increase diagnostic accuracy. Inclusion of weakness of the cow, swelling of the udder, decreased temperature of the cow, and duration of mastitis of less than 24 hours increased accuracy over clinical prediction alone. Accuracy of cowside diagnosis might be increased if more attention were paid to these attributes when making a diagnosis of coliform mastitis.     

A placebo-controlled trial of two intranasal vaccines to prevent tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) in dogs entering a humane shelter

A placebo-controlled field trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of intranasal (IN) vaccines containing Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine-parainfluenza virus, with (IN-BPA) or without (IN-BP) canine-adenovirus type 2, for prevention of kennel cough at a humane shelter. Dogs were examined on admission to the shelter and those without respiratory signs of disease were assigned daily, on a rotating basis, to receive one of three vaccines. We enrolled 972 healthy dogs. Dogs were monitored for up to 30 days post-vaccination for coughing and other clinical signs of respiratory disease. Thirty-three (10.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.2%, 14.2%) dogs in the IN-BP group, 36 (10.2%; CI: 7.0%, 13.4%) [corrected] dogs in the IN-BPA group, and 42 (13.5%; CI: 9.7%, 17.3%) [corrected] dogs in the IN-P group coughed spontaneously for > or = 1 day within 30 days of vaccination (P = 0.37). The IN-BP and IN-BPA vaccines were 20.7 and 24.4% effective, respectively, in reducing coughing compared with a placebo vaccine. The strongest prognostic factor for coughing (regardless of vaccine group) was the number of days spent at the shelter, with each additional day increasing the risk of coughing by 3% (95% CI: 1.01, 1.06) [corrected] The low incidence of coughing in the shelter during this study precluded observation of differences in vaccine effectiveness. No differences in vaccine-associated adverse events (coughing, sneezing, nasal or ocular discharge) were noted during the first 3 days post-administration or thereafter.     

RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THORACIC CONFORMATION AND THE RISK OF GASTRIC DILATATION-VOLVULUS IN DOGS

To test the hypothesis that breeds of dogs with a deeper and narrower thorax have an increased risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), thoracie depth, width, and length were measured for 437 dogs of 17 different breeds using radiographs on file at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine for the period of 1977 to 1993. These data were applied to risk estimates of GDV that were generated from a separate case control study using the Veterinary Medical Data Base. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate the mean thoracie measurements and the ideal, adult body size of the breeds to the risk of each breed developing GDV. When the risk of GDV was evaluated as a function of the mean thoracie depth/width ratio alone, or as a function of the thoracie depth/width ratio plus ideal adult breed weight, 37% (p = 0.022), respectively, of the variability in GDV risk was explained. These findings support the hypothesis tested and suggest that selective breeding can be used to decrease a breed's risk of GDV over time.     

Time trends and risk factors for diabetes mellitus in cats presented to veterinary teaching hospitals

Veterinary Medical Data Base records of cats with diabetes mellitus (DM) from 1970 through 1999 were reviewed to identify trends in hospital prevalence of DM and potential host risk factors. Hospital prevalence increased from eight cases per 10,000 in 1970 to 124 per 10,000 in 1999 (P < 0.001). Case fatality percent at first visit decreased from 40% to 10% (P < 0.001). Hospital prevalence increased in all age groups (P < 0.002). There was no apparent seasonal pattern in hospital prevalence. Significant risk factors included male gender, increasing age for both genders (P < 0.001), increasing weight for males (P < 0.001), and mixed vs pure breed for females (P = 0.006).