A Cross‐Sectional Study Examining Campylobacter and Other Zoonotic Enteric Pathogens in Dogs that Frequent Dog Parks in Three Cities in South‐Western Ontario and Risk Factors for Shedding of Campylobacter spp.

An estimated 6 million pet dogs live in Canadian households with the potential to transmit zoonotic pathogens to humans. Dogs have been identified as carriers of Salmonella, Giardia and Campylobacter spp., particularly Campylobacter upsaliensis, but little is known about the prevalence and risk factors for these pathogens in pet dogs that visit dog parks. This study examined the prevalence of these organisms in the faeces of dogs visiting dog parks in three cities in south‐western Ontario, as well as risk factors for shedding Campylobacter spp. and C. upsaliensis. From May to August 2009, canine faecal samples were collected at ten dog parks in the cities of Guelph and Kitchener‐Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire related to pet characteristics and management factors including age, diet and activities in which the dog participates. Faecal samples were collected from 251 dogs, and 189 questionnaires were completed. Salmonella, Giardia and Campylobacter spp. were present in 1.2%, 6.4% and 43.0% of faecal samples, respectively. Of the Campylobacter spp. detected, 86.1% were C. upsaliensis, 13% were C. jejuni and 0.9% were C. coli. Statistically significant sparing factors associated with the shedding of Campylobacter spp. included the feeding of a commercial dry diet and the dog's exposure to compost. Age of dog had a quadratic effect, with young dogs and senior dogs having an increased probability of shedding Campylobacter spp. compared with adult dogs. The only statistically significant risk factor for shedding C. upsaliensis was outdoor water access including lakes and ditches, while dogs >1 year old were at a lower risk than young dogs. Understanding the pet‐related risk factors for Campylobacter spp. and C. upsaliensis shedding in dogs may help in the development of awareness and management strategies to potentially reduce the risk of transmitting this pathogen from dogs to humans.     

Avipoxvirus infection in peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) from a reintroduction programme in Germany

Poxvirus infections are common in domestic birds in Germany, but they are rare in birds of prey. Only species of falconidae imported from Arabian or Asian countries have so far tested positive for poxvirus, and, among these, only raptors kept for falconry. As part of a reintroduction programme in the northern county of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which is adjacent to the Baltic Sea, 21 young peregrine falcons were released into the wild; six of them died and one was examined postmortem, its tissues being examined by light and electron microscopy. In addition, an ELISA for fowlpox, pigeonpox and canarypox was applied. No virus could be isolated and propagation in culture failed, but virus particles were detected by electron microscopy in lesions from its skin and tongue.     

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis II. Antibodies in lacrimal secretions of cattle naturally or experimentally infected with Moraxella bovis.

One or both eyes of 20 calves were inoculated one or more time with variou(s combinations of microorganism (live oor killed Moraxella bovis, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine adenovirus, bovine parainfluenza-3 virus and Mycoplasma bovoculi) by conjunctival instillation or direct inoculation of the conjunctivea or cornea. The eyes of all the calves received natural or artificial ultraviolet irradiation. Neither the adenovirus nor parainfluenza-3 virus became established in the eye or produced keratoconjunctivitis. Both M. bovis and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus became established in the bovine eye and produced disease. Subconjunctival or intracorneal inoculation of M. bovis caused a severe disease, simulating natural infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. Only the intracorneal inoculation of mycoplasma produced severe keratoconjunctivits. Eyes that on initial exposure to M. bovis became severly inflamed were more resistant to a second or third exposure to M. bovis, presumably by enhanced local defence mechanisms.     

Isolation of Mycobacterium species from raw milk of pastoral cattle of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

A study to determine the secretion of Mycobacterium spp. in milk from indigenous cattle was carried out in pastoral cattle reared in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The study was aimed at elucidating the dangers associated with milk-borne zoonoses in a society where milk is normally consumed raw. Out of 805 milk samples, 31 (3.9%) were positive for mycobacteria. There was a preponderance of atypical mycobacteria (87%) whereas only two isolates (6.5%) were confirmed as M. bovis. Atypical mycobacteria included: M. terrae (n=7), M. fortuitum (n=2), M. flavescens (n=13), M. gordonae (n=1) and M. smegmatis (n=4). Although the number of M. bovis positive samples was low, the habit of pooling milk may still pose great public health dangers to milk consumers in this part of the world. Moreover, isolation of atypical mycobacteria should also be considered to be a danger to human health in countries such as Tanzania, where the number of people with lowered immunity due to HIV infection is on the increase.     

Hiatal herniation as a complication of chronic diaphragmatic herniation

Three of four cases of chronic diaphragmatic herniation seen over a period of 12 months developed hiatal herniation within five to eight days of corrective surgery for the diaphragmatic herniation. None of the dogs had shown any prior signs referrable to hiatal herniation. The features that developed subsequent to diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy in all cases were dyspnoea, increased intra-abdominal pressure due to decreased abdominal domain and laxity of the oesophageal hiatus as judged subjectively at the time of surgery for hiatal herniation correction. These conditions may be significant underlying factors for the development of hiatal herniation not preceded by diaphragmatic herniation in the dog. Those associated factors accepted as important in humans, including reduced lower oesophageal sphincter tone and gastroesophageal reflux, may not be of similar importance in small animals.     

Comparison of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of canine intranasal neoplasia

O bjectives : Canine intranasal neoplasia is commonly evaluated using computed tomography to indicate the diagnosis, to determine disease extent, to guide histological sampling location and to plan treatment. With the expanding use of magnetic resonance imaging in veterinary medicine, this modality has been recently applied for the same purpose. The aim of this study was to compare the features of canine intranasal neoplasia using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
M ethods : Twenty-one dogs with confirmed intranasal neoplasia underwent both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The images were reviewed retrospectively for the bony and soft tissue features of intranasal neoplasia.
R esults : Overall computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging performed very similarly. However, lysis of bones bordering the nasal cavity and mucosal thickening was found on computed tomography images more often than on magnetic resonance images. Small amounts of fluid in the nasal cavity were more often seen on magnetic resonance images. However, fluid in the frontal sinuses was seen equally well with both modalities.
C linical S ignificance : We conclude that computed tomography is satisfactory for evaluation of canine intranasal neoplasia, and no clinically relevant benefit is gained using magnetic resonance imaging for intranasal neoplasia without extent into the cranial cavity.     

Telomere length and telomerase activity in canine mammary gland tumors

OBJECTIVE: To measure telomere length and telomerase activity in naturally occurring canine mammary gland tumors. SAMPLE POPULATION: 27 mammary gland tumor specimens obtained during resection or necropsy and 12 mammary gland tissue specimens obtained from healthy (control) dogs. PROCEDURE: Telomere length in tissue specimens was measured by use of restriction endonuclease digestion and Southern blot analysis. Telomerase activity was measured by use of a telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. RESULTS: Telomere length in mammary gland tumors ranged from 11.0 to 21.6 kilobase pairs (kbp; mean +/- SEM, 14.5+/-0.5 kbp) but did not differ among tumor types. Telomeres in mammary gland tumors were slightly shorter than in normal tissue specimens, but telomere length could not be directly compared between groups, because mean age of dogs was significantly different between groups. Age was negatively correlated with telomere length in control dogs but was not significantly correlated with length in affected dogs. Telomerase activity was detected in 26 of 27 mammary gland tumors and in 4 of 12 normal tissue specimens. However, telomerase activity and telomere length were not correlated in tumor specimens. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Telomere length is maintained in canine mammary gland tumors regardless of the age of the affected dog. Measurement of telomere length may be a useful tool for monitoring the in vivo effects of telomerase inhibitors in dogs with tumors.     

Efficacy of ceftiofur hydrochloride for treatment of experimentally induced colibacillosis in neonatal swine

Ceftiofur hydrochloride was tested for effectiveness against induced colibacillosis in neonatal swine. In this model, pigs less than 12 hours old were inoculated via stomach tube with a virulent, K99+, nalidixic acid-resistant strain of Escherichia coli. Six hours after challenge exposure, 1 dose of ceftiofur was administered either IM or orally in experiment 1 and orally only in experiment 2. Mortality, shedding of bacteria, fecal consistency scores, and body weight changes were monitored for 10 days. In experiment 1 (n = 383 pigs), all treatments at dosage that ranged between 0.5 and 64.0 mg of ceftiofur/kg of body weight significantly (P less than 0.001) reduced mortality, bacterial shedding, and diarrhea and increased weight gain, compared with findings in untreated controls. There were no detectable differences between oral and IM routes, except that there was greater reduction in bacteria shedding associated with the oral route of administration. In experiment 2 (n = 505 pigs), ceftiofur was administered orally either once at 6 hours after challenge exposure or twice at 6 and at 48 hours after the first dose. Dosage of ceftiofur was 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, or 60 mg/kg administered once, or half the same dose was administered at each of 2 times. At the optimal dosage (10 mg/kg), a single dose was as effective as 2 doses. The single administration at all dosages reduced mortality, bacterial shedding, and diarrhea scores and increased body weight gain, compared with findings in untreated pigs (P less than 0.01). In this induced infection model, the optimal treatment dosage was determined to be 10 mg/kg administered once.     

In vitro reactivity of digital arteries and veins to vasoconstrictive mediators in healthy horses and in horses with early laminitis

The in vitro reactivity of vasoconstrictive mediators that are implicated in acute laminitis was determined in palmar and plantar digital arteries and veins obtained from healthy horses and in palmar digital vessels of horses with early laminitis (Obel grade I). To obtain baseline reactivity data, 3 experiments were conducted, using healthy horses: (1) the reactivity of palmar and plantar digital arteries and veins to angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) were compared; (2) the direct effects of bacterial endotoxin on vascular reactivity were assessed; and (3) the reactivity of palmar digital arteries and veins to angiotensin II, norepinephrine, prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), serotonin, and a thromboxane-endoperoxide analog (U46619) were determined. The vascular reactivity of these same 5 vasoconstrictors then was determined in horses with early laminitis and was compared with data from healthy (control) horses. Obel grade-I laminitis was experimentally induced in horses, using carbohydrate overload. Dose responses were conducted for each agent at concentrations between 10(-8)M and 10(-4)M. The potency of a drug was defined as the mean effective concentration necessary to induce 50% of maximal contraction (EC50). There were no differences in EC50 concentrations and in maximal contractions between forelimb and hind limb arteries and veins for angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Incubation with endotoxin had no effect on the reactivity of arteries and veins to angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and serotonin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)