Stewardship as a Path to Cooperation? Exploring the Role of Identity in Intergroup Conflict Among Michigan Wolf Stakeholders

Post-recovery wolf management remains controversial. In Michigan, dialogue centers on hunting wolves but controversy may be more nuanced than simple pro- or anti-hunting positions. Social identity may cause stakeholders to organize in groups and identity differences may be driving controversy. To explore stakeholder disagreement over wolf management, we conducted semi-structured key informant interviews (n = 21) about identity and stewardship in August–September 2012. Four overarching identity themes emerged regarding: (a) management objectives, (b) focal levels, (c) control methods, and (d) justifications for methods. Themes indicated two main researcher-defined identity groups. Interviewees from both groups identified six common stewardship themes: (a) bequest values, (b) ecosystem health, (c) education, (d) existence values, (e) pride in natural resources, and (f) sustainability. Findings suggest stakeholders may be conflicting over opposing identities vis-à-vis organization affiliation, which may be related to what management strategies individuals oppose. Establishing common stewardship objectives through established participation methods may help alleviate controversy.     

Arterial Thromboembolism in 250 Cats in General Practice: 2004–2012

Background

Population characteristics and outcome of cats with arterial thromboembolism (ATE) managed in general practice (GP) have been poorly described.

Hypothesis

Cats with ATE presenting to GP are usually euthanized at presentation, but survival times >1 year are possible.

Animals

Cats with ATE managed by 3 GP clinics in the United Kingdom.

Methods

Records of cases presenting to GP over a 98‐month period (2004–2012) were reviewed. Cats with an antemortem diagnosis of limb ATE were included. Outcome information was obtained.

Results

Over 98 months, 250 cats were identified with ATE. Prevalence was approximately 0.3%. At presentation, 153 cats (61.2%) were euthanized, with 68/97 (70.1%) of the remaining cats (27.2% of the total population) surviving >24 hours after presentation. Of these, 30/68 (44.1%) survived for at least 7 days. Hypothermia (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.002–2.07; P = .049) and management by Clinic 2 (HR, 5.53; 95% CI, 1.23–24.8; P = .026) were independent predictors of 24‐hour euthanasia or death. For cats surviving >24 hours, hypothermia (HR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.12–4.48; P = .021) and failure to receive aspirin, clopidogrel, or both (HR, 8.26; 95% CI, 1.39–50; P = .001) were independent predictors of euthanasia or death within 7 days. For cats that survived ≥7 days, median survival time was 94 (95% CI, 42–164) days, with 6 cats alive 1 year after presentation.

Conclusions

Although 153/250 cats were euthanized at presentation, 6 cats survived >12 months. No factors were identified that predicted euthanasia on presentation.     

Tenoscopic-assisted treatment of a solitary caudodistal tibial osteochondroma

Solitary osteochondromas are a relatively infrequent cause of lameness in the horse, most commonly occurring in the caudal distal radial metaphysis, with sparse reports in other locations. Their presence adjacent to a synovial sheath frequently results in intra-thecal tendinous laceration and resultant synovial effusion. Surgical excision in combination with arthroscopic debridement of the tendinous pathology offers the best prognosis for soundness. This report details the successful treatment of a caudodistal tibial osteochondroma using a combination of open surgical excision and tarsal sheath tenoscopy.     

The cytologic and histologic diagnosis of ureteral fibroepithelial polyp in a dog

A 6-year-old, intact male, brindled, 30-Lb English Bulldog presented to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a recurrent history of hematuria, periuria, and lethargy that responded temporarily to antibiotic therapy. The work-up included a complete blood count, serum biochemical profile, complete urinalysis, diagnostic imaging (abdominal radiographs and ultrasound with contrast urography), and exploratory laparotomy. The diagnostic imaging findings and subsequent exploratory revealed a unilateral, intraluminal, right-sided, 3-cm ureteral mass extending from the proximal ureter into the renal pelvis. Subsequently, a unilateral right-sided ureteronephrectomy followed by biopsy with cytopathology/cytology (impression smears) and histopathology of the ureteral mass was performed. The cytopathologic interpretation was benign mesenchymal proliferation with mildly atypical urothelial cells. The association of this mass with vascular tissue and a benign nuclear appearance on cytology is similar to reports of fibroepithelial polyps (FEPs) and myxomatous tumors. Histopathology diagnosed the mass as an FEP. Cytopathology proved useful in the presumptive diagnosis of this benign urothelial polyp. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report using cytopathology to depict and characterize FEPs in veterinary and human medical literature.     

Udder cleft dermatitis and sarcoptic mange in a dairy herd

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of udder cleft dermatitis in a dairy herd that was experiencing an outbreak of sarcoptic mange. DESIGN: Clinical survey. ANIMALS: 1,597 Holstein cows and late-gestation heifers. PROCEDURE: Animals were examined for udder cleft dermatitis and for skin lesions consistent with sarcoptic or chorioptic mange. Skin scrapings were collected from 56 cows and examined for ectoparasites. The herd was revisited 1 year later, and prevalences of udder cleft dermatitis and lesions consistent with mange were determined in 506 cows. RESULTS: Of the 1,597 cattle examined, 280 (18%) had udder cleft dermatitis, and 1,397 (87.5%) had lesions consistent with mange. In 43 of 56 (77%) cows, skin scrapings revealed Sarcoptes mites. Udder cleft dermatitis was significantly more common in older than in younger cows. In first-lactation cows, udder cleft dermatitis was less common during the first 4 months of lactation than in the later stages of lactation, but udder cleft dermatitis was identified in cows in all stages of lactation and in cows that were not lactating. The herd was treated with eprinomectin to control mites, and prevalence of lesions consistent with mange 1 year later was only 2.8%. However, prevalence of udder cleft dermatitis was still 12%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that cows in any stage of lactation and cows that are not lactating can have udder cleft dermatitis but that lesions are more common in older cows. Control of sarcoptic mange was accompanied by a moderate reduction in the prevalence of udder cleft dermatitis but did not eliminate the condition.     

Identification of monoclonal antibodies that cross-react with cytokines from different animal species

Eleven monoclonal antibodies specific for ovine, bovine and human cytokines were investigated by flow cytometry for cross-reactivities with cytokines produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from sheep, cattle, goat, swine, horse, dog, mink, rabbit and human. Four antibodies specific for IL-4, IL-8, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha cross-reacted with cytokines from a majority of the species investigated. These antibodies can be applied to flow cytometric studies of cytokine production by PBMCs from several veterinary species. Another five antibodies specific for IL-2, IL-6, GM-CSF and IFN-gamma (two antibodies) cross-reacted weakly and with a variable number of animal species. These antibodies could in certain situations be useful in flow cytometry. In a number of cases the immunological cross-reactivities were confirmed by Western blot analyses. Overall, the results of this study will remedy some of the lack of species-specific anti-cytokine antibodies in veterinary research.