Evaluation of a protocol for determining the effectiveness of pretreatment with local analgesics for reducing experimentally induced articular pain in domestic fowl

An experimental paradigm based on the microcrystalline sodium urate-induced arthritis model was developed for determining the effectivenss and optimum dose of drugs with potential local analgesic properties for the diagnosis and alleviation of musculoskeletal pain in birds. The optimum intra-articular injection of sodium urate was 6 mg in 0·2 ml diluent in 12-week-old male domestic fowl of 1·5 kg live weight. The response criteria were changes in behavioural profiles over 60 minutes commencing one hour after intra-articular injection. The testing system was used to determine the optimum rate of intra-articular application of the local anaesthetic bupivacaine hydrochloride. The behavioural profile of treated birds was restored to that of the controls at a minimal injection of 3 mg in 0·3 ml saline. It was concluded that the optimum intra-articular dose of bupivacaine for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain in the domestic fowl was 3 mg bupivacaine in 0·3 ml saline.     

Identification of equine herpesvirus 3 (equine coital exanthema virus), equine gammaherpesviruses 2 and 5, equine adenoviruses 1 and 2, equine arteritis virus and equine rhinitis A virus by polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE: To develop rapid (< 8 hour) tests using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV3; equine coital exanthema virus), equine gammaherpesviruses 2 (EHV2) and EHV5, equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV1), EAdV2, equine arteritis virus (EAV), equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV; formerly equine rhinovirus 1) DESIGN: Either single round or second round (seminested) PCRs were developed and validated. METHODS: Oligonucleotide primers were designed that were specific for each virus, PCR conditions were defined and the specificity and sensitivity of the assays were determined. The application of the tests was validated using a number of independent virus isolates for most of the viruses studied. The PCRs were applied directly to clinical samples where samples were available. RESULTS: We developed a single round PCR for the diagnosis of EHV3, a seminested PCR for EHV2 and single round PCRs for EHV5, EAdV1, EAdV2 and RT-PCRs for EAV and ERAV. The PCR primer sets for each virus were designed and shown to be highly specific (did not amplify any recognised non-target template) and sensitive (detection of minimal amounts of virus) and, where multiple virus isolates were available all isolates were detected. CONCLUSION: The development and validation of a comprehensive panel of PCR diagnostic tests, predominantly for viruses causing equine respiratory disease, that can be completed within 8 hours from receipt of clinical samples, provides a major advance in the rapid diagnosis or exclusion diagnosis of these endemic equine virus diseases in Australia.     

Opioid modulation of feeding and drinking in fowls

1. D-ala2-methionine enkephalinamide (DME), the stable analogue of met-enkephalin (an opioid agonist), stimulated food intake of immature hens in the first 30 min after intracerebroventricular injection (2 and 8 micrograms/kg), but had no effect on either food or water intake when injected intravenously (15 and 60 micrograms/kg). 2. Naloxone (an opioid antagonist) had no effect on food intake after either intracerebroventricular (50 and 200 micrograms/kg) or intravenous (1 and 4 mg/kg) injection, but inhibited water intake in the second 30 min after intravenous injection. 3. Water intake was not measured after the intracerebroventricular injections of DME and naloxone. 4. Both feeding and drinking were inhibited in a dose-related way in the 7 h after intramuscular injection of nalmefene (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg/kg), a more potent and longer-lasting antagonist than naloxone. 5. These data are compared with published results from similar work with birds and mammals. It is concluded that central release of endogenous opioids may reinforce both feeding and drinking in fowls, but whereas opioid blockage affects feeding more than drinking in pigeons and quail, the opposite appears to be the case in fowls.     

Efficacy and safety of Eradicat® feral cat baits in eastern Australia: population impacts of baiting programmes on feral cats and non-target mammals and birds

Journal of Pest Science - Reducing the damage caused by feral cats (Felis catus) to wildlife, livestock and human health is a key objective for many land managers and human health agencies...     

Evidence for absence of equine arteritis virus in the horse population of New Zealand

AIM: To summarise investigation and laboratory data collected between 2001 and 2011 to provide evidence that equine arteritis virus is not present in the horse population of New Zealand.

METHODS: Analysis was carried out on results from laboratory tests carried out at the Ministry for Primary Industries Animal Health Laboratory (AHL) for equine arteritis virus from horses tested prior to being imported or exported, testing of stallions as part of the New Zealand equine viral arteritis (EVA) control scheme and testing as part of transboundary animal disease (TAD) investigations for exclusion of EVA. Horse breeds were categorised as Thoroughbred, Standardbred or other.

RESULTS: A total of 7,157 EVA serological test records (from import and export testing, EVA control scheme testing and TAD investigations) were available for analysis between 2005 and 2011. For the three breed categories a seroprevalence of ≤1.6% at the 95% confidence level was determined for each category. Between 2001 and 2011, as part of the EVA control scheme, the EVA status of 465 stallions was determined to be negative. During 2005–2011 EVA was excluded from 84 TAD investigations.

CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence of equine arteritis virus being present in the general horse population outside of carrier stallions managed under the EVA control scheme.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Equine arteritis virus is absent from the general horse population of New Zealand.