Behavioural expression of laying hens in aviaries and cages: Frequencies,time budgets and facility utilisation

1. We studied: behavioural frequencies and time budgets of behaviour patterns in non‐beak‐trimmed White Leghorn layers housed in cages (720 cm²/hen, 3 hens/cage), and in the Marielund, the Tiered Wire Floor (TWF), and the Laco‐Voletage aviaries (17 hens/m² ground area); individual variation in behaviour among aviary hens; spatial utilisation of the different types of aviary.

2. At 25, 40, and 60 weeks of age behaviour patterns of 114 focal animals were data logged. Each bird was observed for 10 min 4 times a day on three consecutive days.

3. The frequency of activity transitions and the activity level was highest in TWF, second highest in cages, and lowest in Laco‐Voletage, suggested that Laco‐Voletage hens were the calmest, whereas birds in cages and in TWF were more restless. Abnormal types of behaviour occurred most often in cages and TWF. The disadvantageous behaviour patterns shown by birds in TWF and cages imply that these environments were the least appropriate for this layer strain.

4. Pronounced individual variations in mobility and facility utilisation were found, both within and between the three aviaries. Resting levels were used twice as much (Laco‐Voletage), and litter areas one third as much (Marielund), as that expected on a simple a proportionate basis. Most feather pecking was performed at resting levels and on feeding floors, whereas most agonistic behaviour patterns were observed on feeding floors and litter.

5. Measures to improve the aviaries are outlined.     

Comparison of transdermal fentanyl and intramuscular oxymorphone on post-operative behaviour after ovariohysterectomy in dogs

The effects of transdermal fentanyl and im oxymorphone on behavioural and physiological responses, after ovariohysterectomy in dogs, were investigated. The study involved three groups of 10 dogs: fentanyl/surgery (FS), oxymorphone/surgery (OS), fentanyl/control (FC). A transdermal fentanyl delivery system (50 μg hour⁻¹) (FS and FC) was applied 20 hours before surgery, or IM oxymorphone (Os) was administered. After ovariohysterectomy (FS and OS) or anaesthesia alone (FC), dogs were continuously videotaped for 24 hours and a standardised hourly interaction with a handler performed. The videotapes were analysed, and interactive and non-interactive behaviours evaluated. In addition, pain and sedation scores, pulse and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, arterial blood pressure, plasma cortisol and plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured. This study showed that transdermal fentanyl and IM oxymorphone (0·05 mg kg⁻¹) produced comparable analgesic effects over a 24 hour recording period. IM oxymorphone produced significantly more sedation and lower rectal temperatures than transdermal fentanyl. There were no significant differences between groups in respiratory and heart rates, and arterial blood pressures.     

Molecular screening of canine GM1 gangliosidosis using blood smear specimens after prolonged storage: detection of carriers among shiba dogs in northern Japan

Molecular screening of GM1 gangliosidosis in Shiba dogs was carried out in northern Japan using blood smear specimens after prolonged storage. Of 125 specimens obtained from 3 veterinary teaching hospitals for this screening, 68 specimens (54%) were adequate for direct amplification in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA test, and the percentage of adequacy was different at each hospital (34%, 73%, and 100%), suggesting that the amount of blood on the smear and the storage condition of specimens may affect adequacy. Of the 68 dogs examined, 2 dogs (2.9%) were heterozygous carriers for this disease and the other dogs were all genotypically normal. The results suggest blood smear specimens can be useful for PCR testing after prolonged storage provided specimens contain a generous amount of blood and have been adequately stored. The study also suggests that GM1 gangliosidosis may be widely prevalent in the Shiba dog population in northern Japan.     

Development of a management program for a mixed species wildlife park following an occurrence of malignant catarrhal fever

During late 2001 and early 2002, a mixed species wildlife park in North Carolina experienced an acute outbreak of morbidity and mortality in Pere David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), axis deer (Axis axis), blackbuck antelope (Antelope cervicapra), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus). Clinical signs varied from fulminant disease, progressing from depression to bloody scours to death in fewer than 4 days in Pere David's deer, to a more protracted form of disease, ranging from 2 wk to 3 mo, in axis deer. In moribund axis deer, high levels of anti-malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) virus antibody by competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were detected. Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) DNA was detected in peripheral blood leukocytes of the affected axis deer. No other MCF viruses were detected. Retrospective examination of frozen tissue samples from the affected Pere David's deer and blackbuck antelope also confirmed the presence of OvHV-2 DNA. Initial control efforts were directed at preventing further deaths of clinically susceptible animals by removing MCF virus reservoir species, particularly ovine species. The most prevalent ovine species in the wildlife park was mouflon sheep (Ovis musimon). All sheep were removed from the park by June 2002, and the last MCF death occurred in October 2002. Since mouflon sheep had been a prominent attraction in the wildlife park, the owner wanted a means to reintroduce this species to the park. Derivation of OvHV-2-uninfected mouflon lambs was undertaken using the previously described program for production of OvHV-2-free sheep (Ovis ovis). The rederived MCF virus-negative mouflon sheep were introduced into the park in approximately January 2004. As of December 2007, no further cases of MCF have occurred since the removal of OvHV-2-positive mouflon sheep and reintroduction of the virus-free lambs. This paper describes the successful management and control of MCF in a densely populated mixed species animal park.     

Evaluation of a digitally integrated accelerometer-based activity monitor for the measurement of activity in cats

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between data generated by an accelerometer-based activity monitor and the distance moved in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental study. ANIMALS: Three, four-year-old, male, purpose-bred research cats, weighing between 5.1 and 5.9 kg. METHODS: Part I: Collar and harness mounted accelerometers were evaluated in three cats, comparing simultaneously collected accelerometer data with movement data from computer-analyzed video. Part II: Cats wore collar and harness mounted accelerometers, and data were recorded for 4 weeks to evaluate day-to-day and week-to-week variation in activity. RESULTS: Part I: 432 hours of simultaneous video and accelerometer data were collected. The correlation between accelerometer counts and distance moved was 0.82 overall. Agreement between collar and harness mounted accelerometers was excellent with only 6% of the differences in measurements lying outside the mean difference +/- 2 standard deviations. The adjusted R(2) for harness accelerometer output and 6% mobility was 0.75; for movement 0.84; and for mean velocity 0.83. Evaluation of video indicated eating, grooming and scratching created high accelerometer counts with little effect on movement. Part II: There was a significant effect of day on harness (p < 0.001) and collar (p < 0.002) counts, with counts being lowest at the weekend. There was a significant effect of week on harness-mounted accelerometer counts (p < 0.034), but not on collar-mounted accelerometer counts. Harness accelerometer counts were lowest in week 1. CONCLUSION: Output from an acceleration-based digitally integrated accelerometer correlated well with distance moved and mobility in freely moving cats provided the mobility threshold in the analysis software was > or = 6%. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Acceleration-based activity monitors may allow for objective measurement of improved mobility following analgesic treatment for conditions such as osteoarthritis.     

The challenges of implementing an integrated One Health surveillance system in Australia

As 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are of animal origin, a One Health approach that integrates the health of humans, animals and the environment could provide an earlier opportunity for zoonotic disease detection and prevention. In Australia, human, animal and ecological health are managed by separate sectors with limited communication. This study aims to explore how professionals in these fields perceive a One Health approach to zoonotic disease surveillance, aiming to identify the challenges to the implementation of an integrated system in Australia. Using a qualitative research method, ten semistructured interviews were conducted with academic experts to gain insight into the possibility of developing an integrated surveillance system in Australia. A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken. Findings showed the absence of a clear definition and subsequent vision for the future of One Health act as a barrier to interdisciplinary collaboration, and that siloed approaches by different sectors restrict the ability for professionals to work collaboratively across disciplines. An understanding of disease transmission was considered by participants to be a necessary requirement for a successful One Health approach. Finally, participants considered political will an essential requirement for the integration of surveillance systems. This study demonstrates that for a One Health approach to be implemented in an Australian setting, those working in the fields of human, animal and ecological health must agree on several aspects. The establishment of a formal governance body with representatives from each sector could assist in overcoming long‐standing barriers of privacy and distrust. Further, developing interdisciplinary training in One Health concepts for medical, environmental and veterinary students may encourage cross‐disciplinary collaboration. Finally, demonstrating to policymakers the economic benefit of improved and timely detection of zoonoses may help in facilitating a structured One Health approach to disease surveillance in Australia.     

Liposome‐encapsulated chemotherapy: Current evidence for its use in companion animals

Cytotoxic drugs encapsulated into liposomes were originally designed to increase the anticancer response, while minimizing off‐target adverse effects. The first liposomal chemotherapeutic drug was approved for use in humans more than 20 years ago, and the first publication regarding its use in a canine cancer patient was published shortly thereafter. Regardless, no general application for liposomal cytotoxic drugs has been established in veterinary oncology till now. Due to the popularity of canines as experimental models for pharmacokinetic analyses and toxicity studies, multiple publications exist describing various liposomal drugs in healthy dogs. Also, some evidence for its use in veterinary cancer patients exists, especially in canine lymphoma, canine splenic hemangiosarcoma and feline soft tissue sarcoma, however, the results have not been overwhelming. Reasons for this may be related to inherent issues with the enhanced permeability and retention effect, the tumour phenomenon which liposomal drugs exploit. This effect seems very heterogeneously distributed in the tumour. Also, it is potentially not as ubiquitously occurring as once thought, and it may prove important to select patients for liposomal therapy on an individual, non‐histology‐oriented, basis. Concurrently, new developments with active‐release modified liposomes in experimental models and humans will likely be relevant for veterinary patients as well, and holds the potential to improve the therapeutic response. It, however, does not resolve the other challenges that liposomal chemotherapy faces, and more work still needs to be done to determine which veterinary patients may benefit the most from liposomal chemotherapy.     

Metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of aortic body origin in a cat

An 8‐year‐old, female spayed Domestic Shorthair cat was presented to the Auburn University Emergency and Critical Care service for evaluation of pleural effusion and a suspected intrathoracic mass. Computed tomography was performed which confirmed the presence of a large intrathoracic mass, likely heart‐based. Fine‐needle aspirates were obtained and a cytologic diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumor was made. Treatment with toceranib phosphate was briefly attempted at home by the owners. The cat died at home approximately 6 weeks after diagnosis. Necropsy and subsequent histopathologic examination revealed a metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of aortic body origin. Aortic body tumors are extremely rare in cats and to the authors’ knowledge, a neuroendocrine carcinoma of aortic body origin with distant metastases has not yet been reported in a cat.