The mouse model is suitable for the study of viral factors governing transmission and pathogenesis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in mammals

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5 and H7 subtype pose a major public health threat due to their capacity to cross the species barrier and infect mammals, for example dogs, cats and humans. In the present study we tested the capacity of selected H7 and H5 HPAI viruses to infect and to be transmitted from infected BALB/c mice to contact sentinels. Previous experiments have shown that viruses belonging to both H5 and H7 subtypes replicate in the respiratory tract and central nervous system of experimentally infected mice. In this study we show that selected H7N1 and H5N1 HPAI viruses can be transmitted from mouse-to-mouse by direct contact, and that in experimentally infected animals they exhibit a different pattern of replication and transmission. Our results can be considered as a starting point for transmission experiments involving other influenza A viruses with α 2-3 receptor affinity in order to better understand the viral factors influencing transmissibility of these viruses in selected mammalian species.     

Surgical correction of ear curling caused by scar tissue formation in a horse

An 18-month-old Belgian Warmblood mare was evaluated because it had injured the outer convex aspect of the left auricle. Second intention healing of the wound area caused tissue contracture, which resulted in the tip of the ear curling backward. By use of a technique involving undermining of the skin and a flap of granulation tissue on the medial aspect of the wound area and multiple incisions of the auricular cartilage, the curling was relieved and the ear regained a more normal shape. A skin graft was applied to cover the existing wound defect in an attempt to accelerate wound healing; thermoplastic material was contoured to fit the inner concave surface of the ear for immobilization and fixation of the ear in its final shape after surgery. Thirty days after surgery, the graft had healed completely and the ear had a normal conformation. The successful outcome of this treatment suggests that correction of an ear deformity secondary to scar tissue formation by use of an adapted surgical technique and appropriate materials can be achieved with good cosmetic results in horses.     

Frequency, body distribution, and population size of Malassezia species in healthy dogs and in dogs with localized cutaneous lesions.

Malassezia species are commensal organisms of human and animal skin that occasionally act as opportunistic pathogens. The lipid-dependent species are associated with human skin disorders, whereas the non-lipid-dependent species (Malassezia pachydermatis) is considered as an opportunistic secondary pathogen affecting the canine skin surface and ear canal. This study evaluated the relationship between Malassezia yeasts, their population size, and the occurrence of skin lesions from healthy and skin-diseased dogs. The efficiency of cytological examination and fungal culture for Malassezia detection was also evaluated. From March 2002 to July 2003, 33 healthy dogs and 54 dogs with pruritic localized skin diseases were examined; skin swabs (1218) were collected from 7 anatomical sites for culture and cytological examination. Malassezia prevalence according to anatomical site and the agreement between cytological results and fungal cultures were statistically analyzed. Differences in mean colony forming unit counts between positive healthy and diseased dogs were evaluated using the Bonferroni test for post hoc pair-wise comparisons. In healthy dogs, Malassezia yeasts were most frequently isolated in the perianal and perioral areas. The frequency of isolation and population size of Malassezia species were higher in dogs with localized dermatitis, especially in affected areas, indicating a role for Malassezia in the occurrence of skin lesions. Malassezia pachydermatis was the species most commonly cultured from the skin and external ear canal of healthy and diseased dogs; isolation of lipid-dependent yeasts from healthy dogs was less frequent. Using fungal culture as the gold standard, cytological examination showed good relative specificity (95%) but very low relative sensitivity (30%).     

Anesthesia of male axis deer (Axis axis): evaluation of thiafentanil, medetomidine, and ketamine versus medetomidine and ketamine.

Thiafentanil oxalate, previously known as A-3080, is a synthetic opioid used for chemical immobilization of a variety of nondomestic hoofstock species. This study compared the combination of thiafentanil oxalate, medetomidine, and ketamine (TMK; 0.09 +/- 0.02 mg/kg, 0.01 +/- 0.003 mg/kg, and 1.36 +/- 0.33 mg/kg, respectively) with the combination of medetomidine and ketamine (MK; 0.09 +/- 0.02 mg/kg and 3.48 +/- 0.55 mg/kg, respectively) for anesthetization of 17 captive male axis deer (Axis axis) for vasectomy. Nine deer received TMK and eight deer received MK via projectile syringe during the months of January and February, 2005. Mean induction and arousal times, vital signs, and arterial blood gas values were monitored and compared. All animals received supplemental oxygen during the surgical procedure. Animals receiving TMK were reversed with naltrexone (100 mg/mg thiafentanil) and atipamazole (5 mg/mg medetomidine). Animals receiving MK were reversed with atipamazole (5 mg/mg medetomidine). Two MK animals and three TMK animals required supplementation with ketamine i.v. immediately upon handling. Six of the nine animals immobilized with TMK required intubation for positive-pressure ventilation. Two of these six animals also required isoflurane to maintain anesthesia. Mean induction time was 3.5 +/- 2.0 min in the TMK group, and 9.8 +/- 6.7 min in the MK group. Despite shorter mean induction times, animals anesthetized with TMK experienced unpredictable inductions, apnea, muscle rigidity, limb movement, and significant respiratory and metabolic lactic acidosis. MK resulted in smoother inductions, better respiratory function, and less adverse metabolic disturbances, and thus was considered superior to TMK for anesthesia in captive axis deer at the dosages tested.     

COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND 99m TC‐ PERTECHNETATE SCINTIGRAPHY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE THYROID GLAND IN CATS WITH HYPERTHYROIDISM

Scintigraphy is currently the reference standard for diagnosing feline hyperthyroidism; however, computed tomography (CT) is more widely available in veterinary practice. The purposes of this prospective study were to describe the CT appearance of thyroid glands in cats with hyperthyroidism and compare CT findings with findings from ^99mTc–pertechnetate scintigraphy. Twenty‐five adult hyperthyroid cats were included. Plain CT images were acquired for each cat and the following characteristics recorded for each thyroid lobe: visibility, delineation, position, attenuation, shape, and subjective size. Scintigraphic images were also acquired and the following characteristics recorded: radiopharmaceutical uptake, delineation, ectopic foci, shape, and subjective size. In CT images, thyroid lobes were most commonly found between the second and fourth cervical vertebrae, dorsolateral to the trachea. Affected thyroid lobes (based on scintigraphy reference standard) were most commonly oval and moderately enlarged in CT images. A heterogeneous attenuation pattern (isoattenuating to adjacent soft tissues with hypo‐ and hyperattenuating foci) was most commonly found in affected thyroid lobes. A positive correlation (P < 0.01) was identified between CT and scintigraphy for left‐to‐right thyroid lobe size relationship and subjective size of the larger thyroid lobe. The CT estimated mass was significantly higher (median = 148.8; range = [0;357.6]) for the more active thyroid lobe compared to the less active thyroid lobe (median = 84.6; range = [0;312.3]); (W = 154; P < 0.01). Findings indicated that CT may not reliably differentiate unilateral vs. bilateral hyperthyroidism in cats; however, CT may be a reliable alternative test for correctly identifying the more active thyroid lobe.     

Prevalence and factors associated with initial and subsequent shockable cardiac arrest rhythms and their association with patient outcomes in dogs and cats undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A RECOVER registry study

Objective

To report the prevalence of initial shockable cardiac arrest rhythms (I-SHKR), incidence of subsequent shockable cardiac arrest rhythms (S-SHKR), and factors associated with I-SHKRs and S-SHKRs and explore their association with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rates in dogs and cats undergoing CPR.

Design

Multi-institutional prospective case series from 2016 to 2021, retrospectively analyzed.

Setting

Eight university and eight private practice veterinary hospitals.

Animals

A total of 457 dogs and 170 cats with recorded cardiac arrest rhythm and event outcome reported in the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation CPR registry.

Measurements and Main Results

Logistic regression was used to evaluate association of animal, hospital, and arrest variables with I-SHKRs and S-SHKRs and with patient outcomes. Odds ratios (ORs) were generated, and significance was set at P < 0.05. Of 627 animals included, 28 (4%) had I-SHKRs. Odds for I-SHKRs were significantly higher in animals with a metabolic cause of arrest (OR 7.61) and that received lidocaine (OR 17.50) or amiodarone (OR 21.22) and significantly lower in animals experiencing arrest during daytime hours (OR 0.22), in the ICU (OR 0.27), in the emergency room (OR 0.13), and out of hospital (OR 0.18) and that received epinephrine (OR 0.19). Of 599 initial nonshockable rhythms, 74 (12%) developed S-SHKRs. Odds for S-SHKRs were significantly higher in animals with higher body weight (OR 1.03), hemorrhage (OR 2.85), or intracranial cause of arrest (OR 3.73) and that received epinephrine (OR 11.36) or lidocaine (OR 18.72) and significantly decreased in those arresting in ICU (OR 0.27), emergency room (OR 0.29), and out of hospital (OR 0.38). Overall, 171 (27%) animals achieved ROSC, 81 (13%) achieved sustained ROSC, and 15 (2%) survived. Neither I-SHKRs nor S-SHKRs were significantly associated with ROSC.

Conclusions

I-SHKRs and S-SHKRs occur infrequently in dogs and cats undergoing CPR and are not associated with increased ROSC rates.     

A survey of fleas on dogs in southern Italy

A survey aimed at studying the presence and distribution of fleas on dogs was conducted in an area of southern Italy. Between February 2005 and 2006, dogs were examined for fleas at four private veterinary clinics, with a twice-weekly frequency. Fleas were detected on 246 (17.9%) out of the 1376 tested dogs. A total of 960 fleas were sampled and two species were identified, namely Ctenocephalides felis felis (16.3% of the tested dogs) and Ctenocephalides canis (1.5% of the tested dogs). The results of the logistic regression model showed a significant association between the flea positivity and the following independent variables: housed with other dogs or cats and utilization, i.e. increasing prevalence from pets to guard, hunting, and stray dogs. Clinical symptoms (pruritus, alopecia, and flea allergic dermatitis) were also observed in some of the flea positive dogs. Flea infestation was detected throughout the year, although the prevalence was higher during the period between June and October.     

Principal component and cluster analyses of production and fertility traits in Red Sindhi dairy cattle breed in Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among functional traits (age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), reproductive...     

Genome-wide scan for runs of homozygosity in the composite Montana Tropical® beef cattle

The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of runs of homozygosity (ROH) and autozygosity islands in the composite Montana Tropical^® beef cattle to explore hotspot regions which could better characterize the different biological types within the composite breed. Montana animals (n = 1,436) were genotyped with the GGP-LD BeadChip (~30,000 markers). ROH was identified in every individual using the plink v1.90 software. Medium and long ROH prevailed in the genome, which accounted for approximately 74% of all ROH detected. On an average, 2.0% of the genome was within ROH, agreeing with the pedigree-based inbreeding coefficient. The Montana cattle with a higher proportion of productive breed types showed the highest number of autozygosity islands (n = 17), followed by those with a higher proportion of breeds adapted to tropical environments (n = 15). Enriched terms (p < .05) associated with the immune and inflammatory response, homeostasis, reproduction, mineral absorption, and lipid metabolism were described within the autozygosity islands. In this regard, over-represented GO terms and KEGG pathways described in this population may play a key role in providing information to explore the genetic and biological mechanisms together with the genomic regions underlying each biological type that favoured their optimal performance ability in tropical and subtropical regions.