Policies for the vaccination of cats and dogs in New Zealand veterinary practices

AIMS: To determine current practices and attitudes towards vaccination of dogs and cats of veterinarians in New Zealand; the methods used for informing clients on which vaccines to use, and the preferred site for vaccination of cats.

METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to all 483 listed veterinary practices in New Zealand during February 2012. Some questions were specific to pet dogs, cats, or working farm dogs. Responses were categorised according to practice type and geographical region of the respondent. Factors associated with respondent recommendation of annual vaccination with modified live viral (MLV) vaccines were examined using logistic regression analysis. Vaccines that were considered to be essential for every animal were defined as core; those that may be recommended for animals whose location or lifestyle placed them at risk, were defined as non-core.

RESULTS: There were 204 useable returns, equivalent to a response rate of 42.2%, distributed across the country. Annual vaccination with MLV vaccines of dogs was recommended by 54/198 (27.3%) respondents, and of cats by 107/181 (59.1%) respondents. Factors associated with the recommendation of annual administration of MLV vaccines to dogs included being a companion animal practice, a desire for policies on vaccination to be left to individual clinics, and having one veterinarian in the practice. Administration of the final vaccination for puppies was recommended at ≥14 weeks old by 55/185 (29.7%) respondents, and for kittens at ≥13 weeks old by 42/183 (23%) respondents. Of respondents that administered MLV vaccines annually, 62/103 (60.2%) believed reducing the frequency of vaccination would reduce income, and 52/103 (50.5%) considered it would have a negative effect on animal health. Advice to enable clients to decide which non-core vaccines were administered was given by 181/199 (91%) respondents. Factors considered when recommending a vaccine included consideration of risk to individual patients (190/203; 93.6%), requirements of boarding kennels/catteries (165/203; 81.3%) and clinic vaccination policy (142/203; 70%). The preferred site for administering MLV vaccines to cats was the dorsal neck or inter-scapular region (137/198; 69.2%). Amongst respondents, 18 wanted disease surveillance information to allow for truly informed decisions to be made about vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians can now compare their own vaccination practices and attitudes with those of veterinarians nationally, and internationally. There is a need for national surveillance information and for continued education of the public and commercial kennel and cattery owners for optimal vaccination strategies to be developed.     

Effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin on metabolic rate in growing pigs

Effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) on metabolic rate were studied in two trials with 24 crossbred barrows (Yorkshire x Landrace) in each. The barrows weighed about 80 kg (SE within trials 2.2 kg) at the start of the measurements and in each trial 12 pigs received 4 mg of rpST and 12 received a placebo. The diet contained 2.57 Mcal NE/kg and 20% CP (about 1% lysine). Animals were fed approximately 2.8 times maintenance (280 kcal ME.kg-.75.d-1). Heat production (gaseous exchange of CO2 and O2) and activity were measured continuously. Heat production associated with activity was calculated from the regression of heat production on activity. Animals treated with rpST exceeded controls in rate of gain by 252 g/d (P less than .001) and in metabolic rate by 14.5 kcal.kg-.75.d-1 (P less than .01). The rpST treatment increased rectal (+ .2 degrees C) and surface (+ .8 degrees C) temperatures. Activity-related heat production in treated pigs was increased, but this was only partly related to the increase in metabolic rate with rpST. The daily patterns of total and activity-related heat production were similar between pigs in both experimental treatments.     

The efficacy of insecticides against the screw-worm fly (Chrysomya bezziana)

A number of insecticides used for ectoparasite control in the livestock industry were screened for their efficacy against larvae of the screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana, using in vivo and laboratory tests. Proprietary screw-worm fly treatments (after exposure to outdoor conditions for up to 10 days) were also tested against eggs and adults of C bezziana. Three of these were also evaluated on naturally acquired screw-worm infestations. Residual protection was generally of short duration. Among the organophosphorus compounds, the most effective formulations contained relatively high concentrations (3 to 4% al) of coumaphos, 2.5% fenchlorphos or low concentrations (0.05 to 0.5% al) of diazinon, chlorfenvinphos and fenthion methyl. Two chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides containing 3% lindane and 5% dieldrin were very effective but are now prohibited for use in Australia. Preparations had serious deficiencies when used under field conditions, especially for treating large, deepseated myiases for which systemic insecticides are recommended. A comparison of methods demonstrated that a laboratory test could supersede live animal experimentation, at least for the initial screening of potential insecticides.     

营养对动物健康和粮食安全保障的影响

迄今为止,动物营养以及人营养主要关注如何为人和动物的维持以及动物生产提供所需的营养素和能量。此外,在生长动物饲料中迄今一直使用诸如抗生素（AGP）的抗微生物产品,认为其可以通过影响胃肠道微生物进而促进动物生长。     

Energy balances of lactating sows in relation to feeding level and stage of lactation

Twelve crossbred sows were used in an energy balance study to estimate energetic efficiency of milk production from feed. Balances were made from 7 to 14 d and from 18 to 25 d of lactation. Two feeding levels were applied (high and low). The low level (L) was meant to supply energy slightly above maintenance, with energy needed for milk to be derived from body reserves. The high level (H) was meant to supply sufficient energy for maintenance and for milk production. The low-level animals received 2.5 to 2.6 kg of feed/d and the high level animals 4.8 to 6 kg/d. The loss of weight of sows during lactation depended more on feeding level than on stage of lactation. A high level of feeding to sows resulted in heavier piglets compared with the low feeding level (significant after 10 d). At 24 d of age piglets with the high-feeding-level sows weighed 7.5 kg and those with the low-level sows, 5.7 kg. At the high level, animals excreted 1,200 to 2,800 kcal more milk energy per day than the low-level animals. Energy for milk from feed was produced with an efficiency of 67 to 69% with a maintenance requirement of 112 to 125 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) X W-.75 X d-1. Efficiency of milk production from feed was calculated as 62% and the maintenance requirement was 68 kcal. In this calculation, milk was corrected toward zero energy balance. Another way of calculating this efficiency after correcting feed toward zero energy balance resulted in estimates of 68% for efficiency and of 88 kcal ME X W-.75 X d-1 for maintenance requirement. From these data it was derived that, for each piglet, the sow needed to receive .5 to .6 kg of extra feed (ME content 3,000 kcal/kg) per day to cover milk production. Level of metabolic rate for nursing piglets was estimated as 97 kcal ME X W-.75 X d-1 for maintenance and, in addition, .195 kcal/kcal extra of milk intake above maintenance.     

ASSESSMENT OF OVARIAN CHANGES AROUND OVULATION IN BITCHES BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY, LAPAROSCOPY AND HORMONAL ASSAYS

To identify the time characteristics of ovulation, 5 bitches were evaluated during heat by ultrasonography, laparoscopy and hormonal assay. Blood collections for progesterone and oestradiol 17-β assys and ultrasonography were performed every day and laparoscopy every other day. At ultrasonography, ovaries appeared as anechoic structures about 5 days before the estimated LH peak and gradually increased in size. The greatest changes were observed between days 2 and 4 post-LH peak: echogenicity varied greatly from one animal to another and from one day to the following going from totally anechoic to mixed hypo and hyperechogenicity. Then from day 6, ovaries always appeared as hypoechoic structures assimilated to corpora lutea. At laproscopy, small follicies were seen as early as day 10 before the LH peak. Their size slowly increased to become large protubering follicies around the day of LH peak (day 0). At day 1, corpra luta were observed for the first time and were present in all animals by day 5. During that period preceeding day 5, some ovaries had both corpora lutea and follicies clearly visible on their surface. In one animal, haemorrhagic foci were observed at day 3. Neither ultrasonography, nor laparoscopy allowed precise determination of the time of ovulation. Indeed, follicle collapses was never observed, but changes in echogenicity and in the appearance of the ovaries observed by laparoscopy, suggested that ovulation occurred between days 2 and 4 when progestrone concentrations were 12.6 ± 6.2 and 32.1 ± 10.9 nmol/L, respectively.     

Comparative in vitro fermentation activity in the canine distal gastrointestinal tract and fermentation kinetics of fiber sources

The current study aimed to evaluate the variation in fermentation activity along the distal canine gastrointestinal tract (GIT, Exp. 1). It also aimed to assess fermentation kinetics and end product profiles of 16 dietary fibers for dog foods using canine fecal inoculum (Exp. 2). For Exp. 1, digesta were collected from the distal ileum, proximal colon, transverse colon, and rectum of 3 adult dogs. Digesta per part of the GIT were pooled for 3 dogs, diluted (1:25, wt/vol), mixed, and filtered for the preparation of inoculum. A fructan, ground soy hulls, and native potato starch were used as substrates and incubated for cumulative gas production measurement as an indicator of the kinetics of fermentation. In addition, fermentation bottles with similar contents were incubated but were allowed to release their gas throughout incubation. Fermentation fluid was sampled at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after initiation of incubation, and short-chain fatty acids and ammonia were measured. Results showed comparable maximal fermentation rates for rectal and proximal colonic inocula (P > 0.05). Production of short-chain fatty acids was least for the ileal and greatest for the rectal inoculum (P < 0.05). Therefore, for in vitro studies, fecal microbiota can be used as an inoculum source but may slightly overestimate in vivo fermentation. Experiment 2 evaluated the gas production, fermentation kinetics, and end product profiles at 8 and 72 h of incubation for citrus pectin, 3 fructans, gum arabic, 3 guar gums, pea fiber, peanut hulls, soy fiber, sugar beet fiber, sugar beet pectin, sugar beet pulp, wheat fiber, and wheat middlings. Feces of 4 adult dogs were used as an inoculum source. Similar techniques were used as in Exp. 1 except for the dilution factor used (1:10, wt/vol). Among substrates, large variations in fermentation kinetics and end product profiles were noted. Sugar beet pectin, the fructans, and the gums were rapidly fermentable, indicated by a greater maximal rate of gas production (R(max)) compared with all other substrates (P < 0.05), whereas peanut hulls and wheat fiber were poorly fermentable, indicated by the least amount of gas produced (P < 0.05). Sugar beet fiber, sugar beet pulp, soy fiber, and wheat middlings were moderately fermentable with a low R(max). Citrus pectin and pea fiber showed a similar low R(max), but time at which this occurred was later compared with sugar beet fiber, sugar beet pulp, soy fiber, and wheat middlings (P < 0.05). Results of this study can be used to formulate canine diets that stimulate dietary fiber fermentation along the distal GIT that may optimize GIT health and stimulate the level of satiety in dogs.