Survey of equine castration techniques,preferences and outcomes among Australian veterinarians

Objectives

(1) To collect the perceptions of veterinarians performing equine castrations in Australia on techniques, preferences and outcomes, (2) to investigate veterinarian use and experience with the Henderson castrating instrument and (3) to investigate potential associations between demographics, castration methods and techniques, and complications.

Design

Online survey of members of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Special Interest Group, Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA).

Methods

A link to the survey was included in the EVA e‐newsletter and practices on the EVA website were contacted by telephone and follow‐up email. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine associations between ligation and complications. A generalised linear model with a negative binomial family was used to determine associations between count response variables and categorical independent variables.

Results

Responses were obtained from 138 veterinarians (response rate, 13.1%) who performed 5330 castrations over 12 months. Castrations were most commonly performed in the field, on anaesthetised horses, using emasculators, via an open approach and without ligation of the spermatic cord. Estimated complications after use of emasculators were swelling (25%), haemorrhage (5%) and infection (5%). The Henderson instrument was used by approximately 10% of respondents and its use for castration was associated with fewer reports of postoperative swelling compared with emasculators (P = 0.002). Rates of evisceration with the Henderson and emasculator methods were comparable (0.43% and 0.9%, respectively).

Conclusion

Castration preferences varied widely among survey participants. Reported complication types and rates were comparable to those reported previously in other countries. Perceptions that the Henderson instrument was associated with less swelling should be investigated further via a prospective controlled investigation.     

Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current understanding and recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand Equine Endocrine Group

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the current knowledge and opinions about the epidemiology, clinical findings (including sequelae), diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, particularly in the Australian context. This information and the recommendations provided will assist practitioners in making informed decisions regarding the diagnosis and management of this disorder.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from dairy farm effluent applied to a New Zealand pasture soil

A field experiment on permanent ryegrass–white clover pasture at AgResearch's Ruakura dairy farm near Hamilton, New Zealand quantified nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from different types of dairy effluent applied to soil at three seasons and evaluated the potential of dicyandiamide (DCD) (a nitrification inhibitor) to decrease gaseous N₂O emissions. Fresh or stored manure and farm dairy effluent (FDE; from dairy shed washings), with or without DCD (10 kg/ha), were applied at approximately 100 kg N/ha to plots on a well‐drained soil on volcanic parent material. A field chamber technique was used to measure N₂O emissions. Application of manure or FDE, both in fresh and stored forms, to pasture generally increased N₂O emissions. Overall N₂O emission factors (EF) varied between 0.01% and 1.87%, depending on application season and effluent type. EFs in spring and autumn were greater than those in summer (P < 0.05). Among the effluents, N₂O EFs were largest from fresh FDE (1.65%) during the spring measurement period, stored manure (1.87%) during the autumn and stored FDE (0.25%) during the summer. DCD was effective in decreasing N₂O EFs from fresh FDE, fresh manure, stored FDE and stored manure by 40–80%, 69–76%, 24–84% and 60–70%, respectively. DCD reduced N₂O emissions during the spring and autumn seasons more effectively than in the summer season.     

Papillary muscle measurements in cats with normal echocardiograms and cats with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy

BACKGROUND: Papillary muscle hypertrophy can occur in conjunction with, or as the only indication of, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or other diseases that result in left ventricular concentric hypertrophy (LVCH). Assessment of papillary muscle size is usually subjective because objective measures have not been reported. HYPOTHESIS: The study hypothesis was that papillary muscle dimensions are different between normal cats and cats with LVCH. ANIMALS: Echocardiograms from 44 normal cats and 40 cats with LVCH were included in the study. METHODS: All measurements were taken from the right parasternal short-axis view at the level of the papillary muscles at end-diastole. Three methods were used to assess papillary muscle size: the area subtraction method, the direct area trace method, and the diameter method. Measurements were compared between cat groups and method comparisons were made among methods for area determination. RESULTS: Cats with LVCH were older and had significantly greater left ventricular septal and free wall thicknesses and larger left atrial measurements than normal cats (P < .0006). Papillary muscle measurements were significantly greater by all measurement methods in cats with LVCH than in cats with normal echocardiograms (P < .0001). The area subtraction method and direct area trace method showed moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Papillary muscle measurements were larger for LVCH cats than normal cats; however, some overlap was present. The establishment of these objective measures adds to the echocardiographic examination of cats.     

Mental health in the veterinary profession: an individual or organisational focus?

The veterinary profession is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians, with attrition recognised as a substantial contributor. Research has also indicated increased levels of mental ill health and alarming suicide rates in practitioners. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of eleven modifiable workplace factors on mental health outcomes, job appreciation and intention to leave the veterinary profession. The second aim was to ascertain whether workplace factors influence mental health outcomes after controlling for individual resilience. An online survey was completed by 73 practising Australian veterinarians. Unfavourable workplace factors correlated with adverse outcomes including depression, stress, reduced job appreciation and increased likelihood of leaving both the role and the profession. Workplace factors remained linked with the outcomes of job appreciation, depression and stress whilst controlling for practitioner resilience. Job appreciation was a significant predictor of intention to leave both the current role and the profession. Via multiple linear regression, two categories were identified as associated with improved psychological outcomes and job appreciation. These were workplace factors that represent breaks from workload and control or decision latitude in the workplace. Whilst resilience represents a key area for intervention, workplace factors potentially represent an easier-to-modify area for intervention.     

Source of mycorrhizal inoculum influences growth of Faidherbia albida seedlings

Poor land use management and practice inhibit the growth and establishment of tree seedlings in dryland areas.We assessed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AM)status of Faidherbia albida(Del.)A.Chev.trees grown on different land uses.We quantified the growth and nutrient uptake of F.albida seedlings inoculated with AM from different sources.These efforts were based on soil and fine root samples from the rhizosphere soils of F.albida trees.AM root colonization was determined using the gridline intersect method.Spores were extracted by the wet sieving and decanting method and identified to genus level.The seedling experiment had a completely randomized onefactorial design with four treatments and five replications.Faidherbida albida seedlings were grown in a greenhouse.All in situ F.albida trees were colonized by AM fungi.AM root colonization of F.albida trees was significantly higher(P<0.0086)in area exclosures than on lands used for grazing or cultivation.Spore abundance was significantly higher(P<0.0014)in area exclosures followed by cultivated land and grazing land.Glomus was the dominant genus in all land-uses.AM-inoculated F.albida seedlings grew better(P<0.05)than non-inoculated controls.Seedlings inoculated with AM from area exclosure had significantly(P<0.05)higher growth and nutrient uptake than those inoculated with AM from grazing and cultivated land.This emphasizes the importance of the native soil AM potential for better establishment of seedlings to achieve optimum plant growth improvement and assist in rehabilitation of degraded arid lands.     

Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis in table egg layer house environments and in mice in U.S. layer houses and associated risk factors

Prevalence was estimated for Salmonella enterica serotype eneritidis (SE) in layer house environments (n = 200 layer houses) and house mice (n = 129 layer houses) in 15 states throughout the United States. Environmental swabs were collected from manure, egg belts, elevators, and walkways. Live-catch rodent traps were placed for 4-7 days. Swabs and house mice were submitted to the laboratory for bacterial culture. Overall, 7.1% of layer houses and 3.7% of mice were culture positive for SE. The highest prevalence was in the Great Lakes region of the United States, and no SE was recovered from houses or mice in the southeast region. Presence of SE in layer houses was associated with age/molting, floor reared pullets, and number of rodents trapped. Cleaning and disinfecting houses between flocks was associated with a reduced risk. The prevalence of SE in mice from environmentally positive houses was nearly four times that of mice from environmentally negative houses.     

Season of the year influences testosterone secretion in bulls administered luteinizing honrmone

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the secretion of testosterone (T) in bulls in response to the administration of varying doses of bovine LH (bLH) during the four seasons of the year. Five adult bulls (4 yr of age) were treated with an amount of bLH that was estimated to induce a 5 ng/mL amplitude pulse of LH in blood serum on five consecutive days around the spring equinox, summer solstice, fall equinox, and winter solstice. Five hours after this dose, bulls were treated with bLH in amounts that were estimated to induce a 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 ng/mL amplitude LH pulse in blood serum in a Latin square design. Blood samples were collected for 5 h after administration of a dose of bLH that was estimated to induce the 5-ng amplitude LH pulse, and for 3 h after administration of the variable doses of bLH, and were then assayed for concentrations of T. Average concentrations and amplitude of T release after doses of bLH that were estimated to induce the 5-ng amplitude LH pulses were greater during the spring and summer than during the winter (P < 0.05). The area under the release curve (AUC) was greater during the spring than during the winter (P < 0.05). During the 3 h after treatment with the variable doses of bLH, T response was affected by dose (P < 0.001) and season (P < 0.001), but there was no dose x season interaction. Testosterone response increased in a dose-dependent fashion for all variables studied. The greatest average concentrations of T and AUC were observed in the spring compared with the fall and winter (P < 0.05). These data support our working hypothesis that testes of bulls are more responsive in releasing T in response to bLH stimulation in the spring and summer compared with the winter; however, there were no changes in sensitivity of the testes to LH during different seasons of the year as indicated by the lack of a dose of bLH x season interaction.