Use of group-randomized trials in pet population research

Communities invest considerable resources to address the animal welfare and public health concerns resulting from unwanted pet animals. Traditionally, research in this area has enumerated the pet-owning population, described pet population dynamics in individual communities, and estimated national euthanasia figures. Recent research has investigated the human–animal bond and explored the community implications of managed feral cat colonies. These reports have utilized traditional epidemiologic study designs to generate observational data to describe populations and measure associations. However, rigorous scientific evaluations of potential interventions at the group level have been lacking. Group-randomized trials have been used extensively in public health research to evaluate interventions that change a population's behavior, not just the behavior of selected individuals. We briefly describe the strengths and limitations of group-randomized trials as they are used to evaluate interventions that promote social and behavioral changes in the human public health field. We extend these examples to suggest the appropriate application of group-randomized trials for pet population dynamics research.     

职业教育国家教学资源库建设与实践——以宠物内科病课程为例

以现代宠物技术专业教学资源库建设为背景,以宠物内科病课程资源库建设为个案,总结了教学资源库的建设思路、步骤、内容及资源库应用推广情况,以建立优质、高效的共享型教育资源库,推进教学质量的全面提升。     

澳门民间遛狗文化与城市遛狗公园建设匹配度研究

民间遛狗文化是澳门的民俗特色之一。如何科学合理地规划建设城市遛狗公园（遛狗区）以满足市民日益增长的生活需求已成为专业部门面临的重要挑战。通过对文献实证研究、遥感测绘和实地调研,梳理了近代以来澳门遛狗、赛狗的民俗文化活动特点,分析了澳门高密度城市环境中的民间遛狗文化与城市遛狗公园建设的供需匹配度,得出澳门半岛与离岛城市遛狗公园建设均有较大的匹配度失衡,针对性提出未来澳门城市遛狗公园建设的规划策略思路。     

Comparison of Serum Concentrations of Symmetric Dimethylarginine and Creatinine as Kidney Function Biomarkers in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has been shown to be an accurate and precise biomarker for calculating estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in humans, as well as a more sensitive biomarker than serum creatinine concentration (sCr) for assessing renal dysfunction.

Objectives

The purpose of this retrospective study was to report on the utility of measuring serum SDMA concentrations in cats for detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) before diagnosis by conventional measurement of sCr.

Animals

Chronic kidney disease cats (n = 21) included those persistently azotemic for ≥3 months (n = 15), nonazotemic cats with GFR >30% decreased from median GFR of normal cats (n = 4), and nonazotemic cats with calcium oxalate kidney stones (n = 2). Healthy geriatric cats (n = 21) were selected from the same colony.

Methods

Symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations (liquid chromatography‐mass spectroscopy) and sCr (enzymatic colorimetry) were determined retrospectively from historical data or banked serum samples in azotemic cats or at the time GFR (iohexol clearance) was measured in nonazotemic cats.

Results

Serum SDMA (r = −0.79) and sCr (r = −0.77) concentrations were significantly correlated to GFR (both P < .0001). Symmetric dimethylarginine became increased before sCr in 17/21 cats (mean, 17.0 months; range, 1.5–48 months). Serum SDMA had higher sensitivity (100%) compared with sCr (17%), but lower specificity (91% versus 100%) and positive predictive value (86% versus 100%).

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Using serum SDMA as a biomarker for CKD allows earlier detection of CKD in cats compared with sCr, which may be desirable for initiating renoprotective interventions that slow progression of CKD.     

《宠物外科手术学》教学模式改革与探讨

《宠物外科手术学》是一门实践性很强的学科,与其他专业相比,更强调能力的培养,强调实验技能和临床技能的训练,是宠物相关专业技能培养的重要组成部分。该课程对培养学生的临床思维能力、合理运用手术基本操作技术能力、学生对宠物外科手术技能综合运用能力、学生的社会就业方向等有着积极而重要的作用。为此,如何给学生更好地传授理论知识,提供更多临床实践和动手能力的机会,需要学校和教师在人才培养方面不断思索和改革。通过多年的临床教学经验,对该课程进行了一些教学改革尝试,旨在更好地培养学生宠物外科手术的实践能力,以适应社会的需要与发展。     

Pet birds as potential reservoirs of virulent and antibiotic resistant zoonotic bacteria

Bacterial pathogens carried by pet birds are considered a risk for birds, workers, and pet owners. This study investigated the potential of pet birds as reservoirs for virulent multidrug-resistant (MDR) zoonotic bacteria and assessed the genetic relatedness and diversity of bacterial isolates from pet birds and human contacts. Cloacal and tracheal swabs from 125 pet birds and 70 hand swabs from human contacts were collected. The results revealed that the pet birds were reservoirs for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.6 %, each), and Staphylococcus aureus (15.2 %). These isolates were also identified in their human contacts, at percentages of 14.3 %, 12.9 %, and 24.3 %, respectively. Virulence associated genes were identified from E. coli (stx2, stx2f, eaeA, and hlyA), K. pneumoniae (fimH, TraT, and magA), and S. aureus (PVL, hly, sea, sed genes) isolates. Multidrug-resistant E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus were highly prevalent (81.3 %, 90.3 %, and 61.1 %, respectively). The genetic relationship between the E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates from the pet birds and human contacts were determined by ERIC-PCR, while, RAPD-PCR was used for the S. aureus isolates. ERIC-PCR was found to have the highest discriminatory power. The clustering of the isolates from the pet birds and human contacts indicated potential transmission between the birds and workers. In conclusion, pet birds could act as potential reservoirs for zoonotic bacterial pathogens; thus, posing a risk to their human contacts.     

家庭宠物对弓形虫病流行的影响

随着经济的发展,家庭盛行豢养宠物已经成为一种时尚,与宠物有关的寄生虫病亦随之而来,人群感染弓形虫病的比率逐年上升,弓形虫的潜在危害直接影响着人民的身体健康。如何正确认识弓形虫对人类的危害,对疾病预防和控制有着重要的意义。