The 50 most-cited articles in Veterinary Record, 2019

The practice of feeding raw meat‐based diets (RMBD) to dogs has increased in popularity in recent years. However, RMBD are based on offal that has not undergone any type of treatment to reduce the microbial content, so there is a risk of potential pathogenic microorganisms being present. Frozen samples from 60 RMBD packs produced by 10 different manufacturers were analysed for their content of bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae , for Clostridium perfringens and for the presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter. Enterobacteriaceae were detected in all 60 samples and in 31 samples exceeded a level of 5000 bacteria/g, which is the threshold for satisfactory microbial hygiene according to EU regulations. In two samples, the amount of C. perfringens exceeded 5000 bacteria/g, which is the maximum level of anaerobic bacteria permitted by Swedish national guidelines. Salmonella species were found in four (7 per cent) and Campylobacter species in three (5 per cent) samples. These results show that it is critical to maintain good hygiene when storing, handling and feeding…

The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica is a parasitic trematode that has a major impact on livestock production and human health. Control of F hepatica is difficult and relies on anthelmintics, particularly triclabendazole, due to its efficacy against both adult and juvenile stages of the parasite. Emergence of triclabendazole‐resistant F hepatica populations has been reported in a number of countries, including the UK, but the overall prevalence and distribution of triclabendazole resistance is unknown. In this study, the authors established the presence of reduced efficacy of triclabendazole in sheep flocks in England and Wales, using a validated composite faecal egg count reduction test. Seventy‐four sheep farms were sampled from Wales, southwest, northwest and northeast England between Autumn 2013 and Spring 2015. F hepatica eggs were detected in samples from 42/74 farms. Evidence of a lack of efficacy of triclabendazole was detected on 21/26 farms on which the faecal egg count reduction test was completed, with faecal egg count reductions ranging from 89 per cent to 0per cent.…

Moral distress is a psychological state of anguish that has been widely studied in healthcare professionals. Experiencing moral distress can lead to problems including avoidance of patients and increased staff turnover. Moral distress in veterinarians has not yet been explored to the extent seen in the human medical field, and there is limited data regarding moral distress in veterinarians. However, it is expected to be prevalent in these professionals. So far, it has been reported that veterinarians commonly experience moral conflict, ethical challenges and ethical dilemmas during their career. These conflicts in association with other modifying factors such as personality traits can lead to the experience of moral distress. In a profession with known levels of occupational stress and reported mental health problems, exploring the area of moral distress and its effects on the professional wellbeing of veterinarians is important. Further studies such as developing a moral distress scale to measure this issue are needed in order to evaluate the incidence of this problem in veterinary…

The aim of this study was to collect information on the global distribution of the prevalence of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and respective mitigation programmes, using a questionnaire and literature review to provide as complete a picture of the worldwide BVDV situation as possible. This study collated information on 107 countries with respect to mitigation activities and 88 countries regarding BVDV infections during the observation period (1960-2017). A heterogeneous epidemiological situation for both BVDV prevalence and the presence of mitigation programmes was observed. The results of this analysis could be used to increase the visibility of the distribution of BVDV, to provide supporting data for global animal disease databases and to assist veterinary public health authorities in the decision-making processes to establish mitigation activities.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a frequent diagnosis in cats attending primary care practice and the most frequent cause of death in cats aged over five years, yet there is limited published research for CKD in cats attending primary care practice. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CKD and investigate risk factors for diagnosis and survival of cats diagnosed with CKD in UK primary care practices. The study included cats attending VetCompass TM practices from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013. A nested case‐control and cohort study were undertaken. From 353,448 cats attending 244 clinics, the prevalence of CKD was estimated as 1.2 per cent (95 per cent CI 1.1 per cent to 1.3 per cent). Most cats with CKD had clinical signs at diagnosis (66.6 per cent). Few cats underwent investigations or monitoring of serum creatinine (32.6 per cent), urine protein:creatinine ratio (14.9 per cent) or blood pressure measurement (25.6 per cent). A proprietary renal diet was the most frequently prescribed management (63.8 per cent). Median survival time following diagnosis was 388 days…

OBJECTIVES: Mental health is a growing concern in many healthcare professions, including veterinary medicine, as research suggests that veterinarians report higher levels of distress, burnout and suicidal ideation than other healthcare occupations and the general public. A recent literature review found that about twice as many articles published on veterinary wellness refer to the negative aspects of mental health (eg, stress and depression) compared with the positive aspects of well-being. Little attention has been devoted to examining the positive aspects of veterinarians' work, and few models have been developed to explain their well-being. This paper empirically assesses a veterinary model of work-derived well-being based on the theory of eudaimonia. Eudaimonic well-being reflects having fulfilling work that contributes to the greater good. Three core clusters of job characteristics are hypothesised relevant to veterinarian well-being that include: actualising self, helping others (animals or people) and a sense of belonging (to team or profession). In addition, meaningful work…

A qualitative study using group and individual interviews involving 10 veterinary hospitals in Wellington County, Ontario, explored how the practices involved in euthanasia-related care impacts the wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Thematic analysis indicated two major outcomes: the goal and desire of veterinary professionals was to facilitate a 'good death' for the companion animal and navigating the euthanasia decision process was more challenging than the actual event of performing euthanasia. When successful in achieving a 'good death' and navigating euthanasia decisions, participants reported feeling that their own sense of wellbeing and the veterinary client's sense of wellbeing were improved. When unsuccessful, participants reported experiencing a reduced sense of wellbeing, reduced job satisfaction, increased emotional strain and feeling that the client was also detrimentally impacted. For many participants, navigating euthanasia decision-making consultations was seen as a greater challenge and a greater contributor to a reduced sense of wellbeing than the act of…

BACKGROUND: Neoplasia has historically been regarded as an unusual occurrence in reptiles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of neoplasms in routine diagnostic samples submitted to a specialist exotic animal laboratory. METHODS: Over a 10-year period, 690 lizard samples were submitted for histopathological or cytopathological examination by Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons specialists in Veterinary Pathology (Zoo and Wildlife). Records were reviewed retrospectively and non-neoplastic diagnoses excluded from further analysis. RESULTS: 158 neoplasms were diagnosed in 149 lizards, with 22.9% of submissions resulting in a diagnosis of neoplasia. The skin was the most commonly affected organ, and squamous cell carcinomas were the most common neoplasms identified (17.7% of all neoplastic diagnoses).Bearded dragons and panther chameleons had a statistically significant higher proportion of neoplasia diagnosis than the lizard population as a whole, and geckos had a statistically significantly lower proportion.Several neoplasms identified in this study have not…

BACKGROUND: The domestic rabbit is a common pet species, but limited research exists on the health of pet rabbits. This study aimed to characterise common disorders of pet rabbits and reasons for mortality as recorded by veterinary practices in England. METHODS: This cross-sectional study covered anonymised clinical records of 6349 rabbits attending 107 primary veterinary care clinics. RESULTS: The median age was 3.2 years (interquartile range (IQR) 1.6-5.1), and the median adult bodyweight was 2.1 kg (IQR 1.7-2.6). The most common breed types were domestic (n=2022, 31.9 per cent), lop (1675, 26.4 per cent) and Netherland dwarf (672, 10.6 per cent). For those rabbits that died during the study period, the median age at death was 4.3 years (IQR 2.1-7.0). The most common causes of death were recorded as myiasis (prevalence 10.9 per cent, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI): 7.4 to 15.2), anorexia (4.9 per cent, 95 per cent CI: 4.0 to 10.4), recumbency/collapse (4.9 per cent, 95 per cent CI: 4.0 to 10.4) and ileus (4.3 per cent, 95 per cent CI: 3.5 to 9.5). The most prevalent specific…

BACKGROUND: Feline osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of long-standing pain and physical dysfunction. Performing a physical examination of a cat is often challenging. There is a need for disease-specific questionnaires or the so-called clinical metrology instruments (CMIs) to facilitate diagnosis and evaluation of treatment of feline OA. The CMI provides the owners an assessment of the cat's behavioural and lifestyle changes in the home environment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate readability, internal consistency, reliability and discriminatory ability of four CMIs. METHODS: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study with 142 client-owned cats. Feline OA was diagnosed based on medical history, orthopaedic examination and radiography. RESULTS: The results indicate that all four instruments have sound readability, internal consistency, are reliable over time and have good discriminatory ability. Preliminary cut-off values with optimal sensitivity and specificity were suggested for each instrument. The osteoarthritic cats showed significant changes in behavioural…

Significant event reporting is an important concept for patient safety in human medicine, but substantial barriers to the discussion and reporting of adverse events have been identified. This study explored the factors that influence the discussion and reporting of significant events among veterinary surgeons and nurses. Purposive sampling was used to generate participants for six focus groups consisting of a range of veterinary professionals of different ages and roles (mean N per group=9). Thematic analysis of the discussions identified three main themes: the effect of culture, the influence of organisational systems and the emotional effect of error. Fear, lack of time or understanding and organisational concerns were identified as barriers, while the effect of feedback, opportunity for learning and structure of a reporting system facilitated error reporting. Professional attitudes and culture emerged as both a positive and negative influence on the discussion of error. The results were triangulated against the findings in the medical literature and highlight common themes in…

The veterinary profession recognises the importance of addressing work-related stress for veterinary surgeons' wellbeing. Identifying aspects of veterinarians' work that are sources of stress is a key step in implementing appropriate stress management interventions for the profession. However, little systematic research on the causes of stress in veterinary work has been carried out. A qualitative interview study was conducted with 18 veterinarians practising in the UK to explore aspects of their work that are stressful. Thematic analysis revealed principal stressors to be poor work-life balance, interaction with animal owners, specific aspects of euthanasia, dealing with poor animal welfare and staff management responsibilities. Injury risk, supervision arrangements for newly qualified veterinarians and lack of control over work were stressors for some. The practical implications of the findings for stress management in veterinary work are considered. Comments by several participants indicated a strong achievement focus and possible perfectionism. It is proposed that veterinarians…

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) infection has been reported in piglets and sows with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, reproductive failure, and cardiac and multisystemic inflammation. Few studies linked PCV3 infection to increased incidence of abortion and weak-born piglets. This is the first report of a detection of PCV3 Hungarian strain in several organs of aborted and weak-born piglets, including the thymus, lymph node, placenta, spleen, kidney and the liver. The tissue tropism of PCV3 in affected litters was analysed using real-time quantitative PCR, and the result showed the highest load of viral DNA in the thymus and lymph nodes. The ORF2 of Hungarian PCV3 strains was 524 nucleotides in length, and the sequence identity to GenBank sequences ranged from 98.5 per cent to 99.2 per cent. The results suggest that PCV3 may have a relevant role in reproductive failure in gilts.

BACKGROUND: The goal of veterinary education is to prepare learners to successfully enter the profession. However, the transition from learner to professional can be an intense and stressful phase. In this study, recently graduated veterinarians' perceptions of readiness to work independently and to successfully cope with early career challenges are addressed. METHODS: A survey based on five commonly occurring entrustable professional activities (EPAs) in primary care was sent to newly qualified veterinarians (graduated between six months and three-and-a-half years ago and working in primary veterinary clinics). The survey was a combination of open and Likert scale-type questions and contained items on the self-reported need for supervision for these EPAs. One hundred and fifty-six participants (response rate 41.2 per cent) answered the survey. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse and present the quantitative data. RESULTS: The day-one after graduation levels varied per EPA between 'with direct, proactive supervision' and 'supervision at a distance'. On average after 6.8…

There has been concerns related to the risk of bacterial contamination from raw pet food to humans, but research is still scarce. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to use a worldwide internet survey-based data to evaluate the impact of raw pet foods on human health from the owners' experience. From 16 475 households, 0.2 per cent (n=39) reported having had a transmission of pathogen from the raw pet food to a human family member during the time that raw feeding had been used in the household. Only in three of those households the same pathogen that was found in the human sample was analysed and confirmed also in the raw pet food (0.02 per cent of all data). Moreover, 0.1 per cent (n=24) reported suspecting that a disease could have been transmitted to a human from the pet food. Feeding salmon and turkey, using more than 50 per cent of the diet as raw foods and preparing the raw food in the same place and utensils as the family foods all had negative association with infections. Having 2 to 6 year-old children living in the household was associated with more infections,…

This research aimed to assess whether rabbits having lop ears, an artificially selected conformation, compromises welfare. We investigated the occurrence of aural and dental pathology in lop-eared compared with erect-eared rabbits. Thirty rabbits (15 lop-eared and 15 erect-eared) from a rabbit-only rescue shelter were examined. An otoscope was used to visualise the ear canals and mouth. Samples were taken from each ear to examine for mites, bacteria and yeast. Medical records were also examined. Lop-eared rabbits showed statistically significantly more frequent ear canal stenosis, higher scores of cerumen and erythema and more frequent potential pain response during ear examination, compared with erect-eared rabbits. We also found statistically significantly more frequent incisor pathology, molar overgrowth, molar sharpness, molar spurs and history of veterinary dental treatment in lop-eared compared with erect-eared rabbits. The effect sizes were often large. Age was not statistically significant between the lop-eared and erect-eared rabbit groups. Thus, lop-eared rabbits were at…

Options for diagnosing Fasciola hepatica infection in groups of cattle are limited. Increasing the opportunities for herd‐level diagnosis is important for disease monitoring, making informed treatment decisions and for flukicide efficacy testing. The sensitivity of a simple sedimentation method based on composite faecal samples for the detection of fluke eggs in cattle was assessed through a combination of experimental and statistical modelling techniques. Initially, a composite sample method previously developed for sheep was used to investigate the sensitivity of composite sample testing compared with individual counts on the same samples in cattle. Following this, an optimised, validated, qualitative (presence‐absence) composite sample field test was developed for cattle. Results showed that fluke egg counts obtained from a composite sample are representative of those expected from individual counts. The optimal sampling strategy was determined to be 10 individual 10 g samples (100 g composite sample) from which a 10 g subsample is taken for sedimentation. This method yielded a…

In practice, veterinary surgeons frequently rely on lung auscultation as a confirmation test for pneumonia. To what extent diagnostic accuracy of lung auscultation varies between different practitioners is currently unknown. In this diagnostic test study, 49 Dutch veterinarians each auscultated between 8 and 10 calves, and communicated whether they would decide to treat the animal with antimicrobials or not. They were not allowed to perform any other aspect of the clinical examination. Their decisions were compared with lung ultrasonography findings. The average sensitivity and specificity of lung auscultation were 0.63 (sd=0.2; range=0.2-1.0) and 0.46 (sd=0.3; range=0.0-1.0), respectively. Of the participants, 8.2 per cent were 100 per cent sensitive, 16.3 per cent were 100 per cent specific, and only 4.0 per cent were perfect. The Krippendorff's alpha was 0.18 (95 per cent confidence interval: -0.01 to 0.38), signifying poor reliability between multiple raters. Regardless of the poor diagnostic accuracy in this study, especially the large variation in a confirmation test between…

Positive canine parvovirus (CPV) faecal test results have been reported in dogs after modified live virus (MLV) vaccination. Thus, the aim was to investigate feline panleucopenia virus (FPV) shedding in recently vaccinated, adult, clinically healthy cats and to assess related factors. Forty cats were vaccinated with an FPV MLV vaccine. Faeces of cats were tested for presence of parvovirus DNA on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 by quantitative real-time PCR; DNA-positive samples were subjected to partial VP2 gene sequencing. Virus isolation was performed whenever sufficient amounts of faeces were available. Serum antibody titres were measured by haemagglutination inhibition on days 0, 7 and 28. Overall, 30.0 per cent (12/40; 95% CI 18.0 to 45.6) of cats shed parvovirus DNA. Sequencing revealed FPV vaccine virus DNA in three cats, FPV field virus DNA in four cats and CPV field virus DNA in one cat. Shedding was significantly associated with lack of prevaccination antibody titres (40) (P=0.016; OR: 6.44; 95% CI 1.44 to 28.89) and with postvaccination titre increases (fourfold) (P=0.029; OR:…

The capability to set baselines and monitor trends of health and welfare conditions is an important requirement for livestock industries in order to maintain economic competitiveness and sustainability. Monitoring schemes evaluate the relative importance of conditions so that: appropriate actions can be determined, prioritised and implemented; new and (re)emerging conditions can be promptly detected and the effectiveness of any actions can be measured. In 2011, the national pig levy board published a strategy document highlighting health and welfare conditions of importance to the pig industry that were to be targeted for control. In this study, existing schemes that could be used to monitor or set baselines for these conditions in pigs were reviewed, in order to evaluate their suitability for this purpose, using a standardised surveillance evaluation framework (SERVAL). The schemes included: government-funded surveillance of endemic and exotic disease and pig welfare; industry surveillance of endemic diseases; regional schemes for improving pig health; national accreditation…

This study aimed to describe bacteria isolated from the reproductive tract of mares and to identify changes in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns to those antibiotics commonly used for the treatment of equine endometritis. A total of 4122 equine uterine swabs were collected from mares suffering from reproductive tract disorders in the period 2010–2017. Aerobic culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using agar disc diffusion were performed on each sample. Aerobic bacteria were isolated from 3171 of 4122 (76.9 per cent) samples. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli (885/3171, 27.9 per cent) and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (791/3171, 24.9 per cent), confirming previous findings from the literature. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of E coli , S equi subspecies zooepidemicus and Klebsiella pneumoniae changed over time. A statistically significant decrease in antimicrobial efficacy of cefquinome against E coli was observed over the years, as well as of ampicillin, cefquinome and penicillin against S equi subspecies…

A 3‐year‐old male neutered Shih Tzu cross was presented for investigation of a three‐week history of weight loss, seborrhoea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Initial clinicopathological findings included pancytopenia, mild hypercalcaemia and marked hyperglobulinaemia. Subsequent bone marrow and skin biopsies revealed the presence of Leishmania amastigotes. Quantitative serology was positive for Leishmania species and PCR on the bone marrow sample confirmed a Leishmania infantum infection. The patient had been in the owner's possession since a puppy, had no travel history outside of the UK and had never received a blood transfusion or been used for breeding. However, another dog in the household that had been imported from Spain had been euthanased six months previously due to severe leishmaniosis. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of canine leishmaniosis in the UK without a history of travel to an endemic area, and most likely represents a case of dog‐to‐dog transmission.

BACKGROUND: There is widespread concern surrounding veterinarians' mental health. Upon entering the profession, early career veterinary surgeons encounter colleagues with diverse and conflicting identities, manifesting in their differential prioritisation of definitive clinical treatment, interpersonal interactions or the commercial success of the practice. In other professions, poor wellbeing arises from confusion between these conflicting identity discourses, as new professionals attempt to identify role models aligned with their own identity beliefs. New veterinarians' wellbeing may thus depend on their negotiation of different identities, as they construct their own sets of professional values and determine the type of veterinarian they wish to become. METHODS: Identity formation was explored narratively using veterinarians' social media stories. RESULTS: Poor professional wellbeing appeared to arise from identity confusion: failure to consistently commit to either the dominant diagnosis-focused discourse valued by academic role models, or a relational discourse, emphasising…

This study qualitatively explored success factors across career transitions in veterinary practice. Semistructured interviews were conducted independently with pairs of veterinary employers and their recent graduate employees, focusing on success in gaining initial employment, their transition to practising veterinarian and longevity in the veterinary profession. The divergence and convergence of interviewees' perspectives, the changing emphasis of capabilities over different career phases, and the meaning of success were explored. Overall, the perspectives of employers and employees were similar, and highlighted communication skills, confidence, diligence and reliability, and technical skills and knowledge as important themes for initial employment and transition to practice. Other important success factors for initial employment included interpersonal skills, teamwork and team fit, enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and previous experience with the graduate. Support, resilience and work-life balance were important to the transition to practice phase. For career longevity, work-life…

As a result of scandals concerning sexual harassment in Hollywood and in the media, as well as questions regarding the size of the gender pay gap, considerable attention has recently been paid to questions of gender diversity and discrimination in organisations. Gender issues would appear particularly salient within the veterinary profession, not least because women are beginning to outnumber men as practitioners. While this research on veterinary surgeons was not initially focused on gender, as the study progressed gender became an issue of such importance that it could not be ignored. Although 'feminized in numerical terms', the veterinary profession and 'its professional structure and culture remains gendered masculine'. Translated into practice, this means that although 76 per cent of vet school graduates are currently female, disproportionately few have risen or are rising through the hierarchy. On the surface it is easy to rationalise this away partly by simply stating how many female vets appear to sacrifice career for family, but the authors' aim is to go beyond merely…

Ear disease, involving the middle and external ear, is commonly reported in pet rabbits, with lop-eared breeds predisposed. CT is the most reliable imaging modality for identifying otitis media (OM) in rabbits. This study aimed to develop a CT-based grading scale to classify the severity of CT changes in rabbits with presumed OM. Three observers independently reviewed CT images of 36 rabbits with OM. For both OM and material within the external ear canal, a grade of I to IV was used, (I=mild, IV=severe disease) and the level of agreement between reviewers was statistically evaluated. The study demonstrated that grades from the three reviewers showed a strong level of interobserver agreement. Comparisons between clinical signs and CT grade were also evaluated. Rabbits with grade IV OM had a high grade of material in the external ear canal. A high proportion of rabbits (83 per cent) underwent CT scanning conscious, demonstrating that diagnostic quality CT images are achievable without the need for anaesthetic intervention, minimising patient risk. This novel CT-based grading scale…

Iain McGill and Mark Jones argue that recent data released by the APHA show that it is the prevalence or ‘infectivity’ of cattle that is sustaining bTB infection and driving transmission of Mycobacterium bovis to new herds.

A retrospective treated versus untreated study (study 1) and multicentre prospective cohort study (study 2) were undertaken to determine the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, acute laminitis in horses treated with corticosteroids. All old treated with corticosteroids January-December 2014 (study 1) and January 2015-February 2017 (study 2) by two first opinion and referral hospitals in UK were included. Additionally, an untreated animal was identified for each treated animal (study one). Signalment, body condition (study 2 only), relevant medical history, primary condition, corticosteroid therapy prescribed and occurrence of acute laminitis during or within 14 days of cessation of corticosteroid treatment were recorded.For study 1, 205 cases and 205 controls were identified; two animals within each group (1 per cent) developed laminitis. In total, 1565 animals were included in study 2; laminitis period prevalence was 0.6 per cent (95 per cent CI 0.4 per cent to 1.2 per cent), with 10 cases in 1565 treated animals. There were significant associations between laminitis…

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide human and animal health problem, and there is an urgent need to promote prudent use of antimicrobials among veterinarians. In order to do so, it is important to understand the factors that determine their use of antimicrobials. This questionnaire-based study aimed to determine which factors that influence the Danish veterinarians' choice of antimicrobials prescribed for intestinal diseases in weaner pigs. METHODS: The survey was completed by 83.3 per cent (n=105) of all veterinarians accountable for a Veterinary Advisory Contract in Danish weaner pig herds (n=126). The participants scored to which extent 29 different factors influenced their antimicrobial choice on a five-point Likert scale (1-5). RESULTS: The veterinarian's own experiences of clinical efficacy in the herd exerted the greatest influence (94.4 per cent scored ≥4). The Danish authorities have directed a threshold of the antimicrobial use and made some antimicrobials less favourable to use in pig production through The Yellow Card Initiative, and this influenced the…

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV-3) is a recently discovered virus in domestic pigs and wild boar. The virus has been described in pigs with different clinical/pathological presentations and healthy animals, but the dynamics of infection is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to longitudinally monitor PCV-3 infection in 152 pigs from four different healthy farms (A, B, C and D) by means of PCR in serum. The selected animals were sampled five (farm A) or six (farms B-D) times from weaning until the end of the fattening period. PCV-3 genome was found in pigs from all tested ages and farms; few animals had an apparent long-term infection (4-23 weeks). PCV-3 frequency of detection remained fairly uniform along tested ages within farms A and C, but was more variable among sampling times in farms B and D. Eight partial genome sequences were obtained from six different animals. Phylogenetic tree and pairwise distance analysis showed high similarity among sequences and with available genomes from different countries. This is the first study on PCV-3 infection dynamics in…

Use of scruffing and scruffing tools (eg, clipnosis clips) to immobilise cats is contentious, and cat handling guidelines vary in recommendations regarding these techniques. The current study examined whether cats show negative responses to the following restraint methods: (1) scruff (n=17), (2) clip application to the dorsal neck skin (n=16) and (3) full body (a known negative; n=19). Each cat was also handled with passive restraint (control) for comparison. During handling, cats were examined for behavioural (side/back ear positions, vocalisations, lip licking) and physiological (pupil dilation ratio, respiratory rate) responses. Full‐body restrained cats showed more negative responses than passively restrained cats (respiratory rate: p=0.006, F 3,37 =4.31, p=0.01; ear p=0.002, F 3,49 =6.70, p=0.0007; pupil: p=0.007, F 3,95 =14.24, p=0.004; vocalisations: p=0.009, F 3,49 =4.85, p=0.005) and scruff‐restrained cats (pupil: p=0.009; vocalisations: p=0.04). Clip restraint resulted in more negative responses than passive (pupil: p=0.01; vocalisations: p=0.007, ear p=0.02) and scruff…

In 2016, a veterinary service company, XL Farmcare UK, was awarded a Defra contract to manage a series of on-farm demonstration workshops to raise biosecurity awareness. The workshops provided free training for cattle farmers in England on the practical measures that they could take to limit the threat of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Despite communicating these events to farmers, the number who subsequently attended them was low and the company decided to conduct research to seek explanation. Farmers were interviewed at agricultural shows, their comments analysed and the frequency of words in use were measured to produce a set of common themes. This thematic analysis provides an illustrative rather than representative picture of farmer opinions yet holds significant explanatory value for understanding the apparent lack of engagement with biosecurity training. Broad-ranging farmer perspectives can be understood through a 'typology' of feelings about bTB, particularly expressions of blame, loss, confusion, ignorance, resignation and fear. The cumulative effect amounts to one of…

BACKGROUND: Breed-specific and broader cohort studies have shown behavioural changes in dogs following the onset of idiopathic epilepsy (IE). METHODS: A cross-sectional, case-control questionnaire study was carried out to strengthen this body of evidence. Owners of eight breeds of dog completed an online questionnaire about their dogs' behaviour; once for control dogs and twice for dogs with IE, for both pre-IE and post-IE onset behaviour. RESULTS: Ninety-six (24.74 per cent) dogs with IE and 292 (75.26 per cent) age and breed-matched control dogs met the inclusion criteria. Control dogs had significantly higher 'Trainability' scores than dogs with IE (P=0.04). After IE, dogs had significantly higher 'Dog-Directed Fear or Aggression' (P=0.02), 'Non-Social Fear' (P=0.01), 'Attachment/Attention-Seeking Behaviour' (P=0.04), 'Attention-Deficit' (P=0.02) and significantly lower 'Trainability' (P=0.02) than prior to the onset of IE. Medication status did not significantly affect any behavioural factor, but drug-resistant dogs had significantly less 'Trainability' than drug-responsive…

There is a need for an effective and safe emetic agent that dog owners could easily administer to their dogs following veterinary advice in cases of potential poisoning. As a response to this need, a randomised, double‐blind, multi‐site, clinical field study was performed to assess the efficacy, safety and usability of ropinirole eye drops to induce vomiting in dogs. Ropinirole (target dose 3.75 mg/m 2 ) was applied to eyes of 100 dogs, and 32 dogs received placebo. The drug was administered by the dog owner at a veterinary clinic under the supervision of a veterinarian and led to vomition in 95% of the ropinirole‐treated dogs within 30 min. The median time to first vomit was 10 min (range: 3–37 min). None of the dogs receiving placebo vomited in this time period. All owners were able to administer the product and 96% of them assessed the administration to be very easy or easy, which was confirmed by the observing veterinarian. Some ocular signs were seen both with ropinirole and placebo, hyperaemia being the most common. All observed signs were transient and in most cases mild.…

Canine dystocia is a relatively common veterinary presentation. First opinion emergency care clinical data from 50 Vets Now clinics across the UK were used to explore dystocia management and outcomes in bitches. Caesarean section (CS) was performed on 341/701 (48.6 per cent (95 per cent CI 44.9 to 52.4)) of dystocia cases. The bulldog (OR 7.60, 95 per cent CI 1.51 to 38.26, P=0.014), Border terrier (OR 4.89, 95 per cent CI 0.92 to 25.97, P=0.063) and golden retriever (OR 4.07, 95 per cent CI 0.97 to 17.07, P=0.055) had the highest odds of CS among dystocic bitches compared with crossbreds. Brachycephalic dystocic bitches had 1.54 (95 per cent CI 1.05 to 2.28, P=0.028) times the odds of CS compared with non-brachycephalics. Oxytocin was administered to 380/701 (54.2 per cent) and calcium gluconate was administered to 82/701 (11.7 per cent) of dystocic bitches. 12 of 701 dystocia cases (1.7 per cent) died during emergency care. These results can help veterinary surgeons to provide better evidence on the risks to owners who may be contemplating breeding from their bitches. In addition,…

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to determine if extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS) postoperative closure could be predicted based on preoperative blood analyses and to determine the accuracy of blood variables to evaluate persistence of portosystemic shunting postoperatively (multiple acquired portosystemic shunts (MAPSS) or persistent EHPSS). METHODS: Retrospectively, 62 dogs treated surgically for congenital EHPSS that underwent postoperative trans-splenic portal scintigraphy or CT angiography three to six months postoperatively were included. RESULTS: None of the studied preoperative blood variables could unambiguously predict surgical outcome. Elevated postoperative fasting venous ammonia (FA) concentration always indicated surgical failure (persistent shunting or MAPSS), but normal FA did not provide any information on the postoperative shunting status. Paired serum bile acids (SBA) were not reliable enough to confirm or exclude postoperative shunting. In the presence of low normal postoperative FA levels, elevated preprandial SBA was more likely in dogs with…

BACKGROUND: Free-living cetaceans are exposed to a wide variety of stressful situations, including live stranding and interaction with human beings (capture myopathy), vessel strikes, and fishing activities (bycatch), which affect their wellbeing and potentially lead to stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP). METHODS: Here, the authors aimed to characterise SCMP of stranded cetaceans as an injury resulting from extreme stress responses, based on pathological analyses (histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical). Specifically, the authors examined heart samples from 67 cetaceans found ashore (48 live strandings, seven dead from ship collision and 12 dead from bycatch) on the coast of Spain, more specifically in the Canary Islands from 2000 to 2016 and Andalusia from 2011 to 2014. RESULTS: The microscopic findings were characterised by vascular changes, acute or subacute cardiac degenerative necrotic lesions, interstitial myoglobin globules, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemically, cardiac troponin I, cardiac troponin C and myoglobin were depleted, along with…

Published research relevant to the UK dairy goat industry is scarce. Current practices and concerns within the UK dairy goat industry must be better understood if research is to have optimal value. A postal survey was conducted of the farmer membership of the Milking Goat Association as a first step in addressing gaps in knowledge. Questions were asked about husbandry practices, farmer observations of their goats and their priorities for further research. Seventy-three per cent of Milking Goat Association members responded, representing 38 per cent of commercial dairy goat farms and 53 per cent of the commercial dairy goat population in England and Wales. Findings were comprehensive and showed extensive variation in farm practices. Farmers reported pneumonia and scours (diarrhoea) as the most prevalent illnesses of their kids. Pneumonia, diarrhoea, failure to conceive and poor growth were the most prevalent observations of youngstock. Overly fat body condition, assisted kidding, failure to conceive and difficulty drying off were the most prevalent observations of adult milking…

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen and a major cause of infections. Widespread resistance in human infections are increasing the use of last resort antimicrobials such as polymyxins. However, these have been used for decades in veterinary medicine. Companion animals are an understudied source of antimicrobial resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. This study evaluated the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa veterinary isolates to polymyxins to determine whether the veterinary niche represents a potential reservoir of resistance genes for pathogenic bacteria in both animals and humans. Methods and results Clinical P. aeruginosa isolates (n=24) from UK companion animals were compared for antimicrobial susceptibility to a panel of human‐associated isolates (n=37). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for polymyxin B and colistin in the companion animals was significantly higher than in human isolates (P=0.033 and P=0.013, respectively). Genotyping revealed that the veterinary isolates were spread throughout the P. aeruginosa population, with shared array…

Colic is the most common emergency problem in horses. The aims of this study were to survey costs of different referral treatments and to review insurance policies relevant to horses with colic. Data were collected retrospectively from nine equine hospitals for case costs, categorised into four different outcomes: admitted and euthanased; euthanased during or immediately after surgery; medical treatment and survived more than 24 hours; and surgical treatment and survived more than 24 hours. Data from five UK equine insurance companies were extracted and analysed using a standardised case example. Costs were obtained for 108 cases. The mean cost for horses admitted and euthanased was £873.89 (range £459.72-£1471.51), and for surgical treatment and survival more than 24 hours was £6437.80 (range £3178.87-£9100.00). Insurance cover for veterinary fees ranged from £5000 to £7500, and monthly premium rates for a standardised case ranged from £27.06 to £47.06. The terms and conditions for the insurance policies ranged in length from 2098 to 17,701 words; Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease scores…

Various splenic diseases can result in a splenic mass and necessitate splenectomy. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of malignant and benign splenic diseases, and type of malignant disease, in dogs categorised by breed size. It was hypothesised that the prevalence of splenic disease would be significantly different in small versus large-breed dogs. All dogs had a splenic mass identified with ultrasonography or CT, and had a confirmed diagnosis. Dogs were categorised as small, medium and large breeds according to breed standards. There were 54 small, 139 medium and 41 large-breed dogs; 129/234, 55% (95% CI 49% to 61%) had malignant disease versus 105/234, 45% (95% CI 39% to 51%) with benign disease (P=0.117). The prevalence of malignant versus benign disease was not significantly different for small (P=0.276), medium (P=0.074) or large-breed dogs (P=0.080). Small-breed dogs were 2.3 times more likely than large-breed dogs to have benign disease. Small-breed dogs with malignant disease were one-third as likely as large-breed dogs to have haemangiosarcoma. In…

Bluetongue is an infectious disease transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Culicoides imicola is considered the main vector in the Mediterranean basin but other species have been implicated in the Bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission. During 2017, BTV serotype 4 re‐occurred in Sardinia causing outbreaks in sheep farms. A survey was carried out on affected farms with the aim to detect the virus in field‐collected Culicoides . Biting midges were morphologically identified, pooled and then assayed with a real time RT‐PCR. To evaluate BTV dissemination, some Culicoides were dissected and head, thorax and abdomen were tested singly by PCR. A total of 173,738 Culicoides adults were collected. Viral RNA was detected in 68 out of 77 pools and all species analysed resulted positive. Detection of BTV in parous female body regions (head, thorax and abdomen) confirmed the full dissemination of BTV in all species analysed. During this study, the vector competence of C imicola , C newsteadi s.l. and Obsoletus complex was confirmed. The authors found two new Culicoides species BTV positive, C…

Background Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is a painful infectious foot disease of cattle, and much evidence implicates a pathogenic role for treponemes. This study measured the survival of BDD treponemes on hoof knife blades and tested the efficacy of relevant disinfectants under laboratory conditions. Methods Two strains of BDD treponemes were applied to hoof knife blades under aerobic conditions. Swabs were taken at different time points (10 minutes, one hour, two hours, four hours and 18 hours) and again after 20‐second disinfection time with one of five disinfectants. Swabs were used directly for nested PCR to detect treponemes or inoculated for anaerobic growth, and subsequently examined using phase contrast microscopy and PCR. Results BDD treponeme DNA was detectable by nested PCR at all survival time points, and these organisms were culturable from hoof knives for two hours after exposure under aerobic conditions in the laboratory. Three of the five disinfectants—1 per cent volume per volume (v/v) FAM30 ® , 2 per cent weight per volume (w/v) Virkon ® or 2 per cent (v/v)…

Veterinary education can result in high levels of academic stressors for students. Students are also susceptible to non-academic stressors, including relationship issues and financial concerns. These can all result in mental ill health, which may impair the student's ability to complete their studies and go on to a successful professional career. Finding and using strategies early on to help alleviate mental health problems is critical to successful management of these problems, but seeking help may be impeded by the stigma associated with mental health problems. Using a cross-sectional online survey of a sample of Australian veterinary students, the aim of the current study was to investigate the type and frequency of their coping strategies as well as to explore relationships between self-stigma and coping strategies. Female veterinary students reported more use of instrumental and emotional support as coping strategies, while male veterinary students demonstrated more use of humour. Self-stigma was related to less instrumental support, greater self-blame and gender, while males…

BACKGROUND: Uterine health status is a key factor for dairy management. METHODS: The uteri of 28 Holstein cows were assessed weekly by three different methods: ultrasonography (UT), Metricheck device (MT) and cytobrush (CYT), during two weeks to seven weeks postpartum. RESULTS: The percentage of cows with an MT-positive, UT-positive and CYT-positive result decreased dramatically at three weeks, four weeks and five weeks postpartum, respectively. The agreement of the results was poor or weak within six weeks postpartum (κ=0.09-0.35), and only at seven weeks moderate or good agreement was achieved (κ=0.60-0.70). When comparing the results obtained by UT and MT, 30 per cent or more of the total cows had conflicting results from postpartum three weeks to six weeks. The uterine health of cows was re-evaluated by the combined usage of UT and MT referring to CYT. The highest sensitivity was achieved when positive individuals were identified as either MT-positive or UT-positive, whereas the highest specificity occurred when results were positive by both MT- and UT- methods. CONCLUSION: The…