bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurements of growth hormone and insulin‐like growth factor 1 in cats with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Reusch C. E. , Kley S. , Casella M. , Nelson R. W. , Mol J. , Zapf J.
Published: October 2010

Serum concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and growth hormone were measured in 25 cats with untreated diabetes mellitus (11 of which were used for follow‐up measurements, one to three, four to eight, nine to 12 and 13 to 16 weeks after their treatment with insulin began), 14 diabetic cats that had previously been treated with insulin, and seven diabetic cats that also had hypersomatotropism, two of which had not previously been treated with insulin; 18 healthy cats were used as controls. In the untreated diabetic cats the concentration of IGF‐1 ranged from 13·0 to 433·0 ng/ml (median 170·5 ng/ml), which was significantly lower than the concentrations in the control cats (196·0 to 791·0 ng/ml, median 452·0 ng/ml). Their IGF‐1 concentrations increased significantly when they were treated with insulin and after four to eight weeks were not different from those in the control cats. In the diabetic cats that had previously been treated with insulin the IGF‐1 concentrations were 33·0 to 476·0 ng/ml (median 316·0 ng/ml), which was significantly lower than the concentrations in the control cats, but significantly higher than in the untreated diabetic cats. The IGF‐1 concentrations in the two previously untreated diabetic cats with hypersomatotropism were low and low‐normal but increased markedly after treatment with insulin. In the five previously treated cats with hypersomatotropism the concentration of IGF‐1 was above the normal range. The concentrations of growth hormone in the treated and untreated diabetic cats without hypersomatotropisms were not significantly different and there was an overlap in its concentrations in the diabetic cats with and without hypersomatotropism.
Efficacy of ceftiofur and flunixin in the early treatment of bronchopneumonia in weaners
Authors: Halloy D. J. , Cambier C. , Gustin P. G.
Published: October 2010

Three groups of five pigs were inoculated intratracheally with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides, and 24 hours later with 10 × 109 colony‐forming units of a non‐toxigenic strain of Pasteurella multocida type A; a fourth group was left uninoculated as controls. The three inoculated groups received either no treatment (positive controls), or were treated with 3 mg/kg ceftiofur intramuscularly once a day for five consecutive days, either alone or combined with 2 mg/kg flunixin intramuscularly once a day for three consecutive days. The sustained coughing and hyperthermia recorded in the positive controls disappeared after two days and three days of treatments, respectively, in the treated animals, and the reductions in daily weight gain and changes in breathing pattern observed in the controls were not observed in the treated animals. There were no significant differences between the pigs treated with ceftiofur alone or ceftiofur combined with flunixin. In the positive controls, the number of inflammatory cells in samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid continued to increase up to 15 days after inoculation, whereas in the treated animals there were similar increases at six days but the numbers had decreased to baseline levels after 15 days. Similarly, in the treated animals the volume of the lung lesions was significantly less than in the control animals, but the inclusion of flunixin in the treatment regimen had no significant additional effect.
Fin erosion on rainbow trout on commercial trout farms in the United Kingdom
Authors: St‐Hilaire S. , Ellis T. , Cooke A. , North B. P. , Turnbull J. F. , Knowles T. , Kestin S.
Published: October 2010

Fish weighing less than 30 g and more than 100 g were sampled from 38 rearing units on 10 commercial farms growing rainbow trout for the table market. A fin index was calculated for each of the eight rayed fins on 949 trout by dividing their length by the standard length of the fish. There was a large range in the indices of all eight fins. The fin indices of the small and large fish were compared, controlling for farm effect. With the exception of the dorsal fin, all the indices were larger for the small fish than for the large fish, but the magnitude of the difference was greater for some fins than others. In comparison with the fins of wild fish, the pectoral and dorsal fins appeared to be most eroded and the damage to these fins was evident even in the small fish. The erosion of the caudal, anal and ventral (or pelvic) fins was more prominent in the larger fish. Variations in the fin indices of the caudal, anal and ventral fins suggested that there was little variation between rearing units on the same farm, but that there was significant variation between individual fish in the same rearing units, and between fish on different farms.
Clinical evaluation of firocoxib and carprofen for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis
Authors: Pollmeier M. , Toulemonde C. , Fleishman C. , Hanson P. D.
Published: October 2010

A double‐blind, randomised, controlled, multicentre field study was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy of firocoxib chewable tablets and carprofen tablets in 218 dogs with osteoarthritis. Firocoxib is a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug with more than 350‐fold selectivity in dogs for the inducible isoform of the enzyme cyclo‐oxygenase‐2. The efficacy, tolerance and ease of administration of firocoxib (5 mg/kg/day) and carprofen (4 mg/kg/day) were assessed by the owners and the attending veterinarians during 30 days of treatment. The efficacy was assessed in terms of the dogs' overall scores at the end of the treatment, based on the veterinarians' assessment of lameness, pain on manipulation/palpation, range of motion, and joint swelling; 92·5 per cent of the dogs treated with firocoxib and 92·4 per cent of the dogs treated with carprofen had improved. The reduction in lameness in the dogs treated with firocoxib was significantly greater than in the dogs treated with carprofen. The owners' evaluations were that 96·2 per cent of the dogs treated with firocoxib and 92·4 per cent of the dogs treated with carprofen had improved, and this difference was statistically significant.
Ultrasonographic monitoring of the fetal growth of common seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina)
Authors: Gili C. , Papini L. , Vannozzi I. , Romagnoli S.
Published: October 2010

Three captive female common seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) were monitored ultrasonographically during five pregnancies. Pregnancy was diagnosed in the third month and fetal monitoring was continued until parturition. The ultrasound measurements were made with the active collaboration of the animals by training them to cooperate with the procedure.
Descriptive spatial analysis of scrapie‐affected flocks in Great Britain between January 1993 and December 2002
Authors: Tongue S. C. , Pfeiffer D. U. , Wilesmith J. W.
Published: October 2010

The spatial distribution of sheep flocks in Great Britain with confirmed clinical scrapie between January 1993 and December 2002 inclusive was investigated by using kernel density estimation and a cluster scan test statistic. Six statistically significant clusters were identified: three were lower risk, and were centred on the north‐western coast of Scotland, the north‐western coast of Wales and the South Yorkshire/Pennine region; three were of higher risk, and were centred in the central south, North Yorkshire and north Cumbria. General knowledge and the results of previous epidemiological studies were used to generate biologically plausible hypotheses that might explain these findings. They included aspects of flock management and disease transmission, and factors associated with the identification of cases, including their detection, recognition and, in particular, reporting levels, as well as diagnosis and animal movements.
Field technique for the resection of the distal interphalangeal joint and proximal resection of the deep digital flexor tendon in cows
Authors: Bicalho R. C. , Cheong S. H. , Guard C. L.
Published: October 2010

A modified technique for the resection of the distal interphalangeal joint and the proximal resection of the deep digital flexor tendon in cows is described. Septic arthritis of the joint was diagnosed in eight Holstein cows and treated in the field. Four of the cows were diagnosed with ascending tendonitis during the resection of the joint and their tendons were also resected. All the animals remained moderately to severely lame for two weeks postoperatively but quickly recovered and were sound within five months. Eight months after the last surgery only one cow had been culled, 321 days after its surgery, for reproductive failure. The other seven cows had survived for a mean period of 308 days, with a range from 235 to 392 days.
Effects of housing and intake of methionine on the growth and wear of hoof horn and the conformation of the hooves of first‐lactation Holstein heifers
Authors: Livesey C. T. , Laven R. A.
Published: October 2010

This study investigated the effects of housing primiparous lactating Holstein heifers either in cubicles with butyl rubber mats, cubicles with thicker mattresses filled with chopped rubber, or straw yards, and supplementing them with methionine for the first 13 weeks of lactation on the rates of growth of their hoof horn and the conformation of their feet. Overall, the rate of growth of the hoof horn increased significantly after calving but the rate of wear did not increase. In contrast, the type of housing had no significant effect on the growth of the hoof horn, but the heifers in straw yards had significantly lower rates of lateral horn wear. The changes in growth and wear rates resulted in changes in hoof conformation, including the toe angle and the width of the bearing surface, which suggested that heel bulb hypertrophy occurred after the heifers had been moved from soft underfoot conditions on to concrete. Providing 115 per cent of their estimated methionine requirements had no significant effect on the rates of growth and wear of the hoof horn.
Preliminary studies of particle‐mediated gene delivery to the joints of dogs
Authors: Campbell S. E. , Nasir L. , Gault E. A. , Argyle D. J. , Bennett D.
Published: October 2010

This paper describes a preliminary evaluation of particle‐mediated bombardment via the Helios gene gun for the delivery of therapeutic genes to synovial cells in culture. A reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescent protein, was delivered to rabbit synovial fibroblasts (hig‐82) using gold particle (1·0 μm) bombardment to evaluate transfection efficiency at helium pressures of 100 and 150 psi. Transfection of cells occurred at these pressures despite some cell death. The in vitro delivery of gold particles to samples of synovial membrane and articular cartilage from a freshly euthanased dog was also studied to examine depth of penetration of gold particles (1·0 μm) at helium pressures of 250 and 500 psi. Light microscopical examination of histological sections of the synovial membrane showed that particles of gold had penetrated the lining cells of the synovium. However, no gold particles had penetrated the articular cartilage even at 500 psi.
Evaluation of laboratory tests for sat serotypes of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus with specimens collected from convalescent cattle in Zimbabwe
Authors: Sammin D. J. , Paton D. J. , Parida S. , Ferris N. P. , Hutchings G. H. , Reid S. M. , Shaw A. E. , Holmes C. , Gibson D. , Corteyn M. , Knowles N. J. , Valarcher J‐F. , Hamblin P. A. , Fleming L. , Gwaze G. , Sumption K. J.
Published: October 2010

During a field study in Zimbabwe, clinical specimens were collected from 403 cattle in six herds, in which the history of foot‐and‐mouth disease (fmd) vaccination and infection appeared to be known with some certainty. Five herds had reported outbreaks of disease one to five months previously but clinical fmd had not been observed in the sixth herd. A trivalent vaccine (South African Territories [sat] types 1, 2 and 3) had been used in some of the herds at various times either before and/or after the recent outbreaks of fmd. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of serological tests for the detection of sat ‐type fmd virus infection, particularly elisa s for antibodies to non‐structural proteins (nsp s) of fmd virus and solid phase competition elisa s (spce s) for serotypes sat1 and sat2. Secondary aims were to examine nsp seroconversion rates in cattle that had been exposed to infection and to compare virus detection rates by virus isolation and real‐time reverse transcriptase‐pcr (rtrt‐pcr) tests on both oesophagopharyngeal fluids and nasopharyngeal brush swabbings. In addition, the hooves of sampled animals were examined for growth arrest lines as clinical evidence of fmd convalescence. Laboratory tests provided evidence of fmd virus infection in all six herds; sat2 viruses were isolated from oesophagopharyngeal fluids collected from two herds in northern Zimbabwe, and sat1 viruses were isolated from three herds in southern Zimbabwe. Optimised rtrt‐pcr was more sensitive than virus isolation at detecting fmd virus persistence and when the results of the two methods were combined for oesophagopharyngeal fluids, between 12 and 35 per cent of the cattle sampled in the convalescent herds were deemed to be carriers. In contrast, nasopharyngeal swabs yielded only two virus‐positive specimens. The overall seroprevalence in the five affected herds varied with the different nsp s from 56 per cent to 75 per cent, compared with 81 per cent and 91 per cent by homologous spce and virus neutralisation tests respectively. However, if serological test results were considered only for the cattle in which persistent infection with fmd virus had been demonstrated, 70 to 90 per cent scored seropositive in the different nsp s.
Serological survey for antibodies against pestiviruses in sheep in Austria
Authors: Krametter‐Frötscher R. , Loitsch A. , Kohler H. , Schleiner A. , Schiefer P. , Möstl K. , Golja F. , Baumgartner W.
Published: October 2010

The prevalence of antibodies to pestiviruses was investigated in 4931 sheep, in 377 flocks, in four federal states of Austria, by means of an indirect elisa that detected antibodies to Border disease virus (bdv) and bovine viral diarrhoea virus (bvdv). The mean flock prevalence was 62·9 per cent and the mean individual prevalence was 29·4 per cent. Comparative neutralisation studies on the elisa ‐positive samples with bvdv type 1 (bvdv‐1), bvdv type 2 (bvdv‐2) and bdv recorded 336 samples with higher titres (more than four times average) to bvdv‐1, three samples with higher titres to bvdv‐2 and 55 samples with higher titres to bdv. The other samples did not show clear differences in antibody titres against the strains of pestivirus tested because of cross‐reactions. The seroprevalence of pestiviruses in sheep was significantly higher on farms with cattle. There were significant regional differences between the prevalences in flocks and individual sheep, the highest prevalences being in the region of Austria where communal alpine pasturing of sheep, goats and cattle is an important part of farming.
Effect of carazolol on the oestrous behaviour and concentrations of luteinising hormone and steroids in lactating cows during the periovulatory period
Authors: España F. , Pérez‐Marín C. C. , Santiago‐Moreno J. , Ziecik A.
Published: October 2010

Twelve multiparous, cycling, lactating Holstein‐Friesian cows were synchronised with prostaglandin F2α and treated with either 2·5 mg carazolol or saline. There were no differences between the peripheral blood concentrations of oestradiol or progesterone, but in the cows treated with carazolol the periovulatory surge of luteinising hormone was delayed, and oestrous behaviour was expressed later than in the control cows.
Progress with enhancing veterinary surveillance in the United Kingdom
Authors: Lysons R. E. , Gibbens J. C. , Smith L. H.
Published: October 2010

The uk has experienced various animal health events that have had national impact in recent years. In response, a ‘Veterinary Surveillance Strategy’ (vss) was published in 2003, with the objective of enhancing and coordinating national veterinary surveillance practice in a way that would enable important animal health events to be detected and assessed more rapidly and reliably. The vss adopts an integrated uk ‐wide approach, which includes widespread engagement with interested parties both within government and beyond. It proposes enhancing surveillance through improved collaboration; transparent and defensible prioritisation of government resources to surveillance; deriving better value from existing resources, and assuring quality of the surveillance reports and source data. This article describes progress with implementing the vss, in particular the methodology for developing a functional network and creating an effective, quality‐assured, information management system, radar.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the safety of milk from Canadian dairy cattle
Authors: Tyshenko M. G.
Published: October 2010

The detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) in beef cattle closed Canadian beef export markets to 30 countries, including the usa, with devastating financial losses. The detection and confirmation of the fifth and seventh bse ‐infected animals but first infected dairy cows extended the problem of risk management to Canadian dairy farmers. As the public are concerned about the safety not only of beef but also of milk and milk products that may contain disease‐causing prions, this review examines the evidence for the safety of milk from studies on prions in milk or colostrum and their vertical and lateral transmission in various animal systems. The evidence indicates that the risk of contracting new variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease through the consumption of milk is negligible.
Efficacy of cleaning and disinfection on pig farms in Ireland
Authors: Mannion C. , Leonard F. C. , Lynch P. B. , Egan J.
Published: October 2010

Little is known about the effectiveness of the cleaning and disinfection methods used on commercial pig farms either in Ireland or worldwide. A National Salmonella Control Programme was implemented in Ireland in August 2002 to monitor and control the infection of pigs with Salmonella species. Commercial pig herds must be categorised according to their Salmonella status as either category 1, 2 or 3, having a serological prevalence of infection with Salmonella serotypes up to 10 per cent, between 10 and 50 per cent or more than 50 per cent, respectively. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of washing and disinfecting finisher units on category 1 and category 3 farms in reducing or eliminating the levels of contamination. Counts of Enterobacteriaceae were used as indicators of the contamination of the environment with enteric bacteria, which could include Salmonella species. Samples were taken from the pen floors, feeders and drinkers of seven category 1 and seven category 3 farms, and Enterobacteriaceae and salmonellae were enumerated in each sample. The results suggested that intensive cleaning and disinfection was effective at reducing levels of Enterobacteriaceae on the pen floors of both categories, but that residual contamination remained on the surfaces of the feeders and drinkers on all the farms, particularly on the category 3 farms.
Epidemiological study of the decline of bse in Italy
Authors: Ru G. , Maurella C. , Maroni Ponti A. , Ingravalle F. , Caramelli M.
Published: October 2010

In this paper, data derived from the national database of the Italian surveillance system for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) are used to describe the Italian epidemic of bse. Two data flows were established to collect the results of active and passive surveillance, and 25 regional laboratories were involved. The National Reference Centre (cea) was in charge of the data analysis. Crude and age‐standardised estimates of the prevalence and incidence of bse were obtained to describe the distribution of the disease in terms of the main risk factors (age, breed and herd size), year of birth, time of diagnosis and geographical location. The increased risk was calculated in terms of the incidence rate ratio. During the five years since January 2001, 128 cases of bse were identified in domestic cows and four were identified in imported cattle. All but one of the cases were detected through active surveillance. The risk of the disease was highest in dairy stock and in large herds. The northern regions of Italy had an incidence of bse 2·6 times higher than the southern regions. There was a clear decline in the age‐standardised prevalence, from one positive case per 10,000 tests in 2001 to one per 100,000 tests in 2005.
Clinical findings in 28 cattle with traumatic pericarditis
Authors: Braun U. , Lejeune B. , Schweizer G. , Puorger M. , Ehrensperger F.
Published: October 2010

Traumatic pericarditis was confirmed postmortem in 28 cattle that had shown signs of a heart rate of more than 100 bpm, distended jugular veins and muffled heart sounds or abnormal pericardial sounds. The heart rate was higher than normal in 24 of them, and in 18 of these it ranged from 100 to 130 bpm. Twenty of the cattle had muffled heart sounds and 10 had pericardial sounds, such as splashing, rubbing or squeaking sounds. Both jugular veins were distended in 24 of the cattle, and 15 had oedema of the throat region, brisket and ventral abdomen. The most important laboratory findings were a reduced clotting time in the glutaraldehyde test in 26 animals, leucocytosis in 22 and a higher than normal concentration of fibrinogen in 19. There was an increase in the activity of gamma‐glutamyl transferase in 20, and of aspartate aminotransferase in 15, and in the concentration of bilirubin in 11 of the cattle, indicative of hepatic congestion. A definitive diagnosis of traumatic pericarditis was made on the basis of the clinical findings in 15 of the 28 animals, all of which had typical signs of the disease. In another eight animals, traumatic pericarditis was suspected, although one of the characteristic signs was absent. A tentative but incorrect diagnosis of valvular endocarditis was made in three animals, and a similarly incorrect diagnosis of traumatic reticuloperitonitis was made in the other two.
Outbreak of wildebeest‐associated malignant catarrhal fever in Ankole cattle
Authors: Whitaker K. A. , Wessels M. E. , Campbell I. , Russell G. C.
Published: October 2010

During an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever in a herd of Ankole cattle in a zoological collection, two adult cows and one adult bull from a herd of 15 died or were euthanased between July and November 2004. The clinical, gross postmortem and histological findings were typical of the disease in uk native domestic cattle. The diagnosis was confirmed by serology in two animals, and by pcr in all three; the pcr provided evidence of alcelaphine herpesvirus type 1 infection in all three animals and also of ovine herpesvirus type 2 infection in one.
Heart failure in two West Highland white terriers caused by congenital angiomatous cardiac anomaly
Authors: Kovačević A. , Little C. J. L , Lombard C. W. , Schöniger S.
Published: October 2010

The paper describes the clinical and pathological characteristics of an unusual cystic congenital cardiac anomaly that caused clinical signs of congestive heart failure, respiratory distress and cardiac arrhythmias in two West Highland white terrier puppies. In both dogs a definitive diagnosis was made postmortem.
Transmission of bovine viral diarrhoea virus through the semen of acutely infected bulls under field conditions
Authors: Rikula U. , Nuotio L. , Laamanen U. I. , Sihvonen L.
Published: October 2010

Epidemiological investigations implicated the semen of artificial insemination (ai) bulls as the only plausible source of infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (bvdv) in 10 Finnish dairy herds. The infection was traced back to two northern Finncattle bulls that had been transiently infected when their semen had been collected while they were in a gene bank herd containing persistently infected (pi) animals. The isolates of bvdv from the animals in the gene bank herd, from the semen of the two bulls and from a pi calf born in one of the herds using the semen belonged to a rare genetic type in Finland and, on the basis of the nucleotide sequences in the 5′ untranslated region, were identical. Cross‐contamination of batches of semen at the ai station and an external source of bvdv were ruled out for the recipient herds. It was concluded that bvdv infection can be transmitted through the semen of transiently infected bulls under field conditions.
Relationships between clinical signs, pathological changes and tissue distribution of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in 21 cows from herds affected by Johne's disease
Authors: Brady C. , O'Grady D. , O'Meara F. , Egan J. , Bassett H.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐one cows from eight herds affected by Johne's disease were assigned to four groups: seven were not thriving and had persistent diarrhoea, six were not thriving and had intermittent diarrhoea, four were not thriving but did not have diarrhoea, and four were clinically normal. Postmortem, macroscopic lesions consistent with Johne's disease were identified in 17 of the cows and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (map) was isolated from all of them. However, except for the fact that diarrhoea was correlated with the presence of lesions in the large intestine there was little correlation between the presence or absence of clinical signs and the lesions associated with Johne's disease. The tissue distribution of map was also poorly correlated with either the clinical signs or the lesions. The organism was widely distributed in 17 of the 21 cows, including three of the clinically normal animals, and was present in the mammary tissues of seven cows including two of the clinically normal animals. Three distinct histopathological patterns were observed in the affected intestines: infiltration of the lamina propria with giant cells, tuberculoid lesions, and lepromatous lesions; the lepromatous lesions were associated with extensive pathological changes.
Comparison of the microhardness of enamel, primary and regular secondary dentine of the incisors of donkeys and horses
Authors: Du Toit N. , Bezensek B. , Dixon P. M.
Published: October 2010

The microhardness of the enamel, primary dentine and regular secondary dentine of seven donkey and six horse incisors was determined with a Knoop indenter at the subocclusal and mid‐tooth level. The mean microhardnesses of the donkey incisor enamel, primary dentine and secondary dentine were 264·6 63·00 and 53·6 Knoop Hardness Number, respectively. There was no significant difference between the microhardness of the enamel and primary dentine on the incisors of the donkeys and horses, but the microhardness of the regular secondary dentine of the donkeys' incisors at the mid‐tooth level was slightly but significantly less than that of the horses. There was also a difference in the microhardness of the secondary dentine between the subocclusal and mid‐tooth levels in both donkey and horse incisors.
International disease monitoring, July to September 2008
Authors: Sabirovic M. , Roberts H. , Hall S. , Elliott H. , Coulson N.
Published: October 2010

African horse sickness serotype 2 reported for the first time in Ethiopia

African swine fever in the Caucasus region continues to evolve

Bluetongue remains a threat to uk farming

btv‐1 circulation reported in France, Spain and Portugal

btv‐8 vaccination and natural immunity have reduced infection

Classical swine fever reported in wild boar populations in eastern Europe

Foot‐and‐mouth disease outbreaks reported in Africa and South America

Glanders reported in the region of Brazil that exports horses to the eu

Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks continue across Asia and west Africa

Peste des petits ruminants virus continues to spread across Morocco

Rift Valley fever continues to be reported in ruminants in Africa

West Nile virus outbreaks reported in horses and wild birds in northern Italy

— These are among matters discussed in the international disease monitoring report for July to September 2008, prepared by defra 's Food and Farming Group, International Animal Health
Prevalence of foot lesions in Danish Holstein cows
Authors: Capion N. , Thamsborg S. M. , Enevoldsen C.
Published: October 2010

In a cross‐sectional study of 6240 Danish Holstein cows in 55 herds using loose‐housing systems, sole haemorrhages and heel horn erosions occurred frequently in almost all the herds. Digital dermatitis occurred in 47 of the 55 herds (85 per cent). Spearman correlation coefficients revealed relationships between lameness and sole ulcer (0·36), between heel horn erosion and sole haemorrhage (0·39), between heel horn erosion and interdigital dermatitis (0·29) and between sole ulcer and double sole (0·26). The prevalence of heel horn erosion, sole haemorrhage, interdigital dermatitis and digital dermatitis appeared to be most affected by herd‐level factors. The associations between individual foot trimmers and all the foot lesions were statistically significant. The risk of interdigital dermatitis increased with decreasing amounts of bedding. Cows housed throughout the year had a marginally higher risk of sole haemorrhage.
Clinical signs and diagnosis of thiamine deficiency in juvenile goshawks (Accipiter gentilis)
Authors: Carnarius M. , Hafez H. M. , Henning A. , Henning H. J. , Lierz M.
Published: October 2010

Between 2002 and 2006, a large number of juvenile northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) with central nervous signs were examined. They were aged between 45 and 55 days and had been fed on frozen and thawed day‐old chicks. High‐performance liquid chromatography showed that the birds had whole blood thiamine levels between 2·2 and 6·0 μg/l; the concentrations of other blood constituents were within their reference ranges. Treatment with thiamine hydrochloride rapidly resolved the clinical signs. Measurements of the concentration of thiamine in 22 free‐ranging and captive goshawks showed that they ranged from 45·1 to 200 μg/l.
Working together on one health in Europe
Authors: de Lange Karin
Published: October 2010

The culmination of the first European Veterinary Week was a meeting in Hannover, Germany, on November 14, 2008, exploring international trends and perspectives in food animal practice. The meeting coincided with ‘Eurotier’, the world’s largest exhibition covering professional animal husbandry and management. Issues discussed included bluetongue, the EU’s Community Animal Health Strategy and zoonoses.

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Hypospadias in six dogs
Authors: Jurka P. , Galanty M. , Zielinska P. , Max A. , Sysa P.
Published: October 2010

Six dogs, five males and one hermaphrodite, were diagnosed with hypospadias. Two of the five males had the penile form of the condition, two had the perineal form and one had the glandular form; the hermaphrodite had the scrotal form. The hermaphrodite had no prostate gland and no right testicle; it had a normal right ovary and horn of the uterus but the left horn was joined to the testicle. Its karyotype showed 78 chromosomes, all in metaphase, and two typical sex chromosomes X and Y.
New approaches to surveillance
Authors: Hoinville Linda , Tomley Fiona , Wootton Lara , Cook Alasdair
Published: October 2010

Surveillance is an essential component of the fight against animal and human diseases. New approaches to detecting and assessing the prevalence of animal diseases were discussed at a meeting organised by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and the Institute for Animal Health (IAH). Held at VLA – Weybridge towards the end of last year, the meeting was intended to facilitate communication and collaboration between scientists, and brought together staff from the VLA and IAH as well as others from industry, government and academia.
Evaluation of unexpected positive results from a commercial ELISA for antibodies to PRRSV
Authors: Okinaga T. , Yoshii M. , Suzuki T. , Miyazaki A. , Takagi M. , Tsunemitsu H. , Yamagishi T.
Published: October 2010

Unexpected positive results from the widely used IDEXX ELISA for the detection of antibodies to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) may confound investigations of the disease. Supplementing the ELISA with blocking agents and the use of IgG purified from serum samples had no effect on the unexpected positive results, suggesting that they were due to an antibody‐antigen reaction. Simple competitive and blocking ELISAs were developed by modifying the IDEXX ELISA, and they and an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) were used to examine PRRSV antibodies in 33 antibody‐negative, 88 antibody‐positive and 73 unexpectedly positive sera. All the unexpectedly positive sera were negative by IFAT, and 89.0 per cent were negative by both the competitive and blocking ELISAs. The competitive ELISA (97.7 per cent) and the blocking ELISA (96.5 per cent) detected more positive sera than the IFAT (90.9 per cent). These results show that both ELISAs are capable of distinguishing positive and unexpectedly positive sera, and suggest that most of the unexpected positive signals are false‐positives.
Effects of a modified live CSFV vaccine on the development of PMWS in pigs infected experimentally with PCV‐2
Authors: Ha Y. , Lee E‐M. , Lee Y. H. , Kim C. H. , Kim D. , Chae S. , Ahn K. K. , Kim B. , Chae C.
Published: October 2010

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of vaccination against classical swine fever virus (CSFV) on the development of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in conventional pigs infected experimentally with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV‐2). The pigs infected with PCV‐2 and immunised with modified live CSFV developed mild to moderate PMWS, whereas none of the pigs infected with PCV‐2 alone or immunised with modified live CSFV alone developed PMWS. Lesions histologically characteristic of PMWS were observed in lymph nodes from the pigs infected with PCV‐2 and immunised with modified live CSFV vaccine, and extensive replication of PCV‐2 was detected in the nodes by in situ hybridisation.
Effects of previous control programmes on the proportion of horses shedding small numbers of strongyle‐type eggs
Authors: Lloyd S.
Published: October 2010

Between 30 and 70 per cent of horses at 18 stables had their anthelmintic treatments withdrawn for a year. Three of the stables (group 1) had used no anthelmintics for many years, 10 (group 2) had treated their horses with anthelmintics approximately twice a year, and five (group 3) had used anthelmintics five to seven times a year. A total of 1068 samples of faeces were collected from the 267 untreated horses and faecal egg counts were carried out four times during the year. Overall 50·2 per cent of the samples contained less than 200 epg. When the four counts from individual horses were collated, 35·6 per cent of the horses were low egg‐shedders (LES). However, the previous control programme had a marked effect on both the mean log10 epg and the proportion of horses in the stables that were LES. The proportions of LES among the horses in the stables in groups 1 and 2 were similar, although the log10 epg was significantly lower in group 2. There was a markedly higher proportion of LES and a lower mean log10 epg in the untreated horses at the stables in group 3 than in either of the other groups. The horses at the stables in groups 2 and 3 that remained on the anthelmintic programme previously used at the stables had lower egg counts than the untreated horses at the same stables, but the difference was usually not statistically significant. At the stables in group 2 the proportions of horses that were LES in the treated and untreated groups were not significantly different. At the stables in group 3 the proportion of LES was significantly lower in the treated horses than in the untreated horses.
IS1245 RFLP analysis of strains of Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis isolated from pigs with tuberculosis lymphadenitis in Portugal
Authors: Domingos M. , Amado A. , Botelho A.
Published: October 2010

From the end of 2004 increasing numbers of tuberculosis‐like lesions were detected in regular meat inspections of pigs at regional abattoirs. Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis was identified as the cause of this outbreak of tuberculosis lymphadenitis by IS901 and IS1245 duplex PCR and FR300 PCR. In order to detect the source and route of infection, IS1245 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used to type 54 strains (50 from pigs, one from a cow, two from wild boar and one from peat) isolated in 12 different regions of Portugal. A total of 51 different patterns were obtained with most strains giving a high IS1245 copy number (between seven and 27) with a complex RFLP pattern. Twenty‐three strains were gathered in 11 clusters, defined as having at least 80 per cent similarity. Identical isolates were obtained from one herd in Lisbon (two isolates), one herd in Setúbal (two isolates) and in two isolates from different herds in the same region. No distinctive geographical clustering was found among the 54 strains. These results indicate that strains of M hominissuis are very heterogeneous and widespread in pigs in Portugal. No major common source of the infection was identified.
Comparison of high‐field and low‐field magnetic resonance images of cadaver limbs of horses
Authors: Murray R. C. , Mair T. S. , Sherlock C. E. , Blunden A. S.
Published: October 2010

Eleven limbs taken postmortem from 10 lame horses were examined by MRI in a low‐field 0·27T system designed for standing horses and a high‐field 1·5T system used to examine anaesthetised horses. Nine limbs were examined in the foot/pastern region and two in the fetlock region, and the results were compared with gross pathological examinations and histological examinations of selected tissues. The appearance of normal tissues was similar between the two systems, but the anatomical arrangement of the structures was different due to differences in positioning, and a magic angle artefact was observed at different sites in some imaging sequences. Articular cartilage could be differentiated into two articular surfaces in most joints in the high‐field images but could generally be separated only at the joint margins in the low‐field images. Abnormalities of tendon, ligament and bone detected by gross examination were detected by both forms of MRI, but some details were clearer on the high‐field images. Articular cartilage found to be normal on pathological examination was also classified as normal on MRI, but lesions in articular cartilage detected on pathological examination were identified only by high‐field MRI. An abnormality was detected on MRI of all the limbs that had abnormal navicular flexor fibrocartilage on pathological examination.
Normal function of the hypothalamic‐pituitary growth axis in three dwarf Friesian foals
Authors: de Graaf‐Roelfsema E. , Back W. , Stout T. A. E. , van der Kolk J. H. , Keizer H. A.
Published: October 2010

Serial blood samples were collected from three dwarfFriesian foals to examine their endogenous growthhormone (GH) profiles, and the integrity of theGH‐insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) axis wastested in one of them by examining its responses tothe administration of GH‐releasing hormone (GHRH)and to 10 days of treatment with recombinant equineGH. The basal serum concentrations of IGF‐1 inthe three dwarf foals were compared with those innine age‐matched normal foals. All the dwarf foalssecreted endogenous GH. Stimulation with 7·0 μg/kgGHRH led to a 1400 per cent increase in plasma GHconcentration in the dwarf foal tested, and 10 dailysubcutaneous treatments with 20 μg/kg recombinantequine GH led to a 100 per cent increase in its serumIGF‐1 concentration. The basal serum concentrationsof IGF‐1 in the dwarf foals were not significantlydifferent from those of the normal foals.
Efficacy of fipronil‐(S)‐methoprene, metaflumizone combined with amitraz, and pyriprole commercial spot‐on products in preventing Culex pipiens pipiens from feeding on dogs
Authors: Bouhsira E. , Fysikopoulos A. , Franc M.
Published: October 2010

A controlled clinical trial was carried out to assess the effectiveness of pyriprole, metaflumizone combined with amitraz, and fipronil‐(S)‐methoprene commercial spot‐on products in preventing adult female Culex pipiens pipiens from feeding on dogs. Twenty‐four beagle dogs were tested for their attractiveness to the mosquitoes and ranked accordingly to produce four groups of equivalent sensitivity to mosquitoes; six were treated with the pyriprole spot‐on, six with the metaflumizone combined with amitraz spot‐on, six with the fipronil‐(S)‐methoprene spot‐on, and six were left untreated. All the dogs were challenged with 50 unfed adult female Culex in cages for one hour seven days before the treatment, and one and seven days after it. The mosquitoes were checked for blood feeding after one hour and for mortality 24 hours after they had been released into the cages. There was a significant reduction in the number of engorged mosquitoes only with the fipronil‐(S)‐methoprene product and there were significantly more dead mosquitoes with this product and the pyriprole product, but their effects were too small for them to be recommended for use in a dirofilariosis prevention programme.
One medicine: combining veterinary and medical expertise
Authors: Morris Arianwen
Published: October 2010

A groundbreaking collaborative workshop, organised by the Comparative Clinical Science Foundation (CCSF), took place at the Wellcome Trust on July 15, with the aim of exploring the benefits of joint research in veterinary and human medicine. Presentations were given on a variety of research projects as examples of how studies in other species can inform the development of novel therapies for severe and complex human diseases.
Incidence and impact of dog attacks on guide dogs in the UK
Authors: Brooks A. , Moxon R. , England G. C. W.
Published: October 2010

In a retrospective survey, researchers identified 100 incidents of attacks on guide dogs by other dogs. These were reviewed in order to determine the number, severity and impact on the handler and dog, and the characteristics of the aggressors and victims. During the study period there were more than three attacks reported each month, with 61 per cent of the attacks being upon dogs that were in harness and working with an owner or trainer. The majority of the dogs that were attacked were male (62 per cent), and the breeds that were over‐represented (relative to their prevalence in the general guide dog population) were the labrador and the golden retriever x flat‐coated retriever crossbreed. Most of the attacks occurred in public places between 09.00 and 15.00 and the majority (61 per cent) of the attacking dogs were off the lead at the time of the attack. Thirty‐eight per cent of the attacking dogs were of bull breeds, which were over‐represented among attackers compared with the proportion of this breed type in the general dog population. Veterinary attention was sought after 41 per cent of the attacks, and in 19 per cent of instances there was injury to the handler or to a member of the public. The attacks were reported to have affected the working performance and behaviour of the victim dog in 45 per cent of the instances, and two dogs had to be subsequently withdrawn from working as guide dogs.
Case study of equine welfare on an Irish farm: 2007 to 2009
Authors: Collins J. , More S. J. , Hanlon A. , Duggan V.
Published: October 2010

This report describes the progression in welfare standards for horses on a horse farm in the Republic of Ireland between 2007 and 2009. Visits to the farm were undertaken and information, in the form of written notes and digital recording of observations and examinations, was gathered in consultation with officials from the Gardai (the Irish police), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Further independent veterinary corroboration of clinical findings and laboratory support occurred following seizure of the horses. The complex reality of on‐farm equine welfare problems and the difficulties in achieving a resolution are discussed compared with other species conventionally considered to be food‐producing animals.
Comparison of four treatments to suppress ovarian activity in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)
Authors: Proháczik A. , Kulcsár M. , Trigg T. , Driancourt M. A. , Huszenicza G.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐five ferret jills were randomly allocated to five groups of five animals; they were treated either before the breeding season with 15 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), with 40 mg proligestone or with a slow‐releasing device containing 4.7 mg of the gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist deslorelin acetate (srGnRH), or at spring oestrus with 100 iu human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or were left untreated and mated. All the ferrets were assessed for signs of oestrus and their ovarian response was monitored by individual faecal progesterone metabolite (P4‐met) profiles. The mean (sd) durations of treatment‐induced ovarian quiescence were 94 (18), 99 (40), 53 (9) and 698 (122) days in the group treated with MPA, proligestone, hCG and srGnRH, respectively (P<0.001). Treatment with hCG and srGnRH proved to be the safest, while MPA treatment was associated with most side effects. Both MPA and proligestone treatments caused alopecia in one ferret per group, and after the first return to oestrus and mating an MPA‐treated jill had a premature delivery and developed a purulent vaginal discharge. At the first post‐treatment mating, the fertility (expressed as the percentage of ferrets mated in the group that produced a litter) was 75 per cent in the MPA‐treated group, 60 per cent in the proligestone‐treated group, 75 per cent in the hCG‐treated group and 0 per cent in the srGnRH‐treated group; in the control group, fertility was 100 per cent at mating in spring and 60 per cent at mating in summer. Three srGnRH‐treated jills conceived at the second post‐treatment oestrus.
Assessment of antemortem tests used in the control of an outbreak of tuberculosis in llamas (Lama glama)
Authors: Twomey D. F. , Crawshaw T. R. , Anscombe J. E. , Barnett J. E. F. , Farrant L. , Evans L. J. , McElligott W. S. , Higgins R. J. , Dean G. S. , Vordermeier H. M. , de la Rua‐Domenech R.
Published: October 2010

An outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a llama herd is described. Over a 25‐month period, a total of 70 llamas were selected for postmortem examination using four distinct criteria: clinical suspicion of disease (15 animals), positive tuberculin skin test result (three animals), antibody positive using a novel serological test (Rapid Test, 54 animals) and elective cull (five animals). Some animals qualified on more than one criterion. Gross lesions of TB were detected in 15 animals, with lung and lymph node lesions consistently observed. Samples were collected from 14 of 15 animals with visible lesions as well as those with no visible lesions, for histopathology and mycobacterial culture. All 14 llamas with visible lesions had caseonecrotic granulomatous lesions associated with acid‐fast bacteria and variable mineralisation, and M bovis was isolated from 13. There were no histopathological lesions of TB in llamas with no grossly visible lesions, and M bovis was not isolated from any of these. The predictive value of suspicious gross lesions at postmortem examination was therefore high in the herd. Molecular typing results indicated that the outbreak was caused by a single strain likely to have originated from a local reservoir, probably cattle or wildlife. Antemortem indicators of infection assisted control of the outbreak, but no single test accurately identified all TB cases. Visible lesions were detected in nine of 15 llamas with clinical suspicion of disease, in two of three that had positive tuberculin skin test results and in 10 of 54 that were antibody positive; there was none (zero out of five) in llamas that were electively culled.