bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transient erythropoietic protoporphyria associated with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in a cohort of German shepherd dogs
Authors: Kroeze E. J. B. Veldhuis , Zentek J. , Edixhoven‐Bosdijk A. , Rothuizen J. , van den Ingh T. S. G. A. M.
Published: October 2010

Over the course of one year, slight jaundice and ascites suggestive of chronic liver disease occurred in 17 German shepherd dogs from one breeding colony. Blood analyses, performed twice with a six‐month interval, revealed elevated serum activities of liver enzymes in 13 dogs. In addition, four young adult German shepherd dogs that showed severe ascites, slight jaundice and increased serum liver enzyme activities were referred for further evaluation. Because of their poor prognosis these four dogs were euthanased. There were no signs of photosensitivity. Postmortem examinations revealed macronodular darkened livers, which were characterised histopathologically by cirrhosis associated with aggregates of brown pigments showing a striking orange birefringence in polarised light. Ultrastructurally, the crystalline pigments were typical of protoporphyrins. High‐performance liquid chromatographic analysis of liver samples revealed very high levels of protoporphyrins (mean 9550 nmol/g wet liver, reference value 0·41 nmol/g wet liver) and low activities of ferrochelatase (mean 0·274 mmol/mg protein/hour, reference value 0·684 nmol/mg protein/hour). Twenty‐six months after the onset of the hepatopathies, the clinical condition of the 13 surviving dogs had improved and their serum liver enzyme activities were normal. The clinical histories and pedigree analyses were not in concordance with an inherited form of protoporphyria. There was no known history of exposure to toxic substances or drugs. The findings are in accordance with a transient erythropoietic protoporphyria associated with hepatic complications, presumably caused by exposure to a porphyrinogenic, ferrochelatase‐inhibitory substance of unknown origin.
Echocardiographic and Doppler echocardiographic findings in 11 wolves (Canis lupus)
Authors: Guglielmini C. , Rocconi F. , Brugnola L. , Valerio F. , Mattei L. , Boari A.
Published: October 2010

Two‐dimensional real‐time, M‐mode and Doppler echocardiographic measurements were made in 11 adult wolves (Canis lupus) anaesthetised with an intramuscular combination of medetomidine, ketamine, butorphanol and acepromazine followed by isoflurane in oxygen. M‐mode measurements of the left ventricle, B‐mode measurements of the left atrium and aorta, systolic indices, and Doppler measurements of aortic and pulmonary blood outflow, and of mitral and tricuspid blood inflow, were recorded. The values obtained were compared with those reported for dogs of similar bodyweight and body type. The diastolic measurements of the cardiac chambers and walls were similar to those reported for healthy, conscious dogs, but the use of anaesthesia probably resulted in the markedly different systolic cardiac measurements, systolic indices and Doppler blood flow velocities observed in the wolves. Mild mitral regurgitation, probably due to mitral endocardiosis, was observed in one wolf, and trivial functional mitral insufficiency was observed in five others.
Description of the outbreak of equine influenza (H3N8) in the United Kingdom in 2003, during which recently vaccinated horses in Newmarket developed respiratory disease
Authors: Newton J. R. , Daly J. M. , Spencer L. , Mumford J. A.
Published: October 2010

Between March and May 2003, equine influenza virus infection was confirmed as the cause of clinical respiratory disease among both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses of different breeds and types in at least 12 locations in the UK. In the largest outbreak, 21 thoroughbred training yards in Newmarket, with more than 1300 racehorses, were affected, with the horses showing signs of coughing and nasal discharge during a period of nine weeks. Many of the infected horses had been vaccinated during the previous three months with a vaccine that contained representatives from both the European (A/eq/Newmarket/2/93) and American (A/eq/Newmarket/1/93) H3N8 influenza virus lineages. Antigenic and genetic characterisation of the viruses from Newmarket and elsewhere indicated that they were all closely related to representatives of a sublineage of American viruses, for example, Kentucky/5/02, the first time that this sublineage had been isolated in the UK. In the recently vaccinated racehorses in Newmarket the single radial haemolysis antibody levels in acute sera appeared to be adequate, and there did not appear to be significant antigenic differences between the infecting virus and A/eq/Newmarket/1/93, the representative of the American lineage virus present in the most widely used vaccine, to explain the vaccine failure. However, there was evidence for significantly fewer infections among two‐year‐old horses than older animals, despite their having similar high levels of antibody, consistent with a qualitative rather than a quantitative difference in the immunity conveyed by the vaccination.
Survey of pharmacists’ awareness of veterinary medicines
Authors: Monie O. R. , Bryant C. E. , Skelly B. J.
Published: October 2010

A survey of 186 pharmacies across Great Britain in 2004 showed that the pharmacists had little involvement in the supply of veterinary medicines. Most of them did not feel competent to be involved in the supply of prescription‐only veterinary medicines, but 45 per cent of them expressed an interest in becoming competent, even at significant cost in time and money. The results suggested that the pharmacists had little awareness of the law relating to the supply of veterinary medicines or of their pharmacology.
Morbidity and mortality in 928 dobermanns born in the Netherlands between 1993 and 1999
Authors: Mandigers P. J. J. , Senders T. , Rothuizen J.
Published: October 2010

The morbidity and mortality among 928 dobermann dogs born between 1993 and 1999 were investigated by sending questionnaires to their owners; 340 (37 per cent) responded. Eighty‐one of the dogs had died. Proportional mortality was high for heart failure (14·8 to 22·2 per cent), behavioural problems (19·8 per cent) and cancer (13·6 per cent), but low for hepatitis (3·7 per cent) and cervical spondylomyelopathy (2·5 per cent). Of the 259 surviving dogs, 132 were suffering from various disorders, with a high prevalence of skin problems (22·4 per cent) and urinary incontinence (15·8 per cent).
Diagnosis of the nervous form of maedi‐visna infection with a high frequency in sheep in Castilla y León, Spain
Authors: Benavides J. , Gómez N. , Gelmetti D. , Ferreras M. C. , García‐Pariente C. , Fuertes M. , García‐Marín J. F. , Pérez V.
Published: October 2010

Between 1997 and March 2004, the nervous form, or visna, of maedi‐visna infection was diagnosed in 71 of 1631 sheep (4·35 per cent) examined in the Castilla y León region of Spain, of which 634 had shown nervous signs. The presence of the virus was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and in some cases by PCR on frozen‐thawed or paraffin‐embedded tissue samples. The main clinical signs were hindleg ataxia and paresis, but blindness or nystagmus were also observed. Thirty‐three of the affected sheep (46·5 per cent) were two years old or younger. The affected sheep showed variable degrees of a non‐suppurative meningoencephalitis, and immunohistochemistry identified positive cells in all cases, with no relation to the intensity of the inflammatory lesion.
Detection of pigeon circovirus in cloacal swabs: implications for diagnosis, epidemiology and control
Authors: Todd D. , Duchatel J‐P. , Bustin J. C. , Scullion F. T. , Scullion M. G. , Scott A. N. J. , Curry A. , Ball N. W. , Smyth J. A.
Published: October 2010

Pigeon circovirus (p icv) was detected in cloacal swab samples by means of a newly‐developed, sensitive pcr. An initial investigation of 17 Belgian racing pigeons aged up to eight months showed that rates of detection of 88 per cent and above were achieved using samples of cloacal swab, blood and bursa of Fabricius. The sampling of 15 caged pigeons six times when they were from three to 31 weeks of age indicated that p icv infections were more readily detected in cloacal swabs than in blood, and that the virus could be detected in cloacal swabs for longer periods after infection than in blood. p icv infections were detected in cloacal swabs from 38 of 47 young pigeons aged from two to 31 weeks, from 12 racing lofts, which had clinical signs including diarrhoea and weight loss, regurgitation and respiratory signs. Samples from birds from two infected lofts indicated that p icv could be detected in some birds for at least 27 weeks. Although nine of 14 pigeons aged from 32 to 45 weeks were virus‐positive, p icv was detected in only one of 18 adult pigeons that originated from four infected lofts.
Treatment of periocular and non‐ocular sarcoids in 18 horses by interstitial brachytherapy with iridium‐192
Authors: Byam‐Cook K. L. , Henson F. M. D. , Slater J. D.
Published: October 2010

Treatment of the equine sarcoid has posed a significant challenge to clinicians for years and many different methods have been tried with varying success, including ionising radiation. The aim of this study was to review the efficacy of iridium‐192 interstitial brachytherapy for the treatment of eight periocular sarcoids and 15 non‐ocular sarcoids on 18 horses. All the periocular sarcoids and 13 of the 15 non‐ocular sarcoids were treated successfully.
Evidence of bias affecting the interpretation of the results of local anaesthetic nerve blocks when assessing lameness in horses
Authors: Arkell M. , Archer R. M. , Guitian F. J. , May S. A.
Published: October 2010

Eighteen observers were influenced to different extents in the grades of lameness they allocated to eight horses by whether they knew that a nerve block had been administered; on a scale from 0 to 10 the mean difference in grade allocated once the observer knew a horse had been nerve‐blocked was increased by 0·4. The consistency of the assessments made by the individual observers was good, with a an average of 0·6 of a grade difference when grading the same horse on two occasions. The agreement between the assessments of four orthopaedic experts was reasonable (±1 grade), but significantly poorer for four non‐experts and 10 final year veterinary students.
Treatment of Coccidioides immitis pneumonia in two horses with fluconazole
Authors: Higgins J. C. , Leith G. S. , Pappagianis D. , Pusterla N.
Published: October 2010

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in horses can often lead to severe systemic disease and its treatment has previously been expensive and has carried a poor prognosis. This paper describes the successful treatment of two horses with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis with a fluconazole product produced by a compounding pharmacy.
Lameness and fertility of sows and gilts in randomly selected loose‐housed herds in Finland
Authors: Heinonen M. , Oravainen J. , Orro T. , Seppä‐Lassila L. , Ala‐Kurikka E. , Virolainen J. , Tast A. , Peltoniemi O. A. T.
Published: October 2010

The prevalence of lameness among 646 sows and gilts in 21 selected herds was determined; 8·8 per cent of the animals were lame and the most common clinical diagnoses were osteochondrosis, infected skin lesions and claw lesions. The lame animals had higher serum concentrations of haptoglobin and C‐reactive protein than the sound animals. Animals housed on slatted floors had twice the odds of being lame and 3·7 times the odds of being severely lame than animals housed on solid floors. Yorkshire pigs had 2·7 times the odds of being lame than Landrace or crossbred animals. Higher parity and the use of roughage decreased the odds of the sows not becoming pregnant; however, lameness was not a risk factor for non‐pregnancy.
Pathological and immunohistochemical study of gastrointestinal lesions in dolphins stranded in the Canary Islands
Authors: Jaber J. R. , Pérez J. , Arbelo M. , Zafra R. , Fernández A.
Published: October 2010

This paper describes the gross, histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of gastrointestinal lesions and regional lymph nodes of six common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 11 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and six Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) found stranded along the coasts of the Canary Islands. The most common lesion was chronic granulomatous gastritis of the glandular stomach, associated with the parasite Pholeter gastrophilus, and characterised by the parasites, their eggs, or parasite debris in the mucosa, submucosa or tunica muscularis, surrounded by numerous lysozyme‐positive macrophages and neutrophils, and more peripherally by abundant fibrous tissue containing variable numbers of immunoglobulin (Ig) G+ plasma cells, and small numbers of cd3 + T lymphocytes and IgM+ and IgA+ plasma cells. Anisakis simplex nematodes were found in two dolphins that were also parasitised by P gastrophilus and had parasitic granulomatous gastritis and multiple small chronic gastric ulcers. Lymphoplasmacytic enteritis was found in eight cases, three of them parasitised by Diphyllobothrium species; the lesion was characterised by moderate to severe infiltrations of cd3 + T lymphocytes and IgG+ plasma cells, with small numbers of IgM+ and IgA+ plasma cells in the lamina propria and submucosa, mainly of the small intestine. One dolphin had severe fibrinopurulent peritonitis, which may have been secondary to gastric perforation caused by the large mural granulomatous gastritis associated with P gastrophilus parasitism.
Effects of two diets on the haematology, plasma chemistry and intestinal flora of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)
Authors: Fischer I. , Christen C. , Lutz H. , Gerlach H. , Hässig M. , Hatt J‐M.
Published: October 2010

Two groups of 22 budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were housed for 12 months under identical conditions. One group was fed a commercial seed mixture plus carrots and a mineral supplement, and the other group was fed a commercially formulated diet plus carrots. Samples of blood and faeces were collected initially and after three, six, nine and 12 months. There were no significant differences between the haematological values of the two groups. The group fed the seed mixture had significantly higher concentrations of glucose, albumin, triglycerides and uric acid, and higher activity of aspartate aminotransferase, but the values were within the published reference ranges for normal birds. There were no significant differences between the faecal samples from the two groups, except that the fungus Macrorhabdus ornithogaster was identified in 48·3 per cent of the samples from the group fed the commercially formulated diet but from only 3·4 per cent of the samples from the group fed the seed mixture.
Metallic foreign bodies in the tongues of 16 horses
Authors: Pusterla N. , Latson K. M. , Wilson W. D. , Whitcomb M. B.
Published: October 2010

The history, clinical signs, results of diagnostic imaging, treatment methods and outcome of 16 adult horses with a metallic foreign body in the tongue are reviewed. All the horses had a swollen tongue, they salivated excessively and were partially to completely anorexic. Less common clinical signs were fever, an enlarged and painful intermandibular space, dysphagia, unilateral tongue paralysis and halitosis. Most of the horses had shown clinical signs for less than 24 hours. The foreign bodies were diagnosed by oral examination, radiography and ultrasonography; they were removed from the tongue of four of the horses during the initial oral examination, and were removed surgically from nine others; the other three horses were treated medically without attempts being made to extract the foreign bodies. Twelve of the bodies were small pieces of wire and one was a hypodermic needle. All the horses received a combination of antimicrobial and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and they all made an uneventful recovery. Feeding hay and the use of cable‐framed tractor tyres as feeders were commonly associated with the cases.
Production of prolific microsheep by embryo transfer into large non‐prolific sheep
Authors: Naqvi S. M. K. , Joshi A. , Gulyani R. , Kumar D. , Kolte A. P. , Kumar S. , Maurya V. P. , Saha S. , Mittal J. P. , Singh V. K.
Published: October 2010

The Garole is a prolific breed of microsheep that possesses the FecB gene, which increases ovulation rate. The purpose of this study was to compare embryo production by multiple ovulation in seven Garole ewes with that in seven normal size, non‐prolific Malpura ewes, and assess the influence of the large body size of Awassi crossbred recipient ewes on the birthweight of Garole lambs. Oestrus was synchronised with two intramuscular injections of 7·5 mg prostaglandin F2α administered 10 days apart. The donor ewes were superovulated by the use of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin and follicle‐stimulating hormone. The onset and duration of oestrus were similar in both breeds. The Garole donors had higher total mean (se) ovarian responses (15·6 [3·6] v 9·1 [2·3]), ovulation rate (13·6 [3·1] v 8·4 [2·2]) and produced more transferable embryos (6·0 [3·5] v 4·0 [0·9]) than the Malpura donors, but the differences were not statistically significant. The Garole lambs produced by embryo transfer were on average 57·8 per cent heavier at birth than contemporary Garole lambs produced by natural mating.
Immunohistochemical screening for viral agents in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) with myelopathy
Authors: Shibly S. , Schmidt P. , Robert N. , Walzer C. , Url A.
Published: October 2010

Numerous cases of acute‐onset progressive ataxia, hindlimb paresis and paralysis of unknown aetiology occurred during 1993 to 2003 in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) within the European Endangered Species Programme (eep). This study describes the immunohistochemical investigation of a possible viral aetiology of the ‘cheetah myelopathy’. Antibodies to feline herpesvirus type 1, canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus and Borna disease virus were applied to formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded brain and spinal cord sections from 25 affected cheetahs aged between three‐and‐a‐half months and 13 years. Using the avidin‐biotin complex technique, none of the antibodies gave positive immunosignals in either the brain or the spinal cord tissue.
Trends in age at detection in cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Belgium: an indicator of the epidemic curve
Authors: Saegerman C. , Speybroeck N. , Vanopdenbosch E. , Wilesmith J. W. , Berkvens D.
Published: October 2010

There were 118 cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) in Belgium before January 1, 2004. Trends in their age at detection were analysed and attempts were made to use this parameter as a predictor of the current status of the bse epidemic in the country. The following variables were considered: date of birth, breed, date of detection, mode of detection, and the number and age of animals slaughtered and rendered each month. Age at detection as a function of date of birth was a very poor epidemiological indicator. It was concluded that the increasing age of bse cases when they were detected was due to the depletion of cases, as a result of there being no new infections, and that it is a reliable indicator of a decrease in the epidemic curve in Belgium. By means of a simulation it is shown how age distribution at the time of detection closely follows the epidemic curve and data from Great Britain are used to illustrate the point.
Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its efficacy in comparison with doxycycline in the treatment of Chlamydophila felis infection in cats with conjunctivitis
Authors: Gerhardt N. , Schulz B. S. , Werckenthin C. , Hartmann K.
Published: October 2010

The concentrations of enrofloxacin were measured in the tears, saliva and serum of 14 cats with signs of upper respiratory tract infection and eight with no signs, after daily doses of 5 mg/kg. Enrofloxacin concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration of Chlamydophila felis were found in the saliva and tears of the cats with and without signs of upper respiratory tract infection. In a prospective randomised clinical trial, the efficacy of enrofloxacin against C felis infection in cats with conjunctivitis was compared with the efficacy of doxycycline. Twenty‐five cats were randomly assigned to treatment with either enrofloxacin or doxycycline for 14 days; 15 of the cats tested positive for C felis by an immunofluorescent antibody test on conjunctival swabs. The two treatment groups showed equal improvements in the clinical signs of conjunctivitis and C felis infection status; in each group three cats were still C felis antigen‐positive after the 14‐day course of treatment, indicating a persistent infection. No side effects were observed in the cats treated with enrofloxacin.
Treatment of ocular squamous cell carcinomas in cattle with interleukin‐2
Authors: Stewart R. J. E. , Hill F. W. G. , Masztalerz A. , Jacobs J. J. L. , Koten J. W. , Den Otter W.
Published: October 2010

In total, 174 bovine ocular squamous cell carcinomas of varying sizes (20 to 2800 mm2 in area) were treated daily with peritumoural injections of solvent, or solvent containing 5000 U, 20,000 U, 200,000 U, 500,000 U, 1 million U or 2 million U interleukin‐2 (il‐2) for 10 days. The tumours were measured and clinically staged before treatment and at one, three, four, nine and 20 months after treatment. After 20 months, 14 per cent of the tumours treated with the solvent had regressed completely, a significantly smaller proportion than the 55 per cent treated with 5000 U il‐2, 52 per cent treated with 20,000 U il‐2, 58 per cent treated with 200,000 U il‐2, 50 per cent treated with 500,000 U il‐2, 69 per cent of tumours treated with 1 million U il‐2, 52 per cent treated with 2 million U il‐2. The tumours on the third eyelid and limbus were the most responsive.
Field study of the efficacy of halofuginone and decoquinate in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in veal calves
Authors: Lallemond M. , Villeneuve A. , Belda J. , Dubreuil P.
Published: October 2010

Ninety, seven‐ to 10‐day‐old calves were allocated to three groups of 30 and treated daily for seven days with either 100 μg/kg halofuginone hydrobromide or 2·5 mg/kg decoquinate orally or left untreated as controls. The levels of diarrhoea and dehydration were monitored daily for 28 days from the first day of treatment (day 0) and samples of faeces were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28, to quantify the excretion of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. The calves were weighed on days 3 and 28. The treatments had no effect on the levels of diarrhoea or dehydration, the proportions of diarrhoeic calves or the proportions of calves shedding oocysts. However, unlike decoquinate, halofuginone significantly reduced the excretion of oocysts on day 7 (P>0·0001), and decoquinate increased the average daily weight gain of the calves (P=0·049).
Prevalence of ‘head shooting’ and the characteristics of the wounds in culled wild Scottish red deer
Authors: Urquhart K. A. , McKendrick I. J.
Published: October 2010

The carcases of 230 wild, culled red deer (Cervus elaphus) were examined for the presence of bullet wounds and permanent wound tracts to determine the prevalence and significance of wounds involving the head, legs or carcase trunk. Head wounds were found in 17 (7·4 per cent) of the carcases and were classified into two groups: nine in which the marksman was considered to have specifically targeted the head, and eight carcases in which the head wound was considered to have resulted from a ‘coup de grace’ shot to dispatch a previously wounded animal. The analysis of the wound data from the carcase trunks, in combination with data collected in a previous study, indicates that the initial wound tracts in all the deer appeared to have lower mean terminal probabilities than subsequent wound tracts, and that this effect is exacerbated during the rut.
Survey of the husbandry, health and welfare of 102 pet rabbits
Authors: Mullan S. M. , Main D. C. J.
Published: October 2010

One hundred and two pet rabbits were examined and their husbandry, health and welfare were reviewed. The most common breed was the dwarf lop (n=38). The most common problem was dental disease, which affected 30 rabbits although only six of their owners were aware of the problem, which was significantly associated with feeding a rabbit mix. All the rabbits were housed in ‘hutches’ at some stage, but 89 had access to the outside and 47 came inside the home at times. Hutches bought at pet shops were significantly smaller than home‐made hutches. Forty‐five of the rabbits were housed alone; the relationships between rabbits with rabbit companions were described by their owners as ‘very friendly’ for 84 per cent of them and ‘quite friendly’ for the rest.
Chronic ocular lesions in tawny owls (Strix aluco) injured by road traffic
Authors: Williams D. L. , Gonzalez Villavincencio C. M. , Wilson S.
Published: October 2010

The chronic ocular lesions suffered by 50 tawny owls (Strix aluco) injured by road traffic were investigated. They included non‐healing corneal erosions, cataracts and retinal scarring, and periretinal membrane formation. The intraocular pressure was significantly lower in the eyes with intraocular inflammatory pathology and higher in the eyes with irido‐ or cyclodialysis than in ophthalmically normal eyes. Cicatritial retinal lesions were not associated with high titres of antibodies to Toxoplasma species. The findings correlate with those observed in human beings with eye injuries due to high‐speed blunt trauma.
Hepatozoon species infection in wild red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on the Isle of Wight
Authors: Simpson V. R. , Birtles R. J. , Bown K. J. , Panciera R. J. , Butler H. , Davison N.
Published: October 2010

Postmortem examinations of 49 red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) found dead on the Isle of Wight revealed the presence of a Hepatozoon species in 18 of them (37 per cent). The prevalence of infection was highest in subadult animals and no juveniles were infected. The prevalence was higher in the squirrels dying from natural causes (nine of 12) than in squirrels killed in road accidents (seven of 27). The weight of infection varied, and there were heavy infections in squirrels dying from toxoplasmosis and bacterial pneumonia. A PCR‐based assay was used to identify the presence of Hepatozoon species dna in the lungs, and immunoperoxidase staining was used to confirm the identity of schizonts observed in histological sections. The nucleotide base sequence of the pcr products indicated that the organism was a novel species closely related to, but distinct from, Hepatozoon erhardovae of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus).
Evaluation of a spray of permethrin and pyriproxyfen for the protection of dogs against Phlebotomus perniciosus
Authors: Molina R. , Miró G. , Gálvez R. , Nieto J. , Descalzo M. A.
Published: October 2010

Dogs are the main domestic reservoir of Leishmania infantum in the Old World (Leishmania chagasi in the New World) a parasite responsible for many cases of human visceral leishmaniasis in both endemic and non‐endemic regions. One strategy for the control of leishmaniasis would be to prevent dogs from being bitten by sandflies, the vector of leishmaniasis. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of spraying a combination of permethrin and pyriproxyfen on to dogs artificially exposed to sandflies. Two groups of four male dogs, one of them treated and the other left untreated as controls, were exposed for one hour to 100 female sandflies seven days before the treatment, on the day of treatment and seven, 14, 21, and 28 days later. After each exposure, sandflies were collected, counted and scored. The prevention of sandfly bite was calculated by measuring the number of fed sandflies (dead and alive) after treatment. In this experimental assay, the repellent effect of the treatment against sandfly bites after 21 days was 71·4 per cent, but the insecticidal effect was only 7·2 per cent.
Review of gaseous methods of killing poultry on‐farm for disease control purposes
Authors: Raj A. B. M. , Sandilands V. , Sparks N. H. C.
Published: October 2010

Poultry may need to be culled in the event of an outbreak of disease. Gassing has advantages over mechanical and electrical methods or overdoses of anaesthetics because large numbers can be killed simultaneously and little or no handling of the birds is required. However, gaseous killing methods may have welfare implications for the birds, which may find various gases more or less aversive, may undergo respiratory distress and/or experience convulsions, and may remain conscious for a considerable time before they die. In addition, the gases used may present health and safety risks to human operators, and be difficult to supply and deliver.
Incidence of and risk factors for atopic dermatitis in a Swedish population of insured dogs
Authors: Nødtvedt A. , Egenvall A. , Bergval K. , Hedhammar Å
Published: October 2010

The incidence of atopic dermatitis was estimated to be 1·7 cases per 1000 dog‐years at risk in a population of insured Swedish dogs whose insurance claims for the period 1995 to 2002 were examined. Several factors were found to increase the risk of having a recorded claim, including living in a city or in central or southern Sweden, being born in the autumn, and belonging to a high‐risk breed. Bull terriers had the highest risk, with 21 cases per 1000 dog‐years at risk, and several other breeds including boxers and West Highland white terriers also had an above average risk. There was no difference in the incidence between the sexes. There was a slight increase in the incidence during the period. In a subset of the data that consisted only of dogs from 15 high‐risk breeds, the overall survival appeared to be lower for the dogs that had had an insurance claim for the disease.
Causative organisms and somatic cell counts in subclinical intramammary infections in milking goats in the uk
Authors: Hall S. M. , Rycroft A. N.
Published: October 2010

The bacterial causes of subclinical mastitis were determined in samples of milk taken from one half of the udders of 159 goats in three different herds. The mean prevalence of subclinical infection was 33 per cent, with prevalences of 26 per cent, 39 per cent and 42 per cent in the three herds. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from seven (13 per cent) of the 53 infected halves, coagulase‐negative staphylococci accounted for 47 per cent, Corynebacterium species for 31 per cent and α‐haemolytic streptococci for 6 per cent of the infected samples. The mean somatic cell count of the uninfected milk samples was 428,000 cells/ml, and 93 per cent of uninfected samples had counts less than 1,000,000 cells/ml; the mean cell count of the infected samples was 2,785,000 cells/ml.
Effect of the administration of flunixin meglumine on pregnancy rates in Holstein heifers
Authors: Guzeloglu A. , Erdem H. , Saribay M. K. , Thatcher W. W. , Tekeli T.
Published: October 2010

Fifty‐two 15‐month‐old Holstein heifers were synchronised with single or double injections of prostaglandin F2α, followed by an injection of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (gnrh) 48 hours later, and inseminated 12 to 14 hours after the injection of gnrh (day 0). Half of them were then injected twice intramuscularly with 1·1 mg/kg flunixin meglumine 12 hours apart, on the evening of day 15 and the morning of day 16, and the other 26 were not treated. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasound 29 and 65 days after they were inseminated. On day 29, 20 of the treated heifers were pregnant compared with 13 of the control heifers (P<0·05); on day 65, 18 of the treated heifers were still pregnant compared with 12 of the control heifers (P<0·10).
Transient adverse effects of an attenuated bluetongue virus vaccine on the quality of ram semen
Authors: Bréard E. , Pozzi N. , Sailleau C. , Durand B. , Catinot V. , Sellem E. , Dumont P. , Guérin B. , Zientara S.
Published: October 2010

This study investigated the effects of the vaccination of rams with a serotype 2 bluetongue virus vaccine on the quality of their semen. One group of 23 rams was vaccinated on days 0 and 47, and 23 rams were left unvaccinated. Samples of blood, serum and semen were collected regularly in order to detect the virus genome, and to compare the quality of the semen from the vaccinated and unvaccinated rams. Segment 10 of the genome of the vaccine strain was detected in the blood of the vaccinated animals by reverse transcriptase‐pcr (rt‐pcr) on days 7, 13 and 19 after the first vaccination, but no virus was isolated from the rt‐pcr ‐positive blood or from any of the semen samples from the vaccinated animals. There was a significant decrease in the concentration and motility of the spermatozoa and an increase in the proportion of abnormal and dead spermatozoa after the first vaccination; however, after the second vaccination only smaller, non‐significant changes were observed. On day 69, the quality of the semen of the vaccinated animals was not significantly different from that of the controls.
Complications and long‐term outcomes of the ligation of congenital portosystemic shunts in 49 cats
Authors: Lipscomb V. J. , Jones H. J. , Brockman D. J.
Published: October 2010

Only two of 49 cats undergoing surgical ligation of congenital extra‐ and intrahepatic portosystemic shunts died perioperatively, a mortality rate comparable with the mortality rates of dogs undergoing surgical attenuation of congenital portosystemic shunts and cats in which the shunts are attenuated with an ameroid ring constrictor. Thirty (83 per cent) of the 36 cats for which long‐term information was available were still alive at a median follow‐up period of 47 months (range six to 105 months); the outcome was excellent (no clinical signs) in 20 of them (median follow‐up 37 months, range six to 105 months) and good (minimal clinical signs) in seven (median follow‐up 39 months, range 10 to 73 months) and none of these 27 cats was on any long‐term medication or special diet. The only major cause of morbidity was the development of neurological signs in 18 (37 per cent) of the cats. These included seizures and a wide variety of other neurological signs, and their development and persistence was not affected by the presence of preoperative seizures, the type of shunt, the degree of shunt attenuation or the age of the cat. The serum concentrations of ammonia and preprandial bile acids were normal or significantly below normal in the cats with neurological signs. Liver histopathology was similar in the cats with and without neurological signs. Ten (56 per cent) of the 18 cats that developed neurological signs recovered normal neurological function long term.
Survey of flea infestation in dogs and cats in the United Kingdom during 2005
Authors: Bond R. , Riddle A. , Mottram L. , Beugnet F. , Stevenson R.
Published: October 2010

During 2005, 31 uk veterinary practices participated in a survey of flea infestation, during which 2653 dogs and 1508 cats were examined for evidence of flea infestation and skin disease compatible with flea allergy dermatitis (fad). The prevalence of flea infestation in the cats was 21·09 per cent, significantly (P<0·001) higher than in the dogs (6·82 per cent). The prevalence of skin lesions compatible with fad in the cats (8·02 per cent) was also significantly (P<0·001) higher than in the dogs (3·32 per cent). Flea infestations were more common in households with cats and with more than one pet. Of 467 fleas identified from the cats, 462 (98·93 per cent) were Ctenocephalides felis, one was Ctenocephalides canis, one was Archaeopsylla erinacei, two were Pulex irritans, and one was Spilopsyllus cuniculi. Of 336 fleas identified from the dogs, 313 (93·15 per cent) were C felis, five were C Canis, 12 were A erinacei, five were P irritans, and one was Ceratophyllus (Nosophyllus) fasciatus. Almost half of the owners of the dogs and cats were unaware of their pet's flea infestation. The overall prevalence of fleas and/or skin lesions that could potentially be compatible with fad was 7·46 per cent in the dogs and 22·28 per cent in the cats.
Kinetic evaluation of normal walking and jumping in cats, using a pressure‐sensitive walkway
Authors: Lascelles B. D. X. , Findley K. , Correa M. , Marcellin‐Little D. , Roe S.
Published: October 2010

The kinetic parameters of the limbs of 23 normal, client‐owned cats were evaluated by encouraging them to walk and jump normally on a pressure‐sensitive walkway. Each cat was encouraged to walk across the walkway five times over a period of 30 to 45 minutes (by using food, toys, the owner's presence and a purpose‐built tunnel) at a target speed of 0·6 m/s (and an acceleration of less than ± 0·1 m/s2). They were then encouraged to jump on to the walkway from a height of 1 m five times at five‐minute intervals. The kinetic parameters of peak vertical force (pvf) and vertical impulse (vi) were measured for each limb (the forelimbs only for the jumps), and expressed as a percentage of bodyweight (pvf %bw and vi %bw/s). Fifteen of the 23 cats satisfactorily completed three to five walks and two to five jumps that could be analysed. There were no significant differences between the pvf or vi of the left and right limbs, but both parameters were significantly greater for the forelimbs than the hindlimbs (P<0·001) for the walking data. The mean (sd) pvf %bw for the forelimbs and hindlimbs were 48·2 (6·0) and 38·3 (4·0), respectively, and the mean vi %bw/s were 16·9 (3·2) and 13·3 (2·8). Jumping down generated significantly greater pvf (P<0·01) and slightly greater vi than during walking; there were no significant differences between the left and right forelimbs. The mean pvf %bw was 148·9 (16·4) and the mean vi %bw/s was 18·1 (4·3).
Responses of horses offered a choice between stables containing single or multiple forages
Authors: Goodwin D. , Davidson H. P. B. , Harris P.
Published: October 2010

To investigate the choices of foraging location of horses, 10 to 12 horses were introduced for five minutes into each of two similar stables containing a single forage or six forages, in four replicated trials. The horses were then removed and released into the gangway between the stables, and allowed five minutes to choose between the stables. Their initial and final choices, mean duration in each stable and proportional frequency of change of location were compared. Most of the horses initially entered the closest stable on release (P<0·05); if the closest stable contained a single hay, most horses transferred to the stable containing multiple forages (P<0·001). The length of time spent by the horses in the two stables suggested that they preferred multiple forages in multiple locations (P<0·001). Eleven horses moved from one stable to the other on one or more occasions during trials when hay or a preferred forage was available in both stables, possibly indicating a motivation to move between foraging locations regardless of the palatability of the forages offered or the horses' preference for a forage.
Exploratory study of Mycoplasma suis (Eperythrozoon suis) on four commercial pig farms in southern Brazil
Authors: Guimaraes A. M. S. , Biondo A. W. , Lara A. C. , Messick J. B.
Published: October 2010

Mycoplasma suis (Eperythrozoon suis) was detected by pcr and Southern blot in 186 pigs (121 sows, 61 piglets and four boars) on four farms in southern Brazil. dna was extracted from blood samples and a 16S rrna gene fragment of M suis was amplified by pcr; Southern blot analysis was then performed on all the samples. Twenty‐two of the sows (18·2 per cent) were positive by pcr, and 40 (33·1 per cent) were positive by Southern blot; only one piglet and one boar were positive. The packed cell volume and total plasma protein of the pigs and their pcr and Southern blot results were not significantly different on the four farms, but higher proportions of the pigs were positive by Southern blot than by pcr (P<0·05). The packed cell volume and total plasma protein concentrations of the M suis positive and negative sows were not significantly different.
Efficacy of trapping during the initial proactive culls in the randomised badger culling trial
Authors: Smith G. C. , Cheeseman C. L.
Published: October 2010

The randomised badger culling trial (rbct) has shown that widespread badger culling in predefined areas of approximately 100 km2 led to a reduction in the number of cattle herds testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (tb) (‘herd breakdowns’), but was associated with an increase in cattle tb in surrounding areas. This study has tried to estimate the trapping efficacy and the level of reduction of the badger population during the initial proactive culls in the rbct. For seven triplets trapping efficacy was estimated between 71 per cent and 85 per cent, and for three triplets between 35 per cent and 46 per cent. Two of the latter triplets had trapping coinciding with harsh climatic conditions. Badger population removal was estimated at 64 per cent to 77 per cent in the former and 32 per cent to 39 per cent in the latter triplets. In most of the treatment areas there was therefore a consistent and substantial reduction in the number of badgers at the end of the initial cull. All the proactive treatment areas were subjected to further culls, and it is therefore likely that greater reductions would have occurred by the end of 2005, when the analysis of cattle herd breakdowns took place.
Suspected adverse reactions, 2006
Authors: Dyer F. , Spagnuolo‐Weaver M. , Cooles S. , Tait A.
Published: October 2010

Reports to the uk Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (sarss) in 2006 increased by 20 per cent compared with 2005

The pattern of reports involving enrofloxacin is to be monitored following reports of blindness in cats treated with this medicine

Investigation of an increasing number of reports concerning a suspected lack of efficacy of parvovirus vaccines

Suspected lack of efficacy of ectoparasiticides in Scottish salmon possibly reflecting development of resistance to emamectin in sea lice in the area

— These are some of the results of the sarss in 2006, as discussed in the following article by Fabia Dyer, Martha Spagnuolo‐Weaver, Sue Cooles and Alex Tait of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate
Radiographic signs of renal disease in rabbits
Authors: Harcourt‐Brown F.
Published: October 2010

The radiological features of 65 rabbits with suspected renal disease are reviewed. The radiological features included a generalised increase in bone opacity (osteosclerosis), renomegaly, nephroliths, ureteroliths and soft tissue mineralisation. One or more of these changes were present on radiographs of 57 of the 65 rabbits. Renal disease was suspected because of the clinical signs and the presence of kidney stones and/or high blood concentrations of urea and creatinine. Significant renal disease was confirmed in 14 cases that were examined postmortem. Blood urea and creatinine concentrations were measured in 47 cases but not all the rabbits had high levels of both. Blood calcium concentration was high in 33 of the 38 rabbits in which it was measured. Serum phosphate was high in 17 and low in five of 34 rabbits in which it was measured. Hyperphosphataemia was associated with generalised osteosclerosis and aortic calcification. Rabbits with osteosclerosis were thin, depressed and unwilling to move. Thirty‐eight of 41 rabbits that were tested were seropositive for antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Histological lesions suggestive of E cuniculi infection were found in all 13 cases that were examined postmortem, although the organisms were visible in only one case.
Magnetic resonance imaging of traumatic intervertebral disc extension in dogs
Authors: Chang Y. , Dennis R. , Platt S. R. , Penderis J.
Published: October 2010

This retrospective study evaluated the magnetic resonance (mr) images of traumatic disc extrusions in 11 dogs. The findings included a reduction in the volume and signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus, focal hyperintensity within the overlying spinal cord on T2 ‐weighted mr images, and subtle spinal cord compression, extraneous material or signal change within the vertebral canal. The largest area of hyperintensity in the spinal cord was directly over or close to the affected disc space, appeared asymmetrical and in the majority of cases was less than one vertebra in length. Parenchymal spinal cord haemorrhage was identified in four of the dogs. Vacuum phenomena, evident as a signal void in the centre of the disc, were identified in two of the dogs. The mr images were distinct from those reported for other causes of spinal cord dysfunction.
Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs with neurological signs
Authors: Jäderlund K. H. , Egenvall A. , Bergström K. , Hedhammar Å.
Published: October 2010

A retrospective cohort study was carried out to evaluate whether seropositivity for the tick‐transmitted bacterial species Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and/or Anaplasma phagocytophilum was associated with one or more specific categories of nervous system disorders in dogs. A total of 248 dogs with nervous system disorders were serotested for these agents and categorised into six main diagnostic categories: degenerative diseases of the spine, epilepsy, inflammatory diseases, neoplasia, peripheral neuropathies, and other diseases. Multivariable analysis using logistic regression was used to model whether a dog was diagnosed as being in any of these categories. The independent variables included were sex, age, year of serological testing, and whether the animal tested positive for B burgdorferi sensu lato and/or A phagocytophilum. In one model, a statistically significant association was found between a positive titre for A phagocytophilum and the risk of a dog developing neoplastic disease. Although statistically significant, it was concluded that the association was not of clinical relevance.
Ultrasonography of the omasum in cows with various gastrointestinal diseases
Authors: Braun U. , Blessing S. , Lejeune B. , Hässig M.
Published: October 2010

The omasums of 30 healthy cows and 55 cows with various gastrointestinal disorders (10 with left displacement and eight with right displacement of the abomasum, 10 with abomasal volvulus, 10 with traumatic reticuloperitonitis, nine with ileus of the small intestines and eight with reticulo‐omasal stenosis) were examined ultrasonographically on the right side of the body with a 3·5 MHz linear transducer. The dorsal and ventral margins of the omasum and its size in the fifth to 11th intercostal spaces were determined. Generally, the ultrasonographic appearance of the omasum did not differ between the healthy and abnormal cows. The omasum appeared as a semicircle, and the omasal wall closest to the transducer was visible as a thick echogenic line. In a few of the abnormal cows, the omasal laminae were visible and the omasum appeared to have motility. In the cows with left and right displacement of the abomasum and abomasal volvulus, the dorsal margin of the omasum was significantly further from the dorsal midline in some intercostal spaces than in the healthy cows. In the cows with left displacement of the abomasum, the ventral margin of the omasum was significantly further from the dorsal midline in the 7th intercostal space than in the healthy cows. In the cows with reticulo‐omasal stenosis, traumatic reticuloperitonitis and ileus of the small intestine, the ventral margin of the omasum was significantly closer to the dorsal midline in some intercostal spaces than in the healthy cows. The mean (sd) size of the omasum in the healthy cows varied from 16·3 (1·5) cm to 56·9 (10·0) cm, depending on the intercostal space, and the omasum was significantly smaller in some intercostal spaces in the cows with reticulo‐omasal stenosis, right displacement of the omasum, abomasal volvulus and ileus of the small intestine.