bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacies of osaterone and delmadinone in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in dogs
Authors: Albouy M. , Sanquer A. , Maynard L. , Eun H. M.
Published: October 2010

A multicentre randomised clinical trial was performed to compare the therapeutic potential of osaterone acetate with that of delmadinone acetate in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in dogs. The osaterone was administered orally at 0·25 mg/kg bodyweight once a day for seven days to 73 dogs. The delmadinone was administered by a single intramuscular or subcutaneous injection at 3 mg/kg bodyweight to 69 dogs. During the 180‐day trial, the dogs were monitored five times for their clinical signs and prostate volume. The two drugs were similarly effective in reducing the clinical signs and inducing complete clinical remission, and both induced a similar level of minor, mostly transitory adverse effects. Osaterone reduced the volume of the prostate glands of the dogs significantly more quickly than delmadinone.
Immobilising free‐ranging Alpine chamois with xylazine, reversed with atipamezole
Authors: Dematteis A. , Rossi L. , Canavese G. , Menzano A. , Meneguz P. G.
Published: October 2010

Between 1996 and 2005, 215 free‐ranging Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) were immobilised with xylazine hydrochloride. The 110 male and 105 female animals received a mean (sd) dose of 2·5 (0·6) mg/kg with a range from 1·4 to 4·8 mg/kg. The immobilisation was reversed in 201 of the animals with an intramuscular injection of 0·3 (0·1) mg/kg atipamezole (range 0·03 to 0·76 mg/kg), corresponding to a mean ratio of atipamezole:xylazine of 1:9·4 (4·3). All the chamois were immobilised, but shorter induction and recovery times, and deeper sedation with no reactions to handling were obtained in more than 80 per cent of the animals with doses of 2·6 to 3·6 mg/kg of xylazine, reversed with 0·26 to 0·36 mg/kg atipamezole (a ratio of 1:10), injected within 90 minutes.
Evidence for transplacental and contact transmission of bluetongue virus in cattle
Authors: Menzies F. D. , McCullough S. J. , McKeown I. M. , Forster J.L. , Jess S. , Batten C. , Murchie A. K. , Gloster J. , Fallows J. G. , Pelgrim W. , Mellor P. S. , Oura C. A. L.
Published: October 2010

This paper presents evidence that a field strain of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (btv‐8) was transmitted transplacentally and that it was also spread by a direct contact route. Twenty pregnant heifers were imported from the Netherlands into Northern Ireland during the midge‐free season. Tests before and after the animals were imported showed that eight of them had antibodies to bluetongue virus, but no viralrnawas detected in any of them by reverse transcriptase‐pcr(rt‐pcr). Two of the seropositive heifers gave birth to three calves that showed evidence of bluetongue virus infection (rt‐pcr‐positive), and one of the calves was viraemic. Two further viraemic animals (one newly calved Dutch heifer, and one milking cow originally from Scotland) were also found to have been infected withbtv‐8and evidence is presented that these two animals may have been infected by direct contact, possibly through the ingestion of placentas infected withbtv‐8.
Data quality of animal health records on Swiss dairy farms
Authors: Menéndez S. , Steiner A. , Witschi U. , Danuser J. , Weber U. , Regula G.
Published: October 2010

High‐quality data are essential for veterinary surveillance systems, and their quality can be affected by the source and the method of collection. Data recorded on farms could provide detailed information about the health of a population of animals, but the accuracy of the data recorded by farmers is uncertain. The aims of this study were to evaluate the quality of the data on animal health recorded on 97 Swiss dairy farms, to compare the quality of the data obtained by different recording systems, and to obtain baseline data on the health of the animals on the 97 farms. Data on animal health were collected from the farms for a year. Their quality was evaluated by assessing the completeness and accuracy of the recorded information, and by comparing farmers' and veterinarians' records. The quality of the data provided by the farmers was satisfactory, although electronic recording systems made it easier to trace the animals treated. The farmers tended to record more health‐related events than the veterinarians, although this varied with the event considered, and some events were recorded only by the veterinarians. The farmers' attitude towards data collection was positive. Factors such as motivation, feedback, training, and simplicity and standardisation of data collection were important because they influenced the quality of the data.
Outbreak of canine distemper in domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)
Authors: Perpiñán D. , Ramis A. , Tomás A. , Carpintero E. , Bargalló F.
Published: October 2010

In 2006 an outbreak of canine distemper affected 14 young domestic ferrets in Barcelona, Spain. Their clinical signs included a reduced appetite, lethargy, dyspnoea, coughing, sneezing, mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharges, facial and perineal dermatitis, diarrhoea, splenomegaly and fever. Late in the course of the disease, general desquamation and pruritus, and hyperkeratotic/crusting dermatitis of the lips, eyes, nose, footpads, and perineal area were observed. None of the ferrets developed neurological signs. Non‐regenerative anaemia and high serum concentrations of α‐ and β‐globulins were the most common laboratory findings. Most of the animals died or were euthanased because of respiratory complications. Postmortem there were no signs of lung collapse. Distemper was diagnosed by direct immunofluorescence of conjunctival swabs orpcrof several organs, and histology revealed the characteristic eosinophilic intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusion bodies of canine distemper virus in several organs. The minimum incubation periods calculated for six of the ferrets were 11 to 56 days, and in 13 of the ferrets the signs of disease lasted 14 to 34 days. Inclusion bodies compatible with infection by herpesvirus were found in the lungs of one of the ferrets.
Excretion of hepatitis E virus by pigs of different ages and its presence in slurry stores in the United Kingdom
Authors: McCreary C. , Martelli F. , Grierson S. , Ostanello F. , Nevel A. , Banks M.
Published: October 2010

Five faecal samples were collected from four different stages of production at each of 10 pig farms in the Yorkshire Humberside area of the uk, and samples of slurry were collected from nine of the farms. All the samples were tested for hepatitis E virus (hev) rna by a nested reverse transcriptase pcr. At least one sample from the pigs on each of the farms tested positive for hev; its prevalence in the 10 herds varied from 5 per cent to 35 per cent and its mean prevalence was 21·5 per cent. The mean prevalence in pigs aged three to five weeks was 26·0 per cent, in pigs aged 10 to 12 weeks 44·0 per cent, in pigs aged 22 to 24 weeks 8·9 per cent, and in adult dry sows 6·0 per cent. Two of the nine slurry lagoons tested positive for hev rna. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence data indicated that the strains of the virus were of genotype 3 and closely related to strains detected in other pigs and in human beings in the uk.
Comparison of CO2 laser and 4·0 MHz radiosurgery for making incisions in the skin and muscles of green iguanas (Iguana iguana)
Authors: Hernández‐Divers S. J. , Stahl S. J. , Rakich P. M. , Blas‐Machado U.
Published: October 2010

Four green iguanas scheduled for euthanasia were used to compare the extent of collateral tissue damage associated with CO2 laser and 4·0 MHz radiosurgery. The iguanas were anaesthetised and a series of three skin and three muscle incisions was made by 4·0 MHz radiosurgery (0·18 mm wire electrode, 25 W, cut mode) and CO2 laser (0·3 mm ceramic tip, 15 W focused beam super‐pulse mode), and three incisions were made with a scalpel blade as controls. Following euthanasia, a total of 60 skin and 36 muscle sections were evaluated histologically. Radiosurgery and the laser both produced bloodless incisions, but radiosurgery caused significantly less collateral tissue damage in the skin (307 [97] v 386 [108] µm) and the muscle (18 [7] v 91 [15] µm).
Effect of left‐sided valvular regurgitation on mortality and causes of death among a population of middle‐aged and older horses
Authors: Stevens K. B. , Marr C. M. , Horn J. N. R. , Pfeiffer D. U. , Perkins J. D. , Bowen I. M. , Allan E. J. , Campbell J. , Elliott J.
Published: October 2010

The effect of left‐sided valvular regurgitation (LSVR) on the mortality of middle‐aged and older horses was investigated in a prospective cohort study involving 19 yards and 1153 horses. The horses were examined to determine whether they had a cardiac murmur and its type, and their age, sex, breed type and occupation were recorded. They were followed up at intervals of two years by postal questionnaire, and after four years information on 773 horses was available. There was no significant difference in the mortality of the horses with and without LSVR, but small horses had a significantly higher risk of having LSVR than small ponies (odds ratio [OR] 2·33), and older horses were slightly more likely to have LSVR than young horses (OR 1·07). Twenty‐nine per cent of the deaths reported by the owners were due to orthopaedic problems, 23·3 per cent to gastrointestinal problems, and only 7·9 per cent to cardiovascular problems. Orthopaedic problems were the main cause of death in the horses, and gastrointestinal problems were the main cause of death in the ponies.
Urinary protein:creatinine ratio in rabbits in relation to their serological status toEncephalitozoon cuniculi
Authors: Reusch B. , Murray J. K. , Papasouliotis K. , Redrobe S. P.
Published: October 2010

The concentrations of protein and creatinine were measured in urine samples from 74 healthy domestic pet rabbits, 54 of them seronegative toEncephalitozoon cuniculiand 20 seropositive. The calculated reference range for the urinary protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) ofE cuniculi‐seronegative rabbits was 0·11 to 0·40. There was no significant variation in the UPC due to the bodyweight, breed, sex, neutered status or husbandry of the rabbits. Seroconversion toE cuniculiwas not found to be associated with clinical renal disease because none of the seropositive rabbits had azotaemia or proteinuria.
Use of a lateral tibial head buttress plate to repair a tibial fracture in a labrador retriever
Authors: McGuinness K. , Doyle R. S. , Glyde M. R.
Published: October 2010

A lateral tibial head buttress plate designed for human beings was used to repair a highly comminuted tibial fracture in a two‐year‐old male labrador retriever caused by a gunshot wound. The plate was placed in a bridging fashion to provide minimal disruption of the fracture site and minimise surgical time.
Pilot study of the effect of individualised homeopathy on the pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis in dogs
Authors: Hill P. B. , Hoare J. , Lau‐Gillard P. , Rybnicek J. , Mathie R. T.
Published: October 2010

Twenty dogs with confirmed atopic dermatitis were treated with homeopathy. In the first phase of this pilot study, all of the dogs were treated by a veterinary homeopath with individualised remedies prescribed on the basis of the dog’s cutaneous signs and constitutional characteristics. The response to treatment was assessed by scoring the severity of pruritus from 0 to 10 on a validated scale. The dogs were evaluated at monthly intervals for at least two months. In 15 cases, the owners reported no improvement following homeopathic treatment. In the other five cases, the owners believed that the homeopathic treatment was associated with a substantial improvement, and reported reductions in pruritus scores ranging from 64 to 100 per cent. These five dogs were selected for the second phase of the study, in which homeopathic remedies were tested against placebos in a randomised and blinded trial. In one of these dogs, atopic dermatitis resolved completely and so this dog could not participate in phase 2; another dog was euthanased because of status epilepticus before phase 2 could be started. In the remaining three cases, the owners correctly distinguished between the placebo and homeopathic remedies, and reported reductions in the pruritus score of 0, 0.2 and 0.8 following placebo treatment and 4.3, 2.4 and 3.0, respectively, following the remedy.
Why were there no outbreaks of bluetongue in the UK during 2008?
Authors: Burgin L. , Gloster J. , Mellor P. S.
Published: October 2010

With bluetongue rampant on the main European Continent in 2008, why were there no outbreaks reported in the UK? The essential criteria for introduction of the disease by carriage of infected midges on the wind have been assessed for 2006, 2007 and 2008, and it is concluded that temperatures were favourable for virus replication and midge activity and that suitable winds were present on a considerable number of occasions. A major difference between 2007, when virus was introduced to the UK, and 2008 was the extensive vaccination programme implemented by the UK Government in 2008, with the support of the farming community. Vaccination reduced the numbers of susceptible animals, making it difficult for a focus of disease to become established. The authors believe that if bluetongue re‐establishes itself on the near Continent in 2009, it will be of critical importance that UK livestock are fully protected by vaccination against the disease.
Transverse stress fractures of the proximal tibia in 10 cats with non‐union patellar fractures
Authors: Langley‐Hobbs S. J. , Ball S. , McKee W. M.
Published: October 2010

Ten cats with a mean age of eight years and five months had suffered proximal transverse tibial fractures; in four of them both tibiae had fractured at different times. All the cats also had bilateral non‐union patellar fractures, and nine of them had evidence of fractures elsewhere, including acetabular, ischial, humeral condylar and rib fractures, which had occurred before or after the tibial fractures. All the tibial fractures were proximal and transverse. Radiographically, there was thickening and sclerosis of the cranial cortex adjacent to and at the level of the fracture, changes that were compatible with stress fractures. The outcome of repair of the tibial fracture was known in nine of the cats; eight of them healed and one resulted in a non‐union. Two of the cats were euthanased as a direct result of the fracture or complications with the repair.
Detection of the DNA of Borrelia afzelii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia canis in blood samples from dogs in Warsaw
Authors: Zygner W. , Górski P. , Wędrychowicz H.
Published: October 2010

Each month, from March 2003 to February 2004, 34 blood samples from dogs were randomly selected from the blood samples delivered to two veterinary laboratories in Warsaw and tested for the DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia canis and Hepatozoon canis. Borrelia DNA was detected in seven of the 408 dogs, A phagocytophilum DNA was found in two, and B canis DNA was found in 48 (11.8 per cent). The DNA of H canis was not found in any of the blood samples. Sequencing of the seven Borrelia amplicons showed that only the genospecies Borrelia afzelii was present, the first time it has been detected in dogs in Poland.
Application of a protocol for the diagnosis of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in Italy
Authors: Sarli G. , Ostanello F. , Morandi F. , Fusaro L. , Gnudi M. , Bacci B. , Nigrelli A. , Alborali L. , Dottori M. , Vezzoli F. , Barigazzi G. , Fiorentini L. , Sala V. , Leotti G. , Joisel F.
Published: October 2010

Samples of superficial inguinal and bronchial lymph nodes, ileum, tonsil and lung were taken from three to five pigs on each of 61 farms with a clinical history of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The samples were examined histologically and by immunohistochemistry for porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV‐2). PMWS was diagnosed in two stages: first, an evaluation of the haematoxylin and eosinstained sections that identified the cases in which the characteristic PCV‐2 cytoplasmic inclusion bodies were apparent, and secondly, a conclusive step in which immunohistochemistry was applied to confirm PMWS in the cases in which there were positive immunohistochemical results that coincided with lesions indicative of PMWS in at least one of the lymphoid and/or lung tissues. The location of PCV‐2 in specific lesions (cell depletion in lymphoid organs and interstitial pneumonia) confirmed PMWS in 45 of the 61 farms, 31 of which were also infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. The lymphoid tissues were more reliable than the lungs for the diagnosis of PMWS, both in individual pigs and in groups of pigs, and farm diagnoses based on a group of pigs were more reliable than diagnoses based on single pigs.
Responses of pigs to a re‐challenge withActinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeafter being treated with different antimicrobials following their initial exposure
Authors: Sjölund M. , Martín de la Fuente A. J. , Fossum C. , Wallgren P.
Published: October 2010

Four groups of six specific pathogen‐free (SPF) pigs were inoculated intranasally withActinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeserotype 2 and treated with either enrofloxacin, tetracycline or penicillin at the onset of clinical disease, or left untreated. A fifth group was left uninoculated. The inoculated control and the penicillin‐treated groups developed severe disease, but the groups treated with enrofloxacin and tetracycline recovered rapidly. All the inoculated pigs, except those treated with enrofloxacin developed serum antibodies toA pleuropneumoniae. On day 28, all five groups were challenged withA pleuropneumoniaewithout any subsequent treatment. The previously uninoculated control group and the enrofloxacin‐treated group developed severe disease, but the three seropositive groups remained unaffected.
Admissions processes at the seven United Kingdom veterinary schools: a review
Authors: Hudson N. P. H. , Rhind S. M. , Moore L. J. , Dawson S. , Kilyon M. , Braithwaite K. , Wason J. , Mellanby R. J.
Published: October 2010

The major challenge in veterinary undergraduate admissions is to select those students with most suitability for veterinary training and careers from a large and diverse pool of applicants with very high academic ability. This paper describes a review of the admissions processes of the seven veterinary schools in the UK. There was significant commonality in the entry requirements and the criteria upon which the schools made decisions on candidates. There was some variation in the procedures used by individual schools to select candidates, but common themes existed within these processes. All of the schools evaluated both academic and non‐academic factors for individual applicants, and all used interviews in some format as a selection tool after an initial short‐listing process. The procedures and approaches to selection processes are compared and discussed.
Quantitative investigation and classification by MRI of residual cleft cysts in the pituitary glands of cows
Authors: Tsuka T. , Hasegawa K. , Morimoto M. , Hayashi T. , Okamoto Y. , Minami S. , Imagawa T. , Taura Y.
Published: October 2010

The application of MRI to 167 Holstein cows and 76 Japanese black cows made it possible to distinguish two types of residual cleft cysts (RCCs) in their pituitary glands on the basis of the differences in signal intensity: fluid‐filled lesions with an intensity equal to that of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (hypointense on T1‐weighted images and hyperintense on T2‐weighted images); and solid lesions that were hypointense compared with cerebral parenchyma and isointense with CSF on T1‐weighted images, and hypointense compared with cerebral parenchyma on T2‐weighted images. Solid material was observed in lesions with a mean (sd) diameter of 2·09 (1·28) mm in 56 (33·5 per cent) of the Holstein cows, and in lesions with a mean diameter of 1·91 (0·89) mm in 20 (26·3 per cent) of the Japanese black cows. Four of the Holstein cows had RCCs more than 7 mm in diameter. Long‐term development of the RCCs was suggested by histological findings of epithelial stratification and a structural shift from having a single to a stratified epithelial layer within the residual clefts of the affected pituitary glands.
Prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter species in household cats and dogs in Ireland
Authors: Acke E. , McGill K. , Golden O. , Jones B. R. , Fanning S. , Whyte P.
Published: October 2010

Rectal swabs were collected from 147 household dogs and 35 household cats, including healthy animals, animals with gastrointestinal signs and animals with a variety of medical and surgical conditions. A combination of selective culture methods was used to optimise the recovery of Campylobacter species, and a PCR was used to confirm their isolation and to identify the species. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter species was 42·9 per cent in the cats and 41·5 per cent in the dogs. Campylobacter upsaliensis was the species most commonly isolated from the dogs and cats, and Campylobacter jejuni was the second most commonly isolated. Particularly high prevalences were detected in the few cats and dogs with diarrhoea, and in the cats and dogs that were six months old or younger.
Randomised controlled trial of the treatment of pastern dermatitis with a formulation containing kunzea oil
Authors: Thomas J. , Narkowicz C. , Peterson G. M. , Jacobson G. A. , Narayana A.
Published: October 2010

The efficacy of an ointment containing kunzea oil for the treatment of horses with localised acute or chronic pastern dermatitis was assessed. Thirty‐seven horses were randomly allocated to treatment with an ointment containing either 20 per cent kunzea oil (test) or 2 per cent ketoconazole (control). Only 21 of the horses completed the study. The severity of the lesions was assessed before and after seven days of treatment. The kunzea oil formulation resulted in a significant decrease in the median total area of the lesions from 40 cm2 (range 3 to 252 cm2) to 0 cm2 (range 0 to 34 cm2), with complete resolution of the signs of pastern dermatitis in seven of 11 cases. The control formulation resulted in no significant change in the total area of the lesions, and the signs of pastern dermatitis resolved completely in only two of the 10 cases.
Detection of classical and atypical/Nor98 scrapie by the paraffin‐embedded tissue blot method
Authors: Wemheuer W. M. , Benestad S. L. , Wrede A. , Wemheuer W. E. , Brenig B. , Bratberg B. , Schulz‐Schaeffer W. J.
Published: October 2010

The paraffin‐embedded tissue (PET) blot method was used to investigate sections of the central nervous system and lymphatic tissues from 24 cases of classical scrapie and 25 cases of atypical/Nor98 scrapie in sheep and four healthy control sheep. The PET blot detected deposits of PrPSc in the brain tissue of all 49 sheep with scrapie but no PrPSc labelling could be detected in the control sheep. By contrast, not all the atypical/Nor98 scrapie cases were detectable by immunohistochemistry. The high sensitivity of the PET blot method made it possible to observe that in some atypical/Nor98 cases, deposits of PrPSc may be restricted to supratentorial brain structures and that the diagnosis may be missed when only testing the obex area, where deposits are common in classical scrapie, and the cerebellar structures, where deposits are considered to be common in atypical/Nor98 cases.
Long‐term changes in the prevalences of caecal nematodes and histomonosis in gamebirds in the UK and the interaction with poultry
Authors: Potts G. R.
Published: October 2010

From 1912 to 2003, 12,056 grey and red‐legged partridges and pheasants found dead in the UK were examined. The trends in their infection rates with Heterakis species and histomonosis were strongly correlated among wild, pen‐reared, young and adult partridges and young pen‐reared pheasants but not adult pheasants. Except among the adult pheasants, the prevalence of Heterakis declined by 91 per cent to 100 per cent from 1952 to 1991. Heterakis isolonche was found predominantly in pheasants but only until the 1960s. Histomonosis declined relative to Heterakis species infections after the introduction of dimetridazole. There was a long‐term change in the prevalence of Heterakis, with changes in domestic fowl husbandry being suggested as the cause.
Thermotolerance and multidrug resistance in bacteria isolated from equids and their environment
Authors: Singh B. R.
Published: October 2010

Sixty‐nine vaginal swabs and 138 rectal swabs collected from 195 equids were analysed for the presence of thermotolerant bacteria, that is, bacteria surviving at 60 ± 0.1°C for one hour. Thermotolerant Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus species and Pseudomonas species were isolated from 41, 16, nine, three and three of the 138 rectal swabs, respectively; seven of the E coli and two of the Enterobacter species isolates survived pasteurisation at 63.8 ± 0.1°C for 30 minutes. All except three E coli, two Enterobacter species and one Proteus species isolate were resistant to three or more antimicrobial drugs, that is, they were multidrug resistant. Thermotolerant E coli, Enterobacter species and Proteus species were isolated from 11, two and two of the 69 vaginal swabs, respectively, but only one isolate of E coli survived pasteurisation at 63.8 ± 0.1°C for 30 minutes. All except two of the E coli isolates were multidrug resistant. None of the four thermotolerant isolates from nine soil samples collected on four of the farms where the equids were kept was pasteurisation resistant, but they were all multidrug resistant. Of the 10 pasteurisationresistant isolates, nine were multidrug resistant but none was resistant to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, cotrimazine, cotrimoxazole or streptomycin. All the isolates grew at 42 ± 0.1°C but none grew at 46 ± 0.1°C or above. The Enterobacter isolates were more tolerant to pasteurisation than the E coli isolates, particularly during the first few minutes of exposure.
Mechanical ventilation of six dogs anaesthetised with isoflurane or sevoflurane delivered by a Komesaroff anaesthetic machine
Authors: Laredo F. G. , Belda E. , Escobar M.
Published: October 2010

After intravenous induction, six beagles were connected to a Komesaroff machine provided with a single in‐circuit vaporiser and ventilated mechanically at either nine or 14 breaths/minute while anaesthetised with either isoflurane or sevoflurane. The vaporiser was initially set at position 4/4 (fully open) and the anaesthetic concentrations were measured after one and five minutes; the vaporiser was then set at the lowest setting able to maintain anaesthesia. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured throughout the study. In most cases anaesthesia was maintained at setting 1/4 with isoflurane and at setting 1.5/4 or 2/4 with sevoflurane.
Congenital tremor and hypomyelination associated with bovine viral diarrhoea virus in 23 British cattle herds
Authors: Otter A. , Welchman D. de B. , Sandvik T. , Cranwell M. P. , Holliman A. , Millar M. F. , Scholes S. F. E.
Published: October 2010

This paper presents data from 23 British herds investigated between 1991 and 2007 where neurological disease in calves was caused by bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection. A variety of clinical signs, most commonly tremor or trembling, were apparent in the calves from birth, and most were recumbent or unable to stand unsupported. Severe diffuse neuraxial hypomyelination was present in all of the calves, and immunohistochemistry revealed cerebral neuronal labelling consistent with congenital persistent pestivirus infection in each brain. BVDV was detected in peripheral blood samples from eight of 15 calves tested using an antigen ELISA, and was isolated in culture from samples of viscera, brain or blood collected from 17 of 24 affected calves. TaqMan RT‐PCR for pestivirus RNA was positive for BVDV‐1 in all six calves tested. Six of the virus isolates on which molecular classification was carried out, obtained from calves in four of the herds, were identified as BVDV‐1a, while three isolates from one affected and two unaffected calves on a fifth farm were confirmed as BVDV‐1b.
Secondary immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum
Authors: Cortese L. , Piantedosi D. , Ciaramella P. , Pero M. E. , Sica M. , Ruggiero G. , Terrazzano G. , Mastellone V.
Published: October 2010

Forty‐four dogs naturally infected byLeishmania infantumwere divided into two groups: 20 thrombocytopenic dogs with fewer than 150 × 109platelets/I, and 24 non‐thrombocytopenic dogs with more than 200 × 109platelets/I. Ten clinically healthy dogs were used as controls. A haematological profile was obtained and the dogs' serum was used to assess the presence of platelet‐binding IgM and IgG antibodies using a flow cytometry technique. Nineteen of the 20 thrombocytopenic dogs, and 13 of the 24 non‐thrombocytopenic dogs had detectable levels of platelet‐binding immunoglobulins, but none of the control dogs did so. The differences were significantly different for both IgM and IgG platelet‐binding antibodies.
Antimicrobial resistance: call for a more proactive approach
Authors: de Lange Karin
Published: October 2010

The general assemblies of the Union of European Veterinary Practitioners (UEVP) and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) were held in Stockholm, Sweden, in May. Among the subjects discussed were antimicrobial resistance, pet travel, veterinary medicines for horses, pet insurance and evidence‐based medicine.
Beneficial effects on the reproductive performance of sows of administering prostaglandin analogues after farrowing
Authors: Lopez J. V. , Ptaszynska M. , Gonzalez P. , Jiménez M. , Martens M. R. T. M.
Published: October 2010

Twenty‐four to 36 hours after farrowing, 192 sows were treated with a single intramuscular injection (2 ml per animal) of a prostaglandin analogue; 102 were treated with cloprostenol racemate and 97 with dinoprost tromethamine, and 90 were left untreated. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the percentages of sows that came into oestrus by eight days after weaning or conceived by eight days after weaning. Significantly more piglets were born per litter (10.71 and 11.00 piglets in the cloprostenol and dinoprost groups, respectively) and born alive (10.22 and 10.41, respectively) than in the controls (9.24 piglets born per litter and 8.66 piglets born alive).
Survey of 52 fractures of the patella in 34 cats
Authors: Langley‐Hobbs S. J.
Published: October 2010

Stress fractures of the patella were diagnosed in 34 cats with a mean age of two years and five months. Eighteen of the cats had bilateral fractures with a median interval of three months between fractures. All the fractures were transverse and occurred in the proximal aspect or base of the patella with no evidence of trauma. In 43 of the patellae there was radiographic evidence of sclerosis. Repairs with a pin and tension band in 18 cats resulted in a further fracture or failure of fixation in 86 per cent of the cases that were followed up. Ten of the cats had suffered fractures of other bones at different times to the patellae fractures. In the majority of the cats the fracture formed a functional non‐union but some cats remained stiff and lame.
Perforation of the gastrointestinal tracts of four horses by metallic wires
Authors: Saulez M. N. , Burton A. , Steyl J. C. A. , Williams J. H. , Clift S. J.
Published: October 2010

The medical records of four horses whose intestines had been perforated by metallic wires were reviewed. Three of the horses developed acute colic, and the other progressively lost weight and became inappetent and pyrexic. Metallic wires were detected either by exploratory laparotomy or postmortem examination. In three of the horses there were adhesions containing an encapsulated metallic wire in the small intestine, and in the other the wire was contained within an abscess with multiple adhesions involving the liver, spleen and mesentery.
Effects of intramuscular acepromazine and diazepam on tear production in rabbits
Authors: Selk Ghaffari M. , Moghaddassi A. P. , Bokaie S.
Published: October 2010

Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into two groups of eight. Schirmer II tear tests were performed on all 16 and then eight received an intramuscular dose of 1 mg/kg acepromazine and the other eight received an intramuscular dose of 1 mg/kg diazepam. The Schirmer tests were repeated after 15 and 25 minutes. There was a significant reduction in tear production by the rabbits treated with acepromazine, but no significant change in tear production by the rabbits treated with diazepam.
Serological and molecular survey ofAnaplasmaspecies infection in dogs with suspected tickborne disease in Portugal
Authors: Santos A. S , Alexandre N. , Sousa R. , Núncio M. S. , Bacellar F. , Dumler J. S.
Published: October 2010

Fifty‐five dogs with suspected tickborne disease were tested by immunofluorescence assay and PCR forAnaplasma phagocytophiluminfection. Thirty (54·5 per cent) of the dogs were seropositive and five of them fulfilled the serological criteria for an active infection, with either seroconversion or a fourfold increase in antibody titres. Fragments of DNA of the expected size were detected by PCR in two seropositive and three seronegative dogs. However, direct amplicon sequencing failed to identify activeA phagocytophiluminfections, but revealed the presence ofAnaplasma platysDNA in the PCR‐positive animals.
Diseases in chicks and laying hens during the first 12 years after battery cages were banned in Switzerland
Authors: Kaufmann‐Bart M. , Hoop R. K.
Published: October 2010

Between 1992 and 2003, a period of 12 years after the definitive ban on battery cages in Switzerland, more than 10,000 replacement chicks and laying hens were examined postmortem. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of viral diseases, mostly due to a reduction in Marek's disease, but there was a marked increase in bacterial diseases, particularly since 1999, mainly due to colisepticaemia in young laying hens. There was a steady decrease in parasitic infections, but the incidence of non‐infectious diseases varied from year to year, with no clear trends. There were no significant emerging diseases or economic losses in the alternative housing systems. Vaccination and hygiene were the most effective precautions against infections, and control strategies brought about a marked decline in notifiable diseases, especially for Salmonella Enteritidis. Fifteen years after the ban on battery cages in Switzerland, the health and egg production of laying hens is good.
Effect of supplementation with barium selenate on the fertility, prolificacy and lambing performance of hill sheep
Authors: Muñoz C. , Carson A. F. , McCoy M. A. , Dawson L. E. R. , Irwin D. , Gordon A. W. , Kilpatrick D. J.
Published: October 2010

Six weeks before mating, the ewes on six hill farms were randomly assigned to receive either a subcutaneous injection of a long‐acting supplement containing 50 mg/ml selenium as barium selenate, or no injected selenium. Before the treatment, the mean activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in the ewes on the six farms ranged from 166 to 592 U/g haemoglobin (Hb) and their plasma selenium concentrations ranged from 0·60 to 1·61 μmol/l. Treated ewes had higher plasma selenium concentrations and higher GSHPx activities than control ewes during the study. Conception rates were higher in the treated ewes than in the control ewes. At six weeks, the lambs born to the treated ewes had higher plasma selenium and GSHPx levels than the controls. The treated ewes reared 9 per cent more lambs than the control ewes. The treated ewes had lower abortion rates, and higher liveweights and body condition scores than the controls. There were weak but positive associations between the plasma selenium and GSHPx levels of the ewes and their reproductive performance.
Use of tongue ties in thoroughbred racehorses in the United Kingdom, and its association with surgery for dorsal displacement of the soft palate
Authors: Barakzai S. Z. , Finnegan C. , Dixon P. M. , Hillyer M. H. , Boden L. A.
Published: October 2010

The prevalence of the use of tongue ties, calculated from 60 randomly selected race meetings held in the UK during 2001 to 2003, was 5·0 per cent. After its first use on an individual horse a tongue tie was used in an average of 77 per cent of its races during the first 12 months, but after this time period, in only 55 per cent of its races. Thirty‐nine per cent of horses that underwent surgery for dorsal displacement of the soft palate raced with a tongue tie preoperatively, and 41 per cent of these surgical cases raced with a tongue tie postoperatively.
Risk assessment of importation of dogs infected with Echinococcus multilocularis into the UK
Authors: Torgerson P. R. , Craig P. S.
Published: October 2010

A risk assessment was undertaken to assess the likelihood of importation of dogs infected with Echinococcus multilocularis should the requirement for treatment with praziquantel be relaxed under the Pet Travel Scheme. The analysis suggested that for every 10,000 dogs going on a short trip to Germany, the probability of at least one returning to the UK infected is approximately 98 per cent. If the dogs had been longer‐term residents, this probability rises to over 99 per cent. This indicates that if praziquantel treatment of dogs on importation into the UK is abandoned, then it is almost inevitable that E multilocularis will be introduced.
Use of inactivated bluetongue virus serotype 8 vaccine against virulent challenge in sheep and cattle
Authors: Hamers C. , Galleau S. , Chery R. , Blanchet M. , Goutebroze S. , Besancon L. , Cariou C. , Werle‐Lapostolle B. , Hudelet P.
Published: October 2010

The immunisation properties of an inactivated bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV‐8) vaccine were evaluated in sheep and cattle. Five sheep were vaccinated with one dose of vaccine and five cattle were vaccinated with two doses 28 days apart. Six sheep and five cattle served as unvaccinated controls. All animals were subjected to a virulent BTV‐8 challenge, and safety and antibody responses were monitored. All control animals developed disease and viraemia, while vaccinated animals were clinically protected and viraemia was completely prevented.
Catch 22 on pet travel?
Authors: Clark Kathryn
Published: October 2010

The derogation to the European rules governing pet travel that allows the UK to impose stricter rules on animals entering the country has already been extended twice and recently the EC proposed extending it once again, until December 2011. Delegates attending the BVA's Congress in Cardiff last week were told that this extension was likely to be the last and that the UK would be expected to fully harmonise its rules with the rest of the EU, unless a sound scientific case can be made for maintaining some of the current controls.
Where next with bovine TB?
Authors: Jacob Catherine
Published: October 2010

‘Bovine TB: where do we go from here?’ was the title of a ‘contentious issues’ debate at the BVA Congress in Cardiff. It was chaired by Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, who introduced the debate by pointing out that, although it might be argued that ‘we might not wish to start from the position that we're in’, the aim of the session was to ‘assess how things stand and then consider, taking the long term into account, whether eradication [of TB] is feasible,’ and what route might be taken to achieve that objective.
Differences in the perceptions of farmers and veterinary surgeons about the efficacy of mitigation strategies for controlling bluetongue
Authors: Cross P. , Williams P. , Edwards‐Jones G.
Published: October 2010

This study used adaptive conjoint analysis to quantify veterinary surgeons' and farmers' perceptions of a number of previously identified, viable mitigation strategies for controlling bluetongue. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey and face‐to‐face interviews. A total of 178 completed questionnaires were collected, 121 from farmers and 57 from veterinary surgeons. There were strong significant differences between the strength of preference of farmers and veterinary surgeons for a number of strategies. There was also large variation in the strength of preference among veterinary surgeons with respect to options involving vaccination. The results suggest uncertainty among both veterinary surgeons and farmers regarding the efficacy of current strategies, and suggest the need for dissemination of information to veterinary surgeons and farmers to be better coordinated.
Patterns of excretion and antibody responses of pigs inoculated withSalmonellaDerby andSalmonellaCubana
Authors: Österberg J. , Sternberg Lewerin S. , Wallgren P.
Published: October 2010

Groups of six, 10‐week‐old pigs were inoculated with 0.65 x 103, 0.65 x 106or 0.65 x 109colony‐forming units (cfu) ofSalmonellaCubana orSalmonellaDerby and then monitored for eight weeks for the faecal excretion ofSalmonellaspecies and the presence of serum antibodies. Eight tissue samples were collected postmortem from each pig and analysed forSalmonellaspecies. In general, the dose had a greater impact on the responses of the pigs than the serovar. However, in the groups inoculated with 0.65 x 106cfu,SCubana were excreted only by one pig during the first two days after infection, whereas the pigs inoculated withSDerby all shed the bacteria constantly for two weeks and then intermittently for several weeks. In the low dose groups none of the pigs excreted any detectable salmonella whereas all the pigs in both high dose groups shed salmonella constantly or intermittently throughout the eight weeks. All the 12 pigs inoculated with 0.65 x 106or 0.65 x 109cfu ofSDerby seroconverted during the study period, whereas all the pigs inoculated with 0.65 x 103remained seronegative. No serological response could be detected in the three groups of pigs inoculated withSCubana. In the postmortem samples both serovars were re‐isolated from the caecal contents and the colonic tissue, but the other organs and tissues were all negative except for one ileocaecal lymph node from a pig inoculated with 0.65 x 106cfu ofSDerby.
Spontaneous gastroduodenal perforations in dogs — a retrospective study of 15 cases
Authors: Cariou M. , Lipscomb V. J. , Brockman D. J. , Gregory S. P. , Baines S. J.
Published: October 2010

The clinical findings and outcomes following surgical management of spontaneous gastroduodenal perforations in 15 dogs were reviewed in a retrospective study to identify related risk factors. Clinical and clinicopathological findings were diverse. Use of multiple diagnostic procedures yielded a strong index of suspicion for gastrointestinal perforation. There was a trend towards improved survival for animals with perforation of the gastric fundus/body compared to pyloric or duodenal perforation, although the difference was not statistically significant. Five dogs were euthanased at surgery; two dogs died within two days after surgery. Seven of the eight surviving dogs had a favourable long‐term outcome. Previous administration of NSAIDs was the only identified predisposing factor in ten of 10 of the dogs.
Postmortem evidence of interactions of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with other dolphin species in south‐west England
Authors: Barnett J. , Davison N. , Deaville R. , Monies R. , Loveridge J. , Tregenza N. , Jepson P. D.
Published: October 2010

Reports of violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the coastal waters of the UK are well documented. Examination of stranded cetaceans by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network and the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme has indicated that seven animals, of four other species, found stranded in south‐west England, had pathology consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction, including two juvenile and two adult common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), one juvenile pilot whale (Globicephala melas), one juvenile Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) and one adult striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Although recorded traumatic lesions were often not as severe as those found in harbour porpoises, it is probable that the interactions did contribute to stranding and/or death in all four of the juvenile animals examined. Furthermore, analysis of photographs taken before establishment of the Marine Strandings Network revealed rake (teeth) marks consistent with bottlenose dolphin interaction on one stranded common dolphin in 1992. A number of causes have been suggested for these interactions in harbour porpoises stranded in the UK and it is possible that any combination of these factors may also be implicated in the cases described in this report.
Comparison of total calcium, ionised calcium and albumin concentrations in the plasma of captive tortoises (Testudo species)
Authors: Eatwell K.
Published: October 2010

Plasma total calcium, ionised calcium and albumin levels in Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni), spur‐thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca), marginated tortoises (Testudo marginata) and Horsfield's tortoises (Testudo horsfieldi) were investigated. The animals were captive adults maintained under natural unfiltered sunlight in the UK with no dietary sources of cholecalciferol. Analysis of total calcium data showed statistically significant seasonal elevations in females in August compared with March (P=0.003), and statistically significant elevations in females compared with males at all sampling points (March P=0.036, June P=0.003 and August P<0.0001). These differences in values became more prominent as the summer progressed. Albumin values did not appear significantly affected by season. However, males had significantly higher albumin levels than females in the August samples. A correlation between total calcium and ionised calcium was confirmed but there was no correlation between total calcium and albumin values. Total calcium levels were a poor indication of ionised calcium levels, which constituted between 18 and 57 per cent of the total calcium value.
… and a problem‐oriented approach to dermatology
Authors: Mason Ian S.
Published: October 2010

Saunders Solutions In Veterinary Practice: Small Animal Dermatology Anita Patel and Peter Forsythe 388 pages, softback, £41.99. Saunders Elsevier, 2008. ISBN 978 0 7020 2870 0
Who owns disease?
Authors: Morris Arianwen
Published: October 2010

The question of who is responsible for the diagnosis and control of disease was up for discussion at a one‐day symposium to mark the retirement of Professor Joe Brownlie from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) recently, after more than 40 years of research. Called ‘Who owns disease’, the symposium brought together leading scientists and stakeholders in the hope that it would encourage debate and lead to future guidance on the ownership of medical, veterinary and zoonotic diseases.