bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an elisa to assess the intensity of Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle
Authors: Salimi‐Bejestani M. R. , Cripps P. , Williams D. J. L.
Published: October 2010

An elisa with a diagnostic sensitivity of 98 per cent and specificity of 96 per cent was evaluated as a means of assessing the intensity of Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle. A total of 294 blood samples were collected from infected cattle at a local abattoir, and the level of infection in each animal was assessed on the basis of the extent of liver pathology and the presence of flukes; 120 blood samples were also collected from uninfected cattle kept on a farm known to be free of F hepatica. The results indicated that there was a significant correlation (P<0·001) between the elisa values and the intensity of infection. Values between 15 and 28 per cent of a positive control sample indicated a low intensity of infection, values between 28 and 50 per cent indicated a medium intensity of infection and values above 50 per cent indicated a high intensity of infection.
Associations between proteinuria, systemic hypertension and glomerular filtration rate in dogs with renal and non‐renal diseases
Authors: Wehner A. , Hartmann K. , Hirschberger J.
Published: October 2010

Proteinuria and systemic hypertension are well recognised risk factors in chronic renal failure (crf). They are consequences of renal disease but also lead to a further loss of functional kidney tissue. The objectives of this study were to investigate the associations between proteinuria, systemic hypertension and glomerular filtration rate (gfr) in dogs with naturally occurring renal and non‐renal diseases, and to determine whether proteinuria and hypertension were associated with shorter survival times in dogs withcrf. Measurements of exogenous creatinine plasma clearance (ecpc), urine protein:creatinine ratio (upc), and Doppler sonographic measurements of systolic blood pressure (sbp) were made in 60 dogs with various diseases. There was a weak but significant inverse correlation betweenupcandecpc, a significant inverse correlation betweensbpandecpcand a weak but significant positive correlation betweenupcandsbp. Some of the dogs withcrfwere proteinuric and almost all were hypertensive. Neoplasia was commonly associated with proteinuria in the dogs with a normalecpc.crfwas the most common cause leading to hypertension. In the dogs withcrf, hypertension and marked proteinuria were associated with significantly shorter survival times.
Prevalence of Yersinia species in healthy free‐ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Norway
Authors: Aschfalk A. , Kemper N. , Arnemo J. M. , Veiberg V. , Rosef O. , Neubauer H.
Published: October 2010

ENTERIC bacteria belonging to the genus Yersinia occur worldwide in domestic livestock, wild animals and the natural environment. Several Yersinia species are of significant animal and public health importance, such as Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, the causative agents of yersiniosis in human beings and animals, and Yersinia pestis, which causes plague (Neubauer and others 2000a, 2001a, b). This short communication describes a study to evaluate the habitat and prevalence of Yersinia species in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Norway.
Cluster of cases of malignant schwannoma in cattle
Authors: Murcia P. R. , Delhon G. , González M. J. , Vilas M. , Ramos‐Vara J. A. , De Las Heras M. , Nordhausen R. W. , Uzal F. A.
Published: October 2010

Between 1998 and 2001, several cases of ataxia and paresis followed by recumbency and death were reported in cows from different farms in a restricted area of the Argentinian Patagonia. Five cases of this cluster were studied and a diagnosis of malignant schwannoma was established. Electron microscopy (em) of tumour samples from three of the animals revealed intracytoplasmic or interstitial structures resembling retroviral particles. Attempts to isolate a viral agent from the tumours were unsuccessful but the epidemiological data and the em findings suggest a viral aetiology.
Behavioural and physiological effects of virginiamycin in the diets of horses with stereotypies
Authors: Freire R. , Clegg H. A. , Buckley P. , Friend M. A. , McGreevy P. D.
Published: October 2010

The effects of dietary supplements of virginiamycin on the behaviour and physiology of 17 thoroughbred geldings (five cribbers, six weavers and six control horses) were compared with the effects of a placebo over a period of 16 weeks. Virginiamycin had no effect on the horses' stereotypic behaviour, but it reduced their explorative behaviour, possibly owing to a reduction in feeding motivation. Virginiamycin increased the water intake of the cribbers and decreased the water intake of the control horses, but it was not possible to eliminate possible confounding factors for this effect. Virginiamycin had no other significant effects on the behaviour or physiology of the horses, and had no effect on the digestibility of their diets.
Review of diagnostic laboratory submissions of adult cattle ‘found dead’ in England and Wales in 2004
Authors: Watson E. N. , David G. P. , Cook A. J. C.
Published: October 2010

A total of 253 submissions from adult cattle ‘found dead’ in England and Wales were referred to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 2004. Carcases accounted for 54 per cent of the submissions and were of more diagnostic value than other types of sample. Whether the animals were beef or dairy, their distance from the laboratory and the number of deaths in the incident affected the likelihood of samples being submitted. The probability of reaching a diagnosis was influenced by the type of sample, the level of testing and the interval from sampling to receipt in the laboratory. Systemic disease was the most frequent cause of death in both dairy and beef cattle with hypomagnesaemia being the most frequent diagnosis (52 per cent) in beef cattle. In dairy cattle, 34 per cent of the diagnoses were for sporadic events, including haemorrhage and torsions of the digestive and reproductive tracts.
Tyzzer's disease in a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Scotland
Authors: Simpson V. R. , Hargreaves J. , Birtles R. J. , Marsden H. , Williams D. L.
Published: October 2010

A Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) cub found in weak condition on the Isle of Harris, Scotland, developed bilateral corneal oedema 16 days after being admitted to a rehabilitation centre. It died unexpectedly on day 26. On postmortem examination, there was excess clear fluid in the body cavities and the liver was swollen with numerous pale focal lesions and petechial haemorrhages throughout. Histopathological examination revealed bundles of bacilli morphologically typical of Clostridium piliforme within hepatocytes. Comparative analysis of the nucleotide base sequence of a 16S rdna fragment amplified from the infected liver tissue revealed that it was identical to a C piliforme 16S rdna sequence. The possibility of concurrent infection with canine adenovirus type 1 was considered but none of the characteristic histopathological lesions was observed and examination of the liver by transmission electron microscopy was negative for virus particles. This appears to be the first record of Tyzzer's disease in an otter and the first in a wild animal in Britain.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of reticular motility during rest, eating, rumination and stress in 30 healthy cows
Authors: Braun U. , Rauch S.
Published: October 2010

A 3·5 MHz linear transducer was used to assess the motility of the reticulum in 30 healthy, standing, non‐sedated cows while they were at rest, eating, ruminating and under stress. The ultrasonographic examinations were made over periods of nine minutes and video recorded for analysis. The reticulum contracted in a biphasic pattern while the cows were resting, eating or stressed. The first contraction was incomplete and was followed by a period of incomplete relaxation. A complete second contraction occurred immediately afterwards, followed by an interval of complete relaxation and the return of the organ to its original position. When the cows were ruminating, a regurgitation contraction, which was incomplete, occurred immediately before the biphasic contraction. The number of reticular contractions in a nine‐minute period was largest when the cows were eating (13·9 contractions, or approximately 1·5 per minute) and smallest when they were stressed (9·3 contractions, or approximately 1 per minute). The duration of the first reticular contraction was shortest during rumination (2·4 seconds) and longest when the cows were eating (3·0 seconds). The interval between two biphasic contractions was shortest when the cows were eating (31·6 seconds) and longest when they were stressed (53·8 seconds).
Patterns of lesions of bovine tuberculosis in wild red deer and wild boar
Authors: Zanella G. , Duvauchelle A. , Hars J. , Moutou F. , Boschiroli M. L. , B. Durand
Published: October 2010

The data obtained from a survey of Mycobacterium bovis infection in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) conducted in France in the 2005/06 hunting season were used to describe and quantify the pathological findings in the two species. The red deer had caseous abscessed lesions in their organs and lymph nodes, whereas in the wild boar the lesions were predominantly caseocalcareous and occurred mainly in the lymph nodes. The severity of the gross tuberculosis‐like lesions was estimated on the basis of a numerical score. The significant difference between the distribution of the scores in the two species indicated that the disease was more serious in the red deer than in the wild boar. Unlike the red deer, the wild boar did not show a generalised pattern of disease. Among the lymph nodes examined systematically, gross lesions were most frequently observed in the mesenteric lymph nodes in the red deer and in the retropharyngeal lymph nodes in the wild boar. In both species, the presence of gross lesions showed the closest agreement with the isolation of M bovis from the same lymph nodes. The different patterns of the lesions of tuberculosis in the two species suggest that red deer might play an important role in the intraspecies and interspecies dissemination of the infection, whereas in wild boar the spread of the infection would be more likely to be restricted to other wild boar.
Outbreak of Salmonella Thompson infection in a Swedish dairy herd
Authors: Sternberg S. , Johnsson A. , Aspan A. , Bergström K. , Kallay T. B. , Szanto E.
Published: October 2010

Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated from a faecal sample from a cow in a Swedish dairy herd after calving. When investigations were undertaken in the herd, Salmonella Thompson was isolated from heifers on a separate pasture, and when these heifers were brought into the herd S Thompson spread rapidly. Control strategies managed to rid the herd of the S Typhimurium infection and the prevalence of S Thompson was at first substantially reduced. There was a rapid increase in its prevalence when the animals were let out to pasture and this development eventually led to the depopulation of the entire herd.
Characterisation of Brucella abortus biovar 3 isolates from Turkey as biovar 3b
Authors: Ica T. , Aydin F. , Erdenlig S. , Guler L. , Büyükcangaz E.
Published: October 2010

Between 2002 and 2007, 75 strains of Brucella abortus were isolated from aborted bovine fetuses collected from several regions of Turkey. The isolates were all identified as B abortus biovar 3 by conventional methods. However, when they were analysed by enhanced amos‐ery pcr, a 5·4 kb deletion, different from that in the Tulya strain (B abortus biovar 3, atcc 23450), was identified in all of them. As a result, they were subtyped as B abortus biovar 3b.
Suspected adverse reactions, 2007
Authors: Dyer F. , Spagnuolo‐Weaver M. , Cooles S. , Tait A.
Published: October 2010

Reports to the uk Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (sarss) in 2007 increase by around 20 per cent compared with 2006

Reports of dogs accidentally ingesting veterinary medicinal products containing avermectins formulated for use in farm animals or horses

An increase in the number of reports involving fly strike in sheep and myxomatosis in rabbits associated with a suspected lack of efficacy of veterinary medicinal products

Serious hand injuries reported after accidental self‐injection

— These are some of the results of the sarss in 2007, as discussed in the following article by Fabia Dyer, Martha Spagnuolo‐Weaver, Sue Cooles and Alex Tait of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate
Efficacy of dog‐appeasing pheromone in reducing stress associated with social isolation in newly adopted puppies
Authors: Gaultier E. , Bonnafous L. , Vienet‐Legué D , Falewee C. , Bougrat L. , Lafont‐Lecuelle C. , Pageat P.
Published: October 2010

This study was designed to determine the potential value of dog‐appeasing pheromone (dap) in reducing stress in puppies newly adopted from a pet shop. The trial was triple‐blinded and placebo‐controlled. After their arrival at the pet shop, 32 puppies were fitted with a dap collar and 34 were fitted with a control collar, according to a randomisation protocol. Adopting owners were contacted by telephone, three and 15 days after they had adopted a puppy, to obtain information about the puppy's integration into the family, and particularly about any signs of distress shown by the puppy when it was socially isolated. All the isolated puppies from the control group vocalised during the first night. Signs of distress, particularly vocalisation, were significantly lower in the dap group on day 3 and throughout the rest of the study, and vocalisation during the night ceased significantly sooner in this group. These differences were observed in puppies of small, medium and large breeds. The dap collars had no effect on the incidence of house soiling.
Clinical and laboratory investigations of the outbreaks of foot‐and‐mouth disease in southern England in 2007
Authors: Ryan E. , Gloster J. , Reid S. M. , Li Y. , Ferris N. P. , Waters R. , Juleff N. , Charleston B. , Bankowski B. , Gubbins S. , Wilesmith J. W. , King D. P. , Paton D. J.
Published: October 2010

A case of foot‐and‐mouth disease (fmd) on a cattle farm in Normandy, Surrey, was confirmed on Friday August 3, 2007, the first case in the uk since 2001. The infection was detected nearby on a second farm on August 6. On September 12, fmd was confirmed on a farm approximately 20 km from Normandy in Egham, and this was followed by cases on five more farms in that area in the next three weeks. The majority of the infected farms consisted of multiple beef cattle holdings in semi‐urban areas. In total, 1578 animals were culled on the infected farms, and fmd virus infection was confirmed in 278 of them by the detection of viral antigen, genome or antibodies to the virus, or by clinical signs. This paper describes the findings from animal inspections on the infected farms, including the estimated ages of the fmd lesions and the numbers of animals infected. It also summarises the test results from samples taken for investigation, including the detection of preclinically viraemic animals by using real‐time reverse transcriptase‐pcr.
Effect of intravenous calcium borogluconate and sodium phosphate in cows with parturient paresis
Authors: Braun U. , Zulliger P. , Liesegang A. , Bleul U. , Hässig M.
Published: October 2010

Thirty cows with parturient paresis were divided into three groups of 10. All the cows were given 500 ml of a 40 per cent calcium borogluconate solution intravenously over a period of 10 minutes, and 20were also given 500 ml of a 10 per cent solution of sodium phosphate intravenously; in 10 of the cows this solution was administered over a period of 10 minutes immediately after the calcium borogluconate solution, and in the other 10 cows 200 ml of the solution was administered rapidly and the remaining 300 ml was added to 10 litres of sodium chloride and glucose solution and infused slowly over six hours. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the outcome of the treatments; six or seven of the cows in each group stood within eight hours of the treatment. There were no significant differences between the changes in serum calcium concentrations among the groups. The mean concentrations of inorganic phosphorus in the groups given sodium phosphate were increased above the normal range initially, but after eight hours there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the numbers of cows that were hypophosphataemic. There were no significant differences between the three groups with respect to changes after treatment in the serum concentrations of magnesium or parathyroid hormone.
Analgesia for cats after ovariohysterectomy with either buprenorphine or carprofen alone or in combination
Authors: Steagall P. V. M. , Taylor P. M. , Rodrigues L. C. C. , Ferreira T. H. , Minto B. W. , Aguiar A. J. A.
Published: October 2010

Eighty‐four female cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy in a blinded, randomised, prospective clinical study were assigned to one of three groups of 28 to receive either 0.01 mg/kg buprenorphine (group B), 4 mg/ kg carprofen (group C), or the same doses of both drugs (group BC). A dynamic and interactive visual analogue scale (DIVAS) from 0 to 100 mm, and a simple descriptive scale (SDS) from 0 to 4 were used to evaluate the cats’ degree of analgesia and sedation for 24 hours postoperatively. There was no significant difference in the cats’ sedation scores by SDS or DIVAS, and no difference in their pain scores by DIVAS. By SDS, the cats in group BC had significantly lower pain scores than the cats in group C (P<0.001) and group B (P<0.05). Nine of the cats in group B, nine in group C and five in group BC required rescue analgesia, and the cats in group C required rescue earlier than those in group B (P<0.05).
Variability of Manson and Leaver locomotion scores assigned to dairy cows by different observers
Authors: Channon A. J. , Walker A. M. , Pfau T. , Sheldon I. M. , Wilson A. M.
Published: October 2010

The gait scoring system developed by Manson and Leaver was used by five experienced observers to assess the gait of 83 milking Holstein‐Friesian cows in a live recording session, and video recordings were made. The agreement between the scores of the observers at the live session, and between each observer’s scores at the live session and a video session, were compared at three levels of stringency. The scores of the observers were highly variable at all but the least stringent threshold – whether a cow had a score of less than 3 or 3 or more, that is, whether it was not lame or lame.
Modified technique for the repair of third‐degree rectovaginal lacerations in mares
Authors: Climent F. , Ribera T. , Argüelles D. , Nomen C. , Prades M.
Published: October 2010

Eight mares with third‐degree rectovestibular lacerations were treated by a two‐stage surgical technique. The rectovestibular shelf was corrected with three parallel ‘circular’ continuous suture rows distributed along the longitudinal axis of the vagina, and the perineal body was reconstructed with three divergent simple continuous rows. Primary healing of the first‐stage surgery occurred in all the mares. Seven of the mares completed the two‐stage surgery and primary healing occurred in all of them. One of them returned to endurance racing competition and one was lost to follow‐up. The other five were bred and became pregnant; one foaled four times, two foaled three times, one foaled once and the other was pregnant at the time of writing. The condition did not recur in any of the mares after foaling.
Pathogenesis of Aeromonas hydrophila strain KJ99 infection and its extracellular products in two species of fish
Authors: Rey A. , Verján N. , Ferguson H. W. , Iregui C.
Published: October 2010

The distribution of antigen and pathological changes induced by an experimental infection with Aeromonas hydrophila strain KJ99, and its extracellular products, were studied in two species of fish. The microorganism was disseminated systemically and the haemodynamic and tissue changes were similar to those observed in septicaemia of mammals. Intussusception, degeneration and necrosis of the nervous plexus and muscular layers of the gastrointestinal tract were common findings.
Histological assessment of testicular residues in lambs and calves after Burdizzo castration
Authors: Stoffel M. H. , von Rotz A. , Kocher M. , Merkli M. , Boesch D. , Steiner A.
Published: October 2010

To assess the reliability of the Burdizzo procedure for castrating calves and lambs, testicular tissue from 63 bull calves (15 intact and 48 castrated) and 69 male lambs (35 intact and 34 castrated) was collected at slaughter and assessed histologically. The bull calves were castrated at either one, four to five or 12 to 16 weeks of age and the lambs at either one or 10 weeks. There was clear evidence of spermatogenesis in testicular tissue from all the intact animals. In the samples from the calves that had been castrated at 12 to 16 weeks functional testicular tissue was completely lacking. However, there was evidence of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in the calves that had been castrated at one week or four to five weeks, respectively. Failure to achieve complete involution of the testicular parenchyma was observed in the majority of lambs, irrespective of the age at which they had been castrated.
First cases of squirrelpox in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in Scotland
Authors: McInnes C. J. , Coulter L. , Dagleish M. P. , Fiegna C. , Gilray J. , Willoughby K. , Cole M. , Milne E. , Meredith A. , Everest D. J. , MacMaster A‐M.
Published: October 2010

Squirrelpox, caused by a poxvirus, is a major threat to the remaining UK red squirrel population. The spread of antibody‐positive grey squirrels has been monitored in the UK for the past decade. In 2005 grey squirrels that had been exposed to the virus appeared in the south of Scotland for the first time, followed approximately two years later by the appearance of squirrelpox disease in the local red squirrels. Four squirrels were examined. They all had gross external lesions and histological lesions typical of squirrelpox disease, but no significant internal lesions. The diagnosis was confirmed by PCR, electron microscopy and serology.
Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 in animals on public amenity premises in England and Wales, 1997 to 2007
Authors: Pritchard G. C. , Smith R. , Ellis‐Iversen J. , Cheasty T. , Willshaw G. A.
Published: October 2010

At the request of the public health authorities, 31 public amenity premises in England and Wales containing animals of various species were investigated for the presence of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 between 1997 and 2007, because of putative associations with human cases. VTEC O157 was confirmed in one or more species on 19 (61.3 per cent) of the premises. There were significant associations between the presence of VTEC O157 and the number of species sampled, the size of the enterprise, the presence of young cattle and the presence of adult pigs. E coli O157 was isolated from 305 (17.8 per cent) of 1715 samples taken from all the premises, and verocytotoxin genes were detected by PCR in 184 (98.4 per cent) of 187 representative isolates. On positive premises, the highest mean proportion of positive samples (29.0 per cent) was in cattle, followed by sheep (24.4 per cent), donkeys (14.6 per cent), pigs (14.3 per cent), horses (12.3 per cent) and goats (9.9 per cent). A high proportion of positive samples was obtained from camelid species sampled on three of the premises. The main phage types (PT) were 2 and 21/28, which were those most commonly isolated from human cases during the same period. A single PT was detected on 14 of the 19 positive premises, with up to six different species having the same PT.
Brain tumours in two Bactrian camels: a histiocytic sarcoma and a meningioma
Authors: Molenaar F. M. , Breed A. C. , Flach E. J. , McCandlish I. A. P. , Pocknell A. M. , Strike T. , Routh A. , Taema M. , Summers B. A.
Published: October 2010

Primary brain tumours were identified in two Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) living at the Zoological Society of London’s two zoos. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to diagnose a histiocytic sarcoma in a 16‐year‐old female and a fibroblastic meningioma in a 13‐year‐old male. Before one died and the other was euthanased both camels had shown progressive neurological signs, including circling and ataxia.
Risk factors for infection with highly pathogenic influenza A virus (H5N1) in commercial chickens in Bangladesh
Authors: Biswas P. K. , Christensen J. P. , Ahmed S. S. U. , Barua H. , Das A. , Rahman M. H. , Giasuddin M. , Hannan A. S. M. A. , Habib A. M. , Debnath N. C.
Published: October 2010

A matched case‐control study was carried out to identify risk factors for highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) infection in commercial chickens in Bangladesh. A total of 33 commercial farms diagnosed with H5N1 before September 9, 2007, were enrolled as cases, and 99 geographically matched unaffected farms were enrolled as control farms. Farm data were collected using a pretested questionnaire, and analysed by matched‐pair analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression. Two factors independently and positively associated with H5N1 infection remained in the final model. They were ‘farm accessible to feral and wild animals’ (odds ratio [OR] 5.71, 95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 1.81 to 18.0, P=0.003) and ‘footbath at entry to farm/shed’ (OR 4.93, 95 per cent CI 1.61 to 15.1, P=0.005). The use of a designated vehicle for sending eggs to a vendor or market appeared to be a protective factor (OR 0.14, 95 per cent CI 0.02 to 0.88, P=0.036).
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of porcine insulin zinc suspension in eight diabetic dogs
Authors: Fleeman L. M. , Rand J. S. , Morton J. M.
Published: October 2010

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of porcine insulin zinc suspension were studied in eight dogs with spontaneous diabetes mellitus and a lack of endogenous insulin, demonstrated by the lack of insulin secretion after an injection of glucagon and confirmed by measurement of the concentration of C‐peptide during the pharmacokinetic assessments. After daily subcutaneous injections of porcine insulin zinc suspension, concentrations of insulin and glucose that differed significantly from baseline were identified using the 90 per cent range of differences. In all the dogs there was an initial peak concentration of insulin approximately three hours after the injection and a second peak after approximately nine hours in all but one of them. The serum insulin concentration remained above baseline for a mean of 15·5 hours. The concentration of glucose was reduced significantly after the injections in all except one dog, which was normoglycaemic at baseline. The action of insulin began after approximately three hours and the minimum glucose concentration occurred after approximately eight hours. The median duration of action of the insulin was approximately 14 hours, with a range from 10 to more than 24 hours.
Outbreak of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in golden Guernsey goats in Great Britain
Authors: Daniel R. , Evans H. , Rolfe S. , de la Rua‐Domenech R. , Crawshaw T. , Higgins R. J. , Schock A. , Clifton‐Hadley R.
Published: October 2010

An outbreak of caprine tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis was disclosed in June 2008, affecting goats of the golden Guernsey breed kept on 10 separate smallholdings in south‐west Wales and the west of England. Following the initial diagnosis at postmortem examination, 30 goats that reacted positively to the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test, together with five in‐contact animals, were euthanased and subjected to postmortem examination and mycobacterial culture. Spoligotyping and variable number tandem repeat analysis of isolates showed that they were all of the same genotype, endemic to south‐west Wales. Retrospective movement tracings identified a goat herd in south‐west Wales, by then completely dispersed, as the probable common source of infection. There was a perfect correlation between the SICCT test and culture results in all slaughtered goats. Grossly visible tubercular lesions were observed at postmortem examination in all but one reactor.
Collection and analysis of breath and breath condensate exhaled by feral pigeons (Columba livia) and chickens (Gallus domesticus)
Authors: Hatt J‐M. , Zollinger E. , Boehler A. , Hofer M. , Steinmetz H. W. , Clauss M.
Published: October 2010

Samples of exhaled breath and breath condensate were collected from 20 feral pigeons (Columba livia) while they were anaesthetised and intubated, and when they were kept unanaesthetised in an acrylic box. Samples were also collected from six chickens (Gallus domesticus) while they were kept in an acrylic box. The samples were analysed for pH, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide and leukotriene B4. The volume of condensate collected from the pigeons was independent of bodyweight and significantly more (1.66 [0.64] ml/kg) was obtained while they were in the acrylic box than when they were intubated (0.87 [0.32] ml/kg). The mean volume collected from the chickens was 0.15 (0.06) ml/kg. Cooled samples had higher concentrations of NO than uncooled samples. The pH of the samples of condensate collected from birds in the acrylic box were significantly higher (7.9 [0.3]) than those from the intubated birds (5.3 [0.1]), and samples from the chickens had significantly higher pH values than samples from the pigeons (8.2 [0.2] v 7.9 [0.3]).
Salmonellacolonisation of laying hens following vaccination with killed and live attenuated commercialSalmonellavaccines
Authors: Atterbury R. J. , Allen V. M. , Carrique‐Mas J. J. , Davies R. H.
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a killedSalmonellavaccine and three live vaccines in preventing caecal colonisation of Hy‐line Brown pullets bySalmonellaEnteritidis PT 4. The lowest number ofSalmonella‐positive birds following the largest challenge (108cfu) was recorded for live vaccine 1. However, birds treated with the killed vaccine had a significantly lower number of salmonellae in their caeca compared with both the control group and the other vaccine groups (P<0˙05).
Comparison of a rapid immunoassay for antibodies to the C6 antigen with conventional tests for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs in Europe
Authors: Gerber B. , Haug K. , Eichenberger S. , Reusch C. E. , Wittenbrink M. M.
Published: October 2010

A commercial immunoassay for antibodies to the C6 antigen of Borrelia burgdorferi was evaluated against an IgG in‐house ELISA in combination with a Western blot assay to examine 104 samples of serum from 53 healthy Bernese mountain dogs, which were suspected to have a breed predisposition to Lyme borreliosis, and 55 samples from 30 healthy large‐breed longhair dogs. The two test methods correlated in 125 (79 per cent) of the samples with an agreement of kappa=0·571 (P<0·001). In comparison with the in‐house ELISA in combination with a Western blot, the sensitivity and specificity of the C6 test were 81 per cent and 77 per cent respectively. The agreement between the tests was better with the samples from the Bernese mountain dogs (k=0·681) than with the samples from the control dogs (k=0·347).
Treatment of fibroadenomatosis in 14 cats with aglepristone – changes in blood parameters and follow‐up
Authors: Jurka P. , Max A.
Published: October 2010

Fourteen female cats with fibroadenomatosis were treated with aglepristone, and the effectiveness of the treatment and its effect on selected haematological and blood chemistry parameters were studied. The cats were monitored for 12 months after the end of the treatment. Complete remission of the clinical signs was achieved on average 3·9 weeks after the treatment began; the success of the treatment confirmed the clinical diagnosis of fibroadenomatosis. During the course of the treatment the cats’ haematological parameters returned to normal. In cats that had previously been treated with longacting medroxyprogesterone acetate, treatment with aglepristone for five weeks was recommended. Cases of fibroadenomatosis reappearing after a few months should be regarded as new disease rather than a relapse. Six cats were subsequently mated and four gave birth to one or more litters; all the pregnancies proceeded normally with no clinically evident fibroadenomatosis. The other eight cats underwent ovariohysterectomy soon after the aglepristone treatment was completed.
Diagnosis of placental pathogens in small ruminants by immunohistochemistry and PCR on paraffin‐embedded samples
Authors: Navarro J. A. , Buendia A. J. , Martínez C. M. , Sánchez J. , Ortega N. , Gallego M. C. , Caro M. R. , Salinas J.
Published: October 2010

A histological study was carried out on 58 formalinfixed and paraffin‐embedded samples of placenta from sheep and goats that had aborted, and the placental lesions were graded. Sequential histological sections of each cotyledon were then immunostained with specific antibodies and used for PCR detection of Chlamydophila abortus, Coxiella burnetii, Salmonella Abortusovis, Brucella melitensis, Listeria monocytogenes and Toxoplasma gondii. Most of the cotyledons showed different degrees of placentitis. The proportional agreement between the two techniques was 0·879 (κvalue 0·746). C abortus was the most prevalent pathogen. Mixed infections were common.
Cross‐sectional study of Streptococcus species in quarter milk samples of dairy cows in the canton of Bern, Switzerland
Authors: Guélat‐Brechbuehl M. , Thomann A. , Albini S. , Moret‐Stalder S. , Reist M. , Bodmer M. , Michel A. , Niederberger M. D. , Kaufmann T.
Published: October 2010

A total of 2538 quarter milk samples from 638 lactating dairy cows from 47 farms in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, were investigated for streptococci. A novel, simple and inexpensive laboratory method was used for the differentiation of Streptococcus species, and a risk factor analysis was carried out. The prevalence in the quarter milk samples was 0.2 per cent for Streptococcus agalactiae, 1.3 per cent for Streptococcus uberis, 1.3 per cent for Streptococcus dysgalactiae, 0.1 per cent for Enterococcus species and 2.9 per cent for minor Streptococcus species (designated Streptococcus‐Lactococcus‐Enterococcus [SLE] group). Based on the somatic cell count (SCC), S uberis and S dysgalactiae were classified as ‘major’ pathogens and the bacteria in the SLE group as ‘minor’ pathogens. For S uberis, S dysgalactiae and bacteria in the SLE group, the most significant risk factor was an intramammary infection (IMI) of a neighbouring quarter by the same pathogen. Other significant risk factors for S uberis infection were a positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) result and a SCC of more than100,000 cells/ml. Significant risk factors for IMI with S dysgalactiae were a positive CMT result, teat injury and palpable abnormalities in the udder. Infection with bacteria in the SLE group was significantly associated with a SCC of more than 100,000 cells/ml, a lactation number of more than 2, the right rear quarter (as the location of infection) and a positive CMT result.
Uterine disorders in 59 rabbits
Authors: Walter B. , Poth T. , Böhmer E. , Braun J. , Matis U.
Published: October 2010

The medical records of 59 rabbits with uterine disorders were assessed retrospectively. Ten animals were presented because of vaginal discharge; the reasons for presentation of the remaining 49 rabbits included mammary masses, skin tumours, anorexia and poor general health. All the rabbits underwent a clinical examination, and 54 were examined by ultrasonography and/or radiography. Forty‐five rabbits underwent ovariohysterectomy and the other 14 rabbits were euthanased, three because of pulmonary metastases and 11 because of very poor health unrelated to their uterine disease. The genital tracts of all the rabbits were submitted for histological examination. Endometrial hyperplasia (in 24 rabbits) and adenocarcinoma (in 18 rabbits) were the most common uterine disorders; in a further 11 cases both conditions were observed. The remaining six rabbits had other uterine disorders. Four rabbits that were presented with adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland were found to have concurrent uterine disorders. The mean age of the rabbits with endometrial hyperplasia was 4·5 years, and that of the rabbits with adenocarcinoma was 6·1 years. Four rabbits had ovarian tumours.
Homeopathic prescribing for chronic conditions in equine veterinary practice in the UK
Authors: Mathie R. T. , Baitson E. S. , Hansen L. , Elliott M. F. , Hoare J.
Published: October 2010

Twelve Faculty of Homeopathy veterinarians recorded data systematically at 777 consecutive homeopathic appointments for horses over a period of 12 months. A spreadsheet enabled the recording of information, which included the date of appointment; horse and owner identity (anonymised); sex of horse; main medical problem treated; whether the condition was chronic or acute; whether the appointment was new or a follow‐up; owner‐assessed clinical outcome on a seven‐point scale, ranging from ‐3 to +3, compared with the first appointment; homeopathic medicine(s) prescribed; and whether any conventional or other complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) was being used concurrently to treat the condition. Data from 289 horses comprised a total of 305 individual conditions identified as chronic in nature, of which 234 had a follow‐up assessment. At the final appointment for chronic cases during the study period, 4.3 per cent were receiving conventional medication and 17.1 per cent were being given another CAM treatment in addition to homeopathy. The eight chronic conditions most frequently treated with homeopathy were: arthritis, headshaking, laminitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sweet itch, dermatitis, sarcoidosis and Cushing's syndrome.
Papers Survey of cull sow bone and joint integrity in the Moorepark Research Farm herd
Authors: Ryan W. F. , Lynch P. B. , O'Doherty J. V.
Published: October 2010

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of production (the number and weight of pigs produced over a lifetime) on the physical and mechanical properties of the metacarpals of cull sows, the prevalence of osteochondrosis and conformation traits. Metacarpals (n=79) and forelimbs (n=36) from cull sows were collected at slaughter. Bones were CT scanned for cross‐sectional area and moment of inertia. Cylindrical sections from the diaphysis were used for mechanical testing and for calculating bone strength indices. The value of elastic (Young's) modulus, dry bone ash percentage, apparent bone density and bone mineral density did not decrease with the parity of the sows. Osteochondrosis was found in all the sows. The most severe lesions were in the medial condyle of the humerus and the anconeal process of the ulna. No relationship was found between lameness and joint pathology.
Predictors for successful bacteriological culture from milk samples
Authors: Bishop H. , Erkelens J. , Van Winden S.
Published: October 2010

A total of 757 milk samples were taken from 57 farms throughout Wales as part of a mastitis investigation. Problem cows were selected using the most recent milk recording or, if these data were unavailable, the whole herd was assessed using the California mastitis test (CMT) and scored on a scale of 0 to 3. The affected quarter was identified using CMT. The results of the bacteriology were grouped into negative and positive culture. All contaminated samples were excluded. The CMT recording at the time of sampling, the infection status of the cow (new, first, chronic or repeat) as defined by national milk records and the number of quarters infected at the time of sampling were identified for negative and positive samples. Selecting quarters with a higher CMT score increased the likelihood of positive culture. Culturing from a sample with a CMT score of 3 was over three times more likely to yield a positive culture than a score of 1 (odds ratio [OR] 3.74, 95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 1.41 to 9.97) and 1.7 times more likely to yield a positive culture than a score of 2 (OR 1.70, 95 per cent CI 1.16 to 2.50). Culturing from a score of 2 was not statistically different from a score of 1 in terms of the likelihood that a positive culture would be identified (OR 2.20, 95 per cent CI 0.83 to 5.93). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of negative samples when comparing chronic, repeat, new and first infections or number of quarters infected.
Glucosuria in Norwegian elkhounds and other breeds during dog shows
Authors: Heiene R. , BjØrndal H. , IndrebØ A.
Published: October 2010

Clinically healthy Norwegian elkhounds were tested for glucosuria by urine dipstick analysis and the results were compared with a group of dogs of other breeds during 15 dog shows. Fifty‐two of 187 Norwegian elkhounds (27.3 per cent) and 15 of 202 dogs of other breeds (7.4 per cent) were glucosuric during the dog shows; the difference was statistically significant. Two of the glucosuric elkhounds and one non‐glucosuric elkhound developed signs of kidney disease during the year of the study.
Veterinary surgeons and suicide: a structured review of possible influences on increased risk
Authors: Bartram D. J. , Baldwin D. S.
Published: October 2010

Veterinary surgeons are known to be at a higher risk of suicide compared with the general population. There has been much speculation regarding possible mechanisms underlying the increased suicide risk in the profession, but little empirical research. A computerised search of published literature on the suicide risk and influences on suicide among veterinarians, with comparison to the risk and influences in other occupational groups and in the general population, was used to develop a structured review. Veterinary surgeons have a proportional mortality ratio (PMR) for suicide approximately four times that of the general population and around twice that of other healthcare professions. A complex interaction of possible mechanisms may occur across the course of a veterinary career to increase the risk of suicide. Possible factors include the characteristics of individuals entering the profession, negative effects during undergraduate training, work‐related stressors, ready access to and knowledge of means, stigma associated with mental illness, professional and social isolation, and alcohol or drug misuse (mainly prescription drugs to which the profession has ready access). Contextual effects such as attitudes to death and euthanasia, formed through the profession’s routine involvement with euthanasia of companion animals and slaughter of farm animals, and suicide ‘contagion’ due to direct or indirect exposure to suicide of peers within this small profession are other possible influences.
Interventions with potential to improve the mental health and wellbeing of UK veterinary surgeons
Authors: Bartram D. J. , Sinclair J. M. A. , Baldwin D. S.
Published: October 2010

The proportion of UK veterinary surgeons who die by suicide as opposed to other causes is approximately four times that of the general population, and around twice that of other healthcare professionals. Recent research suggests that veterinary surgeons report high levels of psychological distress. This paper proposes a portfolio of evidence‐based interventions, for both organisations and individuals, which have the potential to improve mental health and wellbeing in the veterinary profession.
Investigation of risk factors for Salmonella on commercial egg‐laying farms in Great Britain, 2004–2005
Authors: Snow L. C. , Davies R. H. , Christiansen K. H. , Carrique‐Mas J. J. , Cook A. J. C. , Evans S. J.
Published: October 2010

In 2004/05, all European Union member states were required to carry out standardised prevalence surveys to establish the baseline prevalence of Salmonella in commercial laying flocks. As part of the survey in Great Britain, additional data were collected from 380 of the enrolled laying hen holdings to investigate risk factors for Salmonella at farm level. Stratified, simple random sampling was used to select holdings from which dust and boot swab samples were collected and tested for Salmonella using a modification of ISO 6579:2002. Using a multivariable logistic model weighted to account for the survey design, several factors significantly associated with Salmonella and Salmonella Enteritidis status were identified. Larger holdings (≥30,000 birds) were found to be at higher risk of Salmonella (odds ratio [OR] 4.79, P=0.025), while vaccination (OR 0.28, P=0.013), providing foot dips with brushes (OR 0.27, P=0.042), washing and disinfecting the house at depopulation (OR 0.19, P=0.003), having a clean car park away from house (OR 0.14, P=0.001), using an independent (OR 0.19, P=0.007) or other non‐company (OR 0.40, P=0.049) source of feed, being over 1 km from the nearest neighbouring farm (OR 0.45, P=0.021) and the presence of cats and dogs on the farm (OR 0.26, P=0.002) or on contiguous farms (OR 0.44, P=0.030) reduced the risk of any Salmonella serovars being present. Factors found to be associated specifically with an increased risk of S Enteritidis infection included holding size (OR 14.88, P=0.001) and frequent sightings of rats (OR 8.17, P<0.001) or mice (OR 5.78, P=0.006). Non‐caged systems (OR 0.14, P=0.002), vaccination (OR 0.08, P=0.001), the use of a non‐company feed source (OR 0.11, P=0.003), running the site as all‐in/all‐out (OR 0.06, P<0.001) and the presence of cats and dogs on the farm (OR 0.14, P=0.002) were associated with a reduced risk.
Minimally invasive surgical tube cystotomy for treating obstructive urolithiasis in small ruminants with an intact urinary bladder
Authors: Fazili M. R. , Malik H. U. , Bhattacharyya H. K. , Buchoo B. A. , Moulvi B. A. , Makhdoomi D. M.
Published: October 2010

Ten young, male, entire small ruminants (seven kids and three lambs) with obstructive urolithiasis, which were presented within three days of complete blockage and before rupture of the urinary bladder and urethra, underwent a minimally invasive surgical tube cystotomy through the left paralumbar fossa. The catheter was placed in the bladder lumen through a metallic cannula and fixed to the skin with a stay suture. Surgery was performed with the animal standing (six cases) or in right lateral recumbency (four cases) on the day of presentation. All animals were discharged the same day. Eight animals urinated normally within a mean of seven days (range four to 10 days). One animal had a blockage of urine flow as a result of kinking of the catheter on the third postoperative day, and in another the catheter collapsed on the fourth postoperative day. These were managed by a second, conventional surgical tube cystotomy. No recurrence of the condition was noticed in any of the animals during a six‐month follow‐up period.
Seroprevalence and spatial distribution of Fasciola hepatica ‐infected dairy herds in England and Wales
Authors: McCann C. M. , Baylis M. , Williams D. J. L.
Published: October 2010

The seroprevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection in a population of commercial dairy herds in England and Wales was estimated using an ELISA that detected antibodies to F hepatica in bulk tank milk. A total of 3130 milk samples, obtained as convenience samples from two commercial milk‐testing laboratories, were tested during the winter of 2006/07. Herds considered to be seropositive were categorised as low positive, medium positive or high positive. A geospatial map was drawn to show the distribution of infected herds and the seroprevalence of exposure at regional level, using the Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics boundaries, and at a finer spatial level defined by postcode area. Overall, 76 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 74 to 77 per cent) of herds carried antibodies to F hepatica ; the seroprevalence in England was 72 per cent (95 per cent CI 70 to 74 per cent) and in Wales it was 84 per cent (95 per cent CI 82 to 86 per cent). The highest prevalences of exposure were found in north‐west England, where more than 47 per cent of herds were in the high positive exposure category.