Food Animal Medicine Research Articles

Cytology in Ruminant and Camelid Practice

Cytology is often an overlooked diagnostic modality in food animal medicine. The reasons for this are varied but often revolve around unfamiliarity with the indications, procedures, methods of evaluation, or criteria for interpretation. Diseased tissues tend to respond with specific changes in cell type and architecture. Evaluation of these changes can aid in refining a diagnosis, establishing a prognosis and recommending specific treatment. Collection of cytological samples from both solid tissues and body fluids is a simple, efficient and economical procedure. The methods for collection and preparation of these samples including abdominocentesis, thoracocentesis, pericardiocentesis, tracheal wash aspirates and cerebral spinal fluid are described. Interpretation of cytological and fluid analysis is also discussed.

Cooperating with Industry to Teach Food-Animal Medicine

Cooperative programs with agribusiness offer opportunities for colleges of veterinary medicine to expand their instructional programs in agricultural practice. Agribusinesses associated with livestock agriculture recognize the importance of veterinary medicine in maintaining a vibrant and successful industry. Stewardship of corporate support involves close communication with advocates within the companies, providing them with documentation of the potential effects of corporate investments. This article describes the creation of the Michigan State University (MSU) Training Center for Dairy Professionals, a key aspect of which was the identification of innovative and productive areas of mutual interest and benefit. In addition to supporting the dairy industry by training veterinary students, the program offers specific benefits to investors, including the use of MSU facilities and direct participation in veterinary instruction.

Demographics, moral orientation, and veterinary shortages in food animal and laboratory animal medicine

The demographics of the veterinary profession have changed dramatically in recent years, with the most striking change being the gender shift within the profession. Women comprised just 10% of veterinary practitioners in 1970. In contrast, by 1985, more than 50% of the students attending veterinary schools in the United States were female, and by 1992, that proportion had risen to 64%. Today, just under 80% of students entering veterinary schools in the United States are female, with some veterinary school classes being 100% female. Female practitioners outnumber males, and it is estimated that women will comprise 67% of veterinary professionals by 2015. 1 A full discussion of the reasons for this demographic shift is beyond the scope of the present commentary, but similar, although less dramatic, changes have been occurring in the other health professions. 2,3

Work Conditions, Job Preparation, and Placement Strategies for Food-Animal Veterinarians

This study examines the responses of 1,047 human-resources personnel who recruit veterinarians for positions in their organizations. Work conditions in the organization, lifestyle and time-management issues, job benefits, job expectations, supervisor relations, and the physical demands of veterinary work are studied. Comparisons are made between four different occupational areas: food animals, mixed animals, companion animals, and industry positions in veterinary medicine. The findings portray a career in food animal medicine as very positive. Recruiters also make recommendations to colleges of veterinary medicine for strategies to improve the preparation and placement of their graduates.

Job satisfaction, changes in occupational area, and commitment to a career in food supply veterinary medicine

Major concerns in the demand and supply of veterinarians for food supply veterinary medicine (FSVM) involve job satisfaction, changes in occupational area (ie, switching careers within veterinary medicine), and commitment to a career in FSVM. To create meaningful strategies aimed at increasing the commitment of veterinary students and practitioners to this area of veterinary medicine, a thorough understanding of the forces that influence job satisfaction, changes in occupational area, and career commitment in the field of FSVM is needed. The study reported here was conducted to generate information about veterinary students and practitioners who change their focus from food animal medicine to other occupational areas in the veterinary profession. The phenomenon of switching careers in veterinary medicine has been discussed in terms of the early years during the career of veterinarians, when they choose to leave their first job and change their occupational area. It has been reported 1

Food animal clinical course evaluations are influenced by student career goals

In response to concerns expressed by faculty members that the preponderance of students interested in small animal practice negatively impacts results of food animal course evaluations, a study was undertaken to examine the relationship between student career goals and student evaluations of courses and course content. All student evaluations available for a food animal medicine, surgery and production medicine clinical course taught at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine from January 23, 2002 to June 7, 2005 were compiled. One component of the survey was student perceptions of the course and course content. These perceptions were linked to student career goals. Median scores for course content differed significantly among students with small animal, mixed animal and large animal career goals (P=0.002). Specifically, the grade for course content differed among students with an expressed career in small animal practice and students with an expressed career in large animal practice (P<0.05). Median scores for the course in general also differed significantly among the three defined groups (P=0.044); however, none of the specific pair-wise comparisons were significant (P>0.05).

Summer Externship Program in Food Animal Medicine, Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health (FAME)

Though veterinarians play a vital role in producing an abundant, affordable and safe food supply, fewer veterinarians entering the profession are interested in this aspect of work. Our goal is to attract and train qualified professionals in these areas through experiential learning and real-world problem solving early in their training.

Food Supply Veterinary Medicine: Creating an Awareness of Livestock Security Risks

There is growing recognition of a need to redefine traditional food animal veterinary medicine, not only from the standpoint of the skills, knowledge, and abilities required of veterinarians but also from the standpoint of the organizational structures, delivery teams, new breadth of roles, and geographic scope. In the 1970s and 1980s, when we began to practice production medicine, the delivery team included decision makers for the production unit: veterinarians, producers, lenders, nutritionists, animal breeders, and agricultural engineers. Strategies and approaches were geared toward health, welfare, and enterprise productivity. Today, the delivery team includes a broader set of decision makers: appointed and elected government officials, regulatory and law enforcement officials, homeland security advisors, emergency managers, public health practitioners, and CEOs of the biological and pharmaceutical industry. Strategies and approaches are geared toward assuring the health and welfare of animals in multiple livestock industries, protecting the food supply, retaining international markets, and maintaining consumer confidence. This issue of the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education addresses the theme of a changing food animal practitioner, with the area now more appropriately termed “food supply veterinary medicine” in recognition of the expanded role of the veterinary practitioner.1 Several articles in this issue address the need for new directions in health care delivery by species, by livestock industry, and by the full scope of responsibilities for both animal and human health. Others address the need to restructure food animal medicine clinical experiences. This article takes a somewhat different approach, addressing needs and a potential response from a geographic viewpoint. Academic institutions, academic veterinarians, and veterinary students are a critically underutilized resource in meeting global needs for livestock security. While governments ponder complex decisions under a blizzard of conflicting information, non-governmental organizations may find themselves with adequate funding but limited human resources and limited expertise, and people in need go on wanting. Our academic resources need to become formally involved. An effective mechanism to inform educators about the future needs of the profession, adjust academic curricula, and develop a strategy to better utilize our significant academic resources must be identified immediately. “Food animal medicine” has now appropriately expanded into “food supply veterinary medicine.” The issues considered include livestock health and production, product wholesomeness, and distribution and availability of products to meet the needs of global consumers. These issues suggest the need for a comprehensive approach encompassing a vast industry. As veterinarians, we find ourselves employed across all sectors, and we should be a valuable guiding and connecting resource in this food chain. Additional areas of growing importance are bio-security and policy surrounding transboundary, emerging, and bioterrorism-related disease (TEB diseases). Many of the concepts we apply to all three are very similar. The following sections of this article reflect critical considerations toward a hemispheric approach to protection of livestock resources and foods of animal origin. We begin by thinking locally, then nationally, then regionally, and discuss a broad network solution. There is a critical need to consider the role of veterinary education in preparing food supply veterinarians for the future. Dr. Corrie Brown initiates our thinking by focusing on what is needed for early diagnosis and rapid response to a TEB disease; very significant veterinary roles exist at the local level. Dr. Pamela Ibarra reflects on her experiences in Mexico in describing the nature of national responses to protect livestock resources. Dr. Luis Espinoza describes the leadership and projects that are part of the programs of the Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OIRSA), a regional animal health organization in Central America. Dr. Everardo Gonzalez Padilla summarizes the perceived needs and discusses a possible network solution. Glenn Slack then issues a challenge to academic veterinary medicine to ensure that the attributes of graduating veterinarians match the needs of society. In an environment of global travel and trade, asymmetric warfare targeting agricultural resources, and rapidly increasing worldwide human populations, hunger, and poverty, the veterinary profession must respond. The profession will look for leaders, and institutions of veterinary education must be among them. THE IMPACT OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS (CORRIE BROWN) A rapid response is required to avoid economic devastation resulting from TEB diseases of animals. However, response mechanisms cannot be activated until the presence of disease is detected. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical. This early diagnosis requires three factors: recognition that there is a disease in the field, sufficient laboratory capacity, and a government with the will to be involved.

Practitioner-Defined Competencies Required of New Veterinary Graduates in Food Animal Practice

INTRODUCTION This article describes a comprehensive list of competencies in veterinary food animal medicine and the manner in which these competencies were derived. The resulting competency list can be used as a reference to assess current courses and curricula or to develop new curricula; it may also be useful to other practitioners to identify strengths and weaknesses in their current level of knowledge and skill.

Diagnostic analgesia of the equine forefoot

Equine Veterinary EducationVolume 16, Issue 3 p. 159-165 Diagnostic analgesia of the equine forefoot J. Schumacher, J. Schumacher Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071Search for more papers by this authorJ. Schumacher, Corresponding Author J. Schumacher Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama*Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AlabamaSearch for more papers by this authorM. C. Schramme, M. C. Schramme Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USASearch for more papers by this authorF. J. DeGraves, F. J. DeGraves Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AlabamaSearch for more papers by this authorR. Smith, R. Smith Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UKSearch for more papers by this authorM. Coker, M. Coker Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AlabamaSearch for more papers by this author J. Schumacher, J. Schumacher Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071Search for more papers by this authorJ. Schumacher, Corresponding Author J. Schumacher Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Alabama*Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AlabamaSearch for more papers by this authorM. C. Schramme, M. C. Schramme Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USASearch for more papers by this authorF. J. DeGraves, F. J. DeGraves Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AlabamaSearch for more papers by this authorR. Smith, R. Smith Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UKSearch for more papers by this authorM. Coker, M. Coker Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901–1071 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, AlabamaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 05 January 2010 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3292.2004.tb00288.xCitations: 15AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume16, Issue3June 2004Pages 159-165 This article also appears in:Kester News Hour and Milne Lecture AAEP 2021 Virtual Issue RelatedInformation

Treatment of Sodium Balance Disorders: Water Intoxication and Salt Toxicity

Electrolyte disorders are commonly identified in food animal medicine. Some of these electrolyte disturbances require that the veterinarian be aware of the potential for causing harm during routine fluid therapy. Hyponatremia (water intoxication) and hypernatremia (salt toxicity) are two such disorders. Both create osmolar disturbances that effect changes in the brain's osmolar state. During fluid resuscitation it is possible to cause iatrogenic central nervous system damage in these cases. It is important to recognize those cases where sodium imbalance may complicate routine therapy, understand the underlying mechanisms for osmolar changes in the plasma and brain, and know the appropriate steps to take for safe correction of the sodium disturbance.

Use of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD)

Objectives To report the results of 3 surveys evaluating the extent that the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) is used by veterinarians, the profession's perception of the need for the program, barriers that prevent veterinarians from fully using the service, and the perceptions that animal production industry groups have regarding FARAD. Design Telephone and mail surveys were used to collect information using cross-sectional, case-control, and directed sample studies. Sample Population Food animal veterinarians and veterinarians and nonveterinarians in allied animal industries or with special interest in production animal medicine. Results The use of FARAD was high among dairy and general practitioners, but low among beef practitioners and veterinarians with minor commitment to food animal medicine. Solo practitioners and veterinarians with less than 13 years in practice were less likely to use FARAD. Dairy practitioners who had not used FARAD were most likely to prescribe extralabel products. Clinical Implications Results imply that dairy and general food animal practitioners have either greater need or access through educational networks and are more aware of FARAD than practitioners who work with beef and those with a minor component of their practice involving food animals. The difference in familiarity and use of FARAD between practice type is an important finding, but the root of the difference is not clear; it may be attributable to a difference in the effectiveness of knowledge transfer for the groups, or the message is ignored because the issue of drug residues is less compelling for veterinarians and their clients in the beef sector. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;214:344–350)

Prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility, and genetic diversity of Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 collected at four Kansas beef cattle feedyards over 13 months (1998)

Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Eschericia Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates will help to coli O157:H7 are important foodborne pathogens, determine 1) their feedyard sources, 2) which but longitudinal studies of their prevalence in beef antibiotics could be effective for cattle therapy, 3) cattle feedyards have not been done. Our longsources that have greatest resistance, 4) whether term study involved 24,556 samples taken from some genetically identical isolates are developing beef cattle feedyards found overall prevalences of resistance over time, and 5) seasonal resistance 4.87% for Salmonella, 20.1% for Campylobacter patterns for each antibiotic tested. Knowing the in hospital pen fecal samples, and 0.20% for E. genetic diversity of organisms such as E. coli coli O157:H7. Yard and pen differences (P<0.05) O157:H7 aids investigators in determining if were detected. All 53 E. coli O157:H7 isolates contamination is due primarily to resident or were resistant to Talmicosin and Erythromycin, transient isolates and could help trace the source two antimicrobials used in food animal medicine. of disease outbreaks. Monitoring the prevalence, Their genetic diversity was high and did not antibiotic susceptibility, and genetic diversity of indicate the presence of resident strains at the foodborne pathogens at cattle feedyards is imporyards studied. Salmonella, Campylobacter, and tant for producers designing production animal E. coli O157:H7 were probably brought into the (preharvest) Hazard Analysis Critical Control yards by shipments of new cattle. Many of these Points (HACCP) programs for pathogen reducorganisms were susceptible to antibiotics comtion. monly used to treat beef cattle.

Evaluation of a practice-based ambulatory program in food animal medicine, surgery, and herd health management

Objective— To assess the educational value of a practice-based ambulatory program used at a school of veterinary medicine. Design— Retrospective cohort study. Sample Population— Graduates of US veterinary medical schools between 1987 and 1994. Procedure— Phase I involved use of interviews and focus groups to assist in development of the questionnaire used in phase II, a retrospective cohort study. The pretested questionnaire was sent to a study population consisting of all graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, between 1987 and 1994 as well as a control group who were randomly selected from the 1994 AVMA list of veterinarians. Control-group veterinarians were matched on the basis of professional activity, region, and year of graduation. Results— 728 of 1.067 veterinarians completed the questionnaire in phase II of the study (response rate, 68%). The practice-based ambulatory program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison compared favorably with university-based ambulatory programs in volume of experiences and perceived educational quality. Regardless of rotation type. female students were significantly less likely to observe or perform 12 specific clinical procedures and were significantly less likely to rate instructional quality as excellent or very good. compared with male students. Clinical Implications— Practice-based ambulatory rotations can be a good alternative to existing university-based ambulatory rotations. Implementation of these programs should emphasize performance of procedures while striving to ensure participation of female students. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997;210:1590–1594

Whither and How Food Animal Medicine Approaches the Millennium

We have had the advantage of hearing from Dr. Ed Jesse, Dr. Robert Cropp and Mr. Richard Catta, so we are better informed than only a few hours ago on the various --- and complicated, aspects of milk pricing and marketing, the shifting demographics of the dairy industry, and the challenges facing dairy producers in the years ahead leading us to the millennium.&#x0D; Where will the food animal veterinary practitioner be in these coming years of change and challenge? What role will we play in helping to influence and shape the future of "our" dairy industry?

Using and Interpreting Diagnostic Tests

Everything a veterinary clinician does ends in a decision: to treat, to do more tests, or to wait. The diagnostic process is, of necessity, a dualistic one. We have a need for a binary classification system because the decisions we must make are usually dualistic or binary in nature themselves. But the data we have to use is complex, not necessarily dualistic, subjective and not infrequently, contradictory. It must be reduced, consciously or unconsciously, to a single judgement, sick or well. The purpose of this exercise is to examine objectively how diagnostic decisions are made, with the objective of improving diagnostic capabilities in food animal medicine.&#x0D; The diagnostic problem in either the clinical setting or the screening situation is similar: the correct classification of our patients' disease condition. In clinical medicine, the goal is to assign the correct diagnosis from a list of problems with similar presentation. In screening for disease, the goal becomes to classify herds or individuals correctly as either free of some particular disease of interest or not. The ringer in this process is that diagnostic decisions are never made in isolation. There are economic, social and psychological consequences of making a diagnosis that depend largely upon the environment of the individual or herd. Whatever happens next depends on factors such as the effect of labelling on the herd or owner, the likelihood of owner compliance with testing and/or recommendations which follow from the testing, human considerations, our best estimate of cost/benefit ratio of the procedures we are considering, and other issues.

The need for graduates in food animal medicine

The need for graduates in food animal medicine

Human recombinant interleukin-2 augments [formula omitted] blastogenesis of bovine and porcine lymphocytes

The recent cloning of the human gene encoding interleukin 2 (IL-2) has provided the means for economical production of large quantities of the pure lymphokine for clinical studies. Human recombinant interleukin 2 (HrIL-2) has been reported to have in vitro and in vivo immunomodulating effects in the murine system, suggesting the cloned gene product has cross-species activity. Bovine and porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes were tested for responsiveness to HrIL-2 in a lymphocyte blastogenesis assay. Not only was the HrIL-2 highly stimulatory but it also reconstituted lymphocyte responsiveness to maximal values following incubation with suboptimal concentrations of mitogen plus exogenous lymphokine. These studies suggest that HrIL-2 has the potential of serving as an in vivo modulator of immunoresponsiveness in domestic species. The contribution to food animal medicine will be considerable if administration of the lymphokine results in augmentation of antigen-specific immune responses when applied as an adjuvant, non-specific booster of pre-existing immunity, or for therapy of immunosuppression.

Applications of epidemiology to problems in food animal medicine

Applications of epidemiology to problems in food animal medicine

Food and Drug Regulations as they Affect the Practicing Veterinarian

The veterinary practitioner today is faced with a number of conditions which affect his daily operations that those of us in practice 20 years ago, or even 10 to 15 years ago, did not even consider. The most important of these are:1. Loss of drugs routinely used in practice for many years;2. The long delays in approval of new products due to increased demands by FDA for safety and effectiveness data;3. In food animal medicine, the public announcements of dangers from residues in animal source food products and the practitioner's moral and legal responsibilities to preyent residues;4. The great changes in livestock operations where the size of the operation necessitates first diagnosis, and most treatment, by employees at the livestock operation; and5. The public awareness of malpractice and the trend toward many more court claims against veterinary practitioners.