Ocular Discharge Research Articles

MANEJO DO HERPES-VÍRUS FELINO: MEDICINA DE ABRIGO

Infection by feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) is one of the main respiratory diseases in cats, often associated with other pathogens. The virus, which has double-stranded DNA and is sensitive to disinfectants and adverse conditions, proliferates in high-density environments, such as shelters, where stress compromises the immunity of the felines. Transmission mainly occurs through contact with secretions from infected cats, leading to inflammation and cellular necrosis. Clinical symptoms vary depending on the viral load, route of exposure, and the cat's immune status. After an incubation period of 2 to 6 days, symptoms such as depression, sneezing, fever, and loss of appetite appear, followed by nasal and ocular discharge, which may progress to secondary bacterial infection. In severe cases, especially in young or debilitated cats, viral pneumonia may occur. Diagnosis of the feline respiratory complex (FRC) involves clinical and laboratory tests, such as PCR and X-rays, and screening of new cats is fundamental for controlling the infection. Clinical management focuses on stress reduction, hydration, nebulization, and nutritional support. Treatment includes antivirals to reduce viral replication, as well as antibiotics for secondary infections. Vaccination with live attenuated virus, starting at nine weeks of age, is crucial, although it does not provide full protection. Measures such as quarantine, isolation, and disinfection are essential to control the spread of FHV-1. Collaboration between shelters, veterinarians, and animal protection organizations is vital for implementing effective measures and ensuring the welfare of cats, recognizing the importance of early detection and proper management.

Voluntary head dunk: cooperative care for irrigating canine noses and eyes and rapid cooling.

To demonstrate the methods to teach dogs to voluntarily immerse (dunk) their head in a container of water, and to identify the 3 indications for voluntary head dunk: to clear a dog's nostrils of dust/debris, flush a dog's eyes, and cool a dog after exercise. Dogs. With the use of cooperative care and positive reinforcement training, the dog is taught to retrieve a toy or treat from a bucket or large container. Clean, room temperature water is added stepwise until the dog is comfortable immersing its nose and blowing bubbles or immersing its head to retrieve the toy or treat. The training may require minutes, weeks, or months, depending on the dog's motivation. Voluntary head dunk can remove dust and debris from the nasal passages and eyes and can facilitate cooling, especially after exercise. Positive reinforcement creates a cooperative environment in which first aid can be effectively administered. Contraindications include treatment of heat stroke, persistent or serious nasal or ocular discharge, or dogs that are uncomfortable or unable to dunk their heads. Pet owners and handlers of working dogs or canine athletes can teach their dogs to head dunk and implement this first aid technique for exercise-related cooling or ocular/nasal flush, even in environments with limited resources. Some dogs may be rapidly trained in the veterinary environment as an initial approach to a nasal or ocular flush. Cooperative care provides an effective intervention that preserves and enhances the human-animal bond.

Dynamic evolution of peste des petits ruminants virus in sheep and goat hosts across India reveals the swift surge of F gene.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), an acute febrile viral disease impacting goats and sheep flocks, manifests with pyrexia, mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharges, necrotizing and erosive stomatitis, pneumonia, and enteritis. The disease-instigating agent, PPR virus, pertains to the Morbillivirus caprinae genus in the Paramyxoviridae family. The endemic presence of PPR in India results in notable economic losses due to heightened mortality and morbidity in infected animals. Understanding viral pathogen evolution is pivotal for delineating their emergence in diverse environments. This study explores the molecular evolutionary patterns of PPRV, concentrating on the N and F structural genes isolated from Indian sheep and goats. Analyzing evolutionary rate, phylogenetics, selection pressure, and codon usage bias, we determined the time to the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) as 1984, 1973, 2000, and 2004 for goat and sheep's N and F genes, respectively, with evolutionary rates ranging from 2.859x103 to 4.995x104. The F-gene is found to exhibit a faster evolution than the N-gene, indicating apparent virus transmission across the regions of India, as supported by phylogenetic analysis. Codon usage bias examination, incorporating nucleotide composition and various plots (effective number of codon plot, parity plot, neutrality plot), suggests the evolution in India influenced by both natural selection and mutational pressure, resulting in alterations in the virus's codon bias. The integrated analysis underscores the significant role of selection pressures, implying PPRV's co-evolution and adaptations influenced by various genes. Insights from this study can guide effective disease control and vaccine development, aiding in managing PPR outbreaks in India and beyond.

Genetic and environmental determinants of Immunoglobulin G in kid serum and adult colostrum of dairy goats

Immune competence is a key factor in the health and resilience of dairy ruminants. The aim of this study was to study immunoglobulin G concentration in serum shortly after birth and in colostrum of lactating animals as proxy of passive immune transfer and colostrum quality, respectively, and thus provide new health and resilience indicators for selection. Data from 424 female kids and 203 primiparous goats, reared on an INRAE experimental farm, were analyzed. IgG concentration was measured in kid serum and goat colostrum, respectively, using the radial immunodiffusion technique. Linear models were used to identify factors of variation in serum and colostrum IgG concentration, and health events were monitored for 5 weeks after birth to measure the impact of passive immune transfer on kids' health. We found a significant effect of serum IgG level on hindquarters cleanliness score (as a proxy of digestive troubles) and nasal and ocular discharge. As expected, the absorption of IgG in the days following birth is essential to ensure the passive transfer of immunity from the mother to the youngster, and provide immune protection. Genetic parameters were estimated for serum IgG concentration in kids and for colostrum characteristics in primiparous goats. Heritability of serum IgG in kids was not significantly different from zero. This low value, with large SE, may be due to the limited sample size and large environmental variability likely not accounted for. Especially, we could not adjust for the amount of IgG that was ingested by the kid, which can have a significant effect on serum IgG and possibly on heritability estimates. Heritability of colostrum traits were moderate, with estimates of 0.25 (±0.16), 0.35 (±0.16), and 0.25 (±0.16) for IgG concentration, IgG mass and colostrum volume, respectively. Genetic correlations with milk production showed high standard errors due to small numbers. However, estimates suggest a negative genetic association between production and IgG concentration in colostrum (rg = -0.44 ± 0.33), probably linked to a positive association with total colostrum volume. The significant heritabilities that were estimated for the first time demonstrate the existence of genetic control of colostrum quality in goats, and open up opportunities for selection in this species.

Effectiveness of an Acupuncture Steam-Warming Eye Mask on Dry Eye Disease in Visual Display Terminal Users: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an acupuncture steam-warming eye mask (ASEM) on dry eye disease (DED) in visual display terminal (VDT) users. This prospective randomized clinical trial included VDT users with DED-related features who were randomly assigned to the ASEM group (ASEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants) or the steam-warming eye mask (SEM) group (SEM for 2 weeks, 20 participants). The tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, tear meniscus height, ocular surface staining scores, eyelid and meibomian gland exam, subjective symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) scores before and after treatment were collected. A generalized linear mixed model was applied to compare the improvement of symptoms and signs between the two groups. After the 2-week treatment, all the subjective symptoms and questionnaire scores in the ASEM group improved significantly (all p < 0.05), whereas the feelings of relaxation, comfortable, and refreshment did not change in the SEM group (both p > 0.05). The TBUT, tear meniscus height, and meibum quality in the lower eyelid were significantly better in the ASEM group than the SEM group (all p < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in the Schirmer test and ocular surface staining scores. Compared with the SEM group, the ASEM group experienced a stronger feeling of refreshment (p = 0.013), lower sensation of ocular discharge (p = 0.031), higher TBUT (p = 0.045), better meibomian gland expressibility of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), and better meibum quality of both eyelids (both p < 0.05), even after adjustments for age and sex. In conclusion, comparing with SEM, ASEM can improve some subjective DED symptoms, tear film stability, and meibum status in VDT users.

Photographic grading to evaluate facial cleanliness and trachoma among children in Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Promotion of facial cleanliness is recommended for the elimination of blinding trachoma, largely because of observational studies that have found an association between various measures of facial uncleanliness and trachoma. However, when a field grader assesses both facial cleanliness and trachoma, associations may be biased. Assessment of photographs of the face and conjunctiva by masked graders may provide a less biased estimate of the relationship between facial cleanliness and trachoma. Face photographs, conjunctival photographs, and conjunctival swabs were obtained on a random sample of 0-9-year-old children from each of 40 communities in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Face photographs were assessed for the presence of seven measures of an unclean face (i.e., wet nasal discharge, dry nasal discharge, wet ocular discharge, dry ocular discharge, food, dust/dirt, and flies) by three independent masked photo-graders. Conjunctival photographs were similarly graded in a masked fashion for signs of clinically active trachoma. Conjunctival swabs were processed for Chlamydia trachomatis DNA. Of 2073 children with complete data, 808 (39%) had evidence of clinically active trachoma, 150 (7%) had evidence of ocular chlamydia infection, and 2524 (91%) had at least one measure of an unclean face. Dry ocular discharge had the strongest association with clinically active trachoma (age- and sex-adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.6) and ocular chlamydia infection (PR 1.9, 95%CI 1.3-2.9), although significant associations were observed between each of the measures of facial uncleanliness and trachoma. Masked assessment of face and conjunctival photographs confirmed prior observational studies that have noted associations between various measures of facial uncleanliness and trachoma. The causal relationship between facial uncleanliness and trachoma is unclear since many features used to measure facial cleanliness (e.g., ocular discharge, nasal discharge, and flies) could be consequences of antecedent ocular chlamydia infection. NCT02754583, clinicaltrials.gov.

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction prevalence is 0.3% among alpacas evaluated with ophthalmic disease at a veterinary teaching hospital between 2000 and 2023.

To examine the prevalence of nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction in hospital populations and assess signalment, diagnostics, and clinical approaches for alpacas and llamas diagnosed with NLD atresia or obstruction. 29 alpacas and 2 llamas. Medical records were reviewed to identify camelids with NLD evaluated between 2000 and 2023. Signalment, history, physical examination data, diagnosis, and treatments were recorded. Follow-up information was gathered via phone and email questionnaire. Data were evaluated to determine prevalence and describe signalment and treatments for NLD disease. 31 camelids met the inclusion criteria. A total of 8,027 alpacas and 1,998 llamas were seen within the study period at 1 teaching institution. The prevalence of NLD obstruction for this population of alpacas was 0.3% (26/8,027). Nineteen of 31 (61%) camelids presented at 1 year of age or younger. The most common physical exam finding was ocular discharge (68%). The most common diagnosis was NLD atresia (16/31 [51%]). Patency was established by surgical opening or lavage of the NLD. Long-term follow-up was available for 13 alpacas and 2 llamas, of which 11 (73%) had successful outcomes. Results indicate that NLD obstruction is a condition that most commonly affects alpacas < 1 year of age and is associated with a good prognosis for treatment success.

SARS-CoV-2 morbidity, treatment interventions, and vaccination practices in tigers (Panthera tigris ssp) in North American zoos.

Evaluate SARS-CoV-2 morbidity, mortality, clinical signs, treatment interventions, and vaccination practices in tigers under professional care. Amur (Panthera tigris altaica), Sumatran (Panthera tigris sumatrae), and Malayan (Panthera tigris jacksoni) tigers managed under the Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP). A retrospective, voluntary online survey was sent to all North American zoos holding SSP tigers between January 2020 and June 2023. Responses were received from 55 of 108 institutions (51%) housing 162 tigers in total, and SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed in 39 tigers from 15 institutions (20 Amur, 8 Sumatran, and 11 Malayan [1 to 18 years old; 17 males and 22 females]). This corresponds to a minimum study group infection incidence of 24% over 42 months. Clinical signs included dry cough (82%), inappetence (64%), lethargy (62%), nasal discharge (46%), wheezing (31%), wet cough (18%), and ocular discharge (15%). Most cases were characterized as mild (n = 22) or moderate (14). A single case was characterized as severe. Two cases were asymptomatic. Seventeen positive tigers had been vaccinated once (n = 8) or twice (9) for SARS-CoV-2 prior to infection. No deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 were reported in the study group. Treatment interventions included antibiotics (49%), NSAIDs (18%), antiemetics (15%), and fluids (13%). No treatments were administered in 19 of 39 cases (49%). Amongst participating institutions, 69% reported fully vaccinating tigers for SARS-CoV-2 (≥ 2 doses). Most SARS-CoV-2-infected tigers presented with mild to moderate clinical signs and recovered with limited to no treatment interventions. Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections can occur in tigers and may be underreported. Tigers vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 remain susceptible to infection.

The Management and Treatment of Keratoconjunctivitis in A 6-Month-Old Lamb: A Case Report

Introduction: Infectious keratoconjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye or contagious ophthalmia, is a bacterial disease that affects the healthy eyes. This infection causes inflammation in the tissue lining the eyelid, the conjunctiva, and the cornea of one or both eyes. Case report: A 6-month-old male Afshari breed sheep with symptoms of blepharospasm, keratoconjunctivitis, and ocular discharge was referred to a veterinary clinic in Mashhad, Iran. Upon ophthalmic examination of both eyes, the signs included conjunctivitis, generalized corneal opacity, blepharospasm, epiphora, positive menace response, and elevated intraocular pressure were observed. The clinical signs suggested Infectious keratoconjunctivitis by Mycoplasma. To detect Mycoplasma, immunofluorescence tests, and growth inhibition tests were conducted using anti-sera. Mycoplasma was isolated from the samples. The sheep was treated with a single intramuscular injection of long-acting tetracycline at a dosage of 20mg/kg. The topical tetracycline ointments were used and applied 4 times daily for 6 days. The topical ophthalmic application of 1% atropine ointment 3 times daily was used due to pain as a consequence of uveitis for 3 days. Due to the mydriasis caused by atropine, animals undergoing treatment were provided with shade. For pain relief, meloxicam (1 ml/50 kg) is utilized to alleviate the clinical signs of the disease. After 10 days of treatment, the clinical signs returned to normal. Conclusion: The clinical signs and subclinical tests confirmed keratoconjunctivitis caused by Mycoplasma. The successful treatment of this disease by following the above-mentioned treatment method can help clinicians and researchers in similar cases.

Surgical management of unilateral restrictive strabismus in an 8-month-old dog

ABSTRACT Case history An 8-month-old male, entire, mixed-breed dog was presented with a 1-month history of left exophthalmos and green mucopurulent ocular discharge. Subsequently, exophthalmos resolved but esotropia (medial strabismus) developed in the left eye, prompting referral to an ophthalmologist. Clinical findings At the initial referral consultation, enophthalmos and esotropia of the left eye were identified. The patient showed mild improvement after a 3-week tapering course of oral prednisolone and doxycycline. MRI was performed and showed left medial rectus muscle atrophy with increased contrast enhancement which was consistent with chronic extraocular muscle myositis (EOM). A forced duction test was performed to confirm the diagnosis of fibrosing esotropia, which is likely a sequela of chronic EOM. Diagnosis Fibrosing esotropia presumably caused by untreated EOM. Treatment and outcome One month later, esotropia progressed to a marked ventro-medial strabismus resulting in visual deprivation. Surgical release of the ventral oblique, medial and ventral recti muscles was performed, resulting in immediate resolution of the enophthalmos. Despite a tapering post-operative course of oral prednisolone, mild esotropia was present 4 weeks later. In an effort to stabilise the globe position, the low dose of prednisolone was increased to a higher anti-inflammatory dose before slowly tapering over 2 months. The vision in the left eye was improved after surgery and has been maintained since without further treatment. Clinical relevance This is the first documented case of fibrosing esotropia in a young dog with prior signs of acute exophthalmos. Fibrosing esotropia has been documented in certain breeds or as a sequela to chronic EOM. In this patient, it was presumably caused by EOM, which was strongly supported by the case history, progression and MRI findings. Most historical reports of EOM described it as a bilateral condition that resolves with systemic corticosteroids at an anti-inflammatory dose. EOM has been shown to also present unilaterally and it can progress to strabismus if not promptly recognised and treated with systemic steroids. Surgical management can restore vision when severe strabismus results in visual deprivation.

Ocular manifestations of Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection with viral persistence in ocular samples: A case series

ObjectiveWe describe the clinical presentation and ocular viral dynamics in patients with Monkeypox virus-related ophthalmic disease (MPXROD). MethodsIn this case series, we investigated five consecutive patients with confirmed mpox, diagnosed through a positive Monkeypox virus (MPXV) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and presenting with ocular symptoms. They were referred from the Reference Center for Sexually Transmitted Infections in São Paulo (CRT) to the Uveitis Sector at the Federal University of São Paulo, between August and December 2022. We performed PCR testing on ocular samples and culture supernatants for MPXV in all patients. Viral sequencing was conducted in one of the cases. ResultsReplicating MPXV was identified in at least one ocular sample of all patients, between day 31 and day 145 after the onset of skin lesions. All patients presented with keratitis, 3 with uveitis (60%) and two exhibited hypopyon (40%). The onset of ocular symptoms occurred at a mean of 21.2 days after the appearance of the first skin lesion and persisted, on average, for 61,.6 days, with a worsening trend observed until the initiation of tecovirimat treatment. Tecovirimat treatment was administered to all patients, with initiation occurring between 31 and 145 days after the onset of skin lesions. MPXV genome sequencing of an isolate from one patient classified it as belonging to lineage B1 in clade IIb. ConclusionThis study reveals a late onset and persistence of sight threatening ocular disease, along with potential viral infectivity even after systemic resolution in mpox cases. These findings highlight the risk of ongoing transmission from individuals with prolonged ocular manifestations, particularly through ocular discharge.

Comparison of physiological markers, behavior monitoring, and clinical illness scoring as indicators of an inflammatory response in beef cattle.

Clinical illness (CI) scoring using visual observation is the most widely applied method of detecting respiratory disease in cattle but has limited effectiveness in practice. In contrast, body-mounted sensor technology effectively facilitates disease detection. To evaluate whether a combination of movement behavior and CI scoring is effective for disease detection, cattle were vaccinated to induce a temporary inflammatory immune response. Cattle were evaluated before and after vaccination to identify the CI variables that are most indicative of sick cattle. Respiratory rate (H2 = 43.08, P < 0.0001), nasal discharge (H2 = 8.35, P = 0.015), and ocular discharge (H2 = 16.38, P = 0.0003) increased after vaccination, and rumen fill decreased (H2 = 20.10, P < 0.0001). Locomotor activity was measured via leg-mounted sensors for the four days preceding and seven days following vaccination. A statistical model that included temperature, steps, lying time, respiratory rate, rumen fill, head position, and excess saliva was developed to distinguish between scores from before and after vaccination with a sensitivity of 0.898 and specificity of 0.915. Several clinical illness signs were difficult to measure in practice. Binoculars were required for scoring respiratory rate and eye-related metrics, and cattle had to be fitted with colored collars for individual identification. Scoring each animal took up to three minutes in a small research pen; therefore, technologies that can automate both behavior monitoring and identification of clinical illness signs are key to improving capacity for BRD detection and treatment.

Clinico-haematobiochemical and cardiac alterations in Trypanosoma evansi infected buffaloes of Andhra Pradesh, India.

The present research aimed to document the incidence, clinical signs, haematological, and serum biochemical alterations, as well as electrocardiography and echocardiography findings in 62 buffaloes (selected from a total of 240) infected with Trypanosoma evansi. The study spanned one year, from January 2022 to December 2022. Morphological identification of Trypanosoma evansi was done by the presence of a centrally positioned nucleus with a small sub-terminal kinetoplast at the posterior position through microscopic examination of Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears. The incidence of trypanosomosis were determined to be 26% (62/240) using stained blood smear examination and 41% (98/240) through polymerase chain reaction assay. Clinical signs exhibited by buffaloes with trypanosomosis included the lack of rumination (94%; 58/62), anorexia (90%; 56/62), emaciation (87%; 54/62), loss of milk yield (84%; 52/62), ocular discharges (82%; 51/62), depressed demeanour (81%; 50/62), sunken eye balls (61%; 38/62), fever (60%; 37/62), scleral congestion (56%; 35/62) and intermittent fever (42%; 26/62). Cardiovascular clinical findings in affected buffaloes included tachycardia (44%; 27/62), cardiac arrhythmia (24%; 15/62), cardiac murmurs (19%; 12/62) and muffled heart sounds (18%; 11/62). In the present study, buffaloes with trypanosomosis exhibited significant reduction in haemoglobin (p = 0.008), packed cell volume (p = 0.004), total erythrocyte count (p = 0.003), mean corpuscular volume (p = 0.042), total leucocyte count (p = 0.048) and absolute neutrophil count (p = 0.012); a significant increase in absolute eosinophil count (p = 0.011) and absolute monocyte count (p = 0.008) compared to the apparently healthy buffaloes. Additionally significant decrease in albumin (p = 0.001), A/G ratio (p = 0.007), calcium (p = 0.008), glucose (p = 0.007), phosphorous (p = 0.048), sodium (p = 0.008), potassium (p = 0.041) and chloride (p = 0.046) were observed in buffaloes with trypanosomosis compared to healthy ones. Buffaloes with trypanosomosis also showed significant increase in globulin (p = 0.004), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.008), bilirubin (p = 0.034), blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.071), creatinine (p = 0.029), cholesterol (p = 0.046), lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.009), gamma-glutamyl transferase (p = 0.004) and creatine kinase-myoglobin binding levels (p = 0.005). Electrocardiography explorations in buffaloes with trypanosomosis revealed sinus tachycardia, low voltage QRS complex, ST segment elevation, wide QRS complex, sinus arrhythmia, sinus bradycardia, wandering pace maker, first degree atrio ventricular block, biphasic T wave and tall T wave. Echocardiography examination unveiled cardiac chamber dilatation, ventricular wall thickening and indications of pericarditis/cardiac tamponade. Necropsy was carried on the dead buffaloes during the study period disclosed severely congested blood vessels on epicardial surface, endocardial haemorrhages, and presence of pericardial fluid. Histopathological examination of the heart revealed hyaline degeneration, haemorrhages in the cardiac muscles and varying degrees of degenerative changes. Additionally, the pericardium displayed increased thickness due to presence of more elastic fibres, fibroblast cells in the myocardium, discontinuity of muscle layers, vascular congestion, perivascular mono nuclear cell infiltration and augmented thickness of the endocardium with fibroblast cell proliferation. The study's conclusion highlights cardiac alterations as secondary complications in buffaloes infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Further investigations are recommended to elucidate therapeutic modifications and refine the treatment paradigm.

Comparison of two approaches to measuring clean faces as part of the facial cleanliness component of the SAFE trachoma elimination strategy.

The Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma (GET) endorses the full SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma; Surgery (for trichiasis), Antibiotics (to reduce the community pool of infection, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement (to decrease transmission). There is no accepted measure of facial cleanliness. This study compared two possible metrics for facial cleanliness. Metric one: Clean face was defined as observed absence of ocular and nasal discharge on the face. Metric two: observing a grade of dirtiness (scale 10 = lightest to 0 = darkest) on a standard facial wipe. The reliability of grading a child's face or grading a facial wipe was determined in children in Kongwa Tanzania. We also observed both measurements in a cohort of 202 children ages 1 to <7years prior to face cleaning, immediately afterwards, and 4 hours afterwards. Fifty of the children did not have face cleaning and were controls. Intra-and interobserver reliability was similar for both measures, the latter = 0.53 for observing a clean face and 0.52 for grading a facial wipe. There was no correlation between the two. Both measures detected facial cleaning, compared to control children who were not cleaned, immediately after cleaning; control children with 53% clean faces and wipe score of 6.7 compared to cleaned children with 88% clean faces and wipe score of 8 (p = .0001, p = < .0001, respectively). Both measures also detected face washing 4 hours previously compared to controls. The two metrics were equally reliable, and both measured the behavior of face washing. They measure different aspects of a clean face; one measures the amount of dirt on wiped area and the other measures ocular and nasal discharge. Both measurements appear to capture the behavior of facial cleaning, and the choice of metric would appear to rest on the measurement that captures the stated objective of the behavior, consideration of costs, training, logistics, and implementation.

Subclinical infection caused by a recombinant vaccine-like strain poses high risks of lumpy skin disease virus transmission.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a transboundary viral infection, affecting cattle with characteristic manifestations involving multiple body systems. A distinctive characteristic of lumpy skin disease is the subclinical disease manifestation wherein animals have viremia and shed the virus through nasal and ocular discharges, while exhibiting no nodules but enlarged lymph nodes that are easily oversighted by inexperienced vets. Further research on the role of subclinically ill animals in the transmission of LSD virus (LSDV) can contribute to the development of more effective tools to control the disease worldwide. Thus, this study aims to determine the potential role of subclinical infection in virus transmission in a non-vector-borne manner. To achieve this, we inoculated animals with the recombinant vaccine-like strain (RVLS) Udmurtiya/2019 to cause clinical and subclinical LSDV infection. After the disease manifestation, we relocated the subclinically ill animals to a new clean facility followed by the introduction of another five animals to determine the role of RVLS-induced subclinical infection in the virus transmission via direct/indirect contact. After the introduction of the naïve animals to the relocated subclinically ill ones in a shared airspace, two introduced animals contracted the virus (clinically and subclinically), showing symptoms of fever, viremia, and seroconversion in one animal, while three other introduced animals remained healthy and PCR-negative until the end of the study. In general, the findings of this study suggest the importance of considering LSDV subclinical infection as a high-risk condition in disease management and outbreak investigations.

Metagenomics for Pathogen Detection During a Mass Mortality Event in Songbirds.

Mass mortality events in wildlife can be indications of an emerging infectious disease. During the spring and summer of 2021, hundreds of dead passerines were reported across the eastern US. Birds exhibited a range of clinical signs including swollen conjunctiva, ocular discharge, ataxia, and nystagmus. As part of the diagnostic investigation, high-throughput metagenomic next-generation sequencing was performed across three molecular laboratories on samples from affected birds. Many potentially pathogenic microbes were detected, with bacteria forming the largest proportion; however, no singular agent was consistently identified, with many of the detected microbes also found in unaffected (control) birds and thus considered to be subclinical infections. Congruent results across laboratories have helped drive further investigation into alternative causes, including environmental contaminants and nutritional deficiencies. This work highlights the utility of metagenomic approaches in investigations of emerging diseases and provides a framework for future wildlife mortality events.

Multimodal diagnostic imaging and treatment of cheek tooth hypercementosis associated with chronic ocular discharge in a horse

SummaryThis case report discusses the clinical signs, diagnostic findings, treatment and outcome of a 6‐year‐old Italian Warmblood gelding referred for evaluation of a chronic unilateral ocular mucopurulent discharge that had been ongoing for several months. Dacryocystorhinography and computed tomography dacryocystography (CT‐DCG) allowed the identification of a neoformation associated with tooth 206 connected to a cystic lesion occupying the ipsilateral ventral nasal concha. It is likely that both lesions caused stenosis of the nasolacrimal duct and secondary recurrent ocular discharge. Once the 206 tooth had been surgically removed, a histological diagnosis of nodular hypercementosis associated with a small cystic lesion was made. In this case, CT‐DCG was extremely important in identifying the source of the ocular discharge and guiding the surgical planning for tooth removal. A follow‐up telephone conversation with the owner 6 months postoperatively reported that the horse had not shown further ocular discharge.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of neglected tropical diseases in the Amhara region, Ethiopia

This systematic review analyzed the prevalence of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and associated risk factors in the Amhara region. Thirty-one articles from 2012 to 2022 were examined, and data analysis was conducted using STATA version 17. The overall NTD prevalence in Amhara was 29.9% (95% CI: 23.32–36.47). The highest prevalences were observed for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) at 37.86% (95% CI=27.57–48.15), Schistosoma at 37.77% (95% CI=16.90–58.61), scabies at 24.28% (95% CI=6.42-42.15), and trachoma at 19.55% (95% CI=13.38–25.72). Prevalence varied across zones, ranging from 6.10% (95% CI=4.33–7.87) in Awi to 46.40% (95% CI=42.90–48.80) in Bahir Dar. Factors associated with NTDs included illiteracy and raw vegetable consumption for STHs; male gender, river swimming, and contact with river water for Schistosoma; ocular discharge and fly-eye contact for trachoma; and family size &gt;6, clothes sharing, and sleeping with scabies-infected individuals for scabies. Improved sanitation, health education, and personal hygiene are vital for controlling NTDs in the study region.

Prevalence oftrachomatous inflammation-follicular and associated factors among children aged 1-9 yearsin northeastern Ethiopia.

Trachoma is the most prevalent eye disease in Ethiopia, especially among children aged 1-9 years and continues to be a public health concern. Nevertheless, in Ethiopia's rural Jamma district in South Wollo Zone of Amhara Regional State, factors associated with trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) among children aged 1-9 yearshave not yet been studied. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 616 children aged 1-9 years in rural Jamma district in Ethiopia from January-March, 2019. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, an observation checklist and clinical examination of study participants for active trachoma. The presence of TF and trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI) was clinically assessed by integrated eye care workers using the World Health Organization simplified grading system. Data were analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Version 25.0. A logistic regression model with 95% CI was used. From the multivariable analysis, variables with p-value < 0.05 were declared as associated factors of TF. The prevalence of TF was 10.9% (95% CI [8.6 - 13.6%]) among the rural children aged 1-9 years.The mean family size was 5.5 ± 1.9 persons. About one-fifth (20.6%) of households kept domestic animals overnight in the same room as family. Almost one-sixth (17.5%) of the children involved in this study had an ocular discharge. Two-thirds of the children (68.8%) washed their hands once per day and just over half (55.8%) washed their faces once per day. From multivariable analysis, we found that the presence of domestic animals kept overnight in the same room as the family (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.32; 95%CI [2.49-9.52]), mother's/caregiver's illiteracy (AOR = 2.01; 95%CI [1.11-4.67]), household size (> 7 persons) (AOR = 3.50; 95%CI [1.66-8.50]), washing of children's hands and face without soap (AOR = 2.41; 95%CI [1.29-5.18]), feces observed in the compound (AOR = 5.10; 95%CI [2.01-10.14]), presence of ocular discharge (AOR = 7.23, 95%CI [4.10-12.51]) and nasal discharge (AOR = 4.54, 95%CI [1.95-9.26]) were significantly associated with TF. The prevalence of TF among rural children aged 1-9 years in this study was almost two times higher than the WHO-recommended threshold (TF < 5%) for trachoma elimination and beyond the trachoma control target (TF < 10%). Presence of domestic animals kept overnight in the same room as the family, mother's/caregiver's illiteracy, household size (> 7 persons), washing of children's hands and face without soap, feces observed in the compound, presence of ocular and nasal discharge were significantly associated with TF. We recommended interventions that will help household income to be improved to enable families to be able to construct separate rooms in which to keep animals overnight. Furthermore, we also recommend to policy makers to design mechanisms for enhancement of behavioural change among householdersto keep household compounds clean and creating awareness among mothers/caregivers about prevention of trachoma.

Interest and safety of a preservative-free carbomer 0.2Percentage eye gel on canine dry eye A case series

Dry eye is a common ophthalmic disorder in dogs that can lead to serious ocular complications. The objective of this case series was to evaluate a new preservative-free carbomer 0.2% eye gel in five dogs with dry eyes. Ophthalmic examination was performed on D0, D15, and D30, rating conjunctivitis, keratitis, ocular discharge and irritation from 0 to 3. Global ocular clinical (GOC) score was obtained by the sum of the individual scores. Tear film quantity and quality were measured using STT1 and tear film break-up time (TBUT). The dogs’ quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the owners. GOC, conjunctivitis, and ocular discharge scores decreased significantly on D15 and D30 compared to D0 (p = 0.0062, 0.0152, and 0.0152, respectively). QoL significantly improved at each time point compared to baseline (p = 0.0008). However, the decrease of keratitis and ocular irritation scores and the increase of STT1 and TBUT values were not significant. The use of the preservative-free carbomer 0.2% eye gel could be an interesting option for dry eye management in dogs by significantly improving clinical signs and tear production while avoiding potential sides effects of preservatives.