Schools Of Veterinary Medicine Research Articles

First Report of Glochidia (Mollusca: Lamellibranchiata) Infestation in Aquarium Fish (Flowerhorn) from Iran

Glochidia are the larva stage of bivalve mollusks (Lamellibranchiata). These temporary obligate parasites are apparent on the fins and gills and rarely on the surface of fish in spring, summer, and autumn. In spring 2018, a flowerhorn (cichlid) with spots appearing body and gills and white small mobile organisms on the floor of an aquarium were referred to the parasitology laboratory in the School of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Unit, Tehran Islamic Azad University. The organisms were sampled and clear in Potas 10% fixed by Glycerin gelatin and examined with a light microscope; the samples were diagnosed as Glochidia.

Comparative analysis of tick burden, diversity, and distribution in intensively managed wildlife estates with and without prescribed burning

The connection between ticks and zoonotic diseases in Zambia remains unclear due to limited data on tick distribution in private game reserves. This study examines tick control in three ex-situ game reserves across different agro-ecological regions, Lanagani game ranch in the Chibombo district, Chaminuka game ranch in the Lusaka district, and Choma game ranch in the Choma district. The current study evaluated the burden and diversity of ticks across three different management systems concerning the use of fire as a tick control and management tool. A descriptive cross-sectional study collected 267 ticks from 36 transects across three game ranches in Central, Lusaka, and Southern provinces. These ticks were morphologically identified using the existing taxonomic keys and Olympus DF Plapo 1×4 SN5G 08128 stereomicroscope at the University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, parasitology laboratory. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare means between categories and correlation coefficient to determine the strength of the relationship. The collected species included 11 Rhipicephalus species, n=6, (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi, Rhipicephalus microplus, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus pulcherus, Rhipicephalus zambeziensis); Amblyomma species n=2, (Amblyomma variagatum, Amblyomma poposum), and Hyalomma species n=2 (Hyalomma Rufipes and Hyalomma truncatum). The most common species were R. evertsi (19.4 %), Amblyomma variagatum 14%, Hyalomma truncatum 11%. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) species diversity and burden were observed in the no-burn management system, whilst no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between late and early burning systems. These findings have unveiled, for the first time in Zambia, that employing fire as a management tool substantially reduces both tick diversity and burden in enclosed ex-situ conservancy areas. Regular prescribed burning, regardless of the burning regime, was found to remarkably reduce tick populations in game ranches, particularly in the early burning management system. These findings hold promising implications for ecological public health. Considering this, fire as a management tool effectively reduces tick diversity and burden in closed ex-situ conservancy areas. These findings have far-reaching policy implications when it comes to tick control systems that a government may wish to implement.

On the Spot Presentation-Based Assessment (OTSPA): Student Perception and Predictive Value of a Novel Summative Assessment with a Formative Assessment Flavour

University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine introduced an assessment called On The Spot Presentation-based Assessment (OTSPA) into the 3rd and 4th year of a 5-year veterinary degree programme. The OTSPA is designed as a low-weightage summative assessment, conducted in a supportive learning environment to create a better learning experience. The OTSPA is a timed oral assessment with an ‘on the spot’ selection of taught topics, i.e., students prepare to be assessed on all topics but a subset is chosen on the day. The OTSPA was designed to test the students’ depth of knowledge while promoting skills like communication and public speaking. The aim of this study is to describe the design and operation of the OTSPA, to evaluate student perception of the approach, and to assess the OTSPA’s predictive value in relation to the final written summative assessment (FWSA), which is an indicator of academic performance. This study assessed the student perceptions (N = 98) and predictive value of the OTSPA on the FWSA in three modules: Zoological Medicine (ZM), Fundamentals of Veterinary Practice (FVP), and Veterinary Research and Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine (VREBVM). In the perception study, 79.6% of students felt that their preparation for OTSPAs drove an understanding and learning of topics that formed part of the module learning outcomes. Only a small group (21.4%) reported the assessment to be enjoyable; however, 54.1% saw value in it being an authentic assessment, reflecting real-life situations. The majority of students felt that the OTSPA helped with improving communication skills (80.4%). There was a small but significant positive correlation between the performance in OTSPAs and the FWSA in all modules. This suggests that OTSPAs can be useful in predicting the outcomes of the FWSA and, furthermore, could have utility in identifying where support may be helpful for students to improve academic performance. Outcomes from this study indicate that the OTSPA is an effective low stake summative assessment within the Surrey veterinary undergraduate programme.

Clinical Year Veterinary Students’ Expectations of New Graduate Independence Exceed Their Self-Perceived Competence and Expectations of Community Practitioners

Veterinary medicine is unique in that graduating veterinarians can be licensed to practice independently at the time of graduation. A veterinary curriculum needs to not only prepare graduate veterinarians to meet the expectations of their professional community, but also to ensure those veterinarians have an accurate perception of expected job requirements. This paper evaluates and compares veterinary students’ perceived expectations of graduate-level independence with their self-perceived competence over their clinical (fourth) year. Additionally, we compare these findings to practitioner expectations of graduate level independence. A survey assessing nine technical and three non-technical categories was distributed to clinical year students at the beginning and end of their clinical year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM). These results were compared to previously obtained survey data from community practitioner members of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA). Results indicate an improvement in student self-perceived competence in technical tasks over the clinical year, with the final measures of self-perceived competence aligning with community practitioner expectations of graduate level independence. However, our results demonstrate a significant difference between student expectations of graduate-level independence, their self-perceived competence, and the community practitioner expectations of graduate independence. These results indicate that veterinary students have unrealistic expectations of their expected independence at graduation and that their self-perceived competence cannot meet these perceived expectations of independence. This misalignment and perceived self-deficit could perpetuate stress and burnout. Further investigation into the cause of this misalignment may help inform educational interventions that encourage students to set realistic expectations.

Veterinary Students' Sense of Belonging: Growing Community with Small Group Academic Enhancement.

A student's sense of belonging to a university is associated with success in academic setting, happiness, and satisfaction. It is therefore unsurprising that universities commonly strive to improve student measures of belonging especially considering its negative correlation with attrition rates. This study documents the implementation and assessment of a new curricular intervention at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) and measures associated changes in students' feeling of belonging to the university and accountability for their success. Specifically, small, group, faculty-guided weekly discussion sessions were introduced to the Veterinary Professional Foundation (VPF) course to complement a series of updated didactic only lectures. Voluntary surveys ("belonging to the university scale" [1] and the "personal accountability in education scale" [2]) were utilized to document student attitudes and feelings surrounding these variables. Likert scores from a control group of students who completed the VPF course prior to the curricular change were compared to the intervention group who engaged in the weekly guided discussion sessions via a Wilcoxon test. The intervention group reported significantly improved feelings of belonging to the university (p-values ranging from 0.008 to 0.027). Minimal change was noted between groups associated with accountability. The addition of weekly small group meetings has proven valuable at RUSVM in improving student sense of belonging to the university. Further research is indicated to determine if accountability may be improved over a longer period of monitoring with continued interventions.

Survey of students' learning experience using a virtual slaughterhouse simulator in three UK veterinary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although visiting an abattoir is mandatory for all UK veterinary students, this was challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual simulators were temporarily approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Subsequently, the virtual slaughterhouse simulator (VSS) was used by the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, the University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh. This study aimed to evaluate the student learning experience using the VSS. An online survey containing satisfaction and assessment questions was distributed to all final-year students who used the VSS from September 2020 to August 2021. A total of 207 students completed the survey (n = 207/488, 42%). Students were mostly highly satisfied and found the VSS very useful for their learning (n = 164/207,79%); however, anxiety levels to visit a real abattoir lowered for less than half of the students (n = 97/207, 46%). Most students obtained an overall mark over 50% in the assessment questions (n = 197/207, 95%). Although the findings were very positive, extrapolation to other veterinary schools and postgraduate curricula should be done cautiously. The VSS is a valid tool for training veterinary students. However, more research is advised to compare virtual and real experiences and assess students' long-term performance.

Validating a measure of motivational climate in health science courses

PurposeThe aim of the study was to examine the validity evidence for the 19-item form of the MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation Inventory (College Student version) within health science schools in three different countries. The MUSIC Inventory includes five scales that assess the motivational climate by measuring students’ perceptions related to five separate constructs: empowerment, usefulness, success, interest, and caring.BackgroundThe 26-item form of the MUSIC Inventory has been validated for use with undergraduate students and with students in professional schools, including students at a veterinary medicine school, a pharmacy school, and a medical school. A 19-item form of the MUSIC Inventory has also been validated for use with undergraduate students, but it has not yet been validated for use with medical school students. The purpose of this study was to provide validity evidence for the use of the 19-item form in heath science schools in three different countries to determine if this version is acceptable for use in different cultures. If validated, this shorter form of the MUSIC Inventory would provide more differentiation between the Interest and Usefulness scales and could reduce respondent fatigue.MethodologyCook et al’s [1] practical guidelines were followed to implement Kane’s [2] validity framework as a means to examine the evidence of validity through scoring inferences, generalization inferences, and extrapolation inferences. Students (n = 667) in health science schools within three countries were surveyed.ResultsThe results produced evidence to support all five hypotheses related to scoring, generalization, and extrapolation inferences.ConclusionsScores from the 19-item form of the MUSIC Inventory are valid for use in health science courses within professional schools in different countries. Therefore, the MUSIC Inventory can be used in these schools to assess students’ perceptions of the motivational climate.

Clinical research at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

Clinical research at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

What is your diagnosis? Large perianal mass in a dog.

Veterinary Clinical PathologyEarly View WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS? What is your diagnosis? Large perianal mass in a dog Candice P. Chu, Candice P. Chu orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-7233 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USASearch for more papers by this authorMary B. Nabity, Corresponding Author Mary B. Nabity [email protected] Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA Correspondence Mary B. Nabity, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4467 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4467, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorBrian F. Porter, Brian F. Porter Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USASearch for more papers by this authorAlexander Aceino, Alexander Aceino Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA Antech Diagnostics Inc, College Station, Texas, USASearch for more papers by this author Candice P. Chu, Candice P. Chu orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-7233 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USASearch for more papers by this authorMary B. Nabity, Corresponding Author Mary B. Nabity [email protected] Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA Correspondence Mary B. Nabity, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4467 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4467, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorBrian F. Porter, Brian F. Porter Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USASearch for more papers by this authorAlexander Aceino, Alexander Aceino Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA Antech Diagnostics Inc, College Station, Texas, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 30 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.13231Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport 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 REFERENCES 1Williams LE, Gliatto JM, Dodge RK, et al. Carcinoma of the apocrine glands of the anal sac in dogs: 113 cases (1985–1995). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003; 223(6): 825- 831. 2Sakai H, Murakami M, Mishima H, et al. Cytologically atypical anal sac adenocarcinoma in a dog. Vet Clin Pathol. 2012; 41(2): 291- 294. doi:10.1111/j.1939-165X.2012.00430.x 3Nibe K, Uchida K, Itoh T, Tateyama S. A case of canine apocrine sweat gland adenoma, clear cell variant. Vet Pathol. 2005; 42(2): 215- 218. doi:10.1354/vp.42-2-215 4Gama A, Alves A, Gartner F, Schmitt F. p63: a novel Myoepithelial cell marker in canine mammary tissues. Vet Pathol. 2003; 40(4): 412- 420. doi:10.1354/vp.40-4-412 5Nagamine E, Hirayama K, Matsuda K, et al. Invasive front grading and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in canine oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. Vet Pathol. 2017; 54(5): 783- 791. doi:10.1177/0300985817707005 6Polton GA, Brearley MJ, Green LM, Scase TJ. Expression of E-cadherin in canine anal sac gland carcinoma and its association with survival. Vet Comp Oncol. 2007; 5(4): 232- 238. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5829.2007.00131.x Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue ReferencesRelatedInformation

Class participation correlates with academic performance in a Biochemistry and Metabolism course for first-year veterinary school students

The objective of the current study was to investigate whether class participation correlates with academic performance in a Biochemistry and Metabolism Course for first-year veterinary school students. Veterinary Biochemistry and Metabolism is a required course for first-year veterinary students at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. The course is a large lecture course with approximately 100 students enrolled each year. Topics covered in the course include the metabolism of carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and microminerals. In the fall of 2021, students had three options for lecture attendance. Students could attend in person, could listen to lectures streamed live, or could watch lectures at a later time since class sessions were all recorded. To increase engagement in the course, students receive Poll Everywhere questions during most of the lectures in this course. These questions were mainly in multiple-choice format and delivered to students at various times (beginning, middle, and end) during the class. Students who earned A, B, or C grades were compared with how often those cohorts participated in the Poll Everywhere questions. The results indicate that students who earned an A in the course have statistically significant higher participation in Poll Everywhere questions when compared to students who earned a B or C. The results do not distinguish between students who attended the lecture in person and those who watched the live stream since all those students could answer the Poll Everywhere questions during class time. The results demonstrate an association between class participation and academic performance. Namely, higher involvement as measured by answering Poll Everywhere question participation increases the likelihood of getting an A. Many professional schools (medical, dental, and veterinary) routinely record most lectures and do not require attendance. While lecture recordings may provide a valuable study tool for students, these results suggest that students who do not actively engage with class material miss an opportunity to maximize learning. No funding to disclose This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Driving health innovation at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Driving health innovation at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Out with the old, in with the new: What's up with Simonsiella spp.?

Veterinary Clinical PathologyEarly View LETTER TO THE EDITOR Out with the old, in with the new: What's up with Simonsiella spp.? Francisco O. Conrado, Corresponding Author Francisco O. Conrado [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-5055-2637 Departments of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA Correspondence Francisco O. Conrado, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorNicole I. Stacy, Nicole I. Stacy orcid.org/0000-0003-4258-4414 Comparative, Diagnostic, & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this authorJames F. X. Wellehan Jr, James F. X. Wellehan Jr Comparative, Diagnostic, & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this author Francisco O. Conrado, Corresponding Author Francisco O. Conrado [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-5055-2637 Departments of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA Correspondence Francisco O. Conrado, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorNicole I. Stacy, Nicole I. Stacy orcid.org/0000-0003-4258-4414 Comparative, Diagnostic, & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this authorJames F. X. Wellehan Jr, James F. X. Wellehan Jr Comparative, Diagnostic, & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 08 April 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.13246Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport 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 No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation

First Report of Campylobacter hepaticus Isolation in Laying Hens and Broiler Breeders with Spotty Liver Disease in Costa Rica.

Poultry producers in Costa Rica have informally reported a spotty liver disease-like syndrome for more than 20 yr. However, despite many attempts, the infectious agent responsible for this syndrome had not been identified. Therefore, following current knowledge of spotty liver disease diagnosis, we invited veterinarians and poultry producers to submit samples to the diagnostic laboratories of the Veterinary Medicine School, Universidad Nacional, to identify the infectious agent of this syndrome. Veterinarians and poultry producers were instructed to collect gallbladders and livers aseptically and send them for pathology examinations and bacterial cultures in less than 24 hr after collection. Samples were processed for standard histopathologic studies and cultured under aerophilic, anaerobic, and microaerophilic conditions. Campylobacter-like colonies were isolated and identified by biochemical and PCR tests. Here we report for the first time the isolation, biochemical characterization, and molecular confirmation of Campylobacter hepaticus in laying hens and broiler breeders with spotty liver disease in Costa Rica.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Detection of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) E. coli Producers in Groundwater in Lusaka District

Background: Most of the peri-urban communities in the Lusaka district have a significant number of shallow well water points which part of the local community access drinking water from. The objectives of the research were to detect the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in shallow well water in the Lusaka district. A total of 145 shallow well water samples from the community were collected between September 2014 and March 2015 and later submitted for laboratory analysis to the University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Paraclinical Department Microbiology Laboratory. Results: Overall 9/77 (11.6%, 95% CI; 6.8 – 34.5%) of the total samples analyzed indicated that extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers were present in water samples. 13.6% (95% CI; 8 – 24.3%) of the total samples analyzed for antibiotic disk sensitivity test indicated that extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli isolates had conferred resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Conclusions: The study has revealed the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates in shallow well water and could be one of the potential reservoirs for the antimicrobial resistant genes. The results obtained require an urgent need for concerned stakeholders and government wings to immediately bury all the shallow wells in the peri-urban communities and provide them with safe drinking water.

 

Reproduction in Domestic AnimalsEarly View CORRIGENDUMFree Access This article corrects the following: Posters Volume 57Issue S4Reproduction in Domestic Animals pages: 65-106 First Published online: September 27, 2022 First published: 19 February 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14299AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport 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 onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Correction to Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference of the European Society for Domestic Animal Reproduction (ESDAR), 28 September–2 October 2022, Thessaloniki, Greece | Poster Abstracts The authors wish to bring the readers' attention to the missing Poster abstracts below: P106 Association of post-partum rumen contraction score with fertility in Holstein dairy cows G. Valergakis1, N. Siachos1, A. Kougioumtzis1, N. Panousis2 and V. Tsiamadis1 1Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. The study dataset included 719 cows from 9 farms. Rumen contraction score (RCS) was assessed with auscultation of the left paralumbar fossa, once, 2 hours after the morning feeding, at days 0, +2, +4 and +8 relative to calving; RCS was considered as a binary trait (RCS1: 0–1 contraction/2 min, RCS2: 2 or more contractions/2 min). Time from calving to: a) first artificial insemination (AI) by 120 days in milk (DIM) (1stAI_120, n = 502), b) positive pregnancy outcome at 1st AI by 120 DIM (PPREG_1stAI_120, n = 155) and c) positive pregnancy outcome by 200 DIM (PPREG_200, n = 313), were recorded. Kaplan–Meier time-to-event and Cox-proportional hazard regressions (hazard ratio, HR) analyses were performed for the above reproductive traits, with SPSS.25. No associations were detected between RCS and the traits considered, either at 0d or at +2d. Several trends were identified at +4d; for cows with RCS1 and RCS2, mean (±se) time to: a) 1stAI_120 was 101.1 ± 3.2d vs. 93.7 ± 1.0d (P = 0.081) and b) PPREG_1stAI_120 was 109.8 ± 3.7d vs. 101.0 ± 1.3d (P = 0.077). Cows with RCS2 tended to have a higher PPREG_200 hazard ratio compared to RCS1 ones (HR 1.8; 95% CI: 0.9–3.6, P = 0.09). At +8d, for cows with RCS1 and RCS2, mean (±se) time to: a) 1stAI_120 102.1 ± 2.6d vs. 93.3 ± 1.0d (P = 0.012), b) PPREG_1stAI_120 was 109.3 ± 2.8d vs. 101.0 ± 1.3d (P = 0.05) and c) PPREG_200 was 174.9 ± 5.0d vs. 157.7 ± 2.2d (P = 0.02). Cows with RCS2 had a higher PPREG_200 hazard compared to RCS1 ones (HR 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2–3.2, P = 0.005). Cows with RCS1 and RCS2 did not differ in hazard for 1stAI_120 and PPREG_1stAI_120, either at +4d or at +8d. Early post-calving RCS merits research as a warning tool for future reproductive performance. The organizers of the meeting would like to apologize for this error and any confusion it may have caused. Reference Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Society for Domestic Animal Reproduction (ESDAR), 28. September – 2. October 2022, Thessaloniki, Greece. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, (2022). 57(S4), 65– 106. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/rda.14244 Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue ReferencesRelatedInformation

Intracanal Microbiological Contamination Reduction Using Low-intensity Laser Associated with a Photosensitizer - In Vivo Study in Teeth of Dogs.

This study evaluated the efficacy of photodynamic therapy using the photosensitizer azulene and low-intensity laser associated with standard root chemical-surgical preparation (performed with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite) in dogs. Twenty animals from the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (HOVET-FMVZ/USP) and treated at the Compared Dentistry Laboratory (Laboratório de Odontologia Veterinária [LOC]-FMVZ/USP) were included. Each subject possessed one single rooted tooth with complete root formation, pulp necrosis, complicated crown fracture and periapical bone rarefaction at the time of the radiographic examination. The endodontic treatment was performed in all dogs, which were divided into two equal groups. For group one, the standard chemical-surgical preparation was followed by the photodynamic therapy to evaluate the role of azulene after instrumentation. For group two, the photodynamic therapy was followed by the standard chemical-surgical preparation to evaluate the antimicrobial action of azulene before instrumentation. The results show that intracanal photodynamic therapy is efficient in eliminating unspecified bacterial and Enterococcus organism loads. In addition, this therapeutic modality reduces yeast contamination. The photodynamic therapy showed similar efficacy compared to standard chemical-surgical preparation. The application order of therapeutic modalities does not influence intracanal disinfection in both cases. This study shows that photodynamic therapy with low-intensity laser and azulene as a photosensitizer is a feasible alternative for improving treatment outcomes in routine practice of veterinary dentistry.

A Study into the Identity, Patterns of Infection and Potential Pathological Effects of Rumen Fluke and the Frequency of Co-Infections with Liver Fluke in Cattle and Sheep

Rumen fluke (RF) are trematode parasites that have increased in prevalence within European ruminant livestock since the 1990s. Morbidity and mortality can result from the development of juvenile flukes in the duodenum, however, evidence for significant impacts of adult fluke in the rumen of the final host is equivocal. The presence of rumen fluke in Scotland had not previously been quantified, so the purpose of this study was to use historical coprological data collected between 2008 and 2018 at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Glasgow to evaluate the frequency of rumen fluke infection and to compare this with the presence of liver fluke. This analysis showed evidence of adult rumen fluke in 6.6% of samples submitted, with a substantial and significant increase in positive diagnoses from 2016, following which positive rumen fluke diagnoses equaled or slightly outnumbered those of liver fluke. A prospective post-mortem examination study was also carried out to determine the presence of rumen and liver fluke in cattle and sheep, to quantify adult rumen fluke burdens and to assess any pathological changes in the reticulorumen and proximal duodenum associated with infection. The presence of rumen fluke in post-mortem cases was 26.9% (n = 18/67), the majority (66.7%, n = 12/18) with burdens of less than 100 adult rumen flukes. There was no significant difference in mean ruminal papillar density and length in animals with and without adult rumen fluke and no significant gross pathology was observed in the rumen or reticulum. Examination of animals with adult rumen fluke provided no evidence of any consistent associations with acute or chronic inflammatory changes in the duodenum. All rumen fluke collected at necropsy were identified by PCR and sequencing as Calicophoron daubneyi.

Critique of Approaches for Evaluating Teaching and Proposal for a New Institutional Policy.

A review of current literature provides ample evidence that Student Evaluation of Teaching, as currently practiced, can be a biased and flawed evaluation of educator performance and student learning. Due to this, many institutions have developed their own internal multimodal approach for faculty evaluation and professional advancement review that removes the underlying bias associated with survey results. Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine created a taskforce to evaluate the current teaching assessment practices and provide an alternative method. Based on an extensive literature review, an institutional policy was created using a multimodal approach, combining student evaluations of teaching scores with peer review of teaching, review of teaching materials, mentorship, self-ratings, and self-reflection. The implementation plan for this policy is described to allow for a teaching evaluation process built on a philosophy of mentorship, guidance, and self-reflection; as well as the use of external professional exam metrics to review the institutional academic quality at large.

Use of short videos and case studies to enhance student confidence in biochemistry knowledge and application in a large lecture biochemistry course in first year veterinary curriculum.

Large lecture courses are an efficient way to convey material to many students but have potential limitations, most notably the tendency for them to promote passive learning opportunities rather than active pedagogies. The curriculum at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, like many veterinary schools, contains many large lecture courses in the pre-clinical curriculum. This objective of this study was to use two active pedagogical interventions in a first-year lecture course named Veterinary Biochemistry and Metabolism that drew connections between basic science and several veterinary diseases. The first intervention targeted increasing students' intrinsic motivation and their confidence with understanding biochemistry concepts using videos created via collaborations between students, staff, and clinical and basic science faculty. The second intervention targeted active and collaborative learning via the implementation of clinical case studies completed in groups to relate lecture content to clinical scenarios with the aim of further enhancing student confidence in their knowledge of the material. To assess the effectiveness of these two interventions, pre-and post-course surveys using Likert style questions were administered to evaluate student confidence in the targeted concepts. The post-survey included open-ended responses on students' perspectives on their most important takeaways from the activities and their suggestions for improvements. The data showed a positive impact of these interventions on student motivation and confidence in their knowledge. This study provides support that targeted interventions to increase active learning strategies increase student engagement and may improve learning efficacy in large lecture courses.

Comparison of Community Practitioner and Clinical Educator Expectations of Veterinary Graduates.

One goal of veterinary curricular development and revision is to ensure graduating veterinarians meet entry-level competencies to perform successfully in their community. Most curricula are developed by clinical educators in a university setting; therefore, we must determine whether clinical educators can predict community practitioner expectations. This article evaluates practitioners' expectations of new graduate independence in veterinary tasks and compares these expectations with those of clinical educators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine (UW-SVM). A survey was designed to measure expectations of graduate-level independence within nine technical and three non-technical categories. Members of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) and UW-SVM clinicians were invited to participate. Expected levels of independence were compared between these two populations and between WVMA specialists and generalists. Results indicated significant differences in the expected levels of graduate independence between UW-SVM clinicians and WVMA members, with UW-SVM clinicians generally expecting higher levels of independence for both technical and non-technical tasks. Although most SVM clinicians are specialists, this difference does not appear to reflect a difference in expectations between specialists and generalists, as WVMA specialists had lower expectations of graduate independence for most technical and non-technical tasks than did WVMA generalists. These results suggest that academic clinicians are not able to predict practitioners' graduate expectations or that graduates in practice are not meeting the levels of independence expected by their clinical educators. Further investigation into the differences in expectations will enable fruitful partnerships between academic clinicians, practitioners, and students in curricular design and revision.