Veterinary Diagnoses Research Articles

Short communication: Do veterinary diagnoses coming from electronic recording system of veterinary treatments have the potential to be used for breeding in small populations? The case of the dual-purpose Alpine Grey cattle breed

In cattle breeding, emphasis has historically been placed on productive traits, so-called primary traits, while health and fitness traits have been overlooked due to their low heritability and partly negative genetic correlations with productivity. In addition, the recording of phenotypes caused problems due to a lack of high-quality information and / or high costs of recording. This oversight has additionally led to increased incidences of fertility issues and health problems in cattle populations, resulting in economic losses and consumer concerns regarding animal welfare and food safety. This study investigates the potential use of veterinary diagnoses, collected via the Italian electronic recording system of veterinary treatments, for breeding decisions in the local dual-purpose Alpine Grey cattle breed for which the consideration of functional traits in breeding has also become imperative over the last years. The dataset comprised 97 821 records spanning from 2021 to 2023, representing 8 273 individuals and 18 110 lactations of the Alpine Grey breed. Each record documented the administration of treatments for mammary, respiratory, and urogenital pathologies. After data editing and model development, heritability estimates were obtained for each pathology using univariate linear animal models and gibbs sampling algorithms. Results indicate that mammary pathologies affected the highest number of cows (11%), followed by respiratory (4%) and urogenital (5%) pathologies. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 across all traits, confirming generally low heritability values. Respiratory pathologies exhibited the highest heritability (0.04; sd 0.04), followed by mammary (0.03; sd 0.01) and urogenital (0.01; sd 0.01) pathologies. This study, although preliminary, provides valuable insights into the health status of local dual-purpose Alpine Grey cattle and highlights the potential of considering veterinary diagnoses for improving animal health and welfare in dairy cattle breeding. However, the low heritability of these traits, which is consistent with literature data, clearly shows the current limitations of using them for breeding. Further, the diagnostic key of the Italian electronic recording system of veterinary treatments should be specified for the use of health data for breeding purposes, as it is formulated in too general manner in its current form. Nevertheless, their significance for animal welfare and economic sustainability underlines the need for their consideration in dairy cattle breeding. Therefore, further research with larger sample sizes and consideration of additional indicators, such as somatic cell counts, is recommended to enhance the accuracy of genetic evaluations and improve breeding strategies for sustainable cattle production.

Advancing livestock and poultry disease diagnosis with high-resolution melt curve analysis

High-Resolution Melting (HRM) is a sensitive polymerase chain reaction-based molecular assay used to detect, single nuclear polymorphisms, mutations, and variations in genotypes of pathogens. HRM analysis is more convenient than other detection and discrimination approaches since it is a closed-tube method, that is the polymerase chain reaction amplification and subsequent analysis are carried out sequentially in the well. It finds application in various veterinary diagnoses and discrimination of genotypes of the microorganisms. Numerous public health organizations have recommended increased monitoring activities to support current surveillance programs in response to the threat of bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases. HRM assay will be an efficient, cost-effective disease diagnostic and genotype of circulating pathogen identification method thereby aiding in disease surveillance which is important for monitoring the spread of infectious diseases. This review emphasizes the application of HRM in livestock, poultry, and companion animals in recent times carried out all over the world for determining the genotype, strain, and breed differentiation including pathogens classification.

MULTIMORBIDITY PREDICTS REMAINING LIFESPAN IN NONHUMAN PRIMATE MODEL OF ACCELERATED AGING

Abstract Multimorbidity is common among older adults and linked to shorter lifespans, but it is unclear how naturally-occurring multimorbidity impacts lifespan in non-human primate models of aging. We developed a clinical multimorbidity index based on standardized veterinary diagnoses in 288 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from the Wake Forest Radiation Late Effects Cohort, animals that survived an early-life insult from whole-body radiation and controls (73 female, 237 irradiated, ages 2-24). Our index is based on diagnosis of arthritis, low bone density, cataracts, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, hepatic dysfunction, hypertension, kidney disease, lung fibrosis, skin disorders, tumors, and overweight/underweight. All diseases were seen in both control and irradiated animals and there was a broad distribution of multimorbidity trajectories across the lifespan both in number and combinations of diseases. On average, the first diagnosis occurred at age 9.0 (equal to 35% of median lifespan) and the second at age 10.7. However, 20% of animals that lived to age 12 were without any diagnoses while others had as many as 9 comorbidities, highlighting broad variability in multimorbidity with aging. Cox proportional-hazard ratios (HR) show significant negative associations (p < 0.05) between survival and multimorbidity. Ages 3-6 years, each additional morbidity doubles likelihood of death (HR > 2) with HR falling from 1.9 to 1.4 from ages 6-15. Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, multimorbidity predicts 2-year mortality with AUC > 0.65 from ages 7-14. Our findings suggest multimorbidity is prevalent and predicts lifespan in NHP survivors of radiation. Research was funded by NIHU01AI150578.

Hemangiossarcoma mamário: Relato de exame histopatológico

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a common form of neoplasm in dogs, characterized by the malignant growth of endothelial cells in blood vessels. This neoplasm is highly aggressive and often shows metastatic behavior, with tropism for well-vascularized tissues and characterized by fragile capillaries, leading to hemorrhagic conditions, causing the death of most affected animals, as well as causing a series of hematological abnormalities. Diagnosis can be made by cytology and confirmed by histopathological examination. Treatment is comprised of surgical removal of the affected nodule or organ, accompanied by chemotherapy protocols. A histopathological examination was carried out on a cutaneous tumor in the mammary area of a seven-year-old Dachshund bitch, which was diagnosed as a hemangiosarcoma. The aim of this paper is to report a case of canine mammary hemangiosarcoma and to show the importance of histopathological examination in routine veterinary medicine diagnoses.

The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs.

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disorder in dogs. Minimal research has been performed to investigate how clinical signs may be impacted by other medical conditions. A cross-sectional study was performed using the Canine Cognitive Assessment Scale (CCAS) to evaluate cognitive impairment as reported by owners. Owner-reported health-related measures included behaviour changes, the body condition score, and veterinary diagnoses of disease. The responses from 804 dogs in the last 25% of their expected lifespan were analysed. Factors were identified in the owner-reported behavioural signs of disease representing pathologies in four body systems: musculoskeletal-neurological, digestive, metabolic, and dermatological, with the items comprising these factors also compiled into a cumulative measure of health. The results showed a strong correlation between the CCAS score and both the musculoskeletal-neurological factor and the overall cumulative measure of health. Moderate correlations between the CCAS score and the digestive factor and metabolic factor were also observed. The correlation between the dermatological factor and the CCAS score was weak. This study highlights the need to screen dogs for concurrent diseases when using scales to assess cognitive impairment and to monitor dogs who have health conditions, particularly those that are painful, for the onset of cognitive impairment.

Effect of inbreeding on the occurrence of genetic defects in Chinese Crested dogs

The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of inbreeding on the frequency of hereditary diseases and the number of genetically tested dogs. The pedigrees of 100 Chinese Crested dogs from Polish Kennel Club and information about genetic tests for hereditary eye diseases and other veterinary diagnoses were collected. Inbreeding coefficients and relatedness were estimated for all dogs examined. The relationship between the level of inbreeding and genetic testing was analysed with logistic regression. The relationship between the occurrence of eye disease carriers and sex or the level of inbreeding was also tested. A significant relationship (P < 0.01) was found between inbreeding and the number of animals genetically tested for PLL eye disease. The effect of sex or the level of inbreeding on the eye disease carrier status was non-significant (P > 0.05). However, in some inbred animals the status of the eye disease carrier could be connected with inbreeding, although this needs further research. We found that most of the dogs had related parents and genetic defects. We also found that the breeders often used related dogs, which reduced the genetic diversity of the group and caused hereditary diseases. We suggest that Chinese Crested dog breeders be more open about publishing DNA-test results, which is fundamental for the health of the breed.

Use of cutting-edge RNA-sequencing technology to identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in canine and feline cancers and other diseases.

With the growing interest in companion animals and the rapidly expanding animal healthcare and pharmaceuticals market worldwide. With the advancements in RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, it has become a valuable tool for understanding biological processes in companion animals and has multiple applications in animal healthcare. Historically, veterinary diagnoses and treatments relied solely on clinical symptoms and drugs used in human diseases. However, RNA-seq has emerged as an effective technology for studying companion animals, providing insights into their genetic information. The sequencing technology has revealed that not only messenger RNAs (mRNAs) but also non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as long ncRNAs and microRNAs can serve as biomarkers. Based on the examination of RNA-seq applications in veterinary medicine, particularly in dogs and cats, this review concludes that RNA-seq has significant potential as a diagnostic and research tool. It has enabled the identification of potential biomarkers for cancer and other diseases in companion animals. Further research and development are required to maximize the utilization of RNA-seq for improved disease diagnosis and therapeutic targeting in companion animals.

Genetic testing of dogs predicts problem behaviors in clinical and nonclinical samples

BackgroundVery little is known about the etiology of personality and psychiatric disorders. Because the core neurobiology of many such traits is evolutionarily conserved, dogs present a powerful model. We previously reported genome scans of breed averages of ten traits related to fear, anxiety, aggression and social behavior in multiple cohorts of pedigree dogs. As a second phase of that discovery, here we tested the ability of markers at 13 of those loci to predict canine behavior in a community sample of 397 pedigree and mixed-breed dogs with individual-level genotype and phenotype data.ResultsWe found support for all markers and loci. By including 122 dogs with veterinary behavioral diagnoses in our cohort, we were able to identify eight loci associated with those diagnoses. Logistic regression models showed subsets of those loci could predict behavioral diagnoses. We corroborated our previous findings that small body size is associated with many problem behaviors and large body size is associated with increased trainability. Children in the home were associated with anxiety traits; illness and other animals in the home with coprophagia; working-dog status with increased energy and separation-related problems; and competitive dogs with increased aggression directed at familiar dogs, but reduced fear directed at humans and unfamiliar dogs. Compared to other dogs, Pit Bull-type dogs were not defined by a set of our markers and were not more aggressive; but they were strongly associated with pulling on the leash. Using severity-threshold models, Pit Bull-type dogs showed reduced risk of owner-directed aggression (75th quantile) and increased risk of dog-directed fear (95th quantile).ConclusionsOur association analysis in a community sample of pedigree and mixed-breed dogs supports the interbreed mapping. The modeling shows some markers are predictive of behavioral diagnoses. Our findings have broad utility, including for clinical and breeding purposes, but we caution that thorough understanding is necessary for their interpretation and use.

Exploration of factors associated with spatial-temporal veterinary surveillance diagnoses of rumen fluke (Calicophoron daubneyi) infections in ruminants using zero-inflated mixed modelling.

Rumen fluke (Calicophoron daubneyi) has emerged as a prominent parasite of ruminants in Europe over the past decades. Epidemiological questions remain regarding this observed increase in prevalence as well as the prospect for future paramphistomosis risk. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the temporal−spatial prevalence of rumen fluke as measured by veterinary surveillance in a temperate region using zero-inflated negative binomial mixed modelling. Modelling revealed that summer rainfall, raindays and sunshine hours and mean winter temperature as significant positively associated climate variables for rumen fluke prevalence over space and time (P < 0.05). Rumen fluke prevalence was also higher in counties with higher cattle/sheep densities and was positively associated with rumen fluke case rates in the previous years (P < 0.05). Equivalent models for fasciolosis prevalence revealed no significant association with winter temperature and sunshine hours, (P > 0.05). These results confirm a strong association between rainfall and the prevalence of both fluke species in a temperate environment, likely due to the role of Galba truncatula as their intermediate snail host. It also highlights the potential added importance of winter temperature and sunshine hours in rumen fluke epidemiology when compared to liver fluke.

Development of a Multiplex PCR Assay for Genotyping the Fish Pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis Through Comparative Genomics.

Piscirickettsia salmonis is a bacterial pathogen that severely impact the aquaculture in several countries as Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, and Chile. It provokes Piscirickettsiosis outbreaks in the marine phase of salmonid farming, resulting in economic losses. The monophyletic genogroup LF-89 and a divergent genogroup EM-90 are responsible for the most severe Piscirickettsiosis outbreaks in Chile. Therefore, the development of methods for quick genotyping of P. salmonis genogroups in field samples is vital for veterinary diagnoses and understanding the population structure of this pathogen. The present study reports the development of a multiplex PCR for genotyping LF-89 and EM-90 genogroups based on comparative genomics of 73 fully sequenced P. salmonis genomes. The results revealed 2,322 sequences shared between 35 LF-89 genomes, 2,280 sequences in the core-genome of 38 EM-90 genomes, and 331 and 534 accessory coding sequences each genogroup, respectively. A total of 1,801 clusters of coding sequences were shared among all tested genomes of P. salmonis (LF-89 and EM-90), with 253 and 291 unique sequences for LF-89 and EM-90 genogroups, respectively. The Multiplex-1 prototype was chosen for reliable genotyping because of differences in annealing temperatures and respective reaction efficiencies. This method also identified the pathogen in field samples infected with LF-89 or EM-90 strains, which is not possible with other methods currently available. Finally, the genome-based multiplex PCR protocol presented in this study is a rapid and affordable alternative to classical sequencing of PCR products and analyzing the length of restriction fragment polymorphisms.

IMPROVED DIAGNOSIS OF FOOT OSTEOARTHRITIS IN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS, LOXODONTA AFRICANA) USING STEREORADIOGRAPHY.

Diagnosis of foot disease in elephants is challenging. Owing to their large size, the available diagnostic tools and the expense of imaging are diagnostically limiting. Stereoradiography is the preparation of paired radiographs that form a three-dimensional (3D) image when viewed stereoscopically. Clinicians and veterinary students graded osteoarthritis in the feet of African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants taken postmortem with standard 2D radiographs, as well as 3D stereoradiographs. These gradings were compared with the actual gross pathology identified in the specimens. Although veterinary students diagnoses were no better than chance from 2D radiographs, 83.6% of the students could correctly differentiate severity between joints on stereoradiography; this is an absolute improvement of 30.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19.6%-40.6%). Overall, participants were 27.4% (95% CI = 18.4%-36.3%) more successful at diagnosing pathology on stereoradiographs. Half of participants were shown standard 2D radiographs first, the others stereoradiographs first, but the difference in gradings between the two groups was not statistically significant. Stereoradiography appears to hold the potential to improve diagnosis of osteoarthritis in elephant feet, particularly by less experienced clinicians, and the technique is low-cost and applicable under field conditions.

An Ethnographic Account of the British Equestrian Virtue of Bravery, and Its Implications for Equine Welfare.

Simple SummaryBravery is an important virtue for British horse riders. This article is based on 14 months of ethnographic research, in which I spent time with horse riders (n = 35), observing their day-to-day lives and recording their riding lessons, competitions and ‘yard chatter’ in field notes and by Dictaphone. I found that when riders were fearful, they were often ridiculed, excluded and belittled. Riders’ capacity to be brave became an issue particularly when horses were thought to be defiant. Riders tried to overcome their ‘confidence issues’ by ‘getting tough’—on both themselves and on their horses—often at the demand of their instructors. When fearful riders sought alternative explanations for problematic equine behaviour (such as a veterinary diagnoses), other riders judged them as avoiding getting to grips with the ‘real issues’ (their horses’ defiance, and their own fear). Programs that aim to help riders to develop confidence without instilling a sense of ‘battle’ with the horse, and without ridiculing the rider, are likely to have positive implications on equine welfare and human safety.This article describes the virtue of bravery in British equestrian culture and suggests that riders’ tactics for bolstering bravery may have negative implications on equine welfare. These observations are based on 14 months of ethnographic research among amateur riders and the professionals who support them (n = 35), utilising participant observation and Dictaphone recordings. Riders suffering from ‘confidence issues’ could be belittled and excluded. Instructors’ approaches towards bolstering bravery involved encouraging riders to ‘get tough’—on both themselves and on their horses. Narrative theory is employed in this article to show that riders could demonstrate their own bravery through describing the horse as defiant. Alternate narrative possibilities existed, including describing the horse as needy patient and the rider as care provider. Riders were critically aware that veterinary diagnoses could be sought or avoided in line with riders’ own dispositions. ‘Diagnoses-seeking’ behaviours could be judged negatively by others and seen as evidence of unresolved fearfulness. In conclusion, the British equestrian cultural orientation towards bravery can be associated with stressful or painful training techniques, delayed or missed diagnoses of physiological pathologies, and poor training outcomes. Programs that aim to help riders to develop confidence without instilling a sense of ‘battle’ with the horse, and without ridiculing the rider, are likely to have positive implications on equine welfare and human safety.

Effects of cattle breed and production system on veterinary diagnoses and administrated veterinary medicine in alpine dairy farms

The aim of the following study was to investigate the effect of dairy production systems, including housing, farm management, pasture access and concentrate supplementation on veterinary diagnosed diseases as well as on administrated drugs in local dual-purpose Alpine Grey (AG) cattle and specialised Brown Swiss (BS) cattle in alpine dairy systems. In the final dataset 916 veterinary diagnosis from 524 cows farmed in 6 low-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (LAG), 9 low-concentrate Brown Swiss farms, (LBS) 11 high-concentrate Alpine Grey farms (HAG) and 15 high-concentrate Brown Swiss farms (HBS) were available for the statistical analysis. The most diagnoses referred to udder health (mastitis, dry-cow therapy) followed by parasite infections and reproduction disorders. In detail, BS had a higher occurrence for mammary infections than AG while HBS farms showed a significant higher incidence for udder diseases compared to all other farm categories. Pasture access had in tendency a beneficial effect on udder health but was detrimental for cows fertility. For latter, special attention should be put on providing sufficient energy supply to grazing animals for avoiding severe negative energy balances and resulting metabolic disorders which reduce fertility. Finally, to reduce the use of antimicrobials classified as highly critical by the WHO in terms of resistance, selective therapies, particularly for mammary infections and dry-cow therapies as well as the inclusion of preventive strategies in every days farm management should be encouraged. Highlights Pasture access has a favourable effect on udder health Selective veterinary treatments for udder infections and dry-off practice should be promoted Brown Swiss cows are more susceptible to mammary infections than Alpine Grey cows

Rapid and sensitive detection of goose parvovirus and duck-origin novel goose parvovirus by recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a vertical flow visualization strip

Goose parvovirus (GPV) is one of the most serious viral pathogens in goslings. Recently, a new pathogen to the Chinese mainland—duck-origin novel goose parvovirus (N-GPV)—was found to be 90.8–94.6% identical to the nucleotide sequence of GPV, and typically causes growth disorders and high infection rates in meat ducks. The spread of both of these viruses hinders the healthy development of the waterfowl breeding industry. In this study, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) was combined with a vertical flow (VF) visualization strip to develop a universal assay for the rapid detection of GPV and N-GPV. A set of specific primers and probes were designed to target the VP3 gene. Detection was possible at a constant temperature of 37 °C within 5–10 min. The assay successfully detected GPV and N-GPV with high-specificity and did not exhibit cross-reactivity with other waterfowl viruses and bacteria. The analytical sensitivity of the GPV-RPA-VF assay was 2 × 102 copies of GPV plasmid. Validation of the GPV-RPA-VF assay—using 60 samples from the field–—confirmed 100% similarity between the results of GPV-RPA-VF and conventional qPCR. The results indicate that the GPV-RPA-VF assay was accurate, sensitive, and specific. This assay can be performed with minimal equipment and training to rapidly detect GPV and N-GPV during the early phase of an outbreak, especially when timely veterinary diagnoses are needed in the field and in rural areas.

Invited review: Genetics and claw health: Opportunities to enhance claw health by genetic selection

Routine recording of claw health status at claw trimming of dairy cattle has been established in several countries, providing valuable data for genetic evaluation. In this review, we examine issues related to genetic evaluation of claw health; discuss data sources, trait definitions, and data validation procedures; and present a review of genetic parameters, possible indicator traits, and status of genetic and genomic evaluations for claw disorders. Different sources of data and traits can be used to describe claw health. Severe cases of claw disorders can be identified by veterinary diagnoses. Data from lameness and locomotion scoring, activity information from sensors, and feet and leg conformation traits are used as auxiliary traits. The most reliable and comprehensive information is data from regular hoof trimming. In genetic evaluation, claw disorders are usually defined as binary traits, based on whether or not the claw disorder was present (recorded) at least once during a defined time period. The traits can be specific disorders, composite traits, or overall claw health. Data validation and editing criteria are needed to ensure reliable data at the trimmer, herd, animal, and record levels. Different strategies have been chosen, reflecting differences in herd sizes, data structures, management practices, and recording systems among countries. Heritabilities of the most commonly analyzed claw disorders based on data from routine claw trimming were generally low, with ranges of linear model estimates from 0.01 to 0.14, and threshold model estimates from 0.06 to 0.39. Estimated genetic correlations among claw disorders varied from -0.40 to 0.98. The strongest genetic correlations were found among sole hemorrhage (SH), sole ulcer (SU), and white line disease (WL), and between digital/interdigital dermatitis (DD/ID) and heel horn erosion (HHE). Genetic correlations between DD/ID and HHE on the one hand and SH, SU, or WL on the other hand were, in most cases, low. Although some of the studies were based on relatively few records and the estimated genetic parameters had large standard errors, there was, with some exceptions, consistency among studies. Various studies evaluate the potential of various data soureces for use in breeding. The use of hoof trimming data is recommended for maximization of genetic gain, although auxiliary traits, such as locomotion score and some conformation traits, may be valuable for increasing the reliability of genetic evaluations. Routine genetic evaluation of direct claw health has been implemented in the Netherlands (2010); Denmark, Finland, and Sweden (joint Nordic evaluation; 2011); and Norway (2014), and other countries plan to implement evaluations in the near future.

Natural exposure to domoic acid causes behavioral perseveration in Wild Sea lions: Neural underpinnings and diagnostic application

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring algal toxin that causes neurological symptoms and mortality in exposed marine life. California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are the most visible victims, and suffer epilepsy and progressive hippocampal atrophy. Despite its reliable neurological effects, little is known about how exposure to domoic acid alters behavior, which is critical for understanding the impact of toxic exposure on long-term survival in sea lions and other exposed animals, including humans. Better understanding of the behavioral effects may also inform veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Anecdotally, exposed sea lions have been reported to show enhanced perseverative behavior. To assess the neurobehavioral effects of domoic acid, we compared veterinary diagnoses, measures of hippocampal volume from in vivo MRI, and behavioral measures of habituation and dishabituation in 27 wild sea lions undergoing rehabilitation. The sample was divided post-hoc between subjects with clear veterinary diagnoses of chronic domoic acid toxicosis and those with no evidence of the disease. In the behavioral task, subjects were exposed repeatedly to sounds from two source locations, and, following a short delay, exposed again. Veterinary diagnosis of domoic acid toxicosis was associated with extent of hippocampal damage, predicted delayed habituation in phase 1, and enhanced dishabituation in phase 2. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that delayed habituation in phase 1 was diagnostically predictive. Enhanced dishabituation in phase 2 was correlated with reduced right ventral hippocampal volume. Together, delayed habituation and enhanced dishabituation following domoic acid exposure indicate a clinically relevant and potentially maladaptive behavioral pattern of perseveration.

Efficiency of the Clinical Veterinary Diagnostic Practices and Drug Choices for Infectious Diseases in Livestock in Bangladesh.

As in most low-income countries, adequate laboratory facilities are not available in Bangladesh to assist veterinarians in diagnosing animal diseases. We aimed to determine the efficiency of veterinary diagnoses for two common ruminant diseases in Bangladesh: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). We conducted the study from May 2009 to August 2010 in three government veterinary hospitals where veterinarians collected samples from sick livestock and recorded the presumptive diagnosis on the basis of clinical presentations. Samples were tested for PPR and FMD using real-time RT-PCR. We estimated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the presumptive diagnoses when compared to laboratory tests. We tested 539 goats for PPR and 340 cattle and goats for FMD. Our results indicate that the veterinarians' presumptive diagnoses were different from laboratory findings for both PPR (P<0.05) and FMD (P<0.05). The overall sensitivity of the presumptive clinical diagnoses was 54% (95% CI: 47-61%) while specificity was 81% (95% CI: 78-84%) compared to real-time RT-PCR tests. The kappa value obtained in our validation process for PPR (kappa: 0.25) and FMD (kappa 0.36) indicated a poor performance of the presumptive diagnoses. Most of the animals (93%) were treated with antibiotics. Our findings indicate that veterinarians can detect animals not infected with FMD or PPR but miss the true cases. The clinical competency of these veterinarians needs to be improved and access to laboratory diagnostic facilities could help veterinarians to improve the diagnostics and outcomes. The rational use of antibiotics by veterinarians in animals must be ensured.

Comparative Pathology of Canine Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Possible Models of Human Non-rhabdomyosarcoma Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Comparative analyses of canine and human soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are lacking. This study compared the histological and immunohistochemical (labelling for desmin, smooth muscle actin [SMA], CD31, pancytokeratin, S100 and CD34) appearance of 32 archived, formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded canine STS tumour specimens by board-certified veterinary and medical pathologists, both blinded to the other's interpretations. Comparison between the veterinary and human diagnoses revealed a generally consistent pattern of interpretation with few notable variations. Most tumours (13/32) were judged to display similar histomorphological appearance to human low-grade spindle cell sarcomas, appearing non-distinctive and morphologically of a fibroblastic/myofibroblastic type. Five canine cases resembled human liposarcoma, but with atypical desmin-positive epithelioid cells present. Five canine cases resembled human spindle cell sarcoma with myxoid features and two additional cases resembled human myxofibrosarcoma. Seven canine cases were noted to resemble human undifferentiated sarcoma. Findings in the present study demonstrate that canine STSs display histological and immunohistochemical features similar to their human equivalents. Because of these cross-species similarities, a particular opportunity exists to understand the biology and treatment of human STS by potentially including dogs as clinical models.

Accuracy of distal limb fracture diagnosis at British racecourses 1999–2005

Accurate diagnosis of racing injuries can be difficult. The objectives of this study were to describe the postmortem (PM) defined distribution of fatal distal limb fractures (DLF) affecting Thoroughbreds racing...

Estimation of the diagnostic accuracy of the glyco-C and US9 gene-based polymerase chain reaction technique for the detection of bovine Herpesvirus type 5 DNA in decomposed brain suspension from a slaughter house using Bayesian analysis, Brazil

Brazil represents the greatest beef producer among tropical countries, and the major obstacle for meat international trade is sanitary problems especially closely related to viral encephalitis. The goal of this study was to estimate the accuracy of the glycol and US9 gene-based polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for the detection of bovine Herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) from decomposed brain samples (n = 95). For this purpose, a latent-class (bayesian) approach was used. Sensitivity (Se) was estimated to be 70% (95% probability interval, 40-80) and specificity (Sp) 100% in the statistical analysis for both PCRs used. Accordingly, a minimum of ≥40% of the calves was estimated to harbor BoHV-5 DNA even after 72 h of decomposition at room temperature. It was concluded that US9 gene-based PCR could also be considered a cost-effective alternative in sanitary programmers. However, given the importance of veterinary diagnoses, PCR-positive samples should be further confirmed through in vitro isolation and/or sequencing.