Veterinary Facilities Research Articles

Article

To describe a cluster of human monkeypox cases associated with exposure to ill prairie dogs in a home child care. We identified all persons exposed to 2 pet prairie dogs in County A, Indiana; performed active surveillance for symptomatic monkeypox infection; and evaluated the types of exposure that may have resulted in infection. For children who attended the child care where the animals were housed, we also measured the rate of seroconversion to monkeypox virus. Nine (13%) of 70 persons exposed to the prairie dogs reported signs and symptoms of monkeypox. Two (40%) of 5 symptomatic child care attendees reported direct contact with the prairie dogs. Two (13%) of 15 child care attendees evaluated tested positive for IgM antibodies against orthopoxvirus; both reported symptoms consistent with monkeypox. The risk of symptomatic infection correlated with the time and intensity of animal exposure, which was 100% (4/4) among family members with extensive direct contact, 19% (5/26) among the veterinarian and nonfamily child care attendees with moderate exposure, and 0% (0/40) among school children with limited exposure (P<.01). Monkeypox virus was transmitted from ill prairie dogs in a child care and veterinary facilities. The risk of symptomatic infection correlated with the amount of exposure to the prairie dogs. Although most cases of human monkeypox were associated with direct animal contact, other routes of transmission cannot be excluded.

Total Skin Electron Beam Irradiation for Generalized Cutaneous Lymphoma

Introduction: Generalized cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) in canines has many similarities to CTCL in humans. In humans, early stage mycosis fungoides (MF) patients that do not have lymph node or any systemic involvement can do very well with total skin electron beam irradiation (TSE). In fact, if these early stage patients were treated with 30–35 Gy, the median overall survival was not reached at 15 years. Only one dog with CTCL has been treated with total skin irradiation using orthovoltage irradiation. The patient died the night of the 2nd fraction of RT. Now that more veterinary RT facilities have linear accelerators with electron beam capabilities, it is possible canines with CTCL can be treated with TSE. This paper describes an adaptation of the Modern TSE technique used in human MF patients and its application in canine patients with MF/CTCL.Methods: The modified Modern TSE technique and its application for canine MF/CTCL patients involves 20 treatments given M‐F over 4 weeks. The entire skin surface is treated from multiple directions.Results: Four canine patients with CTCL have been treated with this TSE technique. All patients responded to the treatment initially with the first patient having tumor control for &gt;20 months. One patient has failed the therapy at this date.Conclusions: The TSE technique adapted for use in canines with CTCL was well tolerated with no significant toxicity noted. Development of a collaborative study with other veterinary RT centers having electron beam capabilities is being evaluated through VRTOG.

Veterinary Medical Education in Iraq

Iraq is an agricultural country with a large population of animals: sheep, goats, cattle, water buffaloes, horses, donkeys, mules, and camels. In the 1980s, the successful poultry industry managed to produce enough table eggs and meat to satisfy the needs of the entire population; at one time, the thriving fish industry produced different types of fish for Iraqis' yearly fish consumption. There are four veterinary colleges in Iraq, which have been destroyed along with the veterinary services infrastructure. Understandably, improvements to the quality of veterinary education and services in Iraq will be reflected in a healthy and productive animal industry, better food quality and quantity, fewer zoonotic diseases, and more income-generating activities in rural areas. Thus, if undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs are improved, the veterinary medical profession will attract more competent students. This will satisfy the country's increased demand for competent veterinarians in both public and private sectors. Although Iraq has an estimated 5,000-7,000 veterinarians, there is a need for quality veterinary services and for more veterinarians. In addition, there is a need for the improvement of veterinary diagnostic facilities, as zoonotic diseases are always highly probable in this region. This article provides insight into the status of veterinary medical education and veterinary services in Iraq before and after the 1991 Gulf War and gives suggestions for improvement and implementation of new programs. Suggestions are also offered for improving veterinary diagnostic facilities and the quality of veterinary services. Improving diagnostic facilities and the quality of veterinary services will enhance animal health and production in Iraq and will also decrease the likelihood of disease transmission to and from Iraq. Threats of disease transmission and introduction into the country have been observed and reported by several international organizations.

A survey of veterinary radiation facilities in the United States during 2001.

A survey of veterinary radiation therapy facilities in the United States was done in 2001 to determine the type of equipment available, radiation protocols used, case load, tumor types irradiated, as well as other details of the practice of radiation oncology. A total of 42 sites were identified and included 17 (40%) academic institutions, and 25 (60%) private practice external beam radiation facilities. The overall response rate was 79% (33/42 responded). Based on this survey there is substantial variation between facilities in all aspects ranging from equipment and personnel to radiation protocols and caseloads. American College of Veterinary Radiology boarded radiation oncologists direct 76% of the radiation facilities at academic institutions and 60% of the private practice facilities. Three facilities had orthovoltage radiation units only, and 30 facilities had mega-voltage equipment: cobalt 60 or linear accelerator. A total of 18 facilities had linear accelerators with three of these off site at a human radiation facility. Patient load information was available from 31 sites (74% of the radiation facilities in the United States), and based on the responses 2790 dogs and 1081 cats were irradiated in 2001. Canine mast cell tumors were the most frequently irradiated tumor. This represents the first survey of veterinary radiation facilities in the United States and provides information on the specialty of veterinary radiation oncology.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EQUINE RESCUE GLIDE

The Rescue Glide Sked provides a practical means of moving a recumbent, non‐ambulatory or injured horse from the site of an accident. Horses with serious injuries, displaying severe malnutrition or neurological symptoms, can be easily moved out of a stall or even down a trail to a horse ambulance for transport to a veterinary facility. It is a specialty cut piece of 8′× 4′ recycled polypropylene with tie‐down straps and steel attachment points for winch loading into an equine ambulance. A horse must be fully sedated during transport on the rescue glide to prevent further injury to itself or rescuers. Moving a recumbent horse is very difficult due to the weight of the animal, often causing damage to the head and eyes, and with many safety concerns for the rescuers (struggling, kicking). It may take 8 to 10 people to move a horse just a few feet, especially uphill or on high friction surfaces. Benefits of the Rescue Glide include that the plastic reduces the friction of the weight of the animal on the ground surface, so fewer people are needed to move the animal. The tough resilient plastic is flexible so it goes easily over obstacles such as logs, roots, or through ditches. It folds up around the animal's body to get through a standard stall door or tight spaces as might be encountered on a trail. The Glide may be attached to a winch, ropes pulled by human rescuers, or even vehicle (ATV, car, etc.)The practical use of the Rescue Glide has been demonstrated in numerous situations including severe limb injuries, neurological compromise, geriatric, recumbent/unable to rise, severe neglect/malnutrition, and recovery/removal of dead large animals. The equipment has been used at race tracks and riding competition events for transport of animals into ambulances, as well as by veterinary rescue response teams in trail riding accidents, pasture accidents, and severe trailer injuries.The Rescue Glide, in conjunction with an equine ambulance trailer, provides a safe and suitable means of transport of large animals to veterinary facilities and should be a part of the equine practitioner's emergency equipment.

Traditional veterinary knowledge and practices in Northern Region of Ghana

Traditional veterinary knowledge and practices in Northern Region of Ghana

Eastern Europe and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: animal health systems in transition.

The economic transition in Eastern Europe and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) during the last decade has profoundly changed the agricultural sector and the well-being of people in rural areas. Farm ownership changed; selected farm assets, including livestock, were transferred to farm workers or others, and the social and service structures of rural society are in a state of uncertainty. The transition has, in general, led to the deterioration of rural services. Animal health services have also deteriorated. This decline is associated with the contraction of the livestock inventory, the fragmentation of farms, higher transaction costs for service providers, and the overall decline of the rural economy which has, so far, lowered the demand for animal health services. There are considerable differences in the way that these countries are coping with the economic transition and its aftermath. Among the determining factors in the former USSR are, as follows: the speed of recovery from the legacies of large State-controlled farming and a centrally planned animal health system, the efforts made to address poverty reduction, the choice on whether to become a Member of the World Trade Organization and the requirements of such membership, the ability to provide low-cost services to a fragmented and unskilled livestock production sector. In Eastern Europe, the requirements for joining the European Union (EU) are an additional and important determining factor. In the short term, the choice of a veterinary system to serve the livestock sector may differ from country to country, depending on the legacies of the past, the status of reforms and the proximity of Western markets. Lower-income countries with an oversupply of veterinarians may support labour-intensive, low-cost systems which focus on food security and public health. The better-endowed EU accession countries may focus rather on improved disease surveillance, production enhancement, quality assurance and increased food safety. Such choices may also determine the investment made by these countries in upgrading their State system, laboratories and veterinary education facilities.

Ethno-veterinary plants of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

Ethno-veterinary plants of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

Application of ultrasound in diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, public health and control of Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis.

The last 30 years have seen an impressive use of ultrasonography (US) in many fields of veterinary and clinical medicine and the technique is being increasingly applied to a wide variety of parasitic infections including the cestode zoonoses Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. US provides real-time results which are permanently recordable with a high resolution and diagnostic accuracy. These properties, coupled with the clinical value of the images obtained and the non-invasive nature of the test which is safe, require no special patient preparation time; it is easy to operate and this has resulted in the establishment of US as the diagnostic technique of choice for cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) echinococcosis. The lack of ionizing radiation and side-effects mean that examination times are not restricted. The hand-held probes facilitate what amounts to a rapid, bloodless non-invasive laparotomy, enabling a search from an infinite number of angles for lesions producing information on their number, size and type of cysts, their location and clinical implications. Such clinical information has facilitated the development of treatment protocols for different cyst types. Less invasive surgical techniques, such as US guidance for PAIR (Puncture, Aspiration, Injection, Re-aspiration), PAIRD (PAIR plus Drainage) or PPDC (Percutaneous Puncture with Drainage and Curettage) are also possible. Longitudinal US studies have facilitated monitoring the effects of the outcome of treatment and chemotherapy. Portable ultrasound scanners which today weigh as little as a few pounds, powered by battery or generators have facilitated the use of the technique in mass community-based screening studies. The majority of these studies have been conducted in remote, low socio-economic areas where there were few, if any, hospitals, veterinary facilities, schools or trained personnel. The surveys led to the discovery of unexpectedly high prevalences of CE and AE in asymptomatic individuals of endemic areas and especially amongst transhumant or nomadic pastoralists living in various parts of the world. Screening for CE and AE is justified as an early diagnosis leads to a better prognosis following treatment. The application of US in field and clinical settings has led to a better understanding of the natural history of CE and AE and to the development of a WHO standardized classification of cyst types for CE. This classification can be used in helping define the treatment options for the different cysts found during the surveys, which in turn can also be used to calculate the public health cost of treating the disease in an endemic community. The case mix revealed can also influence the specificity (particularly proportions of cyst types CE4 and CE5 and cystic lesions--CL) of US as a diagnostic test in a particular setting. Community based US surveys have provided new insights into the public health importance of CE and AE in different endemic settings. By screening whole populations they disclose the true extent of the disease and reveal particular age and sex risk factors. Through the treatment and follow-up of all infected cases found during the mass screening surveys a drastic reduction in the public health impact of the disease in endemic communities can be achieved. Educational impacts of such surveys at the national, community and individual levels for both professional and lay people are beginning to be appreciated. The translation of the information gained into active control programmes remains to be realized. In areas where intermediate hosts, such as sheep and goats, are not slaughtered in large numbers mass US screening surveys to determine the prevalence of CE in livestock has proved possible. Longitudinal studies in such intermediate hosts would reveal changes in prevalence over time, which has been used as a marker for control success in other programmes. Mass US screening surveys in an ongoing control programme in Argentina has demonstrated the early impact of control in the human population and identified breakthroughs in that control programme. Mass US screening surveys must adhere to the highest ethical standards and the outcome of surveys should result in the application of appropriate WHO recommended treatment options for different cyst types. Follow-up strategies have to be in place prior to the implementation of such surveys for all infected individuals who do not require treatment and for all suspected, but not confirmed, cases found during the surveys. The use of US in community screening surveys has revealed the complexity of ethical issues (informed consent, confidentiality, follow-up, detection of lesions that are not the focus of the study etc) and also provided real solutions to providing the most ethical guidelines for the early detection and treatment of CE and AE.

An appraisal study of donkey in three Northern states of Nigeria

This qualitative study on donkey was conducted in Bauchi, Kano and Kebbi States of Nigeria. The objective of the study was to understand the role, significance and potential areas needing intervention in donkey rearing in the rural setting. The study was also used to obtain first-hand baseline information on the state of knowledge on the donkey in the states surveyed. Sixty two locations were visited comprising 36 from Kebbi, 19 from Bauchi and 17 from Kano States respectively. Rapid Rural Participatory Appraisal (RRPA) technique with check list of questions and farmers' participation was employed in villages/towns randomly selected to cover all the ecological zones in each of the three States. A meeting of one to two hours was organized with the farmers and donkey owners. Observations were made on donkeys at home and in the field. Problems mentioned by respondents included: Colics (Anomari),ulcerative lymphangitis, inflammation of the tongue, interdigital dermatitis, ear sore, fistulous withers, unknown causes of lameness and nervous system disorder called locally as “chinkai chinkai”. There were generally poor or no veterinary facilities and services in most of the villages and towns. It was not the farmers practice to take donkeys to clinic for treatment. Mortality was high during the late dry season in most places but also occurred in the rainy season in some places. Areas for further investigations were also highlighted. Keywords: Nigeria, Appraisal, Northern States, diseases, donkey

Incidence of canine dysautonomia in Missouri, USA, between January 1996 and December 2000

A cross-sectional survey of 217 veterinary facilities in Missouri, USA, was conducted to gather information about the occurrence of canine dysautonomia between January 1996 and December 2000. The state was divided into seven geographic regions for sampling, and 40 veterinary facilities from each region were selected randomly by computer-generated numbers to receive the questionnaire. Veterinarians from 74% (95% CI: 69, 79) of clinics in the state that saw canine patients were aware of dysautonomia prior to receiving the survey, and 43 respondents from five of the seven sampled regions stated that dysautonomia had been diagnosed in their practices during the study period. Respondents had diagnosed 182 cases of dysautonomia, leading to an estimated statewide total of 609 (95% CI: 272, 946) cases over the 5 years. Regional incidence estimates ranged from 0 to 1.91 cases per 10,000 dog years at risk. Case-fatality risk was 92%.

OUTBREAKS OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM ASSOCIATED WITH VETERINARY FACILITIES: IDAHO, MINNESOTA AND WASHINGTON, 1999.

OUTBREAKS OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM ASSOCIATED WITH VETERINARY FACILITIES: IDAHO, MINNESOTA AND WASHINGTON, 1999.

Incidence of Zoonotic Diseases in Military Working Dogs Serving in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

The United States deployed 118 military working dogs (MWDs) to the Persian Gulf theater during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. This study is a retrospective descriptive study of medical records of these deployed dogs, with the objective to determine whether there were infectious or parasitic diseases with a zoonotic potential in a sentinel population of MWDs that may be of concern to Persian Gulf veterans. Fifty-one percent of visits to veterinary treatment facilities during deployment were for illness or injury. Potential zoonotic conditions accounted for 21% of the total visits, 41% of the "sick-call" visits, and 63% of presentations for illness to veterinary treatment facilities. This study did not determine whether the diseases treated were transmitted between MWDs and the troops. Although the etiologic agents were not determined in these cases, no evidence was found supporting new or reemerging illnesses in this population of dogs.

A survey of broiler production in the Blantyre Agricultural Development Division, Malawi

Broiler production is one of the fastest‐growing income‐generating enterprises in Malawi. This article discusses the results of a survey of this industry in Malawi in which 103 broiler farmers from the Blantyre Agricultural Development Division (BLADD) were interviewed. The article examines demographics, education level, general poultry man agement, disease control, the sources of chicks and breeds used, feeding and marketing. The broiler industry in Malawi is plagued by a lack of proper knowledge and technology in poultry husbandry and nutrition, of locally available ingredients for formulating low‐cost balanced rations, of adequate and reliable veterinary pharmaceutical facilities and services, and of accessible credit, as well as an ineffective extension network and a poor processing and marketing infrastructure. With adequate resources, appropriate research and favourable government policies, solutions to these problems can be found to help advance the broiler industry in Malawi.

Quality management in veterinary medical health care

This study attempts to address some critical issues in managing veterinary medical health care. First, some concepts of quality in veterinary medicine will be outlined to focus on some of the unique aspects and problems associated with this industry. Second, the management of this quality will be addressed to allow managers the ability to assess problems. Third, how these areas of study relate to client and patient requirements and how they may be used to improve quality management in veterinary medical health care facilities will be examined. Finally, a new approach and managerial implications will be provided.

Present systems and future needs for risk assessment of biologicals in the United States of America: the perspective of the regulator.

The authority for regulating veterinary biologicals in the United States of America (USA) is provided in the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act, enacted in 1913 and amended in 1995. The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prescribe regulations governing the preparation and marketing of veterinary biologicals shipped into, within or from the USA. The mandate of the United States Veterinary Biologics Program is to ensure that all veterinary biological products under Government jurisdiction in the USA are pure, safe, potent and effective. The Program is based on licensing, inspection and testing. Risk assessment techniques, and effective strategies for risk management and risk communication, are essential tools for regulatory officials charged with the responsibility of developing requirements for licensing veterinary biological products and production facilities. To accommodate scientific advances, heightened consumer awareness and the international harmonization of requirements, regulatory agencies must continually review and update programme requirements. The author discusses programme updates initiated to address future needs of the United States Veterinary Biologics Program.

The effect of transhumance on the epidemiology of animal diseases

Transhumance, the seasonal movement of people and their livestock to regions of different climate is a way of life for tens of millions of people living in the cool mountainous or the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Transhumant peoples migrate through and spend most of the time in areas where there are invariably no veterinary, medical or educational facilities, nor abattoirs, safe water supplies or sanitation. Prevalent diseases go unrecorded and there are rarely any attempts made at disease control. The epidemiology of different diseases in transhumant communities is additionally influenced by their peculiar animal husbandry practices, the different species of livestock maintained, the close association of humans and their livestock and the small isolated groups and their frequent migrations. The frequency of these migrations will remove them from the build-up of free-living parasites including most of the faecally transmitted protozoans and helminths and also from the huge numbers of nuisance flies. Migrations, however, increase their chances of coming into contact with geographically limited or seasonally abundant diseases. In Africa, these include, Trypanosoma spp. and Cowdria ruminantium, which have a profound effect on migration patterns. Migrations also increase the opportunity for the interaction of domestic and wild animals, which facilitates the transmission of a number of shared diseases, particularly bacterial, viral, rickettsial and protozoan infections. Temperature and relative humidity play an important role in determining the distribution of those parasite species which have free-living forms or have indirect life cycles, particularly those involving invertebrate hosts. The relative importance of all the above factors on the epidemiology of different parasite species found in the cold and/or arid regions of the world occupied by transhumant peoples and their livestock is discussed.

Experiences in setting up a veterinary nuclear medicine facility

Experiences in setting up a veterinary nuclear medicine facility

First Aid, Transport, and Triage

A favorable outcome for a patient suffering acute trauma or disease is more likely if prehospital first aid can be administered. Veterinary facilities should teach their clients about first aid and transport and be able to give instructions over the telephone. Once a patient arrives at a veterinary facility, the entire staff should be prepared so that triage, the primary survey, resuscitation and stabilization, and the secondary survey may be performed efficiently and effectively.

Surgically produced congenital diaphragmatic hernia in fetal rabbits

Animal models of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) still are indispensable for the evolution of knowledge related to this disease and to fetal surgery in general. The lamb has provided the most reliable experimental design thus far. Considering the possible advantages of using rabbits (rather than lambs) namely lower costs, no need of special veterinary facilities, smaller body size, year-round availability, higher number of fetuses per pregnancy, and shorter gestational period, a successful model of CDH was developed in fetal rabbits. Sixteen pregnant New Zealand rabbits underwent hysterotomy and fetal operation. Group 1 (6 does) underwent surgery on gestational day 20 and group 2 (10 does) on gestational day 24 or 25. The normal full gestation time is 31 to 33 days. In group 1, the CDH was created by transabdominal puncture and dilatation of the fetal diaphragm. In group 2, the CDH was created through open thoracotomy, either left or right. The fetuses were delivered by cesarean section on gestational day 30. The overall fetal survival rate was 0 for group 1 and 70% for group 2. All operated fetuses in group 2 that were born alive had CDH. The histological morphometric examinations (radial alveolar count after sustained lung expansion) of the normal and operated fetuses in group 2 showed pulmonary hypoplasia in all the lungs on the same side as the CDH (statistical analysis was performed using the Neuman-Keuls test and analysis of variance; the significance level was set at .05). There was significant arterial wall thickening in the parenchyma of the lungs ipsilateral and contralateral to the CDH (analysis by the Kruskall-Wallis test; significance level set at .05). This study demonstrates that (1) CDH can be surgically created in fetal rabbits, with high survival rates, (2) either left or right CDH is feasible in fetal rabbits, and (3) experimental CDH is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia in New Zealand rabbits operated on at 24 or 25 days' gestation. The rabbit may provide a reliable and practical experimental model of CDH.