Veterinary Issues Research Articles

Operationalization of the One Health approach in two rural municipalities of Niger

Abstract Despite multiple efforts made by its government to improve public health, Niger still regularly faces numerous disasters including epidemics. Between 2017 and 2019, a consortium was established between Doctors of the World and Veterinarians Without Borders to implement a “One Health” project. This approach aims to reduce the populations' vulnerabilities to health risks related to environmental disasters and improve the health system's resilience at several levels. By promoting interdisciplinary between human, veterinary and environmental health issues, it aims to tackle emerging diseases with pandemic risk. The project was implemented in 2 municipalities: Sakoira and Ingall. For the first time, a program focused on preventing health and environmental risks rather than responding to a crisis. An external evaluation based on 278 interviews identified 5 project's achievements: (1) the increase in availability and accessibility of human and veterinary pharmaceutical products which improved vaccination coverage and medicalization while lowering treatment and prevention costs; (2) the mobilization and coordination of human and animal health professionals, national authorities and municipalities; (3) the strengthening of joint epidemiological surveillance through professional and community actors in order to reduce the response time to epidemics and disasters; (4) the strengthening of communities' understanding of health risks and how to prevent them; (5) the capacity building of professionals regarding the One Health approach at national, regional and local level. Coordination between human and animal health professionals has made possible the design and implementation of joint actions. These actions have enabled to: build capacity for 43 health providers, 116 community health workers and 41 livestock auxiliaries, vaccinate, de-worm and treat 24311 small and 7590 large ruminants, give primary health care to 4190 people, sensitize 2268 people on human and animal health. Key messages The project is innovative as it focuses on preventing epidemic risks instead of responding to crisis. Collaboration between human and animal health actors is the main success factor of the project.

Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from dairy farms in North-eastern Italy

Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus along the dairy production chain is an emerging public health problem with human, veterinary, and food safety issues. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), has steadily increased in several European countries. In this study, the prevalence of S. aureus in raw cow milk and farm workers was investigated, and the trajectories of MRSA transmission at the primary stage of the dairy chain were assessed. To this purpose, a longitudinal survey was conducted in 618 dairy farms in two contiguous regions with high livestock density in North-eastern Italy. S. aureus contamination of bulk tank milk (BTM) was observed in more than 80% of farms, while MRSA prevalence was 3.6% and 15.9% in BTM and farm workers, respectively. The majority of MRSA isolates from both BTM and farm workers were assigned to ST398, and showed a worrisome multidrug-resistant phenotype. Enterotoxin and Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes were detected in 11.5% and 4.9% of MRSA isolates from both sources. Nearly all MRSA isolates from workers belonged to the same epidemiological type as BTM isolates from the corresponding farm, denoting a bidirectional MRSA transmission pattern. A focus on the ST398 spa type t899 MRSA lineage in the Italian livestock system highlighted the presence of two major clusters whose dissemination was likely facilitated by the selective pressure imposed by antimicrobial use in animal farming. Our findings emphasize the need for continuous monitoring of MRSA along the dairy production chain, not only to avoid transmission between animals and exposed workers, but also to contain the risk of raw milk and dairy product contamination by multidrug resistant and toxigenic strain.

Distribution of Serological Response to Burkholderia pseudomallei in Swine from Three Provinces of Vietnam.

(1) Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei is an environmentally mediated saprophytic pathogen that can cause severe disease in humans. It is well known that B. pseudomallei survives in tropical moist soil environments worldwide, but melioidosis is gaining recognition as a public and veterinary health issue in Vietnam. The contribution of animals to human disease is unknown, necessitating further investigation. (2) Methods: Swine sera were collected from two populations, one grazing and one commercially farmed, from three provinces in Vietnam. ELISAs utilizing B. pseudomallei capsular polysaccharide (CPS), outer polysaccharide (OPS), and Hcp1 protein were used to screen serum samples. Positive samples were mapped to the commune level. Seroprevalence calculations and pig population estimates were used to approximate number of swine exposures per commune. (3) Results: Grazing pigs from Hoa Binh had significantly higher seropositivity levels (11.4%, 95% CI: 9.7–13.1) compared to farmed pigs from Ha Tinh and Nghe An (4%, 95% CI: 3.3–4.7). Average swine seropositivity rates were ~6.3% (95% CI: 5–7.9), higher than previously identified in Vietnam (~0.88%). (4) Conclusions: Initial serological sampling identified a significant number of seropositive and potential melioidosis infections occurring in swine in Vietnam. This work is a critical step in understanding the role swine may play in the epidemiology of human melioidosis in Vietnam.

SCHISTOSOMIASIS OF ANIMALS IN ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE ARAL SEA REGION

The problem of animal schistosomiasis is multifaceted. It intertwines veterinary, health, social and economic issues. The current state of the epizootology of schistosomiasis in the ecological conditions of the Aral Sea region is presented. Spontaneous infection of farm animals with mature Schistosoma turkestanica was 55.2% in cattle, sheep – 33.0%, horses – 21.5%, goats – 15.5% and camels – 10.2%. At individual farms of the Bozatau, Kungradsky, Muinaksky, Amudarya and other districts, cattle infection reached up to 100% with a high degree of infection intensity. We noted the cyclical nature of the epizootic of schistosomiasis in cattle in the Aral Sea region. The alternation of cyclicity is observed at specified intervals – from 15 to 20 years. The ups and downs in the infection intensity alternate with a certain accuracy, according to which epizootics of schistosomiasis can be predicted for several years in advance. Currently, science has developed the necessary prerequisites for a sharp decrease in the incidence of animals with schistosomiasis and the elimination of invasion in individual foci. This is achieved by a complex of therapeutic and preventive measures, as well as the use of progressive methods and technology of animal husbandry

Demodex: a skin resident in man and his best friend.

Demodex mites are microscopic arachnids found in the normal skin of many mammals. In humans, it is well established that Demodex mite density is higher in patients with the skin condition rosacea, and treatment with acaricidal agents is effective in resolving symptoms. However, pathophysiology of rosacea is complex and multifactorial. In dogs, demodicosis is a significant veterinary issue, particularly the generalized form of the disease which can be fatal if untreated. In each species, clinical and molecular studies have shown that the host's immunological interactions with Demodex mites are an important, but not fully understood, aspect of how Demodex can live in the skin either as a harmless commensal organism or as a pathogenic agent. This review outlines the role of Demodex mites in humans and dogs, considering morphology, prevalence, symptoms, diagnosis, histology treatment and pathogenesis.

Babesiosis in Latvian domestic dogs, 2016–2019

Canine babesiosis is tick-borne infection that represents a major veterinary issue in Central and Eastern Europe with a tendency to expand northwards. The first published report in Latvia about autochthonous cases of babesiosis in domestic dogs with no travel history was in 2013, and to the best of our knowledge, no other studies on this issue have been published to date. The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence and clinical manifestations of babesiosis in Latvian domestic dogs with a history of tick exposure to determine the extent to which Babesia sp. causes the disease and to map outbreaks in Latvia. From 2016 to 2019, blood samples from dogs were collected, and molecular testing was performed by nested PCR using Babesia sp.-specific primers.In total, 43 of 262 samples were Babesia canis-positive. A seasonal pattern was observed for the outbreaks, as the majority of B. canis-positive samples (98%) were submitted between April and June, and there was a single canine babesiosis case recorded in October. Nearly half of the cases (46.5%) were recorded in the capital, Riga, and other cases were recorded in southern and western parts of Latvia. Clinical signs were consistent with typical manifestations of acute canine babesiosis; most common hematological changes were thrombocytopenia (89%) and normocytic normochromic anemia (69%). Blood smear microscopy was positive for 79% of cases. Two B. canis genotypes were distinguished on the basis of two nucleotide (GA → AG) substitutions in the 18S rRNA gene at positions 610/611; however, no relationship between the genotypes and the severity of the disease was found.In conclusion, canine babesiosis has become an endemic disease in the southern and western regions of Latvia and is caused solely by the large babesia species B. canis. Awareness among veterinarians and pet owners regarding the disease should be increased.

Challenges in the serological evaluation of dogs clinically suspect for canine leishmaniasis

Canine leishmaniasis is a major veterinary issue and also a public health challenge due to its zoonotic potential. In this context, serological evaluation is essential for Canine leishmaniasis management. Several serological alternatives, such as rapid diagnostic tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), are well established. In fact, the capacity of distinct tests and antigens, evaluated by their sensitivity and specificity, to detect disease is normally considered sufficient for diagnosing Canine leishmaniasis. In this context, we evaluated the seropositivity using 8 different serological tests (ELISA with Leishmania recombinant proteins (rK39, LicTXNPx); soluble promastigote Leishmania antigens (SPLA); commercial ELISA test) in 82 clinically suspect animals from Northern Portugal. The obtained serological data originated 50% of inconclusive serological information with a mixture of seropositive and seronegative results for individual animals. Cut-off independent risk groups were then generated from the serological data to evaluate the clustering of the samples. This analysis originated risk groups that correlated with the most seropositive samples, suggesting that this method might be used, in a cut-off independent manner, to improve conventional serological evaluation. Ultimately, given that no test prioritization exists, the use of any single serological test increases the potential for misdiagnosis, along with all associated risks for the dog as well as public health. The use of a cut-off independent analysis has the potential to improve the predictive values of these tests, enabling a more accurate evaluation of the dog’s condition.

Attitudes toward Animals of Students at Three European Veterinary Medicine Schools in Italy and Spain

ABSTRACTThe European Veterinary Code of Conduct recognizes the crucial role of veterinarians in improving animal welfare and maintaining its standards. However, several studies have claimed that veterinary students’ attitudes toward animals may worsen as they progress through their academic training. This study aimed to investigate students’ attitudes toward nonhuman animal use in three European veterinary medicine schools (Italy and Spain). For this purpose, 565 veterinary students completed a questionnaire consisting of a range of items grouped into four animal-use categories: “Research,” “Entertainment,” “Utilitarianism,” and “Veterinary Issues.” Items were scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale, with higher scores indicative of higher concern regarding animal welfare. Results showed that the use of animals for “Entertainment” and questions related to “Veterinary Issues” raised the most concern among the veterinary students, while the use of animals for “Research” was of least concern. Moreover, we also examined some potentially confounding factors: age, academic year (first to fifth), gender, previous experience with pets, and university. Female students had a higher concern for animal welfare compared with their male counterparts. Students in their earlier stages of training as veterinarians also exhibited a greater concern for animal welfare compared with those of later academic years. Other factors affecting students’ attitudes toward animal use were the age of the students and the university they were enrolled at. The findings of this study confirm that attitudes toward animal use are not homogeneous and are associated with students’ demographic, educational, and personal characteristics.

Toxicity and oviposition deterrence of essential oils of Clinopodium nubigenum and Lavandula angustifolia against the myiasis-inducing blowfly Lucilia sericata.

Cutaneous myiasis is a severe worldwide medical and veterinary issue. In this trial the essential oil (EO) of the Andean medicinal plant species Clinopodium nubigenum (Kunth) Kuntze was evaluated for its bioactivity against the myiasis-inducing blowfly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera Calliphoridae) and compared with that of the well-known medicinal plant species Lavandula angustifolia Mill. The EOs were analysed and tested in laboratory for their oviposition deterrence and toxicity against L. sericata adults. The physiology of EO toxicity was evaluated by enzymatic inhibition tests. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the EOs were tested as well. At 0.8 μL cm-2, both EOs completely deterred L. sericata oviposition up to 3 hours. After 24 h, the oviposition deterrence was still 82.7% for L. angustifolia and the 89.5% for C. nubigenum. The two EOs were also toxic to eggs and adults of L. sericata. By contact/fumigation, the EOs, the LC50 values against the eggs were 0.07 and 0.48 μL cm-2 while, by topical application on the adults, LD50 values were 0.278 and 0.393 μL per individual for C. nubigenum and L. angustifolia EOs, respectively. Inhibition of acetylcholine esterase of L. sericata by EOs (IC50 = 67.450 and 79.495 mg L-1 for C. nubigenum and L. angustifolia, respectively) suggested that the neural sites are targets of the EO toxicity. Finally, the observed antibacterial and antifungal properties of C. nubigenum and L. angustifolia EOs suggest that they could also help prevent secondary infections.

Monitoring of separate elements of the management system for the safety of slaughter products of small cattle

The problem of providing the population with food is one of the most important and complex among the problems that society faces today. Food must not only meet the human needs for essential nutrients and energy, but also perform preventive and curative functions. Mutton is one of the foods that meets these requirements. It is distinguished by its high nutritional properties and taste. It can be a potential source of various pathogens and pollutants under certain condition that will pose a risk to the health of the consumer. Monitoring of separate elements of the safety and quality management system of slaughter products of small cattle under the influence of epidemiological (veterinary) factors was the aim of our research. Reporting on veterinary medicine issues in the Tatarbunarsky district of the Odessa region for 2013–2017, which was processed statistically, was the material of our research. It found that the main specific mass of number of small cattle grown in Homstead farms by inhabitants of the area. The district veterinary service carried out a number of diagnostic and treatment-and-prophylactic measures during the trial period. In the Household farms only mandatory activities were carried out, which are founded from the budget account (serological tests for brucellosis and preventive vaccination against Anthrax). Analysis of the volumes and conditions of slaughter of small cattle in the area showed that the number of slaughtered animals invariably decreases from year to year and 100% of slaughter is carried out by the farmer in the conditions of homestead farms. It was also established that in the experimental period, according to results of pre-slaughter clinical examination of animals and post-slaughter examination no cases of illness were identified. Selling of slaughter products of small cattle is carried out through a distributing facilities of agrofood markets of district and region. The analysis found that all carcasses that entered to the markets succumbed to veterinary-sanitary examination in State Laboratories of Veterinary-Sanitary Examination, the results of which in 2015 and 2016 reveald cases of invasive diseases (fasciolosis and echinococcosis). This fact is worrying about the quality of its conducts in the conditions of the household slaughter, accuming that during the post-slaughter veterinary-sanitary examination no cases of illness have been identified. Summarizing the monitoring results we obtained, we concluded that at this stage the safety management system for the products of slaughter of small cattle cannot fully guarantee consumer safety and requires urgent complex measures to increase efficiency.

A prática do tratamento na leishmaniose visceral canina (lvc) em clínicas veterinárias, cuidados e protocolos

As leishmanioses são um grupo de doenças infecciosas que afetam humanos, animais domésticos (cães e gatos) e silvestres, causadas por protozoários do gênero Leishmania. A transmissão ocorre pela picada do mosquito do gênero Phlebotomus no Velho Mundo e Lutzomyia no Novo Mundo. A Leishmaniose Visceral Canina (LVC), a forma mais agressiva, é causa frequente de doença clínica em cães e, ocasionalmente em gatos. Seus reservatórios variam de acordo com a região, podendo ser animais domésticos ou silvestres. Leishmania infantum está presente do sul do México até a América do Sul. No caso da LVC, a recomendação do Conselho Federal de Medicina Veterinária é a eutanásia. O tratamento era considerado ilegal até 2013, quando houve autorização do tratamento pelo Tribunal Regional Federal da 3ª Região em todo País, desde que não se utilizassem medicamentos para o tratamento da leishmaniose humana. Tratar ou não, indicar ou não eutanásia é questão polêmica para os clínicos veterinários, pois o tratamento não elimina totalmente a carga parasitária dos animais, e trata-se de uma zoonose. Em Brasília, a leishmaniose visceral é considerada endêmica, considerando o comportamento epidemiológico e a confirmação da autoctonia dos casos humanos. No presente estudo, foi aplicado questionário para se avaliar a prática do tratamento dessa enfermidade, em clínicas veterinárias de pequenos animais de Brasília. Cinco delas realizam o tratamento da LVC. Todas recomendam o alopurinol, quatro a miltefosina, três a marbofloxacina e duas a anfotericina B e antimoniais pentavalentes. Duas clínicas se recusaram a responder o questionário, e outras duas não realizam o tratamento, recomendando eutanásia

Discovering new areas of veterinary science through qualitative research interviews: introductory concepts for veterinarians.

Qualitative research is rarely used in the veterinary field. With the increasing complexity of the veterinary arena, qualitative research will become progressively relevant in pursuit of answers to new and equally complex research questions. This paper introduces the fundamental concepts of qualitative research interviews, aiming to highlight their potential value to veterinary science, and to provide veterinarians with the foundations on which to build a greater understanding of this type of research. The ability to understand and critically appraise qualitative research can assist veterinarians in evidence-based practice, wherein veterinary professionals use the best evidence possible to make treatment and management decisions. This will allow veterinarians to not only provide the best possible care to meet the needs of both clients and patients, but also to identify solutions to complex veterinary issues beyond the clinical setting. An improved understanding of qualitative research within the veterinary profession can lead to its greater utilisation in veterinary research. This will provide the profession with insights into those topic areas that are hard to reach with more widely used quantitative research. More professional dialogue is required on research methods and methodologies to facilitate veterinarians' evidence-based practice; this is especially true for qualitative research.

Looking for Novel Capsid Protein Multimerization Inhibitors of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a member of the retroviridae family of viruses. It causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in worldwide domestic and non-domestic cats and is a cause of an important veterinary issue. The genome organization of FIV and the clinical characteristics of the disease caused by FIV are similar to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both viruses infect T lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages, with a similar replication cycle in infected cells. Thus, the infection of cats with FIV is also a useful tool for the study and development of novel drugs and vaccines against HIV. Anti-retroviral drugs studied extensively with regards to HIV infection have targeted different steps of the virus replication cycle: (1) disruption of the interaction with host cell surface receptors and co-receptors; (2) inhibition of fusion of the virus and cell membranes; (3) blocking of the reverse transcription of viral genomic RNA; (4) interruption of nuclear translocation and integration of viral DNA into host genomes; (5) prevention of viral transcript processing and nuclear export; and (6) inhibition of virion assembly and maturation. Despite the great success of anti-retroviral therapy in slowing HIV progression in humans, a similar therapy has not been thoroughly investigated for FIV infection in cats, mostly because of the little structural information available for FIV proteins. The FIV capsid protein (CA) drives the assembly of the viral particle, which is a critical step in the viral replication cycle. During this step, the CA protein oligomerizes to form a protective coat that surrounds the viral genome. In this work, we perform a large-scale screening of four hundred molecules from our in-house library using an in vitro assembly assay of p24, combined with microscale thermophoresis, to estimate binding affinity. This screening led to the discovery of around four novel hits that inhibited capsid assembly in vitro. These may provide new antiviral drugs against FIV.

Preventing Adverse Events at Research Facilities.

In this article, adverse events are defined as events that lead to significant injury or illness, unrelieved pain or distress, or the death of an animal, excluding those caused by IACUC-approved research procedures. The ability to identify possible adverse events is an essential step in planning for risk prevention and mitigation. Using data from news sources and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website, this article provides guidance to research facilities regarding various types of adverse events to consider in risk management plans because these events might occur or have occurred and, in some cases, have been documented as noncompliances at APHIS-regulated research facilities. APHIS classifies noncompliances as 'direct' when they currently (at the time of the inspection) have a serious or severe adverse effect on the health and wellbeing of animals. Not all direct noncompliances are associated with adverse events, and not all adverse events are documented as direct noncompliances (for example, a past adverse event that does not currently affect the wellbeing of animals is not a direct noncompliance). However, because APHIS does not require reporting of adverse events, the information regarding direct noncompliances was the only APHIS data available to study adverse events at research facilities. Direct noncompliances documented by APHIS were 4% of all documented noncompliances from 2010 through 2014. The greatest number of direct noncompliances was in the category of veterinary care issues (44%), followed by animal husbandry issues (34%), 'other issues' (15%), and physical plant issues (7%). The category of other issues included events due to human error, equipment failures, and accidents.

Molecular and virulence characterization of highly prevalent Streptococcus agalactiae circulated in bovine dairy herds

Bovine mastitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae continues to be one of the major veterinary and economic issues in certain areas of the world. The more prevalent S. agalactiae strains that cause bovine mastitis in China dairy farms belong to a number of bovine-adapted sequence types (STs) ST67, ST103 and ST568. However, it is unknown why these STs can emerge as highly prevalent clones in bovine dairy farms. Here, to determine if a variety of virulence characteristics were associated with these highly prevalent STs, the molecular and virulence characterization of 116 strains isolated from bovine, human, fish and environment were analyzed. Our data showed that all bovine-adapted strains could be assigned to capsular genotype Ia or II, and carried pilus island 2b, and lactose operon. Importantly, we demonstrated that the growth ability in milk, biofilm formation ability and adhesion ability to bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) were significantly higher for all bovine-adapted strains compared to strains from other origins. Additionally, ST103 and ST568 strains exhibited significantly higher hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity than ST67 strains. In conclusion, our study provides substantial evidence for the hypothesis that the virulence characteristics including efficient growth in milk, elevated biofilm formation ability, together with strong adhesion ability might have favored the high prevalence of the STs in the bovine environment, whereas the hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity were not the crucial characteristics.

Recent range expansion of an intermediate host for animal schistosome parasites in the Indo-Australian Archipelago: phylogeography of the freshwater gastropod Indoplanorbis exustus in South and Southeast Asia

BackgroundThe planorbid snail Indoplanorbis exustus is the sole intermediate host for the Schistosoma indicum species group, trematode parasites responsible for cattle schistosomiasis and human cercarial dermatitis. This freshwater snail is widely distributed in Southern Asia, ranging from Iran to China eastwards including India and from the southeastern Himalayas to Southeast Asia southwards. The veterinary and medical importance of this snail explains the interest in understanding its geographical distribution patterns and evolutionary history. In this study, we used a large and comprehensive sampling throughout Indo-Malaya, including specimens from South India and Indonesia, areas that have been formerly less studied.ResultsThe phylogenetic inference revealed five highly divergent clades (genetic distances among clades: 4.4–13.9%) that are morphologically indistinguishable, supporting the assumption that this presumed nominal species may represent a cryptic species complex. The species group may have originated in the humid subtropical plains of Nepal or in southern adjacent regions in the Early Miocene. The major cladogenetic events leading to the fives clades occurred successively from the Early Miocene to the Early Pleistocene, coinciding with major periods of monsoonal intensification associated with major regional paleogeographic events in the Miocene and repeated climate changes due to the Plio-Pleistocene climatic oscillations. Our coverage of the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) highlights the presence of a single clade there. Contrary to expectations, an AMOVA did not reveal any population genetic structure among islands or along a widely recognised zoogeographical regional barrier, suggesting a recent colonisation independent of natural biogeographical constraints. Neutrality tests and mismatch distributions suggested a sudden demographic and spatial population expansion that could have occurred naturally in the Pleistocene or may possibly result of a modern colonisation triggered by anthropogenic activities.ConclusionsEven though Indoplanorbis is the main focus of this study, our findings may also have important implications for fully understanding its role in hosting digenetic trematodes. The existence of a cryptic species complex, the historical phylogeographical patterns and the recent range expansion in the IAA provide meaningful insights to the understanding and monitoring of the parasites potential spread. It brings a substantial contribution to veterinary and public health issues.

Veterinary problems of endurance horses in England and Wales

Several studies have shown that a considerable proportion of horses are eliminated from endurance rides due to lameness and metabolic problems. Limited information is available on specific veterinary issues in endurance horses and there are no descriptive data on veterinary problems in a large population of endurance horses. The aim of this study was to describe veterinary problems occurring in endurance horses in England and Wales, the regions of the United Kingdom where endurance rides are organised and regulated by Endurance Great Britain (Endurance GB). A comprehensive online self-completed questionnaire was used for data collection (30th December 2015-29th February 2016) All members of Endurance GB who were the main rider of one or more endurance horses were eligible to participate. From the target population of 1209 horses, 190 questionnaires were completed by riders, resulting in a 15.7% response rate. The most common rider-reported veterinary problem was lameness, affecting 152/190 (80.0%) of endurance horses at some point during their careers and 101/190 (53.2%) of horses in the previous 12 months. Detailed information on the most recent episode of lameness was available for 147 horses. Seventy-six percent of these lameness episodes (112/147) had been initially identified by a veterinarian, but only 52% of these lameness episodes were investigated further by a veterinarian, despite the high proportion of horses affected by lameness and the proportion of horses with recurrent lameness episodes. The second most common veterinary problem was thoracolumbar region pain, followed by non-specific cough, skin disease and colic. Education of endurance riders may improve the number, quality and timing of veterinary investigations, especially for lameness and thoracolumbar region pain.

Companion Animal Ethics: A Special Area of Moral Theory and Practice?

Considerations of ethical questions regarding pets should take into account the nature of human-pet relationships, in particular the uniquely combined features of mutual companionship, quasi-family-membership, proximity, direct contact, privacy, dependence, and partiality. The approaches to ethical questions about pets should overlap with those of animal ethics and family ethics (and, for veterinary issues, with healthcare ethics), and so need not represent an isolated field of enquiry, but rather the intersection of those more established fields. This intersection, and the questions of how we treat our pets, present several unique concerns and approaches for focused examination.

Application of Western blot analysis for the diagnosis of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in rabbits: example of a quantitative approach.

Diagnosis of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in rabbits remains a major veterinary issue. ELISA or immunofluorescence assays are the current reference standards of serological tests. However, these conventional techniques suffer from a lack of accuracy for distinguishing active from past infections, as a positive serostatus is common in clinically normal rabbits. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic performance of Western blot (WB) to detect both anti-E. cuniculi immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in comparison with ELISA and to address the intensity of the immune response through a quantitative approach. Positive WB results were highly correlated with the E. cuniculi-related diseased status (P<0.0001). Although it was more labor intensive and less standardized, quantitative WB provided detailed comparable analysis regarding the humoral response and diagnostic performance similar to ELISA testing with statistically higher sensitivity (88.4 vs. 76.1% for IgG detection and 84.3 vs. 70.4% for IgM, P<0.01). Several specific WB bands were shown to be significantly associated with concomitant clinical signs, like the one located at 50kDa (OR=8.2, [2.4-27.7], P=0.0008) for IgG and (OR=27.9, [4.2-187.9], P=0.0006) for IgM. Therefore, the quantitative WB may have application in veterinary diagnostic laboratories to increase the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of E. cuniculi infection. In addition, this tool may help to further understand the development and function of the humoral immune response to this infectious agent.

First molecular identification of Dirofilaria spp. (Onchocercidae) in mosquitoes from Serbia

Dirofilariosis is a common and widespread veterinary health issue in several European countries with notable zoonotic potential. The causative agents are Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens nematoda species which are transmitted by different mosquito vectors. Similar to other mosquito-borne infections, the knowledge about mosquito species involved in disease transmission is crucial for the complex understanding of local transmission cycles. Since there is no available data on mosquito species, potentially involved in disease transmission from Serbia, 6369 female mosquito individuals were retrospectively tested for Dirofilaria nematodes, collected from 13 localities in Vojvodina province, Serbia, in 2013. Altogether, 8.33 % of tested pools showed positivity, composed of five mosquito species, mainly, Culex pipiens and Aedes vexans. D. immitis and D. repens were both detected from multiple localities, during the whole period of mosquito breeding season, which provides the first data on local transmission characteristics regarding mosquitoes from the Balkans.