Veterinary Technicians Research Articles

A survey of US and Caribbean veterinary schools reveals strengths and opportunities in antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control activities.

To understand antimicrobial stewardship (AS) and infection prevention and control (IPC) activities in veterinary schools. An online survey was completed by representatives from American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges-accredited veterinary schools in the US and Caribbean prior to attending the Inaugural Small Animal Antimicrobial Stewardship Workshop for US Veterinary Schools. Responses were examined to identify patterns among AS and IPC activities and adherence to the AVMA core principles. Half (12 of 24) of the surveyed schools had an AS committee and most (79% [19 of 24]) had an IPC committee. Lack of dedicated staff time was a common barrier to AS (88% [21 of 24]) and IPC (75% [18 of 24]) reported by schools both with and without AS and IPC committees. Eleven of 24 schools (46%) reported performing at least 1 activity focused on each of the AVMA's 5 core principles of AS. Although 79% (19 of 24) of schools incorporate AS into preclinical curricula, training of clinical faculty (17% [4 of 24]), veterinary technicians and support staff (21% [5 of 24]), and house officers (42% [10 of 24]) is less common, despite these individuals engaging in teaching clinical-year veterinary students. Veterinary schools varied in established AS education and AS and IPC practices, though financial and human resources were a common barrier. A collaborative and cohesive approach to AS and IPC among schools to create sustainable frameworks for practice improvement will help combat the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. This is a critical action for settings where future veterinarians are trained.

Differences in Job Stress and Job Satisfaction among Veterinary Technicians with and without National Certification

Differences in Job Stress and Job Satisfaction among Veterinary Technicians with and without National Certification

A survey study on the availability of anaesthetic breathing systems and their use in dogs weighing 5–10 kg

ObjectiveTo investigate which breathing systems are available and why they are selected in dogs weighing 5–10 kg. Study designAnonymous online voluntary open survey. MethodsAn online survey, designed following CHERRIES guidelines, was advertised through the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists - List, Association of Veterinary Anaesthesia and European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (February–March 2022). A convenience sample was taken. ResultsOf the 256 responses received, 138 were completed. This included (n responses received) veterinarians (107) and veterinary nurses or technicians (29) actively involved in the anaesthesia of dogs.The most prevalent breathing systems available to respondents were circle (99%), coaxial Bain (79%) and modified Ayre’s T-piece (with adjustable pressure limiting valve; 72%). When recommending a dog weight range suitable for the use with these systems, respondents advised a median (interquartile range) from 5 (3–10) to 100 (100–100), 3 (0–8) to 20 (10–33) and 0 (0–0) to 10 (7–10) kg, respectively. Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that important factors in selecting a breathing system were the fresh gas flow requirement (92%), dog weight (91%), resistance (83%) and environmental pollution (79%). In clinical scenarios based on 5–10 kg dogs, the circle system was chosen by 58% for a thin and 77% for a keel-chested versus 44% for an obese and 66% for a barrel-chested dog, respectively. Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe circle system is the most commonly available breathing system. The minimum weight limit used for the circle system is less than that reported by previous surveys. Several factors influence the choice of breathing system other than dog weight.

Merck Animal Health Veterinary Team study reveals factors associated with well-being, burnout, and mental health among nonveterinarian practice team members.

To assess the levels of burnout, well-being, and mental health of nonveterinarian employees of veterinary practices and, for context, compare them to veterinarians and the general population by use of validated instruments. An online survey of 2,271 nonveterinary practice employees drawn from members of the North American Veterinary Technicians Association, members of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, referrals from veterinarian respondents to a companion survey, and a large hospital group that owns several hundred US veterinary practices. The study was fielded from September 11 to October 9, 2023. A majority of practice team members were satisfied with their work in veterinary medicine. However, serious psychological distress was twice as prevalent among team members as among veterinarians and well-being was lower than that of veterinarians. Burnout was similar to veterinarians. Personality played a role: team members on average were more likely to score higher in neuroticism than veterinarians and the general population, and neuroticism was a predictor of low well-being, poor mental health, and burnout. There was also evidence of substantial financial stress among team members. Serious psychological distress was common among practice team members. Financial stress may play a role. Burnout and low levels of well-being were also common. This study provided a useful profile of the psychological conditions that many practice employees may be experiencing.

Monitoring care, curating suffering: Law, bureaucracy and veterinary expertise in contemporary animal politics

This article critically explores responses to the suffering of animals caused by industrialised agriculture aiming to reflect on broader aspects of the current state of animal politics in the 21st century. Focusing on the regulatory schemes introduced to control the welfare of animals in Denmark, the article foregrounds sites of law enforcement and industry regulation, in which animal suffering is ‘carefully’ curated. The analysed material comprises inspection reports and interviews with veterinary officers and technicians charged with monitoring the level of care in Danish agribusinesses. The article builds upon Kelly Oliver’s theory of witnessing to develop a sociological perspective on the function of expert testimony within regulatory and administrative domains – what is defined as acts of juridical eyewitnessing. Through this framework, it becomes evident that law and bureaucratic procedures wield considerable influence in transforming a social and legal expectation to reduce animal suffering into specific ethical-scientific and bureaucratic standards. Furthermore, in adopting a de-human-centred sociological lens, the article presents an alternative interpretation of the evolution of anti-suffering sentiment – understood as negative emotional responses to animal suffering – one in which the state plays a prominent role in shaping particular attitudes towards other animals based on ‘seeing’ and ‘knowing’ suffering.

Asthma Among Manitoba Workers: Results from the Manitoba Occupational Disease Surveillance System

BackgroundThis study characterized the risk of new-onset asthma among workers in Manitoba, Canada. MethodsAccepted time loss claims from the Workers' Compensation Board of Manitoba from 2006 to 2019, containing workers' occupations and industries, were linked with administrative health data from 1996 to 2020. After restricting the cohort to the first claim per person in an occupation and applying age and coverage exclusions, the cohort comprised 142,588 person–occupation combinations. Asthma cases were identified if workers had at least two medical records for asthma (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, 493) within a 12-month period, within the 2 years before 3 years after cohort entry. New-onset asthma was identified using a 3-year washout period. Asthma hazard ratios by occupation and industry were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age, and stratified by sex. ResultsIncreased asthma risk was observed among workers with known asthmagen exposure, including male veterinary and animal health technologists and technicians (hazard ratio 3.97, 95% CI 1.78–8.86), male fish processing workers (3.40, 1.53–7.57), and male machining tool operators (2.91, 1.72–4.92). Increases were also observed for occupations with unknown or suspected allergens, including gas station attendants, drivers, mail/postal and related workers, public works and maintenance laborers, mine laborers and crane operators, and some indoor worker groups. Decreased risks were observed among nurses and residential and commercial installer and servicers. ConclusionThis database linkage study successfully identified occupations and industries with known sensitizing agents or irritants, and several occupation and industries not typically associated with work-related asthma, warranting further investigation.

Veterinary and pet owner perspectives on addressing access to veterinary care and workforce challenges.

(1) Assess and compare the perceptions of pet owners and veterinary professionals pertaining to the extent of veterinary workforce and access to care challenges in 2023 in Colorado, and (2) Assess what programs, policies, and resources veterinary professionals and pet owners believe would be most effective at addressing access to care and workforce challenges in Colorado. 736 veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or practice/owner manager ("veterinary professionals") in Colorado. A total of 1,209 pet owners (919 from an online survey and 290 from in-person surveying). Distribution of an online anonymous survey to veterinary professionals in Colorado. Pet owners were surveyed both online and in-person at pet pantry or shelter events. Veterinary professionals reported significant workforce challenges, including having to frequently divert clients, clients forced to decline medical care or having to euthanize their pets due to cost. Veterinary professionals were especially supportive of policy efforts to enhance recruitment and retention of technicians, including through mechanisms such as clarifying their scope of practice, loan repayment programs, and enhancing career pathways. Colorado pet owners' responses pertaining to the scope of access to care challenges were similar to prior national research. Pet owners reported particularly needing low-cost emergency clinics in their community as well as resources to reduce the cost of care. Pet owners were generally supportive of expanding veterinary care access through telemedicine; indicating they would feel comfortable seeing a veterinarian via telemedicine, even for the first time, and that expanded use of telemedicine would increase their ability to obtain care. Colorado pet owners and veterinary professionals both identified numerous access to care challenges as well as indicated support for the development of several potential initiatives to address the problem. Low-cost clinics that provide sick and emergency care was the resource rated as being most helpful among pet owners. Further exploration of grants, voucher programs, expansion of telemedicine, increased utilization and title protection for CVTs, and the creation of the veterinary professional associate position are all initiatives that were noted to be worthy of further exploration.

Improving large animal practice efficiency with credentialed veterinary technicians

Large animal veterinary practice faces many challenges, in­cluding competitive markets, labor shortages, increasing costs of goods, and more. One major concern that our profession currently recognizes is a decrease in the total number of large animal veterinarians available to service producers despite increased demand for large animal veterinary care in many re­gions.1,2,3 Recent data from the AVMA states that less than 4% of veterinarians are employed in food-animal practice.1 There has also been a 15% decline in the total number of veterinar­ians who practice food animal or mixed animal medicine.1,3 This makes it extremely difficult for livestock to get adequate veterinary care to keep herds and flocks healthy. The lack of veterinary care and oversight creates a significant concern for animal welfare and food safety. As this shortage continues, the scarcity of large animal veterinarians for foreign animal dis­ease surveillance becomes a significant concern in securing the business continuity of our food supply.

Trends in enrollment, retention, and graduation of United States veterinary technicians/nurses schools.

There is a significant shortage of veterinary technicians. To help address this issue, there has been a call to increase the capacity of United States VT/N educational programs. Yet, the current challenges within the field may be negatively impacting the number of people deciding to pursue VT/N certification. To assess this possibility, this study was designed to explore the enrollment, retention, and graduation trends within United States VT/N educational programs. Explore the trends between 2018 and 2022 in enrollment, retention, and graduation of veterinary technicians/nurses (VT/N) at educational programs located in the United States. Educators and administrators working in United States VT/N educational programs. An electronic survey distributed via an anonymous link within emails sent from the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators. A total of 82 responses from educators and administrators working in United States VT/N educational programs were received. Forty-three percent of participants indicated a decrease in student enrollment in the last 5 years. The factors seen to have the largest significant impact were "More potential students not convinced being credentialed will lead to a difference in job duties when compared to non-credentialed work," "More potential students who do not think being credentialed will lead to a substantial increase in pay when compared to non-credentialed work" and "More potential students not willing/able to invest the time needed to become credentialed." A total of 60% reported an increase in retention efforts within the last 5 years. The services most commonly reported as increasing included mental health support and academic mentoring. This study suggests that an increased number of potential VT/N students are deciding that being credentialed is not worth the time or money. While additional resources directed toward recruitment and retention are needed within VT/N educational programs, without systematic changes within the field, it is likely that there will be a continued decline in the number of interested applicants.

Understanding psychological outcomes following exposure to potentially morally injurious events in animal care: development of the Moral Distress-Posttraumatic Growth Scale for Veterinary Professionals

ABSTRACT Aims To generate a taxonomy of potentially morally injurious events (PMIE) encountered in veterinary care and develop an instrument to measure moral distress and posttraumatic growth following exposure to PMIE in the veterinary population. Methods Development and preliminary evaluation of the Moral Distress-Posttraumatic Growth Scale for Veterinary Professionals (MD-PTG-VP) employed data from veterinary professionals (veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians) from Australia and New Zealand across three phases: (1) item generation, (2) content validation, and (3) construct validation. In Phase 1 respondents (n = 46) were asked whether they had experienced any of six PMIE and to identify any PMIE not listed that they had experienced. In Phase 2 a different group of respondents (n = 11) assessed a list of 10 PMIE for relevance, clarity and appropriateness. In Phase 3 the final instrument was tested with a third group of respondents (n = 104) who also completed the Short Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview (SPRINT), a measure of posttraumatic stress, and the Stress-Related Growth Scale–Short Form (SRGS-SF) a measure of perceived posttraumatic growth. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated between respondent scores on each of the MD-PTG-VP subscales, the SPRINT, and the SRGS-SF to assess construct validity. Results A 10-item taxonomy of PMIE encountered in veterinary care was generated in Phase 1. Items were deemed relevant, clear and appropriate by veterinary professionals in Phase 2. These were included in the developed instrument which measures frequency and impact of exposure to 10 PMIE, yielding three subscale scores (exposure frequency, moral distress, and posttraumatic growth). Assessment of construct validity by measuring correlation with SPRINT and SRGS-SF indicated satisfactory validity. Conclusions The MD-PTG-VP provides an informative tool that can be employed to examine professionals’ mental health and wellbeing following exposure to PMIE frequently encountered in animal care. Further evaluation is required to ascertain population norms and confirm score cut-offs that reflect clinical presentation. Clinical relevance Once fully validated this instrument may be useful to quantify the frequency and intensity of positive and negative aspects of PMIE exposure on veterinary professionals so that accurate population comparisons can be made and changes measured over time.

Cat owners do not provide more reliable weight estimates for cats compared with veterinary professionals in an emergency setting.

The aim of the present study was to assess the accuracy of weight estimation in cats provided by pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers (interns and residents) and attending clinicians in an emergency room (ER). An additional objective was to determine whether carrying the cat contributed to a more accurate weight estimate. A total of 72 cats presented to an ER and were enrolled in the study. Pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers and attending clinicians were asked to record the cats' estimated weights on individual data collection cards. The actual weights of the cats were then obtained and compared with participants' estimations. There were no significant differences between weight estimates provided by pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers and attending clinicians. Similarly, neither the length of experience of the veterinary staff nor carrying the cat had an effect on the provision of a more accurate weight estimate. Pet owners are no better at weight estimation of cats in the ER setting compared with veterinary professionals. Carrying the cat did not improve the accuracy of weight estimation among veterinary professionals. The mean cat weight of 4.9 kg could be used as an average cat weight in an emergency situation for an adult cat.

Learning While in Work: Exploring Influences on Engagement and Achievement in Veterinary Professionals Studying Remotely.

Remote learning provides flexible opportunities for veterinarians and veterinary technicians to undertake professional development qualifications alongside their work. Although this offers advantages in accessing courses that may otherwise not be available, online provision may not suit all learners equally. Using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with a group of veterinary educators (faculty, veterinarians, and veterinary nurses/technicians), this study explored their engagement and learning outcome achievements from a post-graduate certificate in veterinary education. Participants were highly motivated to engage, but their engagement was compromised when they had low levels of professional autonomy (particularly in scheduling study time and opportunities to put learning outcomes into practice). Some participants also found engagement more challenging when they experienced academic uncertainty or a reduction in social learning opportunities. A lot of the learning occurred in the participants applying taught content to practice, and therefore the education interface extended to the workplace. Educators teaching similar students using an online-only format should thus recognize the learners' workplaces as an important part of the learning environment and find ways to help them learn in that context. Learner engagement is also supported by interventions to foster social connections, scaffolded strategies for self-direction, and helping them to balance achievement against wellbeing goals.

Valuing our veterinary teams and continuing our commitment to advancing veterinary technicians.

Valuing our veterinary teams and continuing our commitment to advancing veterinary technicians.

Qualitative analysis of small animal veterinarian-perceived barriers to nutrition communication.

Nutrition is important in preventing and managing disease. Veterinarians are an important source of nutrition information; however, nutrition communication between veterinarians and pet owners is relatively infrequent. The purpose of this study was to conduct a qualitative review of barriers to nutrition communication and possible solutions, reported by small animal veterinarians. 18 veterinarians from Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, Washington DC, and West Virginia. In a qualitative focus group study, 5 virtual focus groups using the Zoom platform were conducted from February 3, 2021, to April 2, 2021. Each focus group was audio recorded, and transcripts were created using Otter.ai software. Transcripts were analyzed in Atlas.ti qualitative data analysis software using a hybrid of inductive and deductive thematic analysis. The 4 barriers to nutrition communication identified by veterinarians were as follows: (1) time, (2) misinformation and information overload, (3) pet owners' apprehension toward new information, and (4) veterinarians' confidence in nutrition knowledge and communication skills. Potential solutions include (1) improving communication and nutrition education, (2) improving and increasing access to client-friendly resources, and (3) empowering credentialed veterinary technicians and support staff to discuss nutrition. This study provides guidance for how to focus efforts to break down barriers to nutrition communication in small animal veterinary practice.

A brief history of rabies in Haiti until the adoption of the One Health approach for its epidemiological surveillance and control

Rabies was first identified in dogs and humans by a French veterinarian, Jean Lompagieu Lapole, in 1788 in the colony of Saint-Domingue, which later became Haiti. Rabies has continued to persist in the country despite some intermittent successes in combating this disease over the past 20 years. We are trying to understand why rabies, which has officially existed in the country for around 250 years, is still classified as a neglected disease and continues to result in cases of human mortality. For a significant period, until the implementation of the Haiti Animal Rabies Surveillance Program (HARSP) in 2011, there was no robust initiative to fight against rabies based on regular vaccination campaigns and an effective epidemiological surveillance system despite certain efforts made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Pan American Health Organization Project of Strengthening Public Agricultural Services (RESEPAG): Projet de Renforcement des Services publics Agricoles (PAHO) to increase dog vaccinations. The HARSP program was established with technical assistance from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (CDC) to control and eliminate rabies in the short term, according to the One Health approach. It was a passive surveillance system based on strengthening the rabies diagnostic capacity of the Veterinary Laboratory, training veterinary and public health technicians, and supporting rabies vaccination campaigns. This approach has resulted in effective cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Public Health based on the “One Health” enabling the Ministry of Public Health to report daily on bite to the Ministry of Agriculture for further investigations. HARSP marked a pivotal moment in the Rabies Control and Elimination Program. Between January 2013 and December 2017, there were 9,342 reported human exposures to animals suspected of carrying rabies in Haiti. The number of Human exposures to rabies suspected animals in Haiti from January 2013 to December 2017 was 9,342 heads. Among these cases, 2.4% were confirmed, 4.9% probable, 17.8% suspected, and 74.6% discarded. The One Health rabies program has demonstrated the potential for achieving control of both animal and human rabies in Haiti if the ministries of Agriculture and Health commit unequivocally to continue their collaborative development efforts and adhere to HARSP methodology, including vaccinating over 70% of the dog population.

Website Investigation of Pet Weight Management-Related Information and Services Offered by Ontario Veterinary Practices.

Pet owners rely on information and advice from their veterinary practice to effectively manage their pet's weight. This study investigated weight management information and services displayed on practice websites in Ontario, Canada. Information collected from the websites of 50 randomly selected small and mixed-animal practices included practice and staff demographics and the type of weight management services, products, and information advertised or displayed. The most frequently advertised weight management service and product were nutritional counselling (34%) and therapeutic diets (25%), respectively. Current bodyweight measurement was advertised on just over half of the websites (54%), while physical therapy counselling was the least-advertised service (16%). Further statistical analyses were performed in an exploratory fashion to determine areas for future research. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between practice demographics and the type of weight management information advertised online. A maximum of two predictor variables were included in each regression model. Exploratory analyses indicated that when controlling for the number of veterinarians in each practice, having a higher number of veterinary technicians was associated with increased odds of a practice website advertising current bodyweight measurement by 80.1% (odds ratio (OR) = 1.80, p = 0.05). Additionally, when controlling the number of veterinary technicians, having a higher number of veterinarians was associated with increased odds of a practice website advertising sales of therapeutic diets by 119.0% (OR = 2.19, p = 0.04). When using corporate practices as reference, independently owned practices had decreased odds of advertising sales of treats and weight management accessories on their practice websites by 78.7% (OR = 0.21, p = 0.03). These preliminary results suggest that advertising weight management information is not prioritized on veterinary practice websites in Ontario, especially those with lower staff numbers. The findings of this study raise awareness on the current state of weight management promotion for pets on veterinary practice websites and highlight ways to improve upon a practice's online presence.

How do different members of the on-farm mobility team perceive lameness, and what factors influence their NSAID use?

Lameness affects approximately one-third of the national dairy herd, impacting welfare and production. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main analgesic available, but use is variable. The aims of this study were to describe how members of the mobility team perceive pain and use NSAIDs for conditions causing lameness in dairy cows. A questionnaire was distributed online to UK farmers, veterinarians, veterinary technicians (VTs) and foot trimmers (FTs). Respondents were asked to describe factors affecting their NSAID use and to score pain associated with 16 scenarios, including diagnoses, conditions and procedures associated with lameness in cows. Of 210 respondents, 81 (38.6%) were farmers, 80 (38.1%) were veterinarians, 34 (16.2%) were FTs and 15 (7.1%) were VTs. For most conditions, farmers scored pain lower than veterinarians and VTs and were less likely to use or recommend NSAIDs than veterinarians, VTs and FTs. Farmers rated cow comfort as more important (p<0.001) and the cost of drugs as less important (p<0.001) in using NSAIDs than veterinarians predicted. There were fewer VTs and FTs than farmers and veterinarians, limiting generalisation. Response and social acceptability biases may have affected the findings. All members of the mobility team have different perceptions and areas of expertise around lameness. Increasing collaboration and harnessing of skills and knowledge within the team could improve detection and treatment of lameness, with consequent benefits to cow welfare and production.

Optimising staff utilisation in rural animal veterinary practice in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Utilisation of veterinary professional staff in rural animal veterinary practice has long been anecdotally reported as poor in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Evidence shows that skill utilisation is poor, and this is likely impacted by the low ratios of non-veterinarian staff to each veterinarian in rural animal veterinary practice. This participative action research utilised focus groups with a range of staff practising in rural animal veterinary practice in Aotearoa / New Zealand, who self-selected as having experience with excellent utilisation. Participants were asked to imagine what a future with excellent utilisation in rural animal veterinary practice in Aotearoa / New Zealand would look like. This research clarifies role definitions of a veterinarian, rural animal veterinary technician and rural animal healthcare assistant, and documents examples of task allocation in an interprofessional team. The participants identified that the outcomes of achieving appropriate utilisation are likely to be beneficial to individuals, the team, animals, clients, and the business profitability, however, a significant number of barriers were identified that may prevent implementation of appropriate utilisation. These included a disconnect between the current rural animal veterinary technician qualifications and the requirement from veterinary clinical practice for specific skills, rather than a full qualification; the current veterinary training pathway not setting up veterinarians to be consultants; lack of regulation of allied veterinary professionals; current skills in the team; lack of trust in technicians from veterinarians; perception of client expectations that a vet will attend; willingness of veterinarians to relinquish control; lack of availability of technical staff; the requirement for veterinarians to provide 27/4 after-hours service; and the risk of technicians leaving after being trained up to go out on their own. Whilst overcoming some of these barriers requires industryled solutions, many can be resolved immediately within individual teams. Therefore, there is no need to wait for industry change to begin creating veterinary teams with excellent utilisation within individual rural animal veterinary practices.

The potential role of veterinary technicians in promoting antimicrobial stewardship

BackgroundA core principle of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in veterinary settings is the need for engagement of all stakeholders; however, no studies have addressed the role of veterinary technicians in AMS specifically. The objective of this study was to qualitatively assess knowledge, opinions, and practices related to AMS among technicians. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 veterinary technicians with varied backgrounds, experience and roles. Interviews centered on participants work experience and interactions with their employer, perceptions of antimicrobial resistance and overuse in veterinary medicine, observed application of AMS principles, opinions on potential opportunities for technicians to contribute to AMS and concomitant potential barriers to these opportunities. Transcripts of interviews were coded thematically by two authors, then organized into a hierarchical framework, and the characterization of codes was compared across different categories of respondents.ResultsMost veterinary technicians were knowledgeable about antimicrobial drugs but could not provide a complete definition of antimicrobial resistance or AMS. Most veterinary technicians could identify examples of antimicrobial misuse. Participants identified areas of client education and discussion with veterinarians as potential areas to contribute to AMS. Barriers identified included hierarchical structures of veterinary practices and time-constraints. Most participants expressed a personal interest in participating in AMS.ConclusionsThere is a possible appetite among some veterinary technicians to participate in AMS and they already play applicable roles in practices. Barriers such as educational needs, hierarchical structures of veterinary practices and time constraints will need to be addressed if technicians are included in AMS efforts.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in individuals occupationally exposed to livestock and raw meat: A case-control study.

The expectancy of Toxoplasma gondii transmitted from livestock and raw meat to humans is a public health problem and is an example of the One Health theory. This survey aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors related to this common infection in individuals occupationally exposed (IOE) to livestock, raw meat and viscera in industrial slaughterhouses and livestock fields in Isfahan province, central Iran. This study is a case-control survey carried out on the 401 serum samples of IOE (including slaughterhouse workers, butchers, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, livestock farmers and farm workers) compared to 401 archived samples of the general population (that all matched with cases by region, age and gender). All 802 samples were investigated for anti-T. gondii IgM and anti-T. gondii IgG using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A statistically significant higher anti-T. gondii IgG occurrence (p<0.001) was observed in IOE compared to the control group (46.1% vs. 31.4%). According to our knowledge, this is the first case-control study on the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii in IOE to livestock in central Iran. These findings show a potentially significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and occupational exposure to livestock. Therefore, it is essential to develop guidelines for preventing disease transmission among IOE to livestock, raw meat and viscera in industrial slaughterhouses and livestock fields.