Veterinary Training Research Articles

Explanatory models and animal health-seeking behavior for East Coast fever in rural Kenya: an ethnographic study.

Explanatory models of disease focus on individuals' and groups' understandings of diseases, revealing a disconnect between livestock keepers and animal health providers. Animal health providers rely on models grounded in their veterinary training and experience. At the same time, livestock keepers may construct models based on traditional knowledge and their lived experience with East Coast fever in their cattle herds. To better understand East Coast fever and develop more efficient management strategies, this ethnographic study used the explanatory models' framework to provide a structured way for comprehending and contrasting different beliefs and understandings of East Coast fever as perceived by the livestock keepers across the different livestock production systems. Multiple data collection methods were employed, including unstructured observations, 30 in-depth interviews (IDIs), 18 focus group discussions (FGDs), and 25 key informant interviews (KIIs). Adult cattle, calves and sheep were perceived as susceptible to East Coast fever. However, there were varying perceptions of livestock susceptible to East Coast fever in the different livestock production systems. East Coast fever was attributed to multiple factors, including ticks, tsetse flies, mosquitos, birds, stagnant, dirty, or contaminated water, and livestock-wildlife interactions. However, some aspects were specific to the production system. Livestock keepers classified diseases based on observable signs, grouping diseases with similar signs under the same classification. Moreover, livestock keepers described different forms of East Coast fever ranging from treatable to fatal, which could be distinguished by the signs they presented. Self-treatment with drugs from the local agro-vet shops was the initial course of action during suspected cases of East Coast fever. Animal health practitioners were the last resort if self-treatment did not produce the desired outcome. Livestock keepers perceived avoidance of stagnant or contaminated water, tick control, and fencing as effective control measures for East Coast fever in their livestock herd. Very few livestock keepers were aware of an East Coast fever vaccine. Mechanistic explanations hold little significance in controlling East Coast fever. Instead, understanding and addressing livestock keepers' beliefs regarding ECF is crucial for promoting behaviors that support interventions across different livestock production systems.

Mastitis has a cumulative and lasting effect on milk yield and lactose content in dairy cows

Milk lactose content (LC) physiologically decreases with parity order in dairy cows, but also after udder health inflammation(s) and/or in presence of elevated milk SCC in subclinical cases. Therefore, the progressive decrease in milk LC observed along cows' productive life can be attributed to a combination of factors that altogether impair the epithelial integrity, resulting in weaker tight junctions, e.g., physiological aging of epithelium, mechanical epithelial stress due to milking, and experienced clinical or subclinical mastitis. Mastitis is known to affect the udder synthesis ability too, so our intention through this study was to evaluate if there is a cumulative and lasting effect of mammary gland inflammation(s) on milk yield (MY) and LC. For this purpose, we used diagnoses of clinical mastitis and milk data of Austrian Fleckvieh cows to evaluate the effect of cumulative mastitis events on LC and MY. Only mastitis diagnoses recorded by trained veterinarians were used. Finally, we investigated if cumulative mastitis is a heritable trait and whether it is genetically correlated with either LC or MY. Estimates were obtained using univariate and bivariate linear animal models. A significant reduction in LC and MY was observed in cows that suffered from mastitis compared with those that did not experience udder inflammation. The h2 of cumulative mastitis is promising and much greater (0.09) than the h2 of the binary event itself (≤0.03). The genetic correlations between cumulative mastitis with LC and MY were negative, suggesting that cows with a great genetic merit for MY and LC are expected to be more resistant to repeated inflammations and less recidivist. When we used number of lifetime SCC peaks (≥200,000 or 400,000 cells/mL) to calculate cumulative inflammation events, h2 was even higher (up to 0.38), implying that also subclinical mastitis has a relevant negative impact on both LC and MY. Finally, the present study demonstrated how repeated mastitis events can permanently affect the mammary gland epithelial integrity and synthesis ability, and that the number of cumulative mastitis is a promising phenotype to be used in selection index in combination with other indicator traits toward more resistant and resilient mammary glands.

First Insight into the Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection among Veterinary Medicine Students in Bulgaria.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection among veterinary medicine students from two Bulgarian Universities, located in Sofia and Stara Zagora. Blood samples were collected from a total of 185 veterinary students for the detection of C. burnetii phase II antibodies and presence of DNA using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and end-point PCR test. Out of all samples, 29.7% were positive for at least one C. burnetii phase II antibody marker or by the result of the PCR test. Veterinary students from Stara Zagora showed a significantly high seropositivity for Q fever (33.6%), as compared to the students in Sofia (23%; p < 0.05). Evidence of recent exposure with detection of anti-C. burnetii phase II IgM (+) antibodies was observed in 14.6% of the students under study. Seroprevalence among students in Stara Zagora was higher (15.3%). Anti-C. burnetii phase II IgG antibodies were detected in 21.6% of examined samples. Our study revealed a higher seropositivity among the male students (32.8%) as compared to females (16.0%; p < 0.05). The end-point PCR assay detected 5.9% blood samples as positive. The relative risk (RR) of Q fever exposure for male students was 40.7%, whereas it was 24.6% in females (p < 0.05). The findings from this study indicate that the C. burnetii infection is widely distributed amongst veterinary students in Bulgaria. This study emphasizes the need for improved safety protocols and infection control measures in veterinary training programs.

Survey of the husbandry and biosecurity practices of backyard chicken keepers in the UK.

This survey investigated the housing, feeding, health and welfare of backyard chickens kept in the UK. Information was collected via an online questionnaire active from May to July 2021. The survey asked about flock demographics, housing, diet, enrichment provision, if the flock was registered with the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) and the reason, preventative health care and biosecurity, and the incidence and methods of euthanasia. The majority of flocks (48.8%) consisted of one to five birds, were located in rural areas (58%) and were kept as pets (77%) and/or for eggs (71.6%). Enrichment was provided by 78.4% of keepers. Most respondents (69%) were aware of the Animal Plant and Health Agency poultry registration scheme, with 32.8% being registered with the scheme. Kitchen scraps were fed by 29% of keepers. Veterinary services were used by 63.6% of keepers, although 4% said they struggled to find a veterinarian willing to treat backyard poultry. New additions to the flock were isolated by 70.2% of keepers. The survey was distributed through poultry-specific Facebook groups and via chicken rescue centres, so it is not a truly random sample of backyard chicken keepers. All survey-based studies have an inherent element of subjectivity. The survey identified biosecurity, humane euthanasia training, veterinary training in backyard poultry medicine, and enrichment provision as areas where improvements can be made to improve poultry health and welfare and reduce the risks of infectious disease transmission.

Case-Based E-Learning Tool Affects Self-Confidence in Clinical Reasoning Skills among Veterinary Students-A Survey at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Veterinary education plays a crucial role in equipping veterinarians with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the challenges they will face in their professional careers. As part of enhancing the veterinary students' training in clinical reasoning, an online electronic veterinary clinic was introduced to a group of students during their final semester. This platform, called Veterinary eClinic, provides access to digital, real-life clinical cases, allowing students to apply their knowledge and develop critical thinking skills in a practical context. In this research project, the veterinary students were asked to assess how confident they felt in different clinical tasks related to a clinical investigation before and after using Veterinary eClinic. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used when collecting data. The students answered pre- and post-use questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to elaborate on the quantitative results. Our results showed that the students were significantly more confident in making a problem list (p = .005), completing diagnostic tests (p = .022), making a diagnosis (p = .041), and performing assessments of animal welfare in the clinic (p = .002) after solving different clinical cases in Veterinary eClinic. As much as 97% of the respondents reported that Veterinary eClinic was a valuable learning resource in veterinary education, to a fairly large or very large extent. Our findings suggest that the use of a case-based e-learning tool might contribute to increased self-confidence in clinical reasoning skills.

Value of Study Skills Training for Incoming Veterinary Students.

Students may struggle as they enter the veterinary curriculum because they have historically been successful academically and so may fail to recognize the necessary changes in study skills required to manage the increased content and rigor of veterinary training. This manuscript describes processes used by one school to help students better understand study strategies and to address students' academic and personal concerns that may impact their achievement.

Intoxicações de animais por praguicidas da classe dos carbamatos

Intentional poisoning by exogenous agents occurs with certain frequency and represents a high percentage of the causes of death in small animals in Veterinary Medicine. The carbamate popularly known in Brazil as “chumbinho”, is often linked to cases of criminal poisoning of domestic animals in the country, being sold illegally and widely used as a domestic rodenticide. The objective of this work was to discuss some types of pesticides and their toxicities, having inorganic and organic substances in their composition. A systematic review of national and international literature was carried out using the following key words: anticholinesterases, carbamates, pesticides, poisoning; using the following scientific databases for academic research: Virtual Health Library (VHL), SciELO, Scopus, CAPES Journal Portal, Google Scholar, PubMed and Biomed Central. Pesticides, with their inorganic chemical nature, appear in everyday life and are classified as organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates and others, having an immediate effect in the organism. Cases of poisoning involving toxic agents illegally sold as rodenticides are very frequent and it is noted that, in most cases, the lack of knowledge and/or lack of information on the part of owners regarding the subject are significant factors in cases of sudden death of poisoned animals treated in veterinary clinics. The best way to reduce the incidence of poisoning in companion animals can be through training veterinarians working in the area of first aid, as well as their involvement in prevention through raising awareness among the population regarding the use of these toxic agents. There is also a need for greater supervision of the illegal marketing of these chemicals by public bodies.

Mandatory vs. Voluntary? How to Conceive and Implement the ‘Right’ Measures to Fight AMR

SummaryThe fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) usually relies on a large set of measures, such as banning or restricting the use of certain molecules, promoting preventive approaches to animal health, monitoring antibiotic use and prescription, training farmers and veterinarians, developing quality schemes and labels, etc. These measures can be mandatory (i.e. regulations) or voluntary (i.e. private standards, professional guidelines, etc.), depending on the policy style adopted in each country: imposing the same framework of action for everyone or trying to stimulate stakeholders’ initiatives. It is however difficult to say that one option is better than another, given that reduction of antimicrobial use in livestock has been achieved in different European countries using different options. Based on a cross‐reflection from three ROADMAP case studies, this Point de Vue argues that an efficient and legitimate AMR policy has to adopt a combination of voluntary and mandatory measures which is carefully thought through and which is adapted to local contexts and dynamics.

Effect of body condition score on the interobserver variability of vertebral heart scale assessment in dogs.

The vertebral heart scale (VHS) is widely known and used as an objective standard for the evaluation of cardiomegaly on thoracic radiographs. It, therefore, plays an important role in assessing the severity of canine heart disease. The body condition score (BCS) is a nine-scale body condition scoring system used to objectively document the body condition in dogs. Obese animals have widened precardiac and postcardiac mediastinum, fat deposits between the sternum and lungs or heart, as well as increased pericardial fat. These conditions could complicate cardiac silhouette evaluation and could, therefore, result in higher interobserver variability in the assessment of VHS. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether overweight dogs (BCS 6/9, 7/9, 8/9, and 9/9) have more variability in the interobserver VHS measurement compared with dogs with a normal BCS (BCS 4/9 and 5/9). The dogs were admitted to a private referral center for different medical reasons. The VHS was measured by three trained observers in right lateral radiographs of 18 overweight dogs and 33 dogs with a normal BCS. Bland-Altmann plots were constructed, and limits of agreement were calculated to show the variability of VHS measurements. No statistically significant differences in VHS variability were found between BCS categories, observers, sex, or age categories. In conclusion, BCS does not affect the reliability of VHS assessment among trained veterinarians.

Perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residency training in American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia programs in North America: a quantitative survey

ObjectiveTo characterize the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aspects of the anesthesia residency experience from the perspective of American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) mentors and trainees. This includes the residency interview process, didactic training and availability and variety of clinical cases for resident learning. Study designCross-sectional, online, anonymous voluntary survey. Sample populationA total of 58 respondents, representing 30 residency program mentors and 28 residents. MethodsSurveys were distributed by email to 94 residency program mentors and 70 residents, representing programs and residents registered with the ACVAA during the years of 2019–2021. Anonymous links to an online survey were provided via a link embedded in the email. Questions included perceived impacts (–5 to +5 scale) on didactic and clinical training, case distribution, workload, residency application and selection process, and mental health. Responses were summarized with descriptive statistics [median (IQR) or mean ± SD]. ResultsThe overall survey response rate was 31.9% (30/94) and 40.0% (28/70) for resident program mentors and residents, respectively. There was a negative perceived impact on overall residency training reported: –1.0 (IQR –2.0 to 0) for program mentors and –1.5 ± 1.5 for residents. The reported perceived impact of travel limitations on case log completion was –2.0 (IQR –4.0 to –1.0) for program mentors and –2.4 ± 2.0 for residents. Program mentors and residents had incongruent feelings on the impact of the pandemic on work hours, with residents reporting a perceived increase in work hours [+2.1 ± 2.1 versus 0 (IQR –1.0 to 0)]. ConclusionsResidency program mentors and residents generally agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted multiple aspects of residency interview and training process. A broader, objective analysis of veterinary anesthesia training programs is required to fully elucidate the scale of the impact on veterinary anesthesia training.

Trained to cut? A literature review of veterinary surgical resident training.

A surgical residency trains veterinary graduates to a higher level of expertise in surgical procedures than is possible during veterinary school and prepares a resident to pursue board certification in surgery. The education of veterinary surgical residents has changed minimally since its inception in the twentieth century, and there are insufficient studies to determine if residency programs are producing surgeons with competence in each of the necessary procedural categories. The aims of this review were to report the current theory and methods used to provide surgical education to residents, to discuss the training most likely to create a competent, board-certified surgeon and to review assessment methods used during training. Several literature searches using broad terms such as "veterinary surgery residency," "veterinary surgery resident," and "veterinary surgical training" were performed using PubMed, CAB abstracts, and Google Scholar. Literature pertinent to theory, methods, training, and assessment of veterinary surgical residents was included. The reviewed literature demonstrated the need for research-based learning curves for specific procedures. Simulation training is known to facilitate deliberate practice and should be leveraged where possible to reach competency. The creation of validated assessment methods should be pursued as it enables assessment of competency instead of inferring its development from case logs. Understanding and supporting learner cognition and providing sufficient feedback remain important issues in the field. Surgical educators are urged to continue to search for innovative and evidence-based ways to train competent surgical residents.

Foreign experience of future veterinarians’ preparation for professional communication

The article analyzes foreign experience in preparing future veterinarians for professional communication. It has been established that the preparation of future veterinarians for professional communication is considered by foreign scientists to be on the same level of importance as a wide range of professional disciplines. The process of communication of specialists in the agricultural sector consists in the formation of skills and professional communication skills, in the exchange of information, in the content of the information itself, which is the main factor in the acquisition and formation of knowledge and skills of students. The work examines the achievements of some European, American, and Australian universities that pay significant attention to the communicative training of students of veterinary medicine. It is noted that this issue requires a more detailed study in view of insufficient dissemination of positive experience, existing practices and effective models of training veterinarians for professional communication that already exist. It was determined that the most attention is paid to communication between colleagues and management of conflict situations. It was found that communication regarding the treatment plan, work conversations, communication in stressful situations, business and professional communication are included in communicative actions in the work process. It has been studied that foreign institutions of higher education pay equal attention to the development of oral and written communication, which allows future specialists to avoid difficulties when communicating with colleagues and clients. It has been established that role-playing games are considered one of the effective means of forming communication skills of specialists, in particular, communication situations with clients. Scientists will pay much less attention to communication with colleagues and other potential interlocutors. The results of the study will contribute to the discussion of ways to improve the organization and conduct of classes in professional disciplines in domestic institutions of higher education.

How to get the most out of your externship

Externships are a form of real-world learning: learning that takes place outside of the teaching hospital. They are wide-rang­ing opportunities, from industry to clinical and can happen at all stages of veterinary training. Externships vary greatly in terms of oversight from the veterinary school or college, with respect to grading, communication with the school, and legal matters (PLIT, insurance). The number of externships that students un­dertake varies widely between institutions. For this talk, extern­ships will refer specifically to clinical practice experience, with an emphasis on bovine or mixed practice. Why externships?

Digital dermatitis in Swedish dairy herds assessed by ELISA targeting Treponema phagedenis in bulk tank milk

BackgroundDigital dermatitis (DD) is a contagious hoof infection affecting cattle worldwide. The disease causes lameness and a reduction in animal welfare, which ultimately leads to major decreases in milk production in dairy cattle. The disease is most likely of polymicrobial origin with Treponema phagedenis and other Treponema spp. playing a key role; however, the etiology is not fully understood. Diagnosis of the disease is based on visual assessment of the feet by trained hoof-trimmers and veterinarians, as a more reliable diagnostic method is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on bulk tank milk samples testing for the presence of T. phagedenis antibodies as a proxy to assess herd prevalence of DD in Swedish dairy cattle herds.ResultsBulk tank milk samples were collected in 2013 from 612 dairy herds spread across Sweden. A nationwide DD apparent prevalence of 11.9% (8.1–14.4% CI95%) was found, with the highest proportion of test-positive herds in the South Swedish regions (31.3%; 19.9–42.4% CI95%).ConclusionsThis study reveals an underestimation of DD prevalence based on test results compared to hoof trimming data, highlighting the critical need for a reliable and accurate diagnostic method. Such a method is essential for disease monitoring and the development of effective control strategies. The novelty of ELISA-based diagnostic methods for DD, coupled with the disease’s polymicrobial origin, suggests an avenue for improvement. Developing an expanded ELISA, incorporating antigens from various bacterial species implicated in the disease, could enhance diagnostic accuracy. The significance of this study is underscored by the extensive analysis of a substantial sample size (612). Notably, this investigation stands as the largest assessment to date, evaluating the application of ELISA on bulk tank milk for DD diagnosis at the herd level.

Qualitative Exploration of the Hidden Curriculum in Communicating Dog Breed Stereotypes During Veterinary Clinical Training.

Cultural transmission of breed-specific beliefs about canine pain sensitivity occurs during veterinary education and training. However, breed-specific beliefs held by veterinarians do not align well with experimental measures of pain observed across dog breeds and are unlikely to be helpful in clinical decision making. The aim of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of how dog breed pain stereotypes are developed and/or reinforced during clinical veterinary training. Non-participant, unobtrusive observations were conducted for a single clinical rotation block across three specialties. Field notes with contextual details were maintained and later transcribed and expanded using personal reflection. A thematic analysis revealed the following three themes: confusion and mixed messages related to instruction about pain; rotation microcultures and norms related to pain; and breed specific messages related to pain identification and treatment decisions. As students processed their social interactions, we suggest that they may have internalized breed stereotypes and used these to inform their perceptions about patient pain. This information will help facilitate the development of training to enhance veterinary medical education and promote best practices for pain identification and management in canine patients.

Exploring the sociocultural experiences of student veterinary nurses in the clinical learning environment through the lens of situated learning theory.

Student veterinary nurses (SVNs) complete significant time in clinical placements and this training can have a positive or negative impact on the development of professional skills and identity. A cross-sectional design, using semi-structured interviews, explored 12 SVNs' experiences of clinical placements. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore each individual participant's experience, prior to the identification of themes across participants' experiences. Most students reported a sense of belonging within the practice team, which fostered engagement. Clinical supervisors were considered key role models and vital support for student progress. Students reported conflict between the demands of the practice and the requirements of their student status. Some poor interpersonal interactions led to reduced confidence. The results may not reflect experiences of the diversity of student demographics, such as those students with protected characteristics, as described in the Equality Act 2010, who may encounter specific workplace challenges. To ensure parity and positive experiences, accredited educational institutes can plan regular engagement with student feedback and support of the training practice. Training practice teams can ensure they are meeting the student's needs and fostering a positive learning environment by adhering to the RCVS Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training, which will, in turn, benefit the whole team. Clinical supervisors can play a convening role in increasing belonging and participation within the clinical learning environment.

Effectiveness of rural internships for veterinary students to combat veterinary workforce shortages in rural areas.

Veterinarians are a pivotal force in addressing animal health and welfare surveillance, with a critical role in improving public health security and increasing the profits of livestock farmers. Yet, the veterinary profession is adversely affected by personnel shortages, particularly in rural areas. Since the health of people, animals and their shared environment are interconnected in a One Health perspective, a set of policies are required to ensure public health by attraction and retention of veterinarians in rural areas. In France, a tutored internship programme, financially subsiding students and mentors to execute a training period in remote rural areas, was promoted to better integrate and retain veterinary students ending their veterinary training. This paper aims to evaluate how veterinarians' tutored internships influences students' choices for rural practice, using three different statistical methods derived from causal inference theory. Using survey data for the period 2016-2020, we show that: (i) the average effect of the tutored internship on veterinarians' work in food animal sector is not significant; and that (ii) the tutored internship leads veterinarians with a low share of work in the food animal sector to have a rural practise after they graduated between 13 and 20% greater than those who did not participate in the tutored internship.

Development of a bovine liver biopsy training model

In veterinary medicine, liver biopsy is a standard diagnostic procedure for studying liver disease in animal species, including cows. Some common indications for liver biopsy in cattle include clinical signs of liver disease (e.g., anorexia, jaundice, lethargy), unexplained weight loss, and monitoring of health and nutritional status. This technique comes with certain risks, such as haemorrhage, infections, and lesions of other organs, so it shouldonly be carried out by a trained and experienced veterinarian. The Clinical Skills Laboratory is a structured teaching laboratory that provides hands-on experience to veterinary medicine students in a safe, controlled environment. The laboratory focuses on developing practical competencies in various veterinary procedures. This paper presents the development of a model for performing liver biopsy in cattle and discusses the importance of the skills lab in veterinary medicine learning. This model enables students to learn how to perform a liver biopsy in cattle and the basic rules of sampling and fixation of the specimen for histopathological examination. It is accompanied by detailed work instructions and illustrations to assist the student in performing the procedure. This kind of laboratory is indispensable in veterinary medical training, as it helps students strengthen their skills and confidence, preparing them for a successful career in veterinary medicine. In addition, it allows for the execution of techniques that would not be practised on a live animal during classes.

Conditioned Canine Cadavers for Near-Natural Interprofessional Veterinary and Human Surgery Training.

Both medical and veterinary students find that the use of cadavers is critical to learning anatomical structures and surgical techniques. The use of human cadavers and the resulting user emotions are driven by serious ethical issues that are currently much less pronounced in veterinary education. Ethically sourced canine cadavers, thus, are more readily available. Aesthetics such as odor and visual appearance, though, influence both learner and educator motivation.We have investigated a way of delaying cadaver decomposition by post-mortem in situ, chemical-free, gastrointestinal lavage.We are convinced that canine cadavers, conditioned as described here, will improve the outcome of cadaver-based surgical skills training by facilitating preparation, reducing the number of required cadavers, postponing decomposition, improving the surgeon's haptic-tactile response to organ and tissue handling and suturing, and, possibly most importantly, increasing learners' and educators' focus due to the significantly improved aesthetics. We hypothesize that skill transfer for medical students and doctors, because of the similar abdominal anatomy, may be easier when training with conditioned canine cadavers as compared to artificial simulators or pigs in vivo.

SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in a veterinary health system provides insight into transmission risks.

To investigate the prevalence and seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 in companion and exotic animals in a veterinary healthcare system. A total of 341 animals were sampled by a combination of oral and nasal swabs. Serum from whole blood was collected from a subset of animals (86 canines, 25 felines, and 6 exotic animals). After informed owner consent, convenience samples from client-owned animals and the pets of students and staff members associated with Colorado State University's Veterinary Health System were collected between May 2021 and September 2022. Study samples were collected by trained veterinarians, Veterinary Health System staff, and veterinary students. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by reverse transcription PCR in 1.6% (95% CI, 0.5% to 4.6%) of domestic canines and 1.1% (95% CI, 0.2% to 6.1%) of domestic felines. No RNA was detected in any of the exotic animal species tested (n = 66). Plaque reduction neutralization tests indicated that 12.8% (95% CI, 7.3% to 21.5%) of canines and 12.0% (95% CI, 4.2% to 30.0%) of felines had neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. This study provides insight regarding SARS-CoV-2 spillover in domestic companion and exotic animals and contributes to our understanding of transmission risk in the veterinary setting.