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- Author or Editor: Laura Hungerford x
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Abstract
Objective—To determine the distribution of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in pasture-based cattle production areas.
Sample Population—Two 100-km2 agricultural areas consisting of 207 pasture, 14 beef-confinement, and 3 dairy locations within 24 cattle operations.
Procedure—13,726 samples from cattle, wildlife, and water sources were obtained during an 11-month period. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified by use of culture and polymerase chain reaction assays and characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
Results—Odds of recovering E coli O157:H7 from feeder-aged cattle were > 4 times the odds for cowcalf or dairy cattle. There was no difference in prevalence for pastured versus confined cattle after controlling for production age group. Number of samples collected (37 to 4,829), samples that yielded E coli O157:H7 (0 to 53), and PFGE subtypes (0 to 48) for each operation varied and were highly correlated. Although most PFGE subtypes were only detected once, 17 subtypes were detected on more than 1 operation. Ten of 12 operations at which E coli O157:H7 was detected had at least 1 subtype that also was detected on another operation. We did not detect differences in the probability of having the same subtype for adjacent operations, nonadjacent operations in the same study area, or operations in the other study area.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Strategies aimed at controlling E coli O157:H7 and specific subtypes should account for the widespread distribution and higher prevalence in feeder-aged cattle regardless of production environment and the fact that adjacent and distant cattle operations can have similar subtypes. (Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1367–1376)
Summary
Risk factors for development of pleuropneumonia were determined by reviewing medical records of 45 horses with pleuropneumonia and 180 control horses examined between Jan 1, 1980 and Jan 1, 1990. Factors considered included age, breed, sex, occupation, transport farther than 500 miles within the previous week, racing within the previous 48 hours, viral respiratory tract infection or exposure to horses with viral respiratory tract disease within the previous 2 weeks, and vaccination against influenza or rhinopneumonitis within the previous 6 months. Results indicated that Thoroughbreds were at a greater risk of developing pleuropneumonia than were other horses, and Standardbreds were at a reduced risk. Transport farther than 500 miles and viral respiratory tract disease or exposure to horses with respiratory tract disease were determined to be risk factors for the development of pleuropneumonia.
Summary
From the medical records of 124 dogs, patellar luxations were classified as congenital or acquired, medial or lateral, and unilateral or bilateral; were graded 1 to 4; and were subdivided according to size of dog. The 4 breed-size categories were based on guidelines from American Kennel Club standards for adult height and weight. Findings from these records were compared with the results from dogs with other orthopedic problems.
A majority of dogs had congenital (91; 82%), as opposed to acquired (17; 15%) patellar luxations. Distribution of dogs with patellar luxations according to breed size included 54 (98%) with medial patellar luxations (mpl) and 1 (2%) with lateral patellar luxation (lpl) in small breeds, 17 (81%) with mpl and 4 (19%) with lpl in medium breeds, 35 (83%) with mpl and 7 (17%) with lpl in large breeds; and 4 (67%) with mpl and 2 (33%) with lpl in giant breeds. Medial patellar luxation was observed in 110 dogs and 14 dogs had lpl. Cases of mpl and lpl in the same stifle or of medial and lateral patellar luxation in contralateral stifles in the same dog were not observed. Surgical correction was performed primarily in dogs with grade-3 and grade-4 patellar luxations.
Medial patellar luxations and lpl were detected in all breed categories. Small-breed dogs were admitted almost exclusively with mpl. Lateral patellar luxation was found uncommonly; however, it was observed more often in larger-breed dogs. Prevalence of mpl was greater, when compared with that for lpl, in every size/breed category.
Summary
Commercial production data base records from 2 Illinois farms, on which epizootic or enzootic transmissible gastroenteritis (tge) was experienced, were accessed for an epidemiologic study. Risk factors investigated were sow parity, source of sows, location of farrowing crates, and breeding practices. At farm 1, an epizootic was experienced; at farm 2, an epizootic of tge followed by enzootic tge was experienced. Initially, crude risk ratios were calculated for these risk factors, and the crude risk ratios were subsequently adjusted for confounders and interactions, using multiple logistic regression techniques. After adjustment, parity-3 sows were 2.3 times more likely to have litters with tge than were sows of all other parities on farm 1, and parity-1 sows were 2.6 times more likely to have litters that experienced tge than were sows of all other parities on farm 2. A single boar on each farm was linked to increased likelihood of a sow's litter contracting epizootic tge on each farm. Enzootic tge was maintained by the periodic influx of outside-source gilts on farm 2; these gilts were 2.2 times more likely to have litters with TCE than were sows derived from farm 2. Sows housed in farrowing crates located under the cold air inlet of farm 2 were 1.7 times as likely as sows located in other rows to have litters with enzootic tge.
Abstract
Objective—To characterize infection patterns and identify factors associated with avian mycobacteriosis among zoo birds that were housed with infected enclosure mates.
Design—Matched case-control study.
Animals—79 birds with avian mycobacteriosis (cases) and 316 nondiseased birds (controls) of similar age and taxonomic group that were present in the bird collection of the Zoological Society of San Diego from 1991 through 2005.
Procedures—Inventory and necropsy records from all eligible, exposed birds (n = 2,413) were examined to determine disease incidence and prevalence in the exposed cohort. Cases were matched in a 1:4 ratio to randomly selected controls of similar age and taxonomic grouping. Risk factors for mycobacteriosis (demographic, temporal, enclosure, and exposure characteristics as well as translocation history) were evaluated with univariate and multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses.
Results—Disease prevalence and incidence were estimated at 3.5% and 8 cases/1,000 bird-years at risk, respectively. In the multivariable model, cases were more likely to have been imported into the collection, exposed to mycobacteriosis at a young age, exposed to the same bird species, and exposed in small enclosures than were controls. Odds for disease increased with an increasing amount of time spent with other disease-positive birds.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The low incidence of mycobacteriosis and the risk factors identified suggested that mycobacteria may not be easily transmitted through direct contact with infected enclosure mates. Identification of risk factors for avian mycobacteriosis will help guide future management of this disease in zoo bird populations.
Abstract
Objective—To critically evaluate and summarize available information on the safety of potassium bromide in dogs.
Design—Systematic review.
Sample—111 references reporting safety information relevant to potassium bromide published between 1938 and 2011.
Procedures—PubMed searches without date limitations were conducted with the terms “potassium bromide” and “sodium bromide” in December 2009 and October 2011. Additional articles were identified through examination of article reference lists and book chapters on seizures in dogs and pharmacology.
Results—Reversible neurologic signs were the most consistently reported toxicoses and were generally associated with adjunctive potassium bromide treatment or high serum bromide concentrations. Dermatologic and respiratory abnormalities were rare in dogs. Insufficient information was available to assess the effects of potassium bromide on behavior or to determine the incidence of vomiting, weight gain, polyphagia, pancreatitis, polyuria, polydipsia, or reproductive abnormalities associated with potassium bromide administration. Evidence suggested that administration of potassium bromide with food may alleviate gastrointestinal irritation and that monitoring for polyphagia, thyroid hormone abnormalities, and high serum bromide concentrations may be beneficial.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that potassium bromide is not an appropriate choice for treatment of every dog with seizures and that practitioners should tailor therapeutic regimens and clinical monitoring to each dog. Abrupt dietary changes or fluid therapy may compromise seizure control or increase the likelihood of adverse events. Availability of an appropriately labeled, approved potassium bromide product could provide better assurance for veterinarians and their clients of the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the product for veterinary use.
Summary
A technique for measuring upper airway resistance was developed in awake untrained dolichocephalic and mesaticephalic dogs. Twenty healthy dogs, 10 Collies (group A—dolichocephalic) and 10 mixed-breed dogs (group B—mesaticephalic), were studied. All dogs tolerated the procedure well, and adverse effects were not observed. Mean (± sem) value for upper airway resistance was 7.1 ± 0.50 cm of H2O/L/s. There was a trend toward lower upper airway resistance (Ruaw) values in group-A dogs, compared with those in group-B dogs. Values of Ruaw were reproducible for an individual dog. The mean individual dog coefficient of variation for Ruaw was 7.5%. The overall Ruaw coefficient of variation for all 20 dogs was 31.4%. This technique for measuring upper airway resistance in dogs is clinically applicable for objectively assessing response to treatment of obstructive upper airway disorders.
