Veterinarians in rural practice need knowledge that directly helps them serve their clients and benefits the health of food and companion animals. The Risk Project at the Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU-CVM) is a team of faculty with an interest in applying risk-based strategies to solve everyday problems in animal populations. Risk Project faculty conduct applied research that directly benefits rural veterinary practitioners in Mississippi and around the world. Here are some recent examples.
Bovine anaplasmosis, a disease endemic to certain regions of the US, is emerging in nonendemic areas. The primary method of controlling anaplasmosis is whole–cattle-herd therapy with antimicrobials, termed metaphylaxis. Mississippi State University CVM researchers are determining the prevalence of herds with evidence of anaplasmosis infection and the within-herd prevalence of infection and identifying factors associated with the occurrence of infection. Additionally, the research team is evaluating the use of arthropods as sentinels for detecting infected herds, which might help document or identify when metaphylaxis or other methods of control are needed and simplify research into better methods to control this costly disease.
In rural practice, veterinarians use the bull breeding soundness examination (BSE) to help clients improve reproductive performance. A recently completed project helps explain the circumstances when the BSE might be more financially rewarding. Also, research evaluating the diagnostic performance of the BSE helps veterinarians know more about what clients should expect from BSE testing.
Testing bulls is the primary method of controlling the spread of Tritrichomonas foetus, a costly emerging reproductive disease of cattle. Researchers at MSU-CVM have evaluated the use of saline, a commonly available solution in veterinary practices, as a transport media for trichomoniasis testing.
Feline leukemia virus is an important cause of illness in cats. Research at MSU-CVM has provided an estimate of the risk for infection in healthy and sick cats entering animal shelters and the diagnostic performance of point-of-care tests. Based on these findings, the team provided new testing recommendations to reduce diagnostic error in adoptable cats.
Assessment of body temperature is a critical component of animal health screening, but obtaining a rectal temperature may be stressful and labor-intensive. Researchers at MSU-CVM are evaluating the use of infrared thermography as a noninvasive method to evaluate body temperature in animals without restraint.
The MSU-CVM is serving the needs of rural practitioners by investigating the problems they face and exploring new solutions.
Citation: American Journal of Veterinary Research 86, 5; 10.2460/ajvr.25.03.0078
Epidemiologists at MSU-CVM are leading the use of system dynamics modeling to understand the complex systems inherent to rural practice. For example, cattle feeders often prefer buying thin, lightweight calves at greater risk for respiratory disease, which they try to control with mass antimicrobial metaphylaxis. Causal loop diagrams of this system were developed to help veterinarians understand the reasons for this preference and point to financial strategies that might reverse this trend and improve antimicrobial stewardship in these operations.
The MSU-CVM places a high value in training veterinary students for careers in rural practice and serving the needs of practicing veterinarians and their clients in rural areas. Conducting and disseminating the results of cutting-edge applied research helps us serve this vitally important constituency.
