New Zealand veterinary journal最新文献

{"title":"Teat and udder morphology and pathology of New Zealand dairy ewes.","authors":"G Chambers, K E Lawrence, A L Ridler, R A Laven","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2456240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2456240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To describe the morphology and prevalence of teat and udder pathology of New Zealand dairy ewes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 commercial New Zealand dairy sheep farms over the 2022-2023 season. Approximately 15 randomly selected ewes were examined on each farm in early, mid, and late lactation. Four udder morphology measures were scored on a 5-point scale: depth (1 = pendulous, 5 = compact udder), suspension (ratio of width at abdominal attachment to height, 1 = low, 5 = high), gland separation (1 = zero, 5 = maximum separation), and teat placement (1 = distally located, vertically oriented, 5 = laterally located, horizontally oriented teats). Teat length and width were measured, and the presence of supernumerary teats, asymmetry, visible teat/udder inflammation, and lesions were recorded. Teats and glands were palpated for consistency, gland-nodules, teat canal thickening, and patency, and teat ends scored for hyperkeratosis. Teat and gland-level pathological variables were converted to ewe-level scores. The presence of involuted, non- or minimally lactating glands was recorded. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across the three visits, 893 observations were made on 882 unique ewes. Mean teat length and width were 27.5 (95% CI = 27.2-27.7) and 15.8 (95% CI = 15.7-15.9) mm. Udder depth, separation, suspension, and teat placement had modal scores of 4, 3, 3, and 3 respectively, and varied across visits and age groups. Asymmetrical udder prevalence was 39% (95% CI = 35.5-42%) overall and increased with age (27% for 1-year-olds, 38% for two-year-olds, 43% for mixed age ewes). Supernumerary teats were observed in 15% (95% CI = 13-17.9%) of ewes. There was between-farm variation in all udder morphology variables. Ewe-level prevalences of teat end hyperkeratosis (any degree of severity), gland/teat inflammation, lesions, palpable defects, and involuted glands were all < 6%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Morphological observations resembled those from overseas dairy sheep. Teat dimensions, udder depth, separation, suspension, teat placement, and presence of supernumerary teats varied between farms. Udder depth, separation, and suspension scores decreased with age, while teat placement score and the prevalence of asymmetry increased with age. Teat and udder pathology were rare.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>This is the first systematic study of teat and udder morphology and pathology in New Zealand dairy ewes. The data will be useful for farmers and industry partners, providing a comparison with their own flocks, identifying areas for improvement, and informing and contrasting with future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143409649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating animals and environments in contact with leptospirosis patients in Aotearoa New Zealand reveals complex exposure pathways.","authors":"J Benschop, J M Collins-Emerson, E Vallee, G Prinsen, P Yeung, J Wright, S Littlejohn, J Douwes, A Fayaz, J C Marshall, M G Baker, T Quin, S Nisa","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2459639","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2459639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Case history: </strong>Three human leptospirosis cases from a case-control study were recruited for in-contact animal and environment sampling and <i>Leptospira</i> testing between October 2020 and December 2021. These cases were selected because of regular exposure to livestock, pets, and/or wildlife, and sampling was carried out on their farms or lifestyle blocks (sites A-C), with veterinarians overseeing the process for livestock, and cases collecting environmental and wildlife samples.</p><p><strong>Laboratory findings: </strong>Across the three sites, a total of 137 cattle, > 40 sheep, 28 possums, six dogs, six rats, three pigs and three rabbits were tested. Herd serology results on Site A, a dairy farm, showed infection with Tarassovi and Pomona; urinary shedding showed <i>Leptospira borgpetersenii</i> str. Pacifica. Animals were vaccinated against Hardjo, Pomona and Copenhageni. The farmer was diagnosed with Ballum. On Site B, a beef and sheep farm, serology showed infection with Pomona; animals were not vaccinated, and the farmer was diagnosed with Hardjo. On Site C, cattle were shedding <i>L. borgpetersenii</i>; animals were not vaccinated, and the case's serovar was indeterminate. Six wild animals associated with Sites A and C and one environmental sample from Site A were positive for pathogenic <i>Leptospira</i> by PCR.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight the complexity of potential exposures and the difficulty in identifying infection sources for human cases. This reinforces the need for multiple preventive measures such as animal vaccination, the use of personal protective equipment, pest control, and general awareness of leptospirosis to reduce infection risk in agricultural settings.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Farms with unvaccinated livestock had <i>Leptospira</i> infections, highlighting the importance of animal vaccination. Infections amongst stock that were vaccinated emphasise the importance of best practice vaccination recommendations and pest control.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143409641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Primary corneal pigmented squamous cell carcinoma with concurrent canine papillomavirus type 17 infection in a dog.","authors":"H Mather, C McCowan, J S Munday, R G Stanley","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2456238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2456238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Case history: </strong>A 9-year-old, spayed, female Golden Retriever presented with an 18-month history of small spots of opacification on the left cornea, a 3-4-month history of a raised spot on the left cornea, and a watery left eye. As a puppy, the dog had sustained an injury to the left cornea. Self-limiting, presumed papillomaviral warts were diagnosed on the face when the dog was 8 months old.</p><p><strong>Clinical findings and initial treatment: </strong>A full ophthalmic examination revealed a well-circumscribed, pigmented, raised mass immediately adjacent to three smaller pink masses on the left cornea. The corneal tumour was resected by superficial keratectomy. The cornea was treated with topical peginterferon alfa-2a drops post-operatively.</p><p><strong>Pathological and molecular findings: </strong>The mass was histologically diagnosed as an incompletely excised corneal pigmented squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) displaying both exophytic growth and superficial stromal invasive characteristics and fine granular brown melanin pigment within the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells. Superficial cells showed evidence of papillomavirus-induced cell changes including enlarged cells with blue-grey cytoplasm and darkly basophilic keratohyalin granules. Canine papillomavirus type 17 (CPV17) DNA sequences were amplified from the carcinoma by PCR using consensus papillomavirus primers.</p><p><strong>Diagnosis: </strong>Primary corneal pigmented squamous cell carcinoma with concurrent canine papillomavirus type 17 infection.</p><p><strong>Outcome: </strong>Tumour recurrence was observed 2 years 9 months after surgery. Topical peginterferon alfa-2a drops were recommenced and superficial keratectomy surgery was repeated with concurrent adjunctive strontium 90 plesiotherapy. At the time of writing, the left cornea has healed well with mild fibrosis and vascularisation continuing to reduce.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>This is the first report of a pSCC of the cornea in any veterinary species. Prominent papillomaviral cytopathology was visible in the corneal pSCC, and PCR confirmed the presence of CPV17.This report expands the differential diagnoses for pigmented corneal masses in dogs. It highlights the importance of obtaining a histopathological diagnosis for pigmented corneal lesions, as the clinical disease course, prognosis and treatment options vary between lesions of different aetiologies. Corneal SCC is locally invasive and can recur without complete excision. Early surgical intervention with clean margins can be curative and restore corneal clarity, vision and patient comfort.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143399697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular survey of canine parvovirus type 2: the emergence of subtype 2c in New Zealand.","authors":"M Dunowska, H Bain, S Bond","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2456245","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2456245","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To determine the genetic makeup of carnivore parvoviruses currently circulating in New Zealand; to investigate their evolutionary patterns; and to compare these viruses with those detected during the previous New Zealand-based survey (2009-2010).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Faecal samples from dogs (n = 40) with a clinical diagnosis of parvovirus enteritis were voluntarily submitted by veterinarians from throughout New Zealand. In addition, one sample was collected from a cat with comparable clinical presentation. The samples were used for DNA extraction and PCR amplification of viral protein 2 (VP2) of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). All samples produced amplicons of the expected sizes, which were then sequenced. The viruses were subtyped based on the presence of specific amino acids at defined locations. In addition, VP2 sequences were analysed using phylogeny and molecular network analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The majority (30/40; 75%) of CPV-2-infected dogs were younger than 6 months and 8/40 (20%) were aged between 9 months and 1 year. Most (39/41; 95%) parvoviruses were subtyped as CPV-2c, and one as the original CPV-2. The faecal sample from a cat was positive for feline panleukopenia virus. The majority (37/39; 95%) of New Zealand CPV-2c viruses were monophyletic. The remaining two New Zealand CPV-2c viruses clustered with Chinese and Sri Lankan CPV-2c viruses, separately from the main New Zealand clade.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There has been an apparent replacement of the CPV-2a viruses with CPV-2c viruses in New Zealand between 2011 and 2019. The source of the current CPV-2c viruses remains undetermined. The monophyletic nature of the majority of viruses detected most likely reflects a country-wide spread of the most successful genotype. However, an occasional introduction of CPV-2 from overseas cannot be excluded.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Current vaccines appear to be protective against disease caused by the CPV-2c viruses currently circulating in New Zealand. Vaccination and protection from environmental sources of CPV-2 until the development of vaccine-induced immunity remains the cornerstone of protection in young dogs against parvovirus enteritis. Ongoing monitoring of the genetic changes in CPV-2 is important, as it would allow early detection of variants that may be more likely to escape vaccine-induced immunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143391307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First identification of <i>Bordetella bronchiseptica</i> subclinical mastitis in a lactating dairy cow in New Zealand.","authors":"R R Munn, Y MacPherson, A Karkaba, S McDougall","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2456244","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2456244","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Case history: </strong>A gland of a cow with a high somatic cell count (385,000 cells/mL at 116 days in milk) was enrolled in a therapeutic subclinical mastitis study following a positive pre-enrolment culture. One week later, the quarter was treated with 1 g of procaine penicillin on three occasions, 12 hours apart (Day 0 and 1). A further milk sample was obtained from the quarter on Days 6, 14, and 21 after initiation of treatment.</p><p><strong>Clinical findings: </strong>Milk samples were submitted for routine bacteriological culture and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionised time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) analysis. A Gram-negative motile rod was isolated from all samples which could not be speciated using the laboratory's standard panel of biochemical tests. The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF as <i>Bordetella bronchiseptica</i>. Whole genome sequencing and comparison with publicly available genomic sequences showed that the bovine isolate did not cluster with any previously published <i>B. bronchiseptica</i> sequences.</p><p><strong>Diagnosis: </strong>Subclinical mastitis caused by infection with <i>Bordetella bronchiseptica.</i></p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Only one other case report could be found of this organism being identified in milk samples. Greater use of advanced identification systems will likely increase the number of organisms identified from mastitic milk samples. Appropriate identification is important to aid decision-making as, given the response to therapy and laboratory findings, there is a poor likelihood of bacteriological cure with beta-lactam therapy for this organism.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143190070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of three different preservatives on the numbers and types of bacteria, Brix percentage, pH and nutritional composition of bovine colostrum sourced from New Zealand dairy farms.","authors":"E L Cuttance, W A Mason, S Cranefield, R A Laven","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2392686","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2392686","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To investigate the effect of preservation by addition of yoghurt starter, potassium sorbate and citric acid on counts of aerobic bacteria, <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp., <i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i> and coliforms, Brix percentage, pH, protein, fat and anhydrous lactose concentrations at 0, 7 and 14 days after collection for colostrum stored at ambient temperature.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Approximately 2 L of first milking colostrum was collected from 10 farms in the Waikato region. Following mixing, it was split into five 400-mL sub-samples and allocated randomly to a control (two sub-samples), or treatment with yoghurt, potassium sorbate, or citric acid preservative. Throughout the trial samples remained in the laboratory at ambient temperature with the lids slightly ajar, and were stirred daily for 15-30 seconds using a sterile spatula. Sub-samples were tested on Days 0, 7 and 14. On Days 0 and 14 aerobic bacteria (by aerobic plate count (APC)), <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp<i>.</i>, coliforms and <i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i> counts, pH, Brix percentage, protein, fat and anhydrous lactose were measured. On Day 7 only bacterial counts were completed.The data were analysed using non-parametric clustered bootstrap sampling to estimate the effect of treatment, time, and their interaction on the outcome variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to control samples, on Day 7 the APC for potassium sorbate (1.0 (90% CI = 0.6-1.6) × 10⁸ cfu/mL) was approximately seven-fold lower than for yoghurt (7.3 (90% CI = 4.1-11) × 10⁸ cfu/mL), and approximately three-fold lower than citric acid (3.2 (90% CI = 0.2-4.3) × 10⁸ cfu/mL) remaining low to Day 14. All preservatives reduced coliform growth compared to control samples at Day 7 but growth was lower for potassium sorbate than the other preservatives. For <i>Lactobacillus</i> spp.<i>,</i> at Day 7, samples with yoghurt preservative had greater counts than the other two preservatives. Potassium sorbate reduced growth of <i>S. thermophilus</i> compared to the other treatments, especially at Day 7, with 7-10 times fewer <i>S. thermophilus</i> per mL compared to the other three groups. All groups showed an obvious acidification over time, with very little variation within days and treatment groups. There was no evidence for change in fat or protein percentage over time regardless of treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and clinical relevance: </strong>Aerobic and coliform bacteria proliferate extensively in unpreserved colostrum. All preservatives decreased coliform counts compared to un-preserved colostrum, but potassium sorbate was more effective at decreasing both coliforms and aerobic bacteria than either yoghurt or citric acid.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"10-19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142120342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of cardiomyopathy and cardiac mortality in a colony of non-purebred cats in New Zealand.","authors":"J Seo, R Owen, H Hunt, V Luis Fuentes, D J Connolly, J S Munday","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2404684","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2404684","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aims: &lt;/strong&gt;To evaluate the prevalence of subclinical cardiomyopathy and cardiac mortality in a research colony of non-purebred cats, established as a model of the wider cat population in New Zealand.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;All apparently healthy, compliant, non-pregnant, non-neonatal cats in the colony at the Centre for Feline Nutrition (Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ) underwent physical examination and echocardiography using a 4.4-6.2-MHz probe by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Cardiac phenotype was classified following current guidelines. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotype was defined as an end-diastolic left ventricular wall thickness ≥ 6 mm. Colony mortality data from February 2012 to February 2022 was reviewed to determine cardiac mortality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Cats (n = 132; 65 females and 67 males) included in the study had a median age of 4.1 (IQR 3.0-8.0) years. Thirty-two (24%) cats had a heart murmur, and three (2%) cats had an arrhythmia. Echocardiography revealed heart disease in 24 (18.2%) cats, including 23 with an HCM phenotype and one with a restrictive cardiomyopathy phenotype. Of the cats with the HCM phenotype, 3/23 had systemic hypertension or hyperthyroidism or both, and these cats were excluded from the final diagnosis of HCM (20/132; 15.2 (95% CI = 9.5-22.4)%).Between 2012 and 2022, 168 colony cats died, with 132 undergoing post-mortem examination. Heart disease was considered the cause of death in 7/132 (5.3%; 95% CI = 2.2-10.6%) cats; five had HCM, one a congenital heart defect, and one myocarditis. The overall prevalence of death related to HCM in the colony during this period was 3.8% (95% CI = 1.2-8.6%). Three cats with HCM and the cat with a congenital heart defect died unexpectedly without prior clinical signs, while congestive heart failure was observed prior to death in two cats with HCM and the cat with myocarditis. Additionally, 30/132 (22.7%) cats had cardiac abnormalities but died for non-cardiac reasons.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Subclinical cardiomyopathy, specifically HCM, was common in cats in the colony. Given that the colony originated as a convenience selection of non-purebred cats in New Zealand, the true prevalence of HCM in the wider New Zealand population is likely to fall within the 95% CI (9.5-22%). The proportion of deaths of colony cats due to HCM was lower (3.8%) supporting the conclusion that subclinical cardiomyopathy may not progress to clinical disease causing death.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Clinical relevance: &lt;/strong&gt;Veterinarians should be aware of the high prevalence of subclinical HCM when treating cats.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abbreviations: &lt;/strong&gt;CAM: Systolic anterior motion of the chordae tendineae; CFN: Centre for Feline Nutrition; HCM: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; LA/Ao: Left atrial to aortic ratio; LV FS: Left ventricular fractional shortening; LVIDd: Left ventricular internal diameters in end-diastole; LVIDs: Left ventr","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142350998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Repeatability of whole herd lameness scoring: an analysis of a New Zealand dataset.","authors":"R A Laven, W A Mason, L J Laven, K R Müller","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2394554","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2394554","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To assess whether a whole-herd lameness score on a New Zealand dairy farm in spring could predict lameness prevalence on the same farm in summer (and vice versa) and whether a single-herd lameness score could be used to determine whether herd lameness prevalence was < 5% in both spring and summer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Prevalence data (proportion of the herd with lameness score ≥ 2 and with score 3; 0-3 scale) from a study where 120 dairy farms across New Zealand were scored in spring and in the following summer were analysed using limits-of-agreement analysis. In addition, farms were categorised as having either acceptable welfare (lameness prevalence < 5% in both spring and summer) or not (lameness prevalence ≥ 5% in either spring or summer or both). The accuracy and specificity of a single, whole-herd lameness score at identifying herds with acceptable welfare were then calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The limits-of-agreement analysis suggests that 95% of the time, the prevalence of lameness in summer would be expected to be between 0.23 and 4.3 times that of the prevalence in spring. The specificity and accuracy of identifying a farm as acceptable on both occasions from a single observation were, respectively, 74% and 92% in spring, and 59% and 87% in summer.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A single, one-off, whole-herd lameness score does not accurately predict future lameness prevalence. Similarly, acceptable status (lameness prevalence < 5%) in one season is not sufficiently specific to be used to predict welfare status in subsequent seasons.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Whole-herd lameness scoring should be used principally as a means of detecting lame cows for treatment. A single whole-herd lameness score by an independent assessor should not be used to determine a herd's welfare status.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"46-52"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142126286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Theileria orientalis</i> Ikeda infection detected in red deer but not dogs or horses in New Zealand.","authors":"K E Lawrence, K Gedye, L Carvalho, B Wang, L M Fermin, W E Pomroy","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2393679","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2393679","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To determine whether evidence for infection with <i>Theileria orientalis</i> (Ikeda) could be identified in samples of commercial red deer <i>(Cervus elaphus)</i>, horses, and working farm dogs in New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood samples were collected during October and November 2019 from a convenience sample of red deer (n = 57) at slaughter. Equine blood samples (n = 50) were convenience-sampled from those submitted to a veterinary pathology laboratory for routine testing in January 2020. Blood samples, collected for a previous study from a convenience sample of Huntaway dogs (n = 115) from rural regions throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand between August 2018 and December 2020, were also tested. DNA was extracted and quantitative PCR was used to detect the <i>T. orientalis</i> Ikeda major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene. A standard curve of five serial 10-fold dilutions of a plasmid carrying a fragment of the <i>T. orientalis</i> MPSP gene was used to quantify the number of <i>T. orientalis</i> organisms in the samples. MPSP amplicons obtained by end-point PCR on positive samples were isolated and subjected to DNA sequencing. The resulting sequences were compared to previously published <i>T. orientalis</i> sequences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 6/57 (10%) samples positive for <i>T. orientalis</i> Ikeda from the deer and no samples positive for <i>T. orientalis</i> Ikeda from the working dogs or horses. The mean infection intensity for the six PCR-positive deer was 5.1 (min 2.2, max 12.4) <i>T. orientalis</i> Ikeda organisms/µL.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and clinical relevance: </strong>Red deer can potentially sustain low infection intensities of <i>T. orientalis</i> Ikeda and could act as reservoirs of infected ticks. Further studies are needed to determine whether naïve ticks feeding on infected red deer can themselves become infected.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"41-45"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142120341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sudden death due to aortic rupture in New Zealand sheep.","authors":"M Eames, B L Vaatstra, K E Lawrence, H Hunt","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2403459","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00480169.2024.2403459","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Case history: </strong>Over a period of 2 months in the spring and early summer of 2021, 13 cases of sudden death in cull ewes due to aortic rupture were diagnosed at a small number of New Zealand abattoirs.</p><p><strong>Clinical findings: </strong>In 12/13 (92%) cases, a large blood clot was present in the thorax, and in one case the blood clot was seen in the tissues dorsal to the heart. There were no obvious signs of external trauma. The pluck (heart and lungs) or fixed aorta was submitted for histological examination in seven cases and in all of these, a tear in the aorta was found. Comparing the microscopic appearance of the proximal aorta in these seven cases to three clinically normal ewes from unaffected farms, the aortic wall thickness appeared thinner in the case ewes than the unaffected ewes. Subjectively, there was increased collagen in the tunica media in 3/7 and decreased elastin fibres in 5/7 case ewes compared to the control ewes. Further investigations on the index farm (where the first cases originated), found that the mean liver and serum Cu concentrations in 10 similarly aged, clinically normal ewes were within the normal reference range for New Zealand sheep. Similarly, the liver Cu concentrations of the seven case ewes were within the normal reference range.</p><p><strong>Diagnosis: </strong>Aortic rupture due to an unknown aetiology.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Clinicians should be aware of this condition as a differential diagnosis for sudden death in older sheep and to assist the Ministry for Primary Industries in establishing the extent of this problem in New Zealand.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"53-59"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}