New Zealand veterinary journal最新文献

{"title":"How can we improve? Understanding new clinical pathology paradigms for better interpretation of results.","authors":"R M Baral","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2498136","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2498136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Current paradigms and practices impede the ability of practitioners to fully utilise clinical pathology results from blood and other body fluids to recognise and manage disease in veterinary patients. These issues include analyser bias, the suitability of population reference intervals, and \"grey areas\" around individual results. Analyser bias gives rise to different results for the same sample determined on different analysers (even of the same model at commercial laboratories). Such bias is often not accurately accounted for by using reference intervals specific for the different analysers. The ideal solution would be harmonising analysers so that results are equivalent regardless of the analyser they were determined on. Without harmonisation, results from different analysers should not be compared. Population-based reference intervals may not reflect the local population and, for most analytes, are much wider than an individual patient's normal fluctuation of results. This means that clinically relevant changes that remain within the population reference interval may be missed. Rather than assessing results in relation to a patient's cohort, results can be assessed in relation to a patient's prior results, expected analyser variation and expected physiological fluctuation. Such fluctuations are known as biological variation<i>.</i> Biological variation enables individualised reference intervals to be determined from prior results obtained when a patient is clinically stable. Such reference intervals are not yet readily available; however, assessing prior results and comparing them to expected variation (see Supplementary Tables 1 and 2) to recognise the significance of any change could be used as an interim measure. A single laboratory result represents a range of possible values. This range is known as dispersion and is also determined from biological and analyser variation. Dispersion creates grey areas around individual results and thresholds such as reference interval limits and staging of disease. Therefore, any threshold should not be taken as definitive and apparent changes may be within expected physiological fluctuation and therefore not significant.This review assesses the background and science behind these issues and offers ideal solutions for how they may be addressed in the future and practical approaches that can be immediately incorporated by clinicians into daily practice. Addressing these issues can help improve clinical pathology acuity and thus improve outcomes for veterinary patients.<b>Abbreviations:</b> CKD: Chronic kidney disease; CV_A: Analyser variation; CV_G: Inter-individual (group) variation; CV_I: Intra-individual variation; HSP: Homeostatic set point; IRIS: International Renal Interest Society; RCV: Reference change value; SDMA: Symmetric dimethylarginine.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"305-315"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144079153","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":"Surveying pet owners' attitudes towards roaming cats in Aotearoa New Zealand.","authors":"L Awawdeh, N Waran, M Pearson, R H Forrest","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2542377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2542377","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine the attitudes of pet owners towards roaming cats in New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Data was used from a survey of New Zealand residents aged over 18 conducted online between January and March 2019. Along with demographic questions, the respondents were asked, \"Do you think that roaming pet dogs and cats are a problem?\" (yes, no, never thought about it) and if they answered \"yes\", were invited to explain their answers. Thematic analysis was applied to open-text responses focused on cats, while quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of a total of 2,744 participants, 2,292 answered the question regarding roaming pets, with 72% (n = 1,654) viewing roaming pets as problematic. While gender, ethnicity, and rural upbringing showed no significant association with this view, age, education level, place of residence, and pet ownership did. Explanations for their choice of answer were given by 1,479 respondents and highlighted key concerns about free-roaming pets including cats: compromised animal welfare due to risks and neglect; the need for more responsible pet ownership and owner education; calls for stricter regulations and enforcement, including mandatory microchipping and desexing, and regulating cats similarly to dogs; the negative influence of social media; the importance of desexing to control populations and improve behaviour; increased risks to the roaming animals themselves, other animals, humans, and the environment; nuisance behaviours; and differing opinions on whether roaming cats or dogs are more of an issue.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings align with previous research indicating a growing but inconsistent public awareness of animal welfare and environmental impacts associated with free-roaming cats. They highlight the need for education and targeted policy to address inconsistencies in attitudes and promote responsible cat ownership.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Addressing these issues through enhanced public education and policy measures will help to balance animal welfare with community safety and environmental protection.<b>Abbreviations:</b> NZCAT: New Zealand Companion Animal Trust.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144963147","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":"Reducing noise associated with restraint box operation can facilitate animal handling in cattle abattoirs.","authors":"H Keshavarzi, J McNally, J Bishop, A Small","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2542370","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2542370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To evaluate in a range of abattoirs in Australia, the effect of a fully nylon-lined, noise-reducing restraint box on animal handling practices during pre-slaughter handling with a view to improving animal welfare by facilitating the movement of animals through the race into restraint for stunning.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected from eight meat processors in Australia, with pre- and post-installation data available for four, and post-installation data available for all eight. Two separate analyses were conducted: one to compare pre- and post-installation data to evaluate the impact of the noise-reducing restraint box on animal handling practices, and another to investigate the variability between processors in the handling interventions required post-installation of the noise-reducing restraint box. Individual handling parameters (physical intervention/aid or noise, such as whistling or hitting the race to help animals move forward) were measured for each processor.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, there was a noticeable reduction in almost all handling parameters, with a few exceptions. For both physical and noise interventions, there was a significant interaction between treatment and processors (p < 0.01). Cattle received less handling aid post-installation compared to pre-installation (marginal mean (MM) number of events = 1.64 (95% CI = 1.47-1.84) <i>vs</i>. 3.14 (95% CI = 2.90-3.41); p < 0.01). However, handling noise was increased post-installation compared to pre-installation (MM = 1.08 (95% CI = 0.94-1.22) <i>vs</i>. 0.70 (95% CI = 0.61-0.81); p < 0.01). Thus, the use of the noise-reducing restraint box led to a reduction in the use of physical handling methods, but there was an increase in the use of other less stressful forms of coercion such as staff vocalisations. Post-installation analysis showed that handling interventions (aid and noise) varied significantly among processors (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions and clinical relevance: </strong>The noise-reducing restraint box reduced the need for physical coercion, potentially improving animal movement through the race and offering improvements in production efficiency, animal welfare and staff morale. However, variation between processors indicates that there are other factors influencing system flow and animal welfare.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144963226","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 effects of rain and flooding on leptospirosis incidence in sheep and cattle in New Zealand.","authors":"E Sadler, E Vallee, J Watts, M Wada","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2540324","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2540324","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To describe the spatio-temporal patterns of leptospirosis case counts in sheep and cattle in New Zealand, and to assess their association with climate variables indicative of flooding and surface runoff. As livestock are a major reservoir of <i>Leptospira</i> spp. and an important source of zoonotic transmission, understanding these patterns is critical for informing livestock and public health interventions in the context of climate change.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Confirmed cases of bovine and ovine leptospirosis from January 2011 to December 2023 were extracted from the Ministry for Primary Industries' Animal Health Surveillance programme. Climate data was sourced from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. Using the <i>χ</i>² test and Poisson regression models, the association between district-level case counts and four climate indices were examined: seasonal mean rainfall, seasonal frequency of extreme rainfall, seasonal mean soil moisture, and seasonal frequency of estimated surface runoff.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings indicated an average of 13 confirmed cases for sheep annually, with notable surges in 2017 (34 cases) and 2023 (36 cases), aligning with extreme climate events. Poisson regression models for sheep leptospirosis identified significant associations with extreme rainfall (incidence risk ratio (IRR) = 5.03; 95% CI = 1.18-21.45), mean rainfall (IRR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.15-1.36), surface runoff (IRR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.04-1.15), and soil moisture (IRR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.02-1.03). Cattle leptospirosis was positively associated with surface runoff (IRR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.02-1.10) and soil moisture (IRR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00-1.01). Associations with extreme rainfall (IRR = 1.46; 95% CI = 0.49-4.31) and mean rainfall (IRR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.00-1.14) were not statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The outcomes of this study provide new evidence linking extreme rainfall, surface runoff, and other climate variables with increased leptospirosis case counts in sheep, with less pronounced but notable associations in cattle. These findings highlight the vulnerability of livestock to climate-driven disease pressures and suggest that future extreme weather events may increase the risk of leptospirosis outbreaks. This has important implications for targeted vaccination, surveillance, and public health preparedness in flood-prone rural regions of New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Abbreviations: </strong>ICC: Intra-class correlation coefficient; IRR: Incidence risk ratio; MPI: Ministry for Primary Industries; NIWA: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835880","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>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolated from atopic dogs with pyoderma induces mast cell degranulation.","authors":"A Bell, Y Nakamura, R Langley, M Hardcastle, Y Katayama, M Middleditch","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2543031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2543031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>First, to determine via whole genome sequencing the sequence of the <i>hld</i> gene that encodes δ-toxin and elements of the accessory gene regulator (<i>agr</i>) locus that encode quorum sensing in four <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> isolates from atopic dogs; second, to assess degranulation of mast cells by synthetic δ-toxin <i>in vitro,</i> and by culture filtrate containing δ-toxin from the <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> isolates in canine skin <i>in vivo</i>; and third, to determine whether the genetic region (<i>RNAIII</i>) encoding the δ-toxin gene is upregulated in response to increasing bacterial density (quorum sensing) in the isolates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Four isolates of <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> were obtained from four dogs with pyoderma and canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). All four isolates were sequenced to compare their genomes and the sequences of the <i>agr</i> and <i>hld</i> elements. Synthetic <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> δ-toxin was applied to a mast cell culture from murine fetal liver cells <i>in vitro</i>. Degranulation was assessed using a β-hexosaminidase assay. Filtered supernatants from cultures of the four <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> isolates were tested by mass spectrometry to detect δ-toxin. These filtrates were then injected into the skin of five normal dogs. The injection sites were biopsied 15 minutes later. Degranulation of canine mast cells was assessed and quantified histologically. To assess up-regulation of the genetic region encoding the δ-toxin gene in response to increasing bacterial density in the four <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> isolates, relative expression of <i>RNAIII</i> was assayed using quantitative PCR after 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8 hours of culture.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Synthetic <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> δ-toxin caused comparable degranulation of MC/9 cells to δ-toxin of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. Mast cell degranulation was demonstrated in the skin of all five normal dogs following intradermal injection of a purified supernatant that contained <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> δ-toxin. The genetic elements of the δ-toxins were described. As the cell density of cultures of the <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> isolates from atopic dogs increased, <i>RNAIII</i> expression increased relative to the reference gene (<i>gyrB</i>), suggesting that <i>RNAIII</i> expression may be controlled by a quorum-sensing mechanism.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and clinical relevance: </strong><i>S. pseudintermedius</i> isolates from atopic dogs carry genes encoding δ-toxin, a staphylococcal exotoxin that can degranulate murine mast cells <i>in vitro</i>. An agent in filtered <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> culture known to contain δ-toxin causes degranulation of dermal mast cells <i>in vivo</i> and may play a role in the initiation and/or exacerbation of cAD.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835878","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":"Biochemical and haematological reference intervals for 3-4-week-old kiwi chicks (<i>Apteryx mantelli</i>) reared in captivity.","authors":"E M Scheltema, L Howe, Kmo Pickard, M C Fletcher, B D Gartrell, P M Singh, K J Morgan","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2540318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2540318","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To establish biochemical and haematological 95% reference intervals (RI) for juvenile North Island brown kiwi (<i>Apteryx mantelli</i>) chicks using parametric analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood samples were collected from healthy 3-4-week-old, captive-reared North Island brown kiwi chicks (n = 32; male = 19, female = 13). Concentrations of total plasma protein (TPP), uric acid, glucose, phosphorus, calcium, albumin, globulin, potassium, and sodium and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase (CK) were measured using an automated VetScan VS2 laboratory analyser and the Abaxis Avian-Reptilian Profile Plus. Total and differential white blood cell counts were determined manually on blood smears prepared with a modified Wright-Giemsa stain. TPP was also measured manually using a refractometer, and packed cell volume (PCV) was measured using microhaematocrit tubes. RI were calculated using parametric and non-parametric methods depending on the distribution of the data. Confidence intervals (90%) around upper and lower bounds of the RI were calculated to assess certainty of the intervals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Biochemical (n = 28; male = 17; female = 11) and haematological (n = 22; male = 14, female = 8) 95% RI were generated for juvenile North Island brown kiwi. The 90% CI of the upper or lower limits of the majority of the RI generated were > 0.2 times the RI, reflecting the relatively small sample size. There was no evidence of a difference in mean biochemical values collected from sedated <i>vs</i>. un-sedated, and male <i>vs</i>. female chicks. However, the concentration of phosphorus was higher (p = 0.034) in samples that were analysed > 1 hour after collection (2.097 (SD 0.202) mmol/L) compared to samples analysed < 1 hour after collection (1.856 (SD 0.349) mmol/L).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This data provides the first comprehensive biochemical and haematological RI generated for <i>Apteryx</i> spp. chicks carried out under uniform collection and sample handling protocols, making the results robust and applicable to other captive-reared kiwi chicks.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>In comparison to published RI from adult kiwi (Doneley 2006; Morgan 2008), kiwi chicks in this study had lower PCV, TPP and uric acid concentrations, and higher CK activities, white cell counts and lymphocyte counts. These RI are of value to wildlife veterinarians and conservation managers assessing the health of individual kiwi chicks, and for population-level comparison of birds of different ages and living in different managed or wild habitats.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835879","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":"Computed tomography versus radiography for assessment of canine humeral condylar fracture malreductions.","authors":"G M Lukaszewicz, A Tikekar, R M Jerram, D Thompson, A Coomer, M A Nawrocki, A M Walker, H Milner, A Lai, B Higgins, C Eivers, I MacEwan, Anh Smith, D Chase","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2540994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2540994","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aims: &lt;/strong&gt;To compare the accuracy of radiography and CT to diagnose anatomical surgical reduction of lateral humeral condylar fractures using an &lt;i&gt;ex vivo&lt;/i&gt; canine model.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Ten right and left pairs of thoracic limbs were obtained from fresh canine cadavers. Lateral humeral condylar fractures were created and reduced, with or without an articular step-off (0-, 1-, 2-, 3-mm in a caudal or distal direction), and stabilised using a transcondylar screw and a supracondylar pin. Mediolateral and craniocaudal radiographs of each limb were taken, followed by CT imaging in a sagittal, dorsal, and transverse plane. All images were assessed for malreduction by 11 board-certified specialists. The accuracy of assessment was modelled using multivariable mixed logistic regression, and consistency between assessors was assessed with Gwet's first order agreement coefficient (AC1).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The regression indicated that the estimated mean probability of an accurate assessment of anatomical reduction was 0.83 (95% CI = 0.56-0.96) and 0.81 (95% Cl = 0.51-0.97) for radiographs and CT scans, respectively. There was no evidence that the size of the articular step influenced the probability of correctly identifying a malreduction (p = 0.18), but the correct identification of malreduction depended on its direction and the type of imaging modality (p &lt; 0.001). Distal malreductions were reliably diagnosed for both radiographs and CT, with estimated mean probability of incorrect diagnosis of 0.005 (95% Cl = 0.001-0.037) and 0.029 (95% Cl = 0.003-0.2), respectively. However, for caudally malreduced fractures, the model estimated the mean probability of misdiagnosis by radiographs was 0.58 (95% CI = 0.5-0.76) compared to 0.012 (95% CI = 0.001-0.104) for CT scans. Overall inter-reviewer agreement was moderate to substantial (Gwet's AC1 = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.55-0.74). Agreement for distal malreductions was significantly higher than for caudal malreductions and slightly higher for CT scans than for radiographs. Highest agreement was seen in reviewers using CT scans to correctly identify malreductions or radiographs for identifying distal malreductions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Radiographs and CT were accurate for detecting distal malreductions and identifying anatomically reduced fractures. Radiographs incorrectly assessed caudal malreduction in more than half the cases. Overall, there was good inter-observer agreement between the two types of imaging, except when using radiography to identify caudal malreductions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Clinical significance: &lt;/strong&gt;CT was found to accurately assess articular step-offs in both directions (caudal, distal), showing that this modality is more reliable than radiographs for assessing multidirectional articular misalignments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Abbreviations: &lt;/strong&gt;GLMM: Generalised linear mixed model; Gwet's AC1: Gwet's first order autocorrelation coefficient; MCP:","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144817212","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":"Using post-mortem computed tomography to identify traumatic cranial lesions in small stranded odontocetes euthanised via ballistics.","authors":"R M Boys, R O Stewart, Bcw Kot, G Lye, N J Beausoleil, K A Stockin","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2536859","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2025.2536859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To describe the pathophysiology caused by ballistics applied to the head of stranded cetaceans that required euthanasia and use this information to infer the likely welfare implications of these real-life euthanasia events.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) imaging was conducted on six cetacean carcasses of five different species that were submitted for dissection following ballistics euthanasia. No animals were euthanised for the purpose of this study. All data were collected opportunistically at stranding events where euthanasia was <i>a priori</i> deemed necessary by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in partnership with indigenous Māori (iwi). The cranial damage assessed included osseous lesions at entry and exit wounds, intracranial bone fractures and intracranial projectile fragments. Potential welfare implications were inferred based on the likelihood of instantaneous insensibility occurring due to direct physical disruption to the brainstem. Additionally, basic stranding data were collected from DOC incident reports including whether animals were refloated prior to the decision for euthanasia. We also gathered information from the marksperson involved on how the ballistics method was employed, equipment used, and animal insensibility assessed at each stranding event.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PMCT results suggest that two animals were likely instantaneously insensible, three had a moderate chance of being instantly insensible and one had a low chance of instantaneous insensibility. In one case, the marksperson reported a faster time to insensibility/death than was judged likely to have occurred from PMCT. In only two cases were the criteria for verifying insensibility reported as being checked. The likelihood of instantaneous insensibility occurring was affected by shot placement/aim and characteristics of the projectile used.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Euthanasia is a critical option for severely compromised cetaceans. While most animals examined were probably rapidly insensible following shooting, cranial trauma and thus confidence in the efficacy of ballistics seemed to vary with shot placement, aim, equipment and cranial anatomy.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Verification of insensibility immediately following shooting, by assessing reflex responses as recommended, is crucial to ensure humane emergency management. PMCT provides an effective non-destructive tool to validate field methods for assessing the efficacy of euthanasia.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144743340","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":"Use of hormones on New Zealand dairy farms: an analysis of the results from a survey of farmers and a survey of veterinarians.","authors":"R A Laven, E L Cuttance, G Chambers","doi":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2519065","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00480169.2025.2519065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To survey New Zealand dairy farmers and veterinarians on their attitude and use of reproductive hormones in treating cows identified as non-cyclers. Whilst hormones have been identified as effective tools in assisting reproduction in dairy cattle, there is widespread but anecdotal concern about their cost-effectiveness and a lack of high-quality information on the attitude and practices around hormone use on New Zealand dairy farms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Electronic links to separate farmer and veterinary survey forms were sent to all dairy clients and all veterinary employees of five, convenience-selected veterinary practices across New Zealand. Using closed, open, and Likert-style questions, the surveys covered cost-effectiveness of hormonal interventions, value judgements on their use, and impact on the public perception of dairy farming.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Usable surveys were returned by 424 farmers and 70 veterinarians. Response rates are not known as denominator data were not sought. Of the farmers, 253/424 (60%) reported using hormone treatments, with 153 (36%) primarily using them before mating started. However, only 163 (38%) thought treatment was cost-effective, compared to 65/70 (93%) veterinarians. Beliefs around cost-effectiveness affected use: 8/171 (5%) farmers who never used hormones believed they were cost-effective, compared to 38/94 (40%) who used hormones occasionally and 117/159 (74%) who used them routinely. Other reasons put forward by farmers for not using hormones included \"breeding infertility\", \"not natural\", and \"not treating the cause\". Farmer and veterinary opinion also varied around the trajectory of hormone use. Amongst veterinarians, 12/70 (17%) thought use should decrease compared to 271/424 (64%) farmers, while 19/70 (27%) veterinarians thought use should increase compared to 21/424 (5%) of farmers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest a disconnect around hormone use between the participating veterinarians and farmers. Many farmers did not believe hormone use was cost-effective, despite strong evidence to the contrary. As other reasons for not using hormones were also cited, and as most farmers believed hormone use should decrease, it seems unlikely that further education on cost-effectiveness will change practice. Rather, it could increase the proportion who think veterinarians benefit financially more from hormone use.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>Veterinary focus on maximising synchronisation use and efficacy is bypassing a significant proportion of dairy farmers. There is an opportunity for veterinarians to focus on what their clients want and work with them to improve herd fertility without relying on hormones to fix management problems.</p>","PeriodicalId":19322,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand veterinary journal","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144601086","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":"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":"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":"246-259"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","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}