Veterinary Record Open最新文献

{"title":"Longitudinal study describing time to <i>Salmonella</i> seroconversion in piglets on three farrow-to-finish farms.","authors":"Maria Cevallos-Almeida,&nbsp;Christelle Fablet,&nbsp;Catherine Houdayer,&nbsp;Virginie Dorenlor,&nbsp;Florent Eono,&nbsp;Martine Denis,&nbsp;Annaëlle Kerouanton","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2018-000287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2018-000287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pigs are frequently colonised with <i>Salmonella enterica</i>, and this constitutes a major risk for human salmonellosis. The infection can be assessed by the serological response of pigs to <i>S enterica</i>. A longitudinal study was undertaken on-farm to correctly describe this serological response and investigate factors associated with age at <i>Salmonella</i> seroconversion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three pig farms and in each farm three successive batches were considered. Per batch, 40 piglets were selected at random from 10 sows (four piglets per sow). Blood was sampled from sows one week after farrowing and from piglets at weeks 1, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 and at the slaughterhouse. <i>Salmonella</i> antibodies were detected in serum using a commercial ELISA test. Factors related to farm characteristics, batch management system, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome infection, and sows' <i>Salmonella</i> serological status were recorded to assess their effect on age at seroconversion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At week 1 after farrowing, 96.5 per cent of the sows had antibodies against <i>Salmonella</i>. The serological results of piglets at weeks 1 and 6 only were positively correlated with those of the sows. The average age at <i>Salmonella</i> seroconversion was 137±2.2 days (confidence interval at 95 per cent). The first seroconversions occurred from weeks 10 to 14, but most of the pigs (54.6 per cent) were seropositive at the end of the fattening period, with variations between farms and batches (28.9-75.7 per cent). Herd/farm was significantly associated with age at seroconversion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This longitudinal study allowed the authors to follow precisely the evolution of <i>Salmonella</i> seroconversion from maternity to slaughterhouse and confirm the relationship between the seroconversion of sows and serology of their piglets. Moreover, factors related to farm practices and management as a whole are more influential than individual factors (at the pig level) on age at <i>Salmonella</i> seroconversion.</p>","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":"6 1","pages":"e000287"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2018-000287","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41214261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis in sheep: the farmer’s perspective","authors":"H. Williams, J. Duncan, Sarah Nichol Fisher, A. Coates, J. Stokes, A. Gillespie","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2018-000321","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2018-000321","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of this study was to gather current, farmer-reported data on the frequency of occurrence, risk factors and treatment practices for the sheep eye disease, ovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis (OIKC). A questionnaire regarding eye disease in sheep was completed by 135 farmers from four livestock markets. Most farmers (87%) had observed OIKC in their flock, 88% of these within the last 2 years. Farmers reported observing most cases in the winter months (51%) and fewest in the summer (10%). They proposed housing and forage feeding from racks as factors associated with OIKC. A variety of treatment protocols were used by farmers. The three most popular treatments used were: cloxacillin eye ointment, intramuscular oxytetracycline injection and topical tetracycline spray applied to the eye. Only 62% of treatments were considered very effective by the farmers, with no difference in farmer perceived efficacy between these three most commonly used treatments (p=0.6). Farmers used 15 different terms to describe a photograph of a sheep with OIKC, including many colloquial terms. We hypothesise that this could result in communication problems between veterinary surgeons and farmers.","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2018-000321","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49634377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence of surgical site infection in dogs undergoing soft tissue surgery: risk factors and economic impact","authors":"Jorge Espinel-Rupérez, M. D. Martín-Ríos, V. Salazar, María-Rosario Baquero-Artigao, G. Ortiz-Díez","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2017-000233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000233","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives To determine (1) the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing soft tissue surgery at a veterinary teaching hospital and to study (2) and describe the main risk factors associated with SSI and (3) assess the economic impact of SSI. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Veterinary teaching hospital. Participants 184 dogs undergoing soft tissue surgery during a 12-month period (October 2013 to September 2014). Primary outcome measure Surgical site infection. Results Out of the 184 patients analysed, SSI was diagnosed in 16 (8.7 per cent) patients, 13 (81.3 per cent) were classified as superficial incisional infection, 2 (12.5 per cent) as deep incisional infection and 1 (6.3 per cent) as organ/space infection. The administration of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (P=0.028), preoperative hyperglycaemia (P=0.015), surgical times longer than 60 minutes (P=0.013), urinary catheterisation (P=0.037) and wrong use of the Elizabethan collar (P=0.025) were identified as risk factors. Total costs increased 74.4 per cent, with an increase in postsurgical costs of 142.2 per cent. Conclusions The incidence of SSI was higher than the incidence reported in other published studies, although they were within expected ranges when a surveillance system was implemented. This incidence correlated with an increase in costs. Additionally new important risk factors for its development were detected.","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000233","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44870075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Retrospective study of the relative frequency of feline hepatobiliary disease in New Zealand based on 10 years of hepatic biopsy samples","authors":"T. Fluen, M. Hardcastle, Helen Smith, R. Gear","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2019-000367","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2019-000367","url":null,"abstract":"Aims To retrospectively determine the relative frequency of feline hepatobiliary diseases from biopsy specimens submitted to a single laboratory across a 10-year period and to establish whether age, sex or breed associations exist. Methods Histopathological data from 154 liver biopsies of New Zealand cats sampled between 2008 and 2018 were analysed. The samples were allocated to primary, secondary and tertiary disease categories using criteria established by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Breed associations were derived using ORs and 95% CIs. Gender and age associations were also evaluated. Results The most frequently diagnosed hepatobiliary diseases were lymphocytic cholangitis (20 per cent), hepatitis (16.9 per cent), reversible hepatocellular injury (16.4 per cent), neutrophilic cholangitis (9.7 per cent), haematopoietic neoplasia (9.7 per cent), hepatocellular neoplasia (5.6 per cent) and cholangiocellular neoplasia (4.1 per cent). Burmese cats were found to be at significantly increased risk of both biliary and parenchymal diseases and Birman cats to be at significantly increased risk of parenchymal disease. Domestic longhair cats were at significantly increased risk of hepatobiliary neoplasia. Birman cats were at significantly increased risk of hepatitis while domestic shorthair cats were at significantly decreased risk of neutrophilic cholangitis, reversible hepatocellular injury and hepatitis. Conclusions This study is the first retrospective examination of the relative frequency of hepatobiliary disease in biopsy specimens from New Zealand cats. Some breeds were associated with specific histopathology.","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2019-000367","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41718175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Meteorological factors affecting the risk of transmission of HPAI in Miyazaki, Japan.","authors":"Genki Arikawa,&nbsp;Yoshinori Fujii,&nbsp;Maiku Abe,&nbsp;Ngan Thi Mai,&nbsp;Shuya Mitoma,&nbsp;Kosuke Notsu,&nbsp;Huyen Thi Nguyen,&nbsp;Eslam Elhanafy,&nbsp;Hala El Daous,&nbsp;Emmanuel Kabali,&nbsp;Junzo Norimine,&nbsp;Satoshi Sekiguchi","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2019-000341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2019-000341","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks engender a severe economic impact on the poultry industry and public health. Migratory waterfowl are considered the natural hosts of HPAI virus, and HPAI viruses are known to be transmitted over long distances during seasonal bird migration. Bird migration is greatly affected by the weather. Many studies have shown the relationship between either autumn or spring bird migration and climate. However, few studies have shown the relationship between annual bird migration and annual weather. This study aimed to establish a model for the number of migratory waterfowl involved in HPAI virus transmission based on meteorological data. From 136 species of waterfowl that were observed at Futatsudate in Miyazaki, Japan, from 2008 to 2016, we selected potential high-risk species that could introduce the HPAI virus into Miyazaki and defined them as 'risky birds'. We also performed cluster analysis to select meteorological factors. We then analysed the meteorological data and the total number of risky birds using a generalised linear mixed model. We selected 10 species as risky birds: Mallard (<i>Anas platyrhynchos</i>), Northern pintail (<i>Anas acuta</i>), Eurasian wigeon (<i>Anas penelope</i>), Eurasian teal (<i>Anas crecca</i>), Common pochard (<i>Aythya ferina</i>), Eurasian coot (<i>Fulica atra</i>), Northern shoveler (<i>Anas clypeata</i>), Common shelduck (<i>Tadorna tadorna</i>), Tufted duck (<i>Aythya fuligula</i>) and Herring gull (<i>Larus argentatus</i>). We succeeded in clustering 35 meteorological factors into four clusters and identified three meteorological factors associated with their migration: (1) the average daily maximum temperature; (2) the mean value of global solar radiation and (3) the maximum daily precipitation. We thus demonstrated the relationship between the number of risky birds and meteorological data. The dynamics of migratory waterfowl was relevant to the risk of an HPAI outbreak, and our data could contribute to cost and time savings in strengthening preventive measures against epidemics.</p>","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":"6 1","pages":"e000341"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2019-000341","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41214262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pilot study on serum C-reactive protein in pet rabbits: clinical usefulness","authors":"E. Oohashi, Y. Kimura, Kotaro Matsumoto","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2017-000272","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000272","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives The present study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) as an acute phase reactive protein in pet rabbits in clinical practice. Methods The CRP level using a rabbit CRP ELISA and white blood cell (WBC) count in pet rabbits (30 healthy controls and 62 with various diseases) were measured in the clinical practice setting. The CRP level and WBC count were measured before and after ovariohysterectomy of a healthy rabbit and a rabbit with uterine adenocarcinoma. The association between the CRP level and mortality in rabbits with various diseases was assessed. Results The CRP level in healthy controls was 0.52±0.82 mg/dl (mean±SD). No age and sex-related differences in neither the CRP level nor WBC count were observed in the healthy control rabbits. The CRP levels in rabbits with gastrointestinal disease (n=22, 11.74±22.89 mg/dl), reproductive and urinary system disease (n=20, 21.19±49.68 mg/dl), dental disease (n=6, 4.87±5.47 mg/dl) and musculoskeletal disease (n=4, 85.66±107.28 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. The CRP levels in rabbits with neurological disease (n=7, 2.55±1.79 mg/dl) and dermatological disease (n=3, 8.84±7.71 mg/dl) were higher than those in healthy controls, but no significant difference was observed. The WBC counts were not significantly different between rabbits with diseases and healthy controls. Serum samples were collected from two rabbits before and after ovariohysterectomy. In both rabbits, the CRP peaked on postoperative day 1, but no obvious WBC peak was observed. The mortality rate increased as the CRP level increased; the mortality rate was significantly higher in rabbits with a CRP level of ≥100 mg/dl than of <10 mg/dl. Conclusions This study indicates that the serum CRP level is useful to determine the disease status, monitor the treatment course and evaluate the prognosis in pet rabbits in clinical practice.","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000272","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43348318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sheep pestivirus in Morocco: sero-epidemiological and molecular study","authors":"O. Fassi Fihri, Noâma Jammar, N. Amrani, I. El Berbri, Said Alali","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2018-000324","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2018-000324","url":null,"abstract":"The present study is the first to investigate Border disease caused by the sheep pestivirus (SPV) in sheep herds in Morocco. Sero-epidemiological investigations were carried out in six regions of the Kingdom, known as important in terms of sheep breeding. A total of 760 blood samples were collected including aborted ewes from 28 randomly selected farms. The samples were analysed, for the determination of anti-pestivirus antibodies, using indirect ELISA technique. Next, reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was conducted on serologically negative samples to identify possible persistently infected (PI) animals, through detection of specific RNA fragment. The results revealed an overall SPV seroprevalence in studied areas of 28.9%. The difference in seroprevalence between the six investigated regions was not statistically significant (p>0.05) and varied slightly from 20.9% to 37.5%. Furthermore, 93% of investigated farms were affected with an average seroprevalence of 22.7% (with a variation of 1%–74%). RT-PCR results were all negative, indicating the absence of PI animals in the tested samples. Nevertheless, the present study revealed that SPV is endemic in Morocco.","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2018-000324","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48481422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pilot study evaluating the monitoring of canine diabetes mellitus in primary care practice.","authors":"Jennifer Ann Cartwright,&nbsp;Malcolm Cobb,&nbsp;Mark D Dunning","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2017-000250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000250","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to describe how canine diabetes mellitus (CDM) is monitored in primary care practice (PCP) and to report outcomes.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Retrospective case review.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>PCP.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>40 dogs of 22 different pedigrees and five crossbreeds. Median age at diagnosis was nine years and six months (eight years six months to 10 years five months). Dogs were diagnosed with CDM between January 1, 2008 and December 30, 2012 and remained with the practice to the study end or until death.</p><p><strong>Primary and secondary outcome measures: </strong>Stability achievement and death or euthanasia. Consultations for each dog were identified and recorded through records collected from the PCP (January 1, 2008 to December 30, 2012).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A median of three consultations per dog occurred in the first month, subsequently falling to a median of one consultation every 19 days thereafter. After the first month postdiagnosis, weight and single blood glucose concentrations were most frequently recorded at 66.8 and 42 per cent of consultations respectively and a blood glucose curve was performed infrequently (17.4 per cent). Serum biochemistry was measured at 8 per cent of consultations and urine culture at only 0.8 per cent. Median survival time (MST) for all dogs was eight months (2-21 months). Eighteen dogs stabilised within three months of diagnosis and their MST was 20.5 months, (10.25-25.75 months), significantly longer than the 22 dogs not achieving stability within three months (MST 2.5 months, 0-5.5 months) (P<0.001). Those dogs not surviving beyond the first month had significantly fewer consultations than those still alive (P<0.005).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This pilot study indicates dogs with CDM managed solely in PCP experience limited monitoring tests and have lower MST than reported in the literature. Recruitment of a larger cohort of CDM cases from a larger number of PCP will help determine whether these results accurately represent this demographic and verify if infrequent testing is associated with a poor outcome. Importantly, prospective evaluation of decision-making around monitoring CDM in PCP is required, to help determine the effectiveness and feasibility of more frequent monitoring strategies, such as those recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association, particularly to influence MST.</p>","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":"6 1","pages":"e000250"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000250","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37336928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Randomised clinical trial showing the curative effect of bandaging on M2-stage lesions of digital dermatitis in dairy cows.","authors":"Marcus Klawitter,&nbsp;Dörte Döpfer,&nbsp;Theo Broderick Braden,&nbsp;Ermias Amene,&nbsp;Kerstin Elisabeth Mueller","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2017-000264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives and design: </strong>This trial evaluated the effect of bandaging of acute painful ulcerative bovine digital dermatitis (DD) lesion (stage M2) in dairy cows, tested using two different topical treatments.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Randomised clinical trial.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>This study was conducted using Holstein-Friesian cows ranging in age from heifers to fourth lactation in a single dairy herd and diagnosed with acute ulcerative DD lesions (stage M2) on the first examination (week 0). Cows were randomly assigned into either a non-bandaged or bandaged group across two treatment conditions: topical chlortetracycline spray (CTC) and Intra Hoof-Fit Gel (IHF). Lesions received standardised bandaging and treatment on a weekly basis. Unhealed lesions could receive up to five repeated treatments, at weekly intervals, within a four-week period. Both M-stage and locomotion were also evaluated and scored weekly. Cows with healthily formed skin (stage M0) were deemed healed and subsequently released from the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 163 M2 lesions were diagnosed at week 0. Bandaged M2 lesions had a significantly higher probability of cure than non-bandaged lesions regardless of treatment type (HR: 4.1; P<0.001; 95 per cent CI: 2.5 to 6.8). Most healing occurred within the first three weeks of trial. Furthermore, bandaged lesions (group 2 and group 4) were significantly less likely to progress into the chronic hyperkeratotic or proliferative stage (M4) than non-bandaged lesions in group 1 and group 3 (HR: 0.10; P<0.001; 95 per cent CI: 0.04 to 0.22). Out of concern for the cow's wellbeing, this study investigated the effects of bandaging on locomotion. Bandaging had no effect on locomotion for either cows treated with CTC (group 1: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-2; group 2: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-3; P=0.3) or IHF (group 3: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-2; group 4: median Sprecher score, 2; IQR=1-3; P=0.3).</p>","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":"6 1","pages":"e000264"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000264","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37336929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diseases and causes of death among alpacas in Sweden: a retrospective study.","authors":"Christina Björklund,&nbsp;Renée Båge,&nbsp;Jane Morrell,&nbsp;Kerstin de Verdier,&nbsp;Lisbeth Nisu Hartzell,&nbsp;Nanna Kjellinbro,&nbsp;Katinka Belák,&nbsp;Karin Bernodt,&nbsp;Dolores Gavier-Widen","doi":"10.1136/vetreco-2017-000239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000239","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Due to increasing popularity in Sweden during the last decade, alpacas are frequently encountered by practising veterinarians and pathologists. Knowledge regarding their health and diseases under Swedish conditions is, however, limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To improve knowledge about the health of alpacas in Sweden by collecting information on diseases and health status.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A retrospective study was made of 93 necropsies conducted on alpacas in Sweden during the period 2001-2013.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Data were obtained from the two major veterinary pathology centres in Sweden. The alpacas were hobby or farm animals and they were submitted by veterinarians in local practices or at a national animal healthcare organisation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The digestive system was most frequently affected (29 per cent), with parasitic gastroenteritis (17 per cent) and hepatic disease being especially prevalent (15 per cent fascioliasis and 7 per cent hepatitis). Cardiovascular conditions (9 per cent), systemic diseases (7 per cent) and perinatal deaths were also common, including abortions (10 per cent) and fatal septicaemia (4 per cent). Wasting/emaciation was a frequent finding (26 per cent). Other diagnoses included dermatitis (8 per cent), diseases of the central nervous system (8 per cent), traumatic injuries (7 per cent), neoplasia (5 per cent), pneumonia (5 per cent) and nephritis (3 per cent).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study identified areas of concern regarding diagnostic and pathological procedures, for which specific measures have been recommended. One particular cause for concern was the number of deaths from emaciation in weanling alpacas during late winter or early spring. For adult alpacas, infectious and non-infectious causes of death were approximately equally frequent. Many of the diseases were considered clinically acute but pathology often showed them to be chronic conditions that had eventually deteriorated and presented as acute cases in the late stages. This study revealed similarities in the health/disease status reported in other European countries and in North America. The results can be used by alpaca keepers and veterinary practitioners to improve management, diagnosis and treatment of alpacas.</p>","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":"6 1","pages":"e000239"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2019-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000239","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"37336927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}