High frequency of cholecystitis in dogs with gallbladder mucocoele in Hong Kong.

The aims of this retrospective study were to characterise the epidemiological, clinical, histopathological, and microbiological findings as well as surgical outcomes in dogs admitted to a specialist veterinary hospital in Hong Kong for surgical management of gallbladder mucocoele (GBM). Inclusion criteria were cases with histopathological diagnosis of GBM and accompanying abdominal imaging, serum biochemistry, bile culture, and liver biopsy histology results. Fifty-six cases met the inclusion criteria. The median age at diagnosis was 12 years (range, 5-16 years). Miniature or toy pure-breed dogs were most commonly affected, including Poodles, Pomeranians, Schnauzers, Bichon frises and Chihuahuas. However, no breed was over-represented compared with their expected proportions among annual hospital admissions. Histological evidence of cholecystitis was present in 84% of cases, including acute cholecystitis in 18%, chronic cholecystitis in 37.5%, acute on chronic cholecystitis in 28% and acute with necrosis in 6%. The most common liver lesions were cholestasis in 64%, along with portal fibrosis in 55%, oedema in 50% and bile duct hyperplasia in 50%. Bile culture was positive in 29.6% of cases. Escherichia coli and Enterobacter species were most commonly isolated. Stentrophomonas maltophili was cultured from one case. Of the 16 cases where bacteria were isolated from bile culture, 94% had evidence of chronic cholecystitis and 81% had evidence of cholangiohepatitis. Fifty dogs (89.3%) survived to discharge including 5/5 dogs with ruptured gallbladders. Of 34 dogs with follow-up data, 21/34 (61.8%) were still alive 12 months later. Gallbladder mucocoeles were frequently associated with both acute and chronic inflammation. High survival rates to discharge were achieved.

Risk of foot and mouth disease spread through cattle movements in Uganda.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Uganda, where livestock movements through porous borders and beyond play a key role in the spread of transboundary animal diseases. Data from published and unpublished sources were used to conduct a qualitative risk assessment based on the World Organisation for Animal Health framework to assess the risk of foot and mouth disease virus spread in Uganda through pastoral and trade-related cattle movements from the country's southern border districts. A scenario tree was developed as a conceptual framework, and the risk was assessed by considering factors including the cattle population, proportion of vaccinated cattle, number of live cattle legally moved from districts along the Ugandan-Tanzanian border, the production system in the destination districts and the purpose of the movement. Factors associated with higher risk included live cattle movements for pastoral/grazing and breeding purposes, particularly those towards agro-pastoral (AP) areas, which have the potential to lead to outbreaks on several farms in the destination district and other districts countrywide. Prophylactic vaccination should therefore prioritise districts from which movements of large volumes of cattle to other areas originate and the AP destination districts. Specific awareness campaigns should be conducted in destination districts to improve preventative measures and farm biosecurity levels. This study will inform the revision of the risk-based strategic plan, aimed at reducing FMD impacts in Uganda, as the country progresses along the progressive control pathway for FMD.

La fièvre aphteuse est présente à l'état endémique en Ouganda, pays où les mouvements de bétail à travers et au-delà des frontières poreuses jouent un rôle déterminant dans la propagation des maladies animales transfrontalières. Une évaluation qualitative des risques basée sur le cadre de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé animale a été réalisée, en utilisant des données provenant aussi bien de sources publiées que non publiées, afin d'évaluer les risques de propagation du virus de la fièvre aphteuse en Ouganda par le biais des mouvements pastoraux et commerciaux de bétail en provenance des districts frontaliers du sud du pays. Un arbre de scénarios a été élaboré en tant que cadre conceptuel. Les risques ont été évalués en tenant compte de facteurs tels que les effectifs du cheptel bovin, la proportion de bovins vaccinés, le nombre de bovins vivants déplacés légalement depuis les districts situés le long de la frontière entre l'Ouganda et la Tanzanie, le système de production pratiqué dans les districts de destination et la finalité des déplacements du bétail. Les principaux facteurs associés à un risque accru étaient les mouvements de bovins vivants liés à l'élevage pastoral/ la mise en pâturage ou à des fins de reproduction, et plus particulièrement les déplacements vers les zones agro-pastorales, en raison du potentiel épidémique qu'ils peuvent avoir dans les fermes du district de destination et d'autres districts à l'échelle du pays. La vaccination prophylactique devrait donc être conduite en priorité dans les districts de provenance des bovins déplacés en grand nombre vers d'autres zones, ainsi que dans les districts de destination lorsqu'ils sont à dominante agro-pastorale. Des campagnes spécifiques d'information et de sensibilisation devraient être menées dans les districts de destination afin d'améliorer les mesures de prévention et le niveau de biosécurité des élevages. Les résultats de cette étude étayeront la mise à jour du plan stratégique fondé sur les risques, qui vise à réduire l'impact de la fièvre aphteuse en Ouganda parallèlement aux avancées du pays sur la voie de l'approche progressive de la lutte contre la fièvre aphteuse.

La fiebre aftosa es endémica en Uganda, país donde los desplazamientos de ganado a través y más allá de sus porosas fronteras son un factor decisivo en la propagación de enfermedades animales transfronterizas. Los autores exponen una evaluación cualitativa del riesgo realizada a partir de datos publicados e inéditos con empleo del marco de la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal. Se trataba de evaluar así el riesgo de propagación del virus de la fiebre aftosa en Uganda a resultas de los desplazamientos de ganado desde los distritos fronterizos meridionales con fines de pastoreo o de comercio. Tras elaborar como marco teórico un árbol de hipótesis, se determinó el riesgo teniendo en cuenta, como principales factores, la cabaña bovina, la proporción de ejemplares vacunados, el número de animales vivos transportados legalmente desde los distritos que bordean la frontera entre Uganda y Tanzania, el sistema productivo en los distritos de destino y la finalidad de cada desplazamiento. Entre los factores ligados a un aumento del riesgo destacaba el desplazamiento de animales vivos con fines de pastoreo y de reproducción, en particular con destino a zonas agropastorales, pues ello puede provocar brotes en múltiples explotaciones no solo del distrito de destino, sino también de otros distritos de todo el país. En las actividades de vacunación profiláctica, por lo tanto, conviene otorgar prioridad a los distritos de los que parten grandes contingentes de ganado hacia otras zonas y también a los distritos de destino agropastorales. También habría que implantar campañas específicas de sensibilización en los distritos de destino para mejorar en ellos las medidas de prevención y los niveles de seguridad biológica de las explotaciones. Este estudio servirá de base para la revisión del plan estratégico basado en los riesgos, encaminado a reducir las repercusiones de la fiebre aftosa en Uganda, a la par que el país va cubriendo etapas en la senda progresiva de control de la fiebre aftosa.

Carryover of bovine leukemia virus antibodies in samples from shared milk meters.

Screening for infectious diseases of cattle using milk from the dairy herd improvement (DHI) sampling process is very convenient. However, when samples from shared milk meters are used, carryover of antibodies or other diagnostic targets can complicate the interpretation of the diagnostic test results for diseases, including bovine leukosis. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the potential for carryover of antibodies against bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in milk samples obtained from shared meters, and (2) to determine if adjustment of the diagnostic test cut-off value would improve the test characteristics for meter-collected milk ELISA results. Eight dairy farms were randomly selected from herds with a wide range of BLV prevalence levels in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Within each chosen farm, 2 to 4milk meters were randomly selected. During the routine procedures of DHI sampling, 2 simultaneous milk samples, 1 hand-collected at the beginning of milking (after udder preparation) and the other from the corresponding milk meter, were taken from all lactating cows (n=236) that were milked at the selected meters (n=26). The sequence of cows using each meter was recorded. All samples were tested for BLV antibodies using a commercial indirect ELISA. Antibody carryover potential was assessed in meter-collected samples which were preceded by other cows using the same meters. Applying the hand-collected sample results as our reference standard, a new cut-off was defined for meter-collected samples to optimize the test characteristics. At the standard cut-off value of the diagnostic test, 110 (46.6%) of the hand-collected and 136 (57.6%) of the meter-collected samples were positive. For low-titer cows (e.g., true negatives), the likelihood of antibody carryover significantly increased as the titer of preceding cows increased, whereas this change was not substantial for high-titer cows. The odds of obtaining false diagnoses in meter-positive samples became larger with increase in the titer of preceding cows. A suspicious category for meter ELISA results was defined, and a retest was recommended for the cows falling into this category. This strategy effectively assisted in reducing the number of consequent false-positive results. When DHI-collected samples are used, carryover can affect the interpretation of dichotomous test results and may require adjustment of assay cut-off values.

A cross-sectional study of the seroprevalence and flock-level factors associated with ovine and caprine brucellosis in southeastern Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate seroprevalence and to identify flock-level factors associated with seropositivity to brucellosis in small ruminants in Kerman province, southeastern Iran. In October-November 2011, serum samples were randomly collected from 1767 sheep and 1233 goats, older than 18 months, from 300 flocks. The sera were initially screened for the presence of anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose-Bengal test; those found to be positive were then examined by Wright and 2-mercaptoethanol Brucella agglutination tests. A questionnaire was used to collect data on flock-level factors likely associated with the within flock seroprevalence of brucellosis. The associations were statistically evaluated for significance in multivariable logistic models. Sixty three flocks (21.00%; 95% CI: 16.80-26.60) had at least one seropositive animal. The mean within-flock seroprevalence was 3.10% (95% CI: 2.60-3.90). The presence of newly purchased animals (OR=3.42; 95% CI: 1.35-8.65) was significantly associated with seropositivity. Our findings highlight the role of animal movement among flocks in the epidemiology of brucellosis in this region. Thus, a control program for brucellosis in the region is suggested to impose appropriate restrictions on animal trade and improve knowledge of livestock owners about quarantine principles for newly purchased animals.