Serological prevalence of six vector-borne pathogens in dogs presented for elective ovariohysterectomy or castration in the South central region of Texas.

BACKGROUND: Most vector-borne pathogens cause zoonotic diseases. These zoonoses often have wild animal reservoirs that play a significant role in disease epidemiology. However, pet animals have also been implicated in transmission of zoonotic agents to humans. To exemplify, dogs are competent reservoir hosts for several zoonotic vector-borne bacteria and protozoa. Despite that vector-borne diseases can be life-threatening for both pets and humans, studies on pathogen seroprevalence are very limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the serological prevalence of six zoonotic vector-borne agents in dogs from the South Central region of Texas (US). Electronic medical records of dogs, presenting over 2014-2019 for elective ovariohysterectomy or castration at a high volume spay and neuter clinic, were reviewed for serological testing. Sera from 418 dogs were tested for the Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis, and Ehrlichia ewingi, using a commonly available commercial test kit. Descriptive statistics were computed to characterize the respective seroprevalence rates of the dog population. The study involved 192 (46%) male and 226 (54%) female dogs. RESULTS: Overall, 85 (20%) dogs tested positive for at least one of the 6 pathogens investigated. The highest seroprevalence rate averaged over the 6-year period was 11.7% for D. immitis followed by 8.4% for E. canis and/or E. ewingii, 4.3% for A. phagocytophilum and/or A. platys, and 0.2% for B. burgdorferi. The co-exposure or co-infection was only detected in 3.8% of the dog population. CONCLUSIONS: Together, opportunistic testing of dogs presenting for elective surgical procedures may provide an effective way of assessing seroprevalence and/or risk factors for common vector-borne diseases within a geographic region of concern.

Assessment of changes in intra-abdominal pressure and abdominal perfusion pressure in late-term pregnant queens undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Compare changes in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), abdominal perfusion pressure (APP), hemodynamics, and clinicopathological variables in nonpregnant and late-term pregnant queens undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OHE) and evaluate the effect of patient positioning on IAP and APP measurements. ANIMALS: 18 late-term pregnant queens and 25 nonpregnant controls. PROCEDURES: Temperature, heart rate (HR), Doppler blood pressure (DBP), IAP (dorsal and right lateral), PCV, total protein (TP), and lactate were recorded preoperatively, at abdominal wall closure (dorsal IAP only), and postoperatively under general anesthesia. Uterine weight, blood loss, and surgical duration were recorded. Abdominal perfusion pressure was calculated as DBP minus IAP. RESULTS: Pre- and postoperatively, pregnant queens had lower DBP, APP, and PCV compared to controls (P < 0.001). IAP was higher in pregnant queens preoperatively (P < 0.001). Controls had a decrease in HR and increase in IAP, while both groups had a decrease in body temperature, DBP, APP, and lactate over time (P < 0.05). Pregnant queens had a decrease (P = 0.029), and controls had an increase in TP (P = 0.001). Blood loss and surgical time were greater for pregnant queens (P < 0.001). Dorsal IAP and APP were higher and lower than right lateral measurements (P < 0.001), respectively, and correlation was strong. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hemodynamics and APP are impaired in late-term pregnant queens undergoing OHE, and increased monitoring is warranted. Although strongly correlated, feline IAP and APP measurements in dorsal and right lateral recumbency are not interchangeable.

Evaluation of Targeted Bupivacaine, Bupivacaine-lidocaine-epinephrine, Dexamethasone, and Meloxicam for Reducing Acute Postoperative Pain in Cats Undergoing Routine Ovariohysterectomy.

This study compared bupivacaine (BUP), bupivacaine-lidocaine-epinephrine (BLE), dexamethasone (DEX), and meloxicam (MEL) targeted at specific, potentially painful sites for reducing acute postoperative pain in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. One hundred fifty-one cats were included in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial. Anesthesia consisted of a standardized protocol including buprenorphine, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, and isoflurane. A ventral midline ovariohysterectomy was performed, and cats were administered targeted injections of 0.5% bupivacaine (2 mg/kg); a combined 0.25% bupivacaine (1 mg/kg), 1% lidocaine (2 mg/kg), and 1:100,000 epinephrine (0.005 mg/kg); dexamethasone (0.125 mg/kg); or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) intraoperatively at the ovarian suspensory ligaments, uterine body, and incisional subcutaneous tissues. A 0-10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) was used to assess cats postoperatively, 1 hour and 3 hours after anesthesia recovery prior to a same day discharge. Pain scores among evaluators were in good agreement with an overall Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.7897 (95% Confidence Interval 0.795-0.8313).  In all groups, overall pain scores 1-hour post anesthesia recovery were significantly higher than scores 3 hours post anesthesia recovery (P < .0001). Averaged pain scores compared among treatment groups did not differ at 1 hour post recovery. At 3-hours post anesthesia recovery, MEL group cats had significantly lower pain scores than the BLE group (P = .018). Study results indicate that early postoperative pain scores were similar for cats receiving local infiltrations of BUP, BLE, DEX, and MEL as part of a multimodal pain therapy for routine ovariohysterectomies. MEL showed somewhat better results 3 hours post anesthesia recovery, gaining significance over the BLE group.

Comparison of viscoelastic test results from blood collected near simultaneously from the jugular and saphenous veins in cats.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare viscoelastic test results from samples collected from a jugular vein using a 20 G needle and a medial saphenous vein using a 22 G needle in cats presenting for elective ovariohysterectomy (OHE) or castration. METHODS: Forty apparently healthy cats (20 males and 20 females) presenting for elective OHE or castration were included in a prospective study observing viscoelastic test results from central and peripherally collected whole blood. Cats were anesthetized during blood collection with a standardized protocol including buprenorphine, ketamine, dexmedetomidine and isoflurane. Blood samples from jugular and saphenous veins were collected near simultaneously. Viscoelastic evaluations of whole blood were performed using a point-of-care device measuring clot time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), alpha angle (α), maximum clot formation (MCF), and amplitude at 10 and 20 mins (A10 and A20, respectively). Viscoelastometry continued post-clot time to determine a lysis index at 30 and 45 mins (LI30 and LI45, respectively) to assess fibrinolysis. RESULTS: Studied cats had a median age of 18 months (range 5 months to 5 years) and a median weight of 3.6 kg (range 2.7-5.9 kg). A total of 80 samples were available for analysis. While lysis indices were not different, viscoelastic measures of coagulation differed between sampling sites (CT, P <0.005; CFT, P = 0.01; α, P <0.05; MCF, P <0.0005; A10, P <0.0005; A20, P <0.0005). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Viscoelastic results from jugular venous blood samples appear to be more hypercoagulable than those collected from the medial saphenous vein, suggesting that the same site should be used consistently for serial monitoring or for collecting study data.

Blood loss and coagulation profile in pregnant and non-pregnant queens undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine if there is increased risk of intraoperative bleeding in pregnant cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OHE), and to compare coagulation in queens in various stages of estrus and pregnancy subjected to elective OHE using a whole-blood viscoelastic assay. METHODS: Intraoperative blood loss was compared between non-pregnant and pregnant cats undergoing elective OHE. Viscoelastic evaluations of whole blood drawn pre- and postoperatively were performed using a point-of-care device measuring clot time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), alpha angle, maximum clot formation (MCF), amplitude at 10 and 20 mins (A10 and A20, respectively), and lysis index at 30 and 45 mins after MCF (LI30 and LI45, respectively). RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-three cats underwent OHE by a ventral midline approach. Median blood loss was greater for pregnant cats (2.0 ml, range <0.5-13 ml) than non-pregnant cats (<0.5 ml, range <0.5-15 ml; P <0.0001). Preoperatively, pregnant cats had a shorter median CFT (165 s vs 190.5 s), increased median A10 (31 from 25.5 VCM units) and A20 (38 from 35 VCM units), and a lower median LI45 (99% from 100%) than non-pregnant cats. Postoperatively, A10 and A20 increased, and LI30 and LI45 decreased in both non-pregnant and pregnant queens. In pregnant queens, mean CT also increased postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Pregnant cats were relatively hypercoagulable and had an increased rate of clot lysis than non-pregnant cats. Intraoperative blood loss was increased in pregnant vs non-pregnant cats, but no clinically relevant bleeding conditions occurred.

Evaluation of targeted bupivacaine for reducing acute postoperative pain in cats undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine if bupivacaine targeted at specific, potentially painful sites could enhance postoperative analgesia in routine feline ovariohysterectomies. A secondary objective was to assess the utility of multiple acute pain scales for cats in a high-volume surgery setting. METHODS: Two hundred and twelve cats were included in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Anesthesia included buprenorphine, ketamine, dexmedetomidine and isoflurane. A ventral midline ovariohysterectomy was performed and cats were administered bupivacaine (2 mg/kg), placebo control (0.9% saline) or sham control (observation only) intraoperatively at the ovarian suspensory ligaments and vessels, uterine body and incisional subcutaneous tissues. Two pain scales were used to assess cats postoperatively. Initially, a multidimensional composite pain scale (MCPS) and a 0-10 numeric pain rating scale (NRS) were used. Subsequently, the MCPS was replaced with a modified Colorado State University Feline Acute Pain Scale (mCSU). Pain scores for the test groups were compared using a one-way ANOVA and a Holm-Bonferroni post hoc analysis when a difference was found (P <0.05). RESULTS: Pain for the bupivacaine group was lower than the control groups at 1 h post-recovery and discharge, attaining significance with higher body weights. The P values were 0.008 and 0.004 for 1 h post-recovery and discharge, respectively. Pain scores between evaluators for the MCPS and NRS correlated poorly with r values for 1 h post-recovery and discharge of -0.08 and 0.22, respectively. Additionally, the MCPS proved difficult to use and time consuming, especially for feral and fractious patients, and was replaced with the mCSU. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Targeted bupivacaine reduced early postoperative pain scores following routine feline ovariohysterectomies. The technique used was simple, requiring just over a minute to perform at minimal additional cost. The MCPS was not ideal for use in a high-volume spay setting.