Evaluation of photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-corneal cross-linking (PACK-CXL) in feline infectious keratitis-patient demographics, treatment protocols, risk factors, and treatment outcome: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe patient demographics and treatment protocols in a population of feline patients undergoing photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-corneal cross-linking (PACK-CXL) as an adjunctive treatment for infectious keratitis. Furthermore, to determine the proportion of PACK-CXL treatment success in the population studied, explore risk factors for treatment failure, and provide recommendations for future PACK-CXL clinical studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records from four veterinary ophthalmology practices were reviewed to identify eligible patients and extract data. Recorded variables included patient-related factors, ocular examination findings, PACK-CXL protocol parameters, and treatment outcome. RESULTS: Records for 153 cats (154 eyes) were included. Median age in the treatment success group was 8 years (interquartile range (IQR) 4-12), with a median ulcer depth of 30% (IQR 30-40). Median age in the treatment failure group was 10.5 years (IQR 4.75-12) with a median ulcer depth of 45.9% (IQR 30-75). Persian cats were the most represented brachycephalic breed (52 out of 64 cats). Modified PACK-CXL protocols were used, including fast energy delivery (134 eyes), and increased fluence (52 eyes). The overall proportion of success was 88% (95% CI 84-93), which was variable between clinics. Eighty-two of 89 mesocephalic cat eyes (92%), and 54 of 65 brachycephalic cat eyes (83%) were classified as treatment successes. CONCLUSIONS: PACK-CXL appeared to be a useful, adjunctive therapeutic modality for the treatment of infectious keratitis in the feline patient population presented here. Brachycephalic cats, older cats, and those with deeper ulcers may be at increased risk for treatment failure.

Incidence rates of the most common canine tumors based on data from the Swiss Canine Cancer Registry (2008 to 2020).

Monitoring neoplasms in standardized registries facilitates epidemiologic studies of risk factors for tumor development and predisposition. In an observational study, we determined incidence rates (IR) and malignant tumor incidence rate ratios (IRR) by age, sex, and breed in Swiss dogs using demographic data from the official Swiss dog registration database Amicus. The dataset analyzed included 54'986 tumors diagnosed by histology and cytology in four Swiss veterinary pathology laboratories between 2008 and 2020. Diagnoses were coded according to the Vet-ICD-O-canine-1 system. Most tumors occurred in the skin (n = 19'045; 34.64%), soft tissues (n = 11'092; 20.17%), and mammary glands (n = 7'974; 14.50%). The IRs for all and for malignant tumors were 775/100'000 dog-years at risk (95%CI 764-777) and 338/100'000 dog-years at risk (95%CI 333-342), respectively. Females (850; 95%CI 834-853) had a higher overall tumor IR than males (679; 95%CI 666-684). The highest tumor IR was found at 11 years of age (1'857; 95%CI 1'780-1'867). Potential novel breed-specific predispositions were uncovered, with high IRs for several benign and malignant tumors in Polski Owczarek Nizinnys (overall IR: 3'303; 95%CI 2'502-3'864) and high IRs for malignant tumors in Russian Black Terriers (melanomas: 345; 95%CI 138-708), Field Spaniels (adenocarcinomas: 376; CI95% 138-817), Dogo Argentinos (mast cell tumors: 844; CI95% 591-1'169), King Charles Spaniels and Manchester Terriers (lymphomas: 319; CI95% 137-627 and 302; CI95% 98-704, respectively), Landseers (osteosarcomas: 74; CI95% 15-216), Bouvier des Flandres (hemangiosarcomas: 127; CI95% 26-371), and Bearded Collies and Cane Corso Italianos (gliomas: 91; CI95% 45-162 and 34; CI95% 7-99, respectively). Nordic hunting dogs had the highest (8.08; CI95% 3.55-16.7) and Chihuahueno the lowest cancer IRRs (0.42; 95%CI 0.31-0.57) compared to mixed breeds. In conclusion, the calculated IRs and IRRs revealed previously unknown predisposing factors, including novel breed-specific susceptibilities. The results may have implications for cancer screening, diagnostic work-up, breeding management and oncologic and translational research.

Moral distress measurement in animal care workers: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The mental health of veterinary and other animal health professionals is significantly impacted by the psychological stressors they encounter, such as euthanasia, witnessing animal suffering and moral distress. Moral distress, initially identified in nursing, arises when individuals are aware of the right action but are hindered by institutional constraints. We aimed to review existing research on moral distress scales among animal care workers by focusing on the identification and psychometric validity of its measurement. DESIGN: Two-step systematic review. First, we identified all moral distress scales used in animal care research in the eligible original studies. Second, we evaluated their psychometric validity, emphasising content validity, which is a critical aspect of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). This evaluation adhered to the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). The results were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE and PsycINFO to search for eligible studies published between January 1984 and April 2023. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: We included original (primary) studies that (1) were conducted in animal care workers; (2) describing either the development of a moral distress scale, or validation of a moral distress scale in its original or modified version, to assess at least one of the psychometric properties mentioned in COSMIN guidelines. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. We considered the following information relevant for extraction: study reference, name and reference of the moral distress scale used, psychometric properties assessed and methods and results of their assessments. The collected information was then summarised in a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: The review identified only one PROM specifically adapted for veterinary contexts: the Measure of Moral Distress for Animal Professionals (MMD-AP), derived from the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP). Both MMD-HP and MMD-AP were evaluated for the quality of development and content validity. The development quality of both measures was deemed doubtful. According to COSMIN, MMD-HP's content validity was rated as sufficient, whereas MMD-AP's was inconsistent. However, the evidence quality for both PROMs was rated low. CONCLUSION: This is the first systematic review focused on moral distress measurement in animal care workers. It shows that moral distress is rarely measured using standardised and evidence-based methods and that such methods should be developed and validated in the context of animal care. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023422259.

Determination of the Diagnostic Performance of Laboratory Tests in the Absence of a Perfect Reference Standard: The Case of SARS-CoV-2 Tests.

BACKGROUND: Currently, assessing the diagnostic performance of new laboratory tests assumes a perfect reference standard, which is rarely the case. Wrong classifications of the true disease status will inevitably lead to biased estimates of sensitivity and specificity. OBJECTIVES: Using Bayesian' latent class models (BLCMs), an approach that does not assume a perfect reference standard, we re-analyzed data of a large prospective observational study assessing the diagnostic accuracy of an antigen test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical practice. METHODS: A cohort of consecutive patients presenting to a COVID-19 testing facility affiliated with a Swiss University Hospital were recruited (n = 1465). Two real-time PCR tests were conducted in parallel with the Roche/SD Biosensor rapid antigen test on nasopharyngeal swabs. A two-test (PCR and antigen test), three-population BLCM was fitted to the frequencies of paired test results. RESULTS: Based on the BLCM, the sensitivities of the RT-PCR and the Roche/SD Biosensor rapid antigen test were 98.5% [95% CRI 94.8;100] and 82.7% [95% CRI 66.8;100]. The specificities were 97.7% [96.1;99.7] and 99.9% [95% CRI 99.6;100]. CONCLUSIONS: Applying the BLCM, the diagnostic accuracy of RT-PCR was high but not perfect. In contrast to previous results, the sensitivity of the antigen test was higher. Our results suggest that BLCMs are valuable tools for investigating the diagnostic performance of laboratory tests in the absence of perfect reference standard.

Differences in selected blood parameters between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs.

Introduction: Cranial and upper-airway anatomy of short-nosed, flat-faced brachycephalic dogs predisposes them to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Periodic apnoea increased inspiratory resistance, and an inability to thermoregulate effectively are characteristic of BOAS, but internationally accepted objective markers of BOAS severity are missing. The objective of this study was to compare the selected blood parameters between non-brachycephalic (NC) and brachycephalic (BC) dogs, exploring the possibility of developing a blood test for BOAS severity grading in the future. Methods: We evaluated blood biochemistry, complete blood cell counts, red blood cell (RBC) indices, reticulocyte counts, a blood-born marker of intermittent hypoxia (glutathione, NO production), RBC hydration, deformability, and blood markers of metabolic changes and stress between BC (n = 18) and NC (meso- and dolichocephalic, n = 22) dogs. Results: Reticulocyte counts and the abundance of middle-fluorescence immature reticulocytes were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs. BC dogs had significantly more NO-derived NO2-/NO3- in plasma than NC dogs. RBCs of BC dogs were shedding significantly more membrane, as follows from the intensity of eosin maleimide staining, and had a significantly higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration than NC dogs. Intracellular reduced glutathione content in RBCs of BC dogs was significantly lower, while plasma lactate was significantly higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly lower, and cortisol was significantly higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs. Eosinophil counts were significantly lower and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was higher in BC dogs compared to NC dogs. Discussion: Taken together, our findings suggest that the brachycephalic phenotype in dogs is associated with alterations at the level of blood cells and, systemically, with oxidation and metabolic changes. The parameters identified within this study should be further investigated for their potential as objective indicators for BOAS.

Antimicrobial resistance among farming communities in Wakiso District, Central Uganda: A knowledge, awareness and practice study.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are increasingly becoming ineffective as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to develop and spread globally-leading to more difficult to treat infections. Countries such as Uganda are still challenged with implementation of AMR related strategies due to data paucity. This includes a lack of data on the prevailing knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use among farming communities, both commercial and subsistence, which are instrumental in the implementation of targeted interventions. The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on AMR among subsistence and commercial farmers in Wakiso district, central Uganda. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire in Wakiso district, Central Uganda in between June and September 2021. Polytomous latent class analyses were performed to group participants based on their responses. Multivariable regression and conditional inference trees were used to determine the association between demographic factors and knowledge on antibiotics and AMR. RESULTS: A total of 652 respondents participated in the study among whom 84% were able to correctly describe what antibiotics are. Subsistence farmers (OR = 6.89, 95% CI [3.20; 14.83]), and to a lesser extent, farming community members which obtained their main income by another business (OR = 2.25, 95% CI [1.345; 3.75]) were more likely to be able to describe antibiotics correctly than individuals involved in commercial farming. Based on the latent class analysis, three latent classes indicating different levels of knowledge on AMR, were found. Subsistence farming, higher educational level and younger age were found to be associated with belonging to a class of better knowledge. CONCLUSION: The majority of participants were able to correctly describe antibiotics and aware of AMR, however there was some degree of misunderstanding of several AMR concepts. Targeted AMR interventions should improve awareness and also ensure that not only subsistence farmers, but commercial farmers, are included.

How Modifications of Corneal Cross-Linking Protocols Influence Corneal Resistance to Enzymatic Digestion and Treatment Depth.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the Photoactivated Chromophore for Keratitis Corneal Cross-Linking (PACK-CXL) protocol modifications on corneal resistance to enzymatic digestion and treatment depth. Methods: Eight hundred one ex vivo porcine eyes were randomly divided into groups of 12 to 86 corneas, treated with various epi-off PACK-CXL modifications, including acceleration (30 > 2 minutes, 5.4 J/cm2), increased fluence (5.4 > 32.4 J/cm2), deuterium oxide (D2O) supplementation, different carrier types (dextran versus hydroxypropyl methylcellulose [HPMC]), increased riboflavin concentration (0.1 > 0.4%), and riboflavin replenishment during irradiation (yes/no). Control group eyes did not receive PACK-CXL. A pepsin digestion assay was used to determine corneal resistance to enzymatic digestion. A phalloidin fluorescent imaging assay was used to determine the PACK-CXL treatment effect depth. Differences between groups were evaluated using a linear model and a derivative method, respectively. Results: PACK-CXL significantly increased corneal resistance to enzymatic digestion compared to no treatment (P < 0.03). When compared to a 10 minute, 5.4 J/cm2 PACK-CXL protocol, fluences of 16.2 J/cm2 and higher increased corneal resistance to enzymatic digestion by 1.5- to 2-fold (P < 0.001). Other protocol modifications did not significantly change corneal resistance. A 16.2 J/cm2 fluence also increased collagen compaction in the anterior stroma, whereas omitting riboflavin replenishment during irradiation increased PACK-CXL treatment depth. Conclusions: Increasing fluence will likely optimize PACK-CXL treatment effectiveness. Treatment acceleration reduces treatment duration without compromising effectiveness. Translational Relevance: The generated data help to optimize clinical PACK-CXL settings and direct future research efforts.

[Relationship between metabolic profiles in herd health and 4 scoring systems used in dairy herd health programs: Statistical analysis with an additive Bayesian network]. / Zusammenhänge zwischen metabolischen Profilen und 4 Bestandsbetreuung-Scores bei Milchkühen: Statistische Analyse anhand eines additiven Bayesian Netzwerkes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to describe the relationship between the biochemical variables used in metabolic profiles and various scores commonly used in herd health management of dairy cows. The Bayesian network was used to determine the relationship between metabolic blood profiles and the scores for body condition (BC), rumen fill (RF), faecal consistency (FC) and undigested fraction (UF) on a herd basis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In each of 10 dairy herds, blood was collected from a minimum of ten lactating cows for biochemical analysis and generation of metabolic profiles. This yielded a total of 106 blood samples. The biochemical results in the metabolic profiles were stratified by days in milk and compared with the scores of BC, RF, FC and UF using an additive Bayesian network. RESULTS: The blood glucose concentration directly affected the FC score. The was an effect of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) on free fatty acids (FFS). An additional effect of BHB on the concentration of urea was detected. The concentration of urea affected the concentration of phosphorus and GOT activity. Urea concentration also affected the blood concentrations of calcium and subsequently magnesium. Rumen fill had an effect on BC score and liver enzyme activity. Glutathione peroxidase, which is used to assess the levels of selenium in cattle, had no significant relationship with the other variables and was therefore isolated in the model. CONCLUSION: The use of a multidimensional model, which in this study was an additive Bayesian network, showed the relationships between the biochemical variables in the metabolic profiles and the scoring systems commonly used for the management of dairy cow herds. The relationships between the biochemical variables and the four scoring systems can be used to manage dairy herds more effectively. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The biochemical variables used in metabolic profiles were correlated with health scoring systems commonly used in dairy herds. The latter can be carried out more rapidly and at a lower cost than metabolic profiles. In dairy cows with metabolic diseases or fertility disorders, scoring systems do not replace detailed evaluations that include metabolic profiles.

Addressing misclassification bias in vaccine effectiveness studies with an application to Covid-19.

Safe and effective vaccines are crucial for the control of Covid-19 and to protect individuals at higher risk of severe disease. The test-negative design is a popular option for evaluating the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines. However, the findings could be biased by several factors, including imperfect sensitivity and/or specificity of the test used for diagnosing the SARS-Cov-2 infection. We propose a simple Bayesian modeling approach for estimating vaccine effectiveness that is robust even when the diagnostic test is imperfect. We use simulation studies to demonstrate the robustness of our method to misclassification bias and illustrate the utility of our approach using real-world examples.

"What If It Was Your Dog?" Resource Shortages and Decision-Making in Veterinary Medicine-A Vignette Study with German Veterinary Students.

The here presented vignette study was part of a survey on ethical judgement skills among advanced veterinary students at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. The vignette describes a fictitious dilemma in veterinary practice due to medication supply shortages. First, the students should make an ethically justified decision: who of the two patients in the waiting room gets the last dosage of a medication. Important factors were the animal patients' characteristics (age, state of health, life expectancy), the patient owners' wellbeing, and context-related criteria. Second, the students were asked for decisional changes if one of the patients was their own dog. They reacted in four different ways: (1) for a professional, this should not make a difference; (2) most likely being "egoistic" and preferring their own dog; (3) giving the medication to the other dog; and (4) avoiding a decision. Finally, the students judged a list of possible solutions to the dilemma on a 9-point scale. They preferred patient-related criteria to patient-owner-related criteria in this task. In the overall results, it became obvious that no "gold standard" or guidelines for situations of medication shortages exist, yet, which presents an important subject for future research and veterinary ethics teaching.

Bayesian latent class models to determine diagnostic sensitivities and specificities of two point of care rapid tests (Selma plus, Dipslide) for the detection of Streptococcus uberis associated with mastitis in dairy cows.

Introduction: Development and validations of accurate mastitis diagnostics are crucial to make timely and evidence-based decisions on mastitis therapy in order to reduce its impact on productivity, animal welfare and practicing the prudent use of antimicrobials on dairy farms. Methods: The objectives of this study were to assess the agreement between test results from reference laboratory and two point of care tests (Selma plus, Dipslide) and to estimate the test accuracies with Bayesian latent class models (BLCMs). In total of 509 single quarter milk samples from cows with mastitis were included in the study. Results: Among all analyzed mastitis pathogens, Streptococcus spp. was detected in up to one third of all analyzed samples and for Selma all Streptococcus samples were considered as Streptococcus uberis. The agreement (κ) when comparing two tests varied greatly depending on the bacteria, ranging from no agreement to good agreement (κ = negative to 0.86) depending on the prevalence of identified pathogens. Based on BLCMs to assess diagnostic test accuracies for the pathogen Streptococcus uberis, posterior sensitivities of 76, 71, and 64% for Selma plus, Dipslide and laboratory standard culture and specificities of 93%, 98% for Selma and Dipslide, respectively, were obtained. Discussion: The two point of care rapid culture systems Dipslide and Selma plus plate can provide important preliminary pathogen identification for targeted mastitis therapy, especially when general information about growth and a rough classification of the bacteria into groups have an impact on treatment strategy. The two evaluated rapid culture systems, Dipslide and Selma plus plate, show good test accuracies for Streptococcus uberis at least at genus level. Therefore, using these tests may contribute to prudent use of antibiotics.

The dual burden of animal and human zoonoses: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Zoonoses can cause a substantial burden on both human and animal health. Globally, estimates of the dual (human and animal) burden of zoonoses are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to quantify the dual burden of zoonoses using a comparable metric, "zoonosis Disability Adjusted Life Years" (zDALY). METHODOLOGY: We systematically reviewed studies that quantify in the same article zoonoses in animals, through monetary losses, and in humans in terms of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). We searched EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We excluded articles that did not provide the data to estimate the zDALY or those for which full text was not available. This study was registered at PROSPERO, CRD42022313081. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS/SIGNIFICANCE: We identified 512 potentially eligible records. After deduplication and screening of the title and abstract, 23 records were assessed for full-text review. Fourteen studies were included in this systematic review. The data contains estimates from 10 countries, a study at continental level (Asia and Africa), and 2 studies on a global scale. Rabies was the most frequently reported zoonosis where zDALYs were calculated, based on the following included studies: for Kazakhstan 457 (95% CI 342-597), Viet Nam 5316 (95% CI 4382-6244), Asia 1,145,287 (90% CI 388,592-1,902,310), Africa 837,158 (90% CI 283,087-1,388,963), and worldwide rabies 5,920,014 (95% CI 1,547,860-10,290,815). This was followed by echinococcosis, the zDALYs in Peru were 2238 (95% CI 1931-2546), in China 1490 (95% CI 1442-1537), and worldwide cystic echinococcosis 5,935,463 (95% CI 4,497,316-7,377,636). Then, the zDALYs on cysticercosis for Mozambique were 2075 (95% CI 1476-2809), Cameroon 59,540 (95% CR 16,896-101,803), and Tanzania 34,455 (95% CI 12,993-76,193). Brucellosis in Kazakhstan were 2443 zDALYs (95% CI 2391-2496), and brucellosis and anthrax in Turkey 3538 zDALYs (95% CI 2567-6706). Finally, zDALYs on leptospirosis in New Zealand were 196, and Q fever in Netherlands 2843 (95% CI 1071-4603). The animal burden was superior to the human burden in the following studies: worldwide cystic echinococcosis (83%), brucellosis in Kazakhstan (71%), leptospirosis in New Zealand (91%), and brucellosis, and anthrax in Turkey (52%). Countries priorities on zoonoses can change if animal populations are taken into consideration.

Medical Management versus PACK-CXL in Dogs with Infectious Keratitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

Infectious keratitis is a common and painful disease, usually caused by bacteria in dogs. Brachycephalic breeds are at increased risk. Despite medical therapy, enzymatic corneal melting can lead to ulcer perforation and globe loss. Treatment alternatives are needed due to an increase in antibiotic resistance and growing popularity of brachycephalic dogs. Photoactivated Chromophore for Keratitis-Corneal Cross-linking (PACK-CXL) reduces enzymatic collagenolysis and damages multiple targets within microorganisms, resulting in corneal tissue stabilization and elimination of bacteria, irrespective of their antibiotic resistance status. A randomized controlled trial providing evidence of PACK-CXL effectiveness in dogs is lacking. We aim to determine whether PACK-CXL is a viable alternative to conventional medical therapy for canine infectious keratitis. Two hundred-and-seventy client-owned dogs with presumed infectious keratitis will be allocated to two equally sized treatment groups (PACK-CXL or medical therapy) in a masked, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial in eleven clinics. The primary outcome measure is treatment success defined as complete epithelial closure within 28 days. The sample size is based on a group sequential design with two interim analyses, which will be overseen by a Data Safety and Monitoring Board. Ethical approvals have been obtained. The study protocol is preregistered at preclinicaltrials.eu. Publishing trial protocols improves study reproducibility and reduces publication bias.

Evaluating diagnostic accuracies of Panbio™ test and RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia using Bayesian Latent-Class Models (BLCM).

BACKGROUND: Rapid diagnostics are vital for curving the transmission and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many commercially available antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 are recommended by the WHO, their diagnostic performance has not yet been assessed in Ethiopia. So far, the vast majority of studies assessing diagnostic accuracies of rapid antigen tests considered RT-PCR as a reference standard, which inevitably leads to bias when RT-PCR is not 100% sensitive and specific. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Panbio™ jointly with the RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was done from July to September 2021 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the third wave of the pandemic involving two health centers and two hospitals. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Panbio™ and RT-PCR were obtained using Bayesian Latent-Class Models (BLCM). RESULTS: 438 COVID-19 presumptive clients were enrolled, 239 (54.6%) were females, of whom 196 (44.7%) had a positive RT-PCR and 158 (36.1%) were Panbio™ positive. The Panbio™ and RT-PCR had a sensitivity (95% CrI) of 99.6 (98.4-100) %, 89.3 (83.2-97.6) % and specificity (95% CrI) of 93.4 (82.3-100) %, and 99.1 (97.5-100) %, respectively. Most of the study participants, 318 (72.6%) exhibited COVID-19 symptoms; the most reported was cough 191 (43.6%). CONCLUSION: As expected the RT-PCR performed very well with a near-perfect specificity and a high, but not perfect sensitivity. The diagnostic performance of Panbio™ is coherent with the WHO established criteria of having a sensitivity ≥80% for Ag-RDTs. Both tests displayed high diagnostic accuracies in patients with and without symptoms. Hence, we recommend the use of the Panbio™ for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in clinical settings for screening purposes.

The bactericidal effect of two photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-corneal crosslinking protocols (standard vs. accelerated) on bacterial isolates associated with infectious keratitis in companion animals.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial corneal infections are common and potentially blinding diseases in all species. As antibiotic resistance is a growing concern, alternative treatment methods are an important focus of research. Photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-corneal crosslinking (PACK-CXL) is a promising oxygen radical-mediated alternative to antibiotic treatment. The main goal of this study was to assess the anti-bactericidal efficacy on clinical bacterial isolates of the current standard and an accelerated PACK-CXL treatment protocol delivering the same energy dose (5.4 J/cm2). METHODS: Clinical bacterial isolates from 11 dogs, five horses, one cat and one guinea pig were cultured, brought into suspension with 0.1% riboflavin and subsequently irradiated. Irradiation was performed with a 365 nm UVA light source for 30 min at 3mW/cm2 (standard protocol) or for 5 min at 18mW/cm2 (accelerated protocol), respectively. After treatment, the samples were cultured and colony forming units (CFU's) were counted and the weighted average mean of CFU's per µl was calculated. Results were statistically compared between treated and control samples using a linear mixed effects model. RESULTS: Both PACK-CXL protocols demonstrated a significant bactericidal effect on all tested isolates when compared to untreated controls. No efficacy difference between the two PACK-CXL protocols was observed. CONCLUSION: The accelerated PACK-CXL protocol can be recommended for empirical use in the treatment of bacterial corneal infections in veterinary patients while awaiting culture results. This will facilitate immediate treatment, the delivery of higher fluence PACK-CXL treatment within a reasonable time, and minimize the required anesthetic time or even obviate the need for general anesthesia.

Screening of Healthy Feral Pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in the City of Zurich Reveals Continuous Circulation of Pigeon Paramyxovirus-1 and a Serious Threat of Transmission to Domestic Poultry.

Pigeon paramyxovirus-1 (PPMV-1) is predominantly isolated from pigeons or doves and forms a separate group of viral strains within Avian Orthoavulavirus-1, the causative agent of Newcastle disease in poultry. Since the introduction of PPMV-1 into Europe in 1981, these strains have rapidly spread all over Europe, and are nowadays considered to be enzootic in feral and hobby pigeons (Columba livia domestica). Infections with PPMV-1 can range from asymptomatic to fatal. To assess whether PPMV-1 continuously circulates in healthy feral pigeons, 396 tissue samples of pigeons from the city of Zurich were tested by reverse transcriptase real-time PCR over the period of one year. PPMV-1-RNA was detected in 41 feral pigeons (10.35%), determined as the dominant European genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2. In 38 of the 41 pigeons where organ samples tested positive, PPMV-1-RNA was also detected in either choana or cloaca swabs. There were no significant differences in positivity rates between seasons, age, and sex. The current study shows that feral pigeons without clinical signs of disease can harbour and most likely excrete PPMV-1. Spill-over into free-range holdings of chickens are therefore possible, as observed in a recent outbreak of Newcastle disease in laying hens due to PPMV-1 genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2. in the canton of Zurich in January 2022.

Alternative Paradigms in Animal Health Decisions: A Framework for Treating Animals Not Only as Commodities.

Zoonoses are diseases transmitted from (vertebrate) animals to humans in the environment. The control and prevention of these diseases require an appropriate way to measure health value for prudent and well-balanced decisions in public health, production costs, and market values. Currently, the impact of diseases and animal disease control measures are typically assessed in monetary values, thus lacking consideration of other values such as emotional, societal, ecological, among others. Therefore, a framework is proposed that aims to explore, understand, and open up a conversation about the non-monetary value of animals through environmental and normative ethics. This method might help us complement the existing metrics in health, which are currently DALY and zDALY, adding more comprehensive values for animal and human health to the "One Health" approach. As an example of this framework application, participants can choose what they are willing to give in exchange for curing an animal in hypothetical scenarios selecting a human health condition to suffer, the amount of money, and lifetime as a tradeoff. Considering animals beyond their monetary value in public health decisions might contribute to a more rigorous assessment of the burden of zoonotic diseases, among other health decisions. This study is structured as follows: after a brief introduction of zoonoses, animal health, and health metrics, briefly, different environmental health perspectives are presented. Based on this, a framework for animal health decisions is proposed. This framework introduces the "anthropozoocentric interface" based on anthropocentrism and zoocentrism perspectives.

Awareness, Knowledge, and Perceptions Regarding Rabies Prevention Among Rural Communities in Masaka District, Central Uganda: A Qualitative Study.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is mainly transmitted to humans through dog bites. It remains a major public health threat in many Asian and African countries, including Uganda. The main objective of this study was to investigate awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of communities toward human and dog health related to rabies prevention, as well as dog management practices within Masaka district, central Uganda. Data collection involved nine key informant interviews (KIIs) and six focus group discussions (FGDs). Methods used during focus group discussions included qualitative interviews (using open-ended questions), simple ranking, and proportional piling. Data from KIIs and FGDs were analyzed using content analysis in NVivo (version 12.0). This study reveals that community members in the rural settings uses herbal concoctions in replacement or as an alternative to dog vaccination. Furthermore, the study reveals that dogs play the vital roles in the households like as they offer protection to people and household properties, despite being ranked second least among the household animals. The commonest livelihood activity was a small-scale mixed farming. Most of the households kept dogs, but they are ranked at second lowest in terms of economic value among all domestic animals. Free roaming and tethering were the common dog-keeping systems, and home-based feed (food leftovers, bones) was provided mainly to the tethered dogs. Rabies, also locally known as "Eddalu Lyembwa" (that can be translated as "madness of the dogs"), was ranked as the disease of most important among dogs, besides other common diseases such as skin diseases, venereal diseases, worm infestations, and tick infestations. Inadequate vaccination services for both humans and dogs were reported, and dog bite victims traveled a long distance to seek for post-exposure prophylaxis after dog bites. It can be concluded that there is a clear request for periodic mass vaccination campaigns against rabies among dogs, and access to vaccines within reasonable distances by humans after a rabies exposure, but also pre-emptive vaccination for those at high risk, such as veterinarians, needs to be improved.

Outer retinal thickness and visibility of the choriocapillaris in four distinct retinal regions imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography in dogs and cats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outer retinal band thickness and choriocapillaris (CC) visibility in four distinct retinal regions in dogs and cats imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). To attempt delineation of a fovea-like region in canine and feline SD-OCT scans, aided by the identification of outer retinal thickness differences between retinal regions. METHODS: Spectralis® HRA + OCT SD-OCT scans from healthy, anesthetized dogs (n = 10) and cats (n = 12) were analyzed. Scanlines on which the CC was identifiable were counted and CC visibility was scored. Outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and the distances from external limiting membrane (ELM) to retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch's membrane complex (RPE/BM) and ELM to CC were measured in the area centralis (AC), a visually identified fovea-like region, and in regions superior and inferior to the optic nerve head (ONH). Measurements were analyzed using a multilevel regression. RESULTS: The CC was visible in over 90% of scanlines from dogs and cats. The ONL was consistently thinnest in the fovea-like region. The outer retina (ELM-RPE and ELM-CC) was thickest within the AC compared with superior and inferior to the ONH in dogs and cats (p < .001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: The CC appears a valid, albeit less than ideal outer retinal boundary marker in tapetal species. The AC can be objectively differentiated from the surrounding retina on SD-OCT images of dogs and cats; a fovea-like region was identified in dogs and its presence was suggested in cats. These findings allow targeted imaging and image evaluation of these regions of retinal specialization.

Effects of acepromazine and dexmedetomidine, followed by propofol induction and maintenance with isoflurane anaesthesia, on the microcirculation of Beagle dogs evaluated by sidestream dark field imaging: an experimental trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of intramuscularly administered acepromazine or dexmedetomidine on buccal mucosa microcirculation in Beagle dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, blinded, crossover study. ANIMALS: A group of seven Beagle dogs aged 7.5 ± 1.4 years (mean ± standard deviation). METHODS: Microcirculation was assessed on buccal mucosa using sidestream dark field videomicroscopy. After baseline measurements, 5 µg kg-1 dexmedetomidine or 30 µg kg-1 acepromazine were administered intramuscularly. After 10, 20 and 30 minutes, measurements were repeated. At 40 minutes after premedication, anaesthesia was induced with propofol intravenously and maintained with isoflurane. Measurements were repeated 50, 60 and 65 minutes after the injection of the investigated drugs. Analysed microcirculatory variables were: Perfused de Backer density, Perfused de Backer density of vessels < 20 µm, Proportion of perfused vessels and Proportion of perfused vessels < 20 µm. Heart rate (HR), systolic, diastolic (DAP) and mean (MAP) arterial pressures were recorded at the same time points. Macro- and microcirculatory variables were analysed using a linear mixed model with baseline as a covariate, treatment, trial period and repetition as fixed effects and time and dog as random effect. Results are presented as effect size and confidence interval; p values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: After acepromazine, Perfused de Backer density was greater during sedation and anaesthesia [3.71 (1.93-5.48 mm mm-2, p < 0.0001) and 2.3 (0.86-3.75 mm mm-2, p < 0.003)], respectively, than after dexmedetomidine. HR was significantly lower, whereas MAP and DAP were significantly higher with dexmedetomidine during sedation and anaesthesia (p < 0.0001 for all) compared with acepromazine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The sedative drugs tested exerted a significant effect on buccal mucosal microcirculation with a higher Perfused de Backer density after the administration of acepromazine compared with dexmedetomidine. This should be considered when microcirculation is evaluated using these drugs.