Indoor-Outdoor Cats and the "One Health" Perspective: Veterinarian Insight and Influence.

Veterinarian and client discussions about indoor-outdoor cats, although challenging, can impact decisions made regarding cat care and outdoor access. An online survey, exploring topics discussed with clients regarding indoor-outdoor cats and One Health, was made available to veterinarians practicing in the U.S. in 2022. The importance of topics by practice location and to the veterinarian versus what the veterinarian perceived as important to the client were analyzed. Of 280 responding veterinarians, 95% discussed indoor-outdoor cat activities with clients. Cat-associated disease (81%), cat population control (64%), and cat-associated trauma (53%) were discussed most often. With the exception of population control, rural, suburban, and urban veterinarians did not significantly differ in the frequency of topics discussed. Danger to the cat (e.g., trauma and diseases) was the most important topic when addressing indoor-outdoor cats with clients; 57% of veterinarians considered it important to themselves and 61% considered it important to the client. Only 13% of the veterinarians were extremely comfortable discussing One Health with clients and several One Health-related topics (zoonoses and wildlife impacts) were discussed least often. Less focus on One Health topics is potentially a missed opportunity to educate clients, enable more informed client decisions, and improve overall the care of cats.

Veterinary Students' Sense of Belonging: Growing Community with Small Group Academic Enhancement.

A student's sense of belonging to a university is associated with success in academic setting, happiness, and satisfaction. It is therefore unsurprising that universities commonly strive to improve student measures of belonging especially considering its negative correlation with attrition rates. This study documents the implementation and assessment of a new curricular intervention at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) and measures associated changes in students' feeling of belonging to the university and accountability for their success. Specifically, small, group, faculty-guided weekly discussion sessions were introduced to the Veterinary Professional Foundation (VPF) course to complement a series of updated didactic only lectures. Voluntary surveys ("belonging to the university scale" [1] and the "personal accountability in education scale" [2]) were utilized to document student attitudes and feelings surrounding these variables. Likert scores from a control group of students who completed the VPF course prior to the curricular change were compared to the intervention group who engaged in the weekly guided discussion sessions via a Wilcoxon test. The intervention group reported significantly improved feelings of belonging to the university (p-values ranging from 0.008 to 0.027). Minimal change was noted between groups associated with accountability. The addition of weekly small group meetings has proven valuable at RUSVM in improving student sense of belonging to the university. Further research is indicated to determine if accountability may be improved over a longer period of monitoring with continued interventions.

Critique of Approaches for Evaluating Teaching and Proposal for a New Institutional Policy.

A review of current literature provides ample evidence that Student Evaluation of Teaching, as currently practiced, can be a biased and flawed evaluation of educator performance and student learning. Due to this, many institutions have developed their own internal multimodal approach for faculty evaluation and professional advancement review that removes the underlying bias associated with survey results. Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine created a taskforce to evaluate the current teaching assessment practices and provide an alternative method. Based on an extensive literature review, an institutional policy was created using a multimodal approach, combining student evaluations of teaching scores with peer review of teaching, review of teaching materials, mentorship, self-ratings, and self-reflection. The implementation plan for this policy is described to allow for a teaching evaluation process built on a philosophy of mentorship, guidance, and self-reflection; as well as the use of external professional exam metrics to review the institutional academic quality at large.

Rho GTPases in kidney physiology and diseases.

Rho family GTPases are molecular switches best known for their pivotal role in dynamic regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, but also of cellular morphology, motility, adhesion and proliferation. The prototypic members of this family (RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42) also contribute to the normal kidney function and play important roles in the structure and function of various kidney cells including tubular epithelial cells, mesangial cells and podocytes. The kidney's vital filtration function depends on the structural integrity of the glomerulus, the proximal portion of the nephron. Within the glomerulus, the architecturally actin-based cytoskeleton podocyte forms the final cellular barrier to filtration. The glomerulus appears as a highly dynamic signalling hub that is capable of integrating intracellular cues from its individual structural components. Dynamic regulation of the podocyte cytoskeleton is required for efficient barrier function of the kidney. As master regulators of actin cytoskeletal dynamics, Rho GTPases are therefore of critical importance for sustained kidney barrier function. Dysregulated activities of the Rho GTPases and of their effectors are implicated in the pathogenesis of both hereditary and idiopathic forms of kidney diseases. Diabetic nephropathy is a progressive kidney disease that is caused by injury to kidney glomeruli. High glucose activates RhoA/Rho-kinase in mesangial cells, leading to excessive extracellular matrix production (glomerulosclerosis). This RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway also seems involved in the post-transplant hypertension frequently observed during treatment with calcineurin inhibitors, whereas Rac1 activation was observed in post-transplant ischaemic acute kidney injury.

Health promotion and harm reduction attributes in One Health literature: A scoping review.

One Health faces enormous pressure and challenges as it attempts to mitigate dynamic, surprising and complex global events that threaten the health and sustainability of human and animal populations and the biosphere. One Health practitioners and researchers need every advantage to developing working solutions to the world's imminent complex issues. Heath promotion and harm reduction, interrelated approaches that have seen much success over decades of use in global public health, may be important models to consider. Both use an upstream socioecological determinant of health approach to reach beyond the health sector in all health efforts, and encourage active community participation and empowerment to attain and sustain human and ecological health. This scoping review of 411 documents, believed to be the first to relate health promotion and harm reduction to One Health, searched self-declared One Health research literature for evidence of health promotion and harm reduction policies, principles and methodologies. It sought to answer the questions: "What is the scope of practice of One Health in self-declared One Health publications?" and "Are attributes of health promotion and harm reduction found in self-declared One Health-reviewed research literature?" Over half of the papers revealed no health promotion or harm reduction attributes while 7% were well-endowed with these attributes. These 7% of papers focused on deep-seated, complex health issues with systemic knowledge gaps and decision-making issues revolving around specific population vulnerabilities, social inequities and competing stakeholders. Implementing 'on the ground change' was a common theme in the strongest health promotion/harm reduction papers we identified. Alternatively, papers lacking health promotion or harm reduction attributes focused on managing proximate risks, primarily for infectious diseases. The addition of health promotion and harm reduction to One Health practices may help the field rise to the growing expectations for its involvement in complex global issues like pandemics and climate change.

Antimicrobial resistance in E. coli isolated from dairy calves and bedding material.

INTRODUCTION: E. coli is a ubiquitous bacterium commonly used as a sentinel in antimicrobial resistance studies. Here, E. coli was isolated from three groups (sick calves, healthy calves and bedding material), to assess the presence of antimicrobial resistance, describe resistance profiles, and compare these resistances among groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples were collected from calves and calving pens from 20 dairy farms. Using the disc diffusion method, E. coli isolates were screened for antimicrobial resistance against seven antimicrobials: Amoxicillin, Ceftiofur, Gentamicin, Enrofloxacin, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, Florfenicol and Oxytetracycline. Isolates resistant to all these seven antimicrobials were tested again against an extended 19 antimicrobial drug panel and for the presence of the most common E. coli pathogenicity genes through PCR. RESULTS & DISCUSSION: Three hundred forty-nine E. coli isolates were obtained; most isolates were resistant to a single antimicrobial, but 2.3% (8) were resistant to 16 to 19 of the antimicrobials tested. The group with the highest percentage of multiresistant isolates was the calves with diarrhea group. Younger calves provided samples with higher antimicrobial resistance levels. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high rate of antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms calving pens. These bacteria could not only be a resistance gene reservoir, but also could have the potential to spread these determinants through horizontal gene transfer to other susceptible bacteria. Measures should be taken to protect colonization of younger calves, based on hygienic measures and proper management.

Assessment of Antimicrobial and Pesticide Residues in Food Products Sourced from Peasant Family Farming in Chile.

The presence of antimicrobial and pesticide residues in products sourced from peasant family farms selected from eight regions of Chile was determined. A total of 204 samples were analyzed from family farm products, including honey, lettuce, tomato, strawberry, raspberry, lamb meat, and cow's milk. Pesticide residues were found in 43 of 107 samples tested for them, but only 4 samples had concentrations that exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by Chilean regulations. As for animal products, 2 of 15 cow's milk samples tested positive for permethrin residues; however, these concentrations did not exceed Chilean MRLs. No pesticide residues were detected in honey samples. As for antimicrobial drugs, 4 of 14 lamb meat samples and 11 of 79 cow's milk samples tested positive for different classes of antimicrobial residues, such as tetracyclines, macrolides, aminoglycosides, and ß-lactams. Among these, only three samples exceeded the MRLs for these matrices. Traces of tetracyclines and sulfonamides were detected in 7 of 29 honey samples. These findings show that these chemical contaminants are present in trace concentrations in foodstuffs produced by peasant family farms in Chile; however, most residues did not exceed the regulatory limits. This study is the first assessment of the presence of residues from antimicrobial drugs and pesticides in food products sourced from peasant family farms in Chile. Data about the current state of drug residues in this segment of food products provide a baseline for efforts to close possible gaps in current surveillance schemes.

Antimicrobial resistance in E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolates from calves in southern Chile / Resistencia a antimicrobianos en E. coli y Salmonella spp. de terneros del sur de Chile

ABSTRACT Objective. Description of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolates from calves <30 days of age from southern Chile. Material and methods. Necropsy and microbiology reports of 107 calves <30 days of age received at the Animal Pathology Institute between 2002 and 2015 were considered. Additionally, an antimicrobial resistance score was generated to allow comparisons among isolates with different antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Results. There was no clear trend in antimicrobial resistance during the study period, with similar levels of resistance for E. coli, β-hemolytic E. coli and Salmonella spp. Approximately 50% of isolates were sensitive to antimicrobials, and between 19 and 36% of samples showed possible extended- or pan- drug resistance. Multiple different antimicrobial resistance patterns were found, including 32 for E. coli, 17 for β-hemolytic E. coli and 10 for Salmonella spp. Conclusions. Overall, E. coli samples were most sensitive to ceftriaxone; β-hemolytic E. coli to florfenicol; and Salmonella spp. to gentamicin. In contrast, these agents were resistant to amoxicillin, ampicillin and oxytetracycline respectively. This study is unique in its approach and provides useful information for veterinarians and producers on the antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria posing a serious threat to calves. These results can help field veterinarians to control and treat bacterial diarrhea in calves.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Describir los hallazgos de resistencia a antimicrobianos en aislados de Salmonella spp. y E. coli obtenidos de terneros de menos de 30 días de edad en el sur de Chile. Materiales y métodos. Se obtuvieron reportes de necropsia y microbiología de 107 terneros en el período comprendido entre 2002 y 2015. Adicionalmente se generó un Score de Resistencia a antimicrobianos para permitir la comparación entre aislados que fueron evaluados contra un set de distintos antimicrobianos. Resultados. No se observa una clara tendencia en la resistencia en el período en estudio, con similares niveles de resistencia observados para E. coli, E. coli β-hemolítica y Salmonella spp. Aproximadamente 50% de los aislados mostraron amplia sensibilidad a antimicrobianos, y entre 19 y 36% de los aislados demostraron potencial de resistencia extendida y pan resistencia respectivamente. Se encontraron múltiples patrones de resistencia, incluyendo 32 para E. coli, 17 para E. coli β-hemolítica y 10 para Salmonella spp. Conclusiones. En general, E. coli se mostró más sensible a ceftriaxona, E. coli β-hemolítica a Florfenicol y Salmonella spp. a gentamicina. En contraste, estos agentes fueron resistentes a amoxicilina, ampicilina y oxitetraciclina respectivamente. Este estudio es único en su aproximación y provee de información útil para médicos veterinarios y productores sobre los patrones de resistencia que amenazan la salud de los terneros. Estos resultados pueden ayudar a médicos veterinarios de campo a enfrentar y controlar efectivamente las diarreas en terneros.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum in small dairy farms in central Chile / Seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo de Neospora caninum en pequeñas granjas lecheras de la zona central de Chile

ABSTRACT Objective. To provide information about seroprevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum infection in bovines of central Chile. Material and Methods. The study population are small dairy farms that are part of a Government Technical Support Service (SAT) in the O´Higgins region in central Chile. Sera samples were collected from milking cows and analyzed by a commercial ELISA kit. Additionally, a questionnaire was applied to farmers to identify risk factors through logistic regression. Results. The farm level prevalence was found to be 67%, and within farms seroprevalence 55%. Abortion history (p= 0.037, OR=5.09), dogs feed source (p= 0.0429, OR=6), cattle drinking water source (p=0.034, OR=4.5) and abortions management (p=0.017, OR=7.43) were found as significant risk factors for infection. Conclusion. There is a high N. caninum seroprevalence in small SAT´s dairy farms in O´Higgins region. These results highlight the need of improving N. caninum surveillance, and the development of preventive measures to avoid losses related with this disease.

RESUMEN Objetivos. Proveer información sobre la seroprevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a la infección por Neospora caninum en bovinos en Chile central. Materiales y métodos. La población estudiada corresponde a pequeñas lecherías que son parte de un programa gubernamental de Asistencia Técnica (SAT), en la región de O´Higgins en Chile central. Muestras de suero fueron recolectadas desde vacas en lactancia y analizadas mediante un kit comercial ELISA. Además, se aplicó un cuestionario a los dueños de los animales para la identificación de factores de riesgo a través de regresión logística. Resultados. Se identificó una prevalencia a nivel de granja del 67%, mientras que dentro de las granjas positivas, esta fue en promedio de 55%. El historial de abortos (p= 0.037, OR=5.09), la fuente de alimentación de perros (p= 0.0429, OR=6), la fuente de agua de bebida de las vacas (p=0.034, OR=4.5) y el manejo de los abortos (p=0.017, OR=7.43) fueron identificados como factores de riesgo para la infección. Conclusiones. Se observa una alta seroprevalencia de N. caninum en pequeños productores lecheros pertenecientes al SAT en Chile central. Los resultados presentados resaltan la necesidad de mejorar las acciones de vigilancia de esta enfermedad y el desarrollo de medidas preventivas para evitar las pérdidas asociadas a esta enfermedad.

Short communication: Characterization of Salmonella phages from dairy calves on farms with history of diarrhea.

Salmonella enterica can cause disease and mortality in calves. This pathogen is also a zoonosis that can be transmitted by animal contact or by food. The prevalence of Salmonella in dairy farms has been reported to range from 0 to 64%, and, due to the diversity of Salmonella serovars that can be circulating, Salmonella is an important concern for dairy production. Bacteriophages that infect Salmonella have been documented to be abundant and widely distributed in the dairy environment. The current study investigated the diversity of Salmonella serovars and Salmonella phages in 8 dairy farms with a history of diarrhea in southern Chile. A total of 160 samples from sick calves, healthy calves, and the environment were analyzed for Salmonella and phage. Isolated phages were characterized and classified by their host range using a panel of 26 Salmonella isolates representing 23 serovars. Host ranges were classified according to lysis profiles (LP) and their spatial distribution was mapped. Salmonella-infecting phages were identified, but none of the 160 samples were positive for Salmonella. A total of 45 phage isolates were obtained from sick calves (11), healthy calves (16), or the environment (18). According to their host range, 19 LP were identified, with LP1 being the most common on all 8 farms; LP1 represents phages that only lyse serogroup D Salmonella. The identification of Salmonella phages but not Salmonella in the same samples could suggest that these phages are controlling Salmonella in these farms.

Epidemiological description of the sea lice (Caligus rogercresseyi) situation in southern Chile in August 2007.

Salmon sea lice represent one of the most important threats to salmon farming throughout the world. Results of private monitoring efforts have shown an increase in the number of positive cages and cage-level abundance of sea lice in southern Chile since 2004. As a consequence, the Chilean Fisheries Service implemented an Official Surveillance Program in the main salmon production area of southern Chile to assess the situation of sea lice in fish farms. Results showed that the prevalence of sea lice in the fish farms was 53.4%, ranging from 3.5% in Puerto Aysén to 100% in the Seno de Reloncaví zone. The average sea lice abundance was 11.8 per fish (Geometrical mean (GM)=8.61, 95% CI (2.1-6.9)). The highest levels were found in Seno de Reloncaví (GM=24.99, 95% CI (15.9-39.2)), Hornopirén (GM=14.7, 95% CI (10.4-20.8)) and Chiloé norte (GM=9.75, 95% CI (1-1.9)), and the lowest loads were observed in Puerto Aysén (GM=1.35, 95%CI (1-1.9)) and Puerto Cisnes (GM=1.67, 95%CI (1.1-2.6)). Salmo salar and Oncorhynchus mykiss had the highest abundance levels (GM=6.93, 95% CI (5.7-8.5), and (GM=5.55, 95% CI (3.6-8.5), respectively). O. kisutch showed lower levels (GM=1.34, 95% CI (1-1.7)), apparently being more resistant to infestation. Sea lice in farmed salmon are widely distributed in different zones of southern Chile, and are becoming a serious threat to this industry. Prevalence and abundance levels were found to be generally high, decreasing in southern zones.

Characterization of backyard poultry production systems and disease risk in the central zone of Chile.

Backyard poultry production systems (BPS) are an important and widespread form of poultry production. There is a common perception that biosecurity standards in BPS are generally poor and BPS are usually associated with animal diseases and zoonoses. In this study BPS were identified in the vicinity of six wetlands, having these a higher risk of presenting and introducing avian diseases such as HPAI and Newcastle disease, as defined by the national veterinary services, in to Chile's main poultry production area. BPS were characterized through a field questionnaire and the main areas covered by the survey were BPS structure, biosecurity and value chain. The BPS identified in this study share most characteristics on biosecurity, poultry management and product commercialization, but it was possible to identify a certain degree of variation within and among the study sites. BPS in Chile are similar to those in other regions, with a relatively small flock size (average 37 birds), a low level of biosecurity measures and lack of poultry disease management. Management findings include that most farmers used mixed/partial confinement, with low or no biosecurity and disease control measures in place. Eggs were the main output and were used mainly for home consumption or sale at local markets. Sick birds' treatment with drugs approved for other species or for human use could represent a risk to human health, owing to the possible presence of drug residues in poultry products. Despite the different structures of the poultry sector worldwide, BPS can play a major role in disease maintenance and spread because its management conditions characteristics and the lack of animal health services adapted to these production systems. This should be an alert message to the veterinary authorities to improve coverage of veterinary assistance and surveillance activities in backyard poultry production.

Village livestock population and sampling strategies in communal areas in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

There is an urgent need for a livestock census in communal areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This study focuses on the description of the cattle, sheep, and goat populations with emphasis on the livestock distributions and population characteristics in a pilot study in two wards in communal farm land. In one of the wards, sample homogeneity was found in the cattle and goat populations. In contrast, in the second ward sheep and goat populations were found heterogeneous, and only cattle showed homogeneity. As a consequence, the use of a simple random sampling strategy for the livestock population can be recommended in one ward whereas a more complex stratified random sampling strategy is recommended for the other. The organization and logistics costs must be taken into consideration when organizing a livestock census. Therefore, the observations of this study prepare the decision on sampling schemes for future census activities. The possibility of using a complete enumeration census should not be discarded especially in areas with heterogeneous livestock populations where the organization of a complex sampling strategy can prove to be time-consuming and complicated to be executed in the field.

Ticks on pastures and on two breeds of cattle in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.

Many studies on the population dynamics of questing ticks on pastures and of parasitic ticks on cattle have been conducted. Few, however, have attempted to link the two in a single study. This study aimed to assess the population dynamics of questing ixodid ticks on pastures and of adult ticks on two breeds of cattle with different levels of susceptibility to tick infestation on the same pastures. Between January 2005 and December 2009 questing ixodid ticks were collected monthly from natural pastures at the Döhne Agricultural Development Institute and at the adjacent Campagna Production System in the Amahlathi District, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Between February 2007 and January 2010 adult ticks were collected monthly from Bonsmara and Nguni cattle grazing these pastures. Ten tick species were collected from the pastures and 12 from the cattle. Significantly more questing larvae of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus microplus were recovered from the pastures grazed by Bonsmara cattle than from those grazed by Nguni cattle (p ≤ 0.05). Significantly more adult Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus follis, R. appendiculatus, R. decoloratus, R. evertsi evertsi and R. microplus were collected from the Bonsmara cattle than from the Nguni cattle (p ≤ 0.05). The study showed that Nguni cattle are less susceptible to tick infestation than are Bonsmara cattle and fewer questing ticks are collected from pastures grazed by Nguni cattle than by Bonsmara cattle.

Risk of introducing viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) to the Chilean South Pacific via sardine imports from Europe.

Chile imports from Spain 100s of metric tons of frozen sardine Sardina pilchardus fished in European oceans, which, with several other clupeids, are presumed susceptible to infection with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). The frozen sardines are directly introduced into the sea as bait to catch southern hake Merluccius australis in the same areas where wild and pen-raised salmonids are present. A simulation model was therefore developed to evaluate the potential risk of infection of wild Chilean southern hake with VHSV from imported bait. The model indicated that VHSV-susceptible fish species present in Chilean waters, like southern hake, are not at immediate risk of infection. However, sensitivity analyses showed that infectious doses at lower concentrations of VHSV combined with higher VHSV-prevalence import scenarios could likely result in VHSV infections of a moderate number of indigenous southern hake (> or =54 fish yr(-1)).