Evaluation of anaesthesia and analgesia quality during disbudding of goat kids by certified Swiss farmers.

BACKGROUND: Certified Swiss farmers are allowed to disbud their goat kids using a standard intramuscularly administered anaesthetic mixture. This mixture, containing xylazine and ketamine, is officially distributed with the goal to provide a painless disbudding. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of analgesia and anaesthesia achieved during disbudding, when performed by Swiss farmers. To assess this, 174 goat kids at 31 different farms were observed and filmed during cautery disbudding. RESULTS: The standard anaesthetic mixture (0.05 mg/kg xylazine and 20 mg/kg ketamine) was used only in 71 goat kids. Fifty-eight goat kids were anaesthetised with different dosages of xylazine (median 0.18 mg/kg) and ketamine (median 10 mg/kg), 22 with xylazine only (median 0.61 mg/kg), 20 with xylazine (median 1.84 mg/kg) and perineural lidocaine (median 1.23 mg/kg), three with acepromazine (dosage unknown) and ketamine (10 mg/kg). Based on vocalisation, limb movement and head lifting during disbudding, a general reaction score was attributed to 168 goat kids (six were excluded due to firm restraint): 56.5% were scored zero (no limb movement, no vocalisation), 7.7% one, 17.3% two and 18.5% three (strong movements, vocalisation). Significant risk factors for higher reaction scores were the type of anaesthetic protocol and manipulation by the farmer during induction. Significant risk factors for longer recoveries were use of xylazine alone or xylazine in combination with perineural lidocaine, breed, younger age and recovery underneath heat lamp. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that anaesthesia and analgesia of goat kids disbudded by Swiss farmers is inadequate, as 35.8% of the animals showed moderate to strong behavioural reactions during the procedure. Unexpectedly, only 40.8% of the goat kids were anaesthetised with the standard anaesthetic mixture and several other protocols were used. A refinement of the recommended protocol is urgently needed to guarantee animal welfare.

Detection of 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' and other Anaplasmataceae and Rickettsiaceae in Canidae in Switzerland and Mediterranean countries.

INTRODUCTION: 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic agent that primarily affects immunocompromised human patients. Dogs and foxes are frequently exposed to ticks, and both species are in close proximity to humans. This is the first study to systematically investigate the occurrence of 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' in Canidae in Europa. We analyzed 1'739 blood samples from dogs in Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal and 162 blood samples from free-ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Switzerland. All samples were tested using a previously described multiplex real-time PCR for the Anaplasmataceae family, the 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia' genus and the 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' species. All Anaplasmataceae positive samples were subsequently tested using specific real-time PCRs for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia helvetica. Among the tested animals, one dog from Zurich tested positive for 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis'. The 12-year old West Highland white terrier had been splenectomized 3 months prior to the blood collection and presented with polyuria/polydipsia. Fanconi syndrome was diagnosed based on glucosuria with normoglycemia and hyperaminoaciduria. A. platys and E. canis were detected in 14/249 dogs from Sicily and Portugal; two of the dogs were coinfected with both agents. Four Swiss foxes tested positive for A. phagocytophilium. R. helvetica was detected for the first time in a red fox. In conclusion, 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' infection should be considered in sick dogs, particularly when immunocompromised. The pathogen seems not to be widespread in Canidae in the investigated countries. Conversely, other Anaplasmataceae were more readily detected in dogs and foxes.

INTRODUCTION: 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' est un agent de zoonose transmis par les tiques qui gagne en importance et concerne principalement les patients immunosupprimés. Les chiens comme les renards sont souvent concernés par des morsures de tiques et vivent en contact étroit avec les êtres humains. Dans le présent travail, nous étudions pour la première fois systématiquement la présence de 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' chez les canidés en Europe. Les échantillons sanguins analysés provenaient de 1'739 chiens de Suisse, d'Italie, d'Espagne et du Portugal ainsi que de 162 renards (Vulpes vulpes) de Suisse. Tous les échantillons ont été examinés avec un test de PCR multiplex en temps réel déjà publié quant à la présence d'agents de la famille des Anaplasmataceae, du genre 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia' et de l'espèce 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis'. Les échantillons positifs aux Anaplasmataceae ont ensuite été testés avec un test PCR en temps réel spécifique quant à Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis und Rickettsia helvetica. Parmi les échantillons examinés se trouvait celui d'un chien de Zürich qui était infecté par 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis'. Ce West Highland White Terrier de 12 ans avait été présenté pour polyurie/polydipsie; il avait été splénectomisé trois mois avant la prise de l'échantillon. Au vu d'une glycosurie et d'une hyperaminoacidurie accompagnées d'une glycémie normale, on a posé le diagnostic de syndrome de Fanconi. A. platys et E. canis ont été mis en évidence chez 14/249 chiens provenant de Sicile et du Portugal; deux chiens étaient infectés par les deux agents pathogènes. Quatre renards suisses étaient positifs à A. phagocytophilium et R. helvetica a été trouvé pour la première fois chez un renard. En résumé, on peut dire qu'une infection à 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' chez un chien malade doit être prise en considération comme diagnostic différentiel, particulièrement chez les anomaux immunosupprimés. Toutefois cet agent n'est pas très répandu chez les canidés des pays examinés, contrairement aux autres Anaplasmataceae spp. qui ont été trouvées plus souvent chez les chiens et les renards.