Physical Rehabilitation in Zoological Companion Animals.

Animal physical rehabilitation is one of the fast-growing fields in veterinary medicine in recent years. It has become increasingly common in small animal practice and will continue to emerge as an essential aspect of veterinary medicine that plays a vital role in the care of animals with physical impairments or disabilities from surgery, injuries, or diseases.1 This is true now more than ever because of the increasing advances in lifesaving treatments, the increased lifespan of companion animals, and the growth of chronic conditions, of which many are associated with movement disorders. The American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV) defines APR as "the diagnosis and management of patients with painful or functionally limiting conditions, particularly those with injury or illness related to the neurologic and musculoskeletal systems." Rehabilitation not only focuses on recovery after surgical procedures but also on improving the function and quality of life in animals suffering from debilitating diseases such as arthritis or neurologic disorders. The overall goal of APR is to decrease pain, reduce edema, promote tissue healing, restore gait and mobility to its prior activity level, regain strength, prevent further injury, and promote optimal quality of life. Typically, a multimodal approach with pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical interventions is used by APR therapists to manage patients during their recovery. The purpose of this article aims to provide knowledge and guidance on physical rehabilitation to help veterinarians in the proper return of their patients with ZCA safely after injury and/or surgery.

Applying the indicator amino acid oxidation technique in the domestic cat: results of a pilot study and development of a non-steady state prediction model.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method could be applied in the domestic cat. Six adult male cats were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Three semi-synthetic diets were developed: a methionine (Met) and total sulfur AA (TSAA) deficient diet (T-BASAL; 0.24% Met+Cys - DM basis) and two Met and TSAA-sufficient diets in which either dl-Met (T-DLM) or 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (T-MHA) were supplemented, respectively, on an equimolar basis to meet the TSAA requirement (0.34%). After a 2-d diet adaptation, IAAO studies were performed. Cats were offered 13 small meals. The sixth meal contained a priming dose (4.8 mg/kg-BW) of l-[1-13C]-Phe and the remaining meals a constant dose (1.04 mg/kg-BW). Breath samples were collected every 25 min to measure 13CO2 enrichment. The following morning, fasted blood samples were collected. Cats returned to the T-BASAL top dressed with a dl-Met solution for 4 d prior to being fed a new dietary treatment. Isotopic steady state was evaluated through visual inspection. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.4. While 13CO2 enrichment was successfully captured in breath samples, cats failed to reach 13CO2 steady state. Thus, a non-steady state isotope model was developed and coded in ACSLX (V3.1.4.2) individually for each cat on each study day to predict 13CO2 enrichment, and then, calculate oxidation of l-[1-13C]-Phe (F13CO2). A higher predicted F13CO2 was observed for cats fed T-BASAL compared to the others (P < 0.05), while no differences were observed between T-DLM and T-MHA (P > 0.05). Cats fed T-DLM tended to have higher plasma Met concentrations compared to those fed T-BASAL with cats fed T-MHA intermediate (P = 0.0867). Plasma homocysteine concentrations were higher in cats fed T-BASAL compared to the others (P < 0.05), while threonine concentrations tended to be higher in cats fed T-BASAL compared to those fed T-MHA (P = 0.0750). In conclusion, short-term provision of a semi-synthetic diet deficient in Met may elicit a metabolic response aiming to conserve Met. The successful quantification of 13CO2 enrichment in breath and the higher predicted F13CO2 in cats fed a Met deficient diet suggest that the IAAO technique may be used in cats. Adaptations in the isotope protocol should be made to achieve 13CO2 steady state in breath and avoid mathematical modeling to predict F13CO2.

It is necessary to apply more sensitive techniques to improve our limited understanding of amino acid (AA) requirements of adult cats. The non-invasive indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique is highly sensitive in mature animals. However, while it has been widely applied in different species, this technique has yet to be used in cats. We used six healthy adult cats to evaluate whether the IAAO method could be successfully applied in this species. A similar continuous small meals regimen as reported in IAAO studies in dogs was used. An oral primed-constant isotope infusion protocol was applied where l-13C-Phenylalanine (l-[1-13C]-Phe) was used as the tracer and the oxidation of l-[1-13C]-Phe as the response of interest. Breath samples were collected to determine enrichment of 13CO2 in breath and calculate oxidation of l-[1-13C]-Phe. While we were able to collect breath samples using calorimetry chambers and capture enrichment of 13CO2 in breath, cats did not achieve steady state, which is necessary to calculate oxidation of l-[1-13C]-Phe. Modifications in the isotope protocol should be made to achieve steady state of 13CO2 in breath, and thus, to successfully apply the IAAO technique to determine requirement of AA in adult cats.

Application of the multi-theory model to explain veterinarians' intentions to use telehealth/telemedicine.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth adoption is being fueled by both technological breakthroughs and societal demands; however, veterinarians have yet to fully embrace the concept of telemedicine, limiting its use and potential benefits. The goal of this study was to evaluate how effective the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behaviour change explains the initiation and sustenance of telehealth use among veterinarians. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, a research company was contracted to disseminate the MTM-based online survey to veterinarians currently engaged in clinical practice within the United States. RESULTS: A total of 243 veterinarians participated in this study. The most frequently reported age group among participants was 31-40 years (33.7%, n = 82). It was also noted that the majority of participants were female (70.0%, n = 170) and white (76.5%, n = 186). Hierarchical multiple regression showed that participatory dialogue (p = 0.037), species (p = 0.013) and previous monthly telehealth use (p = 0.040) were significant explanatory variables of initiation of telehealth use. Moreover, emotional transformation (p < 0.001) and previous monthly telehealth use (p = 0.035) were significant explanatory variables of sustenance of telehealth use. LIMITATIONS: The data were collected in July 2020, during a global pandemic, in which telehealth use surged across a variety of professions. As a result, the findings of the study may not be relevant in periods when there is no pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of this study, researchers, educators and veterinary professionals should consider using MTM as theoretical framework to develop interventions to enhance telehealth use.

Googling for a veterinary diagnosis: A replication study using Google as a diagnostic aid.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to replicate in the veterinary context a BMJ study using Google to assist in diagnosis of complex cases. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To assess percentage of diagnoses identified using Google as a diagnostic aid in veterinary medicine. ANIMALS: None; 13 cases in cats and 17 in dogs published in JAVMA. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of Google results from searches using keywords generated independently by a generalist and a specialist veterinarian who reviewed the published case history and diagnostic components while blind to the diagnosis. They offered diagnoses and generated up to 5 search strategies for each case. The top 30 Google results for each search were reviewed by the generalist to inform a final Google-aided diagnosis. Both veterinarians' initial diagnoses and the Google-aided diagnoses were compared with the published diagnoses. RESULTS: Google searching led to 52 diagnoses out of 60 possible. Twenty-two (42%, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 29%-55%) Google-aided diagnoses matched the JAVMA diagnosis. This accuracy rate does not differ significantly from 58% (n = 15/26, 95% CI 38%-77%) identified in the BMJ study. Google-aided results were not statistically different from those achieved unaided by each veterinarian (33%, 95% CI 16%-50%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Published information found searching Google using keywords related to complicated or unusual cases could assist veterinarians to reinforce their initial diagnosis or consider other differential diagnoses. Search strategies using words representing either signs or the preliminary diagnoses can yield results useful to confirming a correct diagnosis.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Canine Orthopedic Medicine.

The use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) continues to become more widespread, especially for the management of chronic pain conditions such as canine osteoarthritis. Many patients have comorbidities that preclude traditional medical options, have not adequately responded to conventional therapies, or have owners interested in pursuing a complementary approach. Evidence-based CAVM can serve as a safe and effective adjunct to manage chronic pain conditions. There is growing evidence in the veterinary literature for the use of acupuncture and some herbal supplements in the multimodal management of canine osteoarthritis. The majority of evidence supporting chiropractic is limited to equine and human literature.

Assessing cognitive performance in dairy calves using a modified hole-board test.

The hole-board test has been used to assess working and reference memory in a variety of species, but not in cattle. We developed and applied a modified hole-board test for dairy calves. Fifteen bottles were evenly spaced along three walls of a test arena; 11 of these were empty and 4 were 'baited' with milk. Calves were exposed daily (over an 11-day learning period) to the test arena with the location of the baited bottles held constant; the location of the 4 baited bottles was then changed and calves were re-trained on these new locations (over a 7-day re-learning period). Working memory (no. of revisits to the baited set), general working memory (no. of revisits to the whole set), and reference memory (avoidance of non-baited bottles) were assessed daily. Performance significantly improved during the learning period for reference and general working memory. Working memory tended to improve, albeit non-significantly. The change in bottle location initially reduced all performance measures, but these subsequently improved during the 7-day re-learning period. These results indicate that a modified hole-board test can be used to assess calf cognition, and thus may be helpful in future research designed to investigate the effects of housing and rearing conditions on cognition.

Ethnoveterinary study of galactogenic recipes used by ruminant breeders to improve milk production of local cows in Benin Republic.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Benin, traditional recipes are used to improve livestock dairy performance, but they are not sufficient documented. The study aimed to inventory the galactogenic recipes used by herders to improve production in cow farming. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to inventory the galactogenic recipes used by herders to improve production in cow farming. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews among 65 peuls camps, 4 bioclimatic zones, and 565 farmers dialogue partners, including agro-pastoralist, healers and pastoralists from the rainy season April and May 2019. Detailed information about homemade herbal remedies of galactogenic recipes (plant species, plant part, manufacturing process) and the corresponding use reports (dialogue partner, category of use and route of administration) was collected. Then other to classify the various recipes identified into homogeneneous groups according to their effectiveness in stimulating milk, a numerical classification was carried out on the recipes taking into account the milk gain. RESULTS: They showed that Peuls and Gandos sociocultural groups have a better knowledge of galactogenic recipes. Of the 295 recipes inventoried, 102 frequently cited recipes were divided into two groups. Group 2, consisting of 16 recipes, had a significantly (p < 0.001) higher milk yield than group 1. Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. and Arachis hypogaea L. were the main ingredients of the recipes (respectively 56 and 31% of incorporation rate). The composition of the recipes varied according to the agro-ecological zones. Herders in Northern Benin used more recipes based on Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Harms) J.H.Kirkbr. & Wiersema, Saba comorensis (Bojer ex A.DC.) Pichon and Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton. Those in Southern Benin mainly used recipes based on Gardenia aqualla associated with Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp or Arachis hypogaea L.. To improve the effectiveness of galactogenic recipes, socio-cultural and magical-religious practices are used when procuring the plant material to be used, preparing the galactogen and administering the recipe to the animals. These include pronounced incantations or recited Koranic verses. The most commonly used route of administration is the oral route with an average treatment duration not exceeding 5 days. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that the majority of breeders (90%) opt for the use of galactogenic plants rather than synthetic products to improve milk production.

Benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic approach for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.

Even though enormous efforts and control strategies have been implemented, bovine tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant source of health and socioeconomic concern. The standard method used in TB eradication programs for in vivo detection is the tuberculin skin test. However, the specificity of the tuberculin skin test is affected by infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria or by vaccination. Thus, some animals are not correctly diagnosed. This study aimed first to identify a plasma metabolic TB profile by high-field (HF) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and second measure this characteristic TB metabolic profile using low-field benchtop (LF) NMR as an affordable molecular technology for TB diagnosis. Plasma samples from cattle diagnosed with TB (derivation set, n = 11), diagnosed with paratuberculosis (PTB, n = 10), PTB-vaccinated healthy control (n = 10) and healthy PTB-unvaccinated control (n = 10) were analyzed by NMR. Unsupervised Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify metabolic differences between groups. We identified 14 metabolites significantly different between TB and control animals. The second group of TB animals was used to validate the results (validation set, n = 14). Predictive models based on metabolic fingerprint acquired by both HF and LF NMR spectroscopy successfully identified TB versus control subjects (Area under the curve of Receiver Operating Characteristic over 0.92, in both models; Confidence Interval 0.77-1). In summary, plasma fingerprinting using HF and LF-NMR differentiated TB subjects from uninfected animals, and PTB and PTB-vaccinated subjects who may provide a TB-false positive, highlighting the use of LF-NMR-based metabolomics as a complementary or alternative diagnostic tool to the current diagnostic methods.

Learning curve for the laparoscopy-guided kidney biopsy procedure in small corpses of dogs and pigs.

The use of renal biopsy through laparoscopy is increasingly present both in human and veterinary medicine. However, both techniques require skill and training to make the operator capable to do it. The learning curve allows the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the number of attempts and minimum time for the surgical procedure. The objective included establish the learning curve for laparoscopy-guided kidney biopsy procedures in dog and pig corpses. Six dogs and six pigs corpses weighing less than 10 kg were used for this study. All corpses underwent kidney biopsy performed through laparoscopy. Twenty-four operators, two per animal, performed 20 renal biopsies each (10 for each kidney), with 480 collection-procedures in total. Duration and difficulty of the procedure and the biopsy sample quality were evaluated and statistical analysis was performed using a mixed regression model with a random effect of individuals and multivariate analysis of data. There were 91.5% of the samples that were adequate for evaluation. There was no significant difference in the number of glomeruli or cortex percentage considering the attempts in either species, demonstrating the operator's ability since first collection. Swine samples showed higher amounts of renal cortex than canine samples. The procedure duration was shorter as more attempts were performed in dogs and pigs. From the fourth repetition, the professional reached a plateau for the variable related to 'collection', and from the second, the professional presented uniform duration for 'sample storage'. Operators of the swine model acquired more agility than the dog ones. The variable 'difficulty' decreased as more repetitions were performed, reaching a plateau in the sixth attempt. Seven renal biopsies laparoscopy-guided are required for an operator to be considered 'capable' to perform the procedure in the referred species included. The learning curve for image-guided kidney biopsy procedures improves the implementation of this technique and benefits patients that undergo this procedure.

Gas Plasma-Augmented Wound Healing in Animal Models and Veterinary Medicine.

The loss of skin integrity is inevitable in life. Wound healing is a necessary sequence of events to reconstitute the body's integrity against potentially harmful environmental agents and restore homeostasis. Attempts to improve cutaneous wound healing are therefore as old as humanity itself. Furthermore, nowadays, targeting defective wound healing is of utmost importance in an aging society with underlying diseases such as diabetes and vascular insufficiencies being on the rise. Because chronic wounds' etiology and specific traits differ, there is widespread polypragmasia in targeting non-healing conditions. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) are an overarching theme accompanying wound healing and its biological stages. ROS are signaling agents generated by phagocytes to inactivate pathogens. Although ROS/RNS's central role in the biology of wound healing has long been appreciated, it was only until the recent decade that these agents were explicitly used to target defective wound healing using gas plasma technology. Gas plasma is a physical state of matter and is a partially ionized gas operated at body temperature which generates a plethora of ROS/RNS simultaneously in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Animal models of wound healing have been vital in driving the development of these wound healing-promoting technologies, and this review summarizes the current knowledge and identifies open ends derived from in vivo wound models under gas plasma therapy. While gas plasma-assisted wound healing in humans has become well established in Europe, veterinary medicine is an emerging field with great potential to improve the lives of suffering animals.

The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in Veterinary Medicine and Their Use in Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Regenerative medicine is a dynamically developing field of human and veterinary medicine. The animal model was most commonly used for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) treatment in experimental and preclinical studies with a satisfactory therapeutic effect. Year by year, the need for alternative treatments in veterinary medicine is increasing, and other applications for promising MSCs and their biological derivatives are constantly being sought. There is also an increase in demand for other methods of treating disease states, of which the classical treatment methods did not bring the desired results. Cell therapy can be a realistic option for treating human and animal diseases in the near future and therefore additional research is needed to optimize cell origins, numbers, or application methods in order to standardize the treatment process and assess its effects. The aim of the following work was to summarize available knowledge about stem cells in veterinary medicine and their possible application in the treatment of chosen musculoskeletal disorders in dogs and horses.

Managing the Health of Captive Herds of Exotic Companion Mammals.

Common medical problems diagnosed and treated in individual companion exotic mammals are relevant in a herd-health setting. Many of these problems are often associated with poor husbandry and/or inappropriate nutrition. Rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas, and rodents have been domesticated alongside humans and an understanding of their ethology gives veterinarians a base knowledge in making recommendations for animals in their care. This article briefly reviews the ethology and husbandry in such species, but detailed needs are beyond the scope of this article.

Probability of PRRS virus detection in pooled processing fluid samples.

There has been a tremendous increase in recent years of population-based diagnostic monitoring and surveillance strategies in swine populations. One example is the use of processing fluids (PF) to screen breeding herds for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) activity. An important question from practitioners using such methods is on how intensively can the sample be pooled. More specifically, processing fluids of how many litters can be pooled into a single sample for diagnostic testing to preserve a high probability of PRRSV RNA detection at low prevalence situations? The objective of this study was to model the effect of pooling PF samples on the probability of PRRSV RNA detection. For this study, a PRRSV-positive PF field sample with a RT-rtPCR quantification cycle (Cq) value of 28 was selected to represent a litter of 11 pigs with a single viremic piglet. PF samples from a PRRSV-naïve herd were used to perform 6 replications of 8 two-fold serial dilutions of the PRRSV-positive sample, thus modeling the pooling effect (dilution). Each two-fold dilution represented an increase in the number of PRRS-negative pigs in the sample by a factor of 2. Samples were tested for PRRSV RNA by RT-rtPCR and the data was analyzed using linear and probit regression models. There was an average increment of 1.37 points in Ct for each two-fold dilution. The estimated probability of testing positive on RT-rtPCR was 43 %, 80 %, and 95 % when there was a single PRRSv-positive piglet among 784, 492, and 323 PRRSv-negative piglets contributing to the sample respectively. Results from this study support the practice of collecting and aggregating PF samples from multiple litters for PRRSV RNA testing.

Potential applications of aptamers in veterinary science.

Aptamers are small nucleic acids that fold in a three-dimensional conformation allowing them to bind specifically to a target. This target can be an organic molecule, free or carried in cells or tissues, or inorganic components, such as metal ions. Analogous to monoclonal antibodies, aptamers however have certain advantages over the latter: e.g., high specificity for their target, no to low immunogenicity and easy in vitro selection. Since their discovery more than 30 years ago, aptamers have led to various applications, although mainly restricted to basic research. This work reviews the applications of aptamers in veterinary science to date. First, we present aptamers, how they are selected and their properties, then we give examples of applications in food and environmental safety, as well as in diagnosis and medical treatment in the field of veterinary medicine. Because examples of applications in veterinary medicine are scarce, we explore the potential avenues for future applications based on discoveries made in human medicine. Aptamers may offer new possibilities for veterinarians to diagnose certain diseases-particularly infectious diseases-more rapidly or "at the patient's bedside". All the examples highlight the growing interest in aptamers and the premises of a potential market. Aptamers may benefit animals as well as their owners, breeders and even public health in a "One Health" approach.

An evaluation tool to strengthen the collaborative process of the public-private partnership in the veterinary domain.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the veterinary domain are widely implemented worldwide and can help to strengthen the capacities of Veterinary Services. Few analyses have been made of these initiatives. This study is aimed at developing an evaluation tool based on participatory approaches and focusing on the quality of PPP processes in the veterinary domain. The tool was divided into ten sections relevant to PPP process organisation and activities. The 44 evaluation criteria and six quality attributes (operationality, relevance, acceptability, inclusiveness, adaptability, and stability) were identified based on literature review and case-study application. The tool was adjusted during four regional PPP training workshops bringing together stakeholders from both public and private sectors. Finally, the tool was validated through an experts' elicitation process and applied in the field in Paraguay. The tool was developed in a non-normative perspective to help the partners adapt the PPP to their specific context, to maximize the opportunities and minimize the risks of such collaborations, and to formulate adapted recommendations to strengthen and improve the PPP collaborative process and thus the outcomes. In an ex-ante perspective, this tool would also help public and private actors to engage and develop a PPP process following the best possible practices. The aim of this tool is to help decision making in terms of PPP development and implementation in the veterinary domain to ensure the added value and relevance of such a collaborative approach in different countries worldwide.

Establishing defined daily doses (DDDs) for antimicrobial agents used in pigs, cattle and poultry in Japan and comparing them with European DDD values.

Monitoring of antimicrobial use is essential in the management of the development and selection of antimicrobial resistance. A variety of indicators has become available to monitor antimicrobial use in human and animal medicine. One of them is an indicator based on defined daily dose (DDD). By using the number of DDDs administered and normalising it by the population at risk of being treated over a defined period, one can estimate the number of treatment days with antimicrobial agents in a population. For veterinary medicine, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published the European values of DDD (DDDvet) for food-producing animals. In this study, we defined Japanese defined daily doses for antimicrobial agents (DDDjp) using DDD values that we previously assigned for antimicrobial products approved for use in pigs, cattle and poultry in Japan and compared them with DDDvet values. For the comparison, the quotient of Japanese and European values (QDDD) was calculated and the effect of the administration route and the number of active substances contained in the preparation was investigated. A total of 59 DDDjp values were defined for 43 antimicrobial agents using the data of 276 products approved for use in pigs. Likewise, a total of 55 DDDjp values were defined for 32 antimicrobial agents using the data of 196 products for use in cattle, and a total of 27 DDDjps values were defined for 25 antimicrobial agents using the data of 131 products approved for use in poultry. A comparison was made for 42, 28 and 17 pairs of DDDjp and DDDvet values for antimicrobial agents used for pigs, cattle and poultry respectively. The comparison showed median QDDD value of 0.61 and 0.66 for antimicrobial agents used for pigs and cattle respectively (p<0.01), indicating that the Japanese daily doses are significantly lower than the corresponding EMA values in these species. For the antimicrobial agents used for poultry, no significant difference was observed between DDDjp and DDDvet values with a median QDDD value of 1.15. The difference between DDDvet and DDDjp values and absence of DDDvet values for some antimicrobial agents marketed in Japan indicate that DDDjp rather than DDDvet should be used as the basis for the calculation of antimicrobial use monitoring in farm animals in Japan.