Estimating spatial and temporal trends of dog importation into Canada from 2013 to 2019.

Background and objective: For several years, there has been growing concern over the public and animal health impacts of dog importation, with many Canadian veterinarians reporting increasing diagnoses of exotic pests and pathogens. This study is the first to estimate the number of dogs imported into Canada and describe spatial and temporal trends. Animal and procedure: Commercial and a subset of personal dog importation records, obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency, were used to estimate the total number of dogs imported into Canada from 2013 to 2019. Results: The number of dogs imported annually increased by > 400% over the study period, with > 37 000 dogs imported in 2019. The majority of dogs (72%) were imported from the United States and Eastern Europe, and 23% originated in a country considered high-risk for canine rabies. Conclusion: Dog importation into Canada has increased substantially over time. Moving forward, education and improved tracking will be essential.

Estimation des tendances spatiales et temporelles de l'importation de chiens au Canada de 2013 à 2019. Contexte et objectif: Depuis plusieurs années, les impacts de l'importation de chiens sur la santé publique et animale suscitent de plus en plus d'inquiétudes, de nombreux vétérinaires canadiens signalant une augmentation des diagnostics de vermines et d'agents pathogènes exotiques. Cette étude est la première à estimer le nombre de chiens importés au Canada et à décrire les tendances spatiales et temporelles. Animal et procédure: Des dossiers d'importation de chiens commerciaux et personnels, obtenus auprès de l'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada, ont été utilisés pour estimer le nombre total de chiens importés au Canada de 2013 à 2019. Résultats: Le nombre de chiens importés chaque année a augmenté de > 400 % au cours de la période d'étude, avec > 37 000 chiens importés en 2019. La majorité des chiens (72 %) ont été importés des États-Unis et d'Europe de l'Est, et 23 % sont originaires d'un pays considéré comme à haut risque de rage canine. Conclusion: L'importation de chiens au Canada a considérablement augmenté au fil du temps. À l'avenir, l'éducation et un meilleur suivi seront essentiels.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Brucella canis in Commercial Dog Breeding Kennels, Ontario, Canada.

We evaluated the prevalence of Brucella canis seropositivity in a convenience sample of dogs from commercial breeding kennels in Ontario, Canada. Overall, 127/1,080 (11.8%) dogs from 23/63 (37%) kennels were seropositive. The prevalence of positive dogs within kennels with >1 positive dog ranged from 3.9% to 100% (median 33%).

Emergence and Containment of Canine Influenza Virus A(H3N2), Ontario, Canada, 2017-2018.

Canine influenza virus (CIV) A(H3N2) was identified in 104 dogs in Ontario, Canada, during December 28, 2017-October 30, 2018, in distinct epidemiologic clusters. High morbidity rates occurred within groups of dogs, and kennels and a veterinary clinic were identified as foci of infection. Death attributable to CIV infection occurred in 2 (2%) of 104 diagnosed cases. A combination of testing of suspected cases, contact tracing and testing, and 28-day isolation of infected dogs was used, and CIV transmission was contained in each outbreak. Dogs recently imported from Asia were implicated as the source of infection. CIV H3N2 spread rapidly within groups in this immunologically naive population; however, containment measures were apparently effective, demonstrating the potential value of prompt diagnosis and implementation of CIV control measures.

Passive surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and Escherichia coli isolates from Ontario livestock, 2007-2015.

Clinical isolates are important to antimicrobial resistance surveillance efforts because clinically ill animals are the direct targets of antimicrobial treatments. Thus, clinical data may provide a surveillance tool for identifying emerging resistance threats. The purpose of this study was to describe resistance trends in Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from clinically ill animals over time and evaluate the utility of these laboratory data as a passive surveillance tool. Susceptibility results of isolates from chickens, swine, and cattle recovered between 2007 and 2015 at a major veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Ontario, Canada were analyzed. Relative to other antimicrobials tested, visible trends highlighted high resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline in chicken E. coli, consistently high resistance to tetracycline, sulfisoxazole, and ampicillin among swine isolates, and an increase in cattle E. coli resistant to ampicillin and cephalothin over time. While the data show potential for use in surveillance, there are limitations of such a clinical dataset for predicting overall trends and guiding empirical treatment decisions.

Surveillance passive de l'antibiorésistance dans les isolats de Salmonella et d'Escherichia coli chez le bétail de l'Ontario, 2007­2015. Les isolats cliniques sont importants pour la surveillance de l'antibiorésistance parce que les animaux cliniquement malades sont les cibles directes des traitements antimicrobiens. Par conséquent, les données cliniques peuvent fournir un outil de surveillance pour identifier les nouvelles menaces de résistance. Le but de cette étude consistait à décrire dans le temps les tendances de résistance d'Escherichia coli et de Salmonella spp. chez les animaux cliniquement malades et d'évaluer l'utilité de ces données de laboratoire en tant qu'outil de surveillance passive. On a analysé les résultats de susceptibilité des isolats récupérés entre 2007 et 2015 auprès de poulets, de porcs et de bovins dans un grand laboratoire de diagnostic vétérinaire en Ontario, au Canada. Pour les antimicrobiens testés, les tendances visibles ont souligné une résistance importante d'E. coli à l'ampicilline et à la tétracycline chez les poulets, une résistance importante constante à la tétracycline, au sulfisoxazole et à l'ampicilline parmi les isolats des porcs et, chez les bovins, une progression d'E. coli résistant à l'ampicilline et à la céphalothine dans le temps. Même si les données montrent un potentiel d'utilisation pour la surveillance, il y a des limitations pour un tel ensemble de données cliniques en vue de la prédiction des tendances générales et de l'orientation des décisions de traitement empiriques.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Self-reported hand hygiene perceptions and barriers among companion animal veterinary clinic personnel in Ontario, Canada.

The objective of this study was to describe the perceived importance of and barriers to hand hygiene among companion animal clinic staff. An anonymous, voluntary written questionnaire was completed by 356 of approximately 578 individuals (62%) from 49/51 clinics. On a scale of 1 (not important) to 7 (very important), the percentage of respondents who rated hand hygiene as a 5 or higher was at least 82% in all clinical scenarios queried. The most frequently reported reason for not performing hand hygiene was forgetting to do so (40%, 141/353). Specific discussion of hand hygiene practices at work was recalled by 32% (114/354) of respondents. Although veterinary staff seem to recognize the importance of hand hygiene, it should be emphasized more during staff training. Other barriers including time constraints and skin irritation should also be addressed, possibly through increased access to and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Perceptions et obstacles autodéclarés pour l'hygiène des mains parmi les employés des cliniques vétérinaires pour animaux de compagnie en Ontario, au Canada. L'objectif de cette étude consistait à décrire l'importance perçue des obstacles à l'hygiène des mains, ainsi que les obstacles eux-mêmes, parmi les employés des cliniques pour animaux de compagnie. Un questionnaire écrit volontaire et anonyme a été rempli par 356 personnes parmi un groupe d'environ 578 individus (62 %) provenant de 49/51 cliniques. Sur une échelle de 1 (pas important) à 7 (très important), le pourcentage des répondants qui a évalué l'hygiène des mains avec une cote de 5 ou supérieure était d'au moins 82 % dans tous les scénarios cliniques présentés. La raison la plus fréquente de ne pas effectuer l'hygiène des mains était l'oubli (40 %, 141/353). Signalons que 32 % (114/354) des répondants se sont rappelés d'une discussion spécifique sur les pratiques d'hygiène des mains au travail. Même si le personnel vétérinaire semble reconnaître l'importance de l'hygiène des mains, il faudrait insister plus sur ce sujet lors de la formation des employés. Les autres obstacles, qui incluent les contraintes de temps et l'irritation de la peau, devraient aussi être abordés, potentiellement par l'accès et l'utilisation accrus de désinfectants à base d'alcool.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Video observation of sharps handling and infection control practices during routine companion animal appointments.

BACKGROUND: Infection control in veterinary clinics is important for preventing pathogen spread between patients, staff and the public. There has been no direct evaluation of the use of many basic infection control practices, including sharps handling, environmental cleaning, and personal protective clothing (PPC), in companion animal clinics. The objective of this study was to describe these and other infection control practices associated with routine companion animal appointments in veterinary clinics in Ontario. RESULTS: Video observation of practices was performed in 51 clinics for approximately 3 weeks each as part of another study evaluating the effect of a poster campaign on hand hygiene compliance. Two small wireless surveillance cameras were used: one in an exam room, one in what was considered the most likely location for hand hygiene to be performed outside the exam room following an appointment. Video footage was coded and analyzed for 47 clinics, including 2713 appointments and 4903 individual staff-animal contacts. Recapping of a needle was seen in 84% (1137/1353) of appointments in which use was observed. Only one apparent needlestick injury (NSI) was seen, during recapping. Exam tables were cleaned and floors were mopped following 76% (2015/2646) and 7% (174/2643) of appointments, respectively. Contact time with spray used to clean the exam table ranged from 0-4611 s (mean 39 s, median 9 s). Appropriate PPC was worn for 72% (3518/4903) of staff-animal contacts. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was significant room for improvement in sharps handling behaviours in participating clinics, the number of observed NSIs was low. Contact time with environmental disinfectants and use of PPC could also be improved, as well as other basic infection control practices. Education and motivation of veterinary staff to use these simple measures more effectively could potentially have a significant impact on infection control in veterinary clinics for relatively little cost.

Video observation of hand hygiene practices during routine companion animal appointments and the effect of a poster intervention on hand hygiene compliance.

BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene is considered one of the most important infection control measures in human healthcare settings, but there is little information available regarding hand hygiene frequency and technique used in veterinary clinics. The objectives of this study were to describe hand hygiene practices associated with routine appointments in companion animal clinics in Ontario, and the effectiveness of a poster campaign to improve hand hygiene compliance. RESULTS: Observation of hand hygiene practices was performed in 51 clinics for approximately 3 weeks each using 2 small wireless surveillance cameras: one in an exam room, and one in the most likely location for hand hygiene to be performed outside the exam room following an appointment. Data from 38 clinics were included in the final analysis, including 449 individuals, 1139 appointments before and after the poster intervention, and 10894 hand hygiene opportunities. Overall hand hygiene compliance was 14% (1473/10894), while before and after patient contact compliance was 3% (123/4377) and 26% (1145/4377), respectively. Soap and water was used for 87% (1182/1353) of observed hand hygiene attempts with a mean contact time of 4 s (median 2 s, range 1-49 s), while alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) was used for 7% (98/1353) of attempts with a mean contact time of 8 s (median 7 s, range 1-30 s). The presence of the posters had no significant effect on compliance, although some staff reported that they felt the posters did increase their personal awareness of the need to perform hand hygiene, and the posters had some effect on product contact times. CONCLUSIONS: Overall hand hygiene compliance in veterinary clinics in this study was low, and contact time with hand hygiene products was frequently below current recommendations. Use of ABHR was low despite its advantages over hand washing and availability in the majority of clinics. The poster campaign had a limited effect on its own, but could still be used as a component of a multimodal hand hygiene campaign. Improving the infection control culture in veterinary medicine would facilitate future campaigns and studies in this area, as well as overall patient and staff safety.

Observational study of patient and surgeon preoperative preparation in ten companion animal clinics in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a recognized risk of any surgical procedure in veterinary medicine. One of the keys to prevention of SSIs is reducing exposure of the surgical site to endogenous and exogenous microbes, beginning in the preoperative period. While guidelines are available for preoperative preparation procedures, there has been no objective investigation of compliance with these recommendations in veterinary practices. The objectives of this pilot study were to describe preoperative patient and surgeon preparation practices in a sample of non-equine companion animal veterinary clinics, and to determine if there were any areas that consistently did not meet current guidelines. RESULTS: Observation of preparation practices was performed in 10 clinics over 9-14 days each using up to 3 small wireless surveillance cameras. Data were coded for 148 surgical patients, and 31 surgeons performing 190 preoperative preparations. When patient hair removal was observed, it was most commonly done using clippers (117/133, 88%), and in only one case was it performed prior to anesthetic induction. Patient contact time with soap ranged from 10-462 s (average of clinic means 75 s, average of clinic medians 67 s), and with alcohol from 3-220 s (average of clinic means 44 s, average of clinic medians 37 s). Alcohol-based hand rub (AHR) was used preoperatively in 2/10 facilities, but soap-and-water hand scrub was most commonly used at all clinics. Proximal-to-distal scrubbing was noted in 95/142 (67%) of soap-and-water scrubs. Contact time during surgeon hand preparation ranged from 7-529 s (average mean 121 s, average median 122 s) for soap-and-water and from 4-123 s (average mean 25 s, average median 19 s) for AHR. No significant changes in practices were identified over time during the observation period. Practices that did not conform to guidelines available in major companion animal surgical textbooks were commonly observed. CONCLUSIONS: Some preoperative preparation practices were relatively consistent between clinics in this study, while others were quite variable. Contact times with preoperative preparatory solutions for both patients and surgeons were often shorter than recommended. Evidence-based guidelines for these procedures in veterinary medicine should be established and implemented in order to help reduce preventable SSIs, while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Severe gastric impaction secondary to a gastric polyp in a horse.

A 13-year-old Percheron gelding was presented for refractory gastric impaction. At necropsy a pedunculated 10 cm × 11 cm × 14 cm mass, histologically identified as an inflammatory polyp, was suspected to have been partly obstructing the pylorus. This is the first report of a polyp resulting in gastric outflow obstruction in a horse.

Surcharge gastrique grave secondaire à un polype gastrique chez un cheval. Un hongre Percheron âgé de 13 ans a été présenté pour une surcharge gastrique réfractaire. À la nécropsie, une masse pédonculée de 10 cm × 11 cm × 14 cm, identifiée à l'histologie comme un polype inflammatoire, a été soupçonnée d'avoir partiellement bloqué le pylore. Il s'agit du premier rapport d'un polype qui se traduit par l'obstruction de l'écoulement gastrique chez un cheval.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Canadian Collaboration to Identify a Minimum Dataset for Antimicrobial Use Surveillance for Policy and Intervention Development across Food Animal Sectors.

Surveillance of antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a core component of the 2017 Pan-Canadian Framework for Action. There are existing AMU and AMR surveillance systems in Canada, but some stakeholders are interested in developing their own AMU monitoring/surveillance systems. It was recognized that the establishment of core (minimum) AMU data elements, as is necessary for policy or intervention development, would inform the development of practical and sustainable AMU surveillance capacity across food animal sectors in Canada. The Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) AMU Network was established as a multisectoral working group to explore the possibility of harmonizing data inputs and outputs. There was a consensus that a minimum AMU dataset for AMU surveillance (MDS-AMU-surv) should be developed to guide interested parties in initiating AMU data collection. This multisectoral collaboration is an example of how consultative consensus building across relevant sectors can contribute to the development of harmonized approaches to AMU data collection and reporting and ultimately improve AMU stewardship. The MDS-AMU-surv could be used as a starting point for the progressive development or strengthening of AMU surveillance programs, and the collaborative work could serve as a model for addressing AMR and other shared threats at the human-animal-environment interface.

Caudal vena cava thrombosis-like syndrome in a horse.

A 9-year-old Quarter horse was presented for chronic refractory pneumonia. On necropsy, an hepatic abscess, caudal vena cava thrombosis, pulmonary thromboembolism, and embolic pneumonia were identified. Similar lesions have been reported in cattle as caudal vena cava thrombosis syndrome, however this syndrome has not previously been reported in horses.

The Dynamic Nature of Canine and Feline Infectious Disease Risks in the Twenty-first Century.

Canine and feline infectious diseases are constantly changing in frequency and location. Numerous drivers or determinants of these changes are suspected, including emergence of new pathogens; change in virulence and resistance of existing pathogens; change in land use, climate, and weather; travel and trade; habitat destruction and urbanization; change in animal-animal contact networks; host susceptibility; availability and uptake of prevention measures; and change in ability to detect pathogens and track diseases. This article explores each of these proposed drivers and examines examples of feline and canine diseases likely to be influenced by them.

Impact of Dog Transport on High-Risk Infectious Diseases.

Translocation of dogs inherently poses infectious disease risks when pathogen distributions vary between regions, even within the same country. Concerns include introduction of novel pathogens that can infect dogs, zoonotic pathogens, pathogens that can become established in existing reservoirs or vectors, and vectors that might carry pathogens and/or become established in a new region. This article presents the drivers of canine movement and their relative risks, and provides examples of diseases to show how different pathogen characteristics and transmission pathways can affect the impact of movement of infected dogs.

Evaluation of prevalence and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in veterinary personnel attending an international equine veterinary conference.

Infection and colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are now increasingly being reported in animals and people who work with animals, including horses and horse personnel. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of MRSA colonization in veterinary personnel attending an international equine veterinary conference, and to identify risk factors for MRSA colonization in this group. Volunteers were recruited at the conference to provide a single nasal swab and complete a questionnaire regarding contact with the human health care system, contact with horses, and personal hand hygiene. Colonization with MRSA was found in 26/257 (10.1%) of study participants. Multivariable analysis showed an increased risk of MRSA colonization associated with having been diagnosed with or having treated a patient diagnosed with MRSA colonization or infection in the last year (odds ratio [OR] 8.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-49.92, P=0.015; OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.05-10.11, P=0.039, respectively), whereas hand washing between infectious cases (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11-0.72, P=0.009) and hand washing between farms (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.98, P=0.047) were protective. The prevalence of MRSA colonization among equine veterinary personnel found in this study was high compared to that of other studies of the general population. These data support previous suggestions that equine veterinary personnel are at increased risk of colonization with MRSA. This is the first study to demonstrate a statistically significant association between hand hygiene practices and a measurable clinical outcome in veterinary medicine.

Evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for rapid identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus directly from nasal swabs in horses.

Screening for nasal colonization is an important aspect of many methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control programs. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an attractive alternative to standard culture techniques because of the considerably shorter turnaround time. An assay has been validated for diagnostic purposes in humans, however this methodology has not been evaluated in horses. The purpose of this study was to compare an RT-PCR assay for rapid identification of MRSA directly from nasal swabs in horses to standard culture techniques. Nasal swabs collected from 293 horses were processed using a commercial RT-PCR assay (IDI-MRSA, GeneOhm Sciences, San Diego, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The swabs were also cultured and MRSA was identified according to standard protocols. Initially only 176/293 samples yielded valid PCR results. Two of 176 and 167/176 samples were positive and negative, respectively, by both PCR and culture. Seven of 176 samples were positive by PCR and negative by culture, whereas 0/176 samples were negative by PCR and positive by culture. The kappa statistic was 0.35, which represented poor agreement between the tests. Of the remaining 117 samples, 105 samples were initially reported as "unresolved". Following one freeze-thaw cycle of the lysates, the recommended technique to resolve such samples, 61/110 (55%) samples remained unresolved. In this study, the IDI-MRSA assay was not a clinically practical screening test for horses harbouring nasal MRSA. Its agreement with culture was poor and the high unresolved rate (37%) also significantly decreased the clinical utility of the test.

Contact precautions and hand hygiene in veterinary clinics.

Hand hygiene, contact precautions, and other basic infection control measures are crucial in veterinary clinics, because these facilities can be community mixing pots of animals and people with a wide range of health and disease-carrier states. Veterinary staff must be knowledgeable and well trained regarding when and how to apply situation-appropriate contact precautions and to properly perform hand hygiene. The limited information on the use of contact precautions and hand hygiene practices among veterinary staff suggests that compliance is low. Improving the infection control culture in clinics and in veterinary medicine is critical to achieving better compliance with these practices.

Preliminary evaluation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG, a potential probiotic in dogs.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) has been studied extensively as a probiotic in humans. However, the ability of an organism to survive passage through the intestinal tract and exert beneficial effects cannot be directly extrapolated between species. This study evaluated the ability of LGG to survive gastrointestinal transit in dogs and assessed whether oral administration of LGG is safe, in order to determine whether studies evaluating the efficacy of LGG in the treatment of canine disease are indicated. Dogs were divided into 5 groups receiving doses of 0 (control group, n = 4), 1 x 10(9) (group 1, n = 8), 1 x 10(10) (group 2, n = 8), 5 x 10(10) (group 3, n = 8) and 5 x 10(11) (group 4, n = 4) colony forming units per day, orally, for 5 days. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was detected in the feces of 4/8 dogs in groups 1 and 2, 5/8 dogs in group 3, 4/4 dogs in group 4, and 0/4 dogs in the control group. Fecal colonization was significantly greater in group 4 than in any other group (P < 0.001). Differences between groups 1, 2, and 3 were not significant. No adverse effects were noted. Fecal colonization of LGG in dogs is somewhat variable; however, clinical studies are indicated to evaluate this organism in the treatment and prevention of canine disease.

Preliminary investigation of the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG in horses: fecal recovery following oral administration and safety.

This study was designed to evaluate whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG), an extensively studied probiotic organism in humans, can colonize the intestines of adult horses and foals. Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG was administered to adult horses at doses of 1 x 10(9) CFU/50kg bodyweight (BW)/day (group 1, 7 horses), 1 x 10(10) colony forming units/ 50kg BW/day (group 2, 7 horses) and 5 x 10(10) colony forming units/50kg BW/day (group 3, 7 horses) for 5 d. Foals received 2 x 10(10) colony forming units/50kg BW/day (group 1, 7 foals) or 1 x 10(11) colony forming units/50kg BW/day (group 2, 7 foals) for 5 d. Fecal levels of L. rhamnosus strain GG in adult horses were low and variable in the 2 lower dose groups. Even in the high dose group, colonization was relatively low. In contrast, more consistent intestinal colonization was present in foals, and colonization persisted for up to 9 d following cessation of administration. No adverse effects were observed in any animal. Clinical studies evaluating this probiotic are indicated in foals. The presence of this organism in the feces of adult horses may only represent passive movement through the intestinal tract, not actual colonization. Consistent intestinal colonization in adults was only achieved with a prohibitively high dose.