Vetreckon 15 december, Issue 4

VETRECKON – DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE 33

Issue #4

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

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VETRECKON Vetreckon magazine is the magazine and web/digital resource for the Indian community of veterinary students, teachers and field veterinarians which provide latest up to date information and new technology developments.

Publishing Director Sara Naqvi +91-8800939109 axonvet@gmail.com Editor Dr Ibne Ali, M.V.Sc. IVRI +91-9557907955 ibnester@gmail.com

Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) is a diarrheal syndrome of unknown etiology that has a predilection for small breed dogs; it has not been reported in cats. Speculation regarding pathogenesis includes type-1 hypersensitivity reaction to food components, CPE, and C difficile toxins A/B. HGE is distinctively characterized by peracute onset of bloody diarrhea

and

vomiting

accompanied

by

marked

hemoconcentration. Packed cell volume of an affected dog can reach 75% or higher within hours of onset of signs, yet

Design & Circulation Rahul Thakkar +91-9540121922 thakkarrahul@axonvet.com Contents 

Acute Diahhrea in Dogs – Clinical Approach  Recent Trends in Dairy Farming – Corporate Scenario  Caseous Lymphadenitis in Goats  Amitraz - uses  Centre proposes strict rules to regulate pet shops in

total plasma protein often remains within reference range.

Symptomatic therapy, primarily aggressive IV fluid therapy and

gastroprotectants,

results

in

marked

clinical

improvement within 24 to 48 hours. Antimicrobial therapy is usually administered, although in a recent study, clinical response was not improved in dogs that received antibiotics (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid).With appropriate therapy, mortality is low despite severity of signs.

Ibne Ali

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

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compared

Peer Review – collected from various excerpts by P. Jane Armstrong, DVM, MS, MBA, Diplomate ACVIM

Diarrhea can be defined as increased fecal fluidity, usually accompanied by increased defecation frequency and volume of feces. Most cases of diarrhea are mild and self-limiting, requiring minimal diagnostics and therapy. Lifethreatening cases can occur, however, that require greater diagnostic efforts and intensive care.

ACUTE VERSUS CHRONIC Diarrhea is considered: • Acute if it lasts for less than 14 days • Chronic if it persists for longer than 14 days.

Historical and clinical findings and appearance of the feces are used to differentiate whether the diarrhea is of small bowel or large bowel origin (Table 1). This differentiation is most important in cases of chronic diarrhea, when selection of diagnostic tests is influenced by the presumed location of enteric pathology. Additionally, many pets with acute diarrhea display signs of enterocolitis (mixed small and large bowel signs).

PREVALENCE & INCIDENCE While diarrhea is a very common presenting problem in companion animal practice, it is either more common in dogs than cats, or dogs with diarrhea are more likely to be examined by a veterinarian. A report of diagnoses from over 2 million dogs and almost 430,000 cats in 2011 indicated that “gastroenteritis (GI upset)” and “colitis” both ranked in the top 19 diagnoses for dogs, but were not among the most common diagnoses in cats.

Incidence of diarrhea and vomiting was investigated prospectively in a study of 585 large-breed dogs followed from birth to 2 years of age.

Most dogs had only one episode of diarrhea and/or vomiting during the study period; those suffering from several episodes demonstrated relatively long periods between episodes.

There was a positive association between occurrence of diarrhea and vomiting in the same dog, but episodes of diarrhea and vomiting did not usually occur at the same time. Diarrhea and vomiting had a much higher frequency in young puppies despite complete vaccination and deworming protocols. Risk for diarrhea decreased from 16% in 7-to-12-weekold puppies to 5.4% in 12-to 18-month-old dogs.

An early study showed that frequency of both vomiting and diarrhea were highest in puppies and declined with increasing age4; this is supported by Banfield data demonstrating that “gastroenteritis (GI upset)” was common in dogs up to 3 years but much less common in dogs above that age.

OWNER IDENTIFICATION Diarrhea is generally recognized by owners, as long as the feces are observed. Most owners realize that diarrhea is usually self-limiting and may be more prone to “wait and see” when pets develop gastrointestinal (GI) signs,

to clinical signs that are not as familiar.

In a study of 772 pet dogs in England, 70% of the reports of diarrhea involved only 1 or 2 episodes, and 78% lasted 2 days or less. Veterinary attention was sought for only 10% of dogs with diarrhea (and 5% of vomiting dogs). 5 All dogs with diarrhea persisting for 7 days or longer were presented to a veterinarian.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Four major pathophysiologic mechanisms can cause diarrhea.

Osmotic forces and changes in mucosal permeability are the most important mechanisms in dogs and cats. In most small animal diseases, multiple mechanisms contribute to diarrhea, and it can be difficult to determine the predominant mechanism.

1. Osmotic diarrhea: The number of osmotically active particles in feces determines water content, and presence of increased numbers of these particles within the intestinal lumen leads to osmotic diarrhea.

Osmotic diarrhea occurs with many malabsorptive disorders, such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, in which poorly digested nutrients are malabsorbed, remain within the GI lumen, and attract water. It can also occur with overeating and dietary indiscretion if poorly absorbed nutrients are ingested.

Retention of nutrients in the GI tract can also lead to dysbiosis (see below) and fermentation of carbohydrates, which further increases the number of osmotically active particles. A hallmark of osmotic diarrhea is that it resolves when the patient stops ingesting poorly absorbable solute.

2. Secretory diarrhea: Stimulation of crypt enterocytes results in secretion of large volumes of fluid that exceeds the absorptive ability of the intestine. This

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4 occurs most commonly with infectious diseases, such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and salmonellosis, but is also a mechanism of diarrhea related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Byproducts of dysbiosis can also stimulate intestinal secretion. One distinguishing feature of secretory diarrhea is its persistence despite fasting, which is due to abnormalities in ion transport not related to food.

3. Increased mucosal permeability: Increased permeability of the intestinal mucosa causes loss of fluids, electrolytes, proteins, and blood into the intestinal lumen. It commonly accompanies erosive, ulcerative, neoplastic (intestinal lymphoma), and inflammatory processes, such as IBD and hookworm infection.

4. Abnormal motility: Deranged motility is often secondary to disorders that cause diarrhea.

Decreased segmental contractions result in transport of ingesta at a rate too fast for normal digestion and absorption. Platelet-activating factor, synthesized and released from several immunocytes, may be one of the inflammatory response mediators that stimulates giant aboral contractions, the powerful contractions that propagate— uninterrupted—from the small intestine to the ileum or colon.

Tremendous fluid loss can occur when the small and/or large intestine are not functioning normally. Mild diarrhea causes few metabolic consequences; however, moderate or severe diarrhea can lead to profound dehydration, hypovolemic shock, electrolyte abnormalities (hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and hyponatremia), and acid–base disturbances.

Metabolic acidosis typically develops secondary to loss of intestinal bicarbonate and dehydration leading to hypovolemia, anaerobic metabolism by tissues, and production of lactic acid.

ACUTE DIARRHEA: CAUSES There are many causes of acute diarrhea in dogs and cats. In many cases of acute diarrhea, signs resolve spontaneously or

with symptomatic therapy without a specific cause being discovered.

In animals with chronic diarrhea, a thorough diagnostic evaluation and appropriate dietary and therapeutic trials for diagnostic purposes are much more important. It is beyond the scope of this review to discuss causes and diagnostic approach to pets with chronic diarrhea; however, watch for evidence of chronicity even at first presentation of a pet with diarrhea.

4 Another study found a positive correlation between development of diarrhea and/or vomiting and reports of scavenging behavior (stealing food; eating trash; or eating feces from horses, farm animals, or cats). No correlation was found between GI signs and eating table food.

Bacterial Enteritis A variety of bacteria are known or suspected to cause enteritis in dogs and cats. Establishing a diagnosis of bacterial enteritis creates a significant challenge due to: • Limitations in understanding the complex intestinal microflora • Inadequate investigation of many potential pathogens.

The fact that the microorganisms responsible for enteritis can be found in healthy individuals, and may not be found at a higher prevalence in animals with diarrhea, confounds diagnosis, treatment decisions, and assessment of infection control and zoonotic risk.

Endoparasites It is well documented that endoparasitism is primarily a concern in young animals. Batchelor, et al, documented that dogs with GI signs had a higher prevalence of intestinal parasites, including Giardia and Toxocara. In a referral population, however, dogs with GI signs had no greater odds of endoparasitism than healthy animals; instead, age and median household income were the strongest predictors of endoparasitism, and dogs from heavily populated ZIP codes had the greatest risk for endoparasitism .

Dietary Indiscretion Dietary indiscretion is a common cause of acute diarrhea. One study reported that feeding a home-cooked diet, recent history of scavenging, or change of diet all increased the risk for diarrhea in dogs.

Cytology. Microscopic examination of fresh feces has been used by some clinicians for presumptive diagnosis of disease by evaluating pathogen appearance. However, fecal cytology is now considered of no diagnostic utility for bacterial enteropathogen identification because: • These bacteria can be present in normal animals • Appearance does not differentiate between pathogenic strains and harmless commensal species • In the case of Clostridium perfringens, no studies have reported a correlation between presence or number of spores and signs of disease.

Enterotoxin has received the most attention in relation to C perfringens, and some association has been found between the presence of C perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) and diarrhea in dogs.

Intestinal Microbes. Intestinal microbes play a crucial role in maintenance of host health. They:

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4 • Act as a defending barrier against transient pathogens • Support the host in digestion and energy harvest from the diet • Stimulate the immune system • Provide nutritional support for enterocytes.

The total microbial load in the intestine is estimated at 1012 to 1014 organisms, about 10× the number of host cells in the entire body. New technologies have enhanced our understanding of the microorganisms harbored by mammalian GI tracts. Massive parallel 16S rRNA gene pyro sequencing has provided the tool for molecularphylogenetic characterization of the GI tract’s complex microbial community.

The gene content of these microbes is defined as the intestinal microbiome.

There is mounting evidence that changes in microbial populations play an important role in pathogenesis of acute and chronic enteropathies of dogs. In a recent study, dogs with acute diarrhea, especially those with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea, had the most profound alterations in their fecal microbiome compared to healthy dogs, and observed changes differed between acute and chronic disease states.

Recognition of fecal biome alterations (dysbiosis) in pets with various GI disorders opens the door to future studies that evaluate the ability of probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, and other therapies to restore the balance of bacterial flora.

ACUTE DIARRHEA: HISTORY PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

&

Signalment and history often contain the information necessary to make a tentative diagnosis or help rank differential diagnoses.

Puppies and kittens, especially from shelters, are prone to viral diseases and GI parasites.

Physical examination may detect: • Abdominal masses • Dilated loops of bowel • Foreign bodies • Intussusception

• Abdominal pain.

When patient size permits, routinely performing digital rectal palpation aids recovery of feces for observation of the presence of blood (digested [melena] or fresh) and/or mucus.

Dehydration (at least 5% to be clinically noted) may be evident by dry mucous membranes, loss of skin turgor, prolonged capillary refill time, or enophthalmos.

More pronounced alterations in these parameters indicate moderate dehydration (7%–9%); extreme alterations denote severe dehydration (10%–12%) approaching hypovolemic shock (tachycardia with poor peripheral perfusion and weak peripheral pulses).

ACUTE DIARRHEA: DIAGNOSTICS The most important initial step in evaluating animals with acute diarrhea is to determine if they have a self-limiting or potentially life-threatening problem (Table 2). This distinction is crucial as it guides the level of diagnostics and therapy indicated, and should be based on a thorough history, careful physical examination, clinical experience and judgment, and a sound understanding of the differential diagnoses for acute diarrhea.

Initial Diagnostics Fecal Flotation. Animals with suspected self-limiting diarrhea should always be tested for GI parasites by centrifugation fecal flotation using zinc sulfate, paired with indirect fluorescent antibody testing for Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts.

5 Cytology. Fecal cytology, a low-yield diagnostic test, is not useful for detection of potential bacterial enteropathogens (Figure). In contrast, exfoliative rectal

cytology can be useful in dogs and cats with signs of colitis, especially when chronic, to identify fungal organisms or colonic neoplasia.

Laboratory Analysis.

Measuring total plasma protein and hematocrit will help assess hydration and provide a baseline for reference if clinical signs persist or progress.

Symptomatic Therapy • If dietary indiscretion has occurred, removal of the incriminating factors and/or feeding a highly digestible diet for 3 to 5 days usually helps resolve diarrhea.

• If parasites are detected, diarrhea should improve 2 to 3 days after appropriate treatment • If an etiology is not found, a presumptive diagnosis of acute idiopathic self-limiting diarrhea may be made.

Symptomatic therapy usually relieves clinical signs in 1 to 3 days. If diarrhea persists or other clinical signs develop or intensify, a more serious problem may exist, requiring thorough evaluation and more intensive therapy.

Additional Diagnostics

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Laboratory Analysis.

Laboratory evaluation helps rank differential diagnoses as well as assess severity of dehydration and electrolyte disorders; it may include:

For potential bacterial pathogens, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. It is very difficult to establish evidence for a causal association between the presence of a specific bacterium in the feces and occurrence of diarrhea.

• Complete blood count • Serum biochemistry profile • Urinalysis •Baseline cortisol (to hypoadrenocorticism) • SNAP Parvo Test.

ACUTE DIARRHEA: THERAPY exclude

In chronic or recurrent cases of diarrhea, serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate and canine or feline trypsin- like immunoreactivity (cTLI or fTLI) can be measured. Depending on clinical signs, patients may be evaluated for hyperthyroidism (cats) and pancreatitis.

Radiography.

Survey abdominal radiographs may demonstrate an abdominal mass, dilated loop of bowel, ileocolic intussusception, foreign body obstruction, or linear foreign body requiring surgical intervention.

Specific Identification.

Additional diagnostic tests may be indicated to definitively diagnose a specific organism or disease or to pursue diagnosis if a cause is not yet evident (eg, abdominal ultrasound).

• Identification of Tritrichomonas foetus; several diagnostic tests are available • Serologic testing for feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses may be warranted in diarrheic cats based on housing and origin • Partial analysis for enteric pathogens, usually reserved for diarrheic pets that are systemically ill or in contact with an immunosuppressed person: »» Fecal enteric panel: Gram-stained fecal smear, CPE enterotoxin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), C difficile toxin A/B ELISA »» Fecal culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR):

MEDICAL

Most cases of self-limiting diarrhea resolve within 1 to 5 days, following correction of the underlying cause and/or symptomatic treatment. Nonspecific symptomatic therapy may include one or more of the following: • Nutritional management • Therapeutic deworming • Antidiarrheal • Antiemetic and/or gastroprotectant • Probiotic • Antimicrobial (selected cases) • Fluid therapy.

Nutritional Management Administration. Animals with acute diarrhea often benefit from withholding food for 6 to 12 hours followed by frequent (3–6 small meals/day) feeding of small amounts of a highly digestible, socalled “bland,” diet; amount fed per meal can be slowly increased.

• Such diets for dogs should have a low or modest fat content; fat restriction is not required for cats.

• Useful choices include boiled rice with lean chicken, low-fat cottage cheese.

When diarrhea resolves, the animal’s usual diet can be slowly reintroduced over a 2- to 3-day period by adding 25%, 50%, 75%, and finally 100% of the usual diet. If vomiting is concurrently present, an antiemetic can be administered.

High-fiber diets. For pets with signs of acute large bowel diarrhea, a high-fiber diet is often used instead of a bland diet as fiber may be beneficial in reducing tenesmus and facilitating colonic epithelial repair. Commercial products with increased mixed (soluble and

insoluble) fiber are ideal. Soluble fiber (psyllium mucilloid, 1 tsp/10 kg body weight) may be added to a bland diet.

Therapeutic Deworming Parasite Identification. If a GI parasite is identified on fecal examination, the appropriate antiparasiticide should be prescribed.

In many dogs and cats with acute diarrhea, parasitic infection remains a possibility despite negative test results because: • Testing is not 100% sensitive • Not all parasites shed ova continuously.

Antiparasiticide Selection. For these reasons, a good therapeutic strategy to consider is administration of a broadspectrum dewormer, such as fenbendazole, which is also an excellent choice for treating giardiasis, showing better efficacy and a greater safety margin than metronidazole.

If a response to therapeutic deworming is seen, a second course of fenbendazole in 3 months is needed for some parasites, such as whipworms.

Antidiarrheals Indications. If diarrhea is frequent enough to interfere with the animal’s (or sometimes the owner’s) ability to rest, causes apparent pain or discomfort, or results in large fluid losses, an opioid may be given to alter intestinal motility.

Mechanism of Action. Opioids prolong intestinal transit time, allowing increased fluid absorption and reduction in the frequency of diarrhea. They act by: • Increasing colonic segmentation, fluid absorption, and anal tone • Decreasing propulsive peristaltic contractions and secretion These drugs are particularly effective in patients with large bowel diarrhea (colitis).

Specific Drugs.

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4 Diphenoxylate or loperamide is very effective in reducing frequency of diarrhea.

• Both are available as elixirs, making dosing convenient for small dogs and cats.

• Loperamide is more potent and has faster onset and longer duration of action than diphenoxylate.

• In dogs, both drugs—at recommended doses—are safe and have few side effects.

• In cats, excitatory behavior can occur, but appears to be rare; for this reason, though, these drugs should be used with caution in cats. If a toxin or possibly pathogenic bacteria are the suspected cause of acute diarrhea, opioids are contraindicated because they may increase toxin absorption or time for bacterial proliferation.

Probiotics Definition.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host (World Health Organization definition).

Probioticsinclude a wide variety of organisms, such as various species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacter, Bacillus, E coli, Streptococcus, and Saccharomyces.

Mechanism of Action. Both live and dead cells in probiotic products can generate beneficial biological responses.

discouraged. If an antibiotic is selected for nonspecific use in such cases, metronidazole or tylosin is an appropriate choice.

Specific Use. In acute intestinal diseases, antimicrobials are specifically indicated only in animals with: • Confirmed bacterial infection (eg, positive blood culture and/or presence of enteropathogenic bacteria on fecal culture, along with signs of sepsis) • Predisposition for bacterial translocation (eg, disruption of intestinal epithelial barrier) • Increased risk for sepsis Pets with acute bloody diarrhea of unknown cause are usually treated with an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, or monitored very closely because: • Ruling out enteric bacterial infection is challenging • Bacterial translocation is a potentially life-threatening complication.

Markedly hemorrhagic diarrhea is often interpreted as evidence of a breach of intestinal integrity, justifying use of antimicrobials, although no studies document an increased risk for bacterial translocation or sepsis in these patients.

Fluid Therapy

Antimicrobial Therapy

Administration. An animal’s deficit due to dehydration can be calculated by multiplying the percent of estimated dehydration (from physical examination) times body weight (kg). Maintenance fluids (44–66 mL/kg/day) should be added to this deficit. Continued losses from diarrhea should be estimated and added to the fluid volume administered.

If mild dehydration is present, a balanced isotonic polyionic fluid (lactated Ringer’s) can be administered subcutaneously, but animals with severe dehydration caused by life-threatening acute diarrhea require intravenous fluid therapy.

Nonspecific Use. Routine use of antibiotics in cases of acute uncomplicated diarrhea is strongly

Further Diagnostics. If diarrhea worsens or other clinical signs develop, the animal should be re-evaluated and further

• Live probiotic cells influence both GI microbiome and the immune response.

• Components of dead cells may have anti-inflammatory effects in the GI tract.

In the case of live probiotic organisms, bacterial levels in feces disappear within days when supplementation ceases.

Clinical Evidence. To date, limited clinical trials with probiotics have been performed in dogs and cats with GI disorders.

7 diagnostics considered. Any underlying conditions should be specifically treated.

If further diagnostic testing is needed, fluid therapy consisting of crystalloids and possible addition of colloids should be instituted prior to obtaining a definitive diagnosis.

Feeding. Food should be withheld for no more than 12 hours and an antiemetic administered if vomiting occurs to allow feeding as soon as possible. Puppies with parvoviral diarrhea treated by early enteral feeding showed more rapid clinical improvement than puppies held off food.

Monitoring. Careful monitoring required during fluid therapy.

is

• Physical examination findings that indicated dehydration should gradually improve as the patient is rehydrated during the first 24 hours of therapy.

• Hematocrit and total protein should decrease.

• Body weight should be measured frequently, as changes accurately reflect hydration. »» After hydration has been reestablished, body weight should remain relatively stable throughout the treatment.

SUMMARY • Dogs and cats frequently develop diarrhea that starts abruptly and lasts for less than 7 days.

• Most cases are mild and self-limiting, and likely associated with changes to the intestinal microbiota.

• In mild cases, in which there is no indication for antimicrobial therapy, nutritional management, therapeutic deworming, and probiotic therapy, sometimes in conjunction with an antidiarrheal agent, should be considered.

• In cases with more severe, sometimes life-threatening, signs, a thorough and logical diagnostic plan must be followed to obtain an accurate diagnosis and guide appropriate therapy

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

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By Darshnik Bhateja, B.Tech, Dairy Tech, NDRI

The country's dairy market will continue to grow at about 13-15 per cent annually till 2019-20, on increasing consumption of value added products (dahi, paneer, ghee etc) and the value chain becoming more and more organised, according to a report by Rabobank. Rabobank expects value added dairy products such as yogurt, paneer, cheese, ice cream and baby food to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 20 to 30 per cent in the next four to five years.

• The country's total organized diary sector is about USD 10 billion in 2012-13, comprising cooperatives and private players who control the supply chain linkages.

• "For years, the Indian dairy market has remained an enigma for global dairy players," said Rabobank Analyst Shiva Mudgil, adding that currently, however, the market is in a transition phase.

• High market growth and favorable market conditions may make now the right time for global players to engage with the Indian dairy sector, he pointed out.

Demand Supply scenario is very encouraging for the dairy farmers and processing industries. it imperative that no big player want to enter in production system but everybody wants milk for processing because

there is huge demand in the urban areas. So production burden will remain with farmers who are ultimate producers. Cost of milk is increasing due to lack of supply. In figure 1, above, shows that annual increase in production is 3.7 MT while demand increasing at the rate of 6 MT per year.

That’s why cooperatives luring farmers by giving most competitive prices and incentives for quality milk production.

Multinational Scenario in Dairy Industry in India “Apart from Danone Food and Beverages (India), no one has yet set up production base in India.

Danone, too, is outsourcing parts of its production, while New Zealand’s Fonterra is exploring possibilities of tying up with local partners.

Outsourcing of production would only help local players.” The foreign players would opt for a partnership model with local ones, and not go for direct procurement from farmers. “They would focus on high-end value-added products like flavoured yogurt, very popular in the international market. It’s vital to think that engaging local production facilities with big players and helping them in procurement will setup long lasting businesses in this growing sector.

Most local entities feel foreign dairy players taking interest in the market would help open it further and gave them competition. However, it should be noted here that most foreign players are not keen on backward integration (not interested in establishing their own dairy farms); they would prefer tying up with local players for production and focus on marketing and distribution.

Right now, 90-95 per cent of the Indian market is traditional liquid milk and the remaining is value-added products.

Entry of foreign players will drive demand in this segment and open the value-added products segment for Indian players as well.

Thanks to the rise in disposable income, there is heightened consumer interest in higher protein diets. With entities paying attention to this segment, the sector is set to grow further over the years. Currently, 70-80 per cent of milk is procured from small and marginal farmers. Rabobank expects this procurement pattern of milk to continue over the next decade as well. Foreign players might find this challenging and it will take some time for them to be successful in India.

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

9 3. Prophylactic: spot-on product: 20 mg/kg each amitraz and metaflumizone monthly.

Cats: Avoid in Cats Small mammals: Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, Rats and Mice: (1 ml Amitraz concentrated liquid in 1 liter water) applied topically to skin q14d for 3–6 treatments; Birds, Reptiles: No information available.

Brands in market: Demonil, Virtraz,

Formulations: Topical: concentrated liquid;

12.5%

w/v

Action: Increases neuronal activity through its action on octopamine receptors of mites.

Use: 1. To treat generalized mite infestation, specifically canine demodicosis and sarcoptic acariasis.

2. Dip to be left on coat.

3. Clipping long hair coats will improve penetration.

4. Monthly application of the spot-on product for demodicosis is not uniformly effective. Concurrent bacterial skin infections should be treated appropriately.

5. Treatment and prevention of fleas and ticks, and treatment of lice and demodicosis in dogs & calves.

6. Use with care in small dogs.

7. Used for generalized demodicosis in ferrets and hamsters and for acariasis in rodents.

Safety and handling: Do not store diluted product.

LD50: Oral LD50, rat, acute: 800 mg/kg Dermal LD50, rat, acute: >1600 mg/kg Mechanism of action of amitraz The acaricidal activity of amitraz is due to its antagonistic effect on octopamine receptors of the nerve cells in the brain.

Parasites become hyperexcited,

paralyzed and eventually die. This mode of action is different from those of synthetic organophosphates ectoparasiticides.

pyrethroids, and other

Contraindications: Do not use in dogs and calves <3 months (<8 weeks for spoton product), in Chihuahuas, diabetic animals.

WARNING !!!: Never use on cats collars approved only for dogs.

Adverse reactions: Sedation and bradycardia; Antidote alpha-2 antagonist, e.g. atipamezole. Can cause irritation of the skin.

Drug interactions: available.

No

information

DOSES Large and small ruminants:• 1. Tick control / Earsore / Humpsore – 2ml per liter of water 2. Mites – 4ml per liter of water 3. Sheep & Goat seasonal dipping – 2ml per liter of water Dogs:• 1. Generalized demodicosis: 2 ml Amitraz per liter of water q5–7d until two negative skin scrapings/hair plucks are achieved 2 weeks apart.

2. Sarcoptic acariasis: 1 ml Amitraz per liter of water weekly for 2–6 weeks.

Note: This article IS NOT A PRODUCT LABEL. It offers complementary information that may be useful to veterinary professionals and users that are not familiar with veterinary antiparasitics.

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

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and a nitrate-positive group that infects horses. Isolates from cattle are a heterogeneous group.

Caseous Lymphadenitis in Goats

There are 2 main factors of disease

Introduction Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) is a chronically infectious disease of sheep and goats that is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Prevalent on all continents throughout the world, CL causes ulcerative lymphadenitis in horses and superficial abscesses in bovines, swine, rabbits, deer, laboratory animals, and humans.

Some economic losses due to CL are caused when breeding stock is no longer marketable, when carcasses are condemned due to internal abscesses, when animals die, or when abscesses devalue animal hides.

The disease is characterized by abscess formation in or near major peripheral lymph nodes (external form) or within internal organs and lymph nodes (internal form).

Although both the external and

1.

Production of Phospholipase D 2. Second virulence factor internal forms of CL occur in sheep and goats, the external form is more common in goats, and the internal form is more common in sheep.

Once established on a farm or region (endemic), it is primarily maintained by contamination of the environment with active draining lesions, animals with the internal form of the disease that contaminate the environment through nasal discharge or coughing, the ability of the bacteria to survive harsh environmental conditions, and lack of strict biosecurity necessary to reduce the number and prevent introduction of new cases.

Causes and Reasons of Caseous Lymphadenitis C pseudotuberculosis is a gram-positive, facultative, intracellular coccobacillus.

Two biotypes have been identified based on the ability of the bacteria to reduce nitrate: a nitratenegative group that infects sheep and goats,

Pathogenesis All strains produce an exotoxin called phospholipase D that enhances dissemination of the bacteria by damaging endothelial cells and increasing vascular permeability. The bacterium has a second virulence factor which is an external lipid coat that provides protection from hydrolytic enzymes in host phagocytes.

Replication of bacteria occurs in the phagocytes, which then rupture and release bacteria. The ongoing process of bacterial replication, followed by attraction and subsequent death of inflammatory cells, forms the characteristic abscesses associated with CL. To establish infection, C pseudotuberculosis must penetrate skin or mucous membranes. The most common site of entry is the skin after an injury that may result from shearing, tagging, tail docking, castration, or other environmental

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

hazards resulting in skin trauma.

Contact with purulent material draining from open, active lesions most commonly serves as the source of bacteria through these breaches in the skin. Although less common, entry across mucous membranes from inhalation or ingestion of the bacteria also serves as a means of infection. Once the bacteria have entered the body, they move to the lymph nodes via the regional draining lymphatic system. Internally, the bacteria establish infection not only in the lymph nodes but also in the viscera.

The incubation period varies from 1 to 3 months, culminating in development of encapsulated abscesses. C pseudotuberculosis is hardy in the environment and can survive on fomites such as bedding and wood for 2 months and in soil for 8 mo. The presence of organic material, shade, and moisture favor and enhance survival.

Clinical Findings The hallmark clinical finding in cases of external CL is the development of abscesses in the region of peripheral lymph nodes. Common sites of development include the submandibular, parotid, prescapular, and prefemoral nodes. Less commonly, abscessation of supramammary or inguinal lymph nodes occurs, in addition to an occasional ectopic location along the lymphatic chain. If left untreated, these lesions eventually mature into open draining abscesses. The purulent material from these lesions has no odor and varies in consistency

from soft and pasty (more common in goats) to thick and caseous (more common in sheep).

Once natural draining occurs, the skin lesion heals with scarring. Recurrence is common, which can be months later. CL should be highly suspected in a sheep or goat with abscessation in these regions. Although other bacteria may also cause abscessation in these locations (and in other animals), because of the ramifications of the presence of this disease within a herd or flock, these cases should be handled as CL until proved otherwise. The internal form of CL most commonly presents as chronic weight loss and failure to thrive. The presence of other clinical signs depends on the organs of involvement, which may include any of the major organ systems.

Lung abscessation is a common site of visceral involvement in internal CL; therefore, signs of chronic ill thrift with cough, purulent nasal discharge,

11

fever, and tachypnea with increased lung sounds may be noted. The internal form is more common in sheep and has been termed the “thin ewe syndrome.” The incidence of abscesses and development of clinical disease with either the external or internal form increases with age.

Lesions: In sheep, abscesses often have the classically described laminated “onion-ring” appearance in cross section, with concentric fibrous layers separated by inspissated caseous exudate. In goats, the abscesses are less organized, and the exudate is usually soft and pasty.

Diagnosis The presence of an external abscess on a small ruminant is highly suggestive of CL, especially in

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

locations of peripheral lymph nodes.

However, the only definitive diagnosis is bacteriologic culture of purulent material from an intact abscess. Although other pyogenic organisms such as Truperella pyogenes (formerly Arcanobacter pyogenes), Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella multocida, and anaerobes such as Fusobacterium necrophorum can cause abscessation, affected animals should be kept isolated pending culture results. Animals with visceral abscesses pose a greater diagnostic challenge.

Radiography and ultrasonography can be useful to detect internal lesions. Culture of a transtracheal aspirate obtained from an animal with pneumonia can help determine whether CL is the cause.

Excluding other causes of chronic weight loss and ill thrift in the face of proper nutrition and good appetite such as Johne's disease, parasitism, and poor dentition further raise suspicion. A synergistic hemolysin inhibition (SHI) test that detects antibodies to the phospholipase D

exotoxin is available at many diagnostic laboratories. Positive titers indicate past resolved infections, recent exposure, recent vaccination, or active lesions or their development. Titers of 1:256 or higher have been correlated in past studies with the presence of active, developing abscesses; however, in a recent study, a high titer was poorly correlated with presence or development of abscesses over an 18-mo period. False-negative results can occur if testing is done in the first 2 wk after exposure before the animal has seroconverted.

Treatment and Control Once a diagnosis of CL has been established, owner education stressing the persistent, recurrent nature of the disease is necessary.

The most practical approach for commercial animals infected with CL is to cull them from the herd or flock.

However, animals with draining abscesses should not be sent through

12

sale barns until draining has ceased and the wound has healed.

This disease is somewhat curable and elite animals could be put on treatment. Animals with genetic or emotional value are treated mainly for aesthetic reasons and to limit their infectivity to the rest of the herd or flock. Treatment options have included lancing and draining, surgical excision, formalin injection of lesions, systemic antibiotics, and intra-lesional antibiotics. If external abscesses are lanced and drained, the cavity should be lavaged with dilute iodine solution and the animal isolated in an area that can be disinfected until the lesion stops draining and heals. Drained purulent material should be carefully collected and disposed of. Dilute bleach (bleaching powder) and chlorhexidine solutions (Dettol) are effective disinfectants of hard surfaces and fomites, but the presence of organic material on these surfaces inactivates them and drastically reduces or prohibits effectiveness. Injection of formalin into the lesions are sometimes viable and inexpensive but it should be done with utmost care in food animals because formalin is potent carcinogenic. When we inject it into lesions it will kill the bacteria but after that it will not degrade but diffuse into the body where it resides for long in internal tissues.

The efficacy of systemic antimicrobial therapy and more recently, intra-lesional antimicrobial therapy has been investigated.

However, use of any antimicrobial for

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

treatment of CL is extra-label; therefore, strict adherence to published guidelines on withdrawal times and an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship are mandatory. Penicillin shows very good in-vitro efficacy but in-vivo conditions its efficacy is doubtful because it is poorly lipid soluble and less penetrative in lesions. However, administration of penicillin with tissue softening agents like serratiopeptidase could bear more fruitful results in such cases.

However, recent studies have shown that administration of one dose of tulathromycin at 2.5 mg/kg, either SC directly into the abscess cavity, or two doses at 2.5 mg/kg, administered at the same time, one SC and one intralesionally) can resolve the lesions without lancing the abscess.

Tulathromycin is not available in India and same class antibiotic called tylosin is good substitute for tulathromycin.

animals should be isolated from the rest of the herd or flock. Diligence in this practice will eventually result in decreased prevalence as animals that develop active cases are identified and removed, and given there are no new animals incubating the disease introduced to the premises.

Dividing the herds or flocks into “clean” and “infected” groups and eliminating older and less genetically valuable animals over time is one control strategy. Lambs and kids from infected dams can be raised on pasteurized colostrum and milk away from infected animals. However, the internal form of CL and animals incubating the disease can maintain infection within the “asymptomatic clean” group and limit the success of this approach. No vaccine for CL is available in India. The risks of disease transmission among animals should be recognized when shearing or dipping, and management practices should be adjusted accordingly.

Prevention Because of the nature of the causative organism, common means of exposure, chronicity of the disease, and difficulty in completely eliminating the organism from individual animals, control of CL revolves around strict biosecurity measures. The overriding goals of any control program are to eliminate the disease from the herd or flock and to reduce the number of new cases either from the spread of disease or introduction to the farm. Ideally, animals identified as infected should immediately be culled. If immediate removal is not possible, infected

Animals with noted lesions should be shorn last, and clipper blades disinfected between animals.

Shearers should recognize the hazards associated with contact with purulent material and the possibility of acting as mechanical vectors, either on clothing or via equipment, for spread of the bacteria to new animals. Further, dipping tank solutions should be kept as fresh as possible, because C pseudotuberculosis can survive within them and serve as a source of infection of freshly shorn sheep that have skin abrasions. Owners should remove hazardous items (barbed

13

wire, exposed nails, rough feeders) from the environment to decrease injury and potential CL transmission from the presence of bacteria on these fomites.

One of the most common ways CL can be introduced into a previously “clean” herd or flock, or reintroduced to one in which CL has been reduced or eliminated, is through the addition of replacement stock. Often, animals from other farms that are asymptomatic on arrival are incubating the disease and then manifest infection weeks to months later. Purchasing animals from sources with unknown histories is hazardous to maintaining a "clean" herd or flock. Newly arrived animals should be examined thoroughly for signs of CL such as abscesses or scars near peripheral lymph nodes. They should remain isolated from the rest of the herd or flock until their serologic status is determined, and only animals that are seronegative with no evidence of present or past CL lesions should be allowed to enter the herd or flock.

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

Dr Zeenat, V.O., Dept. of Animal of Animal Husbandary, Jharkhand Dairy cattle require vitamins A, D, E, and K; however, vitamins A and E are the only ones with an absolute dietary requirement. Vitamin K is synthesized by ruminal and intestinal bacteria. Vitamin D is synthesized by ultraviolet radiation of the skin. Many natural feedstuffs contain vitamin A precursors and vitamin E, and under certain situations these will not need to be supplemented. However, relying solely on vitamins contained within feedstuffs and on synthesis of vitamin D via exposure to sunlight has risk because of the large variability in vitamin concentrations in feeds and exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin A SOURCES Vitamin A activity is defined in retinol equivalents. An IU of vitamin A corresponds to 0.3 µg of all-trans retinol (0.344 µg of all-trans retinyl acetate or 0.550 µg of all-trans palmitate). Retinol is not found in plants, but many feeds contain β -carotene (provitamin A).

Other carotenoids can be converted to vitamin A by animals, but conversion efficiency appears to be poor and most common feeds do not contain substantial amounts of those carotenoids.

Most of the β-carotene in plants is found in vegetative material; therefore, forages can contain substantial amounts of β carotene but most grains and grain byproducts are practically void of β carotene (corn gluten meal contains moderate concentrations of β carotene). Beta-carotene concentrations decrease as forages mature. Beta-

carotene is easily oxidized and once plants are cut, concentrations decrease quickly so that stored forages (silage and hay) have significantly lower concentrations of β -carotene than do fresh forage. The length of time forages are stored is negatively correlated with β-carotene concentrations. Even when known sources of variation are considered, the β -carotene concentrations in feedstuffs are highly variable.

BIOAVAILABILITY Studies on the bioavailability of various forms of vitamin A and β -carotene for dairy cattle are extremely limited.

Bioavailability of vitamin A is dependent upon the degree of ruminal destruction and on absorption efficiency by the small intestine. In addition to those factors, the bioavailability of β-carotene also depends on the efficiency of converting it to retinol. Beta-carotene is converted to retinol by enzymes located in intestinal mucosal cells. Dairy cattle also absorb and store β -carotene. Blood and milk of Guernsey and Jersey cattle contain more β -carotene than that from other breeds because they are either more efficient at absorbing β-carotene or less efficient at converting β -carotene to retinol. The vitamin A activity of β –carotene for cattle is defined as 1 mg of β -carotene = 400 IU of vitamin A (equivalent to 120 ug of retinol), and is much lower for cattle than for rats (1 mg β -carotene =1800 IU of vitamin A). The defined activity of β carotene for cattle is based largely on experiments using lambs fed corn silage.

14

Ruminal destruction of vitamin A can be extensive.

Approximately 60 percent of supplemental vitamin A was destroyed in the rumen of steers fed hay and corn grain diets. Similar values have been obtained using in vitro rumen systems. In vitro data suggest that ruminal destruction of vitamin A was approximately 20 percent when cattle were fed high forage diets, but it

increased to about 70 percent when cattle were fed diets with 50 to 70 percent concentrate. Limited studies with β – carotene suggest that between 0 and 35 percent of dietary β -carotene is destroyed in the rumen.

FUNCTIONS AND ANIMAL RESPONSES Vitamin A (retinaldehyde) is necessary for the production of rhodopsin (a vision pigment) that is necessary for low light vision. Vitamin A also is needed for normal growth and development (including fetal growth), spermatogenesis, and for maintenance of skeletal tissue and epithelial tissue.

Abortions, increased prevalence of retained fetal membranes, and increased calf morbidity and mortality are indicators of vitamin A deficiency in gestating cows.

Ross and Ternus reported that retinoic acid indirectly regulates gene expression

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

which may explain the many diverse functions of vitamin A. Vitamin A also increases disease resistance and has stimulatory effects on cell-mediated immunity. A deficiency of vitamin A often results in increased prevalence of infectious diseases. Beta-carotene, independent of its provitamin A function, is an antioxidant and can enhance the killing ability of neutrophils. In some but not all studies, supplementing between 150,000 and 250,000 IU/day of vitamin A or feeding 300 to 600 mg of β carotene/day reduced the incidence of intramammary gland infections and mastitis. These studies were conducted with cows at dry-off or peripartum cows.

Vitamin A is clearly needed for good reproduction and some data suggests that β-carotene also may be involved with reproduction. Supplemental β carotene (usually at 300 to 400 mg/day) improved some measure of reproductive efficiency in various studies.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT REQUIREMENTS Since the actual β -carotene content of diets is highly variable and almost never known in commercial situations, the vitamin A requirements presented in this publication are for supplemental vitamin A, not total dietary vitamin A. Fresh forage (e.g., pasture) has relatively high concentrations of β -carotene. Therefore the amount of supplemental vitamin A needed when fresh forage is fed will be less than for cattle consuming conserved

forages.

The requirements presented below assume conserved forages are fed and are probably in excess of requirements for grazing cattle.

Based on a reevaluation of older data, the vitamin A requirement for growing dairy animals was increased to 80 IU/kg of body weight (BW). In the previous Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle (National Research Council, 1989), the requirement for vitamin A of growing dairy animals was 42 IU/kg of BW. That requirement for growing cattle was based on the amount of vitamin A needed to maintain cerebrospinal fluid pressure below 120 mm Hg in calves (Rousseau et al., 1954). Other data (Rousseau et al., 1954; Eaton et al., 1972) using different criteria (i.e., a statistically significant increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure or the presence of papillary edema of the eye) suggests that the vitamin A requirement for growing dairy animals was between 60 and 100 IU/kg of BW. The subcommittee decided that rather than discounting these studies, a compromise using all the data was appropriate.

The vitamin A requirement for adult dairy cattle has been increased to 110 IU/kg of BW. In Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle (National Research Council, 1989), the vitamin A requirement for adult animals (76 IU/kg of BW) was based largely on a long-term reproduction study. Furthermore, in a more recent study, milk production increased from about 35 kg/day to 40 kg/day when cows in early lactation were fed diets that provided approximately 280 IU of vitamin A/kg of BW compared with cows fed approximately 75 IU/kg of BW (Oldham et al., 1991). The new

15 requirement for lactating cows (110 IU/kg of BW) was based on data used by the previous Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle (National Research Council, 1989) and on data showing that the bioavailability of vitamin A (retinyl esters) may be as much as 50 percent less than that of β-carotene when fed in high concentrate diets because of ruminal destruction. Dry cows are typically fed diets with lower amounts of concentrate and bioavailability of vitamin A should be higher than for lactating cows. The previous National Research Council requirement for dry cows (76 IU/kg of BW) may be adequate, but in light of potential improvements in mammary gland health and data showing increased milk production after dry cows were supplemented with vitamin A in amounts greater than National Research Council (1989) requirements, the vitamin A requirement for dry cows was kept the same as that for lactating cows (110 IU/kg of BW).

Presently available data are not adequate to define a specific requirement for β -carotene for any class of dairy cattle. Conditions that may warrant additional supplementation of vitamin A include: • low forage diets (more ruminal destruction and less consumption of β -carotene); • diets that contain larger amounts of corn silage and smaller amounts of haycrops (lower concentrations of β -carotene and potentially lower bioavailability of basal β -carotene); • diets that contain lower quality forages (lower basal concentrations of β -carotene); • increased exposure to infectious pathogens (increased demands on the immune system); and • Times when immunocompetence maybe reduced (peripartum period).

• Vitamin A toxicosis should not be a problem under most practical situations. The presumed safe limit for vitamin A is 66,000 IU/kg of diet for both lactating and non lactating cattle (National Research Council, 1987).

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

16 16.

Humoral immunity associated with...........

Check Your Knowledge with Vetreckon Veterinary Question bank – issue #4 1.

Koster for?.............................

stain

used

2.

Fungal cell wall doesn’t contain?

A)chitin b)ergosterol c)muramic acid d)polysaccharide 3.

Which is an example of nonsegmented virus?.....................

4.

is

17.

Which one is known as scavenger cells?.................

35.

Uterine means?.................

18.

Mycolic acid is present in cell wall of?....................

36.

Foetus covered with muconium at time of parturition indicate?........

19.

Lumpy by?....................

37.

Which polar body is released during ovulation in cattle?.......

jaw

is

caused

20.

Protein which is specific for viral infection?................

21.

Strangles in horses is caused by?...............

Ag binding site on Ab?.................

5.

Germinal center of lymph node mainly contains?................

22.

Cell membrane includes?.........

of

bacteria

6.

In late fetal life which are the organs of haemopoises?................

23.

Which one of the virus not comes under paramyxo? ....

A)R.P b)C.D c)PPR d)Reovirus

7.

Which Ab is present in maximum conc. in milk?...............

24. which of the following segmented virus?...........

8.

Which Ab is present during allergic reaction?......................

25.

In which animal preovulatory leuteinisation of ova noticed?.......

9.

Pearl eye is associated with which disease?..........................

26.

Bimanual pregnancy mainly used for?.........................

10.

Substance added to enhance the immunity by using inactivated microbes?.............

27.

Amniotic vesicle can be palpated for pregnancy diagnosis in cattle on?......................

11.

Which of the following is not an innate factor of immunity?

A)age b)sex c)species d)infection

28.

Uterine inertia can’t be treated by?..........

A)oxytocin b)PGf2α c)Clenbuterone d)ergosterone

12.

Exotoxins are mainly secreted by?.............

29.

Example for ovulator?.................................

13.

Leechy as?................

30.

Breech presentation is?..........

31.

Still birth means?..............

disease

14.

Russell in?......................

15.

Coggin’s for?...........................

body

also

is

known

is

a

diagnosis

induced

present 32.

Accumulation of pus in uterus is called?....................

test

is

34.

Expulsion of placenta comes under which stage of pregnancy ?................

done 33.

Write name of one is semen extender?..............

Answers of issue #3

involution

1. Histoplasma farciminosum 2. 100-105 days 3. Oxyspirura mansoni 4. Lymph node 5. Hypovitaminosis- E 6. Cat 7. Glycine 8. 1.34 ml 9. 35 mg 10.Listeria and Coxiella 11. Corynebacterium pyogenes 12. Moribili virus (paramyxovirinae) 13. 20 mm of Hg 14. HMGCOA lyase 15. Albumin 16. 6:1 17. Streptococcus pneumoniae 18. Buparvaquone (BUTALEX) 19. Vibrio parahaemolyticum 20. 8-12 mm of Hg 21. d-penicillamine 22. Shock 23. Isoproterenol 24. 64 25. Myasthenia gravis 26. Mandelic acid 27. Dermatophilus congolensis 28. 0.05-.25mg/Kg 29. Tetracyclins 30. Allopurinol 31. Chitinase and esterases 32. Ascaris suum 33. A. galli belongs to Family heterakidae 34. Anisakis 35. Phoconema 36. Oxyuris equi 37. Oxyspirura mansoni 38. Haebronema megastoma 39. Stephanurus dentatus 40. Oxyuris equi

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

17

HUDDLED beside a lion to take a sample from a lump on its body is all part of a day's work for a Sarina vet.

There's no 'typical day' for Dr Bec Bannan, who could be out pregnancy testing 570 head of cattle one day and on the road at 2am the next after a call-out to help someone's pet.

"That day that I did 570 head... that took four hours," she said.

"But you won't do that at most set-ups, they had a lot of help."

Dr Bannan, who has been a vet for 16 years, also worked in Emerald and it was there she encountered the larger than usual cat.

"There was a circus in town and they had a lion that had a big lump on it," she said. "We had to go in beside the crate and grab the lump and put a needle in it. That was pretty cool."

In Sarina about 80% of the surgery's work involves small animals including native birds, echidnas, kangaroos, possums and koalas.

"We would see probably five or six wildlife cases a day," Dr Bannan said. "We do all the wildlife stuff for free. We work pretty closely with Australian Wildlife here in Sarina."

Inseminating dogs with semen from overseas is one of the more unusual tasks undertaken by the Sarina Veterinary Surgery.

"We've inseminated dogs with semen from the Netherlands, Ireland, the (United) States," Dr Bannan said.

"They (the dogs' owners) organise for the semen to get to us and we do a heap of testing to determine the exact time to inseminate the bitch... you've only got a six-hour window.

"So if we need to do it at 2 o'clock in the morning that's when we do it.

"It's a surgical insemination so you have to inject it directly into the uterus."

Dr Bannan has co-owned the Sarina Veterinary Surgery with officer manager and veterinary nurse Stephanie Sleeman for 10 years. While it has set opening hours, someone is on call 24/7.

If her husband is away working Dr Bannan has to take her three children along with her to jobs, sometimes in the middle of the night.

"They usually sleep in the car," she said. "They're used to it, they've been brought up with it."

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

She also owns two dogs, three cows and a horse which share the family's 15-acre property near Sarina.

among other practices, the capture, housing, breeding and transportation of animals sold in the pet trade.

Becoming a vet wasn't Bannan's first career choice.

"The entire sector is unregulated.

Now, the state animal welfare boards will register them after inspections. The rules also define space requirements and other basic amenities to keep the pets. It will also be mandatory to maintain records of sales, purchase, sick animals and death of animals in the pet shops", said environment minister Anil Madhav Dave.

Dr

"I was going to be a lawyer," she said. "I said to Mum, I don't think I can sit in an office all day, and Mum said "why don't you be a vet?" and that's the story.

"I really enjoy it. But it can be very challenging and heartbreaking at times."

When she has the time, Dr Bannan enjoys photography.

"Some people do poetry and write but photography is my creative outlet," she said.

"When you drive around you don't 'see'... but when you stop and take a look... we live in a really beautiful part of the world."

TOI: NEW DELHI: Seeking to regulate pet shops in the country, the Centre on Friday issued draft rules having multiple provisions to prevent cruelty inflicted on animals kept in such shops.

The rules, once notified by the environment ministry after analyzing suggestions of stakeholders, will regulate,

Announcing the move, Dave said the rules will be notified under the existing Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, factoring in the need to rein in pet business which is mushrooming with "little or no accountability".

He said states and stakeholders, including common people and experts can come up with suggestions over the rules uploaded on the environment ministry's website, for the consideration within 30 days.

Once the rules are notified, noncompliance will lead to cancellation of registration of pet shop and pet animals, so confiscated, will be handed over to an Animal Welfare Organisation, or a rescue centre recognized by the Board.

"We commend the environment ministry for their foresighted policy that will prevent tens of thousands of animals from abuse in the pet shop industry. We urge the Centre to notify these rules soon and duly implement them to

18

ensure that animals are not subjected to cruel treatment at the hands of illegal pet shop owners," said Gauri Maulekhi, trustee at the People for Animals (PFA) and government liaison for the Humane Society International/India (HSI/India).

Both these animal rights organisations have played a significant role in drafting the rules. These groups have constantly been highlighting the trauma the animals go through in the pet trade, while being transported in small cages, often without adequate water, food or any other form of relief.

"De-beaking, tail-docking, feather plucking, nail clipping, de-clawing and other cruel practices are rampant in pet shops. Pet stores often sell un-weaned pups, and house animals in deplorable conditions with no veterinary attention for fatal illness or even for the general well being of these animals", said the HSI/India in a statement.

It highlighted that the pet shops also violate the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 as many exotic and native wild animals are openly sold there.

KEY POINTS OF PROPOSED RULES:

THE

It will be mandatory for all pet shop owners to register themselves with the State Animal Welfare Board of the respective State governments/Union Territories.

VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

Such shops will be registered only after inspection by the representatives of State Board, a veterinary practitioner and a representative of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The rules define space requirement for birds, cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pig, hamster, rats and mice in the pet shops.

It defines the basic amenities, power back-up, general care, veterinary care and other operational requirement for animals kept in pet shops.

The rules make it mandatory to maintain proper records of sale, purchase, death of animals in pet shops.

Every pet shop owner is required to submit yearly report to the State Board regarding animals, sold, traded, bartered, brokered, given away, boarded or exhibited during previous year, or any other information asked for by the State Board.

and cattle can get treatment at their doorstep free of cost. These vehicles are being operated by the Veterinary University Training and Research Centre (VUTRC) in Trichy and will service the entire district.

The objective of the animal medical mobile ambulance is to provide emergency medical services to animals in rural areas under the 'animal mobile medical ambulance for rural veterinary care in Tamil Nadu scheme' with funds from Tamil Nadu and the Centre. Farmers can call the ambulance by dialling toll free number 1962 from 8am to 8pm on all days except Sunday.

Animals in rural areas are vulnerable to poisonous bites from insects. Sometimes, they may invite danger by consuming poisonous plants. They are also prone to meet with accidents while crossing roads.

Previously, when cattle needed treatment, the farmers either took them to the veterinary hospitals or waited for private veterinary doctors to visit the spot. Sometimes, the animal died before the vet visited the spot.

TOI: TRICHY: Thanks to two animal medical mobile ambulances that have become operational in Trichy, livestock

District level coordinator, professor and head at VUTRC in Trichy, Dr PN Richard Jagatheesan, said the ambulance facility could save the lives of animals in times of emergency.

"The ambulance would reach the spot in a timely manner and provide treatment because the vehicle is equipped with all the

19

necessary facilities," Dr Richard told TOI. The vehicles are equipped with ultrasound scanner and animal lifting facility. If the animal requires further treatment at the veterinary hospital, the vehicle can transport it to government veterinary hospital in Namakkal, veterinary college and research institute in Orathanadu, Thanjavur and veterinary poly clinic in Palakkarai in Trichy.

The scheme has been implemented in Kancheepuram, Trichy, Thanjavur, Namakkal and Madurai under National Agriculture Development Project (NADP).

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VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4 .

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VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

i. The most likely cause is paramyxovirus 1 infection which can result in the sudden onset of watery diarrhoea in a high proportion of susceptible birds. As shown in fig, the faeces consists of a clear pool of urine with a central core of green material originating from the digestive tract. When this becomes mixed by the movement of birds, a ‘green diarrhoea’ results. Also, affected birds are usually thirsty and a proportion develop a range of nervous signs including torticollis, inability to fly, circling, ataxia and inability to pick up feed. When the birds are stressed the severity of the nervous signs increases. Mortality is usually low except in young birds, but some do not fully recover from the nervous signs and must be culled.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by combinations of: Isolating paramyxovirus 1 from tissues such as brain and intestine; Demonstrating high antibody titres to paramyxovirus 1 in unvaccinated birds;Detecting histological changes consistent with a viral encephalitis and interstitial nephritis. ii. Although pigeons must now be vaccinated prior to racing or showing, young latebred pigeons, which are too young to race, may be left unvaccinated with the intention of vaccinating them along with adult birds later in the year. Should the racing teams of pigeons encounter paramyxovirus during transportation or racing, they may bring the organism back into the loft resulting in infection and clinical disease in the incontact, unvaccinated late-bred birds. An increased incidence of paramyxovirus from August to November has been observed, over several years. iii. Other conditions to be considered include infections with Salmonella typhimurium, inclusion body hepatitis associated with a herpesvirus or adenovirus, the motile protozoa Hexamita columbae and Trichomonas gallinae, and rotavirus and circovirus. Nematodes, cestodes and trematodes may also cause diarrhoea, and chlamydiosis as a cause of diarrhoea in young birds is not uncommon.

83 i. The clinical signs of profound depression and weakness following a period of severe diarrhoea are consistent with acidosis caused rota virus/coronavirus infection.There is no evidence of septicaemia such as injected scleral vessels, fever, or other organ system involvement such as polyarthritis, pneumonia, pan ophthalmitis or meningitis. ii. Treatment must correct the acidosis. The calf is estimated to be no more than 5% dehydrated. Fluid replacement requirements are 45 kg × 0.05 = 2 L plus daily requirement of 75–150 mL/kg (equal to 3–6 L/day). The base deficit for recumbent/stuporous calves is estimated to be 20 mmol/L. The total base deficit (or negative base excess) is calculated as: base deficit × bicarbonate space × dehydrated calf weight = 20 × (0.5) × 40 = 400 mmol bicarbonate (400 mEq); 16g sodium bicarbonate = 200 mmol of bicarbonate; 16 g sodium bicarbonate (200 mmol bicabonate) are dissolved in 1 L of isotonic saline and infused over the first 20 minutes and the remaining 200 mmol bicarbonate are dissolved in 3 L and given over the next 3 hr. Oral fluids should be offered at a rate of 1 L eight times daily. A bottle and teat is preferred to an orogastric tube to gauge the calf’s mental state and appetite. This calf was not treated with antibiotics. iii. All cows should be vaccinated with rotavirus/coronavirus vaccine when such aetiology is confirmed.

Passive antibody transfer should be ensured. The remaining pregnant cows should be moved to a clean environment.

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VETRECKON DIGITAL VETERINARY MAGAZINE | Issue #4

Vetreckon Digital Veterinary Magazine

113 A 6-month-old weaned Blackface lamb is brought to the veterinary surgery by a member of the public, having been found near the roadside on open (unfenced) hill ground. The lamb is dull and unable to use its pelvic limbs and adopts a dog-sitting position (113a). There is flaccid paralysis of the pelvic limbs with absent reflexes. There is no tail or rectal tone.

Ultrasound exam ination reveals distension (>8 cm diameter) of the bladder and the rectum is distended with faeces. i. ii. iii.

What is the extent of the spinal lesion?

What treatments would you administer?

What tests could be undertaken?

NFC, Okhla, New Delhi Delhi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 110025 This is our fourth issue with the sole aim to serve the veterinary education in India. With time and your precious suggestions we will improve in future. For the same, your articles, suggestions & ads are invited. Please write us on following address ibnester@gmail.com +91-9557907955

31. The 18-day-old duck embryo on the left is normal while on the right is an embryo of the same age that was exposed to low levels of insecticide applied to the shell during incubation. i. Describe the pathology exhibited. ii. With what group of insecticides are these lesions commonly associated?

22