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Presents research papers on veterinary in Great Britain. Performance of echocardiography in parrots in healthy parrots; Risk involved to livestock of transmitting disease through the use of composted waste as fertilizer on land; Utilization of magnetic resonance imaging in the management of sacral osteochondrosis in a dog.

The article offers updates related to veterinary reports. It cites the discussion of Neil Hudson and associates regarding the admission processes to the veterinary degree courses at each of the seven veterinary schools in Great Britain. Meanwhile, it discusses research of Takeshi Tsuka and colleagues in using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the residual cleft cysts of Japanese black cows. Nick Sutton and colleagues identify cases of exposures of cats to neem oil.

The article reports developments related to veterinary medicine in Great Britain. The author presents the comparison of medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in dogs. They have discussed the efficacy of hand scrub methods in reducing bacterial counts. It is also discussed the use of an ovine growth hormone assay in acromegalic cats.

The article presents developments related to veterinary medicine. It was reported that anthrax has been well recognized in livestock and humans in Zimbabwe and outbreaks have been reported in the surrounding countries. According to another report, distension of the gallbladder can arise as a result of an obstruction or because of anorexia. Another report cites that Mycoplasma bovis is not a common cause of mastitis in herds in Great Britain.

The article reports on developments related to animal diseases in Great Britain. Details of all confirmed clinical cases are of Scrapie are recorded in the Scrapie Notifications Database. In 2001, verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infection occurred in 12 people who had visited a wildlife park in Norfolk, England, which is associated with wild rabbits. Babesiosis has been diagnosed in dogs that have traveled to enzootic areas under the Pet Travel Scheme.

The article reports developments related to the research on animal diseases in Great Britain. A study shows that pigs that are being transported to slaughter are more likely to die during transportation when the environmental temperature is high. One study shows that listeria monocytogenes causes neurological disease in cattle. Another study revealed that helminths appear to have a little effect to limit the development of anthelmintic resistance.

The article reports developments related to veterinary medicine in Great Britain. An examination on dermatological conditions in cats and dogs were the topic of the research conducted by Peter Hill and colleagues. Darren Shaw and Emma Keeble determined the prevalence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in healthy pet rabbits. An assessment on the effects of therapy program in dog behavioral problems was conducted by Emily Blackwell and colleagues.

Presents updates of various clinical studies regarding diseases of animals in Great Britain. Effects on the used of a live intranasal vaccine in livestock with hemorrhagic septicemia; Causative factors for hypocalcemia in adult dogs; Identification of the genotype for cryptosporidium parvum infection in horses.

In this study, data from veterinary clinical records were collected via the small animal veterinary surveillance network (SAVSNET). Over a three-month period, data were obtained from 22,859 consultations at 16 small animal practices in England and Wales: 69 per cent from dogs, 24 per cent from cats, 3 per cent from rabbits and 4 per cent from miscellaneous species. The proportion of consults where prescribing of antibacterials was identified was 35.1 per cent for dogs, 48.5 per cent for cats and 36.6 per cent for rabbits. Within this population, 76 per cent of antibacterials prescribed were β-lactams, including the most common group of clavulanic acid-potentiated amoxicillin making up 36 per cent of the antibacterials prescribed. Other classes included lincosamides (9 per cent), fluoroquinolones and quinolones (6 per cent) and nitroimidazoles (4 per cent). Vancomycin and teicoplanin (glycopeptide class), and imipenem and meropenem (β-lactam class) prescribing was not identified. Prescribing behaviour varied between practices. For dogs and cats, the proportion of consults associated with the prescription of antibacterials ranged from 0.26 to 0.55 and 0.41 to 0.73, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, previously unreported cohort characteristics and seizure patterns for canine epilepsy were identified from a series of UK-based epileptic dogs containing 1260 cases from 79 known pedigree breeds and a group of crossbreed dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squirrelpox, caused by a poxvirus, is a major threat to the remaining UK red squirrel population. The spread of antibody-positive grey squirrels has been monitored in the UK for the past decade. In 2005 grey squirrels that had been exposed to the virus appeared in the south of Scotland for the first time, followed approximately two years later by the appearance of squirrelpox disease in the local red squirrels. Four squirrels were examined. They all had gross external lesions and histological lesions typical of squirrelpox disease, but no significant internal lesions. The diagnosis was confirmed by PCR, electron microscopy and serology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigates the prevalence of infection with the bile fluke Pseudamphistomum truncatum in Lutra lutra or commonly konwn as Eurasian otters in Great Britain. Researchers removed the gall bladder of 197 otters found dead from 2005 to 2007, and examined mucosa and fluid contents. Results show that 30 otters had thickened gall bladders while fluke infection was detected in nine otters with normal gall bladders.

The concentrations of trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble copper and caeruplasmin were determined in 345 serum samples taken from cattle in March 1998 by eight Scottish Agricultural College veterinary disease surveillance centres serving areas with soils ranging from being "high" in molybdenum (Thurso) to "Low" (Perth and St Boswells). The mean concentrations varied significantly between the centres, with Thurso having the lowest values for both variables. There were strong linear regressions (r>0-8) between caeruloplasmin and TCA-soluble copper for each centre but no significant differences in slope or intercept between the areas with the highest and lowest soil molybdenum, and the pooled regression accounted for 88 percent of the variation. The distribution of the ratios of caeruloplasmin to TCA-soluble copper, unlike those of the individual variables, was not normal, and 70 percent of the values fell within 10 percent of the mean ratio of 20-3 mgh/μmol and close to the 22 mg/μmol copper expected in pure caeruloplasmin. Low ratios were generally associated with low TCA-soluble copper. Ratios above 24 were found in 8 percent of the samples were probably attributable to acute-phase reactions and the non-specificity of the assay of caeruplasmin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four-point photographic scale was developed to score the severity of lesions of footpad dermatitis (FPD) in broiler chickens. There was a linear relationship between the square root of the relative area of the lesions and their scores, and good agreement between different assessors using the scale. The scale was used to assess samples of 100 birds from each of 190 flocks slaughtered at two UK processing plants in 2002 and 2003; 12 of the flocks (6.3 per cent) had no lesions, but the others had lesions of different prevalences and severity. The maximum proportion of affected birds in a flock was 92 per cent. In the 178 affected flocks, 84.0 per cent of the birds had no lesions and 16.0 per cent had some evidence of FPD. The overall unweighted prevalence of birds with FPD in all 190 flocks sampled was 18.1 per cent; 10.2 per cent had only small lesions, on average equivalent in area to 2.1 per cent of the total area of the foot, 6.2 per cent had lesions on average equivalent to 6-6 per cent of the area of the foot, and 1.7 per cent had lesions on average equivalent to 21.5 per cent of the area of the foot. There were differences between the two plants in the overall prevalence and severity of FPD, but this may have been due to the fact that the plants were sampled at different times of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of the airborne spread of foot-and-mouth disease during the 2001 epidemic in the UK has been investigated in three epidemiological case studies. On the basis of evidence from field investigations, and a simple meteorological analysis, it is concluded that the spread of disease was consistent with the airborne transport of virus. The distances ranged from less than 1 km to 16 km; six of the farms were over 6 km from the source and involved the passage of virus over the sea combined with meteorological conditions which strongly favoured airborne disease transmission. The results of detailed atmospheric modelling demonstrated that airborne virus could have challenged livestock on all the farms studied. However, with one exception the 24-hour average daily concentrations of the virus were significantly below the experimentally estimated threshold for infection. A detailed model intercomparison established that, under stable atmospheric conditions, peak concentrations of virus up to two orders of magnitude higher might have been experienced for short periods, owing to fluctuations within the plume of virus, and model limitations. This finding would significantly reduce the apparent discrepancy between the experimentally estimated threshold for infection and the modelling results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1990 and 2000, more than 1600 mycoplasmas and the related acholeplasmas were identified from ruminant animals by the Mycoplasma Group at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency - Weybridge. Mycoplasma bovis was the most commonly identified pathogen, mostly from pneumonic calves but occasionally from cattle with mastitis and arthritis. Mycoplasma canis was first isolated in Britain in 1995 from pneumonic calves and the number of isolates increased to 18 per cent of the total mycoplasmas isolated from cattle in 1999. The ELISA for antibodies to M bovis detected 1971 positive samples (22 per cent) among 8959 serum samples, mainly from pneumonic cattle. Other mycoplasmas identified included Mycoplasma dispar from the lungs of cattle with respiratory disease, and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium from the reproductive tract of cows with vulvovaginitis and infertility. Mycoplasma bovirhinis and Acholeplasma species were found commonly but are thought to be more opportunistic than pathogenic. In sheep and goats, the majority of Mycoplasma species isolated were identified as Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae from pneumonic sheep, Mycoplasma conjunctivae from sheep with keratoconjunctivitis, and the ubiquitous Mycoplasma arginini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in the UK in 2001, two major control policies were the rapid identification of cases and the culling of animals on infected premises and on dangerous contact premises. Dangerous contact premises were divided into two groups, premises contiguous to an infected premises and non-contiguous premises. In England, the largest numbers of geographically clustered infected premises were in Cumbria, the South West (Somerset, Devon and Cornwall) and the Settle/Clitheroe area straddling the Yorkshire-Lancashire border. In each of these clusters, the rate of spread of the disease, the average time from the first lesion to slaughter on infected premises, and the intensity of culling of contiguous premises and non-contiguous premises were calculated for seven-day periods. Linear regression analysis was used to look for relationships between these factors and the rate of spread of the disease. The average time from the first lesion to slaughter had a statistically significant relationship in two of the three clusters and the intensity of culling of non-contiguous premises had a significant relationship in one. The intensity of culling of contiguous premises had no significant relationship in any of the three clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data derived over four years from 434 dairy herds in 1998/99 to 244 in 2001/02 revealed average disposal rates of 22.6 per cent per year, half of which were for poor fertility, mastitis and lameness. The quartile of herds with the lowest disposal rates sold an average of 11.5 per cent annually and the quartile with the highest rates sold 35.5 per cent. Average annual disease rates over the four years were as follows: for assisted calving 7.8 per cent, for digestive disease 1.2 per cent, for ketosis 0.5 per cent, for hypomagnesemia 0.5 per cent, for hypocalcaemia 5.0 per cent and for injuries 0.8 per cent. The incidence of mastitis increased from 36.0 to 43.3 per cent of cows per year. The incidence of lameness decreased from 23.3 per cent in 1998/99 to 20.7 per cent in 2000/01 but increased to 21.9 per cent in 2001/02. Data received from the same 219 farms during the first three years showed no effective differences from the full set of data for each of the three years. The lowest annual incidences of mastitis and lameness on individual farms were below 7 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively. In general, housing cows in cubicles was associated with a greater risk of lameness, and housing them in straw yards with a greater risk of mastitis. However, some of the lowest rates of lameness were recorded in cubicle-housed cows and some of the lowest rates of mastitis were recorded in cows housed in yards. Larger herds were not associated, in general, with higher rates of mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses a study by L. Kirk and colleagues regarding canine pulmonary angiostrongylosis. He says that the study concluded that the disease has indeed spread and the earlier hotspots or patches of the lungworm, Angiostrongylus vasorum, in south-east England and south Wales were found to persist. He mentions the transmission of the disease and the threat from vasorum in Great Britain.

The article offers information concerning the comparison of the applications of sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SELISA) and the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) methods for detection of Mbovis, a mycoplasma associated with calf pneumonia in Great Britain. While DGGE method can detect mycoplasmas, mbovis can be detected by SELISA culture method. It is concludes that both methods complement each other in efficiently detecting the bacteria.

The article focuses on a study which identifies any potential development of antimicrobial resistance in vitro by Mycoplasma bovis infection in cattle in Great Britain. The study aims to help veterinarians in terms of prescribing effective antimicrobial treatment for Mycoplasma bovis infection, which is linked with bovine respiratory disease and other clinical disease. Information about the results of the study is presented.

A total of 29 breeding turkey holdings and 317 fattening turkey holdings were sampled between October 2006 and September 2007 in order to establish the baseline prevalence of Salmonella in turkeys in the UK. The weighted holding level Salmonella prevalence was found to be 20.1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 8.6 to 40.3 per cent) in breeding turkeys and 37.7 per cent (95 per cent CI 33.4 to 42.3 per cent) in fattening turkeys. For breeding turkeys, a weighted flock-level prevalence, as more than one flock per holding was sampled, was estimated at 7.1 per cent (95 per cent CI 3.2 to 14.8 per cent). A total of 13 different serovars were identified in the survey. The most frequent serovar in both turkey flock classes was Salmonella Kottbus, which was found on two breeding holdings and 63 of the fattening holdings giving weighted prevalences of 10.4 per cent (95 per cent CI 2.6 to 34.1 per cent) and 23.0 per cent (95 per cent CI 19.3 to 27.3 per cent), respectively. On breeding holdings, a single isolate of Salmonella Typhimurium, identified as DT12 (weighted prevalence 3.5 per cent [95 per cent CI 0.7 to 15.8 per cent] [holding], 0.7 per cent [95 per cent CI 0.1 to 3.7 per cent] [flock)], was found. On fattening holdings, there were 55 isolates of S Typhimurium from 16 holdings, giving a weighted prevalence of this serovar of 5.4 per cent (95 per cent CI 3.6 to 8.0 per cent). There were no isolates of Salmonella serovars Enteritidis, Hadar, Infantis or Virchow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With bluetongue rampant on the main European Continent in 2008, why were there no outbreaks reported in the UK? The essential criteria for introduction of the disease by carriage of infected midges on the wind have been assessed for 2006, 2007 and 2008, and It is concluded that temperatures were favourable for virus replication and midge activity and that suitable winds were present on a considerable number of occasions. A major difference between 2007, when virus was introduced to the UK, and 2008 was the extensive vaccination programme implemented by the UK Government in 2008, with the support of the farming community. Vaccination reduced the numbers of susceptible animals, making it difficult for a focus of disease to become established. The authors believe that if bluetongue re-establishes itself on the near Continent in 2009, it will be of critical importance that UK livestock are fully protected by vaccination against the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As predicted, bluetongue arrived in the UK in 2007. Here, John Gloster and colleagues investigate the meteorological parameters that allowed this incursion into the UK and discuss key issues related to the disease's possible re-establishment in 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports several topics presented to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Great Britain. Identification of epidermolysis bullosa in cattle; Fatty liver syndrome causing significant losses in a dairy herd; Outbreak of rhinitis in sheep caused by Salmonella Diarzonae.

A telephone survey 51 National Hunt racing yards with 1140 horses is training was made in April and May 2003 to establish incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis syndrome during the previous year. A case-control study was used to investigate the risk factors for the syndrome in eight yards selected on the basis that cases had been confirmed by the analysis of serum muscle enzymes. The overall incidence of syndrome was 6.1 cases per 100 horses per year, and 55 per cent of the yards reported at least one case. The risk factors identified were sex, the average length of the training gallop, and the type of horse (steeplechaser, bumper/unraced or hurdler). There were no significant associations with the horses' temperament, age or Timeform rating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical information and blood samples were collected from 253 dogs with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus. Over half of them were labrador retrievers, collies, Yorkshire terriers or crossbred dogs, and approximately 80 per cent of them were diagnosed between the ages of five and 12 years. The majority of the dogs were receiving insulin therapy once a day, but in the dogs receiving insulin injections twice a day there was a trend for lower serum fructosamine concentrations, suggesting better glycaemic control. The proportion of female dogs with diabetes was lower than in previous surveys. The disease was diagnosed more commonly in the winter months, a seasonal pattern also observed in human beings with diabetes, suggesting that similar environmental factors might be involved in the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses several diseases which affected cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry in Great Britain. Detection of nutritional and metabolic disorders in cattle; Assessment of the presence of chronic copper poisoning in sheep; Diagnosis of new outbreaks of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in pigs.

This article summarises official reports received by DEFRA's International Animal Health Division (IAHD) on outbreaks of Office International des Epizooties (OIE) List A diseases and other diseases of interest from January to March 2004. The IAHD monitors animal disease outbreaks in European Union (EU) member states, countries bordering the EU and the UK's trading partners. It also notes disease in countries near to trading partners and new epidemiological developments which may give an early warning of emerging threats to the UK. Where an outbreak in a trading partner could pose a threat, the IAHD carries out a qualitative risk analysis of the risks to UK livestock. These risk assessments are published on DEFRA'S website (www.defra.gov.uk). The EU and the UK take appropriate safeguard measures to mitigate the potential risks of disease being introduced through legal trade. DEFRA notes that it is also important to recognise the continuing threat to the UK through illegal imports from countries with endemic disease, and, for Newcastle disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza, from migrating birds. Official information in this article was received from the OIE and the European Commission, unless otherwise stated. Maps were prepared from official reports received during this period; they do not necessarily reflect the true situation in every country and should not be regarded as definitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lists the topics discusses in the Veterinary Laboratory Agency's disease surveillance report for England and Wales for February 2004. Nematodiriosis in lambs; Enteric candidiosis associated with disease in calves; Outbreak of erysipelas in preweaned outdoor pigs.

Investigates the frequencies of prion protein (PrP) in 15 flocks affected with scrapie in Great Britain. Discovery of the heterogenous frequencies of the flock's different genotype and alleles and age distributions; Median flock frequency with VRQ containing genotypes; Revelation of lower frequency of AR genotype in scrapie affected populations.

Reports to the UK Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) in 2002 increased by 8 per cent compared with 2001 • The increase was largely accounted for by a rise in the number of reports of suspected adverse reactions (SARS) in dogs • Reports were received of SARS in cats to 'spot-on' products containing permethrin intended for canine use only, despite product warnings • Human SARS to veterinary medicines fell by 42 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the increase in the number of animal disease cases in Great Britain in April 2003. Congenital vertebral malformation in a Holstein calf; Osteochondrosis in fattening cattle; Duck virus enteritis causing losses in ducks and geese.

Discusses the absence of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in farmed animals in Great Britain. Possibility that farmed animals act as reservoirs; Use of 1,227 E. coli isolates; Objective of determining the prevalence of EAEC within the coliform flora carried by healthy animals at slaughter in the abbatoir.

The article reports on the impact of the staphylococcus chromogenes-induced folliculitis to skin flora of farm animals specially in goat kids in Great Britain. It states that folliculitis which is caused by S. chromogenes is a bacterial skin disease commonly encountered in small ruminants. It mentions that the subsequent development of lesions on the face and pinnae could be attributable to immaturity of the immune system of the young goat kids.

The article discusses the first case of suspected transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in alpacas associated with animal movements to a breeding herd in Great Britain. It examines the adult female alpacas from a herd in Devon, England that visited a breeding herd in south-east England. It reveals the presentation of the animals with extensive caseous necrosis of the lungs as well as thoracic lymph nodes during postmortem examination.

The article reports on the agreement between the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) on balancing pet travel and disease control in Great Britain. It states that BVA believes that the agreement serves as an important tool in balancing the movement of animals with the risk of spreading zoonitic diseases. On the other hand, PETS helps keep the region free from disease through the needs to meet certain requirements for the increasing entry of pet animals.

The article highlights animal disease outbreaks in Great Britain during 2007. The first is the H5N1 avian influenza, which was confirmed in a commercial poultry flock near Holton in Suffolk in February 2007. The second is the detection of cases of bluetongue, which were confirmed on a premises near Lowestoft in Suffolk. Finally, rabies was one of the issues discussed at a veterinary convention in April 2007.

The article focuses on the speech of Doctor Jill Maddison of the Royal Veterinary School about the importance of getting owners to comply with instructions on how to administer veterinary medicines in Great Britain. Compliance is important to avoid the inadequate response to treatment and the risk of recurrent infections. A number of human factors were blamed for the poor compliance of pet owners.

The article focuses on the research about cutaneous teratoma suffered by a wild roe deer in Great Britain. A female roe deer which is severely lame was admitted at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The examination found that the incision of the mass has a heterogeneous composition where the bony areas are unassociated with the metatarsal bone. Furthermore, the heterogeneous structure was found to contain many cysts of varying sizes.

Comments on the British government's policy towards animal health and welfare strategy published in the December 20-27, 2003 edition of "The Veterinary Record" journal. Coverage of the issues including cost sharing, prevention and control of animal diseases and partnership with the veterinary profession; Plan to ensure more financial responsibility for the industry on animal disease risks; Transparent fund allocation.

Announces the proposal to rationalize the compensation arrangements for the control of notifiable animal diseases by the government in Great Britain. Adoption of the same compensation rate for standardized categories of animals within individual species regardless of the disease; Creation of a simple, transparent system that is standardized enough to deliver predictable levels of compensation; Division of each livestock species into a series of standardized categories under the new proposal.

The article reports that the Badger Trust notified Great Britain's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of Defra's culling decision, which is part of measures to tackle bovine tubercolusis (TB). David Williams, the trust's chairman, says that they are concerned the proposed culls will spread the disease. It mentions the trust's consideration such as the proposed culls will not meet the legal test of disease prevention and the invalidity of the guidance.

The article reports on the partnership between the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and the University of Liverpool in 2011. It says that the move was aimed to develop Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET), which would examine the companion animal diseases across Great Britain on a three-year period. The article also discusses the results from the first stage of the pilot study.

The article reports that British Veterinary Association (BVA) Veterinary Policy Group's (VPG) companion animal subgroup was considering potential deficiencies within the Dangerous Dogs Act in Great Britain. The large animal subgroup was looking at veterinarians and veterinary services, while the medicines subgroup was examining registration of practices and prescription charge regulations. VPG was also making a list of notifiable diseases, including diseases of fish.

The article reports on the findings of the Independent Scientific Group on cattle tuberculosis in Great Britain. The Randomized Badger Trial shows a clear association of the infection in cattle and in badgers but failed to detect the source of the disease. The study suggested that any culling trial should be done systematically to obtain any effects and emphasized the importance of being aware with the infection and the limitation of tuberculin test in herds.

Reports on the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' invitation for comments on a draft rabies contingency plan. Preparation of the draft plan based on the framework for dealing with a disease outbreak set out in the agency's foot-and-mouth contingency plan.

Outlines a study of keratomycosis in horses in Great Britain. Disease overview; Clinical features; Treatment.