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The reduction in milk yield (RMY) due to impaired health of dairy cows is a common parameter used in economic modelling. Hortet et al. (1999) showed the association between RMY and somatic cell count (SCC) levels in French Holstein cows and proposed a polynomial model to estimate the expected average lossOn the individual cow level RMY can differ, but so far no estimates for the variation around the average RMY are available. Additionally, estimates are based on only one breed. The aim of our study is to investigate the expected variation around the average RMY and to examine the influence of different breeds on the RMY estimation. Combining DHI data from over 900,000 cows from two German federal states (Bavaria and North Rhine Westphalia) over the course of two years yields more than 10 million measurements with high representation of the four most common breeds (Brown Swiss, German Fleckvieh, Holstein-Fresian, Red-Holstein). A quantile regression model with 10%, 50% and 90% bounds stratified for breed was used. Milk yield was calculated using the estimated lactation curve based on laction number, days in milk (DIM) and SCC of all animals, while adjusting for farm size and seasonal effects. Similar to Hortet et al., the SCC was set to 50,000 cells/ml to calculate unimpaired milk yield as a reference. The quantile regression was performed as a generalized additive model with penalized cubic splines using the package "qgam" (Fasiolo et al., 2017) for R (version 3.53). The High Performance Cluster of ZEDAT (Freie Universität Berlin) kindly provided us with computing time. Our results show the absolute reduction in milk yield is dependent on the breed. The highest performing breed “Holstein-Friesian” has a comparably low median absolute RMY at 100 DIM and in the first and second lactation. In contrast the variation is one of the highest of all breeds, with a 90% quantile which is one of the lowest compared to the other breeds and a 10% quantile which shows high losses especially for higher lactation numbers. The relative milk loss curves are shaped similarly for all breeds. Especially at the beginning of the lactation the median RMY closely tracks the 90% quantile with most of the variation within the lower 50% of cows. Towards the end of the lactation the relative RMY increases since healthy milk yield is dropping and absolute RMY is rising. The observed milk loss and it’s variation is similar and only slightly higher for 500,000 and 1 Mio. SCC/ml. Quantile regression allows us to quantify the variation around the estimated median RMY depending on the SCC. We can show that the variation in RMY at 300,000 SCC/ml can be higher than 1.5 liters for Holstein cows. It has already been shown that different pathogens can result in highly different RMY (Gröhn et al., 2010). Further investigation is needed to determine how much of the variation can be explained by a combination of SCC and pathogen. Our model assumes that individual cows stay on their respective milk yield quantiles with increasing SCC. This implies that low performing cows on the 10% quantile will experience the highest RMY, while high performing cows (90% quantile) will experience the lowest RMY. We believe this is unrealistic. If the model assumption is not true and cows change their respective quantiles due to rising SCCs, the observed variation in RMY can only be higher. Our approach therefore provides a lower limit for the total variation of the RMY. We hope to improve the estimation of uncertainty of RMY in the future by better modelling the disease-free milk performance of individual cows., {"references":["Hortet, P., Beaudeau, F., Seegers, H., & Fourichon, C. (1999). Reduction in milk yield associated with somatic cell counts up to 600 000 cells/ml in French Holstein cows without clinical mastitis. Livestock Production Science, 61(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(99)00051-2","Fasiolo, M., Goude, Y., Nedellec, R., & Wood, S. N. (2017). Fast calibrated additive quantile regression. Arxiv Preprint, (2000). https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000007529","Gröhn, Y. T., Wilson, D. J., González, R. N., Hertl, J. A., Schulte, H., Bennett, G., & Schukken, Y. H. (2010). Effect of Pathogen-Specific Clinical Mastitis on Milk Yield in Dairy Cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 87(10), 3358–3374. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(04)73472-4","R Core Team. (2019). R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria. Retrieved from https://www.r-project.org/"]}

Management of udder health is a challenging aspect on every dairy farm. Checking the somatic cell count (SCC) routinely in the course of DHI testing is the best way to indirectly assess udder health of dairy cows. In Germany, six udder health scores are being computed based on the monthly cell count results. Provided in a monthly report, they have been proven to be a useful tool in order to reflect the current udder health status. However, to our knowledge, there are no standardized indicators available based on DHI results to predict the individual status of udder health in the future. The German ZellDiX project aims to enhance the informative value of DHI results by evaluating the additional value of differential somatic cell count (DSCC) and by establishing prognostic key figures for udder health. Since the introduction of a new generation of high throughput devices, SCC and DSCC can be analyzed simultaneously, allowing the assessment of the so called cell differentiation index (CDI). The CDI essentially reflects the proportion of macrophages of the total SCC. Throughout the project, cell differentiation was routinely performed from DHI samples taken over a period of 1.5 years from approximately 627,000 animals in Bavaria as well as from 139,000 animals partly from robot farms in North Rhine-Westphalia. Additionally, an experiment including 2,800 animals in Berlin-Brandenburg was conducted over a period of 5 months: DHI samples were analyzed with regard to SCC and CDI. Simultaneously, SCC, CDI, and the bacteriological status were assessed from udder quarter level samples of the same animals. Based on the collected DHI data, two key figures were established in regard to different initial SCC. In the case of currently > 100,000 cells/ml, the probability for elevated cell counts in the next two months can be predicted. Whereas in the case of currently < 100,000 cells/ml, the probability for stable udder health with low cell counts in the next two months is predicted. By providing the probability for different outcome scenarios, farmers would be able to rank their animals according to high or low risk and prioritize their effort. Results from the current data evaluation of quarter milk samples, will serve as reference to DHI samples and give detailed insight into actual processes in the udder and the value of CDI., {"references":["R Core Team. (2019). R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria. Retrieved from https://www.r-project.org/"]}

Table S1. Nutrient concentrations of the experimental diets, expressed on the basis of the dietary energy density. (DOCX 43 kb)

Objective—To evaluate serum concentrations of biochemical markers and survival time in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). Design—Prospective study. Animals—29 dogs with PLE and 18 dogs with food-responsive diarrhea (FRD). Procedures—Data regarding serum concentrations of various biochemical markers at the initial evaluation were available for 18 of the 29 dogs with PLE and compared with findings for dogs with FRD. Correlations between biochemical marker concentrations and survival time (interval between time of initial evaluation and death or euthanasia) for dogs with PLE were evaluated. Results—Serum C-reactive protein concentration was high in 13 of 18 dogs with PLE and in 2 of 18 dogs with FRD. Serum concentration of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity was high in 3 dogs with PLE but within the reference interval in all dogs with FRD. Serum α1-proteinase inhibitor concentration was less than the lower reference limit in 9 dogs with PLE and 1 dog with FRD. Compared with findings in dogs with FRD, values of those 3 variables in dogs with PLE were significantly different. Serum calprotectin (measured by radioimmunoassay and ELISA) and S100A12 concentrations were high but did not differ significantly between groups. Seventeen of the 29 dogs with PLE were euthanized owing to this disease; median survival time was 67 days (range, 2 to 2,551 days). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Serum C-reactive protein, canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, and α1-proteinase inhibitor concentrations differed significantly between dogs with PLE and FRD. Most initial biomarker concentrations were not predictive of survival time in dogs with PLE.

Objectives: Veterinary practitioners’ working situation is both challenging and changing. They have higher levels of work-related stress and suicide risk than the general population. The proportion of women is increasing, and in Germany especially women and employed veterinarians are reported to be less satisfied than comparable subgroups of the general population. In this study we identified key factors associated with work and life satisfaction among veterinary practitioners in Germany. Design: Questionnaire-based cross- sectional survey. Setting: All veterinary practitioners registered in Germany in 2016. Participants: There were 2549 respondents, of whom 1930 met the inclusion criteria for further analysis. They had a median age of 37 and the majority of respondents were women (79.3 per cent). Almost two-thirds (63.8 per cent) worked as employed veterinarian. Primary outcomes: Importance of different job characteristics measured in 5-point Likert items, work satisfaction measured on a 5-point Likert item and life satisfaction measured in 11-point Likert items. Secondary outcomes: Facets such as satisfaction with leisure time, family life, health and standard of living, information on working conditions such as working time, income, as well as year of birth and other demographic data. Results: A ‘good working atmosphere’ was the most relevant job characteristic for all veterinary practitioners. Work satisfaction of employed practitioners is closely linked to satisfaction with their colleagues. This link is less pronounced for self-employed practitioners. A ‘reasonable salary’ was the second and ‘holidays and leisure time’ was the third most important job characteristics for employed practitioners. A ‘good working atmosphere’ and ‘family friendly arrangements’ were statistically significantly more important for women than for men, while a ‘reasonable salary’ was more important for men. Conclusions: Our results indicate strong associations between levels of work satisfaction and various work-related factors in subgroups of veterinary practitioners in Germany that reduce life satisfaction. The strength of some associations differs between men and women, as well as between self-employed and employed veterinarians. Outgoing students should be better prepared for the challenging working conditions that they face in veterinary practice. Salary levels should be improved and the working conditions adapted to the respective subgroups in order to increase work and life satisfaction.

Protein levels and quality in cat food can vary significantly and might affect immune function in various ways. In the present study, 3 diets with a low protein quality (LQ) and 3 diets with a high protein quality (HQ) were offered to 10 healthy adult cats for 6 weeks each, using a randomized cross-over design. The LQ and HQ diets differed in the collagen content and had low (36.7% and 36.2%), medium (45.0% and 43.3%) and high (56.1% and 54.9%) protein levels. At the end of each feeding period, blood was collected for phenotyping of leukocyte subsets, lymphocyte proliferation assay and cytokine measurements, phagocytosis assay and differential blood count. The results demonstrated no group differences for numbers of CD4+CD8-, CD4+CD8+, CD4-CD8+, MHCII+, CD21+, SWC3+ and CD14+ cells in the blood of the cats. Proliferative activity of lymphocytes when stimulated with pokeweed mitogen, Concanavalin A and Phytohemagglutinin, M form did not differ depending on the dietary protein concentration and quality. Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma in the supernatant of the proliferation assay were also not affected by the dietary treatment. Blood monocyte phagocytic activity was higher (P = 0.048) and cell numbers of eosinophilic granulocytes in the blood were lower (P = 0.047) when cats were fed the low protein diets. In conclusion, only a few differences in feline immune cell populations and activity depending on dietary protein supply could be detected. However, the observed increase of eosinophilic granulocytes by a higher protein intake indicates an activation of immunological mechanisms and requires further investigation.

Hair cycle disturbances are common in dogs and comparable to some alopecic disorders in humans. A normal hair cycle is maintained by follicular stem cells which are predominately found in an area known as the bulge. Due to similar morphological characteristics of the bulge area in humans and dogs, the shared particularity of compound hair follicles as well as similarities in follicular biomarker expression, the dog is a promising model to study human hair cycle and stem cell disorders. To gain insight into the spatial distribution of follicular keratinocytes with stem cell potential in canine compound follicles, we microdissected hair follicles in anagen and telogen from skin samples of freshly euthanized dogs. The keratinocytes isolated from different locations were investigated for their colony forming efficiency, growth and differentiation potential as well as clonal growth. Our results indicate that i) compound and single hair follicles exhibit a comparable spatial distribution pattern with respect to cells with high growth potential and stem cell-like characteristics, ii) the lower isthmus (comprising the bulge) harbors most cells with high growth potential in both, the anagen and the telogen hair cycle stage, iii) unlike in other species, colonies with highest growth potential are rather small with an irregular perimeter and iv) the keratinocytes derived from the bulbar region exhibit characteristics of actively dividing transit amplifying cells. Our results now provide the basis to conduct comparative studies of normal dogs and those with hair cycle disorders with the possibility to extend relevant findings to human patients.

BACKGROUND Follicular stem cells and their progeny are responsible for the cyclical renewal of hair follicles and maintenance of the hair coat. The understanding of pathways involved in this process is essential to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms of primary alopecia. Stem cells and their direct descendants are located in the bulge region of the isthmus of hair follicles. Although these cells have been studied extensively in mice and humans, data for canine isthmic keratinocyte activation and proliferation are not available. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES The aim was to establish an accurate and reliable in vitro system to study the growth potential of canine isthmic keratinocytes. We assessed the colony-promoting capability of a commercially available canine-specific medium, CELLnTEC (CnT-09), compared with a well-established home-made medium, complete FAD (cFAD). The CnT-09 medium is specific for the growth of canine keratinocytes, while the cFAD medium can support growth and colony formation of keratinocytes from several species. ANIMALS Skin biopsies were obtained from 15 recently euthanized dogs of various breeds with no skin abnormalities. METHODS The isthmic region of compound hair follicles was isolated by microdissection and cell growth monitored using several parameters with colony-forming assays. RESULTS The CnT-09 and cFAD media provided similar growth as measured by the total number and size of colonies, as well as rate of cell differentiation. CONCLUSIONS The commercial canine-specific CnT-09 medium was comparable to the home-made cFAD medium in supporting the growth and proliferation of canine follicular keratinocytes in vitro. The CnT-09 medium should be a viable alternative growth medium for molecular studies of alopecic disorders in dogs.

Im Jahr 2010 wurde ein Fragebogen zum Thema «perioperative Analgesie bei Hund und Katze» an 1000 Schweizer Tierärzte versandt. Dieser war in sieben Abschnitte gegliedert. Neben persönlichen Daten und Angaben zu besuchter Weiterbildung in Schmerz-Therapie bei Tieren waren die generelle Ideologie in Bezug auf die Behandlung perioperativer Schmerzen, Erfahrung in Schmerztherapie wie auch die Bewertung und Verwendung der wichtigsten Analgetika zur perioperativen Behandlung von Schmerzen von Interesse. Insgesamt wurden 258 Fragebogen ausgewertet. Bei 88 % der antwortenden Personen war die Motivation, während Operationen Schmerzmittel einzusetzen, hoch. Der Hauptgrund für die Verwendung von Schmerzmitteln war eine Linderung der Schmerzen (64.1 %). Die meisten Tierärzte gaben an, Analgetika vor (71 – 96 %) oder nach (2 – 23 %) dem Eingriffe zu verabreichen. Dabei wurden vor allem nicht-steroidale Antiphlogistika (Carprofen, Meloxicam) und Opioide (Butorphanol, Buprenorphin) verwendet. Auch nach der Genesung wurden die Tiere bei 97 % der Tierärzte routinemäßig auf Schmerzen untersucht. Loco-regionale Anästhesie-Techniken wurden von 43.8 % der Tierärzte angewendet. In der Schweizer Tierärzteschaft wurde die Notwendigkeit einer perioperativen Schmerztherapie erkannt. Allerdings wurden die zu erwartende Schmerzintensität verschiedener Eingriffe wie auch die Unterschiede zwischen Opioid-Klassen anders beurteilt als erwartet. Loco-regionale Anästhesie-Techniken werden eher selten angewendet., A survey was performed to evaluate the use of perioperative analgesia in dogs and cats by veterinary practitioners. Questions were grouped in seven sections recording personal data, education in veterinary analgesia, general ideology regarding treatment of perioperative pain, personal experience, assessment, and use of main analgesics to treat perioperative pain. A total of 258 received forms were analyzed. Based on 5 questions, 88 % showed excellent motivation to use perioperative pain therapy. The main reason declared for the use of analgesics was to relieve the patient from pain (64.1 %). Most veterinarians reported to routinely administer analgesics before (71 - 96 %) or after (2 - 23 %) surgery. The most used analgesics were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (carprofen, meloxicam) and opioids (butorphanol, buprenorphine). Animals were routinely evaluated for pain after recovery. Only 43.8 % of veterinarians declared to use loco-regional anaesthesia. Swiss veterinarians appear to recognize well the need for perioperative pain treatment. However, weakness was shown in evaluating pain severity, distinguishing between opioid classes, and using loco-regional anaesthesia.