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Objectives: To compare detection of Salmonella species and antimicrobial‐resistant Escherichia coli in the faeces of dogs eating raw meat or non‐raw diets and examine risk factors for their carriage. Materials and Methods: Canine faecal samples (raw fed n=114; non‐raw fed n=76) were collected from May to July 2015 from across the UK. Enrichment and selective culture and biochemical and PCR assays were used to identify isolates. Escherichia coli underwent susceptibility testing to a range of antimicrobials, including third‐generation cephalosporins; PCR assays were used to detect antimicrobial‐resistant genes. Questionnaires were used to collect data on independent variables as risks for antimicrobial‐resistant (resistant to ≥1 tested antimicrobial), multi‐drug‐resistant (resistant to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) and third‐generation cephalosporin resistant Escherichia coli. Results: Antimicrobial‐resistant, multi‐drug‐resistant and third‐generation cephalosporin resistant Escherichia coli were significantly more likely to be detected in raw fed (54, 25 and 31%, respectively) compared to non‐raw fed (17, 4 and 4%, respectively) dogs; Salmonella species were detected in eight (4%) raw fed dogs only. Clinical Significance: Raw fed dogs may be a source of Salmonella species and Escherichia coli, resistant to highest priority critically important antimicrobials, representing a potential animal welfare and public health issue. Owners should be aware of the risks, especially households with members, both human and canine, who are very young, elderly or immunocompromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Critical appraisal skills enabling assessment of the validity and importance of evidence are essential for clinicians to make informed decisions regarding what new information should be incorporated into their clinical practice. This review highlights key points to consider in a critical review concentrating on common study designs used in the equine literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Despite the regularity with which castration is performed, the types of complications and current best practice are unknown. Objectives: The objective of this study was to perform a prospective audit of routine equine castrations performed in general practice to determine complication rates and factors associated with them. Study design: Multicentre, prospective audit of castrations. Methods: Data on castrations were collected on the day of surgery from 18 veterinary practices; 30‐days post‐operatively follow‐up was obtained and complications recorded. Frequency of complications was reported, and multilevel, multivariable logistic regression models used to investigate factors associated with the most common complications of bleeding in the first 24 h, stiffness of gait and/or swelling and discharge and/or infection. Results: Data were collected on 495 castrations performed by 53 participating veterinary surgeons. Over two thirds of surgeries were performed outside, 21% were performed under standing sedation and 79% with the horse recumbent. Almost all (98 and 97%) patients received preoperative nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatories (NSAIDs) and antimicrobials, respectively. One or more intraoperative complications were reported in 14.5% of procedures; most common were bleeding and excessive movement. Follow‐up to 30 days was available for 392 equids. One or more complications were reported in 44 castrations (11.2%). Swelling was the most common, then infection and stiffness of gait. Serious complications were rare. Main limitations: It is possible that there was bias towards submission of data for procedures where complications occurred. The low complication rates reduced the power to determine factors associated with complications. Minor complications may go unreported by owners and may be underrepresented. Conclusions: Overall complications associated with castration are low and mortality rare. Findings from this study can be used as guidelines for practices to perform regular audit to determine if their negative outcomes are comparable or warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Previous studies suggest that ocular disease is common among aged horses but owners may fail to identify or underestimate their clinical relevance. Objectives: To document the prevalence of owner‐reported ocular disease in horses aged ≥15 years. In a subset of these horses, to document ophthalmic findings from veterinary examination and compare with owner‐reported ocular disease, and to determine risk factors for veterinary ophthalmic findings. Study design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: Owners of aged horses completed a survey on management, clinical signs and medical history. Risk factors for the presence of ocular disease as reported by the owner were determined. A subset of these horses underwent an ophthalmological examination. Risk factors for the presence of ocular disease detected during this examination were determined. Agreement between owner‐reported data and veterinary ophthalmic findings was assessed. Results: Abnormal ocular findings were detected in 287/327 horses aged ≥15 years that underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, whereas the presence of ocular disease as reported by the horse‐owners was only 3.3%. Agreement between owner‐reported ocular disease and results of the veterinary examination was low for all categories analysed. An owner‐reported history of ocular discharge was associated with increased odds of veterinary‐reported diminished vision. Increasing age was associated with increased odds of the presence of an eye abnormality (any) and cataracts. Appaloosa horses had increased odds of cataract compared with other breeds. Horses in work were less likely to have an eye abnormality. Main limitations: Volunteer bias may have influenced our results with owners of sick horses or those more concerned about their horses more likely to volunteer at the initial recruitment phase. Conclusions: This study showed a high prevalence of ocular lesions in aged horses which was not reflected in owner‐reported disease. This has highlighted problems in obtaining information on ocular conditions from horse‐owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Evaluation of coagulation status is an important component of critical care. Ongoing monitoring of coagulation status in hospitalised horses has previously been via serial venipuncture due to concerns that sampling directly from the intravenous catheter (IVC) may alter the accuracy of the results. Adverse effects such as patient anxiety and trauma to the sampled vessel could be avoided by the use of an indwelling IVC for repeat blood sampling. Objectives: To compare coagulation parameters from blood obtained by jugular venipuncture with IVC sampling in critically ill horses. Study design: Prospective observational study. Methods: A single set of paired blood samples were obtained from horses (n = 55) admitted to an intensive care unit by direct jugular venipuncture and, following removal of a presample, via an indwelling IVC. The following coagulation parameters were measured on venipuncture and IVC samples: whole blood prothrombin time (PT), fresh plasma PT and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and stored plasma antithrombin activity (AT) and fibrinogen concentration. D‐dimer concentration was also measured in some horses (n = 22). Comparison of venipuncture and IVC results was performed using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient. Agreement between paired results was assessed using Bland Altman analysis. Results: Correlation was substantial and agreement was good between sample methods for all parameters except AT and D‐dimers. Main limitations: Each coagulation parameter was tested using only one assay. Sampling was limited to a convenience sample and timing of sample collection was not standardised in relation to when the catheter was flushed with heparinised saline. Conclusions: With the exception of AT and D‐dimers, coagulation parameters measured on blood samples obtained via an IVC have clinically equivalent values to those obtained by jugular venipuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Equine recurrent uveitis ( ERU) is a common cause of ocular pain and blindness in horses. Leptospira spp. have been commonly implicated in the pathophysiology of ERU in mainland Europe and the USA. No recent studies have been carried out in the UK, but Leptospira is reported not to be a major factor in the aetiology of ERU in the UK. Objectives To establish the prevalence of Leptospira-associated ERU in the UK and to identify the serovars involved in these cases; to compare serum vs. aqueous humour antibody levels in cases and controls in order to confirm the diagnosis of Leptospira-associated ERU, and to assess the usefulness of serology alone as a confirmatory test for Leptospira-associated ERU in the UK. Study design Case-control study. Methods Eyes enucleated for clinical reasons in ERU-affected horses were collected. Blood and aqueous humour were obtained to determine antibody levels against a variety of Leptospira serovars and C-values (aqueous humour value/serum value) were calculated. In addition, eyes, blood and aqueous humour were obtained from control cases for comparison. Histopathology was performed in all eyes to confirm uveitis in each case. Differences in seroprevalences between ERU and control cases and between Leptospira- and non- Leptospira-associated ERU cases were calculated. Results A total of 30 ERU and 43 control eyes were analysed. Of the ERU eyes, only two had a C-value of >4 (prevalence of Leptospira-associated uveitis: 6.7%). Serovars hardjo and javanica were detected. There was no difference in seroprevalence between horses with uveitis and control cases (65.5% and 41.9%, respectively; P = 0.11) or between Leptospira- and non- Leptospira-associated uveitis cases (100% and 63.0%, respectively; P = 0.52). Main limitations The study was limited by low case numbers. Eyes were presented at different stages of disease. The only test used to detect Leptospira was the microscopic agglutination test. Conclusions Leptospira-associated ERU is uncommon in the UK. Serology alone may not help to definitively diagnose Leptospira-associated uveitis in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasons for performing study Working horses, donkeys and mules suffer from numerous diseases and clinical problems. However, there is little information on what owners perceive as important health concerns in their working animals. Objectives To identify and prioritise with owners the diseases and other health concerns in working equids in central Ethiopia using participatory methodologies. Study design Participatory situation analysis (PSA). Methods The study was conducted with carthorse- and donkey-owners in 16 sites in central Ethiopia. Multiple participatory methodologies were utilised, including ranking, matrices and focus group discussions. Owners' perceptions on frequency, importance, morbidity and mortality of volunteered diseases and the clinical signs that owners attributed to each disease were obtained; information regarding the impact of these diseases and health concerns was also sought. Results A total of 40 separate disease and health problems were volunteered by carthorse- and donkey-owners. Horse-owners volunteered a musculoskeletal syndrome (with the local name 'bird', clinical signs suggest possible disease pathologies including equine exertional rhabdomyolysis), colic and epizootic lymphangitis most frequently, whereas donkey-owners volunteered sarcoids, nasal discharge and wounds to occur most frequently. One problem (coughing) was volunteered frequently by both horse- and donkey-owners. Owners demonstrated knowledge of differing manifestations and severity of these problems, which resulted in differing impacts on the working ability of the animal. Conclusions Although many of the diseases and clinical signs had been previously reported, this study also identified some previously unreported priorities such as rabies in donkeys, an unidentified musculoskeletal syndrome in horses and respiratory signs in both horses and donkeys. The information gathered during this participatory study with owners may be used to inform future veterinary and educational programme interventions, as well as identify future research priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]