Pete Irons

Doxapram is marketed as a respiratory stimulant and is used by some veterinarians to help with neonatal apnoea, especially in puppies delivered by caesarean. There is a lack of consensus as to whether the drug is effective and data on its safety are limited. Doxapram was compared to placebo (saline) in newborn puppies in a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial using two outcome measures: 7-day mortality rate and repeated APGAR score measurements. Higher APGAR scores have been positively correlated with survival and other health outcomes in newborns. Puppies were delivered by caesarean and a baseline APGAR score was measured. This was immediately followed by a randomly allocated intralingual injection of either doxapram or isotonic saline (of the same volume). Injection volumes were determined by the weight of the puppy and each injection was administered within a minute of birth. The mean dose of doxapram administered was 10.65 mg/kg. APGAR scores were measured again at 2, 5, 10 and 20 min. One hundred and seventy-one puppies from 45 elective caesareans were recruited into this study. Five out of 85 puppies died after receiving saline and 7 out of 86 died after receiving doxapram. Adjusting for the baseline APGAR score, the age of the mother and whether the puppy was a brachycephalic breed, there was insufficient evidence to conclude a difference in the odds of 7-day survival for puppies that received doxapram compared to those that received saline (p = .634). Adjusting for the baseline APGAR score, the weight of the mother, the litter size, the mother's parity number, the weight of the puppy and whether the puppy was a brachycephalic breed, there was insufficient evidence to conclude a difference in the probability of a puppy having an APGAR score of ten (the maximum APGAR score) between those that received doxapram compared to those that received saline (p = .631). Being a brachycephalic breed was not associated with an increased odds of 7-day mortality (p = .156) but the effect of the baseline APGAR score on the probability of having an APGAR score of ten was higher for brachycephalic than non-brachycephalic breeds (p = .01). There was insufficient evidence that intralingual doxapram provided an advantage (or disadvantage) compared to intralingual saline when used routinely in puppies delivered by elective caesarean and that were not apnoeic.

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) can cause a multitude of diseases in cattle, with detrimental effects on the farm economy and the welfare of both adult and young cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of M. bovis in adult cows and calves in the south-west region of Western Australia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 29 dairy farms with 699 apparently healthy adult lactating cows and 495 young calves during 2019–2020. Nasal swabs and blood samples collected from the animals and bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were assessed for M. bovis-specific proteins and antibodies by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Mycoplasma immunogenic lipase A- Enzyme-Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (MilA ELISA). A seroprevalence of 42.5% (95% CI: 38.9–46.2) and 61% (95% CI: 56.6–65.2) was found in adult lactating cows and calves, respectively. The herd-level seroprevalence of M. bovis ranged from 4% (95% CI: 07–19.5) to 92% (95% CI: 75.0–97.8) in adult lactating cows and 25% (95% CI: 10.2–49.5) to 87% (95% CI: 67.9–95.5) for calves in these farms. None of the BTM and nasal swab samples were positive for M. bovis, indicating an absence of any current active infections on the farms. The female calves and pure Holstein–Friesian animals are twice as likely to be seropositive for M. bovis compared to male calves (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7–3.5) and Holstein–Friesian crossbred calves (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7–3.5). The high seroprevalence in both adult and young cattle in the southwest dairy farms of Western Australia warrants more effective farm biosecurity measures and further evaluation of the current prevention and management measures practiced on the farms.

Aims To gather data on the calf management and rearing practices of a subset of dairy farmers in the south-west region of Western Australia. Methods A 30-minute face-to-face survey was conducted with dairy cattle producers in the south-west region of Western Australia from April–June 2019 to determine pre-weaning calf rearing practices. Participation was voluntary, using a self-selected subset of dairy farmers registered with a regional extension group. The questionnaire assessed three broad categories: farm demographics, colostrum harvesting and management and calf rearing practices. Results The study response rate was 34/140 (24%). The following key areas were identified where there were deviations from recognised best practice: Precalving: no transition diet was fed pre-calving on 4/34 (12%) of farms, and on a further 5/34 (15%) it was fed for less than 3 weeks; mixing of heifers and adult cows in the calving paddocks occurred in 24/34 (70%) of the farms, with 15% (5/34) of the farms using calving induction. During calving 14/34 (41%) of the farms did not disinfect navels of new-born calves; although 23/34 farmers stated that they collected calves within 6 hours of birth, data on frequency of calf pick-up (2/34 did not separate calves and dams and 19/34 picked up only once per day) indicated that on 21/34 farms (62%) the reality was that calves were picked up >12 hours after birth. Colostrum quality was not assessed appropriately on 18/34 (53%) farms and farmers overestimated how soon after birth it was administered: 23/34 (68%) reported feeding it within 6 hours of calving, despite 62% picking up calves >12 hours after calving. Regarding calf rearing practices, no pain relief before or after dehorning was used on 20/34 (59%) farms, calf bedding was removed infrequently (

Bovine trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoal parasite Tritrichomonas foetus, is a highly contagious venereal disease characterised by early pregnancy loss, abortion and pyometra. Persistently infected bulls and cows are the primary reservoirs of infection in infected herds. This research investigated the prevalence of T. foetus infection in bulls from properties located across northern Australia and New South Wales. Preputial samples were collected from 606 bulls at slaughter and tested for T. foetus using the VetMAX-Gold Trich Detection Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The apparent prevalence of T. foetus infection varied between regions, with northern regions in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia showing a prevalence of 15.4%, 13.8% and 11.4%, respectively. There was some evidence of an association between infection and postcode (P = 0.06) and increasing bull age (P = 0.054). This study confirms that T. foetus infection is likely to be present in many beef breeding herds and contributing to lower than expected reproductive performance, particularly across northern Australia.

Identifying and quantifying the relative frequency of involuntary losses is an essential first step in developing fit-for-purpose herd health programmes. The objective of this study was to provide an estimate of the relative frequency of reasons for mortality among south-west Western Australian beef and dairy cattle, based on necropsy findings from a university-based veterinary pathology referral centre over 38 years. A total of 904 cattle were submitted for postmortem examination throughout the study period. Gastrointestinal, cardiopulmonary and reproductive conditions were the most common causes of mortality in cattle submitted for necropsy at Murdoch University for the period 1981–2018. In dairy cattle, the common problems were gastrointestinal (bloat, abomasal displacements) 18% (59/320), cardiovascular (traumatic reticulo-pericarditis) 9% (30/320) and respiratory conditions (pneumonia) 8% (27/320). In beef cattle, the most common conditions were gastrointestinal (bloat, rumen acidosis) 11% (39/358), reproductive (metritis) 11% (38/358), cardiovascular (traumatic reticulo-pericarditis) 7% (25/358), respiratory (pneumonia) 7% (24/358), lameness (fractures) 6%, (21/358) and hepatobiliary conditions (blue-green algae poisoning, hepatotoxicity) 6% (21/358). Selection bias and missing data were potential confounders in this study. Although necropsy investigations provide useful information on animal mortalities and avenues for future herd health programmes, there is a need to standardise data capture methods and disease definition criteria, and conduct more detailed recording of data both at the farm level and at necropsy diagnostic centres.

Periparturient diseases of dairy cows are caused by disproportionate energy metabolism, mineral imbalance, and perturbed immune function. The aim of the present study was to characterize metabolism, innate immune endometrial gene expression, and uterine microbial populations of transition animals receiving normal or restricted energy diets. Pregnant multiparous Holstein cows (n = 14) were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary treatments from 20 d prepartum until 35 d postpartum (DPP). One group was fed a diet providing 100% energy requirements (NE), whereas the other received an energy-restricted diet providing 80% energy requirements (RE). Feed intake, milk yield, body weight, body condition score, temperature, respiratory, and pulse rate were recorded. After calving, blood was collected weekly to analyze nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and total cholesterol (TC). Endometrial cytobrushes were collected for gene expression analysis of inflammatory markers, microbial populations determination, and cytological evaluation. The restricted energy diet did not alter feed intake or milk yield but changed energy balance and metabolites levels (P < 0.05). In fact, RE animals had high NEFA and BHB levels, and low TC concentrations (P < 0.05). Moreover, RE animals had upregulated gene expression of serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) at 35 DPP (P < 0.05) and CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) at 14 DPP (P < 0.01). Interleukin (IL) 1 and IL8 genes were downregulated 14 DPP but upregulated 35 DPP in RE animals, whereas IL6 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) genes were upregulated at 14 DPP (P ≤ 0.05). The most abundant phyla in RE animals (n = 3) were Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria, whereas Proteobacteria was the least abundant at both 14 and 35 DPP. In conclusion, it can be speculated that energy balance is one of the main drivers for uterine inflammation by affecting metabolism, immune function, and uterine microbiota. However, these findings should be validated in a larger sample size.

The sheath and prepuce are anatomically simple yet vital parts of the mating apparatus of the bull. They are also susceptible to a range of insults, and pathology of these structures is a common cause of infertility in both Bos taurus and Bos indicus bulls. Significant individual and breed‐based variation occurs in the looseness of the skin, the presence and development of preputial muscles, the relative position of the opening to the cranial preputial muscles, the length of the prepuce, and the prominence of the umbilicus. Individual and breed‐based susceptibility to different conditions is associated with these anatomical variations. Regardless of the cause, pathology of the prepuce generally results in sepsis, prolapse, stenosis or adhesions or a combination. Clinical examination should be aimed at determining the extent of these processes and the amount of healthy prepuce which would remain following successful treatment. The inclusion of evaluation of sheath conformation in the form of a sheath score is recommended. Current scoring systems do not reflect the diversity of predisposing factors to morbidity and may therefore fail to accurately reflect the risk of morbidity. A more detailed scoring system has been proposed. Further refinement of this system is outlined, consisting of a composite of scores for depth, umbilical skin fold, prepuce eversion, and distance from cranial muscle to opening (the ‘Y’ factor). Validation against actual bull performance is indicated to develop a valid and useful risk‐management tool for use in evaluating sheath conformation.

This study aimed to explore the beliefs and attitudes of a group of senior veterinary students regarding One Health and to evaluate their levels of confidence in advising the general public on preventative health issues at the human&ndash;animal interface. An online survey was communicated to senior veterinary students who were in their last two years of study. The questionnaire covered beliefs and attitudes, issues concerning the animal&ndash;human interface and participants&rsquo; confidence in diagnosing zoonoses. In total, 175 students from five Australian veterinary schools/colleges completed the online survey. The majority (96%) of students considered it their duty to promote the One Health approach, but only 36% believed there were sufficient practical frameworks for Australian veterinarian graduates to promote One Health. Interestingly, 81% (142/175) of respondents believed that veterinarians were more knowledgeable than physicians in managing zoonotic cases. Of the final-year students (n = 77), only 39% and 36% were confident in their ability to diagnose zoonoses in common companion animals and production animals, respectively. However, the number of those confident to diagnose zoonoses transmitted from wildlife was notably lower (22% (17/77)). Next-generation Australian veterinarians are keen to embrace their role in interprofessional collaboration; however, training efforts are required to reassure future veterinarians on aspects of zoonoses and One Health.

Accurate diagnosis of pregnancy is an essential component of an effective reproductive management plan for dairy cattle. Indirect methods of pregnancy detection can be performed soon after breeding and offer an advantage over traditional direct methods in not requiring an experienced veterinarian and having potential for automation. The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) detection ELISA and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in dairy cows of South Africa using a Bayesian latent class approach. Commercial dairy cattle from the five important dairy regions in South Africa were enrolled in a short-term prospective cohort study. Cattle were examined at 28–35 days after artificial insemination (AI) and then followed up 14 days later. At both sampling times, TRUS was performed to detect pregnancy and commercially available PAG detection ELISAs were performed on collected serum and milk. A total of 1236 cows were sampled and 1006 had complete test information for use in the Bayesian latent class model. The estimated sensitivity (95% probability interval) and specificity for PAG detection serum ELISA were 99.4% (98.5, 99.9) and 97.4% (94.7, 99.2), respectively. The estimated sensitivity and specificity for PAG detection milk ELISA were 99.2% (98.2, 99.8) and 93.4% (89.7, 96.1), respectively. Sensitivity of veterinarian performed TRUS at 28–35 days post-AI varied between 77.8% and 90.5% and specificity varied between 94.7% and 99.8%. In summary, indirect detection of pregnancy using PAG ELISA is an accurate method for use in dairy cattle. The method is descriptively more sensitive than veterinarian-performed TRUS and therefore could be an economically viable addition to a reproductive management plan.

Four years after the institution of a new curriculum at the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Veterinary Science, a second major curricular renewal was initiated as a result of several pressing drivers, many of which were unique to the national and institutional context. During the project, South African higher education was disrupted by student protests prompted by financial pressures on students, the overt colonial structure of higher education, and the need to accelerate transformation of the sector. A structured curricular renewal process was followed, including the laying down of the principles, the structuring the macro-curriculum as a story, the design of a meso- and micro-curriculum, and the mapping of the curriculum to Day One outcomes. The resulting program is a 6-year bachelor's degree with a blend of discipline and species modules, with the first cohort graduating in 2016. There is a strong focus on skills embodied in a 62-week experiential component, managed using a unique custom-designed online platform for booking placements, documenting exposure, assessing competency, and providing feedback to students. The experiential training includes a large elective component. Several causes of loss of impetus during the process are discussed and proposals are made for avoiding these. The value of accreditation as a driver and a source of inputs is evident. The process has succeeded in producing a significantly reshaped curriculum that has been well received by external stakeholders.