Susan Beetson

Improving ewe reproductive performance remains a priority for the Australian sheep industry. Here we present a protocol for veterinary practitioners to investigate cases of poor reproductive performance. The proposed methodology can be readily adapted to account for resources available and risk factors specific to the farm in question. This protocol will allow practitioners to determine the (a) timing and (b) likely causes of foetal/lamb loss to inform strategies targeted at improving reproductive performance.

As part of a comprehensive survey of 326 sick Cats, the association of renal disease parameters and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection was investigated. The serological prevalence of FIV infection alone was 24%, feline leukemia virus infection alone was 6.4%, and dual positivity was 5.5%. There were 22 FIV-positive azotemic cats and 24 FIV-negative azotemic cats present within the survey group. The association of FIV infection with azotemia had an odds ratio (OR) of 3.1 with a significance of p<0.001. The association of palpably small kidneys with FIV infection was significant with an OR of 2.3 (p<0.05). In FIV-positive cats, the presence of small kidneys was strongly associated with azotemia with an OR of 5.0 (p<0.001). This association was not present in FIV-negative azotemic cats. While this data is preliminary and nonrenal influences on serum creatinine levels cannot be eliminated, it is suggested that the azotemia associated with FIV infection is of renal origin.