Complications associated with surgical dehorning in goats: A retrospective study of 239 cases.

Objective: This article describes complications following surgical dehorning of goats.

Study Design: Retrospective. Medical records of goats that underwent surgical dehorning were reviewed.

Fluid therapy in mature cattle.

Fluid therapy for mature cattle differs from that for calves because the common conditions that result in dehydration and the metabolic derangements that accompany these conditions are different. The veterinarian needs to know which problem exists, what to administer to correct the problem, in what quantity, by what route, and at what rate. Mature cattle more frequently suffer from alkalosis; therefore, acidifying solutions containing K(+) and Cl(-) in concentrations greater than that of plasma are frequently indicated.

Perceptions of veterinarians and producers concerning Johne's disease prevalence and control in US beef cow-calf operations.

Background: Efforts to educate producers and veterinarians in the United States regarding the management, prevention and control of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection have increased over recent years. While nationwide awareness about MAP infection is improving, current level of awareness among beef producers and veterinarians is largely unknown. This study compares the perceptions of beef producers and veterinarians on the burden of MAP infection in cow-calf herds and on measures to control new infections.

Comparison of calf weaning weight and associated economic variables between beef cows with and without serum antibodies against or isolation from feces of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis.

Objective: To compare calf weaning weight and associated economic variables for beef cows with serum antibodies against Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) or from which MAP was isolated from feces with those for cows that were seronegative for antibodies against or culture negative for MAP.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 4,842 beef cows from 3 herds enrolled in the USDA National Johne's Disease Demonstration Herd Project.

Perceptions of veterinarians in bovine practice and producers with beef cow-calf operations enrolled in the US Voluntary Bovine Johne's Disease Control Program concerning economic losses associated with Johne's disease.

This study compares the perceptions of producers and veterinarians on the economic impacts of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in cow-calf herds. Questionnaires were mailed to beef producers through the Designated Johne's Coordinators and to veterinarians belonging to a nationwide professional organization. Important components of losses associated with MAP infected cows were used to estimate total loss per infected cow-year using an iterative approach based on collected survey data.

Evaluation of an alternative method of herd classification for infection with paratuberculosis in cattle herds in the United States.

Objective: To develop a better system for classification of herd infection status for paratuberculosis (Johne's disease [JD]) in US cattle herds on the basis of the risk of potential transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratubeculosis.

Sample: Simulated data for herd size and within-herd prevalence; sensitivity and specificity for test methods obtained from consensus-based estimates.

Procedures: Interrelationships among variables influencing interpretation and classification of herd infection status for JD were evaluated by use of simulated data for various herd sizes, true within-herd prevalences, and sampling and testing methods.

Control of paratuberculosis in beef cattle.

As with any susceptible livestock species, the key to control of paratuberculosis in beef cattle is to reduce exposure of the susceptible calves to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP)–contaminated feces. Because beef calves remain with mature, potentially shedding cattle until weaning, control strategies are aimed at providing an environment with the least possible fecal burden and removing MAP shedders as soon as possible.

Preliminary investigation of a humoral and cell-mediated immunity ratio for diagnosis of paratuberculosis in beef cattle.

One thousand three hundred and twenty-four adult beef cattle were tested for paratuberculosis using 2 antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), an interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) ELISA, and radiometric bacterial culture of feces from 5 populations. Two populations of cattle (n=226) had data available to calculate a ratio of humoral to cell-mediated immunity based on results from one antibody test and the INF-gamma ELISA. Latent class analysis was used to estimate accuracy of the 4 paratuberculosis assays within a Bayesian framework.

Use of Walpole's solution for treatment of goats with urolithiasis: 25 cases (2001-2006).

Objective: To determine results of ultrasound-guided cystocentesis and percutaneous infusion of Walpole's solution for treatment of male goats with urolithiasis.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 25 male goats with urolithiasis treated with Walpole's solution.

Assessment of clinical reasoning skills in veterinary students prior to and after the clinical year of training.

Objective: To examine the effect of various clinical tracks within the veterinary medical clinical curriculum at Texas A&M University on clinical diagnostic proficiency as determined by pre- and post-training assessment. We expected that the clinical track chosen by the student would impact their measured outcome with bias toward higher scores in their chosen field.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Comparison of three methods of surveillance with application to the detection of Johne's disease seropositivity in Texas cattle.

Surveillance and monitoring are important for measuring the level of disease in a population, documenting changes in prevalence over time, determining high-risk areas for implementation of control measures, eradicating disease, and documenting freedom from disease. The documentation of freedom from disease has importance for international trade and the resumption of production after an outbreak. Johne's disease (JD) is an example of an endemic disease of cattle that has variable prevalence related to environmental and animal-level factors.

Assessing familial aggregation of paratuberculosis in beef cattle of unknown pedigree.

The objective of this study was to assess genetic similarity of beef cattle using microsatellite markers and to use this information to describe familial aggregation of paratuberculosis test results in Texas beef cattle. Paratuberculosis testing was performed on 2622 adult beef cattle using two commercially available serum ELISAs and radiometric fecal culture. Pedigree records were collected for registered purebred herds and herds with sufficiently detailed production records to identify parent-offspring pairs.

Familial associations with paratuberculosis ELISA results in Texas Longhorn cattle.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to estimate familial associations with paratuberculosis ELISA status in beef cattle. Texas Longhorn cattle (n=715) greater than 2years of age were sampled for paratuberculosis testing using ELISA and fecal culture. Diagnostic test results were indicative of substantial numbers of false-positive serological reactions consistent with environmental exposure to non-MAP Mycobacterium spp.

Evaluation of the ruminant serum chemistry profile.

In general, laboratory tests provide useful information about a patient and aid in making a diagnosis, determining a prognosis, formulating a treatment plan, and monitoring response. The serum chemistry profile, composed of a battery of tests, is readily available to clinicians through in-house testing or veterinary reference and diagnostic laboratories. A chemistry profile allows for evaluation of several body systems and assessment of metabolic, acid-base, or electrolyte disturbances.

Environmental mycobacteria in soil and water on beef ranches: association between presence of cultivable mycobacteria and soil and water physicochemical characteristics.

Exposure to environmental mycobacteria has been reported to be a factor contributing to false-positive results on bovine serological tests detecting antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Mptb). This study was conducted to investigate the association between recovery of mycobacteria from the environment of cattle and both (i) historically high or low seroprevalence to Mptb, and (ii) soil and water physicochemical characteristics.

Contribution of environmental mycobacteria to false-positive serum ELISA results for paratuberculosis.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of exposure to environmental mycobacteria on results of 2 commercial ELISAs for paratuberculosis in cattle.

Design: Experimental trial.

Animals: 19 weaned crossbred beef calves.

Association of fecal shedding of mycobacteria with high ELISA-determined seroprevalence for paratuberculosis in beef herds.

Objective: To evaluate the seroprevalence of paratuberculosis by use of 2 commercial ELISAs in association with prevalence of fecal shedding of mycobacteria within beef cattle herds.

Design: Cross-sectional field study.

Animals: Six beef herds (affected herds; 522 cattle) with and 3 geographically matched herds (181 cattle) without high seroprevalence of paratuberculosis.

Consensus recommendations on diagnostic testing for the detection of paratuberculosis in cattle in the United States.

The report provided here contains a simplified set of diagnostic testing recommendations. These recommendations were developed on the basis of research funded by the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary Services through a cooperative agreement. The report is intended to provide simple, practical, cost-effective consensus testing recommendations for cattle herds that are not enrolled in the US Test-Negative Program.

Pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of a subanesthetic continuous rate infusion of ketamine in awake horses.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of a subanesthetic, continuous rate infusion of ketamine administered to healthy awake horses.

Animals: 8 adult horses.

Procedures: Ketamine hydrochloride was administered to 2 horses, in a pilot study, at rates ranging from 0.

Protothecal enteritis as a cause of protein-losing enteropathy in a bull.

Prototheca spp are achlorophyllic saprophytic algae found in wastewater, sewage, agricultural waste, and possibly elsewhere in the environment. Infections with these organisms have been reported in cattle, humans, and dogs; affected cattle commonly develop mastitis. A 5-year-old Brahman-cross bull was evaluated because of a history of diarrhea and weight loss.

Concentrations of serum amyloid A and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in horses with colic.

Objective: To determine concentrations of 2 acute-phase proteins (serum amyloid A [SAA] and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein [LBP]) in serum samples obtained from horses with colic and identify relationships among these acute-phase proteins and clinical data.

Animals: 765 horses with naturally developing gastrointestinal tract diseases characterized by colic (ie, clinical signs indicative of abdominal pain) and 79 healthy control horses; all horses were examined at 2 university teaching hospitals.

Procedure: Serum concentrations of SAA and LBP were determined by immunoturbidometric and dot-blot assays, respectively.

Effect of an indwelling nasogastric tube on gastric emptying rates of liquids in horses.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an indwelling nasogastric tube on gastric emptying of liquids in horses.

Animals: 9 healthy adult horses.

Procedure: A randomized block crossover design was used.

Prevalence of and risk factors for paratuberculosis in purebred beef cattle.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of paratuberculosis in purebred beef cattle in Texas and identify risk factors for seropositivity.

Design: Epidemiologic survey.

Animals: 4,579 purebred cattle from 115 beef ranches in Texas.

Evaluation of risk factors associated with development of postoperative ileus in horses.

Objective: To determine factors associated with development of postoperative ileus (POI) in horses undergoing surgery for colic.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Animals: 251 horses undergoing colic surgery, of which 47 developed POI.