Publications by authors named "David S Beggs"

Background: Ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy (spaying) are two surgical procedures commonly performed on dogs. However, the optimum age at which to perform these procedures in dogs remains a contentious issue. Following work published in the 1960s, pre-pubertal spaying became popular largely on the basis that it reduced the risk of mammary cancer development.

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Anaesthesia is sometimes required for the effective restraint of laboratory pigs for sample collection. Yet, anaesthesia can initiate a range of physiological disruptions that can increase variability in study data and lead to poorer animal welfare. Judicious use of anaesthesia can mitigate experimental, human safety, and animal welfare concerns, but it does not eliminate the potential for adverse effects.

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Introduction: Congenital vertebral malformations are common developmental abnormalities in screw-tailed brachycephalic dog breeds. Subsequent vertebral instability and/or vertebral canal stenosis caused by these malformations can lead to spinal cord compression manifesting in pain, paraparesis, ataxia and/or paralysis. Various methods for spinal stabilization are in common use.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study evaluates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Australian dairy cattle industry using data from various surveillance methods.
  • A total of 29 relevant studies from the 1960s to 2022 were reviewed, focusing on aspects like sampling type and bacteria assessed.
  • Results indicated a generally low level of clinical AMR, though some non-wildtype bacteria showed higher resistance rates against commonly used veterinary antimicrobials.
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Aims: The aims of this study were to determine antimicrobial prescription patterns and the factors affecting antimicrobial selection amongst Australian dairy veterinarians.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to Australian dairy cattle veterinarians using the Qualtrics online survey platform. Questions focused on their (1) demographics; (2) opinions surrounding antimicrobial use, resistance, and stewardship; (3) decision-making drivers of both prescription and selection of commonly prescribed antimicrobials; (4) awareness on the guidelines for antimicrobial usage and sources of information concerning antimicrobials.

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Mycoplasma bovis has been increasingly recognised worldwide as an economically important pathogen of cattle, causing a range of diseases, including pneumonia, mastitis, polyarthritis and otitis media. It is believed that M. bovis utilises a range of cell surface proteins, including nucleases, to evade the host immune response and survive.

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Background: Oriental theileriosis is a tick-borne, protozoan disease of cattle caused by members of the Theileria orientalis-complex. Recent outbreaks of this disease in eastern Australia have caused major concerns to the dairy and beef farming communities, but there are no published studies of the economic impact of this disease. On a farm in Victoria, Australia, we assessed whether oriental theileriosis has an impact on milk production and reproductive performance in dairy cows.

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