Epidural Analgesia in Sheep and Goats: A Review of Recent Literature

This study was carried out to review the current literature concerning recent advances in the techniques, drugs and drug combinations used to induce epidural analgesia in sheep and goats. Data bases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar were searched using key words such as small ruminant anesthesia, local anesthesia in ruminants, and epidural analgesia in sheep and goats to retrieve recently published articles in this subject. Only articles published between 2007 and 2016 were considered. Relevant references in the bibliographies of included articles were also retrieved for review. A total of 14 research papers (7 in sheep and 7 in goats) published in refereed journals between 2007 and 2016 were reviewed. The lumbosacral space was used in 9 and the first intercoccygeal space was used in one article. The most common drugs used to induce epidural analgesia in sheep and goats were 2% lidocaine with and without epinephrine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine, magnesium sulphate, xylazine, ketamine, and tramadol, methadone, and morphine. The results of these studies indicated adequate analgesia for surgical operations of the perineum could be safely concluded in sheep and goats using any of the discussed drugs or their combinations

Mastitis vaccines in dairy cows: Recent developments and recommendations of application

The objective of this review article was to summarize the most recent clinical field trials that have been published evaluating the use of different types of vaccines against mastitis pathogens in dairy cows. Mastitis is one of the most common and economically important diseases in dairy cows in the world. The disease is considered an important welfare issue facing the dairy industry in addition to the loss of production and premature removal or death of affected cows. Losses are also related to high cost of veterinary medicines and the cost of unsalable milk of treated cows. Mastitis can be caused by either contagious or environmental pathogens both of which are best prevented rather than treated. In addition to the application of best management practices in the parlor during milking, vaccination against common udder pathogens is widely practiced in many dairy farms to prevent or reduce the severity of clinical mastitis. In this review, the most recent clinical field studies that evaluated the use of different types of vaccines in dairy cows are summarized

Hematology and serum biochemistry variables in apparently normal Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx)

Background and Aim: Hematology and serum biochemical analyses are integral parts of the clinical evaluation of sick animals. This is especially true regarding the clinical care of wildlife species, where clinical signs and historical data relating to the particular illness are often not available. Therefore, this study was designed to report various hematology and serum biochemistry parameters in Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). Materials and Methods: Various hematology and serum biochemistry parameters were determined in 49 Arabian oryx of various ages and sexes. Hematology parameters included total red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), MCH concentration, and total leukocyte count (white blood cell) using an automated hematology analyzer. Serum biochemistry variables included glucose (Trinder method), total protein (biuret method), albumin using the Bromcresol Green (BCG) method, and blood urea nitrogen (colorimetric method). In addition, serum electrolyte concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus were determined using colorimetric methods. Results: There was a significant difference in RBC count, PCV, and serum glucose concentration between adult and young Arabian oryx. The RBC count was significantly higher in males than in females, whereas the serum glucose concentration was significantly higher in females. Conclusion: Results of this study showed significant differences in RBC, PCV, and serum glucose concentration between apparently normal young and Adult Arabian oryx. Similar differences were also detected between normal males and females. Knowledge of these data could prove vital in the clinical evaluation of the health status of this wildlife species

Female reproductive tract anatomy of the endangered Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Jordan

Female reproductive anatomy of the Arabian oryx is unknown. In this study, reproductive tracts of seven female Arabian oryx (aged 2 to 7 years) were examined to characterize their reproductive anatomy. Observations and measurements were obtained in situ from dead animals during necropsy. Animals were allocated into two groups: cycling (n=3; follicles or corpora lutea present) and not-cycling (n=4; follicles or corpora lutea absent). Different reproductive tract segments for each animal in both groups were measured using a digital caliper. The mean, SD and range for each reproductive tract segment were generated and compared between groups. Female oryx reproductive anatomy share some anatomical characteristics with that of domestic ruminants except that the oryx uterus has no distinct uterine body and the cervix has two internal openings for each respective uterine horn. In addition, there were more than 8 rows of caruncles within each uterine horn. There were significant differences in the length and width (P<0.05), but not in height, of both the right and left ovaries between cycling and not-cycling animals (P>0.05). Posterior and anterior vaginal lengths varied between cycling and not-cycling groups (P<0.05). Length of right and left oviducts, left and right uterine horns, cervix and vulva did not vary between cycling and not-cycling groups (P>0.05). Defining this unique morphology of female Arabian oryx reproductive anatomy will help in the development of appropriate reproductive techniques in order to propagate this endangered species and control its reproduction

Socializing One Health: an innovative strategy to investigate social and behavioral risks of emerging viral threats

In an effort to strengthen global capacity to prevent, detect, and control infectious diseases in animals and people, the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) PREDICT project funded development of regional, national, and local One Health capacities for early disease detection, rapid response, disease control, and risk reduction. From the outset, the EPT approach was inclusive of social science research methods designed to understand the contexts and behaviors of communities living and working at human-animal-environment interfaces considered high-risk for virus emergence. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, PREDICT behavioral research aimed to identify and assess a range of socio-cultural behaviors that could be influential in zoonotic disease emergence, amplification, and transmission. This broad approach to behavioral risk characterization enabled us to identify and characterize human activities that could be linked to the transmission dynamics of new and emerging viruses. This paper provides a discussion of implementation of a social science approach within a zoonotic surveillance framework. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews and focus groups to better understand the individual- and community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices that potentially put participants at risk for zoonotic disease transmission from the animals they live and work with, across 6 interface domains. When we asked highly-exposed individuals (ie. bushmeat hunters, wildlife or guano farmers) about the risk they perceived in their occupational activities, most did not perceive it to be risky, whether because it was normalized by years (or generations) of doing such an activity, or due to lack of information about potential risks. Integrating the social sciences allows investigations of the specific human activities that are hypothesized to drive disease emergence, amplification, and transmission, in order to better substantiate behavioral disease drivers, along with the social dimensions of infection and transmission dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is critical to achieving health security--the protection from threats to health-- which requires investments in both collective and individual health security. Involving behavioral sciences into zoonotic disease surveillance allowed us to push toward fuller community integration and engagement and toward dialogue and implementation of recommendations for disease prevention and improved health security

Molecular characteristics, antibiogram and prevalence of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA) isolated from milk obtained from culled dairy cows and from cows with acute clinical mastitis

Objectives: To study the molecular characteristics, antibiogram and prevalence of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MDRSA) isolated from milk obtained from culled dairy cows and from cows with acute clinical mastitis. Methods: Bacteria were cultured from 188 quarter milk samples obtained from cows before culling (n=139) and from cows affected with acute mastitis (n=49) belonging to 10 dairy farms. The bacteria were identified using colony morphology, Gram staining and biochemical characteristics. S. aureus isolates were then subjected to molecular characterization using PCR targeting 16S rRNA and mecA gene to identify Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The antibiogram of all isolates was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method against 10 commonly used antibiotics in dairy farms. Results: S. aureus was isolated from 19 (13.7%) samples obtained from culled cows and 11 (22.4%) samples obtained from cows with acute mastitis. In both culled cows and cows with acute mastitis, in vitro antibiogram revealed that 100% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to erythromycin, penicillin G, streptomycin, doxycyclin, and trimethoprim/sulpha. The prevalence of MRSA in milk of culled cows and cows with acute mastitis was 26.3% and 18.2%, respectively, with an overall prevalence of 3.7% among all samples. All MRSA isolates were completely resistant to all tested antibiotics. All MRSA isolates were positive for the presence of the mecA gene. Conclusions: MRSA carrying the mecA gene were isolated from mastitic milk from dairy cows in Jordan for the first time. MRSA may pose a potential health risk to the public, farm workers and veterinarians

Epidural analgesia in cattle, buffalo, and camels

Epidural analgesia is commonly used in large animals. It is an easy, cheap, and effective technique used to prevent or control pain during surgeries involving the tail, anus, vulva, perineum, caudal udder, scrotum, and upper hind limbs. The objectives of this article were to comprehensively review and summarize all scientific data available in the literature on new techniques and drugs or drug combinations used for epidural anesthesia in cattle, camel, and buffalo. Only articles published between 2006 and 2016 were included in the review. The most common sites for epidural administration in cattle, camels, and buffalos were the sacrococcygeal intervertebral space (S5-Co1) and first intercoccygeal intervertebral space (Co1-Co2). The most frequently used drugs and dosages were lidocaine (0.22-0.5 mg/kg), bupivacaine (0.125 mg/kg), ropivacaine (0.11 mg/kg), xylazine (0.05 mg/kg), medetomidine (15 μg/kg), romifidine (30-50 μg/kg), ketamine (0.3-2.5 mg/kg), tramadol (1 mg/kg), and neostigmine (10 μg/kg), and the clinical applications, clinical effects, recommendations, and side effects were discussed

Dystocia in sheep and goats: outcome and fertility following surgical and non-surgical management

Cesarean section is a life-saving surgical procedure usually undertaken in sheep and goats that fail to deliver vaginally (dystocia). Unfortunately, there are no recent review articles in literature that summarize the results of published case reports and clinical trials concerning indications, surgical approaches and procedures and outcomes following cesarean section in sheep and goats. Therefore, the aim of this article was to compile available data related to dystocia and cesarean section in small ruminants. Fortunately, the incidence of dystocia in small ruminants is considered to be low. It can be caused by either maternal or fetal factors. Maternal-related dystocia is most commonly because of failure of cervical dilation, narrow birth canal and uterine inertia. Those related to fetal causes are usually associated with fetal malposition/presentation, feto-pelvic disproportion/fetal oversize, and fetal malformation. Manual extraction of the fetus may be attempted in most cases, however, early surgical intervention by performing cesarean section ensures satisfactory outcome. Cesarean section is usually performed in lateral recumbency through left paralumbar fossa or left paralumbar fossa oblique celiotomy under local analgesia. The success rates and post-operative complications in sheep and goats are underreported; however, early surgical intervention using aseptic technique usually results in a satisfactory outcome for both the dam and newborn with acceptable prognosis for future breeding soundness

Abomasal displacement in neonatal dairy calves: Review of recent literature with special emphasis on abomasal torsion

Aim: This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological and necropsy findings in neonatal dairy calves affected with right torsion of the abomasum. Materials and Methods: The history and findings of clinical examination, hematology and serum biochemical analyses and necropsy were described in six neonatal Holstein calves with a confirmed diagnosis of right torsion of the abomasum. Furthermore, a review of the literature was carried out using internet search engines such as PubMed and Google Scholar concerning abomasal displacement in calves. Only published papers in scientific and refereed journals were reviewed. Results: Six neonatal Holstein calves (four females and two males) aged between 7 and 21 days were diagnosed with right torsion of the abomasum during necropsy. The calves were presented with peracute signs of anorexia, dehydration, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. Hematology and serum biochemical analyses revealed hemoconcentration and azotemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia. Conclusion: Abomasal torsion in neonatal calves must be placed on the deferential diagnostic list of calves suffering from peracute signs of abdominal pain and distension. Although the underlying etiopathological factors are not fully known, correction of nutritional mismanagement is required to prevent the condition