Insurance data for research in companion animals: benefits and limitations

The primary aim of this article is to review the use of animal health insurance data in the scientific literature, especially in regard to morbidity or mortality in companion animals and horses. Methods and results were compared among studies on similar health conditions from different nations and years. A further objective was to critically evaluate benefits and limitations of such databases, to suggest ways to maximize their utility and to discuss the future use of animal insurance data for research purposes. Examples of studies on morbidity, mortality and survival estimates in dogs and horses, as well as neoplasia in dogs, are discussed

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: An Updated Consensus Statement with a Focus on Parasite Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) remains an important neurologic disease of horses. There are no pathognomonic clinical signs for the disease. Affected horses can have focal or multifocal central nervous system (CNS) disease. EPM can be difficult to diagnose antemortem. It is caused by either of 2 parasites, Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi, with much less known about N. hughesi. Although risk factors such as transport stress and breed and age correlations have been identified, biologic factors such as genetic predispositions of individual animals, and parasite-specific factors such as strain differences in virulence, remain largely undetermined. This consensus statement update presents current published knowledge of the parasite biology, host immune response, disease pathogenesis, epidemiology, and risk factors. Importantly, the statement provides recommendations for EPM diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

A three-way comparative genomic analysis of Mannheimia haemolytica isolates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mannhemia haemolytica </it>is a Gram-negative bacterium and the principal etiological agent associated with bovine respiratory disease complex. They transform from a benign commensal to a deadly pathogen, during stress such as viral infection and transportation to feedlots and cause acute pleuropneumonia commonly known as shipping fever. The U.S beef industry alone loses more than one billion dollars annually due to shipping fever. Despite its enormous economic importance there are no specific and accurate genetic markers, which will aid in understanding the pathogenesis and epidemiology of <it>M. haemolytica </it>at molecular level and assist in devising an effective control strategy.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>During our comparative genomic sequence analysis of three <it>Mannheimia haemolytica </it>isolates, we identified a number of genes that are unique to each strain. These genes are "high value targets" for future studies that attempt to correlate the variable gene pool with phenotype. We also identified a number of high confidence single nucleotide polymorphisms (hcSNPs) spread throughout the genome and focused on non-synonymous SNPs in known virulence genes. These SNPs will be used to design new hcSNP arrays to study variation across strains, and will potentially aid in understanding gene regulation and the mode of action of various virulence factors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>During our analysis we identified previously unknown possible type III secretion effector proteins, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated sequences (Cas). The presence of CRISPR regions is indicative of likely co-evolution with an associated phage. If proven functional, the presence of a type III secretion system in <it>M. haemolytica </it>will help us re-evaluate our approach to study host-pathogen interactions. We also identified various adhesins containing immuno-dominant domains, which may interfere with host-innate immunity and which could potentially serve as effective vaccine candidates.</p

Comparison of breeding and marketing systems for Red Angus cattle using an integrated computer-based spreadsheet

An integrated computer-based spreadsheet was developed with data from 581 Red Angus-sired calves to compare synchronized AI and natural service breeding systems. This comparison was based on input costs, genetic merit of sires used for mating, and calf marketing system, using differences in net return. The spreadsheet integrated four elements into a decision summary: bull costs, AI costs, genetics merit, and marketing options. An economic sensitivity analysis was used to identify trends and key variables in the net return of each decision. Three prominent variables identified from economic analysis were bull purchase price, semen price, and percent genetic change. Bull purchase price was a primary factor in changes in net return; semen costs and genetic merit change explained rearrangements in ranking of net return. These two variables altered the ranking based on whether the estrous synchronization protocol used estrus detection or timed Al. The spreadsheet identified AI to be more cost effective than natural service when calves are marketed as finished cattle. Net revenue from AI calves was greater in all retained ownership scenarios; the weaned marketing scenario caused net return to vary by synchronization system for the combinations of costs and changes in genetic merit. However, there was a wide variance in identifying which breeding system provided the greatest benefit when calves were marketed as feeder cattle. Retaining ownership through finish and marketing either on the cash market or on a grid proved to be advantageous to AI in all of the estrous synchronization protocols provided. The economic advantage ranged from $142.98 to$214.16 per head compared with marketing at weaning. The spreadsheet developed provides a useful tool for evaluating the economic impacts of breeding system decisions.http://www.arpas.org/pas/journal.asp?Society=ARPAS&month=5&year=200

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 economicimpacts of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in cow-calfherds. Questionnaires were mailed to beef producers through the Designated Johne’sCoordinators and to veterinarians belonging to a nationwide professional organization.Important components of losses associated with MAP infected cows were used to estimatetotal loss per infected cow-year using an iterative approach based on collected survey data.Veterinarians were more likely to perceive a lower calving percentage in MAP infectedcows compared to producers (P = 0.02). Income lost due to the presence of Johne’s disease(JD) in an infected cattle herd was perceived to be higher by veterinarians (P < 0.01). Com-pared to veterinarians without JD certification, seedstock producers were more likely toperceive genetic losses due to culling cows positive for MAP (P < 0.01). There were mixedopinions regarding the magnitude of lowered weaning weight in calves from infected cowsand perceived differences in risk of other diseases or conditions in infected cows. An annualloss of $235 (95$89–$457) for each infected animal was estimated based on infor-mation from the producer survey. The analogous estimate using information inputs fromveterinarians was$250 ($82–$486). Mean annual loss due to JD in a 100 cow herd with a7% true prevalence was $1644 ($625–$3250) based on information provided by producers.Similarly, mean annual loss based on information collected from veterinarians was$1747($575–$3375).Program for the Study of Johne’s Disease in Texas and by a cooperative agreement with USDA-APHIS-VS.http://ww w.elsevier.com/locate/prevetmedhb2014ab201