Animal abuse and mental health

Animal abuse is a serious problem in the interaction between human beings and animals. Animals can easily become victims of human aggression and other abnormal behavior. This is a review of current data on the relationship between animal abuse and human mental health disorders. Introductory definitions of veterinary forensic issues are presented. Animal cruelty (including unlawful killing) is characterized as intentional active abuse, while animal maltreatment due to lack of concern or failure of proper care is characterized as passive abuse or neglect. It is further divided into physical and emotional abuse, depending on whether the physical health or emotional well-being of the animals is affected. Subsequently, the mental health disorders of animal abusers are presented according to the age of offenders, juvenile or adult. Animal abuse by children and adolescents is associated with conduct disorder, addictive disorders and zoophilia. Animal abuse by adults is associated mainly with an antisocial personality disorder, but also with addictive disorders, zoophilia, Munchausen syndrome by proxy, Noah’s syndrome and more rarely with other mental health disorders. Animal abuse is linked to various forms of interpersonal violence and criminal behavior, including child abuse, bullying, intimate partner violence, elder abuse and other types of delinquency. © Athens Medical Society

Primary Intranasal Transmissible Venereal Tumour in the Dog: A Retrospective Study of Six Spontaneous Cases

The medical records of six dogs with primary intranasal transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) were reviewed. Epistaxis (4/6), serosangineous nasal discharge (2/6), oronasal fistulae (2/6), facial swelling (1/6) and submandibular lymphadenopathy (3/6) due to reactive hyperplasia (2/3) and metastasis (1/3) were the most common complaints and clinical findings. Diagnosis was made by rhinoscopy and confirmed by cytology and histopathology in five dogs and by cytology only in one dog. The microscopic appearance of the tumours with both diagnostic techniques was typical of TVT. Four cases were treated effectively with four to five weekly cycles of vincristine monotherapy that resulted in complete resolution of TVT masses in approximately 1 month. One case was resistant to this kind of treatment and mother one was lost to follow-up

The effects of benzoic acid and essential oil compounds in combination with protease on the performance of chickens

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of benzoic acid and of essential oil blends in combination with protease on the growth performance of broiler chickens. In the first trial, the birds were divided into three dietary treatments. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the other two groups were given benzoic acid at 300 and 1000 mg . kg(-1), respectively. Growth performance was not affected by benzoic acid inclusion. The pH values of the caecal content decreased following benzoic acid supplementation, while no differences were noticed in the pH of the crop, gizzard, ileum and rectum contents. Following benzoic acid supplementation, lactic acid bacteria populations increased in the caecum, and coliform bacteria, decreased. In the second trial, the birds were divided into three dietary treatments. The controls were fed a basal diet, while the other two groups were given thymol and a mixture of essential oil compounds (30 mg . kg(-1)). The dietary inclusion of the mixture of essential oil compounds enhanced growth performance compared with the other groups (P < 0.05), increased lactic acid bacteria populations, and decreased the coliform bacteria population in the caecum. In the third trial, the control group was fed the basal diet, while the other group was given a diet with similar ingredients and containing more benzoic acid and a mixture of essential oils, protease, and less protein and amino acids. In vitro tests showed that addition of benzoic acid, the mixture of essential oils and protease reduced buffering capacity compared with control feed and simulation experiments revealed that the protease increased protein extraction, hydrolysis and digestion. The combination of benzoic acid, essential oils and protease effectively improved weight gain and the feed conversion ratio compared with the control, as well as villus height, lactic acid bacteria counts, and reduced coliform bacteria counts compared with the control group. Finally, it was demonstrated for the first time that the novel, acid-stable protease increases protein solubilization, hydrolysis and digestion in an in vitro simulation model

Effects of oregano essential oil and attapulgite on growth performance, intestinal microbiota and morphometry in broilers

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of a blend of oregano essential oil (OEO) (as a source of natural antibacterial growth-promoting substances) and attapulgite (as a source of toxin-binder and as an antidiarrhoeal agent) on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal morphometry in broiler chickens (Ross-308). In the first trial, the control group was fed a basal diet without antibiotic growth promoters, and the experimental group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 5% OEO (OEO) (Ecodiar® powder at 150 g/tn) and 80% attapulgite 80% (Ultrafed® at 6 kg/tn) blend. In the second trial, the experimental group was given the basal diet supplemented with 5% OEO (Ecodiar® powder at 300 g/tn) and 80% attapulgite (Ultrafed® at 3 kg/tn) blend. Intestinal microbiota was enumerated by conventional techniques with selective agar media at the end of the trial at both ileum and caecum, and intestinal morphology was assessed in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Results showed that in the first trial, despite the positive impact on daily gain and feed-to-gain ratio, growth performance was not affected by the blend with OEO and attapulgite. Furthermore, no effect was found on intestinal morphometry. However, the counts of lactic acid bacteria were increased significantly, and coliforms were decreased in caecal contents. In the second trial, a positive impact was noticed on daily gain and feed-to-gain ratio by the high OEO and low attapulgite blend. Dietary supplementation of OEO and attapulgite increased ileal villus height and lactic acid bacteria significantly and reduced coliforms in ileal and caecal contents compared with the control group. In conclusion, the combination of OEO at 15 mg/kg and attapulgite at 2.4 g/kg exerted a positive effect on growth performance, ileal villus height and intestinal microbiota of broilers.Keywords: Gut microflora, intestinal architecture, magnesium aluminium silicate, oregan

Asymptomatic colitis in naturally infected dogs with Leishmania infantum: A prospective study

A total of 31 dogs with naturally occurring and symptomatic leishmaniasis (Leishniania infantum), but without historical or clinical evidence of overt colitis, were included in this study. With owners' consent, a colonoscopy was performed in all these dogs, revealing patches of hyperemic, edematous, irregular, and mildly erosive colonic mucosa in 25.8% of the animals. Biopsies were obtained from the colonic mucosa and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (histopathology) and avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique (immunohistochemical detection of parasites). Leishniania amastigotes were detected immunohistochemically in 32.3% of the dogs. The most common inflammatory pattern in the colonic mucosa of these dogs was pyogranulomatous (90%), whereas in the dogs without Leishniania amastigotes immunohistochemically detected in the colonic mucosa (67.7%), there was no evidence of gross and microscopic lesions. Also, in 2 of the 10 dogs in which parasites were detected immunohistochemically in the colonic mucosa, no lesions could be detected on colonoscopy. There was no correlation between the dogs with or without parasites detected in the colonic mucosa regarding the sex, age, or the type of diet of these animals. However, the positive correlation (P < 0.001) found between colonic parasitism and gross lesions detected on colonoscopy would justify the inclusion of canine leishmaniasis in the list of differentials of canine chronic or recurrent colitis

Effects of Enterococcus faecium, mannan oligosaccharide, benzoic acid and their mixture on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, intestinal morphology and blood lymphocyte subpopulations of fattening pigs

A total of 160 pigs were used during the fattening period to evaluate the efficacy of a probiotic, a mannan-oligosaccharide, an organic acid and their mixture on growth performance, intestinal microbiota composition, intestinal morphology and immune response. Pigs were randomly distributed into five treatments with four replicates of eight pigs per pen: control group was fed with a basal finishing ration, whereas the other groups received the same basal diet further supplemented either the probiotic Cylactin® at 35 mg/kg (containing 2 × 1010 CFU/gr Enterococcus faecium), or the mannan-oligosaccharide Biomos® at 1 g/kg, or the organic acid Vevovital® at 5 g/kg (containing 100% benzoic acid) or a mixture of the examined substances (35 mg/kg Cylactin®, 1 g/kg Biomos® and 5 g/kg benzoic acid). At the end of the trial all pigs were weighed and slaughtered, and samples were taken for blood, histologic and microbiologic analyses. Total counts of aerobes and anaerobes, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, Enterococci, Enterobacteriaceae and Coliforms, were enumerated by conventional microbiological techniques at both jejunum and cecum. Intestinal morphology was carried out in the jejunum, for villus height, crypt depth and goblet cells evaluation. Blood samples were evaluated by flow cytometry to assess the immune response of lymphocyte subpopulations. The results showed that dietary inclusion of a mixture of probiotic, prebiotic and organic acid improved growth performance of fattening pigs despite that each additive alone did not have a significant effect. Jejunal villus height was also increased in the group received the mixture of the feed additives compared to the mannoligosaccharide group, although no differences were noted on the goblet cell numbers among the different groups. The inclusion of the E. faecium increased the enterococci counts in both group receiving the probiotic in digesta samples of both jejunum and cecum; however no differences were noted in the total B- and T-helper cytotoxic cell populations in the presence or absence of the nutritional factors studied, although their ratio (CD4/CD8) was decreased in the group that received the mixture of the feed additives. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with a combination of probiotic, mannan-oligosaccharide and organic acid could promote growth in fattening pigs and improve their intestinal microbiota and functionality. © 2016 Elsevier B.V

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF CEREBELLAR VERMIS MEDULLOBLASTOMA IN AN ADULT CANINE PATIENT

A seven-year-old, not-castrated male, Airedale Terrier presented with a history of ataxia and intention tremor of the head of three-week duration. Neurologic examination demonstrated severe hypermetria, intention tremor of the head and a bilateral menace response deficit. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well demarcated cerebellar vermis mass, hypointense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images, with multiple small foci of high signal similar to that of CSF. Foci dispersed in the mass creating a speckled appearance. Homogeneous faint, wispy post-contrast enhancement of the mass was noted; as a result the tumor became isointense to gray matter and was not clearly evident in post contrast images. The histopathological diagnosis of the excised tumor was cerebellar medulloblastoma

A case of bilateral auricular haematoma in a ewe-lamb with sarcoptic mange

A Lacaune ewe-lamb was referred with bilateral pinnal swelling and intense head-shaking. Soft, fluid-filled, painless swellings were present on the concave surface of both ear pinnae. Needle aspiration revealed sero-sanguineous fluid, confirming the clinical suspicion of auricular haematomas. Cutaneous lesions characteristic of sarcoptic mange were present on the nasal planum; diagnosis was confirmed based on the results of microscopic examination of skin scrapings (i.e., presence of Sarcoptes scabiei); for treatment of the disorder, moxidectin was administered twice, 11 days apart. The animal was operated under injectable anaesthesia. Auricular haematomas were drained by using Penrose tubes. However, and despite repeated post-surgical otic cleansing and administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, local infection developed post-operatively. Subsequently, a second operation was performed, under inhalational anaesthesia, where the incisional technique was applied. Post-operative care included otic cleansing and broad-spectrum antibiotic administration, coupled with light bandaging of the ears. After 40 days, the animal recovered completely; sarcoptic mange was successfully treated and no relapse of the haematomas was seen. During the subsequent breeding period, the ewe was mated for the first time and became pregnant. The findings support the hypothesis that the highly pruritic sarcoptic mange induced head-shaking and self-inflicted traumas of the pinnae, resulting in the development of auricular haematomas. Treatment required extensive surgical and long post-operative care. From a health management viewpoint, the above treatment schedule can only be justified in young, high-value animals. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved