Detection of 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' and other Anaplasmataceae and Rickettsiaceae in Canidae in Switzerland and Mediterranean countries

'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic agent that primarily affects immunocompromised human patients. Dogs and foxes are frequently exposed to ticks, and both species are in close proximity to humans. This is the first study to systematically investigate the occurrence of 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' in Canidae in Europa. We analyzed 1'739 blood samples from dogs in Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal and 162 blood samples from free-ranging red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Switzerland. All samples were tested using a previously described multiplex real-time PCR for the Anaplasmataceae family, the 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia' genus and the 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' species. All Anaplasmataceae positive samples were subsequently tested using specific real-time PCRs for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia helvetica. Among the tested animals, one dog from Zurich tested positive for 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis'. The 12-year old West Highland white terrier had been splenectomized 3 months prior to the blood collection and presented with polyuria/polydipsia. Fanconi syndrome was diagnosed based on glucosuria with normoglycemia and hyperaminoaciduria. A. platys and E. canis were detected in 14/249 dogs from Sicily and Portugal; two of the dogs were coinfected with both agents. Four Swiss foxes tested positive for A. phagocytophilium. R. helvetica was detected for the first time in a red fox. In conclusion, 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' infection should be considered in sick dogs, particularly when immunocompromised. The pathogen seems not to be widespread in Canidae in the investigated countries. Conversely, other Anaplasmataceae were more readily detected in dogs and foxes

Evaluation of anaesthesia and analgesia quality during disbudding of goat kids by certified Swiss farmers

Abstract Background Certified Swiss farmers are allowed to disbud their goat kids using a standard intramuscularly administered anaesthetic mixture. This mixture, containing xylazine and ketamine, is officially distributed with the goal to provide a painless disbudding. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of analgesia and anaesthesia achieved during disbudding, when performed by Swiss farmers. To assess this, 174 goat kids at 31 different farms were observed and filmed during cautery disbudding. Results The standard anaesthetic mixture (0.05 mg/kg xylazine and 20 mg/kg ketamine) was used only in 71 goat kids. Fifty-eight goat kids were anaesthetised with different dosages of xylazine (median 0.18 mg/kg) and ketamine (median 10 mg/kg), 22 with xylazine only (median 0.61 mg/kg), 20 with xylazine (median 1.84 mg/kg) and perineural lidocaine (median 1.23 mg/kg), three with acepromazine (dosage unknown) and ketamine (10 mg/kg). Based on vocalisation, limb movement and head lifting during disbudding, a general reaction score was attributed to 168 goat kids (six were excluded due to firm restraint): 56.5% were scored zero (no limb movement, no vocalisation), 7.7% one, 17.3% two and 18.5% three (strong movements, vocalisation). Significant risk factors for higher reaction scores were the type of anaesthetic protocol and manipulation by the farmer during induction. Significant risk factors for longer recoveries were use of xylazine alone or xylazine in combination with perineural lidocaine, breed, younger age and recovery underneath heat lamp. Conclusions The present study indicates that anaesthesia and analgesia of goat kids disbudded by Swiss farmers is inadequate, as 35.8% of the animals showed moderate to strong behavioural reactions during the procedure. Unexpectedly, only 40.8% of the goat kids were anaesthetised with the standard anaesthetic mixture and several other protocols were used. A refinement of the recommended protocol is urgently needed to guarantee animal welfare

Travelling. Experience of the Phenomenological Reduction

Осмысливается проблематичность закреплённости за человеком путешествующим определённого топоса в мире, поскольку человек ексцентричен, не центрирован в своем органическом теле, оснащен неорганической семантикой и потому обладает многими «степенями свободы» для выполнения многообразных культурных функций, перемещений и пребываний в разных пространствах. Рассматриваются факторы, будирующие «страннический невроз». Эксплицируются путешествия «внешние» и «внутренние» (екстравертивные и интровертивные), путешествия как осуществления пути в религиозной рефлексии, пути как ухода от чего-то и пути как стремления к чему-то, пути, в котором все окружающее нас подает нам знаки, как-то и что-то говорит нам.The difficulty of a travelling man’s fixedness of a certain topos in the world is comprehended, as a man is eccentric and centerless in his organic body, equipped with inorganic somatic, and that’s why has many «degrees of freedom» for the performance of diverse cultural functions, travel and stay in the different spaces. Factors buddhaing the «camping neurosis» are considered. It is explicated «outer» and «inner» (extrovert and introvert) travelling, travelling as implementation of the ways of religious reflection, ways as departure from something, and ways as commitment to something, ways where the environment submits us signs, somehow tells us something

Additional file 5: of Evaluation of anaesthesia and analgesia quality during disbudding of goat kids by certified Swiss farmers

General reaction score of goat kids during disbudding based on vocalisation, limb movement and head lifting. A score between 0 and 4, zero means no movement and no vocalisation, four means strong movements and vocalisation (DOCX 36 kb)

Additional file 6: of Evaluation of anaesthesia and analgesia quality during disbudding of goat kids by certified Swiss farmers

Risk factors for the three outcomes grade, first movement and steady standing, divided in farm-level risk factors and goat kid-level risk factors. Description and categorization of the different risk factors on farm and goat kid level (DOCX 38 kb)

Additional file 4: of Evaluation of anaesthesia and analgesia quality during disbudding of goat kids by certified Swiss farmers

Description of behavioural events observed during disbudding of anaesthetised goat kids. Describes the following events: Head lifting, limb movement, focused eye movement, spontaneous blinking, ear movement, tail movement, nose movement, mouth movement, vocalisation (DOCX 37 kb)

Additional file 3: of Evaluation of anaesthesia and analgesia quality during disbudding of goat kids by certified Swiss farmers

Description of the behavioural states and events observed during anaesthesia induction and recovery of goat kids before and after disbudding. Describes the following behaviours: Staggering, recumbency, loss of posture, first movement, attempt to stand, steady standing (DOCX 36 kb)

Toxicokinetics and analytical toxicology of the abused opioid U‐48800 — in vitro metabolism, metabolic stability, isozyme mapping, and plasma protein binding

Due to the risk of new synthetic opioids (NSOs) for human health, the knowledge of their toxicokinetic characteristics is important for clinical and forensic toxicology. U‐48800 is an NSO structurally non‐related to classical opioids such as morphine or fentanyl and offered for abuse. As toxicokinetic data of U‐48800 is not currently available, the aims of this study were to identify the in vitro metabolites of U‐48800 in pooled human liver S9 fraction (pS9), to map the isozymes involved in the initial metabolic steps, and to determine further toxicokinetic data such as metabolic stability, including the in vitro half‐life (t1/2), and the intrinsic (CLint) and hepatic clearance (CLh). Furthermore, drug detectability studies in rat urine should be done using hyphenated mass spectrometry. In total, 13 phase I metabolites and one phase II metabolite were identified. N‐Dealkylation, hydroxylation, and their combinations were the predominant metabolic reactions. The isozymes CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 were mainly involved in these initial steps. CYP2C19 poor metabolizers may suffer from an increased U‐48800 toxicity. The in vitro t1/2 and CLint could be rated as moderate, compared to structural related compounds. After administration of an assumed consumer dose to rats, the unchanged parent compound was found only in very low abundance but three metabolites were detected additionally. Due to species differences, metabolites found in rats might be different from those in humans. However, phase I metabolites found in rat urine, the parent compound, and additionally the N‐demethyl metabolite should be used as main targets in toxicological urine screening approaches