On 31 July 2020, an outbreak of H7N7 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed on a free-range, egg-producing poultry farm in the Lethbridge area of southwest Victoria. The property was immediately quarantined, and an emergency animal disease response plan was prepared to guide containment, and then eradication, of the disease in accordance with the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN) and to meet the requirements of the Australian Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA). Birds on two additional premises were subsequently confirmed as infected with H7N7 HPAI. Extensive surveillance undertaken during the response also identified infection with low pathogenicity avian influenza on three further properties-two commercial turkey properties (H5N2 subtype) and one emu farm (H7N6 subtype). These properties were also subjected to disease eradication procedures. Humane destruction of birds on all affected properties was completed by 8 September 2020. Cleaning and decontamination activities were completed on all sites by 11 December 2020. Extensive tracing and surveillance activities did not identify any further cases of H7N7 HPAI in domestic or wild birds. In terms of both numbers of birds and impacted properties, this was the largest outbreak of HPAI recorded in Australia up to that time. On 26 February 2021, Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer declared that the country had regained freedom from HPAI in accordance with international standards published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (then the OIE).
A 5-year-old male entire domestic shorthair cat presented with a firm dermal mass on the dorsal left metatarsal region. Diagnostic investigations included haematology, biochemistry, urinalysis, biopsy, histopathology and computed tomography staging. Histopathology of the tissue biopsy, including immunohistochemistry, confirmed a dermal chondrosarcoma (CSA), and computed tomography supported an extraskeletal origin. Pretreatment staging did not identify metastatic disease. Curative-intent limb amputation was therefore performed, resulting in tumour-free surgical margins. No adjuvant treatment was used. The cat underwent regular reevaluation for 3 years and remained free of local recurrence or metastatic disease. Dermal CSA is rarely reported in cats, and information regarding biological behaviour and outcome is limited. This patient experienced long-term control, demonstrating that with complete surgical excision alone, extraskeletal CSAs can have a favourable outcome.
A 10-year-old, 16.2-kg male neutered Beagle under general anaesthesia developed an airway leak following blind insertion of an oesophageal temperature probe. Before probe placement, anaesthesia was uneventful. Intubation was performed with a high-volume, low-pressure cuffed endotracheal tube. Immediately after probe placement, capnographic morphology transitioned from a normal rectangular waveform to a low-amplitude, triangular trace consistent with airway leakage. Repeated cuff inflation did not resolve the capnographic abnormalities. Reintubation revealed inadvertent tracheal placement of the temperature probe, which had presumably disrupted the cuff seal. Capnography normalised following reintubation and the procedure was completed uneventfully. This case report describes the malpositioning of an oesophageal temperature probe intratracheally, resulting in airway leakage in an anaesthetised dog. Sudden changes in capnographic waveform or a marked reduction in expected temperature following probe insertion should prompt consideration for oesophageal temperature probe malposition.
Cryopreservation of epididymal spermatozoa is an important approach for preserving canine genetic material when ejaculated semen cannot be collected due to sudden death, injury or castration. However, epididymal spermatozoa are particularly susceptible to cryodamage because they lack the protective proteins and antioxidants present in seminal plasma. Trehalose, a non-permeating disaccharide with membrane-stabilising and osmoprotective properties, may mitigate these effects, although its efficacy in canine epididymal sperm cryopreservation remains insufficiently characterised. This study aimed to determine the optimal trehalose concentration for preserving the post-thaw functional and structural quality of canine epididymal spermatozoa cryopreserved in a Tris-egg yolk extender. Epididymal sperm samples were collected from the testes of four dogs per replicate (n = 28) and cryopreserved with 0, 50, 75 or 100 mM trehalose across seven experimental replicates. Post-thaw sperm motility and kinematic parameters were evaluated using computer-assisted sperm analysis. Plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation were assessed by flow cytometry, while membrane functionality was evaluated using the hypo-osmotic swelling test. Motility parameters were also assessed following thermal stress incubation. Trehalose supplementation significantly improved plasma membrane integrity at all concentrations and enhanced acrosome integrity at 100 mM (P < 0.05). However, trehalose had no significant effects on sperm motility or kinematic parameters, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA integrity or hypo-osmotic swelling responses (P > 0.05). Overall, trehalose supplementation, particularly at 100 mM, improved the structural preservation of canine epididymal spermatozoa during cryopreservation, although these benefits did not translate into improvements in post-thaw functional parameters.
Blood glucose is a key physiological indicator in sea turtles, but its measurement in field settings can be challenging. Portable point-of-care (POC) glucometers offer practicality, yet their agreement with reference laboratory methods has not been established for juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Southwestern Atlantic. We compared glucose concentrations from a portable glucometer with a reference enzymatic method using blood samples from 30 free-ranging juvenile green turtles captured in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Agreement was assessed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman analysis. The influence of fibropapillomatosis and packed cell volume was also examined. The glucometer significantly underestimated glucose compared to the reference method (median 70 vs. 90 mg/dL, respectively, P < 0.001), with a mean bias of -17.9 mg/dL and wide limits of agreement. Passing-Bablok regression showed no significant systematic or proportional errors (95% CI for intercept included 0; 95% CI for slope included 1). Only 43% of glucometer readings fell within ±20% of the reference ranges reported for sea turtles. Packed cell volume correction slightly reduced the bias but did not improve agreement. Fibropapillomatosis status did not affect absolute glucose concentrations but influenced relative bias when packed cell volume was within the manufacturer's validated range. The portable glucometer is not interchangeable with the reference method for this species. While it may provide rapid field estimates, its results require cautious interpretation and, whenever possible, laboratory validation.
Judgement bias tasks are increasingly used to infer affective state in animals, but the extent to which affect-related judgement varies systematically across dog breeds remains unclear. In a cross-sectional prospective study, 118 healthy client-owned adult dogs from 10 breeds/breed types completed a spatial judgement bias task and other cognitive tasks including sustained gaze and a cylinder task. Dogs also underwent emotional reactivity testing and owner assessment using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). Breed effects and cross-domain associations were evaluated using nonparametric and covariate-adjusted regression models. Judgement bias and delta scores showed no consistent breed differences. Although breed was significant in an initial covariate-adjusted ordinal model of judgement bias, it was not retained after AIC-based model reduction. Judgement bias was not associated with novel object responses, disgruntled stranger scores, or most C-BARQ traits. Higher familiar-dog aggression scores were associated with lower odds of pessimistic bias outcomes, and disgruntled stranger performance correlated positively with C-BARQ stranger-directed fear. In contrast, sustained gaze duration differed markedly by breed and remained breed-dependent after adjustment, with retriever breeds showing longer gaze durations than Maltese and several other breeds. Cylinder task outcomes showed subtler breed-related effects, but familiarisation trial number and owner-reported excitability were more consistent predictors than breed. These findings suggest that, in healthy pet dogs, affect-related judgement under ambiguity is shaped more by individual-level factors than by breed, whereas sustained gaze scores and some cylinder task scores show some breed-related patterning. Very few breed differences were found overall, and the results of this study reinforce the value of multimodal approaches to canine affect and cognition, and the use of caution regarding breed stereotypes.
Freshwater turtles are long-lived, abundant components of Australian aquatic ecosystems, yet little is known about the diversity and prevalence of zoonotic bacteria they may carry. In this study, we conducted one of the most comprehensive surveys to date of zoonotic microorganisms associated with wild Australian freshwater turtles. A total of 257 individuals representing 10 species across 6 genera were sampled from multiple riverine and wetland systems. Using next generation sequencing, we detected 18 confirmed zoonotic bacterial species spanning 10 genera, including Acinetobacter, Vibrio, Plesiomonas, Campylobacter, and Clostridium. Nearly half of all turtles (49.8%) were shedding at least one zoonotic taxon at the time of capture, with some individuals carrying multiple species simultaneously. Several additional isolates from genera with known zoonotic potential could not be resolved to species level, highlighting gaps in current reference databases and the need for improved genomic characterisation. No Salmonella spp. were detected, consistent with previous research suggesting a low risk of reptile-associated salmonellosis from Australian freshwater turtles. Shedding prevalence varied markedly among turtle species and locations, suggesting that host ecology and environmental conditions influence bacterial acquisition and persistence. Due to data sparsity for many taxa, analyses were limited to descriptive assessments. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Australian freshwater turtles harbour a diverse assemblage of bacteria with zoonotic relevance and may act as reservoirs within aquatic environments. Continued surveillance, integration of genomic tools, and consideration of human-wildlife interaction contexts, including cultural harvesting, will be important for assessing public health implications and informing conservation and biosecurity strategies.
BACKGROUND:The continuously expanding global cat population poses concerns to public health, native ecosystems and individual animal welfare. These concerns have led to additional management strategies to reduce unowned cat numbers, including the development of feline immunocontraceptives. Use of these contraceptives could also provide pet owners with alternatives to surgical sterilisation. However, the implementation of immunocontraceptives into feline medicine requires the support of the veterinary community. AIMS:The aim of this research was to evaluate the current global attitudes and interests held by veterinarians towards immunocontraceptive use in cats to guide future research in the field. METHODS:A globally distributed survey was conducted assessing veterinarians' attitudes and practices regarding surgical sterilisation and the use of immunocontraceptives in feline populations as an alternative to surgical sterilisation. RESULTS:The survey was completed by 122 veterinarians across 11 countries. The majority, 59% of respondents, felt unfamiliar with immunocontraceptives. The main concerns included longevity of reproductive contraception (86% agreed), product efficacy (78% agreed) and cost (73% agreed). Overall, 61% of respondents reported they were more likely than unlikely to implement the use of feline immunocontraceptives should they become available in the future. CONCLUSION:These results indicate that the majority of responding veterinarians were interested in utilising feline immunocontraceptives should they become available. This survey highlights the need for further high-quality research and education to improve practitioner knowledge regarding immunocontraceptive action, efficacy and safety in cats and to increase the likelihood of veterinarians utilising these therapies should they become licensed and available in the future.
A 7-month-old female Golden Retriever was referred for owner-directed aggression occurring during intense emotional arousal and characterised by a limited ability to down-regulate arousal and inhibit impulsive motor patterns. Episodes were most frequently triggered by restraint or physical contact (including during vehicle entry/exit) and by attempts to remove acquired objects and had resulted in grade-3 bites per the Dunbar bite scale. Clinical assessment was consistent with hypersensitivity-hyperactivity syndrome (HSHA), an ADHD-like neurodevelopmental condition described in dogs and associated with hyperactivity, impulsivity and reduced behavioural inhibition. A multimodal treatment plan including environmental management and structured behaviour modification was implemented. Fluoxetine was initiated at approximately 0.9 mg/kg/day and was associated with a marked reduction in aggressive incidents and improved arousal regulation. A subsequent attempt to increase the fluoxetine dose to improve residual impulsivity resulted in a 50% reduction of appetite (approximately), necessitating a return to the prior dose. Huperzine A, a Chinese club moss alkaloid and centrally acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitor with additional neuroprotective effects, was then added at 200 μg orally every 12 h. Following adjunctive huperzine A, the dog showed further improvement in behavioural inhibition and impulse control with additional reductions in arousal-linked impulsive behaviour and aggression and no reported adverse effects. This case highlights HSHA-associated owner-directed aggression and suggests that adjunctive huperzine A may be a useful option when dose-limiting adverse effects prevent optimisation of SSRI therapy.
Primary pulmonary neoplasia represents approximately one percent of canine cancers. Although it is recognised that many of these cases may not display classic respiratory signs, dysphagia is not an expected presentation. This report describes a twelve-year-old Border Collie that presented with a history of progressive dysphagia and weight loss over several weeks. Diagnostics in a general practice clinic identified a pulmonary mass on thoracic radiographs. Referral was recommended for advanced diagnostics due to clinical deterioration in the absence of a definitive diagnosis, with humane euthanasia offered as an alternative. The dog was euthanised and necropsy revealed numerous multifocal to coalescing firm masses throughout all lung lobes and separate smaller nodules along the outer surface of the oesophagus. Histopathology of the pulmonary masses was consistent with a grade two pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The peri-oesophageal masses contained similar appearing neoplastic epithelial cells, suggesting these were metastatic nodules. This report documents a rare cause of canine dysphagia due to peri-oesophageal metastases from a primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma. This case highlights that metastatic disease should be a consideration in the investigation of dysphagia in canines.
Canine protothecosis is an uncommon opportunistic infection, most frequently reported in warm, humid climates. In dogs, it typically presents as disseminated disease following primary colonic involvement and carries a poor prognosis for clinical cure. No standardised treatment protocol exists in veterinary medicine. Regimens that maintain an acceptable quality of life often incorporate posaconazole, while amphotericin B may be used with curative intent in selected cases. We report the first documented case of localised cutaneous protothecosis due to Prototheca wickerhamii in a dog from Tasmania, Australia, together with its successful management. A 2‐year‐old neutered male Chihuahua cross presented with painful swelling and ulceration of the metacarpal and metatarsal pads, resulting in marked lameness. Diagnosis was established by cytology, histopathology, culture and MALDI‐ToF mass spectrometry on samples from affected pads. Three sequential treatment protocols were trialled: (i) modified pulsed itraconazole therapy, (ii) oral posaconazole and (iii) intralesional amphotericin B deoxycholate. Itraconazole was ineffective. Posaconazole led to the resolution of clinical signs, although ongoing therapy was required, and relapse occurred after cessation of therapy. Subsequent treatment with intralesional amphotericin B achieved sustained clinical remission, consistent with sustained clinical remission and possible cure. This case expands the recognised geographic and clinical spectrum of canine protothecosis, documenting infection in a temperate region and in a localised cutaneous form. It highlights the importance of considering protothecosis in atypical dermatological presentations and supports the use of posaconazole for disease control and amphotericin B, specifically intralesional administration, for definitive therapy in clinical veterinary practice settings.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Escherichia coli is a growing concern in both human and veterinary medicine, driven by the inappropriate use of antimicrobials. Companion animals may act as community reservoirs and sentinels for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria due to their close contact with humans and other animals. However, resistance carriage in urban stray cats is poorly defined, particularly as many have limited direct antimicrobial exposure. This population provides an opportunity to assess baseline antimicrobial resistance carriage in companion animals with relatively low selection pressure. This study aimed to investigate the carriage of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in the stray cat population in Perth, Western Australia. A total of 72 faecal samples from urban stray cats (May 2024-November 2024) were screened for carriage of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli. Chromogenic selective agars infused with antimicrobials were used to detect resistance to ampicillin (first line) and critically important antimicrobials (CIA), including ciprofloxacin and extended-spectrum cephalosporins. Presumptive E. coli were confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and tested by broth microdilution using the Robotic Antimicrobial Susceptibility Platform (RASP). Screening of 72 faecal samples yielded E. coli growth from 69 samples (95.8%). Of these, 37.7% (26/69) carried ampicillin-resistant E. coli, 1.4% (1/69) exhibited an extended-spectrum beta-lactamases phenotype, and no ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli were detected. A total of 27 E. coli isolates underwent MIC testing, showing resistance to ampicillin (100%), cefotaxime (7.4%), ceftazidime (7.4%), sulfamethoxazole (33.3%), tetracycline (37.0%), and trimethoprim (29.6%). Ampicillin-resistant E. coli was common among urban stray cats, while no ciprofloxacin resistance was detected, suggesting low immediate CIA-related risk. However, the presence of extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance, albeit at low levels, warrants further investigation given the potential for transmission and dissemination via mobile genetic elements. These findings indicate that urban stray cats can carry and potentially spread resistant bacteria despite their limited opportunities for antimicrobial exposure.
AIMS:To compare the severity of radiographic features of cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) in 123 small (≤15 kg) and 125 large (>15 kg) breed dogs and to determine whether body size influenced the proportion of positive radiographic signs in cases with equivocal clinical instability. METHODS:A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 298 stifles (149 small breed, 149 large breed) with surgically confirmed CCLD via arthroscopy or arthrotomy. Standard caudocranial and mediolateral radiographs of the stifle were scored by a board-certified radiologist blinded to dog size using a validated system assessing global osteoarthritis (OA), joint effusion, general osteophytosis, patellar osteophytosis, trochlear groove osteophytosis, tibial sclerosis and intra-articular mineralisation. Multivariable ordinal and binary logistic regression was performed with dog size as the primary predictor, adjusting for age, sex, chronicity, tibial plateau angle (TPA), meniscal injury and body condition score (BCS). A subgroup with equivocal or negative cranial drawer (n = 112) was then assessed separately. A stratified analysis assessing joint effusion was performed between groups with and without nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). RESULTS:Large dogs scored higher across all parameters (P < 0.001) bar tibial sclerosis. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were highest for trochlear groove osteophytosis (OR = 4.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.21-8.47, P < 0.001), patella osteophytosis (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.33-4.85, P = 0.005) and global OA (OR = 5.85, 95% CI 3.55-9.64, P < 0.001). These differences were consistent in cases with a negative or equivocal cranial drawer test. There was no effect of recent NSAID use on the differential scoring of joint effusion between dogs. CONCLUSIONS:Large-breed dogs exhibited more severe radiographic OA at the time of CCLD diagnosis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Clinicians should consider the dog's size when assessing radiographs for suspected CCLD. This is most useful in cases of negative or equivocal stifle instability.
OBJECTIVE:To assess the effectiveness of Ethylene oxide sterilisation (EtO) of commercially available permanent marking pens (Sharpie® Permanent Marker Fine Point) following repeated clinical use on canine skin. METHODS:A prospective experimental study was conducted using five permanent marker pens. Each pen was used to draw a 5-cm line on the aseptically prepared skin of 10 client-owned dogs consecutively. Pens were sterilised with EtO at the start of the study and between uses. Culture swabs were collected from pen shafts, tips and caps at 3 time points following 1, 6 then 11 sterilisation cycles (S1, S6 and S11). RESULTS:Bacterial growth was detected from the pen tips immediately after use on the first patient prior to resterilisation (S1), however, no bacterial or fungal growth was identified on tips, shafts or caps after use on 5 patients and after 6 sterilisation EtO cycles. However, after use on 10 patients and 11 EtO sterilisation cycles, a single colony of Staphylococcus capitis was recovered from the pen shafts. CONCLUSIONS:Ethylene oxide appears to be effective at sterilising commercially available permanent marker pens following repeated use on canine skin. Effective sterilisation was maintained through 6 EtO sterilisation cycles. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Ethylene oxide sterilisation may allow safe reuse of permanent marker pens in veterinary practice, supporting sustainable surgical workflows by reducing clinical waste and associated costs.
Changes to Australia's climate continue to be increasingly relevant for human, animal and planetary health, and have far-reaching impacts on disease emergence and food security. There is a deficit of knowledge in Australia around how climatic conditions are affecting infectious animal diseases, beyond the more obvious spatial distribution changes of parasites and disease vectors. It is critically important for veterinarians and stakeholders to better understand how animal diseases will change with a changing climate. Disease predictions for our companion animals, livestock species and wildlife will allow for better patient care, prophylaxis, planning and disease mitigation. This scoping review sought to survey the literature about the impact of climate on non-vector-borne infectious diseases in Australia for all vertebrate animal species. An electronic search was conducted in four databases. A three-level screening process was conducted on the 489 records captured by two independent reviewers to yield 28 eligible primary research articles published between 1983 and 2023. Frogs and their fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, were the most frequent species and disease studied. Rainfall, temperature and season were the most frequent climatic variables studied. Eighteen out of 21 eligible articles found a statistically significant association between an animal disease and a climatic variable. Of these, eight articles found an association with temperature, while seven articles found an association each with rainfall and season. Study designs were predominantly either cross-sectional or longitudinal. Longitudinal study designs are critical for producing strong evidence of climatic associations and Australia would benefit from more studies of this kind. Overall, there is a need for more research into how climate will continue to drive non-vector-borne animal disease trends in Australia, particularly for our companion animals and our production species.
The orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) (OBP) is a critically endangered migratory parrot found in south-eastern Australia. A long-standing conservation recovery programme includes monitoring and support of the wild population and a multi-site captive insurance population. While disease represents a threatening process to the OBP, minimal information about causes of mortality in this species has been published. A systematic review of necropsy reports from the captive OBP metapopulation over a 9-year period (2010-2019) was undertaken to quantify and analyse the causes of mortality of captive OBPs. Infectious disease was the most common cause of death (35%), including respiratory aspergillosis and a range of bacterial infections, followed by trauma (7%). Confirmed or suspected Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease caused few deaths overall (1.4%) but caused an outbreak of juvenile and subadult mortality at one facility in 2019. Necropsy records alone were insufficient to determine the contribution of this infection to captive population health beyond these cases. Disease occurrence varied with site and age class; in particular, aspergillosis and mycobacteriosis were each more common at two separate sites, offering opportunities for further investigation of disease risk factors that could include environmental, husbandry and pathogen factors. A high proportion of cases (46%) could not be assigned a cause of death, though diagnostic success increased with age class, year of study and when histology was performed in younger age classes. These findings are relevant to future conservation decisions for the OBP, particularly resource allocation for research and diagnostics, and have broader interest to veterinarians, pathologists, ecologists and captive management specialists. Our findings also reinforce the importance of consistency in necropsy investigations and pathological terminology and the need for accessible and standardised mortality records for conservation programmes.
