Introduction Research on the human-animal relationship of homeless pet owners has paid little attention to the essential role of volunteer veterinarians in this setting. We have explored the motivations, challenges, key aspects and perceived impacts of voluntary veterinary work for pets of people experiencing homelessness. We also highlight the One Health dimensions of voluntary veterinary work. Material and Methods To investigate the motivations, challenges and impacts of veterinary volunteer work, we undertook a quantitative analytical questionnaire study among volunteer veterinarians at the Neunerhaus small animal practice in Vienna (n=22). We interpreted the findings in a One Health framework. Results The participants are primarily motivated by altruistic intentions, although ego-oriented motives coexist. Respondents perceive their voluntary work as substantially beneficial to the health of homeless pet owners. Challenges arise, particularly in cases involving precarious situations concerning the animal. The confrontation with unfamiliar topics can be emotionally challenging for the volunteers. The volunteer experience can lead to sustained shifts in attitude, for example an increased understanding for the living circumstances of homeless people. Further, the volunteers predominantly situate their engagement at the individual rather than the systemic level. Conclusion Due to the recognition of the close connection between human and animal health, the multisectoral orientation of the Neunerhaus small animal practice and the assumption of responsibility for the needs of a marginalized group, veterinary volunteer work partly represents a One Health intervention, even though the approach is not fully transferable. To professionalize the project, support in coping with emotional burdens and the provision of knowledge on the challenges of volunteer work with homeless and unhoused people would be beneficial.
Introduction Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species, which can infect a wide range of mammals, including humans. Transmission occurs primarily through contact with urine from infected animals. In cattle, leptospirosis leads to significant economic losses due to reproductive disorders such as abortions, stillbirths, birth of weak calves, and reduced milk yield. ForAustria, there are so far hardly any comprehensive data from systematic studies on the seroprevalence in cattle. Environmental factors, including climate change and management practices like pasture grazing, may influence pathogen survival and transmission dynamics. Collecting prevalence data is essential to improve diagnostic strategies, monitor herd health, and reduce zoonotic risk. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of Leptospira antibodies in cattle from Lower Austria and Vorarlberg and to identify potential risk factors associated with infection in these regions. Materials and Methods Serum samples from cattle in Lower Austria and Vorarlberg were analysed using the MAT according to the WOAH guidelines. The analysis panel contained the following Leptospira serovars: Australis, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Copenhageni, Pomona, Hardjo, Saxkoebing and Tarassovi. Farm-level data (herd size, alpine grazing history, age, season, sampling year) were obtained from the Austrian VIS database. Statistical analyses were conducted in R using Bayesian models to estimate true prevalence (accounting for test sensitivity and specificity) and GEE modeling to identify risk factors. Results Atotal of 2,339 cattle serum samples were analysed. In Lower Austria, an estimated mean true seroprevalence of 4.8 % (95 % CI: 0.3-11.1) was detected. The most frequent serovars were Saxkoebing and Hardjo. In Vorarlberg the estimated mean true seroprevalence was 63.6 % (95 % CI: 52.3-76.1), with Serovars Saxkoebing, Hardjo, and Tarassovi prevailing. GEE modelling identified alpine grazing, herd size and age category as significant risk factors for seropositivity. Conclusion This study reveals marked regional differences in Leptospira antibody prevalence in Austrian cattle, with significantly higher rates in Vorarlberg compared to Lower Austria. Key risk factors include alpine grazing, herd size, and age. These findings highlight the need for targeted surveillance and integrated One Health strategies to mitigate zoonotic risks.
Introduction The red fox is an opportunistic species that is widely distributed throughout Europe. It is a reservoir for Echinococcus (E.) multilocularis and a carrier of other potentially zoonotic pathogens. No recent data are available on pathogens in red foxes in Carinthia. We report the prevalence of E. multilocularis, Trichinella spp., Mycobacteria of the tuberculosis complex (MTBC), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)/AmpC beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia (E.) coli in red foxes in Carinthia. Material and Methods Between December 2021 and February 2024, we examined 445 foxes that we obtained via regular hunting activities based on a structured sampling plan to estimate the prevalence of selected pathogens with a precision of at least +/- 5 %. We used the sedimentation and counting technique to assess for E. multilocularis. To detect Trichinella spp., we subjected a muscle sample from the antebrachium to artificial digestion, with positive results checked by PCR. Head lymph nodes and tonsils were cultured for Mycobacterium spp. We screened for MRSA using a nasal swab, followed by enrichment and culture on a selective agar. Afaeces sample taken from the large intestine was enriched and cultured on a selective agar for the detection of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli. Results and Discussion We detected E. multilocularis in 76 foxes (18.5 %), with regional variation (Wolfsberg: 40.4 %; Klagenfurt Land: 6.5 %). The rates are markedly higher than those reported in Austrian studies from the 1990s. We found Trichinella in 1.1% of foxes, consistent with previous data. While Trichinella britovi remained the dominant species, one fox tested positive for Trichinella spiralis, marking the first detection in Austrian foxes. No foxes tested positive for MTBC or MRSA. ESBL/ AmpC-producing E. coli were found in 30 foxes (7.4 %). Conclusion Investigations for zoonotic pathogens and resistant bacteria enhance our understanding of the role of foxes in disease transmission. The fox can also serve as a sentinel species for monitoring the distribution of various pathogens within a region.
Introduction Drive hunts for large game are under debate for ante mortem "stress", non-lethal shot wounds and deficiencies in evisceration and in the cold chain. High final pH (>6.2) is commonly used as an indicator for ante mortem energy depletion in muscles. We studied the extent to which such conditions prevail in wild boar and wild ruminant carcasses from drive hunts, especially when dogs are used to drive large game. Materials and methods We recorded the location of shot wounds, the time from killing to evisceration and the pH and temperature in the loin muscle after evisceration and 24 hrs post mortem. In 2021-2023, we examined 370 carcasses from drive hunts without and 1,338 carcasses from drive hunts with the use of dogs, from five hunting grounds. Not all datasets were complete. We studied the influence of "hunting ground", "game species", "use of dogs", "location of shot wound" and "number of shot wounds" on final pH by CART (Classification And Regression Tree) and mixed linear models. Results Shot wounds in the region of the head to the cranial thorax were recorded in 822/1,251 (65.7 %) carcasses. The time from killing to evisceration varied but evisceration was complete within 3 hrs for nearly all carcasses (>90 %) in only two hunting areas. The average pH and meat temperature of wild boar carcasses 24 hrs post mortem (n=800) were 5.55 +/- 0.16 and 6.1 +/- 3.0 degrees C. The corresponding figures for wild ruminants (n=241) were 5.65 +/- 0.0.21 and 6.1 +/- 2.2 degrees C. Two hunting grounds achieved an internal meat temperature <= 7 degrees C 24 hrs post mortem in >95 % of carcasses. Final pH values >6.2 were found in 14/1,188 carcasses (1.2 %). The factor "hunting ground" had the highest influence on the final pH, followed by "game species" and "use of dogs" (normalized importance: 100 : 34.5 : 30.5 %). The final pH in the loins of wild boar was significantly lower in hunts with dogs. Conclusion Our data do not support the idea that there is a higher proportion of non-lethal shots in drive hunts for large game than in still hunting. Likewise, the proportion of carcasses with elevated final pH in loin was very low, indicating that ante mortem energy depletion and the DFD (Dark-Firm-Dry) meat quality defect were infrequent. The use of dogs to drive wild boars was associated with significantly lower final pH in loin, which could indicate some, albeit non excessive, physical exercise ante mortem.
Although the issue of breeding practices that cause suffering is primarily discussed using the example of dog breeding, it also represents an extremely urgent animal welfare problem in cat breeding. The professional assessment of whether breeding practices that cause suffering are present, in particular the presence and severity of symptoms in terms of their pathological significance or other adverse effects on the animals concerned, is carried out on an individual level by veterinarians, who also perform breeding suitability examinations and should advise breeders accordingly. The high relevance of this topic for small animal veterinarians prompted this study to explain the recently amended prohibition of defect breeding in the Austrian Animal Protection Act, to identify the responsible actors in cat breeding, and to compile an overview of the scientific findings on the breeding of brachycephalic cat breeds, with a focus on the Persian cat, which is one of the basic cat breeds. The results show that this cat breed is affected by a variety of health problems. The modern standard of the "peke-face"-Persian cat is subject to the prohibition of breeding practices that cause suffering due to the extremely exaggerated brachycephaly and the resulting brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS); for reasons of legal certainty, the breeding of this line should be expressly prohibited.
