Bovine tuberculosis is usually diagnosed using tuberculin skin tests or at post-mortem. Recently, we have developed a serological test for bovine tuberculosis in cattle which shows a high degree of ...accuracy using serum samples. Here, we have assessed the performance of the test using individual bovine milk samples. The diagnostic specificity estimate using the high sensitivity setting of the test was 99.7% (95% CI: 99.2-99.9). This estimate was not altered significantly by tuberculin boosting. The relative sensitivity estimates of the test using the high sensitivity setting in milk samples from comparative skin test positive animals was 90.8% (95% CI: 87.1-93.6) with boosting. In animals with lesions, the relative sensitivity was 96.0% (95% CI: 89.6-98.7). Analysis of paired serum and milk samples from skin test positive animals showed correlation coefficients ranging from 0.756-0.955 for individual antigens used in the test. Kappa analysis indicated almost perfect agreement between serum and milk results, while McNemar marginal homogeneity analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the two media. The positive and negative likelihood ratio were 347.8 (95% CI: 112.3-1077.5) and 0.092 (95% CI: 0.07-0.13) respectively for boosted samples from skin test positive animals. The results show that the test has high sensitivity and specificity in individual milk samples and thus milk samples could be used for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.
Background
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) are a recommended treatment for glomerular proteinuria. Frequency of response to ACEi and the association of achieving proposed urine ...protein‐to‐creatinine ratio (UPC) targets on survival is unknown.
Objectives
To determine response rates to ACEi therapy and whether a positive response is associated with improved survival.
Animals
Eighty‐five dogs with proteinuria (UPC > 2.0).
Methods
Retrospective study including dogs (UPC > 2.0) prescribed an ACEi for treatment of proteinuria. Baseline creatinine, albumin, cholesterol, UPC, and systolic blood pressure were recorded, and cases reviewed to track UPC. Treatment response was defined as achieving a UPC of <0.5 or reduction of ≥50% from baseline within 3 months. Outcome data were collected to determine overall and 12‐month survival.
Results
Thirty‐five (41%) dogs responded to ACEi treatment. Treatment response was statistically associated with both median survival time (664 days 95% confidence interval (CI): 459‐869 for responders compared to 177 95% CI: 131‐223 for non‐responders) and 12‐month survival (79% responders alive compared to 28% non‐responders). Baseline azotemia or hypoalbuminemia were also associated with a worse prognosis, with odds ratios of death at 12 months of 5.34 (CI: 1.85‐17.32) and 4.51 (CI: 1.66‐13.14), respectively. In the 25 dogs with normal baseline creatinine and albumin, response to treatment was associated with 12‐month survival (92% responders alive compared to 54% non‐responders, P = .04).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
When the UPC is >2.0, achieving recommended UPC targets within 3 months appears to be associated with a significant survival benefit. Response to treatment is still associated with survival benefit in dogs with less severe disease (no azotemia or hypoalbuminemia).
Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial disease of worldwide economic, zoonotic and welfare importance caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis infection. Current regulatory diagnostic methods lack ...sensitivity and require improvement. We have developed a multiplex serological test for bovine tuberculosis and here we provide an estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of the test in cattle. Positive and negative reference serum samples were obtained from animals from Europe and the United States of America. The diagnostic specificity estimate was 98.4% and 99.7% using high sensitivity and high specificity settings of the test respectively. Tuberculin boosting did not affect the overall specificity estimate. The diagnostic sensitivity in samples from Mycobacterium bovis culture positive animals following tuberculin boosting was 93.9%.The relative sensitivity following boosting in tuberculin test positive, lesion positive animals and interferon gamma test positive, lesion positive animals was 97.2% and 96.9% respectively. In tuberculin test negative, lesion positive animals and in interferon gamma test negative, lesion positive animals, the relative sensitivity following tuberculin boosting was 88.2% and 83.6% respectively. The results show that the test has high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity and can detect infected animals that are missed by tuberculin and interferon gamma testing.
Salmonella Typhimurium specifically targets antigen-sampling microfold (M) cells to translocate across the gut epithelium. Although M cells represent a small proportion of the specialized ...follicular-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues, their density increases during Salmonella infection, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Using in vitro and in vivo infection models, we demonstrate that the S. Typhimurium type III effector protein SopB induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of FAE enterocytes into M cells. This cellular transdifferentiation is a result of SopB-dependent activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling leading to induction of both receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK. The autocrine activation of RelB-expressing FAE enterocytes by RANKL/RANK induces the EMT-regulating transcription factor Slug that marks epithelial transdifferentiation into M cells. Thus, via the activity of a single secreted effector, S. Typhimurium transforms primed epithelial cells into M cells to promote host colonization and invasion.
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► S. Typhimurium transforms FAE enterocytes into M cells in a RANKL-dependent manner ► RANKL-induced transformation requires NF-kB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling ► S. Typhimurium SopB is crucial for Wnt/β-catenin activation and cellular transformation ► S. Typhimurium effector SopB increases the number of M cells in vivo
Leprosy, caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae or the recently discovered Mycobacterium lepromatosis, was once endemic in humans in the British Isles. Red squirrels in Great Britain (Sciurus ...vulgaris) have increasingly been observed with leprosy-like lesions on the head and limbs. Using genomics, histopathology, and serology, we found M. lepromatosis in squirrels from England, Ireland, and Scotland, and M. leprae in squirrels from Brownsea Island, England. Infection was detected in overtly diseased and seemingly healthy animals. Phylogenetic comparisons of British and Irish M. lepromatosis with two Mexican strains from humans show that they diverged from a common ancestor around 27,000 years ago, whereas the M. leprae strain is closest to one that circulated in Medieval England. Red squirrels are thus a reservoir for leprosy in the British Isles.
Foot-and-mouth is one of the world's most economically important livestock diseases. We developed an individual farm-based stochastic model of the current UK epidemic. The fine grain of the ...epidemiological data reveals the infection dynamics at an unusually high spatiotemporal resolution. We show that the spatial distribution, size, and species composition of farms all influence the observed pattern and regional variability of outbreaks. The other key dynamical component is long-tailed stochastic dispersal of infection, combining frequent local movements with occasional long jumps. We assess the history and possible duration of the epidemic, the performance of control strategies, and general implications for disease dynamics in space and time.
Beliefs influence the intentions of people to behave in certain ways towards animals. This study presents survey responses from 237 people working in zoos in China and Europe and describes their ...demographic characteristics. It explores their beliefs about zoo animal behaviour, welfare and ethical issues, and zoo practices, using a survey methodology. These beliefs may be influenced by individual demographic or cultural factors such as age, gender and region of employment, as well as experiential or situative ‘norms’ within the work environment. Beliefs were significantly influenced by the region of employment with Chinese respondents beliefs being significantly different to beliefs from respondents in the United Kingdom or the rest of Europe. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the survey generated clusters of people from both regions who indicated positive beliefs about zoo animal welfare as well as clu sters indicating a lack of understanding of some zoo animal welfare issues. In addition, a cluster suggesting cognitive dissonance between beliefs about animals welfare and zoo practices was generated from Chinese responses. Factor analysis identified that prioritisation of in‐situ conservation within good animal welfare was a key feature in Chinese respondents, whereas European beliefs prioritising in‐situ conservation were distinct from those on supporting good animal welfare. This paper identifies similarities and differences in beliefs about zoo animal welfare and zoo husbandry practices between Europe and China, and discusses the underlying norms and values that these beliefs may reflect.
Beliefs supporting good animal welfare exist in diverse geographical regions, but those relating to conservation and animal husbandry practices may differ, potentially reflecting different normative, control and behavioural beliefs between regions.
Limited research has been conducted on the spatial ability of veterinary students and how this is evaluated within anatomy assessments. This study describes the creation and evaluation of a split ...design multiple‐choice question (MCQ) assessment (totaling 30 questions divided into 15 non‐spatial MCQs and 15 spatial MCQs). Two cohorts were tested, one cohort received a 2D teaching method in the academic year 2014/15 (male = 15/108, female 93/108), and the second a 3D teaching method in the academic year 2015/16 (male 14/98, female 84/98). The evaluation of the MCQ demonstrated strong reliability (KR‐20 = 0.71 2D and 0.63 3D) meaning the MCQ consistently tests the same construct. Factor analysis of the MCQ provides evidence of validity of the split design of the assessment (RR = 1.11, p = 0.013). Neither cohort outperformed on the non‐spatial questions (p > 0.05), however, the 3D cohort performed statistically significantly higher on the spatial questions (p = 0.013). The results of this research support the design of a new anatomy assessment aimed at testing both anatomy knowledge and the problem‐solving aspects of anatomical spatial ability. Furthermore, a 3D teaching method was shown to increase students' performance on anatomy questions testing spatial ability.
The growth of the maxillary canine teeth of the babirusa (genus Babyrousa) was studied on a sample of 149 adult male babirusa skulls from twenty-two international museum and private collections. ...Skulls from Buru, Sulawesi and the Togian Islands were represented. The continuous growth process was summarised into five stages (‘A’–‘E’) according to the position of the tip of the tooth over the bones of the skull. The supracutaneous portion of the tooth grew in a curve-linear fashion dorso-caudally, and was orientated such that the tips grew towards the midline of the cranium. The teeth of Sulawesi and Togian babirusa grew more dorsally over the nasal and frontal bones. Measurements were made on a subset of 45 teeth from Sulawesi babirusa skulls. The subcutaneous portion of the maxillary canine tooth (n=22) increased in size from 37.3mm (95% CI: 29.9–44.4mm) in growth stage ‘B’ to 54.3mm (49.4–59.2mm) in growth stage ‘E’ as the erupted portion of the tooth (n=19) lengthened from 81.3mm (43.8–118.9mm) in growth stage ‘A’ to 215.3mm (177.8–252.9mm) in growth stage ‘E’. The apical end of the tooth was open and thin-walled. The lumen of the tooth was filled with a cone of well vascularised dental pulp that extended almost to the tip of the tooth. The angle of curvature of the tooth within the alveolus (n=22) decreased from 19.8 (17.3–22.3) degrees in growth stage ‘B’ to 7.4 (5.7–9.0) degrees in growth stage ‘E’. The corresponding supracutaneous angle of curvature (n=25) reduced from 36.8 (33.6–40.1) degrees in growth stage ‘A’ to 10.7 (8.6–12.8) degrees in growth stage ‘E’.
La croissance des canines maxillaires du babiroussa (genre Babyrousa) a été étudiée sur un échantillon de 149 crânes de mâles adultes provenant de vingt-deux musées et collections privées dans le monde entier. L’ensemble comprenait des crânes originaires du Buru, du Sulawesi et des îles Togian. On a pu résumer la croissance continue en cinq stades (A–E), selon la position de l’extrémité de la dent par rapport aux os du crâne. La partie supra-cutanée de la dent pousse dorso-caudalement de façon courbe-linéaire, et est orientée de telle manière que les extrémités poussent vers la ligne médiane du crâne. Les dents des babiroussas venant de Sulawesi et Togian poussent d’une manière plus dorsale sur les os nasaux et frontaux. On a pris les mesures d’un sous-ensemble de 45 dents provenant de crânes de babiroussas de Sulawesi. La partie sous-cutanée de la canine maxillaire (n=22) s’est agrandie, passant de 37,5mm (IC 95 % : 29,9–44,4mm) lors du stade de croissance B à 54,3mm (49,4–59,2mm) lors du stade de croissance E, tandis que la partie émergée de la dent (n=19) s’est allongée, passant de 81,3mm (43,8–118,9mm) lors du stade de croissance A à 215,3mm (177,8–252,9mm) lors du stade de croissance E. L’extrémité apicale de la dent est ouverte et a une paroi très fine. La partie intérieure de la dent contient un cône de pulpe dentaire bien vascularisée, qui s’étend presque jusqu’à l’extrémité de la dent. L’angle de courbure de la dent à l’intérieur de l’alvéole (n=22) a décru de 19,8 (17,3–22,3) degrés lors du stade de croissance B à 7,4 (5,7–9,0) degrés lors du stade de croissance E. L’angle de courbure supra-cutanée correspondant (n=25) a diminué de 36,8 (33,6–40,1) degrés lors du stade de croissance A jusqu’à 10,7 (8,6–12,8) degrés lors du stade de croissance E.
Descriptions of measures taken to optimize animal welfare are often absent from scientific reports of animal experiments. One reason may be that journal guidelines inadequately compel authors to ...provide such information. In this study, online English language versions of the ‘Guidelines to authors’ (GTAs) from 54 national biomedical journals were examined for neutral (unrelated to welfare) and non-neutral keywords referring to: animal welfare; the ‘3Rs’; the ARRIVE (2010) guidelines, and regulations pertaining to animal experimentation. Journals were selected from nine countries (UK, US, China, Canada, India, Brazil, Germany, Japan and Australia) and seven biomedical specialties (oncology, rheumatology, surgery, pharmacology, medicine, anaesthesia and veterinary medicine). Total GTA word counts varied from 1137 to 31,609. The keyword count identified per category were expressed per myriad (10,000) of total word count. One-way analyses of variance followed by post hoc Tukey pairwise comparisons revealed greater non-neutral per myriad word counts for (a) veterinary GTAs compared with medicine, oncology, rheumatology or surgery; (b) British, compared with Australian, Canadian, German and Japanese GTAs; and (c) no differences between non-neutral categories. The English language versions of GTAs of British and veterinary medical journals contain more words associated with animal welfare, the 3Rs and the ARRIVE guidelines than those from eight other countries and six other medical specialities. The exclusion of ‘national’ language versions from analysis precludes attempts to identify national differences in attitudes to laboratory animal welfare.
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