Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Veterinary Medicine - General'

Clinical reasoning is the skill used when veterinary surgeons make a decision regarding the diagnosis, treatment plan or prognosis of a patient. Despite its necessity and ubiquity within clinical practice, very little is known about the development of clinical reasoning during undergraduate training. Even less is understood about how veterinary schools should be helping students improve this skill. The aim of the research presented within this thesis was to, firstly, examine the development of clinical reasoning ability within veterinary students and, secondly, to investigate possible methods to aid this process. The University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science (SVMS) was used as a case study for this research. In study one, focus groups and interviews were conducted with SVMS staff, students and graduates to investigate the development of clinical reasoning. A curriculum document content analysis was also performed. The findings suggested that clinical reasoning development is not optimal, with alumni facing a steep learning curve when entering practice. These results were used to design study two, in which a simulated consultation exercise utilizing standardised clients was created and implemented for final year students. The success of the simulation was measured using both quantitative and qualitative methods – all of which supported the use of the session for clinical reasoning development. The final study, also building on the findings of study one, aimed to improve the accessibility of veterinary surgeons’ decision-making processes during student clinical extramural studies placements (CEMS). A reflective Decision Diary was created and trialled with third and fourth year SVMS students. Diary content analysis showed the study aim was met, triangulated by survey and focus group findings. During the research, wider issues relating to clinical reasoning integration into veterinary curricula were unearthed. These included low student awareness of the subject and the misalignment between the skill learnt during training and the skill required when in practice. Several recommendations have been made to improve the design of the undergraduate curriculum in relation to clinical reasoning.

Veterinary Medicine does not have a history in the social sciences and is therefore a fascinating field of study. Despite the growth of education research in the veterinary schools, the social and relational aspects of veterinary training and practice are under-examined, and could have profound effects on the ability of students to make a successful transition into qualified work. This thesis explored the development of occupational identity in veterinary students and newly-qualified veterinary surgeons, using narrative interview techniques and organisational policy analysis. From interviewees’ stories, a clear distinction could be drawn between the majority, who were vocationally-motivated, and a smaller group who were drawn to a veterinary career by the high academic standards required. All identified several influences on their own professional identity development: role models, the need to perform as competent and confident, and presenting an approved personality type in order to gain access to the practical experience required during training. The predominant story arc is that of becoming increasingly ‘vetlike’ as they progress through the course. Animal welfare is a substantial silence in the organisational discourse of veterinary medicine. The discourse analysis revealed the overwhelming presentation of the elite academic nature of the profession, at the expense of any mention of animal care or welfare, or acknowledgement of vocational motivation. A compelling collective responsibility was also identifiable in terms of upholding a professional reputation and its high standards. A strong occupational history contributes to this, leading to a very bonded occupational group. The idea of veterinary medicine not being a nine-to-five job is expressed in policy and resonated very strongly with interview participants. However, there exists a very clear, organisationally-sanctioned, officially-approved attitude towards veterinary life and work, allowing very little deviation. This has the subsequent effect that tolerance of weakness, unhappiness, or complaint is low; so that members are forced to either internalise their unhappiness or leave the profession entirely. Veterinary medicine is perceived as a career with high job satisfaction and a positive public image. However, awareness is increasing of worryingly high levels of mental illness, stress, unhappiness and dissatisfaction with their work among the veterinary workforce. This thesis suggests that one factor that could underlie this is a mismatch between a new entrant’s ideas of what a vet is and does, and the reality of a working life in veterinary practice. From the conclusions presented in this thesis - in particular the finding that, as a profession, veterinary medicine strives to distance itself from an animal care or animal welfare focus - I suggest that it is the confused messages received as part of the process of socialisation during training that could connect to many of the problems facing the modern entrant to the veterinary profession. This research specifically focused on the development of occupational identity in veterinary students and newly-qualified veterinary surgeons in the UK and is the only current work to examine the processes, presentation and experiences of veterinary training in this comparative manner. As a relatively new, and very interdisciplinary, field of study, the capacity for future work in veterinary social sciences is considerable, with much to be learnt from allied fields as well as further explorations of just what makes veterinary medicine unique, and such a valuable source of social inquiry given the significance of pets and livestock to the lives of a nation of animal lovers. This is potentially a very rich field.

This thesis addresses the question of how veterinary students learn to cope with uncertainty in professional practice. There is currently a lack of clarity in discussion of what constitutes effective coping with uncertainty in veterinary practice and indeed how this might be taught or assessed as part of the veterinary education process. This is despite wide recognition that managing uncertainty is central to practice in the health professions, reflected in the fact that the ability to cope with uncertainty is considered a “day one competency” for veterinary surgeons. This research adopted both extensive and intensive perspectives to address the central research question. Orienting concepts were developed form the literature on workplace learning, approaches to clinical uncertainty and individual differences in tolerance of uncertainty and ambiguity. The extensive perspective used a survey study to describe tolerance of ambiguity among veterinary students at a UK veterinary school. On average, ambiguity tolerance did not change during the classroom based part of veterinary training. Individual trajectories were often more erratic and some students moved between the highest and lowest categories during the course of training. Previous education and status as a mature student were both associated with greater tolerance of ambiguity, suggesting that educational and life experiences can produce changes in this disposition. The intensive perspective comprised a qualitative case study, using clinical case discussion recordings and semi-structured interviews to develop an understanding of the mechanisms which influence learning to cope with uncertainty in the context of an international elective placement. Using the language of situated learning theory, learning to cope with uncertainty was described as legitimate peripheral participation in the uncertainty work of a community of practice. Uncertainty work is a novel concept used to describe navigating ambiguity, complexity and risk in professional practice . Using this theoretical framework to draw together findings from both intensive and extensive perspectives suggested the central role of gaining access to uncertainty work in professional learning. Generative mechanisms have been proposed to explain the empirical findings. Access to uncertainty work was negotiated between students and staff in the context of clinical and educational practice. Trust was central to gaining access to uncertainty work, and this was reflected in increasing clinical responsibility. Ambiguity tolerance was described in this context as a disposition of individuals which can influence their engagement with and access to uncertainty work. Through an exploration of the significance of these mechanisms in the context of Veterinary education, implications for curriculum and policy have been highlighted. Although the use of measures of ambiguity tolerance in selection are considered problematic, there can be clear scope to support students in accessing uncertainty work and to highlight encounters with uncertainty work as integral to the professional role, providing opportunities to promote personal and professional development through reflective practice.

This case study, of veterinary education at Glasgow between 1949 and 2006, was undertaken to provide an illustrative account of learning and teaching practices over time. Ultimately the aim was to inform discussions on curriculum reshaping in undergraduate veterinary education at Glasgow. A questionnaire was distributed to 2360 alumni, 513 students and 50 teachers, to obtain quantitative data on the availability and perceived usefulness of different educational methods and technologies, analysed using SPSS. Qualitative data were sought principally through ten student focus groups and interviews with over thirty current and former staff, theoretically coded using NVivo. Questionnaire responses (from 11.5% of alumni, 23.8% of students and 72% of teachers invited to participate) revealed that lectures, printed notes, tutorials, practical classes and clinical training were used consistently over time and rated highly by stakeholders, confirming the importance of didactic teaching methods coupled with discussion and practical hands-on experience. The focus groups with students highlighted their strong desire for earlier clinical training, with the recognition that a case-based approach resulted in more meaningful learning. The interviews with staff revealed that whilst all staff welcomed the opportunity for increased vertical integration, problem-based learning was rejected as a wholesale solution. Highlights of the school’s curricular innovations to date include the clinico-pathological integrated sessions, the lecture-free final year, and the introduction of a veterinary biomolecular sciences course that allowed for a seamless vertical integration in years 1 to 4. However, recent efforts to implement self-directed learning and assessment strategies have been hampered by the fact that these were isolated innovations set within a traditional teacher-centred paradigm. There was little support among stakeholders for undergraduate specialisation. There is still a perceived need for veterinarians to have omni-potential – if not to be omnicompetent. However, it is recommended that the current system of tracking be replaced with a more streamlined core-elective system, to allow students to pursue specific topics of interest in the later years of the course. Teachers and students cited attributes of ‘good’ teachers. These generally did not change over time, although technologies did change. Good communication appears to be central to good teaching, with an in-borne desire to enthuse and motivate students to learn for the pleasure of learning rather than the need to hurdle-jump examinations. Both teachers and students cited good teaching characteristics in terms of the teacher as authority and motivator, rather than as a facilitator of independent learning, reflecting the nature of the traditional, didactic course. There was little evidence of pedagogical change resulting from technological innovations. If anything, newer technologies compounded surface learning approaches and low level cognitive processing, rather than promoting deep learning and higher order thinking skills. Identified barriers to teaching innovations included lack of time, reward and support (for teachers and students). Future curricular innovation will require a substantial investment in the scholarship of teaching – rewarding staff for excellence in teaching, putting it on a par with research excellence, and ensuring the necessary support mechanisms and infrastructure are in place to ensure the success of a self-directed learning curriculum. A guided discovery learning curriculum is recommended, a compromise between traditional teaching and a fully problem-based curriculum. The study did not specifically focus on assessment, but it is recommended that learning, teaching and assessment practices should be constructively aligned.

This project set out to determine the importance of tick-borne protozoan and bacterial pathogens in Scottish livestock. The study comprised several aspects including a national survey of large animal veterinary surgeons, an appraisal of cases of tick-borne disease observed by Scottish Disease Surveillance Centres, the development of a novel assay to detect piroplasms and a targeted cross- sectional study of livestock and deer in the north of Scotland. A survey of the experiences of veterinary surgeons treating livestock in Scotland revealed cases of babesiosis (Babesia divergens) in cattle and tick-borne fever (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in sheep. Examination of the records of the Scottish Agricultural College Consulting Disease Surveillance Centres for the years 2000 - 2013 revealed cases of babesiosis in cattle (n = 55) along with tick- borne fever and related disease in sheep (n = 116) and cattle (n = 6). Taking a combined passive and active surveillance approach, clinical material was obtained from a large number of healthy sheep, cattle and wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) together with a number of cattle and sheep suspected or confirmed as having a tick-borne disease. All samples were examined using a genus-specific nested PCR targeting the v4 region of the Babesia/Theileria 18S rRNA gene, which was developed and validated in the course of this study. This gene segment was confirmed as being capable of differentiating a diverse range of Babesia and Theileria spp. based on direct sequencing of PCR amplicons. A nested PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene of A. phagocytophilum was also applied to each clinical sample and, if positive, the msp4 locus was also amplified and sequenced. Babesia ventatorum, a parasite typically associated with the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Europe, was detected in 9 % of healthy sheep. Significantly, this is the first description of this parasite in sheep or in a vertebrate host in the United Kingdom. Babesia divergens was found in 11 % of wild red deer, confirming the presence of this parasite in this host species by molecular means for the first time in Scotland. Additionally a Babesia odocoilei-like parasite was found in 15 % of wild red deer, again for the first time in Scotland and only the second time in Europe. In cattle, B. divergens was confirmed as the cause of three clinical cases of babesiosis and was also found in the blood of 6 % of healthy cattle in December. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found at a high prevalence in healthy sheep (73 %) and red deer (40 %) and at lower levels in healthy cattle (2.8 %). Comparison of msp4 gene sequences confirmed identical or highly similar msp4 genotypes in sheep and deer. Red deer were infected with larger numbers of msp4 genotypes than sheep and infection with multiple genotypes increased over the course of a grazing season on tick-infested hill land. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is zoonotic and can also have negative welfare and economic impacts in both sheep and, to a lesser extent, cattle and so these findings are highly significant. An incidental finding was Sarcocystis sp. similar to S. tenella in 3 % of healthy sheep. These results of this work clearly show what can be achieved by an active surveillance approach, using a ‘catch all’ molecular assay. In summary, this study discovered a novel, zoonotic pathogen in Scottish livestock and demonstrated that an endemic and arguably largely overlooked bacterium, A. phagocytophilum, is highly prevalent in the sheep population in tick-risk areas. Moreover, genotyping of this pathogen and B. divergens in both livestock and deer has provided new insights into potential reservoirs of infection for these organisms.

Acute phase proteins (APPs) are proteins synthesised predominantly in the liver, whose plasma concentrations increase (positive APP) or decrease (negative APP) as a result of infection, inflammation, trauma and tissue injury. They also change as a result of the introduction of immunogens such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), turpentine and vaccination. While publications on APPs in chickens are numerous, the limited availability of anti-sera and commercial ELISAs has resulted in a lot of information on only a few APPs. Disease is a threat to the poultry industry, as pathogens have the potential to evolve, spread and cause rapid onset of disease that is detrimental to the welfare of birds. Low level, sub-acute disease with non-specific, often undiagnosed causes can greatly affect bird health and growth and impact greatly on productivity and profitability. Developing and validating methods to measure and characterise APPs in chickens will allow these proteins to be used diagnostically for monitoring flock health. Using immune parameters such as APPs that correlate with disease resistance or improvements in production and welfare will allow the use of APPs as selection parameters for breeding to be evaluated. For APPs to be useful parameters on which to evaluate chicken health, information on normal APP concentrations is required. Ceruloplasmin (Cp) and PIT54 concentrations were found to be much lower in healthy birds form commercial production farms than the reported normal values obtained from the literature. These APPs were found to be significantly higher in culled birds from a commercial farm and Cp, PIT54 and ovotransferrin (Ovt) were significantly higher in birds classified as having obvious gait defects. Using quantitative shotgun proteomics to identify the differentially abundant proteins between three pools: highly acute phase (HAP), acute phase (AP) and non-acute phase (NAP), generated data from which a selection of proteins, based on the fold difference between the three pools was made. These proteins were targeted on a individual samples alongside proteins known to be APPs in chickens or other species: serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), Ovt, apolipoprotein A-I (apo-AI), transthyretin (Ttn), haemopexin (Hpx) and PIT54. Together with immunoassay data for SAA, Ovt, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and Cp the results of this research reveal that SAA is the only major APP in chickens. Ovotransferrin and AGP behave as moderate APPs while PIT54 and Cp are minor APPs. Haemopexin was not significantly different between the three acute phase groups. Apolipoprotein AI and Ttn were significantly lower in the HAP and AP groups and as such can be classed as negative APPs. In an effort to identify CRP, multiple anti-sera cross reacting with CRP from other species were used and a phosphorylcholine column known to affinity purify CRP were used. Enriched fractions containing low molecular weight proteins, elutions from the affinity column together with HAP, AP and NAP pooled samples were applied to a Q-Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole–Orbitrap mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific) for Shotgun analysis and CRP was not identified. It would appear that CRP is not present as a plasma protein constitutively or during an APR in chickens and as such is not an APP in this species. Of the proteins targeted as possible novel biomarkers of the APR in chickens mannan binding lectin associated serine protease-2, α-2-HS-glycoprotein (fetuin) and major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 10 were reduced in abundance in the HAP group, behaving as negative biomarkers. Myeloid protein and putative ISG(12)2 were positively associated with the acute phase being significantly higher in the HAP and AP groups. The protein cathepsin D was significantly higher in both HAP and AP compared to the NAP indicating that of all the proteins targeted, this appears to have the most potential as a biomarker of the acute phase, as it was significantly increased in the AP as well as the HAP group. To evaluate APPs and investigate biomarkers of intestinal health, a study using re-used poultry litter was undertaken. The introduction of litter at 12 days of age did not significantly increase any APPs measured using immunoassays and quantitative proteomics at 3, 6 and 10 days post introduction. While no APP was found to be significantly different between the challenged and control groups at anytime point, the APPs AGP, SAA and Hpx did increase over time in all birds. The protein apolipoprotein AIV (apo-AIV) was targeted as a possible APP and because of its reported role in controlling satiety. An ELISA was developed, successfully validated and used to measure apo-AIV in this study. While no significant differences in apo-AIV plasma concentrations between challenged and control groups were identified apo-AIV plasma concentrations did change significantly between certain time points in challenged and control groups. Apoliporotein AIV does not appear to behave as an APP in chickens, as it was not significantly different between acute phase groups. The actin associated proteins villin and gelsolin were investigated as possible biomarkers of intestinal health. Villin was found not to be present in the plasma of chickens and as such not a biomarker target. Gelsolin was found not to be differentially expressed during the acute phase or as a result of intestinal challenge. Finally a proteomic approach was undertaken to investigate gastrocnemius tendon (GT) rupture in broiler chickens with a view of elucidating to and identify proteins associated with risk of rupture. A number of proteins were found to be differentially expressed between tendon pools and further work would enable further detailing of these findings. In conclusion this work has made a number of novel findings and addressed a number of data poor areas. The area of chicken APPs research has stagnated over the last 15 years with publications becoming repetitive and reliant on a small number of immunoassays. This work has sought to characterise the classic APPs in chickens, and use a quantitative proteomic approach to measure and categorise them. This method was also used to take a fresh approach to biomarker identification for both the APR and intestinal health. The development and validation of assays for Ovt and apo-AIV and the shotgun data mean that these proteins can be further characterised in chickens with a view of applying their measurement to diagnostics and selective breeding programs.

Physical inactivity is a major contributor to non-communicable diseases and many adults and children are insufficiently active to maintain good health. The proportion of children who meet the United Kingdom recommendations for physical activity (at least 60 minutes of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity each day) has been reported to be as low as 3% for boys and 2% for girls. Systematic reviews on interventions to promote physical activity in childhood have shown that although physical activity is modifiable to some degree most interventions have had only modest and short-term impacts on physical activity. Therefore, novel approaches to physical activity promotion in childhood are required. Dog ownership is a significant societal factor that may be used to encourage and sustain health behaviour change at individual and population levels. A number of observational studies have reported that dog ownership and/or dog walking are associated with increased levels of physical activity. However, evidence is lacking as to whether and how interventions with families and their dogs can be used to promote physical activity. Therefore, the major aim of this thesis was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of a theory-driven, family-based, dog walking intervention for 9–11 year old children and their families. However, prior to this it was essential to develop ActiGraph cut-points for measuring physical activity intensity in dogs. The ability to measure the intensity of dog physical activity accurately was important as it allows for the effectiveness of dog walking interventions to be tested, therefore another aim of this thesis was to calibrate and cross-validate ActiGraph cut points that can be used to describe physical activity in dogs by intensity. Similarly, no studies have been published previously that assess which factors are related to dog physical activity when measured using ActiGraph accelerometry. It was therefore desirable to explore whether body condition score, breed, age, and neutered status are associated with ActiGraph measured dog physical activity. Furthermore, no published studies have described the spontaneous changes in dog physical activity during substantial weight loss; therefore, another aim of this thesis was to explore changes in physical activity in dogs during a 6 month calorie controlled weight loss programme. Using Receiver Operating Curve analyses Chapter 2 showed that the ActiGraph GT3X can accurately measure the amount of time a dog spends sedentary, in light-moderate intensity physical activity and in vigorous intensity physical activity. The sensitivity and specificity of the cut-points developed when using both the integrated axes and vertical axis accelerometry data were high. Agreement between the accelerometer data and direct observation in the cross-validation subset was also ‘very good’ (as measured by Cohen’s Kappa). This indicates that the ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer is accurate when measuring the intensity of physical activity in dogs, facilitating the use of the ActiGraph GT3X to describe the frequency, intensity and duration of dog physical activity in Chapters 3-6 of this thesis. Chapter 3 shows that, in a sample of dogs of varying breed and body condition scores, obese dogs spend significantly less time in ActiGraph measured vigorous intensity physical activity than ideal weight dogs (6 ± 3minutes/day versus 20 ± 14 minutes/day). Chapter 4 focussed on the factors related with physical activity in the two most commonly registered dog breeds in the United Kingdom, Labrador Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels. Five potential correlates (age, sex, breed, neuter status, body condition score) were tested with associations with ActiGraph measured physical activity. Age and breed were associated with total volume of physical activity, light-moderate intensity physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the final models and age was also associated with vigorous intensity physical activity. Unlike Chapter 3 body condition score was not related with any physical activity variables. Chapter 5 explored the changes in physical activity and sedentary time during weight loss in dogs enrolled in a 6 month calorie controlled weight loss programme. Despite an average weight loss of 15% body weight from baseline there was no marked increase in any ActiGraph measured physical activity variable. Chapter 6 describes the results of the Children Parents and Pets Exercising Together (CPET) Study. CPET was the first exploratory randomised controlled trial to develop and evaluate an intervention aimed at dog-based physical activity promotion in children, their parents and pet dogs. The results show that the CPET intervention was both feasible and acceptable to study participants. Eighty-nine percent of families enrolled in CPET were retained at follow up. Ninety-five percent of intervention sessions were delivered and ActiGraph measured physical activity data were collected for 100% of children, 96% of parents and 96% of dogs at baseline, and 100% of children, 96% of parents and 96% of dogs available at follow up. Despite the apparent feasibility and acceptability of CPET there was no significant change in the primary outcome measure (child physical activity) or the majority of the secondary measures. This thesis shows that the ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer is capable of accurately measuring the intensity of dog physical activity. It also shows that obesity may be related to lower levels of objectively measured vigorous intensity physical activity and the physical activity levels in dogs decline with age and vary by breed. However, it appears that physical activity levels do not increase spontaneously as dogs lose substantial amounts of body weight. Using pet dogs as the agent of lifestyle change in physical activity interventions in children and their parents is both feasible and acceptable; however, the lack of any apparent increase in child physical activity suggests that the intervention may need to be modified in a future, more definitive trial. In summary, the findings of this thesis have important implications for the measurement of physical activity intensity in dogs, the understanding of factors associated with dog physical activity and for the development of dog-walking interventions in children and their parents.

Equine fetlock region disease is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of sesamoidean ligament, cartilage and subchondral bone injury has been obtained by clinical MRI. Low-field MRI provides images helpful in the investigation of MCPJ/MTPJ region pathology in horses in the clinical setting but the greater resolution of high and ultra-field MR images has the potential to aid interpretation through a better understanding of MRI anatomy. Quantitative MRI could provide a non-invasive technique to determine tissue biochemical properties associated with the early onset of articular cartilage degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis. So far, ultra-high field MRI has not been used in equine research and practice. However, recently 3T MRI has been introduced in equine hospitals in Europe and the US. The general objectives of this project, which utilised cadaver limbs, was to improve understanding of the MRI anatomy of the equine MCPJ/MTPJ region and to evaluate the use of MRI for the non-invasive, quantitative assessment of articular cartilage from the same region. The first specific objective was to describe the appearance of the normal anatomy of the equine MCPJ/MTPJ region, especially the SDFT & DDFT and DSLs, using high field (1.5T) and ultra high field (7T) MRI and to compare the images obtained with the two systems. The second objective was to determine the accuracy and precision of articular cartilage thickness measurements using 1.5T and 7T MRI and comparing the measurements with those made from histological sections of the MCPJ/MTPJ. The third objective was to measure T1 & T2 MRI sequence relaxation times for normal horse articular cartilage pre and post gadolinium contrast (dGEMRIC) administration and to determine their correlation with GAG concentration, including a description of topographical variation. The fourth objective was to compare sodium concentration in normal equine MCPJ/MTPJ articular cartilage measured using 7T MR imaging with a dual tuned quadrature 23Na/1H coil with the biochemical properties (sodium concentration determined by flame photometry and GAG concentration). The final objective was to evaluate MR sodium imaging for the assessment of enzymatically degraded equine cartilage. The findings demonstrated that 7T MRI produces high resolution images, which enable better evaluation of the hard and soft tissues of the equine MCPJ/MTPJ region than images from lower field MR systems and which permit accurate and precise articular cartilage thickness measurements to be made. Moreover, it was found that the dGEMRIC technique appears to provide a feasible quantitative tool for evaluating the articular cartilage properties. However, the quantitative parameters determined by the dGEMRIC method cannot fully characterise the biochemical properties of the cartilage. Moreover, delayed gadolinium-enhanced (dGEMRIC) techniques are time consuming, requiring relatively long incubation and scanning times. The measurement of T2 time is a very complex method. The work described in the last chapters demonstrated that sodium MRI was significantly correlated with the biochemical properties of the equine articular cartilage. Therefore the sodium MRI technique showed promise in imaging articular cartilage and providing useful information on the biochemical properties of the cartilage.

The work described in this thesis was designed to investigate the current impact of parasitic gastroenteritis on organic and conventional dairy farms in first season grazing youngstock in Scotland, and to elucidate a marker of significant parasite challenge within individual calves, in order to target these calves with an anthelmintic treatment. It was felt particularly that any recommendations should be practical and easily implemented on-farm, and optimise anthelmintic usage, with regard to animal health, welfare and performance on both organic and conventional farms. There is world-wide recognition that nematode parasite infections are one of the greatest causes of lost productivity of grazing livestock. In the UK, the single most important cause of parasitic gastroenteritis in cattle is infection with the abomasal nematode, Ostertagia ostertagi, although concomitant infection with the less pathogenic intestinal nematode, Cooperia oncophora is common. Often, non-organic (conventional) producers use anthelmintic treatment programmes that prevent disease or treat all animals in a group without necessarily considering the basic epidemiological information needed for an optimal strategic control. Organic producers are encouraged to avoid this approach, thus it may be hypothesised that organic livestock harbour higher parasite burdens compared to livestock in conventional systems. However, little information is available on current UK organic dairy anthelmintic use and subsequent parasite challenge to youngstock. This thesis aimed to investigate current management practices on three Scottish organic farms compared to three Scottish conventional farms and examine different ways of assessing parasite challenge (including novel markers) with a view to the implementation of a targeted selective treatment (TST) programme. Liveweight gain assessment by means of weigh-bands as a tool to investigate the effect of parasitism on the host was also examined. In year one of the study, the six farms were visited on four occasions throughout the grazing season where fifteen first season grazers on each farm had their liveweight measured (weigh-band or weigh-scale), a faecal egg count (FEC) recorded and plasma pepsinogen, plasma fructosamine and Ostertagia ostertagi antibody concentrations measured. Knowledge of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of gastrointestinal nematode infestation has led to the identification of parasitic biomarkers for use either as a diagnostic tool or for providing a threshold for anthelmintic treatment. Faecal egg counts (FEC) are the most widely used parameter, both clinically and in studies on gastrointestinal nematode infections of ruminants, because of their relative convenience and low cost. Organic producers are encouraged to use faecal egg counts in order to direct anthelmintic treatment to calves, or groups of calves, that have counts of 200 eggs per gram or more (Soil Association, 2010). The recent launch of COWS (Control of Worms Sustainably in Cattle) in May 2010 - an initiative to prevent widespread anthelmintic resistance and to use anthelmintics appropriately in cattle in the UK - has also seen conventional farmers encouraged to use faecal egg counts in the same manner as their organic counterparts (Taylor, 2010i). None of the biomarkers, including FEC, investigated in the study reflected liveweight gain adequately to use in a targeted selective anthelmintic treatment programme. An ideal biomarker would give indication of calves that would most benefit from anthelmintic treatment before liveweight gain was affected. The biomarkers in this study indicated presence of gastrointestinal parasitism but could not target the animals that had poor liveweight gains. The emphasis on FEC in advice to farmers regarding the need for anthelmintic treatment requires re-evaluation. The data from year one showed that the conventionally farmed first season grazers (FSG) had significantly higher liveweight gains than the organically farmed calves. Anthelmintic treatment was applied to the organic calves in the study when the calves were known to be harbouring gastrointestinal parasite infection from positive faecal egg counts. The organically farmed first season grazers in this study had high gastrointestinal parasite challenge, indicated by parasite-based markers such as FEC and plasma pepsinogen concentration. The conventional producers in this study exposed FSG to 652% more days of anthelmintic than the organic producers and gained superior liveweight gains over the grazing season. Essentially, the organic producers fulfilled the ethos of organic production, reducing anthelmintic usage and showing necessity of anthelmintic treatment. However, subclinical and clinical parasitic gastroenteritis reduces animal welfare, the essence of the organic ethos. The organic industry needs to investigate whether there is a superior alternative to FEC that still promotes the organic ethos and reduces subclinical and clinical parasitic gastroenteritis. The possibility of using liveweight gain as a marker for anthelmintic treatment was investigated. An accurate assessment of liveweight is necessary if calf liveweight gain is to be calculated accurately and used as a threshold for anthelmintic treatment. Cattle weigh-scales are expensive and often not available on farm, particularly where youngstock may be grazing at pasture and gathered in the field for handling. With this in mind, cattle weigh-bands, which measure heart girth and relate this to liveweight, have been devised and used in practice in order to estimate cattle liveweight. Realistically, if a liveweight gain threshold were to be recommended for use on farms in the UK, the weigh-band must estimate liveweight and hence liveweight gain accurately. Given that many farmers do not possess weigh-scales on farm, use of heart-girth measurements to estimate liveweight gain is the best option available to farmers currently. Year two involved the implementation of a targeted selective anthelmintic treatment (TST) programme on two organic farms and one conventional farm; all were previously involved in the year one study. Anthelmintic treatment was applied only to FSG calves growing at <0.75kg/day at two points in the grazing season. Organic Farm 1 (O1) and Organic Farm 2 (O2) increased the liveweight gain of the FSG in year two by 50% and 44% respectively. Farm O2 exposed the FSG to 1160% more days of anthelmintic than in 2009; however, approximately 10% of the group were left untreated. Conventional FSG showed reduced liveweight gain from the previous year by 19%. However, respiratory disease was present on-farm also and may have confounded findings. Applying a performance-based targeted anthelmintic regime treatment in the field is possible and using it on farms where anthelmintic treatment was already minimal, such as organic farms, increased liveweight gain in first season grazers without significantly increasing anthelmintic treatment. Applying a TST regime to a conventional farm where previously a suppressive anthelmintic treatment had been applied may have reduced liveweight gain in the first season grazers (FSG) but maintained it at an acceptable level. The acceptance by farmers of TST strategies, and their implementation, may require a high level of input and education to the farming community.

Johne’s disease, caused by Mycobacteria avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), plagues cattle and dairy farmers worldwide. Infected animals suffer from chronic granulomatous enteritis, reduced fertility, decline in milk production and emaciation. It is spread through colostrum, milk and faeces. Johne’s disease has also become strongly associated with human Crohn’s disease due to the similarity in symptoms and the presence of MAP in samples taken from Crohn’s disease patients. Currently there is not cure for Johne’s disease, therefore, routine testing and isolation or culling of diseased animals are measures used to prevent infection. At present, the gold standard test for MAP is by faecal culture, which can take up to 4 months to reach a diagnosis. The low-cost ELISA test has a shorter diagnosis duration, however, it uses blood or milk samples for testing which do not correlate with the bacterial shedding in faecal samples. As a result of this mismatch in bacterial shedding between blood, milk and faeces, ELISA testing lacks in both sensitivity and specificity to MAP when compared to faecal culture and PCR tests. PCR can be sensitive and specific for MAP testing, although it is currently the most expensive test for MAP detection within the UK. Reducing the cost of PCR testing was one of the motivating factors during the development of this assay and device. In this thesis, surface acoustic waves (SAW) have been used to create, develop and test a diagnostic device and the assay for Johne’s disease. SAW is becoming an increasingly popular tool in the field of diagnostic devices due to its multi-functionality which allows for many pieces of laboratory equipment to be consolidated into one device. In using SAW there was no longer a need for laboratory equipment usually used to perform a DNA extraction because SAW could be used to mix, heat and move the sample droplet. Traditional, laboratory-based faecal DNA extraction was adapted for use with SAW. To date, faecal DNA extraction using SAW has not been published. The SAW-driven, droplet-based assay developed during this project used 90% less DNA extraction reagents than the traditional tube-style method. Due to the thermal resistant nature of MAP it is particularly difficult to lyse during DNA extraction. The newly created SAW faecal DNA extraction was used to retrieve and clean DNA sufficiently for successful PCR to follow. In the context of faecal samples, this was particularly challenging due to the PCR inhibitors found in these complex samples. To investigate the effectiveness of the SAW DNA extraction, K-10 strain of genomic MAP DNA, MAP cell cultures and pre-tested bovine faecal samples were tested to prepare the MAP DNA for amplification and detection. DNA extraction was followed by SAW PCR. The sensitivity and specificity of the SAW PCR was ensured by using both IS900 and F57 target sequences. IS900 is repeated 17 times in the MAP genome thereby providing sensitivity down to 102 CFU/g. F57 is only repeated once therefore providing specificity. Specificity of the assay was further improved by using TaqMan probes to quantify the PCR. In order to keep this PCR-based assay stable in the absence of cold-chain storage, the disaccharide sugar trehalose was added to the PCR reagents and freeze dried to determine its ability to maintain performance. These experiments enhanced the future portability of this assay. It was found that reagents maintained activity for at least 41 days after freeze drying and this duration is expected to be extended. During this thesis, a newly developed acoustically driven DNA extraction and qPCR was integrated onto one device which had the capability of detecting as few as 5 MAP genomes. This novel proof-of-concept research, lays the foundation for an acoustically driven portable device for use on faecal samples and in this case, for the detection of Johne’s disease.

Teladorsagia circumcincta is a common abomasal parasite of sheep in temperate regions and is one of the major causes of parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) in growing lambs. Control of infection is achieved using anthelmintic drugs; however, this practice is rapidly becoming unsustainable due to widespread anthelmintic resistance within the T. circumcincta population. Sheep can acquire protective immunity against this parasite; immunity involves local and systemic antibodies and immune cells which can impair worm growth and fecundity and lead to expulsion of the parasites from the abomasum. Vaccination against this parasite is therefore a feasible option of control. A recent study showed that a recombinant vaccine cocktail containing 8 T. circumcincta antigens significantly reduced the faecal egg count and worm burdens of immunised sheep, compared to an adjuvant-only control group. However, the recombinant antigens induced a suboptimal antibody response to the recombinant antigens. This suggests that differencies between the native antigens and their recombinant versions may exist, possibly due to variations in structure and/or post-translational modifications (PTMs). The main aim of this work was to use a novel expression system, the free living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, to generate alternative recombinant versions of two of the T. circumcincta antigens used in the 8-antigen vaccine, cathepsin F (Tci-CF-1) and monocyte Migration Inhibitory Factor (Tci-MIF-1). This was achieved by micro-injection of C. elegans worms with plasmids containing the cDNA sequences of Tci-cf-1 and Tci-mif-1 followed by purification of recombinant Tci-CF-1 and Tci-MIF-1 from the transformed worms. Immune recognition, enzyme activity and biological effects on sheep cells of the recombinant antigens were characterised. The results show that immunisation-induced antibodies bind to native Tci-CF-1 purified from T. circumcincta L4 ES, whereas infection-induced antibodies were unable to bind the recombinant Tci-CF-1 versions. Further characterisation of recombinant Tci-CF-1 versions expressed in C. elegans or Pichia pastoris showed that in order to be enzymically active, these proteins require cleavage of the pro-peptide by an exogenous enzyme and that some differences were present in the glycosylation of the recombinant versions and native Tci-CF-1. Characterisation of both recombinant Tci-MIF-1 versions showed that although both are enzymically active, neither showed a significant inhibitory effect on the migration of sheep monocytes or on the activation of sheep macrophages in vitro compared to unstimulated controls. It is speculated that Tci-MIF-1 may be involved in T. circumcincta larval development rather than host immunosuppression.

There is a delicate evolutionary balance between viruses and their hosts. The host has evolved the intrinsic, innate and adaptive immunity to fight viral infections. However, viruses have acquired several counteracting measures to evade host defences. Ovine Betaretroviruses, including the exogenous and pathogenic Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and the highly related endogenous enJSRVs are a unique model system to investigate virus-host interaction over long evolutionary periods. Sheep have co-opted some defective enJSRV loci to (i) counteract infection by exogenous viruses and likely (ii) to cope with the continuous retroviral invasion of their genome. In addition, various genes of the innate and intrinsic immunity of the host have evolved to block viral replication. The work presented in this thesis focuses on the ovine bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (Bst-2)/ tetherin, a recently identified cellular restriction factor with a broad antiviral activity, and its interaction with sheep Betaretroviruses. In sheep, the BST-2 gene is duplicated into two paralogs termed oBST-2A and -2B. Studies presented in this thesis show that oBST-2B possesses several biological properties distinct from the paralog oBST-2A and from all the other BST-2 orthologs. oBST-2A prevents the release of JSRV/enJSRV viral particles by ‘tethering’ them at the cell membrane similarly to what observed by human BST-2. On the other hand, oBST-2B, does not reach the cell membrane but remains within the Golgi stacks and the trans-Golgi network. Several lines of evidence obtained in this thesis suggest that oBST-2B reduces significantly Env incorporation into viral particles. Therefore, oBST-2B possesses a unique antiviral activity that complements the classical tethering restriction provided by oBST-2A.

Worldwide, an estimated 9.1 billion birds may need to be killed on farm each year. As of January 2013 the use of manual cervical dislocation (MCD) as a killing method for poultry on-farm has been heavily restricted through new EU legislation (EC 1099/2009) on the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing, following reported welfare concerns. The method by which birds are killed on farm is crucial to poultry welfare on a large scale. The overall aim of this project was to design a mechanical device conforming to the new legislation to kill poultry humanely on-farm and provide a competitive replacement for MCD. Following a survey and a literature review, four mechanical devices were designed and prototyped: Modified Armadillo (MARM); Modified Pliers (MPLI); Modified Rabbit Zinger (MZIN) and a Novel mechanical cervical dislocation glove (NMCD). The devices were tested for killing efficacy in three laboratory experiments, assessing their performance in poultry cadavers (Study 1), anaesthetised birds (Study 2) and live conscious birds (Study 3). The reliability and welfare impact of the devices, along with comparisons with a control method (MCD) were evaluated via post-mortem analysis, reflex and behaviour durations, and characteristics of electroencephalography (EEG) analysis. Due to consistently high kill success rates and rapid loss of reflexes, as well as short durations of EEG activity indicating consciousness across three laboratory experiments, the NMCD device was shown to have the most promise as a mechanical device to be used as an alternative to MCD for poultry stock-workers and keepers. The final experiment explored the user-reliability and practicality of the NMCD device in two relevant commercial environments (a layer hen farm and a broiler farm). When applied by multiple users, the NMCD device did not match the killing performance of MCD, however it did show promise and the study highlighted the need for further refinement in the training protocol in order to encompass the wide variation in MCD techniques and experience. The result of this project is a novel on-farm mechanical killing device, which shows great potential in laboratory experiments and competed with the traditional MCD method in commercial environments. Further training refinements are required in order to develop the device into a marketable product which any individual could purchase and use as a humane method for killing poultry.

Examining patient records is a useful way to identify common conditions and treatment outcomes in veterinary practice and data gathered can be fed back to the profession to assist with clinical decision making. This research aimed to develop a method to extract clinical data from veterinary electronic patient records (EPRs) and to assess the value of the data extracted for use in practice-based research. The transfer of new research from continuing professional development (CPD) into practice was also considered. An extensible mark-up language (XML) schema was designed to extract information from a veterinary EPR. The analysis of free text was performed using a content analysis program and a clinical terms dictionary was created to mine the extracted data. Data collected by direct observation was compared to the extracted data. A review of research published in the proceedings of a popular veterinary CPD event, British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress, was appraised for evidence quality. All animal records were extracted and validation confirmed 100% accuracy. The content analysis produced results with a high specificity (100%) and the mined data analysis was successful in assessing the prevalence of a specific disease. On comparison, the data extracted from the EPR contained only 65% of all data recorded by direct observation. The review of BSAVA Congress abstracts found the majority of the clinical research abstracts (CRAs) presented to be case reports and case series, with differences in focus between CRAs and veterinary lecture stream abstracts. This study has demonstrated that data extraction using an XML schema is a viable method for the capture of patient data from veterinary EPRs. The next step will be to understand the differences found between data collected by observation and extraction, and to investigate how research presented as CPD is received, appraised and applied by the veterinary profession.

Master of Science<br>Department of Clinical Sciences<br>Luciana Bergamasco<br>As public concern for food animal welfare increases, the need for objective pain assessment and methods to alleviate pain associated with production practices such as castration gains attention. The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the physiological response to pain induced by castration in calves and (ii) to elucidate age-related differences in pain response of calves subjected to different castration methods. Seventy six Holstein bull calves were blocked by age (≤ 6 weeks and ≥ 6 months) and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: control (n = 20), castration by banding (n = 18), cut and clamp surgical castration (n = 20), and cut and pull surgical castration (n = 18). Measurements included electroencephalogram, heart rate variability, infrared thermography, electrodermal activity, and concentrations of serum cortisol, and plasma substance P prior to, during, and following castration. Electroencephalogram recordings showed desynchronization for all treatments, consistent with increased arousal; yet the magnitude of desynchronization was greatest for 6-month-old calves castrated by cut and clamp. Additionally, older calves in the cut and pull group showed greater desynchronization than younger calves in the same group. Based on the heart rate variability analysis, 6-month-old calves in the control or cut and pull castration groups showed greater sympathetic tone than younger calves in the same treatment groups. Overall, younger calves showed lower electrodermal activity than older calves. Regardless of treatment, concentrations of cortisol and plasma substance P were greater in 6-month-old calves relative to their younger counterparts. In summary, neurohormonal and electroencephalographic stress responses of calves to castration were age-specific. Castration by cut and clamp showed the most pronounced stress response in 6-month-old calves.

Mycobacteria are an ancient bacterial taxon that has, over time, had a profound impact on mankind and domesticated animals. Mycobacteria are, in fact, responsible for significant human and animal diseases whose severe economic and public health repercussions make them still highly topical today. The first topic of research in this Thesis is a widely characterized phenomenon in the context of human tuberculosis, but one which has, to date, been little considered in animal tubercular infections, namely mycobacterial dormancy. As bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is undoubtedly the most significant of the animal tubercular infections, these aspects have been investigated precisely in the context of this pathology. In particular, this study aimed to verify the intralesional existence of non-acid-fast (non-AF) mycobacteria phenotypes that in human medicine have been associated to the phenomenon of mycobacterial dormancy. Another important objective of this study was to develop a histological method capable of detecting in the same section the mycobacterial cells by combining AF stains and techniques capable of highlighting the mycobacteria regardless of their AF features. In this retrospective study, 250 bovine lymph nodes (LNs) in which Mycobacterium bovis (Mb) has been identified by the diagnostic algorithm routinely applied by the Italian National Reference Center for bTB, were randomly enrolled. Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained sections were evaluated for each sample. Only LNs with at least one granuloma containing more than 20 ZN-positive bacilli were selected, and the corresponding formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded blocks were retrieved. For each block, a 4-µm thick section was obtained and, after reducing the autofluorescence through a photobleaching protocol and unmasking the Mb antigens with enzymatic digestion, the sections were submitted to a protocol combining Auramine O stain and an indirect immunofluorescence assay targeting Mb antigens; a DAPI-containing mounting medium was used. Processed slides were viewed with a Leica DM6 B upright microscope, and the obtained images were elaborated with a deconvolution algorithm. Of the 250 enrolled LNs, 24 contained at least one granuloma with more than 20 ZN-positive bacilli, and in all of them, AF and non-AF bacilli were identified. In all (24/24) selected LNs, the non-AF bacillary load resulted greater than the AF one, especially in the central parts of the granuloma; non-AF bacilli were also identified within the cytoplasm of multinucleated giant macrophages (MGMs). This study revealed for the first-time non-AF Mb phenotypes within bovine lymph nodal granulomatous lesions. It also demonstrated that a widely studied pathology such as bTB still poses new issues regarding pathogenesis and host-pathogen interaction and suggested that bTB can be considered an effective animal model for studying mycobacterial dormancy. The second study carried out was also focused on a tubercular infection but, in this latter case, both the mycobacterial species involved and the affected host were different. Indeed, in the second study, wild boar (WB) M. microti (Mm) infection, whose epidemiological and pathogenic dynamics are still largely unknown, was enquired into. Specifically, the natural WB Mm infection was investigated by evaluating the granulomatous lesions' histological features and Mm microbiological isolation. For this purpose, 103 WB retropharyngeal and submandibular LNs in which Mm was identified by gyrB restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR were retrospectively selected and histologically assessed. For each sample, Hematoxylin-eosin and ZN-stained slides were evaluated. Considered histological variables were the number of granulomas, size and maturational stage of granulomas, number of MGMs, and AF bacilli per granuloma. Furthermore, Mm microbiological results were also considered. Investigated parameters were statistically analyzed. Mm microbiological isolation was negatively influenced by granulomas maturation and positively affected by AF bacilli's presence within the section. Granuloma maturation was positively influenced by granuloma size and negatively affected by the number of granulomas in the section and the number of MGMs within the granuloma. The obtained results indicate that granulomas' maturation ensured an efficient containment of Mm infection in the WB, making the intraspecific transmission of the disease an unlikely event. Finally, an outbreak of paratuberculosis in a group of scimitar-horned oryxes (SHOs) kept in a zoological park, gave us the chance to describe various aspects of this disease in an endangered animal species subject to an international conservation and reintroduction plan encompassing several countries. In particular, after the death of six of the 10 SHOs, serial investigations of dead and alive animals were performed. Necropsy, carried out on five out of six animals, identified intestinal thickening and mesenteric lymphadenomegaly in one of the animals. Histopathology (5/6) revealed lepromatous (2/5) and tuberculoid (2/5) intestinal forms or lack of lesions (1/5). ZN and immunohistochemistry stains identified two multibacillary, two paucibacillary forms, and one negative case. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) was identified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in tissue samples in five out of five SHOs and was microbiologically isolated from two of the three animals whose fresh tissue samples were available. Fecal samples were collected in four of the six dead animals: all four resulted positive to qPCR and Map was isolated in three. ELISA identified Map-specific antibodies in three of the five dead animals whose serum was available. qPCR identified Map in the freshly deposited feces of two out of the four alive animals. From the feces of these two animals, Map was microbiologically isolated in one case. All isolates were classified as Map type C and profiled as INMV2 and MVS27 by molecular analysis. Genomic analysis of a field isolate revealed clusterization with a European clade but was more similar to Italian than East European isolates. Our findings highlight again that paratuberculosis should always be considered in zoological parks where endangered species are hosted. Infection can be subclinical, and multiple combined testing techniques may be necessary. The studies included in this Thesis made the examination of certain aspects of significant animal mycobacterial diseases possible, and the results obtained demonstrate that a multidisciplinary approach is the best option when studying infectious diseases, and this is especially true in case of infections deserving to be managed in a One Health perspective.

Master of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences<br>Department of Clinical Sciences<br>Bradley White<br>Objective- To compare serologic response and viral replication following intranasal administration of a modified-live bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) vaccine in high (32°C) and moderate (21°C) ambient temperatures. Animals- 28 heifers (mean body weight, 206.8 kg) Procedures- Heifers randomly allocated to treatment groups: High Ambient Temperature (HAT, n=10): received vaccine, housed outdoors, Moderate Ambient Temperature (MAT, n=10): received vaccine, housed indoors, High Ambient Control (HAC, n=4): no vaccine, housed outdoors, Moderate Ambient Control (MAC, n=4): no vaccine, housed indoors. Rectal and nasal mucosal temperatures were recorded every 2 hours from 8am to 8pm on trial days 0 and 1. Nasal swabs were collected on trial days 0 through 7 for virus isolation. Serum samples were collected for serology on trial days 0, 7, 14, and 28. Results- Rectal temperatures did not differ among treatment groups over the study period, but nasal temperatures were higher in the HAT calves compared to MAT group at study hours: 6, 24, 30, 32, and 38. Two weeks post-vaccination, IBR titers were significantly greater in vaccinates (HAT,MAT) relative to non-vaccinates (HAC, LAC), but no differences were identified among HAT and MAT. Viable IBR virus was recovered via virus isolation from all vaccinated calves (HAT,MAT) on trial days 1 through 6. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance- The ability to isolate IBR and stimulate the calf immune response following administration of a modified-live IBR-PI3 intranasal vaccine did not differ in calves housed in temperature-controlled and high ambient temperature environments.

Background: empathy has been defined as a vicarious affective response that arises from attending another individual’s emotional experience and is more appropriate to another’s situation than one’s own. It is a complex and multidimensional psychological process, which involves both emotional and cognitive components: the former refers to affective resonance with others’ emotions and the generation of an appropriate emotional response, while the latter includes abilities such as recognizing and understanding another’s emotions distinguishing between self and others, and perspective taking. Empathy has also visible effects on behaviour, leading either to prosocial behaviour, namely the effort to alleviate the distress of the others and to promote their welfare, or to defensive behaviours and strategies of affective control due to an excessive personal distress. Although empathy towards humans has been extensively studied, only a few studies have focused on empathy towards non-human animals, which is considered as a psychological side effect of empathy towards people, triggered by animal signals or behaviour that resemble those that elicit empathy among humans. There is evidence that empathy towards humans is related to important social skills, such as emotion recognition and prosocial behaviour, therefore empathy is regarded as an important aspect not only in daily social interactions but also in caring professions; in particular, the relevance of empathy as a professional skill has been extensively studied and underlined in human health professionals, with studies proving a decline in empathy towards people during medical education. Furthermore, given the relevance of empathy towards people, its impairment is considered a sign of psychopathology and characterizes a number of mental disorders such as antisocial, borderline and narcissistic personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Although some studies have suggested that empathy towards animals may be related to the way in which people interpret animal behaviour and it may be influenced by particular job and educational contexts and mental disorders, these themes are still understudied. Yet, a deepen analysis of these issues could have important consequences both for animal and human welfare: in particular, recognition of animal emotions is crucial for their well-being and, as in human health professions, empathy towards animals may be central to the role of veterinarians, especially in companion animal practice. Furthermore, the new edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders includes the animal hoarding disorder, which is a poorly understood mental disease, likely related to empathy towards animals. Aim of the project: the main aim of this work is to investigate three important and little studied aspects of empathy towards non-human animals, namely: 1. its relation to animal emotion recognition, 2. its status in and the way in which it may be affected by veterinary education and practice and 3. its potential role in animal hoarding disorder. Moreover, since a condition to feel empathy towards animals is their ability to feel emotions, I have also briefly reviewed the scientific literature on animal emotions, which evidences the need to combine behavioural and physiological indexes to study them. Therefore, I carried out two studies aimed at investigating the possibility to use novel and non-invasive tools to study animal emotions, along with behavioural and traditional physiological measures. The dog (Canis familiaris) has been chosen as a model both for studying animal emotions and human ability to recognize them, since this species has a long history of domestication, lives in strict contact with humans and its ability to emotionally communicate with them has been widely proved. Results: six studies and one book I have co-authored are presented in this dissertation, which are the results of the work carried out in the last three years at the Canis sapiens – Comparative cognition & Human- Animal Interaction – Lab of the University of Milan (Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, section of Neuroscience). These studies cover three major themes, which are described in three different chapters, following an introductive section. Three studies and the book have already been published, while the others are in press or have been submitted to international scientific journals. Chapter 1: Introduction - An overview of human empathy towards humans and other animals. The chapter offers an overview of the concept of empathy and the results of the main studies carried out on empathy towards humans and towards animals. Given the importance of empathy towards people in recognizing human emotions and in predicting prosocial behaviour towards conspecifics, the importance of studying empathy towards animals in order to improve both animal and human welfare is discussed, with particular interest for its potential role in animal emotion recognition, veterinary medicine and animal hoarding disorder. Chapter 2: Recognizing emotions in non-human animals. This chapter reviews the scientific evidence about the ability of non-human animals, at least mammals, to feel a number of basic emotions, such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. Furthermore findings about human ability to recognize animal emotions are discussed, underlining the lack of consistent evidence of human ability to recognize animal visual emotional signals, such as body postures and facial expressions. A brief section examines the suitability of the dog (Canis familiaris) as a model for studying both animal emotions recognition and animal emotions, discussing also the validity of behavioural clues alone to assess dog emotions, evidencing the need to find more reliable and objective tools. Finally I present my research activity in this area. - Study 1: “Expertise, empathy, gender and the recognition of dog (Canis familiaris) emotional facial expressions”. This work investigated the relation between expertise, empathy and gender and accuracy in the recognition of dog emotional facial expressions. A group of experts (veterinary behaviourists and dog trainers) and 3 groups of participants differing in their experience with dogs (veterinarians, dog owners and people who had never owned a dog) classified 21 photographs of a dog’s facial expressions, realized under standardized and behaviourally defined conditions aimed at activating in the dog the six basic emotions already described in humans (i.e., happiness, surprise, sadness, fear, anger and disgust). We found that experts in dog behaviour were not particularly accurate in identifying the dog’s emotional states and correctly recognized only a limited number of the dog’s emotions. Interestingly we also found a clear effect of the level of expertise on the recognition of some of the dog’s expressions, but we didn’t find any effect of empathy or gender, suggesting an experience-dependent mechanism at the basis of inter-specific emotion recognition from facial expressions. The possibility that some antecedent stimuli used to elicit emotions in the dog could not be fully appropriate and that the photographs we used lacked ecological validity were also discussed. - Study 2: “Hot dogs”: Thermography in the assessment of stress in dogs (Canis familiaris) - A pilot study. This study evaluated for the first time the usefulness of Infra-Red Thermography (IRT) to assess dogs’ emotional responses to an unpleasant and stressful event. A sample of 14 healthy adult dogs was observed during a standardized veterinary examination, carried out by an unfamiliar veterinarian in the presence of their owners. The dogs’ behaviours and eye temperatures were recorded before the start of the veterinary visit, during, and after the clinical examination. Interestingly, the dogs showed an increase in eye temperature during the examination phase compared with both pre- examination and post-examination phases, despite a concomitant significant decrease in their level of activity. Results suggested that IRT may represent a useful tool to investigate emotional psychogenic stress in dogs. - Study 3: “How good is this food? A study on dogs’ emotional responses to a potentially pleasant event using Infra-Red Thermography”. In this study, IRT was used in combination with behavioural measures, heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) to investigate dogs’ emotional responses to a potentially pleasant event: receiving highly palatable treats from the owner. Nineteen adult pet dogs, 8 females and 11 males, were tested and their eye temperature, heart rate, heart rate variability and behaviour were recorded during a 30 minutes test consisting of three 10 min consecutive phases: Phase 1 (Baseline), Phase 2 (Feeding), namely positive stimulation through the administration of palatable treats and Phase 3 (Post-feeding) following the positive stimulation. The dogs’ eye temperature and mean HR significantly increased during the positive stimulation (Phase 2) compared with both Baseline and Post-feeding phases, despite a concomitant significant decrease in dogs’ level of activity. During the stimulation with food, the dogs engaged in behaviours indicating a positive emotional state, such as being focused on the treats and showing an increase in tail wagging. However, HRV increased only in Phase 3, after the positive stimulation occurred. Overall results pointed out that IRT may be a useful tool in assessing emotional states in dogs in terms of arousal but fails to discriminate emotional valence, whose interpretation cannot disregard behavioural indexes. The role of HRV in understanding emotional valence and the actual emotional meaning of food treats were also discussed. Chapter 3: Exploring the field of veterinary medicine: the importance of empathy towards animals. This chapter presents a brief introduction of the role of empathy towards animals in animal-related jobs, highlighting how both empathy towards animals and towards people are two central aspects of veterinary medicine, especially in companion animal practice, where they are respectively related to animal welfare and clients’ satisfaction. Although studies carried out in other countries proved that veterinary education may have a negative impact on empathy towards animals, in particular in male students, little was known about the effect of veterinary practice on empathy. The aim of this chapter is presenting my research activity in this area. - Study 4: “Empathy towards animals and belief in animal-human-continuity in Italian veterinary students”. In the present cross-sectional study we used the Animal Empathy Scale and the Human-Animal Continuity Scale to investigate empathy towards animals and beliefs in animal-human continuity in a sample of first year (n = 131) and last year (n = 158) veterinary students of the University of Milan (Italy). Results revealed a difference in empathy towards animals, with first year students scoring significantly higher than those at the end of their academic training. This variation in empathy over time emerged in both male and female students, however females always had higher scores in empathy than males. Moreover, students at the end of their university education reported a more instrumental attitude toward animals, more pronounced in males than in females. Similarly, there was a difference in the perception of continuity between human and animals which was more evident in males, with first year students scoring higher than fifth year students in some items. Results are discussed in relation to previous studies carried out in other countries and, given the importance of empathy in the veterinary profession, potential reasons underlying its apparent decrease are considered. This is the first study on empathy in veterinary students carried out in Italy. - Study 5: “Empathy towards animals and people in a sample of Italian vets: the role of gender and length of career”. The aim of this study was to investigate empathy towards animals and humans in veterinarians, assessing whether and to what extent they are influenced by variables such as gender and length of career. We used the Animal Empathy Scale to assess empathy towards animals and the Empathy Quotient to assess empathy towards people in a sample of 107 vets, practicing in veterinary clinics in Milan area and working mainly with dogs and cats. Results revealed an effect of gender on empathy towards animals, with women scoring higher than men, and an effect of length of career on empathy toward people, with more experienced vets scoring higher than their younger colleagues. This is the first study in the literature evaluating both empathy towards animals and people in vets working in small animal practice and suggests a positive profile of veterinarians, reporting themselves to be empathic both towards animals and people, meeting the expectations of society and likely linked to the feminization of veterinary medicine. Given the role of empathic concern in caring for animals and for clients’ satisfaction, but also as a risk factor for burnout in caring professions, further studies are needed. Chapter 4: The Animal Hoarding Disorder: a mental disorder related to anomalies in empathy towards animals? A number of mental disorders, such as antisocial, borderline and narcissistic personality disorders and autism spectrum disorders, entails a deficit in empathy towards people, to such an extent that a new classification of these psychopathologies as “empathy-related disorders” has been proposed. So far, anomalies in empathy towards animals have never been specifically related to any mental disorders and its impairment is mentioned only among the diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder, as “cruelty to animals”. Yet, the last edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) includes for the first time “animal hoarding”, considering it as a special manifestation of “hoarding disorder”. The crucial feature of animal hoarding is the failure to provide proper care for animals and to recognize their suffering, therefore some authors considered it as a manifestation of “pathological altruism”, which is rooted in empathy anomalies. In Italy, animal hoarding is almost unknown, although media and press often report cases of people who hoard animals resulting in animal abuse, but interpret them as animal cruelty or, conversely, as “too much love for animals”. In this chapter I present the first review on animal hoarding, written in Italian before the Italian edition of DSM-5 was published, with the aim to inform Italian mental health professionals about this phenomenon; furthermore, I report a brief summary of a book on animal hoarding that I have co-authored and that has recently been published. - Study 6: “Animal hoarding: lifestyle, animal abuse or psychopathology? A critical review of the literature”. This study reviews the international scientific literature on animal hoarding, considering how for a long time it has been regarded as a “lifestyle”, then as a form of animal maltreatment, but only recently as a mental disorder. The aim of this review was to describe the main features of animal hoarding and to introduce the most frequent hypotheses about its aetiology, with particular reference to Hoarding Disorder and to the role of trauma; moreover, strengths and weaknesses of current interventions were analyzed, in order to promote an interdisciplinary approach to the problem. Special emphasis was given to the importance of understanding animal hoarding behaviour in the light of the normal human-animal bond, suggesting new research directions which consider aspects such as attachment and empathy toward animals. - Book: “Una pericolosa arca di Noè: L’accumulo di animali tra cronaca e ricerca” (A dangerous Noah’s ark: animal hoarding between press reports and scientific research), published by Cosmopolis. With the contribution of experts in psychology, psychiatry, ethology veterinary medicine and law, the book deals with themes such as the diagnostic criteria of animal hoarding, the underlying psychological and neuropsychological mechanisms, its relation with animal abuse and normal human-animal bond, legal consequences of animal cruelty and the possibility to cure and rehabilitate both people and animals. Furthermore, three main categories of animal hoarders are described and the phenomenon of “lager shelters” is discussed as a possible consequence of this mental disorder. This is the first essay on animal hoarding disorder published in Italy and analyses this issue in the light of the international scientific literature and through the narration of cases derived from the Italian press. Conclusions highlight the need for further research on animal hoarding, aimed at investigating its prevalence and aetiology and the efficacy of psychotherapy in its treatment. Conclusions: the work presented in the current thesis is a starting point for the investigation of empathy towards animals and its role in animals’ emotions recognition, veterinary medicine and animal hoarding disorder, mirroring the available literature on empathy towards humans. In fact, there is evidence that empathy is related to the recognition of human emotional facial expressions, but represents a controversial aspect of human medicine, since it declines during medical training but it is considered an important skill in medical practice. Furthermore, a number of mental disorders are related to deficits in empathy towards people. Since research on the recognition of animal emotions from visual signals is still very limited, we chose to focus on dog’s (Canis familiaris) emotions because of its long history of domestication and its high diffusion in human society. Results suggest that empathy towards animals may not be related to the ability to recognize animal emotions from facial expressions (at least with respect to the dog), which seems to be an experience-dependent cognitive mechanism. Furthermore, we noticed a lack of agreement even among experts in dog’s behaviour, at least for some emotions, and this result is in line with those of studies that criticized the reliability of behavioural clues to investigate emotions in animals, and thus also in dogs, suggesting to combine them with physiological measures. The results on the use of changes in dogs’ eye temperature, detected trough Infra-Red Thermography, to investigate emotions in dogs showed that IRT could be a useful tool to assess emotional arousal but not to discriminate emotional valence (i.e., positive or negative), whose interpretation cannot disregard behavioural indexes. With respect to the role of empathy towards animals in veterinary medicine, results seem to parallel those emerging for empathy towards people in human medicine: in fact, we found that last-year veterinary students were less empathic than their first year colleagues, suggesting a decline in empathy towards animals during veterinary education similar to that observed in medical students. Furthermore, examining for the first time the effect of length of career in veterinary companion-animal practice on both empathy towards animals and people, we found that empathy towards people was higher among older professionals, suggesting a role of clinical practice in improving empathy, as reported in a previous study on physicians. Interestingly, we found that, like empathy towards people, also empathy towards animals is affected by gender, as females are usually more empathic than males. Given the on-going process of feminization of the veterinary professions, taken together these findings offer a positive profile of veterinarians, who seem to be able to show empathy both towards animal-patients and human-clients, meeting the expectations of society. Finally, like empathy towards people, empathy towards animals seems to be vulnerable to anomalies related to mental disorders: in particular, the review of the available international literature shows that aberrations of empathy towards animals seems to be a crucial aspect of animal hoarding disorder.

Health communication has become recently an essential and powerful tool for public health. Its role has been largely recognized in human medicine, but it has been less considered in veterinary medicine even if this latter field is not less decisive for the human health. The One Health concept unified the two medicines recognizing that human health is inextricably connected to animal health and environment. Within this framework, we design this study to investigate the relationship between health communication and One Health. Particularly, we focused on the role of communication in veterinary medicine and how it has the potential to improve human health. Veterinary medicine competences include a broad spectrum of aspects, which can’t be covered in a single study. Moreover, we were interested in investigate if communication has a role also in the veterinary areas traditionally considered less linked to public health. Therefore, this study was focused on clinical communication, both in companion and in food-producing animals practice. This study confirmed the outcomes from previous surveys and showed the importance of communication in veterinary medicine in improving human health. Communication in veterinary medicine is not less important for human health, and is not different from what is usually considered health communication. Indeed, both of them cover the same issue (zoonoses, food safety etc.) and use the same strategies. Therefore, a “One Communication” approach appear to be the most helpful tool in improving human health in the One World-One Health-One Medicine.

Master of Science<br>Department of Clinical Sciences<br>Daniel Thomson<br>A total of 400 head of naturally parasitized commercial feedyard cattle (subset of 40 hd/pen; 10 pens) were utilized to compare trade name ivermectin pour-on and a generic ivermectin pour-on. The efficacy of each product was measured by obtaining rectal fecal egg counts on day 0 and day 14 using a Modified Wisconsin sugar float with centrifugation from rectal fecal samples and calculating fecal egg reduction post treatment. There were no differences in net egg count reduction between treatments (P= 0.15) at 14 days post-treatment application. Regardless of treatment, only 26% of animals had a fecal egg count reduction of >90% and only 35% achieved a FECR of >80% which is low considering 90% reduction is the accepted efficacy level. Cattle treated with the generic pour-on had improved average daily gains (ADG) compared to cattle treated with the trade name pour-on P = 0.02. This study demonstrated decreased efficacy of both products with a FECR of less than 90% within a commercial feedyard environment.

El documento digital no refiere asesor<br>Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autor<br>Establece la relación existente entre la inteligencia múltiple y los métodos didácticos con el nivel de rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, pues esto se vincula, posteriormente, con el desempeño académico y rendimiento futuro. La muestra para este estudio fue de 188 alumnos y 40 docentes. Según el objetivo general de la investigación, se halló una relación significativa entre métodos de enseñanza impartidos por los docentes y el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, encontrándose además, mediante el estudio exploratorio de los datos de la investigación, mayor proporción de docentes que emplean el método magistral al momento de dictar sus clases. En cuanto a los resultados de la investigación es posible notar, en referencia al empleo de la inteligencia múltiple, que la mayor proporción de estudiantes destacan por el empleo de una inteligencia natural, seguida de una inteligencia naturalista, seguida de una inteligencia lógico matemática, espacial y kinestésica, respectivamente. La investigación también dió respuesta a lo señalado por investigadores sobre la importancia de la variabilidad interindividual en el rendimiento cognitivo, y funcionalmente adaptativa. De lo cual se desprende un desafío para el futuro de la formación de profesionales con nuevos paradigmas de interpretación y acción frente al mundo, donde la apertura de la conciencia y la inquietud por averiguar e innovar estén en el centro de su tarea.<br>Tesis

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:24:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA14MA134.pdf: 1248046 bytes, checksum: af3ac6b025f01fe9a2d5a20f8a4685e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-28<br>The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of premedication with detomidine and morphine in sheep kept under inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane or total intravenous anesthesia with propofol, both associated with lumbosacral spinal anesthesia. Fourteen adult, female, sheep, mean weight 27,2±2,4 Kg were used. All animals were pre medicated with 0,3 mg.Kg-1 of morphine IM, and 5 minutes later received 20 mcg.Kg-1 of detomidine IV. Subsequently were assigned into two groups: GISO (n=7), which were induced with 0,5mg.Kg-1 of diazepam associated with 5 mg.Kg-1 of ketamine IV, and maintenance of anesthesia was through isoflurane diluted in 100 % oxygen; the GPRO (n=7), animals were induced with 4 mg.Kg-1 propofol and maintained with continuous infusion of propofol in the initial rate of 0,3 mg.Kg-1.min-1 and subsequently adjusted to maintain adequate depth of anesthesia. Mechanical ventilation was iniciated to maintain normocapnia during the anesthesia. All animals underwent bilateral tibial osteotomy, therefore, received 0,5mg.Kg-1 0,75% ropivacaine associated with 0,1 mg.Kg-1 morphine by the intrathecal route, and diluting to a final volume of 1 mL/7,5 Kg bodyweight with NaCl0,9% solution. The parameters were evaluated at baseline (M0), after instrumentation of the animals while held in right lateral recumbeny; 5 minutes after administration of detomidine (M1); 5 minutes after anesthetic induction (M2); 10 minutes after performing spinal anesthesia and positioning of the animal into dorsal recumbency (M3); immediately after osteotomy of the right hindlimb (M4); 30 minutes after the spinal anesthesia and positioning of the animal into dorsal recumbency (M5); immediately after osteotomy of the left hindlimb (M6); and at the end of surgery/anesthesia (M7). There was a 40% reduction in heart rate in M1 in both groups, remaining on average 23% reduced to M7. Mean arterial pressure rose in 16% in GISO at M2, 12 but decreasing from M3 to M7, like at in the GPRO. The average EtISO was 0,57 V% and average infusion rate of propofol was 0,24 mg.Kg-1.min-1. Spinal block was 100% effective in all animals. We registered a respiratory acidosis in M2, and a posterior metabolic alkalosis in M3 to M7, in both groups. Reduction of potassium levels and sustained hyperglycemia were observed in M2 to M7 in both groups. A 20% decrease ocurred in hematocrit and hemoglobin were observed in both groups from M1. The total time of surgery, anesthesia and extubation were 66±9,8, 92±7,0 and 13,8±1,5 minutes in GISO and 56±2,4, 82,9±4,6 and 5,4±1,5 minutes in GPRO. We conclude that sedation provided with the association of morphine and detomidine promoted adequate sedation depth, quality of induction promoted by propofol or ketamine diazepam was excellent and the protocol of spinal anesthesia was effective in preventing the nociception during surgical stimulation, not requiring rescue analgesia. The maintenance anesthesia with propofol or isoflurane produced similar depth of anesthesia with minimal cardiovascular and hemogasometric alterations, which are well tolerated in healthy animals<br>O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a eficácia e segurança da pré medicação com detomidia e morfina em ovinos mantidos sob anestesia geral inalatória com isofluorano ou anestesia total intravenosa com propofol, ambas associadas à anestesia subaracnóidea lombo-sacra. Foram utilizados 14 ovinos, fêmeas, adultas, com peso médio 27,2±2,4 Kg. Todos os animais foram pré medicados com 0,3 mg.Kg-1 de morfina pela via IM, e 5 minutos após receberam 20 mcg.Kg-1 de detomidina pela via IV. Posteriormente foram alocados em dois grupos: GISO (n=7), onde foram induzidos com 0,5 mg.Kg-1 de diazepam e 5 mg.Kg-1 de cetamina IV, e manutenção anestésica realizada através de isofluorano diluído em 100% de oxigênio; no GPRO (n=7), os animais foram induzidos com 4 mg.Kg-1 de propofol, e a manutenção foi realizada com infusão contínua de propofol na taxa inicial de 0,3 mg.Kg-1.min-1 sendo posteriormente ajustada de acordo com o plano anestésico. Todos os animais foram mantidos sob ventilação mecânica ajustada para manter normocapnia. Todos os animais foram submetidos à osteotomia bilateral de tíbia, para tanto, receberam 0,5 mg.Kg-1 de ropivacaína 0,75% associado a 0,1 mg.Kg-1 de morfina pela via subaracnóidea, diluindo-se para um volume final de 1 mL/7,5 Kg com solução NaCl 0,9%. Os parâmetros foram avaliados no momento basal (M0), este ocorrido após a instrumentação dos animais, enquanto mantidos em decúbito lateral direito; 5 minutos após a administração da detomidina (M1); 5 minutos após a indução anestésica (M2); 10 minutos após a realização da anestesia subaracnóidea e posicionamento do animal em decúbito dorsal (M3); imediatamente após a realização da osteotomia do membro pélvico direito (perfuração da cortical) (M4); 30 minutos após a realização da anestesia subaracnóidea e posicionamento do animal em decúbito dorsal (M5); imediatamente após a realização da osteotomia do membro pélvico esquerdo (perfuração da cortical) (M6); e ao término da 10 cirurgia/anestesia (M7). Houve redução de 40% nos valores médios de frequência cardíaca em M1 em ambos os grupos, permanecendo em média 23% reduzidos até M7. A pressão arterial média elevou-se 16% em M2 no GISO, mas reduzindo-se de M3 até M7, assim como no GPRO. A EtISO média foi de 0,57V% e a taxa média de infusão do propofol foi de 0,24 mg.Kg-1.min-1. O bloqueio subaracnóideo foi 100% eficaz em todos os animais. Registrou-se acidose respiratória em M2, e posterior alcalose metabólica de M3 à M7, em ambos os grupos. Redução dos valores de potássio e hiperglicemia sustentada ocorreram de M2 a M7, em ambos os grupos. Decréscimo significativo de 20% nos valores de hematócrito e hemoglobina foram observados nos dois grupos a partir de M1. Os tempos totais de cirurgia, anestesia e para extubação foram de 66±9,8, 92±13,8 e 7,0±1,5 minutos no GISO e 56±2,4, 82,9±4,6 e 5,4±1,5 minutos no GPRO. Conclui-se que a sedação promovida pela associação de morfina e detomidina promoveu sedação adequada, a qualidade de indução promovida pelo propofol ou associação de cetamina diazepam foi excelente, o protocolo de anestesia subaracnóidea foi eficaz em prevenir a nocicepção durante o estímulo cirúrgico, não requerendo resgate analgésico trans operatório. A manutenção anestésica com isofluorano ou propofol promoveu plano anestésico similar com mínimos efeitos cardiovasculares ou hemogasométricos, os quais são bem tolerados em animais hígidos

Orientação : Lénio Ribeiro<br>A importância da deteção precoce da má perfusão tecidual é bem conhecida quer em Medicina Humana quer em Medicina Veterinária, uma vez, que as intervenções atempadas diminuem a mortalidade e a morbilidade. O índice de perfusão periférica (IPP), que é baseado na análise do sinal do pulsioxímetro, é um parâmetro de monitorização anestésica pouco utilizado em Medicina Veterinária. Pretendeu-se, com o presente estudo, avaliar o IPP como um indicador de hipoperfusão, comparar o valor do IPP com outras variáveis de monitorização anestésica e comparar os valores de IPP antes e após bólus de fluídos Para tal, analisou-se uma amostra de 10 canídeos com classificação anestésica superior a ASAIII, submetidos a anestesia geral e a cirurgia. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, foi possível verificar: a correlação negativa do IPP com PAM, PAS e FC e a correlação positiva com a CAM (p<0,01); o decréscimo do IPP juntamente com PAM<60 mmHg, PAS<90mmHg e FC>130 bpm (p<0,005); e a diferença significativa dos valores de IPP antes e após os bólus de fluidorapia (p=0,039). Concluindo, o IPP poderá ser uma ferramenta útil na predição de hipoperfusão e no auxílio da decisão terapêutica em pacientes críticos.<br>The importance of early detection of inadequate tissue perfusion is well known in both Human Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, as early interventions decrease mortality and mobility. The peripheral perfusion index (PPI), which is based on the analysis of the pulse oximetry signal, is not commonly used in anaesthetic monitoring in Veterinary Medicine. The aims of this study were to evaluate PPI as an indicator of hypoperfusion, compare PPI value with other anaesthetic monitoring variables and to compare PPI values before and after fluid bolus therapy. For this purpose, a sample of 10 dogs with an anaesthetic classification higher than ASA III, submitted to general anesthesia and surgery was analyzed. From the obtained results, it was possible to verify: a negative correlation of PPI with MAP, SBP and HR and a positive correlation with MAC (p<0.01); the decrease in PPI with MAP<60 mmHg, SBP<90 mmHg and HR>130 bpm (p<0.005); and a significant difference in the values of PPI before and after the fluid bolus therapy (p=0.039). In conclusion, PPI may be a useful tool in predicting hypoperfusion and aiding in the therapeutic decision in critically ill patients.

Orientação: Ana Maria Duque Munhoz<br>O género Giardia inclui espécies com potencial zoonótico de distribuição mundial, sendo considerado um dos dez parasitas mais comuns no homem e uma das principais causas de diarreia não viral em humanos e animais. Sua prevalência, apresenta índices variáveis, dependendo da localização geográfica e do método utilizado para o diagnóstico. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal, determinar a prevalência do protozoário Giardia em cães e gatos que apresentavam sinais clínicos gastrointestinais, em dois centros de atendimento médico veterinários, um na França, Le Colomby e outro na Suíça, Moillebeau. O período de estudo deu-se entre 2015 a 2017. Entre os objetivos específicos pretendeu-se relacionar fatores como raça, género e faixa etária com a prevalência do parasita e determinar possíveis causas de recidiva da giardiose. Avaliou-se as fichas clínicas de 52 animais, onde 29 eram cães, 22 gatos e 1 furão. Das amostras fecais analisadas, 45 foram submetidas ao teste de imunocromatografia para deteção de antigénios solúveis de Giardia duodenalis, sendo que em 4 amostras realizou-se o teste PCR e 3 amostras não foram submetidas ao exame diagnóstico. A prevalência total nas duas clínicas foi de 59,6% (31/52), onde 52% (16/31) eram cães, 45% eram gatos (14/31) e 4% furão (1/31). Na clínica Le Colomby (FR) o percentual de animais positivos foi de 50% (11/22); destes, 45% eram cães (5/11), 45% eram gatos (5/11) e 10% foi representado por 1 furão (1/11). As fêmeas apresentaram um maior número de resultados positivos, tanto para os cães quanto para os gatos. Nos cães as raças que apresentaram maior número de positivos foram Pastor Alemão e Bouldoque Françês; nos gatos as raças mais prevalentes foram o Gato Europeu e Gato da Birmânia. A faixa etária de maior prevalência ocorreu em animais com idade entre 0-9 meses Na clínica Moillebeau (CH) a prevalência encontrada foi de 67% (20/30), sendo 55% cães (11/20) e 45% gatos (9/20). As fêmeas, também apresentaram maior positividade. Não houve correlação quanto às raças dos cães. Nos gatos, a maior prevalência, ocorreram nos Gatos Europeu e Ragdol. A faixa etária de maior prevalência, foi de 0-9 meses em ambas as clínicas. Este estudo vem realçar a necessidade de alertar a comunidade veterinária e os proprietários para o risco da infeção dos animais por Giardia spp. devido ao potencial zoonótico deste protozoário. Torna-se importante avaliar quais os genótipos presentes e implementar medidas profiláticas para proteger animais e pessoas.<br>O género Giardia inclui espécies com potencial zoonótico de distribuição mundial, sendo considerado um dos dez parasitas mais comuns no homem e uma das principais causas de diarreia não viral em humanos e animais. Sua prevalência, apresenta índices variáveis, dependendo da localização geográfica e do método utilizado para o diagnóstico. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal, determinar a prevalência do protozoário Giardia em cães e gatos que apresentavam sinais clínicos gastrointestinais, em dois centros de atendimento médico veterinários, um na França, Le Colomby e outro na Suíça, Moillebeau. O período de estudo deu-se entre 2015 a 2017. Entre os objetivos específicos pretendeu-se relacionar fatores como raça, género e faixa etária com a prevalência do parasita e determinar possíveis causas de recidiva da giardiose. Avaliou-se as fichas clínicas de 52 animais, onde 29 eram cães, 22 gatos e 1 furão. Das amostras fecais analisadas, 45 foram submetidas ao teste de imunocromatografia para deteção de antigénios solúveis de Giardia duodenalis, sendo que em 4 amostras realizou-se o teste PCR e 3 amostras não foram submetidas ao exame diagnóstico. A prevalência total nas duas clínicas foi de 59,6% (31/52), onde 52% (16/31) eram cães, 45% eram gatos (14/31) e 4% furão (1/31). Na clínica Le Colomby (FR) o percentual de animais positivos foi de 50% (11/22); destes, 45% eram cães (5/11), 45% eram gatos (5/11) e 10% foi representado por 1 furão (1/11). As fêmeas apresentaram um maior número de resultados positivos, tanto para os cães quanto para os gatos. Nos cães as raças que apresentaram maior número de positivos foram Pastor Alemão e Bouldoque Françês; nos gatos as raças mais prevalentes foram o Gato Europeu e Gato da Birmânia. A faixa etária de maior prevalência ocorreu em animais com idade entre 0-9 meses Na clínica Moillebeau (CH) a prevalência encontrada foi de 67% (20/30), sendo 55% cães (11/20) e 45% gatos (9/20). As fêmeas, também apresentaram maior positividade. Não houve correlação quanto às raças dos cães. Nos gatos, a maior prevalência, ocorreram nos Gatos Europeu e Ragdol. A faixa etária de maior prevalência, foi de 0-9 meses em ambas as clínicas. Este estudo vem realçar a necessidade de alertar a comunidade veterinária e os proprietários para o risco da infeção dos animais por Giardia spp. devido ao potencial zoonótico deste protozoário. Torna-se importante avaliar quais os genótipos presentes e implementar medidas profiláticas para proteger animais e pessoas.

Trabajo Final (Especialización en Tecnologías Multimedia para Desarrollos Educativos)--UNC- Facultad Ciencias Agropecuarias, 2015<br>Las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) han incrementado la generación y la circulación de los conocimientos con influencia directa en la sociedad y en el sistema educativo. La Era del Conocimiento influye directamente en la educación universitaria generando el paradigma educativo endógeno donde los futuros profesionales deben ser capaces de construir en forma constante su conocimiento y de trabajar en forma colaborativa. Se realizó una búsqueda en internet de sitios web educativos, se seleccionaron y analizaron dos de ellos con temáticas relacionada a la materia. El objetivo de este trabajo fue diseñar una propuesta pedagógico-didáctica virtual para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje del tema Medio Físico de la materia Zootecnia General de la Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria con el desarrollo de un sitio web de la cátedra que contiene a dicha propuesta, permitiendo su vinculación al Campus Virtual de la Facultad donde los alumnos desarrollan las diferentes actividades propuestas con la finalidad de lograr aprendizajes de tipo significativo y colaborativos. Dicha propuesta pedagógica incorpora elementos didácticos que integran contenidos textuales, gráficos, auditivos y visuales. La aplicación de las TIC permite una educación asincrónica y a distancia con logros importantes en cuanto al aprendizaje significativo y una mejora sustancial de la comunicación de los alumnos entre sí y de los mismos con los docentes.