RESUMEN
Background@#In veterinary medicine, previous studies regarding the diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography (SWE) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not consistent with each other. Moreover, there has been no study evaluating the relationship between symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA) concentration and renal shear wave velocity (SWV) using twodimensional SWE (2D SWE) in dogs with CKD. @*Objectives@#This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic capability of 2D SWE in dogs with CKD and to assess the relationship between renal SWV and SDMA concentration. @*Methods@#Dogs with healthy kidneys and dogs with CKD underwent 2D SWE and SDMA assay. Renal stiffness was estimated as renal SWV in m/s. @*Results@#SDMA concentration had a weak positive correlation with the left (r = 0.338, p = 0.022) and right renal SWV (r = 0.337, p = 0.044). Renal SWV was not significantly different between healthy kidney and CKD groups in the left (p = 0.085) and right (p = 0.171) kidneys. @*Conclusions@#2D SWE may could not distinguish between dogs with healthy kidney and dogs with early stage of CKD, but it would be useful for assessing the serial change of renal function in dogs.
RESUMEN
Background@#Since 2003, the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype has caused massive economic losses in the poultry industry in South Korea. The role of inland water bodies in avian influenza (AI) outbreaks has not been investigated. Identifying water bodies that facilitate risk pathways leading to the incursion of the HPAI virus (HPAIV) into poultry farms is essential for implementing specific precautionary measures to prevent viral transmission. @*Objectives@#This matched case-control study (1:4) examined whether inland waters were associated with a higher risk of AI outbreaks in the neighboring poultry farms. @*Methods@#Rivers, irrigation canals, lakes, and ponds were considered inland water bodies.The cases and controls were chosen based on the matching criteria. The nearest possible farms located within a radius of 3 km of the case farms were chosen as the control farms.The poultry farms were selected randomly, and two HPAI epidemics (H5N8 [2014–2016] and H5N6 [2016–2017]) were studied. Conditional logistic regression analysis was applied. @*Results@#Statistical analysis revealed that inland waters near poultry farms were significant risk factors for AI outbreaks. The study speculated that freely wandering wild waterfowl and small animals contaminate areas surrounding poultry farms. @*Conclusions@#Pet birds and animals raised alongside poultry birds on farm premises may wander easily to nearby waters, potentially increasing the risk of AI infection in poultry farms. Mechanical transmission of the AI virus occurs when poultry farm workers or visitors come into contact with infected water bodies or their surroundings. To prevent AI outbreaks in the future, poultry farms should adopt strict precautions to avoid contact with nearby water bodies and their surroundings.