ABSTRACT
Introduction: Historically, visitation of critically ill animals had been common in veterinary ICUs, with visits chaperoned by both veterinarians and the nursing team. Visits may represent a source of comfort and information for owners, but may also be time-consuming to veterinary staff. During the COVID-19 pandemic, almost all specialty/emergency veterinary hospitals pivoted to curb-side service, and typically highly limited client entry into the building for staff safety. Similar restrictions on visitation were instituted in human ICUs, leading to stress among clinicians, nurses, and patient families. The proposed study aimed to assess the visitation policies reported by critical care veterinarians and technicians and the spectrum of effects on veterinary team members. Method(s): An electronic survey was distributed to the emergency and critical care community using email and social media. The study was exempted by the institutional review board. Survey questions included demographics, COVID-19 hospital policies, and questions about the impact of restricting visitation. Descriptive statistics were used. Result(s): There were 326 respondents to the survey, with veterinarians (53%) and veterinary technicians/assistants (40%) being the most common. Visitation restrictions were reported by 286 (88%) participants. Of those, 264 (81%) reported permitting visits only for euthanasia/endof life discussion and/or on a case-by case arrangement and 20 (6%) allowed no visitation at all. By comparison, prior to COVID-19, 309 (95%) respondents reported no visitation restrictions. For the veterinary team, 244 (75%) felt sad if they had to decline a visit, while 211 (65%) reported feeling anxious and/or guilty. Most respondents (218;67%) felt the owners were understanding. Restricting visits was perceived to improve time for patient care for 195 (60%) respondents, decrease overall workload for 192 (59%) respondents, and decrease stress for 137 (42%) respondents. Conclusion(s): Visitation restriction impacts veterinary staff both positively and negatively;careful evaluation of visitation policies is warranted. The impact on owners should also be evaluated.
ABSTRACT
Telehealth facility was launched to extend veterinary services throughout Kashmir valley. It was also desired for continuation of veterinary internship during the COVID-19 lock-down period. A total of 714 response forms were received from the participating veterinary faculty of clinical disciplines in six months. The majority (n=504, 70.6%) of the cases pertained to the dairy cattle. Thirty per cent (n=9/30) of the designated specialists participated. The tele-health facility was availed by interns (44.25%), farmers/animal owners (36.51%), field veterinarians (15.28%) and the para-veterinarians (3.97%) in significantly decreasing order. Telephone mobile calls, WhatsApp messages (text, photos and videos), and the SMS text messages were the platforms used. The animals with medical problems (67.66%) were significantly more than those showing gynaecological (18.25%) and surgical (14.09%) ailments. More than half (52.58%) of the cases were reported from the nearby three districts. The remaining (47.42%) animal owners resided in rest of the seven districts. Most of the complaints pertained to skin and appendages (27.18%), alimentary (25.79%) and reproductive tract (18.25%) in the affected cattle respectively. Udder and teat affections, metabolic diseases, and repeat breeding were tentatively diagnosed in majority of the cows. From this preliminary study, it is concluded that the veterinary telehealth service can reach far-off places and education can be continued amidst lockdown period. Short duration and lack of the follow up details are the weakness of this study. Additionally, more veterinary specialists need be persuaded to participate in telehealth modality.
ABSTRACT
Background. Human-to-feline and airborne transmission among cats of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been described, though documented feline-to-human transmission has not been reported. In October 2020, all 3 Malayan tigers at a Tennessee AZA accredited zoo were diagnosed with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated to determine source and prevent further transmission. Methods. Tiger nasal swab specimens were tested at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). An environmental assessment at the zoo was completed. We interviewed 18 staff who interacted with the tigers during the 2 weeks before animal symptom onset. Confirmed human cases were defined as persons testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR during September 28-October 29, with tiger interaction during their 14-day incubation period. Interviewed staff had repeat SARSCoV-2 RT-PCR and serum IgG testing on October 29. Tigers and staff testing positive had specimens sent to CDC for genomic sequencing. Tiger sequences were compared phylogenetically with 30 geographically associated human cases collected within 2 weeks of the outbreak and > 200 background sequences from TN. Results. NVSL confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in all 3 tigers. Environmental assessment identified fencing between humans and animals allowing airflow and an open outdoor exhibit observation point above the habitat. Confirmed cases were identified in a tiger keeper and veterinary assistant;both developed symptoms after exposure to symptomatic tigers and one sample was genotyped. Staff did not report known contact with ill visitors. All staff were negative for SARS-CoV-2 IgG. The tigers and most temporally and geographically associated cases had genetic sequences in clade 20G and B.1.2. Tiger sequences were 3-6 single nucleotide polymorphisms different from the positive tiger keeper (Figure). Figure. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis from a portion of clade 20G showing divergence estimates from SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1 reference genome with sequences from humans living in Tennessee and Malayan tigers sampled during the outbreak investigation in October 2020. Sequence analysis showed 3-6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) differences between one human tiger keeper and all three tiger sequences. Differences are indicated by one-step edges (lines) between colored dots (individual SARS-CoV-2 sequenced infections). Numbers indicate unique sequences. Note not all analyzed sequences are shown in this figure. Conclusion. Using a One Health approach, we concluded the index tiger was likely infected via transmission from an ill visitor at an exhibit observation point or unidentified asymptomatic staff. Infection spread to the other 2 tigers and tigerto-human transmission to 2 staff is possible thereafter. The zoo was advised on infection control practices for humans and animals, and no additional cases were identified.