Moving: characteristics of dogs and cats and those relinquishing them to 12 U.S. animal shelters.

The National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy Regional Shelter Survey identified moving as the most often cited of 71 reasons for relinquishing dogs and the 3rd most common reason for relinquishing cats. Most relinquished companion animals were less than 3 years old and female. Dogs were most often intact, whereas cats were most often altered. Friends had given the majority of these companion animals to the relinquishers, who had obtained them at no cost. Most had lived with the relinquishers for less than 2 years. The majority of relinquishers were White and female, and had at least a high school education. Based on the U.S. population age distribution, young adults seem to be using shelters at a significantly higher rate than would be expected. These age groups are also more mobile, according to U.S. Census data. Therefore, educational efforts that target young, potentially mobile adults could decrease the number of animals relinquished.

Results of a survey to assess knowledge and expectations of veterinarians and their clients regarding heartworm preventives and vaccinations in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge and expectations of veterinarians and clients regarding heartworm preventives and annual vaccinations for dogs. DESIGN: Practitioner and client survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: 435 veterinarians and 1,805 clients. PROCEDURE: A survey was mailed to veterinarians requesting information from them and their dog-owning clients on expectations and knowledge regarding heartworm preventives and annual vaccinations. Responses of veterinarians were compared with those of clients, and both were compared with label indications. RESULTS: Expectations of veterinarians and clients regarding heartworm preventives were similar and usually were consistent with regulatory interpretation of label terms. Of clients purchasing heartworm preventives, 38% did not know that the medication was effective against intestinal nematodes. Veterinarians and clients would be unsatisfied with a product that reduced, but did not eliminate, all intestinal nematodes. Most clients knew that annual vaccinations included distemper virus, parvovirus, and rabies virus, but about half of them did not know that other antigens were in the vaccines. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Effects of heartworm preventives and diseases for which dogs are annually vaccinated should be explained fully to clients.

Risk factors associated with transmission of Toxoplasma gondii to sows kept in different management systems in Tennessee.

Of 3841 serum samples from sows received from the Tennessee State Diagnostic Laboratory in 1991-1992, 1130 were positive for Toxoplasma gondii antibody. The total number of farms sampled was 343. The observed seroprevalence was 36% for both years. A questionnaire that dealt with herd management practices was mailed to 303 of the swine farms that were sampled; 107 (35%) responses were returned and analyzed. There was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the sows on the farms of respondents and non-respondents. From the analysis of the questionnaire, sows associated with cats were 2.6 times more likely to be seropositive for T. gondii than sows that were not associated with cats. Sows kept outdoors at any time were 23 times more likely to be seropositive than sows that were kept indoors. Sows on small farms (< 29 sows) were 4.5 times more likely to be seropositive than sows on large farms (> 29 sows).

A serologic survey of selected viral and bacterial diseases of European wild hogs, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA.

Blood samples were collected from 108 wild hogs (Sus scrofa) from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), USA, February to July 1990. We found no antibodies for swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, bovine virus diarrhea virus or porcine rotavirus infection. Antibody titers to porcine parvovirus were found in 15 (14%) samples and antibody to one or more leptospiral serovars was found in 48 (44%) samples. Thirty-nine (89%) of the 44 positive samples reacted to all five leptospiral serovars tested.

Prevalence of Leptospira antibodies in white-tailed deer, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA.

We conducted a study of the population dynamics, movement, and diseases of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (USA) from 1980 to 1984. During the study 590 blood samples were collected from 518 deer, with some deer recaptured one or two times. The estimated percent of the herd sampled each year ranged from 8% to 28%. We also collected serum samples from 56 cattle pastured in Cades Cove. Deer and cattle sera were tested using the microagglutination test for the presence of antibody to the following serovars of Leptospira: pomona, hardjo, grippotyphosa, icterohemorrhagiae, and canicola. One hundred and six deer (21%) were seropositive for only one of the serovars. We found that 57 (11%) of the deer had antibodies to serovar hardjo, 33 (6%) were positive for antibodies to serovar pomona, 15 (3%) were positive for antibodies to serovar icterohemorrhagiae, and one deer had antibodies to serovar canicola. Age class and sex of deer were associated with antibody presence. Adult (> or = 1.5 yr) male deer were more likely to have antibodies than the other age class and sex groups (P = 0.001). In recaptured deer, similar titers were found in samples from one deer taken 807 days apart. Titer declined below the screening dilution level (1:250) after 37 days in one deer.

Costs of veterinary services and vaccines/drugs used for prevention and treatment of diseases in 60 Tennessee cow-calf operations (1987-1988).

Four percent of the total cost of disease in 60 Tennessee cow-calf herds in 1987 to 1988 was attributable to veterinary services, and 2.3% was attributable to the purchase of drugs to treat sick animals. When producers spent money on therapeutic veterinary services, it was most often attributable to diseases of the reproductive system ($0.69/cow annually), especially dystocia ($0.51/cow annually). When drugs were used therapeutically, the most was spent on products to treat respiratory tract disease ($0.37/cow annually). The cost of preventive veterinary services accounted for 8.8% of the total cost of preventive actions. Pregnancy examinations (considered here as a preventive action) was the most costly preventive service ($0.62/cow annually). The cost of drugs and biologicals used to prevent disease accounted for 69.4% of the total cost of preventive actions, with drugs to prevent intestinal and external parasites being the most costly ($7.79/cow annually). These figures are based on cow-calf herds randomly selected by use of a 2-stage, stratified plan. Herds were visited once a month for 1 year. Results of this study support other work that showed that beef producers perceive veterinarians as primary sources of information on diagnosis and treatment of sick animals and on reproduction/breeding, but less knowledgeable or cost effective in the areas of animal/herd management, feed nutrition, and agribusiness/economics.

The nature and treatment of giardiasis in parakeets.

The prevalence of giardiasis was studied in 77 parakeets from 4 widely varied sources and was found to be 66%. The infection appeared most common in young birds. Cysts and trophozoites were found in fecal samples and persisted in birds caged alone for up to 4 months, New infections appeared when infected and noninfected birds were caged together, Treatment with 200 ppm of dimetridazole in the drinking water was less effective than 3 oral doses given at the rate of 1.5 mg/30 g of body weight every 12 hours by stomach tube. Metronidazole therapy was not effective.