Readability of postoperative discharge instructions is associated with complication rate in companion animals undergoing sterilisation.

BACKGROUND: Readability of client communications is a commonly overlooked topic in veterinary medical education. In human medicine, it has been advised that the readability of patient materials should be at USA schooling sixth-grade level or below. We hypothesised that student written discharge instructions would be of an inappropriate readability level, and discharges scored with higher reading grade levels would be associated with more complications. METHODS: The cohort comprised 149 dogs and cats presenting for sterilisation. The readability of discharge instructions was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) formulas. Records were examined for evidence of postoperative complications. RESULTS: The mean FRE score of the discharge instructions was 61.97, with 30.87% being classified as 'difficult' or 'fairly difficult', 60.4% as 'standard' and 8.72% as 'fairly easy'. The mean FKGL was 8.64, with 98% being above reading level 6. Overall, there was an association between FKGL and complication occurrence (p = 0.005). Stratification by species demonstrated FRE and FKGL to be associated with complication occurrence in dogs (FRE score, p = 0.038; FKGL, p = 0.002), but not cats (FRE score, p = 0.964; FKGL, p = 0.679). LIMITATIONS: Due to the retrospective nature of the study, there were difficulties associated with extracting relevant complication information from the medical records. CONCLUSION: Only 2% of owner-directed discharge instructions were written at readability levels aligning with the recommendations set forth in the human guidelines.

Does Perioperative Administration of Rabies Vaccine in Dogs Undergoing Surgical Sterilization Induce an Adequate Antibody Response?

High-volume spay/neuter events may facilitate access to free-roaming dogs to administer rabies vaccination, but important questions remain regarding the effect of surgery and anesthesia on the immune response to a vaccine administered in the perioperative period. This study evaluated the immunogenicity of primary rabies vaccination in dogs when administered during the immediate perioperative period at the time of surgical sterilization (ovariohysterectomy/orchidectomy). Healthy dogs of both sexes presenting for surgical sterilization who had never been vaccinated against rabies virus were eligible for enrollment in the study. Fifty dogs ranging in age from 5 to 96 months were enrolled and were vaccinated against rabies virus during the recovery period following anesthesia and surgery. Rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers were measured preoperatively and 28 days postoperatively. This cohort was compared to a historical control cohort of 57 dogs who received primary rabies vaccination for travel purposes and had RVNA titers measured at the same laboratory as the study group 28-35 days post-vaccination. After controlling for age and sex, there was no statistically significant difference in immunogenicity of a rabies vaccine administered to dogs during the perioperative period in comparison to dogs that received the rabies vaccine for travel alone in the absence of surgery. Perioperative administration of a rabies vaccine in dogs undergoing surgical sterilization induces an adequate antibody response. We recommend that rabies vaccine be administered perioperatively during spay/neuter campaigns in canine rabies endemic areas if other opportunities to access veterinary care and rabies vaccination are limited.

Molecular Investigation of Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) Outbreak in Nevis Island: Analysis of the Nearly Complete Genomes of CPV-2 Strains from the Caribbean Region.

To date, there is a dearth of information on canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) from the Caribbean region. During August-October 2020, the veterinary clinic on the Caribbean island of Nevis reported 64 household dogs with CPV-2-like clinical signs (hemorrhagic/non-hemorrhagic diarrhea and vomiting), of which 27 animals died. Rectal swabs/fecal samples were obtained from 43 dogs. A total of 39 of the 43 dogs tested positive for CPV-2 antigen and/or DNA, while 4 samples, negative for CPV-2 antigen, were not available for PCR. Among the 21 untested dogs, 15 had CPV-2 positive littermates. Analysis of the complete VP2 sequences of 32 strains identified new CPV-2a (CPV-2a with Ser297Ala in VP2) as the predominant CPV-2 on Nevis Island. Two nonsynonymous mutations, one rare (Asp373Asn) and the other uncommon (Ala262Thr), were observed in a few VP2 sequences. It was intriguing that new CPV-2a was associated with an outbreak of gastroenteritis on Nevis while found at low frequencies in sporadic cases of diarrhea on the neighboring island of St. Kitts. The nearly complete CPV-2 genomes (4 CPV-2 strains from St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN)) were reported for the first time from the Caribbean region. Eleven substitutions were found among the SKN genomes, which included nine synonymous substitutions, five of which have been rarely reported, and the two nonsynonymous substitutions. Phylogenetically, the SKN CPV-2 sequences formed a distinct cluster, with CPV-2b/USA/1998 strains constituting the nearest cluster. Our findings suggested that new CPV-2a is endemic in the region, with the potential to cause severe outbreaks, warranting further studies across the Caribbean Islands. Analysis of the SKN CPV-2 genomes corroborated the hypothesis that recurrent parallel evolution and reversion might play important roles in the evolution of CPV-2.

A preliminary investigation into the prognostic relevance of symmetric dimethylarginine in critically ill dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is an association between the concentration of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in dogs measured at the time of admission with the severity of critical illness and short-term mortality. DESIGN: This prospective observational study recruited critically ill dogs with heterogeneous diagnoses and then classified their disease severity using the acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation complete score as having either a good (<30) or poor (≥30) prognosis. SETTING: This study was conducted at Ross University Veterinary Clinic between January and November 2015. ANIMALS: After exclusion of dogs diagnosed with acute kidney injury, 22 critically ill dogs and 7 control dogs were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Each dog was assigned an acute patient physiologic and laboratory evaluation score calculated by the summation of individual scores allocated to selected clinical, focused assessment by sonography, hematological, and biochemistry results. Plasma SDMA concentrations were measured for all dogs at the time of admission. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: There was no difference identified in SDMA concentrations between dogs with a severe category of disease as compared to mild to moderate category, or critically ill dogs compared to control dogs. There was also no difference identified in SDMA concentrations in survivors as compared to nonsurvivors. Similarly, SDMA concentration was not higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (P = 0.968). In this population of dogs, SDMA was not a prognostic indicator. CONCLUSION: Further work may be warranted in specific populations of animals but based upon this work SDMA is likely of little relevance.

Thoracic and paraspinal extramedullary hematopoiesis in a cat with chronic non-regenerative anemia.

CASE SUMMARY: A 6-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat presented with non-regenerative macrocytic anemia of 2 years' duration and minimally ambulatory paraparesis. Neurologic examination suggested an upper motor neuron paresis or T3-L3 myelopathy. The cat was positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), neutropenic, had polyclonal gammopathy and was euthanized following a hemolytic crisis. At autopsy, multifocal bilateral dark red masses were observed subpleurally around the costochondral junctions, extradurally and paraspinally in the spinal canal, and paravertebrally, on the lateral and ventral subpleural surfaces of the T4-11 vertebrae. Histologic examination of the masses revealed extramedullary hematopoietic tissue composed primarily of erythroid precursors and megakaryocytes, with occasional myeloid precursors and blood-filled sinuses. Bone marrow findings supported ineffective granulopoiesis, and decreased erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis, with probable myelodysplasia as the underlying cause of the hematologic abnormalities. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: Thoracic, paraspinal and paravertebral extramedullary hematopoietis presenting as masses has not been described previously in cats with chronic anemia. This is a unique case of a thoracic-spinal-epidural extramedullary hematopoietic masses resulting in possible spinal cord compression and paraparesis in a cat.

Isolation and characterization of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni from a dog from Saint Kitts.

Introduction. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease of global distribution affecting humans and animals. The initial phase of leptospirosis resembles many other febrile illness and due to its broad and biphasic clinical manifestations, selection and implementation of appropriate diagnostic tests can be challenging. Case presentation. This report describes a case investigation of a 14 weeks old male, orphan puppy, presented with generalised jaundice, anemia, weakness, and anorexia. Clinical abnormalities included the evidence of renal and hepatic failure. Antemortem and postmortem diagnostic investigations were conducted to identify the cause of illness. PCR testing and culture of blood was positive for Leptospira sp. Necropsy followed by histopathology evaluation revealed lesions compatible with liver and kidney damage consisting of marked diffuse hepatocellular dissociation, acute renal tubular necrosis, and mild interstitial nephritis. Conclusion. Multiple diagnostic techniques including bacterial isolation confirmed Leptospira infection in this puppy. Whole genome sequencing and analysis identified the Leptospira sp. isolated from this puppy as Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni. To our knowledge, this case report describes the first isolation of Leptospira from Saint Kitts. This case highlights the usefulness of including multiple diagnostic tests for the diagnosis and epidemiological investigation of Leptospira infection. Accurate diagnosis followed by timely intervention can prevent case fatality and mortality in infected patients.

Molecular characterization of canine parvovirus and canine enteric coronavirus in diarrheic dogs on the island of St. Kitts: First report from the Caribbean region.

Although canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine enteric coronavirus (CCoV) are important enteric pathogens of dogs and have been studied extensively in different parts of the world, there are no reports on these viruses from the Caribbean region. During 2015-2016, a total of 104 diarrheic fecal samples were collected from puppies and adult dogs, with or without hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts (KNA). By PCR, 25 (24%, n=104) samples tested positive for CPV. Based on analysis of the complete deduced VP2 amino acid sequences, 20 of the KNA CPV strains were assigned to new CPV-2a (also designated as CPV-2a-297A). On the other hand, the VP2 genes of the remaining 5 strains were partially characterized, or could not be sequenced. New CPV-2a was the predominant CPV variant in St. Kitts, contrasting the molecular epidemiology of CPV variants reported in most studies from nearby North and South American countries. By RT-PCR, CCoVs were detected in 5 samples (4.8%, n=104). Based on analysis of partial M-protein gene, the KNA CCoV strains were assigned to CCoV-I genotype, and were closely related to CCoV-I strains from Brazil. To our knowledge, this is the first report on detection and genetic diversity of CPV and CCoV in dogs from the Caribbean region, and underscores the importance of similar studies in the other Caribbean islands.

Molecular characterization of complete genomic segment-2 of picobirnavirus strains detected in a cat and a dog.

We report here molecular characterization of complete genomic segment-2 of picobirnavirus (PBV) strains PBV/Cat/KNA/K40/2014 and PBV/Dog/KNA/RVC7/2015 detected in a cat (Felis catus) and a dog (Canis lupus familiaris), respectively, on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. To obtain the full-length nucleotide (nt) sequence of gene segment-2 of the canine and feline PBV strains, the 5'- and 3'- portions of gene segment-2 containing an overlapping region were amplified using a non-specific primer-based amplification method with modifications. The complete gene segment-2 of feline PBV strain K40 and canine PBV strain RVC7 was 1784nt and 1689nt long, respectively, and encoded a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of 534 amino acid (aa) and 531 aa, respectively. The complete gene segment-2 of strains K40 and RVC7 exhibited a high degree of genetic diversity between themselves, and with those of PBVs from other host species. On the other hand, both the canine and feline PBV strains retained the 5'- and 3'- end nucleotide sequences and the three domains of putative RdRp that are conserved in PBVs. To our knowledge, this is the first report on molecular characterization of complete gene segment-2 of PBV strains detected in cats and dogs, allowing us to study the features of putative RdRps of PBVs in these host species, and providing important insights into the genetic makeup and evolution of feline and canine PBV strains. PBVs were detected for the first time in cats and dogs from the Caribbean region.