Faecal cortisol metabolites, body temperature, and behaviour of beef cattle exposed to a heat load.

Feedlot cattle are at times exposed to high environmental temperatures. Faecal cortisol metabolites were related to possible indicators of heat stress that could be measured under field conditions: respiratory dynamics (respiration rate), body surface temperature and adaptive behaviours, such as water consumption, posture (standing, lying), and activity (eating, drinking and rumination). Twelve (12) yearling Black Angus steers were divided into two treatment groups: a hot treatment (HOT; n = 6) and a thermoneutral-treatment (TN; n = 6) and individually housed in a climate-controlled facility at The University of Queensland, Australia. In the TN treatment, all animals were exposed to an ambient temperature of 20.34 ± 0.25 °C, relative humidity 71.51 ± 3.26% and Temperature humidity index (THI) 66.91 ± 0.33 throughout. In the HOT treatment group, environmental conditions were exposed to different climatic phases from thermoneutral to hot conditions, where they remained for 7 d, and then returned to TN conditions in the recovery period. The dry bulb ambient temperature (TA) and relative humidity (RH) in the pens of cattle in the HOT treatment were increased from 28 °C (daily maximum ambient temperature) and 45% RH at 0700 h to a daily maximum TA and RH of 35 °C (daily maximum ambient temperature) and 50% (THI 77) at 1100 h, which was maintained until 1600 h, after which it declined until it reached the baseline at 2000 h. In both treatments, there was a significant decrease in faecal cortisol metabolite concentration from the start to the end of the experiments they adapted to the experimental facility. The concentration of faecal cortisol metabolites was greater in the HOT treatment, compared to the TN treatment during the heat exposure period, but there was no difference in the transition or recovery periods. Respiration rate was greater in the HOT treatment during heat exposure, and it increased with ambient dry bulb temperature above 26 °C, the latter being the upper critical temperature. Although positive correlations were detected between faecal cortisol metabolites and body surface temperature measurements, particularly the shoulder and rump, as well as standing time, panting score and drinking, a stepwise regression found that faecal cortisol metabolites were only significantly correlated with one variable, respiration rate. It is concluded that respiration rate is the best indicator of the stress induced by hot conditions for cattle.

The influence of erosion sources on sediment-related water quality attributes.

Suspended fine sediment has a significant impact on freshwater quality variables such as visual clarity (VC). However, freshwater quality is related to the attributes of the catchment sources contributing fine sediment to the stream network. Here, the extent to which an array of sources defined spatially according to erosion process and geological parent material may be discriminated and classified based on sediment-related water quality (SRWQ) attributes that potentially affect VC was examined. Erosion sources were sampled across two New Zealand catchments representing six types of erosion and eight parent materials. Erosion source measurements focused on particle size, organic matter content, and light beam attenuation (which is convertible to VC). The source data were analysed to: 1) evaluate source variability using a combination of Kruskal-Wallis and principal component analysis; 2) reclassify sources using a Random Forest model; and 3) demonstrate how erosion source affects VC for a range of theoretical sediment concentrations (SC) using a simple empirical model. The results indicate that SRWQ attributes show significant variation across erosion sources. The extent to which attributes differed between sources often related to whether there was a strong association between a specific erosion process and parent material. The 19 a priori source classifications were reduced to 5 distinct sources that combined erosion process and parent material (i.e., bank erosion-alluvium; mass movement-ancient volcanics; mass movement-sedimentary; surficial erosion; gully-unconsolidated sandstone). At low SC, the impact of erosion source on VC became most evident ranging from 2.6 to 5.6 m at SC of 5 g m-3. These findings show how catchment sources of sediment, in addition to sediment concentration, influence VC, and highlight the need to consider quality as well as quantity of material supplied to stream networks when planning erosion control.

A narrative review of the epidemiology and economics of chronic wounds.

Chronic wounds have a debilitating effect on the quality of life of many individuals, and the large economic impact on health system budgets warrants greater attention in policy making and condition management than is currently evident. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the nature and extent of the chronic wound problem that confronts health systems across the world. The first section is used to highlight the underlying epidemiology relating to chronic wounds, while the second explores the economic costs associated with them and the relative efficiency of measures designed to manage them.

Climatic influences on the mortality of sheep during long-distance sea transport.

Research on the causes of sheep death in sea voyages from Australia to the Middle East is limited, in particular little is known about the influence of climatic factors. Mortality data from 417 shipments of sheep exported over an 11-year period (November 2004 to June 2015) were modelled retrospectively to determine associated climatic factors. The statistical analysis were performed for both the full data set with 417 voyages based on actual and estimated departure and arrival dates and a restricted data set with 71 voyages based on actual dates. The results of the full data set demonstrated a seasonal mortality pattern, with more deaths occurring on sea voyages leaving Australia in the southern hemisphere winter or spring than those departing in Australian summer or autumn. Heat stress and inadequate fat mobilisation for energy supply when sheep are inappetant on shipments may explain this seasonality. Based on these two models, the voyage and weather factors associated with sheep mortalities included departure year, autumn departure in the southern hemisphere, voyage duration, single or multiple loading port(s), weekly mean dry bulb temperature and wind speed at departure ports, and humidity at destination ports. Significant correlations were observed between weather variables at the departure ports in the Australian winter and a high sheep mortality rate during voyages. This, together with the anticipated increased heat stress risk as a result of climate change, suggests that there could be review of the trade from Australia in the southern hemisphere winter. The influence of weather at the departure ports should be considered in sheep mortality prediction models, especially Australia's heat stress risk assessment model.

Real-world use of fidaxomicin in a large UK tertiary hospital: how effective is it for treating recurrent disease?

All courses of fidaxomicin use in the study hospital were reviewed. It was used for first recurrence (six times), second recurrence (eight times) and one case of third recurrence. One patients received fidaxomicin as first-line treatment. Eight patients initially responded to therapy; of these, three patients were asymptomatic at 90 days, three patients remained asymptomatic at 30 days, and two patients had recurrences five and nine days after stopping therapy. Four patients failed to respond; of these, two patients required faecal transplantation and one patient required a colectomy. Two patients deteriorated and two patients died. Fidaxomicin was well tolerated. These findings suggest that the utility of fidaxomicin at this stage of infection is unclear.

Behavioral and endocrine responses to season and social dynamics of captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons).

Although southern hairy-nosed wombats (SHN wombats; Lasiorhinus latifrons) rarely breed in captivity, further knowledge of their reproductive physiology and behavior is likely to improve their breeding potential. This study examined the effect of seasonal variation and changes in social dynamics on the physiology and behavior of a captive population of male SHN wombats (n = 6). Seasonal changes in urinary testosterone metabolites (UTM), urinary cortisol metabolites (UCM), qualitative estimates of spermatorrhoea (QS), aggressive behavior and reproductive behavior were measured over an 11-month period. While there was no effect of month on QS (GLM ANOVA, P = 0.27), reproductive behavior (GLM ANOVA, P = 0.19) or aggressive behavior (Tukey pairwise comparisons), the secretion of UTM (GLM ANOVA, P = 0.051) was only marginally affected by season, compared to that reported for wild male SHN wombats. Mean UCM concentrations of July and August 2016 were significantly higher than those between October 2015 and January 2016 (Tukey pairwise comparisons). To examine social dynamics, two trials of animal positioning exchange with the enclosure system were implemented and behavioral data were examined for each trial over a six week period; UTM, UCM and general behaviors (n = 27) were measured for each trial. Neither UTM nor UCM concentration varied significantly (P ≥ 0.45) before and after the exchanges. "Scratching" decreased at the group level following the animal exchange in both trials, suggesting reduction in self-grooming may be a behavioral response to novel stimuli. UCM and UTM concentrations were both positively correlated with "standing still" and "body rub" behaviors. This may be evidence of a hormonal control of a "freezing behavioral response" to external stimuli and marking behavior, respectively. As there was no evidence that changing the social dynamics affected reproductive or agonistic behavior or hormone concentrations, it was concluded that captive male wombats in this study showed reduced reproductive seasonality compared to wild wombats and that animal exchange resulted in a behavioral response to novel stimuli but was not sufficient to affect testosterone or cortisol secretion, within the context of our study.

Physiological and behavioral responses of sheep to simulated sea transport motions.

The motion of ships can cause discomfort and stress in humans, but little is known about the impact on sheep welfare, despite many sheep traveling long distances by ship during live export. We tested whether exposing sheep to roll (side to side movement), heave (up and down movement), and pitch (front to back movement) with similar amplitude and period conditions to a commercial livestock transport vessel would affect their behavior and physiology. Specifically, we tested the effects of these motions and a control treatment on behavior, heart rate variability, rumination, body posture, and balance of sheep. Four sheep (37 ± 0.1 kg) were restrained in pairs in a crate, which was placed on a moveable and programmable platform that generated roll and pitch motions. An electric forklift was used to produce heave motion. The treatments were applied for 30 min each time in a changeover design with 1 repetition over 8 consecutive days. Sheep behavior was recorded continuously from video records, and heart rate monitors were attached to determine heart rate and its variability. Heave reduced the time that sheep spent ruminating, compared with the other 3 treatments ( < 0.001). The 2 sheep spent more time during heave with their heads 1 above the head of the other ( < 0.001) and looking toward their companion ( = 0.02), indicating greater affiliative behavior. Sheep spent more time during heave standing with their back supported on the crate ( = 0.006) and less time lying down ( = 0.01). Roll caused more stepping motions than pitch and control, indicating loss of balance ( < 0.001). Sheep experiencing heave and roll had increased heart rates and reduced interbeat intervals (IBI) compared to the control ( < 0.001). The IBI of sheep in the heave treatment had an increased ratio of low to high frequency duration ( = 0.01), indicating reduced parasympathetic control of stress responses. Therefore, there was both behavioral and physiological evidence that heave and roll caused stress, with sheep experiencing roll apparently coping better by regular posture changes and heave causing the sheep to seek the close presence of their companion.

Lateralization of behavior in dairy cows in response to conspecifics and novel persons.

The right brain hemisphere, connected to the left eye, coordinates fight and flight behaviors in a wide variety of vertebrate species. We investigated whether left eye vision predominates in dairy cows' interactions with other cows and humans, and whether dominance status affects the extent of visual lateralization. Although we found no overall lateralization of eye use to view other cows during interactions, cows that were submissive in an interaction were more likely to use their left eye to view a dominant animal. Both subordinate and older cows were more likely to use their left eye to view other cattle during interactions. Cows that predominantly used their left eye during aggressive interactions were more likely to use their left eye to view a person in unfamiliar clothing in the middle of a track by passing them on the right side. However, a person in familiar clothing was viewed predominantly with the right eye when they passed mainly on the left side. Cows predominantly using their left eyes in cow-to-cow interactions showed more overt responses to restraint in a crush compared with cows who predominantly used their right eyes during interactions (crush scores: left eye users 7.9, right eye users 6.4, standard error of the difference=0.72). Thus, interactions between 2 cows and between cows and people were visually lateralized, with losing and subordinate cows being more likely to use their left eyes to view winning and dominant cattle and unfamiliar humans.

The efficacy of pulsed ultrahigh current for the stunning of cattle prior to slaughter.

We present results from the development of a new system of reversible electrical stunning of cattle. A single-pulse ultra-high current (SPUC) was generated from a capacitance discharge current spike of at least 5000 V at 70 A, for approximately 50 ms. Ninety-seven cattle were stunned in three experimental protocols. With improvements made to the design of the stun box and charge delivered, 38 cattle were either stunned and immediately jugulated or monitored for signs of reappearance of brain stem reflexes at which point a concussion stun was administered. This use of the SPUC charge, provided as a biphasic-pulse waveform, resulted in a high level of stunning efficacy, with unconsciousness lasting for up to 4 min. These results were supported by EEG data taken from a subsequent cohort of stunned cattle. The SPUC stun also apparently eliminated post-stun grand mal seizures that can occur following short-acting conventional electrical stun, with its associated negative consequences on operator safety and meat quality.

A high-dose preparation of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the prevention of antibiotic-associated and Clostridium difficile diarrhoea in older people admitted to hospital: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm trial (PLACIDE).

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) occurs most commonly in older people admitted to hospital and within 12 weeks of exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Although usually a mild and self-limiting illness, the 15-39% of cases caused by Clostridium difficile infection [C. difficile diarrhoea (CDD)] may result in severe diarrhoea and death. Previous research has shown that probiotics, live microbial organisms that, when administered in adequate numbers, are beneficial to health, may be effective in preventing AAD and CDD. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a high-dose, multistrain probiotic in the prevention of AAD and CDD in older people admitted to hospital. DESIGN: A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial. SETTING: Medical, surgical and elderly care inpatient wards in five NHS hospitals in the UK. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible patients were aged ≥ 65 years, were exposed to one or more oral or parenteral antibiotics and were without pre-existing diarrhoeal disorders, recent CDD or at risk of probiotic adverse effects. Out of 17,420 patients screened, 2981 (17.1%) were recruited. Participants were allocated sequentially according to a computer-generated random allocation sequence; 1493 (50.1%) were allocated to the probiotic and 1488 (49.9%) to the placebo arm. INTERVENTIONS: Vegetarian capsules containing two strains of lactobacilli and two strains of bifidobacteria (a total of 6 × 10(10) organisms per day) were taken daily for 21 days. The placebo was inert maltodextrin powder in identical capsules. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The occurrence of AAD within 8 weeks and CDD within 12 weeks of recruitment was determined by participant follow-up and checking hospital laboratory records by research nurses who were blind to arm allocation. RESULTS: Analysis based on the treatment allocated included 2941 (98.7%) participants. Potential risk factors for AAD at baseline were similar in the two study arms. Frequency of AAD (including CDD) was similar in the probiotic (159/1470, 10.8%) and placebo arms [153/1471, 10.4%; relative risk (RR) 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.28; p = 0.71]. CDD was an uncommon cause of AAD and occurred in 12/1470 (0.8%) participants in the probiotic and 17/1471 (1.2%) in the placebo arm (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.34 to 1.47; p = 0.35). Duration and severity of diarrhoea, common gastrointestinal symptoms, serious adverse events and quality of life measures were also similar in the two arms. Total health-care costs per patient did not differ significantly between the probiotic (£8020; 95% CI £7620 to £8420) and placebo (£8010; 95% CI £7600 to £8420) arms. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence that probiotic administration was effective in preventing AAD. Although there was a trend towards reduced CDD in the probiotic arm, on balance, the administration of this probiotic seems unlikely to benefit older patients exposed to antibiotics. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of AAD and CDD and the strain-specific effects of probiotics is needed before further clinical trials of specific microbial preparations are undertaken. Evaluation of the effectiveness of other probiotics will be difficult where other measures, such as antibiotic stewardship, have reduced CDD rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered as ISRCTN70017204. FUNDING: This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 17, No. 57. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a universal parenting skills programme in deprived communities: multicentre randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and cost utility of a universally provided early years parenting programme. DESIGN: Multicentre randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness analysis. SETTING: Early years centres in four deprived areas of South Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Families with children aged between 2 and 4 years. 286 families were recruited and randomly allocated to the intervention or waiting list control. INTERVENTION: The Family Links Nurturing Programme (FLNP), a 10-week course with weekly 2 h facilitated group sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Negative and supportive parenting, child and parental well-being and costs assessed before the intervention, following the course (3 months) and at 9 months using standardised measures. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in primary or secondary outcomes between trial arms at 3 or 9 months. With '+' indicating improvement, difference in change in negative parenting score at 9 months was +0.90 (95%CI -1.90 to 3.69); in supportive parenting, +0.17 (95%CI -0.61 to 0.94); and 12 of the 17 secondary outcomes showed a non-significant positive effect in the FLNP arm. Based on changes in parental well-being (SF-12), the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained was estimated to be £34 913 (range 21 485-46 578) over 5 years and £18 954 (range 11 664-25 287) over 10 years. Probability of cost per QALY gained below £30 000 was 47% at 5 years and 57% at 10 years. Attendance was low: 34% of intervention families attended no sessions (n=48); only 47% completed the course (n=68). Also, 19% of control families attended a parenting programme before 9-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our trial has not found evidence of clinical or cost utility for the FLNP in a universal setting. However, low levels of exposure and contamination mean that uncertainty remains. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN13919732.

Microclimatic conditions and their effects on sheep behavior during a live export shipment from Australia to the Middle East.

The microclimate can potentially impact the health and welfare of livestock exported by ship. Within-pen microclimatic conditions were recorded and the effects of ammonia on sheep behavior investigated on a voyage from Australia to the Middle East. Ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide as well as wet-bulb, dry-bulb, and dew-point temperature and air speed were mapped in 20 open-deck focal pens, with the focus on the behavior and location of a marked sheep in each pen. Air speed was highly variable in most pens, with pockets of high but transient concentrations of ammonia (30.7 to 44.2 mg/m(3)) in 20% of pens that had no or minimal air flow. Carbon dioxide concentrations varied in some pens, but overall concentrations of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide were low. Sheep in pens previously identified to have high ammonia concentrations, high wet-bulb temperatures, and low wind speed stood longer (P = 0.003) and spent less time feeding (P = 0.01) and ruminating (P = 0.004) than those in pens previously identified with low ammonia, low wet-bulb temperature, and high wind speed. Moreover, sheep exposed to increased ammonia concentrations held their head higher (P = 0.004) to avoid the greater ammonia concentrations at lower heights, and these sheep had more conjunctivitis (P < 0.001). Sheep movement around the pen was limited. Increased time spent lying down (P = 0.04) and more rhythmical behavior in the second half of the voyage indicated that the sheep adjusted to shipboard conditions over time. It is concluded that high, transient concentrations of ammonia existed in some pens, which adversely affected the behavior of sheep.

A decision impact, decision conflict and economic assessment of routine Oncotype DX testing of 146 women with node-negative or pNImi, ER-positive breast cancer in the U.K.

BACKGROUND: Tumour gene expression analysis is useful in predicting adjuvant chemotherapy benefit in early breast cancer patients. This study aims to examine the implications of routine Oncotype DX testing in the U.K. METHODS: Women with oestrogen receptor positive (ER+), pNO or pN1mi breast cancer were assessed for adjuvant chemotherapy and subsequently offered Oncotype DX testing, with changes in chemotherapy decisions recorded. A subset of patients completed questionnaires about their uncertainties regarding chemotherapy decisions pre- and post-testing. All patients were asked to complete a diary of medical interactions over the next 6 months, from which economic data were extracted to model the cost-effectiveness of testing. RESULTS: Oncotype DX testing resulted in changes in chemotherapy decisions in 38 of 142 (26.8%) women, with 26 of 57 (45.6%) spared chemotherapy and 12 of 85 (14.1%) requiring chemotherapy when not initially recommended (9.9% reduction overall). Decision conflict analysis showed that Oncotype DX testing increased patients' confidence in treatment decision making. Economic analysis showed that routine Oncotype DX testing costs £6232 per quality-adjusted life year gained. CONCLUSION: Oncotype DX decreased chemotherapy use and increased confidence in treatment decision making in patients with ER+ early-stage breast cancer. Based on these findings, Oncotype DX is cost-effective in the UK setting.

Auditory laterality in a nocturnal, fossorial marsupial (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in response to bilateral stimuli.

Behavioural lateralisation is evident across most animal taxa, although few marsupial and no fossorial species have been studied. Twelve wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) were bilaterally presented with eight sounds from different contexts (threat, neutral, food) to test for auditory laterality. Head turns were recorded prior to and immediately following sound presentation. Behaviour was recorded for 150 seconds after presentation. Although sound differentiation was evident by the amount of exploration, vigilance, and grooming performed after different sound types, this did not result in different patterns of head turn direction. Similarly, left-right proportions of head turns, walking events, and food approaches in the post-sound period were comparable across sound types. A comparison of head turns performed before and after sound showed a significant change in turn direction (χ(2) (1)=10.65, p=.001) from a left preference during the pre-sound period (mean 58% left head turns, CI 49-66%) to a right preference in the post-sound (mean 43% left head turns, CI 40-45%). This provides evidence of a right auditory bias in response to the presentation of the sound. This study therefore demonstrates that laterality is evident in southern hairy-nosed wombats in response to a sound stimulus, although side biases were not altered by sounds of varying context.

Intimate partner violence and companion animal welfare.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intimate partner violence (IPV) on companion animal welfare. DESIGN: Self-selected telephone survey of people meeting the criteria. METHODS: Members of the Australian public with experience of IPV and concurrent companion animal ownership were invited to telephone a researcher for a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: In total, 26 Australian women reported one or more companion animals in the household being verbally and/or physically abused by their male partner, usually with prolonged effects on animal behaviour; 92% indicated that they had been unwilling to discuss the animal abuse with a veterinarian. Many were unaware of animal accommodation services for people fleeing violence and those who did know about these were unwilling to use them, citing their bond with the animals as the main reason. Animals targeted for abuse were most likely to be dogs and owned by women rather than men, children or both partners. CONCLUSION: Animals can be severely affected by domestic violence situations and many people experiencing violence are unwilling to confide in veterinarians or seek help from animal shelters.

Physiological and behavioral responses of sheep to gaseous ammonia.

Ammonia can accumulate in highly stocked sheep accommodation, for example during live export shipments, and could affect sheep health and welfare. Thus, the objective of this experiment was to test the effects of 4 NH(3) concentrations, 4 (control), 12, 21, and 34 mg/m(3), on the physiology and behavior of wether sheep. Sheep were held for 12 d under a micro-climate and stocking density similar to shipboard conditions recorded on voyages from Australia to the Middle East during the northern hemispheric summer. Ammonia increased macrophage activity in transtracheal aspirations, indicating active pulmonary inflammation; however, it had no effect (P > 0.05) on hematological variables. Feed intake decreased (P = 0.002) in proportion to ammonia concentration, and BW gain decreased (P < 0.001) at the 2 greatest concentrations. Exposure to ammonia increased (P = 0.03) the frequency of sneezing, and at the greatest ammonia concentration, sheep were less active, with less locomotion, pawing, and panting. Twenty-eight days after exposure to NH(3), the pulmonary macrophage activity and BW of the sheep returned to that of sheep exposed to only 4 mg/m(3). It was concluded that NH(3) induced a temporary inflammatory response of the respiratory system and reduced BW gain, which together indicated a transitory adverse effect on the welfare of sheep.

Accumulation of ammonia and other potentially noxious gases on live export shipments from Australia to the Middle East.

Noxious gases on ships are irritant pollutants that have potential impacts on the comfort and health of both livestock and humans. Identification of environmental influences on the pollutants will assist live exporters to control them. Ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, as well as wet and dry bulb temperature, dew point, air speed and depth of faeces that the sheep stood in, were measured on two ship voyages in which sheep were transported from Australia to the Middle East. Daily measurements were made at 20 measurement locations over 12 days. At four sites, the mean ammonia concentration for the voyage was above the recommended maximum limit for the live export industry (25 ppm). The mean ammonia concentrations at the remaining 16 sites were below 18 ppm and considered safe. High ammonia concentrations were localised and occurred particularly on closed decks, as well as at the front of the vessel and near the engine block on open decks. Ammonia concentration on the open decks was correlated with cumulative wind during the voyage, air speed, dew point, wet bulb temperature and faecal pad depth, and on the closed decks with dew point, and wet and dry bulb temperature. Hydrogen sulphide (<1.8 ppm) and carbon dioxide (<1900 ppm) concentrations were low and did not pose a risk to animal or human welfare or health. The results suggest that high ammonia concentrations occur in those parts of the ship where there is insufficient ventilation and/or high temperatures and humidity.

Impacts on work performance; what matters 6 months on?

BACKGROUND: Presenteeism often precedes and follows a period of work absence. Cross-sectional analysis of a workforce survey highlighted health, psychosocial and work characteristics as being particularly important in understanding current work performance, but it is unclear whether these variables predict future work performance. AIMS: To establish whether self-reported health, perceptions of work and objective characteristics of work measured at baseline can predict performance at 6 months follow-up. METHODS: Self-completed questionnaires to assess health, objective characteristics of work and perceptions of work were completed at two public sector organizations. Follow-up questionnaires were completed at 6 months to assess workplace performance using a visual analogue scale for self-rated performance and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale 6 (SPS6). RESULTS: Five hundred and five employees completed questionnaires at baseline and 310 (61%) of these completed follow-up questionnaires. Psychological distress as measured with the General Health Questionnaire and perceptions of work predicted both self-rated performance and SPS6 score. Objective characteristics of work were relatively unimportant in the prediction of future performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided an initial indication of the factors that may predict performance at follow-up in the population studied. These findings may be used to generate hypotheses for future studies and highlights the need to assess a range of factors in relation to an individual's performance at work including health and perceptions of work.

A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Part 2: Clinical signs and owners' perceptions of health and welfare.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and risk factors for clinical signs of disease and owner-reported health or welfare issues of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. METHODS: Owners of horses were contacted via an equestrian organisation in Queensland and asked to complete a questionnaire about their horses aged 15 years and older, to gain information about clinical signs observed in the horse and disease history. Owners were asked to identify health or welfare issues they felt were important in aged horses. RESULTS: Owners were able to identify many clinical signs of disease, with 83% of horses having at least one reported clinical sign of disease. Muscle stiffness (33%), lameness (28%), ocular discharge (22%), change in hair coat (22%) and skin problems (21%) were the most commonly reported signs. Increasing age was a risk factor for the presence of clinical signs of disease. Ponies had an increased risk of both laminitis and hirsutism, whereas Thoroughbreds had an increased risk of stereotypies, wounds, weight loss and musculoskeletal signs. Owners reported a known disease or disorder in their horses less frequently than the clinical signs of disease. Owners reported weight loss (28%), arthritis/lameness (24%) and teeth/dental care (18%) as the most important health issues, followed by welfare issues (8%). CONCLUSION: Owners demonstrated concern for the health and welfare of their aged horses, but the lack of appropriate recognition of the significance of clinical signs and limited veterinary care suggest a need for increased client communication and veterinarian-client interaction.

A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Part 1: management and preventive health care.

OBJECTIVE: To describe management practices and routine preventive care of aged horses in Queensland, Australia, including effects of owner characteristics, affiliation to an equestrian group and retirement of the horse. METHODS: Owners of horses were contacted via Equestrian Australia (EA) and asked to complete a questionnaire about their aged horses (e.g. age, breed, sex and colour); their use and management, including preventive health care; and use of equine healthcare providers. RESULTS: Horses aged 15 years or greater represented one-third of the total horses owned in the population sample. The median age of the horses was 20.7 years (range 15-44 years). Basic husbandry and preventive health care varied depending on demographic region, age of the horse and its use. Affiliation with EA was associated with the breed and use of the horse, but not with management or preventive health care other than frequency of hoof care visits. Retired horses had reduced basic husbandry and preventive health care compared with non-retired horses. There was reduced preventive health care in rural compared with urban areas. The majority (61%) of horses in the current study had not been visited by a veterinarian in the previous 12 months. CONCLUSION: Aged horses constitute a large subgroup of the Australian horse population. Although basic management is at a high level for most aged horses, it appears to be reduced following the horse's retirement and in the more rural areas. There was limited veterinary involvement in preventive healthcare strategies for aged horses, especially in rural areas.