Reliability of using Wood's lamp by shelter personnel to diagnose Microsporum canis in cats.

Optimising diagnostic methods in shelters so that they are as economical as possible for the shelter is especially important because shelters often have a significant lack of funds and so usually do not carry out preventive screening of cats. Dermatophyte fungi spread quickly and can infect shelter staff. The aim of our work was to identify the occurrence of Microsporum canis in shelter cats. It aimed to determine the prevalence of M. canis in cats at the selected shelter and compare the efficiency of detection using a Wood's lamp and culturing on Sabouraud's agar. All cats present in the shelter at the time of the study (n = 70) were examined with Wood's lamp and hair sampling followed by subsequent culturing on Sabouraud's agar. Identification of fungi was based on microscopic proof of macroconidia and microconidia. The prevalence of M. canis by diagnosis on Sabouraud's agar was 64.29% of cats, with the help of Wood's lamp 48.57% of cats showed positive fluorescence. The sensitivity of the Wood lamp examination was 71% and the specificity was 92%. Our study suggests that Wood's lamp could be used by trained shelter personnel for the first examination of cats at reception and could significantly reduce the risk of spreading M. canis in shelters.

Reduction of the occurrence of incorrect stunning and the occurrence of reflexes and reactions in cattle after pneumatically powered captive-bolt stunning in comparison with cartridge-fired captive-bolt stunning.

In this study, the occurrence of repeat stunning, deviations in placement and direction of stun shots, and the occurrence of reflexes/reactions following stunning with a pneumatically powered captive-bolt stunner in comparison with a cartridge-fired captive-bolt stunner in cattle were assessed. Repeat stunning and deviations in placement and direction of the stun shots were less frequent (p < 0.01) with the use of a pneumatic stunner in all cattle. The rate of repeat stunning and deviation from the ideal place and direction of stun shots were lower (5.81%, 24.75%, and 9.60% of all animals, respectively) when a pneumatic stunner was used in comparison with cartridge-fired captive bolt (18.32%, 34.03%, and 47.38% of all animals, respectively). The stunning quality was assessed on the basis of evaluation of signs observed following the stun shot. A pneumatic stunning resulted in a significant reduction of occurrence of signs particularly in bulls in comparison to cows, for which a cartridge-fired stunner already provides an adequate stunning. Our study provides evidence that pneumatic stunning has the potential to be a more effective method than cartridge-fired stunning from the viewpoint of the welfare of slaughtered animals. Pneumatic stunning ensures a high quality of stunning in both bulls and cows.

Direct Detection of Feline Coronavirus by Three Rapid Antigen Immunochromatographic Tests and by Real-Time PCR in Cat Shelters.

The aim of this study was the direct detection of feline coronavirus by real-time PCR and by three different rapid immunochromatographic (RIM) tests detecting antigens in faecal samples of shelter cats. Based on sensitivity and specificity calculated for each of the RIM tests, the utility of RIM tests was compared. Seventy faecal samples originating from shelter cats housed in quarantine were examined. Out of 70 samples analyzed by real-time PCR, 44 (62.9%) were positive. Significantly more cats (p < 0.05) tested positive than negative. Neither age nor sex of the cats played a significant role (p > 0.05) in the shedding status of the virus. The sensitivity of the RIM tests was found to be at low (<35%; RIM tests A and C) to satisfactory level (>50%, RIM test B). The number of virus particles determined by real-time RT-PCR analysis did not significantly correlate with the results detected by any of the RIM tests (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate that the use of rapid antigen RIM tests in routine screening of FCoV shedding status in shelter cats is limited due to the occurrence of a high number of false negative results.

Serum concentration of bisphenol A in elderly cats and its association with clinicopathological findings.

OBJECTIVES: Bisphenol A (BPA) has been mentioned as a possible factor contributing to feline hyperthyroidism. Nevertheless, there are no previous studies reporting on the concentration of BPA in feline serum and its association with thyroid function. The objectives of this study were to measure serum BPA concentration in cats aged ⩾7 years, considered as healthy by their owners, and to compare the results with clinicopathological findings. METHODS: Sixty-nine cats aged ⩾7 years considered as healthy by their owners were enrolled in the study. The concentration of BPA in feline serum was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In all cats, signalment, living environment, diet history, and the results of haematological and biochemical analysis, including thyroxine levels, were available. RESULTS: The mean serum BPA concentration in feline serum was 1.06 ± 0.908 ng/ml. Significant correlation was found between BPA concentration and haemoglobin (r = 0.3397; P = 0.0043), haematocrit (r = 0.3245; P = 0.0065) and the number of red blood cells (r = 0.2916; P = 0.0151), concentration of total protein (r = 0.2383; P = 0.0486), concentration of calcium (r = 0.3915; P = 0.0009) and level of bilirubin (r = 0.3848; P = 0.0011). No other significant correlations were found. Significant differences (P <0.01) were found between mature (1.28 ± 0.994 ng/ml) and geriatric cats (0.420 ± 0.240 ng/ml), between strictly indoor cats (1.27 ± 0.992 ng/ml) and cats with outdoor access (0.660 ± 0.529 ng/ml), and between cats fed canned food (1.23 ± 0.935 ng/ml) and cats fed non-canned food (0.774 ± 0.795 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Measurable serum BPA levels were found in all examined samples. The age of the cats was revealed as a significant factor affecting BPA concentration and mature cats had the highest levels. A significantly higher concentration of BPA was found in cats living strictly indoors and in cats fed canned food. No association was found between BPA and thyroid function. Further studies are needed that focus on hyperthyroid cats for better evaluation of this relationship.

The occurrence of reflexes and reactions in cattle following stunning with a captive bolt at the slaughterhouse.

The difference in the frequency of the occurrence of reflexes/reactions in 355 cows (average weight 505.5 ± 7.9 kg) and 262 bulls (average weight 735.6 ± 8.4 kg) following stunning with a Matador SS 3,000 B trigger-activated captive bolt gun (Termet) was determined. The stun shot more than 2 cm from the ideal position was found in 79.6% of animals. Vocalization, corneal reflex, rhythmic breathing, blinking, eyeball rotation and the absence of tongue protrusion occurred more frequently in bulls (p < .05). Spontaneous limb movements and nystagmus occurred more frequently in cows (p < .05). No difference between bulls and cows was determined in the occurrence of a response to painful stimuli or attempts to regain normal posture. No dependency was determined between the frequency of the occurrence of a reflex/reaction and the distance of the stun shot from the ideal point on the skull for any of the monitored signs. This study shows that the occurrence of reflexes/reactions following the stunning of cattle with a captive bolt is not only dependent on the position of the shot if placed within a 9 cm radius from the ideal point on the cattle skull.

The Impact of Deviation of the Stun Shot from the Ideal Point on Motor Paralysis in Cattle.

The effect on motor paralysis of a deviation in the stun shot placement from the ideal point on cattle skulls was monitored in 627 bovine animals (271 bulls and 356 cows) stunned with a captive bolt during slaughter in a slaughterhouse. The number of animals that experienced motor paralysis and the necessary fall of the animal in the stunning box were recorded after the stun shot. Subsequently, the position of the stun shot was measured on the skull of the slaughtered cattle in relation to the ideal point on the skull, and at a deviation from the ideal point, the quadrant on the skull in which the bullet was located was determined. The results show that with the increasing distance of the placement of the stun shot from the ideal point on the skull, the incidence of failure to induce motor paralysis in cattle increases significantly (p < 0.01) from 2.4% (within 3 cm of deviation) to 72.2% (at deviations ˃ 7 cm). There was a significant increase in the failure to induce motor paralysis in bulls as well as in cows, but this was more frequent in bulls regardless of the magnitude of the deviation from the ideal point (with the exception of a distance greater than 7 cm where the chances of inducing motor paralysis in bulls and cows are equally low). The incidence of failure to induce motor paralysis in cattle was not dependent on the placement of a stun shot in various quadrants on the skull. With the increasing deviation in any direction from the ideal point, the likelihood of effective stunning of cattle decreases. The results are important from the animal welfare point of view of the slaughter of cattle, and demonstrate the necessity of optimum placement of the stunning shot on the bovine skull in order to achieve the successful motor paralysis of cattle during their stunning at the slaughterhouse.