Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and shedding in farm, pet and feral cats and associated risk factors in farm cats in Quebec, Canada.

Cats represent a potential source of Coxiella burnetii, the aetiological agent of Q fever in humans. The prevalence and risk factors of C. burnetii infection in farm, pet and feral cats were studied in Quebec, Canada, using a cross-sectional study. Serum samples were tested using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of antibodies against C. burnetii, whereas rectal swabs were assayed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the molecular detection of the bacteria. Potential risk factors for farm cats were investigated using clinical examinations, questionnaires and results from a concurrent study on C. burnetii farm status. A total of 184 cats were tested: 59 from ruminant farms, 73 pets and 52 feral cats. Among farm cats, 2/59 (3.4%) were ELISA-positive, 3/59 (5.1%) were ELISA-doubtful and 1/59 (1.7%) was qPCR-positive. All pets and feral cats were negative to C. burnetii ELISA and qPCR. Farm cat positivity was associated with a positive C. burnetii status on the ruminant farm (prevalence ratio = 7.6, P = 0.03). Our results suggest that although pet and feral cats do not seem to pose a great C. burnetii risk to public health, more active care should be taken when in contact with cats from ruminant farms.

Evaluation of the utility of subjective clinical parameters for estimating fecal egg counts and packed cell volume in Canadian sheep flocks.

A study was conducted in sheep on Canadian farms to describe the relationship between packed cell volume (PCV) or fecal egg counts (FEC) and subjective clinical parameters that may indicate the severity of parasitic gastroenteritis. Twenty-one farms in Ontario (ON) and 8 farms in Quebec (QC) were purposively selected and visited during April-May (spring) and August (summer) 2007. At each farm visit, blood and fecal samples were collected from 10 ewes and 10 female lambs; body condition score (BCS), dag score (DS), fecal consistency score (FCS) and FAMACHA score were recorded for all sampled sheep. Packed cell volume was determined for all blood samples, and FEC were performed for all fecal samples. Summary statistics and simple correlations were performed for the parameters recorded. Two mixed models with random effects at the farm level were developed; one using PCV as the response variable and another using the natural log of eggs per gram of feces (lnEPG). Finally, the residuals from both models were correlated to the covariates in the models. The mean PCV values during the spring were 29.7% and 36.7% for lambs, and 28.8% and 31.1% for ewes, in ON and QC, respectively. During the summer, the mean PCV was 32.0% and 32.8% for lambs, and 30.1% and 29.9% for ewes, in ON and QC, respectively. The arithmetic mean FEC per gram of feces (EPG) during the spring was 3 and 2 for lambs, and 1266 and 789 for ewes, in ON and QC, respectively, whereas during summer the arithmetic mean EPG was 907 and 237 for lambs, and 458 and 246 for ewes, in ON and QC, respectively. Results from simple correlations indicated that PCV was negatively correlated with lnEPG (r = -0.255; r(2) = 6.5%) and FAMACHA (r = -0.312; r(2) = 9.7%), and positively correlated with BCS (r = 0.317; r(2) = 10%). LnEPG was negatively correlated with BCS (r = -0.232; r(2) = 5.4%) and PCV (r = -0.255; r(2) = 6.5%), but positively correlated with FAMACHA (r = 0.178; r(2) = 3.2%) and DS (r = 0.086; r(2) = 0.7%). Results from the models indicated that PCV and lnEPG residuals were negatively correlated with FAMACHA, FCS and almost all categories of BCS and DS, although the correlations were very low. The main results from this study suggested that none of the subjective clinical parameters evaluated were highly correlated with PCV or lnEPG and therefore were not good predictors of lnEPG or PCV on the studied farms in Ontario and Quebec.

Prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes on 32 organic and conventional commercial sheep farms in Ontario and Quebec, Canada (2006-2008).

In order to characterize the epidemiology of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes in organic and conventional flocks in Canada, a longitudinal study was carried out from May 2006 to March 2008 on 32 purposively selected farms in Ontario (ON) and Quebec (QC): 8 certified organic (CO), 16 non-certified organic (NCO), and 8 conventional (C) farms. On each farm, 10 ewes and 10 female lambs were selected. Farm visits were undertaken monthly during the grazing season, and twice in the winter. At each visit, individual fecal samples were taken, and pasture samples were obtained during the grazing season. In addition, body condition score was recorded for all sheep. Fecal egg counts per gram of feces (EPGs) were determined for all fecal samples, and infective larvae (L(3)) were identified in fecal samples (lambs and ewes separately) and pasture samples from farms. Necropsies of 14 lambs from 7 of the 23 Ontario farms were performed at the end of the grazing season in 2006. The mean EPG for year 1 (May 2006 to March 2007) was 181 (range=0-9840) and 351 (range=0-18,940) for the ewes in ON and QC, respectively, and for the lambs was 509 (range=0-25,020) and 147 (range=0-3060) for ON and QC, respectively. During year 2 (April 2007 to March 2008), the mean EPG was 303 (range=0-21,160) and 512 (range=0-22,340) for the ewes in ON and QC, respectively, and for lambs was 460 (range=0-26,180) and 232 (range=0-8280) for ON and QC, respectively. Although the overall mean EPGs were not remarkably high, there were months of higher EPG such as May-June for ewes and July-August for lambs in both provinces. Pasture infectivity was highest in May-June and September. There was a general trend for the CO farms to have lower mean EPG than NCO and C farms. Fecal cultures demonstrated that the most predominant nematode genera were Teladorsagia sp., Haemonchus sp. and Trichostrongylus spp. Pasture infectivity was highest during June-July (984 L3/kg DM) in ON farms and September (mean=436 L3/kg DM) in QC farms during year 1. In year 2, the highest peak was during October in ON (mean=398 L3/kg DM) and July in QC (239 L3/kg DM). Trichostrongylus axei and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were the species most frequently identified from necropsies (36.44% and 38.26%, respectively) at the end of the grazing season in 2006, with Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta being the next most commonly identified.

Synchrony and desynchrony in high and low arousal subjects undergoing therapeutic exposure.

A comparison of synchrony and desynchrony was made among phobic patients exposed to imaginal flooding under conditions of high and low arousal, respectively. Subjective anxiety (SUDs) and skin conductance (SC) were recorded at five minute intervals during three separate sessions. Results showed some degree of synchrony (small positive relationship) between the two measures for the high arousal group and desynchrony (no relationship) between these measures for the low arousal group. However, with the exception of two cases, one from each group, the findings were by no means clear-cut, suggesting that other factors besides level of arousal may be responsible for individual differences in synchrony.

Automatic detection and modification of aberrant behaviors: two case studies.

This report demonstrates the effectiveness of two automatic cueing devices in the detection and subsequent modification of postural abnormality and rectal digging. Without their use a viable treatment plan would not have been possible.

A comparison of frontalis EMG feedback training and progressive relaxation in the treatment of chronic anxiety.

Two groups (N = 26) of patients with chronic anxiety were compared in their response to different forms of relaxation therapy. One group received 16 sessions of frontalis EMG and the other 16 sessions of progressive relaxation. Although EMG feedback was much superior in reducing frontalis EMG activity this treatment was no more effective than progressive relaxation in reducing symptoms of anxiety. Few patients in each group showed more than marginal improvement.

Importance of imagery in maintenance of feedback-assisted relaxation over extinction trials.

Two groups of 16 female subjects undergoing frontalis EMG feedback training were identified according to whether they used imagery or passive concentration to achieve relaxation. The ability of these 2 groups to maintain relaxation during extinction sessions 2 and 7 days after termination of training was then investigated. Although both groups were equally successful in relaxing the frontalis during training, the group using imagery was significantly more successful in achieving relaxation during extinction sessions.

The effects of EMG feedback training on state anxiety in introverts and extraverts.

The effect of EMG feedback on state anxiety was investigated in anxious introverts and extraverts. Although both groups learned to relax their muscles adequately, only the introverts reported a significant decrement in anxiety. Some extraverts reacted adversely to the technique, which suggests that other methods to inhibit anxiety may be necessary for this group.