Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2025 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 5 Articles
Background Quality of life is an essential component of decision-making in veterinary oncology. Poor management of adverse events during chemotherapy can impair dogs’ quality of life and be life-threatening. Consequently, clientreported outcome measures (CROMs) are being proposed to help assess both clinical signs and quality of life. The purpose of this rapid review was to: (1) identify existing CROMs that have been used to assess dogs’ clinical signs and quality of life during chemotherapy; and (2) evaluate their methodological development to inform adaptation or development of a CROM for use in routine clinical practice, including remote monitoring. Databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PUBMED/MEDLINE) were searched for CROMs (questionnaires) completed by a non-expert family member about their companion dog. CROM content (domains measured) and scale quality were appraised. Results Ten CROMs were identified and three were variations of the same tool. Content of the CROMs varied considerably (range 3–17 domains) with gastrointestinal being the most frequently measured clinical sign cluster (9/10 studies), followed by mobility/ambulatory activity (7/10) and global quality of life (6/10). No CROMs adhered to quality standards for the development of questionnaires and most failed to include qualitative design methods and basic psychometric assessment to ensure reliability and validity (such as internal consistency, test-retest reliability or factor analysis). Conclusion The validity and reliability of existing chemotherapy CROMs for dogs remains under-tested. Although CROMs combined with remote digital monitoring have the potential to enhance patient care, as has been demonstrated with physician-based oncology, there is a need to apply quality standards to ensure optimal validation. Interdisciplinary collaborations would likely improve CROM quality and clinical utility thereby allowing veterinary healthcare professionals to better support their patients....
This study evaluates the wound-healing process in horses following the application of two treatment modalities: bacterial cellulose hydrogel with alginate (BCAW) and frog skin (FSW) dressings on experimentally induced skin wounds. Throughout the experiment, no clinical abnormalities were noted in the horses, although initial wound assessments indicated edema and sensitivity. Local hemorrhage was observed in some cases on Day 0, with granulation tissue formation evident by Day 14. Epithelialization began around Day 14 but did not reach complete healing in any group by Day 28. The analysis showed no significant differences in skin wound area or wound contraction rates among the treatment groups compared to control wounds (CWs) over the evaluation periods. Histopathological evaluations also indicated no significant differences in inflammatory responses or healing markers, such as fibroblast proliferation and neovascularization in skin wounds across groups. Despite expectations based on prior research in other species, the treatments with BCAWand FSW did not demonstrate substantial pro-healing effects in horses with induced skin wounds. These findings underscore the complexity of equine wound healing and suggest further investigation is needed to optimize treatment strategies in this species and enhance the translational potential for human clinical applications....
Background Animals serve as important models for exploring the pathology, diagnosis, and therapy of different diseases and injuries. While smaller animals are preferred for bulk cohort studies, larger animals offer opportunities to investigate surgical procedures at proportions close to the human situation. Therefore, in a feasibility study, we investigated urethral sphincter deficiency in German landrace gilts and Göttingen minipigs to develop a model of urinary incontinence as a basis for future preclinical studies of incontinence therapies. Urethral sphincter deficiency was induced surgically by transurethral electrocautery and balloon dilatation, and the deficiency was determined by urodynamics after injury and during follow-up. In cryosections, sphincter injury was visualized by histochemistry. Results Sphincter deficiency was induced in two cohorts and groups of four female Göttingen minipigs each (total n = 20) by two different treatments. One cohort of minipigs showed an initially significant urethral sphincter deficiency (treatment 1; n = 16, p < 0.001). However, spontaneous sphincter regeneration was observed within one to two weeks. The other cohort of minipigs (treatment 2; n = 4) displayed a non-significant reduction of urethral sphincter pressure and an increase in muscle strength over time as well. In contrast, German landrace gilts presented immediately after treatment with significant sphincter deficiency (treatment 1; n = 6, 21%, p < 0.001) and suffered from significant loss of sphincter function for at least five weeks (67%, p < 0.01). Conclusion Göttingen minipigs inherit significantly superior sphincter regeneration capacities compared to landrace pigs. This difference may bias preclinical studies in urology and other fields and explain in part seemingly contradictory results from different animal studies....
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the domestic cat analogue of HIV infection in humans. Both viruses induce oral disease in untreated individuals, with clinical signs that include gingivitis and periodontal lesions. Oral disease manifestations in HIV patients are abated by highly effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), though certain oral manifestations persist despite therapy. Microorganisms associated with oral cavity opportunistic infections in patients with HIV cause similar pathologies in cats. To further develop this model, we evaluated characteristics of feline oral health and the oral microbiome during experimental FIV infection over an 8-month period following cART. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we evaluated gingival bacterial communities at four timepoints in uninfected and FIV-infected cats treated with either cART or placebo. Comprehensive oral examinations were also conducted by a veterinary dental specialist over the experimental period. Gingival inflammation was higher in FIV-infected cats treated with placebo compared to cART-treated cats and the controls at the study endpoint. Oral microbiome alpha diversity increased in all groups, while beta diversity differed among treatment groups, documenting a significant effect of cART therapy on microbiome community composition. This finding has not previously been reported, and indicates cART ameliorates immunodeficiency virus-associated oral disease via the preservation of oral mucosal microbiota. Further, this study illustrates the value of the FIV animal model for investigations of mechanistic associations and therapeutic interventions for HIV’s oral manifestations....
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) poses a significant threat to cattle populations and the livelihoods of farmers in Thailand. This study uses path analysis to explore the interrelationships among the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of beef cattle farmers regarding LSD. A total of 384 farmers provided data on their sociodemographic characteristics and responses to KAP-related questions. Path analysis was employed to examine how KAP components interact and how demographic factors influence these relationships. The analysis revealed strong positive relationships between farmers’ knowledge and attitudes (β = 0.96, p < 0.001) and between attitudes and practices (β = 0.08, p < 0.008). Farmers with greater knowledge of LSD were more likely to adopt positive attitudes toward disease control and implement effective management practices. Additionally, knowledge had a direct influence on farmers’ practices (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), indicating that improved awareness of LSD is linked to better disease management. By strengthening knowledge, these efforts can positively influence attitudes and practices, leading to more effective control strategies. As the first KAP study on LSD in Thailand, this research highlights the critical role of targeted education programs in improving farmers’ understanding of LSD. Ultimately, enhancing disease management through education can help reduce the economic impact of LSD on Thailand’s livestock sector and promote sustainable farming practices....
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