Search Results (19)

In the Netherlands, around 52,000 dairy cows die on the primary farm each year due to natural death, euthanasia, or on-farm emergency slaughter (OFES). The decision as to what is the best option is made by the farmer, often after consulting a veterinarian, a livestock trader, or a slaughterhouse operator. To determine which factors play a role in this decision-making process, semi-structured interviews were conducted with dairy farmers, private veterinary practitioners, livestock traders, and slaughterhouse operators in the Netherlands. Dairy cattle culling decisions are influenced and limited by strict enforcement of livestock transport regulations and limited options for on-farm killing methods. Requirements regarding mortality rates imposed by the dairy industry and private quality labels for raw milk also influence culling decisions in the Netherlands. Most participants stated that restrictive conditions regarding OFES and mobile slaughterhouses (MSHs) appear to have (unintended) negative effects on cow welfare and meat salvage in general. Different interests, such as cow welfare, food safety, economic concerns of various stakeholders, the reputational interests of the dairy and beef industries, and sustainability objectives such as meat salvage can be conflictive. The results of this study show that the decision-making process regarding culling or (prolonged) veterinary treatment of dairy cattle is complex because various factors, interests, and uncertainties must be weighed. This weighing can vary between individual dairy farms and individual dairy farmers. Full article

Background: In recent years, enzootic nasal tumor virus 2 (ENTV-2) has become prevalent in China, resulting in substantial economic losses for the goat industry. In order to enrich the availability of detection methods for ENTV-2, this study developed an expedited and accurate reverse-transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay to facilitate the detection and quantification of ENTV-2. Methods: Specifically, a pair of primers and a TaqMan probe targeting conserved regions of the pro gene were designed to allow the specific amplification and detection of viral RNA in clinical samples. Moreover, modifying the method for use in a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay enables the detection of proviral DNA in tumor specimens. Results: Both methods exhibited a detection limit for the ENTV-2 standard plasmid at 10⁰ copies/µL. The detection methods we established exhibited high specificity and sensitivity to ENTV-2, without cross-reactivity with other pathogens causing respiratory diseases or endogenous retroviruses (EBRVs). We performed an ENTV-2 analysis of clinical samples in goats via RT-qPCR using nasal swab samples (n = 558) collected from three geographically distinct flocks in Lingyou County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, China, and 58 positive samples were detected for a positivity rate of 10.4%. After euthanasia, the autopsy report showed nasal cavity masses. Histopathological analysis demonstrated an epithelial neoplasm, in compliance with the features of enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma (ENA). Three full-length genomes were sequenced to assess genomic sequence conservation and variation. Multiple-sequence alignment demonstrated the existence of sequence variations among strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed that the ENTV-2 SX1~3 isolates were phylogenetically related to the Chinese ENTV-2 isolates, especially the JY strain. Furthermore, recombination analysis suggested that both ENTV-2 SX1 and ENTV-2 SX2 might be recombinant variants. Conclusions: In conclusion, both methods are highly specific for the pro gene of ENTV-2, and the development of this assay has been deemed crucial to the early identification and subsequent control of this viral infection. Our results provide valuable information for further research on the genetic variation and evolution of ENTV-2 in China. Full article

The end-of-life (i.e., on-farm euthanasia and culling, including fitness for transport to slaughter) of a dairy cow or calf is preceded by a series of decisions often influenced by many complex factors. The aim of this study was to utilize the opinions of experts with roles in the dairy supply chain to identify factors that influence end-of-life decision-making for dairy cattle. Twenty experts serving in supporting roles in the dairy supply chain participated in a survey containing 17 open-ended questions. Of the participants, 55% (n = 11) identified as veterinarians and the remaining 45% (n = 9) participated in other segments of the dairy supply chain. Twelve themes were identified in the qualitative analysis of survey responses. The themes included: Training and Resources, Cattle Health Management, Decision-Making Criteria, Company Culture, Personal Beliefs, Human Well-Being, Animal Welfare, Economics, Guidelines and Inspections, Consumer Perceptions, Supply Chain Considerations, and Communication. Experts indicated that training programs should address euthanasia or fitness-for-transport criteria, the knowledge of common health conditions, and information about what happens to cattle after leaving the dairy. Additional influencing factors included personal beliefs, economics, company culture, and supply chain considerations. Full article

Suicide research is directed at understanding social, economic, and biological causes of suicide thoughts and behaviors. (1) Background: Worldwide, certain countries have high suicide mortality rates (SMRs) compared to others. Age-standardized suicide mortality rates (SMRs) published by the World Health Organization (WHO) plus numerous bibliographic records of the Web of Science (WoS) database provide resources to understand these disparities between countries and regions. (2) Methods: Hierarchical clustering was applied to age-standardized suicide mortality rates per 100,000 population from 2000–2019. Keywords of country-specific suicide-related publications collected from WoS were analyzed by network and association rule mining. Keyword embedding was carried out using a recurrent neural network. (3) Results: Countries with similar SMR trends formed naturally distinct groups of high, medium, and low suicide mortality rates. Major themes in suicide research worldwide are depression, mental disorders, youth suicide, euthanasia, hopelessness, loneliness, unemployment, and drugs. Prominent themes differentiating countries and regions include: alcohol in post-Soviet countries; HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, war veterans and PTSD in the Middle East, students in East Asia, and many others. (4) Conclusion: Countries naturally group into high, medium, and low SMR categories characterized by different keyword-informed themes. The compiled dataset and presented methodology enable enrichment of analytical results by bibliographic data where observed results are difficult to interpret. Full article

The decision to euthanize a compromised pig can be challenging for pig farmers and veterinarians. To understand more about the challenges in Germany, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted. Based on a hybrid design, the responses of 39 veterinarians and 62 pig farmers were analyzed to generate a list of common clinical signs associated with the euthanasia of sows, fatteners, and piglets. Moreover, a set of influences on the farm, due to economic and personal considerations, were found to shape the decision-making process. The two most salient reasons outlined for the delay of timely euthanasia were uncertainty and misinterpretation of the chance for healing. The lack of valid clinical signs or a sound justification was most frequently mentioned as a challenge to the general decision-making process. In summation, this study highlights the need to generate a valid taxonomy for clinical signs that includes their development in a compromised pig over time. Future studies should elaborate on the justification of euthanasia decisions to facilitate the resolution of ethical dilemmas among the involved pig farmers and veterinarians. Lastly, the results suggest that clinical reasoning and consultation skills should be included when decision-making behavior is to be trained. Full article

Classical swine fever (CSF) remains one of the most economically significant viral diseases affecting domestic pigs and wild boars worldwide. To develop a safe and effective vaccine against CSF, we have constructed a triple gene-deleted pseudorabies virus (PRVtmv)-vectored bivalent subunit vaccine against porcine circovirus type 2b (PCV2b) and CSFV (PRVtmv+). In this study, we determined the protective efficacy of the PRVtmv+ against virulent CSFV challenge in pigs. The results revealed that the sham-vaccinated control group pigs developed severe CSFV-specific clinical signs characterized by pyrexia and diarrhea, and became moribund on or before the seventh day post challenge (dpc). However, the PRVtmv+-vaccinated pigs survived until the day of euthanasia at 21 dpc. A few vaccinated pigs showed transient diarrhea but recovered within a day or two. One pig had a low-grade fever for a day but recovered. The sham-vaccinated control group pigs had a high level of viremia, severe lymphocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. In contrast, the vaccinated pigs had a low–moderate degree of lymphocytopenia and thrombocytopenia on four dpc, but recovered by seven dpc. Based on the gross pathology, none of the vaccinated pigs had any CSFV-specific lesions. Therefore, our results demonstrated that the PRVtmv+ vaccinated pigs are protected against virulent CSFV challenge. Full article

(1) Veterinarians are regularly required to euthanize their “objects of care” as part of their work, which distinguishes them from other healthcare professionals. This paper examines how veterinarians navigate the ethical tensions inherent in euthanasia, particularly the collision between the routine practice of killing animals within their profession and the broader social and moral implications. (2) Using the sociological concept of ethical boundary work as a theoretical framework, this research observes how veterinarians draw boundaries by positioning their euthanasia practices on the ethical “good” spectrum. A grounded theory study of 17 qualitative interviews with veterinarians was conducted. (3) The findings highlight differences in ethical boundary work within veterinary medicine, particularly in the distinction between farm animals and companion animals. Economic and emotional reasoning play differing roles in explanation and justification. Ethical boundary work is a tool for distinguishing normative frameworks in different areas of veterinary medicine. (4) In conclusion, veterinarians grapple with the realities of an imperfect world and often rely on boundary work to assert diverse interests and navigate multiple contexts. By exploring the complexities of ethical boundary work, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the moral landscape within veterinary practice. Full article

The admission of people suffering from psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (E/PAS) in some European and non-European countries represents a controversial issue. In some countries, the initial limitation of E/PAS to cases of severe physical illness with poor prognosis in the short term has been overcome, as it was considered discriminatory; thus, E/PAS has also been made available to subjects suffering from mental disorders. This decision has raised significant ethical questions regarding the capacity and freedom of self-determination; the family, social, and economic contexts; the social consideration of the sense of dignity and the pressure on the judgment of one’s personal value; the contextual therapeutic possibilities; the identification of figures involved in the validation and application; as well as the epistemological definitions of the clinical conditions in question. To these issues must be added the situation of legislative vacuum peculiar to different countries and the widespread lack of effective evaluation and control systems. Nonetheless, pessimistic indicators on global health status, availability of care and assistance, aging demographics, and socioeconomic levels suggest that there may be further pressure toward the expansion of such requests. The present paper aims to trace an international overview with the aim of providing ethical support to the debate on the matter. Precisely, the goal is the delimitation of foundations for clinical practice in the complex field of psychiatry between the recognition of the irreversibility of the disease, assessment of the state of physical and mental suffering, as well as the possibility of adopting free and informed choices. Full article

Severe clinical mastitis is a frequent disease of dairy cattle. An effective mean of predicting survival despite treatment would be helpful for making euthanasia decisions in poor prognosis cases. The objective was to develop a nomogram for prediction of death or culling in the 60 days following a severe mastitis episode in dairy cows at first veterinary visit in farm settings. A total of 224 dairy cows presenting severe clinical mastitis and examined for the first time by a veterinarian were included in a prospective study. Clinical and laboratory (complete blood cell count, L-lactate, cardiac troponin I, milk culture) variables were recorded. Animals were followed for 60 days. A nomogram was built with an adaptive elastic-net Cox proportional hazards model. Performances and relevance were evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA) and misclassification cost term (MCT). The nomogram included: lactation number, recumbency, depression intensity, capillary refilling time, ruminal motility rate, dehydration level, lactates concentration, hematocrit, band neutrophils count, monocyte count, and milk bacteriology. The AUC and C-index showed a good calibration and ability to discriminate. The DCA suggested that the nomogram was clinically relevant. Euthanizing animals having less than 25% probability of survival is economically optimal. It could be used for early euthanasia decisions in animals that would not survive despite treatment. To facilitate the use of this nomogram by veterinarians, a web-based app was developed. Full article

Most cats and dogs entering Australian animal shelters and municipal facilities are classed as strays, typically from low socio-economic areas. Contemporary practices increasingly focus on proactively reducing the number of stray animals, which requires further understanding of factors associated with straying animals, including pet confinement. Australian cat and dog owners (n = 2103) were surveyed to investigate attitudes towards four types of pet confinement and how these were influenced by social norms, demographics and concerns about pet quality of life and potential wildlife predation. Dog owners showed the strongest support for confining dogs to the owners’ property whenever unsupervised (98% agreement) and less support for confining dogs inside the house at night (54% agreement), and only 23% believed dogs had a negative impact on wildlife. Cat owners showed the strongest support for confining cats inside the house at night (89% agreement). Cat owners’ non-supportive attitudes towards cat confinement were partly because of higher concern for cat quality of life and lower concern about their cats’ predation behaviours, compared to non-cat owners. The findings provide valuable information to inform more effective strategies to reduce stray animals which would reduce shelter admissions, euthanasia, costs, nuisance issues, potential wildlife predation and negative mental health impacts of euthanasia on staff. Strategies to reduce strays include assisting low-income pet owners to install effective fencing and programs to increase identification. Informing cat owners about bedtime feeding is recommended to assist with night containment, and providing high-intensity free sterilization of owned and semi-owned cats targeted to areas of high cat impoundments is also recommended. Full article

The reality that euthanasia in veterinary practice can end animal suffering but can also be used in circumstances that do not serve an animal’s interest, can be a benefit for animals, and a burden for veterinary professionals, respectively. This essay addresses ethical and practical concerns associated with companion animal euthanasia, including defining euthanasia, why and when euthanasia should be performed, applying euthanasia in practice, contemporary methods, aftercare of deceased animals, and the consequences of euthanasia and dysthanasia for animals, animal owners, and veterinary professionals. We contend that an intention-based definition of euthanasia should be strictly applied in veterinary practice and that practitioners view euthanasia decisions as requests that can (and in some cases should) be declined, rather than as mandates. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious viral disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), that causes high mortality in domestic swine and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Currently, outbreaks are mitigated through strict quarantine measures and the culling of affected herds, resulting in massive economic losses to the global pork industry. In 2019, an ASFV outbreak was reported in Mongolia, describing a rapidly progressing clinical disease and gross lesions consistent with the acute form of ASF; the virus was identified as a genotype II virus. Due to the limited information on clinical disease and viral dynamics within hosts available from field observations of the Mongolian isolates, we conducted the present study to further evaluate the progression of clinical disease, virulence, and pathology of an ASFV Mongolia/2019 field isolate (ASFV-MNG19), by experimental infection of domestic pigs. Intramuscular inoculation of domestic pigs with ASFV-MNG19 resulted in clinical signs and viremia at 3 days post challenge (DPC). Clinical disease rapidly progressed, resulting in the humane euthanasia of all pigs by 7 DPC. ASFV-MNG19 infected pigs had viremic titers of 10⁸ TCID₅₀/mL by 5 DPC and shed virus in oral secretions late in disease, as determined from oropharyngeal swabs. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed that the ASFV-MNG19 strain used in this study was a genotype II strain highly similar to other regional strains. In conclusion, we demonstrate that ASFV-MNG19 is a virulent genotype II ASFV strain that causes acute ASF in domestic swine. Full article

Babesia and Theileria are apicomplexan parasites that cause established and emerging diseases in humans, domestic and wild animals. These protozoans are transmitted by Ixodid ticks causing babesiosis or theileriosis, both characterized by fever, hemolytic anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly. In North America (NA), the most common species affecting humans is B. microti, which is distributed in the Northeastern and Upper Midwestern United States (US), where the tick vector Ixodes scapularis is established. In livestock, B. bovis and B. bigemina are the most important pathogens causing bovine babesiosis in tropical regions of Mexico. Despite efforts toward eradication of their tick vector, Rhipicephalus microplus, B. bovis and B. bigemina present a constant threat of being reintroduced into the southern US and represent a continuous concern for the US cattle industry. Occasional outbreaks of T. equi, and T. orientalis have occurred in horses and cattle, respectively, in the US, with significant economic implications for livestock including quarantine, production loss, and euthanasia of infected animals. In addition, a new species, T. haneyi, has been recently discovered in horses from the Mexico-US border. Domestic dogs are hosts to at least four species of Babesia in NA that may result in clinical disease that ranges from subclinical to acute, severe anemia. Herein we review the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and epidemiology of the most important diseases caused by Babesia and Theileria to humans, domestic and wild animals in Canada, the US, and Mexico. Full article

This study examines the complex connection linking religion, social attitudes, and human rights in Romania, drawing on the classic distinction between extrinsic religiosity (as reflected in church attendance) and intrinsic religiosity (as reflected in personal prayer). The hypothesis that these forms of religiosity may function differently in relation to different areas of social attitudes is tested among Romanian Orthodox adolescents (N = 400), drawing on validated measures developed by the International Empirical Research Program Religion and Human Rights 2.0 to assess attitude toward socio-economic human rights and attitude toward euthanasia and abortion. In respect of attitude toward euthanasia and abortion, church attendance and personal prayer work in the same direction and with cumulative effect. Lowest acceptance of euthanasia and abortion is found among young people who attend church and pray. In respect of attitude toward socio-economic human rights, church attendance and personal prayer work in opposite directions. Frequent church attendance (extrinsic religiosity) is associated with lower endorsement of socio-economic human rights. Frequent prayer (intrinsic religiosity) is associated with higher endorsement of socio-economic human rights. Full article

We critique the recent article by Wolf et al. (2019) that claims scientific merit for reducing the number of stray cats in Australia through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, and then we provide an inventory of biological, welfare, and economic reasons why TNR is less successful than adoption and euthanasia for managing unowned cats. Like Crawford et al. (2019) and multiple other comprehensive and unbiased Australian and international scientific reviews, we refute the idea that returning neutered unowned cats to stray populations has any valid role in responsible, ethical, affordable, and effective cat management, or in wildlife conservation. The main purported objective of TNR proponents along with animal welfare, human health, and wildlife advocacy stakeholders is to reduce the number of unhomed cats. We contend that cessation of provisioning unowned cats with food is the most effective approach to achieve this objective. We also present evidence from the Brisbane City Council that informed cat management policy, advocacy, and laws, backed up by responsible rehoming or prompt ethical euthanasia, are together effective at reducing the stray cat problem. Full article