Austral Journal of Veterinary Sciences
Not a member yet
221 research outputs found
Sort by
Objective Structured Assessment of Veterinary Students´ Suture Skills Before and After Training in Theory and Practice
Get PDFThis study evaluated the effectiveness of the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) in measuring and improving veterinary students’ proficiency in simple suturing. Forty final-year veterinary students participated in a structured training session that included theoretical instruction, video demonstrations, and hands-on practice sessions. Performance was assessed pre- and post-training using the OSATS, incorporating both a global rating scale and a procedural checklist. Before training, only 50% of the students met the passing criteria, with common deficiencies in needle handling, suture placement, and wound-edge eversion. After the intervention, the pass rate increased to 90%, with significant improvements across most performance indicators (P < 0.05), although deficiencies in movement fluidity persisted. Gender analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the overall performance. These findings confirm that OSATS is a valid and reliable tool for objectively assessing technical surgical skills in veterinary education. This study supports its integration into veterinary curricula to standardize competency evaluation and enhance training outcomes. Future research should explore its application in diverse surgical procedures and assess long-term skill retention through follow-up assessments. The results offer practical guidance for veterinary educators aiming to develop structured, skill-based learning environments that ensure clinical readiness
Prevalence and risk factors of foot lesions in a dairy cattle herd in the Huaura Valley, Peru
Get PDF
Foot lesions are a major cause of culling in dairy cows, resulting in significant economic losses. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with foot lesions in a dairy herd in the Huaura Valley, Peru. To this end, 1,781 functional hoof trimming records (2013-2021) were analyzed. The results showed a significant downward trend (P < 0.05) in the overall prevalence, with an annual average of 35.5%. This began at 24.7% (2013), peaked at 56.5% (2017), and decreased to 15.3% (2021). Non-infectious lesions (26.1%) were more frequent than infectious lesions (7.7%) (P = 0.019), with white line disease (37.1%) and digital dermatitis (38.9%) being predominant. The number of lactations was identified as a critical risk factor (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.72-2.29), ranging from 17.6% in first-lactation cows to 65.5% in cows with four or more lactations. No statistically significant association was found between the climatic period of the year and the occurrence of foot lesions (χ² = 0.23; gl = 1; P < 0.63). In conclusion, this study showed a significant temporary reduction in lesions, with the number of calvings being the most critical risk factor, unlike the climatic period, which was not a determining factor in the occurrence of foot lesions
Serosurveillance of Pathogenic Leptospira in Ruminants from a Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Get PDFLeptospirosis can affect livestock health and production, potentially causing abortion, stillbirth, and infertility. An endemic presentation of infection in ruminants most likely occurs in southern Chile. A pilot study was conducted in a veterinary hospital in Puerto Montt to perform epidemiological surveillance to determine the seropositivity of pathogenic Leptospira in different ruminant species using a microscopic agglutination test (panel of eight serogroups) and to identify the most common serogroups and antibody titers in seropositive animals. Serum samples were collected from 43 ruminants (20 cattle, 18 sheep, 4 goats, and 1 alpaca). The overall seropositivity was 69.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 56.0–83.4), which is the highest rate reported so far in ruminants in the country. Elevated seropositivity was recorded in cattle (85.0%; 95% CI = 69.3%–100%), followed by sheep (66.7%; 95% CI = 45.0%–87.0%) and goats (25.0%; 95% CI = 0%–67.4%). The predominant serogroups were Tarassovi and Sejroe, followed by Autumnalis and Canicola, with different antibody titers according to the serogroup. It is recommended to consider the implementation of epidemiological surveillance for pathogenic Leptospira in different settings, such as other veterinary hospitals and farms, to elucidate the reproductive and economic consequences that the disease may cause in different ruminant species, and to apply preventive measures due to the zoonotic potential of the bacterium
Perception of Chilean dairy farmers facing the growing heat stress events in the country
Get PDFGlobal warming is one of the major problems worldwide that dairy farmers will have to cope with in the coming decades. Dairy cattle can cope with adverse weather conditions by modifying their physiological and behavioral mechanisms to maintain their body temperature within a normal range, but this can affect their performance and welfare. This study aimed to determine the perception of Chilean dairy farmers regarding the phenomena of heat stress. A survey was submitted by email to dairy farmers from different dairy production regions. Dairy producers from 28 communes in Chile answered the survey, covering almost all of the country’s dairy production regions. Most dairy farmers had more than 500 animals, with a predominantly grazing production system and all-year-round calving. The average milk yield was 7,226 L/cow/lactation, with the majority (85%) of the dairy farmers stating that they had some knowledge or ideas about what heat stress is, but only 46% stated that they know how it affects animals. Likewise, 91.6% were open to receiving training on this matter, and 88% were willing to have an app for cell phones, allowing them to monitor the risk of heat stress and provide suggestions to mitigate its impact on their production system. In conclusion, dairy farmers are worried about the effects of heat stress on their businesses and are willing to receive training and practical tools regarding heat stress in dairy cattle
Effects of a fine needle liver biopsy on the behavior and milk production of postpartum dairy cows
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a fine needle liver biopsy (FNB) on the behavior and milk production of postpartum dairy cows during and after the procedure. In Experiment 1, cows at 10 ± 1.1 days in milk were assigned to receive either a FNB (n = 26), involving collection of a liver sample using an 18G spinal needle under local anesthesia, or a sham procedure (n = 26). Behavioral responses during the procedure, such as vocalizations, kicking, and abrupt movements, were recorded and analyzed by a trained observer. In Experiment 2, a separate group of cows (n = 48), also at 10 ± 1.1 days in milk, underwent a FNB, and their daily lying behavior, rumination, and milk yield were monitored using automated sensors over three consecutive days: the day before (day -1, baseline), the day of (day 0), and the day after the procedure (day +1). No significant differences were observed in the behavioral responses between cows that received FNB and those that underwent the sham procedure. Post-procedure, daily lying time, rumination time, and milk yield remained stable compared to baseline values. On day +1, an increase in the number of lying bouts and a decrease in bout duration were noted. The results of this study indicate that liver FNB has little immediate or short-term effect on behavior or milk production, suggesting that it is a minimally painful procedure, supporting its suitability for clinical and research applications
Novel use of a 3-way stopcock for ventilatory monitoring during anesthesia in small birds
Get PDFA novel system using a 3-way stopcock and intravenous catheter enabled effective ventilatory monitoring and controlled anesthesia in nine birds (70–260 g) undergoing fracture repair. End-expired carbon dioxide was generally maintained near 40 mmHg without complications. This simple method provides a practical alternative for avian anesthesia in general veterinary settings
Correlations among morphometric traits, functional performance, and gluteal temperature in the Peruvian Paso horse
Get PDF
The morphometric traits of the Peruvian Paso horse (PPH) constitute a fundamental basis for establishing selection criteria aimed at optimizing functional performance. However, to date, no study has linked traits such as morphometric and gluteal temperature differences with functional performance during the paso gait. The present study aimed to determine the correlations between morphometric traits, functional performance, and gluteal temperature based on the evaluation of 151 individuals for which 35 traits were measured. Total and partial correlations were calculated to assess the relationships among these variables. Correlation analyses were performed using Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall methods, with partial effects controlled through MANCOVA. The results revealed that the PPH’s gait stems from coordinated forelimb–hindlimb neuromuscular control despite lateral-sequence decoupling; key morphometric traits are linked to performance and gluteal thermal patterns, supporting their use in selective breeding; and infrared thermography, combined with morphometric and kinematic data, offers a valuable non-invasive assessment tool advancing evidence-based breeding and management for this breed. This study represents the first comprehensive correlation analysis of the PPH, providing key insights for the selection of individuals with superior functional performance and greater biomechanical efficiency
Advancements and Challenges in Artificial Insemination Techniques for Wild Ruminant Conservation: A review
Get PDFBiodiversity is increasingly threatened by intensive agriculture, environmental pollution, climate change, and habitat loss, and many mammal species, including ruminants, have disappeared or are threatened with extinction. Therefore, reproductive biotechnologies represent an important alternative for the conservation of endangered species, being fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) the most widely used method, which has been extrapolated from livestock to wild ruminants. The main benefit of artificial insemination is the maintenance of the genetic diversity of populations through the preservation and use of semen from genetically valuable individuals. Variables, such as hormones and semen condition, can modify the efficiency of FTAI in domestic and wild animals. The aim of this review was to evaluate the different protocols and variations that have been reported in FTAI applied to different species of wild ruminants
Prevalence, risk factors, and hematologic changes in dogs from Baja California with presence of Ehrlichia spp., and coinfection with Anaplasma spp.
Get PDFEhrlichia and Anaplasma are obligate intracellular, gram-negative bacteria with tropism for hematopoietic cells, especially leukocytes and platelets. There are several Ehrlichia species that infect dogs. Ehrlichia canis is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus and replicates within monocytes and macrophages, leading to canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, a disease of worldwide distribution. The clinical signs are varied and non-specific. Anaplasma has two species that infect dogs, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys, the second also transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology and hematologic changes associated with the presence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. coinfection in dogs from Baja California. Complete hematological analysis, examination of buffy coat smears, and ELISA tests were performed on blood samples from three veterinary diagnostic laboratories from Mexicali and Tijuana cities in Baja California, Mexico. A total of 5,469 dog samples were analyzed. The overall prevalence of Ehrlichia spp., was 4.79%, with a distribution of 6.3% in Mexicali (OR: 2.39 CI: 1.69-3.17) and 2.5% in Tijuana. The peak of infection was found in September. Contact with other dogs and tick infestation were the risk factors associated with infection (P < 0.05). There was 96% co-infection only in Tijuana and 0% in Mexicali. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperproteinemia are associated with Ehrlichia spp., and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma infection. In view of the foregoing, we have to maintain epidemiologic vigilance, as well as look further into the ticks present in the state and the possibility of transmission of unusual pathogens
Identification of potentially harmful bacterial genera of veterinary relevance in the Llanquihue urban wetlands
Get PDFWater bodies constitute natural, social, and ecological heritage under constant threat from the footprint of human action. They are the habitats of many species and play a key role in sustaining biodiversity in different ecosystems. However, anthropogenic activity can result in eutrophication of water bodies, favoring the excessive growth of microorganisms, which can be a risk factor for animal, human, and environmental health. The Agricultural and Livestock Service [Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero, (SAG)] of Chile developed a list of Mandatory Reportable Diseases (MRD) to report suspected contagious diseases of veterinary relevance. In this sense, the detection of microorganisms in water bodies for the characterization of their sanitary status is important for the development of monitoring strategies and the prevention of possible diseases. This study aimed to determine the presence of potentially harmful bacteria in Llanquihue urban wetlands. Here, we used metagenomic sequencing of amplicons to characterize the composition of microorganisms in three urban wetlands in the city of Llanquihue, which could be a risk factor for animal health. Our main finding was the detection of genera that may be associated with MRD, in addition to other microbial genera that have pathogenic potential. On the other hand, we also report the presence of cyanobacteria genera that can be involved in toxin production in water bodies as another potential source of risk. This is the first study to use massive sequencing techniques to analyze the sanitary status of urban wetlands in the city of Llanquihue.