1,721,111 research outputs found
Age determination in dog puppies by teeth examination: legal, health and welfare implications, review of the literature and practical considerations
Full text linkAge determination of puppies represents a significant issue of animal welfare and forensic medicine, particularly for what concerns trade and imports of dogs. Despite the movement of puppy dogs before the age of 15 weeks is forbidden by Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, the occurrence of illegal transport of younger puppies is not uncommon. The illegal trade of puppies increases instances of falsified documentation, the counterfeit of vaccine certificates and discrepancies between the declared age and the real age of the puppies. Consequently, determining the exact age of animals and evaluating their welfare become legally crucial. Dental examination currently represents the most common approach to estimate the age of a puppy in clinical practice and in forensic investigations. In this work we addressed the legal, health and welfare issues associated with dogs' trade and import and we reviewed the existing literature referring to the assessment of age in dogs by dental examination. The imprecision and inaccuracy of this method make it poorly convincing in legal proceedings. The reasons for such vagueness are to be ascribed both to the lack of standardization and to many variability factors (size, breed, sex, diet, etc.) which influence dental eruption and development
The reliability and forensic soundness of the equine shin circumference measurement in living animals versus post‐mortem examination
Full text linkNel cavallo sportivo le lesioni interessano con maggiore frequenza la regione del metacarpo. Numerosi studi si sono occupati delle fratture a carico degli arti del cavallo ma pochi hanno indagato le possibili relazioni tra l’insorgenza di fratture e la morfometria dei segmenti ossei interessati. Tuttavia, nei regolamenti di alcune corse tradizionali italiane, come il Palio di Siena, la misurazione della circonferenza dello stinco rappresenta un requisito imprescindibile affinché il cavallo possa essere ammesso alla corsa. Scopo dello studio è stato verificare quanto la misurazione della circonferenza dello stinco eseguita nell’ambito dell’esame post‐mortem possa differire da quella rilevata sull’animale in vita, per valutare la validità del suo impiego in ambito forense. A tal fine sono stati esaminati gli arti anteriori di undici cavalli appartenenti a cinque differenti razze. La circonferenza dello stinco è stata misurata in tre momenti: nell’animale in vita subito prima della macellazione o dell’eutanasia, cinque ore dopo la morte e, infine, dopo un periodo di conservazione a ‐20°C per 14 giorni. Gli arti sezionati nel corso delle due misurazioni post‐mortem sono stati inoltre pesati. La circonferenza media degli stinchi degli animali in vita è risultata di 24,0 ± 2,4 cm, di 22,9 ± 2,5 cm cinque ore dopo la morte e di 22,4 ± 2,3 cm dopo conservazione a ‐20°C per 14 giorni. La differenza tra queste misure si è rivelata statisticamente significativa (P < 0,001). Tra la misurazione effettuata nell’immediato post‐mortem e quella successiva allo scongelamento è stato inoltre registrato un significativo calo del peso medio degli arti sezionati, pari al 9,3% (P < 0,001). Secondo questo studio, la validità della misurazione della circonferenza dello stinco in ambito forense risulta essere limitata dato che la rilevazione post‐mortem, anche a distanza di poche ore dal decesso dell’animale, sottostima la circonferenza misurata nell’animale in vita.Catastrophic injuries in racehorses mostly involve the metacarpal region. Although many studies describe fractures of equine limbs, few examine the relationship between bone morphometrics and musculoskeletal problems in racing horses. And yet, according to the regulation of some Italian traditional races, the shin circumference represents a qualifying prerequisite for horses to be admitted to races. This study aims to evaluate the conformity of the shin circumference measurement in living animals and in post‐mortem examinations, in order to evaluate the forensic reliability of these measurements. The right and left distal forelimbs from 11 horses of 5 different breeds were examined. The shin circumference was measured at 3 time points: in the living animal before slaughter/euthanasia, 5 hours post‐mortem, and after 14‐days of cold storage. The isolated limbs were also weighed in both of the post‐mortem examinations. In the examined sample, the mean shin circumference was 24.0 ± 2.4 cm in living animals, 22.9 ± 2.5 cm 5 hours post‐mortem, and 22.4 ± 2.3 cm after 14‐days of cold storage, with a highly significant difference between these measurements (P < 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in the limbs' weight between the 2 post‐mortem examinations (P < 0.001). According to our findings, the post‐mortem measurement significantly underestimates the in vivo dimensions of the shin circumference, even when performed a few hours after death; the forensic soundness of this parameter is therefore limited
First Report on Medical Treatment and Outcome of Burnt Cattle
Full text linkThe management of livestock affected by fire often comes down to two options: euthanasia or slaughtering. However, the therapeutic approach can be attempted for high-value cattle. The aim of a primary assessment is to identify signs of smoke inhalation injuries, cardiovascular impairment and shock and to determine the severity and extent of burn injuries. Full-thickness burns covering 40% or more of the body are highly unfavorable prognostic factors and are usually fatal. Moreover, it can take several days for the burns to appear in their full extent, leaving the prognosis uncertain. In this case report, the clinical findings, treatment and outcome of two burnt Holstein heifers are described. Daily wound care required cleaning, the removal of eschars and the application of topical antibacterial agents for seven months in order to discharge one heifer. The topical use of honey with a solution of povidone–iodine proved to be affordable and successful, with no residue risks. The other heifer was more severely wounded, and despite the administration of fluid therapy, pain management, anti-oxidants and anti-microbials, after initial stabilization, the animal’s condition worsened, leading to euthanasia. This confirms that the treatment of burnt cattle is possible but challenging due to the late onset of multi-organ failure
Indoor domestic canine scavenging: A literature review
Full text linkScavenging occurs whenever a body is accessible to animals which depredate post-mortem, leading to tissue modification and consumption. In forensic investigations, the consequences of indoor scavenging are associated with the capacity of dogs to destroy or scatter body parts, creating post-mortem artefacts that pose challenges for forensic pathologists and veterinarians in determining the cause and dynamics of death and the time of death estimation. The purpose of this study is to provide a literature review on the forensic implications of indoor domestic dog scavenging, in order to discuss victim and dog characteristics, injury patterns, and identification methods. The literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from January 1950 to March 2024. Eligible studies have investigated issues of interest (forensic veterinary medicine, forensic pathology, forensic genetics). A total of 38 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review and they were organized and discussed by issue of interest (Victim risk factors, assessment of canine behavioral and physical conditions, anatomical distribution of post-mortem injuries, assessment of ante-mortem injuries and setting, identification of scavenging dog). The findings of this systematic review underscore the importance of paying particular attention to the condition of the individuals involved, especially isolated elderly individuals, as well as to the results of physical examinations and autopsies. These may provide crucial information regarding the distribution and vitality of lesions. Additionally, the potential benefits of a multidisciplinary approach are emphasized, based on close cooperation between veterinarians, crime scene personnel, medicolegal experts, and prosecutors
Haematological parameters, acid-base balance, electrolytes and blood metabolites in Alpine kids from birth to 72 hours of life
No full textOccupational Hazards in Veterinarians: An Updating
Full text linkBackground: The veterinarian is a complex and varied work: risks in veterinary activity show are more typical of manual work than medical profession. Many reviews analyzed occupational risks related to veterinarians, but compared to the past current risks are more different. This review analyzes veterinary profession considering main occupational risk factors, as defined by World Health Organization: physical, chemical, biological or other agents that may cause harm to an exposed person in the workplace and is potentially modifiable.
Methods: Publications investigating physical, chemical, biological, cancer and stress risk as well as effects associated with these exposures through veterinary practice were searched in the PubMed and Web of Science database. Publications were judged to be covered in the review when the following inclusion criteria applied:
Articles should be published in the English language;
Articles published after 2000;
Studies reporting some numerical data about exposures and subjects considered;
Studies concerning health effects regarding only veterinarians associated with exposure to animals, not general population.
Results: Compared to the past, when the main risk of occupational disease was represented by zoonosis (in particular mycotic infections, mange, swine erysipelas, anthrax and tuberculosis), current risks are also represented by new entities such as mental and physical stress. However injuries, radiations, chemicals, zoonosis and allergies continue to represent a considerable portion of professional risks.
Conclusions: Zoonosis, injuries and trauma remain the main occupational risk for veterinarians today, but new emerging risks, such as psychological risks are becoming increasingly important for these workers
Effects of Tail Docking in sheep on histological features of the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm
No full textTail docking in sheep husbandry is often performed due to tradition rather than necessity. This practice causes mild to moderate acute pain and the magnitude of the pain associated with tail removal seems to be related to length of tail removed. Ultra-short docking increases the risk of rectal and vaginal prolapse at lambing relative to sheep with longer tails and predisposes to neuroma and nerve degeneration.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the histological features of the muscles and the related nerves of the pelvic diaphragm in adult sheep subjected in the past to caudectomy as well as in intact lambs.
After euthanasia, small samples of external anal sphincter, levator ani, coccygeal muscles and branches of deep perineal nerve were obtained, processed according to the usual histological techniques and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome.
The results showed changes in shape and size of the muscle fibers of the adult sheep. In fact, enlarged or “moth-eaten” fibers were observed amidst normal sized fibers in each of the three muscles of the pelvic diaphragm; furthermore, some internal nuclei were observed. On the contrary, the lambs’ muscles appeared normal.
Conversely, the nerve fibers were found to be normal both in sheep and lambs.
The muscle abnormalities observed in tail-docked sheep suggest that caudectomy, in the long term, may predispose to prolapses.
Improved understanding of the long-term consequences of tail docking, especially the possibility of chronic pain, is needed
Human Brody disease and its animal model cattle pseudomyotonia: from understanding the pathogenetic mechanism to the identification of novel therapeutic approaches
No full textHuman Brody myopathy is a rare skeletal muscle disorder due to SERCA1 deficiency, resulting from mutations of ATP2A1 gene. The main clinical signs are exercise-induced stiffness and delayed muscular relaxation after physical exercises even mild, and muscles involved are prevalently voluntary muscles used for movement as legs, arms but also eyelids.
SERCA1 isoform is responsible for transporting Ca2+ from cytosol to the lumen of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and controlling intracellular Ca2+ concentration. SERCA1 deficiency is responsible for impairment of muscle relaxation, after contraction, due to prolonged increase of calcium concentration in skeletal muscle fibers cytoplasm.
Our research group has demonstrated that Chianina cattle congenital pseudomyotonia represents the true counterpart of Brody myopathy. This is not surprising since, in the last years, the counterparts of human pathologies have been found in many domestic mammalian species. Interestingly, a missense mutation in the ATP2A1 gene is responsible for the pseudomyotonia phenotype and it has been clarified that the pathogenic mechanism underling pseudomyotonia involves ubiquitin-proteasome system degradation of the mutated bovine SERCA1.
At present, neither specific therapy nor mouse model for Brody myopathy exists. However, we have recently designed and proven in vitro a novel pharmacological approach based on the employment of protein folding correctors named CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator) exploited in Cystic Fibrosis, which help SERCA1 mutants to properly fold.
These data have been confirmed by those obtained ex vivo on adult skeletal muscle fibres from a biopsy from a pseudomyotonia affected subject. Moreover, local treatments of bovine pseudomyotonia muscle with the most effective in vitro CFTR corrector, although not easy, but show quite promising results
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