Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica最新文献

Background: Medication safety is a central component of patient safety. Although some studies on medication errors have been conducted in veterinary medicine, data on the prevalence and severity of errors remain scarce. This study investigated veterinary medication errors using Finnish authorative adverse event data about claimed medical malpractice. The study comprised a retrospective quantitative document analysis of 256 claims cases reviewed by the Assessment Board for Damages in Veterinary Practice between 2014 and 2023.

Results: A total of 87 cases met the inclusion criteria, in which 148 medication errors were identified. Medication errors occurred most frequently in dogs (n = 57/148, 65.5%) and horses (n = 12/148, 13.8%). The most common error type was omission of medication administration (n = 25/148, 16.9%). Fatal outcomes occurred in 21.8% of cases (n = 19/87), and an equal proportion (n = 19/87, 21.8%) involved severe adverse events resulting in injury or other life-threatening conditions. In total, 223 medications were involved, most commonly systemic antibacterials (n = 33/223, 14.8%), anti-inflammatory medications (n = 32/223, 14.3%), and anesthetics (n = 19/223, 8.5%). The oral route of administration was most frequent (n = 73/223, 32.7%). Most medication errors occurred during the decision-making phase (n = 85/148, 57.4%), and errors occurred most commonly in veterinary clinics and animal hospitals.

Conclusions: Targeted measures to strengthen the decision‑making phase of veterinary medication process are warranted. The most frequent medication groups associated with errors were NSAIDs, systemic antibacterial agents, and sedative and anesthetic medications. Further research is needed to better identify and prevent medication errors and to support the development of effective risk management strategies in veterinary medicine.

Background: Preservation of canine genetic material through epididymal sperm recovery and vitrification has gained increasing importance in breeding programs and germplasm conservation. The warming procedure represents a critical step affecting post-vitrification sperm survival and functionality. This study evaluated the effect of two warming temperatures on the quality of vitrified canine epididymal spermatozoa.

Methods: Epididymal spermatozoa were collected from twelve clinically healthy dogs undergoing routine orchiectomy. Samples were vitrified using a coconut water-based extender supplemented with egg yolk and subsequently warmed at either 37 °C or 42 °C for 2 min. Sperm quality was evaluated before vitrification and after warming by assessment of motility, viability, morphology, and kinematic parameters using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).

Results: Vitrification significantly reduced sperm quality compared with fresh samples. However, warming at 37 °C resulted in significantly higher total motility, viability, and percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa compared with warming at 42 °C. Several kinematic parameters were also better preserved following warming at 37 °C.

Conclusions: The warming protocol significantly influences post-vitrification quality of canine epididymal spermatozoa. Warming at 37 °C for 2 min provided superior preservation of sperm function compared with warming at 42 °C and may represent a practical approach for canine germplasm banking and assisted reproduction.

Somatic cell count (SCC) is widely used as an indicator of milk quality and udder health in ruminants; however, its interpretation in goats remains complex due to species-specific physiology and multifactorial variability. A key challenge in goat dairy production is distinguishing physiological from pathological SCC elevation. This critical narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on physiological, genetic, environmental, and inflammatory determinants of SCC in goat milk and evaluates their implications for milk quality and udder health assessment. The evidence indicates that SCC in goats is inherently elevated due to the apocrine milk secretion mechanism and is further influenced by factors such as lactation stage, parity, environmental conditions, and management practices. Genetic effects are moderate and context-dependent, while intramammary infection remains the primary pathological driver of SCC increase. These findings demonstrate that SCC cannot be reliably interpreted using fixed threshold values. Instead, its diagnostic value depends on context-dependent evaluation. Based on the reviewed evidence, an integrated framework for SCC interpretation is proposed, enabling differentiation between physiological and pathological SCC elevation. This approach supports more accurate diagnostic decision-making and improved milk quality management in goat production systems.

Background: The well-being, health and nutrition of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and the practice of reindeer husbandry in Fennoscandia are strongly affected by climate change and the loss and fragmentation of pastures. Supplementary feeding has become increasingly common to cope with limited pasture availability, especially to avoid starvation during winters with ice-locked pastures and challenging snow conditions. Increased reliance on feeding shifts traditional reindeer husbandry towards a more farm-like system and raises concerns about changes in reindeer foraging behaviour, increased stress and disease transmission. In this study, a questionnaire was conducted among reindeer herders in Norway and Sweden, to review the extent of supplementary feeding and to explore links between feeding strategies and observations of disease in reindeer. The study also evaluated factors affecting access to and use of veterinary services.

Results: A total of 76 respondents, 33 from Norway and 43 from Sweden, participated. Most (87%) had applied supplementary feeding between 2015 and 2021, mainly on free-range pasture, although we observed a non-significant increasing trend in feeding in enclosures during this period. Detailed analysis of the challenging winter of 2019-2020 showed that it was most common to feed a combination of roughage (hay or silage) and pellets, and feeding typically lasted longer than one month. The most frequently reported health issues included parasites, diarrhoea, abortion, and wet belly. Reports of diarrhoea, wet belly, and necrobacillosis were significantly more common in Sweden than in Norway. Multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrated an association between feeding in enclosures and diarrhoea. Veterinary services were used by 34% of the respondents for necropsies and 55% for clinical disease management, although many noted barriers such as cost and limited veterinary knowledge and expertise in reindeer health.

Conclusions: Supplementary feeding is widespread in reindeer husbandry in Norway and Sweden. Feeding in enclosures was associated with a higher incidence of diarrhoea. Continued competence building for good management decisions and veterinary services is essential for sustainable reindeer husbandry. An integrated One Health approach is key for the promotion of reindeer health and welfare and in preparedness for transmissible diseases among reindeer, domestic livestock and wildlife.

Background: Haemorrhage from the ovarian pedicle is a known complication at removal of ovaries in dogs. A resorbable self-locking device designed for surgical ligation was previously developed, aimed to keep the advantage of a self-locking loop at ligation and avoid the chronic tissue reactions of non-resorbable materials. The primary aim of the study was to continue to evaluate the feasibility and clinical performance of the device for ligation of the canine mesovarium in a prospective multicentre controlled study. Secondary aims were to compare perioperative complications, ligation time, and duration of surgery between the device and a traditional double ligature technique.

Results: In total, 72 intact female dogs destined for elective ovariohysterectomy were included in the study. The device was tested in 36 dogs across four centres, and 36 dogs were used as controls. Across all centres, body weights of device and control groups were 14.5 ± 1.0 kg and 14.9 ± 1.3 kg, respectively. The device group was 2.5 ± 0.3 years old and controls were 3.6 ± 0.4 years old. Estimating mean times from the linear mixed models gave ligation times for device and control groups of 4.4 ± 1.3 minutes and 4.5 ± 0.4 minutes, respectively. Duration of surgery for device and control groups were 21.3 ± 4.0 minutes and 16.7 ± 0.7 minutes, respectively. Both surgery and ligation times showed a significant centre-specific treatment effect. Two cases of intraoperative bleeding from the ovarian pedicles were observed in the control group. No postoperative complications were observed and all dogs recovered uneventfully.

Conclusions: The device could be used for compression of tissue of the ovarian pedicle, provided haemostasis and adequate support of tissue throughout the healing period. Time for double ligation and duration of surgery did not differ between groups. Centres with previous experience of using the device recorded shorter ligation times and duration of surgery, which suggests a learning curve.

Background: Feline histoplasmosis can have variable clinical presentations, it is rarely diagnosed in Europe and has not been diagnosed in Northern Europe and Baltics. We encountered a cluster of autochthonous cases of feline histoplasmosis in Latvia-a non-endemic region. In this paper we describe the diagnostic pathways, challenges and outcomes in three cats. We also report the first molecular confirmation of Histoplasma capsulatum in the Baltic region. Three domestic shorthaired cats presented with ulcerative or erosive skin lesions and were initially evaluated by cytology. Diagnostic follow-up included histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), serology and in one case a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We outlined several practical challenges of performing fungal diagnostics in Europe, these can be valuable to our colleagues.

Results: All three cases showed organisms consistent with Histoplasma species on cytological examination. Case 1: a feline immunodeficiency virus positive shelter cat with multiple ulcerative cutaneous lesions. Histopathology and IHC confirmed fungal infection suggestive of Histoplasma species. The cat was lost to follow-up. Case 2: A 3-year-old male cat with a single erosive facial lesion. The cat fully recovered with antifungal treatment. Case 3: A 6-year-old neutered male with multiple erosive skin lesions. The cat was humanely euthanized. Diagnosis was supported by cytology while results of histopathology and IHC were suggestive of Histoplasma species. Serology (urine and serum) were positive for H. capsulatum antigen and the diagnosis was confirmed by PCR. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the isolate provided the first molecular confirmation of feline histoplasmosis in the Baltic region.

Conclusions: We report the occurrence of clustered autochthonous feline histoplasmosis in Latvia and expand the recognized geographic range of molecularly confirmed disease in Europe. Our cases show the advantages of cytology as an initial diagnostic tool and highlight the utility of serology and molecular methods in regions with limited access to well-established diagnostic methods for non-endemic fungal diseases. Our findings suggest that histoplasmosis may be underdiagnosed in non-endemic areas and reinforce the need for heightened clinical awareness among veterinarians across Europe.

Background: Ram semen cryopreservation is associated with reduced post-thaw sperm quality, partly due to membrane destabilization and oxidative stress. This preliminary in vitro study compared trehalose, low-dose pentoxifylline, and MitoTEMPO, used individually or in combination, as additives for ram semen cryopreservation. Semen collected from six healthy Merino rams during the breeding season was pooled on each collection day and divided into eight treatment groups: control, trehalose (50 mM), pentoxifylline (0.25 or 0.5 µM), MitoTEMPO (0.025 or 0.05 mM), and two MitoTEMPO plus pentoxifylline combinations. This procedure produced eight pooled ejaculates per treatment group. After freezing and thawing, sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, capacitation status, total antioxidant capacity, and total oxidant status were evaluated.

Results: Trehalose and pentoxifylline at 0.5 µM significantly improved several post-thaw sperm quality traits. Compared with the control group, trehalose significantly increased post-thaw motility from 31.25 ± 4.43% to 42.50 ± 5.35%, plasma membrane integrity from 53.78 ± 2.47% to 65.29 ± 4.14%, and acrosome integrity from 54.66 ± 4.41% to 69.69 ± 1.48% (P < 0.05). Pentoxifylline at 0.5 µM also resulted in higher motility (40.63 ± 4.96%), plasma membrane integrity (64.24 ± 2.09%), and acrosome integrity (64.56 ± 2.69%) than the control group (P < 0.05). The overall treatment effect was significant for total oxidant status (P = 0.037) and total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.001). However, Sidak-adjusted pairwise comparisons did not identify significant differences between individual treatment groups for total oxidant status. MitoTEMPO alone did not significantly improve the main post-thaw sperm quality traits compared with the control group, and the MitoTEMPO plus pentoxifylline combinations did not provide a significant additional benefit. Capacitation status did not differ significantly among groups (P = 0.178).

Conclusions: Trehalose and pentoxifylline at 0.5 µM improved several in vitro post-thaw sperm quality traits and total antioxidant capacity of cryopreserved ram semen. Because the study used pooled ejaculates and did not include fertility trials, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary and require confirmation using individual ejaculates, objective sperm motion analysis, and fertility outcomes.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (ER) causes erysipelas in multiple animal species and may persist in the environment or be carried asymptomatically. It is estimated that 30-50% of apparently healthy or convalescent pigs harbour ER in their tonsils and other lymphoid tissues. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ER in the tonsils of healthy Swedish fattening pigs and wild boars. Tonsils were collected from 200 fattening pigs at slaughter from ten abattoirs across Sweden in 2017, with one pig per herd sampled. Wild boars (n = 180) were sampled during hunting, primarily in Östergötland County, in 2018. Cultures were performed using selective media and isolates were confirmed as ER by MALDI-TOF MS. ER was recovered from 6/200 pig tonsils (3.0%), all originating from three abattoirs in southern Sweden. ER was isolated from 76/167 (45.5%) of wild boar tonsils. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a high genetic diversity among the isolates with no dominant clones. Overall, these results indicate that Swedish pig husbandry, characterized by indoor rearing of fattening pigs, age-segregated rearing, sow vaccination, enhanced biosecurity, and restricted straw access largely prevents tonsillar colonization by ER aligning with the low occurrence of clinically diagnosed erysipelas in such herds. For wild boars, the high isolation rate suggests that wild boar could act as a reservoir and potential source of infection for domestic pigs. The potential zoonotic risk should also be considered.

Background: Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, is an emerging concern in human medicine, and is a controversial topic in equine medicine. Neuroborreliosis (NB), a neurologic manifestation of LB, remains challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs and the lack of definitive diagnostic methods. This report describes the first documented case of equine NB in Scandinavia.

Case presentation: An 11-year-old mare presented with progressive weight loss, ataxia, muscle atrophy, and hyperesthesia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed neutrophilic pleocytosis, elevated protein and a positive PCR result for Borrelia spp. The mare showed clinical improvement and long-term recovery following prolonged doxycycline therapy.

Conclusions: This case is the first reported case of neuroborreliosis in a horse in Scandinavia and supports the diagnostic relevance of CSF PCR in conjunction with clinical and cytological findings. It also underscores the potential for recovery in equine NB when early antimicrobial treatment is initiated.

Background: Canine diabetes mellitus (DM) is a relatively common endocrinopathy, and it requires dedication and commitment from an owner to care for a diabetic pet. This study aimed to describe treatment and monitoring habits, perceived owner and veterinary concerns when treating and monitoring a diabetic dog, as well as triggers for and risk of euthanasia in diabetic dogs among Norwegian veterinarians. A questionnaire was designed and made available online.

Results: A total of 125 veterinarians completed the survey. According to the data collected, the cumulative incidence risk for treatment initiation was 71.6% (95% CI 63.2, 80.6), suggesting that the respondents started most of the diabetic dogs seen in their practice on treatment. The majority of the respondents reported that all female entire diabetic dogs were neutered near the time of diagnosis. Main veterinary treatment concerns identified were difficulties in achieving rapid and adequate control. Main respondent-perceived owner concerns were cost and injecting their diabetic dog. About 60% of respondents had never used a continuous glucose monitor. Of respondents having used such monitors, half had experienced owners changing the insulin dose themselves, without consulting a veterinarian. Nearly one third of the veterinarians recalled that issues related to monitoring contributed directly to euthanasia of a diabetic dog in their care. The estimated one month and one year cumulative risk of euthanasia in dogs started on insulin therapy found in our study were 11.5% (95% CI 8.3, 14.6) and 26.9% (95% CI 22.0, 31.8), respectively. In our study population, respondents working in large cities were more likely to report a high probability of starting treatment than respondents in small cities and rural areas. Respondents in small cities and rural areas were also more likely to report medium and high risk of euthanasia compared to respondents in large cities, respectively. Veterinary-perceived owner triggers for euthanasia were dogs' quality of life, monitoring, and owners' lifestyle changes. For the respondents themselves, comorbidities were the leading factor reported for recommending euthanasia.

Conclusions: This questionnaire-based study describes perceived treatment concerns, and reasons for and estimates of euthanasia risk in dogs with DM, based on the experiences of veterinary practitioners working in Norway. The results highlight important aspects of the treatment and monitoring of dogs with DM, as well as triggers for euthanasia. Further investigations into the aspects identified could be useful to improve the overall care for diabetic dogs.