Owner reported diseases of working equids in central Ethiopia

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Working horses, donkeys and mules suffer from numerous diseases and clinical problems. However, there is little information on what owners perceive as important health concerns in their working animals. OBJECTIVES: To identify and prioritise with owners the diseases and other health concerns in working equids in central Ethiopia using participatory methodologies. STUDY DESIGN: Participatory situation analysis (PSA). METHODS: The study was conducted with carthorse- and donkey-owners in 16 sites in central Ethiopia. Multiple participatory methodologies were utilised, including ranking, matrices and focus group discussions. Owners' perceptions on frequency, importance, morbidity and mortality of volunteered diseases and the clinical signs that owners attributed to each disease were obtained; information regarding the impact of these diseases and health concerns was also sought. RESULTS: A total of 40 separate disease and health problems were volunteered by carthorse- and donkey-owners. Horse-owners volunteered a musculoskeletal syndrome (with the local name 'bird', clinical signs suggest possible disease pathologies including equine exertional rhabdomyolysis), colic and epizootic lymphangitis most frequently, whereas donkey-owners volunteered sarcoids, nasal discharge and wounds to occur most frequently. One problem (coughing) was volunteered frequently by both horse- and donkey-owners. Owners demonstrated knowledge of differing manifestations and severity of these problems, which resulted in differing impacts on the working ability of the animal. CONCLUSIONS: Although many of the diseases and clinical signs had been previously reported, this study also identified some previously unreported priorities such as rabies in donkeys, an unidentified musculoskeletal syndrome in horses and respiratory signs in both horses and donkeys. The information gathered during this participatory study with owners may be used to inform future veterinary and educational programme interventions, as well as identify future research priorities

Colic in a working horse population in Egypt: Prevalence and risk factors

Reasons for performing study Colic is an important health problem in managed horse populations. Currently, there is limited information about colic prevalence and risk factors for colic in working horse populations. Objectives To determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, colic in a working horse population in Egypt and to describe management practices in this working horse population. Study design Cross‐sectional survey. Methods Owners of 350 working horses were interviewed. Data about their horses, management and colic episodes in the preceding 12 months were collected. Dental examination was conducted on 342 horses and blood samples (n = 100) were collected for immunodiagnosis of tapeworm (Anoplocephala perfoliata) infection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for a history of colic in the preceding 12 months. Results The 12‐month prevalence of colic was 54.6%. Severe and moderate tapeworm infection intensity was identified in 3% and 26% of horses tested, respectively. Horses that had severe dental disease (odds ratio [OR ] 6.8, 95% confidence interval [CI ] 1.9–24.3, P<0.001), that displayed stereotypic behaviour (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.15–3.5, P = 0.013), were fed ground corn during the ‘dry season’ (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.03–2.6, P = 0.035) or that had received an anthelmintic in the previous 6 months (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.3, P = 0.003) were more likely to have a history of colic in the preceding 12 months. Horses fed on rice bran during the ‘green season’ (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26–0.9, P = 0.015) and that displayed geophagia/coprophagia (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.73, P = 0.001) were less likely to have a history of colic. Conclusions Colic is common in this working horse population and this study has identified factors associated with altered likelihood of colic. The study provides important information that may be used to inform future prospective studies investigating colic in working horse populations and to assist development of preventive healthcare strategies

Effects of Vitamin E Supplementation on Reducing Chronic Hemolysis in Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency

Background: Vitamin E works within the cell membrane as an antioxidant and may prevent destruction of RBC in G6PD deficient hemolytic anemia, which can be reflected by changes in peripheral blood film. Objective: To observe the role of vitamin E supplementation on restoring normal cell types in peripheral blood film in order to evaluate the role of this antioxidant vitamin in reducing chronic hemolysis in G6PD deficient patients. Method: Total 102 subjects, age range from 5-40 years of both sexes were included in the study. Among them 68 were G6PD enzyme deficient patients, of whom 34 were in non-supplemented group (Group B) and 34 were in supplemented group (Group C). Both group B and C were divided into Group B1 and C1 (on day 1 ) and also into B2 and C2 (on day 60) respectively. Supplemented group received vitamin E supplementation for 60 consecutive days (800 IU/day for adult and 400 IU/day for children in a divided dose i,e. 4 times daily). Age and sex matched 34 apparently healthy subjects with normal G6PD level (Group A) were also taken to observe baseline data. Determination of Erythrocyte G6PD level and preparation of peripheral blood film were done on day 1 for all groups and also on day 60 in deficient groups. Results: Percentage of subjects with presence of some abnormal red cells in peripheral blood film was significantly higher in patients of hemolytic anemia with G6PD deficiency in comparison to that of healthy control. After supplementation with vitamin E (i,e. on day-60) this percentage was significantly decreased towards those of healthy control in their supplemented group in comparison to that of pre-supplemented (day-1) and nonsupplemented groups. Conclusion: Some abnormal red cells may be found in peripheral blood film of G6PD deficient patients, improvement of which occur following vitamin E supplementation, and thereby indicates role of this antioxidant vitamin in reducing the rate of hemolysis. Key words: G6PD deficiency; Peripheral blood film; Vitamin E DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbsp.v6i1.8088 J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2011 June; 6(1): 70-76 </jats:p

An exploration of patient decision-making for autologous breast reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy

The aim of this study was to examine patients' experiences of the decision to undergo breast reconstructive surgery following mastectomy