Sandra F. Amass

Evaluation of antibiotics for the elimination of the tonsillar carrier state of Streptococcus suis in pigs

Seventy clinically normal 13-day-old crossbred pigs from 10 litters from a Streptococcus suis-infected herd were randomly assigned by litter and weight to 7 groups of 10 pigs each to determine whether different antibiotic regimens would eliminate the tonsillar carrier state of S. suis. Six antimicrobial regimens were tested: penicillin intramuscularly (IM) once daily (s.i.d.) for 3 consecutive days; penicillin IM s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; ampicillin IM s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; ampicillin per os s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; ampicillin intranasally s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days; and ceftiofur sodium IM s.i.d. for 5 consecutive days. The seventh group consisted of untreated control pigs. Tonsillar swab samples were collected before treatment, and tonsillar tissue samples were collected after treatment for cultural examination for S. suis. Streptococcus suis was identified in pigs from all groups prior to treatment and after treatment. Pigs did not have clinical signs of disease during the study. All antimicrobial treatments tested in this study failed to eliminate the tonsillar carrier state of S. suis. Early weaning and medication used in this study were not effective for the elimination of the tonsillar carrier state of S. suis in pigs. Optimization of management and environment of pigs coupled with strategic medication of clinically ill animals should be used for control and prevention of mortality caused by streptococcosis.

Procedures for preventing the transmission of foot-and-mouth disease virus to pigs and sheep by personnel in contact with infected pigs

The most effective method of containing an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is by the culling of livestock. However, qualified people must diagnose the disease before the culling can begin, and they must avoid susceptible animals after having been in contact with infected premises, to prevent them from transmitting the virus. To test the effectiveness of biosecurity procedures in preventing the transmission of FMD virus (O/UK/35/2001) investigators contacted and sampled pigs inoculated with FMD virus for approximately 45 minutes and then contacted and sampled sentinel pigs and sheep after either using no biosecurity procedures, or washing their hands and donning clean outerwear, or showering and donning clean outerwear. The virus was detected in the nasal secretions of one investigator immediately after the postmortem investigation of the inoculated pigs but was not detected in samples collected between approximately 12 and 84 hours later. After the contaminated personnel had showered and changed into clean outerwear they did not transmit the strain of FMD virus to susceptible pigs and sheep.

Representations of the veterinary profession in nonfiction children's books

OBJECTIVE To evaluate how the veterinary profession is represented in nonfiction childrens books and determine whether representations reflect the current veterinary profession or the demographics of the United States. DESIGN Survey. SAMPLE Covers of 46 nonfiction childrens books and contents of 45 nonfiction childrens books. PROCEDURES Book covers and book contents (images and text) were evaluated for representations of veterinarians and to identify settings, clients, technology and equipment, and animals portrayed. Book contents were additionally evaluated to identify specialties and career opportunities specifically mentioned in the text. RESULTS Book covers predominantly portrayed veterinarians as Caucasian women who wore examination coats, worked alone in veterinary clinics, and cared for dogs without a client present. Book contents predominantly portrayed veterinarians as a Caucasian man or woman who wore an examination coat, worked as part of a team in a veterinary clinic, and helped clients care for dogs, cats, and exotic animals. Specialties and career opportunities in the veterinary profession were mentioned in the text of 29 of 45 (64.4%) books. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Nonfiction childrens book covers that focused on the veterinary profession portrayed a greater percentage of women than is currently found in the profession. Similarly, books portrayed a greater percentage of Caucasians than in the current or predicted US population. With the exception of Asians, books collectively represented lower or similar percentages of underrepresented minorities, compared with the US population. Veterinarians are encouraged to select books for individual children that portray veterinarians with whom the children can identify.