Browsing by Author "Werre, Stephen R."

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    Adrenocortical Challenge Response and Genomic Analyses in Scottish Terriers With Increased Alkaline Phosphate Activity
    Zimmerman, Kurt L.; Panciera, David L.; Hoeschele, Ina; Monroe, William E.; Todd, S. Michelle; Werre, Stephen R.; LeRoith, Tanya; Fecteau, Kellie; Lake, Bathilda B. (Frontiers, 2018-10-09)
    Scottish terriers (ST) frequently have increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the steroid isoform. Many of these also have high serum concentrations of adrenal sex steroids. The study’s objective was to determine the cause of increased sex steroids in ST with increased ALP. Adrenal gland suppression and stimulation were compared by low dose dexamethasone (LDDS), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response tests. Resting plasma pituitary hormones were measured. Steroidogenesis-related mRNA expression was evaluated in six ST with increased ALP, eight dogs of other breeds with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), and seven normal dogs. The genome-wide association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with ALP activity was evaluated in 168 ST. ALP (reference interval 8–70 U/L) was high in all ST (1,054 U/L) and HAC (985 U/L) dogs. All HAC dogs and 2/8 ST had increased cortisol post-ACTH administration. All ST and 2/7 Normal dogs had increased sex steroids post-ACTH. ST and Normal dogs had similar post-challenge adrenal steroid profiles following LDDS and HCG. Surprisingly, mRNA of hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 2 (HSD17B2) was lower in ST and Normal dogs than HAC. HSD17B2 facilities metabolism of sex steroids. A SNP region was identified on chromosome 5 in proximity to HSD17B2 that correlated with increased serum ALP. ST in this study with increased ALP had a normal pituitary-adrenal axis in relationship to glucocorticoids and luteinizing hormone.We speculate the identified SNP and HSD17B2 gene may have a role in the pathogenesis of elevated sex steroids and ALP in ST.
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    Bead size has a greater effect on in vitro elution from antimicrobial-impregnated calcium sulfate beads than drug concentration
    Olsen, Ronald S.; Sawyere, Dominique M.; Davis, Jennifer L.; Lanz, Otto I.; Werre, Stephen R. (American Veterinary Medical Association, 2023-05)
    OBJECTIVE To compare the elution characteristics of amikacin-impregnated calcium sulfate (CaSO4) beads based on different drug concentrations and bead size configurations. SAMPLE Six groups of amikacin-impregnated CaSO4 beads and one negative control group. PROCEDURES Amikacin-impregnated CaSO4 beads were formed with either 500 mg (low-concentration) or 1 g (high-concentration) of amikacin per 15 g CaSO4 hemihydrate powder. The number of beads necessary to approximate 150 mg of amikacin for each of the 3 bead sizes (3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm) at both low and high concentrations were placed in 6 mL of phosphate-buffered saline. The saline was sampled at 14 time points over 28 days. Amikacin concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS Smaller beads reached higher mean peak concentrations than larger beads (P < .0006). Peak concentrations for the low-and high-concentration groups were 20.5 mg/mL and 27.4 mg/mL, 13.1 mg/mL and 14.0 mg/mL, and 8.85 mg/mL and 6.75 mg/mL for the 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm beads, respectively. Bead size also affected the length of therapeutic duration, lasting 6 days for the 3 mm and 5 mm beads and 9 days for the 7 mm beads. However, this was only statistically evident among the high-concentration beads (P < .044). Antimicrobial concentration within the same bead sizes did not affect elution. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Amikacin-impregnated CaSO4 beads achieved extreme supratherapeutic eluent concentrations. While additional studies are needed, bead size significantly affected elution with smaller beads reaching higher peak concentrations and 7 mm, high-concentration beads demonstrating a longer therapeutic duration than smaller beads.
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    Can levamisole upregulate the equine cell-mediated macrophage (M1) dendritic cell (DC1) T-helper 1 (CD4 Th1) T-cytotoxic (CD8) immune response in vitro?
    Witonsky, Sharon G.; Buechner-Maxwell, Virginia A.; Santonastasto, Amy; Pleasant, R. Scott; Werre, Stephen R.; Wagner, Bettina; Ellison, Siobhan; Lindsay, David S. (Wiley, 2019-03-01)
    Background: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a common and devastating neurologic disease of horses in the United States. Because some EPM-affected horses have decreased immune responses, immunomodulators such as levamisole have been proposed as supplemental treatments. However, little is known about levamisole's effects or its mechanism of action in horses. Objective: Levamisole in combination with another mitogen will stimulate a macrophage 1 (M1), dendritic cell 1 (DC1), T-helper 1 (CD4 Th1), and T-cytotoxic (CD8) immune response in equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro as compared to mitogen alone. Animals: Ten neurologically normal adult horses serologically negative for Sarcocystis neurona. Methods: Prospective study. Optimal conditions for levamisole were determined based on cellular proliferation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were then cultured using optimal conditions of mitogen and levamisole to identify the immune phenotype, based on subset-specific activation markers, intracellular cytokine production, and cytokine concentrations in cell supernatants. Subset-specific proliferation was determined using a vital stain. Results: Concanavalin A (conA) with levamisole, but not levamisole alone, resulted in a significant decrease (P <.05) in PBMC proliferation compared to conA alone. Levamisole alone did not elicit a specific immune phenotype different than that induced by conA. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Levamisole co-cultured with conA significantly attenuated the PBMC proliferative response as compared with conA. If the mechanisms by which levamisole modulates the immune phenotype can be further defined, levamisole may have potential use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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    Characterization of basal and lipopolysaccharide-induced microRNA expression in equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells using Next-Generation Sequencing
    Parkinson, Nicholas J.; Buechner-Maxwell, Virginia A.; Witonsky, Sharon G.; Pleasant, R. Scott; Werre, Stephen R.; Ahmed, Sattar Ansar (PLOS, 2017-05-26)
    The innate immune response to lipopolysaccharide contributes substantially to the morbidity and mortality of gram-negative sepsis. Horses and humans share an exquisite sensitivity to lipopolysaccharide and thus the horse may provide valuable comparative insights into this aspect of the inflammatory response. MicroRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules acting as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, have key roles in toll-like receptor signaling regulation but have not been studied in this context in horses. The central hypothesis of this study was that lipopolysaccharide induces differential microRNA expression in equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a manner comparable to humans. Illumina Next Generation Sequencing was used to characterize the basal microRNA transcriptome in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy adult horses, and to evaluate LPS-induced changes in microRNA expression in cells cultured for up to four hours. Selected expression changes were validated using quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Only miR-155 was significantly upregulated by LPS, changing in parallel with supernatant tumor necrosis factor-α concentration. Eight additional microRNAs, including miR-146a and miR-146b, showed significant expression change with time in culture without a clear LPS effect. Target predictions indicated a number of potential immunity-associated targets for miR-155 in the horse, including SOCS1, TAB2 and elements of the PI3K signaling pathway, suggesting that it is likely to influence the acute inflammatory response to LPS. Gene alignment showed extensive conservation of the miR-155 precursor gene and associated promoter regions between horses and humans. The basal and LPS-stimulated microRNA expression pattern characterized here were similar to those described in human leukocytes. As well as providing a resource for further research into the roles of microRNAs in immune responses in horses, this will facilitate inter-species comparative study of the role of microRNAs in the inflammatory cascade during endotoxemia and sepsis.
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    Comparison of diagnostic techniques for detection of Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats
    Saleh, Meriam N.; Heptinstall, Jack R.; Johnson, Eileen M.; Ballweber, Lora R.; Lindsay, David S.; Werre, Stephen R.; Herbein, Joel F.; Zajac, Anne M. (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2019-05)
    Background An evaluation of currently available in-clinic diagnostic tests for Giardia duodenalis infection of dogs and cats has not been performed. In addition, there is discordance among published diagnostic comparisons. The absence of a true gold standard for detecting Giardia duodenalis also complicates diagnostic evaluations. Objectives To evaluate diagnostic tests commercially available in the United States for detecting Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats, in comparison to a widely used reference test, the direct immunofluorescent assay (IFA), and also to compare the results of 2 methods of analysis: comparison of diagnostic tests to a reference test (IFA) and Bayesian analysis. Animals Fecal samples from a convenience sample of 388 cats and dogs located in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Virginia. Methods Fecal samples were tested for Giardia duodenalis by zinc sulfate centrifugal fecal flotation and 4 different commercial diagnostic immunoassays. Results were analyzed via Bayesian analysis and by comparison to the IFA as the reference test. Results Sensitivity and specificity by comparison to IFA was >= 82% and >= 90%, respectively, for all diagnostic tests in dogs and cats. When analyzed via Bayesian analysis, sensitivity and specificity were >= 83% and >= 95%, respectively. When ZnSO4 centrifugal fecal flotation results were combined with immunoassay results, there was no longer a significant difference between the sensitivities of the commercial in-clinic immunoassays. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance The Bayesian analysis validates using IFA as the reference test. Differences in commercial in-clinic immunoassay sensitivities can be mitigated when the results are combined with ZnSO4 centrifugal fecal flotation results.
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    Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Are Equivalent in Mensuration and Similarly Inaccurate in Grade and Type Predictability of Canine Intracranial Gliomas
    Stadler, Krystina L.; Ruth, Jeffrey D.; Pancotto, Theresa E.; Werre, Stephen R.; Rossmeisl, John H. Jr. (Frontiers, 2017-09-25)
    While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold-standard imaging modality for diagnosis of intracranial neoplasia, computed tomography (CT) remains commonly used for diagnosis and therapeutic planning in veterinary medicine. Despite the routine use of both imaging modalities, comparison of CT and MRI has not been described in the canine patient. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate CT and MRI studies of 15 dogs with histologically confirmed glioma. Multiple lesion measurements were obtained, including two-dimensional and volumetric dimensions in pre-contrast and post-contrast images. Similar measurement techniques were compared between CT and MRI. The glioma type (astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma) and grade (high or low) were predicted on CT and MRI independently. With the exception of the comparison between CT pre-contrast volume to T2-weighted MRI volume, no other statistical differences between CT and MRI measurements were identified. Overall accuracy for tumor grade (high or low) was 46.7 and 53.3% for CT and MRI, respectively. For predicted tumor type, accuracy of CT was 53.3% and MRI and MRI 60%. Based on the results of this study, both CT and MRI contrast measurement techniques are considered equivalent options for lesion mensuration. Given the low-to-moderate predictability of CT and MRI in glioma diagnosis, histopathology remains necessary for accurate diagnosis of canine brain tumors.
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    Congenital infection of mice with toxoplasma gondii induces minimal change in behavior and no change in neurotransmitter concentrations
    Goodwin, David G.; Hrubec, Terry C.; Klein, Bradley G.; Strobl, Jeannine S.; Werre, Stephen R.; Han, Qian; Zajac, Anne M.; Lindsay, David S. (American Society of Parasitology, 2012-08-01)
    We examined the effect of maternal Toxoplasma gondii infection on behavior and the neurotransmitter concentrations of congenitally infected CD-I mice at 4 and 8 wk of age when latent tissue cysts would be present in their brains. Because of sex-associated behavioral changes that develop during aging, infected female mice were compared with control females and infected male mice were compared with control males. Only the short memory behavior (distance between goal box and first hole investigated) of male mice congenitally infected with T. gondii was significantly different (P < 0.05) from that of uninfected control males at both 4 and 8 wk by using the Barnes maze test. The other parameters examined in the latter test, i.e., functional observational battery tests, virtual cliff, visual placement, and activity tests, were not significantly different (P > 0.05) at 4 and 8 wk. Concentrations of neurotransmitters and their metabolites (dopamine; 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid; homovanillic acid; norepinephrine; epinephrine; 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol; serotonin; and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) in the frontal cortex and striatum were not different (P > 0.05) between infected and control mice at 8 wk of age. The exact mechanism for the observed effect on short-term memory in male mice is not known, and further investigation may help elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with the proposed link between behavioral changes and T gondil infection in animals. We were not able, however, to confirm the widely held belief that changes in neurotransmitters result from chronic T. gondii infection of the brain.
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    Defining an Optimal Range of Centrifugation Parameters for Canine Semen Processing
    Sugai, Nicole; Werre, Stephen R.; Cecere, Julie; Balogh, Orsolya (MDPI, 2023-04-21)
    Our objective was to determine a clinically relevant range of centrifugation parameters for processing canine semen. We hypothesized that higher gravitational (g) force and longer time of centrifugation would result in improved spermatozoa recovery rate (RR) but poorer semen quality. Cooled storage under standard shipping conditions was used as a stressor to evaluate long-term treatment effects. Individual ejaculates collected from 14 healthy dogs were split into six treatment groups (400 g, 720 g, and 900 g for 5 or 10 min). Sperm RR (%) was calculated post-centrifugation, and plasma membrane integrity (%, Nucleocounter® SP-100™), total and progressive motility (%, subjective and computer-assisted sperm analysis), and morphology (%, eosin-nigrosin staining) were assessed on initial raw semen (T0), post-centrifugation (T1), and 24 h (T2) and 48 h (T3) after cooling. Sperm losses were minimal, and RRs were similar across treatment groups (median >98%, p ≥ 0.062). Spermatozoa membrane integrity was not different between centrifugation groups at any time point (p ≥ 0.38) but declined significantly during cooling (T1 vs. T2/T3, p ≤ 0.001). Similarly, total and progressive motility did not differ across treatments but declined in all groups from T1 to T3 (p ≤ 0.02). In conclusion, our study showed that centrifugation within a range of 400 g–900 g for 5–10 min is appropriate for processing canine semen.
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    Demographics, perceptions, and socioeconomic factors affecting influenza vaccination among adults in the United States
    Abbas, Kaja M.; Kang, Gloria J.; Chen, Daniel; Werre, Stephen R.; Marathe, Achla (PeerJ, 2018-07-13)
    Objective. The study objective is to analyze influenza vaccination status by demographic factors, perceived vaccine efficacy, social influence, herd immunity, vaccine cost, health insurance status, and barriers to influenza vaccination among adults 18 years and older in the United States. Background. Influenza vaccination coverage among adults 18 years and older was 41% during 2010 2011 and has increased and plateaued at 43% during 2016 2017. This is below the target of 70% influenza vaccination coverage among adults, which is an objective of the Healthy People 2020 initiative. Methods. We conducted a survey of a nationally representative sample of adults 18 years and older in the United States on factors affecting influenza vaccination. We conducted bivariate analysis using Rao-Scott chi-square test and multivariate analysis using weighted multinomial logistic regression of this survey data to determine the effect of demographics, perceived vaccine efficacy, social influence, herd immunity, vaccine cost, health insurance, and barriers associated with influenza vaccination uptake among adults in the United States. Results. Influenza vaccination rates are relatively high among adults in older age groups (73.3% among 75Cyear old), adults with education levels of bachelor's degree or higher (45.1%), non-Hispanic Whites (41.8%), adults with higher incomes (52.8% among adults with income of over $150,000), partnered adults (43.2%), non-working adults (46.2%), and adults with internet access (39.9%). Influenza vaccine is taken every year by 76% of adults who perceive that the vaccine is very effective, 64.2% of adults who are socially influenced by others, and 41.8% of adults with health insurance, while 72.3% of adults without health insurance never get vaccinated. Facilitators for adults getting vaccinated every year in comparison to only some years include older age, perception of high vaccine effectiveness, higher income and no out-of-pocket payments. Barriers for adults never getting vaccinated in comparison to only some years include lack of health insurance, disliking of shots, perception of low vaccine effectiveness, low perception of risk for influenza infection, and perception of risky side effects. Conclusion. Influenza vaccination rates among adults in the United States can be improved towards the Healthy People 2020 target of 70% by increasing awareness of the safety, efficacy and need for influenza vaccination, leveraging the practices and principles of commercial and social marketing to improve vaccine trust, confidence and acceptance, and lowering out-of-pocket expenses and covering influenza vaccination costs through health insurance.
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    Development and Evaluation of a Caregiver Reported Quality of Life Assessment Instrument in Dogs With Intracranial Disease
    Weiske, Rebecca; Sroufe, Maureen; Quigley, Mindy; Pancotto, Theresa E.; Werre, Stephen R.; Rossmeisl, John H. Jr. (2020-08-18)
    In veterinary medicine, quality of life (QOL) assessment instruments, which are important components of the holistic evaluation of treatment success, have largely not included organ-specific concerns that may be broadly relevant to caregivers of dogs with intracranial disease. The objective of this study was to identify core questionnaire items and domains that contribute to health-related QOL (HRQOL) in dogs with intracranial disease. A questionnaire was developed that contained 39 QOL-related items encompassing physical, social/companionship, and brain-specific domains associated with the treatment of dogs with intracranial disease, and administered to caregivers of 56 dogs diagnosed with genetic, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic, and vascular brain diseases, 52 healthy dogs, and 20 dogs with non-neurological illnesses. Clinician derived functional measures of each dog's health status including chronic pain, Karnofsky performance, and modified Glasgow coma scale scores were also recorded. Principal component analysis refined the final questionnaire, termed the CanBrainQOL-24, to 24-items within the three domains with a minimum Cronbach's alpha of 0.7, indicative of good internal consistency. The CanBrainQOL-24 discriminated between healthy and diseased dogs. Physical and brain-specific domains were significantly different between dogs with intracranial and non-neurological diseases. Significant correlations were observed between owner reported visual analog scores and CanBrainQOL-24 scores, as well between clinician derived functional status measures and owner reported QOL. The CanBrainQOL-24 contains core questions relevant to caregiver assessment of HRQOL in dogs with a variety of intracranial diseases, and provides information that is complementary to clinician derived functional outcome measures.
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    Effect of a single intra-articular injection of bupivacaine on synovial fluid prostaglandin E2 concentrations in normal canine stifles
    Giangarra, Jenna E.; Barry, Sabrina L.; Dahlgren, Linda A.; Lanz, Otto I.; Benitez, Marian E.; Werre, Stephen R. (2018-04-25)
    Objective: To identify if synovial fluid prostaglandin E2 increases in response to a single intra-articular dose of bupivacaine in the normal canine stifle. Results: There were no significant differences in synovial fluid prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations between treatment groups or over time within bupivacaine or saline groups. Samples requiring ≥ 3 arthrocentesis attempts had significantly higher PGE2 concentrations compared to samples requiring 1 or 2 attempts. Following correction for number of arthrocentesis attempts, PGE2 concentrations were significantly higher than baseline at 24 and 48 h in the bupivacaine group; however there were no significant differences between the bupivacaine and saline groups. In normal dogs, a single bupivacaine injection did not cause significant synovial inflammation, as measured by PGE2 concentrations, compared to saline controls. Future research should minimize aspiration attempts and include evaluation of the synovial response to bupivacaine in clinical cases with joint disease.
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    Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses
    Patton, Molly E.; Andrews, Frank M.; Bogers, Sophie Helen; Wong, David; McKenzie, Harold C.; Werre, Stephen R.; Byron, Christopher R. (MDPI, 2023-08-04)
    Ileus is a common life-threatening problem in horses, and currently available treatments may be ineffective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bit chewing, a form of sham feeding, decreases the gastric emptying time (GET), small intestinal transit time (SITT), and total orocecal transit time (OCTT) in clinically normal horses in a prospective crossover study. Nine healthy horses were acclimated and fed a standardized diet. Following 24 h of fasting, self-contained video endoscopy capsules and acetaminophen were administered into the stomach via a nasogastric tube. Each horse underwent experimental (bit chewing for 20 min every 6 h) or control (no bit chewing) conditions, with a 3-week minimum washout period between conditions. The horses were enrolled in either part of the study until all video capsules were retrieved and/or 30 days lapsed. The video capsules were recovered from manure, and GET, SITT, and OCTT were determined from a video analysis. Bit chewing significantly decreased OCTT (p = 0.015) compared to the control conditions. Bit chewing decreased GET and SITT, but the differences were not significant. The mean (median) times determined via the video capsule analysis for the bit-chewing conditions were as follows: GET, 2.34 h (2.86 h); SITT, 3.22 h (3.65 h); and OCTT, 5.13 h (6.15 h), and for the control conditions, they were as follows: GET, 3.93 h (5 h); SITT, 3.79 h (4.4 h); and OCTT, 8.02 h (9.92 h). Bit chewing decreased OCTT in healthy horses. Because this segment of the gastrointestinal tract is frequently affected by ileus, bit chewing may be a safe and inexpensive intervention for that condition in horses. Further investigation in clinical patients with ileus is warranted.
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    Effects of Experimental Sarcocystis neurona-Induced Infection on Immunity in an Equine Model.
    Lewis, S. Rochelle; Ellison, Siobhan; Dascanio, John J.; Lindsay, David S.; Gogal, Robert M.; Werre, Stephen R.; Surendran, Naveen; Breen, Meghan E.; Heid, Bettina; Andrews, Frank M.; Buechner-Maxwell, Virginia A.; Witonsky, Sharon G. (2014)
    Sarcocystis neurona is the most common cause of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), affecting 0.5-1% horses in the United States during their lifetimes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the equine immune responses in an experimentally induced Sarcocystis neurona infection model. Neurologic parameters were recorded prior to and throughout the 70-day study by blinded investigators. Recombinant SnSAG1 ELISA for serum and CSF were used to confirm and track disease progression. All experimentally infected horses displayed neurologic signs after infection. Neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes from infected horses displayed significantly delayed apoptosis at some time points. Cell proliferation was significantly increased in S. neurona-infected horses when stimulated nonspecifically with PMA/I but significantly decreased when stimulated with S. neurona compared to controls. Collectively, our results suggest that horses experimentally infected with S. neurona manifest impaired antigen specific response to S. neurona, which could be a function of altered antigen presentation, lack of antigen recognition, or both.
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    Evaluating Checklist Use in Companion Animal Wellness Visits in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital: A Preliminary Study
    Nappier, Michael T.; Corrigan, Virginia Kiefer; Bartl-Wilson, Lara; Freeman, Mark D.; Werre, Stephen R.; Tempel, Eric (2017)
    The number of companion animal wellness visits in private practice has been decreasing, and one important factor cited is the lack of effective communication between veterinarians and pet owners regarding the importance of preventive care. Checklists have been widely used in many fields and are especially useful in areas where a complex task must be completed with multiple small steps, or when cognitive fatigue is evident. The use of checklists in veterinary medical education has not yet been thoroughly evaluated as a potential strategy to improve communication with pet owners regarding preventive care. The authors explored whether the use of a checklist based on the American Animal Hospital Association/American Veterinary Medical Association canine and feline preventive care guidelines would benefit senior veterinary students in accomplishing more complete canine and feline wellness visits. A group of students using provided checklists was compared to a control group of students who did not use checklists on the basis of their medical record notes from the visits. The students using the checklists were routinely more complete in several areas of a wellness visit vs. those who did not use the checklists. However, neither group of students routinely discussed follow-up care recommendations such as frequency or timing of follow-up visits. The study authors recommend considering checklist use for teaching and implementing wellness in companion animal primary care veterinary clinical teaching settings.
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    Hepatitis E Virus in Pigs from Slaughterhouses, United States, 2017-2019
    Sooryanarain, Harini; Heffron, C. Lynn; Hill, Dolores E.; Fredericks, Jorrell; Rosenthal, Benjamin M.; Werre, Stephen R.; Opriessnig, Tanja; Meng, Xiang-Jin (2020-02)
    Hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA was detected in 6.3% and HEV IgG in 40% of 5,033 serum samples from market-weight pigs at 25 slaughterhouses in 10 US states. The prevalent HEV genotype was zoonotic genotype 3, group 2. Blood of HEV-viremic pigs from slaughterhouses may contaminate pork supply chains.
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    Immunogenicity of Potomac horse fever vaccine when simultaneously co-administered with rabies vaccine in a multivalent vaccine or as two monovalent vaccines at separate sites
    McKenzie, H. C.; Funk, Rebecca A.; Trager, L.; Werre, Stephen R.; Crisman, Mark V. (Wiley, 2019-11-01)
    Background: Potomac horse fever (PHF) is a potentially fatal enterocolitis of horses caused by Neorickettsia risticii. The disease was originally recognised almost 40 years ago in the state of Maryland in the US. It is now known to occur in many areas of North America, as well as having been described in South America and Europe. Monocomponent PHF vaccines are available, but clinical protection with vaccination has been reported to be inconsistent. Objectives: This study was designed to assess the immunogenicity of a commercially available Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) vaccine when administered as either a monovalent PHF vaccine simultaneously co-administered with a separate monovalent Rabies vaccine or as a multivalent PHF/Rabies vaccine in horses. Study design: Randomised parallel group trial. Methods: Ninety-one client or University owned horses participated in this open-label randomised study, with 45 horses receiving the monovalent vaccines at separate sites and 46 receiving the multivalent vaccine at a single site. Serum PHF IFA titres were determined twice prior to vaccination and at 1, 2 and 3 months after vaccination. Results: Both vaccination protocols exhibited poor immunogenicity, with only one-third of all the animals demonstrating seroconversion, defined as an increase in titre of greater than 400 over baseline, at any time point after vaccination. The monovalent PHF vaccine exhibited significantly greater immunogenicity in terms of the number of horses exhibiting seroconversion, as compared to the multivalent vaccine, at one (20 vs. 11, P = 0.03) and two (18 vs. 9, p = 0.02) months post vaccination. The monovalent PHF vaccine also exhibited significantly greater immunogenicity in terms of the median (interquartile range) IFA titres, as compared to the multivalent vaccine, at one (800 [200–1600] vs. 400 [200–800], P = 0.009) and 2 months (400 [200–1600] vs. 400 [100–800], P = 0.02) post vaccination. There was no significant difference between groups at 3 months in either seroconversion rate or median IFA titers. Main limitations: This study did not assess the actual protective effects of PHF vaccination but rather used the serologic response to vaccination as a surrogate biomarker of immunity. Conclusions: The multivalent PHF/Rabies vaccine exhibited lower immunogenicity as compared to the monovalent PHF vaccine co-administered with a separate Rabies vaccine.
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    The influence of roof reflectivity on adjacent air and surface temperatures
    Grant, Elizabeth J.; Black, Kenneth Allan; Werre, Stephen R. (2017-03-04)
    An experimental study was conducted to answer questions about the thermal effects of roof reflectivity on the neighbouring built environment. Temperatures were recorded at the surface of black ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and white thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) membrane overlay areas; in the air and at electrical metallic tubing (EMT) above them; and at opaque and glazed wall surfaces adjacent to them. The surface of the EPDM roof was significantly hotter than the TPO roof by 36°C and 26°C on two test dates. Air temperatures were 2°C higher above EPDM versus TPO up to 14 cm, with no significant differences above this height. Temperatures were 2°C higher at EMT above the TPO surface than above the EPDM. A precast concrete panel wall was 3°C to 5°C warmer adjacent to TPO versus EPDM. Exterior glazing surface temperatures were 2°C warmer adjacent to TPO versus EPDM.
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    Investigation of a novel variable dosing protocol for radioiodine treatment of feline hyperthyroidism
    Morre, Wendy A.; Panciera, David L.; Daniel, Gregory B.; Monroe, William E.; Werre, Stephen R. (Wiley, 2018-11-01)
    Background: Radioiodine is the treatment of choice for hyperthyroidism in cats. The ideal method of dose determination of radioiodine remains controversial. Objective: To compare a method of radioiodine dose determination that utilized thyroid scintigraphy with a standard fixed dose for treatment of hyperthyroidism. Animals: Fifty-seven and 23 client-owned hyperthyroid cats in the variable and fixed dose groups, respectively. Methods: Cats with a percent dose uptake using 99mTc-pertechnetate uptake on thyroid scintigraphy <5%, 5%-10%, and >10% were to receive 3, 3.5, or 4.5 millicuries (mCi) of radioiodine, respectively, administered SC. Radioiodine dose was adjusted according to thyroid gland size as determined by the thyroid:salivary size ratio and categorized as <5:1, 5-10:1, and >10:1. If the thyroid size fell into a higher dosing category than the percent dose uptake, the dose was increased accordingly. Cats in the fixed dose group received 4.5 mCi. Six months after treatment, cats were determined to be euthyroid, hypothyroid, or hyperthyroid based on serum thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations. Results: No difference in outcome was found between the variable and fixed dose treatment groups. Euthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and persistent hyperthyroidism developed in 61, 30, and 9% of cats in the fixed dose group compared to 58, 26, and 16%, respectively, in the variable dose group. Conclusions: A variable dosing method of radioiodine based on percent dose uptake primarily and thyroid gland size secondarily did not improve outcome compared to a standard fixed dose method.
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    Long-term Formation of Aggressive Bony Lesions in Dogs with Mid-Diaphyseal Fractures Stabilized with Metallic Plates: Incidence in a Tertiary Referral Hospital Population
    Gilley, Robert S.; Hiebert, Elizabeth; Clapp, Kemba; Bartl-Wilson, Lara; Nappier, Michael T.; Werre, Stephen R.; Barnes, Katherine (2017)
    The incidence of complications secondary to fracture stabilization, particularly osteolytic lesions and bony tumor formation, has long been difficult to evaluate. The objective of this study was to describe the long-term incidence of aggressive bony changes developing in dogs with long bone diaphyseal fractures stabilized by metallic bone plates compared to a breed-, sex-, and age-matched control group. The medical records of a tertiary referral center were retrospectively reviewed for dogs that matched each respective criterion. Signalment, history, cause of death (if applicable), and aggressive bony changes at previous fracture sites were recorded. Ninety dogs met the criteria for inclusion in the fracture group and were matched with appropriate control dogs. Four of the dogs in the fracture group developed aggressive bony changes at the site of previous fracture repairs most consistent with osseous neoplasia. One lesion was confirmed with cytology as neoplastic. The population of dogs was mixed with regard to breed and body weight, but all dogs with aggressive bony lesions were male. Incidence of aggressive bony lesion formation in the fracture group was 4 (4.4%) and was 0 (0%) in the control group; three (75%) of the affected dogs in the fracture group included cerclage as a component of their primary fracture stabilizations. Incidence of aggressive bony lesions in the fracture group compared to the control group was determined to be statistically significant (p = 0.0455), as was the incidence of cerclage among dogs affected by aggressive bony lesions compared to the rest of the fracture group (p = 0.0499). Development of aggressive bony lesions is an uncommon complication of fracture fixation. Additional research is needed to further identify and elucidate the long-term effects of metallic implants in dogs.
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    Low-dose 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE) exposure exacerbates lupus renal disease and modulates immune responses to TLR7/9 agonists in genetically autoimmune-prone mice
    Edwards, Michael R.; Dai, Rujuan; Heid, Bettina; Cowan, Catharine; Werre, Stephen R.; Cecere, Thomas E.; Ahmed, Sattar Ansar (Springer Nature, 2020)
    Estrogens have been shown to regulate the immune system and modulate multiple autoimmune diseases. 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE), a synthetic analog of 17β-estradiol, is prescribed commonly and found in oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies. Surprisingly, few studies have investigated the immunoregulatory effects of exposure to EE, especially in autoimmunity. In this study, we exposed autoimmune-prone female MRL/lpr mice to a human-relevant dose of EE through the oral route of exposure. Since lupus patients are prone to infections, groups of mice were injected with viral (Imiquimod, a TLR7 agonist) or bacterial (ODN 2395, a TLR9 agonist) surrogates. We then evaluated autoimmune disease parameters, kidney disease, and response to in vivo TLR7/9 pathogenic signals. EE-exposed mice had increased proteinuria as early as 7 weeks of age. Proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, and glomerular immune complex deposition were also exacerbated when compared to controls. Production of cytokines by splenic leukocytes were altered in EE-exposed mice. Our study shows that oral exposure to EE, even at a very low dose, can exacerbate azotemia, increase clinical markers of renal disease, enhance glomerular immune complex deposition, and modulate TLR7/9 cytokine production in female MRL/lpr mice. This study may have implications for EE-exposure risk for genetically lupus-prone individuals.