Neospora caninum is a major cause of abortion in cattle worldwide, causing significant economic losses. Despite Victoria's critical role in Australian dairy production, little is known about the local epidemiology of N. caninum and the effectiveness of control measures. This study aimed to evaluate infection dynamics and management strategies in Victorian dairy farms. Field data were collected from five dairy farms in Gippsland, including 1029 cow and calf samples. Vertical, horizontal and colostral transmission were assessed through longitudinal monitoring. Diagnostic performance of PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared. Deterministic and stochastic epidemiological models were developed and calibrated using local data to simulate infection dynamics and the impact of management strategies, including 'Test and Cull' and testing of replacement animals under varying biosecurity conditions. Prevalence of N. caninum was 36.7% in cows, 25.7% in calves and 32.3% overall. Vertical transmission occurred in 43% of calves from infected cows, while horizontal and colostral transmission contributed to 16% of infections in calves from uninfected cows. Longitudinal monitoring revealed 8.3% of previously negative dams seroconverted during gestation. PCR and ELISA showed poor concordance, highlighting their complementary role in surveillance. Model projections indicated rising prevalence under baseline conditions, particularly in closed herds. The 'Test and Cull' strategy consistently reduced prevalence, achieving <15% herd prevalence within 10 years, with further reductions under enhanced biosecurity. Testing replacement animals was effective only in herds sourcing their stock externally.

Canine desexing is one of the most common small animal surgical procedures in Australia, yet little is known about current practices. This study characterised attitudes, practitioner recommendations and surgical practices for routine canine desexing among Australian veterinarians using an online cross-sectional survey (n = 107). Respondent demographics were broadly comparable to the 2023/2024 Australian Veterinary Workforce Survey, suggesting appropriate representation. Most veterinarians (93.6%) recommended routine desexing, with orchiectomy and ovariohysterectomy being the predominant surgical approaches. Alternative approaches were occasionally recommended but rarely performed. The main reasons reported for recommending desexing dogs of both sexes were prevention of unwanted mating, perceived health benefits, population control and, for males, preventing undesirable behaviour. Recommended timing was influenced by age, expected adult size, breed and owner preference. Recommended age of desexing did not differ by sex, but larger expected adult size was associated with a later recommended age (p < 0.001). In female dogs, 59.3% respondents reported advising desexing after one or more seasons, with a mean minimum post-oestrus interval of 1.8 ± 0.9 months and 17.6% of respondents reported advising desexing less than 4 months of age. Drug choices did not differ between male and female desexing operations for premedication (p = 0.66), induction (p = 1.00) and postoperative analgesia (p = 0.51). Medetomidine, alfaxalone, acepromazine and methadone were commonly used for premedication; alfaxalone and propofol for induction; and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories postoperatively. Local anaesthetic blocks were infrequently used. Our findings provide an overview of desexing practices, highlight key areas for future research and inform future veterinary training.

Embryo transfer (ET) in dairy cattle has long been used for the dissemination of elite genetics. However, achieving consistently high pregnancy rates remains a major challenge, particularly in high-producing lactating dairy cows receiving in-vitro produced (IVP) embryos. We hypothesised that recipient selection and ET program timing could be optimised using individual items of recipient and meteorological data that are routinely available on dairy farms. To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted an observational study that explored associations between recipient characteristics, health events, sensor-derived activity alerts, meteorological variables and their ability to predict successful pregnancy following ET (P/ET) in an on-farm IVP embryo program. Cow health data and ear tag health sensor alerts from a commercial dairy herd in southern Australia were used to compile a retrospective dataset of 5770 embryo transfers (ETs) in 4681 recipients. Meteorological records from two nearby weather stations were used to calculate temperature humidity index (THI). Univariable generalised linear models were used to test associations between predictors and P/ET. Outputs from models included risk differences (RD), P-values, 95% confidence intervals and area under the curve (AUC). Population RD were calculated using tabular methods. Recipient parity, days in milk (DIM), calving interval, metritis events and 'very sick' ear-tag sensor alerts were associated with P/ET, as were temperature and THI variables. Area under the curve values were close to 0.50 (range 0.50-0.55) and population RD values from many exposure variables were close to 0, indicating that optimising the ET program using individual variables as done in this study, under the conditions in this herd may have limited impact on the overall P/ET. Therefore, further research is needed to evaluate other methodologies to predict P/ET. Furthermore, future studies should incorporate non-recipient factors, such as embryo quality. It is unclear if the associations observed in this study are due to causal relationships; therefore, we recommend that observational and intervention studies be conducted to verify this.

Sixteen dogs presented for investigation and treatment of unilateral, concomitant medial patellar luxation and cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR). All dogs received a modified spacer tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (msTPLO), involving medialisation of the proximal tibial osteotomy segment and relative lateralisation of the tibial tuberosity, through the application of implant spacers between the TPLO plate stem and medial surface of the tibia. A statistically significant reduction was observed in both medial patellar luxation (MPL) grade and tibial plateau angle (TPA) in all cases. The msTPLO procedure offers a viable alternative for the treatment of concomitant medial patellar luxation and CrCLR, although further long-term studies are warranted.

A 12-year-old female spayed Irish wolfhound presented with a 6-month history of weight loss, chronic vomiting and diarrhoea and a persistent progressive lymphocytosis with previously diagnosed CD8+ T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). CLL was initially diagnosed through flow cytometry of EDTA-preserved peripheral blood. The decision to treat was based on a progressive circulating neoplastic lymphocytic population in the face of clinical deterioration. Progressive clinical decline was identified in the several weeks after commencement of treatment with chlorambucil and pegylated asparaginase for progressive CLL. Repeated haemogram and blood smear were suggestive of a second morphologically distinct circulating neoplastic population. Repeated flow cytometry of peripheral blood was consistent with a concurrent acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) to previously identified CD8+ CLL. Emergence of AML coincided with development of upwards of five cutaneous lesions, with concern for leukaemia cutis. High-dose chemotherapy with vincristine (0.7 mg/m[2]) was commenced. Despite more aggressive treatment, rapid clinical deterioration ensued, and euthanasia was elected. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of diagnosis of concurrent AML and CLL in a dog.

Tramadol exposure after low oral doses is variable in dogs, and the estimation of the terminal phase can be difficult when late concentrations plateau or rebound. This study characterized tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol (M1) after a single oral dose of 2 mg/kg in 10 healthy female mixed-breed dogs. Plasma was collected from 0 to 48 h and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Non-compartmental analysis was performed for each animal. The terminal slope was evaluated using at least three quantifiable post-peak observations, and λz was not forced when a coherent log-linear decline was absent. Mean maximum observed concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to the last quantifiable concentration (AUC0-last) for tramadol were 434.53 ± 337.68 ng/mL and 1748.40 ± 1370.05 h·ng/mL, respectively; median time to maximum observed concentration (Tmax) was 1.5 h (range, 0.5-2.0 h). For M1, mean Cmax and AUC0-last were 6.53 ± 3.26 ng/mL and 34.86 ± 28.55 h·ng/mL, respectively; median Tmax was 1.0 h (0.5-2.0 h). A terminal phase was retained in seven of 10 profiles for each analyte. In these profiles, mean terminal half-life was 15.53 ± 10.69 h for tramadol and 12.65 ± 11.55 h for M1. Three analyte profiles lacked a defensible terminal phase. We excluded quantitative pharmacokinetic analysis of M2 and M5 because authentic analytical standards were unavailable. Oral tramadol at 2 mg/kg was rapidly absorbed, but systemic exposure varied markedly among dogs. Based on the retained terminal half-life estimates, a 12-h dosing interval may be pharmacokinetically plausible for future multiple-dose studies but should not be considered a validated clinical recommendation.

This paper describes the morphopathological aspects of a case of multiple cardiac malformations in a calf. A two-day-old male calf of undefined breed was born with an ectopic heart, presenting with dyspnoea and in lateral recumbency. The owner had repositioned the exposed heart beneath the adjacent skin, which was suclosed, without additional incisions or suturing of the heart or pericardial sac. The animal died the following day and was submitted for necropsy. Macroscopically, the heart was observed to be ventrally pendulous, covered by the pericardial sac, external to the thoracic cavity, with a passage between the manubrium of the sternum and the middle scalene muscle (ectopia cordis). The heart was rounded, and three cardiac chambers were observed: the right ventricle, left ventricle and a single dilated atrial cavity located above the left ventricle, with absence of the atrial septum and a rudimentary right ventricle. The atrial cavity was dilated with rudimentary pectinate muscles. A caudal vena cava and pulmonary veins emptied into the single atrial cavity. In the right chamber of the heart, there was marked myocardial thickening with a rudimentary ventricular space, a poorly developed tricuspid valve, absence of a pulmonary trunk, a single-inlet univentricular atrioventricular connection and a single-outlet ventriculoarterial connection. The occurrence of ectopia cordis associated with cardiac malformations is a rare condition incompatible with the life of calves.

Tick paralysis (TP) caused by Ixodes holocyclus is associated with regurgitation, vomiting and an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. However, objective assessment of gastrointestinal (GI) motility in affected dogs has not been systematically described. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate GI motility using 2D ultrasonography in dogs with TP at hospital admission compared to healthy and disease controls and to assess short-term changes following sedation. Seven dogs with TP and eight each of healthy and disease controls were enrolled. Gastric, duodenal and jejunal contractions were counted over 3 min at standardised anatomical sites, and in dogs with TP reassessed 30-60 min following administration of butorphanol with or without acepromazine. Dogs with TP had lower contraction frequencies than healthy controls in the stomach (Hodges-Lehmann difference -2.5 [Confidence interval -4.00 to -1.33], P = 0.014), duodenum (-3.67 [-4.00 to -2.33] P = 0.002) and jejunum (-2.67 [-4.33 to -1.67] P = 0.002). Following sedation, contraction frequency reduced further or remained absent. No statistically significant differences were detected between TP and disease controls. Although limited by small case numbers, these findings provide preliminary objective evidence of generalised GI hypomotility in dogs with TP, which appears to be exacerbated by commonly used sedative protocols. These results support the clinical perception of ileus in TP and highlight the need for larger prospective studies to further characterise the prevalence, severity and clinical implications of GI dysmotility in this population.

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are important reservoirs for zoonotic and livestock pathogens in Australia, but robust information on the spatial distribution of pathogens in pig populations remains limited. We analysed serological data from a systematic, state-wide surveillance program to investigate spatial heterogeneity in exposure to Brucella suis and pathogenic leptospires in feral pigs across New South Wales (NSW). Samples were collected from 2548 feral pigs at 81 locations between 2022 and 2026 and tested for antibodies to B. suis, L. interrogans serovars Pomona (hereafter Pomona) and Hardjo, L. borgpetersenii serovar Tarassovi and Coxiella burnetii. Bayesian spatial models were used to predict the probability of B. suis and Pomona seropositivity across the state in relation to feral pig relative abundance, generating spatial risk surfaces directly relevant to animal and human health management. Survey-wide adjusted seroprevalence was 0.16 for B. suis, 0.52 for Pomona, 0.06 for Hardjo and 0.05 for Tarassovi. Brucella suis exposure was concentrated in the north-eastern quadrant of NSW and strongly positively associated with local feral pig density (derived from expert opinion), whereas exposure to Pomona was widespread but locally variable. Seroprevalences of Hardjo and Tarassovi were spatially restricted, and antibodies to C. burnetii were rarely detected. By combining structured state-wide sampling with spatial modelling, this study provides probabilistic inference on pathogen exposure. The results demonstrate how systematic surveillance can provide actionable spatial information for One Health risk management, prioritising risk-based surveillance, assessing confidence in pathogen absence and supporting management responses for endemic, emerging, or exotic animal diseases.

A 3-year-old male Border Collie diagnosed with immune-mediated dermatopathy, managed with tapering prednisolone and cyclosporine, developed rapidly progressive ocular signs and additional cutaneous lesions. Histopathology, mycological culture, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing confirmed intraocular and cutaneous infection due to Curvularia pseudobrachyspora and nasal squamous cell carcinoma. Upon confirmation of cutaneous infection, systemic antifungal therapy was initiated, but the clinical signs worsened and the patient died. Given the lack of guidelines for treatment of C. pseudobrachyspora, this patient's isolates were tested, and the minimum concentration and minimum effective concentration were obtained for selected antifungal drugs commonly used in veterinary medicine and compared to common filamentous and yeast fungal infections in dogs to provide general guidance into the treatment of this fungal species. Commonly utilised antifungal treatments used for common Aspergillus infections may prove ineffective against other filamentous fungi. Therefore, in the absence of standardised guidelines, each isolate should be assessed for appropriate treatment options.

Point-of-care (PoC) antibody (Ab) testing forms an integral component of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) diagnosis in both domestic and non-domestic felids, with test kits designed for use in domestic cats frequently extrapolated for use in their wild counterparts. The SNAP® FIV/FeLV Combo lateral flow ELISA is commonly used to assign FIV infection status in wild and captive African lions (Panthera leo). The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of four other commercially available PoC FIV antibody test kits in African lions held in Australian zoos, when compared to SNAP® as a quasi-reference test. To first validate the use of SNAP®, a subset of samples from SNAP® FIV-positive (n = 3) and SNAP® FIV-negative (n = 23) lions were evaluated with Western blotting, with perfect agreement demonstrated (Cohen's kappa coefficient = 1). Forty-eight serum samples from SNAP® FIV-positive (n = 16) and SNAP® FIV-negative (n = 32) lions were then assessed with Anigen Rapid®, Witness®, VetScan® Rapid and SensPERT® FIV Ab tests. No seropositivity was observed in FIV-infected lion sera using Anigen Rapid® or Witness® (Se 0%, Sp 100%), which utilise domestic cat FIV (FIV-Fca) transmembrane glycoprotein gp40 as their capture antigen. In contrast, VetScan® Rapid, which employs FIV-Fca capsid protein p24 as its capture antigen, demonstrated excellent performance (Se 100%, Sp 96.9%). The presence of p24 as a capture antigen did not guarantee the performance of an assay, as SensPERT®, which also features p24 as its capture antigen, was significantly less sensitive than VetScan® Rapid (Se 25%, Sp 100%; p < 0.001). Our findings have important implications for captive threatened felids, where timely, accurate diagnosis and careful management are critical for minimising retroviral transmission. We recommend using SNAP® or VetScan® Rapid FIV Ab tests for accurate diagnosis of FIV infection in African lions; however, the original VetScan® Rapid FIV test has been unavailable in Australia since 2019.