Introducing forensic entomology in cases of suspected animal neglect

2017 ◽  
Vol 182 (5) ◽  
pp. 139-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
John McGarry ◽  
Emily Ratsep ◽  
Lorenzo Ressel ◽  
Gail Leeming ◽  
Emanuele Ricci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Forensic Entomology ◽  
Pathology Report ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Civil Proceedings ◽  
Animal Neglect ◽  
And Training ◽  
Forensic Markers

Cases of arthropod-infested, abandoned or abused animals are sometimes brought to the attention of veterinarians by animal welfare authorities, with the requirement for a full postmortem examination towards criminal or civil proceedings. In these situations, entomology is an important support tool for the pathologists’ investigation since the presence of arthropod life cycle stages serve as reliable forensic markers, especially for blowflies which form the first waves of activity following death. In the present study, 70 cadavers from a total of 544 referred to the Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, between 2009 and 2014 displayed evidence of infestation. Here, the authors introduce principles of applied entomology and simplified approaches for estimating the minimum time since death, relevant in the context of routine submissions and the broad remit of individual cases. Despite often limited availability of scene of the crime and local thermal data, the interpretation of the minimum postmortem interval has nonetheless proved valuable as an adjunct to the expert pathology report. However, future developments and enhanced accuracy in this area of animal welfare require resource and training in expertise, and agreed standardisation of both laboratory and field procedures.

37 NORMALITY OF NEONATAL REFLEX IN CLONED DOGS

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
E. M. N. Setyawan ◽  
G. A. Kim ◽  
H. J. Oh ◽  
M. J. Kim ◽  
A. Taweechaipaisankul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Information ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Similar Time ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Cloned Dog ◽  
Observed Score ◽  
Phenotypic Instability ◽  
And Training

Since the birth of the world’s first cloned dog, Snuppy, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) has been a useful tool to propagate the dogs with identical genetic information. However, it is known that cloned animals sometimes exhibit phenotypic instability or abnormality. There have been few investigations about the normality of the neonatal reflex in cloned animals. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the neonatal reflex in 3 breeds of cloned dogs including shepherd, retriever, and beagle from birth to 28 days of age. Through SCNT, 8 cloned dogs were produced. After birth, 3 types of neonatal reflexes were examined and scored. For examining the flexor dominance reflex, neonatal cloned dogs were held upright and the flexor position of the limb was scored. To evaluate the withdrawal and crossed extensor reflexes, neonates were placed in lateral recumbence and their forelimbs were allowed to relax. Then, the distal forelimbs were pinched and responses were scored according to the frequency and intensity (strong = score 2, variable = score 1, and absent = score 0). The standard responses of neonates were referred from Lindsay et al. (2000 Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training 1, 31–47). Descriptive analysis was used, which was based on the scores from 3 referees who evaluated the videos. The flexor dominance reflex could not be observed (score 0.0) in shepherd by Day 8, in beagle by Day 14 and in retriever by Day 16. Withdrawal reflex began to decrease on Day 22 with score 1.8 for beagle and retriever but decreased in shepherd starting on Day 24 with score 1.8. Crossed extensor reflex for shepherd started to disappear on Day 14 with score 1.5 and completely disappeared (score 0.0) on Day 22; for beagle started to disappear on Day 16 with score 1.8 and was still found until Day 28 with score 1.1; for retriever started to disappear on Day 20 and 28 with score 1.7 and 0.7, respectively. Flexor dominance reflex disappeared in cloned shepherd at a similar time to standard but beagle and retriever seem delayed 6 to 8 days compared with the reference. Withdrawal reflex in all breeds showed normal changes that should persist until adulthood. Cross extensor reflex in shepherd was close to reference but in beagle and retriever was delayed beyond Day 28; this reflex should disappear before adulthood. This study demonstrated that normal neonatal reflexes were identified in the cloned dogs, with some variations among breed. To adapt neonatal reflex as a marker to confirm phenotypic normality in cloned dogs, further investigation using various breeds of cloned dogs and greater numbers of subjects is needed. This study was supported by IPET (#316002-05-1-SB010), RDA (#PJ010928032016), Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Natural Balance Korea and the BK21 plus program.

scholarly journals ICT-supported, scenario-based learning in preclinical veterinary science education: Quantifying learning outcomes and facilitating the novice-expert transition

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Seddon ◽  
Brenda McDonald ◽  
Adele L. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Learning Styles ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Motivation For Learning ◽  
Student Cohorts ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Subject Areas ◽  
Second Year ◽  
And Training

<span>Problem and/or scenario-based learning is often deployed in preclinical education and training as a means of: (a) developing students' capacity to respond to authentic, real-world problems; (b) facilitating integration of knowledge across subject areas, and; (c) increasing motivation for learning. Six information and communication technology (ICT) supported, scenario-based learning (SBL) problems using case studies that integrated information across subject areas were implemented in a second-year genetics course for undergraduate veterinary science students and linked to educational outcomes. On a post-implementation questionnaire, students appreciated the use of authentic scenarios but login records indicated variable engagement among students. Comparison of learning outcomes from SBL-supported and non-SBL-supported content (within and across student cohorts) indicated that exposure to SBL generated quantifiable improvements in learning in both high and low ability students. Despite this, students did not perceive that the SBL activities improved their learning. Thus, ICT-supported SBL have the potential to reinforce connectivity of content across a range of pre-clinical courses, but to facilitate a genuine novice to expert transition may require consideration of students' perceptions of scenario relevance, their confidence, and how students of differing learning styles engage with such activities.</span>

scholarly journals Review of the Online One Welfare Portal: Shared Curriculum Resources for Veterinary Undergraduate Learning and Teaching in Animal Welfare and Ethics

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1341
Author(s):  
Paul D. McGreevy ◽  
Anne Fawcett ◽  
Jane Johnson ◽  
Rafael Freire ◽  
Teresa Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Aquatic Animals ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Research And Teaching ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Production Animals ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
And Training

This article introduces the online One Welfare learning and teaching portal (OWP) and describes its development, use, importance and relevance to animal welfare and ethics (AWE) stakeholders. As animal welfare issues increase in importance, veterinarians must be trained to lead the science that underpins AWE discourses. The OWP is a collection of resources designed to engage and challenge veterinary science students as they become advocates for animals. It was developed collaboratively by all eight veterinary schools in Australia and New Zealand, and funded by the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching. Surveys to investigate the attitudes of students and educators to AWE issues in six context-specific themes based on the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) (companion animals; animals used in research and teaching; livestock/production animals; animals used for sport, recreation or display; animals in the wild and aquatic animals) were administered through all participating schools. Students assigned more importance to Day One competence in knowledge of welfare concepts than did educators for the following groups: production animals, companion animals, animals in the wild, aquatic animals, animals used in research and teaching, and animals used for sport, recreation or display (all p < 0.01). Agreement between educators and students was closer regarding the importance of Day One competence for euthanasia for all six context-specific themes (p < 0.01–0.03). Students assigned more importance than educators to social, economic and cultural drivers of welfare outcomes in production animals (p < 0.01); slaughter and preslaughter inspections in production animals (p < 0.01); animal abuse and hoarding in companion animals (p < 0.01); shelter medicine in companion animals (p < 0.01); disaster preparedness in wildlife animals (p < 0.01); pain and distress caused by fishing in aquatic animals (p < 0.01); conscientious objection related to animals held for research and teaching (p < 0.01); behaviour, selection and training of animals used for sport, recreation and display (p = 0.046) and educating the public around sporting animal welfare (p < 0.01). Agreement between educators and students was closer for strategies to address painful husbandryprocedures in production animals (p = 0.03); behaviour and training of companion animals (p = 0.03); veterinarians’ duties to wild animals in wildlife (p = 0.02); the 3Rs in animals held for research and teaching (p = 0.03) and ownership responsibility in sporting animals (p = 0.01). This report discusses the reasons for differences among students and educators as they approach these issues. The portal is expected to gather more content as veterinary schools in other countries use its resources and users submit scenarios and discussion topics that reflect local needs.

scholarly journals Blind Trading: A Literature Review of Research Addressing the Welfare of Ball Pythons in the Exotic Pet Trade

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennah Green ◽  
Emma Coulthard ◽  
David Megson ◽  
John Norrey ◽  
Laura Norrey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Veterinary Science ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Pet Trade ◽  
Nutrition Environment ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Widespread Availability

Extensive numbers of Ball pythons are caught, bred, traded and subsequently kept in captivity across the world as part of the exotic pet industry. Despite their widespread availability as pets, relatively little is known about the potential welfare challenges affecting them. We reviewed the literature for research focused on the health and welfare of Ball pythons in the international pet trade. From a total of 88 articles returned from the search criteria, our analysis showed that very few actually focused on trade (10%) or animal welfare (17%). Instead, the majority (64%) of articles focused on veterinary science. There was a considerable bias towards physical health, with most studies neglecting the four other domains of animal welfare (behaviour, nutrition, environment and mental health). Furthermore, very few studies considered Ball pythons prior to resulting pet ownership, during wild capture and transportation or captive breeding operations. Our review demonstrates that our current understanding of welfare for Ball pythons traded as exotic pets is limited. We recommend that future research should focus on aspects of the industry that are currently overlooked, including the potential consequences of genetic selection during captive-breeding and the conditions provided for snakes prior to and during international transportation.

scholarly journals Drivers of exit and outcomes for Thoroughbred racehorses participating in the 2017–2018 Australian racing season

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257581
Author(s):  
Kshitiz Shrestha ◽  
James R. Gilkerson ◽  
Mark A. Stevenson ◽  
Meredith L. Flash
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Thoroughbred Racehorses ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Welfare Implications ◽  
And Training

The destinations of Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses exiting the racing industry is a high-profile issue with ethical and welfare implications of interest to both animal welfare groups and racing regulators. This cross-sectional study investigated the reasons that TBs temporarily or permanently exited racing and training in Australia in the 2017–2018 racing season and the outcomes for these horses post-racing. An online questionnaire was sent to the last registered trainers of a representative sample of 2,509 ‘inactive’ TBs. Inactive horses were defined as those horses that were recorded as ‘active’ but had not trialled or raced in the last 6 months of the racing season or had an inactive status recorded in the Racing Australia database. Of the 1,750 responses received, the largest group of inactive TBs had permanently exited the racing industry (45% retired, 5.3% deceased). A relatively large group exited racing temporarily (43%) but participated in the racing industry in the following season. The reasons for retirement were predominantly voluntary, such as poor performance or owner’s request. Almost one third of retirements were due to injuries with tendon or ligament problems the most frequently conditions listed. The median age at retirement was five (Q1 4; Q3 7) years. Extrapolation of the survey results to the population of horses racing or training in Australia in 2017–2018 (n = 37,750) show that that 17% of the population retire each year and 2.1% die. These estimates provide benchmarks for industry and animal welfare organisations to resource and measure the effectiveness of interventions.

scholarly journals A Systems-Of-Systems Conceptual Model and Live Virtual Constructive Simulation Framework for Improved Nuclear Disaster Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Mitigation

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Davis ◽  
Michael Proctor ◽  
Buder Shageer
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Systems Of Systems ◽  
The Public ◽  
Nuclear Disaster ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Reactor Models ◽  
And Training

Abstract Nuclear disasters have severe and far-reaching consequences. Emergency managers and first responders from utility owners to local, state, and federal civil authorities and the Department of Defense (DoD) must be well prepared in order to rapidly mitigate the disaster and protect the public and environment from spreading damage. Given the high risks, modeling and simulation (M&S) plays a significant role in planning and training for the spectrum of derivate scenarios. Existing reactor models are largely legacy, stove-piped designs lacking interoperability between themselves and other M&S tools for emergency preparedness system evaluation and training. Unmanned systems present a growing area of technology promising significant improvement in response and mitigation. To bridge the gap between current and future models, we propose a conceptual model (CM) for integrating live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) models with nuclear disaster and mitigation models utilizing a system-of-systems (SoS) approach. The CM offers to synergistically enhance current reactor and dispersion simulations with intervening avatar and agent simulations. The SoS approach advances life cycle stages including concept exploration, system design, engineering, training, and mission rehearsal. Component subsystems of the CM are described along with an explanation of input/output requirements. A notional implementation is described. Finally, applications to analysis and training, an evaluation of the CM based on recently proposed criteria found in the literature, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Profile of Head and Neck Cancers In Dr. Lütfi kirdar Kartal Research and Training Hospital: Pathology Report Based Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. e123
Author(s):  
Kayhan Başak ◽  
Yasin Sağlam ◽  
Ayşe Gökçen Yıldız ◽  
Merve Başar ◽  
Hanım İstem Köse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
Pathology Report ◽  
And Training

scholarly journals Strategies for Implementing a One Welfare Framework into Emergency Management

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3141
Author(s):  
Hayley Squance ◽  
Carol MacDonald ◽  
Carol Stewart ◽  
Raj Prasanna ◽  
David M Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Interprofessional Education ◽  
Transformational Change ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Transdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
And Training

Responding to emergencies requires many different individuals and organisations to work well together under extraordinary circumstances. Unfortunately, the management of animal welfare in emergencies remains largely disconnected from emergency management overall. This is due predominately to professional silos and a failure to understand the importance of human–animal-environment (h-a-e) interdependencies. One Welfare (OW) is a concept with these interrelationships at its core. This paper argues that by adopting an OW framework it will be possible to achieve a transdisciplinary approach to emergency management in which all stakeholders acknowledge the importance of the h-a-e interdependencies and work to implement a framework to support this. Acknowledging that such a transformational change will not be easy, this paper proposes several strategies to overcome the challenges and optimise the outcomes for animal welfare emergency management (AWEM). These include legislation and policy changes including h-a-e interface interactions as business as usual, improving knowledge through interprofessional education and training, incorporating One Welfare champions, and recognising the role of animals as vital conduits into communities.

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