Zoetis (United States)

To develop and validate an owner-reported health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) questionnaire in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This was a noninterventional, international study. Initial draft items were identified through qualitative literature and social media reviews. Concept elicitation and cognitive debriefing interviews were conducted with owners of cats with International Renal Interest Society-staged CKD in the US and United Kingdom to further inform item development. A 2-time point observational study was then conducted in a Greek sample of owners of cats with stable CKD to allow for psychometric analysis. Expert veterinarian input was incorporated throughout. Participants were recruited using purposive convenience sampling. Owners of 10 cats participated in interviews, and owners of 208 cats were included in the psychometric evaluation. An initial 20-item questionnaire was debriefed and refined across 2 rounds of interviews, resulting in a 21-item version for psychometric evaluation. The final questionnaire comprised 13 items assessing observable HRQoL impacts of feline CKD. Psychometric analyses confirmed a unidimensional structure, with high internal consistency (Cronbach α coefficient = 0.92; McDonald ω coefficient = 0.93), moderate to good test-retest reliability (≥ 0.72), and strong convergent validity. Questionnaire responses discriminated between early and late International Renal Interest Society stages and varying levels of overall HRQoL as reported by owners and veterinarians. This research presents a novel, disease-specific, psychometrically validated questionnaire assessing HRQoL in feline CKD. The questionnaire is fit for purpose for use in feline CKD both in clinical trials and veterinary practice.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of administering 200 µg versus 100 µg of GnRH as gonadorelin hydrochloride (Factrel; Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ) at the first GnRH injection (G1) of the breeding Ovsynch in a Double-Ovsynch (DO) protocol on pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) at first service in lactating dairy cows. The study was conducted across 4 commercial dairies located in California (n = 2) and Wisconsin (n = 2). We also assessed the effect of GnRH dose on ovulatory response and LH release. Each week, cows were blocked in a 2 × 2 factorial design by parity (primiparous or multiparous) and GnRH dose (100 µg or 200 µg) within each herd. The primary outcome was P/AI following estrus synchronization and timed AI. Cows were excluded if they were inseminated outside the synchronization window, culled before pregnancy diagnosis, or missed scheduled GnRH or PGF2α treatments. Dinoprost tromethamine (12.5 mg/mL; Lutalyse HighCon, Zoetis) served as the PGF2α source. A total of 6,621 cows met the inclusion criteria (2,525 primiparous; 4,096 multiparous). Of these, 3,310 received 100 µg GnRH (2 mL), and 3,311 received 200 µg GnRH (4 mL). A subset of 505 cows from herd A underwent transrectal ultrasonography to assess ovulatory response at G1 and 7 d later (first PGF2α of DO), with concurrent serum progesterone (P4) sampling. An additional subset of 18 cows had blood samples collected at 0 (pretreatment) and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 300, and 360 min post-treatment to measure LH concentrations. The final statistical model for P/AI included fixed effects of treatment, parity, and their interaction, with random effects of herd, service sire, herd-by-treatment-by-parity, and month fresh nested within herd-by-parity. Treatment and parity significantly affected P/AI, although their interaction was not significant. Least squares means for P/AI were higher with 200 µg than 100 µg GnRH (51.8% vs. 48.6%). When stratified, the effect in primiparous cows was minimal (52.8% vs. 51.8%), but substantial in multiparous cows (50.7% vs. 45.4%). Cows treated with 200 µg GnRH had a greater ovulatory response than those receiving 100 µg (83.0% vs. 70.8%). Parity also influenced ovulation, though no treatment-by-parity interaction was observed. When P4 was categorized (Low <3.0 ng/mL, High ≥3.0 ng/mL), a 3-way interaction emerged: in primiparous cows with Low-P4, ovulation was greater with 200 µg; in multiparous cows with High-P4, ovulation was greater with 200 µg. No treatment effect was observed on P4 concentrations 7 d post-treatment. Cows receiving 200 µg GnRH had higher peak LH and area under the curve than those receiving 100 µg, though peak timing did not differ. In summary, increasing the GnRH dose to 200 µg at G1 of the breeding Ovsynch in a DO program improved LH release, ovulatory response, and first-service P/AI, with the greatest benefit in multiparous cows.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the linoleic-α-linolenic acid ratio (LA:ALA) on cyclicity, oocyte quality, early pregnancy parameters, milk yield, and composition. Holstein cows were randomized to a 6:1-LA:ALA diet (Low-OMG3: n = 3 pens; 11 primiparous, 14 multiparous) or a 2:1-LA:ALA diet (High-OMG3: n = 3 pens; 10 primiparous, 14 multiparous). Diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and fed between 15 and 140 days in milk (DIM). Data were compared using linear mixed models. As expected, omega-3 concentrations in milk and blood increased in the High- compared to Low-OMG3 cows. No effect of diet was observed on cyclicity by 45DIM or oocyte quality at 50DIM. High-OMG3 cows had larger corpus luteum size (11-32 d post-timed artificial insemination [TAI]) and greater blood flow (32-60 d post-TAI) than Low-OMG3 cows. However, there was no effect of diet on progesterone, pregnancy-associated glycoproteins, or conceptus size. High-OMG3 cows produced more milk throughout the study, had greater lactose, and tended to have greater protein yield at 50DIM. In conclusion, decreasing the LA:ALA dietary ratio in lactating dairy cows did not provide evidence of effects on cyclicity, oocyte quality, or other early pregnancy-related parameters, but affected corpus luteum size and blood flow, enhanced milk production, and partially increased protein and lactose yields.

The Usutu virus (USUV; Orthoflavivirus, Flaviviridae) is a mosquito-borne pathogen causing fatal neuroinfections in susceptible wild and captive birds, particularly blackbirds, other passerines, and owls. Zoological gardens provide favourable conditions for the circulation of such viruses due to the proximity of diverse species and limited options for prevention. Following the sudden death of several Chilean tinamous kept in the Brno zoological garden, we tested tissues sampled from 22 bird cadavers (from zoos, private owners, and free-living birds) for the presence of USUV and West Nile virus (WNV) RNA using duplex reverse transcription qPCR. Near-complete whole-genome sequences were acquired from positive samples by next-generation sequencing and subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Furthermore, serum samples from additional zoo animals and privately owned birds were screened for anti-flavivirus antibodies using ELISA and subsequently confirmed by the virus neutralization test. We report fatal USUV infections in multiple bird species from three zoological gardens in the Czech Republic. Duplex RT-qPCR targeting USUV and West Nile virus (WNV) detected USUV RNA in tissues from two Boreal owls (Aegolius funereus), one Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum), two Brahminy starlings (Sturnia pagodarum), and four Chilean tinamous (Nothoprocta perdicaria). Additionally, three randomly found cadavers of free-living blackbirds (Turdus merula) tested positive. Pathological findings ranged from minimal pathological changes to pronounced hepatosplenomegaly with intestinal bleeding. Phylogenetic analysis of near-complete genome sequences assigned all viruses to the Europe 2 genetic lineage, revealing partial geographic clustering among isolates obtained in this study. Serological testing confirmed exposure in additional birds and demonstrated cross-neutralisation between anti-USUV and anti-WNV-positive sera. In zoological gardens, flavivirus infections can cause substantial losses, even among rarely bred or endangered species. Given the zoonotic potential of both USUV and WNV, documenting their occurrence in avian hosts is important not only for animal health but also for human disease surveillance from the One Health perspective.

BackgroundThe cestode Dipylidium caninum is known to infect dogs via the ingestion of an intermediate flea host, typically Ctenocephalides felis. Simparica Trio® is an oral combination drug product for dogs effective in the treatment and prevention of fleas, including C. felis. Here, we report two laboratory studies evaluating the efficacy of a single administration of Simparica Trio at the minimum label dosage of 1.2 mg/kg sarolaner, 24 µg/kg moxidectin, and 5 mg/kg pyrantel (as pamoate salt) in preventing D. caninum infection in dogs for 1 month through killing of C. felis.MethodsA total of 20 dogs (n = 10 per group) proven to be suitable hosts for C. felis were used in each of the two studies. Treatment occurred on day 0, with each dog given either the placebo or Simparica Trio. On days 0 (after treatment), 7, 14, 21, and 30, dogs were infested using 200 (± 5) unfed D. caninum-infected C. felis. Live flea counts were conducted on day 33 (72 ± 2 h after day 30 infestation). All dogs were euthanized on day 58, and each dog was necropsied for the recovery of D. caninum scolexes from the gastrointestinal tract.ResultsPlacebo-treated dogs had adequate flea infestations and cestode infections in both studies. Simparica-Trio-treated dogs were free of fleas on day 33 (100% efficacy) and had significantly lower mean flea counts compared with placebo-treated dogs (P ≤ 0.0007). Scolex counts in Simparica-Trio-treated dogs were also significantly decreased compared with placebo-treated dogs in both studies. The efficacy of Simparica Trio against D. caninum based on least squares mean scolex counts was 100% (P < 0.0001) in study 1 and 92.1% (P = 0.0033) in study 2.ConclusionsThe efficacy provided by Simparica Trio against C. felis at the minimum dosage of 1.2 mg/kg sarolaner, 24 µg/kg moxidectin, and 5 mg/kg pyrantel (as pamoate salt) prevented D. caninum infection in dogs for 1 month.Graphical

Este artículo analiza el impacto del litigio estratégico en la implementación de medidas de satisfacción y garantías de no repetición ordenadas por la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (Corte IDH) a partir del estudio del caso Omeara Carrascal vs. Colombia. Partiendo de la práctica profesional y respaldándose en múltiples fuentes académicas y públicas, se examina el litigio estratégico como herramienta esencial para exigir el cumplimiento de estas medidas tras una sentencia de la Corte. Mediante el análisis jurisprudencial, entrevistas y revisión de informes de supervisión de cumplimiento, se exploran los avances y obstáculos estructurales en la materialización de estas reparaciones. El artículo enfatiza cómo el litigio estratégico, más que una lucha prolongada en un solo caso es parte de una estrategia integral que combina acciones jurídicas, incidencia y monitoreo frente a las prácticas estatales de incumplimiento.