In practice

The objective of this case report was to demonstrate the feasibility of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of feline superficial squamous cell carcinoma and to illustrate its approachability in veterinarian practice. Photodynamic therapy using topical 5-aminolaevulinic acid was applied on a superficial squamous cell carcinoma at the nasal planum of a cat. After applying of the cream, the irradiation wasperformed with a red Light Emitting Diode contrivance with a wave length of 660 nm. The following day, the tumour area was erythematous and oedematous. On the second day after the treatment a scab was formed. The response rate was encouraging as visual observation of the tumour area revealed a removal of the malignant cells and recovery of the normal epithelialised skin structure two months after the treatment. A follow-up period up to two years revealed no recurrence. These promising results demonstrate that photodynamic therapy should be considered as treatment modality for early stage superficial squamous cell carcinoma.

Isosporosis in suckling piglets causes clinical and especially subclinical problems on many pig farms. During an organized screening, the diagnosis was made via faeces examination. In 83% of 63 herds with a possible history of isosporosis, oocysts were detected in on average 40% of the examined litters. Isosporosis was more frequently found on smaller farms and on the largest farms. Farrowing pens with full grids appeared to be less infected. The percentage of positive litters appeared to decrease with an increasing time interval between 2 consecutive sows in the pen. The routine disinfection methods after cleaning the pens appeared to have no effect. This screening mainly shows that coprological examination is an appropriate method to confirm the history of isosporosis on a pig farm.

Different authors emphasize the role of an appropriate early environment during the juvenile period in the prevention of behavioral problems in puppies. In the present study, the authors investigate whether the conditions in which Belgian breeders raise and sell puppies meet the recommendations posed in the scientific literature. A questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was returned by 48 breeders. From the results it could be concluded that in all the breeding kennels both major and minor deviations from the conditions recommended in the literature were found. In a high percentage of the kennels that were examined, weaning occurs when the puppies are too young, the remaining puppies are kept solitary after the others have been sold, and not enough unfamiliar visual, olfactory and acoustic stimuli or toys are provided. A significant percentage of the puppies never leave the kennels and have no regular contact (or no contact at all) with unfamiliar humans or other non-canine animals. This leads to the conclusion that in a significant percentage of the breeding kennels the environment may not provide a solid basis for proper socialization. Consequently, efforts made by the new owners to achieve socialization are crucial. Depending on the number of breeding bitches in the kennel, the nature and degree of the deficiency will vary. In larger kennels the conditions seem to be less suitable than in smaller kennels (up to19 breeding bitches).However, a larger scale study is needed to confirm the tendencies that were found in this preliminary investigation. If these tendencies are confirmed, then amendments should be made in the Belgian legislation concerning the recognition of dog breeding kennels.

For many years dog aggression has been a matter of concern for the authorities and dog breedinggroups. In order to assess aggressive tendencies in dogs, an aggression test was developed (Netto and Planta,1997). This test consisted of 43 subtests, had to be performed in an indoor enclosure and lasted for approximately45 minutes per dog. It seemed impossible to use this test for a large population, therefore theDutch Kennel Club (Raad van Beheer) asked the first author to develop a shorter version of this test thatpreferably should be performed outdoors. The test, called the Socially Acceptable Behavior test (SAB test),consists of only 16 subtests and is performed outdoors. The definition of aggressive biting during the testincludes not only aggressive bites or snaps, but also aggressive attacks in which the dog makes a lunge in anattempt to bite, which fails because it has reached the end of its leash. In this article the validity of the testfor aggressive biting behavior is examined by analyzing the data for 330 dogs. To do so, a comparison wasmade between the test result and the aggressive biting behavior of the dogs prior to the test, as reportedby the owners and confirmed by behavioral consultants. The correspondence between the history of bitingand the aggressive biting behavior during the test is 82%, when no aggressive biting behavior at all is consideredacceptable. When the aggressive biting behavior is allowed in maximum one of 8 specified subtests,in biting behavior is allowed in maximum one of 8 specified, the correspondence raises to 88%, and of the27 false negatives (28.7%) 18 dogs performed only territorial aggression prior to the test.In the second phase, the predictability of aggressive biting behavior towards people, as shown in the test,is calculated by comparing the test results of 220 dogs with the aggressive biting behavior of these dogsshown in a period of at least 1 year after the test, as reported by the owners. The predictability is 81.8%.The test can be considered to predict in a statistically significant way the occurrence of future aggressivebiting behavior of dogs towards unfamiliar people in a non-territorial context in the first year after the test.The existence of false negative results means that the assumption that a dog that passes the test will neverbite later is not correct, as aggression is often very contextual. The value of the individual test is that it supplementsthe other evaluation methods in terms of behavioral consultation and risk evaluation. Furtherinvestigation is necessary to compare a dog’s individual result to its behavior over a longer period later inlife and to investigate the use of the test as a tool in breeding programs.

Veterinarians are relatively frequently unable to work due to work-related accidents or occupational diseases.This is the result of the large number of health risks related to the exercise of the veterinary profession. In addition,mental disorders such as depression and burn-out are becoming increasingly common. Up till now, therewas no information available regarding physical and mental disorders in the veterinary profession in Flanders.The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of the most important work-related diseases and accidentsin veterinarians in Flanders. This was done by means of an inquiry filled in by 229 veterinarians. In the inquiry,questions were asked concerning allergies, physical and chemical risks, zoonoses, injuries of the musculo-skeletalsystem and the psychological pressure of the profession. Over 35% of the respondents suffer from nasalallergy, allergic symptoms of the eyes or asthma. Within this group, 38% of the cases are due to allergens fromanimals. One out of four respondents suffers from eczema on the hands, the wrists or the lower arms. No less then62% of the respondents suffer from pain in the back and these are working in all types of practices (rural practice,horses, and companion animals). Neck pain is most common in small animal practice, whereas pain in the elbowoccurs most frequently in bovine practitioners. Scratch injuries from cats (67%), bite injuries from dogs or cats(64%), kicks of horses or cattle (61%), bite injuries from horses (16.6%), self injections (61%) and cuts (56%) arethe most common injuries. Nearly 50% of the respondents have suffered from at least one zoonotic disease, andfor 39% of these respondents, the disease was due to fungal infection of the skin. One out of four veterinariansthat often work with gas anesthetics suffers from time to time from headache and nausea due to the gasses used.Finally, the inquiry revealed that the practitioners work on average 58 hours a week (min = 7, max =100), and89% suffer from stress from time to time.On the basis of the data collected, it can be concluded that the veterinary profession involves a substantialnumber of health risks. The results also indicate the necessity of more and better information and preventionconcerning health risks, since many of the injuries and diseases can easily be prevented.

Pet cats live in close proximity with their owners and are considered a potential source of Toxoplasmagondii infection for humans. Four hundred and ten sera of healthy pet cats originating from different partsof Belgium were examined. The age of the cats varied from 3 months to 8 years. Nearly 27% of the cats testedpositive for Toxoplasma IgG and/or IgM antibodies. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was lowest in Flanders(20.4%), followed by Brussels (30.9%) and Wallonia (35.0%). Seroprevalence increased with age: from merely2% below 12 months of age, up to 47% at 7 years of age. Infection peaks were observed in the age group of12-23 months (17.6% increase) and, remarkably, also in the age group of 6 years (14.0% increase).The study suggests an overall chance of 5.5% for a seronegative cat to become infected within the next year.The risk of transmission of toxoplasmosis to the cat’s owner is discussed.