Neonatal calves are commonly affected by diarrhea caused by different pathogens, but not always bacteria. Yet, antibiotics are routinely used as a treatment to an unknown extent. It was our goal to survey antibiotic use for the treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea in different countries and to identify influencing factors. A total of 873 farmers and veterinarians in Austria, Belgium, Portugal, and Scotland participated in a voluntary online survey. The data were analyzed using classification and regression tree analyses and chi² tests. Overall, 52.5% of the participants stated that they use antibiotics when treating neonatal calf diarrhea. Of those, 27% use them always, and 45% use highest priority critically important antibiotics. The most important factor differentiating antibiotic use practices was the country the participants were from, which could be due to regulatory differences between the countries. All antibiotic products stated were licensed for use in cattle, but several were not licensed for the treatment of diarrhea in calves. Our study shows that there is an urgent need for more scientific evidence to define best practices for the treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea. Furthermore, consensual criteria for antibiotic therapy must be defined, and targeted training for farmers and veterinarians must be provided.

Although alpacas are becoming increasingly popular animals, their behaviour towards humans has received little research interest until now. The purpose of our study was to investigate, for the first time, associations between caretaker attitudes and handling practices (i.e., frequency of different types of contact, and the use of training) and alpaca behaviour in the presence of humans in a large sample of alpaca caretakers. To this end, we conducted an online survey among German-speaking alpaca caretakers. Regarding alpaca behaviour, we were interested in their behaviour towards their caretaker’s approach (assessed as ‘the majority of the alpacas run away’ / ‘keep standing’ / ‘approach the caretaker’), ease of handling in different situations (rated on a 5-point scale), and behavioural problems (spitting, kicking, biting, rising, pushing, or several of these behaviours beyond the normal level) from the caretakers’ point of view. To avoid reactance in participants, we decided against a forced choice answer format, which resulted in varying sample sizes. Questions assessing general attitudes, affective attitudes, behavioural beliefs, frequency of caretaker contact, and questions assessing the animal’s ease of handling were summarised to factors, followed by the performance of confirmatory factor analyses to determine if our hypothesized factor structures fit the observed data. Next, four regression models were calculated with the dependent variables alpacas’ reaction to caretaker approach (n = 142), ease of handling during moving and leading (n = 144), ease of handling during restraint (n = 140), and absence of behavioural problems (n = 139). Predictor variables were eleven attitude factors, four frequency of contact factors, and the use of training by means of the ‘TTeam method / Camelidynamics’. We found associations between caretaker attitudes, handling practices, and animal behaviour. For instance, moving and leading was more difficult in cases of a more negative general attitude (p < 0.05), but easier in cases of training for easier handling (p < 0.05). More talking to alpacas related to easier handling during moving and leading (p < 0.05). Negative general attitudes were associated positively with the occurrence of behavioural problems (p < 0.05). The overall results suggest similar relationships between caretakers’ attitudes and behaviour and the animals’ behaviour, as demonstrated in other species. The fact that training was a highly significant predictor of ease of handling during moving and leading supports findings in other species, that non-aversive training can improve ease of handling.

The present case report provides data on the phenotypic and genotypic properties of S. canis isolated from nine dairy cows with subclinical mastitis (SCC greater than 200,000 cells/mL in the quarter milk sample, no clinical signs) and from a cat living in the barn and reports the eradication of the pathogen from the herd with an automatic milking system. The isolates were identified using conventional bacteriology, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and genetic relationships were investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Udder health management and hygiene instructions comprised the removal of the carnivores from the barn, strict monitoring of milking hygiene and techniques to avoid new infections via the milking robot, with simultaneous therapy for all infected cows. Phenotypic and genotypic properties of all isolates were identical. MLST revealed a unique sequence type (ST55) and a farmyard cat was identified as the most likely source of the S. canis infection in cows. The simultaneous treatment of all infected cows and management and hygiene improvements lead to a decreased SCC within four weeks.

Background: The ultrasonographic examination technique is a well-established, non-invasive diagnostic tool for diverse conditions in humans and different animal species. The purpose of our study was to describe ultrasonographic localisation, sonographic appearance and dimensions of the kidneys and spleen of clinically healthy llamas and alpacas. Differences between llamas and alpacas and the influence of sex and ages were investigated. Results of this study may aid veterinarians performing ultrasonography in diseased animals and the technique can be used for routine protocol screening. Results: Ultrasonography was performed in 135 clinically healthy, non-sedated llamas and alpacas. Screening was performed with a 6.6 MHz curve linear transducer with only alcohol as contact medium between the probe and unclipped skin. The kidneys could be imaged from the paralumbar region. The right kidney only was visualized when scanning from the right and the left kidney only from the left. While the left kidney appeared in sagittal view as an oval shape in most llamas and alpacas, in one third of animals the left kidney had a triangular shape. The L-shaped base of the spleen, with its homogeneous, echoic pattern, could be seen craniolateral to the left kidney. Anechoic areas displaying vessels inside the spleen and a thin echoic capsule surrounding the splenic tissue could be differentiated. While sonographic appearances of the examined organs showed no differences between llamas and alpacas, selected dimensions of both of kidney and spleen showed significant differences between species. In terms of age and sex, significant differences in respect of kidney size could be found only in alpacas. Sex seemed to have no influence on kidney and spleen sizes in llamas. Conclusions: The present study provides species-specific information on ultrasonographic appearance and reference values for kidney and spleen dimensions of clinically healthy llamas and alpacas. Results show differences in organ sizes between llamas and alpacas and in alpacas of different sex and age. The results of this study can be used as references for veterinarians performing ultrasound examinations in diseased animals.

This study aimed to perform ultrasonography of the tympanic bulla in healthy, non-sedated camelids for the first time. In the first step, dissection and sonography in cadaver specimens allowed the essential identification of the anatomical structures of the region of interest. Ultrasonography of the tympanic bulla was then performed on 71 healthy llamas and alpacas, and the length of the visible lateral bulla wall was measured sonographically. The reproducibility of measuring was determined between two examiners. Differences in length and the influences of gender, age, and body condition scores were monitored. A 10 MHz linear probe was positioned in the rostrocaudal and dorsoventral directions caudal to the mandibular ramus and ventral to the base of the ear using a lateral approach. The equipment used proved to be appropriate to visualize the tympanic bulla, the zygomatic bone, the paracondylar process, the external ear canal, and the parotid gland in the cadaver specimens and all live animals. Llamas revealed a significantly longer visible lateral bulla wall than alpacas, but its length was not influenced by gender, body condition score, or age. In alpacas, older females showed a significantly shorter tympanic bulla wall. The intra- and inter-observer reliability yielded a significant agreement. Based on this study’s results, ultrasonography may serve as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for detecting osseous and soft-tissue changes in camelids with otitis media.

Im Zuge dieser Arbeit wurden im Juli und August 2020 in Salzburg 260 Milchkühe aus 26 verschiedenen Betrieben klinisch untersucht, Einzelkotproben gesammelt und diese koproskopisch auf Magen-Darm-Strongyliden (MDS), Dictyocaulus viviparus und Fasciola hepatica untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden Milchproben mittels ELISA auf das Vorhandensein von Fasciola hepatica Antikörpern untersucht. Das Ziel der Studie war es, die Prävalenz von Endoparasiten im Flachgau zu erheben und Zusammenhänge zwischen deren Vorkommen und den klinischen Symptomen der Tiere zu evaluieren. Für MDS konnte eine Prävalenz von 23,80 % ermittelt werden. Bei der Koproskopie wurde für Fasciola hepatica eine Prävalenz von 28,46 % nachgewiesen, bei der Untersuchung mittels ELISA waren 3,20 % der Milchproben positiv. Für Dictyocaulus viviparus konnte eine Prävalenz von 3,10 % ermittelt werden. Die Auswertung eines möglichen Zusammenhangs zwischen einer Endoparasitose und einer veränderten Kotkonsistenz erbrachte keine Signifikanz (p=0,981). Bei der Analyse der Daten im Hinblick auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen einem verändertem Body Condition Score (BCS) und einem MDS-Befall konnte ermittelt werden, dass mit zunehmendem BCS die Wahrscheinlichkeit für das Bestehen einer MDS-Infektion sinkt. Ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen dem Nachweis von Dictyocaulus viviparus Larven und Husten konnte festgestellt werden (p=0,011). Hinsichtlich BCS, Reproduktionsproblemen, Vorkommen von natürlichen Gewässern und der Fütterung konnte kein statistisch signifikanter Zusammenhang mit einem Nachweis von Fasciola hepatica eruiert werden. Aufgrund der vorliegenden Ergebnisse kann angenommen werden, dass das Parasitenmanagement im untersuchten Gebiet Flachgau zufriedenstellend durchgeführt wird.