Canine Silica Urolithiasis in Mexico, Associated with the Concentration of Dissolved Silica in Tap Water

Silica urolithiasis is infrequent in dogs, but in Mexico represents 12.9%. Our hypothesis is the consumption of high amounts of silicates in the diet, especially that dissolved in tap water. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of silica in the tap water in different geographical areas and their relationship with cases of silicate urolithiasis in dogs. From 179 cases of silicate urolithiasis, 98.9% were from dogs within a geographic area called the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, which represents a cross shaft to the center of the country. Silica concentrations in tap water ranged between 3 and 76 mg/L, with a range of 27 to 76 mg/L, a mean of 49.9 ± 12 mg/L within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and a concentration from 3 to 30 mg/L, with a mean of 16.4 ± 7 mg/L outside this area; these were significantly different ( p < 0.001 ). These findings demonstrate that there is a geographic risk factor for silicate urolithiasis in urolith-forming dogs, related to the consumption of tap water with a high concentration of silica. Further studies are necessary to identify this same pathophysiological association in other species.

Are Banks in India Diversified Enough, Geographically, Across States and Economic Sectors?

This article, the first of its kind for the Indian economy, constructs lending environment portfolios of economic activities that banks in India have been faced with, for four Indian banking groups based on the extent of their operations in terms of their deposit shares in each state and the lending-portfolio mix of economic activities in those states. For empirical analysis, data on seven components of gross domestic product and state gross domestic product for 29 states from 1980–1981 to 2016–2017 were taken. The results reveal that the portfolio variances (risk) of the bank groups have declined in the last three decades. Compared to domestic private banks, the State Bank of India group and nationalised banks seem to have significantly reduced their environmental portfolio variability. Simulations to grasp the reasons for this geographic risk reduction show that structural economic reforms introduced in the early 1990s seem to have contributed more than changes in the banking structure in reducing the portfolio risk of banks.

Scoping review of distribution models for selected Amblyomma ticks and rickettsial group pathogens

The rising prevalence of tick-borne diseases in humans in recent decades has called attention to the need for more information on geographic risk for public health planning. Species distribution models (SDMs) are an increasingly utilized method of constructing potential geographic ranges. There are many knowledge gaps in our understanding of risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens, particularly for those in the rickettsial group. Here, we conducted a systematic scoping review of the SDM literature for rickettsial pathogens and tick vectors in the genus Amblyomma. Of the 174 reviewed articles, only 24 studies used SDMs to estimate the potential extent of vector and/or pathogen ranges. The majority of studies (79%) estimated only tick distributions using vector presence as a proxy for pathogen exposure. Studies were conducted at different scales and across multiple continents. Few studies undertook original data collection, and SDMs were mostly built with presence-only datasets from public database or surveillance sources. The reliance on existing data sources, using ticks as a proxy for disease risk, may simply reflect a lag in new data acquisition and a thorough understanding of the tick-pathogen ecology involved.

Contrasting practices and opinions of UK-based veterinary surgeons around neutering cats at four months old

BackgroundMany cats in the UK are not neutered before reaching potential breeding age. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the prevalence of veterinarians’ behaviours around neutering cats at four months of age and to identify any needs of the veterinary profession on this.MethodsA sample of 483 veterinarians that completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire were included in quantitative and qualitative analyses.ResultsAlmost 70 per cent of veterinarians indicated they were comfortable carrying out neutering on cats of four months of age, and approximately half of veterinarians indicated they would recommend neutering client-owned cats at four months of age if practice policy permitted. There was no association found between these practices and geographic risk factors. Instead, neutering at four months was associated with the gender of the veterinarian, their practice policy and whether they routinely neuter unowned cats. Veterinarians have contrasting beliefs on similar themes, depending on whether they neuter kittens at four months or not, including differing opinions on general anaesthetic, surgery risks, owner compliance and their perceptions of neutering practices within the wider profession.ConclusionFamiliarity and experience with the procedure, alongside perceived norms, are central to beliefs. We also highlight informational and learning barriers.

Systematic review of distribution models for Amblyomma ticks and Rickettsial group pathogens

The rising prevalence of tick-borne diseases in humans in recent decades has called attention to the need for more information on geographic risk for public health planning. Species distribution models (SDMs) are an increasingly utilized method of constructing potential geographic ranges.There are many knowledge gaps in our understanding of risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens, particularly for those in the rickettsial group. Here, we conducted a systematic review of the SDM literature for rickettsial pathogens and tick vectors in the genus Amblyomma. Of the 174 reviewed papers, only 24 studies used SDMs to estimate the potential extent of vector and/or pathogen ranges. The majority of studies (79%) estimated only tick distributions using vector presence as a proxy for pathogen exposure. Studies were conducted at different scales and across multiple continents. Few studies undertook original data collection, and SDMs were mostly built with presence-only datasets from public database or surveillance sources. While we identify agap in knowledge, this may simply reflect a lag in new data acquisition and a thorough understanding of the tick-pathogen ecology involved.