Mark Anthony Stevenson

Objectives: Detailed assessments of euthanasia rates of dogs with diabetes mellitus in Australian primary care practice and evaluation of associated risk factors have not been performed. Study objectives were to describe the euthanasia timing in this population and identify patient characteristics at diagnosis that increased the probability of euthanasia. Materials and Methods: Records of dogs diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in primary care practice ( n = 2078) during 2008 to 2017, inclusively, were sourced through VetCompass Australia. For cases that were euthanised, reasons were attributed to being related to diabetes mellitus or not. Time to euthanasia post‐diagnosis was described using Kaplan–Meier survival curves. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was developed to identify risk factors for euthanasia following diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Results: The cumulative percentage of dogs euthanised for diabetes‐related reasons at diagnosis, and within 6 and 12 months of diagnosis was 13%, 46% and 53%, respectively. During the first 12 months post‐diagnosis, dogs that were entire [HR 1.9 (95% CI 1.6 to 2.3)], ≥10 years of age [HR 2.4 (95% CI 2.1 to 2.7)], female [HR 1.1 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.3)] and of breeds at higher risk of developing diabetes mellitus [HR 1.2 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.4)] had an increased daily hazard of euthanasia. Quality of life was the most frequently reported reason for euthanasia. Clinical Significance: This study documents higher euthanasia rates among dogs with diabetes mellitus within the first year of diagnosis than previously reported. The findings help identify cases where additional owner support could be warranted.

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) constrain goat health, welfare and productivity worldwide. In Australia, GINs are recognised as the highest-priority endemic pathogens of goats, however comprehensive national data documenting the prevalence of GINs in goats remain limited. Here, we investigated the prevalence, infection intensity, species diversity and risk factors for GINs in dairy goats. In a cross-sectional study (November 2023 and July 2024), faecal samples (n = 1028) from 68 herds were analysed using the modified McMaster technique. Strongylid species were identified in 500 samples using deep amplicon sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal DNA second internal transcribed spacer. Animal-level prevalence estimates were adjusted for the effect of clustering of GIN positivity at the herd level, and risk factors associated with strongylid faecal egg counts (FEC) were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models. Overall, 92% (95% confidence interval [CI] 89-95%) of goats and 100% of herds were positive for at least one GIN taxon. Strongylids showed the highest adjusted animal-level prevalence (91%; 87-94%) followed by Trichuris (13%; 10-17%) and Nematodirus (5%; 3-8%). Strongylid FECs were markedly overdispersed, with 30% of goats contributing 80% of total egg output. Age, climatic zone, deworming history and coinfection with Eimeria were significantly associated with strongylid FECs. Metabarcoding identified 11 strongylid species, dominated by Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. H. contortus was most abundant and prevalent nationally, underscoring its central role in production loss and the dissemination of anthelmintic resistance. These findings provide nationally representative evidence to inform sustainable parasite control in goats.

Q Fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, which can infect a wide range of host species, including humans, domestic animals and wild animals. Domestic livestock are the primary reservoir for human infections and humans are usually considered incidental hosts, with human-to-human infection being exceedingly rare. Because livestock are reservoirs, at-risk groups for Q fever have been considered to be abattoir workers, veterinary personnel, farm workers, livestock handlers and wool shearers. However, there has been an increasing prevalence of human cases that have a history of direct or indirect exposure to wildlife, pointing towards likely wildlife reservoirs. Coxiellosis can be diagnosed using indirect and direct methods. Specific antibodies against C. burnetii are usually detectable within 1–3 weeks of infection in humans and experimental animal models. Anti-phase 2 immunoglobin M (IgM) and immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies appear first in the early stages of acute infections, followed by a delayed and less pronounced phase 1 IgM and IgG antibody response. Interpretation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology test results are useful for estimating the date of onset of symptoms or clinical signs and the date of exposure. This allows a time window of exposure to be determined and may assist with identification of likely sources of infection.

Macropods are often implicated as the main native Australian reservoir hosts of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever); however, the maintenance and transmission capacity of these species are poorly understood. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to describe the epidemiology of C. burnetii in a high-density population of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in a peri-urban coastal nature reserve in New South Wales, Australia. Blood, faeces and swabs were collected from forty kangaroos as part of a population health assessment. Frozen and formalin-fixed tissues were also collected from 12 kangaroos euthanised on welfare grounds. Specimens were tested for C. burnetii using PCR, serology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. A total of 33/40 kangaroos were seropositive by immunofluorescence assay (estimated true seroprevalence 84%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 69% to 93%), with evidence of rising titres in two animals that had been tested four years earlier. The PCR prevalence was 65% (95% CI 48% to 79%), with positive detection in most sample types. There was no evidence of pathology consistent with C. burnetii, and immunohistochemistry of PCR-positive tissues was negative. These findings indicate that kangaroos are competent maintenance hosts of C. burnetii, likely forming a significant part of its animal reservoir at the study site.