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Biomedical subjects

S E Heath

Publications and source records attributed to S E Heath.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Challenges and options for animal and public health services in the next two decades.

Trade in livestock and livestock products makes up approximately one sixth of global agriculture trade. This trade is demand driven, primarily by growing human populations, changing economies, and consumer preferences in developing countries. Different rates of population growth, economic growth, urbanisation, environmental sustainability, and technology transfer will determine which countries will reap the greatest benefits. Global trends in demand and supply for food, not terrorism, will drive the future of animal and public health service delivery. To benefit the greatest number of people and countries, animal and public health services should support policies that temper growing disparities among rich and poor countries, city and rural populations, and the sexes. Economic growth is critical to overcoming disparities between countries and best supported by integrated animal health, public health, labour, and foreign policies. Opportunities for job growth will be the greatest along the value added chain of food production and will require significant investments in science- (risk-) based education.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2001

Epidemiologic features of pet evacuation failure in a rapid-onset disaster.

OBJECTIVE: To describe epidemiologic features of pet evacuation failure after a hazardous chemical spill in which residents had no warning and only a few hours notice to evacuate. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Pet-owning households that evacuated from a hazardous chemical spill with (n = 119) or without (122) their pets. Procedures-Evacuees were surveyed by mail. RESULTS: 261 of 433 (60.3%) dogs and cats in 241 households were not evacuated. Of the 241 households, 119 (49.4%) evacuated with their pets, 98 (40.7%) evacuated without them but later attempted to rescue them, and 24 (10.0%) neither evacuated their pets nor attempted to rescue them. Pet evacuation failure was most common in households that thought the evacuated area was safe for pets. Risk of pet evacuation failure increased in households with many animals, low pet attachment and commitment scores, and low levels of preparedness. Cat evacuation failure was associated with not having cat carriers. Nearly 80% of households that evacuated with their pets found accommodation with friends and family. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pet evacuation failure was common and jeopardized pets' health and well-being. Logistical challenges to transporting pets were substantial contributors to pet evacuation failure, whereas not knowing where to house a pet was only a minor concern. Most pet owners seemed self-reliant and acted appropriately towards their pets. Such self-reliant behavior by pet owners should be encouraged prior to disasters as part of an evacuation plan for households.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for pet evacuation failure after a slow-onset disaster.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors for pet evacuation failure during a flood. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: 203 pet-owning households in a flooded region. PROCEDURES: Persons under evacuation notice because of a flood were interviewed by use of a random telephone survey. RESULTS: 102 households evacuated with their pets, whereas 101 households evacuated without their pets. Low pet attachment and commitment scores were significantly associated with a greater chance of pet evacuation failure. Risk of pet evacuation failure and lower attachment and commitment scores were also associated with pet management practices prior to the disaster, such as dogs being kept outdoors most of the time or owners not having carriers for their cats. More than 90% of owners made housing arrangements for their pets without assistance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Predictors of pet evacuation failure are usually present before a disaster strikes and are potentially modifiable. Mitigation of pet evacuation failure should focus on activities that reinforce responsible pet ownership and strengthen the human-animal bond, including socializing dogs, attending dog behavior training classes, transporting cats in nondisaster times, and seeking regular preventive veterinary care. Most pet owners are self-reliant in disasters, and this behavior should be encouraged.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2001

Human and pet-related risk factors for household evacuation failure during a natural disaster.

This study characterized risk factors for household evacuation failure. A random digit dial telephone survey was conducted of 397 households in Yuba County, California, in July 1997, 6 months after residents had been under evacuation notice due to flooding. Case households failed to evacuate, whereas control households evacuated. The cumulative incidence of household evacuation failure was 19.4%. Fewer households with children (25.8%) failed to evacuate than households without children (45.9%, p < 0.01). More households with pets (20.9%) than households without pets failed to evacuate (16.3%, p = 0.11). With multivariate logistic regression, the risk of household evacuation failure was lower in households with children (odds ratio = 0.4, 95% confidence interval: 0.2, 0.8) compared with households without children. The risk of household evacuation failure increased in pet-owning households without children (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 1.5) compared with pet-owning households with children; the more pets a household owned, the higher the risk of household evacuation failure was. Impediments to pet evacuation, including owning multiple pets, owning outdoor dogs, or not having a cat carrier, explained why many households that owned pets failed to evacuate. Predisaster planning should place a high priority on facilitating pet evacuation through predisaster education of pet owners and emergency management personnel.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Emergency management of disasters involving livestock in developing countries.

Different disasters have similar consequence on the health and welfare of livestock. Numerous geophysical disasters can exacerbate epizootics, resulting in the deaths of many animals and the reduction of production efficiency. These disasters also present a considerable threat of spoilage of processed foods, endangering public health. Furthermore, large-scale disasters involving animals can modify the long-term stability of national economies, the environment and social structures. The authors discuss the vulnerability of the livestock industry to natural disasters and the impact of floods, droughts and transboundary diseases and pests on national economies. Examples are given on how some losses can be avoided, evaluated and compensated. The role of the veterinarian is presented in relation to work conducted by other relief organisations in cases of emergency. In developing countries, mitigation programmes should focus on strengthening global animal health services. Preparedness needs to be community based, with education provided in a timely manner. Effective recovery from disasters should be based on mitigation programmes, including international trade and mutual aid agreements between neighbouring countries to supply appropriate goods and environmentally and culturally appropriate breeds of livestock. Disaster relief for the care of livestock should be recognised as a form of humanitarian assistance, given the benefits to be derived for public health and the socio-economic implications of successful intervention.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed1998

Epidemiologic study of cats and dogs affected by the 1991 Oakland fire.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors of pets affected by the 1991 Oakland, Calif fire for being lost, found, adopted, or reunited with owners. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: 1,075 cats and 197 dogs affected by the fire and 221 cats and 128 dogs not affected by the fire. PROCEDURES: Records compiled from 1991 to 1995 by the Oakland Firestorm Pet Hotline were analyzed. RESULTS: Peak activity for the hotline was on days 3 and 4 after the fire, but decreased to a low, steady rate by day 21. Many pets were found that had been abandoned or were part of a large free-roaming population that existed at the time of the fire. Many were missing after the fire and presumed killed. The longer owners delayed looking for their pet, the lower the chance of being reunited. Pets wearing collars with the owners' names and addresses had a more than 10-fold chance of being reunited, compared with pets without collars. Increasing odds for adoption of lost pets was associated with their proximity to the fire. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Hotlines set up after sudden impact disasters, such as the Oakland Firestorm Pet Hotline, will probably register primarily abandoned animals. Reunion of pets with their owners appears to be most likely for those that receive an overall better level of care than pets found at other times. Adoption of pets after this disaster was primarily by the person who found that animal and principally resulted when the pet was found close to the disaster area.

Animal Identification Systems↗
PubMed1995

Ependymoma of the neurohypophysis and hypernatremia in a horse.

A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was examined because of prolapse of the third eyelid; myoclonus of the muscles of the head, neck, and forelimbs; and persistent tail swishing. The horse had a high plasma sodium concentration but was not drinking water. The hypernatremia could not be corrected by means of IV administration of fluids, and the horse became worse and, 6 days later, died. At necropsy, a tumor was found to be compressing the neurohypophysis and the area in the brain in which the thirst centers are believed to be located. It is believed that hypernatremia in this horse was a result of altered thirst.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Leptospirosis.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The effects of increase testicular temperature on spermatogenesis in the stallion.

Stallions can experience an increase in testicular temperature from bouts of fever or from injury to the testes. In species other than the horse, increased temperature models have been used to study testicular degeneration. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of increased testicular temperature on spermatogenesis in the stallion as measured by semen evaluation. The results of this investigation demonstrate that increased testicular temperature is associated with significant transitory alterations in the routine semen evaluation of the stallion. The duration of increased testicular temperature affected the degree of change observed. The temporal nature and degree of the change in the semen evaluation is described. Predictive formulae for expected changes in the semen evaluation have been derived.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Idiopathic granulomatous disease involving the skin in a horse.

Clinical signs of generalized granulomatous disease in a horse included depression, generalized lymphadenopathy, scaly skin, and dependent edema. Diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically by diffuse granulomas in more than one organ system (lymph nodes and skin), and by ruling out etiologic agents. Response to treatment with corticosteroids was favorable. The clinical features and response to treatment in this horse were different from classic textbook descriptions of equine generalized granulomatous disease. Equine granulomatous disease appears to be comparable to human sarcoidosis. To avoid confusion between human medical and veterinary medical terminology, the authors suggest that the equine disease be referred to as equine idiopathic granulomatous disease and that a complete diagnostic description should include a reference to the organ systems involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The effects of feeding milk to diarrheic calves supplemented with oral electrolytes.

The effects of feeding different levels of milk to diarrheic calves (n = 19) supplemented with oral electrolytes were investigated. In the early stages of the disease the calves were fed either enough milk to maintain normal growth in a healthy calf, one half that volume or no milk. The three groups were further subdivided according to whether or not the electrolyte solution contained bicarbonate. A full milk ration allowed uninterrupted weight gains of 1% body weight/day (p = 0.003), but caused greater inappetence (p = 0.003 to 0.037) at the beginning of the trial than lower levels of milk intake. Electrolyte solutions with bicarbonate reduced growth rates in milk fed calves (p = 0.014). The density of fat stores increased with the level of milk feeding (p = 0.04 to 0.053). The mitotic index of the duodenal mucosa increased with milk feeding (p = 0.08), indicating a superior mucosal regeneration potential. Thymic atrophy was pronounced in those calves fed no milk (p = 0.001). It was concluded that the continued feeding of milk to diarrheic calves was beneficial. Electrolyte solutions containing bicarbonate should be avoided when milk is fed to diarrheic calves.

Animals↗