ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Volume 263 | Issue 5 (May 2025)

Companion animal veterinary personnel have occupational risk for tularemia and One Health role for tularemia prevention in Kansas.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. May 2025;263(5):619 - 627.

Kate S Kukanich¹, Ellyn R Mulcahy², Erin M Petro³

¹ 1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.; ² 2Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.; ³ 3Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, KS.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To learn the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of veterinarians and technicians in Kansas regarding the occupational risk of tularemia, personal protection, patient diagnosis and management, zoonotic risk communication, and public health reporting.

METHODS:Kansas veterinarians and technicians serving cats and dogs completed an online survey between June and September 2024.

RESULTS:The survey was completed by 109 veterinarians and 19 technicians. Forty-three percent (47 of 109) of veterinarians reported diagnosing tularemia in cats and 13% (14 of 109) in dogs. Seven percent (8 of 109) of veterinarians reported having had tularemia. When performing procedures with a high risk of exposure, such as lancing abscesses in tularemia suspects, glove use was 100% but additional personal protective equipment was inconsistent, including eye protection (81 of 116 [70%]) and surgical face mask (69 of 116 [59%]). Antibody titer and PCR were common diagnostics, but 42% (26 of 62) of veterinarians reported never submitting a confirmatory test, with owner finances being the primary hurdle. Veterinarians and technicians have inconsistent knowledge about reporting regulations, but 91% (58 of 64) discuss tularemia's public health risk with pet owners.

CONCLUSIONS:Veterinarians are not only diagnosing tularemia in their patients but also contracting the disease themselves. Education should be targeted toward diagnostics, protection, and reporting.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Veterinary personnel play an essential One Health role in the prevention and control of tularemia in Kansas through environmental tick and wildlife management, diagnosis and treatment of sick pets, and education about transmission and protection precautions for people. Designating tularemia as reportable in animals would allow determination of disease trends and more rapid public health follow-up.

Keywords

Kansas; One Health; personal protective equipment; tularemia; veterinary personnel;

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Self-Reported Management of Incidentally Detected Heart Murmurs in Puppies: A Survey among Veterinarians.
Data from 452 respondents were analyzed. Though 88% of the respondents find detecting a heart murmur easy, only 9% find differentiating innocent murmurs from pathologic murmurs in puppies easy. Of the respondents, only 80% recommend immediate additional examination when detecting a loud heart murmur during the first veterinary health check at 6 weeks of age. Of the respondents, 31% were uncertain whether early surgical intervention could lead to improved outcomes.

Case Series: Computed Tomography Features of Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma in Six Dogs.
Although the presence of intralesional mineralization is not a pathognomonic finding, it was consistently identified in the present case series. Therefore, exOSA should be considered in the differential diagnosis when mineralization occurs in a mass unrelated to osseous structures.

Association between highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks and weather conditions in Japan.
We found that higher average air temperatures two to three weeks prior, lower average wind speeds four weeks prior, and longer sunlight hours two and four weeks prior to outbreaks were significantly associated with increased risk of HPAI outbreaks in Japan. These results suggest that weather may influence environmental survival and transmission of the virus, as well as patterns of wild bird movement that could seed new outbreaks.

Coloration in Equine: Overview of Candidate Genes Associated with Coat Color Phenotypes.
In this review, we concisely categorize coat coloration in horses and donkeys, focusing on the biosynthesis and types of melanin involved in pigmentation. Moreover, the review explores how coat color relates to selective breeding and specific equine diseases, offering valuable insights for developing breeding strategies that enhance both the esthetic and health aspects of equine species.

Computed tomography findings of nasal cryptococcosis in Australia (2008-2020): 12 dogs and 9 cats.
Dogs were more likely to have a nasal mass, whereas cats were more likely to have a nasopharyngeal mass. Cribriform plate lysis was common in dogs, but not observed in cats. Sinonasal osteolysis was a common feature in both species. Mandibular lymph nodes were commonly enlarged in dogs, whereas in cats, the retropharyngeal lymph nodes were more likely enlarged.