Evaluation of health and welfare Flashcards
(40 cards)
Understanding effects of taxon-specific anatomy and physiology on pharmacokinetic parameters (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination)
Carnivores have a more acidic stomach, meaning acidic drugs will be absorbed quicker. Whereas, herbivores have PH neutral stomachs, meaning the same drugs will take longer to be absorbed.
Distribution takes longer in more fatty animals as the drugs can be stored.
Higher metabolism means that the drug will be processed and ready for elimination faster.
Some animals cannot vomit, so elimination relies on excretion.
Demonstration of applied knowledge for an exotic animal species using domestic animal model in terms of pharmaceutic administration and pharmacokinetic parameters
IV, SC, IM, needle length, area with least fat if IM
Principles of modelling and measurement of pharmacokinetic parameters, including integration of volume of distribution, elimination half-life, and clearance into patient management
Measuring levels in the blood over time and making comparisons to the baselines
Identification of parameters for a well-constructed pharmacokinetic study for development of a novel study
Type and timing of samples collected
Recording of times samples collected is more important than consistency
Review of allometric principles and the application of them in scaling metabolic and physiologic processes
Relationships between animal size (measured as body mass) and various crucial measurements (including metabolism) do not scale in a linear manner, so that expressing these relationships as %, mg/kg, or similar, is biologically not correct (but maybe convenient)
Allometry considers other factors like ADME depending on internal biology
Demonstration of limitations of allometric scaling for pharmaceutical guidance
Lack of research so assumptions on biological processes may be made
Discussion of metabolic processes with effect on pharmaceutical metabolism as focused on ectothermic body temperatures
Temperatures outside are likely to change metabolism of the drug in ectotherms
What does the topic of reproductive technologies include
techniques directly applied to animal breeding and the treatment of infertility, such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. However, in a broader sense, the topic includes technologies for contraception and pest control, sperm and embryo freezing, germplasm banking, animal cloning, etc.
Some of these technologies are used in zoos, where the focus is on breeding specific individuals whose genetic value would otherwise be lost. This type of usage can be intensively applied within planned breeding programmes; however, they are not usually efficient enough for use with population management.
The multiple uses and applications of contraceptive treatments in zoo and free living wild animals
To maintain genetic diversity, and appropriate population demographics
To prevent overrepresentation, reduce inbreeding, and modify generation length
For modifying inappropriate behaviours, therapeutic management (e.g. endometriosis)
The mechanisms of action of the different contraceptive drugs available
Synthetic steroid hormones (progestogens): thicken cervical mucus, interrupt gamete transport, disrupt implantation, inhibit LH surge stopping ovulation (progestogen/oestrogen combination): suppress follicle development and ovulation PLUS as above
GnRH agonists: suppress pituitary- gonadal axis to suppress gonadal hormone release
Immunocontraception: antibodies prevent the attachment of sperm to the ova
The holistic approach to the use of contraception: safety and reversibility, monitoring efficacy, research
Are the animals fit for purpose?
The approach to diagnosing point of breeding failure/infertility
Identify problem, choose diagnostics, explore treatment options, items and people needed
Technological advances in imaging can assist in improving outcomes for captive wild animal reproduction and contraception.
For basic research into anatomy and physiology
As a diagnostic tool to identify and monitor
As a supportive tool for disease treatment and assisted reproduction
Via both non-invasive and invasive techniques (ultrasound vs xray)
describe in principle the modified McMaster Method for the recovery of helminth eggs
A clear slide with 2 compartments for samples, where floatation fluid causes eggs to rise to the top of the slide and etched lines help them to be seen
describe in principle the Baerman technique for the recovery of helminth larvae
A sample is suspended in water inside a glass funnel with gauze, and larvae move into the water where they sink to the bottom
discuss the interpretation of results obtained using these two techniques and appreciate their limitations
Pseudo-parasites can interfere with identification if the person looking does not have knowledge
They do not identify the relative number of the parasites due to differences in fecundity
Presence may not occur in the sample despite being in the host depending on the parasite species, as they may not enter the intestines
They may be at different developmental stages, and therefore not be present in the sample
discuss the value of faecal culture
It allows for the identification of the relative number of each parasite.
describe in principle how nematode larvae may be recovered from grass samples and subsequently identified
Collect and wash the grass, sieving the contents, and using Baerman or flotation methods
describe in principle how nematodes may be recovered from the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts
They can be flushed out into containers and sieved, followed by use of formalin fix and microscope
Define animal welfare and explain how it relates to health and productivity
The physical and mental state of an animal in relation to its conditions (e.g. environment and husbandry)
Give examples of common welfare indicators and how they could be used to understand animal welfare
Enclosure assessments to identify whether their needs are being met, and behavioural assessments to identify if the animal is able to cope in the environment
Apply knowledge of concepts and frameworks to objectively assess behaviour and welfare-related issues
5 domains: health, environment, behaviour, nutrition, mental state
5 needs: protection from unnecessary pain/suffering, to be housed with or without others, suitable diet, suitable environment, opportunity to exhibit normal behaviours
Critically discuss common techniques for testing a species’ cognitive flexibility, taking into account the ‘hard problem of consciousness’
Mirror test – for self-awareness
Deception test – for theory of mind (knowing what others know/don’t know)
Flexible tool use – problem solving with prior knowledge
Counting – concept formation
Define cognition and consciousness, and logically argue whether and how they might relate to each other
Cognition is the processing of information
Consciousness is the understanding of thought and experiences
They may be related as consciousness can influence changes in cognition, thus the more complex an animal’s cognition is, this could indicate consciousness
