ORCID Profile
0000-0003-3200-1545
Current Organisations
Nanyang Technological University
,
National Chung Hsing University
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Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 25-06-2020
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 02-02-2018
Abstract: The objective of the study was to investigate the associations of a nine-point body condition score (BCS) with survival time and lifespan in cats. Electronic patient records from a cat-dominant primary practice in metropolitan Sydney, Australia, where the body condition of cats was regularly recorded using a nine-point BCS scale were obtained. The maximum BCS of each cat during the visits was used as the primary exposure variable. Two survival analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations of BCS with cats’ survival and lifespan. In total, 2609 cats met the selection criteria from 4020 cats screened. The median of the maximum BCS was 6 (interquartile range [IQR] 5–7). Compared with cats with a maximum BCS of 6, increased hazards of death were observed in cats with a maximum BCS of 3 (hazard ratio [HR] 4.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.00–7.27), 4 (HR 2.61, 95% CI 1.95–3.49), 5 (HR 1.43, 95% CI 11.5–1.76) and 9 (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11–2.93). Median lifespan was 15.8 (IQR 13.5–17.6) years. Compared with cats reaching a maximum BCS of 6 in the same age group, cats reaching a maximum BCS of 4 (HR 4.15, 95% CI 1.26–13.67) or 5 (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.07–2.85) between age 1 and 3 years, and a maximum BCS of 3 (HR 6.09, 95% CI 1.47–25.25) and 9 (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.27–4.04) between the age of 3 and 11 years had shorter lifespans. There are significant associations of nine-point body condition scoring with survival and lifespan, and BCSs and of 9 were found to be negatively associated with both. The study yielded information regarding a desirable BCS for cat longevity that veterinarians could consult with.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-04-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-10341-6
Abstract: A life table is a tabulated expression of life expectancy and mortality-related information at specified ages in a given population. This study utilised VetCompass data to develop life tables for the UK companion dog population and broken down by sex, Kennel Club breed group, and common breeds. Among 30,563 dogs that died between 1st January 2016 and 31st July 2020, life expectancy at age 0 was 11.23 [95% confidence interval (CI): 11.19–11.27] years. Female dogs (11.41 years 95% CI: 11.35–11.47) had a greater life expectancy than males (11.07 years 95% CI: 11.01–11.13) at age 0. Life tables varied widely between breeds. Jack Russell Terrier (12.72 years 95% CI: 12.53–12.90) and French Bulldog (4.53 years 95% CI: 4.14–5.01) had the longest and shortest life expectancy at age 0, respectively. Life tables generated by the current study allow a deeper understanding of the varied life trajectory across many types of dogs and offer novel insights and applications to improve canine health and welfare. The current study helps promote further understanding of life expectancy, which will benefit pet owners and the veterinary profession, along with many other sectors.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-09-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S12917-022-03377-3
Abstract: Swine are considered a major source of foodborne salmonellosis, a public health issue further complicated by the circulation of multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains that threaten the safety of the food chain. The current study aimed to identify patterns that can help to understand the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella in pigs in Spain through the application of several multivariate statistical methods to data from the AMR national surveillance programs from 2001 to 2017. A total of 1,318 pig Salmonella isolates belonging to 63 different serotypes were isolated and their AMR profiles were determined. Tetracycline resistance across provinces in Spain was the highest among all antimicrobials and ranged from 66.7% to 95.8%, followed by sulfamethoxazole resistance (range: 42.5% − 77.8%), streptomycin resistance (range: 45.7% − 76.7%), icillin resistance (range: 24.3% − 66.7%, with a lower percentage of resistance in the South-East of Spain), and chlor henicol resistance (range: 8.5% − 41.1%). A significant increase in the percentage of resistant isolates to chlor henicol, sulfamethoxazole, icillin and trimethoprim from 2013 to 2017 was observed. Bayesian network analysis showed the existence of dependencies between resistance to antimicrobials of the same but also different families, with chlor henicol and sulfamethoxazole in the centre of the networks. In the networks, the conditional probability for an isolate susceptible to ciprofloxacin that was also susceptible to nalidixic acid was 0.999 but for an isolate resistant to ciprofloxacin that was also resistant to nalidixic acid was only 0.779. An isolate susceptible to florfenicol would be expected to be susceptible to chlor henicol, whereas an isolate resistant to chlor henicol had a conditional probability of being resistant to florfenicol at only 0.221. Hierarchical clustering further demonstrated the linkage between certain resistances (and serotypes). For ex le, a higher likelihood of multidrug-resistance in isolates belonging to 1,4,[5],12:i:- serotype was found, and in the cluster where all isolates were resistant to tetracycline, chlor henicol and florfenicol, 86.9% (n = 53) of the isolates were Typhimurium. Our study demonstrated the power of multivariate statistical methods in discovering trends and patterns of AMR and found the existence of serotype-specific AMR patterns for serotypes of public health concern in Salmonella isolates in pigs in Spain.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-05-2021
DOI: 10.1111/VCP.12965
Abstract: The hemogram is a routine analysis for equine veterinary practitioners in the assessment of patient clinical status. Reference intervals (RIs) of hematologic constituents vary according to different horse populations and are often described for a particular breed or horse type. The aims of this study were to determine RIs for hematologic constituents in a mixed‐breed horse population residing in livery yards in central Spain and evaluate the associations between estimated RIs and multiple phenotypic and management characteristics. A total of 122 healthy horses from different breeds in central Spain were included in the study. RIs were calculated following the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines. Significant associations between red blood cell (RBC) counts, packed cell volumes (PCVs), hemoglobin (HGB) concentrations, white blood cell (WBC) counts, and phenotypic and management features were evaluated using a novel multiple linear regression model analysis. Reference intervals were 5.8‐10.0 × 10 12 /L for RBCs, 97‐164 g/L for HGB, 0.27‐0.46 L/L for PCVs, 37.1‐53.6 fL for MCVs, 3.8‐10.8 × 10 9 /L for WBCs, and 76.1‐377.9 × 10 9 /L for platelet counts. The season, discipline, and housing when and where the horses were s led were factors significantly associated with WBC counts and/or red cell values (HGB, RBC, and PCV). Hematologic RIs for these horses were comparable to the RIs of warm‐blooded horses and influenced by husbandry. These location‐specific RIs should allow veterinary practitioners to make better‐informed decisions for their patients residing in livery yards.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 12-09-2018
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 11-10-2021
DOI: 10.1111/TBED.14337
Abstract: The current study quantified the risk of releasing African swine fever virus (ASFV) into Taiwan from pork products illegally carried by international travellers from 157 countries or territories through six international airports and three international seaports. The association between various factors and the number of pork products detected by the border control authorities was also examined. The risk was estimated with a stochastic process after modelling the number of undetected illegal pork products, probability of pork product detection at international airports and seaports and probability of ASFV contamination of pork products from various countries. The overall annual probability of ASFV release to Taiwan was estimated to be 1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1-1] under no enhanced mitigation measures. All the median airport-level risks were higher than .921, and four of them reached 1. The total annual risk was .570 (95% CI: .109-.937) for international seaports. The country or territory level risk was estimated to be 1 for Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines and South Korea, .999 (95% CI: .628-1) for Macao and .967 (95% CI: .359-1) for Indonesia. After the total number of travellers was factored in, the number of detected illegal pork products was the highest in January and February, and travellers from Vietnam [risk ratio to Japan (RR): 80.45 95% CI: 58.68-110.3], the Philippines (RR: 37.67 95% CI: 26.9-52.74) and Cambodia (RR: 28.39 95% CI: 12.69-63.51) were most likely to bring pork products to Taiwan. Our study indicated a high risk of ASFV introduction through international travellers and also identified the factors associated with the risk. This information can be used as empirical evidence for cost-effective risk mitigation practices.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.PREVETMED.2017.05.021
Abstract: Obesity is regarded as one of the most significant welfare issues in companion animals. Some risk factors affecting body condition in cats have been determined, but many remain controversial. The current study aimed to investigate the risk factors for overweight and underweight in cats in metropolitan Sydney. Electronic patient records for 11 years (2005-2015) were acquired from a feline primary practice in metropolitan Sydney. The 9-point body condition score (BCS) evaluation in each visit was classified into three groups: underweight (1-3), ideal-weight (4-6) and overweight (7-9). Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for underweight and overweight. The risk factors tested included: breed, hair length, sex, neuter status, age at neutering, age at visit, microchip status, lifestyle, reason for the clinic visit and the number of visits by a cat in a calendar year. The BCS examiner was included as a confounder. Over the 11-year period, 4,020 cats had made 18,349 visits to the clinic, from which BCS records were available for 15,659 visits (85.3%), with 834 cats (5.3%) being underweight, 12,362 (79.0%) being ideal-weight and 2,463 (15.7%) being overweight. Although various cat breeds showed a different tendency for body condition, British Shorthair and mixed-breed cats were more likely to be overweight. Non-illness related visits and middle age (7-11 years old) were also risk factors for overweight. The risk factors for underweight included purebred cats (apart from British Shorthair and Burmese), medium-or-long hair, being intact, increase in age, not having a microchip and illness-related visits. Sex was not a significant risk factor for either overweight or underweight. The study demonstrated that the risk factors for overweight and the protective factors for underweight were not necessarily the same, highlighting the importance of investigating the risk factors for underweight and overweight separately in future research.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-07-2018
DOI: 10.1111/JSAP.12905
Abstract: To explore the associations of cat body condition score with various health conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, dermatological conditions and hypertension, that have been shown to relate to overweight and/or obesity in cats, dogs or humans. Electronic patient records between January 3, 2005 and June 21, 2015 were obtained from a cat-focused primary accession clinic in metropolitan Sydney where the body condition score of cats was routinely evaluated. Binomial logistic regression modelling was conducted to investigate the associations, after adjusting for age, sex and breed, between 21 health conditions and body condition score recorded on a 9-point scale. Fourteen of the 21 health conditions examined showed significant associations with an increased body condition score, particularly those of 7 and above. These were dermatological conditions, atopic dermatitis, musculoskeletal conditions, arthritis, hypertension, respiratory conditions, asthma, oral conditions, diarrhoea, general and lower urinary tract conditions, ophthalmic conditions, diabetes mellitus and allergic conditions. Additionally, cats with body condition score of 8 or 9 had significantly higher odds for gastrointestinal conditions and upper urinary tract conditions when compared with cats with body condition score of 5. As far as we know, this is the first study reporting positive associations of high body condition score with atopic dermatitis, hypertension, asthma, diarrhoea, ophthalmic conditions and allergic conditions in cats. A large number of positive associations between health conditions and high body condition score indicates that excess fat mass should be given a greater emphasis in preventive health care for cats.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 23-06-2020
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 12-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0277866
Abstract: Monitoring and investigating temporal trends in antimicrobial data is a high priority for human and animal health authorities. Timely detection of temporal changes in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can rely not only on monitoring and analyzing the proportion of resistant isolates based on the use of a clinical or epidemiological cut-off value, but also on more subtle changes and trends in the full distribution of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. The nature of the MIC distribution is categorical and ordinal (discrete). In this contribution, we developed a particular family of multicategory logit models for estimating and modelling MIC distributions over time. It allows the detection of a multitude of temporal trends in the full discrete distribution, without any assumption on the underlying continuous distribution for the MIC values. The experimental ranges of the serial dilution experiments may vary across laboratories and over time. The proposed categorical model allows to estimate the MIC distribution over the maximal range of the observed experiments, and allows the observed ranges to vary across labs and over time. The use and performance of the model is illustrated with two datasets on AMR in Salmonella .
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-04-2023
DOI: 10.3390/ANI13091451
Abstract: This current study investigated the trends in public animal shelter intakes and outcomes and the workload of shelter veterinarians in Taiwan from 2012 to 2020 and reports spatial, temporal, and socioeconomic factors associated with these trends. Information about the public animal shelter management of dogs and cats from all counties of Taiwan between 2012 and 2020 was acquired from the National Animal Shelter Management System of the Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan in Taiwan. Ridge regression followed by multivariable linear regression was conducted to examine the risk factors for animal intakes, outcomes, the number of adopted animals, and the estimated veterinary workload in public animal shelters. The intakes and outcomes of shelter animals significantly decreased over time. Euthanasia, which was performed in the shelters, was positively associated with shelter animal intakes and outcomes as it resulted in animal outcomes and thus facilitated the flow of animals in the shelters. Adoption and trap–neuter–vaccination–return, in replacement of euthanasia, became the main reasons for animal outcomes, and with every increase in human fertility rate, the monthly number of adopted animals over the number of animals entering shelters increased by 1.10% (95% CI: 0.21 to 2.00). The veterinary workload in the shelters of two counties exceeded what is regulated by law (i.e., 100 animals per veterinarian) in 2018 and increased to six counties in 2020. This current study reported important trends in the management of public animal shelters in Taiwan, the increasing workload of shelter veterinarians, and factors associated with these trends. It built the epidemiological foundation for future research on methods of improving shelter management and work conditions for shelter staff.
Location: Netherlands
No related grants have been discovered for Kendy Teng.