ACVPM Veterinary Preventive Medicine cheat sheet

HACCP has seven principles: hazard analysis, CCP identification, critical limits, monitoring, corrective actions, verification, recordkeeping.

A critical control point is a step where a control measure can prevent, eliminate, or reduce a significant hazard to an acceptable level.

Ante-mortem inspection screens for systemic disease, emaciation, and drug residues; post-mortem inspection evaluates lymph nodes, viscera, and carcass for lesions.

Zoonotic agents of major foodborne concern include Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Yersinia enterocolitica.

Listeria monocytogenes grows at refrigeration temperatures and is controlled by adequate cooking and prevention of post-process recontamination.

Milk pasteurization uses time-temperature combinations such as 72 C for 15 seconds (HTST) or 63 C for 30 minutes (LTLT).

Residue avoidance requires adherence to labeled withdrawal times; extra-label drug use requires a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and extended withdrawal estimates.

Prion diseases (BSE, scrapie, CWD) are transmitted by misfolded PrP protein; specified risk materials include brain, spinal cord, and distal ileum in cattle.

Prevalence = existing cases / total population at a point or period; incidence = new cases / population at risk over time.

Attack rate = (new cases among exposed or in outbreak) / (population at risk) x 100.

Relative risk = incidence in exposed / incidence in unexposed; used in cohort studies and outbreak investigations.

Odds ratio = (a/b)/(c/d) = ad/bc from a 2x2 table; approximates relative risk when disease is rare.

Sensitivity = TP/(TP+FN); specificity = TN/(TN+FP); predictive values depend on prevalence.

Positive predictive value = TP/(TP+FP); negative predictive value = TN/(TN+FN).

Herd-level sensitivity increases with the number of animals tested and individual test sensitivity; use the binomial formula for freedom-from-disease estimates.

Sample size for prevalence estimation depends on expected prevalence, desired precision, and confidence level (e.g., 95%).

Confounding occurs when a third variable is associated with both exposure and outcome; control via design (randomization, restriction) or analysis (stratification, multivariable models).

Rabies is a zoonotic Lyssavirus transmitted via saliva; post-exposure prophylaxis for humans includes wound washing, vaccine, and rabies immune globulin.

Brucella abortus in cattle causes late-gestation abortion and is controlled by test-and-slaughter; Brucella suis and B. melitensis are also zoonotic.

Tuberculosis in cattle (Mycobacterium bovis) is diagnosed by intradermal tuberculin testing; it is zoonotic via unpasteurized milk.

Foot-and-mouth disease is caused by an Aphthovirus (Picornaviridae); control relies on rapid detection, quarantine, and culling or vaccination.

Classical swine fever and African swine fever are OIE-listed diseases; ASF has no vaccine and is controlled by culling and biosecurity.

Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) forms spores in soil; sudden death with unclotted blood in ruminants is a classic presentation; do not open carcasses.

Leptospirosis is zoonotic; rodents and carrier animals shed organisms in urine; vaccines are serovar-specific.

Salmonella Pullorum and Gallinarum cause pullorum disease and fowl typhoid in poultry; control is by eradication and biosecurity.

Lead toxicosis causes anemia, neurologic signs, and basophilic stippling; chelation with Ca-EDTA or dimercaprol is used.

Organophosphate and carbamate toxicity inhibits acetylcholinesterase; signs include SLUD (salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation); treat with atropine and pralidoxime (organophosphates only).

Anticoagulant rodenticides inhibit vitamin K epoxide reductase; treat with vitamin K1 and monitor clotting times.

Aflatoxins (Aspergillus flavus) are hepatotoxic and carcinogenic; dairy cattle convert aflatoxin B1 to M1 in milk; FDA action levels apply.

Copper toxicosis in sheep is cumulative; sheep are more susceptible than cattle; molybdenum and sulfate reduce copper absorption.

Nitrate toxicity in ruminants causes methemoglobinemia; treat with methylene blue; high-nitrate forages and water are sources.

Water quality parameters include pH, total dissolved solids, nitrates, and coliform counts; fecal coliforms indicate contamination.

Ionizing radiation exposure is measured in gray (absorbed dose) and sievert (equivalent dose); ALARA principles minimize exposure.

The Five Freedoms: freedom from hunger/thirst, discomfort, pain/injury/disease, fear/distress, and freedom to express normal behavior.

Welfare assessment uses animal-based measures (body condition, lameness, injuries, behavior) and resource-based measures (space, water, ventilation).

Body condition scoring is a validated welfare and nutrition indicator; dairy cows are scored 1-5 and sheep 1-5.

Stocking density and space allowance affect welfare; broiler welfare is assessed by gait score, hock burn, and footpad dermatitis.

Pain management includes NSAIDs and local anesthetics; castration and dehorning should use analgesia.

Culling decisions balance productivity, disease status, and welfare; chronic lameness and mastitis are common culling reasons.

Ventilation in livestock housing controls ammonia, humidity, and temperature; target ammonia below 25 ppm in swine and poultry facilities.

Production medicine uses records (milk yield, somatic cell count, reproduction) to monitor herd health and target interventions.

The OIE (now WOAH) sets international standards for animal health, including terrestrial and aquatic animal health codes.

OIE-listed (notifiable) diseases must be reported to the OIE by member countries; reporting is mandatory for diseases of international concern.

The USDA APHIS regulates animal disease control and interstate/international movement; the FDA regulates animal drugs and feed.

The Veterinary Feed Directive requires a veterinarian-client-patient relationship for medicated feed containing medically important antimicrobials.

The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine approves animal drugs; extra-label use is governed by AMDUCA.

The Animal Welfare Act (US) regulates animal research, exhibition, transport, and dealers; it does not cover farm animals used for food.

The Terrestrial Animal Health Code addresses disease surveillance, trade, and compartmentalization; the Aquatic Code covers fish and shellfish.

International movement of animals requires health certificates and compliance with importing country requirements; quarantine may apply.