News from World Veterinary Association

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The strain of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) 0104:H4 isolated from cases in the EHEC infection outbreak in Germany is a rare one, seen in humans before, but never in an EHEC outbreak. WHO is not making any new recommendations for treatment.

More on the rare strain of E.coli

Know the risks and take precautions to protect yourself and your pets.
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There is an increasing awareness among campers, hikers, backpackers, and other outdoor enthusiasts that while we are enjoying the open spaces that nature has provided us, we should also be aware of the risks that come with the wilderness experience, and certain safety precautions should be taken. The AVMA has the following advice on certain health concerns linked with outdoor activities.

This document is by no means intended to discourage people from enjoying outdoor activities; instead, it is intended to inform them of the risks they face and steps they can take to reduce those risks.

When asked about the risks of outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, etc., many people think first of wildlife attacks and physical injuries. Although these are real concerns, they are less common than you might think. In fact, the risk of exposure to disease is much higher than the risk of an animal attack.

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A visionary joint meeting of Deans from the Canadian medical and veterinary medical colleges was held in conjunction with the Canadian Conference on Medical Education in Toronto, Canada, in May 2011. The theme of the meeting, jointly organized by Elizabeth Stone (Dean, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph) and William Albritton (Dean, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan), was “People and Animals Sharing Disease: Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Perspectives”. In addition to medical and veterinary medical Deans, meeting participants included representatives from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion. The event featured presentations on One Health and zoonotic disease prioritization by David Fisman (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto) and Jan Sargeant (Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph), integration of veterinary medicine and human health in the community (Kate Hodgson, University of Toronto), and Rabies as a model for best practices for zoonotic disease prevention (Cathleen Hanlon, Kansas State University).

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By Don Comis
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The same precision farming techniques that work with crops can work with manure management on cattle feedlots, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.

Agricultural engineers Roger Eigenberg and Bryan Woodbury and their colleagues with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Clay Center, Neb., map the distribution of manure on the surface of feedlots and the flow of liquid manure in rain runoff.

This research could lead to both precision harvesting of manure and also precision application of manure to crop fields, while controlling nutrient losses, gas emissions, and odors.

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128 Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
Tel: +886-2-2789-5559 FAX: +886+2+2789-5588
E-mail: blc@nlac.narl.org.tw
Website: www.nlac.org.tw

Introduction:
Phenotyping is one of the important techniques for assessing laboratory animals. In 2009, the National Laboratory Animal Center (NLAC) held the first Rodent Pathology Phenotyping Workshop in Asia; the workshop was very popular and successful, including attendees from China and Singapore. It showed that researchers and laboratory animal users were in need of phenotyping courses. In order to further advance the phenotyping skill in Taiwan, an advanced program of the workshop “Rodent Pathology in Translational Research and Phenotyping Workshop” is going to be held again by NLAC in 2011. Overseas experts are invited to Taiwan to train the first-line laboratory animal veterinarians and researchers, so that basic diagnosis on animal diseases can be practiced. In addition, by attending this workshop, laboratory animal users may improve their knowledge on phenotyping to achieve the following goals:

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1st International Aquaculture Biosecurity Workshop
Advances in Practical Approaches for the Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication
Trondheim, Norway — August 14-17, 2011
The Agenda for the 2nd International Aquaculture Biosecurity Conference to be held August 14-17 in Trondheim, Norway has been updated. More information about the Conference is available at www.iabconference.org.

Reminder: The early registration deadline is BEFORE July 1.

For registration, abstract submission, travel, hotel and local activities go to www.IABConference.org

Additional information can be obtained from the IABC Secretariat (IABCsec@iastate.edu)

It is our great pleasure to announce the "4th International Conference on Drug Discovery and Therapy" (4th ICDDT 2012) to be held in Dubai, UAE, from February 12th-15th, 2012, with Dr. Ferid Murad, Nobel Laureate and Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS as the conference Co-Presidents.

The 4th ICDDT 2012 will highlight cutting-edge advances in all major disciplines of Drug Discovery and Drug Therapy. This four-day event will feature recent findings from leading industrial, clinical and academic experts in the field, in the form of lectures and posters. The 4th ICDDT 2012 will be unique in promoting the translational nature of modern biomedical research, with both basic scientists in drug discovery and clinicians associated with patient care and research. A number of Nobel Laureates will deliver keynote lectures at the conference. It will bring together leading clinicians, medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, biotechnologists, and other allied professionals to discuss and present the latest important developments in drug discovery and therapeutics. The 4th ICDDT 2012 will also provide a forum for in-depth assessment of the challenges involved in the dynamic and fast moving fields of drug discovery and therapy.

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CSIRO scientists have shown that a new experimental vaccine helps to protect horses against the deadly Hendra virus. Deborah Middleton from CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) announced the successful progress to develop the vaccine at the Australian Veterinary Association conference in Adelaide on May 17, 2011.

"Our trials so far have shown that the vaccine prevents the infection of horses with Hendra virus," Dr Middleton said. Stopping the disease in horses could also help protect people from the disease. "A horse vaccine is crucial to breaking the cycle of Hendra virus transmission from flying foxes to horses and then to people, as it prevents both the horse developing the disease and passing it on," Dr Middleton said.

Hendra virus first appeared in 1994 and five of the 14 known outbreaks have spread to people. The virus has killed four of the seven people infected. Depending on further development, field trials and registration the vaccine may be available as early as 2012.

Dr Barry Smyth, President of the Australian Veterinary Association, said that the news on the vaccine will be welcomed by both vets and horse owners.

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Preventable conditions are among the most common in dogs and in cats
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June 15, 2011
Dental disease is the most common condition among dogs and cats examined at small animal practices across the United States. Otitis externa is also a common problem, and many dogs and cats are overweight. Flea infestation is increasingly more common, and heartworms and other internal parasites continue to be a concern across the country.

These findings are from Banfield Pet Hospital's State of Pet Health 2011 Report, the first of its kind. The report, which Banfield released in late April, draws on medical records of about 2.1 million dogs and nearly 450,000 cats that were patients at Banfield's 770 hospitals in 2010.

"Since we're the only ones who have access to this many pets and this much data, we just felt it was our responsibility to share it broadly with the profession," said Dr. Jeffrey S. Klausner, Banfield's chief medical officer. "We want to expand this in future years, but we thought we'd start on preventative care. That's what I know we can do better on."

"Most pets are healthy, and we want to keep them that way," said Dr. Elizabeth M. Lund, senior director of research for Banfield Applied Research & Knowledge. "What happens in vet school is you get focused on the minority of the problems that pets have, so you sort of lose perspective on what the majority of pets experience—which is health, with some challenges like fleas and otitis."

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Australia’s peak veterinary organisation calls for a more extensive suspension of cattle exports to Indonesia until animal welfare standards at slaughter can be assured.

“Veterinarians were shocked and horrified by the images of the inhumane treatment of Australian livestock in Monday night’s Four Corners program,” said Dr Barry Smyth, President of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).

“We welcome the government’s announced investigation into the current situation in Indonesia and support this commitment to evidence-based decision making on this issue.

“However, we strongly believe that the live export of all cattle to Indonesia should be suspended until the same animal welfare standards as Australia’s can be assured,” said Dr Smyth.

“This means that pre-slaughter stunning must be mandatory and the appropriate use of restraining boxes is enforced.

"Suitable facilities to handle Australian cattle must be in place in all abattoirs where the animals are processed. All workers must have the training and skills to handle Australian cattle, and slaughter them efficiently after stunning in a humane manner.

“If Australia can positively influence animal welfare standards to this degree, it would be a great achievement and a real demonstration of global leadership,” he said.

Dr. S. Abdul Rahman former Director of Instructions (Vety) University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and Secretary of the Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA) was unanimously elected as the President of Commonwealth Veterinary Association at the meeting of the Executive Committee of CVA comprising of Australia, Fiji, United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada and Nigeria, held at Accra, Ghana on 20th March, 2011. He will become President of CVA with effect from 1st January 2012.

Dr. Rahman is the first Indian and first from Asia to occupy this position since the CVA was formed in 1967.

Dr. Rahman heads this organisation which has a membership of 54 Commonwealth countries of the world.

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Veterinary Record has appointed leading vet, Professor Sandy Trees, to the newly created post of Veterinary Editor in Chief, it was announced today.

Professor Trees, who retires as professor of veterinary parasitology at the University of Liverpool this summer, is currently senior vice president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and a former dean of Liverpool veterinary school.

Although not officially due to take up his post on Veterinary Record and In Practice, until August, Professor Trees has already started work on developing Veterinary Record’s editorial board and working with the Editor and Publisher to determine the strategic development of the two titles.

From August, Professor Trees will be responsible for, among other things, all peer reviewed research content published by Veterinary Record, and will work closely with the title’s editor, Martin Alder, to develop and commission content.

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This issue contains:

Albert M. Jonas, DVM, Diplomate ACVP, Veterinary Scientist, Educator, Dean (October 3, 1931-December 5, 2010)
Anthony Schwartz, Irwin Leav, Robert O. Jacoby

The Power of Information
André J. Nault, Henry J. Baker

The Informatics Imperative in Veterinary Medicine: Collaboration across Disciplines
Layne M. Johnson, Trevor R. Ames, Julie A. Jacko, et al.

In this article, we discuss the challenges in integrating informatics across a large academic enterprise from a veterinary medicine point of view.

Staying Current by Searching the Veterinary Literature
Robert A. Buchanan, Anne A. Wooldridge

This article examines how veterinarians can use different types of automated services from databases.

Reaching Beyond Our Walls: Library Outreach to Veterinary Practitioners
Robin R. Sewell, Norma F. Funkhouser, Christine L. Foster

Texas A&M University Medical Sciences Library provides free document delivery and literature search services to practicing veterinarians in support of patient care.

Information-Seeking Behaviors of First-Semester Veterinary Students: A Preliminary Report
Sharon A. Weiner, Gretchen Stephens, Abdelfattah Y.M. Nour

This article describes a survey of the information-seeking behaviors of first-semester veterinary students at Purdue University.

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JVME Online will continue to be your comprehensive source for the latest in veterinary education research, review and commentary. The new JVME Online site will provide all the essential features that users look for in an electronic resource.

Early access to the latest issues - Did you know that most online issues are available to subscribers up to two weeks in advance of the print version? Sign up for e-mail alerts and you will know as soon as the latest issue is ready for you to read.

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By: Professor Michael J. Day, BSc, BVMS (Hons), PhD
Professor of Veterinary Pathology
School of Clinical Sciences
University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Dr. Day is Chair of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) One Health Committee.

Parasites & Vectors April 13, 2011 4:49 – Also see http://www.biomedcentral.com/
http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/pdf/1756-3305-4-49.pdf

By Sharon Durham
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A dietary yeast extract could be an effective alternative to antibiotics for poultry producers, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study.

Microbiologist Gerry Huff with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Fayetteville, Ark., and her colleagues have been studying the effects of yeast extract as an immune stimulant and alternative to antibiotics in conventional turkeys. Non-pharmaceutical remedies and preventatives are particularly needed for organic poultry production, according to Huff, who works in the ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit (PPPSRU) in Fayetteville.

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LIVESTOCK ASIA 2011 Expo is set to be the venue where major industry players will introduce new farming innovations and advances in animal health and nutrition. Almost all international suppliers have signed up for booths at what is the region’s fastest growing event for the feed, livestock and meat processing industry. Scheduled from 4-6 October 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the Expo will occupy halls 1-4 showcasing over 300 exhibiting companies.

Animal health and nutrition companies will be out in force to update feed millers, mixers, farmers, veterinarians and formulators on the latest advances and developments in disease management and optimizing animal growth.

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John McFadyean advanced knowledge of diseases, viruses
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May 1, 2011
Sir John McFadyean did not bear fools lightly. Frequently he would take lazy, sloppy, or just plain wrong researchers to task in the pages of the publication he created, The Journal of Comparative Pathology & Therapeutics, or in speeches. The most famous of these incidents came in 1901 at the British Congress on Tuberculosis in London.

Robert Koch, the German doctor who gave the first description of the tubercle bacillus in 1882, surprisingly had stated that no precautions were needed to be taken against milk or flesh from cattle afflicted with tuberculosis because bovine TB differed from the infection found in humans.

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Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms. -- U.S. CDC Rabies Information Site. [1]

According to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), [2] rabies causes at least 55,000 human deaths annually in Africa and Asia. Almost all human cases of rabies result from bites by rabid dogs.

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Under the auspices of VCO, Vets Care Club, UVAS arranged a public awareness campaign in connection to World Veterinary Year.

The purpose was to educate the people about veterinary profession, its role in daily life, different aspects of animal rights and aware them against the cruelties practiced to animals.
Provincial Secretary for Livestock & Dairy Development Mr. Jehanzaib Khan together with UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nawaz inaugurated the stall and appreciated the awareness campaign by Vets Care. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor said “Like the past, Vets Care has to play an important role in guiding the masses about importance of Veterinary profession in different aspects of life in future too”. A large number of people visited the stall and took special interest in the literature available on the stall related to animal welfare and veterinary profession.

A Pledge board was also displayed which was signed by large number of people of all ages in which they committed that they will not be the part of any cruelty to animals and will play their role for the betterment of the veterinary profession.

It is worth-mentioning that Vets Care Club UVAS is working under the auspices of Vets Care Organization Pakistan for the welfare of animals and uplift of veterinary profession in Pakistan.

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