Researchers Identify Virus Linked To PDDApril 17, 2009Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, say they have identified the virus linked to proventricular dilatation disease, or PDD, a fatal nervous system disorder in domesticated and wild birds in the psittacine family. The researchers also developed a diagnostic test for the virus, avian bornavirus (ABV) . Other members of the bornavirus family encephalitis in horses and livestock. "This discovery has potentially solved a mystery that has been plaguing the avian veterinary community since the 1970s," said Joseph DeRisi, Ph.D., who led the team with Don Ganem, MD, both professors and Howard Hughes Medical Investigators at UCSF. "These results clearly reveal the existence of an avian reservoir of remarkably diverse bornaviruses that are dramatically different from anything seen in other animals." Drs. DeRisi and Ganem said that the discovery could have profound consequences on both domesticated parrots and in the conservation of endangered species. For instance, the Spix's Macaw is currently one of the most endangered birds in the world and is threatened by PDD, numbering at about 100 worldwide, according to the researchers. It had been theorized that a viral pathogen was the source of the disease, but until now, no one had been able to identify …
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Hacker Accesses Personal Info On More Than 1,000 Davis ApplicantsApril 17, 2009 Personal information, such as names, birth dates and Social Security numbers, of about 1,120 applicants to the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine for the 2007-2008 school year are in the hands of a hacker. One hundred thirty-one of these applicants are accepted students. The university determined that its computer-security safeguards had been breached on June 15. It became apparent when applicants who had recently been admitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine attempted to set up campus computer accounts and were notified that accounts had already been established in their names. Further investigation showed that the records of 375 veterinary medical school applicants for the 2004-2005 school year (seven of them admitted students) also might have been illegally accessed. “We are working with law enforcement officials to determine how the campus computer-security system was penetrated and to track those who are responsible,” said Bennie Osburn, DVM, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. “We deeply regret this breach of security and are notifying the affected individuals to help them identify and protect against any unlawful use of their personal information.” Dr. Osburn also said that U.C. Davis will make available a one-year …
New Pet Food Commission Aims To Strengthen Safety StandardsApril 17, 2009 In light of the recent pet food recalls, the Pet Food Institute has formed the National Pet Food Commission to further strengthen industry procedures and safeguards. Its goals are to investigate the cause of Menu Foods Inc.’s pet food recall involving almost 100 brands and to recommend steps the industry and government should take to further build on safety and quality standards already in place. At the end of its work, the National Pet Food Commission will issue a report outlining its findings. The National Pet Food Commission, which is composed of veterinarians, toxicologists, state and federal regulators and nutritionists, will be chaired by Angele Thompson, Ph.D., a member of the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition. Commissioners include E. Murl Bailey Jr., DVM, Ph.D., of Texas A&M University and Fran Kallfelz, DVM, Ph.D., of Cornell University. For more information and a complete list of commissioners, visit www.petfoodreport.com. <HOME>
World Veterinary Day Emphasizes Unity Among Health ProfessionsApril 17, 2009 World Veterinary Day, which falls on April 28, expresses a unity among all health care providers, according to Roger Mahr, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. He said that World Veterinary Day provides a great platform to talk about the “one world, one health, one medicine” initiative, which calls for all health sciences professionals, the health sciences colleges and schools—including veterinary schools and human medical colleges—health sciences associations, government agencies and related industries to coordinate efforts on a global basis to combat disease and promote health. “When you consider the fact that in the last year at least 21 billion animals were produced for food and fiber throughout the world, and that in the United States 38,000 animals cross the U.S. border every day and 75 percent of all emerging diseases in the last 20 years are zoonotic, these facts indicate that animal health is truly at a crossroad,” Dr. Mahr said. “The convergence of animal health, human health and ecosystem health dictates that a one world, one health, one medicine concept be embraced.” Leon Russell, DVM, president of the World Veterinary Assn. is encouraging practitioners to host an open house, visit school programs …
Fire Pushes Pittsburgh Vet To Complete Spay In StreetApril 17, 2009 Dr. Mark Jasmine, owner of Jasmine Veterinary Hospital in Springdale Borough, Penn., had to finish a dog spay in a parking lot after a fire erupted at his clinic last Thursday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Jasmine, whose family lived on the second floor of the building, had already completed a cat spay and was in the middle of spaying a dog when his three sons, ages 8, 4 and 3, alerted him to the fire. After evacuating the building with his sons, the cat and dog, Jasmine finished the spay on a makeshift operating table in the parking lot of an auto repair shop next door, the newspaper reported. No one—or animal—was reportedly injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Jasmine had operated the clinic for about 20 years. <HOME>
Eklin Names VP Worldwide Sales, VP Corporate CommunicationsApril 17, 2009 Eklin Medical Systems of Santa Clara, Calif., has named Robert Royea vice president of worldwide sales. He has about 25 years of sales and marketing management and operational experience and has held senior executive positions with medical device and PACS companies such as Acuson, AGFA Healthcare and Siemens Medical Systems. Eklin also recently named Laurie Hallwyler its vice president of corporate communications. Hallwyler, who has consulted with Eklin for more than three years, has more than 25 years experience in corporate and marketing communications with experience in health care. Posted February 28, 2008, 7:05 p.m., EST <HOME>
Cloned Cat Fetches $50,000April 17, 2009 Bioject Medical Technologies reported this morning that it received milestone payments during its fourth quarter from Merial. The payments are part of a collaboration agreement that allows Merial to use a modified version of Bioject’s Vitajet needle-free delivery system for the companion animal market, Bioject reports. One payment was based on regulatory approval of a vaccine developed by Merial and designed to be administered with the needle-free system. Bioject also received a second milestone payment during the quarter following the delivery of 10 prototype devices to Merial. "We are looking forward to the commercial launch of the product for the companion animal market during the first quarter of 2005," said Jim O’Shea, chairman and chief executive officer of Bioject. <HOME>
Pain Management Webcast Set For March 13April 17, 2009 Robin Downing, DVM, will be leading a live webcast on pain management for pets on March 13 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (EST). The webcast, sponsored by Morris Animal Foundation, will cover common pain issues, overlooked causes of pain, anticipating and scoring pain, team training and resources and critical client communication. Dr. Downing is founder and past president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and was co-chair of the task force that authored the 2007 American Animal Hospital Assn. and the American Assn. of Feline Practitioners Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. To participate, visit www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/livechat. It will be available indefinitely for viewing at the webcast address. <HOME> Posted March 4, 2008, 11:15 a.m., EST
VCA Offers Free Boarding For Pets Affected By Southern California FiresApril 17, 2009 Southern California VCA Animal Hospitals are offering free boarding for companion animals whose families have been evacuated or displaced due to the current fires. Boarding assistance for pets is based on space availability up until Nov. 5 at individual VCA Animal Hospitals throughout Southern California. Pet owners can call the following VCA facilities that currently have space available: Alhambra: VCA Mission Animal Hospital; (626) 289-3643 Arroyo Grande: VCA South County Animal Hospital; (805) 489-1361 Bellflower: VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital; (562) 633-8126 Big Bear City: VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital; (909) 866-2021 (Limited Capacity) Burbank: VCA Animal Hospital (Burbank); (818) 845-7246 Canoga Park: VCA Companion Animal Hospital; (818) 340-1569 Cypress: VCA College Park-Ana Brook Animal Hospital; (714) 827-6861 (Limited Capacity for large dogs) Encinitas: VCA North Coast Animal Hospital; (760) 632-1072 (FULL) Glendale: VCA Arden Animal Hospital; (818) 246-2478 Hermosa Beach: VCA Coast Animal Hospital; (310) 372-8881 Hesperia: VCA Victor Valley Animal Hospital; (760) 244-8022 La Mesa: VCA Grossmont …
Secrets Of A Successful Exploratory LaparotomyApril 17, 2009 A great modern philosopher (her name is Patty Khuly, VMD) wrote about her concerns when dealing with some laparotomy cases ("Surgery Peek and Shriek: My Worse Nightmare," November 2007). Some procedures are technical or specialized, but with any laparotomy, there are a few secrets worth sharing. Three critical steps of an exploratory laparotomy include the amount of hair clipped, the length of the incision and how systematic you are. The surgical site must be clipped adequately to allow a sufficient skin incision. This means that hair is generously clipped from cranial to the xiphoid region to the pubis. Laterally, the area extends to the inguinal folds. Very few clients will object to that once they understand it is in the pet’s best interest— and that incisions heal side to side, not end to end. Therefore, a 10-inch incision heals at the same rate as a one-inch incision. A celiotomy starts with a ventral midline skin incision, which must be long enough to access and visualize every abdominal organ from the liver to the bladder. In cats and female dogs, an incision from the xiphoid process to the pubis is recommended. This is …
