Zoetis accepting research grant proposals on controlling parasitic diseaseDecember 1, 2017Zoetis is accepting grant proposals for research into innovative approaches to help protect dogs, cattle, sheep, and poultry from parasitic diseases and to extend the efficacy of therapeutics through new formulations. Through a grant awards program, Zoetis will award a minimum of $25,000 and maximum of $150,000 to support each selected grant proposal. More than one grant may be awarded. "We at Zoetis are interested in advancing novel approaches to protect animals from parasitic diseases, to improve the health and productivity of livestock animals and to help companion animals live longer, healthier lives," said Debra Woods, Ph.D., research director, head of Parasitology Global Therapeutics Research for Zoetis. "Through this grant program, we aim to energize investigation into anti-parasitic therapeutics research and advance science in this area of high need in animal health." The company seeks proposals focused on helping to protect dogs from heartworm disease by taking novel biological or biopharmaceutical approaches to prevention and on developing diagnostic tools to detect the early stages of infection. Projects might also look at understanding early stages of heartworm infection, including the mechanisms of their migration through the tissues to the heart. In cattle and sheep, the company seeks proposals that explore …
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Oregon CVM resumes normal operations after EHV-1 caseDecember 1, 2017Three weeks after diagnosing a horse with a form of equine herpes virus (EHV-1) and suspending all elective surgical and medical services for horses and camelids, the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine has resumed normal operations. EHV-1 is a naturally occurring virus that can cause serious neurologic illness in horses. "There was no transmission of the virus to other horses within or outside of the hospital, so we are lifting quarantine and returning to normal operations effective immediately," said Erica McKenzie, professor of large animal internal medicine. "The college thanks everyone for their patience and assistance during the quarantine period." EHV-1 can cause abortion in pregnant mares, which should be kept away from horses showing signs of the disease and also kept away from horses that have been in contact with exposed animals. Although a vaccine exists for EHV-1, it does not prevent infection and is not known to prevent clinical signs of neurologic disease related to the neurotropic form. "Horse owners should be aware that although EHV-1 is not transmissible to humans, people can spread the virus on their hands and clothing to horses, alpacas or llamas if they are in contact with an infected horse," McKenzie …
Cornell offers alternative procedure for treating equine atrial fibrillationNovember 28, 2017Cardiologists at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine are touting a new procedure to treat atrial fibrillation (AF): transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC). "I'm very excited to be able to offer this procedure," said Bruce Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, associate director of the Feline Health Center and staff cardiologist. "AF is a very common condition in horses that we're often asked to diagnose and treat. This is another tool in our toolbox to convert these patients back to a normal heart rhythm." Cornell's Equine Hospital offered TVEC until about five years ago, when the hospital could no longer purchase catheters needed for the procedure, which involves electrodes in the heart to reset its rhythm via an electric shock. Recently, the catheters came back onto the market. At around the same time, Cornell veterinary students examined On-Star, a 19-year-old mare from the Cornell Equine Park teaching herd. "The students picked up the arrhythmia, and we diagnosed it as AF," said Gillian Perkins, DVM, DACVIM, medical director of the Equine/Nemo Farm Animal Hospitals, who coordinated the procedure. For horses that don't respond well to the traditional quinidine treatment or that have had AF for several years, TVEC might be …
Boehringer Ingelheim funds three equine research awardsNovember 22, 2017Boehringer Ingelheim has selected three research proposals to fund as part of its 2017 Advancement in Equine Research Award program. The company has given more than $470,000 to advancing the knowledge of equine infectious disease since 2011. "For the past six years, BI has supported equine research into identifying new disease treatment and prevention methods," said Steve Grubbs, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, equine technical manager at Boehringer Ingelheim. "Through this program we are committed to helping advance the understanding, diagnosis, and prevention of infectious equine diseases." The 2017 Equine Research Award recipients are: Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, and Sharon Spier, DVM, PhD., DACVIM, University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "Investigation of the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-histaminic drugs on the humoral response to a commercial Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis vaccine given to naïve healthy horses." Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "Investigation of the Florida sublineage clade affiliation of equine influenza virus strains using novel multiplex real-time quantitative PCR in nasal secretions submitted to a diagnostic laboratory (2012-2017)." Rebecca P. Wilkes, DVM, Ph.D., DACVM, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "Targeted next-generation sequencing panel for detection of equine pathogens." …
Juniper Systems releases equine ultrasound reproduction solutionNovember 20, 2017Juniper Systems Inc. has announced the release of EmberEquine, a new equine ultrasound reproduction solution developed to optimize workflow. The Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet, running EmberEquine software, pairs with Draminski's 4VetJ Ultrasound to provide practitioners with everything needed to simplify mare exams and recordkeeping, according to the company. The 4VetJ allows veterinarians to record measurements directly on the ultrasound for improved accuracy and efficiency. Measured images are then sent to the Mesa 2 Rugged tablet via Wi-Fi, attached to the mare record form, and safely stored on the Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet and Microsoft Cloud for easy access. The unit offers touchscreen interface, wireless design, and all-day battery life. In addition, the EmberEquine software provides veterinarians with a powerful yet user-friendly interface for quick data entry on the Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet during each reproduction exam, the company states.
Jaguar Health receives AAVSB RACE approval for foal CENovember 13, 2017Jaguar Health Inc., a manufacturer of gastrointestinal products for both human prescription use and animals, announced today that the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) committee has reviewed and approved Jaguar's "Diarrhea in Foals" continuing education (CE) program as meeting the standards adopted by the AAVSB. The company's "Diarrhea in Foals" program has been approved by the AAVSB RACE committee to offer a total of 1.50 CE credits to each participating veterinarian or veterinary technician. The program may be repeated by Jaguar within the two-year program approval period at different locations and/or on different dates, with advance notice to AAVSB. "Participation in CE programs helps veterinarians and veterinary technicians remain apprised of current and cutting-edge veterinary care and helping veterinary professionals expand their clinical knowledge and learn about new technology helps them take better care of their patients," said Siobhan McAuliffe, MVB, DACVIM. Dr. McAuliffe served as the primary investigator for clinical studies conducted in 2015 for Neonorm™ Foal, Jaguar's plant-based antidiarrheal product for newborn horses.
WHO urges end to antibiotics use in healthy food-producing animalsNovember 10, 2017The World Health Organization (WHO) launched new guidelines regarding the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals, urging farmers and the food industry to stop using antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in otherwise healthy animals. The guidelines were announced ahead of World Antibiotic Awareness Week, Nov. 13-19. The WHO recommends an overall reduction in the use of all classes of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals, including complete restriction of these antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention without diagnosis. Healthy animals should receive antibiotics only to prevent disease if it has been diagnosed in other animals in the same flock, herd, or fish population, according to the WHO. The new guidelines aim to help preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics important for human medicine. They recommend that antibiotics used in animals should be among those that are the least important to human health, and not from those classified as "critically important." The European Union barred the practice in 2006, and a US ban on use of "medically important" antibiotics kicked in at the beginning of this year, according to the WHO. "A lack of effective antibiotics is as serious a security threat …
Veterinary researcher earns grant to improve traumatic burn, wound healingNovember 7, 2017Holly Sparks, DVM, a large animal surgeon and Ph.D. candidate in regenerative medicine at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), is researching stem cell-based therapies to improve skin grafts and improve skin wound and burn healing in humans and horses. "Humans and horses are obviously different species, but when it comes to wound healing they are more alike than one might realize," said Dr. Sparks. "Like people, horses that suffer severe burns or large wounds on their lower limbs have similar difficulty with optimal healing. Instead, horses commonly develop chronic, non-healing wounds which are reminiscent of the scarring and sub-optimal healing seen in human burn survivors as well as those with diabetic leg ulcers." AIHS Clinician Fellowship Award Sparks is investigating the use of dermal stem cells and novel bioengineered "scaffolds" to place new, healthy cells on top of wounds to regenerate and promote healing. Sparks has been awarded an Alberta Innovates: Health Solutions (AIHS) Clinician Fellowship Award to fund her work for the next three years. "These are highly competitive and typically awarded to physicians in human medicine, so it's a real accomplishment for a veterinarian to be granted this award," …
Best practices for managing laminitisNovember 3, 2017Recognized for centuries, laminitis is an all-to-frequent, and sometimes devastating, condition affecting the connections between the horse’s hoof wall and the vital structures inside the hoof.
Synthetic Genomics, Ceva partner to develop livestock vaccinesNovember 1, 2017 Synthetic Genomics Inc. announced that it has partnered with Ceva Santé Animale to utilize Synthetic Genomics' next-generation synthetic RNA replicon platform to develop vaccines for livestock. Synthetic Genomics' RNA replicons are programed to deliver genetic instructions to a body's own cells to unleash a powerful immune response against a specific disease, the company said. These RNA replicons carry the genetic code for a self-replication engine as well as antigens that signal for an immune response. The self-amplifying, RNA-based vaccine triggers rapid and immediate antigen expression within host cells, which induces strong T cell and B cell responses. These fully synthetic vaccines have lower dose requirements and simplified manufacturing compared to traditional vaccine approaches, according to the announcement. "We have made tremendous progress to date in programming RNA to develop next-generation vaccines that are multigenic, tunable and, most importantly, scalable for commercially competitive markets such as animal health," said Synthetic Genomics CEO Dr. Oliver Fetzer. "This partnership with Ceva, a leader in animal health, highlights the promise in deploying our synthetic biology capabilities to build RNA systems capable of improving global health in a variety of ways." Financial terms of the agreement were not …
