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WSAVA NEWS December 2003

WSAVA Assembly meets in Bangkok

WSAVA President, Dr Gabriel Varga from Slovakia, welcomed a record number of Assembly members to their annual meeting on October 23rd 2003, which this year was held in Bangkok during the 28th WSAVA World Congress. Before the business of the meeting began, a moment's silence was observed for the late Dr George Grieve, who had represented the American Animal Hospital Association and served on the WSAVA Financial Advisory Committee prior to his death during the year.

In his Presidential Report, Dr Varga described his busy first year of office, including visits to existing and potential member associations in many different countries. New contacts were made with associations in Morocco, Iran and China, while recognition of WSAVA was increased at a number of international meetings. Dr Varga announced that the Liver Standardisation Group had completed its work; the final report would be presented later that week during the Congress and would be published in the near future. A similar project regarding gastrointestinal disorders had been set in motion, and through its new Scientific Advisory Committee WSAVA was now able to facilitate high level scientific co-operation on companion animal disease.

Dr Varga told of discussions that had been held with sponsor companies and professional congress organisers, with a view to standardising and further improving the organisation of future World Congresses. Interest in WSAVA World Congresses was increasing, as shown by the large number of bids to be heard at this meeting. The Assembly later voted on 5 bids, the Australian Veterinary Association being successful in its bid to hold the 2007 Congress in Sydney.

Dr Varga paid tribute to the work of Dr Ray Markus from Israel, who had resigned as Website Editor during the year. Dr Markus was instrumental in setting up and regularly updating the original WSAVA website several years ago and his efforts had been much appreciated. The website had been completely redesigned during the year, and although there were some teething problems it was hoped that these would be corrected with the appointment of Dr Walt Ingwersen (Canada) as WSAVA Website Editor from 1st January 2004. Member associations were encouraged to supply relevant information for publishing on the website.

Increasing membership

In his report, Honorary Secretary David Wadsworth said that WSAVA now has 61 member associations representing 59 countries and 65,000 individual veterinarians. In addition there are now 6 international affiliated organisations. During the meeting the Assembly approved an application for membership from the National Veterinary Association of Morocco. This association, which was founded in 1948, has a membership of about 750, about 120 of whom work with small animals. Members of the Iranian Small Animal Veterinary Association were present at the Assembly Meeting as observers and gave an interesting account of the development of companion animal practice in Iran and their first national small animal Congress heldin 2003; the association plans to apply for membership in 2004. Sadly, a very different political environment is faced by the Zimbabwe Veterinary Association, as described by longstanding Assembly Member Dr Colin Skinner. Once again, the Assembly agreed to waive the subscription fee for Zimbabwe in view of their disastrous financial situation.

Committee activities

Chairman of the Animal Welfare Committee, Dr Roger Clarke (Australia), reminded Assembly Members that a desire to enhance animal welfare was one of the primary reasons why we have chosen to be veterinarians. He encouraged members to attend the annual WSAVA Animal Welfare Symposium which would be held as a full day event during the main Congress programme in Bangkok. Topics would include the psychology of grieving, welfare of animals in Asia (including 'street elephants' and the role of the King in enhancing the welfare of animals in Thailand) and the education of primary school children in responsible pet ownership. Dr Clarke told the Assembly that the next WSAVA Animal Welfare Symposium during the Congress in Rhodes (October 2004) would focus on the control of pain.

The Hereditary Defects Committee, chaired by Professor Peter Bedford (UK), had organised a symposium on Molecular Genetics at the 2003 Congress in Granada, Spain; speakers had been disappointed by the low attendance at an event of such topical importance. Professor Bedford pointed out that breeders are pressing for the development of tests for genetic defects, and as a profession we have to respond. The committee is to publish a range of articles derived from the symposium, which will review the development of such DNA based tests. Slow progress continues to be made on the preparation of an international certification scheme for inherited ocular disease.

The Microchip committee is continuing to collate accurate and up to date information on the status of microchip identification throughout the world. While progress has been made to promote the ISO standard in the USA, there are areas where some distributors still want to use their own proprietary technology rather than the ISO standard. Member associations were urged to keep the Committee informed of the situation in their countries.

10th Anniversary of WSAVA Continuing Education

Dr Varga described how, during this 10th anniversary year, WSAVA Continuing Education (CE) programmes had expanded to include Cuba, India, the Ukraine and Uruguay; in 2004 they would reach China, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. In his role as Asian CE chairman, Dr Clarke told of the difficulties in organising events in China, where special permission from the Government is required before veterinarians can form an association. Nevertheless this has been achieved in at least two provinces, and CE events including workshops would take place there early in 2004.

Help for the WSAVA CE programme had been received not only from our 4 regular sponsors (Bayer, Hills, Intervet and Waltham), but also from the Norwegian and Austrian Small Animal Associations who had provided speakers at various events. In response to Dr Varga's comment that assistance from other associations would be very welcome, Dr Ben Albalas (Greece) said that the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Association would provide a speaker for lectures in southeast Europe in 2004.

Dr Varga introduced a new proposal to group recipient countries according to their CE needs, so that those which were now becoming self-sufficient could be helped by WSAVA in a different way in future. A detailed plan was being drawn up by the Executive Board. A PowerPoint slide presentation had been developed to introduce WSAVA at CE meetings, and this was available for the use of member associations.

Liaison with other organisations

The WSAVA continues to enjoy good and fruitful relationships with other organisations such as the World Veterinary Association and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA). Dr Ray Butcher, President of FECAVA, attended the meeting as a guest. A new group of Spanish speaking veterinary associations has been set up, known as the Federation of Ibero-American Associations of Veterinarians for Companion Animals (FIAVAC), which hopes to work together with WSAVA.

There was no change to the WSAVA Executive Board this year.

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WSAVA NEWS November 2003

EAST MEETS WEST IN BANGKOK

Thailand certainly lived up to its reputation as 'the Land of Smiles'. From the delightful student helpers to venue staff and cheerful bus drivers, all were eager to welcome us to their country and determined that we should enjoy our stay in Thailand. Our colleagues in the Veterinary Practitioner Association of Thailand are to be congratulated for hosting the 28th WSAVA World Congress in such fine style in Bangkok, 'city of angels'. Their preparations were meticulous, and everything ran like clockwork. The Congress was billed as 'East meets West' and indeed it did, with delegates from more than 80 countries and all continents participating in a 4 day programme of high quality continuing education and enjoying many exotic sights, sounds and, of course, the tastes of the famous Thai food. Thanks to major sponsors Merial and Waltham.

A royal welcome
The modern and spacious Queen Sirikit Convention Centre opened its doors to about 2000 veterinarians, exhibitors and guests from 24-27th October. Following a day of pre-Congress sessions sponsored by special interest groups and commercial companies, the unique Opening Ceremony gave delegates not only a sample of the exotic dance and culture of Thailand, but also the once in a lifetime opportunity to see Thai royal protocol first hand. Amid high security, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn arrived to officially open the Congress. The princess has an academic background, having obtained degrees in history, oriental epigraphy and various languages as well as a doctorate in education; she has also undertaken a number of development projects in agriculture, health and hygiene and other fields. The respect held for her by the Thai people and her interest in the veterinary profession and the Congress were very evident. After the Princess's official opening speech, delegates were able to watch on live video as she was taken on a brief tour of the commercial exhibition, said to be one of the largest ever held in Asia in the field of companion animal medicine. Her particular interest in new diets for certain breeds of cat was evident.

With her interest in companion animals, she follows the lead of her father, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who is well known for his concern for the welfare of animals. During the annual WSAVA Animal Welfare Symposium, later in the Congress, the audience heard how the King has adopted many handicapped, stray and abandoned animals. The story of one such adopted street dog, Tongdaeng, has been published in a best-selling book, the proceeds of which are helping to fund several royal animal welfare projects. Tongdaeng ('copper'), a tan and white dog rather like a Basenji, along with a number of other royal dogs is a blood donor for the Kasetsart University Animal Hospital. The King's initiatives in promoting animal welfare have stimulated local people to care more for their dogs, and certainly although many can be seen on the streets, most appeared reasonably contented and well fed.

President's address and 2003 Awards
During the Opening Ceremony WSAVA President, Dr Gabriel Varga, welcomed delegates, explaining that the choice of Bangkok for this Congress was largely influenced by the increasing involvement of the association in this part of the world. He also spoke of his pride in announcing the completion of WSAVA's first scientific project on the histopathological evaluation of companion animal liver diseases, and the start of a second similar project on gastrointestinal disorders. These projects have been made possible with the support of Hill's Pet Nutrition.

The presentation of the 2003 WSAVA Awards also took place during the Opening Ceremony. This year the recipient of the WSAVA Iams Saki Paatsama Award was Professor Åke Hedhammar from Sweden. This Award is made in memory of the late Professor Paatsama from Finland, who had such an influence on the development of veterinary orthopaedics; the Award is presented for excellence in this field. Prof Hedhammar has carried out fundamental work on the influence of nutrition on skeletal development in large breed dogs. His publications on the effects of overnutrition in Great Danes have led to many more studies in this area of research. As a member of the WSAVA's Hereditary Defects Committee and other international bodies, Prof Hedhammar has also been instrumental in enhancing the awareness of animal welfare in relation to dog breeding.

Dr Philip Bergman (USA) received the WSAVA Hills Award for Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare, which aims to help enrich and strengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. Dr Bergman is an oncologist at the Animal Medical Center in New York, where he has been a strong advocate of compassionate care for cancer patients and their owners, as well as developing advanced treatments. He has a particular interest in the fields of euthanasia and bereavement as it relates to the human-animal bond. He has also published widely on the nutritional modulation of cancer.

The WSAVA Waltham International Award for Scientific Achievement is presented for outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge regarding companion animal disorders. The 2003 recipient was veterinary ophthalmologist Dr Robert Peiffer (USA). He has pioneered innovations in intraocular surgery as well as bridging the clinical and basic sciences by his interests in comparative ophthalmic pathology. His numerous publications have disseminated knowledge of many ocular diseases and he was the first Editor of the speciality's journal, Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology. Unfortunately Dr Peiffer was unable to be present and Dr Maurice Roze, a fellow ophthalmologist from France, accepted the Award on his behalf.

Dr Maggie Gething from Ireland was presented with the WSAVA Waltham International Award for Service to the Profession. This Award is for exemplary service to local, national and international organisations which has catalysed scientific meetings, exchange of information and international good will. As well as devoting many years to the development of WSAVA, as Honorary Secretary, Dr Gething is a Life Member of the New Zealand Veterinary Companion Animal Society following her contribution while living in that country.

Scientific programme
The 3-day scientific programme comprised 10 concurrent sessions on all the major disciplines, including a full day for technicians. More than 100 speakers presented their topics to enthusiastic audiences and 7 State of the Art lecturers gave the opportunity for particularly topical information to be disseminated. Topics for these were diverse, ranging from new treatments and diagnostics for mast cell tumours (Dr Greg Ogilvie) to new aspects of congenital portocaval shunt cases in Japan (Dr Makoto Washizu). Manuscripts of all lectures have been printed in the 750-page Congress Proceedings (IBSN 974-91582-9-6). Delegates also received a CD-Rom of the proceedings, which should be accessible on-line via the WSAVA website soon.

Social events
Socially also, the Congress was a huge success, with many Thai treats on offer. Lunch was a wonderful buffet of Thai food, with Western alternatives for those who preferred. Large tables enabled delegates to meet and talk to colleagues from all around the world, and there were plenty of interesting people!

Every day delegates could enjoy a free foot or neck massage, watch the crafting of intricate garlands of rose, orchid and jasmine petals, or see typical confectionery being hand made for one to sample. Dancers in beautiful and exotic costume demonstrated their art and skills at various times throughout the day, and other demonstrations such as the carving of flowers from fruit and vegetables were a big attraction.

The speaker's evening dinner cruise, sponsored by Bayer Animal Health, was a very popular event, as almost 400 people boarded a boat to sample more wonderful Thai cuisine and see the floodlit temples, bridges and other sights and lights along the banks of the Chao Phraya river. The highlight of the cruise was a 'first' for Bangkok - a magnificent firework display incorporating 'WSAVA 2003' with one of the famous buildings as a stunning backdrop. A gala dinner and the colourful informal 'Thai Night Grand Finale (sponsored by Waltham - with traditional games, dance and music, as well as more fireworks!) provided very different but equally enjoyable chances to meet up with old friends, make new ones, and experience some of the amazing culture and warmth of this very special country. WSAVA Representative Dr Parntep Ratanakorn and his colleagues from the Veterinary Practitioner Association of Thailand, Drs Chainarong Lohachit and Songkram Luangtonkum, are to be congratulated on their efforts and achievement in organising such a great event.

Thanks to sponsors
WSAVA would like to thank major sponsors Waltham and Merial. Without their generous assistance the Congress would not have been possible. Grateful thanks also to the other sponsors: Bayer, Hill's, Iams Company, Pfizer, Fort Dodge, Schering Plough Animal Health and Storz.

State of the Art Lectures, 28th WSAVA World Congress, Bangkok
* Craig Greene (USA): Rational approach to antimicrobial therapy - gastrointestinal system (sponsored by Merial)
* Makoto Washizu (Japan): Congenital portocaval shunt cases in Japan - what's new?
* Richard Malik (Australia): Feline cryptococcosis (sponsored by Pfizer)
* Philip Fox (USA): Feline arterial thromboembolism - diagnosis and management (sponsored by Waltham)
* Gregory Ogilvie (USA): Mast cell tumours - new treatment and diagnostics for 2003 (sponsored by Hill's)
* Anjop Venker van Haagen (Netherlands): When coughing becomes an alarming symptom.
* Leo Brunnberg (Germany): Non-contact plate: a biological method for fractures in dogs.

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WSAVA NEWS October 2003

WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardisation Group

The successful work of the WSAVA International Liver Standardisation Group was always expected to be the first of a number of similar initiatives, aimed at achieving scientific agreement on histological evaluation and nomenclature of certain companion animal disorders. WSAVA has now turned its attention to gastrointestinal (GI) disease.

Diagnosis of GI disorders in dogs and cats has been fraught with many difficulties, particularly regarding the histological interpretation of intestinal biopsies. What constitutes normal intestinal morphology has not always been obvious, and the recognition of subtle abnormalities can be challenging and open to subjective interpretation. Consequently discrepancies between reports from different pathologists can and do easily occur. Following calls from specialist veterinary gastroenterology groups for standardisation of GI histopathological evaluation, the WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardisation Group has been set up to co-ordinate such an endeavour.

The WSAVA Group proposes to develop an evaluation system that will be applied to all companion animal gastrointestinal disorders. The ultimate benefits are expected to include uniform diagnosis, staging of disease and subsequently the development of controlled clinical trials for the treatment of GI disorders. Members of the WSAVA Group include internationally recognised scientists working in the field. This latest WSAVA project is supported by Hill's Pet Nutrition.

WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardisation Group Members:

Convener: Dr Robert Washabau, University of Pennsylvania, USA
Dr Thomas Bilzer, University of Dusseldorf, Germany
Dr Michael Day, University of Bristol, UK
Dr Robert DeNovo, University of Tennessee, USA
Dr Grant Guilford, Massey University, New Zealand
Dr Ed Hall, University of Bristol, UK
Dr Albert Jergens, Iowa State University, USA
Dr Michael Leib, Virginia Tech University, USA
Dr Joanne Mansell, Texas A&M University, USA
Dr Takeo Minami, Histo-Vet, Pet-Vet, Yokohama, Japan
Dr Brian Wilcock, University of Guelph/HistoVet, Canada
Dr Michael Willard, Texas A&M University, USA

Report from Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Veterinary Association (ZVA) has been a member of WSAVA for many years. In an annual report to the WSAVA Assembly, ZVA President Georgie Geldart describes the difficult conditions faced by practitioners in Zimbabwe. With the shortage of foreign currency, all imports including drugs and equipment are sourced using money obtained on the parallel market. Although at present there are enough drugs available, the costs of these items have to be passed on to clients, and they are rapidly being perceived as expensive. There is a shortage of hard cash, and clients tend to keep it for more pressing needs. The ZVA foresees a situation where the number of animals receiving preventative medicine such as vaccinations, deworming and sterilisation will decline because of costs to the owner.

Some veterinarians have left the country, either emigrating or taking up long term work overseas. Two practices in smaller towns have closed without replacement, leaving clients to travel large distances to the major towns. Thus the overall coverage of small animal practitioners has declined.

Continuing education is becoming a concern for practitioners needing to keep up with current ideas and knowledge. There is a shortage of small animal staff at the University Small Animal Department, which limits the availability of referrals and teaching material for final year students. There are still a few quality journals reaching our library, and some practitioners have access to the internet in order to access up to date information. The ZVA conference is now being held biannually due to the ever-increasing costs of organising and attending these events. Without sponsorship from externally based companies, the organisers face difficulty in attracting quality speakers due to the costs in foreign currency for them to attend.

For the past 3 years, WSAVA has waived ZVA's annual subscription in view of their financial difficulties. This has enabled our colleagues in Zimbabwe to remain in contact with the international veterinary community without burden, until their country's situation improves.

NRC Issues New Nutrient Requirements

The dietary recommendations for dogs and cats made by the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC) in the mid-1980s have been revised. The US National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Pet Food Institute sponsored the report.

The 450-page report is said to be the most comprehensive assessment available of the daily nutrient and calorie requirements for dogs and cats. It reviews and summarises thousands of scientific papers published over the past 25 years and makes science-based recommendations on specific nutrient requirements, based on physical activity and life stage. A discussion of pet food additives is included, as well as tables detailing the composition of ingredients typically used in pet foods.

'Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats' is available from the National Academies Press, via the Internet at www.nap.edu A quick reference list of daily calorie recommendations and essential vitamin and mineral requirements for dogs and cats, as well as signs of deficiency, can be found at www.national-academies.org/petdoor

Sydney students smash dog washing record

A group of Sydney University veterinary science students has entered the record books by breaking the world record for the number of dogs washed in a day.
The 12 students washed nearly 850 dogs over an eight hour period, easily breaking the record 715, previously held by the Dutch.

Unofficially the students broke the Guinness world record. They were working to support the Veterinary Science Foundation of the University of Sydney, which is part of the faculty and supports the education of veterinarians in animal health and welfare.

Vet Response to Hurricane Isabel

The veterinary community of the East coast of the USA were prepared to provide assistance as Hurricane Isabel approached. Three Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) were put on alert, and through the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) three Management Support Teams were also established. These were stationed in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Virginia, each containing a VMAT representative to assess animal needs in affected locations. The NDMS is a programme involving civilian volunteers, private businesses, and local, state, and federal government agencies, which ensures that resources and medical services are available following a disaster'.

As a result of the hurricane, some animal shelters and veterinary hospitals had power cuts. The North Carolina teams helped with these difficulties and dealt with numerous individual calls to assess problems and ensure that current information was reaching all people involved. Daily reports were made available on the Web, and interstate conference call were used to assess available resources in case they were needed.

The Team from N Carolina is working with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation to enable other states to be ready for disasters involving animals by the end of the decade. At least 18 states should be prepared by the end of 2006, and will be coordinated with the local and state veterinary communities, industry, and emergency management.
For more information on animal disaster planning, visit www.avma.org/disaster

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WSAVA NEWS September 2003

WSAVA in Korea

The second WSAVA Continuing Education programme in Korea was held in late July, in conjunction with the Korean Animal Hospital Association (KAHA). The highly successful lectures were sponsored by Bayer, Hill's, Intervet and Waltham, companies with a long history of support for WSAVA.

Dr David Clarke, an Australian specialist veterinary dentist, lectured to 120 delegates on various aspects of dentistry in the dog and cat at the Korean Womens’ Institute in Seoul. On the following day, Dr Clarke held a workshop in the headquarters of the Korean Veterinary Medical Association, attended by 25 vets from the KAHA. The sophisticated air powered and ultrasonic dental equipment used at the workshop was sponsored by Mr Philip Bloom of iM3 Pty Ltd, an Australian dental equipment manufacturing company. Mr Bloom, who designed the equipment, assisted in the workshops which aimed to train veterinarians in the correct use of the equipment. In cooperation with KAHA and the KVMA, Mr Bloom donated three iM3 dental machines for the use of the Korean veterinary schools.

It was originally planned to hold a similar meeting in Taipei for veterinarians from Taiwan, but unfortunately the restrictions on travel due to the SARS outbreak caused a problem with the initial bookings. Even though these restrictions were lifted at the last moment, it was still too late to make a change, so the Taiwan meeting was regrettably postponed to a later date.

Plans are well under way for a WSAVA Continuing Education meeting in India and Sri Lanka in November / December 2003 and in China in February 2004.

2004 World Congress in Rhodes

The 29th WSAVA World Congress will be held next year in Greece, in conjunction with the 10th FECAVA European Congress and the 7th Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society Congress. The event will take place from October 6th to 9th on the island of Rhodes.

Rhodes, the largest island of the Dodecanese complex, is also known as the isle of sun, and is said to have been born of the union of Helios, the sun god, and the nymph Rhoda. The capital of the island, also called Rhodes, is actually three cities on one site - modern, ancient and mediaeval, with a history dating from 700 B.C. As a result there are many monuments and historic sites to visit. Rhodes is a famous resort which attracts many tourists every year, not only because of its long and interesting history, but also because of its great climate, clean sea water and beaches and traditional Greek hospitality.

The Rodos Palace Hotel and Convention Center is the venue for the Congress and is located by the beach in the outskirts of the city of Rhodes. Hotels of all categories are within walking distance of the Congress venue.

The scientific programme for the Congress has been completed and almost 100 speakers have been booked to present more than 220 lectures dealing with all new aspects of current small animal veterinary medicine and surgery. More information can be obtained via the Congress website at www.hvms.gr/rhodes2004, or by contacting the Congress Secretariat as follows:

Mrs Effie Kontodimou
Triaena Tours & Congress S.A.
Atchley House - 15, Mesogion Avenue
Athens 115 26, Greece
Tel: +30 210 7499300
Fax: +30 210 7705752
E-mail: congress@triaenatours.gr

Microchip Committee update

Thanks to the work done by previous Committee Chairman, Walt Ingwersen, microchip users in the USA now generally accept that the move to the ISO standard is inevitable. It is expected that the change will be introduced progressively by upgrading the readers currently on the market.

In Europe, EuroPetNet is still growing and has two new members, Estonia and Lithuania. EuroPetNet is expected to change its statutes so that companies running commercial data bases can be included as non voting members.

Animal Welfare

The Chilean small animal association, MEVEPA, is the latest member association to sign up to the WSAVA Convention for the Protection of Companion Animals.

ERRATUM

In last month’s WSAVA News we mentioned that one of the methods used by the WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee to achieve its objectives was the providing of nominees for the association’s Scientific Awards. The names of two of these Awards were inadvertently omitted. The three relevant Awards are, of course, the WSAVA Hill’s Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award, the WSAVA Iams Saki Paatsama Award for Orthopaedic Medicine and Surgery, and the WSAVA Waltham International Award for Scientific Achievement. We apologise to Hill’s and Iams for the oversight.

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WSAVA NEWS August 2003

WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee

In 2002, the WSAVA agreed to set up a new committee to help it develop a relationship with academia. After considerable preliminary work, members have now been appointed (see box) and the WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee (WSAVA-SAC) is established. The aim is to facilitate interaction between WSAVA and individuals involved in small animal research and development, leading to collaboration on projects under the auspices of WSAVA. At the same time WSAVA hopes this will promote worldwide access to knowledge resulting from research. The establishment of WSAVA-SAC will help WSAVA achieve its primary purpose, which is to advance the quality and availability of small animal veterinary medicine and surgery.

The WSAVA already acknowledges, in several ways, the academic world’s fundamental contribution to the development of standards in small animal veterinary science. The yearly WSAVA-Waltham International Award for Scientific Achievement is given to a veterinarian who has had a significant impact on the advancement of knowledge concerning the cause, detection or treatment of companion animal disorders. WSAVA welcomes specialist groups, such as the International Veterinary Ear Nose and Throat Association and the Elbow Working Group, as affiliate members, and facilitates their meetings during WSAVA World Congresses. Recently the WSAVA has also assisted in a far-reaching project aimed to harmonise nomenclature and histopathological diagnosis of liver diseases in small animals, with financial support from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. This initiative is likely to encourage similar efforts by other scientists with comparable concerns relating to international consensus on diagnosis or treatment of small animal diseases.
The committee’s immediate task is to advise the WSAVA on future initiatives which will encourage greater involvement of the academic world in the enhancement of small animal science. It will begin by rating priorities, in the best tradition of independent academic evaluation. Further details are expected to be announced to the WSAVA Assembly at its next meeting during the World Congress in Bangkok, October 2003.

Objectives and methods of the WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee

A. Objectives

1. To be the agency of the WSAVA concerned with matters of scientific knowledge involving companion animal science.

2. To make the WSAVA the current awareness platform to signal trends and highlights in companion animal science.

3. To make the WSAVA a recognised source of information, by virtue of the Scientific Advisory Committee’s access to current scientific information, also in emergencies.

B. Methods

1. Develop and maintain access to highly specialised scientists.

2. Support the WSAVA in scientific matters by:

• providing excellent nominees for the association’s Scientific Awards, including the WSAVA Hill’s Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award, the WSAVA Iams Saki Paatsama Award for Orthopaedic Medicine and Surgery, and the WSAVA Waltham International Award for Scientific Achievement.
• proposing high-standard speakers for State of the Art Lectures at WSAVA World Congresses.
• providing advice on subjects such as standardisation of diagnostic procedures, use of accepted international nomenclature, and facilitating multicentre scientific evaluation of therapy.
• publishing reports of the committee’s activities

Members of the WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee.

The committee members have been chosen to represent a variety of specialities and geographical areas. They are all well known experts in their fields and have a deserved reputation for giving their time to continuing education and other extramural activities for the betterment of the profession. WSAVA is very grateful to all the members for donating their time and energy to the work of this committee.

Anjop Venker-van Haagen, DVM, PhD, Dip ECVS-CA (Chair)

Hylton Bark, BVSc., PhD, Dip ECVIM-CA

Paul Bland-van den Berg, BVSc., MmedVet (Med), PhD, Dip ACVIM

Boyd Jones, BVSc, FACVSc, Dip ECVIM-CA

Jan Rothuizen, DVM, PhD, Dip ECVIM-CA

Maurice Roze, DVM, Dip ECVO

Margie Scherk, DVM, Dip ABVP (feline)

Robert J. Washabau, VMD, PhD, Dip ACVIM

WSAVA Continuing Education in India
History was created in India in 2002 when more than 600 veterinarians attended a single venue to participate in a WSAVA CE meeting. This year an even greater turnout is anticipated, when WSAVA again collaborates with the Pet Practitioner’s Association of Mumbai (PPAM). As before, valuable support will be given by WSAVA sponsors Bayer, Hill’s, Intervet and Waltham.

At the meeting, which will take place in Pune in the State of Maharashtra, WSAVA President, Gabriel Varga, will deliver lectures on renal diseases. Roger Clarke, Chairman of the WSAVA Asian CE programme, will discuss diseases of eye and ear, and there will also be a session on tick borne illnesses.

Delegates from overseas are welcome, with a registration fee of US$ 150. The meeting takes place on 29th and 30th November. Further details are available from Dr. Umesh Karkare , Kalpana, Plot No. 338,12th Road, Madhupark, Khar(West), Mumbai. 400 052. Email: trixy@vsnl.com

Austria assists WSAVA-CE

The Austrian small animal association (VÖK), is sponsoring an Austrian speaker for WSAVA-CE in middle, eastern and southern Europe. The aims are two-fold:

• to help small animal veterinary associations in countries which are near to Austria.
• To enable Austrian speakers to build up a personal relationship in those areas.

The first speaker was Dr. Manfred Hochleithner who spoke on various aspects of avian medicine & surgery in Smolenice, Slovakia in March, 2003.

Animal Welfare News

Danger to lynx

Wildlife advocates have recently begun urging individuals to purchase wine and champagne bottled with real cork rather than synthetic stoppers in order to help prevent the Iberian lynx from becoming extinct.

The lynx is indigenous only to forests in Spain and Portugal from which cork is obtained, so use of synthetic stoppers, which has been increasing in recent years, provides disincentive for the animal's natural habitat to be preserved.

"Clever propaganda by the manufacturers of screw tops and plastic corks has led many people to think that cork stoppers are bad for the environment when exactly the opposite is true," World Wildlife Fund - United Kingdom (WWF - UK) Forests Policy Officer Beatrix Richards told a British Broadcasting Corporation reporter.

In 2002, the Iberian lynx became the first wild cat to be placed on the Red List of Threatened Species maintained by The World Conservation Union (WCU). According to the WWF - UK, there are only about 150 members of the species — and fewer than 30 females capable of reproduction — currently alive.

British Broadcasting Corporation news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2609157.stm
Source: Animal News Center: http://www.anc.org/

Bullfighting

A new law approved by the Parliament of Catalonia last week, which bans children under 14 years old from attending bullfights in this region, has been welcomed by the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

A recent survey showed that the majority of people in Barcelona are opposed to bullfighting and want the city to be declared an anti-bullfight city. Of those surveyed in Barcelona, 98% agreed that animals suffer when mistreated and an overwhelming 96% thought that the suffering of animals for entertainment should be banned. Catalonia is the first region in Spain to ban children from bullfights.

The law, which acknowledges that animals can suffer physically and psychologically and accepts that animals have rights, will also ban the killing of abandoned pets and will put an end to the existence of primate farms, live pony carousels and pigeon shooting, as well as regulating the use of animals in shows, pictures and videos. Abandoning a pet could also result in a fine of 20.000 euros (£13,800), the proceeds of which will fund the enforcement of the new law.

Source: WSPA: For more information contact Debra Ashton, WSPA, UK, +44 207 587 5000

WSAVA NEWS July 2003

2003 WSAVA Animal Welfare Symposium

This year’s annual Animal Welfare Symposium will take place on 25th October during the WSAVA Congress in Bangkok. The main theme for the full day session is public education on humane treatment of animals, with a slant towards particular problems of the Asian area and developing countries in general.

To start the day, Committee Chairman Dr Roger Clarke will discuss the Australian Veterinary Association’s educational programme, PET PEP, which aims to educate primary school children in the responsibilities of animal ownership and caring for pet animals. Then Ray Butcher (UK) will discuss stray dog control projects in Asia from his perspective as consultant for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). Akira Takeuchi (Japan) will present an overview of animal welfare in Asia, and Vivan Thammongkol (Thailand) will discuss the "Royal Project", an animal welfare initiative of the King of Thailand

After lunch, Sivagurunathan Sivapiragasam will address the importance of client education in animal welfare in developing countries. Then Tseoh Hsien Jin (Malaysia), an Australian trained human psychologist, will give a lecture on the psychological benefits of human / animal interaction. Finally, Wutthiwong Mongkolnavin, from the Royal Thai mounted police, will discuss ‘Pony Power’ projects – a social reform initiative for prison inmates. The day will conclude, as usual, with a discussion forum.

2003 WSAVA Congress scientific programme

The scientific programme in Bangkok (24th – 27th October) will comprise more than 250 lectures by speakers from all over the world. The seven State-of-the-Art Lectures, delivered by particularly renowned speakers, include the following:

• Feline Cryptococcosis by Dr. Richard Malik (Australia)
• Non-Contact Plate: A Biological Method for Fractures in Dogs by Dr.Leo Brunnberg (Germany)
• Surgery of Portocaval Shunts by Dr. Makoto Washizu (Japan)
• When Coughing Becomes an Alarming Symptom by Dr. Anjop Venker-van Haagen (The Netherlands)
• Feline Heart Failure - Diagnosis and Management by Dr. Philip Fox (USA)
• Rational Approach to Antimicrobial Therapy - Gastrointestinal System by Dr. Craig Greene (USA)
• Mast Cell Tumors: New Treatment and Diagnostics for 2003 by Dr.Gregory Ogilvie (USA)

The choice of Thailand for this Congress was mostly influenced by the increasing number of WSAVA activities in this geographical area.

WSAVA President, Dr Gabriel Varga, said that his most recent visit to the country as part of the worldwide WSAVA Continuing Education Project confirmed that the decision to hold the event in Bangkok was a good one. He found the audience to be extremely enthusiastic and the Thai people's friendliness and forthcoming attitude were much appreciated.

Registration for the Congress is on-going, with an Early Bird Rate available up to 31st July. There are special rates for technicians and students. For more information about the programme and registration, contact:

The Secretariat
WSAVA 2003 Congress
RAI Exhibitions (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
226/36-37 Bond Street, Riviera Tower 1
Muang Thong Thong Thani
Bangpood, Pakkred, Nonthaburi 11120
Thailand

Website: www.wsava2003.com
Email: saiy@bangkokrai.com

Cancer conference
In the USA, the 3rd Annual Canine Cancer Conference will take place from September 5th – 7th at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, Washington. The theme of the conference, organised by the America Kennel Club’s Canine Health Foundation, is Genes, Dogs and Cancer . Details and registration can be found at www.ivis.org/caninecancer/default2003.asp

Possible non human hosts for SARS
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that researchers have identified two animal species-the masked palm civet and the raccoon dog—that harbour a coronavirus nearly identical to the SARS virus. Research teams in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China, took samples from wild animals being sold for human consumption at markets in southern China, where many species of wild animals, including these species, are considered delicacies.

As reported in the News Bulletin of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the researchers identified a virus identical to SARS, except for one additional small genetic sequence, from these species. WHO officials were cautious about interpreting the results of the study, pointing out that there is no evidence to suggest that these animals play a significant role in the epidemiology of SARS outbreaks, although it cannot be ruled out that they might have been a source of human infection.'

The study provides the first evidence of a nonhuman host of the disease,. For more information, read JAVMA News online at www.avma.org.

Monkey Pox in USA
Monkeypox virus has been diagnosed for the first time in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 80 confirmed or suspect human cases reported in six states. According to the AVMA’s June News Bulletin, no human deaths had been related to the outbreak, although a number of people had been hospitalised. Infected people had direct or close contact with sick pet prairie dogs, or other small exotic species, but person-to-person transmission by contact with lesions has also been reported. The US Department of Health and Human Services moved to ban the sale and display of prairie dogs and six specific African rodent species, as well as prohibiting import of all rodents from Africa.

Monkeypox virus is less infectious than smallpox, and is rarely fatal in people although animals may die from the infection. Susceptible animal species include nonhuman primates, rabbits, and some rodents. Updates on the outbreak, and recommended precautionary measures, can be found at the web sites of the AVMA (www.avma.org ) and US Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov).

Passports for Ferrets…. and benefits of cats
According to the Animal News Center Update, (www.anc.org ), the European Parliament has voted to allow pet passports to be issued for ferrets so that their owners can travel freely throughout Europe with them. In the same issue, it is reported that forty-four percent of respondents to a survey of cat owners recently conducted by Cats Protection, a UK animal welfare organisation, indicated that they "enjoy a better night's sleep with their cat on their bed...than with their partner in their bed."

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WSAVA NEWS June 2003

British Columbia pushes forward on cosmetic surgery
In 2001 the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association (BCVMA) made a commitment to animal welfare by signing the WSAVA Convention for the Protection of Companion Animals. As a result, they established a Task Force whose mandate is to examine means of implementing the Convention. The Task Force developed a strategic plan and identified cosmetic surgery as one of the primary issues of concern. A survey of BCVMA members showed that 86% of respondents supported the WSAVA position on ear cropping and 69% supported the tail docking position. Many respondents felt that public education was the key to eliminating these procedures.

The BCVMA and its Task Force have urged the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) to become more involved in these issues. Consequently, the CVMA is currently researching the issues of cosmetic surgery and humane training methods. The BCVMA believes that the WSAVA Convention provides a marvelous template for veterinary associations to initiate discussion and institute change towards improving the lives of companion animals.

Switzerland is the latest member association to sign up to the WSAVA Convention, bringing the number of signatories to 36.

Concern for animals of Iraq
Iraq’s veterinary system is on the verge of collapse and in dire need of veterinary medicines, according to a disaster relief assessment carried out by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and its member society, the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA). Iraq’s State Veterinary Service is part of the Ministry of Agriculture with the Headquarters and Central Office based in Baghdad. The veterinary service in Central and Southern Iraq is managed through 15 regional veterinary hospitals with subsidiary veterinary clinics. The hospitals are all staffed but are suffering a severe shortage of essential veterinary medicines. In Baghdad, looters have stripped the University’s Veterinary College as well as the State Veterinary Offices at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Disaster relief
In May, veterinarian and WSPA Board Director, Dr John Gripper, met with officials from Iraq’s State Veterinary Service, the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), US authorities and representatives at Baghdad Zoo. With the initial assessment now complete, WSPA and SPANA are preparing to deploy a team with emergency vet supplies as soon as possible. They will also concentrate on helping to rebuild Iraq’s veterinary infrastructure which is vital to the future well-being of working and livestock animals across the country, as well as the communities that they support.

Large quantities of life saving drugs such as broad spectrum antibiotics are desperately needed. Due to the poor communication and lack of security around the country, WSPA and SPANA will need to deliver veterinary medicines directly to each hospital to ensure that they reach their destination.

For more information: Jonathan Owen/Debra Ashton, WSPA, +44 (207) 587 5000
www.wspa.org.uk

USA advocates preparation
Acording to a recent release from the American Veterinary Medicinal Association (AVMA), animals will have the best chance of survival following a terrorist attack if individuals prepare in advance. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has produced a document entitled 'BioterrorismAgents: Implications for Animals,' which outlines the most common agents that a terrorist might use and their effects on animals. It is available on the website www.mda.state.md.us/vet/animlimp.pdf. In addition the AVMA has a disaster-preparedness booklet 'Saving the Whole Family'

Available from: e-mail ksikora@avma.org

Thailand reassures Congress delegate about SARS
The organisers of the WSAVA 2003 Congress, to be held from 24th to 27th October in Bangkok, have moved to reassure delegates who might be concerned about the threat of SARS. Since the emergence of the disease in Asia in late 2002, Thailand has been on high alert and has quickly responded by putting into place an intensive surveillance system with the highest sensitivity to detect SARS. The World Health Organisation has declared Thailand a SARS zero transmission country and has praised the country for its quick response to the epidemic. Recognising the transnational nature of SARS and the risk of the introduction of the disease through extensive international travel, the implementation of an intensive SARS prevention and control system has enabled Thailand to maintain its status as a country without local transmission, with minimal risk to locals, as well as visitors.

Recently the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three, met in Thailand to endorse a set of measures to jointly combat SARS. The meeting of the heads of these governments shows how serious they are to become free of SARS. Since February of this year, Thailand has been successfully hosting the various APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) meetings. The APEC 2003 Summit of heads of state will be held in the same facilities to be used for the WSAVA Congress just a few days before the WSAVA moves in.

The national host association, Veterinary Practitioners Association of Thailand, looks forward with optimism to holding this World Congress, which is expected to turn out as one of the most successful WSAVA Conferences ever. Said Dr. Songkram Luangtongkum, Chairman of the WSAVA 2003 Organising Committee: ‘We are excited to welcome all participants, whether conference delegate, accompanying partner or exhibitor. We are sure that Thailand will be a delightful experience, and the famous tag ‘Land of Smiles’ underscores our country’s warm and cheerful race’.

For more information on Thailand & SARS / WSAVA, see the WHO website (http://www.who.int/en/ ) or contact Mr. Sarnit, The Project Manager of
WSAVA 2003 at sarnit@bangkokrai.com . The Congress website including the Programme and registration form is at www.wsava2003.com

SARS and animals
Recent media reports suggest that animals in Asia may be paying the price over the current SARS epidemic. According to reports from some parts of south east Asia, police and the public have been killing pets in a panicked response to rumours blaming animals for SARS. In addition, welfare problems are being caused by people simply abandoning their animals.

Current knowledge suggests that the main method of disease transmission is by person-to-person contact. Recent evidence shows that the virus may also be transmitted by contaminated surfaces, but this is not seen as a primary route. The World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and OIE have recently stated “There is no epidemiological information to suggest that contact with goods, products or animals shipped from SARS-affected areas has been the source of SARS infection.”

Hip and elbow dysplasia control in New Zealand
The Companion Animal Society of the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) is participating with representatives from the New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC) in improving the long-standing NZVA Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia schemes. In future, scoring/indexing will be a combination of the individual’s phenotypic score plus a weighting for its parentage. This will be generated using a formula similar to that currently used in New Zealand for milk production and wool growth in production animals. Indexing uses historical data and is considered to lead to the fastest improvement.

Veterinary radiologist and NZVA Hereditary Defects Committee member, Dr Hilary Burbidge, will present the scheme to breeders at the forthcoming NZKC conference, with the aim of bringing 5 breed clubs on board initially. The concept of an ‘open register’ of dogs has been accepted by most NZKC members. Eventually it is hoped that this will allow members of the public to check scores before purchasing puppies.

Poland’s Pet Smile Campaign: “Uœmiech Pupila”
This highly successful 3-week campaign, involving 730 veterinary practices, began in mid March. Free dental check ups we provided and owners were given a package of information about the most common oral problems advice on oral hygiene.

The campaign was run by the Dental Group of the Polish Small Animal Veterinary Association (PSAVA), in association with the pet food company, IAMS. A web site was established in Polish (www.usmiechpupila.pl), utilising a highly visible logo which received much media attention. As a result there was a high demand from owners for pet dental examination. At the same time vets realised how much they could learn about providing better services. The theme will be continued in 2004, when PSAVA will co-organise the European Congress of Veterinary Dentistry in Krakow.

Microchip experiences - South Africa……….
The manufacturer holding the main market share in South Africa to date uses a 10-digit chip similar to those used in the United States. Approaches from local veterinarians to change to the standard 15-digit chip have been unsuccessful. This has made it difficult to undertake any form of campaign to encourage microchip technology, up until now. Recently another company has launched a 15-digit chip and scanner. Unfortunately the scanners do not read ear tags, which appears to preclude them from being fully ISO standard; however as ear tags are not used in companion animals this does not appear to be too much of a problem. Efforts are still being made to establish a neutral database.

…and Europe
Meanwhile in Europe, EuroPetNet is growing. Estonia and Lithuania have now registered, and Finland is a new candidate. There has been media interest throughout Europe, with the scheme being the subject of a recent report on Euronews . As a result there have been many requests from owners wanting to have their pets registered in the database.

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News from 1st May 2003

WEBSITE EDITOR STEPS DOWN
Dr Ray Markus (Israel) has decided to relinquish his post as Editor of the WSAVA Website. Ray’s vision in creating the extremely successful Inno-vet site in 1996 was the trigger that led him to propose and oversee the development of WSAVA’s own website. Over the subsequent years, he has been tirelessly dedicated to the huge task of maintaining and regularly updating it to keep it as topical and interesting as possible. His efforts have put the WSAVA firmly on the world map of veterinary medicine and provided the information so necessary for a world class organization.

The Executive Board accepted Ray’s resignation with sadness. President Gabriel Varga said ‘The Board is very conscious and aware of the huge amount of work and the great job that Ray has done in starting and developing the WSAVA web site. His expertise and enthusiasm has been instrumental in maintaining an information stream for the membership’. The Board has thanked him for his work and is delighted that he will be available to help the new web editorial team to improve the site. His experience will be invaluable.

With the launch of WSAVA’s revamped website, the link to Ray’s Inno-vet site at
http://www.inno-vet.com/ will remain, and he intends to devote more time to this. The site provides monthly scanning of the latest veterinary medical, human medical and other scientific publications for items of interest to the veterinary practitioner. Ray says that last month there were close to 200,000 hits on the site from veterinarians and other interested viewers. ‘Working on this professional website has given me added insight into my own practice and introduced me to aspects of veterinary medicine that I hardly knew much about. A real pleasureful and challenging pastime’, he said.

WORLD PROGRESS IN ANIMAL WELFARE
The first step towards establishing an international agreement recognising the importance of animal welfare was taken at an inter-governmental conference in Manila in March. Twenty-two government delegations agreed a proposal for a Declaration on Animal Welfare. This will now be taken back with a view to being signed by individual governments, and will also be circulated to those governments worldwide that were not in attendance at the Conference.

The Manila Conference agreed to recognise that “animals are living, sentient beings and therefore deserve due consideration and respect”, and that the “welfare of animals shall be a common objective for all nations”. The agreed Principles state that, “All appropriate steps shall be taken by nations to prevent cruelty to animals and to reduce their suffering”.

The Manila Conference was sponsored jointly by WSPA and the RSPCA. The full draft Declaration introduced at the conclusion of the Conference, endorsed by over 300 animal welfare societies from 80 countries, will be the next stage toward the long-term aim, which is to develop it into a Universal Declaration accepted by the United Nations.

The Manila Conference on Animal Welfare was attended by government delegations from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, European Commission, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saipan, Singapore, Switzerland, Spain, Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

CANINE CANCER CONFERENCE
The Canine Health Foundation of the American Kennel Club will hold the 3rd Annual Genes, Dogs and Cancer Conference on September 5-7, 2003. The meeting, at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, USA, is open to all scientists, veterinarians, and dog fanciers with an interest in cancer. The Scientific Program Committee welcomes abstracts reporting new basic or clinical research findings, from individuals working in the field. Deadline for submission is June 15, 2003. For details visit http://www.ivis.org/CanineCancer/default2003.asp

NEW GUIDELINES ON ZOONOSES
In the USA, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the American
Association of Veterinary Parasitologists have updated the 'Guidelines
for Veterinarians: Prevention of Zoonotic Transmission of Ascarids and
Hookworms of Dogs and Cats' to reflect new information, including new
anthelmintic products.

The resource is available on the CDC Web site, www.cdc.gov . Printed copies may be
obtained at no charge by writing to the Parasitic Diseases Epidemiology
Branch, DPD, NCID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop
F22, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341; e-mail, zpq8@CDC.GOV.
Requests should include the number of copies desired and a complete
mailing address.

SWEDEN BANS EXPERIMENTS ON GREAT APES
In Sweden, one of the most important changes to new regulations for the use of animals in research is that great apes and nine species of Gibbon apes will be exempt from use in experiments. Only non-invasive behavioural studies of these animals will be allowed in the future.

These animals are not currently used in experiments in Sweden, but the ban is still considered a matter of great ideological importance. Animal rights organizations all over the world have been campaigning to end primate experiments for several years.

AUSTRALIA WIDENS BAN ON TAIL DOCKING
Docking dogs' tails will be illegal throughout most of Australia from the start of December, after agreement at a recent national ministerial meeting. Western Australia and the ACT have already introduced legislation to outlaw tail docking.
The decision, made at the Primary Industries Ministerial Council in Brisbane, was supported by the RSPCA and the Australian Veterinary Association. Both organisations have campaigned for several years against the practice.

Poodle Club of Victoria secretary Jo Turnley said breed standards for a wide range of dogs would need to be changed in the light of the ban.

NEW TAX IN PANAMA
A new Veterinary Professional Service 5% Tax (ITBMS) now has to be paid by every client who receives veterinary services in Panama. The tax, on items such as consultation fees, laboratory services and Xrays, is also applied to other professionals such as lawyers, architects etc, but excludes human health services.

REQUEST FOR HELP FROM NIGERIA
The President of the Nigerian veterinary students association is seeking for help in their anti zoonosis campaign. The most prevalent zoonoses in their own area are: tuberculosis, rabies, anthrax, brucellosis, salmonellosis, Newcastle disease, contagious ecthyma, swine & equine influenza, leptospirosis, staphylococcal food poisoning, dermatophylosis, and toxocariasis - the major cause of retinal diseases in human paediatric patients. They are expecting prevalence reports from other local chapters of the four geo-political zones of Nigeria, since the campaign is intended to be nation wide.

The students are seeking anti-microbial agents, disinfectants, vaccines, posters & pamphlets for the campaign, and publications (text books, manuals, journals, magazines) for the Veterinary Medical students' library.

If you can help please contact Aminu Shittu (President of the Association of Veterinary Medical Students) at avmspresident01@yahoo.co.uk

WSAVA NEWS
April 2003

Microchip Committee

With regret, WSAVA has received the resignation of Dr Walt Ingwerson (Canada) as Co-Chairman of the Microchip Committee. Walt has taken up a commercial position which he feels could lead to a conflict of interest. During his years of involvement with the WSAVA Microchip Committee, Walt has been extremely effective in enhancing its profile. The Committee’s achievements in promoting the use of ISO standard microchips worldwide have been largely the result of his hard work and dedication to the cause. Walt hopes that in his new position he can provide direction that will facilitate the adoption of ISO microchips in North America. WSAVA has been most grateful for Walt’s contribution and wishes him well in his new venture. The WSAVA Microchip Committee will continue to be chaired by Dr Marc Buchet (Belgium).

News from around the world

Chile

The Association has begun a round of lectures in primary and high schools in Santiago, in order to educate pupils about pet welfare and well-being. It is also participating in discussions in the Legislative Camera regarding the development of new legislation on the Human Animal relationship.
Santiago de Chile is to be proposed as the venue for the 2007 WSAVA World Congress. The vote will take place during the next Assembly Meeting in Bangkok, October 2003.

Norway

As well as via the Norwegian Veterinary Journal and the NSAVA newsletter “The small animal practitioner”, members can now communicate through a discussion forum on the Internet. The discussion forum has been a great success with 290 of 415 members registered. Main topics for discussion have been: Organ specialisation based on species specialisation; co-ooperation with dog and cat breeders; organisations on hereditary diseases; quality control and accreditation of veterinary clinics; and ethics in companion animal practice.

South Africa

The National Veterinary Clinicians Group and the SAVA Natal Branch have made donations towards the Community Veterinary Clinics that are now being established all over the country. These will assist with the development and the essential equipment of the CVCs. The essential services of sterilisation and vaccination are crucial to address the problems of animal cruelty and abuse that stem from over population and communicable diseases. Veterinarians in private practice give several hours on a regular basis to spend time in assisting in this venture. Veterinary nurses also have a role to play in the provision of primary veterinary health care.

Veterinarians manned two stands at the very successful World of Dogs and Cats exhibition in Durban. They gave advice to pet owners and attended to show animals. This was an excellent PR exercise.

A system of monitoring and recording CPD hours is now in place but as yet is not compulsory. A private group prints a free bi-monthly journal including CPD articles, and has taken time in a Digital TV Channel to provide monthly interactive programmes. This is an innovative and exciting development.

The KwaZulu Natal Branch of the South African Veterinary Association has hosted a National Veterinary Cricket Tournament for many years. Regional teams from the Midlands, Durban and Coastal, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Onderstepoort and teams from Industry and the State have traditionally participated in this event, which is designed to foster camaraderie within the profession. Coinciding with the official Cricket World Cup in South Africa in February and March 2003, it was decided to expand the competition to include more teams from South Africa and to generate international veterinary fellowship by extending the invitation to other cricket playing countries with which we have close ties. The event took place in Hilton College, one of South Africa’s top private schools. Situated on a magnificent estate in the beautiful midlands of Kwa Zulu Natal, it boasts world class cricket playing facilities in a relaxing country setting. As well as teams from various provincial teams from within RSA, Onderstepoort University, Industry and the State Vets, a team from India took part. This event came to an end over the week ending 23 February 2003 and was an enormous success.

UK

BSAVA has given a cautious welcome to the Government’s response to the Independent Review of Dispensing. This was set up to review the procedures by which prescription only medicines (POMs) for veterinary use are classified and sold in the UK, and the impact current prices may be having on availability and prices.
The Government has rejected the recommendation that veterinary surgeons be permitted to prescribe unlicensed generic treatments for companion animals.

In addition, BSAVA has given both oral and written evidence to the Competition Commission’s enquiry into the cost and supply of veterinary medicines. BSAVA strongly supports the notion that a “one stop shop”, where diagnosis and treatment is available under one roof, has undeniable advantages on welfare and client convenience grounds. There is every reason to believe that the proposed introduction of another tier in the supply chain, namely the pharmacy, will only increase costs to the consumer.

With the expansion of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) to North America and Canada, the Government has announced the setting up of “The Dog and Cat Exotic Disease Surveillance Scheme”, a case recording scheme, which will involve voluntary reporting by veterinary surgeons in practice. BSAVA welcomes the scheme although they believe that the surveillance be more active and targeted. If the Department of Agriculture were to ask veterinary surgeons to take a blood sample from dogs after entering or re-entering the UK after travelling, it would provide good evidence of exposure to a variety of exotic/zoonotic infections and make definitive risk assessment, accurate risk communication and effective risk management possible.

USA

In Colorado, proposed legislation which would have elevated the status of pets, from property to companions, has been withdrawn. Under the landmark bill, pet owners could have sued veterinarians and animal abusers for up to $100,000 for loss of companionship. In addition, the bill sought to impose standards for vaccination of dogs and cats and made it compulsory that owners be fully informed of any veterinary procedure that might involve a substantial risk to their pets. The Colorado VMA opposed the legislation, saying it would raise the cost of veterinary care.

Zimbabwe

Veterinarians in Zimbabwe have an enormous task in their endeavours to assist with the welfare of animals that are suffering because of neglect, lack of food and medication. Many owners have no choice but to move out as quickly as possible, leaving their animals behind. The welfare societies and veterinarians have a full time job attending to these neglected animals. The National Veterinary Clinicians Group of South Africa has made a worthwhile donation to this cause. Drugs, spay-kits, and other necessities are sent to the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and wherever the medication is necessary. Dog, cat and horse feed are also sent to Zimbabwe to assist with the starving and neglected animals.

February 2003

ERRATUM!!

WSAVA Continuing Education in South America
In last months News we mentioned that more than 440 veterinarians from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay heard Professor Peter Ihrke (USA) speak on dermatological subjects, during the recent WSAVA CE meetings. This was a significant underestimation. In fact, there were at least 860 delegates in all: 440 in Argentina alone, along with around 220 in Chile and more than 200 in Uruguay. In all 3 venues, veterinarians came from far and wide for this CE experience.

Professor Ihrke covered all the subjects very well, with specific emphasis on local conditions. He explained everything thoroughly, pointing out the most up to date approaches to treatment. At the end of the lectures the audience initiated lengthy and interesting discussions on various dermatological problems. All in all, the lectures were a great success, and the three countries much appreciated the efforts of WSAVA in facilitating the events, and the great contribution of the sponsors Bayer, Hill's, and Intervet.

Professor Irkhe was very impressed with the enthusiasm of his audiences and the efficiency of the organising groups from the three local associations: AVEACA in Argentina, MEVEPA in Chile and SUVEPA in Uruguay. He praised the excellent attention to detail and particularly commended Drs Luis Delucchi, Oscar Resburgo and LuisTello, for their outstanding work in looking after him and interfacing with the leadership of their national organizations.

CUBAN VETS BENEFIT FROM WSAVA
Following initial discussions in Panama in 2000, the first close contacts were made between WSAVA and the Cuban Association of the Small Animal Veterinary Medicine, during the 18th PANVET meeting in November 2002, in Havana.

Over 1000 delegates from 31 Central and Latin American countries gathered in Havana during the five-day program, to choose from a vast range of topics running simultaneously in seven halls.
WSAVA was represented by three Assembly members: speakers Drs. Stefano Romagnoli (Italy), Luis Tello (Chile), and President Dr Gabriel Varga (Slovakia). They were warmly welcomed at the opening ceremony where a performance by the Cuban Youth Ballet and Chorus gave delegates a taste of Cuban rhythms. During the WSAVA day, our speakers presented information about WSAVA, and delivered state-of-the-art lectures devoted to the most recent discoveries and latest news in the fields of emergency medicine, reproduction and urology. The response was very positive - it was the most attended room in the complex, and delegates from a variety of countries were present. This has helped the WSAVA extend its message to other members of the international veterinary community.

Based on questions and comments from veterinary colleagues, it was apparent that Cuban small animal practitioners would welcome more help from outside. As the WSAVA Continuing Education project is successfully expanding to different corners of Latin America, it is most likely that Cuba will be invited to participate in the very near future.

Local organisers Dr. Jesus Moreno Lazo and Dr. M. C. Adela Encinosa Linero were very helpful in preparing for the WSAVA visit and looking after members of our delegation. Dr. Varga had a chance to visit the Veterinary Centre in Pinar del Rio, situated in the very heart of the island of Cuba. One of the most organised veterinary groups is based in this area; it has a very active membership with a well developed IT centre, and is prepared to organise meetings dedicated to companion animal topics. Recently, this group has held a joint meeting with colleagues from Italy and the WSAVA plans to include the province in the lecture tours in Cuba in 2003.

The next PANVET meeting will take place in Argentina in 2004.

MICROCHIP SURVEY
One of the objectives of the WSAVA Microchip Committee is to enhance member associations’ knowledge about microchip identification. This requires the collection of information as well as its dissemination, and so a survey of member associations was initiated in mid 2002, to obtain details about the status of microchips in each country. It was expected that the information collected would also be very valuable to the Committee in its representation of user group interests at meetings of the International Standards Organization Working Group 3 (ISO/WG3). This Group has responsibility for creating global standards for microchip technology and includes input from manufacturers, distributors, and users.

Results
The survey was sent to all WSAVA Member/Provisional Member Associations and 32 responses were returned (approx 50%). Full results of the survey are to be found as a separate item on this website, however key findings are summarised below:

· Adoption and implementation of ISO-standard microchips is well advanced or complete in Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand; achieving market dominance in the Eastern Europe, the Middle-East and Asia; in its infancy in North (Canada) and South America; and non-existent in the United States of America and Africa.

· In those markets that have adopted the ISO-standard, healthy market competition exists.

· The country code on microchips is commonly used in marketplaces with no national database (in direct violation of ISO/ICAR protocol). Many manufacturers are involved in this breach of protocol.

· In a number of the countries where only country codes are used, additional code modifications are made to the 15-digit animal ID number and applied to all microchips sold in that country. Examples were found in Denmark, France and Japan.

· A true, national database was not identified in any of the responding countries. [For the purposes of this document, a national database is defined as a database that:
- is industry and species neutral
- has been given the responsibility of administering the national database by a national agency with the authority to do so
- has assumed the responsibility of number allocation and verification of uniqueness.]

· France is the only country that currently meets the criteria for appropriate use of the country code.

· EuroPetNet has been effective at consolidating databases within both Western and Eastern Europe but there are no participants outside of Europe.

For further information, see full report on www.wsava.org, or contact Committee Chairmen: Dr Marc Buchet, marc.buchet@pi.be

OPPORTUNITY TO HELP IN THE CARIBBEAN
On the lovely ‘spice island’ of Grenada, most southerly of the Windward Islands, the University of St George’s Veterinary School is collaborating with the Grenada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to provide veterinary care for the local animal population. A newly renovated, well equipped teaching hospital in the attractive harbour town of St George’s is run alongside a mobile clinic, donated by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSAPA). The mobile clinic is integral to the GSPCA’s efforts to service the outlying communities with free vaccinations, spay/neuter clinics, and education. While the Veterinary School staff and students assist with these clinics, and are making a huge impact on the welfare of Grenada’s stray dogs and cats, they also rely on the help of volunteer veterinarians from overseas. Volunteers are well looked after and can be sure of an exciting time, with a variety of tropical animal diseases providing great scientific interest, against a backdrop of wonderful white sand beaches and the forested mountains and valleys of the interior.

More information about the Government approved GSPCA Volunteer Veterinarian programme in Grenada can be obtained from the GSPCA website www.spiceisle.com/gspca, or contact President Cathy McGrath, email jim@caribsurf.com