Two black rhino calves expected at Dubbo Zoo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo is gearing up for the arrival of two new Southern Black Rhino calves, expected before the end of 2024. The zoo’s conservation breeding program, the largest of its kind outside mainland Africa, has successfully bred 16 calves since the 1990s.
Keeper Hayley Brooks shared the exciting news that females Bakhita and Mesi are due to give birth in July and August, respectively. “This is a significant milestone for our Black Rhino program,” Brooks said. “Bakhita, our first female calf born here, has been pivotal to our breeding efforts. She’s an experienced mother, and this will be her fifth calf. Mesi is expecting her first calf, making Bakhita a greatgrandmother! It’s the first time we’ve had two calves due so closely together, and we’re busy preparing.”
The last time the zoo welcomed two calves in one year was in 2017, with Mesi and male Pampoen born in April and October. Black Rhino pregnancies typically last 14-16 months. The zoo’s latest calf, one-year-old Matobo, was born to Kufara in April
New biosecurity initiative
A recognition that trade, tourism, climate change and changing land use patterns was increasing the pressure on Australia’s biosecurity systems has led to a major collaborative initiative by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity was launched in March at the 2024 Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences Outlook event.
The goal of CAB is to improve long-term, national biosecurity outcomes by delivering innovative technologies, digital systems and capabilities to transform system performances by 2030. It will convene Australian biosecurity experts to enable, investigate and support innovative biosecurity solutions, and will work with a broad range of stakeholders across the biosecurity system to achieve better responses to new and emerging threats and challenges.
Pests, weeds and diseases can have significant
last year after a record 490-day gestation, conceived using pioneering reproductive technology.
Once the new calves are born, Bakhita and Mesi will bond with their young privately before making a public debut. Like all rhino species, Black Rhinos are critically endangered due to poaching for their keratin horns, despite the lack of any medicinal benefit for humans.
“Our program serves as an insurance population for this critically endangered species,” Brooks said. “Dubbo is the only place in Australasia breeding Black Rhinos, so each successful birth is vital.”
Taronga Conservation Society Australia is a founding member of the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), actively supporting conservation efforts in Africa, Indonesia, and India. Through the IRF, Taronga aids anti-poaching and wildlife protection units, habitat protection and restoration, and provides veterinary care and reproduction expertise to help ensure the survival of all rhino species in the wild.
impacts on the environment and the economy, with some estimates suggesting invasive species currently cost Australia around $25 billion per year, while the direct economic impact of a large multi-state outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease could reach $80 billion over 10 years.
The work of CAB will span animal, plant, and environmental biosecurity and include research and innovation from offshore to on-farm. Current projects include BeeRight in response to the recent outbreak of varroa mite, which threatens honeybees throughout the world. The new low-cost technology has been shown to detect varroa mites in beehives in New Zealand and could be the solution to slowing the spread of this destructive pest.
“If varroa mites establish in Australia’s honeybee population, pollination activities would be significantly reduced, posing an extreme risk to Australia’s food security. BeeRight technology is an Internet of Things solution that can be set up in any hive without damaging the hive or bothering the bees,” a CAB spokesperson said. To page 30
As warm and wet weather sweeps across the country, a parasitologist issues a stern warning to dog owners and families regarding the heightened risk of exposure to Toxocara roundworms and associated diseases. Vito Colella from the University of Melbourne cautions that even unexpected seasons can pose significant dangers to both pets and people.
Toxocara roundworms, commonly found in contaminated soil, present a grave risk, particularly to young children who are more prone to playing in areas where these parasites lurk. “Exposure to these infections is more prevalent than commonly believed, with up to seven per cent of Australians estimated to have been exposed to Toxocara roundworms,” he said.
The recent combination of warm and wet weather creates ideal conditions for the proliferation of canine intestinal worms like roundworm and hookworm. “Optimal conditions accelerate the development of worm larvae and extend their survival, posing a greater threat to both animal and human health,” Colella said.
Recent studies have revealed alarming rates of contamination in dog parks across Australia, with nearly half showing signs of canine intestinal worms. These parasites can be transmitted not only through dogs but also via a range of other animals such as chickens and cattle, highlighting the importance of proper precautions.
While dogs typically harbor these worms in their intestines, humans face a different threat. “If humans become infected, the larvae migrate through the body, causing tissue damage and potentially severe health complications, including vision loss and respiratory issues,” Colella said. To mitigate the risk, Colella advocates for responsible pet ownership practices, including prompt faeces disposal, regular deworming of pets, and avoiding raw meat diets. These measures, endorsed by the Australian Companion Animal Zoonoses Advisory Panel, are crucial for safeguarding both animal and human health.
As weather patterns continue to fluctuate, it is imperative for pet owners to remain vigilant and implement preventive measures to protect their families and furry companions from the threat of parasitic infections.
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National study on PFAS prevalence in livestock begins
The University of Adelaide has initiated a ground-breaking national study aimed at understanding the prevalence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australian livestock. Researchers are actively seeking collaboration with farmers who have previously applied biosolids as fertilizer in their agricultural practices.
PFAS have been detected in Australian livestock, particularly in regions where environmental concentrations of PFAS are elevated. This study seeks to explore the correlation between PFAS presence in livestock and their exposure to sewage biosolids or wastewater over the past decade.
Shervin Kabiri, from the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, underscores the importance of this research endeavour. “PFAS primarily enter livestock through environmental pathways such as drinking water, plants, and feed. The use of biosolids and wastewater as fertilizers presents a potential source of PFAS contamination, highlighting the need for acomprehensive risk assessment.”
Elevated levels of PFAS in livestock pose potential health risks to both animals and humans. Matthias Salomon, another researcher on the project, explained. “These substances have the capacity to accumulate within animal tissues,
APVMA to remain in Armidale despite advice
The federal government has decided not to proceed with the recommendation to relocate the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) back to Canberra. The APVMA, which oversees the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemical products in Australia, was moved to Armidale, NSW, in 2016 under then-agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce.
Areview by Clayton Utz last year highlighted significant issues within the APVMA, including allegations of misconduct and industry influence. Notably,there were complaints about inappropriate behaviour at a 2021 Christmas party.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced today that the recommendation from Ken Matthews AO's recent report to return the APVMA to Canberra would not be implemented.
“He recommended a staged move back to Canberra, but we are rejecting that recommendation,” Mr Watt said. He explained that reversing the relocation would cause too much disruption, as evidenced by the turmoil during the initial move to Armidale when about 90 per cent of staff opted not to relocate.
Former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce accused the government of effectively shutting down the APVMA in Armidale through indirect means by allowing staff to choose their work location. “This is a typical Labor approach, pretending not to close the APVMA but relocating executive positions to Canberra,” Joyce said. He argued that this gradual shift undermines the authority's presence in Armidale.
Despite his criticism, Joyce agreed with the decision to maintain the APVMA as an independent body rather than merging it with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. He emphasised that the cultural problems identified in the reviews were not due to the move to Armidale but required strong management and governance to address.
CropLife Australia, a leading farmers’ advocacy group, endorsed Watt's decision. “Wesupport the Minister's decision to avoid repeating past mistakes,” Matthew Cossey,chief executive of CropLife Australia said. He stressed the importance of stability for the APVMA staff and operations to improve the agency's performance.
Nationals leader David Littleproud criticised the process behind the decision, claiming it caused unnecessary anxiety among workers. Nonetheless, he supported keeping the APVMA headquarters in Armidale. “Labor has kept the APVMA in limbo for almost two years, only to reject the recommendations,” Littleproud said. He expressed concerns that allowing staff to work from Canberra could lead to a de facto relocation.
Armidale Mayor Sam Coupland welcomed the decision but urged for more concrete actions to ensure the APVMA's commitment to the region. “Armidale boasts the highest level of tertiary education in regional Australia, and I feel the APVMA has not fully recognised this,” he said. “There is anarrow view in Canberra that unless you're based there, you're not fully engaged. Topage 30
potentially entering the human food chain through the consumption of animal products. Our study aims to elucidate the extent of this issue.”
Researchers are actively recruiting farmers from South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland who have utilized sewage biosolids or effluent as fertilizers in livestock grazing areas over the past decade. Participating farmers will be requested to provide access to their properties for the collection of blood, water, and soil samples.
Kabiri emphasised the commitment to privacy and data confidentiality. “Individual PFAS results will remain confidential and will only be shared with the participating farmer. Additionally, farmers will receive their personal test results along with a complimentary consultation to understand the implications.”
This study, funded by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestryand in collaboration with the University of Queensland, aims to address gaps in our understanding of PFAS prevalence in the environment. “Through comprehensive investigations and farmer engagement, we aspire to contribute to the enhancement of animal and human health in Australia,” Kabiri concluded.
Facial cancer remains a threat
for Tasmanian devils
The results of a study published recently in the journal Royal Society Open Science have contradicted the findings of a 2020 international study that claimed the fatal facial tumour disease (DFT1) that has threatened the survival of Tasmanian devil populations in the wild since the mid-1990s, is now endemic, with the threat to the species’ survival being lessened.
Although the results of an observational study on a single devil population conducted over 12 years and published last year, that was led by University of Tasmania scientists, also found devils may be learning to co-exist with DFTD, lead author Rodrigo Hamede said monitoring remained essential. This was not only to identify the key traits that would enable future generations of devils to adapt to the disease, but due to other factors such as habitat loss and fragmentation, genetic deterioration in other populations, and climate change, all threats that would impact the survival of the species in the wild (The Veterinarian: July 2023).
Three scientists from the UK’sUniversity of Cambridge have claimed the 2020 international study was both conceptually and technically ‘flawed’ and its conclusions could not be ‘substantiated’, and the threat to devils remained serious. Maximilian Stammnitz, Kevin Gori and Elizabeth Murchison replicated and expanded on the genotyping of DFT1 cells conducted in the 2020 study and concluded the earlier research had failed Topage 9
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Aself-medicating orangutan New climate program helps vet clinics
An international study has observed what is believed to be the first report of awild animal using a plant known to have med-icinal properties to treat a wound. A wild male Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)was seen applying the chewed leaves of a species of liana commonly known as akar kuning –a climbing plant used in traditional medicine to a wound on his cheek. The results of the study were published recently in the journal Scientific Reports
He then repeatedly applied the chewed up juicy sap onto his facial wound for seven minutes, smearing the chewed leaves onto the wound until it was fully covered. He then continued to feed on the plant for over 30 minutes.
“Found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, this and related liana species are known for their analgesic, antipyretic, and diuretic effects and are used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, such as dysentery, diabetes, and malaria. This possibly innovative behaviour presents the first systematically documented case of active wound treatment with a plant species known to contain biologically active substances by a wild animal providing new insights into the origins of human wound care,” the authors said.
There were no signs of wound infection in the days following these observations and the wound closed within five days. It was fully healed within a month.
Vets for Climate Action has recently launched the Climate Care Program, a program designed to help veterinary practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste.
From early May the program is available to all practices Australia-wide as a digital toolkit and educational course.
Developed by vets, vet nurses, educators and researchers, the online, six-module program offers step-by-step support to promote sustainable veterinary care by reducing energy use, waste and water; and increase profitability while reducing overall emissions.
The program is the first of its kind to be designed specifically for veterinarian practices and was initially rolled out over 20sites for testing.
Watson also found that while recruiting during the trial, his clinic’s participation was often a point of differentiation for candidates.
“The last three hires, a vet graduate and two nurses, all commented on the environmental credentials on the website. It seems like 18- to 22-year-olds are looking for something,” Watson said.
Vets for Climate Action Chair and owner of the Carbon Neutral Springfield Veterinary Hospital Jeannet Kessels said the program has already attracted international attention.
Lead author Isabelle Laumer, a cognitive biologist and primatologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour and her colleagues recorded the orangutan, dubbed Rakus by the scientific team working in the Suaq Balimbing research area in Indonesia’s Gunung Leuser National Park, during June 2022. Three days after he was known to have sustained a facial injury Rakus was recorded chewing on the leaves and stem of an akar kuning plant.
Although the researchers did not know whether it was the first time Rakus had treated a wound in this way, or if the behaviour had been learned from other orangutans from his birth area, they suggest knowledge of the treatment might have arisen in a common ancestor shared by humans and great apes. No other orangutans in the research area have been observed treating wounds but the researchers said this could be due to rarely encountering injured individuals.
■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT
Through trialling the program, Brimback Veterinary Clinic’s Jeremy Watson made the decision to switch off gas and installing solar panels at his Brimbank veterinary clinic, saving his practice more than $6,000 in power bills.
“For nine months of the year we have surplus solar power after heating, hot water and drying bedding, so we are able to charge our electric vehicles for $5 for 400 kilometres of travel, Watson said.
“I’ve recently returned from presenting at the World Veterinary Association conference in South Africa where we attracted phenomenal interest inwhat we’re doing here in Australia. Our program is unique because it’s been designed by vets and nurses to allow busy practices to establish and maintain sustainability, while advocating powerfully for broader structural and policy change, right up the supply chain,” Kessels said.
“Vets care deeply about climate change because animal health and welfare depends on a healthy climate and they’re keen to do their bit.”
■ JULIA GARDINER
Picture Armas
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“I just love the thrill of an emergency case! Nothing beats the exhilaration of having a patient needing immediate stabilisation. We recently had a dog that presented to our clinic for polytrauma following a motor vehicle accident. The patient had a pneumothorax, pulmonary contusions, haemabdomen and multiple fractures. Our amazing ECC team performed lifesaving thoracocentesis, followed by placement of bilateral chest drains, intranasal cannulas,
a central venous catheter, arterial catheter for invasive blood pressure monitoring, and administered blood products to aid in hemodynamic stabilisation.
After several days in intensive care the patient was stable enough to undergo fracture repair, and soon after being discharged home! This case is the perfect example of why I love my job and admire the amazing team I get to work with!”
No matter where you are on your Specialty and Emergency journey, we can find the perfect role for you. Contact: Melissa Bicanic 0413 178 358 or melissa.bicanic@gxltd.com.au
Picture JJ Harrison
Anew study from the University ofWestern Australia (UWA) has found the combined impact of climate change and human-generated noise is changing the behaviour of magpies in ways which impact their ability to forage, as well as increasing their stress-levels.
The research, published in Animal Behaviour,was conducted on wild urban-dwelling magpies in Western Australia, and studied the impact hotter temperatures and loud
Human behaviour impacting magpies’ stress
man-made noises, such as those from aeroplanes, had on the birds, concluding the changes they produce in magpie behaviour, both individually and when they co-occurred, could threaten the species’ survival.
Lead author, Grace Blackburn from UWA’s School of Biological Sciences, said birds were exposed to playback recordings of background noise and aeroplane noise under naturally occurring heat stress and non-heat stress conditions.
“These two significant humaninduced stressors affect wildlife populations worldwide but despite their prevalence, they’re often investigated in isolation, overlooking their combined effects on species, especially in urban areas,” Blackburn said.
“Our results revealed that both heat stress and human-induced noise independently reduced the time
magpies spent looking for food and increased the time they spent watching out for danger, which is consistent with previous findings.”
However, the UWA researchers felt it important to also study the impact to magpies when more than one potential stressor was present.
“We know that human-induced stressors such as rising temperatures and anthropogenic noise rarely occur in isolation, so our study really aims to highlight the importance of considering the simultaneous impacts of humaninduced rapid environmental change on wildlife populations globally,” Blackburn said.
“Under the combined effect of plane noise and heat stress, magpies exhibited significantly more vigilance and spent less time foraging for food compared when either stressor occurred alone.”
Blackburn said while the size of magpie groups was already known to affect behaviour, with larger groups spending less time watching out for danger and more time searching for food (an effect known as ‘the many-eyes effect’), this pattern changed under heat stress and loud noise conditions.
“We found that under these circumstances, larger groups become more vigilant and spend less time foraging which suggests that multiple human-made stressors can also alter the benefits of group living for magpies, which is concerning,” she said.
“This poses a threat to magpie populations, potentially leading toa decline in their physical health and affecting how well they take care of their babies and their reproductive success.”
■ JULIAGARDINER
Citizen science the ‘special sauce’ in rabbit biocontrol program
A citizen science-based program has been described as key to improving the surveillance of rabbits and hares across the country and the early detection of emerging versions of the haemorrhagic disease virus.
Also known as rabbit calicivirus or lagovirus, RHDV is a biocontrol agent and a form of hepatitis that only infects rabbits and hares and is most easily detected by testing liver samples. In addition to detecting new recombinant versions of RHDV it is also important that declines in the older variants are monitored as these may impact the effectiveness of future biocontrol measures.
Nias Peng, a virologist and post-doctoral fellow in the CSIRO Rabbit Control Team said rabbit disease testing from tissue samples supplied by members of the public was added to the existing citizen science program RabbitScan in 2015.
It is the longest running citizen science survey of rabbit diseases in the world and has provided nine years of data that show the distribution and genetic diversity of viruses affecting rabbits and hares across the country.
“The big boost from a citizen science project like this is the huge increase in samples for scientists to work on. It just gives much wider
coverage across Australia and a bigger number of samples than we’d be able to collect ourselves,” Peng said.
From January 2015 to December 2022 a total of 2771 samples were tested. Of these 60 per cent were lagovirus positive. Between 2007 and 2014, before the project was established, fewer than 30 samples were tested for lagoviruses annually. Initially most samples were collected from wild rabbits but with the end of the national release of RHDV-K5 in 2018, the number of wild rabbit samples decreased. (The Veterinarian: September 2015). Topage 30
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Virtual hospital system rolls out in Australia
CVS is introducing its Vet Oraclevirtual hospital and onlinedigital service to support general practice veterinar y professionals in all its practices across Australia.
Launched five years ago in the UK, the unique in-house system isled by CVS’ veterinary diplomates and referral clinicians in the areas of cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmologyand radiology. Many are internationally renowned for their research and development and for the cuttingedge services they offer They work collaboratively to share advancements and treatments within the wider veterinarycommunity to ensure the highest quality care is offered.
Itprovides specialist interpretation and clinical advice in respective disciplines to CVS vets
working on cases presented within small animal general practice. Advice from the telemedicine part of the hospital is free to all CVS colleagues.
This collaboration regularly means that vets are empowered and supported to look after their patient in their own surgery,allowing them to offer more options and the best possible care to owners and pets whatever their individual situation may be. CVS vets can learn from specialists on the job while diagnosing and treating a live case.
Arecent survey byVet Oracleidentified that its support service positively contributes to the wellbeing and job satisfaction of 83 per cent of vets who have used its digital teleservice and responded to the survey.
“Our purpose is to support our Australian
general practice vets in providing the best quality of care to their patients,” Sophie Keyte, Clinical Lead ofVet Oracletelemedicine said. “We have ateam of 35 diplomates across a number of disciplines who are experts in their veterinaryfield and who can offer specific advice on all sorts of cases thatour general practice vets may see. This provides an extra layer of support for our vets, so that they are never alone in dealing with a case and so that they can grow their knowledge and experience right there in their own practice.”
For further information on CVS Australia visit www.cvsvets.com.au. Toregister for the service, CVS Australia vets should emailmedicine@vetoracle.com with their names and email addresses. Once registered, they will be provided with system access.
Furry friends most common hospitalisation cause
Astudy by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), released in mid-March, has found that cats and dogs were responsible for over half of hospitalisations required because of contact with animals in 2021–22.
The research, which covered a ten-year period between July 2012 and June 2022, looked for patterns and trends in who commonly is admitted to hospital with injuries from animal contact and what types of animals were responsible, though it did not include data on emergency department presentations.
“During this 10-year period, hospitalised injuries due to contact with animals gradually increased,” AIHW spokesperson Sarah Ahmed said.
“There were 23,380 hospitalisations due to contact with animals in 2021–22, with a notable increase of 2,230 (or 10 per cent) hospitalisations from 2019–20 to 2020–21. The Pets and the Pandemic survey by Animal Medicines Australia indicates increased pet ownership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
These figures made injuries related to animal contact the seventh most frequent cause of injury hospitalisations in the twelve-month period.
Cats and dogs were the cause of 53 per cent of injuries recorded in 2021-22, while the most common injury in the same period was
open wounds, which accounted for 13,420 (57 per cent) of cases, followed by fractures (15 per cent), toxic effects (10 per cent), and superficial (5 per cent) and soft tissue injury (4.5 per cent). The upper limbs (46 per cent) and head and neck (14 per cent) were the body parts most likely to be injured.
While Australia has a reputation for its venomous species, the study found they potentially pose less of a risk than one may think.
“Australia is home to some of the most venomous animals in the world, however Australians are 6.6 times as likely to be hospitalised due to injuryinvolving non-venomous compared to venomous animals,” Ahmed said.
Indeed, with over 5,000 reported instances, livestock made up almost a quarter (22 per cent) of all injury hospitalisations due to contact with animals in 2021–22. Horses (22 per cent), cattle (13 per cent) and sheep (3 per cent) were the livestock most frequently contributing to injury hospitalisations, with women twice as likely to be injured than man.
The prevalence of injuries caused by domestic animals was not an unexpected finding.
“Over two in three Australian households are estimated to own a pet, so unsurprisingly common domestic pets account for the largest
proportion of animals involved in injuryhospitalisations,” Ms Ahmed said.
“Although owning a pet comes with a risk of injury, research has shown that interactions between humans and animals can provide benefits to our health and wellbeing.”
■ JULIAGARDINER
Facial cancer remains a threat for Tasmanian devils
From page 3 to read enough of the genome sequencing at a sufficient depth to gain a more accurate picture of disease spread. This failing resulted in an incorrect assessment of disease spread and the species’ response to it. The UK researchers said DFTD should still be regarded as an emergent disease that presented a serious threat to the survival of devils in the wild.
Reference: No evidence that transmissible cancer has shifted from emergence to endemism in Tasmanian devils – doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231875
■ ANNELAYTON-BENNETT
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Building a culture of psychological safety in vet practice Lessons from high-stakes environments
In the high-stakes realm of veterinary practice that is inherently demanding on the psychological wellbeing of veterinary professionals –and considering recent legislative changes that place strict obligations on employers to manage psychosocial risks in Australian workplaces – a discussion on psychological safety is overwhelmingly relevant.
Arguably the most important attribute of workplace culture to impact individual engagement and team performance in veterinary practice, psychological safety is a cornerstone of our non-clinical education and deeply ingrained in our mission.
With profound implications that extend far beyond clinical outcomes, championing psychological safety facilitates human connection, fostering motivation and resilience, turning conflict into sources of innovation, creativity, and growth.
As we delve into the intricate dynamics of psychological safety, we will dispel misconceptions and define its purpose in veterinary practice by drawing upon lessons learned from other highstakes environments, like aviation and medicine.
Distilling psychological safety into three key principles, we aim to inspire veterinaryleaders and team members to cultivate a culture of psychological safety in your own veterinary practice.
Insights from other high-stakes environments
The investigation into the Asiana Airlines accident in San Francisco in 2013 revealed one of the most devastating outcomes of a poor leadership culture.
As the aircraft approached the runway, it was evident to the second officer the plane was too low. Despite the looming danger, he said nothing. The captain was controlling the aircraft and when the plane ultimately crashed short of the runway, three people were killed and 183 wounded.
There's no doubt that challenging authority is hard, especially when your experience tells you it won't be well received.
How hard depends subjectively on the person, their state of mind, their relationship with the other person, the extent to which they feel safe enough to do so, and the prevailing cultural paradigm regarding respect for authority.
In relation to the last point, the investigation that followed a 1999 Korean cargo plane which crashed near London revealed a remarkable dynamic in the cockpit that has been linked to the hierarchical structure of Korean culture.
The Black Box revealed the captain had been yelling at the second officer because of delays in taking off due to poor weather.The second officer's response was to say nothing as he watched his own horizon indicator immediately after take-off showing the aircraft was in a steep lefthand turn which led to the wing tip striking the ground.
The subsequent investigation pointed the finger directly at the captain for creating an environment in the cockpit that “discouraged input from the second officer”.
The black box flight recorder has always been the primar y source of data following aircraft disasters. It is now routinely studied regardless of whether there has been an incident in flight and this single change has dramatically improved air travel safety.
The United States Institute of Medicine conservatively estimates around 250,000 patients die in the US each year because of medical error. Studies suggest half of these occur in the operating room and half of these again are preventable.
Imagine what a Black Box in an operating room might do to enhance medical outcomes. Well, that’s exactly what Teodor Grantcharov
from Stanford Medical School has spent the last 20 years developing and his Black Box can now capture over 500,000 data points in a single day, including conversations in the operating room during critical moments, doors opening and closing, the heart rate of the surgeon and other biometric data, thereby enabling medicine to become more predictive of errors.
One major issue the Black Box technology has identified is the impact of distractions, which have been identified as the root cause of procedural errors.
Another key finding by Grantcharov is the role culture, and leadership, plays in the operating theatre.
For a long time, it was assumed success in medicine was centred almost entirely on technical skills.
His research now points to leadership, psychological safety, and workplace culture playing a critical role in determining patient outcomes. The willingness of team members to speak up; the senior person in the operating room creating a culture that encourages this; and the shutting down of conversations that are distracting in a way that doesn't destroy morale are all examples of how teams in medicine can become safer and more effective.
However, there's a strong correlation between ahierarchical culture (often found in medicine) and a toxic leadership environment. This is because the power differential that exists in any hierarchy is open to exploitation on both sides; be it deliberate or unwitting.
From the leader’s perspective, this looks like the constant need to be right leading to over-confidence bias. From the team member’s perspective this looks like an unwillingness to challenge ‘the boss’ because how could they be wrong. Over time, this becomes the culture.
But this doesn’t absolve individual team members from developing the grit to speak up where they are genuinely concerned, even when it might not feel comfortable to speak up.
The concept of psychological safety,while often perceived as a marker of a nurturing and inclusive environment, does not inherently promise comfort. This paradox lies at the heart of many critical situations where speaking up is not just a matter of courage but a potential lifeline to a successful patient outcome.
Our goal should not be to feel comfortable; it should be excellence.
Amy Edmondson, Head of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, is credited with having coined the term psychological safety.Her research focused on why some teams routinely outperform others - and it came down to their willingness to admit their mistakes, rather than sweep them under the carpet out of fear of retribution.
We'd do well to reflect on our obligations as veterinary leaders and managers to foster an environment of collaboration and learning where team members are able to develop a degree of cognitive abrasion and openly challenge, where appropriate in the pursuit of excellence.
When viewing psychological safety within high-stakes environments, such as a veterinary hospital, it becomes evident that fostering an environment where individuals can voice concerns without fear is not merely beneficial but essential. Drawing from the lessons learned from both the aviation and medical fields, we can distil three fundamental principles to guide us in creating a culture of psychological safety that transcends the mere avoidance of discomfort. These principles not only encapsulate the essence of fostering an open communication culture but also aim to enhance practice
performance and patient outcomes through a strategic emphasis on leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Principle 1: Cultivate a culture of respectful challenge
The incidents involving Asiana Airlines and the Korean cargo plane crash underscore the dire consequences of a hierarchical culture that discourages open communication. The principle of cultivating a culture of respectful challenge involves creating an environment where all team members, regardless of their rank or status, feel empowered to voice concerns and challenge decisions in a constructive manner. This principle emphasises the importance of flattening hierarchical barriers to communication, encouraging a dialogue that is based on mutual respect and shared goals. It recognises the unique insights and perspectives that each team member can bring to the table, especially in critical situations where oversight or error can lead to catastrophe.
Principle 2: Embrace transparency and accountability
The adoption of Black Box technology in both aviation and medicine exemplifies the critical role of transparency and accountability in enhancing safety and performance. This principle advocates for a culture where actions and decisions are open to scrutiny, where mistakes are acknowledged and analysed, not for the purpose of assigning blame, but with the aim of learning and improvement. By embracing transparency, organisations signal a commitment to continuous improvement and trust in their team's ability to learn from errors. Accountability, in this context, extends beyond individual responsibility to a collective accountability for outcomes, fostering a shared commitment to excellence and safety.
Principle 3: Prioritise continuous learning and improvement
Edmondson’s research on psychological safety highlights the significance of admitting and learning from mistakes. This principle focuses onthe establishment of mechanisms and practices that encourage continuous learning and improvement. It involves not only the implementation of systems that capture and analyse data to predict and prevent errors (akin to the medical Black Box) but also the creation of aculture that values the lessons learned from failures as much as the successes. Continuous learning and improvement should be woven into the fabric of the organisation, with regular opportunities for reflection, training, and development. This principle underscores the belief that excellence is a dynamic state, achieved through the relentless pursuit of better practices, better communication, and better outcomes.
Implementing these three principles requires committed leadership, a clear vision, and an unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of all stakeholders involved. Veterinary organisations and teams that succeed in embedding these principles into their culture not only enhance their operational safety and effectiveness but also position themselves as leaders in their field, capable of achieving the highest standards of veterinary excellence.
Tolearn more about psychological safety in veterinary practice, we invite you to watch our latest webinar,presented in collaboration with Sophie’sLegacy.Scan the QR code to watch now and embark on the path to veterinary excellence.
This article was provided by the Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business.
Simon Palmer is the Managing Director of Practice Sale Search, Australia’s largest vet practice brokerage. If you’d like more information on practice sales or want to have a confidential discussion about your practice’s circumstances, email Simon Palmer at info@practicesalesearch. com.au or call 1300 282 042.
Harry Nicolaidis is a partner at K&L Gates Brisbane. For legal advice about your practice sale/purchase, Harry Nicolaidis can be contacted at harry. nicolaidis@klgates.com.
‘I’d like the staff without the
When purchasers put forward offers to buy a practice, they will sometimes put a request like the following with their offer:
“At completion of the sale, I'd like the Vendor to terminate all staff contracts and pay out all of their employee entitlements, so that I may hire them ‘clean’.”
Is it possible to structure a deal like this?
To answer this question, we need to break down what is being requested here into smaller questions.
What happens to employees upon the sale of a business?
A business sale usually doesn’t involve a buyer buying the ABN of the seller.
Usually (to reduce potential liability), a buyer will start a new ABN and buy the assets of the old business.
Ifthe purchaser wants to keep the employees in the business post sale, the vendor needs to terminate their employment with the previous ABN, and then the purchaser needs to offer them employment in the new ABN.
For this reason, when a business owner is thinking of selling their business, they need to keep in mind that there may be legislated ‘termination’ notice periods that need to be given to the employees. Generally speaking, for the vendor
to avoid paying out redundancy payments to the terminating employees, the purchaser must offer employment to the employees on terms that must be “substantially similar to and overall no less favourable” than the terms of employment with the vendor.
How are leave entitlements usually dealt with upon the sale of a business?
The standard position under most industry business sale contracts is that the purchaser takes on and recognises the accrued entitlements of those employees which it hires from the date of completion of the business sale. So, if a transferring employee has accrued 30 hours of annual leave with the Vendor, the Purchaser must recognise that leave entitlement when the employee starts working for the Purchaser.
In exchange for recognising this leave, the seller needs to provide some financial compensation to the seller. The way this adjustment isgenerally dealt with is slightly different for each category of leave entitlement (annual leave, personal/carer's leave, long-service leave and so on).
In exchange for recognising annual leave and long-service leave entitlements, the business sale contract usually provides that the vendor reduces the price paid for the business by an amount commensurate to the value of
the leave entitlements transferred.
The financial adjustment that occurs for recognising personal or carer’s leave has much more variance in the industry norm and negotiation depending upon the state that you are in, the size of the liability and the perceived stability of the employee.
If the employees are not offered employment by the purchaser or do not accept the purchaser's offer of employment, the vendor will need to pay out their annual and long service leave entitlements (but not personal carer’s leave).
What happens if the purchaser wants to hire the employees “clean”, with no entitlements (per the premise for this article)? This is possible for some of the employee entitlements and not for others.
It is an option and possibility for the annual leave and long service leave to be paid out and the employee to be hired ‘clean’, with respect to these entitlements. However, it is not an option for personal/carer's leave, parental leave and long service leave below the pro-rata payment threshold (usually five or seven years’ service depending on the state). These entitlements cannot be paid out and the purchaser will have to recognise the employees' previous service with the vendor if the purchaser wants to keep them on.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?
Is there a topic you’ve wanted to tell everyone about?
Have you ever thought you would like to write a clinical review but don’t know where to start? Do you have a hobby or history that you think vets everywhere would like to learn more about? Then don’t delay – email The Veterinarian at editor@vetmag.com.au and let us know – because your words could be in the pages of next month’s issue!
Dilated
cardiomyopathy
(DCM) is the second most common form of acquired heart disease in dogs1
Treating early with VETMEDIN® is proven to delay the onset of clinical signs by 63% and extend life in preclinical DCM.1
To learn more about identifying preclinical DCM in dogs, scan the QR code to visit Boehringer Ingelheim Cardiology Hub. If you do not have an Animal Health Academy account, please register using the access code “myAcademy”.
For more information talk to your Boehringer Ingelheim Territory Manager today or call our Customer Care Team on 1800 808 691.
Replacing animal testing with stem cell-organoids: advantages and limitations
Various groups including animal protection organizations, medical organizations, research centres, and even federal agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are working to minimize animal use in scientific experiments. This movement primarily stems from animal welfare and ethical concerns. However, recent advances intechnology and new studies in medicine have contributed to an increase in animal experiments throughout the years. With the rapid increase in animal testing, concerns arise including ethical issues, high cost, complex procedures, and potential inaccuracies. Alternative solutions have recently been investigated to address the problems of animal testing. Some of these technologies are related to stem cell technologies, such as organ-on-a-chip, organoids, and induced pluripotent stem cell models. The aim of the review is to focus on stem cell related methodologies, such as organoids, that can serve as an alternative to animal testing and discuss its (sic) advantages and limitations, alongside regulatory considerations. Although stem cell related methodologies has (sic) shortcomings, it (sic) has potential to replace animal testing. Achieving this requires further research on stem cells, with potential societal and technological benefits.
Guiyoung Park1, Yeri Alice Rim234, Yeowon Sohn5, Yoojun Nam67, Ji Hyeon Ju891011
Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2024 Apr 19.doi: 10.1007/s12015-024-10723-5.
1School of Biopharmaceutical and Medical Sciences, Health & Wellness College, Sungshin Women's University, 55, Dobong-ro 76ga-gil, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
2CiSTEM laboratory, Convergent Research Consortium for Immunologic Disease, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 4 3, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
4Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.
5Department of Biohealth Regulatory Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
6Department of Biohealth RegulatoryScience, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea. givingtreemax@gmail.com.
7Yipscell Inc, L2 Omnibus Park, Banpo-dearo 222, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea. givingtreemax@gmail.com.
8CiSTEM laboratory, Convergent Research Consortium for Immunologic Disease, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea. juji@catholic.ac.kr.
9Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 4 3, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea. juji@catholic.ac.kr.
10Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea. juji@catholic.ac.kr.
11Yipscell Inc, L2 Omnibus Park, Banpo-dearo 222, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea. juji@catholic.ac.kr.
Emerging approaches for mitigating biofilm-formation-associated infections in farm, wild, and companion animals
The importance of addressing the problem of biofilms in farm, wild, and companion animals lies in their pervasive impact on animal health and welfare. Biofilms, as resilient communities of microorganisms, pose a persistent challenge in causing infections and complicating treatment strategies. Recognizing and understanding the importance of mitigating biofilm formation is critical to ensuring the welfareof animals in a variety of settings, from farms Topage 30
How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid
Introduction: Chronic pain can profoundly affect the wellbeing of dogs and our understanding is limited regarding the multidimensional impact it has on dog quality of life. This study aimed to assess the factors that are significant and predictive of behaviour problems in dogs using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) to further understand what factors influence their welfare.
Methods: Seventy-six AWAG assessments were undertaken across 46 dogs that clinicians diagnosed as having musculoskeletal conditions that caused chronic pain. Wilcoxon-rank sum tests were used to assess the difference in scores between dogs with behaviour disorders and a cohort of healthy dogs (n= 143).
Results: All physical factors besides body condition, and all psychological, environmental, and procedural factors were significantly different between healthy dogs and dogs with chronic pain, evidencing how chronic pain impacts all domains of a dog's life. Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient (RS) revealed several significant strong positive correlations such as the association between the severity of clinical symptoms with poorer mobility and the frequency at which the dog experienced fearful stimuli. Logistic regression showed that fears and anxieties frequency, the dog's reaction to stressors, engagement with enrichment, and social interactions were significant predictors of chronic pain in dogs.
Discussion: This highlights that typical signs of musculoskeletal disorders such as gait changes, stiffness, lameness might manifest after behavioral changes such as increased fearfulness, prolonged recovery from a stressful event, a reduced interested in social interactions, toys or play. Owners only seeking veterinary attention when the presence of physical signs of disease are evident may result in a delayed veterinary attention resulting in reduced welfare. Regular veterinaryassessments combined with use of the AWAG can proactively identify these behavioral indicators and result in prompt treatment and improved quality of life.
Rachel Malkani1,Sharmini Paramasivam1,Sarah Wolfensohn1 Front Vet Sci. 2024 Apr 4:11: 1374858.doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1374858.
1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Chlamydia psittaci screening of animal workers from Argentina exposed to
carrier birds
Different syndromes are involved in human psittacosis (flu-like syndrome, atypical pneumonia up to lacrimal gland lymphoma). Diagnostic methods include serology, culture, and PCR. The rate of Chlamydia psittaci (Cp) positive tests among exposed workers is still unknown. Our study aimed to assess the rate of positive tests among workers who have contact with carrier birds in natural reserves from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Secondary aims were to analyse risk factors linked to these outcomes and the occurrence of signs that suggest psittacosis. Nasopharyngeal swabs and serum pairs were collected from employees who had interacted with confirmed carrier birds. Those with detectable DNA of Cp and/or anti-Chlamydia spp. antibody baseline titre > 160 mUI/ml, or at least quadruplicating, were considered positive. Activities performed with or near birds, personal protective equipment use, and previous chronic conditions were assessed. Possible Cp-related pathologies were evaluated during follow-up. A total of 63 exposed workers (71.4 per cent men) with a median age of 35.7 years (IQR 26-39) were evaluated to detect 28.6 per cent positives. Respiratory chronic conditions were the unique factor associated with positive tests (OR 5.2 [1.5-18.5] p < .05). Surprisingly, about athird of the workers resulted positive and all responded to medical treatment, none developing an acute atypical To page 30
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Scan to rediscover the role of PEXION in managing canine idiopathic epilepsy*
“PEXION has provided a vital new tool for the treatment of epilepsy in dogs. As a neurologist, I now use it as my first choice anticonvulsant in drug-naive patients, because of its improved side effect profile over more traditional drugs, its improved hepatic safety, and its short half-life (which means I know whether it’s working fairly quickly). It is also one of the few anticonvulsants that has a sound body of evidence to support its use and it gives us one more option to use in our never-ending quest for that most elusive of things: perfect seizure control.” – Dr Sam Long BVSc PhD DipECVN, Veterinary Referral Hospital.
Aveterinarian’s considered response to emergency diseases
Emergency animal diseases (EAD) are knocking on our doors.
Australia’s role as a clean green producer of high-quality animal protein, and animal population health relies as much on rapid stamping out of emergency animal diseases as of all the steps we take on biosecurity.
Agraduate of the University of Sydney, Joanne Sillince has a 35-year history in agriculture, research and extensively inlarge and small animal pharmacology. Postgraduate studies include studies in business, pharmacology and toxicology, company directorship and governance.
Sillince was AVA President from 2003–2004, and also served as AVA NSW President and Chair of the NSW Ethics and Complaints Committee. She was farmers’ representative during the 1999–2000 NSW outbreak of Newcastle disease outbreak, and now works as a consultant to several organisations including the Australian Chicken Growers’ Council.
Sillince owns a smallholding with “the usual menagerie that so many veterinarians seem to care for.”
Right on Australia’s doorstep are the “big five” – lumpy skin disease, foot and mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever (ASF), rabies and high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI). There are more, but let’s start with these. The first two are undoubtedly troublesome to animal welfare and trade. ASF is a truly horrible way for pigs to die, with mortality rates approaching 100 per cent. Rabies and HPAI, as well as high mortality, trade and animal welfare affecting, and actually or potentially inter species transmissible. HPAI is highly
direct response to disease, but all veterinarians will be involved from the point of view of informed opinion.
Veterinarians do NOT speak only for an animal, as some argue, but actually for the complexity of animal ecosystems (domesticated and wildlife), individuals and populations of animals, disease pathology epidemiology and zoonosis – ie, considering many things simultaneously and holistically.
In an emergency disease situation, the veterinarian offers a broad perspective which should include but not be limited to:
■ The welfare of any individual animal in the short and longer term. For example, a “less-than-welfareperfect” method of individual euthanasia (for example, including the stress of catching and manipulation) may be better than the same
used to depopulate and chemically disinfect.
■ The risk of interspecies transmission. For example, High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza has now been found in more than 60 mammalian and over 150 species of birds, resulting in significant risk of mortality and even extinction of vulnerable species. Rabies may establish in a wide variety of mammalian populations. The risk of NOT “stamping out” really rapidly may be huge.
■ Environmental welfare in relation to euthanasia or disinfection chemicals, leakage from burial sites etc. Contamination of properties with some chemicals used for euthanasia may result in all or part of the farm being no longer able to produce food or fibre.
■ The preservation of key genetics that might otherwise result in critical loss of biodiversity. For
pathogenic, can spread via migratorybirds and mammals, and provides possible gene recombination triggering infection in other species, including humans.
Australia’s feral wildlife including buffalo, cattle, cats, ducks and pigs means that eradication of many of these diseases would be incredibly difficult. For the health and safety of Australians and their animals, any government response to an emergency disease outbreak must be both highly effective and effectively instantaneous.
For all these reasons current EAD response by Australian authorities is by a comprehensive system of Federal and State cooperation, which may include but is not limited to biosecurity and other forms of preparedness, and a “stamping out” policy for emergency disease wherever possible.
The role of the veterinarian in EAD Veterinarians are broadly trained in the concept of One Health from the perspective of all species (native and domesticated); virtually from the first moment of training. Some veterinarians will be involved in
animal acquiring the disease and dying a slow and agonising death.
■ The net welfare of the sub-populations of animals in which the individual resides. For example, apparently healthy or latent infection status animals may require emergency euthanasia for disease protection of far more animals on the property or region.
■ The net welfare of the population of animals. For example, current stamping out practices include a “ring” for euthanasia including apparently healthy animals, to stop transmission of disease outside the ring. While this is undoubtedly a welfare disbenefit for a small % of healthy individual animals, it may be necessaryto protect the entire animal population of a region, state or country.
■ The welfare (including mental health) of humans performing emergency depopulation and those in the vicinity (including farmers and their families, employees, and veterinarians). This is spectacularly illustrated in diseases where there is a risk of zoonosis and death (eg Rabies), but also includes occupational risk from the methods
example, HPAI established in USA Condors has significantly increased the risk of extinction of that species.
■ The animal welfare effects of the disease – short and long term – on animals. Abortion, sterility, chronic lameness and in some cases chronic heart disease are longer term welfare issues that may follow FMD. ASF results in hideous suffering prior to death, as does HPAI.
The veterinarian’s public perspective on emergency diseases ideally should NOT include:
● Personal passions on the consumptionor use of animals for food and fibre. It is entirely appropriate for veterinarians to have personal opinions and share them in appropriate forums. However, consumers presume that when speaking as a veterinarian in an emergency disease situation it is with academic accuracy and balance, recognising that society currently uses animals for food and fibre and considering the issues above. Introducing other agendas, however interesting, can seriously complicate emergency disease response communication to consumers.
Global distribution of avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential observed since 1 October 2022 reported to the FAO as a disease event (FAO 2023). Credit FAO
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● Trade perspectives. That’s a political, economic and disease tightrope for government.
● The economics of proposed or actual actions on an animal, property or property operator or government. For example, at an individual property level depopulating apparently healthy animals is undoubtably an economic disaster; at a population level it may be completely necessary to achieve disease freedom.
● Personal perspectives on death. Some cultures view living as always preferable to death. Not all cultures share this view, nor do we have evidence that any perspective is necessarily relevant to animals. For example, speaking as aveterinarian, it would be a paradox to argue that euthanasia is an acceptable practice for companion animals for the alleviation of suffering, but not in a livestock disease outbreak with significant morbidity and mortality.
● Comment on issues beyond personal training and expertise. In an emergency disease, veterinarians are looked upon as a reliable, balanced and accurate source of information who can cut across dis-and misinformation, often for spooked or uninformed owners. If you don’t know – be honest and ask. Emergency disease is not conducive to “winging it” with clients. Training is available at The Hub (biotraininghub.com.au/courses/) or confer with colleagues with specific knowledge of that species, or that disease or technique; or refer your client to an expert or respected sources including government.
Animal welfare and depopulation in emergency disease outbreaks Australia’s stamping out policy requires emergency depopulation of properties or whole regions in the event of certain emergency diseases.
There is no method of emergency depopulation that is truly welfare friendly. In an emergency depopulation usually all animals of that species on a property are euthanased. Animals are handled and/or caught by humans they don’t know, perhaps in Hazmat suits and smelling like disinfectant, and moved with urgency - all stressful. Animals may already be suffering from the disease, during the process.
All agencies, governments and industries aim for “highest relative degree of overall welfare” in an emergency depopulation, considered in a holistic context.
As a simplistic example, consider a 90 per cent plus mortality disease with a one-day incubation period that is transmitting at such arate that one infected property infects two more properties every day, (for example by air,fomite transmission, wildlife, rodent or feral species, truck or human movements).
Assume depopulation results in no further transmission.
If the depopulation method chosen for the first property takes 5 days to complete, then at least 15 more properties have been infected during that period, with each of these now forming its own nucleus of further transmission. So the real number of additional infected properties is significantly higher and the disease continues to transmit rapidly - for some diseases this may include native &/or feral species. The radius of the ring of depopulation increases rapidly and many thousands more animals die from the disease or require emergency depopulation.
On the other hand, if farm depopulation can be completed in a single day, but one per cent of animals survive the initial attempt at mass-euthanasia; there is no question that the welfare of that one per cent of animals is compromised. However, overall transmission is significantly reduced, the ring of depopulation is therefore smaller, and as a result many thousands of individuals may avoid euthanasia. There is no question that net animal welfare outcomes are better in the second scenario. That is not an excuse for ignoring that one per cent, who must be immediately identified and humanely dispatched, but illustrates the necessity of considering the bigger picture.
Academic studies on animal welfare in emergency depopulation generally only examine individual animal welfare at the point of death (or not) and rarely the stress of prior handling, broader population risks, risks to native species, humans, environment; or consider speed of transmission or relative suffering causes by the disease. Studies must be assessed carefully. For example, one study recommended “successful” emergency depopulation of animals in a housed environment by foaming, using PFAS (environmentally damaging organofluorine firefighting agents) as the foaming agent. Clearly this is unacceptable for human safety,long term environmental damage and future animal safety.
Animal activism in emergency disease outbreaks
Animal Activists argue that humans should not use animals for food, fibre or entertainment. This should not be confused with animal welfare, which considers animals that are used for food and fibre. Activists argue that use of animals forces depopulation in the event of an emergency disease outbreak. Animal Activists have been reported as impersonating departmental officials to enter quarantined properties for their photo opportunity,or moving from property to property during an outbreak, increasing transmission
risk. Misinformation and disinformation is common. Animal activism has no place during emergency disease outbreaks, even if the broader agenda is worthy of discussion elsewhere.
Conclusion
Veterinarians are consumers’ trusted source of accurate and balanced information on all issues relating to animals and biological systems, and thus have a high level of responsibility for advice and data in an emergency disease outbreak. Veterinarians are also key to stamping out emergency diseases.
It is staggeringly easy, in the swirling morass of truth, lies, agendas, personal beliefs, mis- and dis-information attached to any emergency disease response; to fail to consider a broad view, over-simplify complex issues, or comment beyond skill and experience level. Our role as veterinarians is to calm irrational fears, provide data, and be the voice of reason.
Federal and state governments, the AVA and its special interest subgroups, industry peak bodies and research specialists are all available to assist veterinarians in their knowledge and understanding of emergency disease outbreaks. Summary documents and consumer handouts are available to assist. Guidelines on sample collection are available, and experts to assist monitoring. Active involvement is possible through government schemes. Your countryis counting on you.
References
1.h ttps://wildlifehealthaustralia.com. au/ Portals/0/ResourceCentre/FactSheets/Avian /Avian_Influenza_in_Wild_Birds_in_Australia. pdf
2.https://biotraininghub.com.au/courses/ 3. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseaseoutbreak-news/item/2024-DON512
4.https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avianflu-summary.htm
5. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about.html. 6.https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/rabies
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5844645/
8.https://www.woah.org/en/disease/africanswine-fever/
9.https://www.upconline.org/winter0607/ foam.html
10. https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/ resources/AVMA-Guidelines-for-theDepopulation-of-Animals.pdf
11.https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/ animal/info-vets/african-swine-fever
12.https://wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au/ Portals/0/Incidents/WHA_HPAI_Risk_ mitigation_toolbox.pdf
An electron microscope image of the rabies virus. Picture Norden, a Smith-Kline
Advances in the use of Meloxicam as an effective means of analgesia in pig production
Transmammary Meloxicam supplementation may be a practical means of pain relief to suckling piglets prior to painful procedures.
Introduction
Intensively housed sows and piglets are subjected to painful procedures with minimal, if any, analgesia provided. These procedures fail to meet three of the Five Freedoms of animal welfare, more specifically freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, and freedom from fear and distress (FAWC, 2009). Changes in legislation within the EU have mandated the use of analgesia and anaesthesia for castration in pigs >7 days of age, or castration by a licenced veterinarian if <7 days old (Dragset, 2011). Changes such as this emphasise the need for an effective and economical means of delivering pain relief to intensively housed pigs and those routinely undergoing painful procedures. This paper will discuss recent findings in the use of Meloxicam as a source of pain relief in pig production systems.
Discussion
Meloxicam is a long-lasting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) licensed for provision to food-producing animals in several countries. As such, it has been investigated for its welfare potential. A recent study (Tenbergen et al., 2014b) assessed the impact of pain during farrowing on sow and piglet welfare. Pain may cause the sow to become restless, leading to an increased risk of crushing, reduced access to milk/colostrum for piglets and a subsequent reduction in piglet immunity. The study involved 3006 piglets and investigated the effects of Meloxicam, delivered to sows shortly after parturition, on nursing behaviour, and survival and growth of piglets. Sows that finished farrowing at about the same time were alternately assigned to either control or treatment groups (0.4mg/kg BW Meloxicam IM) within 12 hours of farrowing. Of these sows, 24 pairs (each 1 x control and 1 x treatment) were selected and measured for posture, time standing and rectal temperature. The results of this study demonstrated that sows receiving Meloxicam had piglets that gained more (p=0.07) weight after farrowing. While other findings were not significant, further research on the impact of Meloxicam in assisted/difficult farrowings is warranted to assess its potential benefits to the sow under these circumstances.
Previous studies have identified the painful nature of routine procedures such as castration in piglets (Moya et al., 2008; Hay et al., 2003), yet analgesia is rarely provided. One such study demonstrated that Meloxicam administered prior to surgical castration was efficacious in lowering plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations post-castration (Keita et al., 2010). Furthermore, a reduction in pain-related behaviours was observed post-castration when using Meloxicam (Hansson et al., 2011). However, both studies failed to analyse the impact of NSAIDs on other routine procedures, such as teeth clipping and tail-docking. A recent study investigated the effect of Meloxicam administration to piglets when provided prior to castration and tail-docking
(Tenbergen et al., 2014a). The effect on growth, mortality and pain mitigation was assessed. Piglets (n=2888) were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (0.4mg/kg BW Meloxicam) or control (placebo injection). Injections were carried out 30 minutes prior to surgical castration and tail-docking. The results of the study concluded that Meloxicam made no significant improvement to pig performance. However, pigs treated with Meloxicam showed significantly reduced isolation behaviours (isolating themselves from other piglets) and lower cortisol concentrations 90 minutes post processing when compared with the placebo groups. The reduced isolation provides increased opportunity for suckling with overall health and performance benefits for the piglets. Cortisol is one of the primary markers for stress associated with the procedure and thus its reduction can indicate a pain-mitigating effect.
As previously demonstrated through weight, behaviour and biochemical analyses, Meloxicam provides suitable pain mitigation and the benefits of improved health and welfare when provided to piglets undergoing painful procedures in early life. However, administration of Meloxicam to individual piglets would incur a significant increase in labour and time, reducing its appeal to producers. A recent study (Bates et al., 2014) investigated the potential for transmammary administration of Meloxicam to piglets, the benefit of which is a significant reduction in piglet handling over directly administering Meloxicam. Furthermore, administration to the sow can be performed via oral preparations, reducing the number of injections for both sow and piglet.
In this study, 10 sows were randomly assigned after farrowing to a treatment group (30mg/kg BW Meloxicam) or control group (Meloxicam excipient) with treatment/control being administered over two consecutive feedings. Blood samples were taken from both sows and piglets to assess the pharmacodynamics of Meloxicam, pain markers (cortisol and Substance P) and infrared skin thermography used to identify thermographic changes among piglets. Most significant of the findings was evidence of Meloxicam within the plasma of the piglets at multiple time points following the commencement of treatment in the sows. The results showed that concentrations of Meloxicam were maintained in both sows and piglets for 72 hours following the cessation of treatment before a gradual decline in plasma concentration was seen. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in the concentrations of PGE2 at each time point indicates that Meloxicam in the lactating sow was an effective means of pain mitigation during castration and tail-docking in the piglets. Differences were seen in plasma cortisol concentrations, with Meloxicam treatment showing lower concentrations for the first 10 hours following processing. Furthermore, infrared thermography showed a significant (p<0.0001) reduction in cranial temperature post-castration following Meloxicam administration, again
suggesting reduced pain and stress. The primary limitation of transmammary drug administration is dosage, as this will vary depending on milk consumption by the individual piglet.
Conclusion
Routine procedures such as surgical castration and tail-docking are associated with pain and stress, as reflected by biochemical and behavioural responses. The provision of NSAIDs, such as Meloxicam, to both piglet and sow improves welfare. Transmammary Meloxicam supplementation now provides a practical means of pain relief to suckling piglets prior to painful procedures.
■ LYNDON CLEARY References
Bates, J.L., Karriker, L.A., Stock, M.L., Pertzborn, K.M., Baldwin, LG., Wulf, L.W., Lee, C.J., Wang, C., Coetzee, J.F. 2014 Impact of transmammarydelivered Meloxicam on biomarkers of pain and distr ess in piglets after castration and tail docking. Plos One, 9:12, e113678
Dragset, J., Norwegian Food Safety Authority European declaration on alternatives to surgical castration. http://ec.europa/food/animal/welfare/ seminars/docs/EU_declaration_surgical_castration_ pigs_en.pdf viewed 12/03/2015
FAWC (Farm Animal Welfare Council), last updated 16 April 2009 FAWC London, viewed 12/03/2015, http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.u k/20121007 10421O/http:www.fawc.org.uk/freedoms.htm
Hansson, M., Lundeheim, N., Nyman, G., Johansson, G. 2011 Effect of local anaesthesia and/or analgesia on pain responses induced by piglet castration. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 53: no. 34, 1-9.
Hay, M., Vulin, A., Genin, 5., Sales, P., Prunier, A. 2003 Assessment of pain induced by castration in piglets: Behavioral and physiological responses over the subsequent 5 days. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 82:3, 201-218.
Keita, A., Pagot, E., Prunier, A., Guidarini, C. 2010 Pre-emptive Meloxicam for postoperative analgesia in piglets undergoing surgical castration. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 37:4, 367-374.
Moya, 5.L., Boyle, L.A., Lynch, P.B., Arkins, 5. 2008 Effect of surgical castration on the behavioural and acute phase responses of 5-day-old piglets. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 111:1-2, 133-145.
Tenbergen, R., Friendship, R., Cassar, G., Amezcua, M.R., Haley, D. 2014a Investigation of the use of Meloxicam for reducing pain associated with castration and tail docking and improving performance in piglets. Journal of Swine Health and Production, 22:2, 64-70.
Tenbergen, R., Friendship, R., Cassar, G., Amezcua, M.R., Haley, D. 2014b Investigation of the use of Meloxicam post farrowing for improving sow performance and reducing pain. Journal of Swine Health and Production, 22:1, 10-15.
This essay is one of a number selected for The Veterinarian magazine Prize for Written Communication for Sydney University third-year veterinary science students.
ShannonLeeBVSc MANZCVSc. D.ICEVO
obtained his veterinary degree from the University ofQueensland. He travels widely and is in demand as an international lecturer and educator. In 2010 Leebecame the firstveterinarian to obtain Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College ofVeterinary Scientistsin Equine Dentistryin Victoria. At the time he was alsothe youngest veterinarian to have attained the qualification.
Lee has served as a Subject examiner in Equine Dentistryfor the College(Australia and NewZealand's peakpost graduate Veterinary body) and is a pastPresident of theDentistry chapter. In2015 he successfully completeda Diplomat pathway training program to continue hisknowledge andtraining. Lee was the first person to identify EOTRH in Australasia. Heis a consultant equine dental veterinarian at AdvancedEquine Dentistry,and is available by appointment.
How to take dental radiographs of the horse
Introduction
This article aims to assist any veterinary practitioner to feel comfortable taking dental radiographs in the horse. The techniques described are relatively easy to perform in the field without specialised equipment and when used correctly can provide good quality images for diagnostic workups or case referral. With dental disease being one of the most common conditions affecting the horse, radiographs are of increasing importance in accurately determining the cause of disease and the likely outcomes for the patient.
Equipment
Any X-ray machine capable of 80kv is suitable for dental x-rays in the horse. Portable machines allow easy rotation and positioning and the ability to take images in the field. Good quality images are possible with film, computed radiography and digital radiography, however when using film it is vital that the film used is matched to the screen in the X-ray cassette. With CR and DR careful selection of software and time spent with the supplier will yield better results as there is wide variation in the appropriateness of standard algorithms when they are used to take dental X-rays. It is really important to spend some time developing a factor chart for the specific equipment used in the practice and to label all images correctly.
As a practitioner receiving images from other veterinarians seeking assistance with interpretation, the three most common errors with the images I receive are
■ Unlabelled or incompletely labelled images,
■ Poor positioning
■ Incorrect exposure.
Therefore dramatic improvements in the diagnostic quality of dental images (particularly for referral) are often possible by simply addressing these three issues.
Technique
Proper restraint, sedation, patient support and positioning will provide both ambulatory and hospital based practitioners with good quality dental radiographs. Patients can be radiographed both in and out of a crush however bars and gates on the crush may sometimes interfere with positioning.
Patients need to be adequately sedated and adequate sedation is heavy sedation eg Detomidine HCL 0.020.04mg/kg. Several landmarks should be used by practitioners to assist with positioning; these include the facial crest and the intersection of the mandibular and maxillarycheek teeth Some form of head/chin support is required to prevent horses from moving their heads up and down, and atable, feed bin or “Wheelie bin” are good options. If using a crush with an extendable head support a dental halter can also be used, however some of these halters contain metal bars so care must be taken with positioning to avoid artefacts.
There are a number of methods for holding and positioning X-ray cassettes, commercially available cassette holders provide an external
framework and a long extension arm. These offer the benefit of decreasing radiation exposure to assistants, however the weight of the cassette on the end of the long extension or handle can make them tiring or cumbersome, they also usually only allow the use of asingle size of plate. Some practitioners advocate the use of elastic straps orbungee cords to attach the plate directly to the patient, this has the advantage of eliminating the need for an assistant however it raises issues associated with the use of elastic straps and metal hooks under tension. The author prefers to use broad lipped “vise grips” with or without an extension handle. This allows more control over the orientation of the plate while not inducing the same fatigue as the commercially available holders; it does however require the use of an assistant. Due to the levels of sedation often required to obtain good quality images, it may also be necessaryfor the practitioner and or assistant to support or position the patients head toavoid axial rotation.
Placement of a wooden block between the upper and lower incisors allows the practioner to take open mouth oblique views and may also assist with allowing the horses muzzle to rest comfortably on the head support.
Standard views
Incisors
Dorso ventral 20deg rostral (Maxillary incisors and canines) intraoral
Ventro dorsal 20deg rostral (Mandibular incisors and canines) intraoral
Cheek teeth
Lateral
Latero 30 deg dorsal latero ventral oblique
Latero 35- 45 deg ventral latero dorsal oblique
Open mouth lateral oblique Dorso ventral offset mandible
Dorso ventral 20deg rostral (Maxillary incisors and canines) intraoral
This view involves placing the cassette between the horses incisors (the patient needs adequate restraint and sedation to avoid damage to the cassette) The X-ray machine is then positioned dorsally and rostrally to the
horse’s muzzle. The position relative to the midline will vary depending on which tooth is of primary interest, for central incisors the machine should be in line with the midline, for middle and lateral incisors the machine will need to be positioned on a more oblique angle with the rear of the machine positioned more laterally. Correct positioning will allow good visualisation of structures such as pulp cavities and periodontal space.
Ventro dorsal 20deg rostral (Mandibular incisors and canines) intraoral
This is view is essentially similar to the one above except that it is shot from a ventral position. This can be awkward as it involves placing the machine under the horse and care needs to be taken with safety and with positioning. As a general rule (although with DR machines there is now such a wide degree of latitude) exposure factors will be lower for this view than for views of the maxillary teeth.
With respect to these intraoral views obviously the increased availability and more widespread use of DR systems in equine practice means some thought needs to be put in to how best to achieve these views using these systems. Some of the issues that the user of a DR system faces when attempting intraoral radiography in the horse include the size of the plate relative to the size of the sensor, and the expensive and somewhat delicate nature of the plates and sensors themselves given that many of these examinations take place in sedated rather than anaesthetised patients.
The use of a thick Perspex block similar to those used for foot radiographs along with appropriate sedation is probably the only safe way to use DR plates for intraoral radiographs. There are nylon wedge speculums that can be placed between the cheek teeth in an attempt to hold the incisors apart, however the risk of damage is still higher than with the Perspex as the horse can potentially dislodge the speculum and chew on the plate. Because of the disparity between where the edge of the plate is and where the edge of the sensor is found a good working knowledge of
these limits in your own system and how you can best position the plate to place the area of interest over the sensor will greatly aid your ability to achieve diagnostic images quickly and toknow the limitations of your particular system. For all intraoral x-ray views some form of stable head support is vital, either a correctly supported dental halter or a head stand.
Lateral view
This view is of limited value in examining dental structures however it is useful for examination of the sinuses and to look for the presence of fluid. To assist with this it is best if the horse is positioned with the lips resting on some form of support and the bridge of the nose as near to vertical as possible. The Xray plate should be positioned so it is centered over the rostral point of the facial crest with the base of the plate parallel with the ground. This allows easy determination of the location of fluid lines in the sinuses by allowing the practioner to know the location of the horizontal plane relative to the horses head when viewing images. In plain English the horizontal or short side of the plate should be roughly parallel with the horizon and therefore with any fluid line if the horses head is also in this orientation. In this case using a larger plate or cassette will make locating and visualising all of the structures in one view easier, especially in larger breeds.
Latero 30 deg dorsal latero ventral oblique
Oblique views like this one provide the most convenient method of producing separate views of the right and left cheek teeth arcades. The
plate is placed against the affected side (i.e. the side or region of interest) usually centred over the facial crest and the beam is then directed from the opposite side of the horse at about 30degrees to the horizontal plane. The dorsal long edge of the plate should be roughly parallel with the bridge of the horse’snose. The exact angle required will vary from patient to patient especially with regards to age. As a general rule a steeper angle will be required in younger horses due to the long reserve crown of the teeth where as a shallower angle maybe necessary in older horses.
The use of a bisecting angles technique will minimise elongation or shortening of images. The technique is simple but often complex to describe. Essentially place the plate parallel with the horses face, then move the plate out to where it is parallel with the end of the X-ray machine, now move it back to where it is halfway between these two positions.
Remember also that each tooth of the six cheek teeth found in a normal adult arcade will be in a slightly different orientation in 3 dimensions; therefore slightly different angulations in a mesio distal plane will be necessary for each tooth and will differing degrees of detail depending on the degree of overlap (superimposition) of adjacent cheek teeth. Ideally the aim is to have zero overlap between cheek teeth directly adjacent to the “one” of interest.
Latero35- 45 deg ventral laterodorsal oblique
This view is used to visualise the mandibular arcades, again a bisecting angle technique is used.
When trying to obtain images in young horses with long reserve crowns and narrow hemi
mandibles it can be very difficult to avoid superimposition of the two arcades. There is also asignificant difference in the radio density of tissue from the beginning of the masseter muscle caudally, so again different exposures are often necessary for good clear image of the mesial/ rostral three cheek teeth when compared with the caudal/distal three (premolars/molars). Again the wider degree of latitude afforded to images taken with most DR systems does help to reduce this concern.
Open mouth lateral oblique
Awooden block, piece of PVC pipe or a suitable speculum is used to keep the patients mouth open. The open mouth oblique views are used to examine the crowns of cheek teeth; these views are particularly useful for assessing the impact of periodontal disease.
Dorso ventral offset mandible
This view requires positioning the mandible in an offset position which can be achieved by several methods 1 placing two loops of rope around the horse’s premaxilla and mandible and applying pressure to each to offset the jaw.2 by using commercially available speculums to hold the jaw in this position. 3. By positioning an adequately relaxed and sedated patient in this position with a woodblock or similar orally and allowing them to remain resting in the position as set by the operator.A cassette is then positioned ventrally along the mandible. This view reduces superimposition of the maxillary cheek teeth and allows for assessment of structures such as the nasal septum.
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Intra oral views of cheek teeth
Currently to the authors knowledge in large equids this is only currently practical with plain film and CR systems as suitable DR sensors are not yet widely available.
The detail provided by these views is superior to extra oral views because of the lower tissue density and the lack of superimposition, however they can be more difficult to take and achieve quick consistent results.
To image maxillary cheek teeth using an intra oral technique requires placing the film parallel to the long axis of the maxillary arcade (see image). This usually necessitates a handle and plate and contact with the tongue may irritate the patient causing a chewing reflex. A speculum is required to provide access to the oral cavity and it needs to be of a design or material where its position does not interfere with the image produced. Again the angulation of the x-ray generator will varydepending on the tooth of interest and the age of the patient. Again as a guide begin by centering the beam over the rostral point of the facial crest and at an angle of approximately 60deg from the horizontal.
For mandibular teeth the film can be placed in a vertical plane lingual to mandibular cheek teeth and the x-ray shot close to lateral, or the plate can be positioned on the long axis of the mandibular cheek teeth on the occlusal surface and the generator positioned approximately 45 ventro dorsally.
Problem solving
As previously mentioned, time taken to properly label images, care with correct positioning and developing an exposure chart will eliminate many of the common problems. Another important point is to remove head halters or collars from the field of interest (esp. those with metal buckles). The use of a large plate and coning
the primary beam to include the entire field of interest should also help in many instances. It is also (esp. with the advent of digital radiography) important to be critical of the images we take, keep and forward for interpretation, whilst not all images need to be perfect to provide useful information or allow a diagnosis, it is perhaps appropriate to use the example of digital images taken with the camera in ones phone or mobile device. Whilst it might take 10-15 attempts as an example to capture the image we want, we don’t necessarily need to keep them all. Be objective and critical of images. The use of varying exposures and positioning is often a veryvaluable diagnostic tool, however avoid blurred images, superimposition and over and under exposure where possible.
Dental anatomy
The radiographic appearance of horse’s teeth varies significantly with age, due mainly to the hypsodont nature of their teeth. Care needs to be taken when interpreting dental radiographs and knowledge of age appropriate issues is important. For example the apical region of cheek teeth in a young horse (age 3-5) will vary markedly between individual teeth and due to the development of eruption bumps (or cysts) normal anatomical changes such as widening of the periodontal space at this age may mimic those seen with advanced dental pathology in another age group of horses.
Practitioners should always radiograph the contra lateral arcade and utilise it for comparison, the pulp horns of teeth become more distinct as the horse ages and there begins to be more apical development. The periodontal ligament is visible as a thin black line between the tooth and the alveolus, and disruption or widening of this structure is often associated with dental disease.
Additional radiographic techniques
The use of metallic markers such as paper clips, surgical staples and shoeing nails to identify areas of facial swelling, can be useful when evaluating the relationship between such swellings and involvement of dental structures. In cases where a sinus tract is present malleable metallic probes can be useful tools for examining the depth and location of such tracts, as well as for confirming the location/involvement of affected teeth. Contrast material (such as Iohexol) can also be injected into these to provide further diagnostic information.
Conclusion
High quality dental radiographs can be taken under field conditions when using portable equipment, time taken to ensure correct positioning combined with the use of a factor chart and knowledge of the relevant anatomy will aid in this outcome. Horses need adequate sedation and head support and clinicians will benefit from understanding the use of a bisecting angles technique.
References
1.Easley J. A new look at dental radiography 2002 Vol 48 AAEP proceedings.
2.Barakzai S. How to obtain quality radiographs of the head and teeth 2010 Vol 49 BEVA proceedings.
3.O’BRIEN D.R. ‘Intraoral dental radiography: experimental study and clinical use in two horses and a llama’, Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, vol. 37, No. 6, 1996, pp 412-416.
4.Puchalski S. Skull and dental imaging 2011 Vol 33 Bain Fallon proceedings.
5.Barratt R. How to obtain equine dental radiographs in equine dental practice 2007 Vol 53 AAEP proceedings.
BUSINESS
Poseidon Animal Health enters US market
Australian-based Poseidon Animal Health is making waves in the global market, announcing its bold expansion into the US equine health sector. The privately-owned company, founded by Peter Lord and Linda Goldspink-Lord in 2017, has witnessed remarkable growth of 85 per cent in both domestic and export markets over the past year, establishing itself as a leader in animal digestive health supplements.
Specialising in manufacturing supplements for animal digestive health, Poseidon Animal Health has expanded its product range to include equine and canine supplements, capturing a significant share of the equine gut health supplement market in Australia and New Zealand.
Following successful ventures in Australia, NewZealand, the UAE, Europe, and Asia, Poseidon Animal Health has set its sights on the vast US market. With the launch of its equine products in the US, the company aims to tap into the immense potential offered by the $122b US equine industry.
Peter Lord, Global CEO of Poseidon Animal Health, expressed confidence in the US expansion, citing high consumer demand and a substantial market size as key drivers. Lord emphasized the company's commitment to providing evidence-based products recommended by leading veterinarians and equine professionals.
Erin Roddy, Poseidon's Head US veterinarian, underscored the importance of gut health in horses and dogs, highlighting the role of digestive supplements in promoting overall wellness. With a focus on education and awareness, Poseidon Animal Health plans to leverage its success in existing markets to educate US horse owners about the significance of gut and digestive health.
Through educational webinars and participation in equine events, Poseidon Animal Health aims to empower horse owners with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their animals' health.
The company's dedication to innovation and community building underscores its
commitment to improving the well-being of horses worldwide.
As Poseidon Animal Health sets sail in the USmarket, it remains steadfast in its mission to support animal owners and advance the understanding of digestive and gut health in horses and dogs.
For more information, visit www.poseidon animalhealth.com.
Research into advanced veterinary care shows owner expectations
International researchers have released their findings after surveyed dog and cat owners from the United Kingdom, Austria and Denmark to explore their expectations and attitudes of towards the advanced veterinary care (AVC) available in modern small animal practices.
The research comes at a time when advances in AVC mean many animals that would previously have suffered, died or been euthanised due to diseases such as diabetes, renal disease or cancer can now be successfully managed in primary care practice by veterinarians using a wide range of drugs and life-saving procedures such as dialysis, blood transfusions and chemotherapy.
Veterinary patients with more complex diseases or requiring advanced investigations or treatments can, in the same way as humans, be referred by their primary care
Virginia, Queensland’s St. Vincent Vets – part of CVS Australia – has completed a major expansion project with a new $350,000 extension, doubling its size and enhancing its veterinary services.
Over the past year, the practice underwent acomplete refurbishment and extension to accommodate more clients and offer advanced veterinary care to the local community.
The surgery now boasts state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including a new digital X-ray suite, dental surgery suite, modern laboratory, and ophthalmology equipment. These upgrades enable the clinic to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services to its patients.
To enhance client experience, the reception area has been redesigned to be more spacious and welcoming, and a new external car park has been constructed for client convenience.
Internally, the layout of the building has been reconfigured to create three modern consulting rooms, including a dedicated cat consult room with its own entrance. Additionally, new wards and examination areas have been established for cats, birds, and wildlife, ensuring a stress-free environment for each animal.
The clinic team has expanded to accommodate the increased capacity, with the addition of new veterinarians, vet technicians, nurses, and administrative staff. A new staff kitchen and dining area, affectionately named ‘The Roland Room’ after the practice's beloved Golden Retriever, has also been
veterinarian to colleagues who are specialists.
While the availability of such care brings obvious benefits, the researchers also looked at potential challenges: AVC is only available to pets whose owners can afford it, potentially creating moral and financial stresses for owners with financial limitations. The increasing number of choices and complexity of treatment decisions that owners are being asked to make can also be potentially overwhelming. As a broader principle, concern has also been raised over whether the prolongation of life is necessarily always in line with what may be considered the best interests of the patient, especially when the animal cannot express their own interests.
The survey found more than 58 per cent of respondents believed their pets should have access to the same treatment options as humans have, while just over half of the
surveyed pet owners thought their cats and dogs should get access to the same diagnostic tests as their owners.
The study also found that the factor that was most strongly associated with the attitude that their pet should have access to the same treatment options as human patients was the level of emotional attachment owners had to their pet, rather than factors such as owner age, living situation or finances.
The expectation that AVC be available to pet owners suggested to researchers that further studies need to be undertaken to understand the model of veterinary practice pet owners would prefer to engage with, as results indicated owners would prefer to have AVC available through their regular clinic, rather than being referred to specialists.
■ JULIAGARDINER
EBOS withdraws bid for Greencross acquisition
In a significant turn of events, EBOS, the Australia and New Zealand pharmacy wholesaler, has officially ruled out any future attempt to acquire Greencross, a leading pet-care business. The decision comes after EBOS pulled out of negotiations for a potential $ 4b deal with Greencross, a move that surprised many in the industry.
constructed to support the growing team. Practice director Megan Bredhauer expressed her gratitude to clients for their trust and support throughout the expansion project. She emphasized the practice's commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to all patients.
The newly refurbished St. Vincent Vets is now fully operational, with opening hours from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8:30am to 1pm on Saturdays.
CVS Group, the parent company of St. Vincent Vets, operates veterinary practices across various sectors, including small animal, farm animal, and equine care.
John Cullity, the longtime chief executive of EBOS, clarified that the company has moved on from pursuing Greencross, dispelling any speculation about a possible return to the negotiating table. The decision to withdraw from the bid came as EBOS faced challenges in securing funds for the acquisition, with a capital raising of approximately $2b hitting roadblocks.
Despite the setback, Cullity expressed optimism about EBOS's future prospects during the Macquarie Australia Conference in Sydney. He emphasised the company's growth mindset, highlighting its focus on acquisitions and expansion opportunities in South East Asia. EBOS aims to target quality businesses with a minimum return on capital of 15 per cent for its acquisitions.
EBOS, with a market value of $6b, operates across various sectors, including To page 30
New biosecurity initiative
From page 1
Also underway is investment into preparing for an incursion of emergency animal diseases such as lumpy skin disease, that primarily affects cattle and buffalo. Carried by live animals and reproductive material LSD can result in animal welfare issues and significant production losses. This disease can also be spread by contaminated equipment and biting insects or parasites, such as flies, mosquitos and ticks.
Areas that CAB will focus on include:
■ Activities that can better understand, detect and diagnose priority exotic pests and diseases.
■ Intervention tools that can intervene or mitigate a real or potential impact from on-farm tonational level response such as sovereign vaccines, antimicrobials, novel biocontrol, and biopesticides.
■ Activities that support preparedness and emergency responses, including capability exercises and real-time outbreak responses.
Information sessions are planned in coming months for external stakeholders to attend.
■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT
APVMA to remain in Armidale despite
advice
From page 3
This decision needs to be backed by ensuring key executives are based in Armidale and prioritising local recruitment.”
This decision highlights the ongoing debate over regional versus centralised governance and its impact on agency effectiveness and staff stability.
EBOS withdraws bid for Greencross acquisition
From page 29 community pharmacy, institutional healthcare, contract logistics, and the pet industry. While EBOS controls a significant portion of the pharmacy market in Australia and New Zealand, Greencross stands as the largest vet service operator in Australia, with over 160 clinics and a retail presence comprising more than 230 stores.
Despite the withdrawal from the Greencross deal, EBOS remains committed to its growth strategy and continues to explore opportunities to expand its presence in the pet-care and healthcare sectors.
CLARIFICATION: The stor y ‘Jaw dropping’ in the April issue of The Veterinarian was misattributed to Julia Gardiner. The stor y was written by Anne Layton Bennett. The Veterinarian regrets the error.
Citizen science the ‘special sauce’ in rabbit biocontrol program
From page 7
“Most samples come from domestic rabbits and are submitted by owners or vets. Domestic rabbits are great sentinels for what’s happening in wild rabbit populations locally. They give agood indication of the lagovirus variants circulating in wild rabbit populations,” Peng explained.
Four different lagovirus recombinants have been detected in Australia to date. Two are exotic arrivals and two emerged locally as new types of RHDV2 evolved. From 2020 the dominant variant has been RHDV2-4c.
“Without the depth of sampling provided by our citizen scientists, we wouldn’t be able to do this level of analysis to understand the evolution of these viruses. These contributions ultimately inform biosecurity and conservation decisions to benefit the environment and our native biosecurity in the longer term. As aresult they’ll have a big impact,” Peng said.
Maria Jenckel, an experimental scientist with CSIRO, said the citizen science sampling with lab-based molecular analysis made for a powerful
combination, going beyond the ‘who saw what where’ survey data toscientific testing.
“This testing shows exactly which viruses are present and how the virus populations across Australia are evolving. Although it takes a little time for our citizen scientists to take the sample, it’s practical applied science and not some theoretical study in a laboratory. It’s allowing us to see what’s happening in the Australian environment and help find solutions for rabbit management for the future. It’s also a free service and we publish the results online on our research site,” she said.
Funding for the program was originally provided by the Australian government through the Invasive Animals CRC, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, and CSIRO. Funding to continue the program is being provided by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Details about the RabbitScan project can be found at www.feralscan.org.au/ rabbitscan/default.aspx.
■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT
Abstracts - biofilm-formation-associated infections animals
From page 14 to the wild and companion animals. Effectively addressing this issue not only improves the overall health of individual animals, but also contributes to the broader goals of sustainable agriculture, wildlife conservation, and responsible pet ownership. This review examines the current understanding of biofilm formation in animal diseases and elucidates the complex processes involved. Recognizing the limitations of traditional antibiotic treatments, mechanisms of resistance associated with biofilms are explored. The focus is on alternative therapeutic strategies to control biofilm, with illuminating case studies providing valuable context and practical insights. In conclusion, the review highlights the importance of exploring emerging approaches to mitigate biofilm formation in animals. It consolidates existing knowledge, highlights gaps in understanding, and encourages further research to address this critical facet of animal health. The comprehensive perspective provided by this review serves as a foundation for future investigations and interventions to improve the management of biofilm-associated infections in diverse animal populations.
Daniela Araújo123,Ana Rita Silva1, Rúben Fernandes1,Patrícia Serra1, Maria Margarida Barros14,Ana Maria Campos1,Ricardo Oliveira156, Sónia Silva1 23 , Carina Almeida1 256 , Joana Castro12
Pathogens. 2024 Apr 13;13(4): 320.doi: 10.3390/pathogens13040320.
1INIAV-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655 Vila do Conde, Portugal.
2CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
3LABBELS-Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
4CECAV-Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, University of Trás-osMontes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
5LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
6AliCE-Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Abstracts - Chlamydia psittaci screening
From page 14
pneumonia syndrome associated with classical presentation of psittacosis. Active testing for early diagnosis and proper treatment in zoological workers exposed to carrier or potentially carrier birds is strongly suggested as part of zoonotic diseases preventive measures.
Patricio Favier1,Guillermo M Wiemeyer23,Maite B Arias4,Claudia S Lara4,Gabriela Vilar4,Ana J Crivelli1, Herman K Ludvik1,María I Ardiles5,María L Teijeiro6, María J Madariaga6,María J Rolón1,María E Cadario4 Ecohealth. 2024 Apr 18.doi: 10.1007/s10393-024-01683-w
1Infectious Diseases Division, Hospital General de Agudos Dr.Juan A. Fernández, Avenida Cerviño 3365, MO C1425AGP,City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2Animal Welfare Department, Ecoparque de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, República de la India 3000, MO
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C12425FGC, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. gwiemer@gmail.com.
3CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Calle 5 esq. 116, MO L6360, General Pico, La Pampa, Argentina. gwiemeyer@gmail.com.
4Service of Clinical Bacteriology, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas-Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Avenida Vélez Sarsfield 563, MO C1282AFF, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
5Prevention and Control of Zoonoses Department, Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur, Avenida Díaz Vélez 4821, MO C1405DCD, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
6Department of Biological Products Diagnosis, Serology and Molecular Biology Section, Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur, Avenida Díaz Vélez 4821, MO C1405DCD, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
CREATURE
Feature
Pantherchameleon( Furciferpardalis )
Thisspeciesofchameleon,namedfortheshapeofitsfeed (fromtheLatinroot furci ,meaning‘forked’)isfoundin Madagascar,RéunionandMauritius.Malesofthespeciesare morevibrantlycolouredthanfemales.
PictureCharlesJ.Sharp
Neptra is not recommended in cases with rod-shaped bacteria present on cytology sample, as these may represent Pseudomonas aeruginosa. C & S testing should be performed when appropriate to determine the identity and susceptibility of the causative organism(s). Read and follow label instructions. References: 1 Paterson S, 2018. ¨The use of antibiotics and antimycotics in otitis.¨ Companion Animal. 23(11):