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BUSINESS
BUSINESS Infection control and prevention of zoonotic diseases
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Veterinarians, their staff, and clients have inherently high risks of exposure to and infection with zoonotic diseases. It is estimated that of the 1,415 agents causing disease in humans, 868 (61 per cent) are zoonotic (capable of transferring between humans and animals). Moreover, of the 175 pathogens defined as emerging infections, 75 per cent are zoonotic. The newly released AR Interactive –Veterinary Industry Guide to Workplace Safety 2021/22 focuses on risks associated with Zoonosis and Antimicrobial Resistant (AMR) Microbes with best Practice Control Measures optimised through augmented reality (AR) experiences to maximise WHS compliance performance based on the updated AVA Guidelines for Veterinary Personal Biosecurity which details the zoonotic diseases present in Australia and dealing with high-risk situations. The Pro-Visual (AR) Interactive – Veterinary Industry to Guide to Workplace Safety 2021/22 in collaboration with Industry Associations, Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Veterinary Business Group (VBG) and endorsed by the National Safety Council Australia (NSCA) highlights Infection Prevention Control AVA guidelines recommended to mitigate the transmission and spread of potentially highly infectious zoonotic diseases and emerging threats such as Q fever and MRSA in veterinary settings and adapted to individual practices in alignment with State and Federal Government WHS legislation via a modifiable word document; with ongoing training to establish consistent and cohesive implementation.
Developed with advanced technologies such as interactive augmented reality (AR) capabilities for use with a smartphone or tablet, upon installation of the free Pro-Vis AR App available from the App Store or Google Play, virtual WHS can be downloaded and viewed at any time.
Designed to be displayed in the workplace, the AR Interactive - Veterinary Industry Guide toWorkplace Safety 2021/22 isakey resource to support the Veterinary Industry and is also available to students, graduates, and educators in applying complex WHS regulatory documentation via a suite of interactive visualisations, such as 3D animation and videos, is a targeted response to a digital landscape.
Itreflects a shared interest of the AVA, VBG and regulators to ensure safety is at the forefront through clarity,accessibility, and consensus to veterinary practices of all types. Together Pro-Visual Publishing and their partnering Associations have carefully selected additional subject matter that addresses WHS issues pertinent to the industry, which include: ■ Sharps and needlestick injury prevention ■ Surgical and therapeutic lasers: best practice control measures inclusive of state and territory regulatorycompliance ■ Compressed gas cylinders: risk assessment, best practice control measures inclusive of storage and handling. “Weare continuing to make leaps and bounds by improvingWHS education and training supported by advances in digital technology and AR,” Pro-Visual CEO John Hutchings said. “The biggest impact of digitisation can be seen in how it can revolutionise engagement, which underpins success and effectiveness, by reducing risk to improve health and safety performance overall.”
“I would like to thank our corporate sponsors and industry associations in promoting specific, practical guidance on how to institute and evaluate WHS standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will safeguard staff from the hazards associated with individual work duties and prevention of zoonotic disease exposure.”
For free Guides email marketing@provisual.com.au
FIV awareness campaign launched
Cat and new kitten owners are being urged to speak with their veterinarian about feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). FIV has a high prevalence in Australia compared to most other countries and can cause serious and potentially fatal disease in cats by depressing the immune system. It has also been linked to kidney disease, neurological disease, chronic gingivostomatitis, skin disease and weight loss.
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is behind the mission to support veterinarians to minimise the impact of FIV in our cat population –and has assembled the Australian Feline Retrovirus AdvisoryPanel, an independent panel of feline medicine and veterinary infectious disease experts. The panel have developed guidelines to help veterinarians with diagnosing, preventing, and managing FIV.
Primarily transmitted via bite wounds that introduce saliva containing virus and FIV-infected white blood cells, the virus can leave cats predisposed to chronic and recurrent infections of various types and has been shown to increase the risk of some cancers.
While FIV infection in some cats can have devastating health impacts, it is important to stress to owners that FIV is not a death sentence and does not constitute grounds for euthanasia. Some FIV-infected cats can live a relatively normal life for a protracted period, with a near-normal lifespan. With management and housing conditions impacting the outcomes of FIV infection, owners of FIV-infected cats can support their cat, allowing many to live a relatively normal life.
Advocating for prevention to be a priority,Mark Westman, chairperson of the Australian Feline Retrovirus AdvisoryPanel said.
“Infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) can have serious consequences. Vaccination to prevent infection with FIV is recommended for pet cats whose owners are unable to, or cannot be persuaded to, keep their cats away from the risk of being bitten by an FIV-infected cat,”
“Sadly, once a cat has been infected with FIV, there is no cure which is why it is important for cat owners to adopt aprevention protocol to ensure cats are safe and protected. Australia has one of the highest rates of FIV infection in the world, however it is also one of the few countries that has access to an effective vaccine,” Westman said.
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health manufactures a polyvalent FIV vaccine to prevent FIV infection. The primary vaccination course of 3doses given 2-4 weeks apart can be administered to healthy kittens or cats from eight weeks of age to aid in the prevention of infection with FIV, followed by annual boosters.
Additional resources on FIV are available from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Territory Managers. Further information for veterinary staff can be found on www.animalhealthacademy com.au or www.vetplus.com.au. If registering for Animal Health Academy for the first time, use access code myAcademy.
Celebrate 150 years of the RSPCA with new stamps
Australia Post is celebrating 150 years of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) with the release of five stamps representing their mission and practice: research, shelter, protection, certification, and advocacy.
With the RSPCA’s history in Australia dating back to a public meeting to discuss the ill treatment of horses in Victoria in 1871, this stamp issue commemorates the organisation’s150 years of caring for and protecting animals in Australia.
Australia Post Group Manager Philatelic Michael Zsolt said the RSPCA deserves to be celebrated for their tireless work towards preventing animal cruelty.
“The RSPCA’s long history of advocating for animal welfare issues is something all Australians are proud of,” Zsolt said.
“The stamp designs really show the breadth of the RSPCA’s work across companion animals, farm animals, animals in sport, recreation and industry, and wildlife.
RSPCA Australia Chief Executive Officer Richard Mussell said the stamps were a fitting addition to the 150th anniversary commemorations.
“It’swonderful to see the RSPCA’swork over many years acknowledged in this way by Australia Post,” Mussell said.
“These stamps are a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our great breadth of work and what has been achieved in what is an important milestone year for us.” The stamps and associated products, including a minisheet, stamp pack, first day cover and maxicardset, areon sale at participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794, and online while stocks last. For moreinformation visit auspost.com.au/stamps.
Drug rescheduling
From page 1 In September, the TGA also proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard, due for decision in November. Of particular concern to vets is the proposed amendment to meloxicam.
The proposal is to create a new Schedule 6 entry for meloxicam that captures injectable preparations, at up to 2 per cent concentration, for the pre-surgical treatment of sheep undergoing husbandry procedures. This would mean that injectable meloxicam (currently S4, and thus prescription-only) would be available over the counter for anyone to access.
The AVA opposes this amendment for several reasons, including the fact that veterinary knowledge and oversight are required to prescribe appropriately and mitigate the risks involved with animal use of the substance.
There is a potential for significant
New Hendra variant found in Newcastle
From page 1 Previous studies had detected the virus in flying foxes in Queensland and parts of NSW, however after monitoring samples from 20132021, ACDP researchers found the new genetic type was present in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
CSIRO scientist and study coauthor, Kim Halpin, said transmission of the disease from flying foxes to horses has still only been reported inQueensland and NSW.
“However, because Hendra virus Genotype 2 is so genetically similar to the original Hendra virus, there is a potential risk to horses whereverflying foxes are found around Australia,” she said in a statement.
“It is important to note that Hendra has never been reported to spread directly from flying foxes to humans – it’s always been transmitted from infected horses to humans…we expect this new genetic type would behave the same way.”
Halpin said the discovery of the new variant demonstrates the importance of research into flying foxes in order to protect humans and animals from the viruses they carry.
President of Equine Veterinarians Australia, Steve Dennis, said the findings demonstrate that there is a risk of Hendra wherever there are flying foxes and horses.
“Owners and any people who interact with horses can reduce the risk of infection from Hendra virus and other zoonotic viruses through vaccination of horses or humans where available, wearing appropriate PPE, and seeking veterinary attention for sick horses,” he said.
There have been 24 horse deaths in NSW as a result of Hendra virus on23 properties since the first case 15 years ago.
■ SAMWORRAD
Export’s dire cattle conditions uncovered
From page 3 freedom of information requests to get more detail, and what was revealed then was very worrying,” she said.
“Also, from 49 live cattle voyages from Australia to China during the period of the study, only 37 had independent observers on board at all.
“Australians deserve to know exactly what is happening on board live export ships, especially when there are ongoing and preventable animal welfare risks.”
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment told The Veterinarian it takes animal welfare seriously,and that it is conducting its own review (theBos taurus) into heat and cold stress during long haul cattle exports by sea.
ASEL was recently subject to review by an independent technical advisory committee, and submissions were considered from a variety of stakeholders including animal welfare groups, a Department spokesperson said.
Under the revised ASEL, veterinarians are not required on all voyages, and ASEL specifies when an accredited veterinarian is required to accompany a voyage of livestock.
With regard to the summarised independent observer reports, the Department said the primary use of the reports is as an information source for the regulator.
“Given the community interest in reports, summaries are prepared by the department for publication,”the spokesperson said.
“The summary reports provide the public with an accurate account ofwhat has been observed and reported to the Department, from the loading of each vessel through to discharge at the destination port.
“Where issues or instances of non-compliance are identified in the observers’ reports, procedural fairness processes are undertaken by the department with right of reply provided to relevant parties prior to publication.”
The Department spokesperson said independent observers were not deployed on voyages during the period of the study where the vessel could not accommodate an observer and noted that in October 2019 the policy was revised to “better target the deployment of observers.”
The spokesperson added that it has reviewed the findings of the paper, “which were drawn from the department’s published summary observer and summary notifiable mortality investigation reports for 37 voyages.”
“Some of the Department’s findings are consistent with those reported by VALE … for example, the Department identified instances of insufficient contingency feed provisions for unplanned extensions to voyage times and the occurrence of heat stress,” the spokesperson said.
“The VALE paper focuses primarily on shipboard hazards noted in the observers’ reports, rather than the actual impact of those hazards on animal welfare during the voyage and therefore overstates the severity and frequency of some issues, such as space allocation, unloading and feed.” human toxicity if meloxicam is accidentally or deliberately misused, and it is believed that the risk of rescheduling the veterinary injectable product to S6 is that it will become areadily available and inexpensive substitute for human prescriptiononly products.
AVA works to better mental health in vets
From page 3 from all corners of the veterinary community will help us to produce a strategy with the power to create the positive, meaningful and sustainable change we so desperately need,” Vale said.
Currently, the AVA provides member access to a range of initiatives to support veterinary mental health and wellbeing. This includes access to the AVA’s confidential counselling service, an HR advisory service, the AVA’s Mental Health First Aid Training program and Graduate Mentoring Program, as well as seminars around resilience, wellness, and mental health.
“This complex problem requires acollaborative approach by not only the profession, but greater society, as vets are essential to the health and wellbeing of the whole community.In order for vets to look after the animals of our communities, we need to assist them to look after themselves,” Vale said.
Abstracts - pigs and sows
From page 14 Results showed that the discomfort period lasted 11 s longer in sows than in pigs, and that certain behaviors occurred distinctly later in sows as compared to pigs. Furthermore, higher humidity and temperature in the pit could prolong the duration of the discomfort period. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying physiological processes for both the differences seen between sows and fattening pigs as well as the influence of ambient parameters. Isabel Lechner1 , Anaïs Léger2 , Aurelia Zimmermann3 , Sophie Atkinson4,Manon Schuppers2 Meat Sci. 2021 Sep;179:108535.doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108535. 1SAFOSO AG, Waldeggstrasse1 , 3097 Liebefeld, Switzerland. Electronic address: isabel.lechner@safoso.ch. 2SAFOSO AG, Waldeggstrasse1 , 3097 Liebefeld, Switzerland. 3Micarna SA, Dept. Sustainability and Animal Welfare, 1784 Courtepin, Switzerland. 4Smart Animal Handling, Hagaberg 110, 74020, Vänge, Uppsala, Sweden.
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