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The article presents several research papers for veterinary medicines as of the week ending March 4, 2006 in Great Britain. The World Trade Organization has provided information on the mast cell tumor on dogs. Veterinarian David Halloy and colleagues studied the effects of treating respiratory diseases caused by bacterial infections in pigs with antibiotic ceftiofur. Animal doctor Marcela Uhart and colleagues describe the health status of several adult, free-ranging rheas.

The article offers updates related to veterinary reports. It cites the discussion of Neil Hudson and associates regarding the admission processes to the veterinary degree courses at each of the seven veterinary schools in Great Britain. Meanwhile, it discusses research of Takeshi Tsuka and colleagues in using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the residual cleft cysts of Japanese black cows. Nick Sutton and colleagues identify cases of exposures of cats to neem oil.

The article presents several veterinary medicine-related studies in Great Britain in 2008 including an investigation on the usefulness of measuring cortisol precursors in the diagnosis of pituitary-independent hypercortisolism (PDH) in dogs; an examination on the effects of antibiotic dry-cow therapy with or without an internal teat sealant; and a research whether different techniques of processing barley can improve its pre-caecal digestibility.

The article reports developments related to veterinary medicine in Great Britain. The author presents the comparison of medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in dogs. They have discussed the efficacy of hand scrub methods in reducing bacterial counts. It is also discussed the use of an ovine growth hormone assay in acromegalic cats.

The article presents developments related to veterinary medicine. It was reported that anthrax has been well recognized in livestock and humans in Zimbabwe and outbreaks have been reported in the surrounding countries. According to another report, distension of the gallbladder can arise as a result of an obstruction or because of anorexia. Another report cites that Mycoplasma bovis is not a common cause of mastitis in herds in Great Britain.

The article presents several researches related to veterinary medicine. A four-point photographic scale was used to assess footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens at two processing plants in Great Britain. An investigation on the purported bias system in France that may lead to inaccurate estimates of the prevalence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in sheep and goats in European countries has been done. A research on the lesion found in the oral mucosa of sheep is also conducted.

The article reports developments related to veterinary medicine in Great Britain. An examination on dermatological conditions in cats and dogs were the topic of the research conducted by Peter Hill and colleagues. Darren Shaw and Emma Keeble determined the prevalence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in healthy pet rabbits. An assessment on the effects of therapy program in dog behavioral problems was conducted by Emily Blackwell and colleagues.

In this paper, the management and health problems of donkeys on loan to independent carers from The Donkey Sanctuary are characterised, and the demographics of the UK's donkey population are described using data from a variety of sources. All carers that fostered a donkey from The Donkey Sanctuary between September 2004 and August 2005 (1432 donkeys) were surveyed using a postal questionnaire requesting information about the donkey, its premises, daily care, health and preventive medicine. The response rate was 77.8 per cent. The mean (sd) age of the donkeys was 20.8 (7.4) years. The majority (92 per cent) of the donkeys were kept as pets. Approximately one-third (33.6 per cent) of the donkeys were overweight. The most common medical problems were hoof, dermal and oral problems. A total of 86 per cent of the donkeys had a dental examination at least every 12 months, and at least 45 per cent had at least one dental problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-warning surveillance provides an essential component of the evidence required to protect animal health. Assessing the proportion of the population included in surveillance systems (coverage) provides a measure of the effectiveness of early-warning surveillance, and contributes to ensuring that these systems are efficient. This paper describes an investigation of methods used for assessing the coverage and representativeness of the 'FarmFile' early-warning surveillance system. This system uses information collected with samples submitted to diagnostic laboratories by private veterinary practitioners in England and Wales. Available data on pig holdings and veterinary practices in four English counties, selected to represent a range of diverse population characteristics, were supplemented using surveys of veterinary practices. Coverage assessments were based on submissions made to FarmFile in 2009. The proportion of holdings covered varied from 5-62 per cent in Devon and Cumbria, and 16-97 per cent in Norfolk and East Riding of Yorkshire. The results suggest that while the proportion of individual pigs covered by the current early-warning surveillance system is high, small and breeding-only holdings in some regions may be poorly covered. Coverage assessments vary depending on the methods used for their assessment, and multiple assessment methods can provide a 'range' within which coverage lies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig health schemes based on abattoir inspections provide an integrated system to optimise the postmortem detection and the reporting of pathological lesions. In Great Britain, two initiatives have been implemented by the pig industry: Wholesome Pigs Scotland (WPS) and the BPEX Pig Health Scheme (BPHS). These schemes record the presence of a range of pathological lesions detected by means of detailed inspection of the pluck and the skin of the slaughtered pigs. The lesions are those associated with a reduction in performance traits or are indicators of animal welfare problems. This paper aims to provide an overview of the objectives behind the BPHS and their activities, outlining similarities and differences between WPS and BPHS on five main operational topics: the lesions monitored, the administration of the schemes, flow of the information, inspection strategies and the major idiosyncratic characteristics of the schemes. These initiatives inform individual producers and their veterinarians of the occurrence of pathological conditions affecting their pig herds. Additionally, they offer the added value of providing nationwide disease monitoring information and have the potential to be a useful surveillance tool for emerging and enzootic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the call by the Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) for views of industry groups about the practice of mixing anthelmintic drenches for sheep before administration in Great Britain. According to reports, VMD seeks view for further consensus on the discussion about whether labels and package leaflets for anthelmintic drenches fro sheep should include a warning against mixing the drench with another product before it is being administered.

Animal health surveillance in Great Britain (GB) is conducted through public and private initiatives, yet there is no consolidated information on these activities and their outcomes. We developed an inventory of livestock health surveillance programmes in GB to identify gaps in resource use and potential synergies that could be exploited. The inventory contained details of 36 livestock surveillance activities active in 2011. Data were collected by questionnaire and interviews. Livestock health surveillance funding was found to be unevenly distributed between species: the vast majority (approximately 94 per cent) was spent on cattle diseases (tuberculosis surveillance accounted for most of this expenditure), with 2 per cent on pigs, 2 per cent on sheep/goats, 1 per cent on poultry, and 1 per cent on antimicrobial resistance surveillance across all species. Consequently, surveillance efforts in GB appears heavily skewed towards regions with high cattle densities, particularly highprevalence tuberculosis areas such as the southwest. The contribution of private schemes to surveillance funding was hard to quantify due to limited access to data, but was estimated to be about 10 per cent. There is scope to better understand the benefits of surveillance, enhance data sharing, clarify costs and identify who pays and who gains. Health surveillance should be considered within the sharing of responsibilities for disease control. Context Animal health surveillance in Great Britain is conducted through public and private initiatives, yet there is no consolidated information on these activities and their outcomes. We developed an inventory of livestock health surveillance programmes in Great Britain to identify gaps in resource use and potential synergies that could be exploited. Main conclusion Surveillance funding in Great Britain is heavily focused on cattle, with the vast majority of this being spent on bovine tuberculosis (TB). Economic information on private and public sector surveillance activities in Great Britain is currently very limited and data are often not available. As a consequence, economic assessments of disease mitigation - including cost-benefit analyses - are biased and incomplete. Approach An inventory of all known livestock surveillance activities in Great Britain that were active in 2011 was developed. Data on 51 characteristics (for example, surveillance purpose, target population, funding source) of each surveillance component were collected using detailed questionnaires accompanied by guidance notes which were sent to surveillance programme managers or filled in using publicly available information from the internet. The information collected was used to perform a visual mapping exercise to identify overlaps and potential synergies between schemes. The overlaps and synergies that were identified enabled suggestions to be made on possible redundancies and where some additional collaboration could add value. The current distribution of financial resources between programmes was considered as part of this objective. A total of 36 surveillance components covering 21 diseases in four livestock sectors (cattle, sheep and goats, pigs and poultry) were identified for the inventory and included in the subsequent economic analysis. Of these 36 surveillance components, 28 were programmes operated by the AHVLA/Defra and eight were industry-led schemes. Results Spending on disease surveillance was found to be very unevenly distributed across species (Table 1). The vast majority (94 per cent) of livestock surveillance expenditure in Great Britain in 2011 was spent on cattle (mainly bovine TB), 2 per cent was spent on pigs, 2 per cent on sheep and goats, and 1 per cent on poultry. The remaining 1 per cent was spent on surveillance for antimicrobial resistance across all species. Interpretation The results of this work suggest that surveillance funding in Great Britain is mainly focused on cattle, with the vast majority of this being spent on bovine TB. This surveillance is part of the UK national control programme required by legislation, of which infection control is an integral part and a large cost. As a result, surveillance in Great Britain is heavily skewed towards regions of the country with high cattle densities, namely the south-west. Other diseases, other species and other regions of the country would appear relatively underfunded in comparison. The estimate of private sector expenditure made a small contribution to total estimated surveillance spend (approximately 10 per cent across all species, although the exact figure is likely to be a little higher because not all private funding was disclosed). This finding may partly be due to gaps in the data we were able to obtain, particularly from the poultry sector and from the herd health schemes for all species. As a result, this source of surveillance information is not publicly available and the benefits of such schemes are limited to the industry. This represents a potentially significant lost opportunity because of the similar nature of several of these schemes conducting surveillance on the same diseases. Significance of findings There is plenty of scope to better understand the benefits of surveillance, enhance data sharing, clarify costs and identify who pays and who gains. Animal health surveillance should be considered within the sharing of responsibilities for infectious disease control. Decisions taken with regard to disease mitigation will continue to be constrained until economic information is systematically collected and analysed. In times of increasingly limited resources, this gap should be addressed urgently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify both the level and source of knowledge that dog owners in the UK have of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. In order to acquire such information a questionnaire was designed and distributed using two main methods over a period of five months. Questionnaires were distributed via three pet-related online forums and by hand at two locations within five predefined areas in England. In total, 459 responses were received. Of these, 21.4 per cent were unable to name a single type of banned dog and 81.9 per cent of respondents agreed that information on dog legislation was not publicised enough. The knowledge of banned breeds among the dog owners surveyed was low and respondents expressed a desire to see the law relating to dangerous dogs in the UK either changed or improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary schools in the UK are required by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to ensure that their students have attained essential 'Day one' skills (DOS) by graduation. To aid students' understanding of how they could satisfy this requirement, the Royal Veterinary College produced a DOS guide, which was distributed in the 2007 to 2008 academic year to students in the third and fourth years of the professional veterinary course. The same students were surveyed towards the end of the 2008 to 2009 session about the guide, when they were in the fourth and final years, to rate its usefulness and to indicate their perceived levels of competence, both currently and expected at graduation. Focus group discussions were subsequently conducted to explore the findings of the survey. Responses from 88 fourth-year (39 per cent) and 174 (87 per cent) final-year students revealed that while almost all respondents were aware of the DOS guide, their use of it was low. Final-year students rated themselves as being more competent than fourth-year students, but were less optimistic about their expected level of competence regarding several invasive procedures, which some students considered to be 'unattainable' by graduation, despite the apparent value of extramural studies and intramural rotations in providing opportunities for learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several systems are being used in England to record information about the health of pigs. The British Pig Health Scheme (BPHS), the National Animal Disease Information System (NADIS), the Zoonoses Action Plan (ZAP) for Salmonella and the Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis (VIDA) system have been assessed to make recommendations for their future separate or joint development. The structure, organisation, processes, data quality, dissemination, utilisation and acceptance of each system have been assessed. Information was extracted from documents and websites, and informal interviews were conducted with technical experts and stakeholders. The systems covered a broad range of objectives, used variable approaches and operated at very different scales and budgets. There was a high level of awareness and involvement by the industry. Common weaknesses of the systems were the lack of in-depth quantitative analysis of the data, the lack of assessment of each system's impact, and the unknown level of bias as a result of the voluntary or selective participation in them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details the British Veterinary Association Veterinary Policy Group's policy paper for dealing with bovine tuberculosis. Concern on the increasing number of affected herds; Need for imposing the proposals for banning the movement of cattle from high- to low-risk areas.

A questionnaire to examine the attitudes and perceptions of cattle practitioners to pain in cattle was sent to 2398 practitioners working in the UK, and 641 responses were received. From the range of procedures and conditions outlined in the questionnaire, claw amputation was scored as the most painful procedure undergone by adult cattle (assuming no analgesic drugs were administered), and neck calluses were scored as the least painful condition experienced by adult cattle. The pain associated with dystocia was considered the least painful experience for calves, and fracture of a distal limb and surgery for an umbilical hernia equally the most painful. There were significant differences between the pain scores assigned by men and women and by respondents who had graduated in different decades; female respondents and more recent graduates tended to give a higher pain score for most conditions. There were also significant differences between the pain scores assigned by respondents who routinely used analgesics and those who did not, the latter being more likely to assign significantly lower pain scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the incidence and types of mistakes made in veterinary practice, and to assess the impact the mistakes had on the veterinarians involved, a questionnaire was sent in November 2002 to all the veterinary graduates of the Universities of Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Liverpool in 2001. One hundred and eight (27 per cent) of 402 questionnaires were returned completed; 87 of 106 respondents (82 per cent) worked frequently or always unsupervised and only 46(43 per cent) could always rely on support from other veterinarians in the practice. Since starting work, 82 of 105 respondents (78 per cent) stated that they had made a mistake, defined as an erroneous act or omission resulting in a less than optimal or potentially adverse outcome for a patient, and in many cases these mistakes had had a considerable emotional impact on the veterinarians involved. The survey highlights that a large number of recently graduated veterinarians work with little supervision and that many veterinarians beginning their year in practice do not always have access to assistance from other veterinary colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the British Veterinary Association's identification of veterinary undergraduate education as an important area of policy development. Association's claim that the teaching of therapeutics is one of the areas of the veterinary curriculum that needs improvement; Areas that should be added to the existing curriculum according to practitioners.

The article cites a study which revealed that the prevalence of sheep infected with classical scrapie has declined by 40% in Great Britain between 2003 and 2007. The study, conducted by researchers at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH), showed that the prevalence of the disease in the country remained fairly constant until 2003. Simon Gubbins of IAH's Mathematical Biology Group claims that the decline was driven by various scrapie control schemes, including Ram Genotyping Scheme in 2001.

The article reports on British Veterinary Association (BVA) board chairman Brian Hoskin's introduction of a consultation paper which sought the views of divisions on various areas of BVA structure and management. Council members have indicated satisfaction with the way the BVA was performing under the changed structure.

Reports that the development of proactive policy on the control of bovine tuberculosis (BT) had been identified as a priority for the British Veterinary Association (BVA). Association's discussion of what issues should be highlighted in the policy; Other veterinary associations collaborating with the BVA with regards to controlling BT.

The article refers to the developments in the British Veterinary Association (BVA). The BVA responded to the Environment and Rural Development Committee's call for evidence on the Animal Health and Welfare Bill. Peter Holmes, professor of veterinary physiology at the University of Glasgow, has become a member of the new Scottish Funding Council for Further and Higher Education. A tribute was given to veterinarian Philip George Francis who died.

Reports on the British Veterinary Association's (BVA) discussion of draft principles of regulation for the veterinary profession. Key features of the document about the issue of regulation presented by the BVA; Need for the BVA to develop statements of its beliefs on professional regulation according to association members.

Reports on the growth in the pet insurance market, according to the Sainsbury's Bank in Great Britain. Market value; Proportion of pet owners with pet insurance; Percentage of pet policies that cover the treatment of long-term conditions.

Focuses on the plans for a unified veterinary practice standards by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in Great Britain. Revision on the guidance for Named Veterinary Surgeons; Standards scheme for veterinary practices; Preparation for the ground on implementing the Competition Commission's recommendation.

In this article the author discusses the issues concerning the annual report of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) in Great Britain. The author suggests that the campaign to reduce climate change impact of livestock production may affect the livestock industry. The author mentions that the report cites the organisations involved in safeguarding animal health and welfare. The report also highlights the importance of coordinated efforts and illustrates how policies are diverging.

In this article the author discusses the proposals of the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) in Great Britain concerning the consultation on responsibility and cost sharing on animal health. The author considers the proposals as a significant issue, but should not overshadow the proposals for an independent body to monitor animal health. The author states that the responsibilities of the new body as well as its relationships with other bodies should be clearly defined.

The article comments on issues concerning the Veterinary Surgeons Act in Great Britain. According to the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRACom), the Act must safeguard the health and welfare of animals and also protect them and their owners, from those who offer potentially dangerous treatments without sufficient knowledge or training. EFRACom adds that Act is in urgent need of updating to bring in line with modern concepts of professional regulation.

The article presents schedule of divisional events of several associations including the Association for Veterinary Teaching and Research Work, Southern Counties Veterinary Society, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Veterinary Society and the British Veterinary Poultry Association.

Reports that seventy new complaints had been considered by the British Preliminary Investigation Committee since the council's meeting in June 2005. Details of the first cases reported at the Councils meeting; Concern of the second case; Comment of the Committee regarding the veterinary medicines use in avian species.

Report developments in the veterinary industry in Great Britain. Presentation of data on reports of Salmonella in livestock species by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency; Introduction to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Trust grants for 2006; Conducted study about irritants produced by human lifestyles on asthmatic cats.

Reports on the British Veterinary Association's scrutiny of the British government's animal health and welfare strategy. Funding of the strategy; Comments from veterinarians about the strategy.

Focuses on the development of a new animal health and welfare strategy due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Great Britain. Importance of veterinary health planning; Reluctance of the government and other stakeholders to invest in animal health; Effects of introducing veterinary judgment into the contiguous cull in Cumbria.

Focuses on issues related to dentistry in companion animals in Great Britain. Discussion whether the extraction of animals' teeth using instruments should be considered minor surgery; Views of the Advisory Committee regarding the subject; Recommendations for veterinary nurses to undergo formal training before carrying out dental extractions using instruments.

Reports on considerations for suitably trained animal health officers or lay staff employed by veterinary practices to carry out tests for bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Great Britain. Assertion from Roger Eddy, chairman of the working party, regarding the proposal; Concerns over the safety of administering TB testing by a lay individual; Approval of the proposed draft by the Council of the College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Between April 1999 and March 2004, metabolic profile analyses were performed on individual blood samples from 35,506 dairy cattle in the UK. Assessment of the cows' energy status by the analysis of plasma samples for β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose and non-esterified fatty acids showed that 70.4 per cent of the cows in early lactation (10 to 20 days calved), 57.1 per cent of the cows in mid-lactation (51 to 120 days calved) and 57.7 per cent of the dry cows within 10 days of their predicted calving date had one or more energy metabolites outside the optimum range; in addition, 16 per cent of the cows in early lactation, 5.6 per cent of those in mid-lactation and 20.5 per cent of the dry cows within 10 days of their predicted calving date had a low plasma urea nitrogen concentration, indicating poor intakes of effective rumen-degradable protein. Abnormalities in the concentrations of magnesium, inorganic phosphate, copper, selenium and iodine were relatively uncommon. The transitional period, particularly in late pregnancy, was commonly identified as a constraint on productivity. Nutritional problems were most commonly associated with poor feed intakes and poor feed management, rather than with the formulation of the rations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A telephone survey 51 National Hunt racing yards with 1140 horses is training was made in April and May 2003 to establish incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis syndrome during the previous year. A case-control study was used to investigate the risk factors for the syndrome in eight yards selected on the basis that cases had been confirmed by the analysis of serum muscle enzymes. The overall incidence of syndrome was 6.1 cases per 100 horses per year, and 55 per cent of the yards reported at least one case. The risk factors identified were sex, the average length of the training gallop, and the type of horse (steeplechaser, bumper/unraced or hurdler). There were no significant associations with the horses' temperament, age or Timeform rating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarises official reports received by DEFRA's International Animal Health Division (IAHD) on outbreaks of Office International des Epizooties (OIE) List A diseases and other diseases of interest from January to March 2004. The IAHD monitors animal disease outbreaks in European Union (EU) member states, countries bordering the EU and the UK's trading partners. It also notes disease in countries near to trading partners and new epidemiological developments which may give an early warning of emerging threats to the UK. Where an outbreak in a trading partner could pose a threat, the IAHD carries out a qualitative risk analysis of the risks to UK livestock. These risk assessments are published on DEFRA'S website (www.defra.gov.uk). The EU and the UK take appropriate safeguard measures to mitigate the potential risks of disease being introduced through legal trade. DEFRA notes that it is also important to recognise the continuing threat to the UK through illegal imports from countries with endemic disease, and, for Newcastle disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza, from migrating birds. Official information in this article was received from the OIE and the European Commission, unless otherwise stated. Maps were prepared from official reports received during this period; they do not necessarily reflect the true situation in every country and should not be regarded as definitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of ionised calcium was measured in the plasma of 13 Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni boettgeri), nine spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca ibera), two marginated tortoises (Testudo marginata) and six Horsfield's tortoises (Testudo horsfieldi) maintained under natural unfiltered sunlight in the UK. The numbers were too small to analyse the differences between the species, sexes or the time of the year statistically, but the concentrations of ionised calcium were generally higher in all the tort oises in the samples taken in August than in the samples taken in March and June. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the findings of a research project that involved a survey of people's opinions on badger populations and the control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle in Great Britain. Eighty-three percent of respondents agreed that badgers are an important wildlife species in the country. It was found that the willingness to pay for reduced numbers of cattle slaughtered due to bTB and its impact on farming, wildlife, the welfare of cattle and risks to human health.

The article focuses on the views of veterinarian Debby Reynolds on veterinary surgeons priorities at the British Veterinary Association meeting in London on September 29, 2006. Reynolds states that veterinary surgeons should meet the changing needs of society and contribute to animal health and welfare. Veterinary surgeons should think about how animal health and welfare strategy can fit with the concept of one planet living in Great Britain.

The article highlights the meeting of the Council of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), held on December 14, 2005 in London. Matters discussed during the meeting includes: grasping the opportunity for a leading role for the veterinary profession in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' farm health planning initiative, the effects of changes in the legislation of veterinary medicine, reinforcement of the territorial divisions of BVA and concern about the government's downgrading of government agency veterinary posts.

Reports on the overall vision of the DEFRA for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain. Goal of improving the TB situation, and setting out a clear vision, commitment and goals; Framework document; Sub-strategy of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy; Commitment to establishing a stronger partnership with key stakeholders. INSET: Review of the Irish badger culling trial..

Reports on the debate between Andrew Cairns and James Allcock on the supply of veterinary medicines at the recent British Veterinary Association Congress in Great Britain. Role of Cairns as chairman of the Veterinary Pharmacists' Group of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society; Ownership of Allcock of a veterinary health care products business; Role of pharmacists in human health; Venture of some pharmacists into the animal health care business; Areas in which veterinary surgeons and pharmacists could cooperate to promote animal health care.