12 minute read
News
from VetScript May 2020
by VetScript
DAYS OF NOTE
3 MAY WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
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20 MAY WORLD BEE DAY
22 MAY INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
AN UPDATE ON REGIONAL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Regional network and NZVA committee meetings are being held online using Zoom in the near future. The timing and frequency of these meetings may change.
Upcoming meetings include: » Animal Health and Welfare
Committee meeting 27 May » Sheep and Beef Cattle
Veterinarians Branch annual general meeting 5 May. n
VetScript
Deadlines for July 2020 issue
EDITORIAL COPY 20 May
DISPLAY AND CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING 1 June
LATE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
20 June
Contact the editor at:
vetscript@vets.org.nz
Letter
CAT MANAGEMENT OVERDUE
I congratulate Helen Beattie on the article ‘Let’s talk about cats’ published in the March 2020 VetScript. The development of a National Cat Management Strategy is long overdue. For too long cats have been an inconvenient species for society to consider as needing management and a plan. The negative impacts feral cats and some domestic cats play in the decimation of our native species are now well documented and can no longer be ignored. It is entirely appropriate for the veterinary profession to be leading the collaboration of the stakeholder groups including cat owners, conservationists and local and central government. Stuart Bruere, Wairarapa
SHAKEUP IN TOP VETERINARY SCHOOL RANKINGS
The list of the highest-ranking veterinary schools in the world, as rated by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), has had a major shakeup in 2020 with some newcomers in the mix.
THE ROYAL VETERINARY College at the University of London and the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) swapped positions, with the college now topping the rankings. The University of Cambridge dropped from fourth to seventh, and Utrecht and Cornell Universities stayed in the top five.
Absent from this year’s top 10 are The Ohio State University, The University of Sydney and the University of Liverpool. Taking their place are Michigan State University in the US, the Vetsuisse Faculty Bern and Zurich, Switzerland (comprising members from the University of Bern and the University of Zurich) and the University of Copenhagen. As a result the top 10 list is much more Europe-focused, and the only top-10 Australasian university in last year’s list has missed out. The Massey University School of Veterinary Science ranked 28th equal this year.
The QS University Rankings by Subject are based on four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper and the H-index. n
WELLBEING HUB NOW LIVE!
The NZVA has launched its Wellbeing Hub as a benefit for all members.
THE WEBSITE CURRENTLY provides resources on staying healthy, leadership tips in times of change, combatting compassion fatigue, building a quality team environment and using yoga in the workplace. New resources will continually be added to the collection.
The resource is available to everyone but is particularly useful for new and recent graduates and those returning to the profession after a break, who may be particularly vulnerable to poorer mental health.
Eight animal livestreams you can watch from home
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many zoos and aquariums to shut their doors, while people are instructed to stay inside for their and others’ safety.
Fortunately there are other ways to connect with animals and nature that don’t involve going outside. Here are eight websites that let you and your family watch animals from home.
Jellyfish
Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, US
https://youtu.be/2gHKDHmgVlU
Giant pandas
Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Washington, US
https://nationalzoo. si.edu/webcams
Puffins
Georgia Aquarium, Georgia, US
https://www. georgiaaquarium.org/ webcam/puffin-cam/
Goat kids
Beekman 1802 nursery, Sharon Springs, US
https://beekman1802. com/pages/the-goats
Snow leopard cubs
Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo, Australia
https://youtu.be/ DiQaOlsDZlY
Coral reef
The Nature Conservancy Australia, Australia
https://youtu.be/QECBK3DmePs
Royal albatross
Department of Conservation, New Zealand
https://youtu.be/6h20baX-ecY
Safari
Cincinnati Zoo, US The zoo hosts a live safari every day at 8am New Zealand time, including educational activities for kids!
http://cincinnatizoo.org/homesafari-resources/
STOPPING DIAGNOSES FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS
Veterinarians have joined forces with computer engineers to create an artificial intelligence algorithm capable of detecting canine hypoadrenocorticism (CHA).
CHA IS NOTORIOUSLY difficult to detect as its clinical signs are similar to those of other disorders, such as kidney disease. The developers’ goal was to create an alert system that, using information from routine blood screenings, tells veterinarians when CHA is suspected and triggers further investigation or testing.
After training the computer algorithm on more than 800 cases with confirmed diagnoses, the algorithm was tested on a further 200 cases. It correctly identified true positive diagnoses 96.3% of the time and true negatives 97.2% of the time – outperforming other screening methods including logistic regression analysis.
Those who developed the algorithm say they want to prevent dogs with CHA falling through the cracks, and that diagnosis would still be confirmed with an adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test. n
REFERENCE:
Reagan KL, Reagan BA, Gilor C. Machine learning algorithm as a diagnostic tool for hypoadrenocorticism in dogs. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 72, 106396. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2019.106396, 2020
Correction In the April issue we stated that Max Merrall obtained his PhD while working at the Franklin Veterinary Club. This is incorrect. He obtained it during his time at Massey University. We apologise for the error. n
To report suspected exotic land, freshwater and marine pests, or exotic diseases in plants or animals, call:
0800 80 99 66
PANGOLINS MAY NOT BE THE MISSING COVID-19 LINK
Contrary to some commentators’ suspicions, a group of scientists is arguing that a pangolin may not have been the intermediary between bats and humans that led to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PETER DASZAK, PRESIDENT of health non-profit organisation EcoHealth Alliance, told The New York Times that accumulating evidence on pangolins made it “doubtful that this species played a role in the outbreak” (Gorman, 2020).
Peter said that pangolins were suspected because they are illegally traded in Asia, but their dried scales (which are most often traded) provide an inhospitable environment for a virus. What’s more, although pangolins carry a host of viruses in the coronavirus category, including one similar to the current SARS CoV-2 virus, none is similar enough to the human version to conclude a direct spill-over.
A paper published in Nature Medicine theorised that a form of SARS CoV-2 jumped into humans from an animal (currently unknown) and evolved into COVID-19 through undetected human-to-human transmission (Andersen et al., 2020).
To find out how the virus spread into humans, researchers need to know which animals were present at the Wuhan market where the disease first spread. If the human transmission and evolution scenario holds, the origin of COVID-19 could well have been outside the market.
New genetic research is emerging daily that could help scientists understand how the virus made the leap to humans. n
REFERENCES:
Andersen KG, Rambaut A, Lipkin WI, Holmes EC, Garry RF. The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2. Nature Medicine. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0820-9, 2020
Gorman J. Significance of Pangolin Viruses in Human Pandemic Remains Murky. www. nytimes.com/2020/03/26/science/pangolin-coronavirus.html (accessed 27 March 2020), New York Times, US, 2020
Book
Bette Flagler
reviews You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing & Why it Matters by Kate Murphy, Penguin Random House New Zealand.
THIS BOOK, WHICH I encourage every clinic to buy and encourage all staff to read, begins with this simple question: “When was the last time you listened to someone? Really listened, without thinking about what you wanted to say next, glancing down at your phone or jumping in to offer your opinion?”.
When I read that question – and the remainder of the book – I thought about my recent conversations. Had I been actively listening? Had I been gathering not only words but subtle cues? Had I left silence and space to allow the speakers to communicate? Was I willing to have my beliefs challenged?
What is good listening? In a nutshell: “To listen well is to figure out what’s on someone’s mind and demonstrate that you care enough to want to know”.
I bet most of you consider yourselves good listeners. Fair enough. You gather information from clients in order to do your jobs. But I’m willing to bet that much of your listening style is what the author refers to as “interrogation” – helpful in gathering some facts and data but perhaps not the best method to use when your goal is to dig more deeply or to better understand motivations, behaviours and people’s stories.
There are a lot of golden nuggets in this book. Many are in one of my favourite chapters, ‘Listening to Opposing Views’. In our environment we can choose to listen only to those who agree with us. But that doesn’t help us grow or learn. For those in management roles, take a page out of Apple’s former chief design officer Jony Ive’s book, who has said, “A manager’s most important role is to ‘give the quiet ones a voice’.” The author goes on to say, “To listen does not mean, or even imply, that you agree with someone. It simply means you accept the legitimacy of the other person’s point of view and that you might have something to learn from it.”
Gone are the days when we sat on the front porch and listened to stories as moths gathered around the lights. I suspect we could all benefit from practising good listening skills. After all, as the author reminds us, “Evolution gave us eyelids so we can close our eyes but no corresponding structure to close off our ears. It suggests listening is essential to our survival”. n
Skin discolouration: Cyanosis, erythemia, ecchymotic or petechial haemorrhage
Piling or huddling Sudden, high mortality (farm or yards)
REPORT ANY SIGNS OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER TO MPI: 0800 80 99 66
Formore info: nzpork.co.nz/asf/ ORbiosecurity.govt.nz/african-swine-fever
Trained CT technologists Kylie Thomson (left) and Wendy Te Aho are on hand to help scan animals like dog Wicket.
CT AND MRI SCANNERS AVAILABLE FOR VETERINARY USE
PACIFIC RADIOLOGY GROUP has a high-specification computed tomography (CT) scanner and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner available for research and veterinary diagnostic use. Both scanners are located at Lincoln University, and can be accessed through referrals from local veterinarians.
CT scans are are a way to thoroughly investigate medical conditions that affect animals, including foreign bodies, nasal disease in dogs and cats, trauma or bone abnormalities.
The scanner can handle animals weighing up to 200 kilograms.
CT scans can also be produced in more detail with contrast injections, for conditions such as cancer and infectious processes. The contrast is easily administered through the cannula placed for sedation and highlights vessels and anatomy.
Owners wanting to be involved in their pets’ care are welcome to watch the scans and take photos if they wish.
The MRI scanner produces high-quality images showing details of joints and anatomy that are not possible with CT scans. Last year more than 90 animals were MRI scanned for veterinarians, mostly for conditions such as neural disease and internal joint derangement.
Technologists at Pacific Radiology are highly trained and have extensive experience in scanning both humans and animals. The radiologists usually report scans within a day, and if further reporting is required images can be made available to veterinarians and veterinary radiologists around the country.
Appointments for scans generally depend on demand. CT sessions are run mostly on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and MRI sessions on Tuesday evenings. For more information, contact Pacific Radiology on 0800 869 729 ext. 9302 or email hightech@ pacificradiology.com. n
THE NZVA IS excited to announce that the 36th World Veterinary Association Congress (WVAC), which was previously cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, has moved online and is being delivered in the form of a threeweek virtual festival.
The festival started on 26 April New Zealand time, or 25 April European time, to coincide with World Veterinary Day. But it’s not too late to join in! Registrations are still open.
Delegates are able to access more than 130 hours of content – including all 13 streams and many of the same speakers as were planned for the physical congress – but now from the safety and comfort of their home computers.
The festival is made possible thanks to the partnership between the NZVA and online conference company The Webinar Vet.
The WVAC festival is a mixture of live and recorded lectures. Live lectures are taking place at times that are accessible to most time zones worldwide. Still worried you might miss your favourite speaker? Fear not! All lectures will be available for six months on The Webinar Vet website after the start of the festival.
There’s even a virtual exhibition hall, where delegates can answer questions to win awesome prizes like Amazon or restaurant vouchers, or sponsors’ products.
Delegates who have already registered for the physical WVAC have been offered a package of CPD opportunities. Registration for new delegates is still available at an affordable price and athttps://wvac2020. thewebinarvet.com. People can continue to register for the entire six months that the festival is available online.
Congress Project Manager Leanne Fecser says, “Out of adversity comes innovation and we’re delighted about the opportunity to move the congress online”.
For more information, to view currently available content and to register visit https://wvac2020. thewebinarvet.com. n
The only ACVM authorised intra-ruminal calcium bolus for the prevention and treatment of subclinical hypocalcaemia and as an aid in the prevention and treatment of clinical hypocalcaemia (Milk Fever) in cows.
Backed by NZ peer-reviewed trial *
.
1 x Calpro Bolus (At Calving) 1 x Calpro Bolus (12-15 hours after 1st Bolus)
KEEP ON TOP OF THE DROP.
Treat Subclinical Hypocalcaemia • Fast Action • Sustained Release • Targeted Individual Treatment
Chart adapted from Kimura K, Reinhardt TA, Go JP. Parturition and hypocalcemia blunts calcium signals in immune cells of dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2006;89:2588–95
*KI Roberts, J Bennison & S McDougall (2018): Eect of treatment with oral Ca boluses following calving on concentrations of Ca in serum in pasture-based dairy cows, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2018.1520654
