AVA Annual Conference Perth: 25–30 June 2000

The venue for the AVA Conference in June 2000, is Rendezvous Observation City, located on the foreshores of Scarborough Beach in Perth. At this stage 15 Special Interest Groups have nominated to hold sessions during the week-long Conference. Tuesday and Wednesday are the most popular days, with 11 concurrent sessions running in the venue (plus two external field trips on Wednesday and one on Thursday).     

Taskforce investigates fatal bat virus

The equine morbillivirus, responsible for two Queensland incidents of disease and death in horses and humans, has recently been found to be a common paramyxovirus infecting flying foxes. A new lyssavirus, also isolated from flying foxes, last month recorded its first human fatality. An AVA fact sheet outlining the implications of lyssavirus and procedures for handling flying foxes was sent to all veterinarians last month. The fact sheet is accessible also via the AVA web site at http://www.ava.com.au . If you didn't receive the information sheet and would like a copy, please contact the AVA national office. A full report on lyssavirus will be in the Exotic Diseases Bulletin in next month's AVJ.     

Vibrio anguillarum: prevalence of typical and atypical strains in marine recipients with special reference to carbohydrate pollution

Primary isolates of Vibrio anguillarum-like organisms could be separated into typical V. anguillarum (VA) and atypical V. anguillarum (AVA) by biochemical tests. The prevalence of the fish pathogenic V. anguillarum was highly influenced by carbohydrate pollution as compared to the AVA. Water an sediment counts of VA generally increased at the polluted sites during April-May and persisted at a level of approx. 100/ml water and 1,000/g sediment until October-November. A further increase in VA counts could be registered locally at the time when the sugar beet processing season started (September-October). At the control site VA counts increased during June-July to a level of 10/ml persisting until August, while the only increase in sediment counts occurred in September (100/g). The maximum counts in water and sediment were at the control site 10/ml and 100/g and the polluted sites 100,000/ml and 50,000/g, respectively.     

鸡病毒性关节炎弱毒苗的研制 Ⅱ.弱毒株的免疫原性

应用具有良好安全性的鸡病毒性关节炎病毒（AVAV）弱毒JN-1株免疫1日龄肉鸡40只,分别用琼脂扩散试验、间接ELISA和中和试验（NT）检测免疫鸡血清中的AVAV抗体。中和抗体于免疫后7d开始出现,14d后全部阳转;ELISA抗体也于免疫后7d开始显示阳性,21d后全部阳转;琼脂扩散抗体于免疫后14d开始阳转,28d以后全部显示阳性。分别在免疫后7、14、21和 28d于足掌皮下用强毒攻击免疫鸡,临床保护率分别为2/10、9/10、10/ 10、10/10,病理保护率分别为0/10、7/10、9/10、10/10。体外抗病毒谱试验显示,弱毒株的免疫血清能中和AVAV J-1株、S_(1133)株、FDO株和H_(9307)株。上述实验结果表明,AVAV弱毒株具有良好的免疫原性。     

Towards consensus: history of the Australian Veterinary Association to 2000

From its earliest beginnings in Australia in the latter part of the 19th century, the veterinary profession has striven to achieve a national voice. Well‐known veterinarians were involved in the eventual establishment of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) in 1921. Today, all states are represented and the AVA has close contact with state and federal governments, and producer organisations. With the growth in the number of special interest groups, the AVA more than ever provides unity in diversity in order to fulfil its mission to promote the profession for the benefit of animals, the environment and the community.     

Nominees for AVA ballot

A total of six AVA members have formally nominated for the two positions to be contested in the coming election to choose a President-Elect and a member of the AVA Board. There are three candidates for President-Elect and four for the Board position (one nominee has chosen to contest both ballots). The candidates for President-Elect are: Tom Lonsdale, Norm Blackman and Ian Denney (a member of the current Board). The nominees for the Board are: Norm Blackman, Joanne Sillence, Breck Muir and Robert Baker. Each of the nominees was requested to submit a 200 to 300* word'biography for publication in this edition of the AVJ (see below) as a means of indicating to members why they are seeking support for the positions they are contesting.     

AVA involved on multiple levels during sheep export predicament

A shipment of 57,000 Australian sheep, rejected by Saudi Arabian authorities for being infected with scabby mouth at unacceptably high levels, was the centre of a firestorm of controversy in September, and the AVA was involved on several fronts.     

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX UPDATE

The following article updates the implementation of GST. It is prepared for the benefit of members by Mr Douglas Wood, FCA, a partner of the Australian Veterinary Association's auditor, Foster Raffan. It has been decided that this update service be provided to assist all AVA members.     

Veterinary issues of global concern

The International Veterinary Officers Coalition (IVOC) meets annually and this year held its meeting in Sydney, Australia, in May, a few days after the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) conference in Canberra.     

Various types of glomus anastomoses in developing rat fetuses

Some observations on arteriovenous anastomosis (AVA) morphogenesis of rats were considered in this investigation. Interesting typical glomus anastomoses observed under light microscopy were determined by photography before evaluation. AVAs in the skin and mesentery were compared with those reported in morphological studies in the literature. Most of the glomus anastomoses were determined to be in conformity with those in the studies reported. Some resembled simple shunts and others complex glomus anastomoses. It is suggested that the existence of various types of anastomoses of rat fetuses during development is dependent on blood flow.     

1,000 miles away, vets face similar challenges

One of the perks of being a BVA Officer is being invited to attend the congresses of our sister associations, says vice-president, Peter Harlech Jones. This year, because the BVA President Carl Padgett had prior commitments, he attended the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) congress in Canberra in May.     

Tailored risk management guide for veterinary practices

AVA members enjoy a wide range of benefits in the financial area, including discounts and access to special deals, as well as a variety of credit, loan, financial planning and advice facilities. In this issue of AVJ we highlight the most recent benefits introduced by three very AVA-friendly organisations: Guild Insurance and Financial Services, Commonwealth Bank, and Diners Club.     

World association for the advancement of veterinary parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintics in ruminants (bovine and ovine)

During the 8th International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) held in Sydney, Australia, in 1977, President S. Gaafar appointed a committee to prepare international guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintic products. The goal was to develop uniform testing standards and registration requirements to expedite the testing and approval of effective products with a minimum of labor, money, and experimental animals without sacrificing scientific validity. Achievement of such a goal would mean that data from investigators in one country could be used in registering drugs in another country.

These guidelines, which were approved by the membership at the general meeting of the 9th International Conference of the W.A.A.V.P. on July 16, 1981 in Budapest, Hungary, are only a beginning in the development of uniform international methods for testing the efficacy of anthelmintics. We now propose that they be used by the scientific community recognizing that, at this time, these guidelines have not been officially reviewed or accepted by any government regulatory authority. Investigators are encouraged to evaluate this document critically and to recommend modifications promptly to the Committee so that they may be incorporated in these guidelines before the 10th International Conference to be held in Perth, Australia in 1983.     

AVA letter sent to the Weekend Australian

The President of the AVA, Dr Garth McGilvray, last month sent the following letter to the Editor of the Weekend Australian newspaper. This was in response to inaccurate claims it had published earlier concerning the use of antibiotics in food production animals - and the risk of this leading to antibiotic resistance in humans. The letter was published unedited, except for the deletion of the last paragraph - apparently for space reasons.     

In this issue – October 2011

AVA Policies · Unilateral uterine torsion in a bitch · Q fever in dogs in Townsville · Purchase price and racing performance of Thoroughbred yearlings · Review of genetic neurological defects in cattle · Bovine salmonellosis and antibiotic sensitivity · Chlamydial load and infectious disease in koalas · History of endemic disease regulation in Australia     

Veterinary practitioners in rural Australia: a national survey

OBJECTIVES: To assess the attitudes of Australian veterinarians to issues related to rural veterinary practice. METHODS: A questionnaire was completed by 1367 AVA members, and the data were analysed using the SAS System for Windows 7.0. RESULTS: The country lifestyle and the type of work were seen as major advantages for rural practitioners, and long working hours and after hours demands coupled with sexist attitudes in the case of women, were seen as the main disadvantages. Remuneration, the tiring and often dangerous nature of the work, and social and professional isolation were also seen as major disadvantages. Personal qualities, including the ability to relate to rural people and to fit into rural communities were seen as the most important qualities for a veterinarian in rural practice. The future of rural practitioners was seen to be closely linked to their ability to contribute to the financial viability of the whole animal enterprise and to the fortunes of the rural industries. Companion animals were also seen as a key part of the future work of rural practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: Rural practitioners are characterised by a strong commitment to rural life and work, and they will increasingly be required to contribute to the financial viability of the whole animal enterprise. The full range of professional skills required are likely to be beyond the scope of the undergraduate veterinary course, but the internet and other modern forms of distance education should help practitioners to acquire relevant skills.     

Response evaluation criteria for peripheral nodal lymphoma in dogs (v1.0)–a veterinary cooperative oncology group (VCOG) consensus document

Standardized assessment of response to therapy for lymphoma in dogs is lacking, making critical comparisons of treatment protocols difficult. This Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) consensus document, based on the recommendations of a subcommittee of ACVIM board-certified veterinary oncologists, was unanimously adopted at the 29th Annual Conference of the Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) by the VCOG membership. It has integrated guidance from the response assessment criteria established for lymphoma in human patients using standards available in routine veterinary oncology practices that are simple, repeatable and consistently applicable. These guidelines are intended only for use in dogs, where peripheral lymphadenopathy represents the principal component of their disease and as such do not critically assess extranodal disease (e.g., primary cutaneous, central nervous system, gastrointestinal). It is hoped these guidelines will be widely adopted and serve to facilitate the comparison of current and future treatment protocols used in the therapy of dogs.     

低碳农业研究进展

低碳农业是低碳经济在农业发展中的实现形式,发展低碳农业除了秉承低碳经济的内涵之外,关键在于提高农业生态系统对气候变化的适应性并降低农业发展对生态系统碳循环的影响,维持生物圈的碳平衡。本研究在阅读大量文献的基础上,对低碳农业的概念、低碳农业的特点、低碳农业的发展现状、草地生态系统中的碳循环及低碳农业发展存在的问题及对策进行了综述,以期为我国低碳农业及草业的发展提供参考。     

KNOWN CASE CONFERENCE

The following radiographs were discussed at the Known Case Conference at the 1990 Annual Meeting of the American College of Veterinary Radiology. These radiographs were selected by Dr. C.S. Farrow, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, canada S7N 0W0. Dr. Farrow was moderator of the Known Case Conference. The radiographic/ pathologic correlation of these cases follows the radiographs and signalment/history.