Herpesviruses: balance in power and powers imbalanced

The first veterinary herpesvirus symposium, organized under the patronage of the European Society for Veterinary Virology (ESVV) and the Swiss Societies for Microbiology (SGM-SSM), was held at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, on 22nd and 23rd of March 2001. The congress was divided into six sessions. The first session was dedicated to introductory lectures towards the main topics of the symposium, namely pathogenesis, immune response, and gene therapy. Session 2 was committed to new insights into herpesvirus-related gene therapy and vaccination. Specific and general aspects of the immune response against herpesviruses were presented in session 3, while session 4 was dedicated to virus replication. Session 5 was dedicated to a variety of poster presentations. Finally, session 6 revealed new insight into the pathogenesis of different herpesviruses. The present article summarizes the contributions and draws a new view of the herpesviruses. The herpesviruses have apparently found a multi-dimensionally balanced position between the powers of "cytopathogenicity" and "tumorigenicity" on one hand and "immunogenicity" and "tolerogenicity" on the other hand. As long as the different powers stay in balance, no or little clinical disease may be expected in association with herpesvirus infections. However, unbalanced actions of those powers may lead to disease.     

Tubular ectasia of the rete testis in an Angus bull

An 18-month-old Angus bull presented to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for a routine breeding soundness evaluation and lameness evaluation. He was classified as deferred potential breeder due to a lameness and was donated to the university. Following treatment, the bull's lameness resolved. He passed the breeding soundness examination in accordance with the Society for Theriogenology standards. However, avascular dilated areas at the level of the mediastinum testis of the right testicle were detected via Doppler ultrasonography. A high level of vascularity is routinely seen with neoplasia, such as teratomas. Due to the lack of vascularity, a presumptive diagnosis of tubular ectasia of the rete testis was made. The bull was castrated. The right testicle was submitted for histopathology revealing a definitive diagnosis of tubular ectasia of the rete testis.     

Training of the immune system of foals against ERP virus infections by frequent vaccination with presently available commercial vaccines

During 3 foaling seasons around 150 Lipizzaner foals were vaccinated against ERP with commercial vaccines and groups thereof were serotested in CF and SN for their humoral immune response. In addition, 6 horses of cheaper common breeds were vaccinated on the University premises, were continuously serologically screened and subjected to virulent nasal test infection. The live-virus vaccine Prevaccinol interfered so profoundly and up to the 20th week of life with maternal antibodies that its further use was discontinued. The inactivated vaccine Pneumabort-K proved to be of impressive immunogenicity, but without any doubt must be used 4 times instead of 3 times only during the first year of life as recommended by its manufacturer. Proofs that the vaccination intervals as recommended on the packing slips are too far-spaced and that 3 basic doses of vaccine induce unsatisfactory protection became apparent under two aspects. Firstly, yearling mares experienced an enzootic field infection by subtype 1 of EHV 1 while on summer pasture. Secondly, experimental nasal infection of horses of the University herd gave takes certified clinically, virologically, and serologically. Data as well as arguments are brought forward which shed doubt on the merits of CF-titers as indicators of immunity as recommended by other authors; SN-titers were shown to be more dependable parameters. With regard to the frequently needed revaccinations there is an absolute "must" for the producer of Pneumabort-K to purify this product before marketing it.     

Analysis on Outputs of Dendritic Cells Research Papers Based on Web of ScienceTM

This paper analysed the outputs of dendritic cells research articles based on Web of Science^TM from 2006 to 2015 in order to know more about the overview of the global "dendritic cells"research.According to Web of Science^TM core collection,the direction of research,countries/regions,scientific research institutions,key journals and the published articles of authors and top 10 cited articles were analysed using the title of dendritic cells.The United States was the leading country in the field of dendritic cells.In the quantity of paper,USA toped the list,followed by Germany and China.The core journal about dendritic cells research was "Journal of Immunology".Number of papers published in the first three were Inserm,University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University.Number of papers published in the former two were Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University in the domestic.The most citation paper was from University of Oxford.The direction of research about dendritic cells were mainly concentrated in immunology,cell biology and oncology.So the main target of the study of dendritic cells in China was the United States,the key research directions were immunology,cell biology and oncology.     

Carl Gillmeister: the first Doctor of veterinary medicine in Mecklenburg--and in Germany (1834)

German schools and faculties of veterinary medicine did not receive the sovereign right to award the degree "Doctor medicinae veterinarae" until the early twentieth century. Until then, in the nineteenth century there were two possibilities for veterinarians to earn a doctoral degree, usually referred to as the title of "Doctor": 1. On the basis of an exceptionally excellent dissertation and after very stringent examination a candidate could be awarded the degree "Dr. med." by the faculty of a medical school, or, if the candidate had studied at a philosophical faculty, the degree "Dr. phil." 2. A doctoral degree specifically in veterinary medicine could be earned only at a medical faculty. The Medical Faculty of the University of Giessen awarded the degree "Doctor in arte veterinaria" for the first time in 1832. In this study we prove that Giessen was not the first German university to award a doctorate in veterinary medicine, a priority which has never been questioned in the literature. As early as 1829, veterinarians could earn the degree "Doctor artis veterinariae" at the Medical Faculty of the University of Rostock, where three such awards are documented between 1829 and 1831. The designation "medicina" was also intially avoided in Rostock. Therefore, of particular significance is the discovery of a fourth such document from the Rostock University Archives, the doctoral diploma of Carl Jacob Friedrich Gillmeister, who at the age of 22 was awarded the degree "Doctor medicinae veterinariae" in Rostock after a successful defense. This is the earliest, but also the last archival record of the German doctoral degree in veterinary medicine in the modern sense, because after Gillmeister no veterinarian could earn a doctoral degree in Rostock further more. Gillmeisters vita sheds light on the times and the difficulties of the veterinary profession in the poor agricultural area of Mecklenburg.     

The Equine Science Society: From the 1st to the 25th Symposium

In 1968, the group currently known as the Equine Science Society hosted its first symposium. At the meeting, there were 27 participants representing about a dozen institutions and 23 research presentations were given. In 2017, the Society is hosting its 25^th Symposium and will have over 200 presentations from individuals representing about 120 institutions. Throughout the history of the Society, the objectives have been to promote quality equine research, establish communication amongst those involved with equine research, teaching, extension, and production, conduct periodic symposia, and cooperate with other organizations having similar interests.     

基于“以学生为本”理念的动物科学专业卓越农林人才培养课程改革与实践

课程是人才培养的基本单元和主要载体,其体系建设与改革是高等教育提高人才培养质量的重要保障。卓越农林人才培养计划的实施,落实突出“以学生为本”的教育理念,应以课程为突破口,对课程体系、教学内容、教学方法等进行系统改革。在分析“以学生为本”教育理念内涵要求和卓越农林人才培养目标的基础上,以广东海洋大学动物科学专业为例,介绍学分制改革背景下课程改革的整体思路、建设重点、配套措施及实践成效。     

Ruminant Nutrition Symposium: Acidosis: new insights into the persistent problem

The Ruminant Nutrition Symposium titled "Acidosis: New insights into the persistent problem" was held at the Joint Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, American Society of Animal Science, Poultry Science Association, Asociación Mexicana de Producción Animal, Western Section-ASAS, and the Canadian Society of Animal Science in Denver, Colorado, July 11 to 15, 2010. The objective of the symposium was to provide the ruminant nutrition community with new insights and perspectives from recent research findings on acidosis. Under modern production systems, ruminants are fed high-grain diets to maximize their energy intake and productivity. However, feeding highly fermentable diets often causes excess fermentation and results in accumulation of fermentation acids in the rumen, leading to a decrease in feed intake, poor feed efficiency, liver abscesses, and lameness in feedlot cattle or lactating dairy cows. Although our understanding of nutritional factors (i.e., effects of type and processing method of grains and importance of physically effective fiber) affecting rumen pH have increased substantially over the past few decades, rumen acidosis has continued to be a common problem in the ruminant livestock industry. The symposium program was organized to review recent research findings in acidosis with more emphasis on physiological aspects, and provide novel insights into the persistent problem.     

Proposals of the working group "Antibiotic resistance" for the configuration of microtitre plates to be used in routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial pathogens from infections of large food-producing animals and mastitis cases

Two layouts for microtitre plates, which should serve for in-vitro susceptibility testing in routine diagnostics, have been set up by the working group "Antibiotic resistance" of the German Society for Veterinary Medicine. One of these layouts was designed for the testing of bacteria from cases of mastitis and the other for bacteria from infections in large food-producing animals. The choice of the antimicrobial agents and their concentrations to be included in these layouts were based on (1) the bacteria frequently associated with the respective diseases/animals, (2) the antimicrobial agents licensed for therapeutic use in these diseases/animals, (3) the currently available breakpoints, and (4) cross-resistances between the antimicrobial agerts so far known to occur in the respective bacteria.     

The combined master of public health program at Tufts University

The Combined Master of Public Health program at Tufts University unites medical and veterinary medical students in a four-year curriculum that integrates students' clinical studies with simultaneous studies on population health. Thirty years ago, Tufts University adopted a "One Medicine" approach to teaching health professionals. That perspective has been updated as "One Health" and is now being applied in a university environment that emphasizes interdisciplinary education, a global outlook, and civic engagement.     

"Veterinary genetics" and "Women in veterinary medicine", the main themes of the 31rst WAHVM-congress in Brno (Czech Republic)

The congress, held from 6-10 September 2000 on the campus of the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, attracted 102 participants from 23 countries, plus 20 accompanying persons. Next to a report on some special events as visits to the Veterinary Museum and the Mendelianum, after laying a wreath at Mendal's tomb, summaries or annotations are given of the lectures presented. There were five invited speakers in the session on "Veterinary genetics" and one invited speaker in the session devoted to "Women in veterinary medicine". Three guest speakers could be invited thanks to a grant by the "History of Medicine Programme" of The Wellcome Trust in London. The total number of lectures was 34. Besides some historical veterinary films were shown, and 34 posters were on display. The congress was very well organized by a team presided by em.-professor Rudolf B?hm.     

Aktuelle Nachrichten

3. Europäischer Kongreβ für Sterilität
Die Tierzucht in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Der Rinderbestand in der Bundesrepublik
1 jahriges "Jubiläum" der "British Simmental Cattle Society"
Kuhherden per Funk gesteuert
Bemerkenswerte Spermaexporte Kanadas     

Washington Update

Theresia LaVergne was the recipient of the 2006 Poultry Extension Special Recognition Award for her exceptional contributions to regional and national extension programs. A new responsibility for national program leaders is being named as co-liaison to one or more land-grant universities. Continuing responsibilities include: departmental review team leader; liaison to several multistate research committees; review of grant proposals, plans of work and accomplishment reports, and Hatch projects; and evaluate Current Research Information System reports. The National Extension Workshop has been possible only through the dedicated efforts of volunteers. The Future Trends in Animal Agriculture 2006 symposium was “Addressing International Trade Complexities of Animal Welfare.” The 2005 Triennial Poultry Extension Workshop was considered very successful, with the next workshop to be held in 2009. The National Poultry Waste Management Symposium coordinator for 2006 was Susan Watkins, University of Arkansas, with Casey Ritz (GA) the coordinator for 2008. The USDA grants, deadlines, and procedure can be found on the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Web site (http://www.csrees.usda.gov). The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Plant and Animal Systems Unit now has yearly internal reviews of their various portfolios. Program accountability requires documentation by everyone. Michigan State University and Purdue University are providing leadership in several animal welfare educational areas, including assessment and distance education programs. Coordination of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest will be at Michigan State University for the next few years. Tyson Foods has taken over sponsorship of the Poultry Science Association Support Personnel Award, beginning in 2006 with Karen Schwean-Lardner of the University of Saskatchewan as the 2006 recipient. Cooperation, networking, teamwork, and participation in multistate research committees are essential to the ability of extension personnel to continue to make meaningful contributions to the poultry system.     

Progress of the comparative MHC Committee and a summary of the Comparative MHC Workshops held at the 32nd ISAG, Edinburgh and the 9th IVIS, Tokyo, 2010

The comparative MHC Nomenclature Committee was formed following a recommendation by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) at its meeting in G?ttingen, Germany in 2002. The committee subsequently became affiliated to VIC, the Veterinary Immunology Committee of IUIS; the International Union of Immunological Societies, which is the umbrella organization for immunology societies worldwide. The committee currently fulfils three roles: (1) to establish guidelines for MHC nomenclature in species outside of human and mouse, (2) to facilitate the development of databases which provide a source of validated MHC sequences with official nomenclatures for associated species (immuno-polymorphism database IPD-MHC) and (3) to facilitate scientific discussion on comparative aspects of MHC biology. The committee currently comprises individuals representing a range of species nomenclature committees. This report summarises progress the committee has made in addressing its core objectives as well as the principal outputs from the Comparative MHC Workshops held at the 32nd International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) conference in Edinburgh, UK in July 2010 as well as in August 2010 at the 9th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS) in Tokyo, Japan. Additional data from posters and presentations at related workshops focussing on aspects of MHC biology are also included where appropriate.     

ASAS Centennial Paper: animal science teaching: a century of excellence

Teaching has a long and varied history in the life of departments of animal science and the American Society of Animal Science. Some of the earliest reports from meetings of the society have strong indication that planning the curriculum was a prominent feature of the meetings. Teaching symposia were also included almost from the beginning. The society went through a lengthy period from the 1940s through most of the 1960s when teaching was not a prominent focus, but a symposium in 1968 appeared to be a catalyst for change, and, since that date, teaching has again been an important part of the meetings. In recent years, outstanding symposia and contributed papers have made the teaching section a vibrant entry. Departments of animal science have changed considerably since the early days in which "men taught boys" and the primary goal was to produce farmers. More female students, more urban students, interest in a wide variety of animals, and greatly diversified career goals have been emerging during the last few decades. Departments of animal science and the American Society of Animal Science are positioning to be able to respond to change and face the challenge of providing excellence in teaching during the next century.     

Foundation and progress of Japanese society of toxicologic pathology*

The Japanese Society of Toxicologic Pathology (JSTP) has a differing conceptual framework from the Japanese Society of Pathology (JSP) and Japanese Society of Toxicology (JST) and was founded in 1985 by the leadership of late Dr. Yasukazu Nishiyama with the cooperation of several founding members and the support of JSP. The aim of the JSTP is to improve the human and animal health using an interdisciplinary scientific approach based on pathology and toxicology. In its development as a professional society, the JSTP has established society rules and activities. The JSTP has grown in terms of membership and financial aspects and is now recognized not only domestically but also internationally as a well-organized scientific society. To maintain the high professional standard and visibility of JSTP, we here provide the historical background of the society as a basis for current members to contribute to the continued improvement of our scientific organization.     

Undergraduate veterinary education at University College Dublin: a time of change

The final-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) class of 2005 were the first cohort of students to complete the new curriculum at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin (UCD). The new curriculum is a fundamental departure from the traditional curriculum that had served the veterinary profession in Ireland over many years. The change was not a precipitate action but the outcome of a prolonged and thorough examination of the realities of veterinary medicine, its science and its art, in the first decade of a new millennium. Over recent decades, rapid and fundamental changes have been witnessed in the economic, cultural, and ethical environment in which the veterinary profession operates, and these changes, coupled with the "information explosion," dictated an examination of the educational paradigm. The new curriculum exposes the first-year class to veterinary information technology and problem-based learning (PBL). In the second year, students are instructed in clinical examination, history taking, and client communication skills, in addition to further exposure to PBL. The third and fourth years are now systems-based, with coordinated input from microbiologists, parasitologists, pathologists, and clinicians in teaching each body system. The first lecture-free final year in the 104-year history of veterinary education in Ireland consists of clinical rotations and a four-week elective pursued within the faculty or at other recognized institutions. Students must also complete a minimum of 24 weeks' extramural studies (EMS). Critically, the development and assessment of all courses in the new undergraduate degree program has been driven by carefully thought out learning outcomes. The new curriculum will provide graduates with the essential knowledge and skills required for entry into the veterinary profession. Society expects these qualities from veterinarians in the interests of the communities they serve during their professional careers. In addition, the curriculum should foster the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, instill the desire and ability to work in teams, and develop life skills. It is hoped that the academic innovations will arouse the intellectual curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning that future graduates will require if they are to retain the confidence of the society in which they work in the future.     

The veterinary clinic of Emile Seeldrayers

La "clinique vétérinaire" was created by the Belgian painter Emile Seeldrayers in 1884. The work was purchased by the local administration of Anderlecht in 1893 and given to the Veterinary School of Cureghem in 1961, at the occasion of its 125th anniversary. The painting is nowadays at the campus of Sart Tilman, in the premises of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Liège. According to the tradition it seems to be a key painting: the figures representing professor Lambert Hendrickx and different important persons of Anderlecht. Authorized evidence as well as certain facts refute this hypothesis; even if the realism of the painting is evident, the scene might be imaginary. In 2000 the deputy of Fine Arts of Anderlecht acquired a study of Seeldrayers that proves that the painter was frequently on the premises of the veterinary school, the he was inspired by the places, but that he modified them in order to make his composition more attractive.     

Diagnosis and control of pseudolipidosis of angus calves

Abstract

Extract

Sir,—Pseudolipidosis, a nervous disease of Angus calves, characterized by head tremor, ataxia and inco-ordination was first described in Australia by Whittem and Walker (1957 Whittem, J. H. and Walker, D. 1957. “Neuronopathy” and “Pseudolipidosis” in Aberdeen Angus calves. J. Path. Bact., 74: 281–288.  [Google Scholar]), and was diagnosed shortly afterwards in New Zealand (W. J. Hartley, pers. comm.). In recent years, a growing awareness by breeders and veterinarians of its widespread occurrence has stimulated interest in its control and eradication. Procedures necessary for this must be based on a knowledge of the disease's aetiology and pathogenesis. Long assumed to be an inherited disease because of circumstantial evidence and its pathological similarity to certain of the inherited storage diseases of children, it was not until recently that there was any experimental evidence to support this hypothesis. As a result of this new evidence, the New Zealand Angus Society has recommended to their members procedures that should afford some measure of control until more effective methods can be evolved. Consequently, although our studies are incomplete, it is desirable that information on clinical signs, means of diagnosis, inheritance and the breed society's recommended means of control should also be available to the veterinary profession.     

Heritable characters of the red blood cells of sheep

Extract

From the start I want to make it clear that the research work described here is the work of one of us (J.V.E.), and the reason why I am presenting his work is that Evans comes from New Zealand and presented a paper on this subject to the annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science last September in Sheffield, so that it seemed appropriate that his work should also be presented to this Society.