SciQuest and the complete archive of the NZVJ launched online

The complete archive of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal went online on 1 January 2003 on SciQuest (www.sciquest.org.nz), an innovative new e-publishing website developed by the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA). This follows hot on the heels of the CD-Rom version released from the same platform in June last year. Subscribers in 2003 will be able to search and retrieve, online, the full text of any article published in the journal since its inception in 1952. To date, few veterinary science journals are able to offer such a complete and comprehensive resource. SciQuest's mission is to provide high-speed access to science and continuing education articles to scientists and veterinarians in a fully indexed and searchable format, both online (via the internet) and offline (via CD-Rom). Searching and browsing the archive online is free and abstracts are available for all articles published from 1972 onwards. Access to full text, which is presented in PDF format exactly as published, is restricted to journal subscribers. The site will be updated with each issue of the journal as it is published. The online format will largely suit institutional users and casual enquiries, whereas the offline version is designed to be loaded onto computer hard drives for immediate access, any-time, and is better suited to frequent users and veterinary practitioners. A major advantage of the offline resource is its speed and immediacy, returning search results and full text much faster than the online version, without the need for internet access. The search engine has been designed to suit specific problem-oriented enquiries, and great effort has been expended to ensure the archive is both complete and accurate. The same search engine and interface has been provided on both versions, which allows for fast and highly specific searching of titles and full text of all articles for the occurrence of any word or combinations of words, as well as indexes of author, volume, year, article type, animal type and subject. Search results can be instantly sorted by author and date of publication, and powerful secondary search features such as 'by the same author', 'in the same issue' and 'same subject' links add power and flexibility. The offline version will be updated with annual releases and is available for purchase to subscribers and members of the NZVA.     

Re: Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome in New Zealand

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We wish to record the source of Figures 1a and 2 from the report “Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome in New Zealand” published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal 56, 94–99, 2008. These images were kindly provided by AF Julian from Gribbles Veterinary, Hamilton, New Zealand, and illustrate the gross cutaneous and renal lesions that were typical of those seen in pigs in the reported disease outbreak. The images were obtained from a pig with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome submitted by one of the authors (DEBL) from a similar outbreak of the disease that was examined by Gribbles Veterinary, Hamilton. The failure to properly acknowledge this contribution is regretted.     

Vitamin E deficiency and perinatal mortality in pigs

In a recent letter ⁽¹⁾ to the New Zealand Veterinary Journal on perinatal mortality in piglets, the reported sow Vitamin E supplementation of 50 IU/sow/day was slightly lower than that typically used on most commercial farms in New Zealand. Normal sow dietary supplementation is in the range of 30-60 IU per kg dry matter (DM).     

A case of human Leptospira canicola infection in New Zealand

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In the short presentation An unusual human case of leptospirosis published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal (Volume 41, p. 45, 1993), the author concludes that the isolate identified as Leptospira canicola was not the isolate recovered from the patient. The author is also convinced that L. canicola does not occur in New Zealand.     

Campylobacter fetus fetus abortions in vaccinated ewes — vaccine history and ongoing development

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the communication reporting Campylobacter abortions in vaccinated ewes by Fenwick et al. (New Zealand Veterinary Journal 48, 155-7, 2000).     

Guest Editorial—Advances in companion animal gastroenterology

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This issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal is dedicated to a Feature Review Series comprising five invited review articles on the theme, “Advances in companion animal gastroenterology.”     

Feature Review Series

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This issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal contains our second Feature Review Series, this time comprising six state-of- the-art reviews on the Health and Welfare of Farmed Deer. Topics have been chosen to elaborate areas of veterinary science of both national and international importance, and have been contributed by acknowledged experts in these fields. This review series has been sponsored by the Deer Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, whose support is gratefully acknowledged. Our intention is to include a Feature Review Series in the December issue of the Journal each year. Ed.     

Editor for 17 years

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When the New Zealand Veterinary Association decided to publish a New Zealand Veterinary Journal in 1952, it made a wise choice in appointing J. C. Newhook as its first honorary editor. A successful editor requires to be a man with a very wide knowledge in the whole field of veterinary science outside his own specialty, with a well-developed critical faculty and with the ability to write good lucid prose and to give painstaking attention to detail. In 1952, the Association chose such a man.     

Export of live animals for slaughter

Sir:- The Animal Welfare Subcommittee of the New Zealand Veterinary Association is currently examining the animal welfare implications of the export of live animals for slaughter. While this is in particular reference to the shippiing of sheep from New Zealand to the Middle East, we are also interested in the broader philosophical aspect of such trade.     

Vitiligo in a cow associated with hepatosis

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I am concerned with the claims about the interpretation of the clinical pathological results in a recent letter published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal (Yeruham et al., 1998).     

The bambi syndrome

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Madam:— Over recent years I have read, and penefited from, many articles in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal on the subject of red deer. It distresses me that many of the authors (with notable exceptions) refer wrongly to the off-spring of these animals as “fawns”.     

Re: Genetic modification technologies

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We read with interest the recent article on the use of genetic modification technologies published in the April 2003 issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal (Crawford 2003 Crawford, AM. 2003. The use of genetic modification technologies in the discovery of genes affecting production traits and disease resistance in animals. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 51: 52–527. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). In the section on commercialisation of DNA tests, Dr Crawford appears to have overlooked the footrot gene-marker test that has been commercially available through Lincoln University for the last 2 years. This test, developed with the assistance of MeatNZ and the New Zealand Wool Board, is based on assessing variation in the ovine MHC-DQA gene and the relationship of that variation to the ability of sheep to tolerate footrot.     

Feline dysautonomia — The Key-Gaskell syndrome

Sir:- In 1981, Key and Gaskell in the United Kingdom recognised a new disease in cats which subsequently became known as the Key-Gaskell Syndrome.⁽¹⁾ The incidence of this condition increased in the United Kingdom during 1982, and other workers described the clinical signs in more detail and were able to relate certain features of the disease to changes in the autonomic ganglia⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ Recently, the NZVA Small Animal Society was asked by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association for any evidence as to its presence in New Zealand. The purpose of this letter is to provide information on feline dysautonomia (Key-Gaskell Syndrome), which it is felt may assist veterinary practitioners to recognise the condition and determine if it occurs in this country.     

Re: Use of polymerase chain reaction for the differentiation of Group A bovine rotavirus G6, G8, and G10 genotypes in the North Island of New Zealand

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In the paper by L Howe, H Sugiarto and RA Squires published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal 56, 218–221, 2008, entitled, “Use of polymerase chain reaction for the differentiation of Group A bovine rotavirus G6, G8, and G10 genotypes in the North Island of New Zealand”, the authors concluded that “Currently, the rotavirus vaccine available in New Zealand contains only the G6 strain, and may not provide optimal protection for animals infected with G10 rotavirus. … This information may be of assistance in the development and optimisation of vaccines, and enhancement of effective control strategies.”     

Re: Regional variations in the nematode worm populations of breeding ewes in New Zealand

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The paper by Hervé et al (2003) Hervé, M, McAnulty, RW, Logan, CM and Sykes, AR. 2003. Regional variations in the nematode worm populations of breeding ewes in New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 51: 159–164. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] which appeared in the August 2003 issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal reported on regional differences in the relative proportions of nematode parasite species cultured from faecal samples collected from ewes during lactation.     

Re: Analysis of the risk of introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus through importation of raw pigmeat into New Zealand

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In the paper by EJ Neumann, RS Morris and M Sujau published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal 55, 326–336, 2007, entitled, “Analysis of the risk of introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus through importation of raw pigmeat into New Zealand”, the authors sought to analyse the risk of the introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus through importation of raw pigmeat. As cautioned by the International Committee of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), any epidemiological model ultimately depends for its validity on the accuracy and completeness of the data underpinning it.     

Rupture of the Flexor Metatarsi Muscle in the Horse

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Sir,—The New Zealand Veterinary Journal has built up an excellent reputation during its relatively short life and this reputation should be jealously guarded. I therefore heartily endorse Mr Thornbury's criticisms of a recent article in his letter headed “Enucleation of Corpora Lutea” published in your September issue. Contributions of the calibre of that which drew his criticism reflect little credit on the authors and will hardly enhance the reputation of our Journal.     

Erratum

In the paper “Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in slaughtered sheep and cattle in New Zealand, 1984–85” by W.A.G. Charleston, R.C. Kissling, L.A. Petrey, B.L. Marshall and W.A. Royal in Volume 38 Pages 69–71 of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal, the titles of two of the columns in Table I were inadvertently transposed during the typesetting process. Table I is printed correctly below.     

That is the question

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With the subject of veterinary education for New Zealanders so much to the fore at the present time, we publish in this issue three texts pertinent to it—the findings of the Committee on New Zealand Universities as they concern the establishment of a veterinary school, the Report on the Site for a Veterinary School by the Subcommittee of the University Grants Committee, and Professor McFarlane's presidential address to the New Zealand Veterinary Association this year, the theme of which was veterinary education.     

Re: Journal standards — Editor’s Reply

Dr Jackson’s concerns about citing non-peer-reviewed studies in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal (NZVJ) are shared by the editors and Editorial Board and have provoked considerable discussion about our policy and practice in this regard. Independent peer review remains a central part of the quality control process applied to the publication of scientific literature and is embraced by the NZVJ.