Common infectious diseases of psittacine birds seen in practice.

The "average" small animal practitioner who sees pet birds in practice comes across a variety of bacterial, fungal, protozoal, viral, and chlamydial diseases. Diagnosis and treatment of some are relatively uncomplicated, but many psittacine diseases remain enigmatic. Ante-mortem diagnosis of some diseases is extremely difficult. The clinician must often rely on combinations of clinical signs, clinical pathology, and experience to diagnose many bird diseases correctly. Many viral diseases are devastating to collections and have no cure, preventive program, or even well-documented modes of transmission. Some psittacine syndromes have yet to be definitively associated with a particular infectious agent. Get to know your local federal, state, and private diagnostic laboratories. Good relationships with other avian practitioners, both locally and through the Association of Avian Veterinarians can be extremely helpful. (See the article on sources of information.)     

关于兽药产品批准文号分级分类审批管理的思考

从管理法规、工作程序、审批情况等方面总结了兽药产品批准文号管理现状,从4个方面分析了工作中存在的突出问题并提出了解决对策,建议对兽药产品批准文号实行分级分类审批管理,将部分兽药产品批准文号审批权下放地方政府,提出了具体的实现路径,并测算了预期工作量,以期为推进兽药管理行政审批制度改革提供参考.     

Guide to Venomous Reptiles in Veterinary Practice

Venomous reptiles are common in zoo, research, and private collections. These animals will require veterinary care at some time during their captivity, and treating venomous reptiles can be both challenging and rewarding. Extensive training and experience in handling venomous reptiles, particularly snakes, is required before making the important decision on whether to add these patients to one’s practice. Veterinarians who have a desire to treat venomous reptiles should be familiar with proper equipment, handling techniques, and special considerations required for these species. Veterinarians should also be prepared in the event of an emergency and aware of specific medical conditions affecting these species.     

Interstate Equine Semen and Embryo Shipment Regulations in the United States and Their Implications on Control of Disease Transmission

Outbreaks of both equine viral arteritis and contagious equine metritis (CEM) in the United States have occurred in recent years. Shipped semen has been implicated in disease transmission and rapid spread. A survey was performed of state regulations regarding testing for equine arteritis virus (EAV) and CEM before interstate semen or embryo shipment. Results demonstrated lack of any requirements in 31 states. Four states had regulations regarding EAV; 17 required a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) to accompany a semen or embryo shipment. Ten states required a negative equine infectious anemia test, primarily as a requirement of a CVI versus because of risk of dissemination of disease. No states required CEM testing. A comparison of state department of agriculture or veterinary medical association Web sites and direct communication with state veterinarians or their offices demonstrated contradictory information in six states. The lack of uniform regulations concerning CEM and EAV testing for shipped semen and embryos, and the threat they pose to the equine breeding industry and horse health, should be alarming to veterinarians and horse owners. Routine testing of animals before shipment of semen or embryos and veterinary involvement in collection and breeding activities are appropriate and necessary to help prevent future outbreaks and protect equine health.     

Waterfowl rehabilitation: A primer for veterinarians

Ducks, geese, and swans are an easily recognized group of birds. There are approximately 50 native species in North America, all of which are considered migratory. Despite being a legally hunted family of birds, native waterfowl are federally protected, and there are federal laws associated with their rehabilitation, disposition of nonreleasable animals, and disposal of carcasses. In the United States, there are several nonnative species found with increasing frequency that many don’t realize are feral exotics. There also are state laws dealing with owning exotic waterfowl and prohibition of their release. Native waterfowl occupy a variety of wet habitats, have unique feeding requirements, have specific enclosure and substrate needs, and should be treated by someone with expertise to ensure recovery sufficient for return to the wild. If a practitioner is going to accept wild waterfowl as patients, it is important they know the laws, identify species, understand species natural history, and learn about associated common problems. This article discusses legalities, basic husbandry issues, common presentations, and basic veterinary/rehabilitation matters of waterfowl commonly found by the public. It also covers some common problems seen with feral exotic waterfowl as well.     

Veterinarians and public health: the Epidemic Intelligence Service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1951-2002

Public health affords important and exciting career opportunities for veterinarians. The Epidemic Intelligence Service Program (EIS) of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is a two-year post-graduate program of service and on-the-job training for health professionals, including veterinarians, who are interested in careers in epidemiology and public health. EIS serves as a major point of entry into the public health arena. Veterinarians applying to the program must have a Master of Public Health or equivalent degree, or demonstrated public health experience or course work. EIS officers are assigned to positions at CDC headquarters or in state and local health departments. During two-year assignments, they are trained in applied epidemiology, biostatistics, conducting outbreak investigations, emergency preparedness and response, and scientific communications. They conduct epidemiologic outbreak and other investigations, perform applied research and public health surveillance, serve the epidemiologic needs of state health departments, present at scientific and medical conferences, publish in the scientific literature, and disseminate vital public health information to the media and the public. EIS officers apply their training and skills to actual public health problems and issues, establish mentorships with recognized experts from CDC and other national and international health agencies, and travel domestically and internationally. Since 1951, 195 veterinarians have graduated from the program and gone on to make substantial contributions to public health in positions with federal, state, or local governments, academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations.     

Ethical dilemmas in veterinary medicine.

Veterinarians frequently encounter situations that are morally charged and potentially difficult to manage. Situation involving euthanasia, end-of-life care, economics, and inadequate provision of care create practical and moral dilemmas. Ethical tension may be attributable to differences in beliefs regarding the moral value of animals, client and veterinary responsibilities, and deciding what is best for an animal. Veterinarians can employ communication skills used in medical situations to explore the reasons underpinning ethical dilemmas and to search for solutions with clients, staff, and colleagues.     

Consequences for health policy on zoonosis control--national and international actions]

A review is given on the current state of German and European legislation concerning the control of zoonotic diseases. In the past considerable success was achieved when eliminating or reducing zoonosis such as brucellosis or tuberculosis in Germany and in Europe. Today foodborne infections such as salmonellosis or EHEC are dominating. A series of seven different federal laws and their legal regulations are involved in zoonosis control in Germany. In Europe the Council Directive 92/117/EEC, amended by directive 97/22/EU represents a framework for all Member States which have to deliver yearly trend reports on the sources of infections from areas such as human medicine, veterinary medicine and feed production. The data reports are concentrating on salmonellosis, tuberculosis, brucellosis and trichinellosis. Some data are given on the incidence of human salmonellosis in the Member States. There are existing two European reference laboratories for zoonotic diseases and six national labs in Germany. The aim of the new strategy is to fight the infectious agents of zoonotic diseases on farm level already. The most urgent task is to amend and adapt the directive for zoonosis. The necessary actions are under way on European level.     

An investigation into the practices of dairy producers and veterinarians in dehorning dairy calves in Ontario

The objective of this survey was to describe the current state of dehorning practices by dairy producers and veterinarians in Ontario and to identify opportunities to improve on existing practices. Two hundred and seven producers and 65 veterinarians completed a survey on dehorning practices during the summer of 2004. Seventy-eight percent of dairy producers dehorn their own calves; 22% use local anesthetics. Veterinarians dehorn calves for 31% of dairy clients; 92% use local anesthetics. Pain management was the most common reason for use of local anesthetics for both groups, while time (veterinarians) and time and cost (producers) were the most common reasons for lack of use. Producers who used local anesthetics were 6.5 times more likely to have veterinary involvement in their dehorning decisions. Thirteen percent of producers were unaware of the options for pain management. These results suggest that veterinarians should take the initiative to educate their clients about the options for pain management.     

畜禽养殖业兽药使用现状及建议

兽药在畜禽养殖中发挥重要作用,但由于养殖户盲目用药,药物选择和使用不规范,随意搭配药物,造成兽药使用量超出安全剂量规定,不仅严重威胁畜禽和人类健康,还污染土壤、水源和大气环境,因此必须对畜禽养殖中的兽药使用进行科学引导和严格规范。该文对我国目前畜禽养殖业兽药使用的现状进行分析,从兽药生产企业准入门槛和销售流通环节入手,结合兽药法律法规、兽药使用规范、兽药监管体系、兽药检测制度提出改善对策。     

Backyard poultry: legislation,zoonoses and disease prevention

In law, backyard poultry are “food‐producing animals” and “farmed animals” and are subject to regulations regarding welfare, prescribing, banned procedures, disposal of carcases, feeding bans, notifiable diseases and disease surveillance in addition to those applying to most other pets. Many owners and some veterinary surgeons are unclear about the requirements of these regulations. Backyard poultry are also associated with some different zoonotic disease risks to mammalian pets. Because a high proportion of poultry morbidity and mortality relates to infectious diseases, the health of backyard poultry is amenable to improvement through basic husbandry, biosecurity, hygiene and preventive medicine measures that can be incorporated into a simple “flock‐health plan”. This article reviews these topics.     

Community people-pet programs that work

Excellent models exist for people-pet programs in institutions and in the community. Veterinarians should assess the needs of their local communities and adapt a model program to fit these needs.     

关于综合治理兽药使用问题的分析与思考

兽药的规范使用事关人民群众"舌尖上的安全"。通过调研发现,当前我国畜禽养殖环节兽药使用具有"一减一增、一多一缺"的特点,而造成兽药不规范使用的主要原因是市场调节激励机制还未形成、政府部门管理服务能力还有待提高。在借鉴了各地规范兽药使用上的探索与实践后,建议按照精细管理、风险分级、量化监督的原则,在夯实现有监督执法、专项整治等各项监管工作的基础上,疏堵结合,实施"兽药规范使用五大工程",循序渐进地推动兽药使用问题的综合治理。     

Emergency management — An important addition to the equine practitioner's armamentarium

Emergency management consists of 4 components—mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. All 4 are necessary for an effective plan to address the next bioterrorist attack, emerging infectious disease, or foreign animal disease that may compromise our animal populations. Emergency management plans developed at the local level must coordinate with such plans at the state level, which then should ultimately coordinate at the federal level. Because the equine industry is such an economically important one in the United States, it is particularly susceptible to the devastating repercussions of natural and contrived disasters. It is essential that veterinarians remain vigilant in detecting emerging infectious or foreign animal disease events, be informed about how to contact the state and federal authorities to report their suspicions, and assist their clients with any emergency management strategies, so as to minimize losses.     

Principles of chemotherapy safety procedures

With the ever-increasing demand in veterinary medicine to administer chemotherapy agents, it is imperative for the practitioner as well as the support staff to follow strict guidelines for the administration and disposal of cytotoxic drugs. Because of the possible reproductive risks associated with hazardous drugs, all employees who may be pregnant or trying to become pregnant should be excluded from the process. The long-term occupational effects of these agents are not known; therefore, a standard operating procedure including storage of chemotherapy drugs, protective attire, drug preparation, administration, waste disposal/management, hazardous drug spills, and emergency measures for personal contamination should be carefully implemented and documented.     

Venomous Snake Restraint and Handling

Venomous snakes may be maintained as captive animals and are commonly exhibited in both zoos and private zoological collections. Veterinarians who treat reptile species may be asked to provide medical care to venomous snakes. The addition of venomous snakes to the practice can be exciting and rewarding. Training and experience handling venomous snakes are required before treating these animals in a veterinary practice. Both training and experience with handling venomous snakes are important not only to protect hospital personnel but the owner and patient as well. Veterinarians who wish to provide care for venomous snakes need to be familiar with the many tools used to make restraint and handling venomous animals as safe as possible.     

Perspectives on veterinary infectious disease control in the European Economic Community

The internal market of EC from 1993 is a provocation for the veterinary services of the member states to prevent dangers by animal infectious diseases and zoonoses in a big territory without borders. The systems for the control of animal infectious diseases, transport and trade have to be adapted and the veterinary services, especially on the local basis, will have more responsibility, they will be in action more as in the past and more intensive too. Primary aim is to reach a high uniform animal health level in the whole community. This requires more burden, strong and consequent measures as till now in the concerned region or member state. The control of infectious diseases in EC will stay on three big column --uniform measures for protection against animal infectious diseases, --common system for the control within the EC, --common control system on outside borders of EC for import from third countries. The already accepted and applied principle of regionalization will get essential importance. EC will participate in financing the control of animal infectious diseases particularly of very dangerous diseases, but also in certain control- and surveillance-programs. The veterinary controls on the internal borders in EC up to now will be replaced by controls at the place of origin and the place of destination. Imports from third countries will be controlled on outside-borders of EC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Veterinary medicine protecting and promoting the public's health and well-being

Dr. Calvin Schwabe's vision of "One Medicine" has long inspired many in the public health community to strive toward bringing human and veterinary medicine together to improve the public's health and well-being around the world. In an increasingly human-dominated world, as Dr. Schwabe suggested many years ago, human health provides the most-logical unifying or apical cause in veterinary medicine's hierarchy of values. Veterinarians in all aspects of the profession-have opportunity and responsibility to protect the health and well-being of people in all that they do, including protecting food security and safety; addressing threats to antibiotic sensitivity; preventing and controlling zoonotic emerging infectious diseases; protecting environments and ecosystems; participating in bio- and agro-terrorism preparedness and response; using their skills to confront non-zoonotic diseases (such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, vaccine preventable diseases, chronic diseases and injuries); strengthening the public-health infrastructure; and advancing medical science through research. This article provides an overview of contributions made by veterinarians in each of these areas, and discusses the challenges to be overcome and the need for strategic thinking and action to achieve the vision of "one medicine".     

Canine molecular genetic testing.

Inherited diseases are common among dogs. Recent advances in molecular genetics provide the groundwork for the development of genetic tests for the diagnosis and prevention of inherited diseases. As a result of this progress, genetics should become an integral part of veterinary medicine. DNA tests are safe, easy to perform, and reliable if interpreted correctly. Genetic tests only need to be performed once in a dog's lifetime, because the results of DNA testing never change. Veterinarians should be prepared to understand genetic testing and counseling because they are becoming increasingly important to veterinary medicine.     

Hidden costs of food production: the veterinarian's role

Veterinarians who work in food-animal production and food safety help to deliver food policy by enabling farmers to supply safe, affordable food. However, existing food policy reflects a production bias and is increasingly being criticized for its hidden costs. These costs include reduced animal welfare, the inflated risk of anti-microbial resistance, and the current pandemic of human obesity and overweight. Veterinarians do not generally recognize that this is the context within which they do their work. In this article, I review this context and argue that veterinary students should be taught about it. I also argue that the profession should join with food-policy analysts, ethicists, and others who are already calling for a rethinking of food policy, so that new policy might meet the full wealth of problems and not just some.