Public Health England (PHE) is urging veterinary surgeons, nurses, other healthcare professionals and the public to become Antibiotic Guardians by visiting antibioticguardian.com and pledging to make better use of antibiotics, to help make sure they work now and in the future.
The website first asks users to choose whether they would like to make a pledge as a member of the public or as a healthcare professional or leader.
Those who pledge as a Healthcare Professional > Veterinary Practitioner can select one of the following pledges:
Those who pledge as a member of the public can elect to do so as an adult, a family member, a pet owner or a farmer.
The available pledges change according to category and those who respond will be asked if PHE can follow-up to confirm they did keep their pledge.
The campaign forms part of activities that support European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD). Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Lead for EAAD 2014 at Public Health England, said: "Everybody can help to tackle antibiotic resistance and we really urge people to help us do this. There is a lot to be done but we can start by making inroads into inappropriate prescribing.
"There are 2 elements to this. One is that we need patients to not always expect to receive an antibiotic for those self-limiting illnesses which are typically caused by viruses. This generally includes those where the symptoms include coughs, runny noses, muscle aches and fever. And the other is for GPs not to feel pressurised into prescribing antibiotics when they aren't really necessary.
"Community pharmacists and their teams also have a key role and should be seen as the first port of call for many winter illnesses caused by viruses. They can also help to manage patients' expectations by explaining the normal duration of these symptoms, what warning signs to look out for and providing effective over the counter treatments that will help relieve the symptoms.
Nicholas Brown, President at the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC), said: "Recently published research in BSAC's Journal, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, confirms that despite government recommendations to reduce prescribing for viral illnesses there are still many GPs who do this. Of course GPs don't want their patients to feel unwell but there are many medicines which are available over-the-counter which can really help to reduce symptoms and make people feel better.
"We want to encourage everyone to self-treat as much as possible when it is safe and appropriate to do so. By using antibiotics only when they are needed we can all help to make sure that we keep our antibiotics working for everyone in the future.
"Antibiotic resistance is one the biggest threats to public health and PHE is delivering 4 key aspects of the 5-year UK strategy to help combat antibiotic resistance. These are improving infection prevention and control practices to reduce the number of infections in patients; optimising prescribing practice, improving professional education, training and public engagement and enabling better access to and use of surveillance data."
Children learn lots of important lessons about life, sickness and death from animals and veterinary practitioners. There seems to be an important role here for the profession to educate adult animal owners why antibiotics need to be used carefully both in pets and in humans.
Bayer Animal Health has launched Baytril® Max 100mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle and Pigs, which replaces the company's previously animal-specific Baytril Max products.
Bayer says the active ingredient, enrofloxacin, treats bacterial infection by inhibiting the action of bacterial DNA gyrase resulting in bacterial cell death.
In cattle, Baytril Max treats respiratory infections and mastitis caused by enrofloxacin-sensitive Histophilus somni, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma spp., and enrofloxacin-sensitive E. coli respectively.
In pigs, Baytril Max targets bacterial bronchopneumonia caused by enrofloxacin-sensitive Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida and complicated by Haemophilus parasuis as a secondary pathogen in pigs.
Bayer advises that vets treating cattle for respiratory infections should inject subcutaneously. Mastitis cases should be treated intravenously and pigs should be injected intramuscularly in the neck muscles, behind the ear.
The development of the Baytril Max product family provides vets with greater treatment flexibility from one solution.
For further information please visit www.noahcompendium.co.uk
Norbrook Laboratories has announced the addition of new indications to its Loxicom (meloxicam) products, two regarding its use in cats, and the other in calves.
Loxicom 5mg/ml solution for injection for dogs and cats is now indicated for the management of post-operative pain in cats. An injection given around the time of surgery can be followed up with a course of Loxicom 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats. Alternatively, for cats where no follow-up oral treatment is possible, for example with feral cats, a larger dose of the injectable formulation can be given at the time of surgery.
Norbrook's EU Veterinary Advisor, Rebekah Dudek MRCVS, said: "Norbrook is pleased to be able to now offer vets two on-licence choices in relation to how they want to use their 5mg/ml meloxicam injection in cats. This gives vets the flexibility they need to be able to deal effectively with the wide variety of cases they see every day."
Loxicom 20mg/ml solution for injection for cattle, pigs and horses has now been licenced for the relief of post-operative pain following dehorning in calves.
Norbrook says that the use of a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) alongside local anaesthetic has clear benefits for animal welfare, and that use at this time is also shown to offer economic benefits to the farmer, with increased food-conversion efficiency compared to untreated calves1.
Rebekah said: "Dehorning in calves has long been known as a painful procedure, with a negative impact on feed intake in the post-operative period. With our latest licence, Loxicom 20mg/ml can now be used for relief of this potentially economically important post-operative pain in calves."
Reference
Novartis Animal Health has announced the results of a survey of dairy and beef farmers which found that 39% of those who found Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) present in their herd did not then go on to test for persistently infected (PI) animals.
Any calf born from a BVD persistently-infected cow will be born Persistently Infected with the virus and cannot be cured. As a result, future vaccination of this animal against the virus is rendered ineffective and the affected animal will be a source of the virus, spreading infection within the herd.
With young cattle being the source of PI's and reservoirs of infection within a herd, failure to test, identify and then deal with PI livestock represents the most significant problem facing the industry when trying to eradicate BVD.
Professor Joe Brownlie from the Royal Veterinary College and current chairman of the BVD Scientific and Technical Working Group, said: "Of the 61% of farmers that did do follow up tests for PI's once BVD had been detected in their herd, one third found one or more PI's within the stock holding.
"However, one third of farmers who identified having active BVD infection in their herd then failed to go on and carry out individual animal testing; of those that did, nearly half discovered one or more individual PI's within their herd".
"It just shows that the disease can be hidden, and farmers could be in the dangerous position of potentially missing PI animals that are in their herd; PI's that can continue to spread the BVD virus amongst other cattle and pass on their PI status to any calves they produce. It is hugely important to be thorough and consistent in your testing as part of an agreed herd health plan"
The survey also indicated that action needs to be taken to educate farmers about what to do once BVD and, most significantly, PI's are discovered amongst a herd.
Professor Brownlie said: "There is much evidence from this survey to encourage the industry in how it is tackling this disease, however there is still a great need for clear direction. The survey indicated that 20% of farmers wrongly believe that PI animal's will eventually become non-infective and that 25 % believe that calves born of PI cows will not always have PI calves themselves.
"All of these perceptions are incorrect and can lead to reservoirs of the disease being allowed to remain not only within individual herds, but geographical regions as well; seriously hindering the eradication of the virus in England and Wales".
With nearly half of farmers saying that they talked to vets - their main source of information about BVD - only once or less a year, Professor Brownlie said it is unsurprising that many farmers did not show a greater understanding of BVD beyond biological side effects present in the infected cattle: "About 50% of farmers surveyed were unsure as to what types of tests need to be carried out to detect the infection in their livestock and 32% of respondents were unaware that correct vaccination of livestock against BVD can protect both the cow and unborn calf".
Novartis says that while BVD is still regarded by farmers as one of the top bovine diseases, other health issues such as mastitis and tuberculosis are given much greater attention. This lack of focus on BVD is exacerbated by the lack of sound information of the financial implications of the infection on their herd.
Professor Brownlie said: "The side effects of BVD appear to be overlooked in financial terms, but the infection can severely hinder a herd's financial productivity due to poor health, reduced milk yield and loss of reproductive efficiency.
Caroline Dawson from Novartis Animal Health said:"Perhaps by aiding understanding of the financial cost of the virus, we can encourage farmers to take more proactive steps to combat BVD. As such, I am pleased to announce that that the FAB panel has initiated a follow on project to carry out detailed research with regards to the financial impact of BVD on farms and is due to report findings in the new year".
(Photograph shows, left to right, James Russell MRCVS (McMurtry & Harding), Caroline Dawson (Novartis Animal Health), Tony Brooks (Brighthams Farm), Professor Joe Brownlie(RCVS)
Merial Animal Health has launched Allevinix, a flunixin-based non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) pain killer for cattle, pigs and horses.
Victoria Hudson, Product Manager for Merial Animal Health said: "We have positioned Allevinix as the flexible flunixin that meets your needs, because it offers flexibility in every area.
"It is the only flunixin licensed for both intramuscular and intravenous administration in cattle and we know that this will be very welcome for many vets and farmers. It can be used across cattle, pigs and horses, and it is the first injectable NSAID to come in a durable, non-breakable bottle."
Merial says Allevinix is fast-acting against inflammation, pain and fever, reaching peak plasma levels approximately 30 minutes after injection. It is available in 100ml and 250ml PET bottles and joins Ketofen as part of a range of NSAIDs available from Merial. It can also be used in conjunction with Merial's antimicrobial treatment for calf pneumonia - Zactran.
Victoria added: "We believe that vets will find this is a useful and innovative addition to the range of options that they have in terms of NSAIDs. Allevinix has a number of advantages over other flunixin products currently on the market."
Ceva Animal Health has launched a new initiative to help young vets attend a variety of educational opportunities to further their knowledge of cattle reproduction.
The reprodAction Young Vet Initiative was introduced this month and three young vets have already taken part in the scheme.
The new initiative is open to recently qualified vets who are keen to improve their knowledge of cattle reproduction and who work for practices that are interested in growing their business by improving cattle reproduction on farms. The scheme includes Ceva-sponsored cattle fertility courses and dissertation programmes.
Emily Denton from Shropshire Farm Vets (pictured right), Annelyse Desbois From Meadows Farm Vets and Alun Beckett from Larkmead Veterinary Group were chosen to attend a CPD day 'A Practical Approach to the Non-Pregnant Cow', organised by Nottingham University.
Carol Atkinson, Ceva's reprodAction range marketing manager, said: "The purpose of this project is to give new graduates working in practice the opportunity to participate in quality CPD. The aim is to help them build their expertise and enthusiasm for cattle reproduction work via practical sponsorship."
Emily Denton has been an intern at Shropshire Farm Vets for the past year. She was chosen for the initiative having recently completed the XL vets farm new graduate programme. She said: "It was an exciting opportunity to build on the skills I have developed in practice and to discuss cases with my peers and with other, more experienced clinicians. The course was excellent - my take home message was that as cow genetics change it affects their cycle. Our ability to manipulate this is dependent on having a good, accurate knowledge of the physiological changes taking place."
For more information about taking part in the reprodAction Young Vet Initiative, contact your Ceva Territory Manager.
Zoetis has announced the availability in the UK and Ireland of Poulvac IBQX, the first specific vaccine against the QX strain of the infectious bronchitis virus.
For the past two years the vaccine has only been available with a special import certificate from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for use on flocks where the QX virus has been isolated.
According to the company, this variant IB strain has been an increasing problem in European countries over the last 10 years and was first seen in the UK in South-East England in 2007. Since then QX has been isolated from a number of commercial layer and broiler flocks, leading to inferior performance and increased mortality.
James Porritt, Zoetis Poultry Manager for the UK and Ireland said: "Poulvac IB QX adds another protection dimension to our extensive IB vaccine portfolio. The Zoetis IB portfolio offers the widest choice and with Poulvac IBMM + ARK we have the UK's only bivalent live vaccine licensed for day-old use providing a Massachusetts strain and protection against 793/B/91 variant type strains lasting for six weeks post vaccination. Other IB Vaccines include Poulvac H120 and the UK's only other bivalent live vaccine Poulvac IB Primer."
Poulvac IB QX vaccine is based on a live attenuated virus and is administered as a coarse spray to broilers from day-old and to layer pullets or broiler breeders from seven days of age. Protection has been demonstrated by challenge study to last for 63 days after vaccination.
Zoetis says the vaccine is often used on the farm, but can be administered to chicks at the hatchery if adequate controls are in place to avoid spread to other chicks that will be moved to non-QX exposed flocks.
Dr Stuart Andrews, Poultry Veterinary Manager for Zoetis said: "In countering the QX virus strain some existing vaccines have been used to provide a degree of cross-protection. However, it is important to appreciate that Poulvac IB QX is a vaccine homologous to any IB QX field strain and so will provide even better protection.
"Furthermore, our in-house PCR and DNA sequencing service allows us to monitor carefully the field situation to ascertain which IB strains are currently causing field outbreaks and enable us to recommend adaptations to particular vaccination programmes.
"The full approval for the Poulvac vaccine will make it easier and more effective to tackle specific QX infections without having to apply for an import certificate."
Ceva Animal Health has produced a new advisory leaflet about enzootic abortion control and vaccination strategy in sheep to help vets explain the best prevention protocols to clients.
According to the company, it is estimated that around half of the 400,000 infectious abortions in UK sheep each year are from enzootic abortion caused by Chlamydophila abortus, but timely vaccination programmes can prevent such dramatic losses.
The eight-page leaflet explains how enzootic abortion can spread, why prevention is better than cure, the importance of timely vaccination of ewe lambs and replacement stock, how vaccination programmes make good economic sense and the benefits of using Cevac Chlamydia, Ceva Animal Health's live enzootic abortion vaccine as part of the control programme.
Carol Atkinson, reprodAction's product manager said: "Cevac Chlamydia receives consistently good feedback from vets, many of whom have enthusiastically volunteered their praise for the product to our territory managers. We thought a leaflet would be a constructive way to share views, giving vets the chance to hear about the advantages of vaccination and to provide them with the tools to explain to their clients why vaccinating against enzootic abortion is cost worthy."
For further information contact Ceva Animal Health Ltd, Unit 3, Anglo Office Park, White Lion Road, Amersham, Bucks, HP7 9FB, Telephone +44 (0) 1494 781510.
BPEX is looking for a few more veterinary surgeons to test its Real Welfare smartphone app, which is used to collect data regarding welfare outcomes in pigs.
BPEX says it will pay vets for their time carrying out the testing but it needs regular submissions of data to give both Android and iOS a good workout.
Project Manager Katja Stoddart said: "It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey but the app is now performing well on both platforms and we are receiving positive feedback from those using it.
"That does not mean there are no problems but those that do crop up are now minor and can easily be dealt with.
"We still need a handful more vets willing to do the testing but we must stress we need regular data submission to make it worthwhile."
Ultimately the app will replace the bureau service which has only been extended until the end of this year so vets will need to change over before the bureau closes.
Katja said the portal will continue so vets can do the assessments in paper form then transfer via a computer but it will be much quicker and easier in the long run to input in real time using the app.
She added: "This will also mean the data is available immediately for the vet to discuss with the producer."
MSD Animal Health showed off Expertis LivestockPro, its new digital flock health management tool, to sheep producers at the NSA Sheep Event last week.
Expertis LivestockPro is an online website-based computer application designed to make flock vaccine and animal health product scheduling much simpler. MSD says it will provide a platform for vets to help their customers improve flock performance and productivity.
Project co-ordinator Marcus Sanders from MSD Animal Health, said: "Expertis LivestockPro really will make life easier for UK sheep producers. Shepherds will no longer have to rely on memory or written records in a filing cabinet or on a farm office wallchart to schedule animal health treatments. Embracing the new digital system will certainly save time and money, and ultimately reduce livestock losses from key sheep diseases."
The new application also keeps track of vaccine stock levels on the farm and reminds users to order additional product before it is needed. Users can set up various alerts on any Internet-connected device. LivestockPro also incorporates medicinal product information and advice on correct vaccine administration.
For more information, visit www.livestockpro.co.uk or e-mail MSD Animal Health [livestockpro@merck.com].
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has struck off Suffolk vet Oliver Fraser Lown after finding him guilty of five separate charges relating to the possession of extreme animal pornography and sexual activity with animals.
Mr Lown, who graduated from Szent Istvan University in Hungary and has stated that he has never practised in the UK, did not attend the Disciplinary Committee hearing but was represented by Mr Jo Cooper, a solicitor-advocate. He was accused of five charges of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect:
On the first day of the hearing, the respondent made an application to the Disciplinary Committee that the hearing should be held in private on the basis that any publicity about the case 'would offend public morality' due to the nature of the allegations and because the respondent's father suffers from ill-health, which could be adversely affected by any publicity. The Committee rejected the application on the grounds that the nature of the allegations was already in the public domain and that public justice in the context of professional regulation outweighed the private concerns of the respondent regarding his father.
On the second day of the hearing, the respondent made an application to adjourn charges 2 - 5 on the basis that he had already admitted, and received a conditional discharge, for the first charge and would, therefore, not oppose removal from the Register and an undertaking never to re-apply. The respondent also argued that the original decision of the College to register him in July 2013 was flawed because it was unfair to admit him, in awareness of his conditional discharge, apparently for the purpose of taking disciplinary proceedings against him. He also referred to the Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to prosecute him in respect of charge 4.
This application was dismissed by the Disciplinary Committee on the grounds of the gravity of charges 2 - 5 and the fact that the respondent chose to apply to join the Register and had been advised to seek legal advice regarding his conditional discharge beforehand. Furthermore, the Disciplinary Committee heard that there was no error at the time of his registration because the conditional discharge was not a conviction and therefore, under the Veterinary Surgeons Act, there was no option to refuse registration.
The respondent then made a final application to have the case adjourned on the grounds that new documentation he had received the previous day regarding his registration had led his lawyers to conclude that the decision to register him may have been unlawful. However, the Disciplinary Committee said that, in its understanding, the RCVS Registrar had no option but to register Mr Lown. The Disciplinary Committee then dismissed the application on the grounds that any challenge of the validity of registration could and should have been made within the three month time limit for judicial review and that no significant new documentation about Mr Lown's registration had come to light that could reasonably be said to have triggered a judicial review and warrant an adjournment. It also again highlighted the gravity of the charges.
The Disciplinary Committee then heard evidence in relation to charges 2 -5, including that of two officers from North Yorkshire Police who took part in the original investigation, who the Committee found to be credible and reliable witnesses, and, after reviewing the evidence, found that all four charges were proven.
The Committee then considered the appropriate sanction for Mr Lown, and took into account a number of aggravating factors including the risk of injury to animals, premeditated misconduct, sexual misconduct, misconduct sustained or repeated over a period of time and his lack of insight into the offences or his overall conduct.
Professor Noreen Burrows, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "In these circumstances, the Committee has no doubt that the respondent's conduct was of the utmost seriousness. The material found in possession of the respondent and his own conduct in charge 4 involved the abuse of animals and a total lack of respect for their welfare. In the judgement of the Committee each of the charges individually amounts to disgraceful conduct and the charges certainly amount to disgraceful conduct when taken cumulatively."
In order to safeguard animal welfare, maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct, the Disciplinary Committee directed the Registrar to remove Mr Lown's name from the Register.
The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-28524348
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have, for the first time, revealed that digital dermatitis (DD) has been present on hoof knifes used on cattle and sheep following research1 jointly funded by DairyCo and EBLEX.
The research conducted at the University investigated if DD Treponeme can be present on equipment used to trim cattle and sheep hooves. The research team, led by Dr Nicholas Evans and Professor Stuart Carter of the University of Liverpool and in collaboration with Roger Blowey MRCVS, tested trimming equipment used on cattle and sheep with digital dermatitis and after it was disinfected.
After trimming, DD was present on 97% of cattle blades and 100% of sheep blades. This was reduced to 29% and 46% respectively after disinfection.
Dr Evans said: "It has long been considered that digital dermatitis was spread in slurry which we have some evidence for and are continuing to investigate but now, for the first time, we have discovered the digital dermatitis bugs in the farm environment.
"However, the high detection rate of digital dermatitis bacteria on trimming blades soon after trimming cattle and sheep hooves from digital dermatitis cases suggests this may be a significant and worrying route for the transmission of this infectious condition."
Leigh Sullivan, who conducted the field work as part of her study, said: "Interestingly, in the world of human dentistry, a completely different species of the bacteria is found to cause gum disease. Furthermore, studies have shown it will adhere to metal on orthodontic braces which is consistent with our detection of the digital dermatitis Treponeme on metallic trimming knives."
Dr Jenny Gibbons, DairyCo research & development manager, added: "This DairyCo and EBLEX-funded study could help farmers, vets and hoof trimmers to understand more about the transmission of digital dermatitis between cows and farms. A logical precaution to limit the spread is to disinfect hoof trimming equipment between animals and between farms."
To find out more about this and other R&D projects, DairyCo is hosting a research day on 17 July at Trenault Farm, Launceston, Cornwall.
To book a place, visit: dairyco.org.uk/researchday2014
A sign up section where Official Veterinarians (OVs) can register to continue providing bTB testing with aspiring Delivery Partner Xperior Farm Health under AHVLA's Veterinary Delivery Partnership programme has been added to Xperior's website (www.xperiorfarmhealth.co.uk/vets/).
Xperior Farm Health is the joint venture between Eville & Jones and Westpoint Veterinary Group that is one of the declared bidders for appointment by AHVLA as a Delivery Partner. Veterinary Director Phil Elkins said: "If appointed, we are fully committed to maintaining sub-contractor OV involvement."
As alternatives to website sign up, OVs can also do so by email (phil.elkins@xperiorfarmhealth.co.uk) or post using either a printed form that was mailed recently to more than 1,000 farm vets or by writing to Mr Elkins at Century House, Thorpe Park, Leeds LS15 8ZB.
To give experienced OVs an opportunity to influence the Delivery Partner bid, Xperior have also extended their online survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PQFSWZN) until the end of July.
Phil added: "If appointed, our commitment is to provide an exemplary standard of accurate and trustworthy on-farm animal health testing services, where possible using subcontracted practices. These will be farmer friendly, provide an ongoing source of work and revenue to subcontractor Official Veterinarians, and represent excellent value for money to the taxpayer."
The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics is urging the Prime Minister to make the announcement on antimicrobial resistance he promised the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 7th May 2014.
In a reply to a question from Zac Goldsmith MP, David Cameron acknowledged that the problem of antibiotic resistance could have 'unbelievably bad consequences' leading to quite minor ailments not being properly treatable by antibiotics. The Alliance is urging the government to take urgent action to reduce antibiotic use in both medicine and farming.
The issue was further highlighted at this year's World Health Assembly (WHA) Conference when attendees confirmed that a catastrophic post-antibiotic age - in which minor, common infections could again become killers - is a real possibility unless urgent action is taken.
At the conference, the Netherlands' Minister of Health, Edith Schippers said: "People are getting seriously ill and are dying as a result of skin infections and diarrhoea. Common surgeries like knee replacement will become potential killers because of secondary infections that are untreatable. This is a global problem on a par with, if not more serious than, nuclear security, international terrorism and climate change."'
In a letter to David Cameron on 13th May 2014, the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics said: "It simply does not make sense to be feeding nearly half of all the antibiotics used in this country to farm animals, just so that they can be kept in high numbers indoors, often in conditions which carry with them the risk of high levels of disease."
The Alliance says the measures the Prime Minister is due to announce must include the urgent phase-out of the routine preventative use of antibiotics in farming.
Alison Craig, Campaign Manager for the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics said: "Our near European neighbour the Netherlands has phased out routine preventative use of antibiotics in farming by government taking strong and decisive action and industry taking voluntary measures - so why can't we do the same in the UK?"
In 2007 the Netherlands was one of the world's heaviest users of antibiotics in food animals. In 2009 the government decided to decrease farm use of antibiotics by 50%. This was achieved by 2013.
Alison continued: "It is alarming that, in this country, we don't even yet know how many people are already dying due to antimicrobial resistance. By contrast, in the Netherlands they know that there are 2 million hospitalisations per year due to resistance.
"If the Prime Minister knows that there will be 'unbelievably bad consequences' for families, why is his government being so slow about getting a grip on the problem?"
The RSPB has reported the results of two studies which revealed that a greater diversity of birds of prey, including some eagles, are killed eating carrion contaminated with diclofenac.
The RSPB says that these findings strengthen the case of banning the use of veterinary diclofenac in livestock across Europe, including Spain and Italy where the drug has already been approved.
In the first paper1, published in the journal Bird Conservation International, scientists present results of tests carried out on two steppe eagles found dead at a cattle carcass dump in Rajasthan, India. Both birds had diclofenac residue in their tissues and exhibited the same clinical signs of kidney failure as seen in Gyps vultures experimentally given diclofenac.
Steppe eagles are closely related to the golden eagles found in the UK, the vulnerable Spanish imperial eagle and other globally vulnerable or declining Eurasian eagles. Scientists now fear that all species in this genus, known as Aquila, are susceptible to diclofenac. With fourteen species of Aquila eagle distributed across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North America, this means that diclofenac poisoning should now be considered largely a global problem.
Dr Toby Galligan, RSPB conservation scientist and one of the authors of the paper, said: "We have known for some time that diclofenac is toxic to Gyps vultures, including the Eurasian griffon vulture, but we now know it is toxic to an Aquila eagle too. This suggests that the drug is fatal to a greater number of birds of prey in Asia, Europe and around the world. We had suspected as much from observed declines in non-Gyps vultures in Asia, but this study confirms our worst fears."
In another paper2, published in Bird Conservation International, Dr Galligan led an examination of recent population trends in Egyptian and red-headed vultures in India. That study shows population declines of similar timing and scale as the declines observed in Gyps vultures, providing indirect evidence that these species have been impacted by diclofenac as well.
After years of campaigning by conservationists, the governments of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan banned veterinary formulations of diclofenac between 2006 and 2010. Recently, experts have recorded a slowing of Gyps vulture declines as a result of the bans. However, formulations of diclofenac intended for use in humans are still widely available and illegally used to treat livestock, the carcasses of which are the main food source for vultures in South Asia. It was announced in March that veterinary diclofenac had been authorised for manufacture and use in Italy and Spain and had been distributed to other European countries. Since then, a coalition of organisations including the Vulture Conservation Foundation, the RSPB and BirdLife International have been campaigning for this decision to be reversed.
Dr Galligan continued: "In light of recent developments in Europe, our findings take on an even more worrying meaning. All of Europe's charismatic Aquila eagles, like the Spanish imperial eagle and, closer to home, the golden eagle, are opportunistic scavengers and therefore could be at risk of diclofenac poisoning. As we have seen in South Asia, wherever free-ranging livestock are treated with diclofenac, population declines in vultures and eagles can occur. The European Commission needs to recognise this problem and impose a continent-wide ban on veterinary diclofenac before it can impact on our birds."
Last week, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) announced measures against the drug.
In a statement the VMD said: "The UK's Veterinary Medicines Directorate is taking the issue of diclofenac's risks to vulture populations seriously. As a precautionary measure the VMD will not approve any requests from vets to import products containing diclofenac. Furthermore, the VMD has agreed not to issue any export certificates which name diclofenac-containing products in the list of products to be exported."
Sacha Cleminson, Head of International Biodiversity Policy at the RSPB, said: "The announcement from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is a welcome signal to Europe that the UK is taking the issue seriously. This new evidence underlines the need for a ban across Europe, and ultimately beyond."
References
Have population declines in Egyptian Vulture and Red-headed Vulture in India slowed since the 2006 ban on veterinary diclofenac? Toby H. Galligan et al. Bird Conservation International Online. 1st April 2014.
The President of the British Veterinary Association has written to the Badger Trust to clarify the BVA position on the pilot badger culls in England, stating that it will not be supporting the Trust's application for a judicial review.
The BVA Council agreed a position on the continuation of controlled shooting in the pilot areas on 16 April. The position states that the BVA could only support further culling using controlled shooting in the pilot areas if steps are taken to improve both its effectiveness and humaneness and if there is robust monitoring and collation of results and independent analysis and auditing by a non-governmental body. It also states that the BVA supports the Independent Expert Panel's (IEP) recommendations for improving effectiveness and humaneness and urges Defra to implement all the IEP's recommendations fully.
The BVA says that since 16 April, it has been in dialogue with Defra to seek assurances that these issues will be addressed, and those discussions are ongoing. It will not be taking a further position on the pilot culls until BVA Council has had the opportunity to consider Defra's plans in full, when they are made available.
In a press release dated 20th May, The Badger Trust CEO Dominic Dyer said: "It is not acceptable for the DEFRA Secretary of State to now push aside the concerns of both the Independent Expert Panel and the British Veterinary Association, by moving ahead with a further badger cull in Gloucestershire and Somerset this summer without any independent monitoring in place."
The BVA says it is concerned that this misrepresents its position, and has led to some media reports suggesting that the BVA has withdrawn its support for badger culling as part of the overall strategy to eradicate bovine TB. It has not. The BVA says it continues to believe that the TB eradication strategy for England will only be successful if we are able to use all of the available tools, including targeted, humane badger culling.
The Westpoint Veterinary Group and Eville & Jones, a veterinary control provider, have joined forces to form Xperior Farm Health, which will bid for appointment as a Delivery Partner for bovine TB and other farm animal disease testing under AHVLA's Veterinary Delivery Partnership Programme.
The Delivery Partnership Programme, under which the AHVLA will cease to contract OVs directly and instead procure disease testing services from around ten Delivery Partners, is expected to roll out in the summer.
Eville & Jones is an experienced service provider in inspection and testing services in the fields of animal health, public health and animal welfare. The company employs more than 450 veterinary staff nationwide and already provides fully managed Official Veterinarian (OV) services to UK Competent Authorities.
Westpoint Veterinary Group is a specialist, farm-animal-only veterinary practice operating from 17 sites countrywide to provide farmers with specialist and locally based services. It is the largest veterinary group in the UK specialising in production animals, employing more than 50 veterinary surgeons.
Veterinary Director Phil Elkins MRCVS says the resources and experience of the two parent companies in both farmer-facing and back office dimensions make Xperior Farm Health well equipped to fulfil a Delivery Partner service expected by AHVLA. He said: "Our ambition is to provide an exemplary standard of accurate and trustworthy on-farm animal health testing services, where possible using subcontracted practices. If appointed, of course, these will be farmer friendly, provide an ongoing source of work and revenue to subcontractor Official Veterinarians, and represent excellent value for money to the taxpayer."
Registered VN Lindsay Newell has been found guilty of six counts of cruelty to animals at Stafford Magistrates' Court, following an investigation by the RSPCA.
The charges related to a ewe, two lambs, a Welsh pony, a goat and a pig at the Burton Wildlife and Animal Rescue Centre, a sanctuary founded in 2008 by the 27-year-old nurse in memory of her murdered grandparents.
The pig had made headlines in the Daily Mail in 2012 when Newell rescued it from a Derby council house.
Newell was given a 2-year conditional discharge, ordered to pay £2000 in costs, and disqualified from keeping sheep, equines, goats or pigs for five years.
Passing sentence, district judge David Taylor said: "These were not deliberate or intentional acts. They were a consequence of you trying to take on too many animals of a wide range."
Newell was cleared of 25 other charges of failing to feed the animals in her care properly.
RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford who led the investigation said: "We are satisfied that the court has found the defendant guilty of six charges of unnecessary suffering. The scene the RSPCA discovered when they visited with Police, Derbyshire Trading Standards and an independent vet were quite shocking.
"This was an extremely disturbing case where there was clear neglect and mistreatment of animals by a registered veterinary nurse.
"I am sure she set up this centre with the best intentions but things got totally out of control."
More on this story
Novartis Animal Health has announced the launch of Strenzen, an oral water medication for pigs, indicated for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections caused by Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella Typhimurium, and for respiratory tract infections caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus suis.
Strenzen contains contains a combination of amoxicillin trihydrate (500 mg/g) and potassium clavulanate (125 mg/g) in ratio of 4:1. Novartis says it is ideally suited for the treatment of post-weaning infections in pigs.
According to the company, the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid broadens the performance of amoxicillin1,2, especially against resistant strains of bacteria capable of producing ß-lactamase enzymes. Certain bacteria are able to produce ß-lactamase enzymes as a protection mechanism, making the amoxicillin molecule ineffective against them. The clavulanic acid in Strenzen binds to the molecules of the ß-lactamase enzyme, ensuring the amoxicillin remains unaffected and free to attack bacteria. Prof. Dominiek Maes, DVM, MSc, MS, PhD, Dipl. ECVPH, Dipl. ECPHM, from the Porcine Health Management Unit of the Ghent University, Belgium said: "Weaning is a stressful event for piglets and there are several opportunistic diseases that can impact them during this period. The challenge with E. coli and S. suis infections is that in many countries there are currently no commercial vaccines available with proper efficacy. I believe Strenzen can indeed be very helpful in managing those infections which are so prevalent after weaning."
Novartis says Strenzen is rapidly excreted, leading to a withdrawal period of one day, which in turn maximizes production flexibility for pig producers. In addition, the water-soluble formulation of Strenzen ensures that treated pigs get a therapeutic dose even when they stop eating, making it an ideal treatment for sick pigs with compromised appetites.
Recent field trials on infected farms in Spain and the Czech Republic demonstrated that Strenzen-treated pigs give better production performance, better economic returns and require less medical intervention3,4,5. The reduction of the overall amount of antibiotics needed to treat severe post-weaning infections not only saves producers the costs of the labour and the medication, but is also important in regard to the development of resistance in bacteria.
Dr. Ulrich Klein, Global Technical Services Manager, Novartis Animal Health said: "With the launch of Strenzen, Novartis Animal Health demonstrates its commitment to continually broadening our product portfolio to address the specific needs of farmers and food producers. Strenzen has the ideal spectrum for the treatment of post-weaning infections, delivering better productivity results than current therapies for those infections."
Elanco Animal Health has announced that there have been extensions to the withdrawal periods for Dectomax (doramectin) 10 mg/ml Solution for Injection and Micotil (tilmicosin) 300 mg/ml Solution for Injection.
For Dectomax injectable, meat withdrawal for cattle and sheep will be extended to 70 days and pigs to 77 days. For Micotil, sheep milk withdrawal will be extended to 18 days and milk from cows during the dry period or from pregnant heifers should not be used for human consumption until 36 days after calving.
Elanco is reminding veterinary surgeons and SQPs that they may continue to prescribe according to the current label but it is good practice to implement revised withdrawal periods. The company is also taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of getting into the habit of double-checking withdrawal periods when administering drugs, because they do change from time to time in the light of new knowledge.
BVA president-elect John Blackwell has found himself on the front page of The Times today, and interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme, with a call to end the practice of slitting animal's throats and allowing them to bleed to death in order to produce kosher and halal meat.
According to the newspaper, 600,000 animals are killed this way every week in the UK.
Mr Blackwell is urging Jews and Muslims to allow meat-producing animals to be stunned before they are killed.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Blackwell said: "As veterinary surgeons, it is one of the most important issues on our radar. This is something that can be changed in an instant."
See other media reports here.
Novartis Animal Health has launched Farming against BVD, a new initiative to help in the fight against Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).
The campaign, which is being carried out in partnership with key industry bodies, will begin with an independent survey of farmers, the results of which will be announced in April.
An expert panel, headed by Professor Joe Brownlie (Royal Veterinary College and Chairman of the BVD Scientific and technical working group), will then come together to analyse the findings, using them to shape and drive an industry response.
Professor Brownlie said: "BVD is a costly and complex disease, spread by a pestivirus that affects the reproductive and immune systems. Persistently Infected (PI) animals are the main source of infection, but can be hard to identify without testing. Only total eradication will prevent the disease from spreading. Eradication Schemes in a number of European countries have already succeeded and Scotland and Ireland have embarked on similar schemes. The information being gathered will help the industry to develop a much needed scheme for England and Wales."
Joining Professor Joe Brownlie on the expert panel will be Dr Peter Nettleton (Moredun Research Institute), Mansel Raymond (dairy farmer and Chairman of the NFU Dairy Board), Caroline Dawson (Novartis Animal Health veterinary surgeon) and Paddy Gordon (veterinary practitioner).
Survey topics will include levels, and methods, of testing for BVD on farm, understanding of the role of PI animals and the financial impact of BVD on dairy and beef units. Farmers will also be asked who they look to for advice and how they view the role of vaccination.
Caroline Dawson MRCVS from Novartis Animal Health said: "Countrywide eradication may not be achieved for a number of years, although individual farmers can control the disease on their own farms within 1-2 years, providing substantial cost benefits. The purpose of this campaign is to encourage farmers to take action now against BVD. By working closely with their vets, identifying and removing PI animals, BVD can be removed. Ensuring adequate biosecurity and a robust vaccination policy will eliminate the risk of bringing BVD back onto the farm."
Professor Brownlie said: "Understanding what farmers understand about BVD, particularly the role of the PI animal, will enable members of the panel and the wider industry, including Novartis and the BVD Stakeholder Group, to meet farmer needs more accurately. Greater awareness of the problem is vital - this is the only way that progress towards eradication will be made."
Novartis Animal Health has launched 'The Wormer Decision Tree', an online tool to help veterinary surgeons in giving sheep farmers the most up-to-date advice about worming.
Lesley Stubbings, SCOPS representative and Independent Sheep Consultant said: “Choosing the right wormer group is hugely important and there remains much confusion especially when it comes to anthelmintic resistance.
“Worms, including resistant and multi-resistant species, are threatening the productivity of sheep farms. However with a well-thought-out worming strategy that uses both the new wormer groups, in association with existing wormers, it is possible to slow resistance.”
Results of the Farming Against Wormer Resistance (FAWR) campaign survey, conducted in 2013, revealed growing concern about wormer resistance among farmers - but confusion about the best course of action to take.
Fiona Anderson, Novartis Animal Health Veterinary Manager said: "This tool has been developed adhering to SCOPS principles and is designed to ensure a consistent responsible approach is used when prescribing anthelmintics.
"Available only to SQPs and vets, it will be a valuable tool to train new staff and use with farmers, to explain which of the five drench classes are appropriate for particular sheep groups at specific times of year."
The Novartis Wormer Decision Tree asks three key questions: the type of sheep being dosed, the purpose of the dose, and the farm's resistance status. It then produces a recommendation of the required active ingredient, along with more detailed information to support the recommendation. There is also a calculator which provides a dose rate and cost per dose based upon the recommendation.
To use the decision tree, you must first register on the Novartis Farm Animal Health website: www.farmanimalhealth.co.uk. Then head here: www.farmanimalhealth.co.uk/wormerdecisiontree
As the House of Lords begins its debate on the religious slaughter of farm animals, the RSPCA is calling for all to be pre-stunned.
More than 900 million farm animals are slaughtered for meat in the UK every year. The vast majority are stunned pre-slaughter. However, the law permits the Jewish and Muslim communities to kill animals by religious methods without any form of pre-stunning.
The RSPCA says that while it recognises that religious beliefs and practices should be respected, it also believes that animals should only be slaughtered under the most humane conditions.
RSPCA Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA's farm animal science department said: "Farm animals deserve to be treated with care and respect throughout their lives, from the time they are born right up to their final moments in the abattoir.
"We want to see all animals rendered unconscious before slaughter. Until that time we are calling for clear labelling so shoppers are armed with information that can enable them to make an informed choice about whether they buy meat from animals which have not been stunned before slaughter.
"Until there is better, universal labelling, shoppers should look for the blue and white Freedom Food label. Meat produced under this RSPCA assurance scheme comes from animals inspected to the RSPCA's farm animal welfare standards which do not permit slaughter without pre-stunning."
According to the charity, scientific research shows that slaughtering animals without pre-stunning (to render them insensible to pain and distress) can cause unnecessary suffering.
David Bowles, head of public affairs for the RSPCA, who has written a report for the House of Lords debate, added: "We know this is a subject that our supporters feel passionately about. We share their welfare concerns and that is why we have continued to campaign for religious slaughter to be discussed at the highest possible levels."
The RSPCA works with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to publish the results of the FSA's Animal Welfare Survey undertaken in abattoirs across Great Britain.
The latest survey* results shows:
The RSPCA believes mandatory labelling should be introduced so that all meat that has not been stunned is labelled and says it will press for European rules on this in 2014.
Zoetis has launched Suvaxyn Parvo/E, a combined vaccine which it says provides the earliest protection of gilts against parvovirus and erysipelas.
Parvovirus and erysipelas infections occur primarily in gilts and sows, negatively impacting their reproductive success and the health of their litters - inevitably reducing profitability.
Nigel Lodge, National Veterinary Manager for Zoetis, said: "The combined vaccine will help ensure the health of gilts and sows is not affected by these two infections which are widespread in the pig herd.
"Suvaxyn® Parvo/E gives the earliest protection so that the ability to vaccinate gilts at five months of age will help ensure a good start to their reproductive life. Up to half of all pigs may be carriers of erysipelas and importantly the vaccine has licensed efficacy against both Erysipelothrix serotypes 1 and 2.
"This brings another vaccine to our portfolio, making it one of the largest in the pig sector and confirming the ongoing commitment of Zoetis to the health and welfare of pigs."
Suvaxyn® Parvo/E is an inactivated combination vaccine approved for immunising gilts and sows to prevent reproductive disorders caused by porcine parvovirus and reduce clinical signs caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.
Primary vaccination is recommended from five months of age, with two injections given three to four weeks apart, ensuring the second dose occurs at least four weeks before mating. Revaccination should take place three to four weeks before each subsequent mating.
The vaccine comes in 10-dose and 2 X 25-dose packs. For more information, contact your Zoetis Pig Key Account Manager.