Synthetic Genomics, Ceva partner to develop livestock vaccinesNovember 1, 2017 Synthetic Genomics Inc. announced that it has partnered with Ceva Santé Animale to utilize Synthetic Genomics' next-generation synthetic RNA replicon platform to develop vaccines for livestock. Synthetic Genomics' RNA replicons are programed to deliver genetic instructions to a body's own cells to unleash a powerful immune response against a specific disease, the company said. These RNA replicons carry the genetic code for a self-replication engine as well as antigens that signal for an immune response. The self-amplifying, RNA-based vaccine triggers rapid and immediate antigen expression within host cells, which induces strong T cell and B cell responses. These fully synthetic vaccines have lower dose requirements and simplified manufacturing compared to traditional vaccine approaches, according to the announcement. "We have made tremendous progress to date in programming RNA to develop next-generation vaccines that are multigenic, tunable and, most importantly, scalable for commercially competitive markets such as animal health," said Synthetic Genomics CEO Dr. Oliver Fetzer. "This partnership with Ceva, a leader in animal health, highlights the promise in deploying our synthetic biology capabilities to build RNA systems capable of improving global health in a variety of ways." Financial terms of the agreement were not …
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Four important internal parasites to considerOctober 20, 2017Instead of just deworming all the time, it’s a good idea for equine practitioners to perform periodic fecal egg counts to determine how badly—or whether—a horse is affected by parasites prior to being dewormed.
New AVMA emergency info helps safeguard large animalsSeptember 18, 2017September is National Disaster Preparedness Month, and the importance of animal disaster planning has been made clear by recent hurricanes and wildfires. Livestock evacuations have been all too common, both on large and small scales. A new American Veterinary Medical Association website resource provides critical information that veterinarians can share with owners of horses, poultry, cattle, and other livestock to help them plan in advance to safeguard animals in the event of emergency. The new page, Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters, includes: Steps to prepare for quick action in emergencies Evacuation supply lists for horses, poultry and other livestock Information on proper identification of animals Suggestions to pre-arrange possible evacuation sites The AVMA also offers a range of other emergency planning resources for veterinarians and their clients: Emergency Planning Resources for Veterinary Practices Wildfire Smoke and Animals Pets and Disasters Emergency Contact Cards for Animal Owners
Equine dietary supplementsSeptember 14, 2017In the past few decades, the equine health market has seen a significant uptick of myriad supplements that purport to do just about anything that a horse might need—to support, enhance, or boost everything from hooves to intestines to joints to hair coat.
When disaster strikes Florida, UFVETS works to aid its animalsSeptember 12, 2017By Donald Vaughan Cookie was following her owner across their yard in Gilchrist County, Fla., outside Gainesville, when the ground suddenly opened up, plunging the 10-year-old pug to the bottom of a 30-foot sinkhole. Among the agencies called in to rescue Cookie was the University of Florida Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service (UFVETS), which provides veterinary emergency response throughout the state. Once the sinkhole had been shored up to prevent a cave-in, VETS team member Jennifer Groover, DVM, was lowered down via an A-frame. "The hole was so narrow that I couldn't bend over," Dr. Groover said, "but Cookie was so happy to have a way out that she climbed up my leg and into my arms, and then they lifted us out. Thankfully, she was unharmed by the fall." Technical rescues like this are all in a day's work for the agency, said John Haven, CPA, UFVETS team leader and the UF College of Veterinary Medicine executive director. The program also provides emergency services during natural disasters such as hurricanes (they're very busy now!), tornadoes, and wildfires, as well as for large-scale animal hoarding cases. Born from adversity UFVETS was established in 2004, which saw Florida threatened …
Zoetis seeks to simplify genetic data management for Jersey, brown Swiss cattleSeptember 5, 2017 Zoetis' new SearchPoint data management tool aims to help U.S. dairy producers maximize genetic testing results for Jersey and brown Swiss cattle by sorting genetic results, evaluating genetic trends, and benchmarking genetic merit, according to the company. "It's critical for producers to get selection and breeding decisions right the first time," said Jason Osterstock, senior director, Global Genetics Strategic Marketing for Zoetis. "SearchPoint helps producers select the animals with the greatest genetic potential in their herds and breed them to produce even more valuable offspring." Similar to how U.S. dairy producers use Enlight to manage herd genetics for Holstein cattle, SearchPoint is designed for U.S. dairy customers who use the Zoetis portfolio of genetic tests for dairy cattle, including Clarifide for Jersey and brown Swiss breeders. Users can quickly access their genetic test results and easily convert them into custom reports, tables and graphs that are shareable with partners and herd advisers, the company stated. "This is a powerful, customizable online data management tool that takes analysis of genetic data to the next level," said Ben Vlug, director, Global Quality and Product Delivery at Zoetis. "SearchPoint helps producers visualize genetic variation information and identify outliers, enabling productivity and …
Pet, vet industries provide emergency relief after Hurricane HarveyAugust 31, 2017In response to Hurricane Harvey, PetSmart Charities has dedicated at least $1 million in emergency relief funding to help animal welfare agencies working to rescue, relocate, feed, and care for pets left homeless due to flooding.
AAEP Foundation accepting donations for horses affected by HarveyAugust 31, 2017The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund is accepting aid to help horses in states affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Boehringer Ingelheim unveils new equine brand platformAugust 31, 2017Boehringer Ingelheim is introducing a new brand platform: Unbridle Your Potential—health care products to help unlock the potential in each horse.
How bioinformatics research could affect veterinary practices, companion animal healthAugust 30, 2017Let’s face it; we can’t even keep up with all the email, client communications, and news flashing on our smartphones while maintaining a busy clinical load. Once-a-year continuing education barely keeps us afloat in the ocean of veterinary information, and now that information is coming at us more and more rapidly and in more forms.
