Idexx Launches New Canine Distemper TestOctober 11, 2011 Idexx Reference Laboratories introduced a new canine distemper virus test today that can differentiate infected dogs from those vaccinated for the disease. The Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) Quant RealPCR Test measures the quantitative load of virus in a canine to determine whether the animal has been recently vaccinated for CDV or is infected with the virus. This determination is important, Idexx said, because dogs usually develop clinical signs of CDV within days of adoption from kennels or shelters where they typically would have been vaccinated. Christian Leutenegger, DrVetMed, Ph.D., F.V.H., regional head of molecular diagnostics for Idexx, said the test uses real-time polymerase chain reaction technology and seven quality controls. “Innovative real-time PCR technology indicates not only the presence but also the quantity of the virus,” said Leutenegger, who developed the test in collaboration with veterinarians from the University of Florida. Idexx, based in Westbrook, Maine, said the new test has been incorporated into the company’s existing canine respiratory disease panels at no additional cost, and results are available within one to three days. A stand-alone test for quantitative distemper virus information from swabs collected from respiratory mucosa is also available. <Home>
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NIAA To Host Symposium On Antibiotic Use In Food AnimalsOctober 11, 2011 The National Institute for Animal Agriculture will host a symposium Oct. 26 and 27, 2011, in Chicago called “Antibiotic Use in Food Animals: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose.” The public symposium will provide a broad view of antibiotic use in food animals from a variety of presenters in the private and public sectors. Leonard Bull, Ph.D., P.A.S., chairman of the symposium planning committee said the symposium will focus on four key areas, including: • The use of antibiotics in food animal production; • Human health implications relative to antibiotic use; • Understanding and communicating the risks associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in livestock; • Identifying additional research needs regarding how and to what extent antimicrobial resistance develops in humans and animals. “Symposium presenters are going to take an in-depth, science-based look at the benefits of antibiotics to animals and to humans and zero in specifically on when antibiotics need to be used, what we all currently know and don’t know and what each of us needs to know,” Dr. Bull said. “I want to stress that the symposium will be a dialogue, not a debate.” Scott Hurd, DVM, Ph.D., associate professor in the Veterinary …
California Governor Vetoes Mandatory Microchipping BillOctober 10, 2011 California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill on Friday that would have mandated the microchipping of cats and dogs in the state. The bill, S.B. 702, would have prohibited “any public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group from releasing to an owner seeking to reclaim his or her dog or cat, or selling or giving away to a new owner, a dog or cat that has not been microchipped,” according to the legislative counsel’s digest. In his veto message, Brown said, “Under current law, local agencies and shelters can – and should – require animals to be microchipped before being released. There is no need for state law to mandate the procedure, which would then require the state to pay for it.” The bill was introduced in February by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance). It passed by a margin of 32-6 in the Senate in May, and 50-23 in the Assembly in August. The governor’s veto can be overturned by a two-thirds vote in both houses. <Home>
ACVIM Names Certified Association Executive As CEOOctober 7, 2011The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Board of Regents selected Roberta Herman, CAE, as its CEO, the board reported today. Herman most recently served as the executive vice president of the Colorado Restaurant Association. She holds an MBA from the University of Denver and CAE designation from the American Society of Association Executives. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Colorado Society of Association Executives. “Roberta’s extensive experience made her an ideal candidate to lead the ACVIM in the ever-changing and challenging environment of veterinary medicine,” said ACVIM president Leah Cohn, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine). The board conducted a nationwide search and selection process to fill the position over the past three months. “Roberta is a wonderful hire as ACVIM’s CEO because she has a proven track record of value-based leadership in mission-driven membership organizations,” Cohn said. “She has the skills, experience, passion and commitment to advance ACVIM. We have found a wonderful advocate for our organization in Roberta.” <Home>
New York Clinic Opens $3.5 Million Radiology/Endoscopy Surgical SuiteOctober 6, 2011 The Animal Medical Center of New York City plans to unveil its new $3.5 million hybrid interventional radiology and endoscopy surgical unit this evening. The Katharine and William Rayner Interventional Radiology and Endoscopy Suite is the first hybrid operating suite for animals in the world, according to the center. The center’s interventional experts, Chick Weisse, VMD, and Allyson Berent, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), started treating patients at the facility about three weeks ago. Examples of disorders being treated interventionally at the AMC are: • Kidney, ureteral, and bladder stones • Tracheal collapse • Various tumors • Canine incontinence • Liver shunts • Blood clots • Nasopharyngeal stenosis “The [suite] is another example of the cutting-edge technologies offered by the AMC in our continuous effort to provide exceptional, more-advanced veterinary care and to significantly enhance the AMC’s teaching and research programs,” said AMC CEO Kathryn Coyne. The unit also includes in-room cameras with the capability to project live to 50 hospitals across the country. The project was made possible through the Katharine Rayner Fund for the animal Medical Center at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta as advised by the Rayners. <Home>
Ceva Establishes Canadian OperationsOctober 4, 2011 French animal health company Ceva Sante Animale acquired a pair of Canadian companies, Ceva reported today. Ceva acquired veterinary product manufacturer and distributor CentaurVA Animal Health and poultry vaccine manufacturer Vetech Laboratories, both of Guelph, Ontario. “Canada is an important world economy where we needed to have a direct presence,” said Marc Prikazsky, CEO of Ceva. Ceva previously had a limited presence in Canada, according to Craig Wallace, North America Zone Director for Ceva. The acquisitions establish a foundation for Ceva’s plan to build a broad-based Canadian animal health business, Wallace added. Centaur manufactures and distributes products for small and large animal veterinary practitioners, including nutraceuticals, joint therapies and infection-control products. “[The Centaur acquisition] helps in marketing and distributing current Ceva products and will serve as a strong foundation for future product launches,” Wallace said. Vetech produces live coccidiosis vaccines for poultry under the trade name Immucox. Production of Immucox will remain primarily in Canada, but Ceva will improve the vaccine through the company’s technology and expertise in the field of poultry health, Wallace said. The terms of the deals were not disclosed. <Home>
Could Your Practice Use A CWO?October 1, 2011Until recently, there were: The CEO, or Chief Executive Officer; The CFO, or Chief Financial Officer; The CIO, or Chief Information Officer; The CTO, or Chief Technology Officer; And a few others (CSO, CCO and CKO anybody*?) I recently heard of the CWO, aka Chief WOW Officer, aka Director of WOW, as Nido Qubein calls it. The businessman and motivational speaker is currently the President of High Point University, an amazing private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina. Of course, there is a CWO at High Point. His job is to identify the un-WOW on campus, and turn it into WOW to improve the students' experience. Here are a few of the services provided. Each one honors an important value: • There is an ice cream truck on campus, and a bubble-gum machine at the entrance of the Dean's door (value: generosity). • Students can have a free car wash on week-ends to forget the dust caused by an extensive construction project (value: respect for others' property). • Valet parking for students after 9 pm (value: safety). • Live music at the cafeteria (value: rock 'n' roll forever?). Similar creative ideas …
Merial To Import Limited Quantities Of Immiticide From EuropeSeptember 30, 2011 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will allow Merial of Duluth, Ga., to import limited quantities of Immiticide (melarsomine dihydrochloride) from its European supplier. Immiticide is the only FDA-approved drug to kill adult Dirofilaria immitis, the worm that causes heartworm disease in canines. Merial experienced a technical issue at the plant where the FDA-approved version of the drug is manufactured, and its inventory ran out in August. Merial said it expects to receive its first shipment of Immiticide from Europe in October and additional shipments on an intermittent basis thereafter. The imported drug is not FDA approved, but is the approved source of the product for international markets. The imported product can be identified by lot numbers that begin with the letters “MR.” Merial requested that veterinarians record the lot numbers of any imported product they use. The company also requested that veterinarians conserve the limited supply by using it only for dogs in most urgent need of treatment. The European Immiticide will only be available directly from Merial through a restricted distribution program by calling 1-888-637-4251, option 1. Merial said it has kept records of previous requests and will contact those clinics to complete …
Vaccine Could Help Control Feral Cat Population, Study FindsSeptember 29, 2011 A study performed by University of Florida researchers could aid in the management of feral cat populations. The researchers found that a single dose of the immunocontraceptive vaccine GonaCon controls fertility over multiple years in adult female cats. “We’re hoping this research will lead to a nonlethal method of control for feral cat populations that is less expensive, labor-intensive, and invasive than current methods, such as surgical sterilization,” said Julie Levy, DVM, Ph.D., lead researcher and director of the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at UF. Non-profit veterinary research organization Morris Animal Foundation funded the five-year study, which was published online in August in the scientific journal Theriogenology. The UF researchers administered single dose vaccinations to 15 female cats and placebos to another five cats. The cats were then allowed access to a breeding male cat. All five placebo females became pregnant within seven to 28 days. Among the cats treated with GonaCon, 93 percent remained infertile for the first year, 73 percent remained infertile in year two, 53 percent in year three, 40 percent in year four, and 27 percent in year five. Levy said researchers expected the decrease in the vaccine’s efficacy as …
PFI Elects New Chairman, OfficersSeptember 28, 2011PFI Elects New Chairman, OfficersPFI Elects New Chairman, PFI elects Officers, Pet Food Institute officers, Pet Food Institute Dan RajczakThe Pet Food Institute Board of Directors elected Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of pet care at Procter & Gamble, chairman.The Pet Food Institute Board of Directors elected Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of pet care at Procter & Gamble, chairman.newslinePFI Elects New Chairman, OfficersPosted: Sept. 28, 2011, 7:10 p.m. EDT The Pet Food Institute Board of Directors elected Dan Rajczak, senior vice president of pet care at Procter & Gamble, chairman. PFI is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing pet food manufacturers. P&G exec Dan Rajczak is PFI's new chairman. "I am honored to serve as chairman of PFI at a time of enormous change," said Rajczak, who previously served as vice chairman. "Over the next year, our industry, along with the human food sector, will learn the specifics of expanded regulatory requirements under the new food safety law and will work toward implementing those changes." Rajczak succeeds Bob Kelly, president of Bil-Jac Foods, as chairman. The board also elected Mike Wright, president and CEO of Pro-Pet, to serve as vice chairman; Bud Wright, president and CEO …
