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DNA study sheds light on myxoma resistance
Australia released myxomatosis in 1950 to tackle the burgeoning rabbit population.
Modern rabbits compared with specimens from before 1950s outbreak

An unprecedented rabbit DNA study has shed light on how rabbits have acquired resistance to myxomatosis.

Research led by the University of Cambridge and the CIBIO Institute in Porto looked at DNA from nearly 200 rabbits spanning 150 years and thousands of miles.

The team sequenced nearly 20,000 genes to pinpoint mutations since the myxomatosis pandemic in the 1950s.

According to findings published in the journal Science, modern rabbits in the UK, France and Australia, have acquired resistance to the myxoma virus through the same genetic changes. They also discovered that this process relied on lots of small mutations in different genes, rather than big changes in single genes.

Findings also suggest the protein that helps rabbits fight myxoma, also has an antiviral effect on an unrelated virus, vesicular stomatitis.

Miguel Carneiro, from CIBIO said: “While battling myxoma, rabbits may have increased their resistance to other viruses including, perhaps, rabbit haemorrhagic disease which is killing so many animals right now.”

Australia released myxomatosis in 1950 to tackle the burgeoning rabbit population, which was impacting the country’s native plants and animals. It is thought that the European rabbit was introduced to the country in the 1850s and within a century the population grew to hundreds of millions.

Within three months of releasing myxomatosis, it had spread 2,000km and killed 99 per cent of infected animals. It was illegally introduced to France in 1952 and spread to the UK in 1953, with similarly devastating consequences in all three countries.

Myxoma continues to present a serious threat to rabbits. Lead author Dr Joel Alves said: “Viral evolution appears to be finding ways to counter the genetic adaptations which we’ve observed. Recent, more virulent recent strains of myxoma virus, have been found to be extremely immunosuppressive. So the arms race goes on.”

As rabbit populations collapse across the UK and mainland Europe, researchers said the findings could provide clues to the future of the species.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.