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Fatal condition spreading through US deer
CWD is a neurological condition that affects deer, moose and elk.

Disease comparable to BSE in cattle

A fatal condition comparable to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle is spreading through deer in the United States.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has so far been identified in 25 states. Most cases have been identified in the Midwest and Rocky Mountains, but some have been confirmed as far east as New York.

Speaking to United Press International, Lou Cornicelli from the Minnesota Division of Fish and Wildlife said: “States are in all various stages of infection.

“We try to contain it, but it is tough to categorise if you’re being successful. Mostly it’s just trying to limit its spread.”

CWD is a neurological condition that affects deer, moose and elk. It causes spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals, leading to emaciation, disorientation and death.

While It is not yet known how CWD spreads, researchers believe the agent may pass through the bodily fluids of infected animals.

CWD is included in a group diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. Inside this group are other variants that affect domestic animals, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and scrapie in domestic sheep.

It is this link to BSE that has sparked fears that CWD could become transmissible to humans.

While there have been no confirmed cases of this happening, there is evidence to indicate it might be possible. Two years ago, researchers in Canada were able to infect macaque monkeys - our closest relative - with CWD by feeding them infected deer meat.

As a precautionary measure, health and wildlife officials have encouraged hunters not to eat meat from infected animals and to take common sense precautions when harvesting deer or elk from infected areas.


Culling is currently the only way to kill the infected animals. Minnesota is culling hundreds of deer in areas where the disease has been identified and Illinois is holding a special deer season in infected zones.

“We’ve been really aggressive,” Cornicelli told UPI. “But we still don’t know what the next five years will bring.”

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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.