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Reptiles linked to 27 per cent of Salmonella cases
bearded dragon
Patients with reptile-associated Salmonella were more likely to be hospitalised.
New research finds severity of disease is higher in reptile-associated cases

More than 25 per cent of Salmonella cases in children under five are reptile-associated, new research suggests. The severity of the illness is also likely to be higher in cases linked to reptiles.

Research published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood looks at cases of salmonellosis in children in South West England.

Led by Dr Dan Murphy from Royal Cornwall Hospital, researchers analysed cases reported to public health authorities from January 2010 to December 2013.

Out of 127 cases, more than a quarter (27 per cent) of Salmonella patients had been exposed to reptiles.

The median age for reptile-associated (RAS) cases was six months, compared to one year for non-RAS cases.

Patients with RAS Salmonella were also found to be 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalised.

Furthermore,  significantly more RAS cases had an invasive form of disease. Out of 48 cases, five had bacteraemia, two had meningitis and one had colitis. This is compared to the non-RAS cases, where three had bacteraemia and one had meningitis.

Salmonella causes vomiting and diarrhoea which can last for months in some cases. While it is not usually life-threatening, complications can arise in the very young, very old, or immune-compromised.

It can be carried in the gut of reptiles and shed in the droppings. Bacteria quickly spreads over the skin and can contaminate anything the reptile comes into contact with.

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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.