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African cattle aid infectious disease study
Mosquito
The findings help explain how African cattle survive in a region where European cattle quickly fall victim to East Coast Fever.
Cattle could hold the key to fighting parasitic diseases in humans

African cattle could hold the key to fighting parasitic diseases in humans, research led by the University of Edinburgh suggests.

Scientists discovered that cows are protected from a parasite that causes deadly East Coast Fever if they have been infected with a closely related but milder species of the parasite earlier in life.

The findings may lead to the development of new strategies for preventing parasitic disease, including severe malaria infection in humans.

In the study, the research team tracked the health of 500 Kenyan calves from birth to one year old. They put together a unique set of data on the cattle's survival, growth, health and infection with bacteria, viruses, tick-borne parasites and worms.

They found that death caused by East Coast Fever, the biggest killer of East African cattle, dropped 89 per cent among calves also infected with other species of parasites that do not cause disease.

The researchers say that a similar situation may happen when humans are infected with the parasite that causes severe malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) at the same time as a less aggressive species (Palmodium vivax), making people more likely to survive the disease.

Published in the journal Science Advances, the findings help explain how African cattle survive in a region where European cattle quickly fall victim to East Coast Fever.

It is thought that controlling the disease would benefit an estimated 30 million cattle in sub-saharan Africa, which would have a huge impact on the economy and health of local farmers.

The researchers suggest that vaccinating calves with benign parasite species could give them time to develop immunity to more aggressive species.

Commenting on the study, Professor Mark Woolhouse from the University's Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, said: "This discovery suggests a completely new way to control a devastating disease in cattle, while reducing the use of antibiotics and environmentally damaging pesticides at the same time. It may also provide clues to new ways of combating human diseases such as malaria."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.