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Project to examine leprosy in red squirrels
red squirrel
Brownsea Island is home to around 200 red squirrels. Leprosy is thought to have been present on the island for some time, but it has only just been diagnosed as such.
Brownsea Island becomes home to a new study

Wildlife experts are hoping to find out more about how leprosy affects British red squirrels on Brownsea Island in Dorset.

Leprosy was first identified in red squirrels in Scotland in 2014, but it is thought to have been present in the squirrel population for centuries.

According to post-mortems, the disease also affects squirrels on the Isle of Wight and Brownsea Island, off the south coast of England. Little is currently known about how it spreads.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh will work with the National Trust and the Dorset Wildlife Trust. It is hoped their work will offer clues about how the disease is spread between squirrels and how conservationists can help to control it.

Brownsea Island is home to around 200 red squirrels. Leprosy is thought to have been present on the island for some time, but it has only just been diagnosed as such.

Vets will use humane traps to capture the squirrels, before taking blood samples and other clinical samples for analysis.

Across the UK, there are thought to be less than 140,000 red squirrels left. The primary threats to their survival are habitat loss and squirrel pox virus.

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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.