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New portable tests for diagnosing FMD
“... the biggest hurdle to overcome when tackling FMD is getting a quick and accurate diagnosis of which serotype is present"
Test can identify serotypes in the field

Pirbright scientists have developed two portable tests for diagnosing foot-and-mouth disease in the field - one of which can identify serotypes.

Scientists from the Pirbright Institute took the tests to Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya to confirm their effectiveness in the field. One is able to diagnose the presence of FMD, while the other can differentiate between the four serotypes that are prevalent in Africa.

There are seven types of FMDV, each of which requires a separate vaccine. Accurate diagnostics are essential to ensure the current vaccine is administered to protect against the serotype circulating in any particular area. However, until recently, field tests were only able to confirm whether or not the virus was present in a sample.

Lead researcher Dr Veronica Fowler said: “We know that the biggest hurdle to overcome when tackling FMD is getting a quick and accurate diagnosis of which serotype is present. The main issue is that many countries currently battling FMD outbreaks do not have labs with the facilities or expertise to test for the virus.

“This is why we have taken a lab test and reformatted it to suit the field. We simplified the reagents into pellets, so that users need only add water and the sample, which can then be placed in a mobile PCR machine. The machine can then identify any of the four FMD serotypes present in Africa.”

The diagnostics kit is battery powered and can process eight samples at once. The pellets for the test do not need to be refrigerated, which saves on transportation costs and maintenance. Additionally, Pirbright says the kit is so simple to use, it does not need a highly trained person to use it.

According to the institute, the diagnostics are as sensitive as the equivalent techniques used in the lab, and they can test epithelial, serum, mouth or throat fluid samples from animals. Using the test, animals can be diagnosed with FMDV, even if they are not displaying clinical signs. 

Rolf Rauh from Tetracore, which developed the kits with Pirbright, said: “Rapid and accurate point-of-care field identification of FMD and its subtype are essential for mounting effective control efforts to stop animal movement before the virus has an opportunity to spread further.”

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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.