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IVF could bring back northern white rhinos
With only two females left in existence, northern white rhinos are functionally extinct. (Stock photo)
Creation of hybrid embryos hailed a ‘breakthrough’

Northern white rhinos could be brought back from the brink of extinction, after scientists successfully created the first hybrid embryos.

With only two females left in existence, the species is functionally extinct. But in a groundbreaking new study, scientists managed to adapt reproduction techniques used in horses, to offer fresh hope for the species.

An international research team used assisted reproduction techniques (ART) to create the hybrid embryos, with eggs from southern white rhinos and cryopreserved sperm from deceased northern white rhinos. Several embryos are now cryopreserved, to be transferred into surrogate mothers in future.

“The successful development of a hybrid embryo is a major step towards the first birth of a Northern White Rhino through artificial reproduction techniques,” said Jan Stejskal, from Dvůr Králové safari park in the Czech Republic.

The team said they are now well prepared to go to Kenya to collect oocytes from the remaining two northern white rhino females. ‘Pure’ blastocysts could then be produced, using both eggs and sperm from northern white rhinos.

However, as there are only two females left and the available semen comes from just four male rhinos, it is unlikely that the above techniques will be enough to create a self-sufficient population, with the necessary amount of genetic diversity. With this in mind, scientists are working on an additional approach - generating gametes using stem cell technology.

Professor Cesare Galli, of Avantea, which is a world leader in ART, explained: “Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to self-renew indefinitely and to develop into any cell of a living organism. We - at Avantea - successfully generated SWR embryonic stem cells with all the features of undifferentiated cells and a high capacity for differentiation in different cell lineages.”

Steven Seet, of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, commented: “This research is groundbreaking. We are witnessing the development of a method that can help to compensate the negative impact of humans on nature.”

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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.