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Scientists warn against new TB control strategy
Badger
Scientists have warned against the Test-Vaccinate/Remove (TVR) pilot.
Small-scale, selective culling could lead to increased badger dispersal
Scientists have warned that a new bovine TB control strategy due to be piloted in Northern Ireland, may spread the disease further rather than control it.
 
The Test-Vaccinate/Remove (TVR) pilot plans to carry out live TB tests on badgers, culling any that are infected, and vaccinating healthy ones.
 
Limitations to this method have already been recognised, as live testing has previously been shown to be inconsistent, with many carriers of TB being missed. 
 
A team of researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), Imperial College London and the University of Sheffield have warned that this method of small-scale, selective culling may also have an effect on badger behaviour, similar to that seen during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, which caused increased ranging of badgers.
 
Researchers analysed badger movement in 826 territories where small-scale culling took place between 1986 and 1998. The results showed that removing a small number of badgers from a social group led to increased dispersal and ranging of the remaining badgers, lower genetic relatedness of individuals within a group and an elevated prevalence of the bacterium that causes bovine TB. This is likely to result in higher infection rates of the disease in cattle.
 
Dr Job Bielby, research fellow at ZSL, said: “Our research is the first to look at the effects of removing small numbers of badgers from social groups. The results reinforce the need to fully understand the consequences of methods to control the spread of bovine TB before we embark on them. Otherwise we risk complicating what is already a very complex issue.” 
 
If the pilot goes ahead, scientists have recommended intensive monitoring of badger behaviour, and stopping rules enforced if any significant changes are observed.
 
The research paper has recently been published in the journal PNAS.
 

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.