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Novel viruses carried by Scottish midge
There are at least 41 different species of biting midge described in the UK, of which 37 are present in Scotland.

Biting midge population carries previously-unknown viruses

According to new research, published in Viruses, scientists at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research have used high-throughput sequencing to study, for the first time, to determine the total collection of viruses in the biting midge, Culicoides impunctatus.
 
The scientists discovered several new viruses in the ‘virome’ of the midge, including an alphanodavirus, two rhabdo-like viruses and a chuvirus. These viruses are mainly found in insects and other invertebrates, but some members of the alphanodaviruses naturally infect pigs and herons, sometimes causing death.
 
The newly-identified viruses were found to be sufficiently different from known species to be categorised as novel. However, there is currently no evidence that these viruses pose a threat to humans. 
 
Despite their prevalence in Scotland, midges – small biting flies that are a predominantly a nuisance to humans – are currently understudied. Yet midges are carriers of arboviruses (viral infections transmitted to humans from a group of insects) and were responsible for the emergence and spread of Schmallenberg virus in Europe in 2011, and are likely to be involved in the emergence of other arboviruses in Europe.
 
There are at least 41 different species of biting midge described in the UK, of which 37 are present in Scotland.

Viral metagenomics, the name of the technique used to identify the midge viruses, has been widely presented and accepted within the scientific community as one of the most unbiased methods for the characterisation of viral sequences.
 
The midges studied were collected at the University of Glasgow’s Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, located within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park; and the study was funded by the Medical Research Council.

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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.