Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Experts call for closer wildlife monitoring to prevent future pandemics
Closer wildlife monitoring of wildlife is required to prevent future pandemics, a group of wildlife experts has warned.

Scientists recommend increase in laboratory testing closer to areas of risk.

Closer monitoring of wildlife is required to prevent future pandemics such as COVID-19 from occurring, a group of wildlife experts has warned.

Writing in the journal Science, experts from the Wildlife Disease Surveillance Focus Group set out several recommendations for improving how wildlife can be better tested and tracked.

The group, which includes researchers from the University of Edinburgh, calls for an increase in laboratory testing capacity at or near locations where humans and wildlife interact. Currently, 62 per cent of laboratories that screen for animal pathogens are located in North America and Europe, which does not reflect the areas at most risk of emerging diseases,the researchers said.

The group also notes that improvements in testing technology could help decentralize testing capacity, for example by using portable DNA sequencing technology.
Such technology is already being trialled at the University of Edinburgh, in partnership with the governments of Zambia and Malaysia, in a project led by the TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network.

Furthermore, the group recommends the creation of a central publicly-accessible database for recording the characteristics of animal viruses to help monitor the risk of crossover to humans.
Researchers say this would allow any scientists to see how pathogens are evolving, how common they are worldwide and identify early mitigation measures, including antiviral treatments or vaccines.

“We know that many diseases like COVID19 can cross from animals to humans but we don’t focus enough on the animal side of the human-animal equation,” explained Professor Anna Meredith, chair of zoological and conservation medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
“Locally-driven surveillance and responses will empower local wildlife and public health professionals to constantly monitor for pathogens at source and improve the likelihood of prevention or early mitigation of future crossover events.” 

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.