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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 2019-04-15
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Osteoarthritis review identifies links between dogs and humans
Humans and dogs share the most common areas for the development of OA.
‘One Health’ study could lead to new understanding and treatments

Key similarities between osteoarthritis (OA) in humans and dogs have been identified by researchers for the first time.

Scientists say their findings, published in Nature Reviews Rheumatology, may be in part due to the shared lifestyles of humans and dogs. However, their similar disease physiology and anatomies could also play a role.

The study was led by researchers at the RVC who conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature related to OA. The team amalgamated more than 230 peer-reviewed studies into one single paper, ‘The spontaneous dog osteoarthritis - a one medicine vision.

Researchers found that humans and dogs share the most common areas for the development of OA - the hip, knee, shoulder and elbows. They also identified similarities in the pain experienced by dogs and humans, suggesting that our nervous systems function in the same way.

The team hopes that by combining this knowledge into one paper, it could lead to future collaborative studies by animal and human health experts. This ‘One medicine’ approach could then lead to new treatments to improve the welfare of both animals and humans.

Dr Richard Meeson from the RVC, who led the research said: “Pet dogs live with us and develop many of the same diseases as humans, such as arthritis.

“There is a growing belief, therefore, that a ‘one medicine’ approach to many of these diseases has the potential to unlock new understanding and treatments for both animals and humans. The potential for this approach has been clearly demonstrated in our review.”

 

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Endangered turtles rescued from smugglers

News Story 1
 A group of endangered turtles have found a new home at London Zoo after being rescued from smugglers.

The four big-headed turtles arrived at the zoo at the end of last year, after smugglers tried to illegally import them to Canada, labelled as toys.

One of the turtles, named Lady Triệu after a Vietnamese warrioress, has moved to a new exhibit in the zoo’s reptile house. She is the only one of her kind in a UK zoo.

Big-headed turtles have such large heads that they cannot pull them back into their shells. To compensate, they have armour plating from head to tail and a very sharp beak to fend off predators. They are ranked number 18 on ZSL’s EDGE of Existence reptile list, which puts threatened species at the forefront of conservation action. Image © ZSL  

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Professor Abdul Rahman announced as keynote speaker for BVA Members’ Day 2019

Celebrated Indian vet and parasitologist Professor Abdul Rahman is set to deliver the keynote speech at BVA Members’ Day 2019.

Professor Rahman will present his insights into the human behaviour challenges of controlling zoonotic disease in his talk: ‘A One Health approach to rabies elimination in Asia’. The talk will outline efforts to gain political support for dog vaccination programmes in China, as well as the need for a collaborative approach between vets, public health, livestock and animal welfare agencies.

The event takes place on Thursday, 19 September at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Tickets are free but must be reserved through the BVA website as places are limited.