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

Study reveals insights into lumpy skin disease
The finding could alter the design of control programmes to reduce lumpy skin disease outbreaks.
Scientists measure risk of different insects transmitting emerging cattle virus.

A landmark study by The Pirbright Institute has measured the risk of different insect species transmitting lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). 

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a severe disease of cattle that is fast emerging into new regions. Recently, the disease spread from Africa and the Middle East into cattle populations in Europe and Asia.

The study, published in the Journal of Virology, reveals that insects are unlikely to get the virus if they bite into infected cattle not showing clinical signs, meaning these animals pose a limited risk of transmitting disease. 

Scientists say the information fills a critical information gap and could alter the design of control programmes to reduce LSDV outbreaks - particularly in low and middle-income countries.

“The data we have compiled provides this vital knowledge which authorities can now use to inform control policies,” explained Dr Pip Beard, head of the Large DNA Viruses group at Pirbright. “In particular, the discovery that preclinical and subclinical animals both pose a very limited risk of spreading disease supports LSD control programmes which target clinically-affected cattle for rapid removal, rather than complete stamping‐out of all cattle in an affected herd.” 

Animals with LSDV typically experience fever, weight loss and large nodules on the skin, but some animals are sub-clinically infected and display no symptoms.

Up to now, it was not clear whether insects feeding on sub-clinical animals were able to contract the virus and spread the disease. This unknown meant that some control programmes had adopted a cautious approach to outbreaks, culling all animals in an affected herd to prevent disease spread.

The study suggests that insects that feed on subclinical animals are 97 per cent less likely to acquire LSDV than those feeding on clinically infected animals. It also found that insects were unable to pick up the virus from cattle in the seven days before clinical signs develop.

Stable flies were the most efficient transmitters of LSDV followed by mosquitoes.

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

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. 

Click here for more...
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.