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RVC receives funding to advance cattle vaccines
The funding will support studies into bovine babesiosis and bovine tuberculosis vaccines to enhance cattle welfare.

The grants will support reseach into bovine babesiosis and bovine tuberculosis vaccines. 

Two international 'pump-prime' grants amounting to almost £168,000 have been awarded to the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) to advance research into cattle vaccines.

The funding from the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN) will support studies into bovine babesiosis and bovine tuberculosis vaccines to enhance cattle welfare.

The first grant, amounting to £89,000, will support the investigation of the genetic diversity and vaccine potential of thrombospondin-repeat domain (TSR) proteins against bovine babesiosis.

The second grant, totalling nearly £79k, will use Nanopore DNA sequencing to improve understanding of genetic diversity in bovine tuberculosis (bTB) strains circulating in Algeria.

Vaccinology lecturer Dr Ellen Knuepfer will lead the research into TSR alongside Dr Silvina Wilkowsky, an independent researcher based at the Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Argentina.

She said: “This funding will allow us to test a group of proteins called TSR proteins not only on a genetic level, but also explore their function, and application as vaccine antigen to protect cattle from this often fatal disease.”

Dr Sharon Kendall, associate professor in molecular bacteriology and Dr Dong Xia, senior lecturer in bioinformatics at the RVC will be leading the research into bovine tuberculosis.

They will work alongside Dr Rachel Tanner, associate professor of One Health at the University of Oxford and Dr Mammar Khames, researcher and lecturer at the University of Medea, Algeria. 

Dr Tanner said: “This is an excellent opportunity to further strengthen links between Oxford and RVC, as well as form a new partnership with researchers at Medea University. The project brings together a broad range of expertise to create a team that is greater than the sum of its parts, tackling the important global One Health issue of bovine TB.”

Dr Khames added: “As a veterinarian and zoonotic disease researcher in Medea University, Algeria, I'm delighted to be working with collaborators from the RVC and Oxford University on this project, which will enable me to acquire skills in the field of bovine tuberculosis research. Let's hope this will lead to promising results and a wider project in the future.”

Image (C) RVC.

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue cases lead to restricted zone extension

Following the detection of new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), the restricted zone has been extended to include additional parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire, as well as Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and part of Dorset.

The zone now covers 28 counties and unitary authorities in England. As of 16 December, 185 cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed in England and Wales during the current vector period.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.