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

Deadly brain disease detected in Europe
reindeer
It is unclear currently if this is an isolated case or if the disease, which is difficult to detect is widespread in Europe.
Animal prion discovered in Norwegian reindeer

Scientists have detected a highly contagious and deadly animal brain disorder. A reindeer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) was found during a routine tracking expedition in southern Norway.

It is the first known case of the fatal disease both in Europe and the first occurrence in this species worldwide, the journal Nature reports. Previously thought to be restricted to deer, elk and moose in North America and South Korea, the disease is shed through saliva, urine and faeces. It is unclear currently if this is an isolated case or if the disease, which is difficult to detect is widespread in Europe.

CWD occurs when cellular proteins (prions) become misshapen and aggregate predominantly in the brain causing behaviour changes, weight loss and coordination problems. As with the similar bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, CWD is incurable and fatal.

Sylvie Benestad, animal disease researcher at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, performed a necropsy on the deer that was part of a free ranging herd in southern Norway’s alpine regions. She is quoted by Nature as saying: “It’s worrying of course, especially for animals, it’s a nasty disease”.

With importation an unlikely cause, suspicions are that the disease occurred spontaneously or jumped species from the sheep prion disease scrapie.

Glen Telling, prion disease researcher at Colorado State University in Fort Collins addressed the mystery of its origins. “The $64,000 question is what is the origin of this case of CWD in Europe. What we do know is that once CWD is detected in new locations, it typically takes a foothold in that location, and is difficult to eradicate.”

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

RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA publishes Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice

The BSAVA has added a small animal nutrition advice booklet to its series of BSAVA guides.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice offers a resource for veterinary professionals to provide appropriate nutrition for animals. As well as maintaining the wellbeing of healthy pets, the guide explores how nutritional requirements change in times of illness and disease.

The guide is divided into five sections, which explore the importance of nutritional assessment; diet types; feeding at different life stages; feeding for specific situations; and feeding for specific diseases. Online resources are also in the BSAVA Library including client handouts and videos.

It is designed to be suitable for referencing, in-depth case planning and team training sessions.

The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice can be purchased online from the BSAVA store.