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FECAVA AND ESCCAP unite to tackle vector-borne diseases
A dog with leishmaniasis.

Organisations working to better inform companion animal vets

Two leading companion animal organisations are set to collaborate in the fight against vector-borne diseases in cats and dogs.

The Federation of Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA) and the European Scientific Counsel for Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) will meet at the WSAVA/FECAVA Congress in September.

The organisations will convene at the second meeting of the FECAVA working group on canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD). The group is working to better inform companion animal vets about emerging infectious diseases, such as heart worm, babesiosis and leishmaniasis.

Tools currently under development for veterinary practitioners by the group include algorithms, tables and travel advice for clients.

“Most companion animal veterinarians are insufficiently informed about these emerging diseases, and FECAVA has great potential to spread information on the distribution, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these diseases to practitioners in all parts of Europe,” commented Nenad Milojkovic, chair of the FECAVA working group on canine vector-borne diseases.

Ian Wright, ESCCAP’s guidelines director, added: “It is vital that veterinary professionals have easy access to the latest detained consistent advice from experts to help them make informed treatment decisions.”

Researchers hope that the tools under development will help raise awareness of vector-borne diseases and assist in the clinical approach in endemic areas.

FECAVA and ESCCAP will also co-author a paper on drug resistance which, according to Ian Wright, is "one of the defining issues in livestock, equine and human parasite control.” 

“While resistance has been much slower to emerge in parasites of cats and dog, there are huge data gaps in our knowledge as to how widespread it might be currently, and how likely it might be to develop in the future,” he said.

Image (C) © Filipe Dantas-Torres / Wikimedia

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.