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Avian & Exotic News
AVIAN & EXOTIC NEWS Edited by Connie Orcutt, DVM, Dip. ABVP (Avian; Exotic Companion Mammal)
19TH ANNUAL AMERICAN BOARD OF VETERINARY PRACTITIONERS SYMPOSIUM ___ The 19th Annual American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) Symposium will be held from October 30 to November 2, 2014 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, TN, USA. Nine lecture tracks will be available, including avian, exotic companion mammals, and reptile/amphibian. Over the 4-day symposium, 8 board-certified lecturers will present a total of 25 lectures/wet labs on exotic animal medicine. More information can be found at the ABVP Symposium website: http://www.abvp. com/symposium. THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN VETERINARY CONFERENCE _________________________________ The 2015 North American Veterinary Conference will be held from January 17 to 21 in Orlando, FL, USA. More than 350 speakers will deliver more than 1200 lectures, wet labs, and master classes designed for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, and veterinary students. Comprehensive tracks are available for exotic animal medicine. Additional information is available at: http://www.navc.com. AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DEVELOPS A GUIDE FOR SMALL-ANIMAL VETERINARIANS ON TREATMENT OF BACKYARD POULTRY ________ In response to growing requests from companion animal practitioners asked to provide veterinary care for the burgeoning population of backyard chickens, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has developed an online reference, Backyard Chickens 101: A Quick Guide for Small Animal Veterinarians. Backyard chickens are often a unique blend of production animals and beloved pets. Although often treated like members of the family by clients, state and federal regulators view backyard poultry as food animals that fall under medical restrictions. The top 5 tips for small-animal veterinarians who are contacted by owners of pet chickens include the following: Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23 (2014), pp 313–315
Compile a list of local veterinarians who
regularly treat birds as well as nearby veterinary facilities or teaching hospitals with poultry specialists. Know the few drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in chickens. Use other expert resources, such as extension veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories, if you decide to start treating backyard chickens. If you choose to treat backyard chickens, educate yourself about poultry medicine by reading relevant texts and articles as well as attending continuing education sessions. Know that to perform some clinical tasks on backyard chickens, you may need additional credentials and coverage, such as Category II accreditation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or liability insurance.
The guide is available only to AVMA members and can be accessed on the AVMA website (Backyard Chickens 101: A Quick Guide for Small Animal Veterinarians. Available at: https://www. avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/BackyardChickens-101.aspx). PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ACTIVE IN THE VETERINARY MARKET ____________________ Continued growth in pet-related spending in the United States has attracted the attention of a number of pharmaceutical companies. Recent start-ups, mergers, and other developments include the following:
Proventis is a new start-up company dedicated to the development of veterinary drugs for companion and production animals. The company, headquartered in St. Louis, MO, USA, is working with TetraGenx, an established research and development company based in Montreal, Canada to develop its first 5 products. The first of those products is expected to be launched in late 2015. (New drug company Proventis enters 3 1 3
veterinary Market. Vet Pract News. Available at: http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vetbreaking-news/2014/05/22/new-drugcompany-provetis-enters-veterinary-market. aspx) Eli Lilly and Co. will acquire Novartis Animal Health for $5.4 billion to strengthen and diversify Lilly’s animal health business, Elanco. Once the acquisition is complete, Elanco will be the second largest animal health company in terms of global revenue, after Zoetis. Lilly expects the acquisition to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2015. (Elanco to grow with Novartis addition. J Am Vet Med Assoc 244(11):1234, 2014) Premune, a Swedish veterinary drug company, is establishing a U.S. subsidiary, Premune Inc., in New York, USA. According to the company’s chief executive officer, “Pet-related spending in the United States has increased for each of the last 20 years, making it one of the few industries immune to macroeconomic weakness.” Premune develops treatments for allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and other immune disorders. (Swedish animal drug maker launches U.S. subsidiary. Available at: http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vetbreaking-news/2014/04/18/swedish-animaldrug-maker-launches-us-subsidiary.aspx)
EBOLA VACCINE FOR WILD APES SUCCESSFULLY TESTED ON CAPTIVE CHIMPS Results of a recent trial in captive chimpanzees published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science demonstrated that a vaccine developed against Ebola virus is both safe and capable of inducing a strong immune response in chimpanzees. The vaccine tested was the first conservation-specific product of its kind. The unprecedented study showed that “orphan” vaccines (i.e., those that do not go through the costly licensing process involved with human use) can be used on wildlife and may even be life saving for highly endangered species such as gorillas and chimpanzees. Great apes and chimpanzees are exposed to many pathogenic viruses by researchers and tourists. According to Dr. Peter Walsh, the senior author on the study, “Half of deaths among chimps and gorillas that live in proximity to humans are from our respiratory viruses. For us it’s a sore throat—for them it’s death.” Researchers 3 1 4
point out that infectious diseases raise the same extinction-level risks to African ape species as do poaching and habitat destruction. In particular, populations continue to be overwhelmed by malaria, anthrax, and spillover respiratory viruses. Additionally, in 2007, nearly one-third of the world’s gorilla population succumbed to massive Ebola outbreaks. Although vaccination could be a deciding factor in protecting vulnerable natural populations of these primates, park managers insist that all vaccines be tested on captive apes before deployment in the wild. The decision was made to access captive chimpanzees for vaccine trials, but this has sparked controversy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering regulations that would end all biomedical testing on captive chimpanzees over the next several years. The authors of the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science suggest establishment of a “humanely housed” captive population of chimpanzees dedicated solely to conservation research. In this study, researchers administered a new “virus-like particle” vaccine being developed for use on humans. Vaccinated animals were not challenged with Ebola virus, but seroconversion was detected by 2 to 4 weeks after the first vaccination in some animals and within 2 weeks of the second vaccination in all animals. The researchers point out that the Ebola vaccine is just one of many experimental orphan vaccines that show excellent safety and immunity profiles in primates but are never licensed for human use. Dr. Walsh comments that, “If the biomedical laboratories that have the facilities and inclination to conduct controlled vaccine trials ‘liquidate’ their chimpanzee populations, there will be nowhere left to perform conservation-related trials.” (Dilemma of testing on captive chimps to save wild apes highlighted by Ebola vaccine success. Accessed at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ releases/277333.php) NEW STRAIN OF AVIAN FLU FOUND IN PENGUINS IN ANTARCTICA ___________________ In a study published in mBio, the online journal of the American Society for Microbiology, scientists report the discovery of a novel strain of avian flu found in Adélie penguins in Antarctica. The virus, H11N2, was found in penguins at 2 locations on the Antarctica Peninsula. Researchers collected swabs from 301 Adélie penguins and blood from 270 of the penguins. By testing with
AVIAN & EXOTIC NEWS/Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23 (2014), pp 313–315
real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the virus was found in 6 adult penguins and 2 chicks. Penguins carrying the virus do not appear to have clinical signs of disease. Additionally, the virus did not infect ferrets, the animal used most commonly for influenza testing. Results of further experimentation reportedly showed that the virus is also unlikely to infect humans. Researchers speculated that in the areas where sampling took place, migratory birds were likely traveling south from North and South America. Although scientists do not think the newly discovered viral strain is of great concern to wildlife
health, it does provide evidence that avian influenza viruses can reach Antarctica. Fatalities in humans and wildlife have been caused by 2 strains of avian flu discovered in Southeast Asia over the past 2 years: H7N9 and H5N1. In February 2014, the H10N8 strain, previously unknown in humans, caused 1 death in China. (Avian flu discovered in penguins in Antarctica. Available at: http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/07/us-birdfluantarctic-idINKBN0DN0DC20140507)
1557-5063/14/2101-$30.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2014.07.007
AVIAN & EXOTIC NEWS/Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23 (2014), pp 313–315
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19TH ANNUAL AMERICAN BOARD OF VETERINARY PRACTITIONERS SYMPOSIUM ___ The 19th Annual American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) Symposium will be held from October 30 to November 2, 2014 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, TN, USA. Nine lecture tracks will be available, including avian, exotic companion mammals, and reptile/amphibian. Over the 4-day symposium, 8 board-certified lecturers will present a total of 25 lectures/wet labs on exotic animal medicine. More information can be found at the ABVP Symposium website: http://www.abvp. com/symposium. THE 2015 NORTH AMERICAN VETERINARY CONFERENCE _________________________________ The 2015 North American Veterinary Conference will be held from January 17 to 21 in Orlando, FL, USA. More than 350 speakers will deliver more than 1200 lectures, wet labs, and master classes designed for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, and veterinary students. Comprehensive tracks are available for exotic animal medicine. Additional information is available at: http://www.navc.com. AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DEVELOPS A GUIDE FOR SMALL-ANIMAL VETERINARIANS ON TREATMENT OF BACKYARD POULTRY ________ In response to growing requests from companion animal practitioners asked to provide veterinary care for the burgeoning population of backyard chickens, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has developed an online reference, Backyard Chickens 101: A Quick Guide for Small Animal Veterinarians. Backyard chickens are often a unique blend of production animals and beloved pets. Although often treated like members of the family by clients, state and federal regulators view backyard poultry as food animals that fall under medical restrictions. The top 5 tips for small-animal veterinarians who are contacted by owners of pet chickens include the following: Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23 (2014), pp 313–315
Compile a list of local veterinarians who
regularly treat birds as well as nearby veterinary facilities or teaching hospitals with poultry specialists. Know the few drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in chickens. Use other expert resources, such as extension veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories, if you decide to start treating backyard chickens. If you choose to treat backyard chickens, educate yourself about poultry medicine by reading relevant texts and articles as well as attending continuing education sessions. Know that to perform some clinical tasks on backyard chickens, you may need additional credentials and coverage, such as Category II accreditation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or liability insurance.
The guide is available only to AVMA members and can be accessed on the AVMA website (Backyard Chickens 101: A Quick Guide for Small Animal Veterinarians. Available at: https://www. avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/BackyardChickens-101.aspx). PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ACTIVE IN THE VETERINARY MARKET ____________________ Continued growth in pet-related spending in the United States has attracted the attention of a number of pharmaceutical companies. Recent start-ups, mergers, and other developments include the following:
Proventis is a new start-up company dedicated to the development of veterinary drugs for companion and production animals. The company, headquartered in St. Louis, MO, USA, is working with TetraGenx, an established research and development company based in Montreal, Canada to develop its first 5 products. The first of those products is expected to be launched in late 2015. (New drug company Proventis enters 3 1 3
veterinary Market. Vet Pract News. Available at: http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vetbreaking-news/2014/05/22/new-drugcompany-provetis-enters-veterinary-market. aspx) Eli Lilly and Co. will acquire Novartis Animal Health for $5.4 billion to strengthen and diversify Lilly’s animal health business, Elanco. Once the acquisition is complete, Elanco will be the second largest animal health company in terms of global revenue, after Zoetis. Lilly expects the acquisition to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2015. (Elanco to grow with Novartis addition. J Am Vet Med Assoc 244(11):1234, 2014) Premune, a Swedish veterinary drug company, is establishing a U.S. subsidiary, Premune Inc., in New York, USA. According to the company’s chief executive officer, “Pet-related spending in the United States has increased for each of the last 20 years, making it one of the few industries immune to macroeconomic weakness.” Premune develops treatments for allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and other immune disorders. (Swedish animal drug maker launches U.S. subsidiary. Available at: http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vetbreaking-news/2014/04/18/swedish-animaldrug-maker-launches-us-subsidiary.aspx)
EBOLA VACCINE FOR WILD APES SUCCESSFULLY TESTED ON CAPTIVE CHIMPS Results of a recent trial in captive chimpanzees published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science demonstrated that a vaccine developed against Ebola virus is both safe and capable of inducing a strong immune response in chimpanzees. The vaccine tested was the first conservation-specific product of its kind. The unprecedented study showed that “orphan” vaccines (i.e., those that do not go through the costly licensing process involved with human use) can be used on wildlife and may even be life saving for highly endangered species such as gorillas and chimpanzees. Great apes and chimpanzees are exposed to many pathogenic viruses by researchers and tourists. According to Dr. Peter Walsh, the senior author on the study, “Half of deaths among chimps and gorillas that live in proximity to humans are from our respiratory viruses. For us it’s a sore throat—for them it’s death.” Researchers 3 1 4
point out that infectious diseases raise the same extinction-level risks to African ape species as do poaching and habitat destruction. In particular, populations continue to be overwhelmed by malaria, anthrax, and spillover respiratory viruses. Additionally, in 2007, nearly one-third of the world’s gorilla population succumbed to massive Ebola outbreaks. Although vaccination could be a deciding factor in protecting vulnerable natural populations of these primates, park managers insist that all vaccines be tested on captive apes before deployment in the wild. The decision was made to access captive chimpanzees for vaccine trials, but this has sparked controversy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering regulations that would end all biomedical testing on captive chimpanzees over the next several years. The authors of the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science suggest establishment of a “humanely housed” captive population of chimpanzees dedicated solely to conservation research. In this study, researchers administered a new “virus-like particle” vaccine being developed for use on humans. Vaccinated animals were not challenged with Ebola virus, but seroconversion was detected by 2 to 4 weeks after the first vaccination in some animals and within 2 weeks of the second vaccination in all animals. The researchers point out that the Ebola vaccine is just one of many experimental orphan vaccines that show excellent safety and immunity profiles in primates but are never licensed for human use. Dr. Walsh comments that, “If the biomedical laboratories that have the facilities and inclination to conduct controlled vaccine trials ‘liquidate’ their chimpanzee populations, there will be nowhere left to perform conservation-related trials.” (Dilemma of testing on captive chimps to save wild apes highlighted by Ebola vaccine success. Accessed at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ releases/277333.php) NEW STRAIN OF AVIAN FLU FOUND IN PENGUINS IN ANTARCTICA ___________________ In a study published in mBio, the online journal of the American Society for Microbiology, scientists report the discovery of a novel strain of avian flu found in Adélie penguins in Antarctica. The virus, H11N2, was found in penguins at 2 locations on the Antarctica Peninsula. Researchers collected swabs from 301 Adélie penguins and blood from 270 of the penguins. By testing with
AVIAN & EXOTIC NEWS/Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23 (2014), pp 313–315
real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the virus was found in 6 adult penguins and 2 chicks. Penguins carrying the virus do not appear to have clinical signs of disease. Additionally, the virus did not infect ferrets, the animal used most commonly for influenza testing. Results of further experimentation reportedly showed that the virus is also unlikely to infect humans. Researchers speculated that in the areas where sampling took place, migratory birds were likely traveling south from North and South America. Although scientists do not think the newly discovered viral strain is of great concern to wildlife
health, it does provide evidence that avian influenza viruses can reach Antarctica. Fatalities in humans and wildlife have been caused by 2 strains of avian flu discovered in Southeast Asia over the past 2 years: H7N9 and H5N1. In February 2014, the H10N8 strain, previously unknown in humans, caused 1 death in China. (Avian flu discovered in penguins in Antarctica. Available at: http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/05/07/us-birdfluantarctic-idINKBN0DN0DC20140507)
1557-5063/14/2101-$30.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2014.07.007
AVIAN & EXOTIC NEWS/Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23 (2014), pp 313–315
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