AVMA board looks to future of COMMUNICATIONS
Also approves task force on internships, amphibian and reptile specialty
The AVMA's electronic communications, the quality of veterinary internships, and a new specialty in amphibian and reptile practice were among the subjects of the June 4–6 Executive Board meeting.
The meeting encompassed strategy and governance discussions as well as numerous actions to advance the Association and the profession.
The agenda included few big-ticket items. At the time of the meeting, the AVMA projected a deficit exceeding $2.3 million for 2009, said Treasurer Dr. Bret D. Marsh. Journal advertising continues to be down, Dr. Marsh said, although membership renewals and convention registration have been strong. The AVMA saw a respectable 7 percent return on investments from January to the end of May.
Because of budgetary constraints, the board did not hold its June meeting in Las Vegas as it had planned. The board had intended to visit the new testing center there for the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates certification program.
AVMA's Web site up for a redesign
If all goes according to plan, the AVMA will show a new face to the public and members—online, that is.
The board directed AVMA staff to develop a business plan for redevelopment of the AVMA Web site, www.avma.org. The current site, while replete with content, can be difficult to navigate, according to member feedback. Making the site more interactive is also part of the redevelopment initiative.
J.B. Hancock, director of the AVMA Communications Division, said the last major updates to the site —restructuring the home page, changes to the site's organization, and a new search software program—took place in 2005. She noted that subsequent, smaller updates have been implemented consistently since then.
Dr. Douglas G. Aspros, District I board member, said he didn't want to wait another five years for an update to the Association's site.
Dr. Theodore J. Cohn, District IX board member, said revamping the site would also be a good way to connect with new members who are “keyed in more with electronic communications.”
Initially, the board approved the AVMA Council on Communications' recommendation to revamp the Web site and spend up to $180,000 to do so. Later, members reconsidered that action and approved an amended recommendation that nixed the specified amount and, instead, called for the development of a business plan before spending any money.
Following the meeting, board Chair David L. McCrystle said the idea behind the board's reconsideration was that it wanted a request for proposals.
“Basically, we were concerned that the number was picked out of the air,” Dr. McCrystle said.
He continued, “I think there are a couple of important things to note. First, the board unanimously agreed the Web site needs an update. Second, that's a major project, and we're in a tight fiscal world right now. We wanted more accurate information before proceeding.”
In another action relevant to electronic communications, the board reaffirmed its commitment to AVMA online discussion groups, on recommendation of the Member Services Committee.
The current discussion groups, the Network of Animal Health, date back to 1998. The Communications Division has been working to rebrand and reinvigorate NOAH.
Dr. Cohn said NOAH could be a driver for the AVMA Web site and a method for increasing communication between AVMA leaders and members. He said, “It's a way of reaching our members at the grassroots level—and for them to reach us.”
Barbara Baldwin, an assistant director of the Membership and Field Services Division, said NOAH might morph into newer forms of online communication.
Member Services Committee
The Member Services Committee also received board approval for recommendations relevant to diversity, veterinary students, wellness, and member dues.
The board approved $5,000 in funding for a pilot program to increase diversity among recent graduates attending the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference in January 2010. The funds will help cover the cost of attendance for five emerging leaders from backgrounds underrepresented in veterinary medicine.
The pilot program builds on an existing AVMA program to provide veterinarians who have graduated within the past seven years with an opportunity to attend the annual leadership conference. Dr. Larry M. Kornegay, District VIII board member, said the new pilot program is a cost-effective step to promote diversity.
The committee also received approval for revisions to its description and charge, mostly to emphasize its advocacy for veterinary students. The other objectives of the MSC are promoting AVMA membership, considering and making recommendations on membership matters, reviewing membership policies, increasing diversity and mentorship in the profession, and promoting wellness.
The board reaffirmed the AVMA Model Program for Wellness and the AVMA Guiding Principles for State Veterinary Wellness Programs. These documents describe programs to address impairment of veterinary professionals due to chemical addictions or other health issues.
Members of the AVMA Executive Board—Drs. Douglas G. Aspros, Larry M. Kornegay, and Theodore J. Cohn—confer during the June 4–6 meeting.
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 235, 2; 10.2460/javma.235.2.130
The board also approved creating parity in the dues of associate members, a category for veterinarians who are legal residents of a country other than the United States, to match the dues paid by voting members. Voting and associate members have the same access to AVMA benefits and activities other than the right to vote, hold office, or serve on the board or House of Delegates—and the Association incurs additional costs to provide services to members living outside the U.S.
Task Force on Veterinary Internships
The AVMA will take the lead on a new Task Force on Veterinary Internships. The board approved spending $8,800 on the task force, on recommendation of the joint committee of the AVMA and Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
The objective of the task force is to review the status and overall quality of veterinary internships, which are currently not subject to oversight. The American Academy of Veterinary Clinicians operates the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program to assist new graduates in finding positions, but the matching program does not regulate participants or cover all internships.
Dr. Gregory S. Hammer, AVMA immediate past president, noted that about 40 percent of new graduates are going into internships. He believes that some internships have less substance than they should— and that the situation won't improve on its own.
In the background to the recommendation to form a task force, the AVMA/AAVMC Joint Committee stated: “It is clear that many excellent internships are available; however, the number of complaints suggest that too many new graduates, already saddled with high student debt, participate in substandard internships that provide low wages and little educational value.”
Representatives of the AAVMC and AAVC held a half-day meeting in February, in conjunction with the regular meeting of the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, to discuss the future of internship and residency programs as well as the shortage of veterinary specialists in academia. The AVMA/AAVMC Joint Committee believes that the AVMA can bring stakeholders together to assess the internship situation fully and develop appropriate quality-assurance measures.
The Task Force on Veterinary Internships will include four representatives from the AVMA and two each from the AAVMC and AAVC. Each organization will pay travel expenses for its representatives, and the AVMA will host the meetings.
New specialty created
Reptile and Amphibian Practice has become the newest veterinary specialty. On recommendation of the Council on Education, and after review by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, the board granted provisional recognition to the specialty, which has formed under the auspices of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
In 2006, the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians first petitioned the ABVP, an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization since 1978, to begin the process toward recognition of a reptile and amphibian specialty. Then in 2007 it submitted a formal petition for recognition of the specialty to the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties.
After allowing for a year of public comment during which three comments were received, and an indepth review by a two-member ABVS subcommittee, the committee again reviewed the petition and forwarded it and the reviewers' report to the full ABVS. The specialty's petition complied with the ABVS policies and procedures governing recognition of new specialties, and the proposed new specialty's organizing committee made its case for the establishment of the new specialty. In late February, the ABVS recommended that the Reptile and Amphibian Practice be granted provisional recognition under the ABVP; the Executive Board's action finalized the move.
Like all specialties within the ABVP, the new specialty will require postgraduate training, education, and experience for candidates to become credentialed to sit for the certifying examination.
The specialty in reptile and amphibian practice was developed in a manner similar to the existing eight veterinary specialties under the ABVP umbrella, and will be represented on the board of regents of the ABVP. Provisional recognition can continue on the basis of ABVS review and approval of annual reports for no less than four and no more than 10 years. To move to full recognition, the specialty must submit a second petition for review by the ABVS during that time.
According to the Reptile and Amphibian Practice petition, more than 175 current members of the ARAV would pursue board certification once the new specialty is recognized. The association has nearly 1,000 members, according to its Web site, www.arav.org.
Board members also approved changes to the ABVS policies and procedures manual recommended at the organization's February 2008 meeting. Most revisions clarified existing language; however, two revisions affect the application process for proposed specialties.
The first change is recommended so that the ABVS is assured that a proposed new veterinary specialty or subspecialty will have the support of the parent recognized veterinary specialty organization or recognized veterinary specialty. The second change is to provide clarification on the procedures that will occur after a proposed new veterinary specialty organization, veterinary specialty, or veterinary subspecialty submits a petition for provisional recognition to the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties. The complete ABVS policies and procedures manual is available at www.avma.org/education/abvs/default.asp.
Additional coverage of AVMA Executive Board actions will follow in the Aug. 1 JAVMA News.
—KATIE BURNS AND MALINDA OSBORNE
Board fills vacancies
The Executive Board named the following veterinarians to the entities indicated, representing the designated areas. They will begin serving at the conclusion of the House of Delegates session July 10. The duration of terms varies.
Animal Welfare Committee: American Association of Bovine Practitioners, primary—Dr. Maxson B. Irsik, Gainesville, Fla.; Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee: extension or diagnostic services—Dr. Roxanna M. Smolowitz, Hatchville, Mass.; Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee: American Association of Avian Pathologists, alternate—Dr. Hector Cervantes, Watkinsville, Ga.; Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates: clinical practitioners holding an ECFVG certificate—Dr. K. Moses Humphreys, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Committee on Environmental Issues: veterinary ecology—Dr. Greg P. Sykes, West Grove, Pa.; zoo and wildlife medicine—Dr. R. Scott Larsen, West Sacramento, Calif.; Food Safety Advisory Committee: aquatic food animal medicine veterinarian—Dr. Hugh Mitchell, Kirkland, Wash.; Group Health and Life Insurance Trust: at-large—Dr. Janet D. Donlin, Topeka, Kan. Legislative Advisory Committee: American Association of Avian Pathologists, alternate—Dr. Bruce N. Stewart-Brown, Salisbury, Md.
The following veterinarians were named as liaisons to the entities indicated. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science—Dr. Kevin M. Lewis, Deerfield, Ill.; American Registry of Pathology—Dr. L. Garry Adams, College Station, Texas; Compendium Committee on Infection Control for Practitioners—Dr. Elysia Schaefer, Savoy, Ill.; Johne's Working Group—Dr. Bhushan M. Jayarao, University Park, Pa.; National Coalition on Food and Agricultural Research—Dr. Michael E. Newman, Decatur, Ala.; Rabies Compendium Committee-NASPHV—Dr. Donald E. Hoenig, Belfast, Maine.
take notice: Studies link occupational exposures to preterm delivery, birth defects
A recent study suggests that pregnant veterinarians have a higher risk for preterm delivery if they work long hours or perform surgery in the absence of a system for scavenging waste anesthetic gases. Another study indicates that occupational exposure to radiation or pesticides may increase the risk of birth defects.
The studies appeared in the May issues of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, respectively. They are part of a series of studies analyzing data from a survey of veterinarians who graduated from Australian schools between 1960 and 2000. Previous analysis of the data indicated that pregnant Australian veterinarians with occupational exposure to anesthetic gases, radiation, or pesticides may have twice the risk of miscarriage (see JAVMA, May 15, 2008, page 1445).
The study of preterm delivery found that the prevalence was 7.3 percent in pregnant veterinarians who had exposure to anesthetic gases, in comparison with 5.7 percent in the general population. Further analysis revealed a dose-response relationship. The risk of preterm delivery also was higher for pregnant veterinarians who worked more than 45 hours per week, in comparison with those who worked fewer hours.
The other study found an increase in the risk of birth defects among the children of female veterinarians who took more than 10 radiographs per week while pregnant. The risk of birth defects was also increased after occupational exposure to pesticides at least once a week in veterinarians working exclusively in small animal practice.
public health: Foodborne illness levels off in past several years
CDC report states overall progress stopped in 2004
Progress toward reducing infections from some pathogens has hit a plateau, indicating “fundamental problems with bacterial and parasitic contamination are not being resolved,” a recent report states.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report April 10 indicating the prevalence of illnesses from nine foodborne pathogens has declined since the 1990s but remained level from 2004 through 2008. The report is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5813a2.htm.
Those pathogens are Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia.
The data are based on surveillance through FoodNet, which has monitored laboratory-confirmed infection data since 1996. The surveillance population is about 46 million people, and in that population were about 18,500 laboratory-confirmed cases in 2008 of infection with the nine previously listed pathogens.
The report notes none of the 2008 goals for reduction of foodborne pathogens were met under Healthy People 2010, an initiative launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in January 2000 to promote health and prevent disease. The initiative has 28 focus areas covering a broad range of human health issues, including food safety.
The Salmonella infection rate, at 16.2 cases per 100,000 people, is furthest from the Healthy People 2010 initiative goal of 6.8 per 100,000.
“The lack of recent progress toward the national health objective targets and the occurrence of large multistate outbreaks point to gaps in the current food safety system and the need to continue to develop and evaluate food safety practices as food moves from the farm to the table,” the report states.
Finding the source
The CDC did not compile data that would indicate whether safety had improved among food animals or plants, spokeswoman Lola Russell said. The agency is recommending that actions be taken, and it is up to food safety regulators to decide how to respond.
Dr. John R. Dunn, director of Foodborne, Vectorborne, and Zoonotic Diseases for the Tennessee Department of Health and principal investigator for FoodNet in Tennessee, said better communication and partnership across public health and regulatory agencies could improve understanding of sources of food contamination and subsequent outbreaks. He noted an increase in the number of illnesses associated with produce in recent years.
“Many of these foodborne pathogens have some connection to an animal reservoir,” Dr. Dunn said.
David Goldman, MD, assistant administrator for the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, said a Salmonella initiative started by his agency in 2006 has substantially reduced the bacteria's presence in raw meat and poultry products.
“We have worked hard to reduce contamination in FSIS-regulated products and have seen marked success in Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes,” Goldman said. “We are concerned about the lack of progress in reducing the incidence of foodborne illness and believe this report points to the need for better information about sources of infection.”
David Acheson, MD, associate commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration, sees a shift in the foods that have been associated with foodborne illness.
“We've seen a number of foods associated with outbreaks that we haven't seen before,” Dr. Acheson said. “Peanut butter is a classic one where we've seen two big outbreaks in the last couple of years, which has never happened before in the United States.”
Dr. Acheson noted jalapeño peppers, which were associated with a Salmonella outbreak in summer 2008, are also a new vehicle for illness.
Investigators are better at finding foodborne pathogens and their sources, Dr. Acheson said, but it was not clear if that fully explained why pathogens have recently been associated with different foods.
“It's hard to know whether we're just getting better at it or whether the landscape is changing,” Dr. Acheson said. “It may be a combination of the two.”
Dr. John P. Sanders, branch chief for food defense and preparedness coordination in the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs, said the CDC has received more outbreak reports since switching from paper reports to the electronic Foodborne Outbreak Reporting System in 2001. The technology used to identify foodborne pathogens has also improved, and public awareness has increased.
Dr. Acheson noted some initial gains in food safety after FoodNet was started in 1996, and he agreed with the assessment that infection rates have leveled off among the major pathogens tracked through the service.
“What I take from that is we need a new approach,” Dr. Acheson said. “We have got to be looking at learning from the controls that we've put in place—the systems we've put in place—because, obviously, there's been some effect from that, but it's no longer driving (rates) down further.”
Dr. Acheson said cleanup of food processing equipment between runs of raw and roasted pistachios could have prevented contamination at a California factory. Though the factory was associated only with a recall and not an outbreak, he said the facility is useful as an example for control of food contamination.
It is likely that, as new measures are implemented, food safety will again plateau, Dr. Acheson said.
“But if you're on a winning streak here, you're going to plateau lower, and then you'll identify the next round of controls that you need to put in place, and you plateau even lower,” he said.
Beyond the “low-hanging fruit”
Dr. David R. Smith, a professor and extension dairy and beef veterinarian for the University of Nebraska, said the reductions in foodborne illnesses prior to 2004 coincided with safety improvements in postharvest sectors of animal industries, particularly those related to beef cattle. The FoodNet data suggest to him that members of the animal agriculture industry have adopted some of the easiest measures to improve safety.
“The low-hanging fruit has been picked, and it's time to look at where else are there gaps in food and environmental safety,” Dr. Smith said.
For example, Dr. Smith said little has been done to reduce carriage of E coli O157 or Salmonella in live cattle, which could also reduce environmental contamination of produce.
Veterinarians and the veterinary profession can also work to increase public awareness of the risks posed by zoonotic pathogens, Dr. Smith said.
Dr. Sanders said outbreaks of foodborne illness involving produce still tend to involve human or animal contamination of crops or irrigation water, and he cited as an example an E coli 0157:H7 outbreak associated with feral swine crossing a spinach field.
Dr. Sanders said such outbreaks have raised the awareness of Congress, and that could increase opportunities for veterinarians in public practice.
“Hopefully we will get some additional funding for the agencies that are involved in food safety, where this is an opportunity for them to become involved,” Dr. Sanders said.
Though the FoodNet data do not indicate which food has become contaminated, they provide insight into the volume of illnesses in the United States. Dr. Acheson likened FoodNet reports to report cards and said they are valuable for regulatory agencies.
Some changes are evident in the incidence of pathogens, as seen in a substantial decline in E coli O157-related illnesses several years ago, Dr. Dunn said. The incidence has not substantially declined since, and opportunities exist for veterinarians interested in research related to the bacteria and food safety.
“With the integration of veterinarians at all levels of food safety—from the preharvest aspects that I mentioned all the way through to the end that I work on, which is the identification of illness and investigation—veterinarians have contributed greatly, and there's ample opportunity to continue to address this problem of foodborne illness for veterinarians,” Dr. Dunn said.
Veterinarians involved with public health and livestock can serve as consultants for farms and feedlots and minimize the impacts they have on surrounding produce farms, Dr. Sanders said. The FDA has been working with Cornell University and the University of Maryland on the Good Agricultural Practices program to educate farmers about their impact on food safety.
The DHS, USDA, and FDA are also working to improve abilities to detect harmful agents in food, Dr. Sanders said. The DHS is also working with state and local health departments to help them stabilize their funding and focus on food protection.
Dr. Dunn said that, despite improved ability to measure incidence of Salmonella since the advent of FoodNet, the data do not show a sustained decline in salmonellosis.
“Salmonellosis is a large proportion of our foodborne disease illness, so in that respect it's disappointing that we're not able to identify things that would create a sustained decline, particularly in salmonellosis,” Dr. Dunn said.
A CDC report from April 2005 indicates substantial declines from 1996–2004 in the estimated incidence of infections with Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, STEC O157, Listeria, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Yersinia. Similar to the 2009 report, the 2005 report called for efforts to understand and control pathogens in animals and plants, reduce or prevent contamination during processing, and educate consumers. The CDC posts an annual summary report on the FoodNet surveillance, and as of press time, the last full report available online involved data from 2004.
—GREG CIMA
Public health veterinarian sees challenges in infection trends
Food safety is not improving as quickly as hoped, and recent outbreaks of illness involved produce contaminated with pathogens typically associated with animal products, Dr. Kristy Bradley said.
“It does beg the question of where the veterinarian's role is now in that farm-to-fork continuum,” Dr. Bradley said. “Certainly, veterinarians are very critical in working with producers, to make sure they are counseling them on preventative medicine and working to keep animals healthy.”
The president-elect of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Dr. Bradley is also Oklahoma's state public health veterinarian and state epidemiologist. She said the April 10 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention not only showed that progress toward reducing illnesses from some foodborne pathogens had stalled but also illustrated problems in modern food production and distribution systems.
“I think it reflects really the globalization and changes from traditional food production to something that is so much more immense,” Dr. Bradley said. “The global distribution and intensive factory type of farming production of our meats, dairy, and produce products, and also how quickly these products are moved from different countries to different points of distribution, really present some unique challenges in the 21st century.”
Dr. Bradley noted illnesses from some pathogens may appear to increase as laboratory technology improves. She does not think that all increases evident in the FoodNet data are related to those developments.
Department of Agriculture initiatives have made progress in reducing Salmonella and Listeria in poultry and egg products, she said, and those initiatives could indicate veterinarians are taking leading roles in removing the risks of foodborne pathogens. But she thinks more scrutiny of tracking systems is needed for animal products and produce, globalization, and current large-scale food distribution systems.
Dr. Bradley said a Salmonella outbreak associated with tomatoes and jalapeños caused investigators difficulties in tracing the commingling, packing, and distribution of the produce, demonstrating the need for improvements in tracking systems.
“We also have seen that our workforce just isn't large enough,” Dr. Bradley said. She hopes for more opportunities for veterinarians in food safety, epidemiology, and research.
Dr. Bradley said increased use of food irradiation would also help improve food safety, but a lack of consumer acceptance is the primary barrier to implementation.
—GREG CIMA
“Salmonellosis is a large proportion of our foodborne disease illness, so in that respect it's disappointing that we're not able to identify things that would create a sustained decline.”
—DR. JOHN R. DUNN, DIRECTOR, FOODBORNE, VECTORBORNE, AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES, TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; AND PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, FOODNET IN TENNESSEE
AVMA news: Measuring sunscreens' ability to protect against skin cancer
Effectiveness goes beyond SPF rating
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more than 1 million new cases diagnosed each year.
It is also among the most costly, with annual direct and indirect costs estimated at $2.5 billion. GHLIT paid about $444,000 for treatment of malignant neoplasm of the skin/melanoma in 2008 and approximately $564,000 in 2007.
Because it is linked closely to ultraviolet radiation exposure, skin cancer is of particular concern for veterinarians, especially those in large animal practice. Several studies suggest sunlight exposure is responsible for an elevated rate of skin cancer among veterinarians whose practices are not limited to small animals.
Sunscreen use has long been considered the primary line of defense against skin cancer. But it may not provide sufficient protection against malignant melanoma, which is the rarest but deadliest form of skin cancer. Melanoma is responsible for more than 75 percent of skin cancer deaths.
SPF protection isn't enough
Sun protection factor, or SPF, scores provide a measurement of the protection sunscreens provide against UVB rays, which cause the most immediate damage to the skin. But the number says nothing about the protection against UVA rays, which penetrate more deeply into the skin and reach fragile subcutaneous tissues.
That is why the Food and Drug Administration is finalizing regulations that will require sunscreen manufacturers to provide UVA protection information on their product labels. The new regulations will require sunscreen testing, and current plans involve using those test results to label products with a four-star rating system, with one star representing the lowest UVA protection.
“While sunscreens have improved dramatically over the past several years, there was a need to update the governmental regulations associated with sunscreens, especially regarding the institution of a UVA test method and product labeling,” Perry Robins, MD, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation, said in a written statement.
“Our knowledge of the dangers associated with UVA rays has grown significantly over the last few decades. We now know that UVA plays a very direct role in skin cancer, comparable to that of UVB. Therefore, introducing a UVA test method will enable consumers to know how well the product protects against UVA rays as well as UVB rays.”
The new regulations will also prohibit use of the words “sunblock,” “waterproof,” “sweat-proof” and “all-day protection.” They will also ban claims that sunscreens have SPF ratings in excess of 50 unless those claims are backed by scientific evidence.
The latter change is important because a higher SPF rating does not necessarily mean the product will provide more protection against UVB rays. Sunscreens with SPF 15 ratings block about 93 percent of incoming UVB rays, while SPF 30-rated products block 97 percent, and SPF 50 products block 99 percent. No sunscreen blocks 100 percent of UVB rays.
Cover up for maximum protection
The new FDA regulations would also require sunscreen manufacturers to include on product labels an alert that a comprehensive sun protection regimen includes limiting time in the sun and wearing protective clothing.
A comprehensive review of more than 200 studies on sun protection, which appeared in The Lancet, found sunscreen was effective at protecting against basal carcinomas and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common forms of skin cancer. But there was no conclusive evidence that sunscreen offered any protection against melanoma.
Instead, researchers led by Stephan Lautenschlager, MD, with Switzerland's Triemli Hospital found that avoiding direct sunlight and wearing clothing that stops UV rays from reaching the skin are the best ways to prevent skin cancer. They also found that tightly woven, thick garments made of denim, wool, or polyester provide the best protection.
The authors acknowledged that many prefer using sunscreen over wearing protective clothing, but they warned that sunscreen should not be used to increase the amount of time spent in direct sunlight. They also urged better education on the types and proper use of sunscreen.
Of the two types of sunscreen available, inorganic is the least popular because of its opacity, which is caused by zinc and titanium oxides that scatter UV light. But inorganic sunscreens are generally well-tolerated and cause far fewer allergic reactions than organic counterparts.
The more popular sunscreens consist of organic molecules that blend to give photoprotective qualities and absorb UV rays. Proper use involves applying at least one ounce between 15 and 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapplication every two hours, with more frequent reapplications when perspiring heavily or swimming. The best organic sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays and is waterproof or water-resistant.
“The application of a liberal quantity of sunscreen is by far the most important factor for effectiveness of the sunscreen, followed by the uniformity of application and the specific absorption spectrum of the agent used,” the researchers wrote.
—PREPARED BY THE AVMA GROUP HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE TRUST
equine: ACVIM issues consensus statement on EHV-1
Future progress on understanding and treating infections caused by equine herpesvirus-1 will depend on research into viral pathogenesis and epidemiology.
That is according to the consensus statement released June 3 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine on the disease, which draws together current knowledge on the disease.
Specifically, the publication addresses 10 key areas to guide veterinarians in understanding and managing diseases caused by EHV-1: disease mechanisms; polymerase chain reaction testing; epidemiology; risk factors; diagnosis, prognosis, and screening; vaccines; prevention for neurologic and abortigenic forms; control of EHV-1 outbreaks; response to an outbreak; and treatment approaches.
The document's authors cite an apparent increase in the occurrence in North America of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, the neurologic form of EHV-1, as the impetus behind the statement.
EHV-1 myeloencephalitis cases occur singly or as outbreaks affecting 20 percent to 50 percent of the horse population, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners' guideline on the disease. They may or may not be associated with a previous or ongoing EHV-1 outbreak of respiratory tract disease.
The consensus statement concludes: “Our understanding of the features of EHV-1 is increasing, but there is more to learn before we can best address the challenges that this virus presents. In almost every area of this paper we repeatedly encounter limitations of our understanding that depend principally on our lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of the diseases EHV-1 causes.”
To see the full document, visit www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122393622/PDFSTART.
companion animals: AAFP updates guidelines on care of senior cats
The American Association of Feline Practitioners has released a new version of its Senior Care Guidelines, available on the AAFP Web site at www.catvets.com.
The AAFP dedicated the publication to the late Dr. James R. Richards, co-author of the original guidelines in 1998. Two of Dr. Richard's favorite sayings were: “Cats are masters at hiding illness” and “Age is not a disease.” The guidelines focus on recognition and treatment of the problems that cats develop with age.
The second edition of the Senior Care Guidelines includes recommendations for senior cats' wellness visits, nutrition and weight management, dental care, anesthesia, disease monitoring and management, and quality of life. The publication covers common conditions of senior cats such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, and cognitive disorders.
Drs. Jeanne M. Pittari and Ilona Rodan were the co-chairs of the panel that updated the guidelines. Sponsors of the publication are Nestlé Purina, Merial, Idexx Laboratories, Nutramax Laboratories, and Abbott Laboratories.
Cancer drug approved for dogs
The Food and Drug Administration announced in June it had approved the first cancer therapy for dogs in the United States.
The drug, Palladia, was created by Pfizer Animal Health Inc. as an oral product to treat Patnaik grade II or III recurrent cutaneous mast cell tumors with or without regional lymph node involvement.
Mast cell tumors are responsible for approximately one out of five cases of skin cancer in dogs, the FDA explained in its announcement. Until now, all cancer drugs used in veterinary medicine were developed for use in humans and had to be used in an extralabel manner to treat cancer in animals.
“This cancer drug approval for dogs is an important step forward for veterinary medicine,” said Dr. Bernadette M. Dunham, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.
“Prior to this approval, veterinarians had to rely on human oncology drugs, without knowledge of how safe or effective they would be for dogs,” Dr. Dunham continued. “(This) approval offers dog owners, in consultation with their veterinarian, an option for treatment of their dog's cancer.”
Palladia is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that kills tumor cells and cuts off the blood supply to the tumor. In a clinical trial, the drug caused a statistically significant difference in tumor shrinkage when compared with a placebo, according to the FDA.
The most common adverse effects associated with Palladia, the agency said, are diarrhea, decrease in or loss of appetite, lameness, weight loss, and blood in the feces.
Pfizer announced the FDA approval during the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum and Canadian VMA convention, held in early June. George Fennell, vice president of Pfizer's Companion Animal Division, said the company will be introducing Palladia in the months ahead to board-certified veterinarians.
“The experience gained during this time will enable us to support veterinarians more effectively when we make the product available for purchase in early 2010,” Fennell said.
Dr. Cheryl A. London, a board-certified veterinary oncologist and associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, described Palladia as an exciting new treatment option for dogs with mast cell tumors.
“At the completion of a Palladia clinical study, approximately 60 percent of dogs had their tumors disappear, shrink, or stop growing. Also, we determined that dogs whose tumors responded to Palladia experienced an improved quality of life,” said Dr. London, who has worked with Pfizer since 2000 on the drug's development.
production animals: Welfare group to push for science-based policy, practices
The University of California created a council of animal health experts intended to advise policymakers and animal agriculture producers on animal welfare issues.
“As animal agriculture is facing many challenges in California, it is appropriate that the University of California play a leadership role in reviewing animal production practices, including recommendations to our producers that will enhance animal welfare standards in our state,” Dr. Richard Breitmeyer, California state veterinarian, said in a press release.
Dr. Breitmeyer is one of 14 members of the UC Animal Welfare Advisory Council, which was formed in May. The members plan to review production practices, research current issues, recommend research topics and training programs, advise policymakers and agriculture industry members, and promote policies and practices that are backed by scientific research, the press release states.
Other veterinarians on the council include Dr. Alex Ardans, a professor in the UC-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Ronald J. Faoro, past president of the California VMA; Dr. David L. McCrystle, chair of the AVMA Executive Board; Dr. Bennie I. Osburn, council vice chair and dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine; and Dr. James P. Reynolds, chair of the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee.
The new California-based council is among organizations formed in states with ongoing battles over animal welfare legislation.
For example, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation announced in May the organization had created the Farm Bureau Center to Elevate Animal Issues. The announcement states that the center's formation demonstrates a commitment to counter escalating challenges from animal rights activists.
production animals: California advances bill putting standards on imported eggs
Capitalizing on the success of Proposition 2, which mandated major changes in housing standards for California's egg-laying hens, the state Assembly in May passed legislation requiring all eggs sold in California to meet those same standards.
Voters overwhelmingly passed the Standards for Confining Farm Animals ballot initiative this past November (see JAVMA, Dec. 1, 2008, page 1665). As a result, California producers will have to adopt more spacious livestock housing systems by 2015.
Egg-laying hens, for instance, must have enough room to fully spread both wings without touching the side of an enclosure or another hen.
Prop 2 applies only to eggs produced in California, but Assembly Member Jared Huffman's bill—A.B. 1437—is more sweeping in that it affects all eggs sold in the state come 2015.
“The voters spoke pretty loudly to me and everyone else. I think we need to listen,” the Associated Press quotes Huffman as saying about his bill, which passed 65-12.
At press time in June, the state Senate was considering the legislation.
California is the nation's fifth largest egg-producing state, according to the American Egg Board.
Also in the California Legislature, a Senate committee rejected a proposal that would have authorized school districts to make every effort to purchase poultry and meat products from animals that had not received nontherapeutic antimicrobials.
The original version of the bill would have also instituted a ban on nontherapeutic use of antimicrobials in animals raised for human consumption by 2015. Yet, even a heavily revised version of the legislation failed to muster enough votes to move to the full Senate.
veterinary community: Scholarship fund to support future bovine veterinarians
A scholarship initiative is expected to support the educations of veterinary medical students and others who will contribute to the beef industry.
The National Cattlemen's Foundation launched in May the Bright Futures Scholarship Initiative, which will use an endowed general scholarship fund to support students in undergraduate and graduate programs related to the beef industry. The organizers hope to raise several million dollars for the fund.
Bob Josserand, chair of the foundation's board of trustees, said in a press release that gifts to the scholarship fund will help ensure bright futures for students working toward careers in the U.S. beef industry and preserve the beef industry's legacy.
“We will be facing a crisis within the next decade if we don't act now to help young people turn their passion for agriculture into a viable career,” Josserand said. “We cannot afford to lose them to another industry because they couldn't afford to follow their heart into the beef industry.”
For more information, go to www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org or call (303) 694-0305.
Bovine Veterinarian moves to new Web site
News and editorial content from Bovine Veterinarian magazine is now available online at a new site, www.bovinevetonline.com.
The site includes archives, practice tips, information for veterinary students, event and meeting information, and links to resources for veterinarians.
accolades
Academia
Dr. Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 235, 2; 10.2460/javma.235.2.130
Phi Zeta, the international honor society of veterinary medicine, recently presented two awards for research manuscripts.
Dr. Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam (RJV ′00) received the 2009 Phi Zeta Research Award in the Clinical Sciences category. Dr. Dangoudoubiyam's manuscript “PCR Assays for Detection of Bayliscaris procyonis eggs and larvae” was submitted by the Omicron Chapter at Purdue University.
Dr. Kristen Hobbie (MSU ′99) received the 2009 Phi Zeta Research Award in the Basic Sciences category. The Psi Chapter at North Carolina State University submitted Dr. Hobbie's manuscript “Toward a molecular equivalent dose: Use of the medaka model in comparative risk assessment.”
Each award consists of a plaque and a check in the amount of $1,000.
Phi Zeta has chapters at 28 U.S. veterinary colleges and at St. George's University in Grenada. Each chapter conducts a local competition and then submits its winning manuscript to the Phi Zeta Research Awards Committee.
Organizations
Dr. Elizabeth J. Parker
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 235, 2; 10.2460/javma.235.2.130
Dr. Elizabeth J. Parker, chief veterinarian for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, is the new chair of the Animal Agriculture Alliance.
Chris Copeland is the new Texas VMA executive director as of June 1. He received his bachelor's degree from Texas State University and juris doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. Copeland practiced law for several years before working for the Texas Legislature beginning in 1995. In 1998 he came to work at the Texas VMA. Copeland replaces Elbert C. Hutchins.
Dr. Parker worked with the minority staff of the House Agriculture Committee as the AVMA's 1999–2000 Congressional Science Fellow and later as a professional staff member on the majority staff of the House Agriculture Committee. She has also been an international consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
veterinary community: Military veterinarians meet in South Korea, France
Military veterinarians from 14 countries attended the 55th International Military Veterinary Medical Symposium in Marseille, France. Pictured are, from left: Lt. Col. Dietmar Rackl of Austria, Lt. Col. Emil Hanzen of Croatia, Maj. Branko Dolenc of Slovenia, Maj. Hassan Fassil of Morocco, Col. Niels Nielsen of Denmark, Col. Bas Steltenpool of the Netherlands, Brig. Gen. Theresa Casey of the U.S. Air Force, Lt. Gen. Jean-Yves Kervella of France, Brig. Gen. Timothy Adams of the U.S. Army, Brig. Gen. Giuseppe Vilardo of Italy, Col. Martin Hoffmeister of Germany, Col. Rysard Jeleniewicz of Poland, Lt. Col. Miguel Stevens of Belgium, and Col. Odd Knaevelsrud of Norway (not shown, Dr. Mika Aho of Finland)
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Leslie Angulo)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 235, 2; 10.2460/javma.235.2.130
The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps chief recently spoke in South Korea and France about the U.S. military's role in international aid and in emergency response.
Brig. Gen. Timothy Adams was among 36 veterinarians from Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, and the United States who attended the 19th annual Asia Pacific Military Medical Conference in April in Seoul, South Korea. He was also among military veterinarians from at least 15 countries who attended the 55th International Military Veterinary Medical Symposium in May in Marseille, France.
During the event in South Korea, Brig. Gen. Adams talked about future changes to the Army Medical Department, clinical initiatives related to post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and cooperation between military and civilian health care networks in the U.S. during emergencies.
During the event in France, he talked about the need for partnerships among veterinarians from the U.S. Army and other services, agencies, and nations.
“The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps has a key role in military medicine and stability operations, as well as humanitarian assistance in today's world,” Brig. Gen. Adams said, according to an Army press release.
Dr. James O. Cook, AVMA president, was also a speaker at the Marseille symposium, and he talked about how the work of military veterinarians illustrates the interaction of animal, human, and environmental health and promotes the one-health initiative on a daily basis.
obituaries: AVMA Honor Roll Member AVMA Member Nonmember
Ernest D. Beauchamp
Dr. Beauchamp (GA ′71), 62, Manassas, Va., died Jan. 18, 2009. He was a partner at Woodbridge Animal Hospital in Woodbridge, Va., and Morganna Animal Clinic in Manassas. Dr. Beauchamp's wife, Lucy, and two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to Children's Educational Farm, PWC Animal Shelter, 14807 Bristow Road, Manassas, VA 20112; or National Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163.
James B. Bostic
Dr. Bostic (GA ′59), 78, Virginia Beach, Va., died March 28, 2009. Retired since 1990, he was the founder of Bostic Veterinary Hospital and a co-founder of Kempsville Veterinary Hospital and Tidewater Emergency Veterinary Hospital, all in Virginia Beach. Dr. Bostic was a member of the Virginia VMA. His wife, Lois, and four sons survive him. Memorials may be made to the Virginia Tech Foundation, University Development, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
James E. Carmichael
Dr. Carmichael (PUR ′71), 62, Sullivan, Ind., died Feb. 28, 2009. An equine practitioner, he owned Carmichael Stock Farm in Sullivan and operated a racetrack practice for several years. Dr. Carmichael served as chair of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission's Thoroughbred Breed Development Advisory Committee and was a board member of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana. His wife, Jan, survives him. Memorials may be made to Peacefield Equine Sanctuary Inc., 9811 East Davis Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47805.
Harry B. Crawford
Dr. Crawford (OSU ′49), 92, West Jefferson, Ohio, died May 30, 2009. Retired since 1986, he founded what is now known as the West Jefferson Animal Hospital in 1962. Earlier in his career, Dr. Crawford practiced in Seymour, Ind., and London, Ohio. He was active in the Columbus Academy of Veterinary Medicine and was a member of the Ohio VMA. Dr. Crawford served in the Army Veterinary Corps during the Korean War, attaining the rank of captain.
He is survived by a son and two daughters. Dr. Crawford's daughter and granddaughter, Drs. Mary A. Crawford (OSU ′78) and Sarah E. Crawford (ROS ′07), are veterinarians in Wyckoff, N.J., and Austin, Texas, respectively. Memorials may be made to St. Simon & Jude Catholic Church, 9350 High Free Pike, West Jefferson, OH 43162; or the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation, 1997 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite B, Lakewood, CO 80214.
Bruce E. Dietrich
Dr. Dietrich (ISU ′78), 57, Charles City, Iowa, died March 27, 2009. In 1980, he co-founded Cedar River Animal Hospital with his wife, Dr. Deborah L. Dietrich (ISU ′78), in Charles City. Dr. Dietrich also founded Cedar River Laboratories, manufacturing animal cages designed by him. Early in his career, he practiced in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dr. Dietrich was a member of the Iowa VMA and the Floyd County Board of Health. His wife and daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA 50011.
Laurie G. Doyle
Dr. Doyle (OSU ′81), 52, San Diego, died May 5, 2009. She was a relief veterinarian in San Diego. Dr. Doyle volunteered with the Feral Cat Association and the Turtle and Tortoise Society. Her husband, Rick Benjamin, and a son survive her. Memorials may be made to San Diego Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 1604, Lakeside, CA 92040.
Nils O. Isachsen
Dr. Isachsen (COR ′51), 86, Troy, N.Y., died May 6, 2009. Prior to retirement in the early 1980s, he owned Troy Veterinary Hospital. An Army veteran of World War II, Dr. Isachsen served as a 1st lieutenant in the Europe-Africa-Middle East theater, receiving a Purple Heart and Silver Star. His wife, Mary; a son; and a daughter survive him.
Howard O. Koch
Dr. Koch (ISU ′58), 83, Oswego, Ill., died April 27, 2009. Prior to retirement in 1992, he owned River Heights Veterinary Clinic in Oswego. Dr. Koch also raised and showed Quarter Horses. He was a past president of the Illinois Quarter Horse Association and a past national director of the American Quarter Horse Association. Dr. Koch served in the Army during the Korean War. His wife, Helen; a son; and a daughter survive him.
Kathleen M. Siebeck
Dr. Siebeck (ISU ′91), 43, Camano Island, Wash., died March 22, 2009. She was an associate veterinarian at the Silver Lake Animal Hospital in Everett, Wash., for the past seven years. Earlier in her career, Dr. Siebeck practiced at Northwest Veterinary Hospital in Arlington, Wash.; Worth Animal Hospital in Palos Hills, Ill.; and Niles Animal Hospital in Niles, Ill. Memorials may be made to Stafford Animal Shelter, 3 Boulder Business Park, Livingston, MT 59047.
Eugene H. Williams
Dr. Williams (TEX ′57), 89, Leon Springs, Texas, died May 22, 2009. From 1964 until retirement in 2007, he was in mobile equine practice in Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, Dr. Williams owned a practice in Houston. In 2002, the Texas Horse Talk magazine recognized him as the oldest practicing equine veterinarian in Texas. Dr. Williams is survived by two daughters and a son. Memorials may be made to Ropin' Dreams, 323 Short Weyel Road, Marion, TX 78124.
