$12.95 AUS WINTER 2019 ISSUE 4 VETERINARIAN MAGAZINE Seeing the beauty in Canine parvovirus 3D printing helping animal bone research rampant in Australia to save dogs’ lives Vet-Tome The atraumatic extraction CONTENTS system that greatly reduces extraction time and saves bone! 4 11 26 30 CANINE 3D PRINTING STUDY SHOWS DROUGHT PARVOVIRUS HELPING ENDOCRINE- COULD BE RAMPANT IN TO SAVE DOGS’ DISRUPTING INCREASING AUSTRALIA LIVES CHEMICALS Q FEVER RISK, LINKED TO BUT THERE EQUINE ARE WAYS METABOLIC TO PROTECT SYNDROME OURSELVES Watch the Vet-Tome in action @ https://youtu.be/UEejzbWjpFY 14 Our Vet-Tome arrived yesterday and we had occasion to use it across two of our four dental 6 surgeries today. Both occasions unexpectedly. It is an absolute revolution. In under 60 minutes I UNRAVELLING THE GENETICS extracted over 20 teeth including 4 canines without gingival flaps or osseous burring using the SEEING THE BEAUTY IN OF DISC most conservative of settings and no experience of the device. I am certain that in one case it DISEASE IN saved me over an hour of awkward mandibular flap creation and burring to remove two lower ANIMAL BONE RESEARCH DOGS 34 canines with roots extending all the way to Hades. No extraneous gingival trauma, easy closures and a patient freed from awful dental trauma. 28 ESPERANCE ABORIGINAL Today, with the Vet-Tome, I had one of the most satisfying professional experiences of RESEARCH RANGERS AID my career! Thank you.” INDICATES MANY PET OWNERS STARLING KEEN TO HAVE CONTROL Dr Nick Taylor BVSc(Hons) GPCert(SAP) Dip. Mgt. ESVPS MRCVS (N7011) VEGAN PETS ON WA’S SOUTH COAST 8 22 29 IMPROVE PETTING ZOOS FOR GIANT YOUR DENTAL HAVE POTENTIAL PANDAS, CHARTING, TO TRANSMIT BAMBOO SCALING AND HIGHLY VIRULENT IS VEGETARIAN POLISHING IN DRUG RESISTANT ‘MEAT’ THE DOG. BACTERIA VETERINARIAN PO BOX 812 Strathfieldsaye VIC Australia 3551 P: 03 5441 8166 E: [email protected] W: www.theaustralianveterinarian.com Design & Advertising Publisher Michael Cook Paul Banks VET DENTAL UNITS | VET DENTAL X-RAY | ULTRASONIC SCALERS | HAND INSTRUMENTS | ACCESSORIES & CONSUMABLES Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 5441 8166 Phone: 03 5441 8166 iM3 Pty Ltd - The Veterinary Dental Company 21 Chaplin Drive, Lane Cove, Sydney NSW 2066 Australia p +61 2 9420 5766 | f +61 2 9420 5677 | e [email protected] | www.im3vet.com.au THE AUSTRALIAN VETERINARIAN WINTER CANINE PARVOVIRUS RAMPANT IN AUSTRALIA The study found that the average cost to treat CPV cases was $1,500 per patient, with a significant difference in the cost of “The estimated number A UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY STUDY HAS FOUND THAT CANINE PARVOVIRUS (CPV), treating cases between Australian states. Western Australia was of cases of CPV across A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY DISEASE THAT TRAGICALLY KILLS PUPPIES, the most expensive state, with a median cost of $2,500. “There was a strong link between the cost of treatment and the Australia was 20,661 in IS MORE PREVALENT THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT WITH 20,000 CASES FOUND IN rate of euthanasia without treatment,” Dr Kelman said. AUSTRALIA EACH YEAR, AND NEARLY HALF OF THESE CASES RESULT IN DEATH. “The data shows that cost factors were linked to the pet owner’s 2015 and 20,110 in 2016, decisions to seek treatment for their dog. Higher costs were linked and the overall reported Despite the extent of this disease, this is the first survey study to The Northern Territory had the highest rate of CPV, twice as high to pet owners opting for euthanasia instead of seeking treatment. examine the impact of CPV in Australia since 1982. as New South Wales, highlighting the severity of the disease in An inability to afford treatment might be a factor in the high euthanasia rate was 41 this area. The only areas with relatively lower rates were the euthanasia rates reported by veterinarians,” he added. Published in Transboundary and Emerging Disease, the national ACT and Victoria. per cent.” survey of 534 veterinary clinics investigated the number of cases “In my personal experience as a vet, the inability of a client to of CPV, their geographic distribution, and financial impacts on “A range of risk factors might contribute to these differences afford treatment for CPV is a common reason cited for euthanasia, Dr Mark Kelman pet owners. across the country and requires further research,” said Dr Kelman. surrender, or sometimes the abandonment of these animals,” Dr Kelman said. The survey revealed that CPV remains a major cause of disease “We suggest that socioeconomic factors and other issues in these in puppies and dogs across Australia, particularly in rural and regions may result in poor vaccination rates. If these rates could Dr Kelman stated that now that the impact of CPV in Australia has remote areas of the country, despite improvements in vaccination improve, this might stop these outbreaks and disease cases from been estimated, and the regions where the highest numbers of technology over the last 40 years. occurring,” he added. cases have been identified, we need targeted communication and vaccination strategies in these areas to improve herd immunity CPV in dogs causes the destruction of the intestinal lining and and reduce CPV case numbers. villous atrophy, resulting in severe gastroenteritis, haemorrhagic “Strategies could be developed to quickly intervene in CPV diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. related disease outbreaks, or to address areas where CPV cases “CPV can kill puppies, so is an especially tragic disease, and most are endemic. This is now something that we are looking at, and a people are unaware that this is a big issue nationally,” said lead charity that I have started called Paws for a Purpose has also now researcher Dr Mark Kelman, a veterinarian and PhD candidate at begun some pilot vaccination programs in high-risk rural areas to the Sydney School of Veterinary Science. try and prevent cases from occurring,” he went on to add. “The estimated number of cases of CPV across Australia was “We are currently heading into the worst time of year for 20,661 in 2015 and 20,110 in 2016, and the overall reported parvovirus, so we also urge people to vaccinate their dogs if euthanasia rate was 41 per cent,” he added. they aren’t fully vaccinated, especially puppies,” Dr Kelman said in conclusion. The survey identified large numbers of CPV in rural, remote, and lower socioeconomic areas of Australia. Where cases occurred This survey is the most comprehensive epidemiological in capital city areas, they were more commonly seen in outskirt investigation of canine parvoviral related disease to date globally, areas, away from the inner city. and provides a process for national disease surveillance. 4 5 THE AUSTRALIAN VETERINARIAN WINTER SEEING THE “I wanted to understand the BEAUTY IN ANIMAL molecular mechanisms guiding the process of chondrocyte BONE RESEARCH hypertrophy, and AS TOLD TO STUART WINTHROPE how the failure of that DR BABATUNDE AYODELE IS PART OF A TEAM RESEARCHING THE BONES process may lead to OF RACEHORSES. NOW, HIS RESEARCH HAS INSPIRED THE FACADE OF A osteochondrosis.” NEW UNIVERSITY BUILDING. Dr Babatunde Ayodele I had every intention of studying human medicine. I started can more clearly see different components of the tissue and When I look at a growth cartilage, I see cellular activities and my veterinary degree at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and the arrangement of the cells that make up the tissue. The not the aesthetics. Incorporating the image into the design of thought I would change over to human medicine in my second research identified a number of novel chondrocyte hypertrophy- the building is interesting because it’s impressive to see the year. But there were opportunities to work in research and public associated genes. design that emerges from this image and it makes me proud of health as a veterinarian. I enjoyed that, so I stayed. in bone because we can’t measure microdamage in living When the University launched a competition for research what we as researchers do. animals with current imaging techniques. After finishing my degree, I did national service. I was part of images, specifically for bioscience academics, I had an image Now I’m part of a team looking at structural changes in the National Youth Service Corps program in Nigeria where all prepared. The idea was to use this image to influence the design the bones of racehorses. The Equine Limb Injury Prevention Better understanding animals can help human beings. Cellular graduates serve the government for one year. I was posted to of the facade of our new Western Edge Biosciences teaching Program wants to understand how exercise and training activities are similar, and what we understand of the molecular Okitipupa in Ondo State, a very small town in an agricultural area. building. I was so surprised when my image was selected. affects the structure of bone and I’m working with veterinarians, mechanisms regulating these activities in animals can be useful for humans as well. My day normally started with a meat inspection at the abattoir and The image shows us a section of a horse growth cartilage, also epidemiologists, biomechanical engineers and other then I’d attend to animal patients, doing disease surveillance and called growth plate. It shows the chondrocytes – the cells that musculoskeletal biology researchers. We’re analysing sections of I’d like to develop better ways to predict the risk of injury control. There were no major outbreaks, but we reported a few make up cartilage – at different stages of cellular activities. bone from horses at different stages of training and rest. in equine athletes (like racehorses), possibly with the use tuberculosis cases to government.