Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Seventh Canine Vector-Borne Diseases World Forum Brings New Insights


Calls for Greater Vigilance Grow Worldwide as the Seventh Canine Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD) World Forum Brings New Insights Into the Scale and Spread of CVBDs Around the World

As part of its ongoing commitment to the scientific community, Bayer Animal Health today marked their seventh year of support for the CVBD World Forum (CVBD7) in Berlin, Germany; and this year's meeting has again proven to be a landmark in the understanding of CVBDs.


CVBDs present a real threat to the health of both pets and humans, with an untold toll of suffering and death worldwide. The data shared at this meeting highlighted the continuing need for awareness-raising, particularly of the risk posed by vectors and of the importance of surveillance and prevention in protecting pets and owners from the impact of these potentially serious diseases.


The importance of surveillance was emphasised by the findings of an Australian study from the group of Dr Rebecca Traub from the University of Queensland, Australia. Their study found that in dogs not receiving ectoparasite prevention treatment, one in three dogs were infected with at least one CVBD, while one in ten were infected with more than one CVBD. Dr Traub stressed that "The findings of this study show that not only are CVBDs present much more frequently in Australia than is often thought, they also reveal the importance of dogs as potential reservoir for Rickettsia felis (the cause of Flea-Borne Spotted Fever) and as a potential source of human rickettsial infection. As a result, I would recommend that all veterinarians and pet owners in Australia should consider broad-ranging CVBD prevention as a key element of their animal's health planning."


Away from the Australian experience, there were also a number of noteworthy studies reporting data from across Europe. A study presented by Prof. Luís Cardoso, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal demonstrated the presence of at least one CVBD in 14% of apparently healthy dogs in Portugal and more than 45% of CVBD-suspected dogs. Along with highlighting a remarkably high rate of CVBD in superficially healthy dogs, this study also showed that non-use of ectoparasiticides doubled their risk of CVBD infection. Prof. Cardoso was clear on the implications of this research, "Our study shows the very real risk posed by CVBDs, even in animals that do not appear to be affected. The discovery that non-use of ectoparasiticides doubled the risk of infection makes a very strong case for all dogs to be routinely treated with ectoparasiticides in order to minimise risks to the individual dog and the community as a whole."


Understanding the prevalence of CVBDs is only part of the answer; knowing the distribution of the arthropod vectors themselves is also critical. Dr Gioia Capelli from the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro shared data from Italy that emphasised the range of risks that can be posed by a vector. The study looked at the pathogens carried by the tick species Ixodes ricinus in 14 sites in north-eastern Italy. Eleven different pathogens were found in the ticks investigated, including 4 genotypes of Borrelia burgdorferi (17.6% of samples), Rickettsia helvetica (13.1%) and R. monacensis (3.7%), candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (10.5%), Tick-borne encephalitis flavivirus (2.1%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1.5%) and Bartonella spp. (1%). Furthermore, 22% of ticks were co-infected by more than one pathogen.


Data presented by Prof. Guadalupe Miró, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain drew attention to the continuing geographical spread of CVBDs and their vectors, reporting signs of Canine leishmaniosis spreading to new, previously unaffected areas in the North of Spain, accompanied with reports of the spread of sand-fly populations to new areas.


The meeting also produced invaluable findings on the year-round risk posed by ectoparasite vectors of CVBDs. Dr. Filipe Dantas-Torres from the University of Bari, Italy, presented study findings showing unexpectedly high survival rates of brown dog tick in Italy of up to 385 days between feeds, including exposure to winter conditions. It may be necessary to reconsider the potential scale of impact of climatic warming on tick population size and spread.


Prof. Edward Breitschwerdt from North Carolina State University, USA discussed the implications of data presented at the meeting, "Every year we see more and more data on the emerging importance and spread of these serious diseases, which clearly supports the need for year-round protection from all CVBDs. The data presented at CVBD7 further reinforces the message for veterinarians and for pet owners that it is no longer appropriate to think of CVBDs as being a predictable, seasonal threat regardless of where the pet and family might live. Due to the chronicity of these infections, CVBDs can be present anywhere, at any time, throughout the world. Most CVBDs are very difficult to diagnose and difficult to cure with currently available treatments. The best way to prevent vector borne diseases in pets is to ensure they have year-round protection from all ectoparasites. We know protecting pets isn't happening as widely and as fully as it should. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to ask all veterinarians to take this threat, and its prevention, seriously, and take all appropriate actions to educate their clients as to how to best protect the animals in their care."


Speaking at the closing of the meeting, Prof. Norbert Mencke from Bayer Animal Health spoke of the future of the CVBD initiative, "Bayer Animal Health remains committed to studying and promoting the prevention of CVBDs and will continue to support the invaluable work done by the scientific community. We firmly believe that the CVBD World Forum offers an unparalleled opportunity for the scientific community to come together and share the latest research findings, helping to advance the fields of parasitology and veterinary medicine. Indeed, last year's meeting saw the development of a call to action from the members of the World Forum and I'm happy to report that this comprehensive advice to veterinarians around the world is now being published in the journal Parasites & Vectors (Parasites & Vectors 2012, 5:55).


"Bayer Animal Health also strives to meet the practical needs of our customers in their efforts to protect animals from CVBDs. As a result of these efforts, we recently developed Seresto, a new product from Bayer Animal Health that offers a significant new step in the long-term management of ectoparasite threat in both dogs and cats and that we think gives the promise of a paradigm shift in the management of CVBDs."


About The CVBD World Forum

The CVBD World Forum is a working group of leading experts in natural sciences, veterinary and human medicine from Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia and Asia. It was founded during the 1st International CVBD Symposium in April 2006 in Billesley, UK, as a consequence of the increasing global threats through canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD). The main goal of the CVBD World Forum is to exchange knowledge and findings about ectoparasite-pathogen-host interaction as well as the characterisation and assessment of the distribution of pathogens and vectors in order to increase awareness for the specific regional risks of CVBD and to foster preventative measures. This work is supported by Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division.

SOURCE Bayer HealthCare

Friday, March 23, 2012

The Rescue Of Fiona Video

Seeing though the eyes of a rescue worker



My heart goes out for this dog Fiona for all shes been though and to see a new life this poor dog has received from the help of these rescue works... Thanks for all you have done...And Thanks to all the rescue workers that save the life's of these poor dogs that people just abandon.

Don't forget to help hopeforpaws if you can by making a small donation. Their website is: http://www.hopeforpaws.org

Friday, March 16, 2012

Some Irish Facts On Dogs For St. Patrick's Day


petMD.com Pays Tribute to Irish Dog Breeds on St. Patrick's Day

Call it the power of the shamrock, the charm of the leprechaun, or just the luck of the Irish. One thing is for certain: the great people of the Emerald Isle have produced some of the most curious, independent, and enthusiastic dogs in the world. Impress your friends at the pub this St. Patrick's Day with some fun facts about the most popular Irish dog breeds courtesy of petMD.com.

1. Irish Setter - Its distinctive and eye-catching deep red mahogany coat and full, silky hair makes the Irish Setter a favorite with the well-heeled set. Add in the Irish Setter's unbound enthusiasm, superior hunting skills, and happy disposition, and few can match this breed as an ideal companion dog.

2. Irish Terrier - Speculated to be among the first of terrier breeds, the Irish Terrier is very true to typical terrier traits with its loyalty, adaptability, and spunk. This breed is very well-rounded and makes for an excellent companion.

3. Irish Wolfhound - Often recognized as the world's largest dog breed, the Irish Wolfhound is a strong and sturdy giant whose temperament is gentle and noble. The Irish Wolfhound makes an excellent addition to any family that can offer plenty of space to accommodate this breed's size.

4.Irish Water Spaniel - Though the Irish Water Spaniel is one of the oldest spaniels today, it is also very rare. Unique in appearance with its curly coat, this breed is a fun-loving and spritely dog that makes an excellent pet.

5.
The Glen of Imaal - The Glen of Imaal Terrier is more of a working terrier than a fashionable show dog. One of its original jobs was to dig into burrows to root out nuisance badgers - its weight and strength matching the badger's, and its powerful tail acting as a handle for being pulled from the hole, if necessary. The Glen of Imaal differs from many types of terriers in that it is not a barker.


6. Irish Red and White Setter - Most people are much more familiar with the Irish Red Setter; however, it is believed that the Red and White Setter is actually the older of the two breeds, dating back to the 17th century. Best known in the field for its athletic build and keen personality, the Irish Red and White Setter is a perfect family dog.

7.
Kerry Blue Terrier - Originally bred as a farm dog in the mountainous regions of Ireland, the Kerry Blue Terrier is a stunning show dog and a giddy house pet. If you want an active dog that will be begging you to run, explore, and play, then this athletic fur ball with a blue-gray coat should be your pet of choice.

8.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier - The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized dog that is not only powerful but gentle and affectionate. Most often noted for its warm, wheaten-colored coat, this Irish terrier is also athletic and able to compete in dog trials or shows that require agility. Few could ask for a more wonderful companion for those looking for a curious indoor dog.

Kerry Beagle - Not your average beagle, the Kerry Beagle is better qualified as a hound. It is also thought to be one of the oldest of all the Irish dog breeds, originally introduced to Ireland by the Celts. Although they are best know as hunting dogs, the Kerry Beagle is known as a friendly dog, ideal for families.


SOURCE petMD.com