BSAVA News

Statutory controls on viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits to be removed FOLLOWING discussions with interested parties this summer, MAFF has written to the BSAVA to inform us of its intention to remove the statutory controls on viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) of rabbits. The important scientif- ic points to bear in mind are as follows: 0 The notifiable status of the dis- ease and restriction of movement orders have not been effective in preventing the spread of this dis- ease which, since its original recognition in the south west of England, has now appeared in a number of different locations throughout the UK, including Scotland. 0 It would seem that the most

effective way of preventing the disease in pet and commercial rabbits is to vaccinate using one of the two currently available vaccines. Members should be rec- ommending vaccination to their rabbit-owning clients as this dis- ease is potentially fatal. Both vac- cines currently hold temporary marketing authorisations from the Veterinary Medicines Direc- torate and it would be in mem- bers’ interests to contact the companies and ask if they intend to apply for full marketing autho- risations in the near future. 0 The situation in the wild pop- ulation of rabbits seems to be less serious than was first thought and some natural resistance to

the disease may be present. In a small survey, it was found that antibody levels seemed to exist in about 60 per cent of wild rabbits in areas where the disease had not been identified. Presumably this was due to exposure to a related but non-pathogenic calicivirus.

The Scientific Committee has recently produced a position statement on VHD of rabbits which gives further information (BSAVA News, December 1995). It is our intention to publish a more extensive information docu- ment on the subject in the near future.

JONATHAN ELLIOT^ Chairman

Scientific Committee

Petsavers

New resident in neurology and neurosurgerv for the RVC

J

THE latest Petsavers resident is Kate Chandler. The Royal Veteri- nary College, London, has appointed her as the new Pet- savers resident in neurology and neurosurgery. Miss Chandler qualified from the RVC in July 1995 with distinctions in veteri- nary pathology and farm animal medicine. She then worked for a year with the Pennard Veterinary Group in Kent, taking an active

interest in neurological cases. The Chandler family has quite

a history in the veterinary profes- sion as her father, Edward Alan (Ted) Chandler, is a past-presi- dent of the BSAVA and is a cur- rent vice-president of the BVA.

The residency will be mainly clinically based and under the direct supervision of Dr Simon Wheeler. Neurology and neuro- surgery form a significant part of the referral case load at the col- lege’s Queen Mother Hospital. The hospital has extensive facili- ties for the management of ani- mals with neurological diseases, with surgical facilities for all neu- rological procedures, including spinal and intracranial surgery.

During her three-year residen- cy, Miss Chandler will receive a thorough training in clinical neu- rology and neurosurgery. She will also undertake a clinical research project, investigating some novel

anti-convulsants to assess their suitability and efficacy in dogs. The study will be carried out in association with Dr David Berry of the Pharmacology Department of Guy’s Hospital Trust and will involve pharmacokinetics and, if appropriate, clinical studies.

By the end of her residency period, Miss Chandler should have gained sufficient expertise to enable her to pass the exami- nation for the European Diploma in Veterinary Neurology.

0 CORRECTION The member’s price for the Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology was given incorrectly in the October issue of BSAVA News. The price is E36, not €33 which was the dis- counted price for those placing orders at Congress.

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