Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 16, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Letters
Letters Veterinary public health
Collective contributions to veterinary public health I read with interest the article in Vet Record Careers by Lewis Grant entitled ‘Undergraduate masterclass in veterinary public health’ (VR, September 6, 2014, vol 175, p i), and commend the efforts made by all parties concerned to provide opportunities for undergraduates to become aware of the opportunities that are available to those wishing to pursue a career in veterinary public health (VPH). Having pursued a career in VPH myself, I wish to make some general points, one of which is that undergraduates need to understand that some VPH objectives are achieved by the collective contribution of vets working in many disciplines. Pursuing a specialist career in VPH will involve working either full time or for most of the time in this field. While there can be many definitions for VPH, the one given by the World Health Organization is: ‘the sum of all contributions to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of humans through an understanding and application of veterinary science’. With this definition in mind, it would appear that vets working in many disciplines contribute to VPH in one way or another. Unlike in many other areas of veterinary science, the final outcome of a given VPH objective depends on the collective contribution of vets in many disciplines, as well as their colleagues in allied professions. For example, Hugas and Beloeil (2014) reported progress on salmonella control along the food chain (the VPH objective), concerning mainly chickens and turkeys, in the EU, to reduce human salmonellosis cases (the public health outcome). The progress recorded on this VPH objective was the result of collective efforts by many vets working in allied fields ranging from breeding and primary production to food processing. Examples of these fields include farm animal practice, diagnosis and surveillance, research, policymaking and regulatory work (Official Veterinarians [OVs]), to mention a few. Many of these vets are not pursuing a career in VPH per se, but make meaningful contributions to VPH objectives. Another example of a VPH objective to which vets from varying fields contribute is the prevention of antibiotic resistance development. Tollefson and Karp (2004) highlighted that antimicrobials should be
used appropriately to avoid residues in the food chain and the development of organisms resistant to antimicrobials. This paper mainly referred to farm animal vets, who contribute to the prevention of antimicrobial resistance development in pathogens and commensals in many ways. These include advising and educating farmers on complex management issues associated with antibiotic use, which have far-reaching public health, economic and legal consequences. Additionally, other vets, including those who are doing companion animal and diagnostic work, for example, also make important contributions towards achieving this VPH objective. In the recent horsemeat scandal, the percentage of horsemeat samples that tested positive for phenylbutazone was very low (EFSA/EMA 2013). Among other things, this was largely because equine vets stopped phenylbutazone-treated horses getting into the food chain by making the correct endorsement on their passports. It is evident that in this instance equine vets played a role in preventing veterinary drug residues in horsemeat going for human consumption (another VPH objective). Wall (2014) highlighted that the ‘public health veterinarian’ needs a range of competencies, and VPH should not be taught in isolation, as ‘tribalism’ can become established at undergraduate level, and can mitigate against interdisciplinary working later on in careers. It is important to acknowledge the contributions made by all vets to VPH, in order to foster interdisciplinary cooperation and collaboration. Many vets play a part in developing and promoting VPH, whether they are in practice (food animal, equine or small animal), engaged in work done beyond the farm gate (ie, OVs in slaughterhouses and animal product processing plants), doing diagnostic and surveillance work, determining public health policy, or involved in wildlife-related emerging zoonotic diseases. The importance of understanding and appreciating the collective contribution of vets working in different disciplines to achieve VPH objectives by undergraduate veterinary students cannot be overemphasised. It would be useful to highlight this in future courses. N. Pathiraja, 40 Eton Rise, Eton College Road, London NW3 2DF e-mail: [email protected]
References
EFSA/EMA (2013) Joint statement of EFSA and EMA on the presence of residues of phenylbutazone in horse meat. EFSA Journal 11, 3190
Hugas, M. & Beloeil, P. A. (2014) Controlling Salmonella along the food chain in the European Union – progress over the last ten years. Euro Surveillance 19, pii=20804 Tollefson, L. & Karp, B. E. (2004) Human health impact from antimicrobial use in food animals. Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses 34, 514-521 Wall, P. (2014) One Health and the food chain: maintaining safety in a globalised industry. Veterinary Record 174, 189-192
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5840
exotic and notifiable diseases
Porcine notifiable and exotic diseases Early detection of disease and awareness of the main risks for introduction are key aspects in the control and prevention of exotic and notifiable diseases in livestock. The Pig Veterinary Society is hosting a CPD event next month, covering the main notifiable and exotic diseases currently threatening pigs in the UK. Veterinary clinicians and other veterinarians working with pigs are in the front line with respect to the early detection of such diseases. The Pig Veterinary Society would like to encourage veterinarians attending pigs, even if they do so infrequently, to come to this meeting. It will focus on classical and African swine fevers, foot-and-mouth disease and porcine epidemic diarrhoea. It will also cover the reporting of suspect notifiable disease cases, differential diagnosis of swine fevers, the current main risks of introduction and international disease monitoring. The meeting will be of relevance to all veterinarians with clients who keep pigs, from pet pig and ‘backyard’ pig keepers to commercial producers. The meeting will take place on October 14, 2014 at Stoneleigh Park. More information on the event and how to register can be found at www.pigvetsoc.org. uk/news/making-the-call-cpd-meeting Annie Davis, President, Pig Veterinary Society, AHVLA Thirsk, West House Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1PZ Susanna Williamson, Veterinary Lead, Pig Expert Group, AHVLA, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT12 3NB Alex Thomsett, George Veterinary Group Pig Practice, High Street, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9AU e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g5842 September 27, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 307
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 16, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Collective contributions to veterinary public health N. Pathiraja Veterinary Record 2014 175: 307
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5840 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/12/307.1
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 1 articles, 1 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/12/307.1#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
Letters
Letters Veterinary public health
Collective contributions to veterinary public health I read with interest the article in Vet Record Careers by Lewis Grant entitled ‘Undergraduate masterclass in veterinary public health’ (VR, September 6, 2014, vol 175, p i), and commend the efforts made by all parties concerned to provide opportunities for undergraduates to become aware of the opportunities that are available to those wishing to pursue a career in veterinary public health (VPH). Having pursued a career in VPH myself, I wish to make some general points, one of which is that undergraduates need to understand that some VPH objectives are achieved by the collective contribution of vets working in many disciplines. Pursuing a specialist career in VPH will involve working either full time or for most of the time in this field. While there can be many definitions for VPH, the one given by the World Health Organization is: ‘the sum of all contributions to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of humans through an understanding and application of veterinary science’. With this definition in mind, it would appear that vets working in many disciplines contribute to VPH in one way or another. Unlike in many other areas of veterinary science, the final outcome of a given VPH objective depends on the collective contribution of vets in many disciplines, as well as their colleagues in allied professions. For example, Hugas and Beloeil (2014) reported progress on salmonella control along the food chain (the VPH objective), concerning mainly chickens and turkeys, in the EU, to reduce human salmonellosis cases (the public health outcome). The progress recorded on this VPH objective was the result of collective efforts by many vets working in allied fields ranging from breeding and primary production to food processing. Examples of these fields include farm animal practice, diagnosis and surveillance, research, policymaking and regulatory work (Official Veterinarians [OVs]), to mention a few. Many of these vets are not pursuing a career in VPH per se, but make meaningful contributions to VPH objectives. Another example of a VPH objective to which vets from varying fields contribute is the prevention of antibiotic resistance development. Tollefson and Karp (2004) highlighted that antimicrobials should be
used appropriately to avoid residues in the food chain and the development of organisms resistant to antimicrobials. This paper mainly referred to farm animal vets, who contribute to the prevention of antimicrobial resistance development in pathogens and commensals in many ways. These include advising and educating farmers on complex management issues associated with antibiotic use, which have far-reaching public health, economic and legal consequences. Additionally, other vets, including those who are doing companion animal and diagnostic work, for example, also make important contributions towards achieving this VPH objective. In the recent horsemeat scandal, the percentage of horsemeat samples that tested positive for phenylbutazone was very low (EFSA/EMA 2013). Among other things, this was largely because equine vets stopped phenylbutazone-treated horses getting into the food chain by making the correct endorsement on their passports. It is evident that in this instance equine vets played a role in preventing veterinary drug residues in horsemeat going for human consumption (another VPH objective). Wall (2014) highlighted that the ‘public health veterinarian’ needs a range of competencies, and VPH should not be taught in isolation, as ‘tribalism’ can become established at undergraduate level, and can mitigate against interdisciplinary working later on in careers. It is important to acknowledge the contributions made by all vets to VPH, in order to foster interdisciplinary cooperation and collaboration. Many vets play a part in developing and promoting VPH, whether they are in practice (food animal, equine or small animal), engaged in work done beyond the farm gate (ie, OVs in slaughterhouses and animal product processing plants), doing diagnostic and surveillance work, determining public health policy, or involved in wildlife-related emerging zoonotic diseases. The importance of understanding and appreciating the collective contribution of vets working in different disciplines to achieve VPH objectives by undergraduate veterinary students cannot be overemphasised. It would be useful to highlight this in future courses. N. Pathiraja, 40 Eton Rise, Eton College Road, London NW3 2DF e-mail: [email protected]
References
EFSA/EMA (2013) Joint statement of EFSA and EMA on the presence of residues of phenylbutazone in horse meat. EFSA Journal 11, 3190
Hugas, M. & Beloeil, P. A. (2014) Controlling Salmonella along the food chain in the European Union – progress over the last ten years. Euro Surveillance 19, pii=20804 Tollefson, L. & Karp, B. E. (2004) Human health impact from antimicrobial use in food animals. Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses 34, 514-521 Wall, P. (2014) One Health and the food chain: maintaining safety in a globalised industry. Veterinary Record 174, 189-192
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5840
exotic and notifiable diseases
Porcine notifiable and exotic diseases Early detection of disease and awareness of the main risks for introduction are key aspects in the control and prevention of exotic and notifiable diseases in livestock. The Pig Veterinary Society is hosting a CPD event next month, covering the main notifiable and exotic diseases currently threatening pigs in the UK. Veterinary clinicians and other veterinarians working with pigs are in the front line with respect to the early detection of such diseases. The Pig Veterinary Society would like to encourage veterinarians attending pigs, even if they do so infrequently, to come to this meeting. It will focus on classical and African swine fevers, foot-and-mouth disease and porcine epidemic diarrhoea. It will also cover the reporting of suspect notifiable disease cases, differential diagnosis of swine fevers, the current main risks of introduction and international disease monitoring. The meeting will be of relevance to all veterinarians with clients who keep pigs, from pet pig and ‘backyard’ pig keepers to commercial producers. The meeting will take place on October 14, 2014 at Stoneleigh Park. More information on the event and how to register can be found at www.pigvetsoc.org. uk/news/making-the-call-cpd-meeting Annie Davis, President, Pig Veterinary Society, AHVLA Thirsk, West House Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1PZ Susanna Williamson, Veterinary Lead, Pig Expert Group, AHVLA, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT12 3NB Alex Thomsett, George Veterinary Group Pig Practice, High Street, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9AU e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g5842 September 27, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 307
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 16, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Collective contributions to veterinary public health N. Pathiraja Veterinary Record 2014 175: 307
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5840 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/12/307.1
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 1 articles, 1 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/12/307.1#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
