Mississippi State’s specialty center shares advanced equipment with human medical practice Story and photos by Malinda Larkin

080114_NEWS.indd 256

7/9/2014 2:54:36 PM

JAVMA News 08.01.14

Let’s start with a geography lesson. Starkville is located in central Mississippi and had a population of 24,360 as of 2012. Mississippi State University, which is partially located in Starkville, had an enrollment of 20,161 in 2013. The closest city with more than 100,000 residents is Jackson, Mississippi, which is 125 miles southwest of Starkville. Given those figures, it may not seem plausible that the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine could offer high-end diagnostic testing and treatment options for its neurology and oncology patients. And yet, this is what it has: a 64-slice CT scanner, a 3-T MRI scanner, a 4-D ultrasound machine, and a linear accelerator that is so precise its beam can target a tumor within 5 millimeters. “No one in the U.S. has better equipment and facilities than we do. Other veterinary schools are always getting new stuff. They may get a new CT or MRI, but this was straight-across-the-board pretty amazing. A lot of people can’t imagine what all we really have here,” said Dr. J. Gregg Boring, an emeritus professor of radiology at the veterinary college. So how did a veterinary college in a rural area—without a medical school to partner with—gain access to such impressive equipment and retain faculty conducting cutting-edge neurological research? The answer involves fighter pilots, an unsold house, and rigorous cleaning protocols.

Well-equipped Back in 2002, Stephanie Doane, PhD, a professor in the MSU Department of Psychology, received a grant from the Office of Naval Research to study the brain activity of fighter pilots during flight simulations to optimize the layout of aircrafts’ dashboard controls. The university’s Institute for Imaging & Analytical Technologies used the grant to purchase a $2.7 million, high-powered MRI machine. The institute, in collaboration with Premier Radiology PA of Tupelo, Mississippi, built a

25,000-square-foot medical facility in Starkville to house a diagnostic imaging center, including the MRI machine. However, because of construction of the new facility, the machine was not available for clinical use until fall 2006. Dr. Doane happened to be an animal lover and wanted to get the veterinary college involved. So, at first, the college leased a few rooms to allow veterinary faculty to anesthetize animals and use the imaging equipment. Eventually, the college wanted further use of the equipment, and the college administration figured a neurology and neurosurgery service would be the way to go. The administration had in 2008 established a 509(a)2 nonprofit corporation, MSU-CVM-Clinical Outreach Services, to develop and manage private specialty clinics that would enhance teaching and student learning. It had previously opened the Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Flowood, Mississippi. When the opportunity to collaborate with a human medical facility became available in 2010, the college created the Veterinary Specialty Center. That’s when 17,000 square feet were being added to the Premier Radiology facility. Most of the space went to house a Cancer Treatment Center—thanks to the addition of the linear accelerator—but the MSU-CVM-COS remodeled 4,200 square feet of the new space to create the VSC. The veterinary college received a $500,000 donation to support cancer treatment in animals, which was used to gain 9 percent ownership of the radiation therapy portion of the Cancer Treatment Center along with access to the linear accelerator for treatment of veterinary patients. The agreement also stipulates the nonprofit will pay a percentage of the gross revenue generated by the VSC to Premier Radiology, which operates and maintains its facility and equipment at no cost to VSC. MSU-CVM-COS pays its own staff and veterinarians from the remaining gross revenue. The annual service contract alone for the CT scanner could have cost the nonprofit $600,000 had it bought and maintained the equipment on its own.

Vol. 245, No. 3

080114_NEWS.indd 257

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

257

7/9/2014 2:54:37 PM

The linear accelerator at the Mississippi State University Veterinary Specialty Center has an onboard CT scanner and digital X-ray machine, allowing veterinarians to monitor the changing shape and depth of a tumor with each treatment.

Starkville

Day-to-day operations The VSC houses a neurology and neurosurgery service and imaging, ophthalmology, and cancer treatment services for veterinary patients. The imaging equipment and the linear accelerator are scheduled on an as-needed basis for VSC use while research patients are scheduled after hours. Protocols have been developed to effectively sanitize the equipment between use by patients, including human and animal patients. The VSC has two neurologists, one ophthalmologist, and a part-time radiologist. In addition, there are four neurology residents, three veterinary technicians, a receptionist, and two part-time technical associates. The VSC emulates the human model of medicine in that patients are first seen by their primary veterinarian and then referred to the center, if necessary. Imaging, neurology, ophthalmology, and cancer patients are admitted at the VSC for initial evaluation, imaging, minor surgical procedures, and cancer therapy. Patients that require longterm hospitalization or major surgery are transported to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for additional care. The caseload at the VSC varies day to day, from four or five up to 20. Last year, the VSC saw around 1,000 patients and performed over 250 MRI scans. Common cases include

258

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

080114_NEWS.indd 258

emergency disk problems, encephalitis, strokes, and cerebral hemorrhages; brain cancer accounts for about 20 percent of the cases. For cancer patients, the clinicians first go through diagnostic testing and, if indicated, perform a craniotomy, which would cost $5,000 to $5,500. Then Dr. Boring—with the help of the physicist at the Cancer Treatment Center—develops a radiation treatment plan based on the CT scans to guide the radiation beam so it hits the tumor. The linear accelerator targets tumors with a radiation dose that is tailored to the depth, shape, and size of each tumor, all the while avoiding vital structures such as the optic nerves when directed at a frontal meningioma, for example.

Vol. 245, No. 3

7/9/2014 3:01:57 PM

“(The Veterinary Specialty Center) does give us an advantage. We’re one of the smaller veterinary schools, but this gives students the opportunity to see something special.” Dr. Kent H. Hoblet, dean, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine

The center’s 3-T MRI scanner was purchased by the university’s Institute for Imaging & Analytical Technologies, thanks to a grant from the Navy. The image quality is two to three times that for most MRI scans, and the speed and resolution of the scanner allows physicians and veterinarians to image structures that typically could not be seen without surgery.

The radiation beams come from all angles, thus helping patients avoid adverse effects of radiation therapy such as skin burns and radiation sickness. Radiation therapy costs $5,000 to $5,500 per patient, and the chemotherapy costs $1,500 to $2,000 for complex cases such as gliomas. In 2013, the VSC generated about $367,000 in revenue, which was up 50 percent from 2012, when revenue was $248,000.

Sharing the knowledge Another part of what has made the VSC such a success has been its service chief, Dr. Andy Shores, a clinical professor of neurology and neurosurgery. He is an employee of the VSC and holds a part-time teaching appointment as a clinical faculty member at the veterinary college. That means he receives a base salary as a faculty member but is also paid on the basis of revenue for his work at the VSC. Dr. Shores says he was greatly influenced by a number of pioneers in neurology who taught at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, including Drs. B.F. Hoerlein, Richard Redding, Charles Knecht, Steve Simpson, Steve Swaim, and Ralph Henderson.

“I was lucky enough to be exposed to them during veterinary college and my neurology residency at Auburn,” Dr. Shores said. “For me, it’s important to pass that information on to the residents. I feel like I’ve been in a fortunate position to have that kind of training.” Dr. Shores first made a name for himself in 1988 when he developed the Small Animal Coma Scale, which mimics the Glasgow Coma Scale in human medicine and has become widely used. Dr. Kent H. Hoblet, dean of the veterinary college, says he knew early on that Dr. Shores would be the one to lead the veterinary college’s neurology service. In 2010, Dr. Shores was the chief neurosurgeon at Auburn; however, he had worked at Mississippi State for six years as a professor of surgery and neurology and still hadn’t sold his house outside Starkville. So, during the 2010 AVMA Annual Convention in Atlanta, Dean Hoblet made his pitch to Dr. Shores. By the time Dr. Shores came in spring 2011—along with three of his residents—everything at the VSC was up and running. Dr. Shores credits Dean Hoblet and Dr. Ron McLaughlin, head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the veterinary college, for establishing what they have today.

Vol. 245, No. 3

080114_NEWS.indd 259

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

259

7/9/2014 2:54:47 PM

dogs. They’re finishing the first phase of the project, and Dr. Betty Chow, an oncology intern at MSU, reported on the results at the ACVIM meeting in June. They’re also considering putting together a proposal to analyze viral vectors as therapeutic agents for glioblastomas.

‘Something special’

Dr. Kent H. Hoblet, dean of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary medicine, said the Veterinary Specialty Center has been so successful that it added an ophthalmology service in 2013 and plans to hire an oncologist this year.

“The uniqueness of this place allows the opportunity to practice neurology at a high level and establish a strong residency,” Dr. Shores said. In fact, he presented diplomate certificates in June to three of his former residents at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine meeting in Nashville. At that same meeting, some of Dr. Shores’ research was presented, including a project he and one of his residents, Dr. Maria Perez Hernandez, have been working on regarding a new style of intracranial pressure bolt. “There are plenty (of bolts) out there for people, but they have thicker bones than dogs, so when you screw the bolt in, for dogs you can’t get it to stabilize well or the dogs knock it apart. We’re developing a system to let it be used in dog skulls or kids’,” he said. Another translational medicine research project Dr. Shores is working on relates to his Small Animal Coma Scale. The scale has been validated by numerous studies, but Dr. Shores said the problem remains that the veterinary field has plenty of interesting cases but not enough to support a case study. So, he and Dr. Simon Platt at the University of Georgia, with the help of a software engineer, developed a smartphone app to create that critical mass. Veterinarians—preferably those working in emergency clinics—register through the app, and, using the scale to look at each component of their case, they input data. “The idea is you score it and the information goes into the database here,” and then the database notifies whomever has subscribed to the app, Dr. Shores said. The app asks for case information on the patient, the treatment received, and blood pressure. Two weeks later, the app asks for the outcome of the case. Dr. Shores is also working with a human neurosurgery resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to create a similar system for pediatric head trauma injuries. In addition, Dr. Shores and a neurosurgeon at UAB, Dr. M.R. Chambers, who has MD and DVM degrees, are looking at the molecular genetics of meningiomas in humans and

260

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

080114_NEWS.indd 260

In its three years of existence, the Veterinary Specialty Center has thrived and is even seeing its caseload expanding, especially as referral relationships become more established. Radiation therapy patients have come from as far as Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Mobile, Alabama; and New Orleans. Now the VSC is about to hire an oncologist. Soon it also will likely add an ophthalmology intern. Patients aren’t the only ones benefiting from the center’s presence. Up to now, fourth-year students could choose to go to the VSC as a two-week elective, but starting this summer, it’s become a four-week required rotation that includes didactic lectures and case rounds focusing on radiation oncology, ophthalmology, and neurology. Dean Hoblet said every day, the college discovers a new benefit from the VSC, whether it’s giving students more exposure to the private practice setting or facilitating one-health research. “It does give us an advantage,” Dr. Hoblet said. “We’re one of the smaller veterinary schools, but this gives students the opportunity to see something special.” Dr. Shores said combining research, clinical work, and education takes a lot of effort but is well worth it. For Dr. Boring, the former interim dean and chief of radio-

The 64-slice CT scanner is so rapid that VSC staff don’t have to fully anesthetize animals for spinal imaging, which typically takes three minutes. A single radiation therapy session with the linear accelerator takes about the same amount of time.

Vol. 245, No. 3

7/10/2014 11:55:46 AM

Canine patient Nick previously had surgery to remove about half of a foramen magnum meningioma and is now undergoing radiation therapy. Dr. Andy Shores, service chief and clinical professor of neurology, says the treatment protocols are similar for animals and humans.

Dr. Michaela Beasley, professor of neurology and neurosurgery, monitors a patient undergoing radiation therapy. Human and animal patients use the same equipment, enabled by the adoption of safety and cleaning protocols such as having all animal patients wear diapers. They also share MRI and CT technicians.

logical services at Mississippi State, the specialty center fulfills his desire for “an edifice that showed Mississippi’s attention to the importance of veterinary medicine.” He says people may perceive Mississippi as a lowincome, unprogressive state, but a closer look shows that the state is a major agricultural producer and innovator. “People need to recognize the importance of what we do,” he said.

More photos of Mississippi State's Veterinary Specialty Center are available at

www.avma.org/ news/javmanews/ photos.

Dr. Caroline Betbeze (right), clinical associate professor of ophthalmology, sees a lot of patients with cataracts, corneal ulcers, retinal problems, and blindness as well as uveitis. She sees four to 10 patients on a typical day, or does two to four procedures on surgery days. Her appointment is mostly clinical, and fourth-year students such as these rotate through every two weeks.

Vol. 245, No. 3

080114_NEWS.indd 261

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

261

7/9/2014 2:55:06 PM

AVMA

Leaving AVMA to lead examination board Dr. Heather Case is the new executive director of the NBVME

D

r. Heather Case has helped young veterinarians develop as leaders, cared for animals displaced by disasters, and worked to give veterinarians a voice in federal government. After nearly seven years in the AVMA Scientific Activities Division, about five of them as director, she left the AVMA in late June to become executive director of the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners on Aug. 1. She succeeded Dr. John R. Boyce, who had led the organization for the nearly Dr. Heather Case 20 years it has been independent of the AVMA. Dr. Gary Gackstetter, NBVME board She noted that the NBVME’s work fits chair, expressed gratitude to Dr. Boyce with her longtime interests in veterifor his dedicated service, then said, “Dr. nary medical education and in regulaCase brings a wealth of experience, tory veterinary medicine. enthusiasm, and demonstrated lead“NBVME is protecting the public with ership to the NBVME and is precisely their test,” Dr. Case said. “I find that very what the organization needs as we valuable.” look to the future and new enhanceShe received her DVM degree in ments to the current North American 1998 from the University of Minnesota Veterinary Licensing Examination.” and her Master of Public Health The NBVME develops the NAVLE and there in 2006. She is a diplomate of other examinations used by licensing the American College of Veterinary boards and veterinary colleges. Preventive Medicine. Dr. Boyce said he expects that Dr. Case’s experience in public health will Transition to education role be an asset that fits with the organizaDr. Case said she takes the new tion’s mission. He also said he would job at a time when veterinarians are provide support as requested during increasingly examining their profesthe transition between administrators. sion’s trajectory, and licensure is Before the NBVME became a sepaimportant in that regard. Leading the rate institution, Dr. Boyce was AVMA organization provides an opportunity assistant director of scientific activito have a positive influence on veterities–education and served as staff connary medicine’s future.

262

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

080114_NEWS.indd 262

Photo by Greg Cima

By Greg Cima sultant to the NBVME, then called the National Board Examination Committee. Volunteer, then staff member

Dr. Case said the Scientific Activities Division’s veterinarians have been the voice for “boots-on-the-ground veterinarians” to communicate with Congress and federal regulators. In June she said, “Any of those issues that might impact the veterinarian, we’re watching very closely the federal agencies in D.C., and law coming through Congress, to make sure that we’re providing scientific technical expertise to the Governmental Relations Division, to any of the other policy divisions, to make sure that everyone’s understanding what the impact might be for a veterinarian in the field.” Dr. Case was a volunteer for the AVMA prior to being hired by the Association in August 2007. She spent two months in Louisiana in response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, working with an AVMA Veterinary Medical Assistance Team. That included work as commander of shelter medicine and logistics work to support search-andrescue dogs. The federal government has since developed its own National Veterinary Response Teams. Dr. Case, then an AVMA staff member, oversaw changes in the VMAT as it shifted focus toward helping states respond to disasters and improving animal-related disaster training. Before joining the AVMA staff, she

Vol. 245, No. 3

7/9/2014 2:55:08 PM

was also an AVMA Congressional Science Fellow, and she chaired the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee through her first year on staff. Dr. Case counts development of the AVMA Future Leaders Program among her top accomplishments with the Association. She was part of the staff team that developed the pilot program, and the now-permanent program’s third class was scheduled to end its term in late July at the AVMA Annual Convention.

The program helps ambitious young veterinarians become involved in veterinary association governance. Past participants have become presidents of state VMAs, participated in competitive fellowships, and started working with federal agencies. A member of the first class, Dr. Erin Casey, is the chair of the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee. Dr. Case said she has enjoyed her time with the AVMA and appreciated the opportunity to work with the AVMA.

“It’s exciting to me that there’s another opportunity where I can still work on behalf of the profession in a very meaningful arena,” she said. “And I just think that’s a unique part of our degree.” Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA CEO, praised Dr. Case for stellar work in directing the Scientific Activities Division and said he is proud of her accomplishments at the AVMA. “It was truly a pleasure to work with Heather at AVMA, and I look forward to collaborating with her in her new capacity at NBVME.”

AVMA hosts feed directive summit Veterinarians, meat and feed industry representatives, and regulators discussed in June pending changes in how some antimicrobials will be distributed in agriculture. The AVMA hosted June 9-10 a summit on veterinary feed directives, attended by representatives from dozens of agriculture organizations. The attendees discussed the expected changes in federal requirements for issuing such directives and distributing drugs, and they participated in exercises meant to simulate the process of issuing and using the drugs. In April 2013, the Food and Drug Administration published draft regulations in a process intended to improve the efficiency of issuing VFDs while maintaining veterinarian oversight of affected drugs. FDA officials expect more drugs will require such directives as the FDA pushes pharmaceutical companies to, by the end of 2016, eliminate over-the-counter access to antimicrobials deemed to be important for human medicine.

Attendees discussed topics including veterinarian oversight, order expiration dates, the numbers of orders needed for groups or herds, fraud prevention, order transmission methods, information needed by the FDA, and the use of VFDs for small groups of animals such as show pigs. Dr. Kathy Simmons, chief veterinarian for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, attended the meeting and said in a message afterward that the summit provided an excellent forum for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify problems, and improve understanding of the VFD process. “As a producer-directed association, NCBA seeks to increase opportunities for education for both cattle industry stakeholders and bovine veterinarians regarding the VFD process with the ultimate goal of ensuring the most efficient access to the medications necessary to maintain cattle health and well-being,” she said.

Vol. 245, No. 3

080114_NEWS.indd 263

New direction for the AVMA The AVMA is going through a strategic management process to build a stronger, more focused, and more relevant Association for its more than 85,000 members. Learn about the progress being made at

http://newcourse. avma.org.

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

263

7/9/2014 2:55:09 PM

AVMA

A

Technology programs now total 221

By Malinda Larkin The AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities took a number of actions during its May 2-4 meeting at AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, including accrediting eight new programs in veterinary technology and withdrawing accreditation from five programs because of voluntary closure. The newly accredited programs are as follows: • Central Oregon Community College, Bend. • Florida A&M University, Quincy. • Northeast Iowa Community College, Calmar. • Platt College, Riverside, California. • Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio. • University of New Hampshire, Durham. • University of Tennessee at Martin. • Westchester Community College, Valhalla, New York. Sanford Brown Colleges in Dearborn, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Portland, Oregon; Fenton, Missouri; and Austin, Texas, were the programs that had their accreditation withdrawn. In other actions, effective as of May, the CVTEA changed the nomenclature “provisional accreditation” to “initial accreditation,” although the definition and meaning of the accreditation status have not changed. The CVTEA believes replacing the term will more accurately define and convey the accreditation standing and process to stakeholders and the general public (see JAVMA, June 1, 2014, page 1225). Also, the AVMA Executive Board established a new policy on the recovery of costs associated with the accreditation of veterinary technology programs at its Jan. 10 meeting. It says the CVTEA needs to recover 50 percent of the costs of accreditation, not including site visit expenses. As a result, the annual fee for programs will be based on 50 percent of the total costs of accreditation, effective July 1, 2015. The estimated annual accreditation fee for 2016 is $1,150. The annual accreditation fee for the 2015 calendar year will remain at $600. The CVTEA welcomed two new members, Dr. Edward Javorka of Culver, Indiana, who represents clinical veterinary medicine, and Derek Selvage, who represents the public, from Englewood, Colorado. The committee will have the following openings beginning July 2015 for six-year terms: • Veterinary technician representing veterinary technicians. • Public representative. • Veterinarian representing veterinary state boards. The announcement for nominations will be sent out by the AVMA Office of the Executive Vice President toward the end of the year. The Executive Board selects the new CVTEA

264

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

080114_NEWS.indd 264

members, with the exception of the public representative, who is chosen by the CVTEA. In all, the number of accredited veterinary technician programs stands at 221. Twentytwo of those programs offer a four-year degree, and eight offer distance-learning opportunities. There are 141 programs assigned full accreditation, 64 assigned initial accreditation, 10 assigned probationary accreditation, and six on terminal accreditation. Currently, Alaska and Montana are the only states, along with the District of Columbia, that do not have AVMA-accredited veterinary technology programs. To view the complete list, go to www.avma.org, click on “Veterinary Education” on the Professional Development bar, and select “Veterinary Technology Programs” under the Accreditation heading. During its meeting, the CVTEA also evaluated 24 site visit reports and reviewed numerous annual, biennial, interim, and terminal reports, in addition to other requests. The CVTEA has 44 site visits scheduled for 2014, including 15 new programs. A total of 23 programs have applied for accreditation.

Vol. 245, No. 3

7/9/2014 2:55:12 PM

C

C

R

Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Photo by Tyson V. Rininger

Issues

A wild southern female sea otter and her pup sheltering in the Great Tide Pool at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

A

Novel poxvirus discovered in sea otters

study of unusual skin lesions on two orphaned sea otter pups by University of Florida scientists and their collaborators has led to the identification of a previously unknown poxvirus. “To our knowledge, this is the first report of a poxvirus in a mustelid, the group of mammals including otters, mink, badgers, and related species,” said Dr. James Wellehan, an assistant professor at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine who specializes in virology and zoological medicine. DNA testing revealed that viral gene sequences from both otters were identical and that this represents a virus that has never before been identified, according to findings published online this May by the Journal of Wildlife Diseases (www.jwildlifedis.org). Scientists say the potential for transmission of this particular poxvirus to humans is unclear. Although no poxvirus infections have been reported in humans exposed to sea otters, the scientists advise wearing protective clothes and gloves when handling these animals, either in the wild or in rehabilitation settings. The otter pups came from two geographically and genetically distinct populations—Alaska and California—leading researchers to conclude the virus must be geographically widespread. Both otters were undergoing rehabilitation at

the time the skin lesions were detected and subsequently tested. UF researchers found the virus poses a threat to otters because the lesions it causes interfere with the animals’ hair coat, impeding their natural ability to survive in water. “When you look at a Steller’s sea cow, which is now extinct, a whale or a seal, they all have significant blubber layers,” Dr. Wellehan said. “But what keeps sea otters alive in the cold water is their hair coat. Anything affecting their hair coat, with its incredible density of fur, is a huge problem for them.” Additional studies are needed to determine the source of the virus, how it was transmitted to the otters, its zoonotic potential, and its biological importance. “Understanding the diversity, ecology, and evolution of medically important groups of viruses is crucial to prediction and monitoring,” Dr. Wellehan said. Other collaborators on the research team were Dr. Thomas B. Waltzek, an assistant professor of infectious diseases and co-director of UF’s Aquatic Animal Health program, and Alaska SeaLife Center, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Northwest ZooPath, and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Vol. 245, No. 3

080114_NEWS.indd 265

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

265

7/9/2014 4:15:25 PM

Issues

Study: Dogs could be influenza mixing vessels Findings from a new study imply that dogs could act as mixing vessels in which novel influenza viruses with pandemic potential could emerge. The study, “Infection and pathogenesis of canine, equine and human influenza viruses in canine tracheas,” appeared online ahead of the August print edition of the Journal of Virology. Canine influenza virus appears to have originated as a result of the transfer of an equine influenza virus into Greyhounds in the early 2000s. The investigators found that infection of canine tracheal cultures with equine influenza virus from 2003 caused an infection much like that from canine influenza virus in terms of the 2003 equine influenza virus’ rate of replication and extensive tissue damage. Equine influenza viruses from 1963 replicated poorly and caused relatively minor lesions in comparison with the 2003 equine influenza virus. The investigators also found that chimeric viruses carrying genes from human and canine influenza viruses

can infect canine tracheal cultures. Research is under way to determine whether the chimeric viruses could infect human lungs. The manuscript is at bit.ly/asmtip0614f.

Law sends dogs, cats used in higher education on to rescues

Share input on welfare practices in global veterinary education

A new Minnesota law requires facilities of higher education in the state that receive public money to offer dogs and cats used in science, education, or research on to a rescue organization as an alternative to euthanasia. The law appears to be the first of its kind in the country, according to the AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Department. The specific provision is as follows: “A higher education research facility that receives public money or a facility that provides research in collaboration with a higher education facility that confines dogs or cats for science, education, or research purposes and plans on euthanizing a dog or cat for other than science, education, or research purposes must first offer the dog or cat to an animal rescue organization. A facility that is required to offer dogs or cats to an animal rescue organization under this section may enter into an agreement with the animal rescue organization to protect the facility. A facility that provides a dog or cat to a rescue organization under this section is immune from any civil liability that otherwise might result from its actions, provided that the facility is acting in good faith.”

A survey is being implemented to gather input on proposed voluntary standards for applying animal welfare principles at veterinary colleges around the globe. World Animal Protection, formerly the World Society for the Protection of Animals, launched the survey with the support of the World Veterinary Association. The standards will help veterinary colleges demonstrate good practices in animal welfare and support the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines for day-one competencies for new veterinary graduates. The draft standards cover 10 key areas of teaching, research, and organizational culture. World Animal Protection is seeking comments from veterinarians, veterinary educators, and veterinary students. The online survey takes 10 to 12 minutes to complete. The link is www.surveymonkey.com/s/QCMN7RX. The survey form is available in English and a number of other languages. It will be posted until Sept. 1.

266

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

080114_NEWS.indd 266

Vol. 245, No. 3

7/9/2014 2:55:16 PM

Practice PED vaccine gains conditional approval A vaccine that gained conditional approval in June could protect herds against a virus that has killed millions of pigs since spring 2013. Officials of the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that the vaccine against the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus is intended to generate antibody production in sows, which transmit antibodies through milk to neonatal pigs. It is the first USDAlicensed vaccine against the virus, which can kill nearly all neonatal pigs in a herd and cause illness among others.

“Preliminary studies have been promising, and they’ve shown sufficient data that we think the vaccine will be effective,” the announcement states. The conditional license from APHIS lets the developer, Harrisvaccines Inc., of Ames, Iowa, sell the vaccine. Such licenses are granted on the basis of expectations of safety, purity, and efficacy, the agency announced. An announcement from Harrisvaccines indicates the company had sold approximately 2 million doses of the vaccine through prescriptions from late 2013 until the announce-

ment in June, and the vaccine had been developed “in a matter of weeks after the outbreak.” Joelle R. Hayden, an APHIS spokeswoman, noted that the agency’s regulations on biologics include an exemption that allows use of unapproved products when they are prepared by veterinarians for administration to their patients. Harrisvaccines used that exemption to distribute the products without APHIS oversight prior to the conditional approval.

Shortage of saline solution continues for months A shortage of saline solutions for intravenous administration—particularly 0.9 percent sodium chloride solution, or normal saline solution—has continued for months. On Jan. 17, the Food and Drug Administration reported that the agency was aware of the situation. The FDA stated: “The shortage has been triggered by a range of factors including a reported increased demand by hospitals, potentially related to the flu season.” The agency has been working with the three U.S. manufacturers of the products—Baxter Healthcare Corp., B. Braun Medical Inc., and Hospira Inc.—to help preserve the supply. On March 28, the FDA announced that Fresenius Kabi USA LLC would temporarily distribute normal saline solution in the United States from the company’s manufacturing facility in Norway. The agency stated that it also was working with Fresenius Medical Care, which supplies normal saline solution to dialysis centers. On April 28, the FDA announced that Baxter Healthcare would temporarily distribute normal saline solution in the United States from the company’s manufacturing facility in Spain. The product most affected by the shortage is 1,000 mL bags of sodium chloride solution, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ Drug Shortages Resource Center. Much more information is available at www.ashp.org/ menu/DrugShortages/CurrentShortages.

AAFP develops videos on feline-friendly practice The American Association of Feline Practitioners has developed an eight-part video series to help veterinary teams make feline-friendly changes in practice. The titles of the videos are as follows: • ”How to Make Feline Friendly Changes” • “Understanding Feline Behavior” • “Understanding & Preparing for the Feline Veterinary Visit” • “Being Flexible During Feline Examination” • “Enhancing the Feline Examination” • “Feline Friendly Handling during Veterinary Visits” • “Doing Procedures in the Examination Room” • “Now You Can Begin to Make Changes in Your Practice” The videos are available at www.catvets.com/ education/online/videos.

Vol. 245, No. 3

080114_NEWS.indd 267

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

267

7/9/2014 4:15:48 PM

Community Michigan State finds dean internally ate. His primary research interest is viral respiratory diseases of livestock species. Dr. Baker succeeds Dr. Brown, who has served as dean of the veterinary college since 2006. His tenure saw the creation of the Learning and Assessment Center, a joint effort of the health professions colleges at MSU that allows students to practice communication and technical skills. Dr. Brown (Liverpool ’72), prior to becoming dean, chaired the Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies at the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College and was acting director of that college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Earlier, he had chaired the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and served as director of the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Brown also has served as a professor of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State. He held a number of positions, including head of the Equine Medicine and Surgery Section in the Veterinary Clinical Center and acting head of the center’s Radiology Section. Dr. Brown is also a diplomate of the ACVIM. Courtesy of MSU CVM

Dr. John C. Baker, a longtime faculty member at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, took over as dean of the college, effective June 20. Dr. Baker was asked to take the position by Provost June Youatt after the previous dean, Dr. Christopher M. Brown, stepped down. Dr. Baker (Ohio ’80), who has been a professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences for the past 30 years, also served as the associate director of AgBioResearch at the university. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dr. John C. Baker Internal Medicine. While at Michigan State, Dr. Baker has served in a number of capacities, including associate dean for research and graduate studies within the veterinary college and acting director of AgBioResearch from 2004-2005. He began his career at the university in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, where he was section head for Food Animal Medicine and Surgery. Before coming to Michigan State, Dr. Baker served a clinical internship and clinical residency from 1981-1984 at the University of Minnesota, where he also received a doctor-

Ohio State expanding its veterinary hospital sity to be repaid with donations and has been spent on design of the first phase, and it will cost $13.8 million for increases in operating income. If funding allows, two future phases would construction. convert vacated faculty offices to more The College of Veterinary Medicine clinical and surgery space. still needs to raise enough money for the second phase, which would add clinical, surgery, and treatment rooms; add a new lobby and reception area; improve patient rooms, animal holding, and admission and discharge areas. The veterinary college has raised $8.5 million so far A rendering of the addition to The Ohio State University’s Veterinary Medical Center. The center has over 33,000 livestock, equine, and has sought a and companion animal patient visits a year, and the College of $10 million loan Veterinary Medicine employs 130 faculty members and has an from the univerenrollment of approximately 620 students.

268

Vol. 245, No. 3

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

080114_NEWS.indd 268

5

Courtesy of OSU CVM

The Ohio State University is moving forward with a $30 million expansion and enhancement project for its Veterinary Medical Center, according to a university release. The approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on June 6 allows the project to begin in mid-August, with ground breaking taking place in September. The trustees approved spending $16.8 million on the first phase, during which the intensive care unit for the companion animal hospital will be renovated and a three-story, 57,000-square-foot faculty office building will be added to the east side of the existing structure that will not only incorporate faculty and staff offices but also conference spaces for meetings and teaching. It’s expected to open in early 2016. Already, $3 million

VIEW FROM EAST - VERNON THARP APPROACH

26 FEBRUARY 2014

OSU VETERINARY HOSPITAL OSU-120502

7/10/2014 2:57:51 PM

Boehringer Ingelheim invites proposals for equine research Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. invites proposals for the 2014 Equine Research Awards. Veterinarians, diagnosticians, and researchers in the United States and Canada are eligible to submit proposals for yearlong studies to help advance the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of equine infectious diseases. BIVI will award five grants of $15,000 each. The deadline for proposals is Sept. 15. An independent board of industry professionals, including practicing equine veterinarians and researchers, will select studies on the basis of criteria such as the potential impact on the equine industry, originality and scientific quality, and probability of completion. The awards will be announced in December during the American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Convention in Salt Lake City. Additional information and complete submission instructions are at www.equinediseaseresearch.com.

Obituaries AVMA member AVMA honor roll member Nonmember Richard A. Cecil Dr. Cecil (Georgia ’61), 78, Fairfax Station, Virginia, died Feb. 25, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Wilma; two sons and a daughter; and five grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 E. 33rd St., New York, NY 10016.

Philip R. Fidler Dr. Fidler (Georgia ’67), 78, Sumter, South Carolina, died Dec. 4, 2013. He practiced small animal medicine for 42 years in Sumter, where he founded the Advanced Veterinary Hospital. A member of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, Dr. Fidler was named South Carolina Veterinarian of the Year in 2010. He was a veteran of the Army and South Carolina Army National Guard, retiring as a colonel from the SCANG after 30 years of military service. Dr. Fidler’s wife, Eleanor; two sons; and three grandchildren survive him.

Robert E. Gamble

JAVMA News Bulletin AVMA members can sign up for the JAVMA News Bulletin by visiting www.avma.

org/newsletters. The bulletin, which goes out by email before the print journal is mailed, provides summaries of key news articles with links to the full stories on the AVMA website.

Dr. Gamble (Iowa ’53), 89, Gladbrook, Iowa, died April 12, 2014. He practiced in Iowa’s Tama and Marshall counties prior to retirement in 1987. Dr. Gamble was a life member of the Iowa VMA. He was active with the 4-H Club and Boy Scouts of America and was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Garwin Fire Department, Town Council, and Lions Club. Dr. Gamble is survived by his wife, Martha; three sons; and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Mid-Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America, Fred Maytag II Scout Center, 6123 Scout Trail, Des Moines, IA 50321.

Alan J. Hyde Dr. Hyde ( Washington ’80), 59, Emmett, Idaho, died Jan. 24, 2014. Vol. 245, No. 3

080114_NEWS.indd 269

Following graduation, he joined his late father, Dr. Norris Hyde, in mixed animal practice at Animal Medical Center in Emmett. Dr. Hyde was active with the 4-H Club. His wife, Shannon; five sons; and two granddaughters survive him. Memorials for Dr. Hyde may be made to the Emmett High School Football Booster Club, c/o Emmett High School, 721 W. 12th St., Emmett, ID 83617.

Rodney G. Johnson Dr. Johnson (Minnesota ’70), 70, Alexandria, Minnesota, died May 22, 2014. He was chief executive officer of the AVMA PLIT prior to retirement in 2013. Dr. Johnson began his career in large animal practice at the Lake Region Veterinary Center in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, focusing on swine medicine. In 1981, he established a new practice, Swine Health Center, in Morris, Minnesota. Dr. Johnson joined the AVMA PLIT as a Trust representative in 2003, having served three terms as a trustee since 1989. His three terms included service as secretary and chair. Dr. Johnson was named CEO of the AVMA PLIT in 2005. During his career, he also served 10 years as an associate clinical professor at the University of Minnesota and seven years as an adjunct clinical professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Johnson was a past president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and AASV Foundation, a past chair of the Minnesota VMA Political Action Committee and the swine program of the North American Veterinary Conference, and a member of the Minnesota Academy of Veterinary Practice. He was named AASV Practitioner of the Year in 1982 and presented the Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture in 1995. Dr. Johnson received the AASV Meritorious Service Award in 2009. He is survived by his wife, Jean; a son; and a grandson. JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

269

7/9/2014 2:55:21 PM

Community

Shirley S. Koshi

Assurance Program and the Swine Welfare Assurance Program and assisted in the merging of those programs into the PQA Plus Certification Program. He was a past chair of the AVMA Food Safety Advisory Committee, a past president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and American Association of Extension Veterinarians, and a past member of what is now known as the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee. Dr. McKean initiated the Certified Feeder Pig Program in Iowa and served on several committees for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, National James D. McKean Pork Producers Council, Livestock Dr. McKean (Illinois ’70), 67, Ames, Conservation Institute, and United Iowa, died April 10, 2014. He was a States Animal Health Association. professor at the Iowa State University He was a member of the American College of Veterinary Medicine, also serving as swine extension veterinarian Association of Bovine Practitioners, and associate director of the Iowa Pork American Veterinary Medical Law Association, Iowa VMA, and National Industry Center. Institute for Animal Agriculture. Dr. McKean began his career as a The IPPA named Dr. McKean the technical services veterinarian for the Michigan Farm Bureau in Lansing. After 1985 Honorary Master Pork Producer. He was inducted into the Iowa Feeder earning his master’s degree in veteriPig Hall of Fame in 1986. Dr. McKean nary pathology from Michigan State was named Extension Veterinarian of University in 1973, he joined ISU as the Year in 1988 and Food Hygiene an extension veterinarian. Dr. McKean Veterinarian of the Year in 1989. In subsequently earned his law degree 1999, he received the AASV Howard from Drake University in 1988. He was known for his expertise in the areas of Dunne Memorial Award for his contributions and service to the association food safety and disease surveillance and to the swine industry. Dr. McKean and control, and for his contributions to the eradication of pseudorabies and received the Distinguished Service Award from Pork Checkoff, a program control of porcine reproductive and of the National Pork Board, in 2008. In respiratory syndrome. 2012, the NIAA honored him with the Dr. McKean helped develop the President’s Service Award. National Pork Board Pork Quality Dr. Koshi (Bombay Veterinary College ’80), 55, New York, died Feb. 16, 2014. A small animal practitioner, she owned Gentle Hands Veterinarian in Bronx, New York. Prior to that, Dr. Koshi worked in India, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. During her employment in India, she served as a consultant for the Peshwa Park Zoo in Pune. Memorials may be made to The Humane Society of New York, 306 E. 59th St., New York, NY 10075.

Dr. McKean is survived by his wife, Ellen; two sons and two daughters; and nine grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Dr. James D. McKean Memorial Fund, First National Bank, 405 5th St., Ames, IA 50010.

Reverdy L. Munson Dr. Munson (Cornell ’64), 74, Cohasset, Massachusetts, died March 20, 2014. He owned Oxford Veterinary Hospital, a small animal practice in Oxford, Connecticut, prior to retirement in 2007. Dr. Munson’s wife, Penny; two sons; and four grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Expanding Horizons Program, Alumni Affairs and Development Office, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Box 39, Ithaca, NY 14853.

James D. Prewitt Dr. Prewitt (Iowa ’59), 82, Florissant, Missouri, died Dec. 6, 2013. He practiced small animal medicine at Dee Pet Clinic in Florrisant. Dr. Prewitt served in the Marine Corps, receiving a Gold Star and Purple Heart, Korean Service, United Nations, and National Defense Service medals. He was a past president of the Florissant Rotary Club and a past district governor of Rotary International. Dr. Prewitt is survived by his wife, Wilma, and two daughters. Memorials in his name may be made to Florissant Rotary Club, 620 N. Highway 67, Florissant, MO 63031.

Obituary notifications Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to the JAVMA News staff via a toll-free phone call at 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email at [email protected]; or fax at 847-925-9329. For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death.

270

JAVMA News: August 1, 2014

080114_NEWS.indd 270

Vol. 245, No. 3

7/9/2014 2:55:21 PM

Southern specialty.

Southern specialty. - PDF Download Free
2MB Sizes 2 Downloads 3 Views