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3. Draft Report of the Meeting of the OIE Ad Hoc Group on Avian Influenza.Provisional Document, Appendix XXVI 12-14 November 2003.4. Gorman OT, William JB, Yoshihiro H, Webster RG, Evolution of nucleoproteingene of Influenza A virus. J Virol 1990;64:1487-1497.5. Selleck WP, Arzey GG, Kirkland PD et al. An outbreak of highly pathogenicavian influenza in Australia in 1997 caused by an H7N7 virus. Avian Dis2003:47:806-811.6. Heckert RA, McIsacc M, Chan M, Zhou EM. Experimental infection of Emus(Dormaiius novaehollaniae) with Avian Influenza viruses of varying virulence: clin-ical signs, virus shedding and serology. Avian Pathol, 1999;28:13-16.7. Melville DS. Bird Migration in East Asia: Implications for Avian Influenza? In:Asian Pacific Intercity Symposium on Influenza Control and Prevention. Taipei, 2004.8. Stallknecht DE. Ecology and Epidemiology of Avian Influenza viruses in wildbird populations; waterfowl, shorebirds, pelicans, cormorants etc. In: Proceedingsof the 4th International Symposium on Avian Influenza. Athens, Georgia, USA.1997:61-67.9. Tracey PJ, Rupert W, Roshier D, West P, Saunders GR. The role of wild birdsin the transmission of Avian Influenza for Australia: An ecological perspective.Emu 2004:109-124.

The explanation proposed by Dr Bunn that the uniqueness of theAustralian AI virus lineage is a result of a confinement to distinctflyways is questionable in the Australasian context. The flywaypredominantly originates in Eurasia and Alaska, breeding groundsfor a large number of birds from other flyways.7 The highestexchange of AI virus has been reported during the breedingperiod, premigration moult and the premigration staging.8 Aconsiderable overlap between the east, central Asian andAustralasian flyways has been reported.7 Therefore, the uniquelineage of the AI virus in Australian outbreaks is unlikely topersist if waterfowl of the Australasian flyway were responsible forthe introduction. The persistence of the Australian lineagesuggests an endemic rather than an exotic source of AI infection.9

For the Australian-New Zealand lineage the discontinuity iscorrelated with geographic separation.4 The subtype associatedwith Australian outbreaks (H7), has not been found in wildwaterfowl in Australia or New Zealand despite surveys extendingover years and regions. However, it was found in emus anddomestic ducks in Australia.

1. Westbury HA. History of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza in Australia. In:Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Avian Influenza. Athens,Georgia, USA. 1997:23-30.2. Cross GM. The Status of Avian Influenza in poultry in Australia. In: Proceedingsof the Second International Symposium on Avian Influenza. Athens, Georgia,USA. 1986:96-103.

Editors Note

Drs Arzey and Bunn, in timely correspondence, presentdifferent viewpoints on the issue of source of AI viruses for

Australian poultry. To extend this important discussion, DrAndrew Turner was invited to discuss the two recent letterspublished here and to provide his insights into this importanttopic. His letter will be published in the November issue of theJournal.

Implementation of the 'three Rs' in biomedical researchA systematic sample of 2800 articles published between 1970 and 2000 in 14 major biomedical journals was analysed to assessthe implementation of the 'Three Rs' (replacement, reduction and refinement) in biomedical research. During this period the totalnumber of articles published annually by the journals more than doubled, but the proportion of studies using animals decreasedby 30%. There was a significant increase, from 21% to 35%, in the proportion of animal studies which made use of untreatedeuthanased animals as donors of biological materials, a gradual decrease in the number of chronic studies on animals, and a50% decrease in the average number of animals used per published paper. There was an improvement in the reporting of thespecification of the animals' husbandry, conditions of care and environment. Measures of importance for the evaluation of thescientific quality of the research and the welfare of the animals were generally poorly reported, but the proportion of papers withadequate information on most of the measures analysed increased between 1970 and 2000.

Carlsson HE et al. Vet Rec 2004;154:467-470.

Implementing a simulated client program: bridging the gap between theory and practiceThis paper outlines the design and implementation of an innovative communication skills training program at the OntarioVeterinary College. An experiential learning laboratory using simulated clients and patients was introduced to first-year veteri-nary students. It was based upon the body of research in human medical education reporting effective results through the use ofstandardised patients for this type of training. One hundred and four first-year students were assigned to 12 groups of eight ornine students plus a facilitator. Each student interacted with a simulated client and a patient while being observed by peers and afacilitator. The Calgary-Cambridge Observation Guide was used to guide students and facilitators with performance standardsand feedback. Assessment strategies were utilised. Implementation of this program required extensive resources, includingfunding, expertise, facilitator training, time allotment in an already overburdened curriculum, and administrative and facultysupport. Preliminary assessment revealed high student and facilitator satisfaction. The potential of this program for studenteducation and assessment was recognised, and it will be expanded in years 2 and 3 of the DVM curriculum. The authorsconclude that medical educators have created resources, including skills checklists and experiential learning modalities, that arehighly applicable to veterinary medical education. Ongoing evaluation of the program is essential to determine whether we aremeeting expectations for communication competency in veterinary medicine.

Adams CL et al. J Vet Med Educ 2004;31:138-145.