new york state veterinary medical society · magazine of the new york state veterinary medical society ISSN 2333-3375 • USPS 407-350 100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 127, Albany NY 12203

In thIs Issue: Lymphoma Treatment and more …Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

magazine of the new york state veterinary medical society

issue 14.04 | September-October

magazine of the new york state veterinary medical society

ISSN 2333-3375 • USPS 407-350100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 127, Albany NY 12203

Tel. (800) 876-9867 • Fax (518) 869-7868 • Email [email protected] • Web www.nysvms.org

Connections is published bimonthly by the New York State Veterinary Medical Society Inc., 100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 127, Albany NY 12203. Subscriptions are $1/year to members as part of their annual dues, $25/year to subscribers and $50/year to nonmember veterinarians in New York State. Opinions expressed in articles and editorials of Connections are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society Inc. Second-class postage paid at Albany, N.Y.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: NYSVMS, 100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 127, Albany NY 12203.

issue 14.04 | September-October

executive DirectorJennifer J. Mauer, CAE

Marketing/Membership specialistStacey Allen

education/Conference specialist

Dory Fisk, CMP

nYsVMs Legal Counsel

Barbara J. Ahern, Esq.

Membership Assistant

Jennifer Hill

nYsVMs offICersPresident

Christopher Brockett, DVM

President-electDean M. Snyder, DVM

Past PresidentLinda J. M. Tintle, DVM

treasurerLawrence W. Bartholf, DVM

AVMA DelegateWalter K. McCarthy, DVM

regIonAL offICersCapital DistrictMark E. Will, DVM

Catskill MountainDavid C. Leahy, DVM

Central new York Heather Lago, DVM

finger LakesRobert Hamilton, DVM

genesee ValleyAndy Fleming, DVM

hudson ValleyJames C. Zgoda, DVM

Long IslandSurinder S. Wadyal, DVM

new York CityAllan P. Bregman, DVM

northern new YorkJessica Scillieri Smith, DVM

southern tierJoshua H. Clay, VMD

Westchester/rocklandRobert J. Weiner, VMD

Western new YorkSusan E. Wylegala, DVM

2 new york state veterinary medical society

tAbLe of Contents DePArtMents

4 NYSVMS Update

22 Practice Manager

23 Classified Ads

InDustrY

5 Biosecurity Toolkit for New York State’s Racing Industry Nears Completion

7 Chronic Wasting Disease Basics for New York Veterinarians

9 From MOPP to r-CHOP: The Story of Lymphoma Treatment in Pets and People

15 Wildlife Conservation Society’s Wildlife Health Programs

19 What’s up, Doc? The Pet Rabbit in Practice

21 Harmful Algae Bloom Alert

page 12

new york state veterinary medical society 3

Adirondack Loons Shed Light on the Health of Aquatic Ecosystems

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4 new york state veterinary medical society4 new york state veterinary medical society

“I believe that a strong research program belongs in every veterinary college. We should demand it be in place at every institution wishing to educate the future scientists of veterinary medicine. ”

nYsVMs uPDAte

President’s Message

As I sit down to write this piece, I have recently returned from the AVMA conference in Denver. The weather and the airlines cooperated sufficiently to make the trip itself enjoyable. The natural beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains is truly breathtaking and all I had ever thought it to be. The conference itself was full of interesting speakers and the exhibit hall allowed practitioners to delve into all manners of technology, materials and products available to our profession. The entire event was impressively choreographed by the AVMA and provided a first class experience.

In the days leading up to the conference itself, I was able to attend many of the meetings surrounding the AVMA House of Delegates session. The issues which drew my attention were related to discussions regarding the future of our profession. We’ve all read the articles. Too little funding for the veterinary colleges from the state governments; increases in cost of facilities and staff

there I stood; explaining ratios of debt to income. Speaking in terms of the length of time it would take to pay off veterinary educational debt versus that of a human physician. I had to explain that research opportunities are harder and harder to come by.

The difficulty our profession faces in trying to “land” a student like this should concern each and every one of us. Our profession has promoted the idea of One Health over the last decade. I am wondering exactly who we will provide to sit at the table with our human counterparts in the future. Many of the “best and brightest”

will begin choosing other professions for economic reasons at the same time the veterinary profession is moving toward a more utilitarian education which may produce adequate practitioners but fails to provide our profession with the researchers who will identify, and create the vaccine for, the next significant canine or bovine virus.

I believe that a strong research program belongs in every veterinary college. We should demand it be in place at every institution wishing to educate the future scientists of veterinary medicine. Providing students with not only exposure to the process,

but to the minds of those professors whose work infiltrates lectures, textbooks and journals. The discoveries made in the laboratory often transcend species in their application. This is how we maintain our professional commitment to help not only those in our care but to aid the world’s human population as well.

Our professional scientific history cannot become a footnote 30 years from now because we sacrificed it in the name of less costly educational models. If we want to continue to be looked upon as colleagues to our human medical counterparts; then we

must find a way to provide that balance in the education of every veterinary student. •Chris Brockett, DVM NYSVMS President

Chris Brockett, DVM

for those colleges; a move toward a for-profit model of education; and too little help for students once repayment of loans begins are just some parts of an extremely complicated issue which engenders much debate but little actual progress. Another part of the equation that concerns myself and others is that as the dollars become more and more scarce, we are seeing a diminishing, or even a complete lack, of the research that has been a hallmark of this profession’s history. It becomes a balancing act of trying to provide an education that creates a world-class

mind, not just a proficient practitioner; all the while being mindful of the bottom line for both the educator and the one being educated.

I was thinking of a young woman who had been shadowing in our practice for the last few weeks. She attends a very well-regarded private college in New York State, majoring in biology and neurosciences. Her current interests lay squarely in research opportunities. She exemplifies the “best and brightest” students of her generation. She is the future of some profession and obviously has the academic muscle to go in whatever direction she chooses. And, yet,

new york state veterinary medical society 5new york state veterinary medical society 5

t he equine community has been concerned for some time about the increasing

incidence of infectious diseases such as Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) and Equine Beta-Coronavirus. These emerging diseases, and “old” diseases such as Strangles, can be extremely disruptive when they occur in venues such as race tracks, training stables or horse shows.

InDustrYBiosecurity Toolkit for

New York State’s Racing Industry Nears Completion

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has responded to a number of these events in recent years. It has become very clear that providing guidance in advance of a disease threat will prevent some outbreaks and help limit those that do occur. We’ve seen recent examples in which prompt action by equine veterinarians to isolate suspected infectious disease cases has prevented widespread exposure of horses. All involved parties agree these responses

should be the norm. Even better, if the entire racing industry is aware of best practices for preventing outbreaks and those practices are put to use, we should see fewer disease problems that interfere with training and racing.

We began having discussions with the New York State Gaming Commission and racing officials about creating such guidance in 2013, but the real catalyst to get this project moving was the January 2014 appointment

of Dr. Scott Palmer as the Gaming Commission’s Equine Medical Director. Shortly after his appointment, Dr. Palmer convened a group of experts from Cornell University, the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Under Dr. Palmer’s leadership we have been creating biosecurity guides that will be available to everyone working on the backstretch.

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These guides have been influenced by the work of Dr. Katie Flynn and her colleagues at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Dr. Flynn created a Biosecurity Toolkit for Equine Events a few years ago and much of what is being developed in New York State is based on California’s earlier work.

We see our version of the toolkit as having three distinct audiences: track managers and officials; equine veterinarians; and trainers and their workers. We are striving to address the unique concerns of each group. The toolkit will provide track managers and officials with recommendations on how to conduct biosecurity assessments on their facilities, guidance on creating biosecurity plans, and helpful information on key actions that will need to occur should an outbreak start. The section being written for veterinarians focuses heavily on EHM, what to expect from the state during an outbreak, and how we manage EHM quarantines. While EHM will be front and center in the veterinarians’ section there will also be a great deal of

information relevant to a wide variety of equine diseases. The trainers’ portion of the Toolkit will provide an overview of diseases that concern all of us, a description of actions trainers and their workers can take to protect the horses entrusted to them, and guidance on cleaning and disinfection procedures to use in the face of an outbreak. Like the part intended for veterinarians, the trainer’s section will provide information on what to expect from the state in the event of an EHM outbreak.

The toolkit will have a wealth of appendices and references that we hope will make everyone’s life somewhat less stressful during an outbreak: information on lab submissions, contact numbers for animal health officials, and a number of other helpful aids. We also plan to have a version available in Spanish.

The team working this project appreciates the central role of the practicing equine veterinarian and we sincerely hope that this toolkit will be useful to everyone involved in New York’s racing industry. •David Smith, DVM, Director

Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Animal Industry

“While ehM will be front and center in the veterinarians’ section there will also be a great deal of information relevant to a wide variety of equine diseases.”


Chronic Wasting Disease Basics for New York Veterinarians

A s veterinarians, you are well-versed in the importance of disease prevention. Right

now, New York State’s wild white-tailed deer herd is threatened by a lethal disease that has no treatment, vaccine or immunity. You have likely heard of it—Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD. As a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), holes form in the brain of infected deer. After a year or more, deer lose weight, drool and wander in circles, eventually succumbing to the disease. In this article, we will discuss threats to New York State’s deer herd and how other states are affected by CWD. We will discuss what you can do to protect New York’s deer herd.

the Disease and history in new York stateChronic Wasting Disease is caused by misfolded protein particles called “prion.” Prions are virtually indestructible, withstanding temperatures of 1,110 degrees. Sheep scrapie prions, another TSE, have remained infectious in soil for at least 16 years. Unlike scrapie, no animals have demonstrated resistance to CWD. The disease can be passed directly from deer-to-deer or by ingesting or inhaling prions in soil or on vegetation contaminated by saliva, feces and urine. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy or “mad cow” disease is a TSE that is transmissible to humans as variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. There have been no known cases of CWD being transmitted to humans

according to the Centers for Disease Control, and no evidence of transmission to domestic livestock.

In 2005, CWD was identified in Oneida County, first on two captive deer farms and then in two wild deer. The index farm also rehabilitated wild white-tailed deer and released them, along with owning a taxidermy studio. A 10-mile radius containment area, including Oneida and Madison counties, was established with mandatory deer check stations. Moving live or dead deer and parts from the containment area and deer rehabilitation were prohibited. These measures, while burdensome, were necessary to protect New York State’s deer herd. Fortunately, testing over the last eight years has shown no additional cases of CWD in New York… but CWD is knocking at our door once again. Last fall, Pennsylvania discovered CWD in captive farms in Adams and Jefferson counties and in five wild deer in Blair and Bedford counties.

What’s happened in other states?Studies from other states dealing with CWD provide useful lessons for New York. There are three primary lessons:

1. The most cost-effective control method for all wildlife diseases is prevention.

2. Once the disease is established, there are few options for controlling its spread.

3. Money spent on CWD control efforts will likely be taken from other programs.

In Wyoming, CWD has been present since the 1980s. In some areas, mule deer populations are declining and CWD infection rate in bucks is approaching 50 percent. In a white-tailed deer study, adult deer infection rate is 42 percent in females and 28 percent in males. Estimates indicate this population is declining at a rate of 10.4 percent per year, a grim future for this population given the high rate of infection.

In Wisconsin, a state more similar to New York’s deer herd and habitat, CWD was discovered in 2002. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spent $32 million in the first five years after the disease was discovered and despite tremendous effort, the CWD prevalence has risen to 25 percent in males and 11 percent in females in the endemic area. Typically, adult bucks have higher infections rates, possibly because they have larger home ranges

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and are more likely to interact with more deer during the rut.

how CWD Might return to new YorkInfected deer can survive for more than a year and appear healthy while shedding CWD prions in saliva, feces and urine. Live deer moved from infected captive herds to farms in New York State are a potential route of introduction for CWD because there is no United States Drug Administration-approved live test. Within the past two years, CWD-positive deer have been discovered in captive herds in Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets has recently enacted a five-year importation ban on live CWD-susceptible cervids (white-tail deer, mule deer, black-tailed deer, elk, red deer, moose and sika deer).

Movement of infected dead deer is also considered a problem

because prions are present in the carcass. Central nervous and lymph tissues have a high concentration of prions. Muscle and blood have lower levels of prions. Improper disposal of carcasses on the landscape makes prions available to other deer and scavengers, as well as contaminating the ground. Scavengers, like coyotes and crows, feeding on carcasses can spread prions in their feces. Deer attractant products collected from captive deer herds, such as urine, can also contain prions. Hunters using such deer products as lures and cover scents can be unknowingly spreading prions on the landscape. Even urine from “CWD certified herds” cannot be absolutely sure to be free of CWD because the urine is not directly tested. Luckily, there are synthetic alternatives to natural deer urine.

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injured deer. Animals showing neurological signs are considered clinical suspects and are valuable for CWD testing. Report any abnormal deer to the Department of Environmental Conservation for necropsy and testing. If you work with wildlife rehabilitators, try to educate them about CWD and minimize movement of and contact between animals. Analysis of rehabilitation records from 2012 indicated that deer were transported by the public across the state. Moving animals moves their pathogens as well. If you work with captive cervids, ensure there is adequate fencing to prevent ingress/egress with wild deer. Encourage deer owners to comply with USDA CWD Certification Program Standards, available at: www.aphis.usda.gov.

If you are a hunter, make sure that your taxidermist or deer processor is using a landfill for carcass disposal. If you process your deer yourself, bag the carcass and use municipal waste disposal

facilities. If you hunt outside of New York State, regulation prohibits importation of whole carcasses from CWD-positive states and all states west of the Mississippi River. You can make sure you are protecting New York and are in compliance by bringing back only deboned meat, antlers or cleaned skull cap and cape/hide, or finished taxidermy mounts.

CWD is a serious threat to the New York State deer herd and with the help of concerned and committed New Yorkers, we can ensure wildlife health for future generations.

To learn more about CWD in New York, please visit www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7191.html. •

Krysten Schuler, PhD Wildlife Disease Ecologist, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine


t he focus of comparative medicine is on the similarities and differences between

animal and human diseases and how the study of disease on one species expands the knowledge of the disease in all species. A current and important area where human and veterinary medicine intersect is in the field of oncology. For example, cats with feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infections have served as models for the study of AIDS and AIDS-related diseases; and research performed by veterinary oncologists studying dogs suffering from osteosarcoma have led to improved methods of limb sparing surgery for the pediatric form of the disease. In fact, veterinary oncologists have adapted human chemotherapy

InDustrY

From MOPP to r-CHOP: The Story of Lymphoma

Treatment in Pets and Peopleprotocols for the use in dogs and cats, most notably the CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, Oncovin®, prednisone) chemotherapy protocol, which forms the foundation for nearly all lymphoma protocols used in veterinary medicine today.

Alphabet soup for the human Lymphoma PatientAlthough lymphoma was first described in 1666 by Italian physician Malpighi, the treatment of lymphoma did not start in earnest for hundreds of years – when it was discovered that U.S. soldiers fighting in World War II were accidentally exposed to mustard gas obliterating their lymphoid tissue. Physicians at Yale University adapted this serendipitous finding into a treatment for

lymphoma, using nitrogen mustard, a derivative of mustard gas. By 1963, several drugs effective against lymphoma were combined into a multidrug chemotherapy protocol for lymphoma, MOPP (Mustargen®, Oncovin®, procarbazine, prednisone). This was the first chemotherapy protocol able to cure humans with lymphoma. Approval of methotrexate, bleomycin, dacarbazine, doxorubicin, Leukeran®, velban and etoposide soon followed, and these drugs were combined and reordered in multiple clinical trials creating an alphabet soup of treatment protocols: AVBD, LOPP, COPP, BEACOP, m-BACOD and CHOP. Of these, CHOP became the standard of care in humans with lymphoma. The treatment of lymphoma radically changed in 1997 when another letter was added to the CHOP

acronym. A monoclonal antibody to CD20 (a surface protein on B cells) gained approval by the Federal Drug Administration as an immunotherapy for the treatment of B cell lymphoma. Rituximab, a chimeric mouse-human antibody specifically binds to the CD20 molecule found on nearly all B cells. Binding of the antibody to B lymphocytes destroys them. The antibody was ultimately integrated into the standard chemotherapy protocol creating r-CHOP. Combining rituximab with CHOP dramatically improved the survival time of patients with B cell lymphoma compared to those treated with CHOP alone.

treatment of Dogs and Cats with LymphomaThe history of the treatment of lymphoma in pets in many ways parallels the evolution of the treatment of lymphoma

Superficial cervical lymph node. Oral t-cell lymphoma.



in humans. Early reports of lymphoma treatment in dogs and cats utilized a single drug, often cyclophosphamide or prednisone. In the 1990s, an alphabet soup of lymphoma protocols were evaluated in clinical trials, including: COP, CHOP, ACOPA, VELCAP, VELCAP-HDC, VELCAP-S, MOPP, Adria-DTIC. CHOP consistently offers the longest reported survival time, but can be financially out of reach for some pet owners.

Treatment of canine lymphoma using single agent doxorubicin or feline lymphoma with COP (cyclophosphamide, Oncovin ®, prednisone) is still commonplace because of these protocols are less expensive and have a high complete remission rate. As in humans, B cell lymphoma is the most common form the disease in dogs; T-cell lymphoma comprises about 20 percent of cases of canine lymphoma. This form of lymphoma does not respond as well to CHOP as B-cell lymphoma does and veterinary oncologists continue to investigate better treatment options for T-cell lymphoma. In addition to finding an effective treatment for T-cell lymphoma, veterinary oncologists place

“rituximab for dogs and cats” high on our wish list.

Putting the “r” in Veterinary ChoPThis is an exciting time in veterinary oncology –cancer therapies are now being developed specifically for dogs and cats and multiple nationwide clinical trials of

immunotherapy for lymphoma are currently underway.

We hope the results of these clinical trials will radically alter the treatment outcome for dogs afflicted with lymphoma and that similar products will be developed for our feline cancer patients.

Building on their success with immunotherapy for canine melanoma, Merial has developed a therapeutic vaccine against CD20 for use

in dogs with B cell lymphoma. This vaccine has conditional licensure from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial currently in progress involves CHOP chemotherapy followed by four doses of CD20 vaccine administered using a needle-free transdermal device to dogs

who remain in remission one month after completing CHOP.

Vet Therapeutics innovated two monoclonal antibodies, one against B-cells (CD20) and the other directed at T-cells (CD52). These antibodies are now both conditionally approved by the USDA.

As is typical in the world of pharmaceutical companies, mergers and acquisitions have moved some of the lymphoma immunotherapies from one company to another.

In 2013, Vet Therapeutics as acquired by Aratana, a new player in veterinary pharmaceuticals working to solve unmet needs in pet health. This acquisition included both the B-cell (CD20) and T-cell (CD52) monoclonal antibodies. Because veterinary oncologists are anxious to investigate better treatments for T-cell lymphoma,

two clinical trials, sponsored by Aratana, are underway using the T-cell monoclonal antibody. The first study mimics the r-CHOP protocol using the canine version of CHOP combined with the T-cell monoclonal antibody in a randomized, controlled, blinded study. . The other T-cell lymphoma study is also a randomized, controlled, blinded study, evaluating a less commonly used drug for lymphoma, Lomustine®

“between animal and human and medicine, there is no dividing line—nor should there be. the object is different, but the experience obtained constitutes the basis of all medicine.”— rudolf Virchow

Elevated sternal lymph nodes, cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, and the tracheobronchial lymph nodes – Prior to chemotherapy.

Post-chemotherapy.


followed by the T-cell monoclonal antibody therapy.

The B-cell monoclonal antibody originally developed by Vet Therapeutics was licensed to Novartis for marketing in the U.S. and Canada prior to the acquisition by Aratana. Like all new treatment modalities, further study of the B-cell monoclonal antibody will be required before this product can be incorporated into routine use. To that end, an investigator-initiated trial to study the anti-CD20 canine lymphoma monoclonal antibody will kick off shortly in a number of sites across the country.

Incorporation of “r” into CHOP for human lymphoma required approximately 10-15 years of clinical trials, so it is likely how veterinary oncologists use these new products will transform over the next decade as we learn more about their capabilities. Your local board certified veterinary oncologist will be a valuable resource in guiding decision making regarding immunotherapy for treatment of lymphoma patients.

Managing Lymphoma in a new ParadigmIn addition to collaborating with your local board certified oncologist, general practitioners should consider the following points when managing canine and feline cancer patients:

• To help pet owners find clinical trials for their pets with cancer, use the Veterinary Cancer Society’s searchable clinical trials database, www.vetcancertrials.org.

• Consider immunophenotyping (determining B-versus T-cell origin) canine lymphoma patients prior to treatment or referral since eligibility for clinical trials is in part are determined by this test.

• Although owners of pets diagnosed with lymphoma are often very anxious to start treatment, keep in mind that the response rate and survival time in both dogs and cats are decreased if prednisone/prednisolone treatment is administered for more than two weeks prior to initiation of chemotherapy.

• Stay current on the latest lymphoma developments via continuing education seminars since the use of immunotherapy for lymphoma will evolve rapidly as veterinary oncologists learn more about these targeted therapeutic options.

The words of the 19th century German physician Rudolf Virchow are as true today as they were then and are especially true when the disease is lymphoma. “Between animal and human and medicine, there is no dividing line, nor should there be. The object is different, but the experience obtained constitutes the basis of all medicine.”•Ann E. Hohenhaus, DVM, ACVIM (Oncology and Small Animal Internal Medicine)

Animal Medical Center


Adirondack Loons Shed Light on the Health of Aquatic Ecosystems

feAture

I t’s late July and there is barely a glimmer from the new moon. The night is warm, thus there shouldn’t

be any fog rising above the water—hopefully that means we’ll be successful capturing the birds tonight. Three of us are in a canoe on a remote lake

in New York State’s Adirondack Park—I’m lighting, Gary’s netting, and John is paddling.

I swing the beam of the spotlight slowly along the junction of the shore and water. Then we see a flash of white far off in the distance. As we approach, the white takes shape, forming the belly of a Common Loon (Gavia

immer), closely followed by a chick. Gary hoots softly and makes a wheezy whiny call, like a young loon. The belly comes straight at us now, rapidly closing in the distance between the canoe and the birds. John deftly maneuvers the canoe as the loon approaches, and I keep the beam directly in the adult bird’s

eyes mesmerizing it so it can’t see us. It’s absolutely magnificent floating in the light on this calm, clear night—almost magical.

The loon comes within inches of the right side of the boat. Gary dips his net into the water as the bird swims into it, then quickly swings the net and bird around to John, who places a


“since 1998, biodiversity research Institute has been using the Common Loon, a top trophic-level piscivorous predator, as an indicator species to assess mercury exposure and risk in aquatic ecosystems in the Adirondack Park. ”

towel around the loon’s head. I crouch down as low as I can to steady the swaying canoe. Gary places his hands around the bird’s wings and body, lifting it up a little, as I pull the net out. It’s a huge bird— must be the male of the pair.

The second canoe has been sitting in the shadow of the shoreline while we had the loon in the light. As we head back to the launch, they hoot to the chick which comes right up to the boat. An easy catch, which is wrapped in a towel and placed behind the paddler’s feet. Then they make the chick call, and hear the female hoot back. From shore, we see them lighting her and the chick. The net dips again, and the second chick goes back to be with the first. The female is now glowing in the light, and the canoe and bird get closer and closer. Finally the net dips one last time, and the female is also in the canoe.

Back on shore, Gary sits on a bin with the male loon on his lap, its head wrapped with a towel and tucked under his arm like a football. John starts measuring its bill and legs, while I collect a blood sample from the tibiotarsal vein. Next I collect feather samples, band it with a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service aluminum numbered

band and a unique combination of colored plastic bands, and weigh it. Then I hold its head and towel, as we walk the bird to the edge of the lake. Gary holds its body in the water, and I slowly pull the towel off the head, gradually releasing it. Gary opens his hands, and the loon drifts calmly away.

Institute has been using the Common Loon, a top trophic-level piscivorous predator, as an indicator species to assess mercury exposure and risk in aquatic ecosystems in the Adirondack Park. Loons are a long-lived (20-30 years) piscivorous predator at the top of the aquatic food web.

the Adirondack loon population by assessing loon reproductive success in relation to their mercury body burden. We found that 21 percent of male and 8 percent of female loons in our study were at high risk for behavioral and reproductive impacts based on their blood mercury exposure. Male and

By now, the other canoe has come to shore with the female and two chicks. Dr. John Sykes, DVM, from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Zoological Health Program, is drawing blood from the female, so I band and measure her, while two of the field staff stroke the heads of the chicks like parrots to keep them calm. The chicks are too small for bands, so they are just samples and weighed before being released with the female.

The blood samples are used for many analyses. Since 1998, Biodiversity Research

Thus, contaminants that bio-accumulate have potential to do so at high levels in these birds. Atmospheric deposition of mercury (from the emissions of coal-fired power plants and other sources) has resulted in extensive environmental contamination throughout northern North America, detrimentally affecting the health of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Sublethal exposure to mercury, a neurotoxin, affects the behavior and reproduction of loons and other species.

Our study evaluates the impact of mercury contamination to

female loons with elevated mercury levels showed a 56 percent and 32 percent reduction, respectively, in the number of chicks fledged per year, compared to individuals with low mercury exposure. Population model results indicated that the portion of the Adirondack loon population with high mercury levels has a reduced growth rate, compared to birds with low body burdens of mercury.

Dr. Keith Grasman, from Calvin College, has been examining the immune function of loons in relation to their mercury

Dr. John Sykes, DVM, from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoological Health Program, collecting a blood sample from an Adirondack loon.

A loon chick getting a health exam.

© BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, 2013© BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, 2014


exposure. He has developed a field technique to consistently isolate lymphocytes from loons to prepare them for subsequent proliferation in the laboratory. His results to date indicate that loon chick immune function appears to be impacted by mercury exposure, consistent with the general sensitivity of the developing immune system to contaminants, and with a previous laboratory study that demonstrated immunotoxicity of environmentally relevant exposures of mercury in young loons.

In collaboration with WCS’ Zoological Health Program, we have also been assessing the overall health of Adirondack loons through complete blood counts, chemistry profiles, fecal analyses, and exposure to avian diseases and other contaminants. Adult loons have higher average packed cell volumes and heterophil counts than juveniles. Blood parasites, including trypanosomes, microfilaria and

Leukocytozoon sp. have been observed in a small number of birds, and intestinal parasites have been found in a quarter of the sampled loons. Elevated lead levels were found in a small number of loons, indicating probably ingestion of lead fishing tackle. Exposure to heavy metals other than mercury was negligible or nonexistent, but two-thirds and almost 100 percent of the loons evaluated had residues of metabolites of PCB’s and DDE respectively, indicating potential ongoing exposure to banned persistent environmental contaminants. There was little or no evidence of exposure to other contaminants, such as aldrin, BHC, dieldrin, endosulfane, chlordane, endrin, heptachlor and lindane.

Our long-term loon-mercury research serves as a means to monitor the effectiveness of recent mercury emission regulations at decreasing impacts to biota and the environment. Our health assessment study provides a

normal baseline for evaluating the health of loons in need of rehabilitation or who have been exposed to a disease outbreak or contaminant exposure, such as an oil spill. It is also contributing to BRI’s national loon health assessment study supported by the Ricketts Conservation Foundation. In addition to scientific publications the results of our studies in scientific journals are interwoven in a variety of outreach techniques and communication media to increase public and policy-maker awareness and understanding of conservation concerns affecting the health of wildlife and aquatic ecosystems in and around the Adirondack Park.

To learn more about the research and outreach endeavors of BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, visit www.briloon.org/adkloon, or contact [email protected]. •Acknowledgements: Our loon mercury research is made possible through the generous financial and in-kind support from the

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Wildlife Conservation Society as part of NYSERDA’s Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation, and Protection Program Project #7608. This research was also supported in part by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program grants WE-173-G to New York. We are gratefully appreciate the generous support and in-kind assistance of the Freed Foundation, Nordlys Foundation, John and Evelyn Trevor Charitable Foundation, and numerous other organizations and private donors. This study is conducted under Biodiversity Research Institute’s Federal Scientific Collection permit #MB830469-0, Banding permit #22636, and New York State License to Collect and Possess #1893

By Nina Schoch, DVM, MS

Wildlife Veterinarian, Biodiversity Research Institute and Coordinator, BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation

Dr. Nina Schoch, DVM, MS, Coordinator, BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, measuring an Adirondack loon’s bill.

Gary Lee, field staff from BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, releasing a Common Loon on an Adirondack lake.

© BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, 2014© BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, 2014


InDustrYThe Wildlife Conservation

Society’s Zoological and Wildlife Health Programs

A s a public science-based conservation institution, the Wildlife

Conservation Society (WCS) has a unique mandate to support the health of animal populations and their habitats. Our team of veterinary clinicians and pathologists; an epidemiologist and molecular scientist; and veterinary, molecular and histopathology technicians are dedicated to ensuring the health and well-being of zoological collections and wildlife populations around the world.

WCS veterinary clinicians and technicians provide specialized care for animals in our zoos and aquarium collections and are often called upon to bring their zoological medicine and research expertise into the field at home and abroad. Our veterinary pathologists determine the cause of death of collection and free-roaming animal populations and our molecular scientist diagnoses pathogens, often never before described, in both our collections and free-ranging species. The international health staff members tackle challenges at the interface of wildlife, domestic animals, and human health and livelihoods in the interest of species, habitat and ecosystem conservation around the world.

WCS’s commitment to training the next generation of zoological and wildlife health specialists includes programs based at the Bronx Zoo’s Wildlife Health Center

and a focus on international capacity building. In New York, we have programs for pre-veterinary students; veterinary and veterinary technician students; and residency programs in zoological medicine and surgery and anatomic pathology. Our international heath training includes capacity building efforts through formal training experiences as well as one-on-one training of partners during field projects.

Our teams provide diagnostics and medical care and conduct research that leads to direct benefits for zoo and wildlife species and promotes positive conservation outcomes. Our unique expertise in the care of zoo and wildlife species is critical in captive and wild animal management as habitats and critical populations become increasingly threatened. As researchers, we track and work to mitigate the spread of animal disease in an increasingly globalized world. Below are a number of examples of how we are accomplishing these goals at home and around the world.

Zoological health Program WCS’s Zoological Health Program is one of the oldest zoological veterinary programs ever established, with a full—time veterinary clinician and pathologist hired in 1903, and construction of a zoo hospital in 1916. More than a century later, we are still recognized for excellence in zoological

medicine, wildlife pathology, and health-focused conservation initiatives around the world. The Bronx Zoo’s Wildlife Health Center, which opened in 1985 and was recently expanded to over 30,000 square feet, is a renowned zoo teaching and research hospital providing the latest medical and surgical treatment technologies and on-site pathology diagnostic capabilities.

We care for more than 16,000 fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals of over 1,000 species at WCS’s five New York City facilities—the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, and the Central Park, Queens, and Prospect Park Zoos.

Case study: holli the gorillaThe health team at the Bronx Zoo has performed countless unique veterinary surgeries over the years, but the recent operation on 24-year-old gorilla Holli

was a particularly remarkable endeavor. Holli presented with clinical signs of vague illness over a period of months last summer: lethargy, inappetance, and progressive weight loss. When she did not respond to symptomatic treatment, she was anesthetized for a complete evaluation including radiographs, blood tests and abdominal ultrasound. The exam revealed abdominal abscesses that were fistulating through the body wall. The veterinarians at the Bronx Zoo are specialists in Zoological Medicine. Unlike most other veterinary specialties, we specialize in being the ultimate generalist. So, similar to most general practitioners, we rely on many different specialists when needed to provide additional expertise in the care of our patients. In this case, we mobilized a surgical team that included specialists in human gastrointestinal and vascular surgery from Mount Sinai Hospital, who worked with

The surgical team from Mt. Sinai hospital performs an ultrasound examination on gorilla “Holli” prior to abdominal surgery. (Photo: J. Maher/WCS)



our staff to perform emergency surgery and place long-term IV catheters. The abscess was found to be originating from a perforation of the cecum, and so resection of the cecum with an anastamosis was performed. In order to ensure Holli received her post-operative analgesics, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medications, she spent the next month recovering in the hospital on continuous IV treatments, including receiving varying degrees of IV sedation to maintain the IV line and prevent her from damaging her surgical incision (there are no e-collars for gorillas!). Her IV catheter was protected by a cast on her arm and rubber hosing covering the IV line to protect it in the event she attempted to remove or damage it. She was observed continuously (24/7) by veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal curators and animal keepers for her entire month-long hospital stay to ensure her level of sedation was balanced—she needed to move around, eat and drink—but not become agitated or remove her IV catheter. To our knowledge, this is the first time anyone has successfully maintained a gorilla in a hospital setting

on an IV for such a long period and we intend to share our experiences with the zoological veterinary community at the annual meeting of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians this fall. She returned home to the Congo Gorilla Forest to join her silverback, Zuri, and has made a full recovery.

regional Wildlife health—snake fungal DiseaseThe veterinarians at the Bronx zoo not only care for the animals at the five NYC parks, but are also involved in investigating health problems in local wildlife populations. One example of such a problem is the emergence of Snake Fungal Disease.

Seven years ago several wild Eastern massasaugasas that were part of a health survey in Illinois were found with fungal disease that resulted in facial distortion and disfiguration, so severe that snakes were unable to feed and died of starvation. The causative agent eluded investigators initially, but a fungus called Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola was eventually identified from these snakes. In the years that followed, snakes

with similar lesions were seen in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and neighboring states, including New York and New Jersey. Timber rattlesnakes were mostly affected, but infection was also recorded in other sympatric snake species. Investigation determined that O. ophiodiicola was again isolated and solidly incriminated as the causal agent.

In the fall of 2012, after encountering sick snakes in the field, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJFW) Biologist Kris Schantz sought the help of Dr. Jean Paré, Associate Veterinarian with WCS’s Zoological Health Program. Dr. Paré was the first to describe this fungus in the mid-1990s and he is the author of two reptile medicine textbook chapters on reptile fungal infections.

A collaborative plan was developed to study timber rattlesnakes as they emerge from hibernation in the late spring to assess prevalence of this disease in that population of snakes. Dr. Paré and Don Boyer, the Bronx Zoo’s Curator of Herpetology, joined Kris Schantz on multiple field outings to scout for sick snakes. Two snakes with facial lesions were discovered on the first trip, out basking weeks

before expected emergence from the hibernaculum, probably in an attempt to warm up to better respond to the skin fungal infection. These two snakes were brought back to the Bronx Zoo’s Wildlife Health Center and placed in isolation for treatment and supportive care.

Clinical evaluation and biopsy conducted on affected snakes confirmed fungal infection and culture of diseased skin grew O. ophiodicola. A male corn snake, a young black rat snake, and a Northern pine snake with lesions from other areas of New Jersey were collected by NJFW and brought to the WHC for evaluation and care.

Data is currently being complied so that a better understanding of the biology and ecology of this snake fungal infection in New Jersey and elsewhere can be achieved, and the disease better characterized. Additionally, novel approaches to medical treatment of this fungal dermatitis in timber rattlesnakes are being developed.

Wildlife health and health Policy ProgramWCS has been dedicated to the health of wildlife since its

Timber rattlesnake. (Photo © J.Maher @ WCS) Dr. Paré, Associate Veterinarian (L) and Don Boyer, Curator of Herpetology (R), examine a timber rattlesnake with fungal disease. (Photo © J.Maher, WCS)


veterinary programs began with a part-time veterinarian in 1902. The Wildlife Health & Health Policy Program, the first of its kind, evolved from the Field Veterinary Program begun in 1989. We work at the interface of wildlife, domestic animals and human activity where the opportunities for infectious disease spread, environmental pollution and other disruptions to critical ecosystems are greatest, and where proactive approaches to ecosystem health can optimize benefits for all.

Disease in wildlife populations has been defined as “any impairment that interferes with or modifies the performance of normal function,” including those impacts related to nutrition, toxins, climate, infectious agents, inherited or congenital defects, behavioral stressors, or combinations of these factors.

• Disease can of course play important ecological roles. However, human activities have altered and even introduced new host/pathogen relationships, sometimes with devastating consequences.

• Wildlife diseases can cause sudden, catastrophic as well as gradual losses of wildlife populations.

• As domestic animals and people progressively invade wilderness areas, the risks of transmitting deadly diseases to once isolated wildlife, with little immunity to non-native pathogens, increase significantly. At the same time, rapid anthropogenic alterations of wildlife habitats and concomitant intensification of the human / wildlife interface are contributing to the emergence of zoonotic disease threats at unprecedented rates.

• Because treatment of disease in wild populations is so difficult, maintenance of wildlife health is dependent on proactive reduction or mitigation of disease risks.

If we are to successfully reconcile the needs of people with the challenges of saving wildlife in an increasingly human dominated world, we must develop a keen understanding of how disease interactions influence human, livestock and wildlife health.

Improving the health of people and their domestic animals is not only a key step in terms of raising living standards and enhancing livelihood security; it is an important approach for reducing the incidence of disease transmission to highly susceptible wildlife populations. Our work has also demonstrated that a “One Health” approach can build new constituencies for conservation and strengthen existing ones —from local to global scales.

emerging Disease in endangered tiger PopulationsDisease transmission between domestic and wildlife animal populations is a major conservation challenge. As human activities and development expand and encroach on wild habitat, the potential for pathogen transmission between domestic and wild animals increases. In the Russian Far East, research by a team led by WCS scientists, collaborating with colleagues from Russian veterinary institutions and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has discovered a new threat

to endangered wild Amur tigers: canine distemper virus (CDV). CDV is the second most common cause of infectious disease death in domestic dogs and also poses a significant threat to endangered and non-endangered wildlife around the globe, including lions, Baikal seals, and the black footed ferret.

The Amur tiger is among the most endangered cats on the planet, with only 300-400 individuals left across their range in the Russian Far East and China. Abnormal behavior by these normally reclusive creatures was initially observed in 2003: Tigers were seen walking into villages and onto roadways, showed a complete lack of fear of humans, and were unresponsive to stimuli. These neurological symptoms suggested that an infectious disease might be affecting the tiger population. With tigers’ survival of paramount concern, WCS scientists and our Russian colleagues began collecting specific tissues from dead tigers for disease testing, which was conducted at the WCS’s Bronx Zoo -based laboratories. Our testing confirmed our greatest fear: canine distemper had,

Elephants and giraffe, Chobe National Park, Botswana. The success or failure of TFCA initiatives like KAZA has significant implications for the world’s largest population of elephants. (Photo: Mark W. Atkinson/WCS AHEAD)

Helicopters are used in the Russian Far East for the immobilization of wild Amur tigers, to place radio-tracking collars and enable the collection of diagnostic samples to monitor their health and exposure to canine distemper virus. (Photo © WCS)


in fact, been introduced into the tiger population and was confirmed as a direct and indirect cause of death in Amur tigers in the Russian Far East. The results of this study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Microbiology, are an important contribution to wildlife conservation.

These results showed that the CDV can be lethal to individual tigers in the wild, but we still don’t know where the virus is coming from or how it is being transmitted to the tigers in Russia. Amur tigers occur at very low densities (< 1/100 km2), so the opportunity for transmitting the virus directly from tiger to tiger is small. However, tigers share their habitat with a range of other mammalian carnivores that are susceptible to CDV and capable of transmitting infection, including domestic dogs, red foxes, raccoon dogs and badgers. Currently, WCS researchers are studying CDV in domestic dogs and wild small carnivores in Russia and will hopefully soon discover more about the source of this virus for the tigers. Knowing more about the epidemiology of CDV will help us design strategies to minimize the impact on wild tiger populations.

In addition, the progress we are making is raising awareness of the significant risk that infectious diseases can pose to wild tigers both in Russia and other tiger range countries. Our health professionals are

already participating in the development of a collaborative veterinary network in Indonesia to collect data and develop an approach for responding to reports of sick tigers or disease outbreaks in Southeast Asian tiger populations, should these occur.

AheAD—Developing solutions to Complex health, Land-use and Livelihood IssuesWCS’ AHEAD (Animal & Human Health for the Environment And Development) program (www.wcs-ahead.org) is working to develop new approaches to mitigating animal disease-related conflicts between livestock agriculture and southern Africa’s vision for peace parks or transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs). Within these landscapes, farmers sharing the land with wildlife are faced with a serious dilemma: They cannot sell their healthy, free-range beef to regional or international markets. Current international trade practices dictate that they cannot protect wildlife and, at the same time, farm cattle in the same general area because of disease concerns (foot and mouth disease in particular). If they want to export their beef to wealthy nations, they will have to get rid of wildlife like cape buffalo or put up environmentally damaging

veterinary cordon fences. But, what should rural farmers chose when trying to lift themselves and their communities out of poverty: Protect the wildlife and pursue opportunities related to ecotourism and trophy hunting, or turn their backs on conservation and sell their cattle into the beef export market? The truth is that there is a win-win solution.

AHEAD’s Beyond Fences program is working with regional and international partners to find new approaches to the safe trade of beef and beef products based on the safety of the meat production process itself, rather than focusing on where a particular cow has come from. This policy work is leading to new, non-fence based ways to manage commercially important diseases like foot and mouth that address this land-use conflict, with important implications for (for example) the world’s largest remaining population of

elephants – the approximately 250,000 elephants that call the Kavango Zambezi (or KAZA) TFCA home. This prime conservation real estate spans five countries (Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe), and at more than 440,000 km is similar in size to the northeastern United States. Given the importance of both the livestock and wildlife sectors to many countries across Africa, it is time to reevaluate how best to manage risks from diseases like foot and mouth in ways that help Africa’s pastoralists and farmers, do not threaten free-ranging wildlife and associated economic opportunities, and also provide confidence to beef importing countries that the products they are buying pose minimal threats to their own agricultural sector.

For more information on these issues, click on the ‘Beauty and the Beef’ icon at www.wcs-ahead.org to view a 20-minute film. •

Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. The present approach to the control of important transboundary animal diseases (such as foot-and-mouth disease) relies on the use of extensive fences to prevent movement of susceptible animals between areas where the disease occurs and areas where it does not. This approach is incompatible with the vision of vast conservation landscapes, the long-term success of which depends largely upon the unrestricted movement of wildlife. (Photo: Mark W. Atkinson/WCS AHEAD)

Design and BuildSpecializing in Veterinary Clinics

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Design and BuildSpecializing in Veterinary Clinics

Visit our website: www.bradleyconstructioncny.com

Barneveld, NY • (315) 896-6858 • [email protected]

r abbits, rabbits, everywhere. From the palm-size Netherland dwarf to the collie-

size Flemish giant, the last 10 - 15 years have witnessed a proliferation in the number of pet rabbits in the U.S. According the House Rabbit Society, estimates are between 6-9 million pet rabbits in the U.S. in 2014.1 Although the American Veterinary Medical Association lists lower total numbers of pet rabbits, with an estimated 3.2 million rabbits in 1.4 million households in 2012, rabbits

What’s Up, Doc? The Pet Rabbit in Practice

rank as the most popular of specialty and exotic pet mammals.2 In several countries in Western Europe, rabbits are traditionally very popular, and because of this, many European veterinarians are familiar with pet rabbits in practice. For most U.S. veterinarians, unless they received some specialty training in veterinary school or have attended continuing education courses, treating a sick rabbit is unfamiliar territory and can be somewhat challenging and sometimes frustrating.

Who is the typical rabbit owner? The usual rabbit owner today

who seeks veterinary care is not the kid with the rabbit in the backyard hutch. Most pet rabbits today are “house rabbits,” and they are kept in the home and litter-trained as the family pet, much like cats. Owners choose to have a pet rabbit because of their gentle temperament, winsome appearance, amusing personality, ease of care, and their relatively long lifespan (10 to 12 years). Like cats and dogs, there are many rabbit breeds, and they vary in size, hair-coat color and length, and temperament. Rabbits typically are caged but given free or

InDustrY

partial roam of a house when the owners are home. In suburban and rural areas, rabbits can be allowed out in the yard under supervision or in a grazing pen. In general, rabbit owners are well-educated, internet-savvy pet owners who, like most dog and cat owners, want the best care possible for their pets.

What should a small animal veterinarian know about rabbits to feel comfortable seeing a rabbit for a health examination or providing routine care for the family pet? More than anything else, becoming knowledgeable about rabbit nutrition and

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gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology from the mouth to the cecum will help you through more than 50 percent of the rabbit cases that come through your clinic door. Like horses, rabbits are hindgut fermenters and rely on fermentation of cellulose in their cecum to supply essential nutrients. Rabbits are naturally adapted to consume large quantities of low-nutrient food such as grasses, and in the wild they forage on grasses with varying nutrient levels to meet their needs. For pet rabbits, feeding a diet with a high percentage of indigestible fiber while supplying essential nutrients is crucial for normal gastric and intestinal motility. While adult rabbits need a minimum of 14-16 percent fiber for normal gastrointestinal motility, most house rabbits thrive on a diet with a higher fiber content of 25-28 percent. Grass hays provide up to 32 percent fiber and are low in protein (7-10 percent), whereas commercial rabbit pellets average 14-15 percent protein and 15-28 percent fiber. General guidelines for pet rabbits are to feed a small amount of a high fiber rabbit pellet (1/8 – 1/2 cup per day, depending on the size of the rabbit), unlimited grass

hay (timothy, orchard grass, oat, Bermuda hay), and a moderate amount of low calcium leafy greens and vegetables, such as leaf lettuces, carrot tops, carrots, chard and endive. Alfalfa hay and pellets are appropriate for young rabbits but generally contain too much calcium for adult house rabbits and should not be fed or fed only occasionally.

Fortunately, information on rabbit nutrition is available for pet owners from many online sources. The House Rabbit Society is a good source of information about rabbit nutrition and care. Information is also available from several companies that manufacture good quality rabbit and small mammal food, such as Oxbow Animal Health and ZuPreem. However, even with the proliferation of information available to pet owners about diet and the increase in the number of companies that specialize in diets marketed for pet rabbits and other small mammals, many rabbit owners are uninformed or misinformed about what pet rabbits should be fed. A poor diet is a risk factor for many medical problems in rabbits, such as gastrointestinal stasis, dental disease, hypercalciuria and urinary calculi.

Veterinarians interested in treating pet rabbits now have access to many resources in print and online for information on basic rabbit management and medicine. An important source of information for veterinarians is the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, which provides continuing education and other resources for veterinary training. Learning about basic rabbit management and understanding common disease conditions will help in knowing what cases you are comfortable with managing and what cases may do better being referred to veterinary colleagues who are more experienced in rabbits.

When should you refer a rabbit case to a veterinarian with more experience in rabbit veterinary care? Several disease problems are often best referred unless you have advanced training or equipment. Severe dental disease and dental abscesses usually require specialized equipment and training in rabbit dentistry to manage successfully. Severe gastrointestinal stasis, gastric bloat, or liver torsion usually require hospitalization and intensive care. Neoplastic diseases such as thymoma are routinely being managed with CT scanning and radiation

therapy or surgery. For these more complicated cases, look for veterinarians in your area who are better equipped or more experienced in the unique care that rabbits require. Lists of veterinarians who treat rabbits by state are available both from the AEMV and the House Rabbit Society.

Katherine Quesenberry, DVM, MPH

Avian and Exotic Pet Service, Animal Medical Center

1. House Rabbit Society. How many pet rabbits are in the U.S.? Accessed August 17, 2014.

2. American Veterinary Medical Association. U.S. pet ownership statistics. Source: 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook. Accessed August 17, 2014.

3. Nutrition of rabbits. The Merck Veterinary Manual; Exotic and Laboratory Animals; Rabbits. Accessed August 17, 2014.

Lateral radiograph of a rabbit with cystic sediment.Katherine Quesenberry, DVM, MPH, treating a rabbit.


Lateral radiograph of a rabbit with cystic sediment.

o n the morning of Aug. 2, 2014, officials in the city of Toledo, Ohio, issued a “Do

Not Drink” notice for the city’s municipal water supply. By noon, two counties were known to be affected and Ohio Governor John Kasich declared a state of emergency. More than a half a million people were affected by the “Do Not Drink” restrictions.

The cause of this crisis was microcystin produced by the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)—Microcystis aeuginosa. The algae bloom occurred in the western basin of Lake Erie and was concentrated against the water intake for the City of Toledo’s water treatment facility. Activated

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Harmful Algae Bloom Alertcarbon was used to remove microcystin from the drinking water and the emergency was lifted two days later, Aug. 4.

New York State, with its bounty of freshwater lakes and ponds and miles of coastal ocean, is now experiencing a rainbow of these algal blooms—some harmful to humans and toxic to aquatic life and pets. For the last two decades, New York Sea Grant researchers have observed and studied these blooms and are dedicated to educating the public about ways to mitigate their effects.

In fresh water, species of blue-green cyanobacteria produce potent toxins that may result in nerve and liver damage—even death—in dogs that have been

exposed. Dave MacNeill, Sea Grant Fisheries Specialist, has observed an increasing number of dogs exposed to these harmful algal blooms each year. Those exposed to high levels had a poor outcome—either death or permanent disability. And those exposed over long periods of time to decreased levels still suffered cumulative effects.

MacNeill, along with Cornell Veterinary Medical College’s Karyn Bischoff, DVM; two leading HAB scientists, Dr. Greg Boyer

(SUNY ESF) and Chris Gobler (Stony Brook University); and experts from a number of state and national organizations have collaborated to create a brochure, Dogs and Harmful Algal Blooms, to educate dog owners on the dangers of these toxic blooms. SeaGrant is making an electronic copy of the brochure available for veterinarians to provide to their clients. For more information, contact Dave MacNeill, [email protected], or Barbara Branca, [email protected]. •

Practice SalesPractice ValuationsAssociate Buy-Ins

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Bill Crank, DVMEastern NY RepresentativeToll Free: 877.487.7765

E-mail: [email protected]

George R. Sikora, DVMEastern NY RepresentativeToll Free: 877.487.7765


John Bryk, DVMEastern NY RepresentativeToll Free: 877.487.7765


Kurt D. Liljeberg, DVMWestern NY RepresentativeToll Free: 800.380.6872


Karyn Bischoff, DVM, MS, DABVT, will hold a Cyanobacteria Lab at NYS-VC Fall, Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10:10 a.m. – noon. Space is limited to this lab, register soon to save your space. Register online at: www.vet.cornell.edu/nysvc.


LegALPrACtICe MAnAgerProtect Your Staff from Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

t he United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention states on the

website of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases that “approximately 75 percent of recently emerging infectious diseases affecting humans are diseases of animal origin.” Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that are transferred to a human who has had contact with an animal, typically through a bite or scratch. So while this number includes infectious diseases that can be transferred to human through insects, such as the West Nile Virus or Lyme Disease, it also includes those diseases that staff members at veterinary practices are at risk of being exposed to on a daily basis.

In 2013, the most common Workers’ Compensation Claims reported to Innovative Risk Concepts from the New York State Veterinarians’ Trade Group were the results of an animal bite or scratch, a majority of which were from cats. Cat bites and scratches tend to be more hazardous towards humans, as opposed to bites from dogs and other companion animals, as they pose the highest risk for infection if not properly treated.

According to a journal article posted on Medscape.com in April 2011, “Cats are responsible for approximately 10-20 percent of animal bites in the U.S.,” and in many instances are associated with mishandling

the animal. While often not as physically damaging as a bite from a dog, cat bites often result in a small puncture wound to the skin that is deep, and as a result more difficult to disinfect. As many as 80 percent of all cat bites may become infected. Cat Scratch Disease, or bartonellosis, is the most common infectious disease transmitted by cats. The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University reports that there are more than 25,000 cases of bartonellosis seen each year in the U.S. alone.

While educating your staff about the different types of zoonotic diseases that they may be susceptible to is one part of the equation, educating them about proper prevention techniques is the other. Having frequent training sessions with your staff to ensure that they properly know how to handle each type of animal they may come in contact is always a good practice, as is mandating that all employees wear proper attire in the office at all times. Staff members should always wear protective gloves when taking specimen samples, and always wash their hands afterwards. Your practice should also have a proper disposal system for sharps in place, and needles should always be discarded immediately after use.

While there are ways to prevent infectious diseases, accidents may happen, and when they do, it is best to report the claim immediately. As the Safety Group Manager for the New

York State Veterinarians’ Trade Group, Innovative Risk Concepts specializes in the types of claims often seen in the veterinary field, and are well prepared to assist all Safety Group Members when filing their claim. Safety Group Members also enjoy consultation services from the Safety Group Manager for setting Safety Standards in the workplace, along with insights into your practice’s Loss Control Data. In addition to these Safety and Loss Control Tools, Safety

Group Members are able to enjoy Advanced Premium Discounts and have the opportunity to receive a Year-End Dividend as earned by the Safety Group. For more information on the NYSVG and the tools they offer to Safety Group Members, contact Innovative Risk Concepts Inc. at (800) 652-2015 or visit www.innovativeriskconcepts.com. •Caitlyn Scheuermann, Marketing Coordinator – Innovative Risk Concepts Inc.



Veterinarian WantedCentral new YorkHigh-quality private practice seeking small animal associate. We pride ourselves on preventive medical care and client education, while offering our patients exceptional care to include dental services, ultrasound and digital xray, both whole body and dental. Please send resume with cover letter to [email protected].

Capital DistrictEstablished 1 percent doctor companion animal practice on NY/VT border looking for PT veterinarian. Progressive medicine and surgery. Enthusiasm, strong interpersonal skills, sense of humor and interest in client education a

CLAssIfIeD ADsPositions, For Sale and More …

must. Strong support staff. Contact us at [email protected] or (518) 677-8815.

NYS Department of Ag. and Markets seeks applicants for a field veterinarian in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua or Erie counties and a central office veterinarian in Albany. Position description: http://www.cs.ny.gov/tsplan/tsp_display2.cfm?specCode=1201100F. Application for employment: http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/HR/AMP-102.pdf. Applicant must hold current NY State veterinary license and USDA accreditation.

finger LakesSeeking PT veterinarian for three-doctor hospital in Finger Lakes. Traditional and complementary medicine, humane work, close referral network. Compassionate, high quality care, highly qualified staff. Competitive salary/benefits. Contact Dr. Susan Farmer, POB 388, Bath, NY 14810, 607-776-7685. Email: [email protected]

hudson ValleyFull-time veterinarian wanted to join our progressive Hudson Valley small animal hospital. Strong interpersonal skills with clients and staff, diagnostic, medical, and surgical experience preferred. Salary based on experience. E-mail resume to Laurel Quick at [email protected].

Westchester/rocklandFull time veterinarian needed. Two doctor practice in mid Westchester County. 3-5 years working experience preferred. 35 minutes north of NYC. Salary commensurate with experience. Call 914-949-2190 or email [email protected]

out of stateARIZONA – Busy practice seeks experienced veterinarian. Extended hours, seven days a week, allows us to see both preventative care/wellness cases as well as emergency/critical care cases. We offer a competitive salary, plus benefits and bonuses. Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital. Call 602-277-1464 or email [email protected].

relief Veterinarian AvailablePer diem work & steady P/T in NYC and surrounding metro areas. Available most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Contact Dr. Tobias Jungreis (516) 295-1125 or (917) 378-8447. Excellent people skills. Good practice builder. 35 years of clinical experience. Many references.

Experienced small animal relief veterinarian available for Western, Central, and Southern NY. Practicing quality medicine and soft tissue surgery.

Compassionate with excellent client communication skills and a familiarity with several medical record systems. Contact: Dr. Melissa Mandzak, (585) 402-4323 or [email protected].

Office Staff WantedLandmark Veterinary Care Center in Rockland County is reviewing applications for its Veterinary Practice Manager position. AAHA accredited practice that invests in our most important asset: our team members. Please introduce yourself to us by writing an original cover letter and sending your resume to [email protected].

LVt WantedLVT for two doctor practice. Experience preferred but will consider a new graduate. Salary commensurate on experience. See website for required skills: hamiltonvet.com. Rotating weekends. Insurance,401K,CE, uniform allowance. Contact Hamilton Animal Hospital at (315) 824-5412.

Practice for saleCompact, efficient and popular solo SA practice. Free standing building has two exam rooms at work, ample parking and private apartment above. Very desirable area for living and leisure while earning a good living. Offers around $750K. Email [email protected]. Call (845) 268-2819. •



100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 127Albany NY 12203

PerIoDICAL


New York State Fall Veterinary ConferenceOctober 11-12, 2014 | Ithaca, NY

Save the Date

Hosted by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine & New York State Veterinary Medical Society

Earn 16 hours of continuing education credit, attend lectures from the nation’s premier speakers on a variety of large

and companion animal topics, mingle with veterinarians from across New York State at the Celebrations dinner and

check out the Exhibit Hall, featuring vendors devoted to all aspects of veterinary practice. For more information,

call 607.253.3200 or 518.869.7867. On the web: www.vet.cornell.edu/nysvc.

Documents

new york state veterinary medical society · magazine of the new york state veterinary medical society ISSN 2333-3375 • USPS 407-350 100 Great Oaks Blvd., Suite 127, Albany NY 12203