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Timing of insecticide use ‘crucial’ for disease control
sheep and lambs
Adult female midges are responsible for infecting livestock with a number of diseases.
Scientific model reveals optimum time for treatments

UK ecologists say the timing of insecticide treatments could be the key to controlling midges that spread livestock diseases including bluetongue and Schmallenberg virus (SBV).

A new scientific model suggests concentrating treatments during the midge peak in spring could actually increase midge abundance later in the year. This is down to a density-dependence release effect, whereby removing adults reduces the over-compensatory larval competition and increases larval survival, leading to greater adult abundance.

Timing treatments in the autumn midge peak has the greatest effect in suppressing populations, according to a research team led by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH). Their findings have been published in the Parasite & Vectors journal.

Adult female midges are responsible for infecting livestock with a number of diseases. Midges are active between spring and autumn but their activity period varies across the UK and Europe. The severity of disease is linked to the number of midges at peak season.

Dr Steven White, a theoretical ecologist at CEH, commented: “Most studies only consider the months where midges are active, since the peak abundances are closely linked to the severity of disease. However, our study suggests that non-active periods are also key.”

Essential movements of animals between premises and vaccination campaigns can only be carried out in the EU within the ‘seasonal free vector period’ during winter, when adult midges are absent or less active and don’t bite animals.

Dr Bethan Purse, a disease ecologist at CEH, explained: “Being able to predict when and where the midges are actively biting livestock is invaluable for calculating the vector-free period in which livestock can be safely vaccinated and moved between premises.”

The research team believes scientific models can help to produce seasonal patterns of midges so control measures can be tailored to midge activity. More extensive modelling of Culicoides biting midges in different countries could improve control methods and help to predict potential disease outbreaks.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.