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Pirbright destroys rinderpest samples
“The biggest risk of rinderpest re-appearing comes from an accidental escape from a laboratory."

Project to reduce risk of accidental release from the lab 

Scientists at the Pirbright Institute have destroyed the last archive samples of rinderpest virus, to reduce the risk of the virus re-emerging through accidental or deliberate release.

Rinderpest virus caused the most lethal cattle disease ever known, but after a huge global campaign it became the second disease to be eradicated, after smallpox in 2011.

However, at the time, more than 40 laboratories in 36 countries held samples of the virus, putting the world at risk of a reoccurrence. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO), designated some labs - including Pirbright - as Rinderpest Holding Facilities.

A project called ’Sequence and Destroy’ was launched to destroy the samples (except a minimal number for reference), after recording genetic information through full-genome sequencing. Pirbright has destroyed more than 2,500 samples under the project.

Dr Michael Baron, honorary fellow at the institute, said: “The biggest risk of rinderpest re-appearing comes from an accidental escape from a laboratory, something that might be possible in the future if stocks are kept, even though no one is working on the virus. But at the same time we do not want to destroy what might be important biological information.

“By capturing that information and then destroying the oldest and largest archive of the actual virus, we hope to set an example to other laboratories and encourage them to get rid of their remaining lab samples.”

Dr Carrie Batten, chair for the Rinderpest Holding Facility Network, added: “This is a culmination of years of work by Pirbright scientists and our international collaborators; virus samples from as far back as the 1950’s have been destroyed. I feel privileged to have had a part to play in securing our future from rinderpest.”

Image © Pirbright Institute

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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.