American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

11/14/2024

ABVP diplomate Jerry Rusch had a lunch n learn session at Purdue Univeristy extolling the virtues of being a diplomate and pathways to credentialing.

11/13/2024

A novel H5N1 avian influenza reassortant that combines genes from clades 2.3.2.1c and 2.3.4.4b has replaced the older clade in poultry in Cambodia, according to a study posted on the preprint server medRxiv prior to peer review. The novel reassortant has mutations associated with airborne transmission and mammalian adaptation, and it has been implicated in a spillover event.

11/13/2024

PrideVMC's mission is to create a better world for the LGBTQIA+ veterinary community that embraces wellbeing by being their authentic selves.

11/12/2024

A strain of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from an 86-year-old woman with a urinary infection admitted to hospital in Brazil's Northeast region in 2022 proved resistant to all available antibiotics. The patient died 24 hours after being hospitalized. A group of researchers sequenced the bacterium's genome and compared it with a database of 48 similar sequences. Alarmingly, the results showed that the strain in question had previously been detected in the United States, was already circulating in Brazil, and could potentially spread around the world.

The study is published in The Lancet Microbe.

"The bacterium is so versatile that it adapts to changes in treatment, easily acquiring resistance mechanisms not targeted by existing drugs either singly or in combination. It could become endemic to health care facilities worldwide," said Nilton Lincopan, last author of the article and a professor at the University of São Paulo's Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICB-USP) in Brazil. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2666524724002581

11/12/2024

Dr. Winnie Courtene-Jones, lead author on the new study and now a Lecturer in Marine Pollution at Bangor University, said, "Over 320,000 tons of bio-based and biodegradable fibers were produced globally in 2022 and research shows that substantial quantities of that will end up in the environment. However, evidence of their ecological impacts has been lacking. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c05856

11/11/2024

FUTURE ABVP diplomat in the news - one of our ABVP student representatives!

Purdue Veterinary Medicine third-year student Jesus Hernandez is gaining invaluable hands-on experience in exotic and wildlife medicine during an externship in Australia. Here, he showcases his dedication while caring for an adorable bunny patient. We’re proud to see our students making strides and embracing global opportunities to advance their veterinary expertise.

Purdue University American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) SAVMA Purdue Study Abroad

11/11/2024

- The ABVP wants to send out a big thank you to all service members - including all the veterinary professionals and working animals !

11/10/2024

Supporters of the new veterinary professional associate role in Colorado claimed that it would be similar to that of physician assistant, but the VPA's educational requirements are much lower, and the authorized scope of practice is much broader. Supporters also said that VPAs would fill care gaps, but the number of new veterinarians is expected to increase by 20% in five years, and a new state law expands the scope of practice for veterinary technicians. Moreover, the shortage of veterinarians is in agriculture, not companion animal medicine, and the criteria for VPAs does not include farm animals. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/proposition-129-care-colorado-veterinary-professional-associate-animals-election/

11/09/2024

The instinct to shake off when wet is common among many furry mammal species and is sparked by specific neurons that respond to touch and send signals from the back of the neck to the brain, according to a study in Science. The neurons, called C-fiber low-threshold mechanoreceptors, encircle hair follicles and are associated with pleasant sensations in response to a soft touch but also alert animals to water, dirt, a parasite or a drop of oil on their skin. https://www.science.org/content/article/science-behind-your-dog-s-most-annoying-behavior

11/05/2024

Stress, fear and anxiety affect dairy cows' milk production, cows remember people and settings that have caused stress, and research has found correlations between farm managers' mental health and herd fertility and longevity, says cows can remember people and settings that have caused stress, says dairy management specialist Amber Adams Progar. Farm workers should remember that cows walk slowly, can't see directly in front of or behind themselves, and prefer to be guided gently without the use of a prod or stick, say Progar and dairy extension educator Jim Salfer. https://www.bovinevetonline.com/news/education/cows-can-read-people-and-it-shows

11/05/2024

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and collaborating institutions have found that overnutrition leads to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders through increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The study shows that reducing SNS activity can prevent insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet, suggesting a new understanding of how obesity causes insulin resistance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-cellular-mechanisms-insulin-resistance.html

11/04/2024

Flea toads, as some species in the genus Brachycephalus are known, are less than 1 cm long in adulthood. Their size is far smaller than a fingernail. https://peerj.com/articles/18265/

11/01/2024

The proposed wildlife specialty would operate under the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), which has 12 specialties, including shelter medicine practice, exotic companion mammal practice, swine health management and fish practice.

https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=12348701&f5=1

10/31/2024

H5N1 avian influenza was detected on nasal swabs from a pig at a mixed-species noncommercial farm in Oregon, swabs from two other pigs were negative, and results are forthcoming for two others. Seventy birds at the farm were euthanized last week, and the other animals were tested after H5N1 was found in some of the farm's poultry. The pigs showed no outward signs of illness, and infectious diseases expert Michael Osterholm says it's possible that the pig's nasal passages were contaminated from environmental exposure https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/usda-announces-first-h5n1-avian-flu-detection-us-pigs

10/30/2024

Diplomate in the news
Lauren Thielen, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) has advice for veterinarians who are starting to see exotic pets

https://www.dvm360.com/view/advice-for-new-exotic-veterinarians

10/30/2024

An H5N1 avian influenza isolate from a dairy worker replicated in human cornea and lung cells, was pathogenic in mice and ferrets, and was transmissible among ferrets via respiratory droplets, researchers reported in the journal Nature. Most antivirals except oseltamivir were effective against the virus, but the researchers warned that "every effort should be made to contain" the virus in dairy cattle to prevent human infections. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/h5n1-avian-flu-isolate-dairy-worker-transmissible-lethal-animals

10/29/2024

FROM American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Dear colleagues,

As November 5th is quickly approaching, we are providing an update on our efforts in Colorado to challenge Proposition 129. As we previously shared, Proposition 129, if approved, would introduce a veterinary midlevel practitioner into the profession known as a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA). Our opposition reflects the direction given to us by the AVMA House of Delegates in 2023 to “vigorously defend the practice of veterinary medicine—which includes the ability to diagnose, prognose, develop treatment plans, prescribe, and/or perform surgery—against scope of practice expansions by non-veterinarians that threaten patient health and safety, the safety of animal products, and/or public health.”

You will recall that we have been working hand-in-hand with the Colorado VMA to get factual information about this proposal to Colorado media and to encourage local veterinarians to submit op-eds to their local newspapers. We're happy to say three major newspapers in Colorado have officially indicated their opposition to Proposition 129 and at least 10 op-eds have been published encouraging a “no” vote on the proposition. Here are a few examples:
A segment from CBS News Denver
The Durango Herald’s opposition to Proposition 129
A Colorado Sun op-ed written by Colorado shelter veterinarian,
Dr. Katie Redd
We also want to make sure you know that the AVMA and CVMA are joined in opposition to this measure by more than 100 national and local veterinary, humane, and breeders' organizations; veterinary clinics; veterinarians; veterinary technicians; legislators; and the majority of pet owners. These include the AAHA, AAEP, AABP, AASRP, AVDC, SAVMA, VMG, American Humane, and the American Kennel Club. You can view the full list here: www.keepourpetssafe.com/

We’ve been working very hard on this issue with tremendous support from our colleagues and others; however, we are also realistic. Ballot measures are tough, particularly when it comes to nuanced issues like the profession’s workforce, and there are 7 days left until the election. Our Colorado colleagues have committed their all and have done an amazing job in the interest of protecting animal health and welfare. We are exceedingly proud of what has been accomplished and incredibly grateful for everyone's hard work. For those of you in other states, but with Colorado connections ─ family, friends ─ please reach out and share your concern as well. This is in Colorado now, but we also know there is strong intent to move this to other states.

For additional resources and the latest updates on our efforts to oppose Proposition 129, please see the AVMA website’s information on the proposed midlevel practitioner at www.avma.org/Workforce and specifically about Colorado’s Proposition 129 at https://www.avma.org/advocacy/workforce-what-best-safe-quality-animal-care/colorados-proposed-vpa.

Thank you,

Janet Donlin

Janet D. Donlin, DVM, CAE
Chief Executive Officer

The veterinary profession is searching for workforce solutions to ensure that our practices are able to care for patients now and long into the future. What are the right answers?