Free weekly research briefing from Animal Pharm

Issue 7 9 March 2007

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Research News

Older cats more prone to thyroid disease, says new research

Cats are more prone to developing thyroid disease in old age

Cats are more prone to developing thyroid disease in old age than older women, says research presented at the Society for Endocrinology's annual meeting in Birmingham.

A study of 100 cats over the age of eight, led by Dr Jenny Wakeling at the Royal veterinary College, showed that 20% had subclinical hyperthyroidism, which is an abnormal thyroid function, though not the full-blown disease....

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VLA and Applied Biosystems in AIV and Newcastle disease diagnosis research partnership

New partnership

US Applied Biosystems and the UK's Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) have struck a partnership to manufacture and commercialize VLA's molecular avian influenza (AIV) and Newcastle disease environmental detection kits. These tests are for laboratory use only.

The agreement aims to make these tests available more quickly in countries where the diseases pose a major health risk, and to detect them at an early stage. The assays are designed to rapidly detect a broad range of avian flu strains in laboratory samples, including influenza A virus and its H5 subtype and H7 subtype, as well as Newcastle disease.

The life sciences company, headquartered in Foster City, California, says it expects the kits to be available in Europe and other parts of the world, such as Africa and Asia, by around this June. Under the agreement, Applied Biosystems will further develop the assays in a new dry format to make the results more reliable.

It will also commercialize the VLA real-time PCR assays. Real-time PCR is a laboratory method used to simultaneously detect and determine the amount of nucleic acids in samples. The VLA will validate the tests before they are released.

Applied Biosystems has installed more than 1,400 real-time PCR systems in public health laboratories across Europe, Asia and Africa to run its TapMan assays, which analyze genetic information.

It stressed that the detection products are for research use only and for "health agency epidemiological use" only in countries outside the US. The products have not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory agency, or under the European IVD Directive, for diagnostic or other clinical use.

Its TapMan Influenza A/H5 test and other detection kits are not for sale in the US except under special research use-only certifications. The VLA, a government agency for animal disease surveillance and veterinary research, used its assays to confirm that the H5N1 strain was responsible for killing thousands of birds in Suffolk earlier this year.

The tests have also been used in a follow-up survey of the wild bird population. Applied Biosystems, part of the Applera Corporation, reported sales of $1.9bn for fiscal 2006.

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Research Roundup

Retrovirus Research Laboratory, Institute for Comparative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Glasgow, UK; Jan-Feb 2007 (Australian Veterinary Journal)
Vaccine protection against feline immunodeficiency virus: setting the challenge. Hosie MJ, Beatty JA.

Eastcott Veterinary Hospital, 59 Bath Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK; February 2007 (The Journal of Small Animal Practice)
Treatment of a case of refractory feline chronic gingivostomatitis with feline recombinant interferon omega. Southerden P, Gorrel C.

Intervet International, Wim de Korverstraat 35, 5831 AN Boxmeer, The Netherlands; February 2007 (Vaccine)
Evaluation of the induction of NS3 specific BVDV antibodies using a commercial inactivated BVDV vaccine in immunization and challenge trials. Makoschey B, Sonnemans D, Bielsa JM, Franken P, Mars M, Santos L, Alvarez M.

Centre d'Imagerie et de Recherche sur les Affections Locomotrices Equines, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort, Unite Mixte de Recherche, Institut National de Recherche Agronomique, Goustranville, France; March 2007 (American Journal of Veterinary Research)
Efficacy of tiludronate in the treatment of horses with signs of pain associated with osteoarthritic lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column. Coudry V, Thibaud D, Riccio B, Audigie F, Didierlaurent D, Denoix JM.

Toxicologic Pathology; Vol. 35 Issue 2
Feb 2007 (Taylor & Francis)
Industry and academia forge strong links to train veterinary pathologists. Gary Cockerell.

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Movers & Shakers

PETCO makes two executive appointments

Two top appointments

US pet supply retailer PETCO has named Michael Foss its new executive vice-president and chief financial officer, and Charlie Piscitello its new senior vice-president and chief people officer....

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NCBA elects new president and officers

New president

The US-based National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) has elected North Carolina cattleman John Queen its president for this year....

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Enigma Diagnostics appoints chief financial officer

CFO appointment

Enigma Diagnostics, a UK-based company that develops diagnostics for detecting and identifying infectious organisms in core markets including the veterinary sector, has appointed Biresh Roy chief financial officer....

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Jobs of the Week

Editor
Animal Pharm, Informa Healthcare