key: cord-0041408-1hf90pft
authors: nan
title: News
date: 2018-05-28
journal: Aust Vet J
DOI: 10.1111/avj.217
sha: e2207e6b640849a584268d9311d54e4f62a204b8
doc_id: 41408
cord_uid: 1hf90pft

nan

R emember Clever Hans, the horse everyone thought was a mathematical genius, but turned out to be just really, really good at reading human body language?

Researchers from the UK report that horses are adept at reading human facial expressions as well. 1 The researchers took photographs of two human models -one with a happy facial expression and one angry.

Domestic horses were then presented with either a happy or angry photograph and 3-6 hours later the individual from the photo was presented to the horse, with a neutral expression.

To avoid another Clever Hans scenario, the human model was ignorant as to which of their expressions the horse had been exposed to, so could not influence the horse unknowingly.

The horse's behaviour in response to the individual, including gaze direction, displacement and stress behaviours, approach, avoidance and heart rate measures were recorded.

Lateral gaze direction has been shown to be associated with brain hemisphere processing in a range of species, with threatening stimuli being processed by the left hemisphere, resulting in a left gaze bias, while positive social stimuli tend to be processed by the left hemisphere, with a right gaze bias. Moreover, lateral gaze has been previously found to be associated with dog and horse processing of human facial expressions.

When presented with the neutral model, horses that had been shown the angry photograph showed a left gaze bias and increased displacement behaviours, including scratching, floor sniffing and a species-specific behaviour termed 'lick and chew' .

Conversely, horses shown the friendly photograph had a right gaze bias and spent less time performing displacement behaviours when in the presence of the neutral-faced model.

To confirm that the horses were indeed reacting to the individual they had seen earlier in the photograph, a control group in which horses were presented with an individual different to who they had seen in the photograph was also included. In this group, horses showed no significant differences in behaviour towards the neutral model, who they would have been seeing for the first time.

What's particularly interesting about this research is that not only were the horses able to recognise an individual from a photograph, they were also able to remember, perceive and react to the emotional state of that individual.

As with dogs, horses' long association with humans through time may have helped them evolve this ability to read human emotions.

Look, horses can recognise human facial expressions NEWS N4 I had the pleasure of writing this month's AVJ column from Spain. Joining me in Barcelona was the AVA's Western Region Manager, Graham Pratt, and the reason for our trip was to attend two meetings with our global veterinary counterparts.

The first meeting was the International Veterinary Officers Coalition (IVOC) . Each year, the Chief Executive Officers and Presidents from the AVA, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) and the South African Veterinary Association gather for a 2-day meeting.

Each year, the IVOC meeting focusses on the activities and operations of our organisations and is convened to share as much information, experience and trials and tribulations as possible. This allows us to leverage the knowledge and experience of other similar veterinary organisations to implement programs, policies and changes at the AVA. Although each veterinary organisation is unique, we face many similar challenges and the annual IVOC meeting is our opportunity to come together to discuss possible solutions to current and future challenges faced by our organisations and the broader veterinary profession.

This year, the AVA convened and chaired the meeting. The agenda was constructed using GovernRight, the governance framework that is used by the AVA Board, and the agenda followed our strategic pillars of Leadership, Membership, Knowledge and Strong Organisation. We also facilitated discussions using our emerging governance items as prompts, including regulatory change, changing public perception of agriculture and the role of the veterinary profession.

A key item for discussion in our current climate was the relationship between the professional body and the regulator in each country. This understandably varies across countries based on the level of federal or state/provincial statutory authority. The NZVA and the Veterinary Council of New Zealand are members of the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) along with the AVA. The AVMA and the CVMA have systems most analogous to Australia. In 2014, the CVMA, along with the Canadian regulators, established a body analogous to the AVBC, called the Canadian Council of Veterinary Registrars.

As the AVMA is the primary accreditor of veterinary schools across North America, the scope of the Canadian Council is

The global veterinary profession Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17240 narrower relative to the AVBC. The two primary objectives of the Canadian Council are firstly to facilitate collaboration among the Canadian veterinary regulatory bodies and secondly to facilitate collaboration between their regulatory bodies and the CVMA.

Explicit in the structure and the terms of reference of the Canadian body is the importance of collaboration between the professional body and the regulator in the exchange of information, policies and issues that are relevant to the public service of the veterinary profession and the public interest mandate of the regulator. Under the Canadian structure, the CVMA provides the administration services for the Canadian Council and is funded on a per-registrant basis, which is similar to the AVBC.

Regardless of the intricacies of the regulatory systems and structures in each country, all of the veterinary associations reported a significant allocation of resources -of both the associations and the respective regulators -on progress towards national harmonisation. Time and money through coordination bodies has also been invested among our respective nations to ensure a globally high standard of veterinary education and professional behaviour.

The meeting also focussed on the internationalisation of the veterinary profession and the importance of international mobility of veterinary education as our economies, the food supply chain and zoonotic and other diseases become increasingly globalised. Currently, most graduates from Australian veterinary schools, along with our colleagues from the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, have the benefit of mobility across the respective countries. The Brexit decision is creating some challenges for our BVA colleagues as the mobility of the veterinary profession across the UK and Europe will necessarily change with departure from the EU, but the nature and the extent of the changes are yet to be determined.

The meeting that followed IVOC was the World Veterinary Association (WVA) General Assembly, where global standards of veterinary education were also a focus for discussion. The WVA General Assembly Meeting is attended by Presidents of all of the WVA member associations globally and is principally a policy discussion and formulation forum. This meeting involved an afternoon workshop on collaboration opportunities through the WVA to lift the standards of veterinary education, veterinary professionalism and animal health and welfare globally, with a focus on global policy coordination.

We have a lot to be proud about the Australian veterinary profession and the AVA. However, as with all things, there is more to do. The key takeaway message for me from these discussions was ensuring that we equip the next generation of AVA members with the tools, capability and mobility to be global leaders in animal health and welfare. Barcelona In his session at this year's ASAV, SCGV and AVBIG Combined Conference, Dr John Maxwell will discuss, in depth, the history of veterinary sheep services in Australia and the events that have contributed to its current state. This is also the inaugural conference of the Sheep, Camelids and Goat Veterinarians and this year's stream offers a wide range of sessions covering topics including dealing with livestock owners, clinical cases, epidemiology, the latest research in diagnostics and more.

With an overarching theme of 'The Abdomen and Beyond' , the focus of the small animal stream will be on (you guessed it) all things gastrointestinal, including sessions on urinary tract disease and infections, liver disease and abdominal cancers, just to name a few.

And let's not forget AVBIG, with keynote speaker Dr Laurie Bergman from the United States, bringing with her years of experience as a veterinary behaviourist for an entire day of sessions in the Behaviour stream.

Held at the Melbourne Convention Centre, this 4-day event will showcase cutting edge research in the fields of small animal medicine/clinical practice, behaviour and ruminant and camelid medicine. In addition to a first-class line-up of speakers, delegates will have ample time to peruse the exhibition hall for the latest in products and services during breaks and there is opportunity to attend breakfast sessions and workshops. As always, there is a stellar social program including a welcome reception, happy hours and, of course, the ever-popular Gala Dinner.

And this year's conference offers even more.

ASAV will be hosting a pre-conference innovation day, free of charge to registered delegates. The ASAV Innovation, Research and Development Symposium is an opportunity for industry and academia to share their scientific findings, without taking delegates away from the exhibition during conference.

The conference runs from 12-16 August 2018, with early bird closing 2 July 2018. So, mark your diaries and don't miss this fantastic event.

To register, download the program or to find out more visit www.asavconference.com.au.

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17241 NEWS N6 A t the time of writing this column, it has been 30 days that I have spent in the role of Acting CEO. I'm deeply honoured to be asked by the AVA Board to undertake this responsibility.

Fortunately, having been Head of Education for the AVA for the past 2 years, I already have a very good understanding of the Association and I have had multiple opportunities to meet with many of our members, as well as some of our industry stakeholders. Although I have been primarily focussed on working with members and staff to deliver the best education for our members, in the role of Acting CEO I am passionate about leading a team that is focussed on addressing the issues that matter most to our members.

Being prepared to take advantage of opportunities and tackle challenges will lead to improvements in the AVA. The Association advocates on behalf of members on the issues that affect them. A recent example of this is the live export of sheep to the Middle East during the summer months. Using our issues management framework that we developed with our leadership group last year at the Group Summit, our team, chaired by Dr Parker, was able to quickly identify the key stakeholders and put together a working group to ensure that AVA's response best served the collective views of the membership. This approach demonstrated how we can continue to be a strong voice for the profession on this issue and AVA has called for stronger animal welfare provisions on future live animal export voyages to the Middle East.

There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure we are always representing the interests of our members, especially at state and federal government levels. Last month, when the government announced the 2018-19 Budget, we were pleased to see that it had adopted one of the AVA's recommendations in our Pre-Budget Submission -to dedicate funds to improve disease surveillance and emergency animal disease response. In its Budget, the Government confirmed it would be dedicating $102 million to a smarter biosecurity system to better target the prediction, surveillance and enforcement of biosecurity risks. Going forward, we will remain focussed on key issues such as the need to establish a national animal welfare framework, introducing national mutual recognition and harmonisation of veterinary practice legislation, improving the breed standards for brachycephalic dog breeds and the need for more funding of antimicrobial resistance initiatives.

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17242

The AVA is also here to support members throughout their careers. Last month we held an Education Forum with members to discuss the challenges that are facing the profession in the next 3-5 years. The objective of the session was to hear from members what they think are the key challenges so that we start to prepare for this through our programs. From providing access to education to services that suit their special interests, the AVA is always striving to improve support for members throughout their long, prosperous careers.

Interestingly, the value of membership and the level of engagement that members have with their professional association will be quite different. At the AVA, value and engagement for one member could mean serving on a Board or Committee, but for another it could be reading the AVJ every month. It could be having the opportunity to contribute to the formation of important policies that guide veterinarians in their professional lives.

The AVA Conference was held last month and it's always an exciting event with a positive atmosphere. For me, it's also an opportunity to speak with more members to get a sense of what they value most about the AVA and what they want in the future from their professional association. This is a time for me to actively listen and ask how we are going on delivering value and reflect on the feedback to continuously improve and deliver the services that really make a difference.

When non-members ask me about the value of membership they can immediately identify the tangible benefits such as continuing education and other services that we provide, but the more intrinsic value of membership is acting as a collective voice for the profession, delivering an annual advocacy program as well as responding to issues that emerge throughout the year in a collaborative way.

I look forward to working with you to ensure that I can assist in building an even stronger AVA. 

Put simply, an employment contract is an agreement that establishes the terms and conditions of an employment relationship. It's important to note that a contract can be either written or verbal. Despite this, it is always strongly recommended to provide a written employment contract.

Every employment contract must be compliant with the National Employment Standards and any applicable modern award (such as the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2010). Unincorporated businesses in Western Australia must ensure their employment contracts are compliant with the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 and any applicable State Award.

Yes. An employment contract can be permanent (full-time/ part-time), casual or for a fixed or maximum term.

Although an employment contract needs to be comprehensive, it shouldn't be overwhelming. This is a fine line that, if crossed, can leave the employee feeling confused, apprehensive or even intimidated. Some of the more critical terms included in an employment contract are: These terms are obvious, but there are other common terms and conditions that aren't as familiar to many employees entering into an employment contract. These include the following.

It is becoming increasingly common for organisations to provide a 'restraint clause' in the employment contract. In essence, a restraint clause is designed to prevent former employees from working for and potentially sharing confidential and critical information with a direct competitor. Although every business has a right to protect its interests, restraint clauses are not automatically enforceable. To be enforced, the clause needs to be considered 'reasonable'at the time it was entered into. If you are unsure about a restraint clause, contact the AVA HR Advisory Service or seek independent legal advice.

The notice provisions in an employment contract dictate how much notice either party must provide in the event of the employment relationship being terminated (either by the employee or employer). The notice period for both parties should be the same. For example, if an employee is expected to provide a months' notice, the employer should provide the same. If there is inconsistency in the notice periods for employer and employee, the clause could be considered unfair. At the same time, the notice period should not be excessive (e.g. 6 months for a junior vet) or too short (e.g. inconsistent with the minimum 1 month notice period provided for in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2010).

Generally, an intellectual property clause will stipulate that any ideas, strategies, treatments etc. that are created by an employee while employed are the property of the employer. We are a specialist superannuation fund, committed to:

• Enhancing financial literacy amongst vets • Helping veterinary practices meet their super needs • Supporting veterinary professional development

No. An employment contract can't contain terms that are illegal -either from a criminal or employment law perspective. For example, and as mentioned previously, the notice period in an employment contract can't be less than the minimum notice periods provided for in an Award. Similarly, an employment contract can't provide remuneration that is less than the relevant minimum award rate that applies to that particular employee.

Only by agreement between employee and employer. A recommended provision in the contract will state that any change to the terms of that contract must come by written agreement.

Members often mistake employment contracts with independent contractor agreements. These types of agreements are essentially business-to-business and therefore outside the scope of employment legislation.

These agreements are between 'principal' and 'contractor' , and their terms are highly negotiable. Employees in particular need to be wary of sham contracting -this is when an employer disguises an employment relationship as that of a contractor/principal relationship for the purposes of avoiding payment of employee entitlements.

Practices that are found to have intentionally established a sham contracting arrangement can face penalties of up to $54,000 per contravention. At the same time, if a contractor is found to be an employee, the practice may be liable to back pay leave and other employee entitlements such as superannuation.

Still unsure, or want more information?

Employees should be fully aware of the terms and conditions they are agreeing to when being issued an employment contract. Contact the AVA HR Advisory Service for more information on employment contracts.

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17243

The material contained in this publication is general comment and is not intended as advice on any particular matter. No reader should act or fail to act on the basis of any material contained herein. The material contained in this publication should not be relied on as a substitute for legal or professional advice on any particular matter. Wentworth Advantage Pty Ltd, expressly disclaim all and any liability to any persons whatsoever in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance whether in whole or in part upon any of the contents of this publication. Without limiting the generality of this disclaimer, no author or editor shall have any responsibility for any other author or editor. For further information please contact Wentworth Advantage Pty Ltd.

A n extraordinary collection of work highlights the value of the AVA's Australian Companion Animal Health Foundation (ACAHF) to small animal clinical practitioners.

Improving the health and welfare of our companion animals can be achieved through a better understanding and treatment of the numerous conditions that afflict them. Useful outcomes require years of intensive research and while researchers are committed to this, the significant monetary investment needed to undertake such research can often be difficult to secure.

The ACAHF was established in 1989 to provide financial support for research projects that are focussed on improving our knowledge of companion animal diseases. The ACAHF receives memorial donations from veterinarians, veterinary practices, pet owners, members of the public and the pet industry.

Every year, the ACAHF receives numerous applications for research funds from Australian university veterinary schools and other institutions. Each application is carefully assessed by the ACAHF Research Committee and funding is granted to eight successful applicants.

Since 2014, the ACAHF has granted over A$270,000 in funding towards projects where research outcomes are aimed at providing information to help veterinary practitioners better treat their patients, thereby improving companion animal care.

Much of the critical research funded through ACAHF has resulted in peer-reviewed publications, presentations and thesis chapters. Some of the research funded between 2014 and 2017 include:

• Assessing the effect of white blood cell removal (leucoreduction) from canine packed red blood cell units (PRBC) on the concentration of inflammatory cytokines. This research was published in the AVJ, 1 with results supporting the use of leucoreduction in preventing the accumulation of inflammatory mediators in stored canine PRBCs.

• Evaluating the genetic factors associated with mast cell tumours (MCTs) in dogs. Using molecular analysis of the C-KIT gene, mutations in MCTs of Australian dogs were compared with a non-referral population and correlated tumour mutations with prognosis and outcomes by assessing signalment, primary clinical records and histology. This work has resulted in a publication in the AVJ, 2 a manuscript in the works and several presentations.

• Determining normal canine reference intervals for urinary biomarkers used to detect acute kidney injury in dogs. These reference ranges will help to determine if urinary biomarkers are affected by factors such as sex and age, and whether different reference intervals are required for dogs in different age groups and sexes.

• Looking at the variables that might affect results of immunological assays for the detection of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats and determine the optimal method and value for common assays. This work has resulted in a publication 3 and has helped improve diagnostic assays for FIP.

• Investigating the effect of immunosuppression on feline gammaherpesvirus replication as part of a long-term strategy to develop anticancer vaccines for cats and dogs. This research has been published 4 and presented internationally.

• Improving our understanding of knowledge and attitudes towards Q fever disease and vaccines in cat breeders by establishing their knowledge of the risks of Q fever, their attitudes towards vaccination and the extent of protective practices against zoonotic diseases. This research has formed two chapters of a PhD thesis and had resulted in two publications. 5, 6 • Determining the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of caspofungin in healthy cats, formed the basis of a Master's thesis and resulted in a presentation at an international conference and a publication. 7 This work was just one part of 6 years of research on canine and feline aspergillosis, with four prior publications from previous ACAHF funding.

• Determining mefloquine's in vitro phase 2 hepatic metabolism using feline microsomes by developing an in vitro model of phase 2 feline hepatic metabolism using hepatic microsomes to predict whether mefloquine is likely to accumulate in the live cat, as there are currently no pharmacokinetic studies on its use in cats.

• Investigating the prevalence of progressive and regressive feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infections in Australian cats using p27 (viral capsid) antigen testing and real-time PCR (qPCR) testing and to determine the false-positive rate (positive predictive value) of current antigen test kits commonly used by veterinarians in Australia.

For more information on how to apply for funding or contribute to the Foundation, contact the ASAV office at asav@ava.com.au.

Advancing our knowledge of companion animal health NEWS N12 A ustralia's first evidence-based veterinary employability framework has been released, identifying the capabilities that are most important for employability and success in the veterinary profession.

Until now, little research has been done to examine the capabilities required to enjoy a successful veterinary career. In 2015, the Australian Government provided funding for an exciting new project, known as VetSet2Go. It was a multinational collaboration bringing together academics across Australia's veterinary schools as well as schools from the United Kingdom and United States. After conducting extensive research including a series of stakeholder surveys and case studies and hosting a world-first veterinary employability forum in 2017 that tackled how employability might apply in the veterinary context, the project has come to an end with the release of a new veterinary employability framework.

Trustworthiness A vet's ability to build trust through honesty, transparency, integrity.

Collaboration and teamwork A vet who fits into and supports an effective veterinary team, works with others collaboratively towards shared goals and is friendly and personable.

Empathy and respect A vet who is attentive to others' feelings, perspectives and concerns, is non-judgmental, respects diversity of opinion and worldview.

Relationship-centred care A vet who bases healthcare approaches in human relationships and decision-making in partnership and respects the human-animal bond.

Effective communication A vet who is a clear and effective communicator (verbal, non-verbal, written), listens and seeks understanding, confidently discusses difficult issues including financial aspects of care.

Application of expertise A vet who inspires confidence through compassionate animal handling, sound practical skills and application of specialised knowledge.

Problem-solving A vet who evaluates evidence in support of clinical reasoning and problem-solving, can make decisions despite incomplete information and uses good judgment and "common sense".

Managing workflow A vet who is self-organised, manages priorities and uses time efficiently and productively, uses initiative and is independent.

Sustainable engagement A vet who sustains an energetic connection with work, balancing and refreshing their interest, passion and enthusiasm for work with other needs and is self-sustaining.

A vet who is hard-working, persistent, reliable, gives attention to detail and quality assurance.

A vet who is committed to the veterinary mission, including quality care and welfare, and to organisational goals and takes responsibility.

Continual learning A vet who is keen to learn, open to feedback and strives for improvement and best practice.

AVA President, Dr Paula Parker, said the AVA was proud to support VetSet2Go and excited to see the release of the veterinary employability framework.

"The AVA is here to support veterinary professionals and be a partner for our members from graduation right through to retirement. The VetSet2Go project aligns with our goals to provide support for new graduates to transition into the profession with ease and to thrive in their chosen career.

"The continued sustainability of the profession requires a holistic approach, with all stakeholders engaged and projects like this shed much-needed light on how we can all better nurture Australia's future generations of veterinarians, " Dr Parker said. 

A vet who is able to deal with pressure and adversity, draw on personal and contextual resources, and utilise strategies to navigate challenges and sustain wellbeing.

A vet who finds motivation and purpose in their work, is self-motivated and intrinsically driven.

Reflective self-evaluation A vet who is aware of their own strengths and limitations, reflective and learns from experience, is self-aware of emotional responses and behaviours.

Self-confidence and identity A vet who has positive self-esteem and self-belief, anchored in a professional self-concept based on personal values, beliefs, and goals.

VetSet2Go Project Leader, Associate Professor Martin Cake from Murdoch University, said "Employability is more than just the ability to remain employed, it is also the capacity to productively employ your abilities through harnessing your strengths. It implies being sustainably satisfied in work that is personally meaningful.

It also refers to the ability to continually develop and transfer skills across multiple jobs or roles over the course of our working life. In other words, employablity describes the ingredients and the recipe for career success. "

The new veterinary employability framework, tools and resources are now available online at www.vetset2go.edu.au. This may come as a surprise to veterinarians who, because of the nature of their work, often see and think about disease and its consequences. Unfortunately, busy producers with many competing priorities may only focus on disease when it affects their business.

In addition, producers who rarely see serious livestock disease may underestimate both the likelihood and consequences of its incidence. They may also be overconfident about their ability to recognise and manage disease, or believe that preventing and controlling disease is someone else's problem, such as government or industry.

At the same time, research and anecdotal evidence suggest that livestock producers often worry about loss of market access if they report disease in their stock, with reputational risk presenting a major disincentive to finding out more about livestock health problems.

Reassuringly, however, many producers say that they want an early reporting system for endemic diseases in their region and that information about emerging endemic diseases in an area or region would be highly valued.

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, together with government and industry partners in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, is running several projects this year designed to increase the willingness and ability of producers to detect, understand and report changes in livestock health.

The initiative is part of the Australian Government's Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government's plan for stronger farmers and a stronger economy. 2 In each state, veterinarians and other agricultural service providers are offering tailored disease identification and management advice to livestock producers, and trialling how best to share livestock health information within a network of producers to manage disease risk.

The overarching aim of this initiative is to improve the reporting of animal disease and the project may see more producers seeking disease management assistance from vets and service providers.

A key feature of the proposed networks is that they are led by trusted, non-government community members (called surveillance champions) who provide confidential advice, but each state will trial a slightly different approach.

Tasmania is piloting the use of a free, confidential telephone reporting service for a small number of sheep and beef producers. Producers will be able to provide information (including photos of sick livestock) to a private vet who will suggest disease differentials and provide guidance on when and why additional investigation is required. Reported symptoms will be regularly collated to develop a picture of livestock health in the area (without identifying the source of reports), which can be shared with producers and other stakeholders.

Knowing the livestock disease issues in an area will allow the champion to notify producers of changing disease risks in their area and suggest preventive strategies. The additional knowledge will further inform differential diagnoses, improving the quality of the advice the champion is able to offer.

Queensland is establishing a members-only, web-based discussion portal to facilitate information sharing and discussion within the northern Australian stud cattle industry about livestock health. The portal will capture and support industry ideas and initiatives to recognise, measure and reward effective biosecurity planning and good health outcomes.

New South Wales will hold a series of livestock workshops for smallholders focussing on disease identification, biosecurity and profitability via meat quality. Invited presenters, including vets and butchers, will address ways of improving meat yield and quality through improved animal and disease management. At the events, attendees will be invited to remain in contact (through small farm networks) to seek disease management advice and report any changes in livestock health to surveillance champions.

These projects demonstrate how the government is delivering practical actions to keep our farmers and farming families profitable and resilient.

Further information about White Paper initiatives is available at agriculture.gov.au/whitepaperbiosecurity.

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources NEWS N15 T he AVA has just released the updated Members Code of Professional Conduct. The Code reflects the professional commitment of AVA members but is intended to be relevant to all veterinarians.

The process for review of the Code of Professional Conduct included initial feedback from group and division leaders to inform an updated draft code released in 2017, and then feedback from group and division leaders, veterinary boards and all AVA members based on that draft. Three resources have been produced following this process: the AVA Members Code of Professional Conduct as outlined below; a member resource outlining the veterinary regulatory environment; and a Policy on Professional Standards for Veterinarians in Clinical Practice that is being considered by the AVA Policy Council.

The purpose of the Members Code of Professional Conduct is to provide a framework for applying the core values, principles and standards of the AVA and to guide members in their conduct with animals, clients, colleagues and the community.

Exemplary professional conduct upholds the dignity of and the public trust vested in the veterinary profession.

The State Veterinary Boards regulate the minimum professional standards expected of veterinarians. AVA membership entails members holding themselves to a higher standard of professionalism. All AVA members hold themselves to high standards of personal integrity. By becoming a member of the AVA, individuals agree to abide by the AVA Members Code of Professional Conduct.

All members will:

1. Hold as a key concern, the health, welfare and respectful treatment of animals.

2. Ensure veterinary recommendations and decisions are based upon the health and welfare of the animal, the safety of the public, the needs of client and the need to uphold the public trust vested in the veterinary profession. Members will proactively manage conflicts of interest by taking steps to identify and avoid or declare and manage any real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.

3. Be aware of the limits of their own expertise, and seek further education, advice, assistance and/ or referral where appropriate.

4. Ensure that they understand the regulatory framework in which they operate.

5. Understand and comply with not only the letter of the law, but actively promote the spirit of all relevant laws, regulations, standards and guidelines.

6. Attend to their own health and wellbeing in order to provide veterinary care of the highest standard and support colleagues to do the same.

7. Take personal responsibility to uphold the good reputation and integrity of the veterinary profession and the AVA by promoting and not publicly contradicting AVA values, policies and guidelines.

8. Ensure communication in all forms with and about professional colleagues and members of the public is respectful and professional at all times.

State Veterinary Boards have the responsibility for regulating veterinary professional conduct. If an individual becomes aware of, or concerned about, alleged unprofessional conduct by a veterinarian, the appropriate steps include: a. Wherever appropriate and possible, addressing any concerns first with the relevant individual. b. If the alleged breach of the Code relates to a violation of the veterinary practice legislation of the jurisdiction, or other legislative obligation, including the Codes of Conduct of the regulating body, then the complainant should report the complaint to the relevant veterinary board or other legislative authority. The complaint process varies by jurisdiction and individuals are encouraged to contact the appropriate authority for the applicable complaint procedure.

A member who is found to have violated the veterinary practice legislations shall be deemed to have breached the AVA Members Code of Professional Conduct.

The AVA Members Code of Professional Conduct is designed to encourage professionalism among its members, rather than having a punitive function.

If a member becomes aware of, or concerned about, alleged breaches of the AVA Members Code of Professional Conduct by another member, the appropriate steps include: 1. For unprofessional conduct: as above.

For any other category of complaint: lodging a formal complaint regarding that member's apparent breach, following the steps outlined in Section 11 of the AVA Constitution. Sections 11 and 12 of the AVA Constitution outline the possible outcomes of the complaints process.

The current version of the Constitution of the AVA is available on the AVA website, via the 'Who we are' section on the 'About us' webpage.

The full AVA Code of Professional Conduct can be viewed on the AVA website (www.ava.com.au/conduct).

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17247 NEWS N16 A recent study investigating the personality traits of great tits (Parus major) across a heavy metal gradient found that the level of pollution can influence the behaviour of these birds. 1 I know it's shocking and possibly something you never really thought about, but it's true -birds do have individual personality types.

Personality is defined as consistent differences in behavioural traits, such as aggressiveness, sociability, boldness and risktaking, between individuals of the same species. Personality types are made up of a number of correlated traits; for example, aggressiveness is related to boldness and risk-taking behaviours.

Birds with different personality types have varying strategies for survival that influence their reproductive and survival capacity. An aggressive individual that is likely to take more risks is also more likely to have a shorter lifespan and to compensate for this, will reproduce earlier. So, the survival strategy for an aggressive individual is to live hard and die young.

Behavioural traits are in part hereditary, passed down to offspring by their parents, but are also determined by environmental factors. Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between

polluted site showed slower exploratory behaviours than those further away and no differences in aggressive behaviours across the heavy metal gradient were observed.

The authors, however, have an explanation for these seemingly contradictory results. They believe that the slower exploratory response in birds closest to the contaminated site could be the result of a neurological effect of heavy metals, with elevated lead and cadmium levels interfering with the birds' abilities to appropriately adapt their behaviour to their potentially declining circumstances.

Past studies of urban environments have found that great tit populations in these areas tend towards the bold-aggressive personality type with increased exploratory behaviours. 2, 3 The lack of exploratory behaviour in this study is worrying because it points to possible neurological impairment and decreased fitness of the birds closest to the site of contamination.

The authors conclude that heavy metal pollution may affect specific behavioural traits and stress the importance of looking at multiple personality traits when assessing changes in personality type and effects on fitness.

heavy metals, such as lead, copper and cadmium, and increased aggressive behaviour in a range of species including birds and humans. 1 To explore the effects of heavy metals on the personality traits of birds, this study used the great tit as a model species for personality type. Great tits have distinct personality types, with birds that rapidly explore novel environments also more likely to be bold, aggressive and highly active, compared with slow explorers that are more likely to be non-aggressive and shy.

To assess bird behaviour along a heavy metal gradient at a smelter and metal refinery facility in Belgium, researchers classed groups of birds at four study sites along the gradient as either bold-aggressive or shy and non-aggressive, according to their exploratory behaviour in a novel laboratory environment, and aggressive behaviours of male and female tits in territory intrusion simulations.

The study's authors hypothesised that the birds closer to the contaminated site would display increased aggressive behaviours in order to promote early reproductive success as a means of countering their reduced survival prospects. Surprisingly, they found that great tits closer to the Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17248 NEWS N18 Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17249

Aside from your trips to the supermarket, think about all the other purchases you've made recently and the plastic accumulated from these, whether it be from a department store or a small retailer.

The global scale of the issue is so immense that it's easy to perceive our day-to-day efforts as almost insignificant within the bigger picture of this environmental crisis. We must remember, however, that personal inertia leads to collective inaction on an international scale and it's our wildlife that are suffering the direct consequences of this.

What can we each do to combat plastic pollution? If we take a page from the UN's book, then the key is to start small, and collectively we will drive change. The UN terms World Environment Day as 'People's Day' , which is an opportunity for us to confront the actions we make on a micro scale, so we can contribute to global change. P lastic in all forms has crept into our lives and made its presence in landfills, waterways and the occasional light breeze, much to the demise of our wildlife and, inevitably, human health.

In the November 2017 issue of the Australian Veterinary Journal, we looked at research from Sweden that highlighted the abnormal behaviour of fish caused by plastic nanoparticle ingestion. 3 What's of concern from research like this is that we are ultimately part of the food chain, but the use of plastic is so entrenched in our regular activities that its easy to lose sight of its environmental impact and the risk to human and animal health -particularly when affected ecosystems seem a world away.

Even in uninhabited places, we've made our mark without setting foot in these remote parts of the world. In an isolated part of Hawaii lies Papahānaumokuākea, a UNESCO World Heritage site that rarely receives any human visitors. Yet tons of plastic debris wash up on its shores every year, including 52 tons of fishing gear alone. 4 Unfortunately, this scene repeats itself along countless coastlines around the world and extends far beyond the water's edge and into the habitat of sea life, as highlighted by international research from the University of Queensland. According to their study, a staggering 50% of the global sea turtle population have ingested plastic. 5 And when you see how similar a plastic bag floating in water looks to a jellyfish, it's really no surprise that marine life mistaken plastic debris for food.

With both marine and land-based animal populations around the world at risk of plastic pollution, the United Nations (UN) has propelled the issue into the spotlight on World Environment Day on 5 June with this year's theme 'beating plastic pollution' .

World Environment Day launched in 1974. For nearly five decades now, every year on this day in June international attention has turned to issues which negatively impact on our fragile environment and the actions we must take to combat urgent environmental issues.

The theme is particularly timely within the Australian landscape, where some states have imposed bans on single-use plastic bags. Some of the country's supermarket giants have followed suit, declaring that single-use plastic bags will be phased out commencing mid-2018.

The move within Australia is a step forward for conservation globally, but there is still a long way to go in decreasing our reliance on plastic.

In 1998, an image was taken of a lone plastic bag that was spotted at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean in the Mariana Trench. The image is one of many photographs and videos of debris that have been collected from deep-sea dives since 1983 and now shown on the Deep-sea Debris Database. 1, 2 What's particularly striking about the presence of the plastic bag is that the Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the ocean at approximately 10,898 metres below sea level. That's deeper than the height of Mount Everest or more than 35 Sydney Towers.

Stephens to the 3rd-year students at University of Queensland on the topic of ethical dilemmas and evidence-based medicine.

P icture this scenario. Tiffany and Christine, who are in their mid-30s and work in PR and IT, come to your inner-city practice with their brand-new female intact Bengal kitten Trixiebell aka 'fur baby' for final vaccinations and to discuss desexing.

On physical examination you find Trixiebell to be in perfect health and you discuss booking her in sooner rather than later for desexing because intact queens are prone to come on heat at a relatively young age and the owners do not wish to use her for breeding purposes.

Your practice has a policy of recommending pre-anaesthetic profiles before any routine surgery even if the animal appears healthy based on an understanding that there may be an underlying disease not evident on clinical examination and it's best to be prepared in case of anaesthetic complications or poor outcomes. Acting defensively, the practice is concerned that if they don't carry out this testing and if anything goes wrong, they might be sued or reported to a veterinary board. In any case. it seems that all the local practices offer the same service, so this testing must conform to best evidence and current knowledge. On top of that, the practice has in-house pathology testing equipment that needs to be paid for.

The practice policy is to give the owner the option of deciding whether to have the testing done. It is, of course, an extra cost. This is not an uncommon scenario and pre-anaesthetic and yearly 'wellness' profiles appear to be commonplace in Australian small animal practices.

However, what's the evidence for these tests?

Well, very little as it turns out. Pre-anaesthetic profiles are considered of little value and not routinely recommended in human medicine because the evidence suggests that they do not reduce complications or mortality rates. They also raise the risk of over-diagnosis with subsequent unnecessary or even harmful interventions. The reduction in their use in human patients is good news because over-diagnosis has grown to be a major problem in human medicine with the potential to cause the collapse of the healthcare system. However, pre-anaesthetic screening of overtly healthy patients is commonly recommended in small animal practice and sometimes presented as a necessary part of good patient care. Although these tests may uncover abnormalities, they have often not been found to alter the anaesthetic plan or affect the complication rate. [1] [2] [3] As with human patients, there is always the risk that detection and subsequent investigation or treatment of diseases that would never have harmed the animal will cause more harm than good; harm may also occur because beneficial surgery is postponed indefinitely. 4 There are few guidelines regarding pre-anaesthetic testing in the veterinary world and those that do exist are based on opinion rather than high-quality evidence.

General blood work is designed to be used in a population that's likely to be diseased. It is also variable, depends on the level of hydration and has an accuracy range of 10-15%. It is not a screening test.

There is also the question of Bayesian probability, which is the pre-test probability of a diseased state. And if the test is abnormal (as by definition a small percentage will be) would it convince you that disease is actually present? If not, then don't do the test. If your pre-test clinical suspicion is high, then you would ignore a negative test and you'd treat anyway; again, there is no need to test. In the pre-anaesthetic scenario, a healthy animal has a low chance of disease and the test will likely not convince you even if it is abnormal. Also, 1% of tests will be abnormal, not because of a disease state but simply because the test has to define its cutoff for 'abnormal' at some statistical level.

Without a clinical indication for a test, it is only worth doing if it meets the criteria for a 'screening test' . This might be for when there is a high prevalence of a disease that could be detected before clinical signs become apparent, when early detection improves the treatment outcome or when the cost of widespread screening is outweighed by savings in disease costs or delayed treatment costs.

The over-use of medicines paradoxically exists alongside underuse of evidence-based medicine. Medical practitioners and veterinarians are quick to adopt practices based on shaky evidence but slow to drop them once they have been blown up by solid proof. Clinicians may fear being sued or think they have gaps in knowledge, but clinical decisions need to be based on good evidence 5 and not on defensive or 'just in case' medicine -this is bad practice. Testing to ease our anxieties or because of concerns about being sued is not appropriate for a professional aiming to provide best care. NEWS N20 Should the client be given the option to decide on testing when there is little evidence? Is it reasonable to ask the client to make a clinical decision when we are the trained professional not them? We don't want to be overly paternalistic, but we also need to avoid abrogating our professional responsibility onto the owner at the expense of the animal's welfare. I believe the public expects the veterinarian to base recommendations on best evidence for care that goes beyond the status quo and fully informed consent is essential. The evidence for pre-anaesthetic testing of overtly healthy animals is extremely limited and more research should be undertaken before veterinarians recommend this procedure. 6 Trixiebell should be booked in sooner rather than later for desexing before she comes on heat.

H ave you written a peer-review article and been through the rebuttal process? Are you interested in keeping upto-date with the latest research in your field? If so, you are well-qualified to take part in the peer review process as a reviewer.

We are on the lookout for new reviewers to join the AVJ reviewer panels. Despite what others may tell you, you don't need to be a superannuated professor to review. If you are new to reviewing and feel unsure about your duties, we can guide you. You may need to seek advice from more experienced colleagues for the first one or two manuscripts you review, but with practice it does get much faster and easier.

We try to get reviewers to cover different aspects of the papers. So, if you are not a statistician, then just flag that in your reviewer report, and suggest that we send it to someone else as well. And if you are a statistician, then your journal needs you...!

You will learn how to critically analyse data, contribute to your profession and always be in the loop on the latest research in your field.

You can keep track of your reviewing work through the new feature of Publons. What is Publons, you ask? It is really a 'review currency' that gives you formal recognition of your work. Peer review activity is now added to major grant applications, and Publons is how academics can demonstrate formally what they have been doing as reviewers. It may not be directly applicable to you now if you are a clinician, but it is being used more and more for university promotions.

In a recent blog post, 1 Professor Amanda Salis, an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sydney, who won an award from Publons for being in the world's top 10% of peer reviewers in medicine, said, "It is no longer enough to just be doing great research; you also need to demonstrate that you are contributing to your profession more broadly. " "This insight from peer review has helped me to plan research that got funded by nationally-competitive project grants and to publish the findings, both of which contributed to my successful fellowship and promotion applications, where two of the main currencies are grant income and influential publications. "

We run the peer review process for AVA journals through Manuscript Central, an online manuscript submission site. Each submitted paper is allocated to an Associate Editor who is an expert in their field, and it is their job to steer the paper towards the most appropriate people for review. This means that some papers may go to two cattle clinicians, whereas others may go to a surgeon and a statistician. It really depends on the paper.

Once reviews are submitted, the Associate Editors look at the reviews with the paper and recommend whether they think that the paper needs some minor revisions, a more extensive major revision, acceptance or, unfortunately, rejection. After this, all the final decisions are mine.

We generally send papers to two reviewers, and if they have a difference of opinion, then we may send papers out to a third reviewer. We use a single-blinded system, such that the reviewers know who the authors are, but (in theory) the authors are unaware of the reviewer identities. O n 19 February this year, we were invited, on behalf of the AVA, to attend an ACT Key Stakeholder Workshop of the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP) on the proposed national release of the carp virus. Attendees included personnel from anglers' societies, local government, universities, parks and fisheries, RSPCA and animal welfare monitors. After attending this meeting, we found that many questions remained unanswered and our personal views on these are below.

Internationally, carp are the most widely cultured animal protein for human consumption in the world, with annual global production accounting for over 40% of the total aquaculture by tonnage. European carp (Cyprinus carpio) were introduced to Australia 180 years ago. A hardy strain of carp escaped from a fish farm and only in the last 60 years they have started to dominate south-eastern Australian aquatic ecosystems. Also known as the common carp and Japanese koi, C. carpio are present all over Australia except for the Northern Territory; they are prized by coarse fishing anglers and kept as pets in WA, NSW and ACT.

In the Murray Darling Basin (MDB), carp are abundant, and in some water bodies, they make up to 80% of the fish biomass. They have been blamed for muddying the waters and causing a decline in native fish populations. But are booming carp populations the cause, or effect, of poor conditions in the waters? As scientists, we know that correlation does not equal causation. Carp numbers are highest in places with high levels of environmental disturbance, such as conditions found in regulated rivers, and this coincides with the building of dams and weirs. Therefore separating carp impacts from other sources of environmental damage can be difficult.

The main causes for reductions in native fish populations include loss of native habitat and food from projects that prohibit natural water flow and form barriers for migration, cold water pollution (when water is released from dams), which fails to provide cues for native fish to breed, silting from land runoff, agrichemical pollution and elevated salinity. In contrast, carp can to tolerate extremes of temperature and water quality and are able to reproduce in dammed waters. The MDB Authority has recorded recovery of native fishes by 45% using water control, and predicts an additional 4% improvement with feral fish control, towards pre-European settlement times. 1 The NCCP was given a budget of $15M at the beginning of 2016 and tasked to research, plan, consult and assess risks in order to identify a smart, safe, effective and integrated suite of measures to control carp impacts. Several methods of carp control were evaluated, including fishing events, manipulation of water flows, poisons, use of Judas carp (radio-tracking carp to identify areas of high concentrations for schools), traps on weirs, son-less technology in which fish produce single-sex offspring, pheromones to attract carp to traps and commercial fishing. The NCCP identified the use of a biological control agent as the key method that can deliver outcomes quickly and within budget.

The NCCP proposes release of a relatively newly discovered cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3), which is commonly known as koi herpesvirus (KHV). It appears to be highly host-specific, contagious, and with high mortalities. It is highly dependent on host size/age range; the most susceptible age-class being under 1 year of age but > 20 mm in length. However, reports by the NCCP appeared to show conflicting results on carp or native fish mortalities. 2, 3 More studies are needed to ensure our native fishes and commercially farmed fish industries will not be in jeopardy.

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17251

Yes, reviewing takes time, but I encourage you to take part in the peer review process because it is an invaluable chance for you to learn more about your field and contribute to our profession.

We have reviewer instructions and checklists at ava.com.au/ instructions-for-authors. Please email me if you would like more information.

CyHV-3 is present in 33 countries and can have wide-ranging sociopolitical and economic effects, such that it is listed by the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). Australia's dedication to biosecurity and a ban on carp imports has prevented its entry into Australia and CyHV-3 remains a nationally reportable disease. So, while other countries are investing in measures to contain and limit the effects of the CyHV-3 virus, Australia is looking at the possibility of voluntary release of this virus. How would having an OIE-listed disease in our country affect the trade of freshwater fishes and potentially contaminated equipment?

The NCCP admit that CyHV-3 is not a silver bullet that will eradicate carp. CyHV-3 is expected to kill more than 70% of carp post-introduction, and in the ensuing 1-4 years, but the virus and carp will settle into a balance that allows both to survive. The high fecundity of carp would mean swift repopulation, possibly with genetically resistant individuals. So, it can be inferred that there would need to be subsequent releases of more virulent strains as feral fish develop immunity or the virus mutates.

Koi owners around Australia are understandably concerned that this virus will kill their pets. Under the current legislation, any property detected with CyHV-3 will require all fish on the premises to be destroyed and facilities disinfected. The NCCP dismisses the import or manufacture a vaccine for the koi pet owners, stating that it will escape to the wild and hamper the efficacy of their CyHV-3 release program.

The greatest concern among workshop attendees was the question of who would coordinate and fund the clean-up of fish kills post-CyHV-3 release. It is likely to cause on-going cyclical mass fish kills with population booms and busts far into the future. Clean-up is important because decaying masses of fish can lead to locally extensive environmental damage, and large areas of water are inaccessible for clean-up efforts.

This would lead to a marked decline in dissolved oxygen (blackwater events would kill aquatic animals and fish), the release of large amounts of nutrient into water (leading to bacterial and algal blooms that will exacerbate poor water quality conditions), and removal of a food resource being used by top-end predatory native animals such as cod, golden perch and piscivorous birds. The carcases of fish and other animals can lead to massive aquatic and peri-aquatic death from subsequent botulism. Such events will also make water unfit for drinking and for watering livestock.

There may be human health implications with secondary pathogen loads in live fish caught for consumption where dead carp are present.

The disease is highly dependent on water temperature and viral dose, and if CyHV-3 is released at a suboptimal period, it would not achieve its desired outcomes. The NCCP suggests that the optimal times for release is when water temperature is steady, between 18°C and 28°C. This would coincide with the spring breeding season, but also the time of greatest use of water bodies for boating, fishing and tourism. It would seem unlikely that viral release would be permitted during this optimal time. Given the cold-water pollution that inhibits cues for native fish to spawn, it is not clear if the waters of the Murray Darling Basin reach these temperatures for sustained periods.

After removal of carp, other alien species could take their place in their ecosystem, such as redfin perch, Gambusia and goldfish, which pose greater direct and indirect threats to native fishes through competition for food and predation. Additionally, redfin perch carry and can spread a more sinister EHN virus (ranavirus) which has a wide range of susceptible hosts (including rainbow trout), a factor that contributed to the listing of EHNV by the OIE. 4 There are also animal welfare implications. 5 CyHV-3 has a temperature dependent incubation period of 7-21 days. Death results from inflammation and necrosis involving any of a number of organs including the brain, gills, skin, intestines, kidney, spleen and liver. The prolonged disease course means that fish become prone to secondary bacterial or parasitic infections prior to death. Diseased fish would present with lethargy, respiratory distress, swim erratically and hang near the water surface.

However, transmission trials by the NCCP showed low mortalities in carp (≤50%) and very high mortalities in non-target native and farmed fishes (up to 80-100%)2,3 More studies are needed to ensure our native fishes and commercially farmed fish industries will not be jeopardised.

The Fish Vet

We wish to document radiography of three microchips that were implanted into a yearling Thoroughbred. Two of the microchips were broken after implantation into the nuchal ligament.

A yearling Thoroughbred colt was microchipped on April 2017. The area was clipped and scrubbed with disinfectant, and the microchip was implanted deep into the nuchal ligament. The horse moved slightly during the application, however this was not considered excessive. Immediately after application the area was scanned using a RFID reader to ensure that the chip was correctly implanted, but there was no response. The author (PN) implanting the microchips has 48 years' experience in veterinary practice and has implanted several thousand horses; he used his routine technique. It has been noted that up to 2% of implanted microchips fail to read successfully after implantation, and the failure rate appears to have increased over recent years.

A s a result of the chip failing it was replaced by the Australian Studbook. A second chip was implanted as described above and again the chip failed to read. This chip was also replaced, and a third chip implanted. This chip read successfully.

On December 13, 2017 radiographs were taken of the nuchal ligament using a Radx DR system with a Caesium panel that was held in a panel holder. X-rays were generated with a Porta 100 machine. Radiography revealed that two of the microchips had broken within the nuchal ligament (see Figure1) .

The microchips that failed in the present case broke within the nuchal ligament. There appeared to be no particular event associated with failure of the microchips. The veterinarian who implanted the microchips reported no problems associated with the administration of the broken microchips. We could not find other reports within the literature of microchips failing.

It may be useful in some situations to use digital radiography to assist documentation of both the presence of the implanted microchip and that it may be broken. The cattle camps were very basic. Food was monotonous -mainly salt beef and damper. One of the hard-working ringers (stockmen) developed Barcoo rot (scurvy). Fences were rare and yards temporary. The cattle were dangerous, especially the nursemaid Aberdeen Angus homicidal cow guarding her charges hidden in clumps of herbage outside the yards. Applied husbandry and the good facilities you illustrated have worked a miracle for the benefit of all.

You mentioned the sentinel group at AZRI. This herd was added to the initial northern four to determine the southern boundary of the vector-borne viruses infecting cattle in the Northern Territory (NT). My early surveillance system was progressively modified to use smaller group numbers, linked vector collection and defined zonal freedom for certain arboviruses by the time the national arbovirus monitoring project (NAMP) was launched.

The major NT sentinel group on the northern fringe of Australia is at Beatrice Hill on the edge of the subcoastal plain of Arnhem Land. The serology was complex when I tested my first sentinel group there in 1969 and remained so when the NT virology lab was built and continued this valuable resource when CSIRO ceased involvement. When linked to meteorology much has become understandable about this vital site for the study and entry of arboviruses infecting cattle. As more and more arboviruses are found, the picture has become clearer, with a wealth of past data to assist on meteorology, seasonality affecting vectors etc. I hope you can visit Coastal Plains Research Station, with your camera, and see the results of similar pacification of the cattle herd there. The environment is very different but the research is very productive. It was a great adventure at the time. However, it was as dangerous, every so often, as my time in the infantry in Vietnam, but without the medical backup! We need positive articles like this to inform our profession and to counterbalance sensational media.

Brisbane, QLD 

Comment on this article at www.ava.com.au/17253 

Interleukin-8, interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α in sequential units of packed red blood cells collected from retired racing Greyhounds

Prevalence of exon 11 internal tandem duplications in the C-KIT proto-oncogene in Australian canine mast cell tumours

Critical assessment of the diagnostic value of feline alpha1-acid glycoprotein for feline infectious peritonitis using the likelihood ratios approach

DNAemia in whole blood from therapeutically immunosuppressed or retrovirus-infected cats

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in domesticated and feral cats in eastern Australia

Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii) knowledge and attitudes of Australian cat breeders and their husbandry practices

Pharmacokinetics of caspofungin acetate to guide optimal dosing in cats

Development of behaviour change strategies for animal disease surveillance and reporting

Natasha Lees, a NSW private veterinarian participating in the project References

Variation in personality traits across a metal pollution gradient in a free-living songbird

Personality and urbanization: behavioural traits and DRD4 SNP830 polymorphisms in great tits in Barcelona city

Urbanization is associated with divergence in pace-of-life in great tits

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Plastic nanoparticles make fish crazy

End plastic pollution

World's turtles face plastic deluge danger

Is routine pre-anaesthetic haematological and biochemical screening justified in dogs?

Joubert KE Pre-anaesthetic screening of geriatric dogs

Routine health screening: findings in apparently healthy middle-aged and old cats

Veterinary clinical decision-making: cognitive biases, external constraints, and strategies for improvement

Why do we run diagnostic tests?

Reference 1. Peer review in fellowship and promotion applications

Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin: an introductory guide. Murray-Darling Basin Authority

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Distribution and Host Range of Ranaviruses

What is the RSPCA's view on the release of Cyprinid herpesvirus to kill carp

After all, change always begins with a thought.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this letter reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the AVA, the Australian Government or employer institutions.

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We will not visit your practice and hence we will save you expensive travel costs and time.Note: There may be an exception to the travel requirement where a complex legal support valuation is required -we will discuss this with you first.

Our method of apportioning goodwill and equipment does not create a tax issue for practice vendors.

Step Approach is Cheaper Ours is a one step approach. We do not do half the job then send it on to a firm of accountants. We are a firm of accountants and business consultants with a large clientele of veterinary practitioners and have valued many hundreds of veterinary practices.We are not practice brokers. This makes us more objective.We will be happy to discuss costs with you.For more information about practice valuation, speak with David Collins or Graham Middleton on: 03 9843 7777 or email to vet@synstrat.com.au.www.synstrat.com.au SYNC2018 VALV2018