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WSAVA Continuing Education in South America

In last months News we mentioned that more than 440 veterinarians from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay heard Professor Peter Ihrke (USA) speak on dermatological subjects, during the recent WSAVA CE meetings. This was a significant underestimation. In fact, there were at least 860 delegates in all: 440 in Argentina alone, along with around 220 in Chile and more than 200 in Uruguay. In all 3 venues, veterinarians came from far and wide for this CE experience.

Professor Ihrke covered all the subjects very well, with specific emphasis on local conditions. He explained everything thoroughly, pointing out the most up to date approaches to treatment. At the end of the lectures the audience initiated lengthy and interesting discussions on various dermatological problems. All in all, the lectures were a great success, and the three countries much appreciated the efforts of WSAVA in facilitating the events, and the great contribution of the sponsors Bayer, Hill?s, and Intervet.

Professor Irkhe was very impressed with the enthusiasm of his audiences and the efficiency of the organising groups from the three local associations: AVEACA in Argentina, MEVEPA in Chile and SUVEPA in Uruguay. He praised the excellent attention to detail and particularly commended Drs Luis Delucchi, Oscar Resburgo and LuisTello, for their outstanding work in looking after him and interfacing with the leadership of their national organizations.

CUBAN VETS BENEFIT FROM WSAVA

Following initial discussions in Panama in 2000, the first close contacts were made between WSAVA and the Cuban Association of the Small Animal Veterinary Medicine, during the 18th PANVET meeting in November 2002, in Havana.

Over 1000 delegates from 31 Central and Latin American countries gathered in Havana during the five-day program, to choose from a vast range of topics running simultaneously in seven halls.

WSAVA was represented by three Assembly members: speakers Drs. Stefano Romagnoli (Italy), Luis Tello (Chile), and President Dr Gabriel Varga (Slovakia). They were warmly welcomed at the opening ceremony where a performance by the Cuban Youth Ballet and Chorus gave delegates a taste of Cuban rhythms. During the WSAVA day, our speakers presented information about WSAVA, and delivered state-of-the-art lectures devoted to the most recent discoveries and latest news in the fields of emergency medicine, reproduction and urology. The response was very positive - it was the most attended room in the complex, and delegates from a variety of countries were present. This has helped the WSAVA extend its message to other members of the international veterinary community.

Based on questions and comments from veterinary colleagues, it was apparent that Cuban small animal practitioners would welcome more help from outside. As the WSAVA Continuing Education project is successfully expanding to different corners of Latin America, it is most likely that Cuba will be invited to participate in the very near future.

Local organisers Dr. Jesus Moreno Lazo and Dr. M. C. Adela Encinosa Linero were very helpful in preparing for the WSAVA visit and looking after members of our delegation. Dr. Varga had a chance to visit the Veterinary Centre in Pinar del Rio, situated in the very heart of the island of Cuba. One of the most organised veterinary groups is based in this area; it has a very active membership with a well developed IT centre, and is prepared to organise meetings dedicated to companion animal topics. Recently, this group has held a joint meeting with colleagues from Italy and the WSAVA plans to include the province in the lecture tours in Cuba in 2003.

The next PANVET meeting will take place in Argentina in 2004.

MICROCHIP SURVEY

One of the objectives of the WSAVA Microchip Committee is to enhance member associations' knowledge about microchip identification. This requires the collection of information as well as its dissemination, and so a survey of member associations was initiated in mid 2002, to obtain details about the status of microchips in each country. It was expected that the information collected would also be very valuable to the Committee in its representation of user group interests at meetings of the International Standards Organization Working Group 3 (ISO/WG3). This Group has responsibility for creating global standards for microchip technology and includes input from manufacturers, distributors, and users.

Results

The survey was sent to all WSAVA Member/Provisional Member Associations and 32 responses were returned (approx 50%). Full results of the survey are to be found as a separate item on this website, however key findings are summarised below:

• Adoption and implementation of ISO-standard microchips is well advanced or complete in Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand; achieving market dominance in the Eastern Europe, the Middle-East and Asia; in its infancy in North (Canada) and South America; and non-existent in the United States of America and Africa.
• In those markets that have adopted the ISO-standard, healthy market competition exists.
• The country code on microchips is commonly used in marketplaces with no national database (in direct violation of ISO/ICAR protocol). Many manufacturers are involved in this breach of protocol.
• In a number of the countries where only country codes are used, additional code modifications are made to the 15-digit animal ID number and applied to all microchips sold in that country. Examples were found in Denmark, France and Japan.
• A true, national database was not identified in any of the responding countries. [For the purposes of this document, a national database is defined as a database that:
• is industry and species neutral
• has been given the responsibility of administering the national database by a national agency with the authority to do so
• has assumed the responsibility of number allocation and verification of uniqueness.]
• France is the only country that currently meets the criteria for appropriate use of the country code.
• EuroPetNet has been effective at consolidating databases within both Western and Eastern Europe but there are no participants outside of Europe.

For further information, see full report on www.wsava.org, or contact Committee Co-Chairmen: Dr Marc Buchet, Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript or Dr Walt Ingwersen, Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript

OPPORTUNITY TO HELP IN THE CARIBBEAN

On the lovely 'spice island' of Grenada, most southerly of the Windward Islands, the University of St George's Veterinary School is collaborating with the Grenada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to provide veterinary care for the local animal population. A newly renovated, well equipped teaching hospital in the attractive harbour town of St George's is run alongside a mobile clinic, donated by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSAPA). The mobile clinic is integral to the GSPCA's efforts to service the outlying communities with free vaccinations, spay/neuter clinics, and education. While the Veterinary School staff and students assist with these clinics, and are making a huge impact on the welfare of Grenada's stray dogs and cats, they also rely on the help of volunteer veterinarians from overseas. Volunteers are well looked after and can be sure of an exciting time, with a variety of tropical animal diseases providing great scientific interest, against a backdrop of wonderful white sand beaches and the forested mountains and valleys of the interior.

More information about the Government approved GSPCA Volunteer Veterinarian programme in Grenada can be obtained from the GSPCA website