Abstract
JFMS
JFMS celebrates a rise in impact factor
The impact factor for the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS) has made a leap over the past 12 months, to 1.681 (up from 1.291). JFMS, the official journal of the ISFM and AAFP, now enjoys a ranking of 21/145 (up from 42/141) in the Veterinary Sciences category of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports (JCR) published in June by Thomson Reuters (see Table 1).
Selection of journals, and their relative rankings, within the 2010 JCR Veterinary Sciences category
The impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the ‘average article’ is cited in a given year. It provides an indication of the relative importance of a journal within its field: journals with higher impact factors are deemed to be more important than those with lower ones.
This is not the only leap forward made by JFMS — the number of unique online visitors to the journal on Science Direct has risen to nearly 20,000 a month in 2011, a rise of 3000 on 2010 monthly figures. By the end of April 2011, JFMS had already received 79,380 unique online visitors; there were 195,246 in total in 2010.
ISFM
German group joins ISFM
Claire Bessant, Chief Executive of ISFM (right), in discussions with members of the German Group for Feline Medicine (Deutsche Gruppe Katzenmedizin) at a meeting in Vienna in June when the group joined ISFM as a National Partner. National Partners are independent organisations which affiliate to ISFM to form a collaboration of like-minded veterinary cat groups working together for the exchange and dissemination of information. The National Partner network brings together the best worldwide expertise in cats, and currently extends to Belgium, Estonia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden (see www.isfm.net/national_partners/index.html)
Top 10 JFMS downloads Jan—May 2011
Urethral obstruction in cats: predisposing factors, clinical, clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Segev G, et al. JFMS 13:101–8. 717 downloads
Feline systemic hypertension. Jepson RE. JFMS 13: 25–34. 603 downloads
Feline asthma. Venema CM, Patterson CC. JFMS 12: 681–92. 599 downloads
Feline systemic hypertension. Stepien RL. JFMS 13: 35–43. 582 downloads
A review of feline infectious peritonitis virus infection: 1963–2008. Pedersen NC. JFMS 11: 225–58. 557 downloads
Feline blood transfusions. Barfield D, Adamantos S. JFMS 13:11–23. 541 downloads
Clinicopathological findings and disease staging of feline infectious peritonitis: 51 cases from 2003 to 2009 in Taiwan. Tsai HY, et al. JFMS 13: 74–80. 537 downloads
Incidence of persistent viraemia and latent feline leukaemia virus infection in cats with lymphoma. Stützer B, et al. JFMS 13: 81–87. 456 downloads
Therapies for feline chronic kidney disease. Roudebush P, et al. JFMS 11:195–210. 452 downloads
Pleural effusion in the cat. Beatty J, Barrs V. JFMS 12: 693–707. 450 downloads
CPD
Register now for ANZCVS examination in 2012
Veterinarians wishing to sit the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) Membership examination in Medicine of Cats, to be held in June and in August 2012, need to register by October 31, 2011. The written examinations will be available at several locations throughout the UK/Europe. The cost of sitting the exam will be $2500 AUD (approx ¥1900/£1650 at current exchange rates).
ISFM has adopted the ANZCVS Medicine of Cats qualification as its officially recognised postgraduate examination. (This was known as the MACVSc before the New Zealand college joined the examination board.) Although not a specialist qualification, the MANZCVS postnominals distinguish practitioners with a high level of standing in feline clinical science.
For more information go to www.isfm.net/qualifications. To register to sit the ANZCVS Membership examination in 2012, or beyond, go to www.acvsc.org.au
Views from Vienna
In his welcome speech, Andy Sparkes, veterinary and scientific advisor to ISFM, set the tone of the 10th ISFM Congress with a brilliantly crafted video showcasing the many facets of the Feline Advisory Bureau, the parent body of ISFM
Winner of the ABCD and Merial Young Scientist of the Year Award, Isabelle Dietrich, from the Retrovirus Research Laboratory, University of Glasgow, pictured with Marian Horzinek (left), representing the ABCD Board, and Jean-Christophe Thibault of Merial. Isabelle gave a presentation on her research Towards a gene therapy for FIV during the ISFM Congress
The eyes have it! The presentational style of Christine Heinrich (left), an ophthalmologist from Willows referral service, UK, was enjoyed immensely. (above) Cécile Clercx's European perspective on feline asthma provided much for the audience to think about
David Maggs (below), of the University of California, Davis, made ophthalmology very approachable, with plenty of ‘hands-on’ and humour. His wife, Lynelle Johnson (left), also of UC Davis, cut through to the essentials of respiratory disease with a series of presentations pitched at everyday practice
Printed proceedings of the ISFM Vienna Congress can be ordered from www.isfm.net for £40 (ISFM members), £48 (non-members), inclusive of P&P and VAT. A downloadable version is also available
Jenny Stavisky, from the University of Nottingham Veterinary School, gave an update on infectious diseases in shelter situations at the first-ever symposium of the International Fund for Cat Welfare (IFCW). This pre-ISFM Congress event was received with much enthusiasm. Other topics covered were early neutering, stress and the rescue cat, and feral cats in the practice situation. Free MP3s of this session are available from www.ifcw.net
Danièlle Gunn-Moore, Professor of Feline Medicine at Edinburgh University (centre), receives the ISFM/Hill's International Award 2011 from Hein Meyer, Director of Professional and Veterinary Affairs, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and Claire Bessant, chief executive of FAB and ISFM. Professor Gunn-Moore spoke on feline endocrinopathies and hyperthyroidism at the Hill's pre-ISFM Congress Symposium in Vienna. Presenting the award, Claire said she felt proud that FAB had helped launch Danièlle's feline career with a scholarship. ‘She has certainly returned the investment many times over through her teaching, clinical and research work with cats, by giving her time to us as an FAB Trustee and member of the FAB feline expert panel, as well as being an associate editor of JFMS, an ISFM ambassador and a member of the ISFM veterinary committee.'
Dressed for the occasion — delegates at the Congress ‘Elegance to decadence’ party. (left) ‘The ‘blue devil', aka Mike Brampton, of Thames Medical, and Estonian veterinary surgeon Olga Sjatkovskaja, took the prizes for the best outfits. Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim (which also judged the competition), the party was held in one of the most exclusive and splendid buildings in Vienna, the Kursalon. ISFM awarded a runners-up prize to Dr Yuki Hattori and partner (right) who were elegantly dressed in traditional Japanese attire
(above) Delegates took the opportunity to renew friendships at the Hill's/ISFM Welcome reception. (below) Lunchtime with the Swedish delegates, some of whom were wearing traditional headdresses to celebrate mid-summer, which is a national festival day in the country
More photographs from the Vienna Congress are posted on www.isfm.net/congress/2011
DELEGATE FEEDBACK
Post-congress evaluation forms revealed that 92% of Vienna delegates considered the lectures to be excellent or very good; 96% thought the conference was great value for money. They commented:
Last year's congress got me addicted, now I am hooked!
Wonderful knowledge and enthusiasm, great to have world-renowned down-to-earth speakers.
Very good balance between science and practical approach.
Good balance — fantastic and informative. Excellent presentations.
Both ophthalmologists were brilliant — very hands-on for daily practice.
Having so enjoyed the Vienna ISFM Congress, 94 delegates immediately signed up for the 2012 ISFM Congress in Budapest. Futher details can be found at www.isfm.net/congress/2012
AAFP and ISFM
Client handout to accompany Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines
A client handout is now available to accompany the recently published AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines (JFMS 2011, vol 13, 364–375). The handout, which appears on pages 681–682 of this issue of JFMS, provides a tangible resource for staff members to help educate clients about how they can partner with the clinic to create less stressful visits. It describes strategies that clients can use at home that help cats stay more calm when faced with carriers and transport. Explanations of how appropriate choice of carrier design will help make the examination less stressful are another important element of the handout.
The handout is available on the practice guidelines page of the AAFP website (http://www.catvets.com/professionals/guidelines/publications/). It was also released in last month's issue of the Scratching Post, the AAFP member e-newsletter, and will be included in a future e-package to ISFM members. The AAFP will be distributing print copies to its members and the sponsor of the handout, CEVA Animal Health, will be distributing copies as well.
‘Getting Your Cat to the Veterinarian’ is a prerequisite for good health care, but can be a challenge in itself. This new handout has been produced as a client information resource and is available to download and share with clients from the AAFP and ISFM websites. The full AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines are also available for download on each website
Genetic disease
PK deficiency in Bengal and Singapura cats — an emerging problem?
ISFM and Langford Veterinary Services (University of Bristol, UK) are working to raise awareness among veterinarians about the existence of pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency in Bengal and Singapura cats. PK deficiency is a genetic disorder that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and can cause haemolytic anaemia in affected (homozygous) cats. It has long been recognised as an inherited disease in Abyssinian and Somali cats, but more recently has been identified in the Bengal (pictured) and Singapura breeds. The prevalence in these breeds is not known, but genetic testing by the Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Langford Veterinary Services, found that 23/95 Bengals carried the mutation (none were affected), and 34/71 Singapuras carried the mutation (13/71 were affected).
Veterinarians are urged to raise awareness of this condition among Bengal and Singapura breeders, and to consider the disorder if presented with anaemic cats from these breeds.
PK deficiency can be easily diagnosed by a PCR test on a mouth swab or blood sample. Mouth swabs are performed using plain cotton-tipped swabs that are placed between the cat's gum and cheek and twirled for around 5 seconds to collect cells. Samples are sent to a testing laboratory (see below) where the cat's DNA is extracted. PCR is used to amplify the region containing the PK deficiency mutation, and DNA sequencing is then undertaken to determine whether the cat has the mutation.
Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Langford Veterinary Services. Price £25.20 (inc VAT) per sample for members of registered breed clubs and societies. www.langfordvets.co.uk/laboratory_owners.htm
Veterinary Genetics Lab, UC Davis. Price $40 per sample. www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/cat/
PennGen Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Price $75 per sample. http://research.vet.upenn.edu/InstructionsforSampleSubmission/CostandPaymentInformation/tabid/551/Default.aspx