Abstract
Dr Richard Malik discusses genetics with an enthusiastic audience at BSAVA.
ESFM Study day at BSAVA a great success
ESFM's study day at BSAVA congress in April proved a sell-out success. Almost 170 delegates filled Austin Court next to the ICC at the pre-BSAVA day to hear a variety of outstanding speakers on topics ranging from allergic respiratory tract disease to endocrine disorders, pancreatitis, collapse in cats and genetics. The proceedings of the meeting are published in this issue of JFMS on page 95.
ESFM Events 2001
JFMS will also have a presence at WSAVA, this time to be held in Vancouver in August. JFMS and the Association of American Feline Practitioners (AAFP) will present speakers Stephen Bibartola and Guillermo Couto who will speak on a range of topics including vaccines and sarcomas, feline haematology and acid base abnormalities.
ESFM is also organising a feline day at ESVIM Congress to be held in Dublin on September 6.
The European School for Advanced Veterinary Studies has organised a joint course with ESFM to be held in September in Zurich. The Feline Medicine and Surgery course has proved very popular and has covered different aspects of medicine including parasitic diseases, endocrinology, surgery, neurology and oncology. This particular course will cover cardiology, gastroenterology and oncology. The course can take up to 45 participants and of these eight places will be held for ESFM members.
Cats-only clinics
ESFM is hoping to compile a list of feline only practices — please send information to ESFM, Taeselbury, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6LD, UK or e-mail to
Hip dysplasia in cats
Hip dysplasia is a disease that was once considered to be a canine-specific health issue occurring mostly in the larger breeds of dog and occasionally seen in some smaller types. This condition is also present in the general feline population (pedigree and non-pedigree) and in all types of body styles and sizes. Until recently, there has been limited knowledge, minimal awareness and little public discussion of the condition and its impact on cats.
For this reason Kathy Joiner, who is based in Houston, Texas, established Feline Hip Dysplasia Awareness (FHDA) to increase awareness and provide information about the problem. She has established a website which can be found at www.FHDA.com. The site receives over 50 visitors a day requesting information and names of veterinary surgeons who are familiar with hip dysplasia in cats — a referral page has been set up for veterinarians who have experience in testing, diagnosing and treating cats with hip dysplasia. The FHDA site promotes open discussion of hip dysplasia by cat owners, breeders and veterinary surgeons and contains articles, abstracts, links to hip conscious breeders, testing methods, treatments, pre and post operative X-rays and other information concerning the disease.
ESFM Annual General Meeting 2001
Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Tim Gruffydd-Jones, Claire Bessant, Marian Horzinek and Carmel Mooney.
Minutes of the previous meeting
These had been published in Feline Focus and were accepted without amendment.
Matters arising
AS reported that progress had been made on this issue with the help of Julia May. A membership list could be published on the ESFM web site to allow members the opportunity to contact each other. It was agreed that this would be best set up in a password-protected area although it was recognised that for ease of administration this would have to be relatively simple and therefore could potentially be hacked into quite easily. It was recognised that some people may not want their details published on the web, and therefore members would be contacted and given the option of requesting their details to be excluded from such a list. Additionally, members will be given the option of excluding their e-mail address from the list if desired.
Presidents report
SR reported that we were entering an exciting year for ESFM. Progress was being made with various initiatives including the development of a feline ‘Summer School’ for post-graduate studies, proposals to develop funding for grants to allow clinical research to be undertaken by both researchers and clinicians for defined periods of time, and awards for clinical and research papers to be presented at future ESFM congresses.
With sponsorship form commercial companies it is envisaged that these projects will be developed over the next 3–4 years.
SR also reported that the numerical growth of the society was encouraging, and journal subscriptions were going well. He reported that MCH had undertaken a census of feline-only clinics in various European countries, and the details of these will be published in the Feline Focus section of the journal in the future.
Membership report
CB provided figures, which showed that already in 2001 we had more than 500 ‘paid-up’ members, with well over 100 yet to renew from 2000. CB was thus confident that by the end of 2001 we will have well in excess of 600 members representing a healthy growth.
Treasurers report
MfvH reported that providing accurate, current financial figures for ESFM had been problematic. Although on paper, at present the accounts showed a small deficit for the society, MfvH was confident the true situation would reveal that the society has a positive balance of around £2000–3000, the paper deficit being due to the way the FAB treasurer currently dealt with the accounts. MfvH has instituted several changes that will clarify the finances and allow more accurate balance sheets to be provided in the future.
MvfH also reported that due to rising costs of the journal, membership rates would increase by £5 from next year, and stay at that rate for at least two years.
JFMS report
AS reported that journal continued to thrive. Negotiations were underway with AAFP and there was a possibility the journal would be adopted by AAFP as their official journal. AS said that further news on this would be available by the next AGM.
Future meetings
During 2001, ESFM would have meetings in association with:
AAFP/WSAVA, in Vancouver (Canada) in August
SCIVAC, in Perugia (Italy) in September
ESVIM, in Dublin (Eire) in September
During 2002, the following meetings were planned:
BSAVA (UK — April)
ESVIM (Munich — September)
? Stand-alone meeting in Sweden
Any other Business
The question of post-graduate feline qualifications was raised. MfvH reported that she had contacted the AAFM and on the basis of the information supplied on the format of their credentials and examination process she had drawn up a questionnaire from which further plans would be formulated. MfvH emphasised that the plan was to establish a practitioner-orientated post-graduate qualification but that it was hoped this would be in collaboration with AAFM and/or a similar group elsewhere so that the qualification would have greater international recognition. Although progress on this issue had been relatively slow, AS suggested that this is likely to pay dividends in the future. We would be much more likely to develop a mutually recognised qualification with, for example, AAFM if we progressed things slowly and tried to involve them at an early stage.
Date of next meeting
The next AGM will be held at the conclusion of the ESFM study day at the next BSAVA congress on 3rd April 2002
Diary
If you are holding a feline meeting and would like to publicise it further, please send details to: Claire Bessant, JFMS, Taeselbury, High Street, Tisbury Wiltshire SP3 6LD, UK. Fax: +44 (0)1747 871873. E-mail:
American Association of Feline Practitioners/European Society of Feline Medicine study day at WSAVA
8 August 2001, Vancouver, Canada
Speakers Dr Stephen P. Dibartola and Dr Guillermo Couto will cover the following topics during the day.
Vaccines, sarcomas and you
What's new on feline lymphoma
Update on feline haematology
Disorders of potassium
Disorders of sodium
Interpretation of acid base abnormalities.
Proceedings and lunch provided. For further information contact: WSAVA 2001 Congress, Conference Secretariat, Venue West Conference Services Ltd., 645–675 Water Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 5C6. Tel: (604) 681 5226; Fax: (604) 681 2503; e-mail:
Hills/ESFM Feline Symposium
6 September, 2001, At ESVIM Congress (5–8 September), Dublin, Ireland
Sponsored by Hills
Al Jergens, Iowa State University
Kenny Simpson, Cornell University
Fred Gaschen, Berne, Switzerland
Carmel Mooney, University of Dublin
Margaret Hoenig, University of Georgia
David Senior, Louisiana State University
It is possible to attend for one day only or for the whole congress. For further details see www.vet.uu.nl/esvim/ or contact congress secretariat, Mrs Laura Lancee, PO Box 80.154, NL-3508 Utrecht, The Netherlands. Fax +31 30 2518126.
ESAVS/ESFM course on feline medicine and surgery
10–14 September, 2001, University of Zurich, Switzerland
The European School for Advanced Veterinary Studies has organised a joint course with ESFM.
Topics: Cardiology, gastroenterology and oncology.
Speakers: Bruce Keen, Anton Glaus, Kaspar von Meienburg, Marck Fluckiger, Barbara Kaser, Hans Lutz, Lisa Freeman, Andrew Sparkes, Claudia Reusch.
45 places are available — eight have been set aside for ESFM members.
Reservations or further information from
SCIVAC/ESFM Conference on Feline Medicine
28–30 September, 2001, Perugia, Italy
Speakers include: Marco Bernardini, Andrea Boari, Alessandro Bonioli, Tomaso Furlanello, Deborah Greco, Michael Lappin, Stefano Romagnolim, Giorgio Romanelli, Roberto Santilli, Fabia Scarampella, Andrew Sparkes and Frank Verstraete.
Topics include: fever of unknown origin, seizures in cats, uveitis, feline dentistry, vaccination protocols, emerging infectious diseases of cats, radiology, chronic renal failure, diabetes, emerging endocrinopathies, hyperthyroidism, dermatology, oestrus control, mammary hyperplasia and more.
For further information contact SCIVAC at Palazzo Trecchi, Via Trecchi, 26100 Cremona, Italy. Tel: (0372) 460440; Fax: (0372) 457091; Website: www.scivac.it; e-mail:
FAB Annual Conference
6 October, 2001, Ringway Hotel, Basingstoke, UK
The Older Cat
Sponsored by Pedigree Masterfoods
Danielle Gunn-Moore, University of Edinburgh
Maud van de Stadt, FAB Resident, University of Bristol
Sarah Caney, FAB Lecturer, University of Bristol
Vicky Halls
Penney Barber, FAB Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
Andrew Sparkes, Animal Health Trust
Cost: £35 for members, £45 for non-members. Payment by cheque or credit card to FAB at Taeselbury, High Street, Tisbury, Wilts SP3 6LD. Tel: 01747 871872; Fax: 01747 871873; e-mail:
ESFM BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES
(Treasurer) Tierklinik Leonding Mayrhansenstrase 21A A-4060 Leonding, AUSTRIA
27 Rue J B van Page 1083 Bruxelles, BELGIUM Tel: 322 4283963 e-mail:
Small Animal Clinic Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Veterinary and Pharmacological Science Palackeho 1/3, 61242 Brno CZECH REPUBLIC e-mail:
Falstersvej 9 DK 2000 Frederiksberg DENMARK Tel: +388 84777 Fax: +388 85777
Felina Cat Clinic Työmiehenkatu 4 C 00180 Helsinki, FINLAND Tel: 358–9–686 6560 Fax: 358–9–685 2299 e-mail:
85 ter Bd Soult 75012 Paris, FRANCE Tel: 33 1 43436344 Fax: 33 1 43473791 e-mail:
Medizinische Tierklinik Veterinasse 13 8000 Munchen 40, GERMANY Tel: 49 89 21802697 Fax: 49 89 21806240, e-mail:
Universitat Leipzig Inst fur Vet Pathologie Margarete-Blank Str 4 04103 Leipzig, GERMANY Tel: 49 341 9738271 Fax: 49 341 9738299
Biogdanfy u 7B/22 H-1117 Budapest, HUNGARY
University College Dublin Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dept. of Small Animal Clinic Studies Veterinary College Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, IRELAND Tel: 353 1 66 87988 Fax: 353 1 66 75401 e-mail:
Veterinary Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Padua, ITALY Tel: 39 049 827 2948 Fax: 39 049 827 2602 e-mail:
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale Universita di Torino Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, ITALY Tel: 390 11 6688769 Fax: 390 11 8174325 e-mail:
Associate Professor Virology Unit, Veterinary Faculty Utrecht University, de Uithof Androclusgebouw Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht THE NETHERLANDS Tel: 31 302532487 Fax: 31302536723 e-mail:
Dept Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals Veterinary Faculty Utrecht University, de Uithof Yalelaan 8, 3584 CM Utrecht THE NETHERLANDS Tel: 31 30 2531681 or 1589 Fax: 31 30 2518126 e-mail:
Eidskog Dyreklinikk A/S 2230 Skotterud NORWAY Tel: 47 62 835666 Fax: 47 62 836665 e-mail:
Dept of Infectious Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Warsaw Agricultural University Ul Grochowska 272 03849 Warsaw, POLAND Tel/Fax: 48 228 104651 e-mail:
Department of Internal Diseases Veterinary Faculty Agricultural University of Warsaw Grochowska 272 03849 Warsaw, POLAND Tel/fax: 48 22 810 2142 e-mail:
All Russian State Research Institute for Control, Standardization & Certification 5 Zvenigorodskove Shosse 123022 Moscow, RUSSIA Tel: 7 095 2593546 Fax: 7 095 2531491
State Diagnostics & Prevention Centre for Human and Animal Diseases 42 Timiryazevskaya Street 125422 Moscow, RUSSIA Tel/Fax: 7 095 2075474
Centro Veterinario Calle Los Naranjos s/n Pueblo Lopez 29640 Fuengirola Malaga, SPAIN Tel: 34 5 462688
Skuleviksvägen 17 S-45593 Munkedal, SWEDEN e-mail:
Veterinarnedizinisches Labor der Universitat Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 260 CH-8057 Zurich, SWITZERLAND Tel: 4 11 16358312 Fax: 4 11 16358906 e-mail:
Tierarzt, Zürcherstrasse 3 Niederglatt 8172, SWITZERLAND Tel: 4 11 8518070 Fax: 4 11 8548071 e-mail:
(Secretary ESFM) The Animal Health Trust Centre for Small Animal Studies Lanwades Park, Kentford Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK Tel: 44 1638 552700 Fax: 44 1638 555600 e-mail:
The Tile House Deepdene Wood Dorking RH5 4BD Tel: 01306 640515 Fax: 01306 640514 e-mail:
Director Institute of Veterinary Research Utrecht University, de Uithof Practicumgebouw, Yalelaan 1 3584, Utrecht THE NETHERLANDS Tel: 31 30 253 2485 Fax: 31 30 253 6723 e-mail:
ESFM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Veterinary Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Padua, Italy
Tel: 39 049 827 2948, Fax: 39 049 827 2602
E-mail:
CONTACTING ESFM
Please send letters/articles/comments for JFMS to Claire Bessant, ESFM/FAB, Taeselbury, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6LD, England.
Tel: 44 1747 871872, Fax: 44 1747 871873
Membership details may also be obtained from this address.
