Abstract
It is a great pleasure for the Japanese College of Veterinary Pathology (JCVP) to collaborate with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the European College of Veterinary Pathologists in the publication of Veterinary Pathology. The collaboration should promote the quality of the publication. A goal of Veterinary Pathology is to promote high common global standards in education and research in the field of veterinary pathology. I hope that Veterinary Pathology will be an attractive journal and give much impact, not only in the field of veterinary pathology, but also in the basic biological sciences, through a strong collaboration among the 3 colleges.
In Japan, we have 2 veterinary pathology organizations—the Japanese Society of Veterinary Pathology (JSVP), which is composed of veterinary pathologists and veterinarians who are interested in veterinary pathology, and the JCVP, which is composed of certified veterinary pathologists. The scientific research in spontaneous and experimental pathology is presented at the meeting of the JSVP, held twice per year. The main mission of the JCVP is to certify veterinary pathologists and to provide continuing education to certified members. The Japanese Society of Toxicologic Pathology (JSTP) is an independent organization from the JSVP and JCVP. This organization is composed of not only veterinarians who work for pharmaceutical companies (some of whom are members of the JCVP) but also some human pathologists. The JSTP gives the certification for practice in toxicologic pathology to the members, and it publishes its own journal. Although the certification systems of the JCVP and JSTP are different and independent, some veterinary pathologists have both certifications. The qualification examinations for the JCVP and JSTP diplomas are at the same level of complexity. The JSTP members submit their studies to their own journal and other toxicological journals rather than to journals in the field of veterinary pathology.
In the future in Japan, we will be making an effort to join the JCVP and JSTP in academic areas. The aim of research by veterinary pathologists is to clarify the pathogenesis (or mechanisms) of the diseases at the molecular and genetic levels and to understand the pathogenesis of cancer, metabolic diseases, and genetic diseases. Also, we are facing the threat of infectious disease brought by globalization as well as climate and environmental changes. Moreover, research in diseases of endangered species has to be promoted. Some of the veterinary pathologists in Japan are good in the basic sciences in the field of life science. Thus, their mechanism-oriented high-quality research will be done in the field of the biological sciences.
Beyond Japan, in the Orient, education in veterinary pathology may be quite different among Asian countries. Asian countries include both developed and developing countries with much difference in cultural background. For example, in Japan, clinical pathology and surgical pathology in small (companion) animals occupied significant parts in education of the veterinary pathologist, as in Western Europe and the USA. In contrast, food animal practice may be more important than small animal practice in other Asian countries. The JSVP and JCVP have intended to uplift diagnostic and research levels of veterinary pathology in Asia and founded the Asian Society of Veterinary Pathologists (ASVP) in 2003 with major veterinary pathology societies of East and Southeast Asian countries. We had the 4th meeting of ASVP in Bangkok, Thailand on November 19 and 20, 2009. The meeting included a conference on glass slides presented by each country.