Abstract
AAFP
Fall Conference Sets a New Record
The AAFP is proud to announce that its 2009 Fall Conference attracted the highest number of attendees we have ever had — 481! The theme of the conference, held in Denver, Colorado, from October 30 to November 2, was ‘Complex Disease Management’ and speakers provided attendees with an array of information that kept all of the chairs full during sessions!
We have received a great deal of positive feedback from this conference and continue to welcome all thoughts and opinions of our attendees.
The first ‘Seminar and Social’, presented jointly by the AAFP and American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), and a Halloween Party were among the new activities, which attendees really enjoyed. The Halloween Party allowed everyone to socialize and relax after a day full of sessions. The costumes and decorations really made it an event to remember, as the snapshots on page 59 show. Even the AAFP logo cat entered into the spirit of the occasion!
The dates of this year's conferences are given on the right. For details, go to www.catvets.com/professionals/education/conferences/
2010 CONFERENCES
Creating relationships that last: feline behavior, medicine and surgery in the first year of life
March 13–15
San Diego, California
See the page advertisement in this issue of JFMS!
Feline neurology and ophthalmology
September 11–13
New Orleans, Louisiana
AAFP and ESFM members receive a reduced rate at AAFP conferences
Awards
ABCD & Merial Young Scientist Award 2010
Application deadline 1 February 2010
The European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD) is inviting applications for the 2010 ABCD & Merial Young Scientist Award from those who have made an original contribution to the field of feline infectious diseases and/or immunology; this should have been published or accepted for publication in a referenced journal, or accepted by another assessing body (eg, a thesis committee), in 2008 or later. Applicants should be based in Europe, have completed a veterinary or biomedical curriculum, and be aged 35 years or younger.
Jonas Wensman, of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, receives the ABCD & Merial Young Scientist Award 2009 for his work on Borna virus infection (staggering disease) in cats and, in particular, the development of a real-time RT-PCR diagnostic assay. The award was presented by Professor Marian Horzinek (right), chair of the ABCD and of the award jury, during the 2009 ESFM Congress in Croatia. Dr Jean-Christophe Thibault, Merial's technical director for biologicals, is pictured on the left
Applications, which are invited by February 1, should be in English and include a short abstract (500 words maximum) of the work, a brief curriculum vitae, two personal references and any relevant publications and/or dissertation on the topic. Application forms and full details can be downloaded from www.abcd-vets.org, or for further information, contact Karin de Lange, ABCD secretary,
The award of €1000 is funded by Merial and will be presented by the ABCD at this year's ESFM Congress, to be held in Amsterdam, from 17 to 20 June. The award winner will receive complimentary registration to the congress, plus return travel expenses and accommodation.
Hill's/ESFM International Award 2009
Every year Hill's/ESFM present an award to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to feline medicine throughout their career. The 2009 award recipient was Professor Boyd Jones, a graduate of Massey University, New Zealand. Boyd spent most of his recent years at Dublin veterinary school, Ireland, but in 2008 returned to his roots back in New Zealand. He has spent much of his career investigating feline neuromuscular and lipid disorders. The award was presented during the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) congress in Porto, Portugal, last September, at which Boyd gave delegates a fascinating overview of his research in these areas. Jaak Debraekeleer (left), from Hill's, presented Boyd with the award during the ESFM day at the congress
On camera in Denver
The conference kicks off with a Meet and Greet reception, which was hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim. First-time attendees, new members and even returning attendees are all invited along
AAFP conference attendees fill the seats in the educational sessions. Speakers for the general session include Drs Sharon Center, Etienne Côté, Kurt Grimm, Lester Mandelker, Rhonda Schulman and Dana Durrance
Attendees were very festive during the Halloween Party and Exhibitors' Reception. Here some in costume pose under a huge cat arch at the party
The first Seminar and Social presented by AAFP and ABVP was an unqualified success! Dr Thomas Graves presents his lectures to a full room
Attendees mingle and network during the Halloween Party. Some visit the dance floor, while others stop at the food stations, handwriting analyst, palm reader and tarot card reader. This was truly a party to remember!
Dr Lorraine Jarboe, the 2010 AAFP President, is pictured next to the Volunteer Recognition sign. The AAFP is grateful to all of our volunteers who dedicate their time and talents!
ATTENDEE STATS AND FEEDBACK
25 were new members.
109 were first-time attendees.
37 were from outside of the United States — namely, Canada, Finland, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, and St Kitts and Nevis.
This was a truly excellent conference.
Very well organized, informative and fun.
Excellent seminar, as always!
This was my first time attending an AAFP conference. Very impressed with the organization and wonderful topics.
CPD
Nestlé Purina/ESFM Feline Medicine Symposium — A First in Eastern Europe
Nestlé Purina and the ESFM combined their passion and expertise in feline medicine and nutrition to organise the first feline medicine symposium in Eastern Europe.
The one-day event, which toured Prague (Czech Republic), Moscow (Russia) and Lublin (Poland) last autumn, was collectively attended by about 600 veterinarians who benefited from the latest scientific and clinical knowledge from internationally renowned experts. This high attendance clearly reflects the keen interest of practitioners in their respective countries for feline medicine.
The symposium speakers, Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore (University of Edinburgh), Dr Andy Sparkes (Animal Health Trust) and Dr Deb Greco (Senior Scientist at Nestlé Purina), covered key feline topics such as FLUTD, dyspnoea, triaditis, renal failure and diabetes.
A full house at the ESFM symposium in Prague
Andy Sparkes, speaking in Lublin; the symposium was hosted as part of the Polish Small Animal Veterinary Association congress
The ESFM team at the entrance to Red Square. From left: Andy Sparkes, Claire Bessant, Ross Tiffin and Danielle Gunn-Moore
The symposium has allowed fruitful contacts to be established with vets passionate for cats, and the intention is to build relationships between the ESFM and veterinary cat groups internationally. For further details, contact Christian Iehl, at Nestlé Purina, e-mail:
From time to time the AAFP will respond to emerging new knowledge or issues that are of concern to veterinary professionals caring for cats. Our position statements, which represent the view of the association, are available at: www.catvets.com/professionals/guidelines/position/
AAFP Position Statement
Hybrid cats
The American Association of Feline Practitioners opposes the deliberate breeding of non-domestic cats to domestic cats with the purpose of producing exotic looking or novel hybrid cats.
The AAFP recognizes that hybrid cats are gaining in popularity. Commonly seen hybrid cats include the cross between the domestic cat and the Serval, called the Savannah, the cross between the domestic cat and the Asian Leopard Cat, known as the Bengal, as well as Geoffroy's Cat and Jungle Cat crosses.
The AAFP opposes the breeding of hybrid cats for the following reasons:
Welfare issues for non-domestic cats in captivity
Ownership of non-domestic cats in unlicensed hands has a long history of welfare concerns. (see AAFP position statement on ownership of non-domestic felids, at www.catvets.com)
Public safety
There is a risk to the public when unlicensed individuals house non-domestic cats. (see AAFP position statement on ownership of non-domestic felids, at www.catvets.com)
There is a risk to veterinarians and their staff members unfamiliar with these hybrids and not appropriately trained to safely handle these cats. Veterinarians are encouraged to refer these cats to veterinary facilities more familiar with them.
This risk may extend to hybrid offspring.
Rabies vaccination of hybrid cats may not be valid in some jurisdictions.
Public interest
True hybrids? When consulted in the purchase of a potentially high dollar animal, veterinarians should explain to pet owners that hybridization cannot be determined by a visual exam. Only specific testing which involves chromosome numbers can differentiate the true hybrid from a false hybrid or imitation hybrid because species of cats have differing chromosomal numbers. A DNA-verified pedigree extending back to the exotic cat foundation would be necessary to determine the authenticity of the hybrid.
Veterinarians have an obligation to discuss with pet owners the potential for:
Public safety concerns.
Welfare issues of keeping non-domestic cats in captivity.
Lack of evidence to support species advancement
The development of hybrid cats does not enhance the welfare of either species.
As hybrid cats are not production animals, there is questionable benefit to people, other than their exotic or novel appearance.
Production of hybrid cats also promotes illegal trade and removal of exotic cats from their natural habitats for breeding purposes.
Four-month-old F1 Savannah cat. Picture, Wikimedia Commons
