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522 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 82, No 9, September 2004

In response to one of the recommendations of the Joint ExpertTechnical Advisory Committee on Antibiotics Resistance(JETACAR) report, the APVMA commenced a special review

of virginiamycin, a member of the streptogramin class ofantibiotics, in 2000. The special review, which involved anassessment of the likelihood of harm to humans arising from theuse of virginiamycin in livestock, is nearing completion.Virginiamycin is now scheduled as a Prescription Animal Remedyand the AVA has taken an active interest in the risk managementrecommendations being proposed by APVMA. The AVA is astrong advocate of judicious use of antibiotics and in recentdecades has developed and disseminated a number of guidelinesand codes of practice to encourage and support prudent use.

AVA is also committed to the enhancement of public healthand a supporter of evidence-based decision making. The AVAbelieves that members of the veterinary profession share thesecommitments to appropriate use of antibiotics, to public healthand to science based decisions.

In recognition of these high standards of veterinary practice,the AVA has made a strong submission to the APVMA indefence of the profession. Despite the fact that an independent

risk assessment concluded that the upper bound likelihood ofharm in humans arising from the use of virginiamycin inlivestock was equivalent to one extra death amongst the entireAustralian population in the next 1000 years (it is difficult toconsider a risk that is lower), the APVMA have recommendedthat the use of virginiamycin in cattle and sheep must besignificantly restricted to a single short period of treatment onceeach year.

This restraint is proposed even though it clearly defies theprinciples of good veterinary practice. In addition this restraintoverrides each veterinarian’s clinical judgement and assessmentof each unique situation. The AVA has argued in its submissionthat veterinarians, by virtue of prolonged and intensive training,education and experience, have the appropriate skills andexperience to use their clinical judgement wisely and not toabuse or misuse virginiamycin to the detriment of public health.The AVA submission is currently under consideration by theDepartment of Health and by APVMA. A decision by APVMAon the continued use of virginiamycin is expected early thismonth. The AVA will prepare and publish a full report at thistime.

SPECIAL REVIEW OF VIRGINIAMYCINBy Kevin Doyle (AVA National Veterinary Director)

Arevolutionary new veterinarywebsite LIDA (Listing ofInherited Disorders in

Animals) appears set to improve petowners, breeders and veterinariansunderstanding of specific dog breeds.

Providing a comprehensiverelational database, the innovative petwebsite uses non-technicaldescriptions and tables to make thetask of choosing a healthy pet easier.

Launched by AVA PetPEP patronDr Katrina Warren on 25 August atthe University of Sydney Faculty ofVeterinary Science, LIDA willeffectively enable potential dog owners tounderstand the specific problems differentbreeds may face.

Dr Paul McGreevy, Senior Lecturer atthe Faculty of Veterinary Science and oneof the site developers says the benefits toveterinarians will be twofold.

“Firstly, the site will assist veterinariansin helping clients who are purchasing anew puppy to make an informed choiceand secondly it will serve as a handyreference source when vets are faced withone of the more uncommon inheriteddisorders,” Dr McGreevy said.

“With more than 500 inheritabledisorders and more than 180 breeds no

vet can be expected to remember whichdisorder may affect which breeds. Somebreeds have more than 60 disorders, sogiven the enormity of that task you reallyhave to harness information technology todeliver this sort of data as cleanly aspossible.”

Three years in the making, LIDA iscurrently utilising data and reports fromthe Association of Veterinarians forAnimal Rights in the United States toprovide the foundation for a dynamicinformation pool.

According to LIDA foundersveterinarians, veterinary students and dogbreeders have already provided terrific

feedback on this resource that isdesigned to classify inheriteddisorders by breed and organ systemin a relational database.

Professor Frank Nicholas,internationally-renowned geneticistand another Faculty contributor tothe site said more than 230Australian small animal veterinarypractices have agreed to contributeto this audit on an ongoing basis.

“This will allow the delivery ofon-line real-time reports of trends inthese disorders to key stakeholders:

the veterinary profession, dogbreeders and potential puppy purchasers,”he said.

The LIDA on-line initiative wasdeveloped in consultation with the RoyalNew South Wales Canine Council(RNSWCC), the Pet Industry Associationof Australia (PIAA), the Royal Society forthe Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(RSPCA) (Australia) and the AnimalWelfare League (NSW). It was funded bythe Canine Research and VeterinaryFoundation and is supported by the AVA.

There are now plans for LIDA toincorporate databases for other speciesincluding cats, horses, sheep and cattle.

Pet website to monitor dog breed disordersBy Mark Thornley

Photo: Mark Thornley