Kroger announces a recall of pet-food varieties

Veterinary Medicine Update    Kroger announces a recall of pet-food varieties Kroger recalled 10 varieties of pet food in the Kroger Value, Pet Pride and Old Yeller lines because of concerns that they may contain aflatoxin, a poisonous chemical produced by mold. The dog- and cat-food brands were sold in 19 states and manufactured at a Kroger plant in Springfield, Tenn. The Wall Street Journal (12/19) , CNN (12/19)  Access AVMA's resources on pet-food recalls.   Phase I clinical trial of monoclonal rabies antibody proves successful A monoclonal rabies antibody reportedly has been determined to produce results comparable to the traditional, blood-derived human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) when combined with rabies vaccination for human post-exposure rabies prophylaxis. The product, which the manufacturer hopes will provide a more readily available and lower-cost alternative to HRIG, is moving into the next phase of clinical trials, with results expected by the end of 2011. The Times of India (12/19)  Chicago officials suspect distemper in raccoons Chicago's animal control officials are advising pet owners to have their dogs and cats vaccinated against distemper after finding three raccoons last week that they suspect are infected with the highly contagious nervous-system disease. More than 100 dogs were affected by an outbreak of distemper six years ago. WLS-TV (Chicago) (12/17) North Carolina scores federal grant to fight mad cow disease State agriculture officials in North Carolina have won a five-year, $1.25 million grant from the FDA to fund testing and monitoring of companies that make animal feed. The program is part of the state's effort to fend off Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, which is spread through cattle feed made from the brain or spinal cord of infected animals. Forbes/The Associated Press (12/17)  Other News Researchers use sterilized insect technique in bid to fight malaria Inter Press Service (12/17)  National Park Service culls elk herd in the wake of wasting disease The Denver Post (12/18) Olympic leadership lessons from USA Basketball Discover the tactics that Jerry Colangelo employed to overcome USA Basketball's Olympic losing streak. Learn how Colangelo and Coach K built a team that could compete internationally & how to adapt your leadership style to gain the same type of success. Check out Sustaining the Leadership Edge for just $75.   Animal News  Increased affluence in Asia spurs illegal animal trade Customs officials have confiscated growing numbers of illegally transported animals and animal parts in recent years, a reflection of rising demand among newly affluent Asians. Recent cases document by the monitoring network Traffic includes suitcases full of elephant ivory, more than 2,000 scaly anteaters confiscated from a Chinese fishing vessel and a live but sedated tiger cub in a suitcase. The New York Times (free registration) (12/19)  Veterinarians warn about holiday hazards for pets The holiday season brings a range of potential hazards for pets, and veterinarians are advising owners to be vigilant. Specific dangers include ingestion of treats containing Xylitol, which can prove fatal for pets, and poinsettias and lilies, which can trigger heart problems and kidney failure. KIDK-TV (Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho) (12/19)  Researchers find use of dogs as herders is relatively new The history of livestock-protection dogs, or dogs raised to live harmlessly alongside sheep, dates back to as early as 347 B.C., but the use of dogs as herders appear to be a fairly recent phenomenon, researchers found. Livestock-protection dogs were introduced in the U.S. in the late 1970s as a tool for mitigating predation to cattle, sheep and goat herds.Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyo.) (12/19)  Other News New breed of Christmas cards comes directly from Fido The Wall Street Journal (12/17)  Cats play virtual iPad game with new app Los Angeles Times/L.A. Unleashed blog (12/17)    Around the Office    How to take advantage of the tax package The $858 billion tax package signed into law Friday by President Barack Obama has important implications for small-business owners, writes Barbara Weltman. She spells out five ways to get the most from the new law, including such areas as hiring, equipment purchasing and estate planning. AOL Small Business (12/17) Gain insight into the overall health of U.S. businesses and how to leverage new tools to better manage business, while reducing risk exposure. View our on-demand Webinar Gain a clearer picture of small-business risk in an uncertain market.   Policy Watch    Food safety bill wins unanimous Senate approval A food safety bill that seemed destined for failure won unanimous Senate approval on Sunday after lawmakers struck a deal overcoming a technical mistake. President Barack Obama is expected to sign it into law, giving the government more power to set standards for farms and food processors, and giving the Food and Drug Administration the authority to recall food. The Washington Post (12/20)  Other News Oklahoma state senator moves to repeal pet-breeders act The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (12/18)  New York official proposes ban on long-term dog tethering The Wall Street Journal/The Associated Press (12/18) Drive company revenue by simplifying IT strategies. Investments in IT are often seen as key to supporting core business operations. Microsoft Online Services offers technology solutions outfitted for small to mid-size companies that will free up resources and help employees focus on what matters most. Download this free whitepaper to find out more!   AVMA in the News  Groundbreaking treatment offers hope to giraffe with birth defect Hope, a baby giraffe at the Topeka Zoo in Kansas that was born with a birth defect called hyperextended fetlocks, reportedly was able to walk normally after receiving an innovative treatment developed by Joseph Kamer, the zoo's interim veterinarian. The treatment involved the use of corrective shoes specially designed for Hope, whose story appeared in the JAVMA. The Topeka Capital-Journal (Kan.) (12/18)  Some U.S. farms still practice force-feeding of ducks Force-feeding geese and ducks is still in practice at some U.S. farms. The technique uses a metal tube to expand the animals' livers by up to 10 times the normal size in order to produce the delicacy foie gras. According to this article, AVMA delegates who inspected U.S. farms in 2005 voted against a resolution condemning the practice, but the group has not formally approved it. Yahoo!/Agence France-Presse (12/17)  Florida town grapples with growing number of raccoons Residents in Longboat Key, Fla., have aired concerns over the increasing number of raccoons in the area and the risk of the animals spreading diseases. According to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, homeowners can trap nonprotected wildlife themselves and live-captured nuisance wild animals can be relocated only to kill them following AVMA's euthanasia guidelines. Longboat Key News (Fla.) (12/17)    Hot Topics  Top five news stories selected by Animal Health SmartBrief readers in the past week. Researchers identify origin of FMD infection in cattle (Feedstuffs (Minnetonka, Minn.)) Hundreds of Kansas dogs are euthanized after distemper outbreak (The Kansas City Star (Mo.)) New generation of rat poisons threatens owl populations (The Seattle Times) Experts tie lifestyle trends to food-animal veterinary shortage (The Argus-Press (Owosso, Mich.)) The unusual things pets ate this year (Daily News (New York)) Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.   Featured Content    Skip Hop: From Baby to Business Plan Jean Aw  Why Personality Matters: Interview with Steve Shapiro Matthew E. May  Starting Up in a Recession: Right Product, Right Price, Outstanding Service Knowledge@Wharton  Smart Ways to Attend a Trade Show Anne Field  Smartphone Mobile App vs. Mobile Website: Which One Wins? Ramon Ray  Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Are You Tending to Your Stupid List? Scott Belsky  What's Your Response to 'I Can Get It Cheaper on the Internet'? Ann Handley  How to Hold onto Talent When You Can't Afford Raises Elaine Pofeldt  Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.   Association News  AVMA activity book helps children avoid dog bites  4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the U.S., and most of them are children. Teach children how to be safe around dogs and avoid dog bites with the help of AVMA'sBilingual Dog Bite Prevention activity and coloring book.

FDA works with drug companies to change antibiotic practices

Veterinary Medicine Update

• FDA works with drug companies to change antibiotic practices
  
  The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly in talks with at least one drug company in an effort to convince pharmaceutical firms to voluntarily stop providing antibiotics for the purpose of promoting livestock growth. FDA officials have said the agency, which is concerned that overuse of antibiotics may contributed to drug-resistant bacteria strains, prefers a voluntary approach rather than the more time-consuming process of creating laws to restrict the use of the drugs. The Des Moines Register (Iowa) (12/19) 

• Researchers identify possible cause of genital cancer in horses
  
  A group of researchers have identified a papillomavirus infection as a likely cause of genital cancer in horses. The infection is similar to the virus that can cause certain human genital cancers, including cervical cancer, according to the research published in the current edition of the Equine Veterinary Journal. PhysOrg.com (12/20) 

• 4 Texas veterinarians win loan-repayment grants
  
  The Department of Agriculture is providing four veterinarians in Texas with loan-repayment funds under a federal program designed to address a nationwide shortage of large-animal veterinarians. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program aims to repay the student loans of eligible veterinarians in exchange for their services in rural veterinary shortage areas. San Angelo Standard-Times (Texas) (12/19) 

• Other News

• Veterinarian shaves head to raise funds for homeless pets
  KCBY-TV (North Bend, Ore.) (12/20) 

• China convicts 8 people of fake rabies-vaccine sales
  Forbes/The Associated Press (12/20) 

Create a winning social-media strategy Relying on luck and good intentions when developing your social-media approach can leave you with ineffective initiatives. Get the data you need to formulate a savvy social-media strategy that produces measurable results. Check out the key takeaways from SmartBrief's State of Social Media for Business.

Animal News

• Report underscores growing problem of unwanted horses in the U.S.
  
  A report published in the Journal of American Sciences indicated that the number of abandoned horses in the U.S. totals about 100,000 per year, driven in part by the economic downturn and the shutdown of slaughterhouses in 2007. According to the report, caring for each horse costs an average of $3,648 per year. One shelter near Boston reports record numbers of surrenders by horse owners since the downturn began three years ago.Lexington Herald-Leader (Ky.) (12/20) , Boston Herald/The Associated Press (12/20) 

• Canine distemper is prevalent in Troy, N.Y.
  
  Eighteen foxes in Troy, N.Y., reportedly have been found in the past 20 days with canine distemper, which officials say could put pets at risk for contracting the potentially fatal disease. Area residents are advised to ensure their pets are up-to-date on distemper vaccinations as well as keep them from contact with foxes and other wild animals. WRGB-TV (Albany (N.Y) (12/17) 

• Access AVMA resources on canine distemper.  

• Diseases tied to canine obesity are on the rise
  
  Dogs in North America increasingly are putting on excess weight, resulting in more canines developing serious illnesses such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, pancreatitis, heart disease and respiratory issues. A Texas veterinarian attributes the growing problem of pet obesity to a lack of adequate exercise and improper diet. El Paso Times (Texas) (12/20) 

• Experts emphasize importance of regular exercise for dogs: With about 45% of U.S. dogs suffering from obesity, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, experts are urging canine owners to provide their pets with regular exercise and workouts especially during the holidays. Experts recommend consulting a veterinarian about safe workout routines to avoid the risk of overworking dogs. The Oregonian (Portland) (12/20)

• Other News

• Dogs become comforting part of therapy sessions
  The Wall Street Journal (12/20) 

You're Up To Date On Industry News, But What About Life Insurance? Did you know that MetLife Life Insurance premiums can be as low as $12 per month for $250,000 of coverage? Or, as low as $18 per month for $500,000 of coverage. Stay on top of very affordable rates with America's #1 Life Insurer – MetLife.  Request a Free, No-Obligation Life Insurance Quote Now

Around the Office

• Don't worry about being humble
  
  It doesn't matter if bosses are full of themselves as long as they're also generous with giving credit to others, says Linda Hill, a Harvard professor and author of several books on business leadership. Good leaders know that their job is to ensure that all their employees excel at what they do, and see their successes as reflections of their managerial abilities. "You should lead as if everybody matters, because everybody does," Hill says. Inc.com (12/17)

Olympic leadership lessons from USA Basketball Discover the tactics that Jerry Colangelo employed to overcome USA Basketball's Olympic losing streak. Learn how Colangelo and Coach K built a team that could compete internationally & how to adapt your leadership style to gain the same type of success. Check out Sustaining the Leadership Edge for just $75.

Policy Watch

• Food safety bill appears to be set to clear Congress
  
  The House is expected today to approve the Food Safety Modernization Act, which the Senate passed unanimously on Sunday. The bill would go to President Barack Obama for his signature. Los Angeles Times (12/21) , FoodSafetyNews.com (12/21) 

• Arkansas bill would make farriers and horse teeth floaters legal
  
  Legislators in Arkansas have introduced a bill that aims to allow farriers and horse teeth floaters to legally practice in the state. The bill would also allow acupuncture to be performed on horses if it is done under a veterinarian's supervision. An official with the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association said his organization will take a look at the measure and offer recommendations. New England Cable News (Boston)/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)/The Associated Press (12/20) 

Increase Sales with the TRUSTe Seal Download this case study to see how one company added the TRUSTe seal to lead registration forms and their shopping cart, and saw an enormous 84% lift in purchases, and a 72% increase in revenue per visitor lift. Learn how a consumer-facing seal can accelerate a transaction, and why visitors feel an increased level of trust upon seeing the TRUSTe seal.

AVMA in the News

• Contamination fears prompt recall of certain Kroger pet treats
  
  Kroger has recalled certain lots of its Old Yeller, Kroger Value and Pet Pride dog and cat food varieties because they possibly contain aflatoxin, a toxic chemical that has been linked to a rash of dogs who became ill or died in 2005 after eating contaminated products from Diamond Pet Foods. According to this article, which cites AVMA, Diamond Pet Foods eventually paid consumers $3.1 million to settle a lawsuit filed over the incidents. WalletPop(12/20)

• Modern medicine provides pricey pet treatments
  SmartMoney.com (12/21)

Featured Content

Did You Win or Lose Today? Ken Kaufman  What Smart Companies Know About Customer Engagement Scott Ginsberg  3 Reasons You Should Let Your Employees Work Remotely Rieva Lesonsky  8 Ways to Network During the Holidays to Find a Job Dawn Reiss  How Blogging Can Transform Your Business Shira Levine

Association News

• Practice management and staff training 
  
  The AVMA has a set of five books, downloadable in PDF format, to help assist in staff training and managing your practice. View AVMA's Practice management and staff training resources. 

Drug-Resistant Genes Spread among Bacteria

Unlike other superbugs, a new class of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are gaining their power from easily transferable genes such as NDM-1

SUPERBUG?: Common bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae can cause nasty infections, but when it carries a genes to make the NDM-1 enzyme, it becomes immune to most antibiotics.

In the fight to stay alive, many bacteria, such as MRSA, have developed resistance to commonly used antibiotics. But other bacteria are using a more insidious type of resistance: that imbued by transferable genes, which can spread among commonly circulating strains.

One of these genetic elements, NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1), is an enzyme-based defense that renders a bacterium immune to beta-lactam-based antibiotics, which include penicillin, as well as carbapenems (often used as a last resort antibiotic against Escherichia coli infections), cephems (such as cephalosporins and cephamycins) and monobactams, making treatment extremely difficult. The trait was first identified in 2008 (in a patient with Klebsiella pneumoniae), and instances of NDM-1–positive infections are now not uncommon in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Cases also have been documented in Brazil, Canada, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S.

A new essay published in the December 16 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine revisits the issue, highlighting the potential that NDM-1 and other antibiotic-busting genes have to disable much of our current pharmaceutical arsenal.

"The spread of these organisms has prompted widespread concern because some of them are resistant to all antimicrobial agents except the polymyzins," Robert Moellering, of Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, wrote in the perspective piece.

Initial cases of NDM-1 seemed to be only found among patients who had received medical care in India, where antibiotic use is less regulated. But more recent findings have suggested some NDM-1–positive patients in the U.K. might have picked up a resistant strain without traveling abroad.

These genes do not need an exotic infection to wreak havoc in a patient. They can be picked up by "all sorts of bugs we're all walking around with in our guts," says Brandi Limbago, of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But once the resistant genetic material enters the bacterium, "it produces an enzyme that attacks the antibiotic and makes it nonfunctional—they basically chew it up," she explains. These infections are not always deadly, but "in the right host," such as one with a weakened immune system or inserted medical equipment (including catheters), "those patients become infected with these organisms," Limbago says. "And if you don't have the right tools to treat them, that's when you run into trouble."

Newer antibiotics, such as cephalosporins and carbapenems as well as beta-lactamase inhibitors, seemed like an effective strategy against these bacterial tactics. But these have "simply been met with the evolution of new beta-lactamases, often through mutations, that inactivate these antibiotics," Moellering wrote. Currently, there are some 890 such known enzymes, "far more than the antibiotics developed to combat them."

Indeed, Limbago warns, "all carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae [CRE] are bad—it's not just NDM-1 that should have us worried." And although NDM-1 might be grabbing more headlines globally, Limbago explains that here in the U.S., another enzyme, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), has been a much bigger concern. And, as Moellering noted in his essay, another class, known as CTX beta-lactamases, "at the very least will compromise our ability to use beta-lactam antibiotics to treat community-acquired urinary tract infections."

Misuse of antibiotics has been a major driver of resistance—both in strain-specific bacteria and gene-based resistance. "Prudent antibiotic use should always be the goal," Limbago says. But "once the gene is there, it's there. And at that point, the genie's out of the bottle."

After resistance has started circulating, surveillance and infection control become the key tools to fight further spread. The U.S. does not have KPC- or NDM-1–specific strategies, but offers recommendations for all CRE-positive infections. The government also does not require hospitals to report CRE cases, but even so, infections have been confirmed in at least 35 states. Rather than being cautious about the growing concern over NDM-1 and other resistance genes, Limbago suggests that, "in some places in the U.S. people are not getting as excited about this as they should."