AAEP Publishes Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Virus Guidelines

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to educate practitioners about transmission, risk factors, clinical signs and other considerations pertaining to equine parvovirus-hepatitis virus (EqPV-H), a recently discovered virus capable of causing hepatitis in infected horses.

Two distinct etiologies of EqPV-H infection are recognized: biologic transmission and non-biologic transmission. Asymptomatic infection is common; only a small percentage of infected horses will develop clinical signs of liver disease.

“Drs. Thomas Divers and Bud Tennant of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine discovered that this novel parvovirus was associated with the disease 'serum sickness' in horses who had recently been administered a parvovirus-infected biologic,” said guidelines co-author Dr. Piper Norton. “Because of their seminal research and active ongoing research, information will be learned about this virus that will assist in making biologics safer for use in horses and help with diagnosis and treatment of this disease.”

EqPV-H is a recently discovered virus and the focus of rapidly evolving research. These guidelines reflect knowledge at the time of writing. Practitioners are encouraged to seek further consultation for questions regarding clinical cases of EqPV-H.

The Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Virus Guidelines were authored by Linda Mittel, MSPH, DVM; Piper Norton, DVM, DACVIM; Joy Tomlinson, DVM, DACVIM; and Thomas Divers, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC. The guidelines were reviewed and approved by the AAEP's Infectious Disease Committee and board of directors. View the guidelines or save them to your mobile device as a PDF file for future reference here.

In addition to EqPV-H, AAEP guidelines for 21 other equine infectious diseases are available here. In addition, two foreign animal disease guidelines — for African horse sickness and Glanders — are also available.

Read more at AAEP.

The post AAEP Publishes Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Virus Guidelines appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Steffanus: Blessed Be Dr. Phyllis Lose, Faithful Sage To Mare Owners

Every breeding and foaling season since 1978, countless mare owners have turned to their bookshelves for help from America's first woman equine veterinarian, Dr. M. Phyllis Lose. Her two indispensable manuals, Blessed Are the Broodmares and Blessed Are the Foals, inform and entertain first-time broodmare owners as well as experienced breeders. She presented important information interspersed with anecdotes of her experiences that enabled even the novice owner to grasp and implement the concepts she sought to explain.

In 1957, Dr. Lose obtained her V.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and she embarked on a lifelong adventure as the first woman to establish an equine-only practice in the United States, just outside the gates of then Philadelphia Park. Despite skepticism that a woman could excel at equine practice, Dr. Lose's medical expertise and her ability to read horses were so extraordinary that soon horsemen thought of her only as a “darn good vet,” and they entrusted her with their best horses.

Despite a lifetime of remarkable accomplishments, Dr. Lose passed away quietly on Sept. 30, 2019, at age 93, with only a meager obituary in the local Florida newspaper. She was the first woman member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the author of seven groundbreaking studies published in various veterinary journals. Her autobiography, No Job for a Lady, was honored by Readers' Digest, and in 2002, her alma mater bestowed on Dr. Lose its Alumni Award of Merit.

Among her early surgical achievements were development of a correction for club-foot in neonates; removal of ovarian tumors; removal of urinary bladder stones; and a refined technique to correct retained testicles.

Dr. Lose was the official veterinarian for the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania for 20 years, plus she cared for the horses of the Philadelphia Mounted Police. Occasionally, she answered calls from the Philadelphia Zoo and the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Working alone with her sister Norma as her manager, Dr. Lose often ventured into the night accompanied only by her little dog Oscar to respond to emergency calls, many of them for broodmares experiencing difficult foaling. Even in her 70s, Dr. Lose continued to make farm calls on her Harley-Davidson, but minus Oscar, whom she trained to win the national Purina trick-dog contest. In her later years while living in Haines City, Fla., Dr. Lose diligently pursued Oscar's career in the movies, producing The Oscar Lose Story in 2008, which earned the Dove Award for family entertainment.

In her personal life, Dr. Lose won nine gold medals (out of nine efforts) in the Senior Olympics for cycling. She also won competitions in snowmobiling, snow racing, and drag racing.

She owned and rode Pennsylvania State Champion jumping mare Cassadol, the national high-score winner in open jumping.

Dr. Lose never married or had children but had no regrets about it, telling me once, “I love men, but in very small doses.”

In 2012, while looking back at her career and the girls she had inspired to become equine veterinarians, she said, “It's a privilege just to be able to live our lives with horses.”

The post Steffanus: Blessed Be Dr. Phyllis Lose, Faithful Sage To Mare Owners appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Esteemed Equine Veterinarian, Dr. A. Gary Lavin, 83, Passes

Dr. A. Gary Lavin, a distinguished equine veterinarian, Thoroughbred breeder, and exemplar of leadership in his profession, passed away at his home in Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 27. He was 83. Dr. Lavin had been afflicted by cancer for several years, but had successfully maintained quality of life and had been planning when he would return to his second home in South Carolina.

Dr. Lavin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth (Betsy), sons Allan (Susan) and Kevin (Amy), and granddaughters (known by the family as “The Cousins”) Catherine, Alexandra, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Lulu, and Hattie.

Response from the racing world was immediate and illustrative of Dr. Lavin's standing as a professional and friend, both of the industry and individuals within it.

“If you set out to meld 'country scientist' and 'southern gentleman' the product that exited the forge would be A. Gary Lavin, VMD,” said noted colleague Dr. Larry Bramlage, a world renowned veterinary surgeon. “Whether discussing a difficult case or one of his passions, such as The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, words never came quickly and were never wasted: '…Well…if that is the best, we'll do it!' He certainly was one of the 'Best.' They don't come along all that often.”

“Doc Lavin was a mentor to me,” said Dell Hancock of Claiborne Farm. “Anything I have ever done for the horse was inspired by him,” added Ms. Hancock, who is chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. (Lavin served as vice chairman.)

“Doc Lavin did as much to further my career as anyone as I was getting started in Louisville,” said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. “He and his family were friends as well as supporters, and I will never forget how important that relationship has been.”

Dr. Robert Copelan, like Lavin a former president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), said upon learning of Dr. Lavin's passing: “He is one of the oldest, dearest, and closest friends I have ever had or hope to have. I think back to when we met. It was at Randall Park in 1953. He was a student then and was in charge of the canoe they used to have in the infield lake. I was in the first year of my practice and was at the head of the stretch inspecting a field going into the gate. We became friends that day and have been friends ever since.”

“'Dockie' was a special person and among the most wonderful human beings I have ever met,” said Keeneland sales executive Geoffrey Russell. “He loved the horse and everything to do with the horse, be it racing, sales, breeding, or its health. He never met a stranger and always had time for everyone no matter your station. His knowledge was immense, and he was generous in sharing it with anyone who would listen. I was blessed to have spent 13 years working with him on the inspection team at Keeneland. Crisscrossing Kentucky and the East Coast, days were filled with great humor and even better stories. He loved history, especially the Civil War. He would joke that I could drive by Civil War markers faster than Rogers Beasley (also on the team) could.​

“After working on the racetrack for over 30 years, he had seen every conformational fault a horse could have and knew what a horse could live with. When grading yearlings that had some conformation faults he would sometimes say, 'Don't worry about that, he'll be alright.' I will always treasure our friendship, and I will raise a glass in his memory. Thanks Dockie. We'll be alright.”

“Every so often someone comes along who touches so many live, both professionally and personally,” said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “Doc Lavin was one of those. He was always there, with advice, or just friendship.”

“He was a true giant,” said Rogers Beasley, who recruited Lavin to be part of Keeneland's yearling inspection team after his retirement from active practice. “I know that phrase is used a lot, but he really was a giant. He accomplished so many things in the industry, and he was always promoting what would benefit the horse. And he never met a stranger. You would see him on the backstretch and he would always ask how you were doing, whether you were and owner or a groom. And he never lost his inquisitive mind.”

Illustrative of Beasley's last point, Dr. Lavin led the decision by Grayson-Jockey Club to make a special call for research on Shock Wave Therapy. He recognized that the beneficial new treatment had the potential downside, if misused, to eliminate pain without a horse being cured and therefore place them at risk of injury. The resultant research project at Iowa State University guided racing commissions' parameters for how long before a race the therapy must not be used.

Dr. A. Gary Lavin was born on November 6, 1937, in New Orleans. He grew up in racing, as the son of Allan (Doc) Lavin, racing secretary at Churchill Downs and also at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The young Lavins were high school sweethearts in Hot Springs and retained a lifetime affection for track and the area.

Dr. Lavin graduated from veterinary college at the University of Pennsylvania in 1962. (He always enjoyed pointing that his alma mater identified his veterinary degree as VMD, whereas other colleges conferred a DVM.) He established himself as a race track practitioner in Louisville while also working at Warner L. Jones Jr.'s Hermitage Farm and for clients in Bowling Green, Ky., and in Indiana. Over the years, other long-term associations included working for such clients as John Ed Anthony and Peter Willmott. In that capacity, Dr. Lavin and his Longfield Farm were involved with such horses as Anthony's back to back 1982-83 Preakness winners, Pine Bluff and champion Prairie Bayou, as well as the noted future stallion Cox's Ridge, plus Demon's Begone and Eddington. Also, Angel Fever, raised at Longfield, became the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.

“My relationship with Gary Lavin began when Loblolly Stable first acquired Thoroughbreds in 1971, 50 years ago,” said breeder-owner Anthony. “From that time forward Doc has been a key part of my life and experience in the industry. He nurtured and helped develop every prominent horse we campaigned, plus attended to the lesser stock with the finest skill, expertise and patience known to his profession.

“The Lavins' Longfield Farm was our home base where mares, foals, and yearlings and layups were under his watchful eye as he and Betsy raised their fine family there. At the sales he was the critical advisor. His counsel regarding trainers and industry personnel was invaluable. I came to know of his kind, honest, and helpful regard for the horses and the people associated with them. He was always optimistic, positive, and encouraging. His honesty and integrity were without question. There are few people one can say they trust absolutely, yet Doc was such a man. Doc lived life fully, but more importantly, calling this fine man friend was a high honor that I am proud to have had in my life.”

Dr. Lavin's long career as a practitioner and surgeon was accompanied by a degree of dedication to the sport and his profession that led him to accept many roles and challenges. He has served terms as president of both the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and was vice chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and a director of Keeneland Association.

In 1994, Dr. Lavin became the first veterinarian elected to The Jockey Club, and he also has served as a steward of that organization. He has also been on the boards of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the Breeders' Cup. Over the many years they owned Longfield Farm in Goshen, Kentucky, he and his family bred major winners, raised horses for the commercial market, and managed bloodstock for clients.

Family members also became deeply involved in the sport in individual capacities. Mrs. Lavin served on the Kentucky Racing Commission, Allan runs Lavin Bloodstock, and Kevin owns Lavin (Equine) Insurance. Lavin Bloodstock bred the sentimentally named Star of Goshen, whose son Pioneerof the Nile sired Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, etc.

Dr. Lavin received many honors, including his alma mater's Bellwether Medal for Distinguished Leadership and the Thoroughbred Club of America's Annual Testimonial Dinner guest designation. He was a Distinguished Life Member of the AAEP, recipient of the Distinguished Practitioner Award of the Kentucky Equine Practitioners, and namesake of the Lavin Cup for Equine Welfare. The Lavin Cup was established in 1996 by the AAEP.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation (821 Corporate Drive, Lexington, Ky., 40503).

A private family burial will be held in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville.

The post Esteemed Equine Veterinarian, Dr. A. Gary Lavin, 83, Passes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

AAEP Publishes Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis Guidelines 

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to assist practitioners with identification, diagnosis and control of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), a progressively debilitating disease of the central nervous system that affects horses that reside or once spent time in North or South America.

“EPM is widely considered the most important infectious neurologic disease of horses in North America,” said guidelines author Amy Johnson, DVM, DACVIM. “The variable clinical signs and widespread seroprevalence pose challenges to diagnosis. These guidelines aim to summarize essential information regarding this disease process, as well as highlight the three criteria for highest diagnostic accuracy in potentially affected horses.”

The EPM Guidelines, available as a PDF file, were reviewed and approved by the AAEP's Infectious Disease Committee and board of directors. View the EPM Guidelines here.

Besides EPM, AAEP guidelines for 20 other equine infectious diseases are available here. In addition, two foreign animal disease guidelines—for African horse sickness and Glanders—can be found here.

 

The post AAEP Publishes Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis Guidelines  appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights