Welcome to the official web site of the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association, a professional organization representing veterinarians across Jamaica. We invite you to explore the site and see for yourself who we are and why we do what we do.
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| EQUINE MINI-SYMPOSIUM February 22, 2015 |
| The 2015 Equine Mini Symposium
Sunday, February 22, 2015
at the
ALHAMBRA INN
1 Tucker Avenue, Kingston
(Off Mountain View Avenue opposite the National Stadium)
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Two distinguished lecturers in equine medicine and surgery:
Dr. Alison J. Morton, DVM, MSpVM, DACVS, DACVSMR
Clinical Associate Professor Large Animal Surgery
&
Dr. Amanda Martabano House, DVM, DACVIM
Clinical Associate Professor, Large Animal Clinical Sciences
with our own
Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett - Regulation at the Racetrack
Dr. Sophia Ramlal - Disaster Risk Management in the Equine Environment
Eight lectures
Seven CE Credits (Pending)
Sponsors to be announced. Registration Fee: US$125.00
Registration fee includes mini symposium attendance, documentation and lunch.
NOTE: This is NOT a JVMA-organized event.
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| Reminder: JVMA membership dues and JVB Licence Renewal fees are now due. For secure online payment of JVMA dues using Paypal, see below. |
MEMBERS: To pay your JVMA Membership Dues using Paypal, please click on the JVMA Logo to the right.
Thank you for being a part of the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association!
We encourage you to participate in the activities of the JVMA as we work to keep the flag of Veterinary Medicine in Jamaica flying high in our country, the wider Caribbean and around the world!
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| Click to pay 1 year's Dues via Paypal |
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| THANK YOU to all who supported our NESTA'S ROCK fundraising event! To submit money for tickets see below. |
To submit a payment for Nesta's Rock tickets, select the number of tickets from the drop down menu to the right then click "Add to Cart".
The Paypal payment page will then open and you can complete the transaction as directed.
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| Brachiaria Grass Toxicity in Ruminants |
Signal grass, Brachiaria brizantha or Brachiaria decumbens, is native to tropical Africa but is now widely distributed in tropical Americas. It gives high productivity under intensive use with low ground fertility and is resistant to pests and disease. In Jamaica it may be found in the hilly, cooler parts of the island and is sometimes the primary source of forage for ruminants.
Depending on soil characteristics, signal grass has a moderately high nutritive value and intermediate to high digestibility. It is, however, associated with liver damage and photosensitization in cattle, sheep and goats.
Pathophysiology
The hepatotoxicity appears to be multifactorial in origin. The grass produces steroidal saponins which undergo metabolism in the rumen to hepatotoxic substances which result in the formation of lithogenic biliary crystals causing a severe cholangiohepatitis, biliary obstruction and periportal hepatocyte necrosis. A saprophytic fungus associated with the grass which produces a toxin called sporidesmin may also be a factor.
Hot, wet conditions, allowing increased grass growth, and possibly fungal growth may increase the risk of toxicity*.
Clinical Effects
Clinically this will result in malaise, weight loss and severe icterus. Liver disease impedes the metabolism of phylloerythrin which is a product of the breakdown of chlorophyll by anaerobic rumen bacteria. Increased levels of phylloerythrin in the blood may result in photosensitization, with hyperkeratotic, ulcerative dermatitis occurring on exposed areas such as the face, ears and dorsum. Facial oedema may also occur. Renal impairment and neurological signs such as incoordination, head-pressing, “star-gazing” or circling may occur in later stages. Death is the ultimate result.
Post mortem findings include generalized icterus, an enlarged, firm, bronze-coloured liver, with swollen mottled kidneys.
Treatment
Treatment is generally unrewarding unless diagnosed early. It may include supportive medications, reduced sun exposure, the use of skin protectants, removal of the offending grass, and hay feeding to reduce chlorophyll intake. Grazing a mixed pasture which includes at least 30% of another grass may reduce or eliminate the problem*.
References:
For detailed information:
Toxicity of Signal Grass (Brachiaria Decumbens) :a Review Article - Ajwad Awad Mohammed Assumaidaee1,a , Noordin Mohamed Mustapha1 1 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia ajwadassumaidaee@yahoo.com https://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JAMR/article/download/323/326
Information on the characteristics of signal grass:
http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/Brachiaria_decumbens.htm
* Dr. Robert Logan - personal communication
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| Brachiaria decumbens :http://br.viarural.com/agricultura/plagas/ervas-daninhas/brachiaria-decumbens-02.jpg |
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| Emaciated goat from northern Clarendon showing photosensitization lesions on dorsum, head and ears. Photo courtesy of Calvern Thomas |
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| Photo courtesy of Calvern Thomas |
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| Dr. Sophia Ramlal is 2014's Veterinarian of the Year |
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| Dr. Sophia Ramlal (R) receives the Veterinarian of the Year award from JVMA President Dr. Kevin Walker |
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| December 14, 2014
Dr. Sophia Ramlal, long serving JVMA member and former Executive member (including Treasurer, Vice-President) received a very pleasant surprise at the Association's December General Meeting at the Knutford Court Hotel when she was bestowed with the award of Veterinarian of the Year 2014. She was recognized specifically for her hard work and dedication as Chairperson of the Jamaica Veterinary Board's Continuing Education Assessment Committee (CEAC) in the implementation of the Board's CE requirements for veterinarians registered to practice in Jamaica during the current year.
The Veterinarian of the Year plaque and a trophy were presented by JVMA President Dr. Kevin Walker. The Citation was read by Dr. Robert Thomas, Executive member and Immediate Past President of the Association. Click HERE to read the Citation.
The meeting was hosted by the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries with the central feature being a presesntation by Dr. Ikolyn Ricketts and Mrs. Claudette Phipps to senisitize the veterinary community on the recently launched National Animal Identification & Traceability System (NAITS) (see related story on this page). Dr. Paul Cadogan also gave a presentation on One Health and the recently implemented One Health One Caribbean One Love programme and Leadership Series in which he is one of Jamaica's representatives (see related story on this page).
Members were able to submit their CE documents to the CEAC in preparation for renewal of practising licenses in January 2015. A brief but useful discussion of Matters Arising from the previous general meeting and New Business followed.
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| The National Animal Identification & Traceability System |
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| Dr. Ikolyn Ricketts of the VSD discusses the NAITS with veterinarians at the meeting hosted by the Veterinary Services Division |
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| December 14, 2014
The Veterinary Services Division (VSD) will be undertaking a major national project with the implementation of the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) with the ultimate goal of establishing a system to identify and trace the origins of all food-producing animals in Jamaica. The programme and its associated policies and protocols were outlined to veterinarians by NAITS Team Leader Dr. Ikolyn Ricketts at a meeting hosted by the VSD at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Sunday December 14, 2014.
NAITS will be first implemented for the island's cattle population and will involve the use of coded ear tags with individual animal passports which will stay with an animal for its lifetime. The tags are specialized to allow the collection of tissue samples when they are inserted, allowing for the development of a DNA database of the population as part of the overall computerized national records. The system is designed to allow for expansion of its procedures and protocols in the future, based on needs.
VSD personnel, supported by the field staff of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) will be involved in the tagging process anfd farmer mobilization. A mobile squeeze will be used for the restraint of fractious animals. Tagging will be carried out on a parish by parish basis until the entire island is covered.
All farmers, regardless of number of animals owned, will be required to participate under the new Regulations being implemented under the Animal (Diseases & Importation) Act. Other stakeholders and participants will be the operators of abattoirs/slaughterhouses, livestock markets and showgrounds, public health inspectors and the police. Veterinarians and Public Health Inspectors will be involved in the certification of the death of an animal on farm or at slaughter respectively.
There will be no cost to the farmer in the first phase of the programme, but eventually, by year 3 or 4, it is envisaged that the farmer will bear the cost of the tagging.
NAITS is a necessary step to bring Jamaica in line with international best practice standards for traceability of food products from the farm to the fork. Once tagging is complete, an additional spin-off will be some level of protection from praedial larceny by making it much more difficult for stolen animals to be used for meat, since such animals cannot enter the slaughter and meat inspection process without the necessary documentation. The DNA samples collected during tagging may also aid in this.
Dr. Ricketts' presentation sparked lively discussion among the JVMA members present. Mrs. Claudette Phipps, though recently retired from her position at the VSD, was present and outlined the communications activities that will be utilized the get the NAITS message out to the public at large.
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Latest World Veterinary Association Newsletter: CLICK HERE
Latest University of Florida ONE HEALTH Newsletter: CLICK HERE
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EBOLA information: CLICK HERE
CHIKUNGUNYA information CLICK HERE
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TRIBUTE TO A DOG
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.
A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near to his master's side.
He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world . He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he was a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains.
When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey thru the heavens.
GEORGE VEST, 1870
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| POSITION PAPER ON ANIMAL WELFARE - CLICK ON LOGO ABOVE |
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| WEEKLY DISEASE REPORT. Please click on the logo above to check on important infectious diseases occurring around the world |
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| POSITION PAPER ON ONE HEALTH - CLICK ON LOGO ABOVE |
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Writer's Credit: Unless otherwise stated, all articles on this page are written by Dr. Paul Cadogan.
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We want this web site to be one that will make all Jamaican veterinarians proud. It's still a work in progress. If you have any advice or you want to assist us in any way please email the Secretary of the Association. Click here to send us your advice and/or comments.
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