Veterinary Science on the Move

RVC Podcasts - Veterinary Science on the Move

Mark Cleasby

From arthritis and bird flu to vaccines and zoo animal health, Dr Mark Cleasby (Dr Matthias Kleinz - on episodes 1 to 20) and his colleagues give you an insight into the work conducted at the UK's largest veterinary school. In bite size interviews with experts you can find out how the Royal Veterinary College, the University of London’s veterinary school, is pushing the frontiers in veterinary medicine and basic science.

You can also subscribe to these podcasts via the iTunes Store if you have iTunes installed on your PC.

RVC 50 - Immune-mediated diseases and the role of Regulatory T cells in dogs and humans (13.2MB MPEG-4)A number of diseases arise because the immune system begins to attack the body’s own cells. Here Dr Oliver Garden describes how these diseases arise and his research into the role of a particular type of immune cell, the regulatory T cell, in this phenomenon across species.

RVC 49 - Strategies for prevention of MRSA infections in animals and humans (6.9MB MPEG-4)The possibility of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection is now a concern for many patients receiving hospital treatment. However, accumulating evidence shows that MRSA can also be carried by animals and then passed on to people in contact. Here Professor Katharina Staerk and colleagues describe their research to identify novel methods of preventing MRSA infection and transmission as part of an EU consortium.

RVC 48 - Anal furunculosis in dogs (9.3MB MPEG-4)Anal furunculosis is a particularly unpleasant disease of the rear end that particularly affects German Shepherd dogs. Here Dr Brian Catchpole and Prof Susan Gregory outline the traditional way the disease is identified and treated, their recent findings on how it may be caused, and how these findings inform current best treatment practices.

RVC 47 - Hot topics in animal locomotion research (4.5MB MPEG-4)Methods of locomotion vary greatly across the animal kingdom according to size, number of legs and evolutionary niche. However, it seems that there are a great many common themes between species. Here Dr Andrew Spence discusses the latest ideas in locomotion research, with particular reference to the dog... and the cockroach!

RVC 46 - Immunological Tolerance of Pregnancy in the Mare (5.7MB MPEG-4)A foetus presents an immunological, as well as a nutritional, challenge to its mother. Here Dr Mandi de Mestre describes how the equine placenta, hormonal and immune systems interact to handle these challenges and how her research is revealing the mechanisms involved.

RVC 45 - Human Filarial Diseases (7.1MB MPEG-4)Diseases caused by parasitic worms are a common problem in humans and animals, especially in the developing world. Here Dr Rachel Lawrence describes how filarial infections occur and manage to evade the immune response of the host.

RVC 44 - Surgical Treatment of Heart Valve Disease in Dogs (8.1MB MPEG-4)Heart murmurs in young dogs are a fairly frequent finding in small animal practice, but in some cases they may reflect severe congenital abnormalities. Here, Professor Dan Brockman describes the treatments available for these dogs, with particular reference to the surgical repair of pulmonic stenosis.

RVC 43 - Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses – degenerative neurological diseases of humans and dogs (5.7MB MPEG-4)Dr Claire Russell discusses the molecular basis and the clinical impact of a series of inherited degenerative neurological diseases – the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) - of humans and dogs, with particular reference to her studies aimed at identifying the genetic defects implicated and ameliorating their effects.

RVC 42 - Wildlife Reservoirs of Disease and Tuberculosis (6.1MB MPEG-4)Badgers are often blamed for the persistence of tuberculosis in cattle herds in parts of the UK. Here Dr Julian Drewe describes his research on the dynamics of UK badger populations and meerkat communities in Africa and the potential importance of this for the spread of TB within and between species.

RVC 41 - The Bovine Tuberculosis Epidemic (7.4MB MPEG-4)The prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle is increasing again in the UK. Here, Dr Steven Van Winden discusses the nature of the disease, its epidemiology and current methods of control.

RVC 40 - Virology of H1N1 Influenza (“Swine Flu”) (6.9MB MPEG-4)In our second recording on the subject of Swine Flu, Prof Colin Howard describes the nature of the influenza virus, how new strains arise so frequently and how we can ameliorate the impact of new strains through vaccination and antiviral therapy (recorded 10 September 2009).

RVC 39 - Epidemiology of H1N1 Influenza (“Swine Flu”) (6.1MB MPEG-4)The latest influenza strain, “Swine Flu”, has been making headlines around the world in 2009. Professor Katharina Stärk explains the nature of the pandemic and the threat it poses (recorded 01 September 2009).

RVC 38 - Endothelial Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease (8.1MB MPEG-4)Endothelial cells line all the blood vessels in our bodies and disease processes culminating in heart attack and stroke start with problems in these cells. Prof Caroline Wheeler-Jones explains her work examining the importance of particular enzymes and signalling pathways in the function of endothelial cells, and how these go wrong or may be protective against cardiovascular diseases.

RVC 37 - Lactation Curve Modelling in Dairy Cattle and Sheep (8.9MB MPEG-4)Maximising milk yield without sacrificing fertility is a key objective of research in the dairy industry. Here, Dr Geoff Pollott describes his methods for analysing herd productivity and discusses the implications of his findings for future cattle breeding strategies.

RVC 36 - Current and Future Trends in Veterinary Education and the Profession (8.6MB MPEG-4)In this podcast Professor Quintin McKellar, the Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, gives his perspective on the current and projected future changes taking place in veterinary education and in the profession as a whole and their potential impact in a variety of spheres of interest.

RVC 35 - New Advances in the Treatment of Epilepsy in Dogs (6.0MB MPEG-4)Epilepsy is a common condition in dogs and cats and is distressing for pet and owner alike. In this podcast, Dr Holger Volk describes the best treatments currently available for epilepsy and also gives an insight into some promising new alternatives.

RVC 34 - Emergency Medicine and Critical Care (6.6MB MPEG-4)Intensive care has long been an important facility in human hospitals. In our latest podcast, Karen Humm describes how facilities and knowledge in this area are also now being developed for our animal patients.

RVC 33 - New Imaging Modalities in Small Animal Veterinary Medicine (10.4MB MPEG-4)In the latest episode of the RVC Podcast, Veterinary Radiologist Chris Lamb describes the application of MRI and CT scanning to veterinary practice. In particular he relates the results of two of his studies which emphasise the cost-benefit analysis of their use versus more traditional diagnostic modalities.

RVC 32 - Equine Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (6.3MB MPEG-4)In the latest episode of the RVC Podcast, Dr Richard Piercy explains the pathology, diagnosis and management of exertional rhabdomyolysis, a common and debilitating muscular disease of working horses .

RVC 31 - Canine Mitral Valve Disease and Congestive Heart Failure (9.3MB MPEG-4)Adrian Boswood of the RVC’s Small Animal Cardiac referral service reviews mitral valve disease, the commonest cause of heart failure in small breed dogs, and describes the latest advances in methods of diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.

RVC 30 - The Cytoskeleton and Molecular Motors in Health and Disease (12.7MB MPEG-4)Professor Peter Chantler describes the protein structures that make up the skeleton of living cells and how they ingeniously combine to provide the means for movement of structures at the cellular and sub-cellular level.

RVC 29 - The LIVE Centre and VetConnect (8.9MB MPEG-4)In our latest podcast, Dr Kim Whittlestone and Jeff Bullock describe the role of the Lifelong Independent Veterinary Education (LIVE) Centre at the RVC and their VetConnect project - a high tech means of improving case-based clinical learning experiences for students and vets.

RVC 28 - Dietary Fatty Acids and Fertility of Humans and Animals (5.5MB MPEG-4)We’re constantly told that too much fat in our diet is bad for the health of ourselves and our animals. However it now seems that very particular types of fats are implicated in determining not only animal health but their reproductive performance. Here Dr Robert Abayasekara and Prof Claire Wathes of the Department Of Veterinary Basic Sciences at the RVC explain their work demonstrating the effect of different polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on human and animal fertility.

RVC 27 - Pathogen Evasion of The Immune System and Animal Disease (6.7MB MPEG-4)In the latest RVC podcast, Professor Dirk Werling describes the importance of the Innate Immune System in combating infection by micro-organisms and the tactics that some of these bugs use to evade these defences, with particular reference to his work on immune cell receptors in cattle.

RVC 26 - Elephant Locomotion (6.5MB MPEG-4)Dr John Hutchinson describes his high tech approaches to investigating the mechanics of how animals move, in particular how elephants walk and run, and how this relates to their unique anatomy.

RVC 25 - The Role of Mitochondria in Health and Disease (6.7MB MPEG-4)Mitochondria are cell organelles which play a critical role in energy supply in most higher organisms. But how did that role develop and how do they achieve this function? In the latest episode of the RVC Podcast Dr Michelangelo Campanella discusses these questions and relates his research findings on how poor mitochondrial function can contribute greatly to disease processes.

RVC 24 - Syringomyelia in Dogs (4.1MB MPEG-4)Syringomyelia is a serious inherited disease which affects the nervous system of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in particular. In her 2nd foray into podcasting, Dr Kate Chandler explains what to look for and what to do about it if you suspect you have a case.

RVC 23 - Epilepsy in Dogs (6.1MB MPEG-4)Fits in your four-legged friend can be a very distressing presentation for owner and vet alike. But when is this epilepsy and what can be done about it? Dr Kate Chandler of the RVC’s Small Animal Neurology referral service reveals her insights and suggests how diagnosis and treatment of this condition are improving.

RVC 22 - Deer Antlers and Tissue Regeneration (14.6MB MPEG-4)I’m sure everyone has stopped to admire the impressive sight of a stag during the rut. But what is the biology underlying the phenomenon of annual antler growth and shedding? Professor Jo Price explains and describes her research into the mechanisms of this unusual example of mammalian tissue regeneration.

RVC 21 - Equine Herpesvirus (21.3MB MPEG-4)So why is it necessary to get your horse vaccinated? In this podcast Professors Josh Slater and Ken Smith discuss the features and diagnosis of the common disease syndromes caused by Equine Herpesvirus infection and how ongoing research is yielding valuable information about means of preventing them. [Mark Cleasby takes over the interviewing duties from Matthias Kleinz]

RVC 20 - Atopic Dermatitis: When only scratching seems to help (17.8MB MPEG-4)Itching is a real nuisance both for animals and humans. No matter whether your dog is affected, if you see 'itchy' dogs every day in the clinics or are merely interested in the topic, this podcast interview with Dr Anke Hendricks, Lecturer in Veterinary Dermatology at the RVC, will provide you with a wealth of information on atopic dermatitis, one of the most common causes of itchy skin. [Apologies for the delay in publishing this latest episode of the RVC Podcast]

RVC 19 - Aging and the Immune System (13.0MB MPEG-4)Everyone is aware that crows feet, aching joints and forgetfulness are the signs of aging. And not even our animal friends are safe from the grey hairs of old age. But if you have not heard about immunosenesence before, then you should listen to this podcast, where Dr Donald Palmer explains the processes and importance of aging in the immune system.

RVC 18 - Chronic Enteropathies (13.4MB MPEG-4)Have you heard about Chronic Enteropathies before, but don't quite know what they do and how they may be treated? In this week's RVC podcast, Dr Karin Allensbach talks to us about the latest clinical approaches to Chronic Enteropathies and about a new drug which may help to treat this condition in dogs and is currently under investigation in clinical trials at the Queen Mother Hospital.

RVC 17 - Bluetongue Disease 3 (9.5MB MPEG-4)In the last of our series of podcasts on bluetongue we will be talking to Katharina Stärk, Professor for Veterinary Public Health at the Royal Veterinary College, about the importance of midges in the transmission of bluetongue and how novel surveillance strategies in the future may help to prevent the spread of the disease.

RVC 16 - Bluetongue Disease 2 (10.2MB MPEG-4)Did the last RVC podcast trigger your interest in Bluetongue disease? Then listen to the new episode, where Prof Joe Brownlie explains why we are still waiting for a vaccine to protect lifestock from serotype 8.

RVC 15 - Bluetongue Disease 1 (20.8MB MPEG-4)If you think that Bluetongue is the latest trend in body art, then you are are on the wrong track!To find out about the real importance of this viral animal disease, listen to this RVC Podcast, an interview with Yoav Alony Gilboa who works in the RVC farm animal practice and shares with us his knowledge as well as pictures of bluetongue disease in ruminants.

RVC 14 - VETAID (11.0MB MPEG-4)Have you ever been wondering if the efforts of Médecins Sans Frontières in providing development and emergency aid to developing countries are matched by the veterinary profession? At least since Nick Short co-founded VETAID, the British daughter organisation of the European Vétérinaires Sans Frontières, vets from the UK have actively been trying to help the lives of thousands of Africans by helping them improve the health of the animals they live with. Listen to the podcast to find out more about the work of VETAID and the ways that everyone can help to make a difference.

RVC 13 - FMD (10.3MB MPEG-4)Have you ever wondered why the veterinary authorities in the UK fight the current outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the way that they do? Then listen to our interview with Prof Brian Aldridge, who has been talking to us about the nature of the disease, the current strategies in fighting FMD and why these strategies have changend since the large outbreak in 2001.

RVC 12 - Strangles (15.6MB MPEG-4)Strangles, a respiratory infection of horses caused by Streptococcus equi bacteria, was acknowledged as a major threat when horses were still used for work and transportation. Despite reduced awareness of strangles, this threat still remains, but recent research shows that it can be contained much more successfully now compared to a century ago. To find out more, listen to our interview with Professors Josh Slater and Ken Smith, who will provide an interesting insight into the pathogenesis, prevalence and possible prevention of Streptococcus equi infections in horses.

RVC 11 - Fetal Programming (17.5MB MPEG-4)You know that smoking and drinking during pregnancy is bad for the baby, but think that a sweet treat can’t be that bad? After all the mother is eating for two… Well, think again! The latest findings made by Stephanie Bayol and Neil Stickland at the RVC’s Department of Basic Science show that a junk food diet does not only impair the development of the fetus in the womb, but may teach the offspring a preference for these sweet and fatty treats. So inheritance is not just about the genes, it is also about the environment. And the prenatal environment seems to be of particular importance when inheriting feeding habits, at least in the rat.

RVC 10 - Kidney Disease (12.3MB MPEG-4)If you are interested in the latest advances in the management of cats with kidney disease, then listen to this weeks interview with Dr Harriet Syme, who is a Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine at The Royal Veterinary College. And what better way would there be to celebrate the 10th episode of the RVC podcast than to introduce some new features to our format? To make sure we get our point across, we have included supporting diagrams and all of Dr Syme's recommendations as visual materials which can be viewed on screen or on your video iPod. Enjoy!

RVC 09 - BVD/MD (7.1MB MPEG-4)You have no idea what BVD/MD stands for? Then this podcast is made for you. But Professors Joe Brownlie and Dirk Werling will also be able to give those who have heard about Bovine Viral Diarrhoea and Mucosal Disease before an insight into how their work will transform the strategies to fight this major disease in the livestock sector and how it might even have implications for human medicine.

RVC 08 - MRI (4.7MB MPEG-4)Have you ever wondered how Magnetic Resonance Imaging really works? Then listen to Dr Pete Mantis MRCVS, a Lecturer in Diagnostic Imaging at the RVC, who will explain how clinical imaging in veterinary medicine is changing more than 100 years after Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen received his Nobel Prize for the discovery of X-rays.

RVC 07 - Tuberculosis (3.8MB MPEG-4)Hear how Prof Neil Stoker and his research group are trying to find new ways to treat bovine and human tuberculosis.

RVC 06 - Animal Welfare (3.7MB MPEG-4)Christopher Wathes is the head of the BBSRC Centre for Animal Welfare at the Royal Veterinary College. Listen to his ideas how research may improve animal welfare and find out what the mission of the Centre for Animal Welfare is.

RVC 05 - Equine Stem Cells (6.9MB MPEG-4)Stem cells have been making big waves in science recently. Listen to this episode of the RVC Podcast to find out how Roger Smith, Professor of Equine Surgery at the RVC, is planning to use innovative stem cell research in order to improve the treatment of tendon disease in horses.

RVC 04 - Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) (9.0MB MPEG-4)Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a fatal disease of domestic poultry posing only a small risk to humans. Nevertheless, bird flu is permanently in the news, and causes widespread public concern. Join the RVC’s Professor Dirk Pfeiffer and Dr Matthias Kleinz, as they discuss the latest findings on how avian influenza spreads and which measures might prevent a much feared pandemic.

RVC 03 - Equine Laminitis (9.2MB MPEG-4)Find out how the RVC's Professor Jonathan Elliot and Dr Patricia Harris from the Waltham Centre of Pet Nutrition are pushing the frontiers in equine laminitis.For further laminitis literature and information on feeds for horses suffering from laminitis visit:

• Spillers International Symposia Proceedingshttp://www.spillers-feeds.com/en-gb/united-kingdom/header-bottom/nutrition-area/the-science-behind-spillers/international-symposia/
• Spillers Leisure Feeds rangehttp://www.spillers-feeds.com/en-gb/united-kingdom/header-bottom/products-and-stockists/leisure-range/
• Winergy Equilibrium Horse Feeding guide (PDF)http://www.winergy.com/docs/feeding_lsure_hrse.pdf

RVC 02 - Infertility in High Yielding Dairy Cows (3.6MB MPEG-4)Hear what Professors Claire Wathes and Martin Sheldon are doing to solve the dilemma of infertility in high yielding dairy cows.

RVC 01 - Improving Clinical Care of Diabetic Cats and Dogs(3.7MB MPEG-4)Listen to Prof David Church and Dr Brian Catchpole sharing their experiences on improving the clinical care of diabetic cats and dogs.