Free-roaming dog control among OIE-member countries.

A questionnaire was distributed to the state veterinary services of all 172 OIE countries to collect data on the different national approaches to dog population control. We used all 81 completed questionnaires with ≥80% of the question answered to identify the different national approaches to the issue. The intensity of the free-roaming dog (FRD) problem was negatively correlated with the value of the UN's human development index recognized for each country. Dog bites/attacks and rabies were the main problems associated with FRDs, and these problems were reported disproportionately by less-developed countries. Dog-control programs (DCP) were more widely used among the more-developed countries. In less-developed countries, DCPs (when they existed at all) tended to employ killing methods (including poisoned baits), that are not recommended on animal-welfare grounds.

OIE guidelines on dog population control.

At the 73rd General Session the OIE decided to develop guidance for Members on humane methods for the control of stray animal populations. In 2006, an ad hoc Group was convened under the leadership of the OIE Permanent Animal Welfare Working Group. With valuable assistance from the OIE Collaborating Centre on Animal Welfare, a Questionnaire was developed and sent to OIE Members, of which 81 countries submitted responses. In light of this information, the ad hoc Group prepared a first draft report, which notes the importance of controlling stray dog populations to help prevent zoonotic diseases and non-disease related nuisances to society and the environment. In choosing the preferred method of control, the risks to operators must be taken into account, as well as religious, cultural and economic contexts of the country concerned. Depending on the situation, methods requiring individual animal restraint or methods for use at a distance may be recommended. While activities that aim to physically reduce the numbers of stray dogs are important, achievement of the long term goals of dog population control and avoidance of risks to human health depends on the education of dog owners and the general public as to their responsibilities. The draft report notes that sub-national jurisdictions are often those responsible for the control of stray dog populations. The key role played by non-governmental organisations in stray dog management in many countries is acknowledged. The draft report emphasises that the close involvement of veterinarians and of official Veterinary Services, working in collaboration with public health authorities, is necessary to realise long term goals.

[Animal health policies and practices in the Americas: preliminary study]. / Políticas y prácticas de bienestar animal en los países de América: estudio preliminar.

The Americas have a large population of farm animals, mostly for export. There are diverse production systems distributed over an extensive and varied geography, which hampers efforts to respond to the demands of the different markets. This study provides an overview of the elements influencing animal welfare implementation, such as the requirements of importing countries, the requirements of private agents, the demands of producers and manufacturers, quality promotion policies, the demands of the community, the recommendations of reference bodies and the results of applied research. To explore the level of animal welfare development in the countries of the region, a detailed case study was made of Chile, in addition to a survey of the Member Countries of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in the Americas. An analysis was made of progress with the issues considered by the OIE as priorities, namely humane slaughter for human consumption, transport and killing for disease control purposes. Furthermore, the study considers various aspects of production which the OIE has not included up to now. It also explores the status of research and producer and consumer perceptions of the issue. The results reveal that the level of development and implementation of animal welfare differs from one country to another. While the adoption of animal welfare regulations certainly relates to all the above-mentioned aspects, the one which appears to have the most impact is the export of livestock products to certain markets. Although there is great interest in improving animal welfare conditions, this calls for the general characteristics of animal husbandry in the various countries to be taken into account. While some livestock production in the Americas follows world patterns, many countries still find it difficult to integrate good animal welfare practices, owing to specific geographical, social and cultural situations that are reflected in local livestock development rationales.

Miopatía del cuadriceps: una forma de distrofia focal tardía en un caso / Quadriceps myopathy: a from of late focal dystrophy

A 62 years old male with a slowly progressive focal myopathy is presented. He had noticed weakness in the lower limbs of 3 years and weakness in the upper limbs for 1 year. He had bilateral atrophy of quadriceps and biceps muscles, absence of knee jerks and hypertrophy of the calves. Needle EMG showed myopathic motor units. Hystological study was compatible with muscular distrophy. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patient are in keeping with what has been described as quadriceps myopathy as a form of a muscular dystrophy

Distrofia miotónica neonatal / Neonatal myotonic dystrophy

Los EEG de 158 progenitores con epilepsia y actividad paroxística generalizada (APG) fueron comparados, inter e intrafamiliarmente, con los de sus 276 hijos de 0 a 19 años de edad. Se denominó APG a la presencia de actividad paroxística alfa, beta, theta, delta, grupos de ondas de 3 a 4 cps., disrritmia paroxística y ondas escarpadas (Steile Wellen). El 33% de los hijos presentaron como sus progenitores APG y el 44,3% de las familias resultaron ser "semejantes", es decir, tenían al menos un hijo con APG. El 5% de los hijos tuvo un EEG diferente al de sus progenitores y el 3,8% de las familias fueron "diferentes". Tanto el sexo de los progenitores como el de sus hijos no fue una variable de significación en la ocurrencia de semejanzas o diferencias electroencefalográficas. Se discuten los resultados destacando que debido a la ausencia de estudios similares al nuestro y a las dificultades metodológicas de este tipo de trabajo, ellos deben quedar sometidos a su confirmación o rechazo en futuras investigaciones

Bases diagnosticas para una programacion infantil en consultorio. / Diagnostic bases of a programming for an out patient care of children

Se trata de un estudio historico prospectivo en 315 lactantes atendidos en un consultorio periferico hasta cumplir por lo menos 2 anos de vida. Se describen por una parte, caracteristicas biologicas y socio-economicas del nino y su grupo familiar y por otra parte se describe las actividades de salud entregadas a estos lactantes a nivel del consultorio periferico. Los resultados del trabajo contribuyen a orientar la programacion y sugieren nuevas lineas de investigacion en atencion medica

Estructura de la morbilidad del lactante en la atencion primaria. / Structure of morbidity of infant in primary health care

Se estudia la ficha clinica del total de lactantes ingresados a un consultorio periferico en el curso de un ano y seguidos por espacio de 2 anos. Se analiza la estructura de morbilidad de estos ninos en terminos de la importancia relativa de los distintos grupos de causas y de su incidencia. Se establecen 3 grupos de lactantes con distinto grado de utilizacion de la consulta de morbilidad y se estudia su patron de consultas por causa. Se concluye que la revision de la ficha clinica tiene ventajas metodologicas sobre el uso de la hoja de estadistica diaria. Se insiste en la utilidad de mantener informacion actualizada sobre incidencia de enfermedades en el nino a nivel de atencion primaria