SUPPLEMENT TO THE JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES 

 Visit the WDA website at: http://www.vpp.vet.uga.edu/wda

 Presidents's Corner
     As I sit looking out my office window at the tiny piece of "natural" prairie that was recreated on the property where the National Wildlife Health Center is located in Madison, Wisconsin, I am amazed and at the same time pleased that a few wildlife species try to survive in this fragmented habitat that is contained on all sides by apartments, houses, and highways.   A white-tailed deer raised her fawn here this year and I enjoyed watching it lazily feed among the high grasses and shrubs.  A red fox frequently saunters by my window looking for prey and occasionally looks in to see what is going on in that strange human habitat.  I am gratified that we are doing something to help protect some of these valuable wildlife and plant species, but also realize that our efforts are inadequate.

     I attended the National Wildlife Refuge Managers conference of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October and watched them celebrate their system of 514 wildlife refuges that preserve habitats throughout the United States.   Recent increased funding will allow them to strengthen and unify the refuge system and develop comprehensive conservation plans for each refuge.  I also recently interacted with staff from the Nature Conservancy and was encouraged that some environmental groups strive to protect and preserve crucial habitats and imperiled lands in partnership with government and non-government organizations instead of just engaging in advocacy.  All of these efforts to specifically protect habitats, no matter how small, make a significant contribution to our overall conservation.  When we visit these refuges and other protected sites, we are reminded that in the most part they are fragmented ecosystems.  They can sustain a variety of organisms but many sites need the cooperation of the surrounding land owners to provide protection for clean water sources and provide additional habitat resources, particularly for fish, large mammals and migratory birds.  Partnerships with the private agricultural sector will be crucial to expand the protective zone for these species, as is being attempted in the state of Washington to provide higher quality and more extensive spawning grounds for Pacific salmon.

    We should be cautious in thinking that these protected lands contain natural and stable ecosystems capable of withstanding major fluctuations and perturbations with the ability to fully recover. Some animal populations living there may not be as resilient.  Large mortality events caused by diseases or contaminants have had dramatic impacts on waterfowl populations at refuges, on mammal populations at National Parks, and on fish and amphibian populations at refuges, parks, and lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.  Major die-offs of pelicans and cormorants from bacterial toxins and viruses have occurred at the Salton Sea,  viruses appear to be causing massive die-offs of salamanders in North America, and some unknown contaminant is killing American coots and Bald Eagles at several protected Arkansas lakes.  As wildlife disease specialists, we need to remain vigilant to help resource managers protect and manage the wild species that live and use these cherished sites and help them investigate mortality events or population declines and identify and reduce those factors that limit healthy populations.  When we interact with the resource managers we should consider the comments and suggestions presented during the forum, "Is Wildlife Disease Research Meeting the Needs of Resource Agencies", at the 1998 WDA conference as described in the last issue of the Supplement.
Robert G. McLean, WDA President
 

 WDA ACTIVITIES

1999 WDA Conference.  The 48th Annual Conference of the WDA will be held August 8-12, 1999, at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education on the University of Georgia Campus in Athens Georgia, USA.  The meeting will be sponsored by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study with the assistance of several other departments at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia.  The Editorial Board and WDA Council will meet on Sunday, August 8, prior to the beginning of the Conference.  A welcoming reception will be held on Sunday evening at the Georgia Center.  The general sessions will begin on Monday, August 9, 1999 highlighted by a Symposium on International Issues in Rabies Re-Emergence hosted in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia.  An additional symosium on the future of the wildlife disease profession will build on last year's symposium "Are Wildlife Disease Specialists Meeting the Needs of Resource Agnecies?"  Contributed papers begin on Monday and continue through Thursday afternoon.  Social events will include the usual Monday evening picnic and the ever-popular auction on Tuesday evening.  The banquet and awards presentations will be held on Wednesday evening.

     We have set up an electronic mailbox to correspond with you for general information (WDAmail@calc.vet.uga.edu) and abstract submission (abstract@calc.vet.uga.edu) or you can contact Charlotte Quist, Local Arrangements Chair, at the Athens Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.  Phone: (706) 542-5349; Fax: (706) 542-5977; Email: CQUIST@ADL300.VET.UGA.EDU.  For additional information on the meeting and the University of Georgia, visit the WDA webpage at http://www.vpp.vet.uga.edu/wda.  We will be adding detailed information about the WDA meeting to this home page in the near future, including a meeting outline, area accommodations, and other items of interest.

Call for Papers.  Requests to contribute a paper at the 1999 WDA conference, as well as the accompanying abstracts, should be received no later than May 17, 1999.  Please send the abstract via electronic mail to the Program Chair at: abstract@calc.vet.uga.edu.  If electronic mailing is not possible, please send a copy of your abstract in ASCII format on a computer diskette along with your printed copy to the Program Chair at the address below.  Please include the names and complete addresses for all authors on the abstract and underline the individual presenting the paper, following the format of the attached sample abstract.  Indicate whether you prefer to present your paper during a platform session, as a poster presentation, or if either option is acceptable.  Abstracts of papers being submitted for the student competition should be clearly identified as such, and a copy also submitted to the Chairman of the Student Activities Committee (see Student Activities announcement).
     Oral presentations will be limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.  A presentation of approximately 12 minutes is recommended to allow time for questions and discussion at the end of each presentation.  In fairness to others, please plan for the time allotted.  Carousel 2 x 2 inch slide projectors will be provided.  Slides should be given to the projectionist at the beginning of your session.  It is the author's responsibility to have the slides loaded into the carousel correctly.  If other audiovisual equipment is needed, please request these when the abstract is submitted.

     Submit abstracts to the Program Chair, Dr. John Fischer at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 USA.  Phone: (706) 542-1741; Fax (706) 542-5685.  Abstract Email: abstract@calc.vet.uga.edu.  Program chair email: jfischer@calc.vet.uga.edu

Sample Abstract
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF WINTER TICK, DERMACENTOR ALBIPICTUS, SURVIVAL IN ALASKA.
RANDALL L. ZARNKE, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701; AL FRANZMANN, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 3150, Soldotna, Alaska 99669; RICHARD BARRETT, State-Federal Animal Health Lab, P.O. Box 1088, Palmer, Alaska 99645; and W. M. SAMUEL, Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9.

 Dermacentor albipictus is an ectoparasite of both wild and domestic animals in North America.  It is a serious pest of moose in western Canada causing, among other things, premature loss of winter hair.  Historically, 60? North Latitude has been accepted as the northern range limit of D. albipictus and this tick is not known from Alaska.  Weather's effect on survival of tick stages off the moose (i.e., over summer) is thought to be important in determining population fluctuation and, possibly, distribution of D. albipictus.  Because minimum temperature and rainfall requirements for survival and propagation of D. albipictus may be met in parts of Alaska, and as the potential for tick introduction rises, engorged adult female D. albipictus from Alberta, Canada, were placed in tick-proof cages near Fairbanks (central), Palmer, and Soldotna (southern), Alaska.  Females laid eggs at all 3 locations.  Eggs subsequently hatched at Fairbanks and Palmer, but not at Soldotna.  Cooler microhabitat conditions are believed responsible for the eggs not hatching at Soldotna.  These results suggest that this parasite could survive and propagate in Alaska if introduced into the State.  Strict enforcement of existing domestic animal importation regulations will hopefully prevent such an introduction.

WDA Awards nominations.  Greetings fellow WDA members!  The Awards Committee (Scott Wright, Ted Leighton, and Randy Zarnke) is actively soliciting your help in obtaining nominations for this year's awards.  We are asking that you please offer nominees for the Distinguished Service and Emeritus awards.  The Distinguished Service Award is the Association's highest award honoring an active member for their outstanding contributions in science, education, and other activities including participation in WDA affairs.  The Emeritus Award honors a member, retired from their profession, that has made significant contributions to the study of wildlife diseases.
 In order to help members make nominations, the Committee is providing this table of the recipients of the Distinguished Service and Emeritus Awards:
          Distinguished Service    Emeritus    __________________________________________________________________
1969  Carlton M. Herman         None
1970  Stanislaus Snieszko        Carl O. Mohr
1971  Lars H. Karstad              Carlton M. Herman
1972  Archie McDiarmid         A. Murray Fallis
1973  Daniel O. Trainer           None
1974  Harold N. Johnson          None
1975  David E. Davis               William Jellison
1976  Glenn L. Hoffman            None
1977  Joan Budd                       Joan Budd
1978  Roy C. Anderson            David E. Davis
1979  John W. Davis                None
1980  Leslie A. Page                Merton N. Rosen
1981  Charles P. Hibler           Archibald B. Cowan
1982  None                               None
1983  Robert L. Rausch            Wayne I. Jensen
1984  Louis N. Locke                Leslie A. Page
1985  Barry Mundy                   Karl Borg
1986  Donald J. Forrester         L. Dale Fay
1987  Milton Friend                  Ken Wolf
1988  Annie K. Prestwood        Frank A. Hayes
1989  Thomas M. Yuill             John H. Arundel
1990  None                                None
1991  Danny B. Pence               Lars H. Karstad
1992  Emmett B. Shotts, Jr.       None
1993  Edward M. Addison        Roy C. Anderson
1994  Gary A. Wobeser             Louis N. Locke
1995  Werner P. Heuschele       Rudolph Ippen
          Victor F. Nettles
1996  E. Thomas Thorne           Albert Franzmann
          Elizabeth Williams
1997  Richard G. Botzler          Daniel  O. Trainer
1998  William R. Davidson      Edward M. Addison

 To nominate a member (past or present) please send a written (or electronic) letter of nomination to any of the committee members: Scott Wright (wright_s@epic7.dep.state.fl.us), Ted Leighton (leighton@sask.usask.ca), Randy Zarnke (rzarnke@fishgame.state.ak.us).  Nominations must be made by March 15, 1999 for your nominee to be considered for an award!  Please send nominations via snail express to: Scott Wright, Florida Marine Research Institute, 100 8th Avenue, SE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA.  Please include a copy of the nominees CV along with your nomination letter.  Thank you!

Nominations for WDA Offices, 1999.  Nominations are being sought for WDA President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two council members-at-large.   Nominations should be made in writing by three WDA members and should be submitted by March 15, 1999 to Cathleen Hanlon, Nominations Committee Chair, CDC mailstop G33, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 USA.  Telephone: (404) 639-1071; email: cfh8@cdc.gov
 

 WDA Student Awards.  The Wildlife Disease Association offers several awards to encourage students to participate in the Association and the annual conference, and to recognize outstanding student research.  Students are defined as undergraduate or graduate students in teh basic or veterinary sciences, and veterinary interns or residents.  Potential recipients must be members of the Wildlife Disease Association or must apply for membership at the time of application for the award.  Student supervisors are encouraged to bring these awards to the attention of their students well in advance of the deadlines.  The following awards are available:

1) Terry Amundson Student Presentation Award.  This award recognizes the best student paper presented at the annual conference.  The award is based on scientific content of the research and the quality of the presentation.  The winner receives a plaque, $100 US, and a conference registration fee rebate.  In addition, up to three students reciee Honourable Mention, which includes a plaque and a conference registration fee rebate.
    Students wishing to be considered for this award should submit an abstract by June 1, 1999, to the Program Chair of the 1999 Annual Meeting of the WDA (see "Call for Papers" elsewhere in this issue) and a copy of this abstract to Ellis Greiner, Chairman of the WDA Student Activities Committee, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32511 USA.  Telephone: (352) 392-4700 ext 5861.  FAX: (352) 392-9704.  Email: greinere@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu

2) Student Research Recognition Award.  This award is given to the student judged to have the best research project in the field of wildlife disease, based on written communication and scientific achievement.  The winner receies a plaque and up to $1000 US to cover travel, housing, registration, etc. related to the annual conference.  The student will be the featured presenter during the Student Presentation Session at the conference.
    Applicants should submit a summary (6-10 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font) of their project, which must include an abstract (maximum 200 words), rationale for the study, objectives and hypotheses, experimental design, methods, results, and conclusions.  Also required is a short statement indicating how the research relates to WDA objectives (see inside back cover of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases) and a letter of support from the faculty advisor indicating the degree of student involvement in the planning and execution of the research project.  Applications should be submitted by April 15, 1999, to Ellis Greiner at the above address.

3) Wildlife Disease Association Scholarship.  This scholarship acknowledges outstanding academic and research accomplishment, commitment, and potential in pursuit of new knowledge in wildlife disease (or 'health').  The scholarship has a value of $2000 US and is awarded annually to an outstanding student who is pursuing a master's or doctoral degree specializing in research on wildlife disease.  To be considered, the candidate should:

* possess an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to a four-year baccalaureate degree.  Applicants with first-class     standing (ie grade point average above 3.5 in 4.0 system, 80% in percentage system, with B+ or better) will receive priority;
*be committed to leadership, scholarship, and service in the wildlife disease profession.

Applicants should submit:

*one copy of all relevant transcripts.  Transcripts can be official (i.e., with the imprint of the official seal of the institution and the signature of the responsible university officer) or copies signed by the student's faculty advisor;
*up to three letters of support, including a letter from the student's faculty advisor, that address the following specific abilities of the applicant:  academic achievement, scholarly promise, research ability, verbal and writing skills, industriousness, leadership abilities, judgement and potential for contribution to the field of wildlife disease;
*evidence of superior scholastic achievement (course work, scholarships);
*evidence of potential or achievement in research (publications, publication awards, invitations to present);
*other evidenceof distinction OR commendation (letters, accomplishments).

The award is non-renewable and can be received only once by a given candidate.  Applications must be submitted by April 15, 1999, to: Ellis Greiner, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32511 USA.

 MEMBER NEWS
Dr. Alonso Aguirre, Recipient of the Harry Jalanka Memorial Medal Award
     Harry Jalanka DVM, PhD (19 April 1951-26 March 1993) worked as a veterinarian in the Helsinki Zoo.  He was also a professor of wildlife medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki. In his work, Dr. Jalanka always aimed at improving and maintaining the welfare of animals. He developed excellent new methods for the handling, sedation and anesthesia of zoo and wild animals. He treated diseased animals with extreme skill and patience.

     To commemorate Dr. Jalanka, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Helsinki Zoo, and Orion-Farmos Pharmaceuticals have struck a medal.  The first silver plated medal was presented to Kristiina Kontio-Jalanka DVM, 8 July 1993.  Following medals will be distributed to persons or communities distinguished in research or in activities close to the life's work of Dr. Jalanka.
     The medal with a conjoining award is given to a young scientist as the recognition of a distinguished achievement in zoo and wildlife medicine or in promoting the health and welfare of wild animals and his/her contribution to the field with new techniques or methods to improve animal health. The medal and the award are to be distributed internationally. The motifs of the medal are the auk (Alca torda), a bird of the northern seas, and the sailboat, imaging Dr. Jalanka's main hobby and motto 'Navigare necesse est'.  The criteria for the Award include: 1) Someone early in his/her career, approximately 35-45 years old; 2) Someone who has contributed to the application or discovery of new technologies or therapeutics which benefit
captive or free ranging wildlife; 3) The information produced by the nominees has been published in peer reviewed journals; 4) The candidate has conducted research and teaching at the international level; and 5) The nominees should also reflect, in their research, the high standards established by Dr. Harry Jalanka.

     Dr. Alonso Aguirre was selected as the second recipient of this international award for his outstanding achievement on wildlife management and conservation medicine at the international level, during The American Association of Zoo Veterinarians and American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians meeting held at Omaha, Nebraska October 1998. The selection committee felt the Dr. Aguirre's accomplishments and current endeavors exemplify the type of accomplishments that Dr. Jalanka strived for in his efforts to expand the field of zoo and wildlife medicine.

     Dr. Alonso Aguirre is Wildlife Preservation Trust International's Field Wildlife Veterinarian, based at the Center for Conservation Medicine in Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.  He obtained his D.V.M. at Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico, and holds M.S. in wildlife epidemiology and Ph.D. in wildlife biology and park management from Colorado State University.  Following a two-year faculty appointment at Oregon State University working with wildlife-domestic animal disease interactions in national parks, he returned to CSU as assistant professor.  There, he developed research on sea turtle diseases with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), ecosystem health and biological diversity training and research with Smithsonian Institution, and wildlife field anesthesia trials with Wildlife Laboratories, Inc.  More recently, he acted as the veterinary medical officer for NMFS Protected Species Investigation Honolulu Laboratory extensively working on health assessment and disease monitoring of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and continued his long-term research on marine turtle diseases.  Alonso has extensive international experience and continuously conducts wildlife management and conservation courses in Latin America, Europe and the United States and has edited and published more than 87 professional papers, monographs and proceedings.  He is the WDA Latin American Section Chair, and is active in many professional organizations including the AAWV, AAZV, IAAAM, IUCN SSC Veterinary Specialist Group, WAWV, The Wildlife Society and the Society for Conservation Biology, among others. Dr. Aguirre's professional interests include conservation medicine, veterinary management of endangered species, epidemiologic research, ecosystem health and international training.
Contributed by Dr. Colin Gillin, Tufts University
 

HAPPENINGS IN THE FIELD

1998 Hemorrhagic Disease Outbreaks.  During the late summer and fall of 1998, the United States experienced a widespread outbreak of hemorrhagic disease of deer, which is caused by either epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) or bluetongue virus.  The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at the University of Georgia reported that extensive morbidity and mortality was seen in free-ranging and captive deer in many states including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.  Deer enclosures reported mortality exceeding 90%.  According to Dr. David Stallknecht of SCWDS, most viral isolates were EHDV serotype 2, but bluetongue virus also was isolated in some parts of the country.

     Though unusual, it appears that cattle also were infected by EHDV this year.  Illness in cattle has been reported in several states including Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, resulting in involvement of state and federal livestock officials.  Serologic testing of convalescent cattle has revealed antibodies to EHDV.  In the past, EHDV infections of cattle have not been well-documented but clinical disease in cattle has been previously reported in Colorado, Indiana, Oregon, Tennessee and West Virginia.  Clinical signs in cattle generally include fever, lameness, and oral erosions.  Mortality in cattle is rare in North America, but in Japan in 1959, a strain of EHDV called Ibaraki virus caused morbidity in approximately 39,000 cattle and mortality of 10%.  This outbreak demonstrates that particularly virulent strains of EHDV can cause disease in cattle, and EHDV and bluetongue virus should be considered as disease agents in cattle, especially when concurrent outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease are seen in deer.   Abstracted from SCWDS Briefs, Vol. 14(3).

Pan-American Veterinary Conference.  In November of 1998, almost 1500 veterinarians gathered in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for the annual PANVET (Pan-American Veterinary) Congress.  For the first time, a special symposium on wildlife was included.  The symposium concluded with the establishment of the Latin American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, the culmination of the efforts of key organizers including Drs. Marcela Uhart of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Hugo (Oscar) Rendon of the Bolivian National Parks and Wildlife, Christian Bonacic from the Chilean Forestry Department, and Jose Mauricio Barbanti of the Brazilian Wildlife Veterinary Association (ABRAVAS).  This new group provides a regional forum for exchanging information critically needed for wildlife health management.  To facilitate communications, ABRAVAS has kindly provided the use of its internet website and bulletin board service.  For more information on
participating in this new association, please contact Dr. Oscar Rendon at orendon@snap.rds.org.bo
Contributed by William B. Karesh, Wildlife Conservation Society

Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Working Group on Wildlife Diseases Report.  A meeting of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) working group on wildlife diseases was held in Paris, France, on 7-9 October 1997.  Members of the working group included Dr. Marc Artois (France), Dr. Roy Bengis (South Africa), Dr. V. V. Berezin (Russia), Dr. Torsten Morner (Sweden), Dr. Vic Nettles (United States), and Dr. Mike Woodford (President).  The group compiled a report on List A and B diseases from their various regions of the world to the OIE.  In addition to many endemic or long-standing diseases in many parts of the world, the group identified a list of emerging and reemerging diseases in wildlife. "Emerging diseases" were defined as infections that have newly appeared in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence, host range and or geographic distribution.  The OIE working group considers that the following infections or diseases in wildlife to fulfill this definition.

 Calicivirus: rabbit haemorrhagic disease
 Morbilliviruses: rinderpest, canine distemper and marine mammal morbillivirus infections
 Lyssaviruses: pteropid lyssavirus and European bat rabies virus
 Picornaviruses: encephalomyocarditis
 Paramyxoviruses: Newcastle disease
 Bovine tuberculosis: many species
 Brucellosis: marine mammals and other wild mammals
 Sarcoptic mange
 Old world screwworm (southwest Asia)
 Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy/chronic wasting disease agents
 Abstracted from the OIE Report.  For further information, contact the OIE or Marc Artois, Director Adjoint, Laboratoire d'Etudes sur la Rage et la Pathologie des Animaux Sauvages, CNEVA Nancy, BP 9, 54220 Malzeville, France (telephone +33 3 83 29 89 50; fax + 33 3 83 29 89 59; e-mail, marc.artois@nancy.cneva.fr).
 

NWHC QUARTERLY MORTALITY REPORT
     Avian botulism mortality in migratory water birds peaked during late summer and early fall.    Mortality confirmed or suspected to be due to botulism was reported to the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) from more than 50 sites in 15 states by wildlife personnel from both federal and state agencies.  The greatest number of botulism outbreaks occurred in North Dakota and the greatest number of dead birds were collected in that state.  Avian botulism occurred at many sites in the Prairie Pothole area of North and South Dakota where botulism outbreaks have not been reported for several years.  Avian botulism occurred for a second year in Illinois at the Chautauqua NWR where the majority of the 2,600 dead birds collected were green and blue-winged teal.  In the other states, a wide variety of avian species were collected during outbreaks including 16 species of waterfowl, five species of shorebirds, five species of wading birds, grebes, coots, gulls and pelicans.  The highest mortality occurred in the dabbling ducks such as mallards, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, northern pintail, northern shoveler, gadwall and American wigeon.  However, many birds could not be identified to species because of decomposition.  The total mortality reported to NWHC from botulism outbreaks was about 98,000 birds.
 

AVAILABLE PULICATIONS AND AUDIOVISUALS
Chronic Wasting Disease Video:  Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurologic disease of deer and elk caused by infectious proteins or "prions".  Diseases caused by prions are often referred to as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.  This video informs viewers about this transmissible encephalopathy of cervids, describes and demonstrates the appearance of animals with CWD, and explains how to collect appropriate samples for diagnosis of the disease.
     The video was produced by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in cooperation with the University of Wyoming, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.  It was produced for the Western Wildlife Cooperative of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.  The video is 13 minutes long and costs $10.00 U.S. per copy plus $4.00 U.S. per shipment for shipping and handling.  To order, contact: Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Attention: AE, 5400 Bishop Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82006 USA. Telephone: (307) 777-4570.

Bulletin d'Information sur la Pathologie des Animaux Sauvages en France (BIPAS).  Volume 18 of BIPAS has been recently published.  It contains the 1997 SAGIR (Surveillance Sanitaire de la Faune Sauvage) report on wildlife diseases in France.  Others topics include Aujeszky’s disease in hunting dogs, new locations for the bat tick (Argas transgariepinus) tick in France and Morrocco, a case of dwarfism in a ringed seal (Phoca hispida), the population decline of amphibians and a raccoon that survived in a container for six weeks!  Copies may be obtained from Marc Artois, Laboratoire d'Etudes sur la Rage et la Pathologie des Animaux Sauvages, CNEVA Nancy, BP 9, 54220 Malzeville, France.  Telephone: +33 3 83 29 89 50; FAX: +33 3 83 29 89 59; e-mail: marc.artois@nancy.cneva.fr.
 

NEWS FROM AUSTRALASIA
The Australasian Annual Conference was held in July, 1998.  The new Chairperson is Lee Skerratt, Veterinary Clinical Centre, Princes Hwy, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Telephone: 61 3 9742 8330, Fax: 61 3 9741 0401, Email: skerratt@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au. The Treasurer is Cree Monaghan, Perth Zoological Gardens, PO Box 489, South Perth, WA 6151, Telephone: 61 8 9474 0324, Fax: 61 8 9474 0390, Email: cree.monaghan@perthzoo.wa.gov.au. The Secretary is Kate Bodley, Royal Melbourne Zoo, Elliott Ave., Parkville, Victoria 3052, Telephone: 61 3 9285 9431, Fax: 61 3 9285 9349, Email: vetmz@zoo.org.au.  The Executive Member is Lee Berger, AAHL, Ryrie St., Geelong, Victoria 3220, Telephone: 61 3 5227 5000, Email: lee@aahl.dah.csiro.au.

     At the meeting it was decided to increase the Australasian section annual dues to $A 30 (probably about 10c US on current exchange rates).  The WDA will cover publishing costs for any Australasian members who wish to publish in the journal.  The establishment of a wildlife health cooperative has made little progress.  The WDA is investing some money in the Taronga Zoo Pathology Registry, which recently appointed Karrie Rose as the new full time pathologist, replacing Bill Hartley who was made a life member.  We have started moving towards setting up some type of local WDA web page.  This is still very much in its infancy.  Next year's conference will be in Jervis Bay.  Contributed by Peter Holz, Australasian Newsletter Editor

NEWS FROM EUROPE
Minutes of the 3rd Business Meeting of the European Wildlife Disease Association: This meeting was held at the Moredun Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh at 17:30 on 17 September 1998.  The Chairman, Torsten Mörner, opened the meeting and thanked the conference organisers and all those involved for their efforts in making the conference a success. He also discussed membership of the WDA: should there exist only full members, or should a special (reduced fee) membership be made available for those who already have access to the Journal of Wildlife Diseases from their institute's libraries?

     Marc Artois gave a brief report on the previous conference (and business meeting) in Wroclaw 1996.  He described the financial status of the EWDA (FF 9,000).  It was decided not to have any additional fund-raising other than an auction similar to those usually performed at WDA conferences.  The current amount will be spent in a student award for the best presentation at the 2000 conference.  Marc Artois reminded everyone that copies of the books of abstracts for the 1994 and 1996 meetings were available for $10 (inclusive of postage) from Torsten Mörner.

     An offer to host the next conference had been received from the SEDIFAS Wildlife Diagnostic Service at Zaragoza University in Spain.  The Chairman expressed thanks for this offer and recommended that it should be accepted.  This was approved.  In agreement with Dominique Gauthier, part of the conference will be held jointly with the GEEFSM (Groupe d'Etude de la Ecopathologie de la Faune Sauvage de Montagne – shortly to be renamed the Alpinist's Group). The date has to be finally agreed but is likely to be during May or June 2000.

     During the last two years, membership of the Board has been: Chairman, Torsten Mörner; Vice Chairman, Hugh Reid; Treasurer, Marc Artois; Secretary and Newsletter Editor, Seamus Kennedy.  It was proposed that Torsten Mörner and Marc Artois should remain for the next two-year period. Seamus Kennedy had previously indicated his wish to remain as editor of the Newsletter.  It was proposed that Christian Gortázar should take over from Seamus as Secretary, and that James Kirkwood and Kai Frölich should also join the Board.  There was agreement on these matters.  Torsten Mörner and Marc Artois indicated their intention to resign their Board membership in the year 2000.

     The Chairman acknowledged Seamus Kennedy's efforts in collecting and collating information for the Newsletter during the last two years.  Its success depends upon contribution of suitable items and the Chairman asked everyone to send material to Seamus.  Richard Delahay was asked to search for a possible EWDA website, and the Secretary was asked to build an E-mailing list of EWDA members.  Kai Frölich asked EWDA members to send any papers on wildlife diseases to Marc Artois to be abstracted in French or English for inclusion in the BIPAS.

     Torsten Mörner's proposal to adopt the constitution and bylaws of the WDA was discussed. Vic Simpson asked what was to be gained from adopting the constitution and bylaws.  Marc Artois stated that their existence would help to define EWDA in other forums, and Dominique Gauthier suggested that adequate bylaws would avoid possible problems for treasurers in the future. Margaret Cooper and Dominique Gauthier were happy to assist the Board in preparing a draft of the constitution/bylaws for the 2000 meeting, with a previous discussion at the Lyon 1999 conference.  It was decided that a draft of the constitution/bylaws should be made and presented to the business meeting in 2000 for discussion and decision.

     The Board was asked to prepare a list of wildlife labs in Europe and to get information on sampling, collections and diagnostic facillities in the different units.  Marc Artois stated that a similar initiative is being carried out by Victor Briones from Madrid.  Marc also proposed a network for reporting wildlife diseases, possibly with a standardized template sent by e-mail to those on the proposed EWDA mailing-list, to be reported at the business meeting in 2000.

     John and Margaret Cooper suggested that the CITES Secretariat and Signatories to the Convention be urged to devise a system that would permit the rapid movement between countries of samples (derivatives) of animal species for scientific research or veterinary studies.  This proposal was approved.

     Thomas Müller presented the problem of reporting A, B, or C-list diseases in wildlife to the OIE and the improper use of such information by some authorities.  Marc Artois agreed and stated that it is clear from OIE that the declaration of a disease in wildlife is not to be used politically in domestic livestock regulations.

     Kai Froelich suggested the establishment of one or two "flagship projects" for the EWDA. Ideally, these projects should involve several European countries and deal with a relevant matter in wildlife diseases.  This kind of project should give publicity to the EWDA.  Moreover, with these "flagship projects" we could apply for EU support, since the EU has already incorporated a directive on wildlife diseases.  Contributed by Christian Gortázar, Secretary EWDA, Zaragoza, 29 September 1998.
 

Titles And Presenting Authors of Papers Presented at the 3rd Meeting of the European Division of the Wildlife Disease Association, Edinburgh, Scotland, 16-20 September 1998.

EMMANUELLE FROMONT (France):  Prevalence and pathogenicity of retroviruses in wildcats (Felis silvestris) in France.
SARAH FEORE (UK):  The dynamics of an endemic disease in its wild reservoir host: cowpox and wild rodents.
MALCOLM BENNET (UK):  The evolution of cowpox virus – a hypothesis.
CHRISTAIN GORTAZAR (Spain):  Wildlife diseases in Spain:  The SEDIFAS viewpoint.
MARTIN COOKE (UK):  Seychelles magpie-robin (Copsychus sechellarum): veterinary intervention for the conservation of an endangered species.
PETER NETTLETON (UK):  Current concepts of interactions between red and grey squirrels in the UK.
ANNETTE BOLTE/WALBURGA LUTZ (Germany):  Absence of orthomyxovirus and paramyxovirus serotype-1 (aPMV-1) infections among free-living wild geese (Anser anser and Branta canadensis) but detection of aPMV-4, aPMV-6, aPMV-8, Mycobacteria species, Chlamydia species and intestinal parasites.
THOMAS PENNYCOTT (UK):  Some causes of mortality of the mute swan (Cygnus olor).
DEBRA BOURNE/ SUZANNE BOARDMAN (UK):  The London Waterfowl Project: information, communication and expert assistance.
JAMES KIRKWOOD (UK):  Bird feeders and the health and welfare of garden birds.
PAUL DUFF (UK):  Rabbit haemorrhagic disease in the UK.
MARTIN COOKE (UK):  Health threats to endangered free-living wildlife populations.
DOMINIQUE GAUTHIER (France):  Brucellosis in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra): relationships with mountain cattle breeding.
JACQUES GODFROID (Belgium):  Brucella suis biotype 2: a cause of positive serological reactions in the brucellosis screening tests in cattle.
DELORES GAVIER-WIDEN (UK):  The "no visible lesion" presentation of natural bovine tuberculosis in wildlife hosts: a review.
PADDY SLEEMAN (Ireland):  Oral bait delivery to wild Irish badgers.
SARAH FEORE (UK):  The spatial ecology of badgers in a low density area and the implications for the epidemiology of TB.
JACQUES GODFROID (Belgium):  Isolation and characterisation of Brucella spp. in a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
MORTEN TRYLAND (Norway):  Evidence of Brucella infection in marine mammals in the north Atlantic Ocean.
THOMAS MUELLER (Germany):  A descriptive epidemiological analysis of viral pathogens in migrating bean geese (A.fabalis) and white-fronted geese (A. albifrons) with special emphasis on Newcastle disease.
TORSTEN MORNER (Sweden):  Winter mortality in waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) caused by ethanol intoxication.
MARC ARTOIS (France):  Wildlife diseases surveillance in France: 10 years of results on diseases shared by cattle and wild ungulates.
FRANCOIS LAMARQUE (France):  Surveillance of wildlife diseases in France – causes of mortality of wild ungulates: 10 years of results.
VICTOR SIMPSON (UK):  A study of vitamin A levels in otters (Lutra lutra) in south west England.
DAVID WILLIAMS (UK):  Retinal dysplasia in wild otters: a pathological survey.
 

Year 2000 Meeting of the European Division of the Wildlife Disease Association (EWDA). The 4th meeting of the EWDA is provisionally scheduled to take place in Zaragoza, Spain during the first week of May, 2000.  It will be organized by the SEDIFAS Wildlife Diagnostic Service at Zaragoza University.  A meeting of the Groupe d'Etude de l'Ecopathologie de la Faune Sauvage (GEEFSM) is due to take place around the same time and a joint conference session between EWDA and GEEFSM is planned.  For further information, contact Christian Gortázar, SEDIFAS Wildlife Diagnostic Service, Veterinary Faculty, Zaragoza University, c./ Miguel Servet 177, E-50.013 Zaragoza, Spain. Fax: +34 976 105 209; Tel: +34 610 444 207; E-mail: ebronatura@facilnet.es

African Section.  For information regarding the African Section, contact Nancy Kock, Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleaseant, Harare, Zimbabwe; telephone: 303211; fax:(263) (4) 333407/335249.

Australasian Section.  For information regarding the Australasian Section, contact Lee Skerratt, School of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Princes Hwy, Werribee, Victoria 3030 Australia.  Telephone: 61 3 9742 8330, Fax: 61 3 9741 0401, E mail: skerratt@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au

European Section.  Material suitable for publication in the Newsletter includes news of recent wildlife disease outbreaks in Europe, short case reports, announcements and reports of relevant meetings in Europe, and job and scholarship announcements.  Submissions should be in English, but contributors for whom English is a second language and who send material in basic English or in their own language, will be accommodated as far as possible.  Deadline for submission of articles for the next issue (April 1999) is 21 February 1999.  Please mail (floppy disk preferred), fax or e-mail submissions to Seamus Kennedy, Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland; telephone: +44 (1232) 525701, fax: +44 (1232) 525767, e-mail: kennedys@dani.gov.uk

Latin American Section.  For information regarding the Latin American Section, contact Alonso Aguirre, NOAA/NMFS, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96822-2390 USA; telephone: (808) 943-1235; fax: (808) 943-1290; e-mail: Alonso.Aguirre@noaa.gov

Nordic Section.  For information regarding the Nordic Section, contact Hans-Henrik Dietz, Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Fur Animal and Wildlife Diseases, 2 Hangovej, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; telephone: 45-89-37-24-17; fax: 45-89-37-24-70; email: hhd@svs.dk

Wildlife Veterinarian Section.  For information regarding the Wildlife Veterinarians Section, contact Sarah Shapiro Hurley, Bureau of Wildlife Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 101 S. Webster Street, WM/4 Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921; telephone: (607) 267-7472; fax: (608) 267-3579; e-mail: HURLES@DNR.STATE.WI.US

Note from the Editor:  Please send meeting announcements, diagnostic riddles, position and grant announcements, miscellaneous items, etc. for the Supplement to the Journal of Wildlife Diseases to Charlotte F. Quist, SCWDS/Athens Diagnostic Lab, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602; telephone:(706) 542-5349; fax: (706) 542-5977; e-mail: CQUIST@ADL300.VET.UGA.EDU   Double spaced typewritten or electronic mail files in WordPerfect 5.1 or Microsoft Word are preferred.  The deadline for submission of articles for the next issue (April 1999, JWD Vol. 35, No. 2) is February 25, 1999.

AVAILABLE GRANTS
AAV Accepting Proposals for 1999 Conservation Award:  The Association of Avian Veterinarians is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of avian medicine and stewardship. As part of its commitment to avian stewardship, the AAV awards small grants each year for projects that address the conservation needs of wild avian populations.  This year the AAV will broaden its research to include proposals that relate not only to habitat preservation, but also education and research. Veterinarians, non-veterinarians, and veterinary students are encouraged to apply.  Priority will be given to in situ conservation efforts.

     Applications should be organized in the following sections; investigator(s), title, introduction or statement of need, goals, objectives, materials and methods, project timetable (not to exceed 12 months), and budget. Grants are rarely in the excess of $4,000. Successful applicants must submit a report to the AAV Conservation Committee one year after receiving a grant.

     Applications should be submitted to the AAV Conservation Committee in care the Central Office, P.O. Box 811720, Boca Raton, FL 33481, USA.  Please use double-sided printing. Electronic applications may be sent to aavctrlofc@aol.com.  Applications must be received by June 7, 1999 to be considered.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Head of the Centre of Fish and Wildlife Medicine.  The Institute of Animal Pathology of the University of Berne, Switzerland is seeking a Head of the Centre of Fish and Wildlife Medicine.  Proposed starting date is April 1, 1999. The appointment will be of the level "Oberassistent" (= tenure-track assistant professor position) or Associate Professor.  A degree in veterinary medicine or biology and special training in fish or wildlife diseases are required.  The tasks will involve leadership and management of the section, establishing an extramurally funded research program, surveillance of fish and wildlife diseases and control of notifiable diseases, responsibility of a reference laboratory for the government, and teaching of veterinary students, graduate students, and fish inspectors.  The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.  Fluency in German and/or French would be preferred, excellent applicants, however, who do not speak these languages, will also be considered.  Applications should be submitted by February 1, 1999. Please send a letter of application stating professional goals and research interests, a curriculum vitae, and the names of three referees to Prof. Dr. Maja M. Suter, Institut für Tierpathologie, Universität Bern, Länggass-Str. 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland (Phone: 41-31-631 2395; Fax: 41 31 631 2635; e-mail: suter@itpa.unibe.ch).

TRAINING/EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Internship in Native Wildlife Medicine/Rehabilitation.  A year-long internship in native wildlife medicine and rehabilitation is being offered to veterinarians by The Wildlife Center of Virginia.  The Wildlife Center is a private, non-profit, organization with a professionally staffed, fully equipped, 5700 square foot hospital, research, rehabilitation, and education center located in Waynesboro, Virginia, in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

     The Wildlife Center of Vriginia is presented with over 2,500 patients annually representing over 200 different species.  Seventy percent of the patients are birds and approximately half of the birds are raptors.  Common non-avian patients include turtles, deer, opossums, squirrels, and rabbits.

     The intern will be supervised by an experienced wildlife veterinarian and assisted by a licensed veterinary technician, rehabilitation staff and numerous volunteers.  The intern will also advise wildlife rehabilitators and supervise senior veterinary students from various schools.  The intern will be involved in all aspects of wildlife medicine and rehabilitation including physical examination, sample collection, radiography, diagnosis, anesthesia, surgery, medical treatment, physical therapy, necropsy, husbandry, record maintenance, telephone consultations and presentations at rounds.  Conference presentations and writing for publication are encouraged.

     Veterinary candidates must have a strong interest in native wildlife medicine, especially avian medicine and must have well developed interpersonal and clinical skills.  Experience in wildlife medicine is desirable, but not required.  Preference will be given to applicants with clinical experience.  Interested candidates should send a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, veterinary school transcript, and three letters of reference.  A Virginia veterinary license will be required.  The deadline for applications is March 1, 1999.  An interview will be required.  The selection will be made by April 15 for a June 1 starting date.  The salary will be $18,000.  Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Edward J. Gentz, The Wildlife Center of Virginia, P.O. Box 1557, Waynesboro, Virginia  22980.

MSc in Wild Animal Health.  The Royal Veterinary College (University of London) and the Institute of Zoology (Zoological Society of London) invite applications from EC or overseas graduates in veterinary or relevant sciences for a twelve month course in wild animal health beginning in October of 1999.  The course includes practical and theoretical instruction in the husbandry and nutrition of wild animals, taxonomy, population biology, conservation genetics, utilisation of wildlife, welfare and ethical aspects, epidemiology, immunology, infectious and non-infectious diseases, disease investigation, therapeutics, imaging and preventative medicine, and restraint, anaesthesia and aspects of surgery in various taxa, together with an individual research project.  Training will be given by the staff at The Royal Veterinary College and the Institute of Zoology as well as invited speakers from other veterinary and zoological centres.

     Full particulars and an application form are available from the Head of Registry or Dr. M.T. Fox, The Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU.  Telephone: +171 468 5000; FAX: +171 388 2342.

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association 17th Annual Symposium.  March 9-13, 1999.  Greensboro, North Carolina.  Veterinary continuing education credits available.  Full day veterinary session.  For more information, please contact the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, 14 North 7th Avenue, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303.  Telephone: 320-259-4086; email: nwra@cloudnet.com or visit the NWRA website at http://www.nwrawildlife.org

19th Scandinavian Symposium of Parasitology.  May 8-11, 1999; Reykjavik, Iceland.  The Scandinavian Society for Parasitology will be holding this symposium from 8 to 11 May 1999 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Oral and poster presentations on all aspects of parasitology will be presented. The official language of the symposium is English. For detailed information, contact SSP-Symposium 1999, Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur, IS-112 Reykjavik, Iceland. Tel: +354 567 4700; Fax +354 567 3979; E-mail: karlsk@rhi.hi.is

Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine.  June 12-16, 1999; Key West, Florida.  The 5th Biennial Conference of the Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine (STVM' 99) will meet in Key West, Florida in June, 1999.  The programmatic theme of the conference is: Tropical Diseases: Control and Prevention in the Context of "The New World Order".  Veterinary and medical research scientists, epidemiologists and information specialists veterinarians and physicians, molecular and wildlife biologists, vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturers, immunologists and pathologists, public health and veterinary regulatory officials, economists and disease modelers who are interested in tropical and emerging diseases are encouraged to attend.  STVM '99 will explore the "new world order" theme during symposia in the mornings and "break out" sessions by discipline in the afternoons.  Participants are invited to submit papers and posters for these sessions.  Topics may focus on epidemiology, global trade, vaccines and diagnostic technologies, and their relationships to emerging diseases.  We also welcome papers and posters specializing in areas outside the general theme.  Travel scholarships are available for all students and participants from developing countries.  Extensive details of the  conference, on-line registration and abstract submission and links to websites on Key West, may be found at: http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~conferweb/stvm.htm

     For more information, contact Beth Miller-Tipton to request a printed brochure and call for papers. University of Florida, Office of Conferences & Institutes (OCI), PO Box 110750, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA.  Telephone: 352-392-5930;  FAX: 352-392-9734; email: bamt@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu
 
Special Species Symposium, April 16-18, 1999, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.  "The Role of Veterinary Medicine in International Species Conservation."  Lectures to cover reintroduction programs, free-ranging species medicine, captive reproductive management and international collaboration.  Wetlabs to cover general exotic species techniques.  Up to 12.5 CE credits offered.  Contact Eric Baitchman, eb34@cornell.edu, or Luis Padilla, lrpl@cornell.edu, or fax 607-253-3709.

AAZV Annual Conference, October 9-14, 1999, Columbus, Ohio.  Program sessions include avian medicine, primates, small mammals/carnivores, nutrition, large mammals/hoofstock, reptilian amphibian medicine, infectious diseases, reproductive technologies/contraception, ethics, imaging, gerontology, and case reports.  There will also be a poster session, veterinary student and resident/graduate student paper competitions, and workshops/wet labs.  A new feature this year will be the presentation of three master class sessions.

    For information regarding session chairpersons, please contact Michael Barrie, DVM, at the Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 NE 50th, Oklahoma City, OK  73013.  Phone: (405) 425-0249.  FAX: (405) 425-0207.  Email: mbarrie@okczoo.com

    In addition, The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) will be meeting in the same location just prior (October 5-9) to the AAZV meetings.  For additional information on either conference, please contact Wilbur Amand, VMD, Executive Director/AAZ, 6 North Pennell Road, Media, PA  19063, USA.  Phone (610) 892-4812.  FAX (610) 892-4813.  Email: 75632.235@compuserve.com