Dogs being vaccinated by the RSPCA team during a parvovirus outbreak in 2013 (image reproduced with permission of the RSPCA). |
Thanks to technology, pet owners and vets can now suss out the incidence of these diseases in their neighbourhoods. Aside from treating individual animals, vets can contribute vital information which can be used to target life-saving programs.
Australian veterinarian Dr Mark Kelman was generous enough to post about Disease WatchDog, an initiative he founded to keep tabs on outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Take it away Dr Kelman...
Four years ago, an
Australian vet with an inspiration started a project to encourage his
colleagues to report and share cases of pet diseases – so that everyone could
see where disease was happening and try and do something about it. This had
never been done before but with the available technology it soon became a
reality. As well as reporting cases, we could map them and help communicate
where outbreaks were occurring.
Over this time, we’ve
recorded nearly 20,000 cases, with numbers increasing every day. Sadly, many of
these cases have ended in deaths or great suffering. But our goals is reduce
the suffering and try and prevent as many cases of disease as we can.
Sydney cases, over 12 months to March 2014: (source: www.diseasewatchdog.org) |
Back then, we had no idea
how many cases of disease vets see across Australia. We knew that
under-reporting would be an issue, because it takes a (small) amount of time to
record cases and everyone is busy. Under-reporting still is an issue today and
only 10% of clinics regularly report cases, which gives you an idea of how many
cases disease really might be occurring every year around the country.
The diseases we started with were the worst
viruses – Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Hepatitis, and Cat Flu (Feline
Herpes Virus and Feline Calicivirus). We added tick paralysis to the system in
mid-2010, and have added more diseases since. To date, we have seen 6,118 cases
of parvo and 10,014 cases of tick paralysis. Sadly, our stats show that around
half of the parvo cases will die. Slightly more cheerful news is that around
95% of tick paralysis cases will pull through (in most cases with vet
treatment).
Melbourne cases, over 12 months to March 2014: (source: www.diseasewatchdog.org) |
We also track Canine
Cough, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, Heartworm, Canine Neural
Angiostrongylosis, FIV, Feline Leukaemia, and Feline Panleucopenia.
Brisbane cases, over 12 months to March 2014: (source: www.diseasewatchdog.org) |
As well as the website
(which, if you are interested, is www.diseasewatchdog.org)
we also have a smart-phone friendly site (same URL) which is enabled for public
access.
Vet clinics log cases on
the PC version, but both the smartphone version and the PC can be used for
general public access. As well as being able to see disease maps, there is also
disease information, links to media articles about disease outbreaks and the
ability to find a local vet – in case you have questions about disease
prevention or treatment.
We aren’t just about
mapping disease though. Since we started, every year, we have run several
research projects in collaboration with the Sydney University Veterinary School.
These projects examine the vast data we have collected and try to provide
information on the diseases we see. These are final year honours projects which
forms the research component of some students’ veterinary degree. These
research projects have all culminated in published research in quality
journals, the topics have included: Canine parvovirus in Australia - The role
of socio-economic factors in disease clusters; Risk factors for death from
canine parvoviral-related disease in Australia; Surveillance of upper
respiratory tract disease in owned cats in Australia, 2009-2012; Distribution,
seasonality and risk factors for tick paralysis in Australian dogs and cats.
Adelaide cases, over 12 months to March 2014: (source: www.diseasewatchdog.org) |
We are currently working
on several more research projects – including tracking two less-common diseases
in Australia, and seeing if we can link two disease’s outbreaks to weather
patterns.
The other thing we’ve been
able to do is to identify disease outbreaks and working with local vets, Virbac
and the RSPCA, providing vaccines and resources to start targeted
disease-prevention programs and help stop outbreaks as they occur. We started
this in 2013 and were able to help during a severe Parvovirus outbreak in the
Hunter Region of NSW. We are yet to re-analyse the data, but anecdotally this targeted
vaccination program seemed to make a difference and the outbreak was brought
under control.
Veterinary clinics logging
cases can use the maps to educate clients on the risk of diseases in their area
– both where they live, and where they might be travelling to with their pets.
Vet clients might access the disease maps on their smart-phones while they wait
to see a vet at the clinic. During puppy preschool the maps make great learning
tools as to why disease prevention is so important.
What a parvovirus outbreak looks like on paper (source: www.diseasewatchdog.org) |
Any veterinary clinics
wanting to participate should register at www.diseasewatchdog.org. A kit is
sent to all clinics with posters and information on how to use the system
(which is designed to be easy and quick to use).
We are happy to take media
enquiries too – at diseasewatchdog@virbac.com.au
or 02 9772 9772.
Ultimately, our goal is
that by working together, we can reduce and even eradicate pet diseases from
Australia and the world.