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Return to Animal
Health Centre Home Page Diagnostic Diary - November 1995CONTENTS
TOLL FREE NUMBER: Please note that the Animal Health Centre now has a toll free number: 1 800 661-9903. Keep this in mind if calling the lab long distance. Message from Dr. P. HewittDirector of the Animal Health Branch Those of us that worked at the old Animal Health Centre on Gladwin Road are now nicely settled in our new Animal Health Centre, contained within the Abbotsford Agricultural Centre on Delair Rd., Abbotsford. The new facilities have been our dream for many years, as we had outgrown our last. Those of you who had visited the old building will remember equipment obstructing and overflowing into the hallways, and inefficient lab space. The old building was designed at a time when mink and poultry producers were the main users of the laboratory service; attempting to isolate and identify viruses was still well into the future. Several times in the intervening thirty years, attempts had been made to upgrade the building to meet modern requirements, however the plans never seemed to get beyond the drawing board. That is, until now. The new laboratory areas within the AHC are large, self-contained, and more efficient. Cross-contamination of specimens and cultures is much easier to prevent. The Monitoring Laboratory is now in the same building, albeit with a separate entrance; this also makes for greater efficiency. Having all the various Ministry operations under one roof is also a big plus for us, and more especially for our clients. We held an Open House on Sept. 16th, and between 2500- 3000 people toured the facility. Everyone that I spoke to on that day was very impressed with the new facility. It is up to us to make sure that the "very impressed" extends to the services that we provide. If we do not meet your expectations or even if we do, please let me know. Your suggestions are very useful to us as we attempt to meet your needs. Peter Hewitt From the Assistant Chief VeterinarianRon Lewis There is much in the media these days regarding 'emerging (or newly-discovered) diseases; for example, Ebola virus infection ("The Hot Zone" by R. Preston), Lassa fever, Hantaviruses etc. A popular new book ("The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance" by L. Garrett) discusses a wide variety of such diseases in both people and animals. Newspapers and newsmagazines increasingly discuss new disease outbreaks. There is even a mailing list on the Internet (ProMED - the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases) dedicated to the advancement of information on such topical disease problems. Everyone in this province has been made aware of hantaviruses in deer mice and the threat they pose to human health. Morbilliviruses over the last few years appear to have become a scourge of many species in which they were previously unknown; witness canine distemper virus infection in the large cats in Africa, infections of bottlenosed dolphins in the Atlantic, and seals in the North Sea and Lake Baikal. Most recently there have been two human deaths attributed to this type of virus in horse trainers associated with the deaths of racehorses in Australia. Cross-species transmission of viruses has become a very topical issue and should be of great concern to all of us. This highlights to me the importance of being increasingly vigilant to the prospect of such events. Veterinarians will continue to play a very important part in the identification of such animal and human health risks. The Animal Health Centre has a major role in the specific identification of bacterial, virus and other infections that threaten the well being of animals and ourselves. We must remember that diseases in animals are important, not only from an economic point of view. Diseases also affect animal welfare and the well-being of everyone working with animals. The staff of the Animal Health Branch is committed to using and developing the best means available to identify and reduce the impact of such diseases. Quick cuts from the Post Mortem Room:Copper poisoning was diagnosed in a lamb, one of a flock that had been fed a prepared ration originally designed for goats. Sheep are much more sensitive than either cattle or goats to copper toxicity, and should not be fed mineral supplements intended for other species. Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) was diagnosed in 31 day- old chicken broilers that had high mortality, hyperemic tracheal mucosal membranes, consolidated lung tissue, and air sacculitis. A herpesvirus was detected using electron microscopy on tracheal mocosal samples. Actinomyces pyogenes has been diagnosed recently in at least two separate abortion cases. This bacterial agent is a well-established abortifacient in cattle, and is usually readily cultured from aborted fetal lung, stomach contents, and placenta. In one case of A pyogenes abortion, the animal had a history of straining while urinating, suggesting an ascending urogenital tract infection. This likely led to fetal infection and abortion via the cervix. This animal had aborted previously, due to Neospora sp. Salmonella dublin was cultured from various tissues from a 10-day old holstein calf. On necropsy the animal had a navel abscess, multiple joint inflammation, and also multiple foci of liver inflammation and necrosis. Immunoglobulin levels on this calf were low, indicating inadequate colostral intake following birth. Avian tuberculosis has been diagnosed in an aviary. The owner complained of acute deaths in some canaries and finches; others became unthrifty and weak prior to death. On necropsy, multiple areas of inflammation and tissue necrosis were noted in several body organs including spleen, liver, intestine. Acid-fast stains revealed myriads of small acid-fast organisms consistent with Mycobacterium avium. Thrombocytopenic BVD: Recently there have been two separate cases of bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) in yearling or older cattle (both dairy and beef), both of which were characterized by widespread areas of hemorrhage on serosal surfaces, and within joints. Microscopically, vessels showed a vasculitis, and intravascular thrombosis (DIC). The thrombocytopenic form of acute BVD, virulent non-cpe form, is suspected in both cases. Tissues were positive for BVD virus in one of these cases. In the second submission, both necropsied animals were also deficient to marginal in copper levels, and both were selenium deficient. Isoimmune Thrombocytopenia In PigletsA 14-day old piglet, one of several from a single litter that had died acutely, was submitted for necropsy. As described by the owner, clinical signs seen in the piglets included large subcutaneous blue areas forming on their flanks, abdomens, and at the extremities of their ears. The piglets gasped for air, then quickly died. Post mortem revealed subcutaneous hemorrhages, and extensive bleeding within the lumen of the intestine. Microscopic examination of the intestine did not reveal any inflammation or obvious tissue injury, other than extensive bleeding from superficial mucosal capillary vessels. Bacterial culture yielded a heavy growth of Clostridium perfringens from the gut lumen; bacteria consistent with this organism were readily seen with Gram's stain. This type of bacterium was not seen, however, within the actual mucosa of the bowel. In this case, the cause of bleeding and subsequent death in these young piglets is believed to have been isoimmune thrombocytopenia, a condition in which the platelets of the piglets are destroyed by antibodies in the sow's colostrum. The condition tends to occur in piglets at 1-3 days of age, or at 10-14 days of age. In such cases, the sow has been previously sensitized to foreign platelet antigens from the boar, usually achieved by being exposed to fetal thrombocyte antigens during or at parturition. Subsequent offspring to the sow ingest large quantities of the offending antibody in the sow's colostrum. If they have the same platelet antigens as the earlier litter (likely derived from the same boar), they then suffer from platelet destruction (isoimmune thrombocytopenia) due to antiplatelet antibodies. Subcutaneous and internal bleeding results. Maternal antibody titres may persist for several years, causing losses in successive pig litters. Fungal abortion in a dairy cow:An aborted 6-month old holstein fetus was submitted for necropsy. On gross examination, the placenta of the fetus was diffusely very leathery and thickened, and there were many areas of adventitial placentation. There were no obvious changes on the fetus per se. Microscopic examination of placental tissue indicated a very severe necrotizing placentitis, with thrombosis and vasculitis of vessels. Numerous septate fungal hyphae consistent with Aspergillus sp. were observed utilizing special stains. Fungal cultures were not obtained from either the placenta or other fetal tissues; the diagnosis was thus entirely dependent upon receiving placental tissue. This case was somewhat unusual, as the abortion occurred over the summer, when the exposure of pregnant animals to mouldy feed would seem to be much less likely. In fungal abortions, the placental changes are quite characteristic if not diagnostic; the placenta is very thickened, leathery in appearance, cotyledons are enlarged and swollen, and there is usually extensive adventitial placentation. Fungal stains readily reveal the organisms microscopically. Without the submission of placenta, abortion by this agent is often not diagnosed, as diagnostic lesions and culture of the fungal organisms are frequently only achieved with placental tissue. Chest tumor in a goat:A four year old female goat was submitted to the AHC for necropsy, following euthanasia. The animal had lost condition, and was so weak it could not stand without assistance. A large mass, 8-12 cm in diameter, was observed within the chest cavity. The mass extended through the thoracic cavity into the subcutaneous tissue of the chest wall, and appeared to originate within partially dissolved or lysed ribs. The main cell mass had not infiltrated the lung tissue, or the heart sac, but was severely impairing normal lung inflation and heart function. Lungs were virtually collapsed. There were several smaller masses along the ventral midline of the chest wall, though none were found within the abdomen. Microscopically the tumor cell masses were consistent with a malignant bone tumor, or osteosarcoma, that had originated from a rib. Bone tumors of this type are not seen too commonly in domestic animals, but they do occur regularly. In some animals, such as the St. Bernard dog, there appears to be a distinct breed predisposition toward bone tumors. Lymphosarcoma in a horse:A 15-year old quarterhorse mare was submitted for necropsy after biopsies previously taken from severely swollen eyelids had indicated the likelihood of lymphoma. At necropsy there was severe swelling of the eyelids, which prevented the animal from closing its eyes. As a result, inflammation of the cornea of the eyes had developed, and one eye had a severe corneal ulcer. The eyes were literally bulging from the sockets. Necropsy revealed dense masses of malignant cell proliferation within the periorbital fat surrounding the eyes. Microscopically, there were extensive, multicentric infiltrations of malignant lymphoid cells in practically every organ examined, including the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, intestine, and choroid plexus of the brain. This case was interesting, in that the first indication of a problem arose with the swollen eyelids, and the inability of the animal to close its eyes normally. Mange in a Toggenberg goat:Biopsies were received from a 2-year old Toggenberg that had developed widespread crustiness and thickening of the skin with multiple skin "lumps". Microscopic examination of skin biopsies revealed very large numbers of mites overlying the thickened skin surface, which at times was eroded and hemorrhagic. Most of the mites were on the skin surface, and surprisingly, none was distinctly seen within hair follicles. Though the parasites were cut into multiple fragments during the preparation of microscopic sections, the size and appearance of most of the parasites was uniform, indicating only one species of mange mite was likely present in significant numbers. Scattered mites were fairly intact, and were readily identifiable as being DemodexÊcaprae. Rarely however, a long limb pedicle consistent with those seen on Psoroptes sp. was also detected. Demodectic mange is believed by most authors to be a normal parasite of the skin, which only causes skin problems in animals which are, for some reason, immunocompromised or immunosuppressed. It is usually found primarily in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Psoroptic mange also may have been of concern in this animal, though fragments of only one parasite were observed. Blackleg in Fraser Valley cattle:Three separate cases of blackleg have been diagnosed recently on necropsy at the AHC. Two of these were from the Fraser Valley (a 100kg dairy steer calf and a 250 kg beef heifer) and one a 225 kg steer from Vancouver Island. As an example, the 6-month old heifer calf from the Fraser Valley was submitted to the Animal Health Centre for necropsy after being found dead at pasture. The owner had checked the cattle the previous day, and all appeared normal. Post mortem examination revealed large areas of muscle tissue swelling, injury, and necrosis, within the right hind thigh muscles. The muscle was a dark black color, had a butyric odor, and layers of muscle were separated slightly by gas. Fluorescent antibody tests were strongly positive for the blackleg organism Clostridium chauveoi, and heart blood was weakly positive for this organism. The owner was urged to contact his veterinarian quickly for advice on preventive measures, including immediate vaccination. Blackleg in cattle is largely preventable by vaccination. Generally, animals from 4-5 months to 2-3 years of age are the most susceptible group, with older animals acquiring a form of age immunity in most instances. Animals ingest the spore form of the organism from pastures while grazing. If susceptible, the organism may then later localize and germinate in bruised or injured muscle tissue. The organism produces a rapidly fatal toxemia, secreting alpha exotoxin that not only causes severe muscle tissue destruction, but systemic effects as well. This animal also had a distinct area of injury within the heart muscle due to C. chauvoei, which was later confirmed microscopically. In this particular case, the animals had not been vaccinated. Vaccines for clostridial diseases in cattle such as blackleg, together with appropriate information, are available from your veterinarian. Avian Case Review:V. A. Bowes 1. Swollen head syndrome in chickens: Swollen Head Syndrome (SHS) is a multifactorial disease of 4 to 6 week old broiler chickens that was initially reported from South Africa in the 1970's. Clinically, birds are lethargic with ruffled feathers, reddened eyes, and prominent facial swelling. Birds are hot to the touch, suggesting pyrexia. An outbreak may be preceded by a general mild respiratory "snick". At necropsy, the predominant finding is a fibrinogelatinous cellulitis, which extends from the subcutaneous tissues of the face and head to the cranial bones of the skull. E coli is readily isolated from the affected area. It is thought that the coliform cellulitis is secondary to challenge with a respiratory virus such as Newcastle Disease virus (NDV), Infectious Bronchitis virus (IB), Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), or other nonspecific coronaviruses. In Europe, the syndrome has been associated with a turkey rhinotracheitis virus (TRT). Damage due to excessive ammonia has also been implicated. Adequate vaccination against respiratory viruses help to control the initial infection, and reduces losses to SHS. 2. Fungal pneumonia in wild ducks: Recently, local duck hunters reported a large number of dead ducks in a low lying, flooded field near the confluence of the Vedder and Fraser Rivers. Investigations by the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Ministry of Environment estimated that several hundred pintails and mallards had died. Birds were in good flesh and all had severely congested lungs peppered with tiny, firm, tan-colored nodules. A small number of birds had fungal plaques visible on the air sacs. The fungus Aspergillus sp. was isolated. Further site investigation revealed abundant mouldy corn in the stubble of adjacent fields. Most likely, birds had flown into the fields and, while ingesting the moldy corn, inhaled numerous fungal spores which initiated a severe, acute pneumonia. Because of the good body condition of the ducks observed on necropsy, death secondary to lung infection appeared to have progressed quickly. Unfortunately, little can be done to reduce losses, as the fields are too muddy to plow under due to the wet fall weather. Continuing rain may flood the fields and dilute the numbers of fungal spores. Losses will probably continue until frost eliminates fungal growth on the corn. At the very least, the predator population will be well fed! Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)Mystery Swine DiseaseNeil Palechek DVM, Animal Health Centre, Abbotsford, B.C. Outbreaks of the reproductive form of PRRS last from 1 to 4 months, depending on facilities and initial health status of the herd. There are no effective treatment programs. An effective prevention program appear to be the primary means of control. Knowledge of PRRS status of replacement gilts and boars (including adequate isolation facilities) for incoming stock are critical measures to prevent introduction of this virus. The Animal Health Centre at Abbotsford provides a serological Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) test. This blood test detects past contact or "tracks in the sand". An Ag. Can. serological survey found 12% to 15% of B.C. hogs were seropositive. The Immunoperoxidase Test (IPT) is also available to detect the PRRS virus from live weak-born piglets. Differences in severity of outbreaks may be due to virus strain variation. The following points describe the features of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome. Reproductive FailurePreweaning:
Post weaning:
Sources of PRRS virus infection in the sow
Note that the PRRS virus is more stable under freezing conditions. PRRS virus may be semen transmittedThe duration of virus transmission within semen, under natural conditions is unknown. However, the virus has been isolated from semen of boars 43 days after experimental infection. Vitamin A toxicity and gastric ulcers in postweaning pigs fed fish silage:Young grower pigs were fed a ration consisting of greater than 50% offal from fish (fish silage). The silage contained abdominal viscera including intestines, livers, etc. These are tissues that previously have been of little value commercially. Racidity of the silage was controlled with ethoxyquin. Shortly after being on the silage, which was fed in combination (though separately) with a standard barley-based ration that comprised the balance of the ration, the pigs developed a shifting lameness, and became unthrifty. Some died acutely. Post mortem findings at the Animal Health Centre revealed severe chronic, fibrosing gastric ulcers, with visible bleeding into the stomach. Researchers corrected this problem by raising the pH of the fish silage with sodium bicarbonate and by increasing the roughage of the ration (replacing some of the barley with wheat middlings). Changes observed microscopically within the growth plates of long bones were virtually diagnostic of vitamin A toxicity. Serum retinyl palmitate levels supported the diagnosis. Serum retinyl palmitate (an ester of retinol) in the affected pigs varied from 3970 to 6350 ug/L of serum, while those in normal, control pigs were virtually negative. Levels of standard vitamin A (retinol) in both the affected and control animals were within normal limits. Retinyl palmitate is not normally found in the serum of animals, but is stored in the liver. When the liver reaches an "overload" crisis due to excessive intake or exposure to vitamin A, retinyl esters spill over into the blood serum, where they evidently produce directly toxic effects on cell membranes. Vitamin A, administered in excessive amounts, is toxic. Vitamin A toxicity in young growing animals is characterized by irreversible injury to the growth plates of the animal, and metaphyseal flaring. In older animals, the development of bony overgrowths is seen. Pregnant sows given excessive amounts of vitamin A may have offspring at birth with cleft palate and pulmonary hypoplasia (maldevelopment of lung tissue). Young suckling piglets are very susceptible to excessive doses of vitamin A given orally as part of disease prevention programs. Shortening of long bones occurs, together with other bone growth abnormalities. Pigs treated shortly after birth show an abnormal gait and noticeably short legs by 6 to 8 weeks of age. The condition occurs with as little as twice the recommended oral dose of vitamin A (Jubb, Kennedy and Palmer, 1994). In this case, clinical signs of vitamin A toxicity were eliminated by reducing the level of fish silage to less than 50% of the total ration (Holbek* et al). All vitamin A sources were removed from the grain ration premix. The dietary source of vitamin A in these pigs was the large number of livers present in the fish silage. The liver is the primary storage organ for fat-soluble vitamin A. Vitamin A is stored in the liver in the form of esters, most of which is retinyl palmitate. Studies on the usefulness of fish silage as a hog feed are ongoing, and to date, are encouraging (Holbek). (* N Holbek, Provincial Research Farm, Oyster River, B.C.) What's New in Animal Tissue Identification:FINS, or Forensically Informative Nucleotide Sequencing, is a rapid, accurate and reproducible procedure that can be used to determine the species of origin of a biological sample (e.g. meat, blood, hair, feather, or processed foods) by selecting specific segments of DNA for analysis. - for information contact WS Davidson and/or SE Bartlett, c/o Bio-ID Corporation, Dept. Biochemistry, Memorial University, St. John's Nfld. A1B 3X9 Strychnine poisoning in B.C. dogs:In late summer and early fall, there have been three separate cases of strychnine poisoning in dogs. Two of the animals were residing in or near Surrey, and one on Texada Island. As far as this writer can determine, strychnine is still available in B.C. for "farm" use, where the owner is attempting to rid the premise of "gophers" or similar creatures that are deemed undesirable. Strychnine was officially registered by Canada Agriculture in 1979, and was eligible for re-registration this year (1995). It is used as a bait to eliminate vertebrate pests, including rodents. It is commercially available as a 2% solution of either strychnine alkaloid or sulphate, or as tablets (42.5% active ingredients). In parts of Canada, it is also available to wildlife officers as a 2.8% solution to control coyotes and skunks. Availability of these products vary depending upon the species "targeted", but generally they are available only to pest control operators, farmers, and persons authorized in government-approved pest control programs. The vendor must maintain a record of sales, including the name, address, and signature of all persons purchasing the material. Strychnine is not cumulative in its effects, it is not absorbed through normal intact skin, and has a very slight odor and bitter taste. It enters the blood stream very quickly and acts on the central nervous system. Onset of clinical signs depends on the fullness of the stomach and the nature of its contents. Symptoms may appear from 5 to 30 minutes after ingestion. Victims have frequent tetanic convulsions with intervals of quiet periods. Convulsions eventually lead to death through respiratory failure; chest muscles are so rigidly in spasm that the animal literally asphyxiates. The animal is fully conscious throughout the process. In accidental poisonings, antidotes can be used and are often successful if treatment is started soon after exposure. Please see your veterinarian for further information on this topic. Sadly, there are deranged individuals among us that are using this potent compound unjustifiably and illegally to eliminate pets, and occasionally, wildlife. Strychnine does not provide a humane method of killing; in this writer's view, protagonists of this compound should be obliged to watch the chemical do its handiwork. (chemical information provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, May, 1995). National and International news of interest:Human rabies in Washington state: In March, 1995 a 4-year old girl who resided in Lewis County, Washington, died from rabies virus infection. A bite from a bat was the cause of the infection. This was the first documented case of rabies in a human in the USA during 1995, and is consistent with a major epidemiologic pattern: since the 1950's, bats increasingly have been implicated as wildlife reservoirs for variants of rabies virus transmitted to humans. Variants of rabies virus associated with bats have been identified from 12 of 25 cases of human rabies diagnosed in the United States since 1980. However, a clear history of animal bite exposure was documented for only 6 of these 25 cases. This finding suggests that even apparently limited contact with bats or other animals infected with a bat variant of rabies may be associated with transmission. Unless prompt testing of a bat has ruled out rabies, the case in Washington and reports of similar cases underscore that, in situations in which a bat is physically present and the person(s) cannot exclude the possibility of a bite, postexposure treatment should be considered unless prompt testing of the bat has ruled out rabies. Keep your pet cats and dogs vaccinated- see your veterinarian for information. Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in the United States; notice
to B.C. veterinarians Canada's freedom from Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) was at risk this past summer due to an outbreak of the disease in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. VS is a viral disease of horses, cattle and swine. VS is a reportable disease in Canada under the Health of Animals Act. Concern with this viral disease VS is due to its similarity clinically with Foot and Mouth Disease (RMD). VS usually lasts about one week. Clinical signs are blisters in the mouth, on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, teats. Means of virus movement or transmission between groups of animals in different areas is not fully understood; insect vectors, mechanical transmission, and movement of animals are probably responsible. Any clinical cases that resemble vesicular stomatitis, regardless of species, should be reported to your nearest federal Animal Health District Veterinarian. Neospora abortion in cattle: Neospora sp. protozoan abortion continues to be the primary cause of diagnosed infectious abortion in B.C. cattle, particularly in those specimens originating from the Fraser Valley. The condition has, however, been diagnosed in cattle herds from Vancouver Island, the Interior, and in more northerly areas of B.C. Unfortunately, the life cycle of this organism is still not fully understood. Neospora, BVD, and Botulism in Quebec Cattle: - Courtesy of Dr. Marie Perrone, quoted from the Newsletter of the Canadian Association of Veterinary Pathologists; excerpts contributed by Dr. Perrone from the 1993 Quebec Animal Diseases Report, 44th Canadian Animal Diseases Conference, 1994. Several cases of Neospora sp. abortion in dairy cows were confirmed in Quebec in 1993 and 1994. The very first case was reported in June 1993 at the Ste-Foy Laboratory near Quebec city. Non-cytopathic strains of BVD have caused heavy losses in many regions of Quebec since 1993. Deaths were recorded in calves, heifers, and adult cows; in some herds, over 50% mortality was reported in adult cows. Despite heavy mortality, intestinal lesions of acute BVD were usually much less severe than those of mucosal disease. However, secondary bacterial infections were important, usually involving P. hemolytica, H. somnus, and A. pyogenes. Some adult cows with BVD had extensive vasculitis in several organs, similar to the lesions associated with malignant catarrhal fever. Several outbreaks of botulism have been observed in Quebec beef herds. In every case, the disease was associated with the feeding of silage made with poultry litter as part of the ration. Clostridium botulinus type C toxin was identified in the serum and intestinal contents of affected animals." News Item: Australian wildlife at risk as rabbit virus escapes: A deadly exotic rabbit virus has escaped from a quarantined island experiment off South Australia, and could kill as many as 120 million wild rabbits across the continent. The disease it causes, rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD), is so potent that an epidemic could spread across the whole of southern Australia. It is still not known how the virus escaped from the quarantine island, though bushflies are key suspects. The insects may have carried the virus across four kilometers of open sea to the mainland to Point Pearce, where a rabbit found dead recently is confirmed to have died from RCD. Another suspicious death has also been recovered for post mortem. For concerned Australians with valuable rabbit stock or pet rabbits, a vaccine is available. The virus is evidently highly specific to European rabbit species only. Focus on Staff: Dr. Peter Hewitt.In this issue, which celebrates the first publication of Diagnostic Diary in our new laboratory quarters, it is fitting that we focus on Dr. Peter Hewitt, Chief Veterinarian of the Animal Health Branch. A Belfast Irishman by birth, Peter graduated from the Veterinary College of Ireland, Dublin University, in 1959. Following graduation, Dr. Hewitt became one of three partners engaged in a busy 6-man rural practice, in southwest England. Dr. Hewitt emigrated to Canada in 1970. He has never regretted his decision to come to Canada, musing that it has always been a "great country and good to me". Arriving in Montreal via the Empress of Canada, Peter experienced the FLQ crisis in Quebec firsthand; this was followed by an eventful trip west by rail to Edmonton, including an early snowstorm in Calgary along the way. Peter assumed the duties of a veterinary pathologist at the provincial diagnostic laboratory at Edmonton and then completed a post-graduate diploma course in pathology at WCVM, in 1974. Dr. Hewitt's skills as a pathologist were sharpened in the Edmonton Lab, and in his work as relief pathologist in the Peace River district's Fairview Lab. Peter joined the BCMAFF as a diagnostic veterinary pathologist in Abbotsford, in 1980. In 1984 he was appointed acting Chief Veterinarian in Victoria; the position of Chief Veterinarian was eventually moved to Abbotsford. Dr. Hewitt's responsibilities involve numerous tasks; one duty which he particularly enjoys is representing the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's Advisory Board. One of the highlights of his time in office as Chief Veterinarian was guiding the Animal Health Centre through stormy waters in 1984, at the height of privatization. His concerns at that time were to maintain an effective diagnostic capability within the AHC, despite the external pressures of budget and staffing cuts. Budget cuts notwithstanding, Dr. Hewitt procured an electron microscope for the AHC, which greatly improved the laboratory's diagnostic armamentarium. Since then, Dr. Hewitt has attempted to change the thrust of the laboratory and the entire Branch, from a traditionally reactive to a more proactive stance. He has been actively involved with the plans leading to the newly built Abbotsford Agriculture Centre, home of the Animal Health Centre. In the future, Peter sees veterinarians focusing increasing amounts of time on herd/flock health, with much of the fire-engine work being done by paraprofessionals employed by veterinarians. This will permit the veterinary profession to thrive, and be more rewarding to its members. A notable characteristic of Peter Hewitt is his approachable, down-to-earth nature, untarnished by years within a bureaucracy. This must be due in part at least, to his early days as a large animal practitioner, a spartan occupation which forever impresses its stamp, however subtly, upon its participants. Peter and Christine reside in Abbotsford, and have a daughter-in-law, son and granddaughter, who also are in Abbotsford. Dr. Hewitt's staff and friends at the AHC wish him well and continued success, in his duties as Chief Veterinarian. Return to Table of Contents
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