A research partnership between AVC, The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, the Universidad de Tamaulipas, Universidad Metropolitana and the Universidad Nacional in Mexico culminated in the recent publication of a book entitled “Perinatología y Gibecoobstetricia Animal (Animal Perinatology and Gynecoosbetrics).

This scientific network began several years ago when a small group of researchers and field veterinarians became interested in the high neonatal mortality rate found in some farms in Mexico. The group decided to do a comprehensive study on neonatal mortality in piglets, calves, foals, and puppies and compared findings with those reported in human perinatology. Early investigative work proved that a pediatric condition known as Meconium Aspiration Syndrome occurs in calves, foals, and piglets.

Drs. Daniel Mota, Alejandro Nava, Dina Villarreal and Maria Alonso Spylbury were responsible for compiling over eight years of clinical and experimental work and bringing it together in this publication. AVC’s Dr. Alfonso Lopez of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, was coauthor of six chapters, along with his former graduate student, Dr. Julio Martinez Burnes. While a PhD student at AVC, Dr. Burnes developed a reliable animal model of meconium aspiration in neonatal rats. He is currently the Director of the Tamaulipas Council for Science and Technology. He is also a part-time professor at the University of Tamaulipas.