Members and research partners of AVC’s globally-recognized Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER) gathered on January 21 to celebrate a year marked with success.  

CVER is one of the world’s leading centres for animal health epidemiological research. The centre, which has close to 50 members and 30 graduate students, focuses on advancing and safe-guarding health through expertise in production of high quality and safe food, disease surveillance, detecting emerging and zoonotic diseases, animal welfare, evaluating diagnostic tests, and determining the efficacy of new treatments.

In 2009, CVER’s successes included: securing three research chairs, launching the Canadian Regulatory Veterinary Epidemiology Network in partnership with CFIA, moved forward to the final round of the prestigious Canada Excellence in Research Chair competition, impacting countries around the world through considerable outreach activities and sharing of expertise, and the launch of the 2nd Edition of Veterinary Epidemiologic Research – a textbook co-authored by three members of the centre.

The Atlantic Veterinary College received funding recently through the Innovation PEI Pilot Fund in support of research to develop a diagnostic tool for mussel health management.

Under the direction of Dr. Ahmed Siah, a research associate with AVC's Department of Pathology and Microbiology, the project will develop a diagnostic kit to identify molecular biomarkers of mollusk health. This kit will be used as a novel early intervention tool to diagnose the early stages of mollusk pathology development in order to administer treatment effectively.

Dr. Rick Cawthorn, of the AVC Lobster Science Centre and Professor of Parasitology, delivered a presentation on the implications for the snow crab fishery in Atlantic Canada titled “Is Your Snow Crab Bitter?” at UPEI's most recent Research Breakfast. Dr. Cawthorn is leading an international team of researchers in a project to better understand Bitter Crab Disease and the parasite that causes the disease. “Snow crab is the second biggest fishery in Atlantic Canada,” explains Dr. Cawthorn. “In this study, we are not looking at the source of the taste. What we’re looking at are questions such as how common is this parasite in Atlantic Canada? How is the parasite transmitted from crab to crab? How does it cause the disease?”

AVC’s Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association have come together in a joint initiative with the development of a poster titled, “Every Dog Should Have a Tail to Tell…and the Ears to Hear One.” This poster is intended to educate the public about the medically unnecessary practices of ear cropping and tail docking, and to illustrate what natural ears and tails look like in many of the breeds that are traditionally altered in North America. Many people are surprised to learn that such breeds as cocker spaniels, poodles, and Yorkshire Terriers, would have longer tails if these were not amputated within a few days of birth.

AVC alumnus Dr. Greg Fleming recently delivered an intriguing presentation during the UPEI Distinguished Alumni Lectureship Series on his work as a veterinarian with Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

A 1998 graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College, Fleming is a veterinarian for Animal Programs for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Living Seas at EPCOT. Disney's Animal Kingdom houses more than 1,700 animals from 250 countries, making it the largest animal-themed park in the world.

Dr. Peter Foley’s recent presentation on cats brought out feline friends from across Prince Edward Island. Part of AVC’s Community Workshop Series, Cats 101 featured practical information on how to help these pets stay healthy and happy. Dr. Foley is an Assistant Professor in AVC’s Department of Companion Animals.  The next session in the Series is Dogs 101 on Tuesday, April 13.