New challenges ahead

Being half way through my two-year term as FECAVA President, it is perhaps a good time to take stock of our achievements so far. FECAVA, the Federation of European Companion Animal Associations, was formed a little over 10 years ago and has grown in strength due to the efforts of my predecessors Didier Carlotti, Ben Albalas and Marc Buchet. The Federation has grown dramatically and now represents some 30,000 veterinarians from 28 European countries. Our profession faces new challenges, and this larger membership has slightly different requirements than those of our “Founding Fathers”, and our services must adapt to meet these changing needs. 

Fecava has become part of the established veterinary political scene within Europe, and it is important that we work in harmony with other groups, both within and outside the profession. Our members’ interests are best served if we concentrate on working with such groups on topics of mutual interest rather than highlighting differences. As an example, we are working hard within the framework of UEVP and FVE to ensure companion animal issues are addressed, and obviously remain part of the larger family of WSAVA.

To have an effective voice, it is important to be proactive so that we can influence decisions before they are made rather than complain once it is too late. Our involvement as one of the main organisers at the EuroPet Night held at the European Parliament will I hope enable us to make useful contacts with sympathetic MEPs that will be of great value in the future.

The main “political issues” currently highlighted by Fecava are medicines, “Good Veterinary Practice / Practice Standards”, manpower and veterinary nurse training, microchip identification and welfare issues. The provision of further education remains a cornerstone of our activities. The annual FECAVA European congresses have been enhanced by providing two extra FECAVA scientific speakers and by adding a half-day seminar on a more “political” topic. Last year in Berlin this was on “Dangerous Dogs”, and in Granada the topic is microchip identification. Furthermore, FECAVA CE courses have been set up (the next being in Estonia in March 2003 on the subject of behaviour), as well as a programme to give financial support to disserving national associations to improve their own annual congresses. A series of symposia have been organised on issues related to stray dog and cat control in a number of countries, the most recent being a series of 4 one-day sessions in Latvia.

Keith Davies, the Editor of EJCAP, has worked tirelessly to improve the standard and quality of our Journal. Initially its purpose was to reprint selected papers in English that had previously been published in other European journals in their native language. This remains a key function, but the Journal now also includes commissioned articles and original scientific papers that we hope will make it even more valuable to our members. 
Communication with all our members remains a major challenge. We achieve this in part through the FECAVA news section of the Journal, but hope that our website will evolve to be a major source of valuable information for our members. 
In conclusion, the Fecava “team” is working hard in many ways to serve the needs of our members. However, the success of the Federation can only be a reflection of the enthusiasm of its members. So why not visit the FECAVA stand in the commercial exhibition and find out what we are doing.

The Human - Animal Bond

Parasitic zoonotic diseases, the veterinary role in therapy and prevention of disease as well as transmission to humans was a hot topic to more than 200 veterinarians from around the globe. The pre-congress symposium organized by Bayer Animal Health covered ecto- as well as endoparasites that either cause diseases or play a major role as vector in both animal and man. 

In the first part of the symposium: ectoparasites and vector-borne diseases, especially the cat flea as the origin of diseases was discussed. 
David Lloyd from the Royal Veterinary College of London, UK informed on flea allergy dermatitis and the importance in veterinary dermatology. In his presentation he informed on a diagnostic proceedure performed at RVC that can clearly distinguish FAD from other causes of allergic reactions in cats and dogs. Didier Raoult from the University of Marseille, France covered the importance of cat fleas as the major  transmitter of certain esp. bacterial pathogen like Bartonella spp. from the Rickettsia group. He showed new by now unpublished data on the prevalence of Bartonella and other bacteria in cat fleas collected by random as field isolates in France. He concluded his presentation pointing out the importance of further research work on fleas as a vector for Rickettsia organisms and how important flea control on pet animals is to prevent humans from infection.

In the second part of the symposium, endoparasites and their zoonosis potential were presented, as well as disease transmission from animal to man. 
The four presentations covered everything from cestodes (tapeworms) to nematode (roundworm) infection in pet animals, the prevalence in both animal in man and how important the veterinary profession is to prevent transmission by promotion of deworming programs as part of the veterinary and client relationship. Christian Epe from the Hanover Veterinary School, Germany  presented the complex life cycles of hook- and roundworms in both cats and dogs, some prevalence data  and urged the veteriany practitioners to include deworming into their routine interaction with the client, as they already do for vaccination. Guadelope Miro Corrales from Spain showed the current situation on the prevalence of helminths in Spain. She show a dramatic decrease of e.g. the prevalence of hydatid disease in humans over the last 15 years in Spain, due to strong intervention from the veterinary profession. 
If you are interested in the abstracts, send an e-mail to norbert.mencke.nm@bayer-ag.de and the proceedings will be send out to you.

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