Wildlife at the annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Pathology is a key scientific discipline at the CCWHC. Direct examination of wild animal specimens remains our biggest and best window on the natural world of wildlife diseases. But wildlife also is important to veterinary pathology; discoveries and advancements are constantly being made from the study of wild animal diseases by anatomic pathologists. This is reflected in the program of the 2012 annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) Annual Meeting, held in Seattle on 1-5 December, at which many posters and platform presentations had a wild flavor. These included updates and discussions on topics such as the “northern pinniped cutaneous syndrome”, a mysterious condition still in search of an explanation; a progressive and lethal condition called amyloidosis in endangered island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) on the Channel Islands (near Los Angeles), a new pox virus found to cause arthritis in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), a new virus (a polyomavirus) associated with brain tumors in free-ranging raccoons (Procyon lotor) and the newly-established pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus gatti infecting the brains of elk (Cervus elaphus) in Washington State (Yakima County). For a more detailed look at these and other reports from the meeting, abstracts can be viewed at the ACVP website.
