STOCK DISEASE DIAGNOSIS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27112, 7 August 1953, Page 12

STOCK DISEASE DIAGNOSIS

NEED FOR FURTHER STATIONS URGED

The number of veterinarians in New Zealand had more than doubled in the last 10 years and the number of practitioners had increased four-fold, but there was still only one diagnostic station in New Zealand, said the associate professor of agriculture at Canterbury Agricultural I College, Lincoln (Dr. J. W. McLean), at a meeting of the Canterbury Progress League on Wednesday evening. A diagnostic station was a place where a highly-trained and specialised staff worked laboratory facilities, and where there was space for both small and large animals, said Dr. McLean. Its purpose was to diagnose animal diseases for the veterinary profession and the farming community by examining specimens sent to it. At present the service was run by the Animal Research Division of the Department of Agriculture. Although it was common overseas for diagnostic services to be Government-operated this was not really essential, said Dr. McLean.

The speaker then described the origin of the diagnostic station at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt It was not only a diagnostic station, but also one of the two main centres of animal research in New Zealand. Until recently it had also manufactured vaccines, but this had now ceased because of the pressure of other work. Work at Wallaceville

Magnificent work was being done at Wallaceville in the identification of new diseases in association with veterinarians in the field, said Dr. McLean. The diseases dealt with included leptospirosis, Johne’s disease, coccidiosis, ram sterility and scrapie.

The amount of work done at the station had doubled over the last fiveyears. The reason for this was largely the increase in veterinary service during the last 15 to 20 years. In 1948 the number of specimens dealt with at Wallaceville was 7263, but in each of the last three years it had been about 14,000. ' The total number of veterinarians in New Zealand in 1933 was about 50, in 1943 it was 102 and in 1953, 220. By 1963 there might well be 400. The number of club and private practitioners in 1933 was 15, in 1943, 47, and in 1953, 169. Veterinarians in club practice numbered 103 in the North Island and 21 in the South, Dr. McLean said.

With this increase in veterinary service to the primary industry a great strain had been placed on the diagnostic services at Wallaceville, Dr. McLean continued. The time had come when these services must be extended and expanded. For efficient service, particularly with bacteriological specimens, the material must reach the station in the shortest possible time, preferably within 24 hours; otherwise the great majority were worthless, although this did not necessarily apply to specimens for other types of examination. The average time taken for material sent from Lincoln to reach Wallaceville was four days. It was also essential that the results should be sent back to the veterinarian as soon as possible for efficient service, Dr. McLean added.

Regional Sub-stations Suggested The solution to the problem was for diagnostic sub-stations to be established, said Dr. McLean. He suggested that there should be at least two in the South Island—one in Canterbury and another in Otago—and four more in the North Island. These could co-operate with Wallaceville and relieve the strain.

The Minister of Agriculture had already approved the establishment of two more stations—one in the South Island and one at Ruakura. The Veterinary Services Council was also considering the question. The principal difficulty was that of obtaining trained staff. Dr. McLean listed the advantages of a station at Lincoln College as follows; it would be outside the town; space for animals could be made available; the association of veterinarians with people in related occupations would be valuable; experts in a related field would be available; and some building facilities might even be available in the near future. In addition to providing an important national service, - improved diagnostical services would also contribute towards national security said Dr. McLean. They would prevent the establishment of diseases which, although not in New Zealand at present, could be brought here. New Zealand was at present free from all major plague diseases of stock, he said.