Survival of the Galapagos Sea Lion

June 29, 2013 from ScienceDaily.com

"Immune systems of endangered Galapagos sea lions are in overdrive because of harmful activity by people, reveal scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

The study shows that Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) are more prone to starvation because of exposure to human influences like pets and pollution. These can impair the level of their immunity, making them less able to hunt and more likely to go hungry when food is scarce.

This research is published June 28 in the journal PLOS ONE."

Original Article 

Stranded Orcas Hold Critical Clues for Scientists

From http://www.sciencedaily.com/ on June 7, 2013

"The development of a standardized killer-whale necropsy system has boosted the collection of complete data from killer-whale strandings from 2 percent to about 33 percent, according to a recent study from a team of scientists, including a University of California, Davis wildlife veterinarian.

The study, published recently in the journal Marine Mammal Science, suggests that the data can help scientists better understand the life history of the orca species.

The killer-whale necropsy system was co-developed by Joe Gaydos, director of the SeaDoc Society -- a program of the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center within the School of Veterinary Medicine -- and Stephen Raverty, veterinary pathologist with the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture."

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IAAAM 2013 Student Presentation Awards

Congratulations to all of our student presenters at the recent conference of the IAAAM. The student liaison committee has announced the following students who received student presentation awards:

Posters

• 1st Place: Justin Richard – University of Rhode Island
• 2nd place Tie:  James Steeil – University of Tennessee and Kyle Donnelly – University of Florida

Intern, Resident, Post Docs:

• 1st Place: Lorraine Barbosa – The Marine Mammal Center
• 2nd Place: Stephen Cassle – University of Florida

Vet Student/Undergrad/PhD/Masters:

• 1st Place:  Jessica Jacob – Hawaii Pacific University
• 2nd Place: Barbara Linnehan – University of Florida

H1N1 Discovered in Marine Mammals

From ScienceDaily.com

"Scientists at the University of California, Davis, detected the H1N1 (2009) virus in free-ranging northern elephant seals off the central California coast a year after the human pandemic began, according to a study published today, May 15, in the journal PLOS ONE. It is the first report of that flu strain in any marine mammal."

Read original article​.

IAAAM Gallery - Send in Your IAAAM Pictures

If you look at the upper right side of the page, you will notice a link to the new IAAAM Gallery. We are posting pictures taken by and/or of IAAAM members showing what it is like to work, or play, in the world of aquatic animal medicine.​

Please send in pictures you would like to post to iaaam.main@gmail.com and we will evaluate and post the picture(s) if appropriate. 

Thanks in advance for making the website more colorful!​

Congratulations to IAAAM's Newest Award Winner

Congratulations to Paul Bowser, Ph.D., the 2013 winner of the Christensen Award for Excellence in Fish Health. ​

This award is given to an active member of IAAAM who has made significant advances in the field of fish health and medicine through basic scientific or applied research or education.

The officers and members of the IAAAM is honoring Dr. Bowser for his ground-breaking work on ugly tumors in beautiful fishes, for contributions to keeping aquaculture fish healthy and our food supply safe, for important investigations into temperature effects on viral pathogenesis in wild and cultured fish, for being the right person with the right skills and team in the right place at the right time to document and help mitigate the emergence of the invasive Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus IVb in North America’s largest body of fresh water, as well as his long dedication to training veterinary students, graduate students and professionals in fish health both at Cornell University and as Associate Director of Aquavet® for 25 years.

Congratulations Dr. Paul Bowser.

​Dr. Paul Bowser in 2002.

Congratulations to New Diplomates of the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM)

IAAAM would like to congratulate Dr. Eric Anderson and Dr. Kat Hadfield on becoming new Diplomates of the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM).

In order to become an ACZM Diplomate, one must have several years of professional experience in zoological medicine, be the primary author on at least 5 peer-reviewed publications, and successfully complete a two-day examination.

A qualifying examination occurs on the first day, which includes the medicine of invertebrate, fish, avian, mammalian, amphibian and reptilian species. Candidates who pass the qualifying examination may take the certifying examination on a following day, in one of the following focus subjects: zoological companion animal, general zoo, wildlife, aquatic, avian, or amphibian/reptilian species. Successful candidates for Diplomate status must pass both the qualifying and certifying examinations.

Established in 1983, the American College of Zoological Medicine is an international specialty organization