Day: August 21, 2004

Removal of Protein in Mice Prevents Lupus-Like Condition

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine finds that removing an immune system signaling protein in mice prevented the animals from developing a lupus-like condition.

In this particular animal model of lupus, the mice are exposes to pristane which causes a lupus-like condition in the animals. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the National Institutes of Health created a genetically modified line of mice that lacked SLAM-associated protein (SAP). Both previous animal and human studies have suggested that SAP plays an important role in lupus.

The modified mice did not develop the lupus-like condition when exposed to pristane, but otherwise their immune system was not seriously compromised. In a press release announcing the publication of the group’s findings, lead researcher Stanford Peng said,

What’s perhaps most exciting is that normal immune system functions were still largely intact in the experimental mice that lacked SAP. Other immune system proteins are potential targets for new autoimmune disease treatments, but they all affect large portions of the immune system, making weakened immune function a potential side effect of any new drug. Targeting SAP for treatment may avoid that risk.

The lack of SAP appears to interfere with communication between immune system T and B cells. That finding in itself could provide important new information about the immune system according to Peng,

We know a lot of molecules that are important to the activation of T and B cells, but we have never understood what was important for their interaction. SAP may give us an important first insight into how these interactions occur.

Peng now plans to test how the genetically modified mice fare in other mouse models of lupus.

Source:

Lack of immune system protein prevents lupus-like condition in mice. Press Release, Washington University School of Medicine, July 8, 2004.

Britain Unveils New Animal Welfare Legislation

In July, Great Britain’s government unveiled proposed new animal welfare legislation.

The legislation met some initial controversy after it was reported that the new law would extend protections to snails and slugs. Junior environment minister Ben Bradshaw told the BBC, however that such reports were incorrect and that, “It [the new legislation] applies to vertebrates only, not to animals in the wild and only to animals kept by people.”

Among other changes, the law makes it illegal for people under 16 years of age to purchase animals for pets and allows animal welfare officials to take pre-emptive action against owners who are keeping pets in conditions likely to cause suffering even if the animal not actually suffering at the moment of intervention. According to the BBC, the law establishes a “duty of care” that all animal owners must meet, including,

  • Providing a suitable environment
  • Providing adequate food and water
  • Allowing it to exhibit normal behavior
  • Allowing it to be housed with/apart from its own or other species
  • Allowing appropriate protection from and diagnosis and treatment of pain, injury and disease.

The law would dramatically increase potential penalties for the most severe animal cruelty crimes, such as animal fighting. Potential sentences there would go from a current maximum of six months in jail and a 5,000 pound fine to a maximum 51-weeks in jail and a 20,000 pound fine.

The law would also ban tail docking except where an owner can prove that a working animals’ tail needs to be docked in order to minimize the risk of injury to the animal.

Source:

Overhaul for animal welfare laws. The BBC, July 14, 2004.

Cruelty law to slug snail killers. Fiona Govan, The Age (Australia), July 12, 2004.

Australian Town Takes Heat Over Feral Cat Bounty

The town of Richmond, in north-western Queensland, Australia, took a lot of heat in July when it announced a $5-a-head bounty for feral cats that are apparently causing problems for native wildlife in the area.

Richmond Mayor John Wharton told ABC Queensland,

A Melbourne university was doing studies between Richmond and Julia Creek about three or four years ago and they were shooting cats at night time, opening them up in the morning and finding up to four different species of animal, either birds or small mice and dunnarts. That’s a lot of wildlife.

The Australian Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals criticized the bounty, saying that it supports killing feral cats, but not bounties which could encourage hunting feral cats for sport. Queensland RSPCA executive Mark Townend told ABC Queensland,

The RSPCA does supporting the culling [of feral cats] for the preservation of wildlife. But we have to do it in a humane way and I’m very disappointed that people will go off and offer financial incentives to have people who are amateurs out there killing other animals in an inhumane way.

The Richmond council wanted the Local Government Association of Queensland to adopt a $5 bounty throughout the Queensland, but that suggestion was rejected.

Sources:

Council defends feral cat bounty. ABC Queensland, July 6, 2004.

Feral cat cull plan not supported. The Bundaberg Mail Times, July 8, 2004.