Robert Price-Jones

Vet working in a mixed Practice with an interest in Large Animal & Equine work. Also interested in IT. My hobbies are cycling, running trying to surf!

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

#aberTB Two false positives on the initial DIVA skin test trial. Is this a major set back or a minor pot hole on the road to vaccination? Further trials needed!

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

Interesting morning in #aberTB listening to talks about TB eradication policy & BCG vaccination. Shame about the poor acoustics.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@dicksibley Interesting read Dick. I think all of us private vets (with an interest in bTB) share your frustration with the blinkered thinking in some quarters. You’re not alone. 👌

[bronwyn @terrierview]

Wales really is getting itself in a mess over TB.
Their politicians should redouble their efforts & not treat farmers & vets as fools.

https://t.co/Wdni2ElTJQ

[Sian Harries @sianharries_]

Es i weld hon yn gal ei arddangos am y tro cynta’ erioed heddi #Cranogwen

[PBD Biotech @PBDBiotech]

Ease of use at the point of need is vital for effective rollout of a tuberculosis diagnosis. We are delighted that our phage-based diagnostic is being evaluated by R2D2 TB Network and we are now listed as their 'Diagnostic Development Partners'. #EndTB
https://t.co/R6hZeQnWTz

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

Shame Kirsty didn’t get the window cleaner in. #CoronationConcert

[Gareth Enticott 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @GarethEnticott]

This is also what I found in my work looking at migration of vets from the UK to NZ - experiences of bTB testing were connected with a sense of wanting to 'get away from it all' 3/8

https://t.co/A82g666gKu

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@neiljwatt @vetontheweb @PhilLatham @PhilipOnions @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Apologies Neil. I was referring to herds where all the cattle were removed (historically) and the farm restocked. Obviously no ‘residual infection’ in cattle so prime suspects environment/wildlife. Obviously infection could also come in with the replacement stock.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Agreed. But is anyone looking at it in chronic breakdown herds? They may have a higher % of infected animals shedding in faeces. None of us know.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@vetontheweb @PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Gassing - whilst it may be ‘humane’ is a hard sell?

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@vetontheweb @PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Whole herds were taken out back then, when herds couldn’t be cleared of disease. That’s very rarely done these days - herds are a lot bigger and APHA say they just go back down again anyway. (Pointing at environmental / wildlife infection?)

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Read this. You might not be so confident in your opinion.

https://t.co/YALyZTB4rx

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Not at all. As I said it’s one study. Small numbers 72 animals. You can’t base a policy on that. That is stupid and arrogant.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Please don’t take this the wrong way - but your confidence verges on arrogance.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu So why are APHA case vets telling farmers not to spread slurry unless stored for a minimum of 6 months?
Didn’t they read the paper?

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu As any good scientist knows. One paper proves nothing.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu Precisely, herd test. Not an individual animal test. Lacks sensitivity.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@neiljwatt @PhilLatham @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @AbiReader @CVOCymru @AledNfu The truth is Neil, not enough is being done to investigate recurrent breakdowns. Residual infection in the animals, environmental sources (slurry & water troughs) and off course wildlife.
The skin test lacks sensitivity and many farmers have no faith in it.

[Robert Price-Jones @rpjVet]

@AbiReader @PhilLatham @neiljwatt @PhilipOnions @vetontheweb @CVOCymru @AledNfu George Eustice responding to the Godfray report (2018) said the Government’s strategy would include ‘improved diagnostics’. Godfray & Eustice accepted current diagnostics are inadequate. Unfortunately the there doesn’t currently seem to be any uptake of ‘improved diagnostics’.