Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Committee of Enquiry into Veterinary Research.

The Committee of Enquiry has been set up by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the light of concerns about the future development of veterinary research in the UK and its view that an overall long-term strategy for veterinary science and research is needed in order to ensure the best use of resources and identify any areas where greater depth and breadth of research may be required. The terms of reference of the Enquiry are "to assess the current state and provision for veterinary science and research and to develop a strategy from which priorities can be determined, to ensure UK veterinary research and research training are at the forefront internationally and meet the nation's needs in the future".

The Committee invites written evidence from organisations and individuals involved or interested in veterinary research. The Committee does not wish to constrain the freedom of respondents to raise the issues which they think important, but as guide offers the questions listed.

Responses should be sent to by the end of November 1996 to J S Gill, Secretary, Committee of Enquiry into Veterinary Research, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF (Telephone +44 171-222 2001, direct line +44 171-233 1291, fax. +44 171-222 2004)

Composition of the Committee

Chairman: The Earl of Selborne KBE FRS DL, past Chairman, Agricultural and Food Research Council

Members:

Professor Peter M Biggs CBE DSc. DVM FRCPath FIBiol FRS MRCVS, retired Director of the Institute for Animal Health

Professor Alan Cuthbert, PhD FRS. Professor of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge

Professor Brian Follett, FRS, Vice-Chancellor, University of Warwick

Professor Ian McConnell MA BVMS PhD FRCPath FRSE MRCVS, Professor of Veterinary Science, University of Cambridge

Professor Graham MacGregor FRCP, Professor of Medicine, St. Georges Hospital Medical School, London

Dr John E Moffitt, CBE DCL FRASE FRAgS, Chairman of the Milk Development Council

Miss Kirsten Rausing, owner/manager, The Lanwades Stud

Professor John A Wykes, MA VetMB PhD FRSE MRCVS The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research.

First Published in: January 1997
Submission from T Lonsdale MRCVS to Committee of Enquiry into Veterinary Research. Chairman: The Earl of Selborne KBE FRS DL

The whiff of dogs' breath, money and veterinary research.

The current state of research.

'Science has taken over from religion and it has become a rather corrupt church. It's in its mediaeval theological phase.' James Lovelock.

1. The strengths and weaknesses of veterinary research in the UK.

What I have to say on this subject I know to be controversial and I believe to be true. Accordingly I consider it necessary to establish certain parameters.

a. Modern veterinary practice is overwhelmingly the preserve of small animal practitioners. It is believed that in the developed world approximately 75% of general practice incomes are derived from the treatment of small domestic carnivores. Consequently the main economic and social emphasis is placed on this sector. Research and teaching are similarly weighted and this trend can be expected to continue.

b. Domestic pets suffer a range of degenerative diseases the most prevalent of which is periodontal disease which according to The Waltham Institute (the research and development arm of the Mars Corporation "The worlds leading authority on pet care and nutrition") is running at a rate of 85% in pets over the age of 3 years (Penman and Emily 1991). Hoffman and Graengler reported on the dental health of 123 poodles. They found that, "90 per cent of the dogs under four years of age, and all dogs older than four years, had at least one tooth with periodontitis." The authors could find no difference in outcome between dogs on a normal home diet, a carbohydrate-rich non-abrasive diet or a protein-rich abrasive diet.1

c. Since 1991 a vigorous debate has continued within the ranks of the Australian veterinary profession. The claim was made that the epidemic of periodontal disease in domestic pets is predominantly due to the feeding of unnatural foodstuffs. In an attempt to resolve the controversy a resolution was passed by the 1993 AGM of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). This provided for the establishment of a committee to investigate the connection between diet and disease in companion animals. As a result of action by the Executive of the
AVA the committee's terms of reference were restricted "To explore the relationship between diet and oral health in dogs and cats and the possibility that poor oral health may contribute to other disease conditions in these species."

It should be noted that the AVA is in receipt of sponsorship funds from the artificial pet food industry and has directors who are also consultants to the industry. Dr David Watson the author of the final report acknowledged the assistance provided by a pet food company employee and known pet food company sympathiser. Not withstanding these limitations on the independence of the report, "In summary the committee found 'there is sufficient evidence to incriminate an association between diets of predominantly soft consistency and periodontal disease' and that veterinarians 'need to be concerned about the relationship between diet and health."2

Numerous authors have remarked that carnivores feeding on their natural food rarely develop the same degree of periodontitis. DA Crossley is a UK veterinary dentist and joint editor of the British Small Animal Association, Manual of Small Animal Dentistry. At his Internet site he states: "The body's natural control methods basically revolve around physical removal of plaque bacteria during eating, the antibacterial chemical and flushing actions of saliva and a cellular response involving "neutrophil" white blood cells. When animals feed in the wild they rarely develop a serious level of periodontal disease unless they are debilitated in some other way.

By feeding animals unnatural foods we encourage plaque buildup and the development of periodontal disease. Luckily pet food manufacturers are beginning to realise that chewing is important and are now developing foods which are not just nutritionally balanced, but also require chewing and have some natural tooth cleaning properties. Use of these foods, and the provision of suitable chew toys, rawhide strips etc. goes part way to maintaining a healthy mouth BUT ONLY if started before disease is present."3

d. A diet which approximates the natural (based on raw meaty bones and supplemented with table scraps) does not give rise to periodontal disease and when such disease is under way will, to a considerable degree, reverse that process.4 Many other benefits attend the more biologically appropriate manner of feeding domestic carnivores. vis:

Raw food contains lysosomal enzymes which act to digest the food in the intestine.

Carbohydrates are poorly digested by the carnivore. Consequently they provide a substrate for bacterial overgrowth with the resultant production of toxic metabolites.

Natural food by definition contains the range of biochemicals in appropriate proportions by weight and volume. Since analysis of whole raw food entails processing then it is not possible to know the appropriate levels, even the existence of, certain constituents. Consequently unnatural diets, even when closely formulated in the laboratory, contain excesses of certain compounds, deficiencies of compounds and complete absence of labile micro nutrients. In addition the artificial foodstuffs contain variable levels of artificial preservatives and colouring agents and other chemicals designed to enhance the marketability of the product.

The net result of these factors whether taken singly or in conjunction is to have a deleterious effect whether at the local (e.g. gingival or colonic epithelial) or systemic level. 5

Of considerable relevance to consumers is the cost of natural food when compared with the artificial variety. In Australia it was estimated that owners could save £400 per annum on the cost of feeding one large dog by utilising a raw meaty bone diet. The faecal residue of naturally fed animals amounts to about a third of those on unnatural products with the added benefit that it is relatively odour free.

e. The definition of poison according to The Concise Oxford Dictionary is: 'Substance that when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism destroys life or injures health.' I believe that artificial pet foods fall into this category of substances when they form the basis of a diet for small domestic carnivores.

f. The effects of the 'poison' and the effects of the manufacturers of the 'poison' are to be found throughout all levels of the small animal veterinary science. Specifically in respect to veterinary research whether in the laboratory or in the general practice the test animals will invariably be fed on artificial food. Control groups are seldom utilised but where they exist then they too will invariably be fed an artificial diet. Any results so derived can at best be seen to relate to a population uniformly poisoned by its diet and at worst a set of random and meaningless figures.

Much veterinary research is conducted by the companies in order to shore up their claims and to denigrate the products of rival companies. Such research suffers from lack of naturally fed controls with resultant status but nevertheless gains publication in some of the most prestigious veterinary journals.

Other levels of veterinary research are contaminated by the artificial pet food companies. Universities and research establishments receive considerable funding as do professional organisations. Individual researchers depend on the largess of the companies for their research grants and other expenses. At every level veterinarians seem to show a remarkable ability to overlook the damaging consequences of their actions. This is particularly worrying when one considers that students continue to be taught in this environment and the RCVS Council is populated by Professors of Veterinary Schools which are in receipt of company funds and in one instance a Councillor is currently a director of research of a huge artificial pet food company.

g. The foregoing relates to aspects of veterinary research. It should be remembered that results of veterinary research are frequently applied to questions relating to human health. Carnivores are often used as experimental animals in human medical research laboratories. As an example of cruel and misleading research with consequences for medical research I cite an example from Australia. A University study is underway looking into the effects of chemotherapeutic substances on the course of disease in cats affected by lymphosarcoma. These cats are fed on artificial food. We must therefore conclude that they are likely to be suffering the toxic effects of : the food, periodontal disease, lymphosarcoma and the chemotherapeutic agents.

In summary we can conclude that the veterinary profession ministers to the needs of a population of small domestic carnivores the majority of which are suffering the effects of slow diet induced direct or indirect toxicity. That the profession has not identified this to be the case ensures that no answers are forthcoming. If and where suspicions are raised the culture and systems permit easy denial and suppression. Although veterinary research is nominally concerned with the procurement of interesting or useful knowledge in the small animal context this is not the case. The small animal veterinary profession can reasonably be viewed as a sophisticated marketing arm of the artificial pet food industry. Veterinary pseudo science as practised lends justification and credibility to this shocking state of affairs.

h. One consumer group, The Canine Health Census, has so lost confidence in the veterinary profession that it has started to conduct its own statistical research. The group has found a marked reduction in the need for veterinary treatment for their animals when those animals are fed a more natural diet. Another activity of the group is to seek official and legal redress against veterinarians whom they consider have wantonly exploited public trust by their research activities. We can expect to see more of this sort of activity if researchers fail to deal fairly with the public.6

2. Are there significant gaps in coverage at present? Are there indications that new gaps may open up in future?

Whilst the domination of veterinary science by the artificial pet food industry renders the products of that research especially worthless there are other factors which confound the issue. The theory and practice of scientific research is frequently poorly understood by the veterinary community. Low level fact gathering is frequently treated as if it were a process of scientific discovery. Veterinarians are handicapped as are others in the natural sciences by virtue of the fact that the dominant paradigm is the reductionist method where nature is reduced to its component parts which are then assumed to be susceptible of faithful recombination. This is not the place to explore these wider issues which are subject to larger forces. Popular books on the subject are listed in the references and provide both diagnoses and solutions.

Since veterinary research has effectively been locked up behind a 'pet food curtain' then the complete library of small animal clinical works will need to be rewritten. In order for this to be effective then the vast body of recent work will need to be repeated employing appropriate controls. During such a renaissance there exists a wonderful opportunity to introduce holistic methodologies more representative of the natural world. Interdisciplinary approaches would lead to a comprehensive rather than piecemeal understanding. Since veterinary science is or should be anchored in the biological domain then new research should be anchored in the rigorous teaching of those at the forefront of biological thinking.

Dr Lyn Margulis has much to offer in this area7 as do Costerton et al with their insights into the behaviour of bacteria within biofilms. "As disciples of Koch and Pasteur, we have been taught to extrapolate from single-species laboratory cultures to predict bacterial behaviour in actual environments. With modern tools we can now make direct observations of structure and of chemical function in living biofilms growing in specific ecosystems. This perception of functional biofilm communities, reinforced by novel methods for direct observation,will usher in a new golden age of understanding in virtually all fields of microbiology." 8

Utilising the natural biology of periodontal disease as a starting point I can foresee immense research potential. Lyn Margulis has shown that activity at the cellular level is in fact a recapitulation of evolutionary development of bacterial biochemical and physiological interactions. This realisation can thus lead to an elucidation of various pathophysiological pathways. In particular I would cite the local effects of collagen disease in periodontitis and the possible correlation with several degenerative processes in humans, eg. rheumatoid and skin diseases. A better understanding of the immune system should develop if as I believe the system comes to be seen not just as a protector of the individual but as an important determinant of the death of the individual. Indeed redefinition should characterise much of the new approach even to the point of elevating death as an important and desirable aspect of the cycles of life.9

Veterinary science has evolved as a treatment oriented discipline with both practitioners and consumers thinking of treatment as the first option. Prevention of disease offers a much more cost effective, although less visible, solution and should be specifically encouraged.

3. How far is it desirable to link the research activities of the University Veterinary Schools, the Research Institutes, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the private sector?

Insofar as the private sector is engaged in genuinely useful activity then it is not unreasonable for collaborative effort to take place between the various institutions. Just how this joint activity would be regulated (or self regulated) in order that a repeat of the current abominable distortion of the scientific effort is not immediately clear to me. My hope is that the realisation of and revulsion at this current situation will give rise to a major purge of the profession and its slavish involvement with the pet food industry. If there is a backlash against collusive conduct then I rather hope that it will give rise to various protective mechanisms.

In short, it is desirable to link socially beneficial research projects and to have self regulating mechanisms which mitigate against the 'game keepers' becoming indistinguishable from the 'poachers'.

4. What arrangements exist for this purpose?

The entire edifice of small animal veterinary medicine and the supporting research is inextricably involved with the artificial pet food industry. Consequently the research activities of the schools and the institutes are already firmly linked. As the introduction on the Waltham (Research institute of The Mars Corporation located at Waltham -on-the-Wold) Internet home page proclaims.

"With a heritage of over 60 years, WALTHAM is recognised for its wide ranging expertise, publishing more than any other pet food facility. At present, WALTHAM is engaged in hundreds of studies at our worldwide facilities and at dozens of universities around the globe. The end result of all these studies are the exceptional foods that feed one third of the world's cats and dogs - helping to keep them healthy and happy as well as helping them to recover when they are ill. The reason for the success of these foods - Pedigree ® , Whiskas ® , Aquarian ® , and Trill ® - is our commitment to quality, nutrient delivery and meeting the highest industry standards. The dedication of the hundreds of WALTHAM scientists, veterinarians, pet nutritionists and animal behaviourists will ensure that future generations of pets get the care and nutrition they need. WALTHAM. The future of pet nutrition happens here."10

What is now needed is a firm programme designed to break the nexus between the companies and the Schools and the Institutes. Any thoughts of amending and or modifying the existing arrangements should be rejected as being unworkable. For there to be any real improvement a completely fresh start will be required. When new arrangements are being put in place it will be necessary to expressly proscribe the performance of research whether overtly or covertly for the artificial pet food industry.

5. How far should centres of veterinary research specialise rather than compete?

With the vast amount of work waiting to be done, or redone, I consider that there should be little need to crowd into congested areas. In the hoped for renaissance it is hoped that researchers will be focussed and ambitious to discover new knowledge. Where they do find themselves working in similar areas they might alternatively collaborate or compete but always seeking the earliest distillation of knew knowledge.11

6. Do veterinary researchers have sufficient access to clinical practice?

There is interchange between research establishments and general practice and vice versa. However a cultural apartheid exists whereby the two groups have very different standards and approaches. Admittedly it is something of a generalisation but researchers are for the most part locked into the 'reductionist, linear singular cause and unitary effect paradigm'. Practitioners occupy the 'real world' where a more holistic approach is necessary. Instead of there being a gradual cross cultural exchange the individual is required to adopt the new culture into which he/she has moved.

With the existing cultural constraints it will be very difficult to bring about improvements. Change can occur with the occasional perceptive individual who is prepared to fight the system. However I believe that significant improvement will require cultural change at the top. By this I mean proactive measures introduced by the RCVS, the professional associations, editors of journals and the universities themselves. The change I have in mind is the introduction of more holistic measures and modern computer modelling which reflects more accurately the living world. Reductionist methodology will still have a place but should lose its primacy.

7. Are there arrangements for publicising and exploiting research carried out by veterinary practitioners?

Nominally the answer is yes. In my own experience and I believe in the experience of others the answer is, only with great difficulty.

In the first instance there is little encouragement for the development of practitioners' observations leading to research projects. If against the odds a practitioner succeeds in conducting research then communicating that research will likely be frustrated.

For there to be 'arrangements' there needs to be an acknowledgement of the difficulties and constraints experienced by busy practitioners. It is only then that appropriate incentives and assistance can be arranged. It is assumed that publication means submitting to the peer review process which itself is somewhat deficient but for the inexperienced practitioner can be overwhelming.12

Exploitation of research findings within the small animal sphere will only be likely to occur where the research can be utilised by either the artificial pet food industry or the pharmaceutical industry. My own paper on Periodontal disease and leucopenia was fortunate to obtain publication but despite the implications for pets, human AIDS sufferers and collagen diseases their has been little or no follow up.

Apart from the structural impediments to publication it is important to recognise that what appears to be deliberate suppression and censorship occurs only too frequently. On different occasions I have submitted well founded observations and criticisms of material published in the various veterinary journals. These submissions have been dealt with summarily. When objection to the suppression of free speech and simultaneous promulgation of misleading information was raised with the RCVS it was met by a wall of indifference. Even the listing of material, contrary to the orthodox view, for readers information involves a war of attrition. (Correspondence available upon request).

Funding arrangements.

8. Do present arrangements provide adequately for basic, strategic and applied research?

9. Are there satisfactory arrangements for funding veterinary research and coordinating funding policy?

The answer to these questions must be an unequivocal no. Money is currently spent on those things which are contrary to the interests of the community but directly serve the interests of the artificial pet food industry and the client veterinary profession. For the consumer this represents a form of 'taxation without representation' since all research funds derive from the consumer. It is possible to mount an argument that the companies can spend their money in the ways most suitable to themselves. There are reasons why this should not be so.

a. Proceeds from harmful activities should not be available to further insulate those activities from proper scrutiny.

b. Companies depend on profits and tax concessions for research and development. There are several companies which enjoy virtual monopoly control of the various segments of the artificial pet food market. With monopoly control comes monopoly profits. This is against the interests of the consumer.

c. Advice from the Australian Taxation Department suggests that in Australia it is likely that multinational corporations either pay a nominal amount of tax or none at all. This situation could prevail in the UK also.

Research and education.

10. Does undergraduate veterinary education select and prepare suitable students for a career in research?

11. Is an attractive career path in research open to veterinary graduates?

12. Are there sufficient opportunities for staff in the veterinary schools to combine research with teaching?

13. How can high- quality clinical research best be developed?

At the current time veterinary education and research are closely allied. Change to the research framework should not be carried out without considering the overall needs of veterinary education. Dr Henry Collins has written extensively on veterinary education for the Australian Veterinary Association. His perceptive observations could serve as a useful starting point.

In a general sense I believe that the veterinary curriculum could benefit from the introduction of a course in scientific method and the history of science. Statistics and epidemiology deserve recognition. In all areas a consideration of the limitations as well as the strengths of the various methodologies should be emphasised in order to produce graduates with open minds.

Action.

14. If action is needed, what form should it take?

In keeping with the first rule of medicine, action should 'do no harm'. Consequently I believe that the findings of the Committee of Enquiry into Veterinary Research and the Committee's recommendations should be widely circulated for public information and comment. In response to that public comment I believe that a resolute action plan could then be formulated which could carry the weight of public opinion.

As part of that action plan I believe that a committee with similar composition to the current committee, but with wider public representation, should be formed to oversee and comment upon the scope and direction of veterinary research. Such action I believe could serve to promote British veterinary research to the forefront, giving it an unsurpassed relevance and vitality.

References and suggested further reading.

1. Hoffmann Th and Gaengler P (1996) Epidemiology of periodontal disease in poodles. Journal of Small Animal Practice 37, 309-316

2. Australian Veterinary News (1994) Diet and disease link. February. Pages 1 and 6.

3. D A Crossley. Internet Home Page. December 1996
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vetdent_uk/toothcar.htm

4. Lonsdale, T. (1993) Preventative Dentistry. Veterinary Dentistry. Proceedings of the Post Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney 212, 235-244

5. Lonsdale, T. (1995) Periodontal disease and leucopenia. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 36, 542-546.

6. The Canine Health Census, Internet Home Page. December 1996
http://members.aol.com/abywood/www/index.htm

7. The Gaia Hypothesis (Section 3) Internet page. December 1996
http://magna.com.au/~prfbrown/gaia_lyn.html

8. Costerton J. W. et al. (1995) Microbial biofilms. Annual Review of Microbiology 49. 711-45.

9. Lonsdale, T. (1993) Cybernetic hypothesis of periodontal disease in mammalian carnivores. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry 11, 5-8

10.Waltham (Research and development centre for Mars Corporation) Internet Home Page. October 1996 http://www.waltham.com/waltham/w.htm

11. Watson, J. D. The Double Helix. Penguin Books 1970

12. Lonsdale, T. Point and Click on 'Reality Check' Unpublished manuscript.

Popular books on scientific research:

Kuhn, T.S. (1996) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Third edition. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Milton, R. (1995) Forbidden Science. Fourth Estate. London

Gleick, J. (1987) Chaos. Cardinal Books. London.

Pietroni, P. (1990) The Greening of Medicine. Victor Gollancz. London.

Lewin, R. (1993) Complexity. J. M. Dent. London.

Pratkanis, A. and Aronson, E. (1992) Age of Propaganda, The everyday use and abuse of persuasion. W.H. Freeman and Co. New York.