Sloppy science from the Royal ***?

Dear Ms Meredith
I was interested to read a March 2006 Advice Note published by
yourselves and the Institute of Zoology which states unequivocally
that, "The origin of the squirrelpox virus in red squirrels is the
introduced American grey squirrel". This seems an extremely bold
statement and I would like to know what real evidence you have to
support it. The JNCC states that the origin is "unknown"

As you are probably aware, a pox infection was evident in red
squirrels in forty districts in England in the early part of the last
century prior to them mixing with greys. SQPV was only identified in
the 80s and it seems there is no evidence to rule out the possibility
of earlier infections being of the same ilk.

It also appears that some red squirrels could have some form of
resistence, as isolated cases of the disease occur in close knit
populations where it could easily be transmitted between
reds themselves.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Angus Macmillan
www.grey-squirrel.org.uk




Dear Mr Macmillan,

Thank you for your message. All the scientific evidence and research
so far supports the theory that SQPV was introduced by American grey
squirrels, including transmission studies, mathematical modelling on
the dynamics of red squirrel populations, and the finding that grey
squirrels from the USA have now been found to be seropositive for the
virus (please see attached paper by McInnes et al which also gives a
good summary of recent research). There is much still to be learned
about this virus and there is ongoing research both here and
at the Moredun Institute into this area,but there is little doubt that
control of greys is the key to preventing the death of reds. We are
witnessing the steady spread of seropositivity in greys into the south
of Scotland,and, within the last year, the corresponding first deaths
from SQPV in reds in these areas.

Yours sincerely
Anna Meredith MA VetMB CertLAS DZooMed MRCVS
Head of Exotic Animal and Wildlife Service
Royal (***) School of Veterinary Studies
University of Edinburgh
Hospital for Small Animals
Easter Bush Veterinary Centre
Roslin
Midlothian
EH25 9RG
Tel 0131 650 7650/6247
Fax 0131 650 7652
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration
number SC005336.


Dear Ms Meredith

Thank you for your reply.

With respect, you haven't really answered the points I made in my
email or 19 March. For a respected organisation such as the Royal
(***) School of Veterinary Studies to make a statement of fact - "the
origin of the squirrelpox virus in red squirrels is the introduced
American grey squirrel" - when it is merely an inconclusive theory,
strikes me as being sloppy science or a desire to mislead the general
public in support of the present hate campaign being waged against
grey squirrels.

With regard to the McInnes et al paper,

1. I do not dispute that the SQPV virus has been identified as
different from the earlier classification as a parapoxvirus. This has
been common knowledge for some time.

2. It is not true for them to say, ?outbreaks of pox-like disease in
red squirrels were not reported until after the introduction of the
grey squirrel from America.? when forty districts in England had red
squirrels with pox-like disease before there was any contact with
greys
..
3. It is also very interesting that they acknowledge the possibility
that the virus is endemic to the UK and that other rodent species
inhabiting the same woodland environment could be harbouring the
virus. This opens up a whole new avenue of thought.

4. The fact that pox-like disease was endemic in the red squirrel
population before contact with
greys shows the paucity of the claim that greys are responsible.

5. SQPV found in greys in America proves nothing. They could have been
contact with any number of rodents that have had the disease.
It is my understanding that the presence of antibodies in a grey
squirrel merely shows they have been in contact with some infected
animal and does not necessarily mean they are carriers but merely that
they have the ability to fend off the disease. Could you please
confirm that this is the case.

I would also be very grateful if you could answer the points in my
email of 19 March.

I?m sure neither you nor I would wish to be convicted and executed on
the sort of evidence that is currently found against grey squirrels.

Yours sincerely

Angus Macmillan
www.grey-squirrel.org.uk



No response so far.


Angus Macmillan
www.roots-of-blood.org.uk
www.killhunting.org
www.con-servation.org.uk

All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.
-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
.

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