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This thesis investigates the regulation of the veterinary profession in the UK. In the UK this profession is regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA 1966). Since that date there have occurred vast changes in veterinary medicine and science and the delivery of veterinary services, legal developments in other areas, including professional regulatory law, and societal changes in attitudes towards animals and expectations of the professions. This research was undertaken in order to determine whether the regulatory system for the veterinary profession in the UK is well designed to achieve the aims appropriate to the present-day profession, and to propose reforms where these are indicated. The system was evaluated by applying a set of benchmark criteria used by the National Health Service Ombudsman for England whose jurisdiction encompasses clinical as well as administrative matters. The study shows that the current system is well suited to functions such as regulating and monitoring veterinary education and rule-making for the control of animal diseases and zoonoses. However, the overall conclusion is that the VSA 1966 is outdated and should be replaced by new legislation. Arguments are made in favour of the following key reforms: separation of regulatory role from Royal College functions; changes in the composition of the regulatory body; introduction of the regulation of paraprofessionals and veterinary practices; plus a range of changes across the disciplinary system involving revision of the grounds and sanctions for disciplinary action, clarification of the identity of the regulator, reforms in the investigation of complaints, disciplinary hearings, appeals and the position of the complainant in the disciplinary process. Whilst some improvements could be made under the current regime, the view remains that new legislation is needed. Although it appears that the RCVS is in favour of this, the necessary political will seems to be lacking on the part of government.

This thesis explains how veterinary surgeons keep their clients in line through a melange of fact and fiction. Originating from the intimate study of veterinary interactions, it represents theory systematically grounded in data. Veterinarians employ mystification processes to manipulate clients' awareness. Vets engage in coaching clients to suit their own agendas. These activities may be benign or opportunistic. Cultivating strategies are also explained whereby vets seek apparently friendly relationships with clients. This disguises the instrumental nature of these interactions. The research indicates that keeping people in line is a robust process evident in diverse contexts. It has obvious commercial significance and is likely to be of relevance to veterinarians, their clients, marketers, researchers and potentially to those wishing to control others in diverse contexts.

This study includes investigations into bovine granulosa cell differentiation, the response of these cells to gonadotrophin (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)) stimulation, and the neutralizing capacity of a monoclonal antibody to PMSG (APMSG) on the response of gonadotrophin-stimulated bovine granulosa cells using a serum-free culture system. The parameters measured were cell number (mug DNA), cytoplasmic:nuclear ratio (mug protein/mug DNA), cell size (mum diameter) and cell steroidogenesis (progesterone, ng/mug DNA; oestradiol-17beta, pg/mug DNA). The following conclusions were reached. Bovine granulosa cells differentiate into luteal cells when they are cultured with gonadotrophins for a period of 4 days. Progesterone production of granulosa cells is related to the size of granulosa cells. Differentiated granulosa cells produce higher levels of progesterone than undifferentiated granulosa cells, FSH, LH and PMSG stimulate progesterone production by granulosa cells in a dose dependent manner. Similar stimulatory effects of gonadotrophins on cytoplasmic:nuclear ratio were observed. Gonadotrophins (FSH, LH and PMSG) have qualitatively similar effects on the differentiation of bovine granulosa cells in vitro. The response of bovine granulosa cells to gonadotrophin stimulation depends on the genotype form which they are derived. The stimulatory effects of PMSG, but not those of FSH or LH, on the progesterone production and protein content of granulosa cells are neutralised by APMSG. Granulosa cells in culture can be used as a bioassay system to test the relative potencies of gonadotrophin preparations and to study the neutralising capacity and specificity of APMSG preparations.

Undernutrition and suckling effects on reproductive performance in cattle were investigated. It was therefore, the aim of this study to (1) evaluate reproductive parameters that were to be used in assessing reproductive function in heifers and postpartum cows; (2) to assess the effect of undernutrition and realimentation on ovulation and ovarian cyclicity in beef heifers; (3) to assess the effect of suckling intensity alone or in combination with undernutrition and the time postpartum in delaying reinitiation of ovulation in lactating beef cows. The results of this experiment showed that following the reduction in feed intake to half maintenance requirements there were four different types of changes in ovarian cyclicity recorded in the ten heifers. Group 1. Three heifers (No.1, 2 & 3) became acyclic without going through an oestrous cycle. Group 2. Four heifers (No. 4, 5, 6 & 7) went through one normal oestrous cycle each before becoming acyclic. Group 3. One heifer (No. 8) underwent two normal oestrous cycles before becoming acyclic. Group 4. Two heifers (No 9 & 10) continued to cycle without becoming acyclic. One of these two heifers (No. 9) had four short oestrous cycles of 8, 9, 11 and 11 days while No. 10 had three short oestrous cycles of 10, 12 and 12 days. During nutritional acyclicity there were no increases in LH concentration over the basal concentration following naloxone challenge irrespective of the dose used. During undernutrition, one heifer (No. 8) failed to exhibit an oestradiol-induced LH surge while the two heifers (NO. 9 & 10) exhibited a oestradiol-induced LH surge. There were no LH surges following PRID withdrawal in nutritionally acyclic heifers.

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Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in the semi-arid region of north-eastern Brazil. The causative agent is Leishmania chagasi (infantum). The domestic, peri-domestic and anthropophilic sandfly vector is Lutzomyia longipalpis. The domestic dog may be the principal reservoir of infection in endemic urban regions. The primary aim of this project was to study comparative diagnosis and transmissibility of natural and experimental canine VL in the city of T eresina, Piaui state, Brazil. Most (67 %) of human cases of VL in Teresina occurred in children under 5 years of age, adult VL predominated in males, and there was a seasonal increase in incidence of cases. No phenotypic diversity was found between L. chagasi isolates from dogs and humans, although limited comparisons were performed. Clinical diagnosis, parasitological diagnosis and serology were compared in a cohort of 209 dogs, comprised of both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals. Presence of clinical symptoms was not sufficiently sensitive to diagnose canine VL: only 42 % of dogs positive by reference standard criteria (RS positive) were symptomatic. Parasitology was less sensitive than serology for the diagnosis of canine VL and no parasitological test sho~ed more than 60 % sensitivity in comparison with RS criteria. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IF A T) and DOT -enzyme linked imrnunosorbent assay (DOT -ELISA) were the most sensitive of the serological assays tested. The direct agglutination test (OAT) was highly specific but lacked sensitivity. Serum samples were more sensitive than filter paper blood spot samples. The Lmet2 DNA probe was generally less sensitive than traditional parasitological and serological methods for diagnosis of canine VL, although the probe was useful for screening sandflies for L. chagasi infections (below). The chance of demonstrating parasites in canine VL increased with the serological titre. Nevertheless, parasitoIogicalIy positive dogs could be found among those that were serologically negative. Large numbers of Lu. longipalpis were found in pigsties and chicken houses in the city of Teresina. The Lmet2 probe was shown to be effective for determining prevalence rates of L. chagasi infection in wild caught sandflies. Prevalence of natural infection in sandflies was particularly high when flies were caught in kennels where there were dogs with disseminated cutaneous infections. Experimental studies demonstrated that Lu. longipaJpis could be very readily infected with L. chagasi by feeding on dogs with canine VL and that transmissibility was associated with amastigote infection of the skin. Altered skin of symptomatic dogs was more infective than normal skin of symptomatic animals. Although symptomatic animals were more infective than asymptomatic animals, asymptomatic dogs with normal skin were still infective to large numbers of sandflies and asymptomatic dogs cannot, therefore, be excluded as a significant reservoir of infection. Transmission of experimental canine VL was demonstrated by a single infective sandfly bite. In a cohort of 25 experimental animals many dogs developed discrete, self-curing, cutaneous lesions, typical of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Seroconversion was the most sensitive test for canine VL, but seronegativity was not a reliable indicator of the absence of infection. Bone marrow positivity was only seen in dogs that were serologically positive. Apparent recovery from L. chagasi infection was seen, with serological reversIOn. Aminosidine, dependent on dose, duration of treatment and clinical status of the infected animal, was shown to be capable of producing clinical recovery and clinical cure in a small proportion of infected dogs, but could not be recommended as a systematic method of control. Single applications of ultra-low volume pyrethroid insecticide to individual animal pens was not effective for controlling Lu. iongipaipis. Nevertheless, pyrethroid insecticides had a high residual activity against Lu. iongipalpis when sprayed on to the walls of animal enclosures. Lambda cyhalothrine (ICON) was the most effective of three pyrethroid insecticides tested in the laboratory against Lu. iongipalpis. Overall, this project has produced unique observations on canine VL, supports the fundamental role of the dog as a reservoir host, and explains why culling of seropositive dogs is likely to have limited impact as a disease control strategy.