A scientific article by Dr. Lasha-Giorgi Japaridze

The first article from Georgia in the field of veterinary surgery published in an international scientific journal. 

A scientific article by Veterinarium’s Head Veterinarian, Dr. Lasha-Giorgi Japaridze, on the raccoon Tsatsuna will be published in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal. The article is dedicated to Tsatsuna and to Ms. Inga Kavelashvili, a devoted caretaker and protector of dozens of animals. We had once promised her that we would publish a paper in an international journal, and we are fulfilling that promise.

The number of veterinary publications from Georgia in English-language international scientific journals remains extremely limited. For this reason, we believe that the Soviet period significantly hindered the development of Georgian veterinary medicine by restricting access to genuine international knowledge and creating the misconception that the field was highly advanced at the time.

One of Veterinarium’s key goals is to gradually increase the number of veterinary scientific publications from Georgia in internationally peer-reviewed journals. This is not only about generating new knowledge, but also about establishing Georgia’s veterinary field within the global professional community.

When Tsatsuna the raccoon was brought to us by Ms. Inga Kavelashvili for laparoscopic sterilization, our Head Veterinarian actively searched for reliable international sources to study the procedural details. High-quality information was virtually nonexistent, and this is precisely when the idea emerged to document the procedure as a clinical case report and publish it in an international peer-reviewed journal.

The article has already successfully passed all major stages, and publication is expected in the near future. 

The article will be published in Clinical Case Reports, an open-access, peer-reviewed international journal on the Wiley Open Access platform. This means that:

• The article has successfully undergone full scientific peer review
• It will be published by one of the leading international academic publishers - Wiley
• Most importantly, it will be freely accessible to readers worldwide, increasing its visibility and citation potential

Wiley (John Wiley & Sons) is one of the oldest and most respected academic publishers in the world, producing scientific journals, scholarly books, and encyclopedias across a wide range of disciplines. Founded in 1807 in the United States, Wiley is known for its high scientific standards, rigorous peer-review processes, and a diverse portfolio of highly ranked journals in medicine, veterinary science, biology, and beyond. The Wiley Open Access platform ensures that modern research is freely available to the global scientific community, significantly enhancing the dissemination and practical application of knowledge.

The publication fee for the article is USD 1 910, which is fully covered by the Kakha Bendukidze Knowledge Fund and the Veterinarium Staff Development Fund.

In the photo, Tsatsuna the raccoon is clinging tightly to Inga Kavelashvili.