Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 15th April 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Zoological Society of London holds CPD session
Sarah Forsyth, Curator at Colchester Zoo

Contraceptive products and vaccine updates were on agenda.

A CPD session held by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in February proved a great success with more than 50 delegates attending the event.

An overview of the classes of contraceptive products available to zoo vets was covered. Presentations from Yedra Feltrer, Veterinary Officer, London Zoo, Catriona Curtis, Veterinary Advisor, Virbac, and Dr Christelle Fontaine, DIR Med Technical Manager, Virbac, explored this topic further.

Discussions were held about the use of contraceptive medicines in reproduction and case discussions of their use in zoo animals, including osaterone acetate in a macaque with prostate disease and deslorelin in a pig with an endometrial tumour.

Updates surrounding advancements in vaccines and immune modulators were also on offer. Delegates discussed the principles of immunology and vaccine technology with Callum Blair, Senior Veterinary Advisor for Virbac. Tai Strike, Zoo Veterinary Officer at ZSL, spoke about a website run by the University of Edinburgh which collates information about vaccine use in zoo animals.   

Potential uses of recombinant feline Interferon in zoo species with viral infections was then covered by Alex Allen, Senior Veterinary Advisor for Virbac.  Discussions included the use of recombinant feline interferon in two Tapirs with pox virus.

Tai Strike, Zoo Veterinary Officer at the ZSL and the event organiser, said: "The combination of Virbac's scientific veterinary expertise and our zoo veterinary knowledge made for a synergistic cutting edge CPD event, tailored specifically to zoo vets and highly appreciated by those who attended.”

 

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.