A successful CPD day at London Zoo for more than 50 zoo vets

More than 50 zoo vets took part in a recent CPD session at London Zoo focusing on contraceptive products, vaccines and immune modulators.

The day was organised by the Zoological Society of London and sponsored by Virbac.

Following presentations from Yedra Feltrer, Veterinary Officer at London Zoo;  Catriona Curtis, Veterinary Advisorat Virbac, and Dr Christelle Fontaine, DIR Med Technical Manager at Virbac, on the classes of contraceptive products available to zoo vets, delegates moved into discussions about the use of these 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 

Attendees then discussed the principles of immunology and vaccine technology with Callum Blair, Senior Veterinary Advisor at Virbac.

Alex Allen, Senior Veterinary Advisor at Virbac, discussed potential uses of recombinant feline Interferon in zoo species with viral infections. 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. Virbac's sponsorship of this event meant that more zoo vets could attend as our CPD budgets are often tight - it was a win-win."

Catriona Curtis said:  "Virbac was delighted to be asked to speak at and sponsor this unique event.  The opportunity to share our knowledge and learn from the experience of the vets in the field cannot be under-estimated.

“At a local and headquarter level we are now looking forward to further collaboration with the zoo community, particularly with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Group on Zoo Animal Contraception."