Programme - 2009
9.00 Registration and coffee
10.00 Introduction (Dr Peter Webbon - Seminar Chairman)
10.05 Latest News Bulletin
BEST START IN LIFE - DISEASE ASPECTS OF BREEDING AND YOUNG STOCK
10.25 Introduction (Professor Josh Slater, Royal Veterinary College)
Young stock are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases and parasitism, especially on large breeding farms where disease dynamics - large populations, dense stocking, mixed age groups and horse movements - favour the pathogen. This session will highlight important new scientific developments in our understanding of how key pathogens cause disease and will explore how this information can be used to prevent disease through husbandry, new drug design and improved vaccines.
10.35 Rhodococcus equi genomics: looking into the soul of a horse pathogen (Professor Jose Vazquez-Boland, Edinburgh University)
Known frequently as 'rattles', Rhodococcus equi causes severe respiratory disease in foals, which is difficult to treat and can have a high fatality rate. Knowledge of the bacteria is essential for designing drugs and vaccine. This presentation will show how sequencing the Rhodococcus equi genome has been critical to understanding this important horse pathogen and influencing potential future developments.
10.55 Do your wormers work? (Professor Jacqui Matthews, Edinburgh University)
Intestinal roundworms, in particular the Cyathsotominae, are an important cause of disease in horses. Control of these worms is complicated by ever increasing levels of drug (anthelmintic) resistance. This talk will provide insights into design rationale for worm control programmes and outline what is currently being done to improve our ability to counter anthelmintic resistance.
11.15 Questions and discussion
DISEASE CONTROL UPDATE
11.25 Defra Exotic Disease Control Strategy (Defra representative)
Disease outbreaks in recent years have afflicted the livestock sector to a greater degree than the equine industry. However Defra is working to ensure preparedness for an outbreak of an equine exotic disease. This presentation will explain Defra's approach to disease control and highlight the current work of the equine exotic disease team.
11.40 CEM in America: The Codes in Action (Chris Rea, HBLB Veterinary Advisory Committee)
The recent outbreak of CEM in the USA led to a rapid interim update to the 2009 Codes of Practice earlier this year. This presentation will show how effective the Codes have been in reducing the incidence of equine infectious diseases associated with breeding and why they remain a vital defence tool for the future.
11.55 Questions and discussion
12.05 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health - Equine Rising Star
Intervet/Schering-Plough actively supports equine research amongst veterinary students through its Connect Equine Bursary and encourages individuals to consider a career in research and development post graduation. During this session, one veterinary student, deemed to be a rising star in the equine field, will give a brief presentation of their recent research project.
12.15 Lunch
1.45 Question Time: Ask the Panel
GLOBETROTTING
2.30 Biological rhythms, jetlag and athletic performance in racehorses (Dr Domingo Tortonese, Bristol University)
In humans, jetlag impairs intellectual and physical performance. This is caused by a temporary lack of synchrony between daily biological rhythms and the new solar time. Results from our studies show that horses are extremely sensitive to light, that they express robust daily biological rhythms and that abrupt alterations in the 24 h light:dark cycle, like those arising from transmeridian flying, disrupt these rhythms and impact on their performance.
HORSEPOWER
2.50 Muscle damage: diagnosis, prevention and cure (Dr Richard Piercy, Royal Veterinary College, London)
Horses won't win unless their muscles are superbly conditioned and overcoming the deleterious effects of underlying muscle damage is crucial in animals working at their physiological limits. This talk will cover practical and state of the art approaches to diagnosis, prevention and therapy of setfast and other muscle problems in racehorses.
DIAGNOSIS: INTERPRETING IMAGES
3.15 Modern diagnostic techniques: what they tell us and which ones to use (Professor Stephen May, Royal Veterinary College, London)
Elite athletic performance depends on a fully functional locomotor system, supported by efficient respiratory and cardiovascular systems. When things go wrong, diagnostic imaging is central to establishing the cause of the problem. However, it is important to recognise the different indications for each imaging tool, and their complementary role, particularly in resolving complex problems.
3.40 Questions and discussion
4.00 Close
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† Questions are invited from Seminar delegates. These should be submitted in advance - either on the registration form or by email (louise.holder@rw-communications.co.uk). A selection of these questions will be addressed by the expert panel.