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.”