Presenter: Natalie Mylniczenko, Carlos Rodriguez and Daniel García Párraga

Target Audience: Veterinarians and students who have limited experience with sharks and rays. 

Overview: 

Sharks and rays are becoming more common in zoological parks and are a mainstay of Aquariums. This one day workshop focuses on the veterinarian that is new to elasmobranch medicine. Through didactic lectures, an ultrasound and pathology lab and interactions with ray and shark veterinarians the attendee should walk away with the capacity to perform an exam and complete basic interpretation of findings. The final hour will be reserved for clinicians to share cases, attendees are encouraged to bring a case to discuss. Small group lectures with encouragement to have it be an open forum for active discussion. A practical lab in the afternoon with the opportunity to practice sample techniques, ultrasound and then necropsy specimens to fortify their anatomic comparisons. 

Tutors:

Natalie Mylniczenko MS DVM, DACZM, a Chicago native, is a staff veterinarian at Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment. She is a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and has a master’s degree in veterinary pathobiology. Her research interests vary but focus on elasmobranch medicine and iron storage disease in rhinoceros and dolphins. She is the vet advisor chair for the old-world monkey TAG and the veterinary chair for the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE).

Carlos Rodriguez DVM, DACVP, a native from Caracas, Venezuela, received his veterinary degree from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Pursuing a clinical track, he successfully completed an equine medicine and surgery internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in California that was then followed by a year as an ambulatory equine veterinarian in New England. He then joined the Angell Memorial/Tufts University anatomic pathology residency training program and after completing the program in 2005, he joined the Wildlife Conservation Society as associate pathologist. Based at the Bronx Zoo, his focus was the diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious pathologies throughout the animal collection in four major urban parks and an aquarium as well as monitoring local wildlife diseases. Also, during this time he developed a strong passion for capacity building and in-country conservation projects by participating in conservation initiatives around the world, but especially throughout Latin America. In 2011, he joined the animal health team at Walt Disney World in Orlando, where he currently serves as the veterinary pathologist and manager for the pathology team based at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot. He has participated in amphibian conservation programs in Colombia through the Amphibian Ark and organized and delivered lectures and workshops in capacity building courses throughout Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Mexico and Colombia and continues to provide pathology support through a network of in-country specialists. In his free time, he enjoys running and triathlon events, reading, being on the water, the parks, and anything Star Wars. Special interests include amphibian and aquatic animal diseases, emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases, and supporting conservation programs throughout Latin America.

Daniel García Párraga DVM. PhD, DECZM, DECAAH, is Spanish, is director of Zoological operations at Oceanogràfic and Director of science at the Foundation Oceanogràfic. He is a diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine and has a PhD in Veterinary Medicine. His research interests focus on aquatic animal medicine and physiopathology of different processes including decompression sickness in breath hold divers. He is the chair vet advisor for the Marine Mammal TAG and veterinary advisor of the Elasmobranch TAG at the EAZA. 

Presenter: Mike Garner, Maya Ruetten

Overview: 

The purpose of the workshop is the review of real-life pathology cases, based on macroscopic images, cytology and/or histology or further testing, with discussion on sampling and best ways to obtain the most accurate diagnosis. The theme of this first workshop will be deposition disorders, however, all interesting cases of infectious or non-infectious disease submissions are welcome. We are soliciting case submissions for this workshop and invite all participants to contribute. We would like to have a series of 12 cases of interest from zoo and wildlife species. Introduction of submitted cases and histological scans will be provided in advance. 

Tutors:

Mike Garner DVM, Dipl. ACVP Dr. Michael Garner founded Northwest ZooPath in 1994. Mike has over 200 scientific publications and book chapters, over 400 professional presentations, and is co-editor of the new two volume atlas and text, Diseases and Pathology of Reptiles. 

Maja Ruetten Dr med vet, Dipl. ECVP Maja graduated from Zurich Veterinary School in 2000, after which she directly joint private practice in the Swiss mountains. In 2001 she started her doctoral thesis in veterinary pathology, completing it in 2004, before moving on to a Residency at the University in Zurich, Switzerland. Maja has been a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists since 2008 and fulfilled the role of Senior Zoo Pathologist at the Institute of Pathology of University of Zurich. In 2016 she founded a private diagnostic laboratory in Tagelswangen (Zurich). Her main research interest is iron metabolism in exotic species.

Presenter: Giovanna Massei and Yedra Feltrer-Rambaud

Target Audience: Suitable for students and qualified veterinarians 

Overview: 

The objective of the workshop is to analyse criteria that should be used when we are asked, as professionals, to consider the use of fertility control to resolve human-wildlife conflicts. Attendees are presented with several scenarios, each focussed on a particular species/context and relative issues. For each scenario, we assume that fertility control has been suggested to mitigate the problem posed by wildlife. Attendees are asked to prepare a plan which contains the rationale for doing this work and a list of the main considerations used to draw up this plan. They can consult tutors to ask about the contraceptive they want to use (oral, injectable, already used for a species, etc.). 

Tutors:

Giovanna Massei PhD, is the Europe Director of the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control, based at the University of York (UK). She received her BsC in Natural Sciences from the University of Florence (Italy) and her PhD in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen (UK).  For 30 years her research focussed on non-lethal methods to mitigate human- wildlife conflicts, and on wild boar ecology and population management. For 18 years  Dr Massei led projects on wildlife fertility control, ranging from squirrels to feral cattle in the UK and overseas. She published two books on the natural history and management of wild boar and circa 150 scientific papers and popular articles. Dr. Massei serves as Associate Editor for Human-Wildlife Interactions.

Yedra Feltrer- Rambaud DVM, MRCVS, MSc Wild Animal Health, ECZM is a veterinarian currently working as an independent zoo and wildlife consultant. Dr. Feltrer is a Member of the European College of Zoological Medicine, with a specific interest in reproductive management and contraception use. Dr. Feltrer is a founder and the current vice-chair of the EAZA Reproductive Management Group, and is the founder and lead veterinary advisor for the International Primate Heart Project. 

Presenter: Xavier Manteca Vilanova and Oriol Talló Parra

Target Audience: Suitable for practitioners and residents, but students will be welcome.

Overview: 

Identifying general, species-specific, and individual needs is critical to protect and promote the welfare of wild animals under human care. In order to do that, knowing the basis of animal welfare science and the natural history (and biology) of the target species is necessary. In this workshop, participants will learn how to combine the basic knowledge of a species (natural habitat, biological characteristics, behavioural ecology, etc.) and animal welfare theoretical frameworks to identify potential welfare needs and fulfil them by designing environmental enrichments, facility design and management actions.

Tutors:

Xavier Manteca Vilanova BVSc, MSc, PhD, EBVS European Veterinary Specialist® in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law.  Xavier Manteca Vilanova received his BVSc and PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from the University of Edinburgh. Currently, he is professor of animal behaviour and animal welfare at the School of Veterinary Science in Barcelona. He has published extensively and is diplomate of the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine. One of Xavier’s main area of expertise is zoo animal welfare and, particularly, welfare assessment.

Oriol Talló Parra  DVM, MSc, PhD, works as a researcher in the Zoo Animal Welfare Education Centre (ZAWEC) from the School of Veterinary Sciences (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona). He mainly works as a researcher, teacher, and consultant in the field of wild animal welfare (both free-ranging and under human care) and its connection with species conservation. Oriol is also the Animal Welfare Officer at Oceanogràfic de València aquarium and an animal welfare consultant for other zoological institutions. He coordinates the UAB MSc degree in Animal welfare, and teaches in various education courses, including several master degrees and in the UAB veterinary grade. He has supervised several master’s theses, undergraduate students and he is currently supervising two of PhD theses. 

Presenter: Yves Debosschere, Gerhard Putter, and Aleksandr Semjonov

Target Audience: Suitable for all levels of experience, including students.

Overview: 

The workshop will provide an understanding in dentistry by making the embryology of tooth and jaw development easily understandable and the direct consequences. We will discuss the most common pathologies, how to diagnose, how to address the problem, what to refer and what can you do yourself, and estimate the urgency of the oral problems. We will also explore the long-term anaesthesia of large carnivores for dental procedures including pain management and regional local anaesthesia.

Tutors:

Yves Debosschere DVM, graduated from the University of Ghent in 1992. He has been in general practice for 10 years before starting to concentrate on veterinary dentistry in general and oral facial surgery in particular. In 2016 he could start a residency in veterinary dentistry (EVDC) under the supervision of Dr. Leen Verhaert. Since 2018 he started specialised courses in the US with Ed Eisner and Peter Emily. Yves is performing the dental care in different Zoo's in Belgium and abroad. He is als head of the dental project of the AniCura Clinics in Belgium. He is also teaching dentistry on several national and international congresses. As secretary of the EVDS (European Veterinary Dental Society) he wants to be the link between the dental society and the Zoo and Wildlife (EAZWV).

Gerhard Putter BVSc MANZCVS (Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery) Dipl.EVDC MRCVS, qualified in South Africa from the University of Pretoria and awarded a BVSc degree, in 1984. He was accepted as a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgery in 1998. He has been concentrating on veterinary dentistry for at least the last 20 years. He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery) since 2014. He is a diplomate of the European Veterinary Dental College, a EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry and also a RCVS recognised Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry. Gerhard is a member of the British Veterinary Dental Association (BVDA), a member of the European Veterinary Dental Society (EVDS) and a member of the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV) He is currently head of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery at Dick White Referrals in East Anglia, United Kingdom. He exclusively treats referred dental and oral surgery cases and he has a special interest in exotic and zoo animal dentistry and oral surgery.   

Aleksandr Semjonov DVM, PhD (vet. Anaesthesia), is a senior clinician in veterinary anaesthesiology at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He is currently Chief Clinical Officer of the Chair of Clinical Veterinary Medicine and head of the University’s Animal Clinic. His research has focused on zoo and wildlife anaesthesiology and on investigating novel anaesthetic combinations in a number of species of wild animals. In 2021, he received his doctoral degree in wildlife anaesthesiology. Dr Semjonov also Works as a practicing anaesthesiologist for zoo and wild animals around the world. He has broad clinical and scientific experience in long-term anaesthesia of wild carnivores, elephants, giraffes and marine mammals for dental, ophthalmic and surgical procedures. His specific passion is pain management for invasive procedures for zoo and wild animals. Dr Semjonov is author of number of scientific publications and book chapters. He is one of principles course masters of Zoo, Exotic and Wildlife Anaesthesia Course since 2017. Aleksandr has collaborated scientifically with research institutions in Europe, South Africa, India and Japan.