Abstract
Each year during the ECVIM Congress ESFM, with sponsorship from Hill's, holds a feline day which concentrates on the latest research in the pathophysiology, diagnostics, treatment and outcome of feline internal medicine diseases. This year topics such as transdermal medication, drug interactions, Haemoplasma, FeLV, respiratory disease and immune-mediated disease were covered by a number of excellent speakers from the USA, Belgium and the UK.
Professor Os Jarrett, recipient of the ESFM/Hill's award for outstanding contributions in the field of Feline Medicine spoke on ‘Cane we eradicate feline leukaemia virus?’ Professor Jarrett has been instrumental in our current understanding of a number of feline infectious diseases, most notably FeLV.
As always the social programme for the Congress was very enjoyable with several boat trips and dinners in Amsterdam. The gala dinner was in the famous hotel Krasnapolsky, in the centre of the city. Next year the Congress will be in Budapest (13–15 September 2007).
Prof Os Jarrett (right) receives the ESFM/Hill's award from Dr Jaak Debraekeleer of Hill's
Feline award for Professor Os Jarrett
Professor Os Jarrett was awarded the ESFM/Hill's International Award 2006 for contributions to feline medicine at the ESFM/Hill's feline symposium, part of the annual European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) conference held in Amsterdam in September.
First awarded in 2002, the International Award is sponsored by Hill's and has been won previously by such eminent names as Marian Horzinek, Tim Gruffydd-Jones, Richard Malik and Niels Pedersen. It recognises individuals in the academic community who have significantly advanced the understanding of feline medical disorders and, through their research, publications and teaching, had a direct impact on the way feline medicine is practised, thus directly improving the health and welfare of cats worldwide.
Based in Glasgow University, Professor Jarrett is one of the world's leading experts on cat viruses and has been instrumental in our current understanding of a number of feline infectious diseases, most notably feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). He is the Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) President and chair of the Cat Group, a collection of professional organisations dedicated to feline welfare through the development of policies and recommendation on the care and keeping of cats.
The European Society of Feline Medicine (ESFM) is a division of FAB and the award this year was a ‘Cynthia’, a statuette of FAB's logo cat Cynthia.
Hill's and ESFM are working together towards better feline veterinary care by awarding this annual prize of excellence and providing various opportunities for veterinarians across Europe to build their knowledge in feline veterinary medicine and surgery through regular CPD events.