Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
City University of Hong Kong
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS)

Events

  • Nov 1, 2024 (Fri) 1-2pm HKT

    (VCS Guest Lecture) A slithery predicament: zoonotic pathogens associated to reptiles

    Under the concept of One-Health, it is important to consider all vertebrate hosts as potential reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. Indeed, reptiles have an important role as amplifying reservoirs of zoonotic parasites and vectors. Increased urbanization, introduction of exotic species of reptiles may act as drivers for the transmission of zoonotic parasites through the environment. Reptiles are reservoirs of a wide range of pathogens including many viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, pentastomids and arthropod parasitic species, some of which may represent public health concern. Being a part of human diet, reptiles can also be a source of life-threatening parasitoses, and reptiles kept as pets can represent a risk to owners given the possibility of parasites transmitted by the direct contact or faecal contamination Thus, using a holistic approach that includes ectothermic animals, may contribute to better establish successful One-Health initiatives, but also improve the conservation efforts of these slithery animals that have a pivotal ecological role.

    Speaker: Prof. Jairo Alfonso Mendoza Roldan, Assistant Professor in parasitology of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro"

    Please scan the poster to join the online seminar.

    For enquiries, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • Feb 21, 2024 (Wed) 1-2pm HKT

    (CityU JCC Research Seminar cum CityU CAHW Animal Health & Welfare Seminar) Dermatological problems of brachycephalic dogs and how to address them

    Brachycephalic dogs are still very popular, especially because of their "babyface" appearance and personality. Owners are often unaware of the serious health conditions brachycephaly brings along and how this affects the welfare of their beloved ones. These dogs do not only suffer from brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, but also spinal, dental, gastrointestinal, ophthalmological, cardiovascular and dermatological disorders.

    In this webinar we will focus on dermatological diseases associated with brachycephaly since many of these diseases occur on a daily base but are often underrated. Genetic, parasitic, and autoimmune diseases, immune deficiencies, vasculitis, allergies, secondary infections, claw and anal sac diseases, skin folding, alopecia, pruritus and otitis externa/media have all been reflected as problems in brachycephalic dog breeds. These skin conditions can become chronic and difficult to treat, leading to pruritus and pain, affecting the normal behaviour of these dogs and their quality of life.

    The knowledge and understanding of these diseases will not only help with treatment considerations, but also client education and are an important step forward in animal welfare and how breed standards for those dogs should be revised.

    Speaker: Prof. Stefan Hobi, Clinial Associate Professor (VCS)

    For free registration, please click here.

  • Feb 20, 2024 (Tue) 9:30am-12:30pm HKT

    (CityU JCC-VCS) Workshop for Graduate Students: How to Write Scientific Papers

    Professor Domenico Otranto DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVP, a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences will give a 3-hour workshop for graduate students on How to Write Scientific Papers, based on his extensive experience as a researcher and editor of scientific journals.

    Professor Otranto is a Professor of Animal Parasitic Diseases at the Department of Veterinary Medicine (University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy) where he was Head of Department for two terms (2015-2018; 2018-2021). He is the President of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology - WAAVP (2019-2027) and is former President of the European Veterinary Parasitology College.

    Professor Otranto's research focuses on the study of arthropods and arthropod borne diseases of zoonotic concern using both basic and applied approaches. In recent years, his activities have focussed on research and education projects in low- and middle-income Countries. His research output includes authorship of more than 710 peer-reviewed articles in international scientific journals (h-index 88) and numerous book chapters. He is Co-editor of The Encyclopaedia of Medical and Veterinary Entomology (RC Russell, D Otranto, R Wall, CABI, 2013) and author of the Veterinary Parasitology Textbook (Otranto and Wall, Wiley, 2024).

    Professor Otranto is Deputy Editor of PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Advisor Editor of International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, Associate Editor of Parasitology Research, Acta Tropica, and editorial board member of Numerous scientific international journals in the field of the Parasitology. Since 2023 he has been a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of One Health Action Commission supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and consultant of WHO for the preparation of guidelines on canine leishmaniosis.

    Speaker: Professor Domenico Otranto For free registration, please click here.

  • 21 Dec 2023 (Wed) 3:30-4:30pm HKT

    (VCS-CAHW Research Seminar) Using equine fitness trackers to monitor health and performance, telehealth and big data

    The world of equine fitness trackers is expanding, mirroring what is available in humans. A wealth of data is generated by these devices, and it is essential to validate the accuracy of these devices before using it in clinical and research settings. The addition of ECG capability to one of these devices required some testing and validation, but is now in place in fitness trackers used on horses around the world. This has practical applications to monitor training, with speed, heart rate and recovery parameters, but also provides a unique window for telehealth, allowing us to review ECGs for horses with poor performance or an irregularity that are located on the other side of the world. The fitness trackers also find applications in continuous monitoring of horses with diagnosed cardiac diseases, where previous monitoring relied on annual exercise tests with specialized equipment, these fitness trackers allow evaluations of frequent exercise sessions throughout the year. Additionally, this gives us acces to thousands of ECGs, recorded on horses in training which is essentially a wealth of data for research purposes. The device records many more parameters related to speed and distance, as well as locomotion, further completing the available data. The availability of this abundance of data comes with new challenges, but allows for research on a population basis. Ongoing studies explore the prevalence of exercising arrhythmias and their impact on horse health parameters and performance.

    Guest speaker: Dr. Fe ter Woort

    For enquiries, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • 01 Nov 2023 (Wed) 1-2pm HKT

    (JCC-VCS Research Seminar) Understanding the physiology of the abdominal fat in the modern dairy cow with especial emphasis on metabolic diseases

    Abdominal fat and the degree of adiposity in dairy cows has a genetic component. Excessive mobilization of abdominal fat may predispose peripartum dairy cows to develop several metabolic diseases such as ketosis, fatty liver, and displacement of the abomasum These diseases lead to significant economic losses for the dairy industry. As a result, effective feeding and management strategies are essential to prevent these metabolic disorders and improve the overall productive and reproductive performance and wellbeing of dairy cows.

    Guest speaker: Professor Pedro Melendez, Clinical Professor in Bovine Production Medicine, CityU

    For enquiries, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • 31 Oct 2023 (Tue) 11-11:30am HKT

    (VCS Research Seminar) Phenotypes of a unique free-roaming bovid: Impact of urbanization on the appearance of cattle

    Phenotypes are observable characteristics of individuals reflecting their ability to respond to environmental conditions. Anthropogenic factors can produce habitats that present unique challenges, and faster rates of phenotypic change occur in urban environments. Bovids display diversity in body size, coat colours and horn shapes, reflecting their different social and behavioural contexts. The feral cattle of Hong Kong (HK) are a unique indigenous subspecies with an estimated population of 900 individuals. We developed a non-invasive methodology for scoring these free-ranging animals and investigated relationships between phenotype and urbanization. We scored body size, coat colour and horn shape in 316 feral HK cattle. We found evidence for within-sex variability and for sexual dimorphism in 14 phenotypic traits; notably, males were larger, had darker coat colours and longer horns than females. We also show that urban environments impacted the distribution of phenotypes within the population.

    Guest speaker: Tania Perroux, PhD student of Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

    For enquiries, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • 04 OCT 2023 (Wed) 1-2pm HKT

    (JCC-VCS Research Seminar) OneHealth; from population to landscape

    In recent years the importance of OneHealth approaches have begun to be noted. However, whilst OneHealth in the context of captive wildlife and trade, and to some degree various domesticated animals has begun to be noted, understanding OneHealth from a landscape structure and management context is largely limited to case-specific examples and case-studies. Here we review not only the importance of OneHealth from a landscape context, but the importance of including ecophysiological and ecological considerations of into our understanding of species health in the landscape context.

    Using bats, predominantly in Asia as a casestudy we review our own work in the region, the intersectional research needs on bat taxonomy and systematics, as well as demographic and ecophysiological research needs. Following from this we highlight current knowledge gaps, and future areas for research, as well as basic precautions for landscape management including agriculture, mining, forest management and recreation, and how seasonal considerations due to both resource availability and other ecological stressors are key to minimising the risk of spillover events going into the future.

    Guest speaker: Dr. Alice C. Hughes; University of Hong Kong

    For enquiries, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • 10 May 2023 (Wed) 6:30-7:30 HKT

    Faculty Sharing Session on ABVP Certification

    Co-ordinated by Professor Santiago Alonso, our Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences is organizing a Faculty sharing session on the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) Certification on May 10th, 2023 (Wednesday) at 6:30-7:30pm on campus to give an introduction on this veterinary certification

    Our ABVP-certified faculty members Professor Pedro Melendez, Professor Angel Almendros, and Dr Zoltan Szabo will also join Professor Alonso to share their insights.

    This session is open to all BVM students.

    This event has ended.

    For enquiries, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • 2 Mar 2023 (Wed) 1-2pm HKT

    CityU JCC Researh Seminar cum CityU CAHW Animal Health & Welfare Seminar

    Why One Welfare is of central relevance for veterinarians?

    Abstract: As society debates the use of animals in sport, entertainment and leisure, there is an increasing focus on the welfare, social and ecological impacts of such activities on the animals, human participants and people close to them and to the environment. This helps to explain why animal welfare scientists increasingly contextualise their findings within a One Welfare framework that enables multidisciplinary collaboration with colleagues in agriculture, business and marketing, the social sciences, medicine, public health, environmental studies, animal studies and law.

    As the younger sibling of the One Health construct, One Welfare recognises that animal welfare, biodiversity and the environment are intertwined with human wellbeing and community resilience. Sitting alongside and complementing One Health, One Welfare was conceptualized for veterinarians but, more broadly, offers a foundational concept through which to promote the ethical treatment of all animals affected by human care and human activity. The two frameworks should not be seen as competitors.

    One Welfare is of central relevance for veterinarians because we care about much more than health alone. It is a framework made by vets for the veterinary profession and one that vets need now more than ever. It is fundamental to sustainability.

    Biography: Paul McGreevy BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, FRSN is a veterinarian and ethologist. He is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications and seven books. With expertise in learning theory, animal training, animal welfare science, veterinary behavioural medicine and anthrozoology, Paul is a co-founder and honorary fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science. He led the VetCompass Australia initiative that brought together all of the Australian veterinary schools to provide ongoing national disease surveillance for companion animals and horses.

    Event Information: Click Here.

    For enquiries and recordings, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • 23 Nov 2022 (Wed) 4-5pm HKT

    CityU JCC Research Seminar

    Are we the dog's best friend - breeding dogs for the future



    Abstract: We love our animals. Nevertheless, we humans have for a long time bred animals with the main focus on extreme appearance, at the expense of good health. As a consequence of this, a number of breeds now live with chronic and painful disorders. These problems prevent the animals from being able to live a normal and comfortable life. The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals wants a change in the way animals are bred. The Kennel Club, breeders, the breed clubs, and the authorities all have a shared responsibility in making sure that breeding only happens on healthy animals.

    Biography: Ashild Roaldset qualified from Bristol School of Veterinary Science in England in 2001. After qualifying as a vet, she worked in clinical practice for several years in several years before leaving clinical practice and starting at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science first as a manager for the continued profession education unit, and thereafter as a practice manager for the small animal and equine hospitals. In 2018 Ashild started as CEO of the Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals. In addition to being a qualified veterinarian, Ashild also holds a masters degree in public health and she has studied economy and leadership.

    Event Information: Click Here.

    For event recordings, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.

  • 26 OCT 2022 (Wed) 1-2pm HKT

    CityU JCC Research Seminar

    The devil's in the detail: using animal behaviour to better understand Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD)



    Abstract: For over 25 years, Tasmanian devils have been affected by a novel transmissible form of cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). The disease is fatal in the vast majority of cases, and has caused declines of upward of 80% in local devil populations. Transmission of the disease is intrinsically driven by the animals behaviour, being spread via bite wounds. This talk will cover some of the details of the disease, how it has affected devil populations in Tasmania and how we are using devil behaviour to study the dynamics of DFTD.

    Biography: Dr David Hamilton is a Conservation Ecologist with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, as well as an Adjunct Researcher with the University of Tasmania. His research focuses on conservation issues facing Tasmania's marsupial carnivores.

    Event Information: Click Here.

    For event recordings, please contact us at vcs@cityu.edu.hk.