British Veterinary Zoological Society - CABI.org

British Veterinary
Zoological Society

Proceedings of the
Autumn Meeting 2014

7 - 9 November, 2014

Lancaster University Management School
and Blackpool Zoo

INVERTEBRATES AND
MEGAVERTEBRATES –
VETERINARY ADVANCES

Editors: Fieke Molenaar and Mark Stidworthy

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014

British Veterinary Zoological Society

BVZS is the specialist division of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) recognised as having
responsibility for exotic pets, companion avian species and zoo animals. Founded in 1961, the BVZS nowadays
has an international membership and finds itself involved in almost every aspect of the care and welfare of exotic
pets, zoo animals and wildlife.

The aims of the society are to promote the advancement of veterinary knowledge and skill in the
maintenance of the health and welfare of non-domesticated animals and to encourage proper housing and
conditions for such animals; to encourage full use of veterinary services by wild animal establishments and by
the owners of exotic animals; to promote the international exchange of veterinary knowledge of non-
domesticated animals.

Information to the membership is provided by:
 Twice-yearly scientific meetings held at different venues throughout the UK e.g. university veterinary

field stations and zoological collections. Proceedings from each of these meetings are published with
hard copy for attending delegates and a CD with all Proceedings, 2001-2014, for all other members
 For 6 years BVZS held a Satellite Day at BSAVA in Birmingham. All details of this along with Proceedings
are on the BVZS website at www.bvzs.org, plus an exotics stream at LVS, November 2013 and 2014.
 BVZS website has a password-protected members’ only area for specific member information, student
members and those electing to receive online publications access this for our publications
 Quarterly Wild Times newsletter in the members’ area
 Contact with individual veterinary surgeons and with recognised student branches in our veterinary
schools
 Specialist courses to aid in CPD
 An e-mail list open to BVZS full and associate veterinary members only, plus email lists for Nurses and
Wildlife.

BVZS COUNCIL

President Michael Stanford ([email protected])
Senior Vice President Matthew Brash
Junior Vice President Mark Stidworthy
Administrator and Membership Secretary Victoria Roberts ([email protected])
Honorary Secretary Michael Fielding
Treasurer Caroline Johnson ([email protected]
Public Relations Officer Heather Bacon ([email protected])
Meetings Organiser Fieke Molenaar
Meetings Scientific Committee Fieke Molenaar, Jane Hopper,
Peter Kettlewell, Mark Stidworthy and
Sponsor Co-ordinator Stephanie Jayson
Publication Editors Jane Hopper
Michael Stanford, Fieke Molenaar
BIAZA Representative and Victoria Roberts ([email protected])
BVA Representatives Nic Masters
AWF Representative Michael Stanford and Mark Stidworthy
DETR/EAZA/ZEBRA Representative Jon Cracknell
PMLG Representative Michael Fielding ([email protected])
Veterinary Schools Liaison Officer Noel Walker
VN Representative Marie Kubiak ([email protected])
Webmaster Emily Gorman
Victoria Roberts

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 SPONSORS

SPONSORS OF BVZS

Bayer HealthCare, Bayer House, Strawberry Hill, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1JA.
Tel: 01635 563000. Ronan Fitzgerald. Email: [email protected], www.bayer.co.uk
Baytril works hard, works fast, licensed for use in exotic species.

Burgess Petcare, Victory Mill, Priestmans Lane, Thornton Le Dale, Pickering, North Yorkshire YO18
7RU. Tel: 01751 474123. Sophie Leonard, Justin Heaton, Suzanne Moyes.
Email: [email protected], website: www.burgesspetcare.co.uk
Burgess Pet Care make tasty, nutritious food for all small furry pets. The brand range includes Supadog,
Supacat and Burgess Excel - the only veterinary recommended rabbit food.

CTDS Exotics, Blacksmith’s Forge, Brookfield Farm, Selby Road, Garforth, West Yorkshire LS25 1NB
Tel: 0113 287 0175. Fax: 0113 286 5127. Nick Carmichael. Email: [email protected], www.ctdslab.co.uk
Rapid, accurate and economical laboratory services for all exotics with comprehensive specialist
pathologist and clinical support.

Dechra Veterinary Products Ltd., Sansaw Business Park, Hadnall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4AS
Tel: +44 (0)1939 211200. Fax: +44 (0)1939 211201. Direct +44 (0)1939 211200. Mobile: 07515
992812. Carol Morgan. Email: [email protected], www.dechra.com
Genitrix has merged with Dechra and will continue to have one of the widest and fastest growing
ranges of veterinary medicines for exotic mammals birds and reptiles.

Greendale Veterinary Diagnostics Ltd., Lansbury Estate, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey GU21 2EW.
Tel: 01483 797707, fax: 01483 797552. Arlene Nubi. Email : [email protected].
www.greendale.co.uk.
Delivering a high quality service, providing clients with accurate and credible results. Diagnostics for
wildlife, exotic and zoo animals, also dog, cat, equine, ruminant and poultry.

IZVG Pathology, c/o Nationwide Laboratories Leeds, Gateway Drive, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7XY.
Tel: 0113 391 9710. Email: [email protected]. www.izvg.co.uk/zoopath.html
Dedicated to zoo, exotic, aquatic and wildlife pathology since 2003.

Lafeber International Ltd., Unit 52, 116 Commercial Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 5BD.
Tel: ++44(0) 20 81337460. Fax: ++44(0) 1793 250460. Karen Homer-Forbes.
Email: [email protected] www.lafebervet.com
Emeraid – providing critical care nutrition for nearly any exotic animal – carnivore, herbivore or
omnivore.

Mazuri Zoo Foods, PO Box 705, Witham, Essex CM8 3AD.
Tel 01376 511260, fax 01376 511247. Sion Colenso, Email: [email protected], www.mazurifoods.eu
Manufacturer & supplier of quality diets for exotic species throughout Europe.

Meadow's Animal Healthcare Ltd, Unit 7, Windmill Road, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 1RA.
Tel 01509 265557, fax 01509 265777. Sheila Stockdale.
Email: [email protected], www.meadowsah.com
Suppliers of premium products to the Veterinary Profession through F10 Biocare, Harrison’s Bird Foods
and AvEquip.

Pinmoore Animal Laboratory Services Ltd., (PALS), The Coach House, Town House Barn, Cotton,
Cheshire CW6 OEG.
Tel: 01829 733523, fax: 0870 758 3638. Debbie Moore. Email: [email protected],
www.palsvetlab.co.uk . Mary Pinborough. Email: [email protected]
PALS provides Veterinary Diagnostic Services with the sole purpose of providing high quality and
accurate laboratory results. We aim to offer a friendly, personalised laboratory service that meets the
needs of the patient whilst being convenient and cost effective.

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 SPONSORS

Vetark Professional, Po Box 60, Winchester, SO23 9XN.
Tel: 01962-844316, fax 01962-877412. Peter Scott. Email: [email protected], www.vetark.co.uk
UK manufacturers of specialist nutritional, nutraceutical and specialist disinfectant products for exotic
species. Formulated and developed by an RCVS Specialist in Zoo & Wildlife Medicine and established
over 15 years. Products include Nutrobal, Avipro, CCF, Ark-Klens etc.

Vetronic Services Ltd., 12 Henleys Business Park, Manor Road, Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbott, Devon
TQ12 5NF. Tel: 01626 365505, fax 0870 1294705. Keith Simpson. Email: [email protected],
www.vetronic.co.uk. Manufacturers of dedicated Veterinary Equipment. Unique designs, unique
solutions.

Additional sponsors for this meeting

ACE Veterinary Supplies Ltd., Dogmore End Lane, Checkendon, Oxon RG8 0TB
Tel: 01491 527027, fax 01491 509077, Tracey Annison. Email: [email protected]
Established in 2012, ACE veterinary supplies is a specialist supplier for veterinary anaesthesia products
with an extensive product range and the knowledge to go with it. We are committed to providing the
widest range of veterinary anaesthesia products at the best possible prices.

WMS Firearms Training, Park House, Ffair Rhos, Ystrad Meurig, Ceredigion, Wales SY25 6BS
Tel: 01974 831869, mobile: 07767 365804. (Abroad: +44 1974 831869 & +44 7767 365804)
Andrew Venables and Helena Douglas. Email: [email protected]
www.wmsfirearmstraining.com
WMS has provided firearms training to more than 20 zoos and wildlife parks, including Knowsley Park,
Longleat, Marwell, Twycross, Woburn and Whipsnade. We offer professional, specialised two-day zoo
staff training packages covering the use of firearms for animal control, management, and emergency
responses. The two-day input includes an instructional classroom day followed by a day of practical
shooting using both shotguns and rifles.

BVZS IS GRATEFUL FOR SPONSORS’ SUPPORT OF THE SOCIETY

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 PROGRAMME

Time FRIDAY

13.30 General tour of Blackpool Zoo

Time SATURDAY Page

08:00 Registration
09:00
09:15 Welcome by the BVZS President Michael Stanford

Session 1 EDUCATION 15

(Chair: Mark Stidworthy)

Greg Lewbart Health Assessment of Marine Reptiles in the Galápagos

Islands

Beverley Panto Survey of exotics and wildlife teaching at UK universities

30 minutes

Nic Masters and Providing learning experiences for MSc students, veterinary
Karla Berry undergraduates, veterinary nurses and others in zoological
medicine
Kevin Eatwell Developing final year veterinary student skills in rabbit
neutering and anaesthesia
COFFEE BREAK
10:30 Session 2 EXOTIC ANIMAL PRACTICE 21
11:15
Greg Lewbart (Chair: Peter Kettlewell)
13:00 Keynote speaker
14:00 Invertebrate Medicine Advances and Emerging
Sarah Pellett
Issues
Marie Kubiak
30 minutes
David Perpiñán
Tariq Abou-Zahr Bacteriological and fungal culture and sensitivity study from

LUNCH trauma cases afflicted by dogs in terrestrial chelonia
Session 3
Chemotherapy use in a case of dermal lymphoma in a pet
Michael Stanford
rat
Martin Whitehead
Distemper vaccination in ferrets
Vicki Baldrey
Morphs, mutations and selective breeding: problems with
Marie Kubiak
Charlotte Day pedigree birds & reptiles

LEGISLATION and NOVEL USE OF DRUGS 30

(Chair: Jane Hopper)

The prescription, supply and control of prescription-only

veterinary medicines (POMs) in zoological collections and

wildlife rescue centres

30 minutes

Regulations regarding prescribing and permitted procedures

for backyard poultry

Alfaxalone as an anaesthetic induction agent in mute swans

(Cygnus olor)

Use of deslorelin implants for contraception in meerkats

Management of congestive heart failure in Livingstone's

fruit bats

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 PROGRAMME

14:00 Parallel session 1 BACK TO BASICS 40

Nathalie Wissink (For those new to exotic animal practice, for those who want to brush up their
skills and for students)
15:30 TEA BREAK
16:15 Session 4 The reptile consultation:
getting the most out of your scaly patients

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS 41

Beverley Panto Wildlife in first opinion practice

Jo Dodds & Vet nurses: Anaesthetic monitoring of non-domestic
Keith Simpson species
Kevin Eatwell Rabbits and rodents

David Perpiñán Avian internal medicine

Mark Rowland Snake cases

17:45 BVZS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
20:00 DINNER Lancaster University Management School
With pub quiz and dance

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 PROGRAMME

Time SUNDAY Page
09:15
Session 5 AQUATICS 42
09.15
Greg Lewbart (Chair: Stephanie Jayson)
10:45 Edmund Flach
11:30 Mark Stidworthy Koi and goldfish medicine case studies
13:00
14:00 David Perpiñán Investigations into increased mortality of seahorses at ZSL
Lindsay Thomas
Both A review of histopathological findings in cephalopods
15:30
submitted to IZVG Pathology from Sealife attractions

Metastatic mineralisation in sharks

Investigation into increased mortality of common carp

Parallel session 2 EEHV RESEARCH UPDATE and DEVELOPMENT OF A

UK TREATMENT PROTOCOL 49

(Chair: Fieke Molenaar)

(Numbers restricted - priority to those with elephants

in their care)

Katharine qPCR guided therapy of a juvenile Asian elephant clinically

Seilern-Moy affected by EEHV-1

Sarah Chapman Elephant Herpes VIrus: Risk management and monitoring

infection in a breeding herd of Asian elephants

Daniela Denk EEHV Advisory Group Meeting – Battling elephant

endotheliotropic herpes virus

Nic Masters Practical management of EEHV for UK elephant collections

Discussion

COFFEE BREAK

Session 6 MASTERCLASS 53

(Chair: Michael Stanford)

Greg Lewbart Chelonian trauma management

LUNCH

Session 7 ZOO ANIMALS 56

(Chair: Fieke Molenaar)

Andrew Venables The safe and humane use of firearms in zoos and wildlife

parks

Sarah Chapman Management of dermatophytosis in a group of snow leopards

(Uncia uncia)

Jane Hopper Impact of hepatitis B virus on in-situ release projects for Javan

gibbons (Hylobates moloch)

Nick Parham Hepatitis B virus in the Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) and

other non-human primates

Gabby Drake A new conservation breeding tool - Minimal intervention

artificial insemination for wild equids

days POSTER SESSION 61

Sarah Pellett and Clinical signs and supportive treatment for a Hermann's

Mary Pinborough tortoise, Testudo hermanni, after metaldehyde ingestion

Sarah Chapman Clinical and pathology auditing within a zoological collection

Rosalie Dench Risk factors of air sacculitis in rehabilitant Bornean

orangutans

PRIZE GIVING AND FAREWELL

CPD Certificates will be issued: Saturday=7 hours, Sunday=5 hours, total 12 87
hours.

BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 BIOGRAPHIES

Tariq Abou-Zahr BVSc MRCVS
Tariq graduated this year from the University of Bristol, having wanted to work in the field of
avian/exotics since before applying to vet school. At University, he spent time at a variety of
practices with an exotic focus, including a month long externship at Great Western Exotics in
Swindon and some time at Bristol Zoological Gardens. His background is as both an aviculturist
and herpeto-culturist, and he has successfully kept and bred a number of species over the
years and contributed many articles to hobbyist magazines including Practical Reptile Keeping
and Parrots magazines. He currently works for Summerhill Vets in Newport.

Vicki Baldrey BSc (Hons) BVSc DZooMed (Avian) MRCVS
Vicki qualified from Liverpool Vet School in 2005 with an intercalated honours degree in
Veterinary Conservation Medicine. She obtained the RCVS Diploma in Zoological Medicine
(Avian) in 2014. She is currently working at Birch Heath Veterinary Clinic in Cheshire.

Karla Berry RVN
Karla has been working as a veterinary nurse since 1991 and qualified at the RVC in 1999. In
2005 she spent two years working in Thailand for an animal charity on the Island of Koh Chang,
working predominately with domestic animals, but also treating some of the island’s primates
and elephants. She joined ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in 2007. Karla has a keen interest in animal
conditioning and enrichment, and has worked with keepers to put these techniques into
practice, such as conditioning of the sloth bears for vaccination by hand injection.

Sarah Chapman BVM&S MSc DZooMed (Mammalian) MRCVS
Sarah qualified in 2000 from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Sarah
initially worked in mixed practice in Lincolnshire and then East Yorkshire, where her workload
also included exotics and wildlife. In 2004/2005 Sarah did the MSc Wild Animal Health, with
her dissertation on the Mortality of Captive Gorillas. She then worked in Bedfordshire, where
she gained her Certificate in Zoological Medicine and was part of the veterinary team at
Woburn Safari Park. Following this post, she worked at Paignton Zoo for three years as
Associate Veterinarian. Sarah is currently working as Head of Veterinary Services at Twycross
Zoo, and teaches the final year veterinary students of the University of Nottingham Veterinary
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science on clinical rotation throughout the year. Sarah is
the veterinary advisor for the UK Elephant Focus Group and for the Bongo Taxon Advisory
Group. She is involved in research into Great Ape heart disease, elephant herpes virus and
animal welfare in captivity. Sarah recently gained her RCVS Diploma in Zoo Medicine
(Mammalian) and has spent time this year in Cameroon doing veterinary work with rescued
gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys with Ape Action Africa.

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 BIOGRAPHIES

Charlotte Day BVSc BSc Zoology GPCert ExAP MRCVS
Charlotte graduated from Bristol in 2008 after gaining experience at a number of zoos and
obtaining an intercalated Zoology degree, and then started her career at a mixed practice in
Devon. After relocating to Kent, Charlotte spent three years at Trinity Veterinary Centre, a
busy exotics practice, seeing a large caseload of first opinion and referral reptiles, birds,
small/exotic mammals and wildlife, in addition to volunteering as a small carnivore keeper at
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. Last year Charlotte travelled to Cameroon to assist in the
veterinary care of gorillas, chimps and other primates at Ape Action Africa, and she is currently
the veterinary intern at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Rosalie Dench MA VetMB MRCVS
Rosalie has been involved in orangutan conservation in Borneo since 2003. After graduating
from Cambridge in 2007, she spent some time working in small animal practice in Lincolnshire
before moving to Indonesia for two years to work with the Borneo Orangutan Survival
Foundation as the Veterinary Advisor at the Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation centre. Since
returning to the UK, Rosalie continues to provide veterinary advice to the Borneo Orangutan
Survival Foundation and the Orangutan Appeal. She is currently conducting research on
“Important Diseases of Rehabilitant Orangutans”, investigating clinical aspects of key diseases
encountered in this species, alongside small animal locum work.

Daniela Denk Dr med vet MRCVS DiplECVP
Daniela joined International Zoo Veterinary Group Pathology in 2011, focussing on diseases of
avian, mammalian and reptile species, with the recent addition of fish pathology. She
graduated from Munich Veterinary School in 2006 and immediately joined the diagnostic
pathology team there. Daniela completed her pathology residency at Liverpool University and
is a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists. In addition to zoo and wildlife
pathology, she maintains her interests in neuropathology and dermatology. Daniela is a
pathology advisor to the EEHV Advisory Group.

Gabby Drake BVSc BSc (Hons) MRCVS
Gabby graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2005, having completed both veterinary
medicine and conservation medicine degrees. She started her career in mixed practice before
moving to a small animal referral hospital in Cheshire to build up their exotic pet work. After
several years in practice, her spirit of adventure called and she moved to South Africa to do a
voluntary internship at Johannesburg Zoo, where she worked on vaccination trials of Southern
ground hornbills and managed a large customs seizure of reptiles and amphibians. On
returning to the UK, Gabby worked as a small animal locum before moving on to Birch Heath
Veterinary Clinic in Cheshire (exotic pets and referrals, small zoos, RSPCA Stapeley Grange
Wildlife hospital). She became particularly interested in hedgehog parasitism. For the last
four years Gabby has been the clinical scholar in conservation medicine (resident) at The North
of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo) and has been working towards both her certificate
in Advanced Veterinary Practice (ZooMed), and an MSc in veterinary epidemiology. She has a
particular interest in mammalian reproduction and medicine and avian medicine. Currently
she is on maternity leave until 2015.

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 BIOGRAPHIES

Kevin Eatwell BVSc (Hons) DZooMed (Reptilian) DipECZM (Herpetological and Small
Mammals) MRCVS
Kevin Eatwell has worked in first opinion practice and in referral centres. He has also worked
for zoologicql collections, wildlife hospitals and commercial laboratories. He currently works
at Edinburgh University where he is responsible for the exotic animal clinic but also involved
in the redesign of the final year.

Edmund Flach MA VetMB MSc DZooMed (mammalian) DipECZM (Zoo Health Management)
MRCVS
Edmund qualified from Cambridge in 1982 and then spent three years in general practice
before undertaking the MSc in Tropical Animal Science at the Centre for Tropical Veterinary
Medicine in Edinburgh. For the next five years he did field research on tick-borne diseases of
cattle in Zanzibar and Morocco, before accepting the post of Veterinary Officer at the
Zoological Society of London’s Whipsnade Zoo. From 1992 until 2006 he carried out the clinical
and pathological work at Whipsnade, did research into disease of zoo animals, and also taught
on the ZSL/RVC MSc Wild Animal Health course. In addition, Edmund was involved in
veterinary aspects of reintroduction projects of common dormice and corncrakes in the UK,
and scimitar-horned oryx in Tunisia. In 2006 he became ZSL’s Zoo and Wildlife Pathologist,
based at London Zoo. Edmund gained his RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 1997 and
Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Mammalian) in 2001, and became a de-facto diplomat in the
European College of Zoological Medicine (Zoo Health Management) in 2012. He has published
widely and has presented at many BVZS, EAZWV and international meetings. Edmund was on
BVZS Council for several years and was President from 2006 to 2008. He also enjoys live music
and his band “Paradox” have been known to get all the delegates up and dancing at BVZS
meetings!

Jane Hopper MA VetMB CertZooMed MRCVS
Jane graduated from Cambridge University in 2002. She has been head of the Veterinary
Department for Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks since 2006. This includes being
responsible for the veterinary aspects of the Aspinall Foundation’s overseas projects in West
Africa, Indonesia and Madagascar. Jane is a vet for the Felid TAG group and several EEPs,
including the Javan gibbon.

Marie Kubiak BVSc CertAVP(ZM) DZooMed MRCVS
Marie graduated from Bristol University in 2006 and spent two years as a first opinion exotics
vet in Kent, before undertaking a three year ECZM residency in Avian medicine. She has
completed the RCVS certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice with distinction in the Avian,
Reptile, Wildlife and Zoo species examinations and a credit in small pet mammals. In 2013
Marie also obtained the RCVS Diploma in Zoological medicine with avian subspecialty. She has
recently taken on the role of Student Liaison Officer for BVZS. Over a three year period at
Manor Vets in Edgbaston, Marie has established and expanded the exotic animal department.
She now heads up the five vet zoo and exotic pet team and has a wide caseload covering
captive birds, reptiles, exotic mammals, aquatic and zoo species.

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 BIOGRAPHIES

Gregory A. Lewbart MS VMD DACZM
Greg received a BA in biology from Gettysburg College in 1981, an MS in biology with a
concentration in marine biology from Northeastern University in 1985, and a VMD from the
University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. He worked for a large
wholesaler of ornamental fishes before joining the faculty at the North Carolina State
University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993, where he is Professor of Aquatic Animal
Medicine. He is a diplomat of the American College of Zoological Medicine and was named
2007 Exotic DVM of the Year by Exotic DVM Magazine. In 2012 he received the William
Medway Award for Excellence in Teaching from the International Association for Aquatic
Animal Medicine. Greg is an author on numerous popular and scientific articles about
invertebrates, fishes, amphibians and reptiles and speaks locally, nationally and
internationally on these subjects. He has also authored or co-authored over 20 book chapters
related to veterinary medicine of the above-mentioned taxonomic groups and edited or co-
edited three veterinary textbooks: Self-Assessment Colour Review of Ornamental Fish
(Manson Publishing and ISU Press, 1998), Rapid Review of Exotic Animal Medicine and
Husbandry (Manson Publishing, 2008), and the multiple award winning Invertebrate Medicine
(Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2006; 2012). Greg is the invited speaker for the BVZS Autumn
Meeting 2014.

Nicholas Masters MA VetMB MSc MRCVS
Nic graduated from Cambridge and attained his MSc Wild Animal Health from the Institute of
Zoology. He spent five years with the International Zoo Veterinary Group (IZVG), during which
time he wrote the chapter on primates in the BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets and developed a
particular interest in elephants and conservation medicine. Nic left IZVG in 2010 for the
Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Species Recovery Programme, developing disease
risk analysis methodology. He spent 2011 freelancing in the UK and abroad, continuing to
specialise exclusively in non-domestic animals; a particular highlight was two locums at the
New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine, Auckland Zoo. Since 2012, Nic has worked for
ZSL as the Veterinary Officer at Whipsnade Zoo and is now the ZSL Head of Veterinary Services.
He has been a sub-group leader (Healthcare, Foot care and Locomotion) and more recently
the Chair of the Elephant Welfare Group.

Beverley Panto BSc (Hons) BVetMed MRCVS
Bev graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2009 with an intercalated degree in
Veterinary Conservation Medicine from the University of Liverpool. She spent a year working
in East Africa both with wild and domestic species, whilst being involved with a development
education initiative at the RVC. She then spent three years as a small animal general
practitioner in Horsham, alongside regular pro bono work for a large wildlife charity. In 2013
she moved into full time wildlife work as the Veterinary Officer at RSPCA Stapeley Grange
Wildlife Centre and Cattery, working with a wide range of British wildlife and domestic species.
She is an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, and is the clinical lead on their final
year exotics and wildlife clinical rotation. She is studying towards the RCVS Cert AVP in
Zoological Medicine.

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 BIOGRAPHIES

Nick Parham Bsc (Hons) MSc PhD
Nick is one of two Clinical Specialists at Roche Diagnostics Ltd., UK. He provides clinical support
to clinicians, scientists and laboratory managers regarding the use of CE-IVD-marked in vitro
diagnostic assays. Having graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from the University of
Leeds in 1991, Nick continued his academic training in Glasgow and Reading for MSc and PhD
degrees. Since then, Nick's work has focused on microbial pathogens and moved from
academic research into applied molecular diagnostics. He has over 10 years of experience in
research and development of molecular diagnostic assays and had worked in academia,
industry and front-line diagnostic laboratories. While working for Public Health England in the
Blood Bourne Viruses Unit at Colindale, one of Nick's activities was to collaborate with the
Aspinall Foundation to investigate the molecular epidemiology of HBV in Silvery Gibbons
(Hylobates moloch).

Sarah Pellett BSc (Hons) MA VetMB CertAVP (ZooMed) MRCVS
Sarah graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2006. During her degree she spent time
in exotic practices and zoos both in the UK and abroad. Sarah spent three years working at a
first opinion and referral exotic animal practice in Manchester where she completed the RCVS
Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Zoological Medicine). She now works at Animates
Veterinary Clinic, Thurlby, in Lincolnshire, seeing a wide range of first opinion and referral
exotic animal cases. Sarah is currently studying for the RCVS Diploma in Zoological Medicine.

David Perpiñán DVM MSc DipECZM (Herpetology) MRCVS
David graduated from the University of Barcelona (Spain) in 2000, completed an MSc in 2003
and became a diplomat of the European College of Zoological Medicine in 2010. He has
worked with zoo and aquatic animals, exotic animals and wildlife in places such as The
University of Barcelona, Omaha Zoo, The University of Georgia, Loro Parque and different
private practices and services in Spain and in the UK. David is currently a Lecturer in Exotic
Animal and Wildlife Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the medicine of
exotic and zoo animals.

Mark N Rowland BVSc CertZooMed MRCVS
Mark graduated from Liverpool University in 1996. After a period in mixed practice, he
concentrated on exotic animal medicine and surgery and gained the RCVS Certificate in
Zoological medicine in 2007. Mark owns and runs Trinity Vet Centre, a small animal and
specialist exotic animal practice in Maidstone Kent.

Katharina Seilern-Moy DVM
Katharina graduated from the Veterinary University Vienna, Austria in 2011 specialising in
Conservation Medicine. She then worked in several European zoos and in Africa (Namibia and
South Africa) to gain experience in zoo and wildlife medicine. This was followed by her working
at a general practice in Austria. In 2012, Katharina moved to England to start her PhD on
Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus at the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), which is
currently ongoing.

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 BIOGRAPHIES

Michael Stanford BVSc FRCVS
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Michael qualified from Liverpool University in 1987 and after working for the Harcourt-Browns
for 4 years in North Yorkshire, he moved to Cheshire to open Birch Heath Veterinary Clinic.
The practice specialises in non-domesticated pets, zoo and wildlife patients and provides
laboratory interpretation services for exotic animals for CVS Ltd’s Laboratories. In 2006 he was
awarded the Diploma of FRCVS by thesis for his work on calcium metabolism in African grey
parrots and was granted RCVS Specialist status in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine the following
year. He is a recipient of the BVA William Hunter medal for his publication on the effects of
UV-b in birds. Michael is author of various book chapters associated with exotic animal
medicine, including several BSAVA manuals, and has published widely and lectured
extensively both at home and abroad. Since 2007 he has been employed full time as a Claims
Consultant for the Veterinary Defence Society, but maintains an interfering interest in
practice. He is currently President of BVZS and the VDS Newsletter editor.

Mark F. Stidworthy MA VetMB PhD FRCPath MRCVS
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Pathology (Zoo and Wildlife)
Since 2003, Mark has been providing a dedicated full-time anatomic pathology service for zoo,
exotic and wildlife species including fish, at International Zoo Veterinary Group Pathology. He
graduated from Cambridge in 1996 (taking his BA in pathology) and undertook pathology
residency training at Liverpool, obtaining further diagnostic experience and a PhD (on repair
in the CNS) at Cambridge Veterinary School. Mark is an FRCPath, an RCPath examiner for
veterinary pathology, and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Pathology (Zoo and
Wildlife). Mark was the founder Secretary of the British Society of Veterinary Pathology, and
is currently Junior Vice-President of the British Veterinary Zoological Society. He publishes and
speaks regularly in the field of zoo, wildlife and aquatic pathology.

Lindsay Thomas BVSc MSc MRCVS
Lindsay graduated from the University of Bristol with a Bachelors in Veterinary Science and
from the University of Liverpool with a Masters in Conservation Science in 2014. Her Masters
project focussed on tick borne pathogens and the risks they might pose conservation efforts
for Amur leopards and tigers, and was the subject of her BVZS student poster prize submission.
Although interested in all exotic and zoo species, Lindsay has a particular interest in fish and
aquatic medicine and hopes to develop this in the future. Lindsay is currently working at
Manor Vets in Birmingham in an exotic houseman position.

Martin Whitehead BSc PhD BVSc CertSAM MRCVS
Martin is a Director of Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital in Oxfordshire, a first-opinion
mixed practice also doing exotic-animal referral and zoo work. After a PhD for research on
comparative aspects of auditory biophysics in vertebrates, Martin worked in basic and clinical
research in US medical school ENT departments, before switching to veterinary medicine,
graduating from the Liverpool veterinary school in 1999. His particular interests are evidence-
based veterinary medicine, small animal internal medicine and zoo and exotic animal
medicine. He has published articles on the biophysics of hearing and on various veterinary
topics, and is a member of the BSAVA’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

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BVZS AUTUMN MEETING 2014 BIOGRAPHIES

Nathalie Wissink-Argilaga Lic.Vet GPCert (ExAP) Cert AVP (ZooMed) MRCVS
Nathalie graduated from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain) in 2004. After seeing
practice in several exotic/wildlife practices and zoos around the world, she completed a one-
year internship at Davies Veterinary Specialists. Nathalie started working at The Scott
Veterinary Clinic in 2006, where she is now clinical director and head of the exotic animal
department. In 2008 she passed her GP certificate in exotic animal practice. She obtained the
RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Zoological Medicine) in 2010 and is now
studying towards her RCVS Diploma in Zoological Medicine. Nathalie is the associate
veterinarian for Woburn Safari Park.

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