Session 1: Postgraduate research [10 min + 3 min questions] Session chair: Dr Rungano Magadu Risk factors for the 2011 and 2017 high pathogenicity avian influenza outbreaks on ostrich farms in the Western Cape – MC Marimwe
Sequencing of the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) cardiac troponin I gene and analytical validation of a point-of-care cardiac roponin I immunoassay – Y Rautenbach Radiological description of the sesamoid bones and ossicles in the stifle joint of the lion (Panthera leo), black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) and Temminck's pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) – C Steyn Comparison of the Bionote NSP Ab ELISA and PrioCheck FMDV NS ELISA – KC Moabelo Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of Combretum elaeagnoides Klotzsch methanol leaf extract and fractions against pathogens causing bovine mastitis – RC Erhabor
Session 2: Science communication – The skill of communicating complex scientific ideas to people who do not have subject expertise on the topic [3 min for PhD and 1 min for MSc students] Session chair: Dr Miemie Grobler The effects of nutritional stress and reproduction on stable isotope ratios of ruminants, monogastrics, and hind-gut fermenters in South Africa – GV Ringani [3 min] Genetic diversity and geographic relationships between southern African Amblyomma ticks, Rickettsia africae and Ehrlichia ruminantium – A Smit [3 min]
Molecular epidemiology of infectious bronchitis coronavirus in southern African poultry flocks from 2011-2020 – C Strydom [3 min] Potential of selected South African plants in the management of bovine mastitis caused by multi-drug resistant strains of Streptococcus uberis – AO Akinboye [3 min] Radiographic subtrochlear notch sclerosis used for detection of early medial coronoid disease in Labrador retriever puppies and associated dynamic distal ulnar ostectomy to reduce disease progression – JD Pretorius [1 min] Morphology of the digestive tract of Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) – TJ Saby [1 min] Prognostic value of serial serum creatinine concentration at presentation, 24 and 48 hours post-surgery in cats with subcutaneous urethral bypass at a single referral hospital – R Elliott [1 min] Evaluation of the spherical body protein 4 (SBP4)-encoding gene for molecular typing of Babesia caballi – A Venter [1 min] Evaluation of the efficacy, safety and cardiopulmonary effects of thiafentanil-azaperone compared to etorphine-azaperone for the immobilisation of free-ranging black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) – BAT Gazendam [1 min]
Session 3: Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture Prof. Richard Kock: The future of animal-based-agriculture in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss
Session 4: Undergraduate research (Veterinary research report, VRE 600) [5 min + 2 min questions] Session chair: Dr Takula Tshuma Osteology of the thoracic limb of the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris) – L Pillay Comparison of different anaesthetic protocols in captive patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) in Uganda – L Marais Tick vaccines: A viable option for tick and tick-borne disease control in cattle in sub-Saharan Africa? – RP Potgieter A short review on the resting period of sheep, pigs, and cattle before slaughter: Is one hour too short or too long? – K Smith Using data mining techniques to determine skills gaps in early-career veterinarians in South Africa – C Volschenk
Session 5: Postgraduate research [10 min + 3 min questions] Session chair: Dr Joanne Karzis Identification and gene expression profiling of subunit vaccine candidates in cattle- and buffalo-derived Theileria parva isolates – LL Borchers
Plant extracts as a possible solution for biofilm formation against Salmonella and Enterococcus crucial in the poultry industry – MM Lebeloane A knowledge, attitude and practices assessment of control measures for bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis as a bottom-up approach towards a more effective national control programme in South Africa – AT Kgasi Bovine tuberculosis heat inactivated vaccines reduce lesion severity and bacterial viability in an infection trial in African buffalo – J Hewlett Effect of the degree of tibial plateau angle correction post tibial plateau levelling osteotomy on the patellar ligament strain in canine
cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifles: an ex vivo experimental study – EG Bester
Session 6: UP Veterinary Science Open Innovation Challenge – Encouraging multi-disciplinary entrepreneurial thinking and stimulating innovation Session chair: Prof. Vinny Naidoo Overview of the UP Veterinary Science Open Innovation Challenge – Prof. Vinny Naidoo Pitch 1: Sustainable tick removal service – Tamarin Powell Pitch 2: KnoffelCo: veterinary apparel solutions – Daniel Archibald Announcement of the winner – Adv. Lawrence Baloyi, Head: Innovation and Contracts Management, Department of Research and Innovation
Poster presentations 1. In silico analysis of GPI-anchored hypothetical proteins from Babesia bovis as potential vaccine candidates – T Bambeni 2. Communal farmers’ knowledge, perception and practice of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the FMD control zone of South Africa – K Daddy 3. In silico prediction of CD4+ T cell and B cell epitopes targeting Haemonchus contortus vaccine antigens – SAC Gambu 4. Molecular characterisation of recent South African Ephemerovirus febris strains – M Grobler 5. Assessment of the tibial tuberosity osteotomy location on the postoperative complications in dogs surgically treated for medial patella luxation – P Guy 6. Cytotoxicity of imidacloprid and its possible activity in disrupting cytoskeletal proteins in a rat Leydig cell line (LC-540) – MIA Ibrahim
7. Evaluation of host metabolome in goats following infection with Haemonchus contortus – OB Kube 8. Genotyping five Ehrlichia ruminantium housekeeping genes – M Labuschagne 9. Biofilm expression and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Streptococcus uberis isolated from milk samples of dairy cows in South Africa – S Magagula 10. The blood microbiome of patients with acute febrile illness in the Mnisi community, South Africa, reveals the presence of a novel member of the family Rickettsiaceae – SM Makgabo 11. Cattle trade networks in the foot-and-mouth disease protection zone of Limpopo Province – K Malatji
12. Molecular characterisation of Listeria monocytogenes from beef and beef-based products purchased in Mpumalanga and North West Provinces – A Manqele
13. Evaluation of immune response and gut microbiome in Haemonchus contortus infected goats – BQ Maphangela 14. Computed tomographic evaluation of the distal limb in the standing sedated horse – N Mathee 15. Serological evidence and co-exposure of selected infections among livestock slaughtered at Eastern Cape abattoirs in South Africa – KD Mazwi 16. Detection of Theileria haneyi in South African equids using a newly developed quantitative real-time PCR assay – TV Mbaba 17. Serial ionized calcium and magnesium in puppies with parvoviral enteritis – A Mouton 18. Development and validation of a real-time PCR assay, and phylogenetic classification of Anaplasma platys – NF Nkosi 19. Anti-inflammatory activity of extracts of Kalanchoe gunniae and Bryophyllum pinnatum plant species with potential use against bovine mastitis – EC Ogbuadike
20. Retrospective analysis of clinical and clinicopathological findings in horses presenting with equine encephalosis – GB Piketh 21. A survey on the antimicrobial use against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia among farmers in Tanzania – EP Singano 22. In silico prediction of CD4 T cell and B cell epitopes of the peptidase and GTPase protein families of Haemonchus contortus – CB van der Byl
