19th National Congress of Veterinary Parasitology started on 3rd February, 2009 and a symposium on "National Impact of Parasitic Diseases on Livestock Health and Production" with focal theme "Changing Trends in Parasitology: from Eggs to Genomics" concluded here today. In a message to Veterinary parasitologists assembled here from all over the country, GADVASU Vice Chancellor Dr V K Taneja exhorted need to reorient their research priorities in order to devise cost effective technologies to control parasitic diseases and take the feed back from the farmers and the veterinarians. With growing densities of livestock, particularly in peri-urban and urban areas, changing animal feeding practices, there is a growing concern regarding the transmission and propagation of diseases and general food safety. Concerns range from the traditional zoonotic diseases and contaminated food and water borne diseases that can affect both livestock and humans.
Dr S K Jand, Dean Postgraduate Studies and Registrar was the Chief guest of the Valedictory function and Dr P K Sanyal Vice-President of the Society presided over. While welcoming the Chief guest Dr P D Juyal, Organizing Secretary of the Congress laid emphasis on the emerging issues and challenges faced by the Veterinary Parasitologists through out the country .
Dr Jand emphasized the use of newer technology for the control and diagnosis of parasitic diseases. He further added that we as a veterinarian need to collaborate with the medical doctors and scientists from other field related to biochemistry and biotechnology. He highlighted that the topic chosen for the congress is pertinent and the need of the hour as we do not have the data related to the loss caused by the parasites.
Dr J P Dubey young scientist award was bagged by Dr Jeybel a young scientist from IVRI, Bareilly while Dr V S Alwar memorial award was won by Dr G. Ponnudurai form Nammakal, TANUVAS, Chennai. In the best poster presentation category the award was given to Dr Anees Yadav, Dr Sukhdeep Vohra both from Jammu and Dr G. Ponnudurai. The chairmen from different streams presented their reports of their respective session. The major issues emerged were epidemiology of the disease, transmission, emerging drug resistance, food and water borne parasitic zoonoses, diagnosis of sub-clinical infection, vector control and immunoprophylaxis stated Dr Juyal.
The participants from UAS Banglore, Dr Placid DeSouza and Dr Dr G. Ponnudurai from Chennai shared their impression of the congress. The organizing secretary Dr Juyal informed that 20th National congress was decided to be held at CCS HAU Hisar . The meeting ended with the vote of thanks by Dr S S Rath .
