Vaccination has been one of the key topics discussed at this convention, an event that has attracted poultry veterinarians from all over the world. The protectotype concept is a fairly new idea, which is replacing the serotype vaccination concept – the standard operating procedure for the industry.

Instead of trying to protect against all the variants of the different diseases, and trying to keep up with genetic drift, the idea now is to find combinations of vaccines that will solve the problem.

If only one type of vaccine was given (one serotype) and it is found to not protect the birds very well, the latest idea is to add vaccines of different serotypes to the rotation to solve the problem.

It is the vaccine manufacturing companies which are redefining these ideas, and the protectotype concept is the new working model for them. Instead of trying to create new vaccines per serotype, the companies are looking for answers to the disease problems with their existing vaccines, and trying to find the right combinations that will resolve the problems for the producers.

Since there is no 'one solution fits all' to fighting diseases, this approach has to be done on a regional or country basis. The approach taken in Europe would probably not work in the Americas, for example. This is the new concept going into the future.

This congress has not focused only on vaccinations, however. Among the many other issues presented are: avian influenza, salmonella, respiratory diseases, mycoplasma, mycotoxins and coccidiosis, among others.

Although the numbers are not official yet, it appears that well over 800 veterinarians from 50 countries are attending this congress. This event began on Sunday and concludes tomorrow (Thursday 18 August).