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Congresses delegates, in the first row from the left Professors Jaap van Dijk, Krzysztof A. Siwicki, Brian Sheahan, Józef Szarek, Andreas Pospischil (Photo by M. Une)

International Meetings of Veterinary Surgeons in Olsztyn

Józef Szarek, Joanna Lipińska, Izabella Babińska, Marcin Nowicki
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Małgorzata Sobczak-Filipiak
Warsaw Agricultural University

More than 400 veterinary surgeons – scientists and practitioners from 36 countries of the entire world met at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland). They were: candidates for the exam of clinical pathology (12–14 September 2004), delegates of the Pathology Symposium (13–15 September 2004), Continuing Education Day (15 September 2004), the 22nd Congress of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology (15–18 September 2004) and 6th Congress of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (15–18 September 2004) - http://www.esvcp.com/ . The honorary patron of the Meetings was the President of the Republic of Poland - Aleksander Kwaśniewski and UE Commissioner - prof. dr hab. Danuta Hübner. The Rector of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn - prof. Dr. hab. Ryszard Górecki was the Head of the Supporting Committee. The president of the Organising and the Scientific Committees was prof. Józef Szarek and the Secretary was vet. surg. Joanna Lipińska.

Pathology Symposium was organised as a part of the activities of CL Davis Foundation by prof. Dr. A Williams from the Royal Veterinary College in UK with the cooperation of the Organising Committee from Olsztyn. Ten workshop lectures were presented concerning present problems in veterinary medicine. They were given by the outstanding specialists like prof.: M. Suter (Switzerland), D. Taylor (UK), H.L. Shivaprasad (USA), R. Feinstein (Sweden). They touched on the topics of pathology of skin diseases, alimentary tract in pigs, birds and laboratory animals. Polish lecturers were represented by – prof. Dr. hab. A.K. Siwicki (“Comparative immunopathology – actual aspects”) and Dr. K. Bardadin M.D, Ph.D. (Stem cells and their role in regenerative processes of the liver).

On Continuing Education Day was the day of clinical pathology – science concerning examination of the live organs and tissues with the use of biopsy and organism liquids analysis. There were 7 lectures concerning among others: diagnosis of parasites in the blood cells (prof. H. Brun-Hansen – Norway, prof. S. Harrus - Israel), thrombocytes analysis (Dr. J. Pastor - Spain), internal organs cytology (Dr. A. Lanevschi-Pietersma - Netherlands) and cytopathology (prof. M. Christopher - USA).

22nd Congress of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology (ESVP) and 6th Congress of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ESVCP) presented a modern view on the widely understood veterinary pathology, which still plays an important role in veterinary sciences. They showed real care about the live organism: great number of studies on immunopathology, session on pathologically engineered animals (prepared and conducted by prof. Achim Gruber – Germany), workshops on reproductive tract pathology conducted by prof. Donald Schlafer from Cornell University - USA) and selected cases of the clinical pathology (conducted - prof. Joy Archer, UK). They also underlined the necessity of cooperation between pathomorphologists and clinical pathologists. This form of activity was enriched (for the first time) by the participation of the scientists working on regular morphology (anatomy and histology).

Results of the meetings: almost 1000 scientists presented their studies during 26 lectures, there were also 51 oral presentations, 183 poster presentations, 41 reviewed original articles,two workshops presenting a great number of cases. The abstracts of the presentations and lectures were edited in the book “Pathology in Nowadays” by J. Babińska, J. Szarek and J. Lipińska. Original articles were printed in the Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences (2004, supplement vol. 7, nr 3). There is also CD-room with all Congresses and Meetings materials (available through the authors).

New members (86) were accepted by ESVP in Olsztyn, there were 3 representatives from Poland: dr Izabella Babińska, vet. surg. Joanna Lipińska and prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Siwicki – all from UWM in Olsztyn (information regarding the acceptance to the Society available through cinzia.benazzi@unibo.it). The history of the Meetings (with the Photos Gallery) will be available through the next year on the internet website - http://www.uwm.edu.plesvp/

Additional events were: opening ceremony, barbecue, gala dinner, trip to Gdańsk and Malbork. Accompanying persons visited Olsztyn, Olsztynek, castle in Sorkwity and in Łężany, castle in Reszel, St. Mary’s Sanctuary in Święta Lipka. Also the family photo was taken (fig. 1).

Next ESVP Congresses will take place: in Naples (07–10 September 2005) e-mail info@esvp2005.org, Edinburgh (2006), Munich (2007) and in Dubrovnik (2008). Warsaw is also a candidate for the organiser (the date will be discussed next year).