CONSTITUTION OF THE ISAH
XVth International Congress on Animal Hygiene 2011
July 3-7, 2011 — Vienna, Austria
15th ISAH Congress ends with record attendance.

Prof. Kovacs, Hungary 1st Honorary President of ISAH

New Honorary Members

Prof. Tielen, The Netherlands
and Dr. Madec, France

Prof. Ekesbo, Sweden decorated as one of the founding fathers of ISAH

Golden Pin of ISAH for Dr. Jan Venglovsky, Slovak Republic

Silver Pin of ISAH for Dr. Hermann Schobesberger, Austria

Short report on the XVth International Congress on animal Hygiene 2011 July 3 – 7, 2011 in Vienna, Austria
More than 480 participants registered for the 15th Congress of the International Society for Animal Hygiene in Vienna. That is the highest attendance ever since the foundation of the Society in 1970. Main topics of the scientific programme were related to prevention of zoonotic infectious diseases in animal and man and new pathways towards sustainable animal farming on an economic basis for the sake of animal, man and environment.

The conference was excellently organised by Court Counsellor Prof. Dr. Josef Köfer (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vet Uni Vienna, and Austrian Agency Health and Food Safety, AGES) and Dr. Hermann Schobesberger (Vet Uni Vienna, AGES) in the facilities of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna supported by AGES and the Ministry of Health Austria (BMG). The welcome addresses of Rector Sonja Hammerschmid, Dr. Bernhard Url, managing director of AGES and Prof. Dr. Aigner head of section in BMG stressed already the importance of animal hygiene in science and practice for health and well-being of animal and man. The opening speech of Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Jörg Hartung from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, President of ISAH welcomed the participants from all over the world and called animal hygiene the indispensable third pillar of veterinary medicine which links curing medicine and animal health care by preventing diseases and developing welfare.

An impressive invited lecture delivered by Prof. Dr. Lothar Wieler from the Veterinary Faculty of the Free University of Berlin in remembrance of past Prof. Dr. Hermann Willinger, former President of ISAH in the 1980th, gave an insight in the development of science and molecular diagnostics in research on Escherichia coli (including EHEC) which had been started by Prof. Willinger more than three decades ago.

The world wide importance of applied animal hygiene for interrupting disease transmission and spread of infectious agents as a tool for a successful animal production in developing countries was demonstrated in the joint OIE/FAO symposium by the talks of Dr. Josef Domenech (OIE) and Dr. Juan Lubroth, Chief Veterinary Officer (FAO). Preventive thinking and a high level of professional education will help to develop an efficient and environmental friendly animal production which can contribute to feed the fast growing world population. Former EU Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Fanz Fischler spoke about new options for the agricultural sector in EU and Austria. Finally, Dr. M. Horn University of Vienna explained the many faces of the Chlamydiae which seem to become an emerging pathogen not only in veterinary medicine but also for humans.

The opening ceremony and the OIE/FAO symposium were followed by two intensive conference days with four parallel sessions devoted to the announced congress topics such as preventive veterinary medicine, infectious diseases, zoonoses, livestock precision farming, environmental hygiene and sustainable animal production. 240 posters (see Proceedings for all orals and posters) completed the scientific programme and allowed intensive discussions.

Important to mention are the splendid reception at Vienna Historical City Hall on invitation of the Lord Mayor of Vienna and the congress dinner in the famous Liechtenstein Palace and Museum. A series of professional field tours concluded the congress activities ending in a typical traditional “Heurigen” (wine house).

Awards: During the General Assembly of ISAH Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Ference Kovacs, Hungary was appointed the first Honorary President of ISAH and Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Martin Tielen, The Netherlands and Dr. Francois Madec, France were promoted to Honorary Members of the Society (for details see special sections). Honorary Member Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Ingvar Ekesbo was honoured as one of the founding fathers of ISAH for 40 years of dedicated and inspiring work for the Society. Dr. Jan Venglovsky received the Golden Pin and Dr. Hermann Schobesberger the Silver Pin of ISAH.

The large interest of participants from Europe and many developing countries demonstrates the increasing importance of animal hygiene for animal health and welfare, production of safe and high quality food derived from animals and the contribution for healthy humans in a sustainable environment. The next congress is planned for 2013 in Egypt.

Who we are? From the desk of the Executive Board.

Animal hygiene is a unique interdisciplinary field of science where health and welfare of both animals and humans are closely intertwined and hygienic measures are in service of animal and human health, animal welfare and behaviour, public health, bio-security, sustainable animal production and environmental protection making optimal and economic use of resources. The core device is “Prevention is Better than Cure” which is in accordance with the EU future principle to prevent diseases instead of later costly treatment.

In more detail Animal Hygiene can be regarded as the third pillar of veterinary medicine besides curing and care taking representing the science of preventing diseases in a broad sense. This concept encompasses:

• The knowledge of all relevant aspects of the abiotic and biotic environment of animals in any keeping system.
• The understanding of the principles of the interactions of animals with their technical, physical (thermal), chemical and biological surrounding in order to improve their health, welfare and performance without the unnecessary use of drugs being the preconditions for the production of safe and healthy food.
• The recognition of risk factors for animal health and welfare and the description of measures which prevent the development and spread of diseases and pathogens in animals including those that pose a risk to human health (Zoonoses and food safety relevant infections and contaminations such as residues in food derived from animals).
• The knowledge of management, handling and behaviour of animals on individual and herd level.
• The understanding of the effects of animal husbandry systems on the surrounding environment by airborne emissions, manure disposal and spread of diseases (environmental hygiene).
• The definition of prevention strategies including bio-security measures and disinfection.
• The promotion of interdisciplinary networks of scientists working in the field of animal hygiene and related areas and the transfer of “cutting-edge” knowledge on animal hygiene to veterinarians, animal scientists, animal producers, physicians and public health professionals as well as to decision makers in agribusiness and politics.

The concept of hygiene integrates in this way the relevant aspects of animal health and welfare in livestock production, ethics, ecology and consumer demands on a sound economic basis. This idea of prevention is valid both for human medicine and veterinary medicine and serves the health postulate of one world and one medicine. (See also ISAH constitution, art.2).

In most areas science has experienced fast developments in recent years, and animal hygiene is not an exception in that regard. Considering the urgent need for a more flexible and frequent exchange of scientific and practical knowledge of professionals in the field of animal hygiene and related areas ISAH plays an increasing role with it’s network in more than 50 countries throughout the world.

The International Society for Animal Hygiene can therefore be considered as a group of scientists and practitioners from universities, farming and industry contributing to efficient, sustainable animal farming with healthy animals, providing wholesome food in a sound environment. Veterinarians and non-veterinary academic scientists (animal science, agricultural economics, engineers, microbiologists, public health professionals, epidemiologists) and respective professionals in animal production and agriculture, who work and/or do research, teaching and education in the field of animal hygiene, can apply for a membership of ISAH, and are most welcome to attend ISAH congresses and conferences.

ISAH was founded in 1970 (for details click link to ISAH history) and the first ISAH congress was held in Budapest in 1973. This year in July the 15th ISAH main congress took place in Vienna, Austria hosting 483 registrants. The next main congress is planned in 2013 in Egypt. Candidates for future congresses and in-between symposia are presently Slovakia, China and Mexico.

ISAH is a non-profit science organization. It is driven by an Executive Board (click link to EB) and an Extended Executive Board composed of the ISAH representatives (click list) around the world. Important organisational, financial and constitutional decisions are taken by the General Assembly where all registered members have an equal vote.

Professor Jörg Hartung, President of the ISAH, has been appointed Doctor honoris causa in Agronomy at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Video

The Hungarian Society for Animal Hygiene and Environmental Protection had a commemorative meeting on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of foundation of ISAH