Roy Hall
The University of Queensland Australia
Title: Vaccines for vector-borne diseases of horses in Australia
Biography
Biography: Roy Hall
Abstract
Australia has several mosquito-borne viral diseases that affect both humans and horses. These include Ross River virus (RRV), Murray Valley encephalitis (MVEV), and the Kunjin strain of West Nile virus (WNVKUN). A large, unprecedented outbreak of encephalitis in horses in south-eastern Australia in 2011, associated with infection with MVEV and a particularly virulent strain of Kunjin virus has prompted calls for the introduction of veterinary vaccines to prevent these diseases. Anecdotal evidence of joint inflammation and poor performance in horses infected with Ross River virus has also been flagged as a reason to consider vaccination of racing and equestrian horses. This talk will discuss approaches to develop and implement vaccine formulations against these equine diseases.
