On November 13-14, the XXVII AVEDILA Symposium was held at the Palacio Euskalduna in Bilbao, organised this year by NEIKER – the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. The symposium was attended by 120 delegates from more than 40 institutions, including laboratories, technology centres, universities, and companies. The opening ceremony featured, in order of intervention, Dr Jose Luis Blanco as President of AVEDILA, Mr Guillermo Herrero, Director of Public Health and Addictions for the Basque Government, Ms Amaia Barredo, Councillor of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries for the Basque Government, and Dr Joseba Garrido, representing the Organising Committee.
The scientific programme included three invited lectures, 24 oral communications, and 42 poster presentations. During the first day, Dr Natalia Elguezabal, Researcher at NEIKER, delivered a lecture on the importance of neutrophils as the first cells in the immune response and their possible applications in the diagnosis of diseases of interest in ruminants. On the second day, Dr Cinta Prieto, Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Health at the Complutense University of Madrid, addressed the diagnosis of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), one of the diseases causing the greatest economic losses in pig farms. Among other topics, she discussed the advantages and disadvantages of different diagnostic techniques, the importance of epidemiological surveillance, and the introduction of whole-genome sequencing techniques to approach surveillance with greater resolution. On the same day, Dr Mar Biarnés, Technical Director of the Poultry Health Centre of Catalonia and Aragon (CESAC), addressed a highly topical issue in recent years: Avian Influenza. She presented data on the disease transmission dynamics, the epidemiological importance of wild birds in Europe, and the risk of spillover to mammals.
The free communications, both oral and poster, covered many diseases, different animal species, and laboratory techniques. Notably, many works already include whole-genome sequencing both for diagnosis and epidemiological studies.
In the first oral communication session, results from surveillance programmes for TSEs and West Nile Fever (Central Veterinary Laboratory), pesticide control in raw materials for animal feed (Central Animal Health Laboratory), histopathological diagnosis in early detection of ovine toxoplasmosis (Institute of Mountain Livestock, CSIC-ULE), and the use of non-invasive samples in birds and alternative protocols for serological monitoring of avian influenza vaccination (IDVET) were presented. In the second session, primarily focused on mycobacterioses, researchers from VISAVET-UCM, IRTA-CRESA, and NEIKER showcased their work on animal tuberculosis, including vaccination as a control alternative, the importance of tuberculins, and the use of DIVA antigens in vaccinated animals. Results from whole-genome analysis of isolates applied to epidemiological studies, as well as two studies on genetic selection of animals in bovine paratuberculosis and equine arteritis, were also presented. The third session included four presentations addressing different problems, all approached using various molecular biology methods, such as studying colostrum microbiota (NEIKER), identifying Aedes japonicus and A. albopictus through qPCR (NEIKER), studying resistance using whole bacterial genome sequencing (UAB), and DIVA diagnostic alternatives for different ASF vaccine prototypes (Gold Standard Diagnostics). Additionally, Nicolas Keck, President of the French Association of Veterinary Laboratories (ADILVA), introduced his organisation and its main activities.
On the second day, the fourth session included four communications related to the detection, isolation, and characterisation of Porcine Norovirus, Streptococcus suis, Staphylococcus hyicus, Rotavirus A, and PRRS, conducted by EXOPOL, ULE, AQUILÓN CyL, sl., and IDEXX. The fifth and final session grouped communications related to birds, including a qPCR kit for DIVA diagnosis capable of differentiating the Primun Salmonella T vaccine from wild strains of S. Typhimurium (genetic PCR solutions™), the role of urban birds in the maintenance and spread of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (UAB), and a study on major pathogens affecting Griffon vultures fed in supplementary feeding stations (NEIKER).
The scientific programme concluded with an awards ceremony. The AVEDILA award for the best scientific publication on veterinary laboratory diagnostics was granted to Dr Anna Vilaró from the Porcine Health Group (GSP) for her article “An investigation of the transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae within vertically integrated systems using whole genome sequencing.” The award for the best oral communication was presented to Leire Fernández from NEIKER for her work “Evaluation of the protection and diagnostic interference of vaccines against animal tuberculosis in guinea pig and mouse models,” and the award for the best poster went to Dr Rosa Casais from SERIDA for her work “Development of an optical nano-biosensor for detecting biomarkers of tolerance to paratuberculosis.”
Subsequently, Dr Marta Pérez presented the XXVIII AVEDILA Symposium, which will take place from 2x to 2x October 2025 in Alcalá de Henares. Finally, Drs Jose Luis Blanco and Joseba Garrido closed the XXVII AVEDILA Symposium.
