Dr Jan Naessens of the International Livestock Research Institute of Nairobi, Kenya, was the guest of the G. Caporale Institute in Teramo, Italy from 12 to 15 October 2009.

Dr Naessens, who trained as a chemist, obtained his PhD in Immunology at the Free University of Brussels. His main field of interest is veterinary immunology in tropical diseases of cattle, with special reference to contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, trypanosomiasis and theileriosis.

During the seminar Dr Naessens analysed issues relating to the latest research, in the diagnostic and vaccine field, into contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. This is still one of the major diseases affecting the African continent, with an annual cost estimated at some € 45,000,000, and could potentially threaten the European continent too.

The meeting between Dr Naessens and researchers from the G. Caporale Institute focused on the activities and objectives of diagnostic systems for tropical diseases and the ongoing research projects between the two Institutes, which are aimed at devising the best vaccine prophylaxis strategies.