Russian Veterinary

Before beginning their journey the birds destined for release in Britain undergo a rigorous health check from GBG Veterinary and Virology consultants John Chitty and Ruth Manvell.

John Chitty BVetMed CertZooMed MRCVS is one of the UK’s top Avian veterinarians and examines and treats all Great Bustards involved in the Reintroduction Project. He is also responsible for all pre-import health screening in Russia and quarantine examinations in the UK, conducting post mortems on any unhatched eggs or dead chicks as a part of the health screening protocol. He makes at least one visit a year to the field station at Diakovka where he works closely with the GBG team, Ruth and the GBG’s Russian colleagues.

Ruth Manvell is Manager of the OIE/FAO/EU International Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease and Avian Virology Diagnostic Unit, VLA-Weybridge, United Kingdom. She is a member of the OFFLU scientific collaborators and has provided consultancy nationally and internationally on avian influenza and Newcastle disease. She specialises in laboratory diagnostics and has 28 years experience in working primarily with these two viruses but also on other avian viral diseases. She has provided support to global missions and workshops to China, Romania, Poland, Canada, South Africa. Her small diagnostic team carry out the initial diagnostic testing and characterisation on submitted samples and viruses for most avian diseases and are actively involved in EU avian influenza surveillance programs for both domestic poultry and wild birds. She has authored/co-authored over 90 publications primarily on avian diseases but also on reptilian viruses. She has given numerous presentations around the world on avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

During these visits John and Ruth check the health of the birds destined for reintroduction in the UK and take the necessary swabs to ensure that every bird brought into Britain is healthy and free of disease. This process is highly controlled and involves considerable liaison with Russian vets and all permit issuing bodies.