Nat’l scientist feted by world vets

MANILA, Philippines - National Scientist Teodulo Topacio Jr., 90, has been conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) for his leading role in the development of a poultry vaccine by a Filipino animal health company.

The “Excelvac Coryza” aims to protect local chickens and game fowl against infectious diseases, helping Filipino poultry and game fowl breeders and raisers.

Topacio, one of the Philippines’ most respected and prominent veterinarians, received the award last November from the WVA and the Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations (FAVA), of which he is a founding member, in ceremonies at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino Resort in Singapore.

The WVA is a federation of over 80 national veterinary medical associations while FAVA is a 36-year-old institution with over 20 members in the Asia Pacific.

In conferring the lifetime achievement award, WVA president Faouzi Kechrid and incoming FAVA president Shane Ryan cited Topacio’s track record and accomplishments as an educator, researcher, teacher, animal health professional, and as the brains behind the formation of FAVA.

As a consultant of the fast growing EDL Group of Companies, Topacio had mentored the wholly Filipino-owned company led by chairman Eulalio Lorenzo in its ambitious effort to develop a vaccine to protect poultry and game fowl from local strains of fowl diseases such as the infectious coryza virus.

After six years of extensive research and studies, the EDL Group finally secured the release of the Certificate of Product Registration for the Coryza vaccine last Sept. 30.

EDL’s Lorenzo, more popularly known as Doc Ayong, expressed pride over his company’s achievement in developing the Excel vaccine which he said was very effective and more accessible to small breeders especially with the packaging lots.

The vaccine is targeted to protect chickens from coryza, fowl cholera and ornithosis.

“We expect a very dramatic effect. It will be very effective,” Lorenzo, a member of the board of directors of the Filipino Investors Society Producers Cooperative (FISPC), told The STAR.

Lorenzo, a licensed veterinarian and graduate of Gregorio Araneta University, explained that the vaccine was produced from culture of local bacteria strain afflicting local fowl.

“It’s perfect for the local environment,” he said.

Lorenzo added that the packaging of the vaccines will include those for small lots to accommodate raisers of 50 to 100 chickens, gamecocks or ducks.

“Imported vaccines are usually packaged in 1,000 unit lots so it’s a big problem for small raisers,” Lorenzo said.

In 2009, Topacio was proclaimed National Scientist, the highest recognition that the Philippine government can bestow upon a Filipino scientist.