23rd Annual SASVEPM Congress 

Veterinary preventive medicine for a changing world: Southern Africa Leads

Where Disease Prevention Meets Innovation

Under this year’s theme, the 23rd annual SASVEPM congress will delve Southern Africa’s innovative strategies, science-driven approaches to predict, prevent and control animal diseases in a changing world with shifting climates, and rapidly evolving animal health challenges.

Is organised under the following sub-themes:

Digital innovation transforming veterinary epidemiology

New technology for disease surveillance and control

Climate change and emerging animal health threats

Impact of climate change on disease patterns

One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance

Integrating strategies across humans, animals, and environments 

Building regional capacity for preventive medicine

Collaborative disease prevention in Southern Africa

Vaccine and Preventive technologies

Advances in protection

Foot and Mouth Disease Control in South Africa

What’s working and what isn’t?

Host Spotlight: North West Province

Animal health research conducted in North West Province

Animal Welfare

Prevention through humane handling and stress reduction

Local Success Stories

Successful preventive interventions or unique insights and learning-experiences in a real-world setting that have improved animal health 

• 10-minute oral presentations only
• Does not need to follow a scientific format
• Creative presentations encouraged

 FINAL ABSTRACT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All authors are requested to upload a final or revised Word version of their abstract in their ConfTool profile: https://www.conftool.org/sasvepm2026 under “Your submissions” by no later than 29 May 2026. This copy will be printed in the congress proceedings and must contain the presentation title, all authors, their affiliations, and a link to any publications associated with the abstract.  

It is strongly advised that you incorporate any reviewer recommendations or revisions into your final abstract. If your abstract was accepted without revisions, you are still required to submit a final Word version which includes these additional details. Remember to check the spelling, grammar, and publication links before uploading the final version.

Abstract format (for all abstracts excluding Local Success Stories)

Please note: you do not have to include the format headings in the abstract. They are for guidance only to ensure you have addressed all sections required.

Title: The title should be concise and clearly reflect the content of your abstract. Use a font size and style that is consistent with the conference guidelines.

Introduction: Provide a brief introduction that outlines the background and context of your research. Clearly state the research question or objective.

Methods: Describe the methods and techniques used in your research. Explain how you conducted the study, collected data, and analysed it. Be concise but provide enough detail for reviewers to understand your approach.

Results: Present the key findings of your research. Use graphs, tables, or other visual aids if applicable and allowed by the conference guidelines. Highlight the most important results and their significance.

Discussion: Interpret the results and discuss their implications. Explain how your findings contribute to the field or address the research question. Discuss any limitations of your study.

Conclusion: Summarize the main conclusions of your research. State the practical or theoretical implications of your work.

Abstract requirements

• The body of the abstract must not exceed a 300-word limit. Key words are not required.
• Use single line spacing.
• Tables, figures, or images are permitted.
• Use Arial, font size 12 throughout the abstract. Abstracts must be fully justified, free of typographical and grammatical errors.
• Standard abbreviations may be used for common terms only. Otherwise, any abbreviation should be given in brackets after the first full use of the word. Abbreviations may be used in the title, provided the name in full is outlined in the body of the abstract.
• It is the author’s responsibility to ensure the title, author and affiliation details entered in the paper submission site are correct and exactly as they should be published on the abstract and all congress materials.
• It is the presenter’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary consent/permission to present the research has been received from any additional authors, prior to the congress.

ORAL PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

Presentation

• • The time given for oral presentation is 15 minutes only, then 5 minutes for questions.
  • Note that the audience usually reads the text on a slide before they listen to the speaker. We advise that you:
    • Minimise the text on the slides to essential information only.
    • Keep it simple.
    • Avoid reading out loud the text as it is on the slides.

• Practice your oral presentation thoroughly before hand to make sure the timing is correct.

• All finalised presentations must be uploaded through the link provided on your ConfTool profile under the correct abstract by no later than 31 July 2026. Please name your file as follows: “AbstractID_Surname_Initial” (e.g. “321_Tlou_L”).
• Presentations must be in Microsoft PowerPoint format or pdf (if there are no animations).

Content

• It is important to take note of the sub-theme to which you have been assigned. Your presentation will be strengthened by emphasising how your research links/contributes to this topic.
• Please include a key message slide at end of the presentation. This should highlight the main relevance of your project and the practical application of your findings.
• We recommend that you limit the total number of slides based on the time that you are allocated. Budget approximately 1 minute per slide.
• With pictures, it is advised to put no more than 2 per slide for good visibility.
• Make sure any graphs or charts are easy to understand. Check that the captions are large enough read from a distance.
• Avoid animations and videos unless they are essential to the presentation.
• If you must include a video, it is up to you to make sure that it is set up correctly to play. Please inform VetLink if there is a video in your presentation, upload it on ConfTool in addition to your presentation by 31 July 2026.
• Referencing, consent for images or tables should be available on request.

Text and Layout Recommendations

• Plain white background and black text for presentations
• Font sizes: Title 40, Subtitle 30, Text 28.
• A large font is recommended so all text is legible.
• Use the same font throughout the presentation.
• Maximum of 7 lines of text per slide. Preferably bullet lists with short sentences.
• Use italics or bold to emphasise certain words or phrases.
• Remember to check the spelling before sending in the final version.

LOCAL SUCCESS STORY (LSS) ORAL PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

This sub-theme is aimed at para-veterinarians or newly qualified veterinarians who may not be able to contribute a piece of research but can share successful approaches to their local problems and how overcoming these obstacles has had a positive impact on animal health. These stories can be aligned to any of the main themes or stand apart. 

We are specifically looking for local success stories that highlight successful preventive interventions or provide unique insights and experiences which we can learn from to translate success into practice in a real-world, African setting. Only oral presentations will be considered and limited to 10 minutes, with a few minutes for questions at the end. Creative presentations are encouraged.

Abstract requirements

• Abstract format (only for LSS) should be a short descriptive paragraph not exceeding 250 words. 
• Scientific format headings (introduction, methods etc.) are not required.
• Use single line spacing.
• Tables, figures, or images are permitted.
• Use Arial, font size 12 throughout the abstract. Abstracts must be fully justified, free of typographical and grammatical errors.
• Standard abbreviations may be used for common terms only. Otherwise, any abbreviation should be given in brackets after the first full use of the word. Abbreviations may be used in the title, provided the name in full is outlined in the body of the abstract.
• It is the author’s responsibility to ensure the title, author and affiliation details entered in the paper submission site are correct and exactly as they should be published on the abstract and all congress materials.
• It is the presenter’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary consent/permission to present the research has been received from any additional authors, prior to the congress.

Presentation

• The time given for oral presentation is 10 minutes only, then 3 minutes for questions.
• Note that the audience usually reads the text on a slide before they listen to the speaker. We advise that you:
  • Minimise the text on the slides to essential information only.
  • Keep it simple.
  • Avoid reading out loud the text as it is on the slides.
• Practice your oral presentation thoroughly before hand to make sure the timing is correct.
• All finalised presentations must be uploaded through the link provided on your ConfTool profile under the correct abstract by no later than 31 July 2026. Please name your file as follows: “AbstractID_Surname_Initial” (e.g. “321_Tlou_L”).
• Presentations must be in Microsoft PowerPoint format or pdf (if there are no animations).

Content

• Your presentation must emphasise why this is a success story. What positive effects have the events described had on health and the community? See the description in Scientific Programme Sub-theme descriptions above for more details.
• We recommend that you limit the total number of slides based on the time that you are allocated. Budget approximately 1 minute per slide, i.e. no more than 10 slides.
• Be creative and positive!
• We recommend having lots of pictures to enhance the narrative.
• With pictures, it is advised to put no more than 2 per slide for good visibility.
• Make sure any graphs or charts are easy to understand if they are included. Check that the captions are large enough read from a distance.
• If you must include a video, it is up to you to make sure that it is set up correctly to play. Please inform VetLink if there is a video in your presentation, upload it on ConfTool in addition to your presentation by 31 July 2026.
• Referencing, consent for images or tables should be available on request if any are included.

Text and Layout Recommendations

• Plain white background and black text for presentations
• Font sizes: Title 40, Subtitle 30, Text 28.
• A large font is recommended so all text is legible.
• Use the same font throughout the presentation.
• Maximum of 7 lines of text per slide. Preferably bullet lists with short sentences.
• Use italics or bold to emphasise certain words or phrases.
• Remember to check the spelling before sending in the final version.

POSTER PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

• Poster presenters must print their own posters and bring them to the congress.
• The maximum poster size allowable is A1 (594mm x 841mm).
• Orientation: portrait only
• Posters must be printed on 170-200 gsm paper.
• Posters may be laminated, but this is not required.
• Poster should not be printed on material.
• Poster boards and the means to attach them will be provided by SASVEPM.
• Presenters must ensure that all text is large enough and clearly legible. Images, tables, and graphs should be high resolution, and quality must be sufficient for the size of poster selected.
• For our virtual poster booklet, all finalised posters must be uploaded through the link provided on your ConfTool profile under the correct abstract by no later than 31 July 2026. Please name your file: “AbstractID_Surname_Initial” (e.g. “321_Tlou_L”).
• Each poster will be on display for one day during the congress.
• Presenters will be notified of which poster presentation day they are allocated. Each poster presenter must stand by their poster and present it to interested audience members during the 30-minute poster session of their allocated day in the program. 
• If a presenter is not there during their allocated poster session, then they will not be considered for the “Best Poster Presentation” prize.
• SASVEPM does not specify poster presentation formats, but templates are available online (click here for examples).

If you have any questions regarding the abstract or presentation guidelines, please do not hesitate to contact the SASVEPM Secretary, Dr Tandile Ndobeni, secretary@sasvepm.org. 

If you have any questions or problems regarding congress registration, payments, acceptance letters, abstract or presentation submissions please do not hesitate to contact our Vetlink event manager,  Mrs Katlego Ledwaba, conferences@vetlink.co.za