Author: M. Thibier
The author uses cattle as a model to present in broad terms the dangers related to the transfer of embryos generated in vivo or obtained in vitro .Thanks to several scientific studies in recent decades have identified a number of pathogens that can accompany the embryos, both generated in vivoas obtained in vitro . However, these same studies have also laid the groundwork for establishing disease control measures that reduce those risks to a negligible level. Such measures have been defined and evaluated by the Advisory Committee on Health and Safety of the International Society for Embryo Transfer (IETS), which is the expert body that advises the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on issues related to the safety of embryo transfer. Thanks to the procedures of the OIE to develop and adopt international standards, disease control measures identified by the IETS have joined the Health Code for Terrestrial Animals . The basic principles lie in the very important ethical function that meet the teams responsible for the collection and transfer of embryos, led by licensed veterinarians.