The weather conditions brought with them a number of animal health related problems. In the fall of '07 we were presented with a number of cattle cases brought on by the feeding of unusual feedstuffs in response to the shortage of normal feedstuffs available from the lack of rainfall during late summer and early fall.

In late summer, early fall of '07 we also saw increased incidence of two diseases in particular, epizootic hemorrhagic disease of deer and Eastern equine encephalitis in horses.  Incidences of both of these insect borne diseases were decreased following the onset of cooler weather and the first frosts of the year.  In cooperation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the ADDL tested samples from 610 white tail Indiana deer taken during the '07 season for chronic wasting disease.  These tests were in addition to tests of all captive deer and elk that died on Indiana premises during the year.  All samples were found to be "no resistant prions detected'.  This is the seventh year of testing Indiana deer for CWD; so far, no evidence of this disease has been found in the Indiana deer population.

During the horse racing seasons of the two Indiana horse racing tracks, all horses that died or were euthanized while on track grounds were examined by necropsy and appropriately indicated follow-up tests at the ADDL to identify the cause of death or health disorder and to check urine samples for presence of administration of unauthorized drug administration.  Lesions and diagnoses among the horses examined were most often trauma or accident- induced.

Among personnel changes in the ADDL during FY '08, one of the most significant was the resignation of Dr. Greg Stevenson in March '08 who joined a ministry to college campuses as director of outreach to faculty and content development.  Dr. Stevenson provided 17 years of very capable and dedicated service to the ADDL and to animal owners of Indiana as well as most valuable teaching to students.  Dr. Stevenson's expertise and valuable contribution to the pathology section of the ADDL will be missed.  Because of budget constraints, the search for a pathologist replacement for Dr. Stevenson's position was put on hold shortly after the search was initiated.

In 2008, the ADDL was invited to join the Food Emergency Response Network in the areas of microbiology and toxicology.  This network has assignment to help with detection of infectious agents or adulterants in our nation's human food supply.  As a member of the FERN, our microbiology and toxicology laboratory sections are required to pass periodic check tests for various microbial organisms or potential food toxicants so that our laboratory will be available to assist with food testing in the event of a catastrophic local or national food contamination event.

To better acquaint various state agencies with intercommunication, familiarity and responsibilities for dealing with the possible occurrence of a catastrophic disease outbreak in our state, the ADDL participated in a table-top exercise on avian influenza sponsored by the Indiana Department of Health in Indianapolis in March 28, 2008.  To further enhance interaction of the potential involved agencies in the instance of such a disease outbreak, a tabletop exercise sponsored by the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, of which the ADDL is a member, was held at the ADDL on May 16, 2008.  Both exercises were beneficial in identifying the responsibilities and authority of various agencies in the event of a catastrophic disease outbreak in our state.

Accomplishments and notoriety achieved by members of the ADDL faculty and staff during the year included the following:

• Dr. Peg Miller won the 2007 Samuel W. Thompson Lectureship Award as the Outstanding Lecturer for her four hour lecture on dog and cat diseases at the C.L. Davis Foundation's annual symposium on gross morbid pathology of disease of animals in Washington D.C.

• Dr. Pam Mouser, ADDL pathology graduate student, was recognized as the outstanding graduate student teacher in the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Comparative Pathobiology,

• Dr. Dinesh Singh, ADDL pathology graduate student, was recognized as a nominee for the national Phi Zeta Research Award in basic science,

• Dr. Ingeborg Langohr, ADDL pathology graduate student, was awarded the Dennis Sikes Scholarship in veterinary pathology.  Dr. Langohr also won first place for her research presentation at the annual North Central Conference for Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians in Ames, IA,

• Dr. Joshua Webster, ADDL pathology graduate student, was awarded a travel grant to the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina,

• Dr. Steve Hooser was named Chair of the AAVLD Veterinary Analytical Toxicology and Mycotoxin Committee and Chair of the Toxicology Working Group of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network,

• Dr. Ching Ching Wu was invited to represent Purdue University and the American Veterinary Medical Association at the Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance held in Seoul, Korea, October 2007,

• ADDL histotechnique laboratory technicians Paula Brost and Charlene Evans passed the National Society for Histology board examination and were thereby certified by the American College of Clinical Pathology,

• Pathology grad students Drs. Gopa Gopalakrishnan, Michael Owston and Vimala Vemireddi became Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists by passing the certifying board examination.

Total accessions at the West Lafayette Laboratory in FY 2008  was 27,770.    The total number of animals (birds and mammals) examined at the Southern Indiana Heeke Laboratory was 5,576.   Avian examinations (including serology tests) at West Lafayette were 32,723;   those at the Heeke Laboratory were 19,768.  By section (West Lafayette/Heeke) the total number of examinations:  Bacteriology 23,870/8130,  Histopathology slides 46299 (West Lafayette only), Molecular Diagnostics, i.e. PCR tests,   6670, mammalian necropsies 1179/484,  Mammalian serology tests 97,465 (West Lafayette only), Toxicology/Analytical Chemistry 4594 (West Lafayette) and Virology tests 27,752 (West Lafayette only).

Funding was approved by the 2007 Indiana Legislature to construct a high security Biosafety Level 3 Ag building near the back of the present West Lafayette ADDL building.  Planning for the building was initiated, but put on hold during the year.  Timing of reinitiation of the planning and construction of the building is, at this time, unknown.

Fiscal year 2008 was a busy and productive one for the ADDL.  We are blessed to have a dedicated and accomplished faculty and staff to provide these services to the animal owners, students and consumers of Indiana.