FROM THE DIRECTOR
H. Leon Thacker, DVM, PhD

Working in the Diagnostic Laboratory is like veterinary practice in many ways, not the least of which is the fact that no two days at work are the same. No danger of getting bored. Dr. Kanitz has recently isolated encephalomyocarditis virus from a pygmy hippopotamus and from the African elephant; the significance of these isolates is still being investigated. We have made diagnosis of enterovirus polioencephalomyelitis causing very high mortality in fattening swine; recurrence of the infection on one premises has presented the problem of identifying effective preventative or control measures. Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in a group of adult turkeys has presented as an atypical occurrence, tissues and body fluids were positive by PCR diagnosis, gross lesions consistent with the infection in turkeys were present, and some birds showed sero-conversion; however, attempts in our laboratory and two others have been unsuccessful in isolating the agent so that further evaluation by fingerprinting of the particular isolate involved has not been possible.

We will soon be interviewing candidates for a new molecular diagnostician position in the ADDL. We look forward to the individual coming into this position to further develop and evaluate new testing procedures and assist in making those procedures routinely available to diagnostic situations.

Hope this missive finds you enjoying the new year in health and spirit. January 1 could have been better for the Boilermakers, but we were proud of them and they had a great season.