Winter has arrived. Even though up to now we have not had
the severe weather that reached us 25 years ago in the form
of the Blizzard of ’78, this winter has been cold enough.
The weather has been rough on animals and people. One bright
spot, however, is that we have not had trouble with West Nile
Virus lately.
The ADDL has recently been approved by site visit approval
and passing of positive/negative check tests for running immunohistochemistry
testing for transmissible encephalopathy diseases including
Chronic Wasting Disease of deer and elk and Scrapie of sheep
and goats. ADDL personnel participated with many members
of the State Veterinarian’s staff in collecting specimens
from approximately 3300 hunter-shot deer from Indiana. The
specimens will be used in testing for CWD to determine if
the disease exists in the Indiana deer population. Although
all tests have not yet been completed, testing to date for
CWD in Indiana deer has been negative. Personnel of the Indiana
Board of Animal Health are to be congratulated for coordinating
a very efficient and scientifically guided effort in collecting
specimens from each of Indiana’s 92 counties.
Our laboratory has been performing thousands of tests on
ear notch samples of feeder cattle looking for persistent
infection of Bovine Virus Diarrhea. ADDL is using the fluorescent
antibody test for these samples; check tests to date in comparing
the FA to immunohistochemistry for persistent BVD infection
have shown near complete agreement. In comparison testing,
no false negatives have been found, results indicate that
the FA may be even more sensitive.
Along with the ever advancing technology of communication,
we have recently had practitioners send digital images of
tumors before, during and after removal along with tissues
for histopathologic evaluation so that the gross and microscopic
appearance of the neoplasia can be compared. This provides
for excellent collation of the gross and microscopic appearance
and is excellent teaching material. We now have a digital
microscope camera set in the lab so that histologic images
of tumors can be returned also to practitioners.
We are attempting to get funding for two faculty positions
in the West Lafayette laboratory restored in the upcoming
state budget allocation. Any assistance that you may provide
in replacing our virologist and one pathologist positions
lost last year through budget cuts will be very much appreciated.
Hope you have an uneventful and enjoyable winter; we are here
to assist you with your diagnostic needs. |
