Welcome 2002. What changes we have seen in the past 12 months!
Perhaps the coming twelve will bear better. We continue to
serve as a monitoring center for several potential diseases
of animals for local, state, and national queries. The continued
threat of purposefully introduced diseases of animals remains
among our thoughts in our day to day activities in the Laboratory.
It is most unfortunate that the potential and possibility
for someone to introduce a disease agent into our animal populations
exists but, at this point in time, we remain vigilant to detect
such an action as soon as possible in the event that it should
occur. It is well accepted that the eventual loss to be incurred
in the event of the occurrence of a noxious known or heretofore
unknown disease condition will be proportional to the time
elapsed before discovery of the existence of the disease.
The sooner the diagnosis is made and control procedures initiated,
the lower the eventual cost to taxpayers, owners, and consumers.
In many past instances, the initial recognition of an unusually
destructive, foreign animal or new disease entity has been
made by a private veterinary practitioner. We hope to be of
assistance to the sharp diagnostic eyes of Indiana veterinarians
and animal owners.
Christina Wilson, assistant chemist and graduate student
in our toxicology lab, won the certificate and cash award
for the best graduate student scientific presentation at the
annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory
Diagnosticians in November. A major recognition for a job
well done. Cheryl Parker, Barb McDonald, Brenda Turner and
Tammy Crowell, technicians in our serology area, also recently
completed check tests for EIA, bluetongue, bovine leucosis,
brucellosis and PRV (by three different methods) with 100%
accuracy. Congratulations to each of you.
If there is something that we are doing that we shouldn't
be doing or something that we are not doing that we should,
let us know. Have a good day and Happy New Year.
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