The lazy, hazy days of summer in Indiana. Afraid not in the
ADDL. Not much lazy or hazy here. Although the testing requirements for
exhibition animals in the State have changed so that blood testing of cattle
and swine is no longer necessary for county fairs, the void created by the
reduced testing requirements in the Lab has been replaced by testing development
and requests in other lab areas. Under the direction of Dr. Roman
Pogranichniy, the virology and serology sections now have new tests available,
including hemagglutination inhibition assay for H1N1 and H3N2 influenza virus
infection in swine serum; ELISA test for IBR in bovine serum; virus
neutralization test for BRSV antibodies in bovine serum, virus neutralization
for porcine enterovirus of serogroups 1-7; IFA test for porcine circovirus
antibodies; antigen capture ELISA for canine parvovirus or rotavirus in feces
and sequencing of viral isolates of PRRS. The toxicology section is now
offering two new tests; one for definitive evidence of starvation by analyzing
bone marrow fat and, the second, a test for juglone which is a chemical in
black walnut shavings (in past years, it was thought that juglone was the
chemical responsible for black walnut toxicity but it has since been disproven).
The presence of juglone, however, is thought to substantiate the presence of
black walnut in shavings and is of assistance in establishing accurate
diagnosis when this toxicity is suspected.
In cooperation with a funded national survey, all eligible
swine necropsy submissions to ADDL will be tested for Classical Swine Fever by
the PCR method. This method will also be used to test any suspicious birds for
Avian Influenza which is getting widespread publicity as human health threat at
this time. In assistance with another national survey to be conducted the
Indiana DNR, we will also be testing at least 500 birds, most to be submitted
during the fall hunting season, for AI. The bacteriology and serology sections
are and will be assisting with performing fecal culture and serum ELISA tests
for the Indiana Johne's Disease Surveillance program. A change in this program
this year will be the requirement of scheduling submissions for fecal culture
to accomodate the limited volume of these samples that can be handled by the
lab.
The molecular diagnostics area of the Lab continues to
increase capacity, particularly for real time PCR testing. Testing using this
methodology include PRRS, PCAD, FMD, CSF, END and AI. If a foreign animal
disease is introduced to our state or nation, testing in this area of the Lab
is predicted to escalate markedly.
Lastly, we are happy to welcome our latest addition to the
ADDL faculty, Dr. Steve Lenz. Dr. Lenz joined our faculty June 12 as senior
diagnostic pathologist. Steve is a 1981 DVM graduate of the Purdue School of
Veterinary Medicine and a 1991 PhD graduate of the Purdue anatomic pathology
program. He was board certified by examination by the American College of
Veterinary Pathologists in 1992 and has been pathologist/faculty member of the
College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, since receiving the PhD
degree. We realize the loss to the Auburn faculty effected by Dr. Lenz'
departure and for that I apologize, but we also welcome Dr. Lenz to our faculty
with enthusiasm; he is a valuable asset to our accomplished ADDL faculty. |
