Welcome to another beautiful spring. It is one of the perks of living in our latitude and longitude to see the change of seasons and the newness that each brings. This time of the year brings a new set of conditions to the diagnostic lab. The national animal scene is also bringing changes to our operation with the threat of intentional introduction of disease agents to our animal population. We are reminded to be especially alert to the possible occurrence of a foreign or new disease entity being brought to us for diagnosis. Recognition of some foreign animal diseases must, of necessity, be relegated to study of the conditions via distance learning mode as many or most of these have not occurred in this country. Many individuals in the ADDL have had foreign animal disease recognition training on Plum Island put on by USDA-APHIS. This training is available only on this single site of our country where the most severe of many foreign animal diseases are confined for study and teaching of animal disease diagnosticians. If a foreign or newly developed disease entity occurs in our country, the economic impact will be directly proportional to the time it takes to discover the existence of the disease. If the condition is recognized early, the economic and physical loss will be much less than if the condition is widespread before it is diagnosed and elimination procedures are initiated. The threats of avian influenza, exotic Newcastle disease, classical swine fever (hog cholera), foot and mouth disease, anthrax, and others are continually with us.
The histopathology services of the ADDL have been hampered over the years by delay in getting the samples delivered to ADDL by the postal service. This will be somewhat alleviated by the availability of next day delivery of histo samples to the lab via FedEx. Special mailers for sending samples for next day delivery are now available. We will send out mailers in boxes of 12 for $80; this will cover the cost of pickup anywhere in Indiana and return of the formalin container to the lab via next day delivery. We expect that tissues received will be processed for reading the next day, results will be available on the internet or by fax transmission immediately after the pathologist writes the report. This will markedly shorten the turnaround time of histopathology in the lab.
The ADDL is also now receiving boar semen for PRRS testing with same day turnaround. This available test will be a major factor in controlling this most economically important of swine infectious diseases of this day in time.
The faculty and staff of the ADDL continue to strive to serve the veterinarians, animal owners and researchers of Indiana with the most accurate, expedient and appropriate animal diagnostics available. If you have suggestions for improvement of our services, please do not hesitate to inform us. Have an enjoyable spring! |
