Small Ruminant Abortion Panels
Dr. Jeff Hayes, DVM, MS, ADDL Pathology Section Head
Abortions in sheep and goats are common submissions to the ADDL, particularly in late winter and spring. The ADDL has assembled a multi-discipline diagnostic panel approach to guide practitioners on samples needed, tests offered to address most typical abortion-causing pathogens, and the cost of the workup. The goals are to present a thorough diagnostic plan that is expedient to collect, provide a working differential diagnosis and that is done at an affordable price. Fresh samples that are most useful – required - include placenta with cotyledons, abomasal content, and fetal tissues including lung, liver, spleen and kidney. Formalin-fixed tissues to submit include placenta (2-3 cotyledons), brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, kidneys, spleen, adrenal gland, section of ileum, and additional striated skeletal muscle (e.g., tongue, thigh). The latter tissues are helpful in cases of protozoal associated abortions (in addition to heart and brain). A practitioner submitting samples can simply list “Abortion Panel” for a set of samples submitted, and there is no need to list all of the tests described below.
Other PCR assays are available to detect other pathogens that are not included in the panel, if warranted such as Toxoplasma gondii. The panel is available for $225.75; note that this does not include the price of a necropsy examination, which is also available at the ADDL upon request.
In addition, the ADDL offers a serology panel to assess if dams have been exposed to significant pathogens that may cause reproductive failure. Currently, a small ruminant abortion serum panel includes testing for antibodies against Leptospira (6 serovars), Toxoplasma, Brucella and BVD/BDV for $31 per sample. Remember that interpretation of results may be best served by submitting a convalescent sample 2-3 weeks following the collection of the first sample.
These services are listed on the ADDL Diagnostic Panels website. ADDL staff are also glad to speak with practitioners and producers about these services and others by calling 614-728-6220.
Most Talked About MMWR Reports of 2018: Campylobacter Outbreak Linked to Puppy Exposure
Melanie Prarat, MS, ADDL Virology Section
The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) relies on Altmetric to gauge the impact of scholarly content beyond just citations, including how often an article is shared on social media, traditional mainstream and science-specific media, as well as online reference managers. Altmetric scores allow authors and readers to see how reports are being used and what is being said about them. The Altmetric score is based on a weighted count of the type and quantity of attention a report receives. The Ohio ADDL played a critical role in linking human and pet cases during the multistate outbreak of human Campylobacter infections linked to puppies sold through pet stores. As of January 23, 2019, the MMWR article about the Campylobacter outbreak was the tenth most talked about MMWR Report of 2018, based on an Altmetric score of 819.
The Ohio ADDL used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to identify potential links between human and pet Campylobacter isolates and to identify antimicrobial resistance genes present in each isolate. The Ohio ADDL WGS efforts were supported by the FDA Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) program and FDA GenomeTrakr network. As a member of the network, the ADDL WGS data was uploaded to the national NCBI database for comparison with other animal and human isolates.
Co-authors of the MMWR report include Mary Beth Weisner (ADDL Bacteriology), Melanie Prarat (ADDL Virology and WGS), Jing Cui (ADDL Bacteriology), and Yan Zhang (ADDL Virology and WGS).
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USDA Veterinary Loan Repayment Program Posts Nominations
Anne Parkinson, BS, ADDL Serology and Central Receiving Section Head
The 2019 Veterinary Shortage Situation nominations have been submitted to USDA and Ohio has nominated three shortage areas for eligibility in the Veterinary Loan Repayment Program. These nominations and areas of the state can be viewed on the NIFA Veterinary Services Shortage Situations website.
Happy Birthday to the ADDL!
Erika Wrigley, BS, ADDL Pathology Section
173 years and counting!
February 28 marked the 173th year of service for the ADDL at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The Division of Animal Industry was one of the seven original divisions established with the creation of the Ohio Board of Agriculture in 1846. In 1912, the Ohio Serum Institute was constructed as the Division of Animal Industry joined The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Developmental Center in conducting hog cholera research. In 1952, the Ohio Serum Institute was transferred entirely to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. In the early years, the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) conducted tests for regulatory disease control programs including hog cholera, brucellosis, pseudorabies etc, which kept Ohio at the forefront of surveillance for programs. Subsequently the ADDL broadened services to cover a full spectrum of diagnostic services.
The ADDL has been accredited by American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) as a full service, all species veterinary diagnostic lab since 1998. The lab is a USDA Level 1 NAHLN lab. It has also achieved accreditation to ISO 17025 standards for some assays and is expanding the scope to include new tests.
The ADDL's spacious necropsy floor, large BSL3 suite, knowledgeable professional staff, dedicated technical staff and commitment to client service contribute to labs reputation as one of the best animal disease diagnostic laboratories in the nation. We look forward to serving our clients for another 173 years!
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