Jeff Hayes Retiring After 36 Years of Service
Dr. Jeff Hayes, Section Head of the Pathology Section, is retiring from the Ohio Department of Agriculture effective June 1, 2020 after more than 36 years of service as a diagnostic pathologist. He has a national reputation as a foreign animal disease expert. He served as a pathologist at the Plum Island Foreign Animal Diagnostic Laboratory from 2002-03 and after returning to the ADDL continued to teach as a guest lecturer for the Foreign Animal Disease Courses at Plum Island. Dr. Hayes has been instrumental in training many pathology residents through the long-standing partnership between the ADDL and the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. We wish Dr. Hayes all the best in this new chapter of his life.
 Reminder On New USDA VS Guidance for EIAV Testing
Anne Parkinson, BS, ADDL Serology Section Head
Category II USDA accredited veterinarians in Ohio are reminded to review the new VSG 15201.1 guidance document for EIAV testing that went into effect April 15, 2020. This guidance should be in the hands of all Category II accredited veterinarians and should have been implemented by the effective date. The new updated State of Ohio forms are now available from the Division of Animal Health and the USDA form VS 10-11, dated FEB2018, is also available for use. After April 15, 2020, NO older forms of Ohio or USDA origin will be accepted by the Ohio ADDL and should be destroyed. The forms MUST be filled out completely, leaving NO field blank – or they will not be accepted for testing. If a field has no information, then use the word “NONE” to complete the field.
Please read the new guidance thoroughly for new changes concerning location/premises of animals being tested. It is also important to note that there will be NO amendments to forms 30 days AFTER the collection date – a new form and sample will need to be submitted. The Ohio ADDL will only be accepting accurately and fully completed official forms with sample submissions for EIAV testing. This guidance also applies to any online submission services such as USDA VSPS or Global Vet Link. Category II accredited veterinarians are encouraged to call the Division of Animal Health for new Ohio forms, more information, or questions on these changes at 614.728.6220. Please view the link below for the complete VSG 15201.1 document issued by the USDA.
EIA Laboratory Approval 15201.1 - Outreach to the Practitioner/Accredited Veterinarian
Horse Owners Reminded to Vaccinate Their Horses Against West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encaphalomyelitis (EEE)
Dr. Jeff Hayes, MS, DVM, ADDL Section Head of Pathology & Interim Lab Co-Director
Mosquito season is almost here, and this has often led to serious arbovirus-related neurologic disease and death in Ohio horses due to west Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in past years. Now is the time to remind your clients that there is time to effectively vaccinate their horses against these two viruses that are transmitted primarily by mosquitos. Ohio cases of WNV and EEE in horses the past few years have occurred from late August until mid-October. At this time of year, there is still time to provide a two-shot vaccination series three- to six-weeks apart if a horse has not been vaccinated in the past year. The ADDL supports veterinarians in reminding the public that the most effective way to prevent these two diseases in horses is to have the animals vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian. While 2019 had only a few confirmed WNV cases, there at least 50 confirmed cases of west Nile virus in 2018, resulting in death in at least one third of the cases, showing how severe this disease can be. Vaccines against each virus are regarded by the AVMA as core vaccinations. For more information see the American Association of Equine Practitioners website.
The ADDL has testing capabilities for both of these viruses by serology and PCR analysis of serum and tissues. The ADDL works together with NVSL in providing serologic testing of blood samples. Please call the ADDL for more information (614-728-6220), or visit our website test and fees search.
Spring Vegetable/Flower Garden Dangers to Pets
Dr. Diane Gerken, DVM, PhD, ABVT, ADDL Toxicologist
Spring (May-June) 2020 is starting out in Ohio like spring 2019 rainfall wise – raining almost every other day. People are still planting vegetable and/or outdoor flower gardens however. Copious rainfall and rising air temperatures (above 62 degrees) are perfect for the appearance of garden slugs (invertebrate that looks like a snail without the hard shell). Slugs feast on young tender plants in gardens causing much leaf destruction. Methods of control include various inorganic desiccant powders, or alcohol such as beer in an open container or a granular/pelleted pesticide, metaldehyde. However, a common practice is to put beer and metaldehyde in an empty aluminum pie pan on the ground and place it between the plants to attract the slugs. Exposure to these products in the pie pans causes death to the slugs from chemical and physical causes. Unfortunately, dogs are also attracted to the pie pan liquids and may drink some of this concoction or just consume some of the granular formulation.
 A slug and slug feeding damage on potato foliage. They can climb to the top of a mature plant to feed.
Joey Williamson, ©2019 HGIC, Clemson Extension
New Employee Spotlight
The ADDL Bacteriology Section welcomed a new addition to our staff in late March. Clara Zumpetta-Miller completed her undergraduate degree in biology at Mount Union College (now University of Mount Union) where she focused on microbiology coursework. She participated in graduate programs at University of Pittsburgh and Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University. Since 2015, she was a microbiology technician at OSU’s veterinary teaching hospital, where she handled bacterial diagnostics, susceptibility testing, and lab operations, and trained new lab hires and students. In her spare time, Clara enjoys cooking, nature, and reading with her three cats.
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 The Ohio ADDL will be closed on Monday, May 25th, 2020 in observance of Memorial Day.
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