Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Resources
HPAI continues to be a concern through the United States. Ohio producers are encouraged to Be Alert and Practice Enhanced Biosecurity. Please visit our HPAI Resource Page on guidelines for submitting samples to ADDL for Avian Influenza Testing. The USDA's HPAI Resource Page provides up-to-date information on where HPAI has been confirmed.
If you suspect HPAI in your flock, please call Animal Health at 614-728-6220.
 Online Bill Payments
Great news! Payments may now be made online via the USALims Portal. If you do not have portal access or need the link to log in, please go to the following website portal.
If you have any questions, please call 614-728-6220 or email cindy.bodie@agri.ohio.gov.
Egg Drop Syndrome Virus (EDSV) Real-Time PCR Offered at the ADDL
Qirui Zhang, Ph.D., Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Scientist
Egg Drop Syndrome 1976 is an important viral disease of birds, especially chickens, turkeys, Japanese quails, ducks, geese, and swans. This disease is characterized by a sudden drop in egg production - up to 40% - and a decrease in eggshell quality among apparently healthy laying birds. The causative agent, Egg Drop Syndrome virus (EDSV), also named Duck adenovirus A (DAdV-A) or adenovirus 127 (AV-127), belongs to the genus Atadenovirus within the family Adenoviridae and is a double stranded-DNA virus. The disease was first identified in 1974 in the Netherlands and the virus was first isolated in Northern Ireland in 1976. There is no evidence that EDSV infects humans. EDSV is transmitted both vertically from hen to egg, horizontally among birds via feces and oral uptake of the EDSV virus. The traditional methods to detect EDSV include electron microscopy, virus isolation, and serology. Molecular techniques now supply fast and sensitive diagnostic methods - including restriction enzyme analysis, conventional and quantitative PCR.
The ADDL now offers a real-time PCR assay for quick detection of EDSV in avian samples in feces, cloacal swabs, and the following tissues: uterus (shell gland), oviduct, kidney, spleen, lung, trachea, liver, and intestines. Samples should be submitted on ice and shipped overnight. Please call the laboratory at 614-728-6220 with any questions about EDSV and this new test offering.
References:
-
Development of a new real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to detect Duck adenovirus A DNA and application to samples from Swiss poultry flocks. Schybli M, Sigrist B, Hess M, van Leerdam B, Hoop RK, Vögtlin A. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2014 Mar;26 (2):189-94.
-
Spickler, Anna Rovid. 2017. Egg Drop Syndrome 1976. Retrieved from Factsheets: Egg Drop Syndrome
 New Employees at ADDL
Dominika Jurkovic, Ph.D, Bacteriology Laboratory Scientist
ADDL welcomed two new employees to the laboratory in February: Melissa Bernhardt (Virology) and Jonah Perkins (Molecular Diagnostics).
Melissa earned her B.S. in Biology from Wittenberg University, where she played on the varsity women’s soccer team. After Graduation, she moved to the Washington D.C. area to work for Charles River Laboratories at the National Institutes of Health. She was a technician in their veterinary diagnostic bacteriology lab for nearly 3 years. During that time, she developed a passion for the animal science field. Originally from Fairfield, Ohio, Melissa is excited to be back in her home state. Outside the lab, Melissa enjoys hiking, working out, and trying local coffee shops.
Jonah graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Animal Sciences, followed by a master’s degree in Veterinary Public Health in 2020. While at OSU, he gained a variety of laboratory experiences in the Animal Science meat laboratory and the functional genomics laboratory, where he utilized CRISPR technology in avian species. As a graduate student, Jonah completed an internship at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in the Diagnostic Virology unit and completed a project investigating the asymptomatic shedding of Salmonella in horses. Before joining ADDL, Jonah worked in a research laboratory at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine studying the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria between human and animal populations. In his free time, Jonah enjoys fishing, keeping aquariums, cooking, and sailing.
 |
March 22nd is National Agriculture Day (Ag Day). Started in 1973 by the the Agriculture Council of America, Ag Day creates awareness about the role of agriculture in society and in maintaining a strong economy.
ADDL would like to recognize all farmers, and their families, for their hard work and dedication to agriculture and the citizens of Ohio. Thank you!
|
