From the State Vet’s Office

The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System

Several years ago, I wrote in an article that I believe that the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is the crown jewel of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. I mean no disrespect for any of the other divisions or sections of the Department, but the state-of-the-art equipment, the variety of testing and the broad support to animal agriculture, and the veterinary community certainly, in my mind, give it crown jewel status. Recently, our Auburn lab made the list of Level 1 NAHLN (National Animal Health Laboratory Network) Laboratories. There are 26 NAHLN Level 1 Labs in 19 states; six are regional labs in a state with a NAHLN Level 1 Lab.

To earn the Level 1 designation is not easy. It requires performing complex testing, performing proficiency testing for the staff, having a quality assurance system and upholding other strict requirements set forth by NAHLN. The NAHLN, in partnership with the USDA reference lab, perform specific tests for diseases of concern that could have a negative impact on our livestock and poultry. This speeds our early detection, response and recovery from animal health diseases like low pathogenic avian influenza, CWD in deer and even the bad ones like foot-and-mouth disease. This network of labs nationwide allows us to test large numbers of samples for these diseases that would likely overwhelm a lab trying to go it on their own.

I am truly proud of the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab system and how it supports animal agriculture in the state of Alabama. The system consists of the Auburn Laboratory, the “mother ship,” that I mentioned above, along with three branch labs located in Boaz, Elba and Hanceville. Over the years, the laboratory system has played a significant role in the success of both the cat-

tle and poultry industries. Most of us remember the key role that the lab played in the Brucellosis Eradication Program which was extremely beneficial to the cattle industry. It is also worth noting that having adequate laboratory support has played a role in bringing more of the poultry industry to Alabama.

I am still surprised when producers tell me that they were not even aware that access to laboratory support is available. Recently, someone called the Commissioner’s office looking for help because he had lost seven or eight calves. The commissioner suggested he take the next one that died to the lab closest to him. He said he wasn’t even aware that he had access to that kind of resource. He was very appreciative when the branch lab with support from the Auburn lab was able to diagnose his problem, provide him with the antibiotic that was best to treat with and provide the report to his veterinarian so they could develop a plan to stop the loss of calves in his herd.

Sometimes the diagnoses are simple and are obtained quickly. Other times, the diagnoses are more difficult and require histology, virology, toxicology and PCR testing; those diagnoses may take awhile. Our laboratory system utilizes an online system that allows our case coordinators the ability to access parts of the report when the complete report is not ready to be finalized. That is important because, for example, a toxicology report may find that the cause of death in a handful of cattle was lead or ammonia. This report may precede the rest of the report by a few days; but allows the producer to try to find the source of the lead or ammonia or arsenic or any of a number of other toxins and remove it from access by the herd. Back when I was in practice, we would send samples to the lab and generally wouldn’t hear anything until the whole report was complete and finalized.

Until about mid-2011, the lab system did testing on food animals free of charge because we have felt that it was important to know what diseases that could affect animal agriculture are out across the state. After dramatic budget cuts to the Department of Agriculture in 2011, we decided to try to keep charges low to be able to continue to provide service to our clients. Our charges are still probably the best value a producer can invest in, though.

I have mentioned various tests we can perform and the fact that the Auburn lab is a Level 1 NAHLN Lab. But the most valuable asset that our lab offers is the people who work in the system. They are dedicated, hardworking people who are focused on getting proper diagnoses and getting that reported back to the producers and veterinarians as quickly as possible. We have about 40 workers at the Auburn lab and about 55 systemwide. And while we have seen people come and go, especially during the times of severe budget cuts, we have only had three laboratory system directors and one interim director since 1987. Dr. Fred Hoerr was director from 1987 until 2012. He was followed by interim director Dr. Sara Rowe who was followed by director Dr. David Pugh. Our present and, hopefully, for a long time into the future director is Dr. Heather Walz. My working relationship with our directors has been both exceptional and invaluable. Many of my state veterinarian colleagues would love to have the kind of relationship that I have with our laboratory system.

Our laboratories accept direct submissions from producers and veterinarians. If you are a poultry producer, work through your service person to determine if birds should be submitted to the lab. If you are a producer who submits to the lab directly, we strongly recommend that you work with your local veterinarian to interpret results and develop a plan of action, if needed. If you have questions about how the lab could be a tool in the toolbox of your cattle operation, don’t hesitate to talk to me or your local veterinarian.

Sometimes the diagnoses are simple and are obtained quickly. Other times, the diagnoses are more difficult and require histology, virology, toxicology and PCR testing; those diagnoses may take awhile.