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Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Now Available: Serologic Test for Canine Brucellosis

Posted on by jlehr

Bill Fortney and Jennifer Lehr

Since the discontinuation of the Canine Brucellosis “card” Test by Synbiotics Coorporation, it has been necessary to forward brucellosis testing to National Veterinary Service Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, IA.  This has resulted in a significant delay in determining a dog’s status.  KSVDL has now developed and validated our own antibody test.  Providing this test in our serology laboratory will decrease the time clients are waiting for results.  This tube agglutination test detects antibodies to Brucella canis 4 weeks post-infection.  The high sensitivity of this test makes it a good screening test; however positive results should be confirmed with additional diagnostics, such as our Brucella canis PCR or bacterial culture of blood.  Brucellosis remains an import disease of breeding dogs and may also infect pet animals.  There remains a slight zoonotic risk for humans, so proper specimen handling is crucial.

Cost: $8.20         Schedule: Monday and Wednesday         Results: 1-2 business days

For more information please visit our website at

Tube Agglutination:  https://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/dmp/service/DiagFeeSchedule/ShowTestDetails.aspx?Test_Name=Canine+Brucella+Tube-ME+Agglutination

Canine Brucellosis PCR  https://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/dmp/service/DiagFeeSchedule/ShowTestDetails.aspx?Test_Name=Canine+Brucellosis+qPCR

 

 

Trichomoniasis Veterinarian Certification Available On-line!!

Posted on by jlehr

Kansas veterinarians can now become certified on-line through the KSVDL website.

The certification program includes three parts:

1) Presentation on Trichomoniasis the disease, and sample handling;

2) Summary of the expected Kansas Trichomoniasis regulations;

3) Multiple choice test covering parts 1 and 2.

Each veterinarian must complete all three portions of the program to become certified.

To become certified, please follow the Veterinarian Trichomoniasis Certification link at www.ksvdl.org.

If you have questions about the certification program, please contact Dr. Gregg Hanzlicek at 785-532-4853 or gahanz@vet.k-state.edu.

Tips for Submitting Samples to KSVDL

Posted on by jlehr

Although it may seem simple; correct packing, handling and shipping of your sample is of utmost importance in achieving a fast and reliable result from the laboratory.

Packaging should consist of three parts:

1. Primary Container (ie. blood in a purple top tube submitted for CBC)

2. Secondary Container (ie. styrofoam sample shipper wrapped in papertowels and enclosed in a ziplock bag)

3. Outer Package (ie. cardboard box)

Continue reading “Tips for Submitting Samples to KSVDL” →

New Swine Virus Causing Major Death Loses

Posted on by jlehr

Jennifer Lehr in consultation with Dick Hesse

A virus not previous reported in the United States is causing the death of hundreds of thousands neonatal pigs.  Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus was first described in England in 1971.  Since then it has been the cause of outbreaks of diarrheal disease and death of piglets in Europe and Asia.  Most notably a deadly outbreak in China, has been ongoing since 2009.  This virus was confirm in the US in May 2013 and is present in Kansas.

PEDV is a coronavirus in the same family as Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus (TGE).  Although the clinical signs of these to viruses are very similar, there is no cross protective immunity.  PEDV and TGE both cause vomiting and diarrhea in pigs with severity of symptoms ranging from very mild in adult animals to deadly in nursing and recently weaned pigs.  In fact 100% mortality in nursery pigs is not uncommon.  Therefore this virus will have enormous economic impact on the pork industry.

PEDV is not categorized as a foreign animal disease in the United States.  However due to its novel nature and the numerous unanswered questions regarding transmission, organs affected and host immune response to infection, veterinarians are advised to remain vigilant for signs of this disease and submit samples for diagnosis or confirmation of the cause of death in young pigs.

Continue reading “New Swine Virus Causing Major Death Loses” →