The One Health-Rabies Laboratory at the University of Missouri is recognized by the USDA to perform rabies serology for export for pet travel.

The Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine has again received Level 1 status as awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture National Animal Health Laboratory Network. As a Level 1 lab, the VMDL works closely with producers, state and federal animal health officials, and other network laboratories to protect animal and public health through accurate and timely diagnosis and surveillance of foreign, emerging, and reemerging animal disease and zoonotic diseases. The VMDL initially achieved Level 1 status in 2018.

NAHLN is a nationally coordinated network and partnership of federal, state, and university-associated animal health laboratories. The network laboratories provide animal health diagnostic testing, methods research and development, and expertise for education and extension to detect biological threats to the nation’s animal agriculture, protecting animal health, public health, and the food supply.

The VMDL is Missouri’s only facility that is a Level 1 NAHLN laboratory, fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), and a Tier 1 Laboratory of the Food and Drug Administration Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network.

“The VMDL is committed to protecting animal health, public health, food safety and food security, and promoting interstate commerce and global trade for animal agriculture,” said Shuping Zhang, PhD, MS, DACVM, director of the VMDL.

By Nick Childress

To support Missouri’s poultry industry, the VMDL offers real-time PCR assays for Avian Influenza virus, Newcastle Disease virus, Mycoplasma, and many more pathogens. Diagnostic results are available within 1 business day.  Please contact the following individuals if you need assistance:

Dr. Delaney, Client Care Veterinarian, for FedEx shipping labels and special accommodations, 573-882-6811

Dr. Wole, Molecular Diagnostician, for PCR-related technical questions, 573-884-9257

Dr. Maria Dashek, Avian Pathologist, for HPAI and all NPIP work, 573-882-2130 Dr. Steve Strubberg (MO State Vet) for suspect HPAI/ND cases.

University of Missouri Extension will offer biosecurity workshops in April and May on how to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks in livestock and poultry operations, including backyard flocks.

“The importance of biosecurity came to light again recently as the avian influenza killed nearly 58 million chickens and turkeys in the U.S., resulting in higher egg prices. This followed the death of nearly 50 million birds in 2014-15,” said Teng Lim, MU Extension agricultural engineer and a member of the MU Biosecurity Team.

“Biosecurity protocols are critical to safeguard animal health, food safety, the environment and the economy,” says Lim. “Everyone working with livestock and poultry needs to be properly trained on executing biosecurity procedures and be reminded of the potential of disease outbreak.”

Locations and dates are Columbia, April 26; Macon, April 28; Mount Vernon, May 2; and Sedalia, May 4.

Topics are the same at each of the one-day workshops, Lim said. Topics include detection and quarantine procedures, mortality management and preparation, record keeping, disease identification and protocol, livestock insurance and resources, and composting. There also will be a tour of the new mobile biosecurity education trailer.

Representatives of the MU Extension Biosecurity Outreach Team, Missouri Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources, and USDA APHIS teach workshops.

Register at the MU Biosecurity website: https://biosecurity.missouri.edu/ The workshop is free, Lim said, but preregistration is required to receive take-home materials. For more information or questions, contact Lim, LimT@missouri.edu or 573-882-9519.

The workshops are approved for four hours of veterinary continuing education credits.

A team of MU faculty, staff, and students has worked together over the years to improve the regional on-farm biosecurity practices. The team includes agricultural engineers, economists, veterinarians, animal scientists and veterinary diagnostic experts. MU faculty in the biosecurity outreach effort include Corinne Bromfield, Raymond Massey, Joseph Zulovich, Craig Payne and Lauren Delaney. A graduate student, Rana Das, helps with the recent outreach and research effort.

Partners on the project include USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, other stakeholders and the MU Biosecurity Outreach Program.

Current funding from the USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program boosts national efforts to prevent animal diseases from entering the United States and spreading. The MU Biosecurity Team also received Extension Risk Management Education funding in 2017 and 2019.