Improving the Detection of Bovine Respiratory Disease Pathogens: New PCR Panels Available
In response to interest from veterinarians, SDSU's ADRDL has now validated and implemented two new PCR panels designed to detect multiple Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) pathogens in one test.
Designed to be used antemortem on nasal swabs, or on post-mortem samples from the respiratory tract, these panels combine the most common BRD viral and bacterial pathogens into multiplex PCR panels:
Bovine Respiratory Panel 1 - includes Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Bovine Coronavirus, and Mycoplasma bovis
Bovine Respiratory Panel 2 - includes Mannheimia hemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni
The ADRDL continues to offer a multiplex Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) + Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1, or IBR virus) PCR panel.
These panels offer veterinarians the ability to gain a broad picture of the presence of respiratory pathogens in live cattle populations as well as in samples from necropsy examinations, with good sensitivity.
The cost of each panel to veterinarians is $35. Swabs should be submitted in Viral Transport Media (Ex: BD Universal Viral Transport Vial, 3mL) or synthetic swabs can be used (Ex: BBL Culture Swab Liquid Stuart Transport Swab). The panels are scheduled to run on Mondays with a 1-5 day turnaround time, dependent on the number of samples coming into the lab.
"Topping Out" Ceremony for the New ADRDL: Last Steel Beam in Place
Construction on the new ADRDL building continues to progress on schedule. Since last month, the steel frame of "Area B," the office section between the new laboratory and the existing building, has been completed. Workers are now busy installing decking and some of the exterior wall panels to the laboratory section.
On Wednesday, August 15, contractors from McCown Gordon celebrated a "Topping Out" ceremony and lunch for ADRDL staff. Construction workers, ADRDL staff, and SDSU officials were able to add their signatures to the distinctive white beam that was the last to be placed in the structure. Topping out ceremonies originated centuries ago in Scandinavia, when a small tree or other greenery was placed upon a structure when its highest point is reached during construction. The signed white beam and flag are features of modern topping out ceremonies in the United States. For those curious, more information can be found here.
Among the officials on hand for the ceremony were (top picture, L-R:) John Killefer, Dean of SDSU's College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences; SDSU President Barry Dunn; VBS Department Head and ADRDL Director Jane Hennings; SDSU Vice President for Research Daniel Scholl; Daniel Lacy, McCown Gordon VP of Operations; South Dakota State Senator Larry Tidemann; and Interim South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture/State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven. (Photo credit: Sydney Sleep, SDSU).
SDSU Food Safety Microbiology Lab Searches for Pathogens, Resistance through NARMS Work
Are foodborne disease-causing germs becoming more resistant to antibiotics? Finding the answer to that question is the mission of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). South Dakota State University is in its second year of participation in NARMS, with the ADRDL's Food Safety Microbiology (SD-FSM) lab working with the FDA in the retail meat portion of the program. The SD-FSM lab tests fresh chicken, ground turkey, ground beef, and pork chops, purchased in grocery stores in North and South Dakota. The germs identified are then further tested for resistance to common antibiotics that might be used in treating human illness.
Partnering with the SD-FSM are the South Dakota Animal Industry Board Meat Inspection Service and the North Dakota Meat and Poultry Inspection Program. Staff members from these agencies travel to grocery stores in 7 different cities in the 2 states to purchase retail meat products for testing.
The NARMS program looks for 4 different germs. Two of these (Salmonella and Campylobacter) are significant causes of foodborne illness in the US, while the other 2 (generic E. coli and Enterococcus, both found more routinely in meat products) are examined as indicator organisms for antibiotic resistance.
The SD-FSM has recently compiled NARMS results for the period from June 2017 through May 2018, their first full year of participation. See the results of foodborne pathogen testing in three different iGrow articles:
North Campus Drive Road Closure August-December:
Alternate Traffic Routes to ADRDL
The stretch of North Campus Drive from Medary Ave. east to the ADRDL (denoted by "X"s on the map) is now closed to traffic in order to facilitate a major utility project. This closure will last until December, 2018.
Access to the ADRDL remains in place via a detour on North Campus Drive (red lines on map). The detour can be accessed off the Highway 14 bypass via Stadium Drive or Jackrabbit Avenue.
Please call the ADRDL at 605-688-5171 if you have questions about these changes.
SDSU's ADRDL will host an accreditation team from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians September 9-12. The re-accreditation process takes place every 5 years, and involves a thorough review of procedures, staff, and faciities.
Reminders from the Lab (thanks Dr. Hennings and Sargent Gunnery!)
The ADRDL will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3
Sign up for email results to get results emailed to you directly as soon as tests are complete. Email Rita Miller or Jon Greseth at the ADRDL or call 605-688-5171 to sign up.
Pieces and Parts
ADRDL faculty and staff contributed their annual case presentations and updates for veterinarians attending the 127th annual South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association meeting in Sioux Falls on August 14. Topics included:
- Lice Problem in a Beef Herd - Drs. Russ Daly and Dale Miskimins
- Update on Virology: Frequent Findings and Unusual Suspects - Dr. Diego Diel
- Trends in Calf Diarrhea at the ADRDL - Dr. Angela Pillatzki
- Zoonotic Parasites for Consideration in Mixed Animal Practice - Dr. Dave Knudsen
- IT Update - Jon Greseth
- Vector-borne Mycoplasmas as a Cause of Arthritis in Holstein Heifers - Drs. Chris Chase and Melissa Behr
Dr. Russ Daly represented SDSU and contributed to a meeting of the Jorgensen Land and Cattle partnership's cooperator groups, August 6, at Ideal, SD.
Dr. Jane Hennings attended meetings of the Swine Health Committee of the National Pork Board in Raleigh, NC, August 7-9.
The ADRDL hosted a group from Farm Credit services on a tour of the lab on August 9. If you know of a group interested in a tour of the lab, please call us at 605-688-5171!
Dr. Russ Daly participated in the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine White Coat Ceremony for incoming veterinary students, August 17, in Ames, IA.
Dr. Joy Scaria traveled to Stillwater, OK, where he gave invited presentations at Oklahoma State University, August 23-24.
