Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During fiscal year 2011, the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) focused on enhancing its infrastructure, quality system, information technology capabilities, and high-consequence disease (HCD) response capacity. Significant achievements included: completion of renovation for existing and construction of new (BSL-3 laboratory) facilities in Amarillo; certification of the new BSL-3 laboratory in Amarillo; successfully navigating an AAVLD audit and receiving full accreditation; expanding testing capacity for HCDs of NAHLN importance; and training additional staff for foreign animal and emerging disease response PARTICIPANTS: Key individuals within the TVMDL laboratory agency participated in this project. Those individuals such as Dr. Alfonso Clavijo and Dr. Tammy Beckham have significant experience working with agriculture agents of economic importance. Other key individuals include the quality management team and information technology team at TVMDL. TVMDL had several critical partners in this project, to include the TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The stakeholders of TVMDL include the agriculture industries of the State of Texas, the Nation, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and the USDA APHIS. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
1. Enhanced TVMDL's Quality System. Successful AAVLD site visit, with the lab receiving full accreditation through 2016. Enhanced the preventive action component of quality system by engaging staff in proactive measures, including client feedback, staff training, media preparation processes, monitoring of reported test results, and TVMDL brand consistency. Worked to align standard operating procedures (SOPs) from site-location specific into Agency-wide documents, 60% of SOPs converted to Agency documents. 668 documents were reviewed and published. 7 internal reviews were conducted at the 4 laboratory sites, including a Gap Analysis conducted in preparation for the AAVLD site visit. Began a review of assays currently in use and determined relevancy with respect to new technologies and diagnostic testing capacities. Evaluation of all diagnostic tests offered to be completed by May 1, 2014. Enhanced TVMDL sample handling, processing, and testing. Optimized and validated nucleic acid purification for 11 pathogens. Developed 7 new PCR tests. Developed a serum neutralization test for epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) serotypes 1, 2 and 6. Improved virus isolation technical for EHS, BTV, and poultry pathogens. Principal investigators, in collaboration with FAZD Center, the NAHLN and Plum Island, led the development of assays for RVF, FMD, CSF and ASF. Identified, trained, and proficiency tested additional staff at TVMDL for emerging, high-consequence, and foreign animal diseases, including: Avian influenza and Avian metapneumovirus - 8 employees at College Station, 4 at Amarillo, 2 at Center and 1 at Gonzales; Foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever- 7 employees at College Station and 4 at Amarillo. The newly renovated receiving area and new BSL-3 laboratory in Amarillo was completed and certified. 2. Continued to support a joint appointment with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (Livestock and Food Animal Systems Veterinarian) and the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at TAMU (Epidemiologist). Added additional joint appointment with Extension. Enhanced collaborations with CVM by continuing to offer a third-year veterinary student elective course, titled "Veterinary Diagnostic Medicine," and providing a TVMDL scientist/adjunct professor as an instructor for the first-year veterinary microbiology course. 3. Enhanced inter-laboratory activities in support of the goals of the NAHLN: Participated in the NAHLN/FAZD Center Laboratory Capacity Estimation Model (LCEM) software development project. This project defines NAHLN testing capacity during a high consequence disease event. LCEM allows both the NALHN and participating laboratories to effectively model their laboratory testing capacity. Participated in validation of real-time PCR for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus for use with bulk tank milk samples with NAHLN laboratories in California, Florida, New York, and Wisconsin and the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (Plum Island). Continued to participate in HCD disease exercises, as appropriate. Added messaging of CSF test results to the NALHLN using the HL7 standard. TVMDL continued to message to the NALHN for AI and BSE.
Publications
- Clavijo A., Nikooienejad A., Shahrokh M., Metz R.P., Schwartz S., Atashpaz-Gargari E., Deliberto T.J., Lutman M.W., Pedersen K., Bazan L.R., Koster L.G., Jenkins-Moore5 M., Swenson S.L., Zhang M., Beckham T., Johnson C.D., Bounpheng M. 2012. Identification and analysis of the first 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus from U.S. feral swine. Zoonoses and Public Health Journal. Submitted for publication.
- Das A, Beckham TR, McIntosh M: 2011, Comparison of methods for improved RNA extraction from blood for early detection of classical swine fever virus by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. J Vet Diagn Invest 23(4)727-735.
- Eberling A, Martin B, Bieker J, McIntosh M, Beckham TR. Development, Optimization and Validation of a Classical Swine Fever Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Assay. (2011) J Vet Diagn Invest 23(5):994-998.
- Szonyi B, Clavijo A, Srinath I, Ivanek R. (2011). Investigating the Spatio-temporal Epidemiology of Tritrichomonas foetus Infection in Texas Bullls Using Diagnostic Laboratory Data. 54th Annual AAVLD/USAHA Meeting, Buffalo NY.
- Sun F, Swinford A, Clavijo A. (2011) Direct Detection of Dermatophyte Fungi in Clinical Samples Using Real Time PCR. 54th Annual AAVLD/USAHA Meeting, Buffalo NY.
- Schroeder M, Bounpheng M, Clavijo A. (2011) Evaluation of DNA Purification and Quantitative PCR Methods for the Rapid Detecton of Bovine Herpesvirus 1. 54th Annual AAVLD/USAHA Meeting, Buffalo NY.
- Velayudhan B, Trybus J, Clavijo A, Sprowls R. (2011) Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Isolated from Multiple Abortions in Recently Vaccinated Herds. 54th Annual AAVLD/USAHA Meeting, Buffalo NY.
- Szonyi B. (2011) Epidemiology of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in farmed white tailed deer in Texas. Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During FY'10, the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) focused on enhancing its quality system, information technology capabilities, and high consequence diseases (HCDs) response capacity. Activities included: completion of construction of new poultry disease diagnostic laboratory in Gonzales, TX; renovation of existing and construction of new facilities in Amarillo; and expanding testing capacity for HCDs of NAHLN importance. TVMDL enhanced the preventive action component of quality system by engaging staff in proactive measures including client feedback, staff training, media preparation processes, monitoring of reported test results, and TVMDL brand consistency. Worked to align, where applicable and appropriate, standard operating procedures (SOPs) from site-location specific into Agency-wide documents. Implemented SOP defining our test development and validation requirements. Further developed the management of our proficiency testing program. Conducted annual laboratory reviews and gap analysis in support of AAVLD requirements. Provided staff training for AAVLD requirements and TVMDL Quality System procedures. Provided to the AAVLD Accreditation Committee a TVMDL senior scientist. Provided an additional TVMDL staff member to the AAVLD audit pool. Implemented additional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to replace 20% of direct immunofluorescence test for the identification of pathogens. Incorporated molecular identification by sequencing as a complementary test to biochemical characterization of bacterial isolates of clinical importance. 2. Enhanced TVMDL sample handling, processing and testing capacities: Attained capacity for performance of real time PCR assays in the newly constructed Gonzales poultry laboratory. This facility is approximately 3000 sq ft of BSL-2 and administrative space. The newly renovated receiving area and new BSL-3 laboratory in Amarillo is completed. 3. Upgraded biosecurity/biosafety at TVMDL: Prepared College Station BSL-3 laboratory for certification. Aligned SOPs and gained approval from TAMU Office of Biosafety . Began training designated staff for clearance to work in BSL-3. Installed new security system for BSL-3. Began remote monitoring of TVMDL-College Station facilities to ensure active and passive surveillance of environmental conditions that may affect testing procedures. 4. Participated in the NAHLN negative cohort real-time PCR testing for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, and Rinderpest. 5. Participated as pilot laboratory for Classical Swine Fever (CSF) serological testing in feral swine. 6. Trained new TVMDL information technology staff on installation and use of Rhapsody equipment and software. Continued to utilize the Rhapsody messaging software and is successfully messaging to the NAHLN database. Developed and deployed reportable disease messaging for Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and USDA customers. 7. TVMDL continued to support a joint appointment with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. TVMDL added a joint epidemiological appointment with CVM. PARTICIPANTS: Key individuals within the TVMDL laboratory agency participated in this project. Those individuals such as Dr. Alfonso Clavijo and Dr. Tammy Beckham have significant experience working with agricultural agents of economic importance. Other key individuals include the quality management team and information technology team at TVMDL. TVMDL had several critical partners in this project, to include the TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Animal Health Commission, and the Texas A&M System Texas AgriLife Extension Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: The stakeholders of TVMDL include the agricultural industries of the State of Texas, the Nation, the Texas Animal Health Commission and the USDA APHIS. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Outcomes from this period include: 1) An enhanced quality management system in the TVMDL laboratory system. TVMDL's enhanced quality system ensures the accuracy and quality of results reported to clients and regulatory agencies. 2) Certified BSL-3 laboratory at College Station with trained staff. This new capacity ensures the capability for rapid response with trained personnel. 3) Molecular diagnostic assay testing capacity in the poultry diagnostic laboratories. 4) New BSL-3 laboratory in Amarillo. This provides additional capacity for performing high consequence disease testing. 5) An expanded information management and electronic reporting system. Through this expanded system, TVMDL obtained the capability of electronically reporting regulatory test results to the Texas Animal Health Commission. 6) Expanded education and outreach programs. Educated clients within the State through multiple continuing education courses. 7) Expanded educational role with College of Veterinary Medicine. Began training program for veterinary students during third year.
Publications
- Sun F., Ferro PJ., Lupiani B., Kahl J., Morrow M., Flanagan JP., Estevez C., Clavijo A.(2011) A duplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of LTR and env sequences of reticuloendotheliosis virus in avian blood samples. J. Vet Diag Investigation. In press
- Clavijo A., Erol E., Sneed L., Swinford A.(2011) The influence of temperature and simulated transport conditions of diagnostic samples on real-time PCR for the detection of Tritrichomonas foetus DNA. J. Vet Diag Investigation. In press
- Clavijo A., Sun F, Srinath I., Ivanek R.(2010) Rapid molecular typing of Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) by multiplex one-step rRT-PCR. 53ndAnnual AVLD/USAHA Meeting Minneapolis, MN
- Naikare H., Reinisch A., Bruno D., Sprowls R., Clavijo A., Raleigh R., Dhanasekaran V., Hampton L.(2010) Culture and real-time PCR based diagnosis of bovine tritrichomoniasis. 53ndAnnual AVLD/USAHA Meeting Minneapolis, MN
- Bounpheng M., Naikare H., Sneed L, Kahl J., Meier J, Sun F., Schroeder M, Clavijo A. (2010) Comparison of DNA purification and detection workflows for Tritrichomonas foetus detection. 53ndAnnual AVLD/USAHA Meeting Minneapolis, MN
- Bounpheng M, Schroeder M., Naikare H., Velayudhan B., Estevez C., Sneed L., Swinford A., Rodgers S., Clavijo A. (2010) Development of calf diarrhea pathogen panel nucleic acid purification and detection workflow. 53ndAnnual AVLD/USAHA Meeting Minneapolis, MN
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: TVMDL has implemented many biosecurity and biosafety upgrades at all facilities: 1) A new security system (Matrix), keyless entry has been installed at TVMDL College Station laboratory. 2) Upgrades to the BSL-3 facility have been performed to include installation of hands-free sinks and new biosafety cabinets. 3) Fault testing and air balancing were performed on College Station BSL-3 facility with success. 4) Construction on the new BSL-2 Gonzales poultry laboratory is underway (estimated completion, October 2010). 5) Construction of the new BSL-3 facility in Amarillo and renovations of the sample receiving and processing area are well underway (estimated completion Feb 2011). 6) In collaboration with Texas Agri-Life Extension, participated in and sponsored continuing education for veterinarians at annual TVMA meeting, Beef Cattle Short course (session on vector borne diseases), and offered One day seminar to beef cattle producers on reproductive diseases). 7) Evaluated and prioritized SOPs for agency wide alignment. Significant progress on alignment. 8) Increased numbers of individuals trained and certified to perform testing for NAHLN related diseases (BSE, AI, END, FMD, CSF). 9) Pilot laboratory for CSF testing of serology in feral swine. 10) Significantly reduced numbers of CARS and decreased time from issue to time of addressing/closing out of Corrective Action Requests. 11)Continued to enhance messaging to NAHLN. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences relevant is the agricultural industries, partners and federal partners, other state laboratories. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
As a result of the outputs, TVMDL has enhanced its capacity to perform testing for high consequence, emerging and/or zoonotic diseases. We have enhanced out quality and safety systems with the lowering of turn around times with response to CARs and have trained and certified additional personnel to peform testing on these diseases. Facilities have been enhanced to allow fo additional capacity for testing. This additional capacity includes an increased amount of BSL-3 space in a region of the State with high animal density. The outreach capabilities of the laboratory have been markedly increased with the joint appointment with Texas Agrilife Extension. Through this appointment, several CE courses have been offered to veterinarians and producers state-wide.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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