Source: UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI submitted to
NAHLN LEVEL 1 LAB - MAINTAINING AND FURTHER IMPROVING CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031094
Grant No.
2023-37624-40716
Cumulative Award Amt.
$250,000.00
Proposal No.
2023-05345
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2024
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[AA-G]- Homeland Security
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(N/A)
COLUMBIA,MO 65211
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The University of Misosuri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) is a level 1 laboratory of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). The VMDL is committed to support NAHLN mission of protecting animal health, public health, and nation's food security. In 2022-2023, Missouri ranked third nationally for beef cows, seventh for hog, and seventh for turkey production. Missouri also has approximately 1.4 million deer and 500,000 hunters who harvest more than 300,000 deer annually. An outbreak of high consequence emerging, and foreign animal disease would potentially threaten the state's animal health, food security and economic vigor. Currently, the VMDL is approved to test the following agents: African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Pseudorabies, and Swine Influenza. The VMDL is also a NAHLN-approved lab to conduct ASF/CSF surveillance, HAPI surveillance of wild birds, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance in animal pathogens. The VMDL electronically messages diagnostic results of abovementioned diseases to APHIS database. As a NAHLN Level I lab, the VMDL will continue to focus on maintaining and further improving its capabilities and capacity for early detection and reporting of emerging, reemerging and foreign animal diseases and conditions. The specific objectives of this proposal are to 1) meet all responsibilities of a Level 1 laboratory as outlined in the 2023 Agreement for Participation in NAHLN as a Level 1 Laboratory, 2) increase VMDL capabilities and capacity in addressing an adverse animal health event such as an emerging disease detection or foreign animal disease outbreak. The project has a significant impact on NAHLN mission and activities aimed at protecting US animal health and food security.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3113320116025%
3113520116025%
3113260116025%
3110830116025%
Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases;

Subject Of Investigation
3320 - Meat, beef cattle; 3260 - Poultry meat; 3520 - Meat, swine; 0830 - Wild animals;

Field Of Science
1160 - Pathology;
Goals / Objectives
ObjectivesMeeting all responsibilities of a Level 1 laboratory as outlined in the 2023 Agreement for Participation in NAHLN as a Level 1 Laboratory. The National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) is a partnership of federal, state and university animal health laboratories. For operational efficiency, testing accuracy, and timely reporting, it is critically important that all member laboratories adopt the standardized testing protocols, laboratory biosafety and biosecurity policies, quality management requirements, data transmission methodologies, and emergency preparedness approaches. The VMDL is committed to meet all responsivities of a Level 1 laboratory as outlined in the 2023 Agreement.Increasing VMDL capabilities and capacity in addressing an adverse animal health event such as an emerging disease detection or foreign animal disease outbreak. As a NAHLN Level I lab, the VMDL will continue to focus on maintaining and further improving its capabilities and capacity for early detection of emerging and foreign animal diseases and conditions. The VMDL will enhance its bioinformatics, data mining, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and data collection capabilities and capacity.
Project Methods
Plan of ActionThe MU VMDL will take the necessary actions to conduct the following NAHLN activities to meet the responsibilities of a Level 1 laboratoThe Cooperator will take the necessary actions to conduct the following NAHLN activities to meet the responsibilities of a Level 1 laboratory:Support and/or hire IT personnel toActively and consistently electronically message diagnostic test results, using HL7 standards, to the Laboratory Messaging System (LMS) or other VS systems for all laboratory approved NAHLN assays able to be messaged. The MU VMDL has been electronically messaging diagnostic results of the following FAD results: African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Swine Influenza, and Pseudorabies. We will continue to message and monitor the consistency of messaging during this project.Maintain the ability to use HL7 standards to electronically transmit test result data to APHIS databases by participating in appropriate/available messaging competency events. The MU VMDL has been and will continue to participate and pass APHIS/NAHLN proficiency tests for electronic messaging.Develop new messages for diagnostic test results in a timeframe prescribed by NAHLN. The MU VMDL will develop the capability in the timeframe required by NAHLN when the diagnostic result of another disease is to be electronically messaged.Comply with IT system access and connectivity requirements: i.e., Information Security Awareness & Acknowledgement of Rules of Behavior training, e-authentication enrollment, and submission of APHIS 513 forms as applicable. The VMDL Director and personnel who have access to IT system have participated in the annual APHIS IT Training and enrolled in e-Authentication. We will continue to comply with APHIS IT requirements.Provide diagnostic data per the specified timelines and reporting requirements. The MU VMDL has provided diagnostic data, such as HPAI results and testing numbers for domestic and wild birds. We will continue to provide data per NAHLN requirements.Support a quality system by maintaining full accreditation by AAVLD or by an accrediting body according to OIE/ISO 17025 standard and provide documentation of such. The MU VMDL has a stringent QA/QC program which meets the American Association of Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) accreditation requirements. Personnel have been attending the AAVLD and NAHLN quality assurance training sessions. We will continue to meet the QA/QC requirements of AAVLD and NAHLN.Support laboratory and administrative personnel toAccept and rapidly test samples in support of disease investigations, surveillance, and outbreak situations. The MU VMDL accepts samples from suspect and confirmed cases of foreign animal diseases 24/7 and the preliminary results are available within 4 to 6 hours. Our responsiveness and effectiveness have been highly praised by Missouri SAHO and AVIC during the 2022 HPAI outbreak. During this project, we will continue to support NAHLN's mission and functions in disease investigation, surveillance, and response to disease outbreak.Assist other laboratories during emergency situations as able. The MU VMDL helped another NAHLN lab to establish qPCR test during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. During this project, we will strive to support other network laboratories during emergency situations.Utilize the APHIS Laboratory Portal. During this project, we will continue to utilize APHIS Laboratory Portal, which has been a great venue for us to find useful information about policies, proficiency testing, and presentations.Maintain the ability to fulfill the administrative requirements related to federal funding received for various NAHLN activities. During this project, we will continue to fulfill administrative requirements, including responsibly managing funds received, submit monthly, quarterly, and/or final reports.iThe Cooperator will choose from any or all of the following categories and perform the necessary procedures to conduct activities to increase NAHLN capabilities and capacity:Electronic messaging enhancementThe MU VMDL will work with MU CVM Clinical IT Team that manages the VetView (Laboratory Information Messaging System, LIMS) to help with LIMS integration of HL7 or modification to commercial LIMS to encompass HL7 requirements.Training for new/existing IT personnel in NAHLN laboratories. The MU VMDL has one staff who in collaboration with MU CVM Clinical IT handles electronic messaging. We will train a second staff member for electronic messaging. The MU VMDL is not allowed to have its own IT personnel because IT service is centralized at the University of Missouri.Obtain or support electronic accessioning capability. We will utilize bar coding to support electronic accessioning of FAD cases.EquipmentPurchase equipment that directly increases the Cooperator's laboratory testing capacity (Equipment must be identified in the financial plan). The MU VMDL does not have needs for new equipment in 2023. However, we do need to purchase equipment annual maintenance service for PCR related equipment.Purchase equipment to support emerging disease diagnostics, such as Metagenomics/Next Generation sequencing equipment (Equipment must be identified in the financial plan). The MU VMDL does not have needs for new equipment in 2023.Quality management supportAttend quality management training that can include NAHLN QMS training, AAVLD Quality Symposium, ISO 17025 training, QA software training, etc.The MU VMDL will send staff members to NAHLN QMS training and AAVLD QA Symposium.Purchase software to support the quality system. The MU VMDL has recently purchased Qualtrax Compliance Software to manage its QA/QC documents and activities.Technical support to increase FADI and/or emerging disease diagnostic capabilities and capacity, such asComplete additional proficiency tests for FADs that are not reimbursed through other NAHLN or APHIS agreements. During this project, the MU VMDL will complete all required proficiency tests related to its diagnostic and surveillance activities.Training in advanced diagnostics in support of emerging disease detection - new technology training such as that to acquire expertise for whole genome sequencing operation and analysis. The MU VMDL has developed WGS capability. During this project, we will focus on enhancing our bioinformatics capability.Emerging disease case work up: develop and implement a diagnostic plan for samples that remain undiagnosed following routine workups. The MU VMDL has a plan for emerging disease case work up.Support NAHLN and APHIS related activities in the establishment of technical aspects of emerging disease detection and reporting protocols, such as: Participate in validation, proficiency testing, standard operating procedures development and review, development of data transfer mechanism, etc. The MU VMDL is eager to participate in these activities. One of our staff members participates in electronic messaging working group.Minor renovations as needed to support the purposes identified in 7 U.S.C. 8308a. The MU VMDL's new facility is under construction and will be completed in summer 2024. .The Cooperator will maintain awareness of IT capabilities within the facility in which their laboratory is housed and assess and mitigate any impacts to messaging capability as they arise.The MU VMDL will maintain awareness of IT capabilities within the facility. The plan is to work with MU CVM Clinical IT to hire another IT staff who will dedicate their time and effort to enhance clinical IT service to VMDL.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes 1) Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, 2) Missouri Department of Agriculture, 3) Missouri Department of Conservation, 4) Missouri Cattlemen's Association, 5) Missouri Pork Association, 6) Missouri Poultry & Egg Industry, 7) Missouri Swine Industry, 8) Missouri Cattlemen's Association, 9) Missouri Beef Industry Council, and 10) Missouri producers. We have communicated the NAHLN Mission and the VMDL's capabilities and capacity in the diagnosis and reporting of foreign animal diseases to the abovementioned audiences through Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) Annual Conference, MVMA district meetings, MU VMDL Advisory Board Meetings, and state and local animal health meetings. In addition, we have also introduced NAHLN mission to veterinary pathology and microbiology residents (n=7) and third- and fourth-year veterinary students (150 plus) who rotate through the MU VMDL as part of their clinical training. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project allowed the VMDL to train four residents in anatomic pathology and clinical microbiology programs as well as veterinary students (~150) who rotated through the VMDL to learn FAD diagnostics and reporting. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Testing results have been electronically transmitted to APHIS database. The results have also been provided to clients (producers of poultry, swine, and cattle) and regulatory officials, such as Missouri Department of Agriculture and USDA MO AVIC, or Missouri Department of Conservation, as appropriate. Through VMDL Advisory Board Meeting and Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Annual Conference, MVMA District Meetings, we have promoted the awareness of foreign animal diseases, NAHLN' Mission and Functions, and VMDL's role, capabilities and capacity. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? i. Taking necessary actions to conduct the following NAHLN activities to meet the responsibilities of a Level 1 laboratory: a.The VMDL has been using the HL7 standards to electronically transmit diagnostic results of the following FAD results: African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Swine Influenza, and Pseudorabies. b. The VMDL personnel who had access to IT system participated in the annual APHIS IT Training and enrolled in e-Authentication. c. The VMDL provided diagnostic data, such as HPAI results and testing numbers for domestic and wild birds. d. The VMDL has a stringent QA/QC program which meets the American Association of Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) accreditation requirements. Personnel have been attending the AAVLD and NAHLN quality assurance training sessions. We will continue to meet the QA/QC requirements of AAVLD and NAHLN. e. The VMDL has been accepting samples from suspect and confirmed cases of foreign animal diseases 24/7 and the preliminary results are available within 4 to 6 hours. Our responsiveness and effectiveness have been highly praised by Missouri SAHO and AVIC during the 2022 HPAI outbreak. During this project, we will continue to support NAHLN's mission and functions in disease investigation, surveillance, and response to disease outbreak. f. Per NAHLN instruction, the VMDL assisted Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (MOAHDL), a NAHLN level 3 lab, by training six MO-AHDL staff on general biosafety and biosecurity procedures and proper handling samples. Upon completion of the training, a certificate was provided to each trainee. g. During this project, the VMDL continued to utilize APHIS Laboratory Portal, which has been a great venue for us to find useful information about policies, proficiency testing, and presentations. h. During this project, MU OSPA and VMDL fulfilled the administrative requirements, including responsibly managing funds received, submit monthly, quarterly, and/or final reports. ii. Increasing NAHLN capabilities and capacity a. Quality management support :All VMDL faculty, staff, and residents were trained on Ideagen Quality management software. Selected staff members attended NAHLN QMS training and AAVLD QA Symposium. b. Technical support to increase FADI and/or emerging disease diagnostic capabilities and capacity: During this project, the MU VMDL completed all required proficiency tests related to its diagnostic and surveillance activities. c. The MU VMDL has developed WGS capability. During this project, we improved our bioinformatics capability. d. The VMDL participated in NAHLN and APHIS related activities such as: emergency preparedness, drill and surveys, and review of Farm Bill projects for deployment. Summary of specific work Proficiency Tests Start Date End Date 2023 Antimicrobial Susceptibility (AST) PT 7/24/2023 10/26/2023 2024 African Swine Fever (ASF) real time PCR Proficiency Test 8/12/2024 12/31/2024 2024 APMV-1 REAL-TIME PCR PT 4/15/2024 12/27/2024 2024 APMV-1 REAL-TIME PCR PT 4/15/2024 12/27/2024 2024 Classical Swine Fever (CSF) real time PCR Proficiency Test 8/12/2024 12/31/2024 2024 Classical Swine Fever (CSF) real time PCR Proficiency Test 8/12/2024 12/31/2024 2024 IAV REAL-TIME RT-PCR PT 4/15/2024 12/27/2024 2024 IAV REAL-TIME RT-PCR PT 4/15/2024 12/27/2024 NAHLN 2024 Pseudorabies Virus PT 8/27/2024 9/16/2024 NAHLN 2024 PRV gB PT (new operators) 8/27/2024 9/16/2024 2024 NEW LAB & INDIVIDUAL EIA PROFICIENCY TEST 1/8/2024 5/8/2024 2024 Johne's Serology PT 7/9/2024 8/29/2024 2024 Johne's Milk ELISA 4/16/2024 8/9/2024 2024 Johne's Disease Fecal PT Pooled (Direct PCR) 5/28/2024 8/9/2024 2024 Johne's Disease Fecal PT (Direct PCR) 5/28/2024 8/9/2024 2024 EIA ANNUAL Proficiency Test 5/21/2024 7/31/2024 2024 CWD/Scrapie IHC PT 4/23/2024 12/31/2024 2024 Anaplasmosis Proficiency Test 2/20/2024 5/1/2024 2024 African Swine Fever (ASF) real time PCR Proficiency Test 8/12/2024 12/31/2024 2024 AAVLD - IBQAS 6/3/2024 7/19/2024 2023 PRV ELISA gB Proficiency Test (PT) 8/28/2023 11/14/2023 2023 PRV ELISA g1 PT 8/28/2023 9/29/2023 2023 NVSL/NPIP Salmonella Group D PT 12/5/2023 2/28/2024 2023 Johne's Serological PT 7/17/2023 11/17/2023 2023 Brucellosis Serology PT 9/18/2023 1/19/2024 2023 Bluetongue Proficiency Test 8/14/2023 10/27/2023 2023 ANNUAL EIA Proficiency Test 5/22/2023 9/28/2023 NAHLN Drills and Surveys Type Start Date 2024.08.20 IDEXX Influenza A ELISA Drill DRILL 8/20/2024 2024.04.26 NAHLN Primary Contact Drill DRILL 4/26/2024 04.05.2024 Bovine HPAI Drill DRILL 4/5/2024 2024.03.05 ASF Capacity Drill DRILL 3/5/2024 12.04.2023 After the FADI Drill DRILL 12/4/2023 2023.11.14 Drill for IAV-A Approved Labs (H5 2.3.4.4.b) DRILL 11/14/2023 2023.09.07 Messaging Drill DRILL 9/7/2023 2024.07.29 Serologic Assays Questionnaire SURVEY 7/29/2024 2024.07.25 ASF/CSF Active Surveillance SURVEY 7/25/2024 2024.05.29 Low-Throughput Platforms (LTP) Survey SURVEY 5/29/2024 2024.05.06 aMPV Survey SURVEY 5/6/2024 2024.04.08 IAV-A Capacity Survey SURVEY 4/8/2024 2024.03.11 Barcoding & Sequencing Survey SURVEY 3/11/2024 2024.03.04 NVSL/AAVLD Diagnostician Symposium Survey SURVEY 3/4/2024 2024.03.01 ASF PCR Tetracore Survey SURVEY 3/1/2024 Farm Bill Cycle 2 - project review sign up SURVEY 2/14/2024 2024.02.12 Rhapsody for HL7 messaging of NAHLN testing results SURVEY 2/12/2024 2024.01.24 aMPV Survey SURVEY 1/24/2024 2024.01.22 NAHLN Annual Report Survey SURVEY 1/22/2024 2024.01.22 NVSL/AAVLD Spring Symposium Survey SURVEY 1/22/2024 2024.01.22 WS IAV-A Surveillance Shipping Supplies SURVEY 1/22/2024 2024.01.08 Topics/Speakers for NAHLN Lab Response Calls in 2024 SURVEY 1/8/2024 2023.11.13 Holiday Closures Survey SURVEY 11/13/2023 2023.11.06 LIMS Upgrade Notification(s) Survey SURVEY 11/6/2023 2023.10.09 Restructuring the programmatic oversight of the NAHLN SURVEY 10/9/2023 2023.10.02 EDWG Q4 HPAI Webinar Topics SURVEY 10/2/2023 2023.09.25 - Weekly Survey: Areas of Expertise as part of a UME Case Work-up SURVEY 9/25/2023 2023.09.18 Utilization of ASF Laboratory Preparedness Week Materials SURVEY 9/18/2023 2023.09.11 Top 3 Things for SAHO and/or AVIC to know about your NAHLN Lab SURVEY 9/11/2023 2023.09.05 Current Staffing Survey SURVEY 9/5/2023 FAD Investigations and Surveillance Performed 2,443 AI matrix PCRs, 9 H5 PCR, and 8 H7 PCRs on samples from domestic poultry. Performed 3,688 AI matrix PCRs, 842 H5 PCRs, and 842 H7 PCRs on samples from wild bird surveillance and diagnostics. Performed 24 AI matrix PCRs on samples from dairy cattle. Performed 217 Avian paramyxovirus PCRs on samples from domestic poultry and 20 on samples from wild birds. Performed 233 ASF & CSF PCRs on samples from surveillance program. Performed 20 FMD PCRs on suspect samples. Performed 7 SARS-CoV2 PCRs. AMR Surveillance Reported 242 antimicrobial susceptibility results and collected isolated for NAHLN. Performed WGS on 75 bacterial isolates for NAHLN AMR program. Quality Assurance AAVLD Accreditation and NAHLN Certification Site Visit in May 2022 AAVLD Quality Assurance Training - 5 people NAHLN Quality Management Training - 3 people Outreach and Education Delivered 16 lectures on FAD diagnosis and reporting to veterinary students. Collaborated with Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) to offer wet labs on AI and CWD. Collaborated with MVMA Emergency Preparedness Committee to educate members on FADs.

Publications