Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Oct. 15, 2020
Expansion of critical veterinary diagnostics at 草莓污视频导航 puts more animal diseases under the microscope
One of the most critical elements for maintaining animal health is good diagnostics 鈥斅爐he tests and procedures that help veterinarians identify diseases. While this is important for pets and pet owners, it鈥檚 crucial for both the livelihoods of Alberta鈥檚 farmers and ranchers and the聽health of their livestock
As the human and veterinary medical worlds increasingly try to avoid antibiotics as the first line of treatment in order to combat antibacterial resistance, diagnostics become all the more important.
- Photo above:聽A new series of grants from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is enabling UCVM鈥檚 Diagnostic Services Unit聽to expand and launch a pilot project to begin providing essential diagnostic services to the Alberta livestock industry.聽Faculty of Veterinary Medicine photo
鈥淲e're changing our practices when it comes to livestock health, increasing the awareness of what diseases are in our populations, and strategically using antibiotics,鈥 says Dr. Ashley Whitehead, DVM, associate dean, clinical programs at the 草莓污视频导航 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), who has been championing the expansion of the faculty鈥檚 .
鈥淭o do that, we are going to need more diagnostics in order to safeguard our animals, as well as our food production systems. This is important for the health of livestock, but also for producer livelihoods and food security.鈥
In Alberta, however, many diagnostic tests need to be sent to labs in other provinces, which costs more and means longer wait times for getting results. But that鈥檚 beginning to change.
Alberta government announces $3.44 million in funding for DSU expansion
A new series of grants from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is enabling UCVM鈥檚 DSU to expand and launch a pilot project to begin providing more of these essential diagnostic services to Alberta鈥檚 livestock industry.
On Oct.聽14, Devin Dreeshen, minister of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, along with 草莓污视频导航 President聽Ed McCauley and UCVM Dean Baljit Singh, announced the finalization of two grant agreements, worth $3.44 million.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
The grants comprise $1.4 million from the province鈥檚 Strategic Research and Development Program, $2.04 million from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year $3 billion investment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments. It allows the DSU to provide diagnostic pathology, bacteriology, and other testing services to the province鈥檚 livestock veterinarians.
鈥淭he investment is a major step forward as UCVM looks to position the DSU as a centre聽of veterinary diagnostic excellence and innovation in Alberta,鈥 says Singh.
鈥淨uick, readily available animal health diagnostics are essential to helping Alberta鈥檚 vets support our livestock producers,鈥 said Dreeshen during the announcement. 鈥淭his agreement will ensure the 草莓污视频导航 will be able to substantially increase that capacity.鈥
鈥淲ith this new support from the provincial and federal governments, UCVM will set new standards of excellence in efficient diagnostics, animal welfare and food production,鈥 said President Ed McCauley. 鈥淏y supporting livestock health and combating antibiotic resistance, we are also benefiting human health and environmental health as interconnected elements.鈥
More diagnostic capacity for industry and greater learning and research opportunities for students
鈥淭his expansion will enhance livestock diagnostic capacity in Alberta through subsidization of pathology and bacteriology services,鈥 says Dr. Jennifer Davies, director of UCVM鈥檚 DSU. 鈥淭hese enhanced services will fill a void in the current veterinary landscape by providing high-quality, affordable, in-province, livestock diagnostics to rapidly identify diseases and shed light on antimicrobial resistance patterns.鈥
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
The impacts, she says, are far-reaching for the agricultural and veterinary communities, but she鈥檚 also quick to point out the benefits this expansion has for UCVM students.
鈥淥ne of the unique features of having a veterinary diagnostic laboratory embedded in the university is the ability to translate diagnostic cases into educational materials that enrich student learning,鈥 says Davies. 鈥淭he increased caseload generated by this expansion will create meaningful experiential learning opportunities for our students and will provide the next generation of veterinarians in Alberta with a strong foundational knowledge in veterinary pathology and disease diagnosis.鈥
Whitehead agrees, adding this also benefits the community through better trained veterinarians, and more knowledge shared with the community from more relevant and timely research.
Faster and better results for industry mean greater food safety for us
Alberta veterinarians who work with livestock also see the new pilot as a potential game-changer.
鈥淭he expansion will make a pretty big impact on industry,鈥 says Dr. Carling Matejka, DVM, a veterinarian at Central Veterinary Clinic and an UCVM alumna, who works closely with Alberta鈥檚 cattle producers. 鈥淚t will give us the ability to send tests more quickly, which will lead to earlier detection, and provide us with the information we need to provide better, more well-rounded treatment plans for diseases and toxicities.鈥
Matejka also says that this doesn鈥檛 only benefit for producers, it affects society more broadly, helping to improve Canada鈥檚 already high food safety standards. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to make ourselves better,鈥 she says.
This is just the beginning
Dr. Teryn Girard, DVM, of Prairie Swine Health Services and another UCVM alumna, agrees. 鈥淭he hardest thing for me is waiting for lab tests to come back from other provinces. These quicker, cheaper results will allow us to diagnose faster, which, from a foreign animal disease perspective, is so important.鈥
UCVM is keen to make sure industry continues to stay involved throughout the DSU expansion pilot to ensure they see as much benefit from the program as the university does. Whitehead says a steering committee comprising representatives from a wide range of livestock and agricultural industry stakeholders is being assembled to ensure the pilot鈥檚 success.
鈥淭his is just the beginning,鈥 says Whitehead. 鈥淲ith the help of industry, we look forward to building a full-scale program that will serve the Alberta industry for years to come.鈥