Published Thursday, 17 May, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
TOOWOOMBA VETERINARY LABORATORY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
The Department of Primary industries and Fisheries’ Toowoomba Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory will celebrate 20 years of outstanding veterinary diagnostic service tomorrow (May 18).
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the laboratory’s role was to provide rapid and accurate diagnosis of diseases in commercial livestock through testing in the areas of microbiology, serology, parasitology, biochemistry, haematology and anatomical pathology.
“The Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory has an on-going role in meeting the requirements of State and National governments for accurate information on the health status of Queensland’s livestock herds, which facilitated access to interstate and international markets,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“In addition, the laboratory provides industry with information on disease occurrence, monitors constantly for significant endemic and exotic disease, provides producers with accurate and prompt disease diagnosis vital for disease control and helps ensure that the consumer and the community are provided with safe and wholesome animal products.
“Veterinary science students, both from Australia and overseas, are regularly hosted by the laboratory, which provides them with valuable practical training.’’
Mr Mulherin said the laboratory began operating as the Toowoomba Veterinary Laboratory in May, 1987, with eight staff members. It was purpose built and set up with excellent post-mortem facility and well-equipped laboratories.
“In November, 2005, the laboratory’s name changed to the Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory, to better reflect its scope of activities. The laboratory now has a staff of 14, of whom three have worked in the laboratory continuously since its onset.”
DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland acting regional manager, Haydn Counsell said the laboratory had completed several projects of national significance, including the validation of pooled faecal culture for the diagnosis of Ovine Johnes disease and a survey of disease in feedlots.
“The laboratory has particular expertise in the culture and diagnosis of disease caused by intestinal bacteria and has been involved in two national projects investigating the role of these organisms in disease in commercial poultry,” Mr Counsell said.
“Diagnostic highlights from the Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory included: in 1989 and again in 1990 helped provide the diagnoses for the two largest botulism outbreaks ever seen in Australia; in 1991 investigated high mortalities at a feedlot that were subsequently diagnosed as heat stroke; and in 2002 diagnosed anthrax in cattle on two central Queensland properties.”
In 1999 the laboratory received accreditation from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025. Continuing accreditation assures the laboratory’s clients of the highest possible standard of testing.
In 2004 the laboratory was expanded to improve its capability to conduct enhanced surveillance, particularly large scale Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) testing. This was in response to a need identified following the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in England.
Accreditation was extended in 2006 to include Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) testing. This followed the successful implementation of a rapid method for the detection of TSE in cattle and sheep as part of a joint project between DPI&F, Animal Heath Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia. The Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory is the only regional facility in Australia accredited for this testing.
Media: 323 96530
Further information and photos:
Louisa McKerrow Regional Media Officer, Toowoomba Ph: (07) 4688 1277 or 0419 781 530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the laboratory’s role was to provide rapid and accurate diagnosis of diseases in commercial livestock through testing in the areas of microbiology, serology, parasitology, biochemistry, haematology and anatomical pathology.
“The Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory has an on-going role in meeting the requirements of State and National governments for accurate information on the health status of Queensland’s livestock herds, which facilitated access to interstate and international markets,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“In addition, the laboratory provides industry with information on disease occurrence, monitors constantly for significant endemic and exotic disease, provides producers with accurate and prompt disease diagnosis vital for disease control and helps ensure that the consumer and the community are provided with safe and wholesome animal products.
“Veterinary science students, both from Australia and overseas, are regularly hosted by the laboratory, which provides them with valuable practical training.’’
Mr Mulherin said the laboratory began operating as the Toowoomba Veterinary Laboratory in May, 1987, with eight staff members. It was purpose built and set up with excellent post-mortem facility and well-equipped laboratories.
“In November, 2005, the laboratory’s name changed to the Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory, to better reflect its scope of activities. The laboratory now has a staff of 14, of whom three have worked in the laboratory continuously since its onset.”
DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland acting regional manager, Haydn Counsell said the laboratory had completed several projects of national significance, including the validation of pooled faecal culture for the diagnosis of Ovine Johnes disease and a survey of disease in feedlots.
“The laboratory has particular expertise in the culture and diagnosis of disease caused by intestinal bacteria and has been involved in two national projects investigating the role of these organisms in disease in commercial poultry,” Mr Counsell said.
“Diagnostic highlights from the Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory included: in 1989 and again in 1990 helped provide the diagnoses for the two largest botulism outbreaks ever seen in Australia; in 1991 investigated high mortalities at a feedlot that were subsequently diagnosed as heat stroke; and in 2002 diagnosed anthrax in cattle on two central Queensland properties.”
In 1999 the laboratory received accreditation from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025. Continuing accreditation assures the laboratory’s clients of the highest possible standard of testing.
In 2004 the laboratory was expanded to improve its capability to conduct enhanced surveillance, particularly large scale Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) testing. This was in response to a need identified following the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in England.
Accreditation was extended in 2006 to include Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) testing. This followed the successful implementation of a rapid method for the detection of TSE in cattle and sheep as part of a joint project between DPI&F, Animal Heath Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia. The Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory is the only regional facility in Australia accredited for this testing.
Media: 323 96530
Further information and photos:
Louisa McKerrow Regional Media Officer, Toowoomba Ph: (07) 4688 1277 or 0419 781 530