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News
USDA Approves Minnesota's Split-state Status for Bovine TB (10/20/08)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted Minnesota's application for split state status in regard to bovine TB. A small section of the northwestern part of the state will remain "modified accredited: while the greater part of the state will return to "modified accredited advanced" status. This comes after Minnesota had been downgraded to modified accredited earlier this year when a number of herds were detected with TB. The move has been welcomed by the industry and will reduce expenses and movement restrictions. For details, visit:
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VDL Diagnoses Tularemia in Cat (10/20/08)
On October 10, an indoor/outdoor cat from Hopkins tested positive for tularemia at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, with confirmation at the Minnesota Department of Health. Tularemia, a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, is highly infectious. The cat had presented to Shady Oak Veterinary Clinic on October 3 with a temperature of 106F, severe necrotizing ulcerations of the tongue and palate, lymphadenopathy, dehydration, and lethargy. A second cat from the same household with similar clinical signs had died approximately three weeks earlier. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has asked veterinarians in the throughout the state to be alert for cases of tularemia in cats, dogs, other domestic animals, and wild animals, and take appropriate precautions (such as wearing gloves) when handling suspect cases. For more information, call Dr. Jeff Bender at 612-625-6203 or Dr. Joni Scheftel at the Minnesota Department of Health at 651-201-5414.
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VDL featured on "Minnesota Bound" (9/14/08)
In a segment on the September 14th episode of "Ron Schara's Minnesota Bound", VDL scientist Nick Phelps discusses VDL's role in testing for Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in Minnesota fish. Click here to view the video.
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VDL Now Offering Testing for Canine Exercise Induced Collapse (7/28/08)
Click here for more information on how to submit samples for this test.
Related articles (9/23/08):
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VDL Receives USDA Funding for Classical Swine Fever Surveillance Testing (6/05/08)
The Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) received funding from the USDA for surveillance of swine diagnostic case submissions for Classical Swine Fever (CSF) as part of a national surveillance program. Case submissions that meet case criteria and include appropriate samples will be eligible for CSF testing by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at the VDL Molecular Diagnostics Lab. A $50 credit will be applied against the diagnostic case for samples that are tested for CSF to help cover sample collection and submission costs. More information on the surveillance progarm is available on the "Got Tonsil" brochure. The program runs through to the end of 2008 with possible renewal. Contact: Dr. Jerry Torrison, 612 624-9778; torri001@umn.edu.
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USDA Officially Downgrades Minnesota's Bovine TB Status (4/15/08)
On April 9, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it had officially downgraded Minnesota’s bovine tuberculosis (TB) status from Modified Accredited Advanced to Modified Accredited. The drop in status, required by the USDA Code of Federal Regulations, follows the discovery of four additional infected herds within the last 12 months and will require Minnesota cattle producers to conduct additional testing when shipping animals out of state. More information is available on the Minnesota Board of Animal Health website.
UPDATE: USDA Approves Minnesota's Split-state Status for Bovine TB (10/20/08)
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Ribbon Cut for New Biosafely Level 3 Necropsy Facility (1/10/08)
A standing-room-only crowd packed 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on Jan. 10 for a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the VDL's new BSL-3 necropsy facility. The $2.44 million project will help the state immediately respond to outbreaks of diseases that could potentially spread from animals to people -- including the highly lethal form of bird flu, should it ever hit here.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Trevor Ames, interim dean; Dr. Frank Cerra, senior vice president of health sciences; Dr. Jim Collins, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; Senator Steve Dille; Dr. Bill Hartmann, state veterinarian and director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health; Rep. Alice Hausman and Gene Hugoson, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
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| L to R: Sheryl E-Marshall, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Trevor Ames; Senator Steve Dille; Gene Hugoson, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Dr. Bill Hartmann; Dr. Jim Collins; Rep. Alice Hausman and Blaise Norton, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. |
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"U Necropsy Lab On Guard for Bird Flu" (1/10/08)
Article in Star Tribune
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