CVMDL Collaborates with Allied Health Sciences Department to Provide a Unique Look into a Diagnostic Laboratory

CVMDL Collaboration

February 2024 Highlights

 

CVMDL moving towards digital pathology

Digital Pathology is now an integral part of research and diagnostics. The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at the University of Connecticut is taking its first steps towards adopting this promising methodology. Dr. Emily Reinhardt, a Board-Certified Veterinary Pathologist with CVMDL, attended a training session for QuPath in San Diego, CA hosted by the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. QuPath is a bioimage analysis software, user-friendly, extensible, open-source software that is used for digital pathology and whole slide image analysis.  CVMDL is building the capacity necessary to include digital pathology into its routine workflows.

Widening the scope of pathology techniques at CVMDL

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a laboratory technique used in pathology to identify specific antigens involved in infectious and non-infectious disease and cell and tumor biomarkers. CVMDL has been actively involved with the detection of animal diseases affecting the central nervous system like West Nile Virus (WNV). Dr. Emily Reinhardt, a Board-Certified Veterinary Pathologist with CVMDL is actively engaged in elucidating which cells are being targeted or recruited by WNV in the US and Usutu virus in Europe in raptors and crows during natural exposures. The work pursued by Dr. Reinhardt is being performed in collaboration with Dr. Giuseppe Giglia from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy. As part of this work, Dr. Reinhardt visited the Laboratory of Neuropathology at that institution and performed work based on the IHC technique. Dr. Reinhardt will lead the effort to expand IHC capacities at CVMDL that can be used for research and diagnostic purposes.

Histotechnologist joined CVMDL

Ms. Emily Doty is a Histotechnologist (HTL) certified by American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) that recently joined the Histology Laboratory at Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL). Ms. Doty has vast experience in histology working with veterinary, exotic, and marine animals. She brings a passion and wealth of expertise in histological special staining techniques, which she views as an art as well as a science. Ms. Doty is joining the University of Connecticut community coming from IDEXX, a global company leader in Animal Health.

CVMDL involved with African Swine Fever surveillance in southern New England

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages. ASF is neither a threat for humans, nor it is a food safety issue. ASF is found in countries around the world but has never been detected in the United States. The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) has joined the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to participate in their ASF surveillance plan. The plan put forward by USDA APHIS titled “Swine Hemorrhagic Fevers: African and Classical Swine Fever Integrated Surveillance Plan” has two objectives:

  1. Strengthen detection capabilities and to enhance outbreak preparedness for ASF and Classical Swine Fever (CSF)
  2. Support claims of disease freedom in the US for ASF and CSF.

As a member laboratory of USDA-National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), CVMDL has the capacity necessary to support the mission of the USDA.

 

 

 

CVMDL Tests Avian Influenza Samples from Vermont for USDA APHIS

May 4, 2022

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2022 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial, backyard flock (non-poultry) in Caledonia County, Vermont.

Samples from the flock were tested at the University of Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.

APHIS is working closely with state animal health officials in Vermont on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the property were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.  Read more.

CVMDL Faculty Present at Regional Conference

April 8, 2022

The Northeastern Veterinary Pathology Conference was held in late March and two faculty from CVMDL presented on their cases and findings.

2022 Northeastern Veterinary Pathology Conference (NEVPC)

Natalie Tocco, DVM, Resident in Anatomic Pathology at the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science

Title of the presentation: West Nile Virus in a Timneh Grey Parrot.

 

Emily Reinhardt, DVM, MS Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science

Title of the presentation: Phaeohyphomycosis in a Lumpfish

Fox Tests Positive for Rabies

April 7, 2022

fox in the wild
Photo: Charles Jackson, Unsplash

CVMDL is frequently asked to test wild animals, it’s part of our disease monitoring and surveillance. Many people heard about the rabid fox on Capitol Hill this week, and interestingly enough, we also had a fox test positive, this one in Fairfield County. Our lab has had four positive rabies tests in foxes out of 16 total tested over the past 10 years (see chart below). Remember not to approach any wild animals that are behaving erratically, and instead to contact your local animal control center.

chart of positive fox rabies tests

Confirmed Diagnosis: Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in Connecticut

March 11, 2022

Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) has a confirmed diagnosis of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in a 14-year-old mare located in Tolland County at a private facility. CVMDL has the capacity to test clinical samples (nasal swabs and complete blood) for EHV-1 using a combination of PCR followed by sequencing. Please contact us at cvmdl@uconn.edu for more information.

The Equine Disease Communication Center has an Equine Herpesvirus factsheet. Please see the following frequently asked questions below:

How is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) spread between horses?

EHV is spread from horse to horse through contact with nasal discharge or spread as aerosol droplets. Horses can also contract the virus by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces such as stalls, water, feed, tack, and transport vehicles. Humans can spread the virus from horse to horse by contaminated hands and clothing. 

What are the symptoms of Equine Herpesvirus?

Fever, nasal discharge, lethargy/depression, neonatal death, late-term abortion, and neurologic disease

How can I prevent Equine Herpesvirus?

Vaccinations are available for prevention of the respiratory and abortive form of EHV-1 and EHV-4; there is currently no vaccine labeled for the prevention of the neurologic form of EHV (EHM). The best method of protection is always to maintain current vaccinations on all horses on your property and to follow correct biosecurity protocol when bringing new horses onto your premises or when traveling with your horse. 

What are biosecurity measures for Equine Herpesvirus?

EHV is spread via aerosol particles from nasal discharge or from contaminated surfaces including people, clothing, feed and water, implements, and stalls; isolation is critical to preventing spread of the virus. Proper biosecurity measures include extensive disinfection of surfaces and equipment that come in contact with affected horses. 

Please view the factsheet for more information.

Avian Influenza Information

March 2, 2022

chickens in a coop

Avian Influenza was confirmed in one non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Connecticut. The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, part of UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources tested the birds in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Surveillance and testing are ongoing in Connecticut to quickly identify and contain any future cases. The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) conducts all tests at the laboratory in Storrs and informs the state veterinarian. Connecticut is home to over five million poultry consisting of backyard and commercial flocks that could be affected by the disease outbreak. Please visit our Avian Influenza page for more information and resources.

Rabies Readiness: Genomic Surveillance Helps Prepare for Outbreaks in Bats

big brown bat in gloved hand

This study is the first to collect genetic sequencing data from bat rabies viruses in the Northeast

The COVID-19 pandemic and the significant impact of emerging variants have shown the importance of understanding viruses in as much detail as possible.

Luckily there are many ways scientists can learn more about zoonotic diseases, like genetic sequencing. Data gathered from detailed genetic sequencing can tell us a lot about a virus, like how it spreads and its evolutionary history.

This same lesson can be applied to another public health concern – rabies in bats.

Dong-Hun Lee, assistant professor of infectious disease epidemiology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources recently identified the currently circulating rabies viruses in bats submitted to the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) and shared his findings in Viruses.

This study is the first to collect genetic sequencing data from bat rabies viruses in the Northeast.

Read more.

U.S. Mail Service Alert

January 12, 2021

US MAIL SERVICE ALERT (PDF)

Please Note: Due to the unavailability of the CAE AGID test kit from the manufacturer, we have switched to the CAE ELISA test method. When making the test request on older versions of our submission form, please check the “Serology, other” box and write in “CAE ELISA.”

Fee Schedule: Each accession received will be charged a $5.00 accessioning fee, in addition to the requested testing. Please Note: Accession fee not assessed on Regulatory only submissions; however, mixed submissions would still receive an Accession Fee. Please contact the laboratory if you have any questions. Fees are subject to change without notice.