Veterinary student, did you shadow a swine practitioner this summer or were involved in an interesting clinical case investigation? Did you work on your veterinary skills by designing a differential diagnosis list or working on a treatment plan? Did you investigate a problem by analyzing production records? We want to hear about it!
The Allen D. Leman Swine Conference is organizing a session for veterinary students to demonstrate their problem-solving skills through the presentation of a case or experience where students challenged their clinical training and problem-solving capabilities necessary for day-to-day practice. Creativity and originality in the support and delivery are encouraged. The session will take place on Sunday at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference and will include presentations from 7 veterinary students. Students invited to present will receive a $1,000 stipend, free admission to the Leman Swine Conference, and a copy of the Diseases of Swine book (10th edition).
Submit your one page case/problem description (tests results and figures can be added in an appendix) to Dr. Perle Boyer, pboyer(at)umn.edu by August 15th at midnight and you will be notified by September 1st whether your presentation has been selected.
Both clinical cases or a production problems will be accepted for review.
Attending the Leman Conference is a great opportunity for veterinary students who want to network with industry leaders!
The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory’s mission is to protect and promote animal and human health through early detection and monitoring of animal diseases.
The 2016 report was published last month and we are compiling here the highlights related to swine. We can also read the full 2016 UMN VDL report.
In April 2016, the VDL welcomed its new director Dr. Jerry Torrison.
More than 50% of the procedures in the VDL were related to the porcine species last year.
A new multiplex PCR test that combines Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv), Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) and Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus (TGEV) into one assay was implemented into the Molecular Diagnostic clinical testing schedule effective October 31st, 2016. The new assay provides clients with timely, quality results for all three viruses at the same time. The VDL ran 40,131 PEDv and PDCoV Multiplex Real Time PCR tests and 5,238 Triplex (PEDv/TGE/PDCoV) RT-PCR tests.
Additionally, the Serology lab conducted intensive testing in collaboration with Zoetis for validation of PED antibody test kit which they are planning to release on the market soon.
Seneca Valley Virus PCR was validated and is part of routine testing. 3,205 Senecavirus A EZ Real time RT-PCR tests were run. An ELISA test for antibodies to Seneca Valley Virus in pigs is also available.
The IHC lab participated in the 2016 AAVLD/NVSL Program for Inter-laboratory Comparison, and scored 100% in its detection of Porcine Circovirus type 2 in the test samples provided.
This is our Friday rubric: every week a new Science Page from the Bob Morrison’s Swine Health Monitoring Project. The previous editions of the science page are available on our website.
We are presenting today the work done in Dr. Cheeran’s lab on the detection of influenza virus in farms. The objective of their research project is to develop a portable diagnostic platform that is capable of performing on-site testing of influenza viruses in swine with minimum sample handling and laboratory skill requirements.
The device is using giant magnetoresistance (GMR) technology. In a nutshell, if influenza viruses are present in the sample, they will bind to sensors, cause a disruption in resistance, and create an electric signal in the device that will be able to wirelessly transmit the result to a smartphone or computer.
Key points from this week edition:
Portable, hand held device for detection of influenza A virus (IAV) based on giant magnetoresistance (GMR) biosensor has been developed.
Although in its developmental stage, if successful this test has the potential for rapid on-site testing of influenza viruses in swine.
Robert Barclay Morrison, of Roseville, MN, died tragically in an automobile accident on May 2, 2017 at age 64 while traveling in the Czech Republic. He is survived by wife Jeanie Morrison, three children, Jessie (Eric) Bain, Peter (Eva) Morrison, and William Morrison, and grandson Ian Bain; sister, Mary Walker and children, Hilary, Cameron, D’Arcy, Andy and brother, Sandy (Juliette) Morrison and children, Jeremy and Jamille.
Robert (Bob) was born February 21, 1953 in Calgary, then moved to Montreal where he spent his childhood years. His family moved to Saskatchewan where he attended high school and the University of Saskatchewan (B.S., Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine). As a young veterinarian, Bob traveled by bicycle across Europe until landing in a small German town where he immersed himself as the local veterinarian. His love of travel, driven by a desire to learn and understand the world and people around him, continued throughout his life and aided him in becoming a global expert in Veterinary Population Medicine with a focus on swine health.
Bob moved to Minnesota in 1981 to teach and study at the University of Minnesota (PhD, MBA). Here he met his wife and love of his life, Jeanie, who was his nurse while he recovered from knee surgery. Shortly after marrying, Bob and Jeanie moved with daughter Jessie to Colombia where Bob worked for the United Nations. He returned to Minnesota in 1986 to begin his tenure as Faculty in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Bob cherished his time teaching and mentoring veterinary graduate and undergraduate students for the duration of his life. Bob was a brilliant data scientist and leader in his industry; he guided responsible vaccination and antibiotic use domestically and globally, responded to outbreaks and pandemics, and advocated for safe and ethical pork production.
A man of the utmost integrity, Bob was a beloved father, husband, uncle, father-in-law, brother-in-law, grandpa and friend. He was honest, hard-working, loyal, open-minded, grateful, genuine and humble. He was a kind man with a gentle soul. He cherished his children and grandchild, and cared endlessly for his wife. Bob was happy as long as his wife Jeanie was by his side; together they traveled the world, were active in their community and church, started a squash scholarship for underserved youth, opened their home to students, and passionately supported their children. Bob had many hobbies including bee-keeping and making “Bob’s Other Honey,” leatherworking, watching hockey, woodworking, sailing trips with friends, whist, biking and playing squash.
Memorial contributions may be made to one of two organizations close to Bob’s heart:
The University of Minnesota Foundation SquashScholars Scholarship (established by Bob and Jeanie) by mail to U of M Foundation, PO Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN, 55486-0266, or online at https://give.umn.edu/giveto/squashscholars (Tax ID: 41-6042488)
Global Health Ministries (Project #79 AL -P0001) for Dr. Mark Jacobson’s HealthMinistries in Arusha, Tanzania by mail to 7831 Hickory St NE, Fridley, MN 55432 (Tax ID: 36-3532234).
Visitation will be at Falcon Heights United Church of Christ (1795 Holton St, Falcon Heights, MN 55113) on Thursday, July 6, 5:30-7:30 PM.
Funeral Services will be at Roseville Lutheran Church (1215 Roselawn Ave W, Roseville, MN 55113) on Friday, July 7, 7 PM.
Veterinary student, did you shadow a swine practitioner this summer or were involved in an interesting clinical case investigation? Did you work on your veterinary skills by designing a differential diagnosis list or working on a treatment plan? Did you investigate a problem by analyzing production records? We want to hear about it!
The Allen D. Leman Swine Conference is organizing a session for veterinary students to demonstrate their problem-solving skills through the presentation of a case or experience where students challenged their clinical training and problem-solving capabilities necessary for day-to-day practice. Creativity and originality in the support and delivery are encouraged. The session will take place on Sunday at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference and will include presentations from 7 veterinary students. Students invited to present will receive a $1,000 stipend, free admission to the Leman Swine Conference, and a copy of the Diseases of Swine book (10th edition).
Submit your one page case/problem description (tests results and figures can be added in an appendix) to Dr. Perle Boyer, pboyer(at)umn.edu by August 15th at midnight and you will be notified by September 1st whether your presentation has been selected.
Both clinical cases or a production problems will be accepted for review.
Attending the Leman Conference is a great opportunity for veterinary students who want to network with industry leaders!
