I recently had a series of meetings back to back which required a string of stays in multiple hotels in a variety of cities. On about the third meeting, I checked into the hotel and went up to the room. After I unpacked my bags, I went to the local Chinese restaurant and picked up a take-out order. Upon returning to the hotel, I went up to my room, dug my key out of my pocket and attempted to unlock the door. The key wouldn’t work. I tried it again but to no avail. Frustrated, I lugged my food back down to the front desk. I told the night clerk my name and handed her my key explaining that I was locked out of room 317. After entering my information into her computer, she looked up at me and said, “well first of all, you’re in room 319 not 317 and, secondly, this is a Radisson key and you’re at the Hampton Inn.”
Monthly Archives: January 2019
In Situ Hybridization Detection and Subtyping of Rotaviruses in Swine Samples
Rotavirus groups A, B, and C (RVA, RVB, and RVC, respectively) have been the most prevalent and pathogenic in pigs. To date, immunohistochemistry is only available for RVA because of the lack of commercial antibodies for RVB and RVC. We developed a novel in situ hybridization RNA-based chromogenic technique (ISH-RNA) to detect and subtype RVA, RVB, and RVC. We evaluated 33 samples that were reverse-transcription PCR positive for RVA, RVB, and/or RVC. ISH-RNA was able to detect as few as 103 RV RNA copies/mL. The new ISH-RNA test can be useful for routine investigation of rotavirus enteritis in order to guide strategies for control of the infection in pigs, but a full validation study needs to be completed. Pathogenesis studies may be conducted using ISH-RNA based on the identification of replicating virus. Resende, T. P., Marthaler, D., & Vannucci, F. A. (2019). In situ hybridization detection and subtyping of rotaviruses in swine samples. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 31(1), 113-117. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638718817502
Foreign Animal Disease Workshops
“Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness: What to expect and How to prepare” workshops for pig, cattle, sheep and goat producers, extension personnel and veterinarians are scheduled at five Iowa locations, from Feb. 7 to March 12. All are hosted by Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship and Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University, provided at no cost and include lunch. Attendees at these interactive workshops (8:30 to 3:30 p.m.) will learn what to expect if Foot and Mouth Disease or African Swine Fever is found in the U.S., how long movement could stop and the requirements to move animals once movement restarts, how to protect their animals from diseases, and the use of daily health monitoring strategies in an outbreak. More details are available on the workshop flyer. Preregister by completing this online form or calling 515-281-5321.
Alberta PED Outbreak Limited to One Farm
All evidence indicates the first Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea outbreak in Alberta has been contained to a single farm. On January 7th the first case of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea in Alberta was reported on a 400 sow farrow to finish operation. Dr. Julia Keenliside, a veterinary epidemiologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, says there are multiple routs through which PED can enter a farm and in this case a number of possibilities have been ruled out and the cause has been narrowed down to several possibilities. [Source: Farmscape.ca, 1/30/19, by Bruce Cochrane]
Abstracts for Boar Semen Preservation Conference Due March 1
The organizers of the International Conference on Boar Semen Preservation are calling for abstracts to be considered for oral and poster presentation at the meeting. Abstracts may be submitted at https://boarsemen2019.com/program/abstracts/ until March 1. The conference is set for August 11-14, 2019 in Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia. For more information, or to register, visit https://boarsemen2019.com/.
Position Announcement: Swine Veterinarian
Livingston Enterprises, Inc., a 32,000 sow operation with headquarters based in Fairbury, Nebraska, is seeking a veterinarian to work with sow farms and grow-finish production teams to ensure herd health and animal welfare, improve overall production, and promote pork safety, pork quality, and public health. In this position, the veterinarian would collaborate with the existing production teams.
CEEZAD Accepting Applications for BSL-3 Summer Program
The CEEZAD BSL-3 Training/Transboundary Animal Diseases Summer Program is designed to introduce graduate, DVM and upper-level undergraduate students to high-containment training and to provide current practical and scientific information on select high consequence transboundary and zoonotic diseases.
Help Inspire the Next America’s Pig Farmer of the Year – Call for Nominations
You can help inspire exceptional pig farmers/clients who represent the best in pig farming by nominating them today for the 2019 America’s Pig Farmer of the YearSM Award at americaspigfarmer.com.
“Wanted: Participants for “”Vet Hunt”” at AASV Annual Meeting”
The AASV Annual Meeting provides a perfect opportunity for veterinary students to establish relationships with practicing veterinarians. To facilitate this networking, we will again offer the “Vet Hunt” contest at this year’s meeting. Students will be challenged to meet and visit with at least ten veterinarians during the first couple days of the meeting. Every student who visits with ten veterinarians from the list of volunteers will be entered into a prize drawing, sponsored by Merck Animal Health. This is where you – AASV member veterinarians – come in! Contact Jonathan Tubbs, AASV Student Delegate, (aasvstudentdelegate@gmail.com) by February 8th, 2019 if you would like to participate in this fun activity. The students will appreciate it!
Students: Register for Speed Networking in Orlando
Students, are you looking for employment following graduation? Could any of us stand to improve our interview, networking, and communication skills?If so, we have the perfect opportunity to do so. The student Speed Networking event at the AASV Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to interact with potential employers and colleagues and also sharpen your networking and communication skills. The event will take place Sunday, March 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in Sabal F-G at the Buena Vista Palace in Orlando. If you are a 3rd- or 4th-year student who is interested in participating in this fun activity, please contact Jonathan Tubbs, AASV Student Delegate, (aasvstudentdelegate@gmail.com) by February 22nd, 2019 to provide your name, school, and year of graduation.