Happy New Year AAVLD

The board has tasked me with evaluating and resolving some operational and management issues; and to possibly identify some areas for improved efficiency. Because I believe in this organization’s mission so much, I relish the opportunity and am honored to be asked to be involved again.

             

 For those that do not know me, I have been a member of AAVLD since 1986. Six years ago I retired from 31 years of academia, where I was a diagnostic pathologist and researcher, as well as laboratory director for over 15 years at SDSU. Since academic retirement I have been actively engaged in private pathology consulting work as well as professional association management work. My past involvement with AAVLD has been quite broad, including service on many committees, past president, and a decade of work with the accreditation committee. Like many of you, I volunteered many hours to the goals of AAVLD because I believed in its mission and it is an organization that advanced my knowledge and directly fed my needs as a veterinary laboratory diagnostician.

              As we start 2019, I first want to say THANK YOU to all of you for your AAVLD volunteer efforts and leadership. The excellent diagnostic lab system we currently enjoy in North America did not just happen by chance. It happened by previous leaders and volunteers doing what you all will do in the year ahead… exhibiting leadership to advance the discipline, and applying your expertise to every case that comes into your laboratories. The beneficiaries are animal populations that will enjoy better health, and human populations that will enjoy a safe abundant economical food supply as well as the benefits of One Health. 

              So Happy 2019 AAVLD! I truly look forward to working together with you in the year ahead. Please take some time and read below to refresh yourself regarding the AAVLD mission.  I think it will encourage you that your leadership and volunteer efforts are worthwhile. Thank you.

Sincerely,

David H. Zeman, DVM, PhD, DACVP

Executive Director, AAVLD

Vision: The AAVLD is a world leader in advancing the discipline of veterinary diagnostic laboratory science to promote global animal health and One Health.

 

Mission : The AAVLD promotes continuous improvement and public awareness of veterinary diagnostic laboratories by advancing the discipline of veterinary diagnostic laboratory science. The AAVLD provides avenues for education, communication, peer-reviewed publication, collaboration, outreach, and laboratory accreditation.

Core values: The AAVLD is committed to these core values:

•Continuous improvement

•Engagement of members

•Effective communication

•Collaboration

•Support of One Health

 

Goals:

1.Advocate for the role of veterinary diagnostic laboratories in global health

2.Foster the continuous improvement of diagnostic laboratory techniques and processes, personnel qualifications, and facilities

3.Promote the continued professional growth of members

4.Disseminate information concerning the diagnosis/monitoring of animal health and disease surveillance

5.Provide a formal accreditation process for veterinary medical diagnostic laboratories

AAVLD membership is open to any individual interested in animal disease laboratory diagnosis. Memberships run by the calendar year (January-December) and membership dues payments are due by November 15th of preceding year to ensure inclusion in the membership directory and receipt of all six issues of JVDI. Note: In order to receive an Annual Meeting registration discounted rate you are required to be a current year AAVLD Member.

The goal of JVDI in Focus is to bring attention to an interesting article appearing in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. This month’s focus is on an article in the upcoming January issue: “Association of plasma haptoglobin concentration and other biomarkers with bovine respiratory disease status in pre-weaned dairy calves” by Sonia J. Moisá, Sharif S. Aly, Terry W. Lehenbauer, William J. Love, Paul V. Rossitto, Alison L. Van Eenennaam, Sophia C. Trombetta, Eduarda M. Bortoluzzi, and Lindsey E. Hulbert.

J Vet Diagn Invest 2019;31(1)

Abstract. We conducted a nested, case-control study of pre-weaned dairy calves ( n = 477; 4 California dairy farms) to assess the association between bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and hematologic biomarkers, including plasma haptoglobin (Hp) and plasma bactericide (PB). At each location, heifer or bull dairy calves were observed 2–4 times per week until confirmed as BRD-positive using parallel interpretation of thoracic ultrasound examination and auscultation. In addition, control calves were enrolled after being confirmed as BRD-negative using ultrasound and auscultation. Complete blood counts (CBC), PB, and Hp concentrations were measured. Hp values were higher in calves with confirmed BRD than in controls ( p < 0.01). The area under the curve (AUC) for the various biomarkers was obtained from the corresponding receiver operating characteristic curves. The AUC for Hp was 0.68, a value greater than those for PB or the remaining CBC parameters, indicating that Hp may be the most useful biomarker of BRD in pre-weaned dairy calves. The cutoff value for Hp was 0.195 g/L.

 

News

For an overview of the JVDI process, we have published the “Best Practices for Submitting, Reviewing, and Publishing in JVDI” on our website. Simply go to the JVDI website, click the Submit Paper tab, then the link for our best practices . In this document, you’ll find helpful tips for determining if JVDI is the right journal for your article, preparing your manuscript and figures for publication, understanding the nuances of terminology in your field, as well as submitting your best review.

Questions or comments?

Contact Holly Farrell, [email protected]