The NAHLN Update 2024

Volume 15, No. 2

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORY NETWORK (NAHLN)

A STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP TO SAFEGUARD ANIMAL HEALTH

Founding Principles and Features of the NAHLN

Operate within a quality management system
Maintain competency of laboratory personnel
Use standardized protocols, reference materials, and equipment
Maintain appropriate biosafety/biosecurity levels
Provide secure communications and real time electronic reporting
Evaluate preparedness through scenario testing

In This Issue:

Recurring call schedule

A Message from the NAHLN Coordinator

Coordinating Council Update

NAHLN Next Generation Sequencing Symposium

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Update

NAHLN ORISE Fellow Conducts Veterinary Student Field Day

Inaugural AAVLD/NVSL Summer Molecular Diagnostic Symposium

NAHLN Offers Quality Management System Training Course

Laboratory Spotlights

Getting to Know Us

Round-up

Recurring call schedule:

NAHLN Coordinating Council (CC) calls occur on the third Monday of each month.

Fun Facts

Did you know the FAD PReP Material and References website includes information on:

African Swine Fever (ASF)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

and many more useful resources.

Input Welcome!

We appreciate hearing from you!

Are there other topics that you would like to hear about? Please email your comments to us at NAHLN@usda.gov.

A message from the NAHLN Coordinator

NAHLN Laboratories are the backbone of the best defense the world has against animal disease. In peacetime, testing done for NAHLN scope diseases is typically low. However, during an outbreak situation, a NAHLN laboratory may be asked to put a vast amount of their resources towards response activities. We have now been in outbreak response mode for two and a half years! We have handled the tried and true event of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds with over 95% of our avian influenza approved NAHLN laboratories activated, providing well over 300,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests! Additionally, these same NAHLN laboratories are responding to the new and emerging event of the same HPAI virus affecting dairy cattle. How have NAHLN members responded? They have provided expertise in developing differential lists, assessing assays, producing data, and supporting the evaluation of the data. They have supported each other with information, advice, encouragement, materials, and supplies. I have seen the partnership succeed in so many ways as we learn more about how H5N1 affects the dairy industry, as well as how we need to address the needs of both the dairy industry and the poultry industry. Communication with the NAHLN Program Office and National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) throughout these events has been stellar. Reporting results electronically has continually improved, and participation on the Friday NAHLN Laboratory Response calls has been consistent, averaging well over 100 attending each week.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who make up our 63 NAHLN Laboratories. Whether you are in the thick of the response or simply standing ready and willing. Your efforts and participation do not go unnoticed! The commitment to our NAHLN mission is evident. Thanks to all for the support you provide to NAHLN!

Sincerely,

Christina M. Loiacono

Coordinating Council Update

The NAHLN Program Office hosted the NAHLN Coordinating Council (CC) annual meeting at the National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH) on July 10-11, 2024. The NAHLN CC consists of Federal personnel from APHIS, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, State Partners from State Animal Health Officials, and NAHLN Laboratories representing Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 designations. There were 20 CC members and NAHLN staff in attendance.

Each year during the annual meeting, the CC reviews NAHLN accomplishments, updates progress on the NAHLN Strategic Plan; and identifies concerns, priorities, and recommendations for the upcoming year. Significant topics of discussion included how the NAHLN requirement for standardization in protocols and equipment affects the network’s capacity to respond to an outbreak situation. Additionally, the CC evaluated the progress that has been made in electronic messaging of test results while still acknowledging that there is room for improvement in the quality of data being received, and in the ability to mine the data. The CC also considered options for enhancing the NAHLN through a regional approach for some benefits or simply identifying the NAHLN laboratories with specific and needed capabilities. The inclusion of private laboratories through the NAHLN Specialty Laboratory designation was reviewed with both benefits and concerns being identified and discussed. Overall, the exchange was robust! Many opinions were shared as the CC brainstormed on all topics for the benefit of the NAHLN. The participation of each member of the CC was significant and appreciated!

During this meeting, the CC recognized Dr. Beth Harris as she will retire on November 15, 2024. The CC thanked Dr. Harris for her service to significantly improve and support the NAHLN over a tenure of almost 10 years. She will be missed! Congratulations, Beth!

Article submitted by Christina M. Loiacono, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Coordinator, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

NAHLN Next Generation Sequencing Symposium: Coming Spring and Summer 2025

Save the date: The NAHLN Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Symposium will consist of two parts.

Part 1 at Michigan State University: May 5 through May 9, 2025
Part 2 at Colorado State University: July 28 through Aug 1, 2025

Target audience: Technicians and data analysts interested in learning and/or increasing skills in NGS technologies.

Attendees: Two individuals per NAHLN laboratory

Experience level: Beginner to Advanced

Beginner includes those with brief to minimal exposure to NGS benchtop techniques and/or bioinformatics.
Advanced includes those with enough experience to work independently with their preferred benchtop/bioinformatics workflow and looking to expand their repertoire of skills.

Focus: Illumina platforms with hands-on training from Illumina experts and integration of Oxford Nanopore

Funding provided: All travel, per diem, supplies, and costs associated with conference will be covered by Colorado State University utilizing NAHLN funding.

Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories will send an email to NAHLN laboratory directors with more information in September 2024. Questions? Contact Dr. Ash Malmlov at ash.malmlov@colostate.edu.

Symposium organizing committee: Dr. Stephen Cassle, Dr. Kayla Conner-Halim, Dr. Beate Crossley, Dr. Kim Dodd, Dr. Steven Lakin, Dr. Christie Mayo, Dr. Ash Malmlov, and Dr. Kristy Pabilonia

Article submitted by Stephen E Cassle, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Associate Coordinator, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

Response activities

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Update

Two years into an outbreak that started in February of 2022, HPAI is keeping us on our toes with a spillover into dairy cattle. In late March, USDA, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced they were investigating an illness being seen in lactating dairy cattle in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico. By the end of that month, NVSL had confirmed the presence of HPAI in dairy cattle in multiple states. Several NAHLN laboratories were crucial during the initial stages of this spillover event with testing to rule out other potential causes, and eventually conducting preliminary testing for HPAI in these cattle.

Shortly after confirmation in Texas and Kansas, additional herds were identified in New Mexico and Idaho. Since that time, the outbreak in dairy cattle has spread across 14 states and resulted in a Federal Order focused on interstate movement of lactating dairy cattle as well as a National Dairy Herd Status program. Required testing for HPAI in dairy cattle related to both the Federal Order and the Status program must be conducted at a NAHLN laboratory. Several states have also set up mandatory herd status programs outside of the federal program, the majority of which include testing at their NAHLN laboratory.

This spillover event has provided the opportunity for the NAHLN to once again demonstrate their ability to adapt and overcome challenges to meet the needs of USDA-APHIS and the animal agriculture industry. Some examples of the network’s agile outbreak response include: testing of a new sample type, milk, which provided unique challenges; additional messaging guidance for species, sample type, submission purpose, and more; inclusion of a new assay in the middle of an outbreak requiring standard operating procedure development, proficiency testing, and contract line item number setup; and continued evolution of testing, messaging, and increased need for communication opportunities between NAHLN laboratories, the NAHLN Program Office (NPO), and the NVSL Diagnostic Virology Laboratory.

Due to rapid and ongoing changes in testing, resulting, and messaging, the NPO set up another weekly call available to NAHLN laboratories, NAHLN Q&A, which is held every Friday at 12:00pm central time (CT). The Laboratory Response Planning Call is still held at 1:00pm CT on Fridays as well; and, as part of an effort to assure dissemination of needed information without increased time requirements on laboratories, all questions/answers and covered topics from both calls are included in the NAHLN Weekly Update, which is distributed via email on the first business day of each week. The Q&A call and Laboratory Response Call are also recorded and posted in the APHIS Laboratory Portal library, available to all with a valid log-in.

The unprecedented events of the last several months have served as another example of the immense value of this network and its ability to respond to whatever need arises! As we continue to pivot as needed for the livestock HPAI outbreak, we also continue efforts to support testing of poultry and wild birds. The coming months will provide a picture of what influenza strains are circulating in our wild bird population and potentially offer a glimpse of the year ahead.

Article submitted by Kelli Almes, DVM, DACVP, Associate Coordinator, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

NAHLN ORISE Fellow Conducts Veterinary Student Field Day hosted at the Ohio Department of Agriculture Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

On April 5, 2024, Dr. Emily Janovyak, NAHLN, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow, organized a 4th year veterinary student outreach project between the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Ohio Department of Agriculture Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) to expose students to what the ADDL does and services offered to veterinarians across the state. The event included presentations from the ADDL director, Brian Baldridge, the Ohio State Animal Health Official (SAHO), Dennis Summers, a ‘What do you do next?’ case report exercise around Brucella canis, and a hands-on exercise evaluating students’ skills at packing a diagnostic sample to ‘ship’ to the ADDL. The ADDL central receiving then opened the boxes and critiqued the submissions. The Field Day was well-received by all participants and will continue in Ohio on an annual basis.

Article submitted by Dr. Emily Janovyak NAHLN ORISE Fellow and Traci Imlau NAHLn Program Assistant, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

Emerging Disease Response:

Inaugural American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians/NVSL Summer Molecular Diagnostic Symposium Deemed a Huge Success

The Inaugural American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD)/NVSL Summer Diagnostic Symposium was held June 10-13, 2024 in Ithaca, New York, and was hosted by the Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC), the official New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Finding opportunities for bench scientists to obtain continuing education and chances to collaborate with colleagues has been a long-term goal of both AAVLD and NVSL who have been leaders in laboratory workforce development. The theme for the 2024 Symposium was focused on Molecular Diagnostics with an emphasis on PCR techniques. With over 15 subject matter experts speaking at the event, benchtop diagnosticians were encouraged to attend the two-day event. The agenda included a mix of presentations, small group discussions, and facilitated exercises. There were 108 in attendance from AAVLD and NAHLN laboratories across the country. Funding was covered through a Cooperative Agreement between NVSL and AAVLD for the symposium, and travel arrangements for each participant were conducted by Colorado State University with funding from the American Rescue Plan. By most accounts, the highlight of the event was a tour of the AHDC, exploring their vast capabilities and capacities for animal diagnostic testing. A huge thanks goes to Dr. Francois Elvinger and his team, Dr. Diego Diel, Dr. Leo Caserta, and Crissy Carter for setting the bar high for future events. Due to the huge success of the symposium, plans have begun to make this an annual opportunity, at rotating locations, for benchtop diagnosticians and supervisors. A big thank you to all sponsors, attendees, presenters, and moderators for making this event a success!

Comments from the participants:

“Thank you for a wonderful Symposium meeting. My technicians and I enjoyed it very much. The organization was great, and the agenda was very thoughtful and informative. The technicians enjoyed the presentations but especially loved the group meetings and connecting with other lab-mates. They are already looking forward to next year’s symposium.”
“I wanted to take this time to thank you both for hosting and putting on such a nice symposium this past week. It was so very informative, and so beneficial to have this opportunity to meet other scientists across the NAHLN network and discuss ideas and forge relationships moving forward. The facilities and amenities were top notch, and I can't thank the two of you enough for the amazing job you both did. Thanks again!”
“First, a huge thank you to all. I felt the meeting went great, topics were of interest, social times were great, and logistics were great.”

For more information about the next AAVLD/NVSL Diagnostic Symposium, contact Dr. Stephen Cassle, NAHLN Associate Coordinator. He can be reached at Stephen.Cassle@usda.gov or 787-677-0912.

Article submitted by Stephen E Cassle, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, Associate Coordinator, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

NAHLN Offers Quality Management System Training Course

NAHLN laboratories must ensure a high degree of confidence in the quality of their test results to maintain network credibility for surveillance testing of foreign animal diseases, surge testing during an outbreak, and continued testing of samples during the outbreak recovery phase. To assist NAHLN laboratories in meeting this requirement, the NPO, in collaboration with the AAVLD, offered two Quality Management System (QMS) training courses at the NCAH facility in Ames, IA, on August 13-16, 2024.

The Foundational QMS course was held on August 13-15, 2024. Seventy-one participants representing 45 laboratories attended this three-day course, which provided an interactive class environment that included topics such as quality management system requirements, document control, records, internal auditing, corrective actions / root cause analysis, training, and equipment. New this year, the course utilized the APHIS Laboratory Portal to provide participants homework materials for classroom discussion. Presentations were enhanced to include questions to gauge understanding; and hands-on workshops, including Document Writing, Root Cause Clue, and Quality Jeopardy, provided an interactive environment to engage participants in the topics. A mock audit workshop provided the opportunity for participants to practice the knowledge and techniques taught in the lectures and workshops throughout the week.

The Advanced QMS course was held on August 13-16, 2024. Twenty-nine participants representing 26 laboratories attended this four-day course, which provided a discussion-based class environment that included topics such as client-centric activities, complaints, risk management, continuous process improvement, competence, internal audits, and management reviews. Hands-on workshops, including VDL-opoly (Monopoly), Managing Complaints, Ongoing Competency, and Advanced Quality Jeopardy, provided an interactive environment to fully immerse participants in the various areas covered by the training.

At the completion of each training, participants had the opportunity to complete evaluations and provide feedback on their experiences. The overall response to the training continues to be very positive, with the interactive workshops garnering the top scores. Feedback is used to make improvements where needed to ensure that the courses continue to meet the needs and expectations of all laboratories within the network. Based on the feedback from 2023, both courses utilized the APHIS Laboratory Portal to provide participants homework materials prior to the course for classroom discussion.

It is clear that training on the important concepts and strategies of quality management systems is needed and appreciated by the NAHLN laboratories, as the classes are well-attended every year. The Foundational course has been provided annually from 2010-2018 and was brought back in 2022 following the lifting of COVID restrictions. The Advanced course was launched in 2022 based on feedback received in the evaluations. The NAHLN QMS courses continue to be a great success, and we are already looking forward to 2025!

Article submitted by Kelly Burkhart, Microbiologist and Traci Imlau, Program Assistant, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

Laboratory Spotlights

Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Lab Director: Yugendar “Reddy” Bommineni DVM, PhD, DACVM, DACPV

Quality Manager: Dr. Luis Arzeno and Alex Nemethy

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL) exists to provide consummate scientific expertise in the detection and investigation of animal diseases that affect human and animal health. “Our goal and direction are to enhance our capabilities, as science advances, and to expand our availability to those we serve.”

The BADDL was established in 1957 and joined NAHLN at the beginning as a charter member in 2002.

What are your three biggest accomplishments as a diagnostic laboratory?

Construction of new laboratory building in 2019.
Received funding to establish an aquaculture section.
Partnering with the University of Florida to hire faculty subject matter experts.

What do you believe your biggest benefit to NAHLN is or will be?

The surveillance services we provide. Florida is a high-risk state for foreign animal diseases and other emerging disease introductions.

Laboratory Background: What is your laboratory’s specialty, area of focus?

Our laboratory primarily focuses on Agricultural/Livestock testing. We offer a wide range of tests covering diverse animal species.

Total number of staff?

53 personnel

Number of staff dedicated to NAHLN activities?

10 staff

Photos provided by Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Article submitted by Traci Imlau, Program Assistant, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Lab Director: Keith Poulsen DVM PhD, DACVIM

Quality Manager: Kristin Zuzek

The animal health diagnostic laboratory in Wisconsin started in the 1930’s. Our Barron facility was started in 1958. In 1999, the laboratory was moved to be administered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and renamed the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL). We moved into our current facility in Barron in 1991 and our facility in Madison in 2006. We are excited about major renovations and additions to the Barron laboratory that are currently in the planning stages. The WVDL joined the NAHLN at the beginning as a charter member in 2002.

What are your three biggest accomplishments as a diagnostic laboratory?

The most important part of WVDL is our team. We are all dedicated to serving our stakeholders and working with our collaborators in the NAHLN and AAVLD. We are proud to continue growing with new opportunities to make a difference for public and animal health. In the past 5 years, we have responded to multiple foreign animal disease outbreaks to support business continuity, built a human COVID diagnostic laboratory to keep the University of Wisconsin-Madison running (and decommissioned it – whew!), and have grown our brand as a leader and critical tool for management of infectious disease control with exceptional quality and customer service.

All of our Madison and Barron Laboratory staff have key roles in keeping WVDL running and growing, and we are looking forward to the next 5 years of working with NAHLN!

What do you believe your biggest benefit to NAHLN is or will be?

The biggest contribution for WVDL to the NAHLN is the collaboration of our staff. We look forward to sharing our expertise and experience to support the NAHLN and our peer laboratories. We also actively support NAHLN in government relations and hope to see continued growth in support and recognition of how critical NAHLN is for public and animal health.

Laboratory Background: What is your laboratory’s specialty, area of focus?

Wisconsin is the “Dairy State,” and we focus on infectious disease diagnostics for cattle, serving Wisconsin Veterinarians. We specialize in regulatory testing to facilitate export of cattle and bovine germplasm internationally. WVDL also has an important role for Wisconsin poultry industries, and we are looking to grow in additional areas to support shelter medicine, aquaculture, small ruminant health, and equine diagnostics.

Total number of staff?

WVDL has ~95 full-time staff in Madison and Barron. We also have seasonal staff to help with the Chronic Wasting Disease testing surge and a large contingent of student workers, so in total we are closer to 135.

Number of staff dedicated to NAHLN activities?

It is hard to put an exact number on the number of people dedicated to NAHLN. We have 15 proficiency-tested microbiologists for NAHLN-scope diseases and additional staff for our transmissible spongiform encephalopathy work. However, when planning, training, or responding to NAHLN work, the entire laboratory is directly involved or supporting the regular caseload and infrastructure to make the magic happen.

Photos provided by Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Article submitted by Traci Imlau, Program Assistant, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.

Getting to Know Us –

Dr. Kimberly A Lehman

Diagnostic Bacteriology & Pathology Laboratory Director (DBPL)

Dr. Kimberly Lehman received a B.S. in Animal Science with an emphasis on food science/meat science and continued to veterinary school at Iowa State University. While in veterinary school, Dr. Lehman was accepted to the dual degree program with the University of Iowa and attained her Master of Public Health. After several years in private and public practice, Dr. Lehman applied to take the American College of Veterinary Preventative Medicine boards and passed in 2022.

Dr. Lehman has always been interested in veterinary medicine, so she did all the animal jobs from kennel/barn help to private practice (mixed animal clinic) post veterinary school graduation. While in veterinary school, Dr. Lehman did a summer internship with Food Safety and Inspection Service that opened the door to public practice opportunities. Dr. Lehman transitioned to public practice in 2019 as a Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) in the Mycobacteria and Brucella section of NVSL. She then transitioned to the VMO Core supervisor and became the DBPL Director in September 2023.

Before working at your current position, what was the most unusual or interesting job you had?

As a private practice veterinarian, no two days were the same and you never knew what would happen next. In addition to the daily fun cases, Dr. Lehman got to write health papers for tigers, Tuberculosis test camels, and do a C-section on an ornery zebu that tried to attack/run her out of her pen every step of the way.

Are there any random facts about yourself that you could share with us?

Dr. Lehman keeps busy with supporting her kiddos and their activities, from helping coach various sport teams (T-ball/baseball, soccer) to being a den leader and assistant cubmaster with the local scout group. When Dr. Lehman has free time, she enjoys reading, baking (and decorating!), hunting, crafting, and attempting to garden, but generally being outdoors when the weather permits.

What family information would you like to share?

Dr. Lehman lives on an acreage with her husband Levi and two boys Jeremiah (JD) and Isaiah, indoor cat Mokey, outdoor cat Minion, black lab Kadu, red heeler Lucy, and their herd of Simmental cattle.

What are your current work duties in regard to NAHLN?

The DBPL is a supportive reference laboratory that provides proficiency tests (NAHLN and non-NAHLN) to laboratories, and she generally supports her NAHLN colleagues.

Article submitted by Traci Imlau, Program Assistant, NAHLN Program Office, USDA APHIS VS D & B, NVSL.