The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Description

Isolated regions of the world are often at the forefront of emerging diseases and, to be effective in disease prevention and control, they require basic resources for field sample collection and testing in conditions vastly different from those available in well-equipped reference laboratories. Technical support for field extension staff, and the availability of reliable diagnostic testing facilities, are also vital to ensure sustainable livelihoods for subsistence farmers.

This technical handbook aims to provide an easy to follow overview of the basic laboratory techniques, and sample collection guidelines, that we consider useful for staff working in district veterinary facilities in regions that lack the infrastructural support available for staff with ready access to national veterinary laboratories. The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition provides the reader with a summary of basic diagnostic procedures and sample submission guidelines and also advocates for improved communication between animal health extension staff, veterinarians, laboratory staff and farmers. Case studies are used to illustrate key concepts.

Basic laboratory disciplines are covered including parasitology, microbiology, haematology, serology / immunology and pathology. There are also sections on laboratory infrastructure and equipment. There is additional content on common clinical presentations, One Health approaches to Antimicrobial resistance, the role of the OIE, disease surveillance and wildlife disease monitoring. Supplementary tools for use in the field and laboratory are also available online.

This new edition of The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual is updated to include content on pen side tests, selection and integration of new technologies, engagement with international agencies and programs, and the One Health approach to disease monitoring.

Animal Health extension staff in isolated regions of the world, and NGOs, can benefit from this book as well as policy makers supporting veterinary work in rural areas and veterinary para-professionals involved in One Health work.

Susan C. Cork is a veterinarian with more than 25 years of practical field experience in a range of countries. She is currently the head of the department and a professor of ecosystem and public health at the University of Calgary.

Roy W. Halliwell is an independent consultant with more than 40 years experience in the development of medical and veterinary laboratory services in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Contents

1. Setting up and using a laboratory service
2. The selection, use, maintenance and quality control of laboratory equipment and suppliers
3. Parasitology
4. Microbiology
5. Haematology
6. Serology and Immunology
7. Clinical chemistry
8. Pathology/ Cytology
9. Epidemiology
10. Common Clinical Problems
11. Wildlife health and disease surveillance
12. Antimicrobial resistance: a threat to human and animal health
13. The World Organisation for Animal Health’s core missions in relation to laboratories working in the veterinary domain
14. Arthropod vectors and arthropod-borne diseases