Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual

Susan Cork is a veterinarian with over 25 years of practical field experience in a range of countries. She has expertise in the development and application of diagnostic technologies in both domestic and wild animals and has a special interest in zoonotic diseases and public health. Susan has worked in both government and non-governmental organisations in Southern Asia and in the Asia-Pacific region and has held several academic appointments in the United Kingdom. Susan is currently Head of the Department and Professor of Ecosystem and Public Health at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada. Roy Halliwell is currently an independent consultant with over 40 years experience in the development of medical and veterinary laboratory services in a number of countries in Asia, Africa and South America. He has successfully developed and implemented a number of laboratory technician training programs in a wide range of countries including Yemen, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Malawi and Tanzania. Roy has a keen interest in making sure that things work well at a practical level with good integration between the diagnostic laboratories and the animal health extension services. In particular, to see that laboratories are established and equipment is provided with due regard to local conditions and durability.

SETTING UP AND USING A LABORATORY SERVICE * The role of the veterinary laboratory network within animal health extension services * Staff requirements * Safety in the laboratory * Sample selection, submission and clinical diagnosis * Quality assurance and control * Recording, reporting and interpretation of results * THE SELECTION, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES * Criteria for the selection of appropriate equipment * Specific equipment * A note on ELISA tests and specialised technology * General laboratory ware * PARASITOLOGY * General helminthology * Helminths of veterinary importance * Introduction to protozoal organisms * Protozoal diseases * Haemoparasites of ruminants * Introduction to veterinary entomology * Ticks and tick borne disease * Mites and mange * Lice and other insects * MICROBIOLOGY * General sample collection, preparation and handling * Introduction to bacteriology * Sample collection, preparation and submission * Culture and identification of bacteria * Antibiotic sensitivity and antibiotic use * Mycology * Virology * MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL * HAEMATOLOGY * Collection of specimens * Cell counts and white cell indices * Red cell indices and anaemia * Collection and examination of smears from bone marrow * Determination of normal values * Interpretation of results * A note on automated systems * SEROLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY * Antigens and antibodies * Tests used to measure antibody/antigen reactions * Quality control and interpretation of results * Epidemiology and sampling plans * CLINICAL CHEMISTRY * Blood sample collection and handling * General health assessment * Colorimetry explained * Interpretation of clinical chemistry results * General principles for basic biochemical tests * Metabolic disease and endocrine disorders * Mineral and trace element assays * Urinalysis * Toxicology * PATHOLOGY/SEROLOGY * General approach to necropsy cases * Performing the necropsy * Examination of specific body systems * Histopathology * Cytology * Examination of samples and interpretation of results * SPECIAL TOPICS * Introduction to epidemiology * Disease surveillance systems; resources and reporting requirements * Common clinical problems * Wildlife health monitoring and disease surveillance * Arthropod vectors and arthropod borne diseases * APPENDICES * Zoonotic diseases * Post-mortem and sample submission forms * Some micro-organisms commonly isolated from animals * Examples of laboratory equipment suppliers * Index