A VALUABLE TOOL FOR YOU GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE CALIFORNIA ANIMAL HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY LAB
by Gabriele Maier, DVM, Ph.D., Katherine Watson, DVM, Omar Gonzales-Viera, DVM and Ashley Hill, DVM, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine California is in the fortunate position of having a network of diagnostic laboratories known as the California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) lab system with four locations: Davis, Turlock, Tulare and San Bernadino. The function of these labs is to safeguard public health and to protect the health of California’s livestock and poultry by detecting and diagnosing animal diseases. Personnel at CAHFS are proficient at recognizing many regulatory and foreign animal diseases (e.g. bovine tuberculosis or virulent Newcastle disease in poultry). Early detection of these diseases limits their impact locally and globally. CAHFS partners with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), UC Davis, veterinarians and producers to do active disease surveillance (e.g. live bird market avian influenza sampling) and testing necessary for interstate movement or change of ownership in cattle (e.g. Brucella and trichomonosis). Apart from regulatory testing, the lab offers many other services that researchers, veterinarians and producers can take advantage of. It is always best to work with your veterinarian when faced with a herd problem or sudden death, but sometimes producers need to submit samples or carcasses themselves. A word from the new director at CAHFS, Ashley Hill, DVM, Ph.D. “Our mission is to lead diagnostics globally, and protect California locally. To do that, CAHFS
10 California Cattleman April 2022
provides quality services that protect animal health and performance, public health and the food supply. “After 10 years as CAHFS’ Epidemiologist and section head for the Immunology section, I’m excited to take on the responsibility of directing the laboratory system. One of my goals is to build stronger connections with California’s livestock industries to ensure that we are meeting your needs. I’ve enjoyed the past two CCA statewide meetings and look forward to many more. “We at CAHFS are here to keep California’s livestock and poultry healthy and productive. If you are experiencing either ongoing or sudden issues affecting the health or productivity of your cattle, we want to help. We can accept whole carcasses as well as samples of blood, animal tissue or feeds. Our pathologists are experts at examining animal tissues for evidence of diseases or abnormalities. “We can test for a wide range of infectious and toxic substances using state of the art equipment – but most importantly, we have friendly, knowledgeable people who are happy to talk to you and your veterinarian. We can help you and your vet figure out what to submit as well as explain what we’ve found. Our goal is to provide information that you can use. Once you know what you’re dealing with, whether it’s nutritional, infectious or toxic, you and your veterinarian can figure out how to respond.” Submitting the right samples Pathologists at CAHFS perform necropsies on deceased animals, but staff and veterinary pathologists
