GD Update - April 2016

teaming up for animal health

GD-magazine - April 2016 - No. 1

update

intervieW: tatiana Kopniak

ИНТервьЮ: Татьяна Копняк soCietY

vietnam’s challenge of improving pork quality

eDuCAtion

GD trains laboratory technicians in ethiopia

Teaming up for animal health

Diagnostic services Contract research Research & Development Training & Consultancy

Team up with us for animal health Good health is in the interest of animals and contributes to sustainable farming. We offer you more than ninety years of experience in animal health. We support farm managers and their veterinarians, industrial customers and governments, with laboratory diagnostic services, animal health programmes, contract research, research and development, training in our GD Academy and consultancy. Based in Deventer the Netherlands, GD Animal Health exploits one of largest and most modern veterinary laboratories in the world. Our employees are international experts in the fields of animal diseases, pathology, histopathology, microbiology, virology, molecular biology, serology, chemistry and toxicology.

We would like you, to team up with us for animal health. Get in touch at www.gdanimalhealth.com

GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, the Netherlands, T. +31 (0)570-63 33 91, F. +31 (0)570-63 41 04 www.gdanimalhealth.com, info@gdanimalhealth.com

foreword

Getting together Ahead of us lies a new year and a new season of trade fairs and conferences: a place to meet customers and clients, and a great way to strengthen the relationships.

Because as partners in animal health we love to get together.

Not only ‘on neutral ground’, but also increasingly on home turf. We have for instance already welcomed many of you in Deventer for our GD Academy courses. Not only more people every year, but also from increasingly differing fields. For example, from the animalfeed industry, veterinarians and laboratory staff from major integrators, pharmaceuticals and government. It’s great to see how confident you are in us and how you trust us with trans­ ferring your knowledge. We always enjoy welcoming you.

And although you continue to visit us, we are traveling to you more often, too. And we see opportunities and chances every-

where we go. In Russia, for example, where we are soon due to begin training courses for and monitoring of a major poultry farm. But we are looking to partner with you in Belarus, Ukraine, Asia and the Middle East as well. We are not only literally pushing the boundaries, but we’re breaking through language barriers, too. In this edition, you’ll read the interview with Tatyana Kopniak, our project coordinator CIS. I’m delighted to see that, across the planet, optimum animal performance and animal health go hand in hand. As you know, we’d love to help develop that further. Please don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting, as we’re stronger when we work together.

We look forward as ever to meeting you!

Jan-Willem de Vries, Manager International and Large Accounts

content 04 PARR: unravelling lymphoproliferative disorders CONTACT INFORMATION GD ANIMAL HEALTH

06 Introducing Tatiana Kopniak

If you want to know more about what GD Animal Health can do for you, please

Знакомство: Татьяна Копняк

contact one of our staff members, responsible for international sales:

07

Jan Willem de Vries,

Hans Lambers,

Manager International and

Senior account manager

Large Accounts

Feed

07 Utrecht University and GD win award

Annemiek Kolkman,

Fanny Nieuwenhuis,

08 Passionate and skilled

Senior account manager

Account manager Pharmacy

Laboratories and Test kit

10 Poultry health strengthening in

manufacturers

Eveline Peereboom,

Maaike Vrijlink,

Business manager

Sales support Pharmacy

08

Pharmacy

Ethiopia

11 Improving quality of Vietnamese pork production

PHONE In the Netherlands 0900-1770, Outside the Netherlands +31 (0)570-63 33 91 FAX + 31 (0)570-63 41 04 | E-MAIL info@gdanimalhealth.com

12 News and communications

WEBSITE www.gdanimalhealth.com | MAIL ADDRESS GD, P.O. Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, the Netherlands | DELIVERY ADDRESS FOR SAMPLES AND POST MORTEM MATERIAL GD, CMD, Arnsbergstraat 7, 7418 EZ Deventer, the Netherlands.

11

Update, April 2016 - 3

Evert van Garderen DVM, PhD, ECVP diplomate Veterinary Pathologist, Laboratory for Pathology and Histology, GD Animal Health Evert’s expertise include oncologic pathology and molecular oncologic pathology.

PARR: unravelling lymphoproliferative disorders Lymphoproliferative disorders represent a significant clinical problem in dogs.

From a therapeutic viewpoint, it is crucial to differentiate neoplastic lymphoid disease, i.e. the lymphomas and leukaemias, from reactive, hyperplastic lymphoid conditions. Nevertheless, the unravelling of nodal or extranodal lymphoproliferative conditions frequently represents a diagnostic challenge for veterinary pathologists.

Veterinary pathologists first had to rely on cytology, immunocytology, histology and immunohistochemistry to solve this differential diagnosis. Whereas the combination of histopathology and immunohistochemistry is a powerful tool to accurately assess the neoplastic or reactive nature of a lymphoproliferative condition in a significant percentage of such cases, the essence of lymphoid neoplasia, i.e. the clonal expansion of neoplastic lymphoid cells, cannot be proved by this microscopic approach (Fig. 1).

Differentiating Lymphoid Proliferations According to the WHO classification system, a large number of different lymphocytic neoplasms are currently identified in companion animals. Several of these subtypes, such as small cell type lymphomas with low mitotic index, the indolent follicular lymphomas of B-cell origin and the indolent T-zone lymphoma, may be difficult to recognise as neoplastic lymphoid proliferations by microscopy only, even if immunohistochemistry for CD3 and CD79a is applied. Vice versa, nodal atypical hyperplasia strongly mimics lymphoma. Finally, small tissue samples of lymph nodes, such as TruCut biopsies frequently cause difficulties for the pathologist in assessing the nature of a lymphoproliferative condition, because such small biopsies may lack sufficient architectural information to allow a robust microscopic analysis. In all of these cases in which microscopic assessment by a well-trained and experienced pathologist does not clearly resolve the differential diagnosis dilemma, our PARR test for both formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues and air-dried smears of fine-needle aspirates will supply additional information about the clonal, i.e. neoplastic nature of lymphoid cells, or the polyclonal, i.e. reactive nature of lesional lymphoid cells.

4 - Update, April 2016

science

Evert van Garderen, veterinary pathologist

Basics of PARR PARR is the abbreviation of PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement. Antigen receptor rearrangement represents a crucial phase in the biology of B-cells and T-cells, since this process enables the generation of the enormous antigen receptor diversity that is a hallmark of the lymphoid system. This diversity is generated through recombinations in the DNA that encode the immunoglobulins in B-cells and the T-cell receptor (TCR) in T-cells. PARR for B-cell probing is based upon recombinations that occur in the V, D and J genes that encode the antigen-binding sites of the immunoglobulin heavy chains (IgH), whereas in PARR for T-cell probing the DNA segments that are a result of V and J genes recombinations for the -TCR gene are amplified. The resulting PCR products can be separated and visualised on agarose gel, but superior results are achieved by capillary electrophoresis (Fig. 2).

Sensitivity and Specificity of PARR Our PARR is based upon the latest information on primer sequences. A large series of lymphoproliferative lesions have been tested in our PARR, including the various nodal and extranodal lymphoma subtypes, hyperplastic lymph nodes, atypical hyperplasia and small TruCut biopsies. Also non-relevant solid carcinomas, soft tissue sarcomas and non-lymphoid round cell tumours were included in this test series. Overall, the specificity is 90 per cent and sensitivity 92 per cent. Inherent to these sensitivity and specificity data, it is therefore always prudent to interpret PARR data in conjunction with other findings, such as history, histopathology and immunohistochemistry.

Figure 1. High-power magnification of small intes­ tinal mucosa that shows the presence of a highly cellular lymphocytic population. This population is composed of small lymphocytic cells with little cellular abnormality. Mitotic figures are virtually absent.

Typical microscopic tools such as histology and immunohistochemistry that allow the detection of the T-cell marker CD3 and the B-cell marker CD79a do not provide definite proof to differentiate a neoplastic state from a hyperplastic state, resulting in a differential diagnosis dilemma of small cell type lymphoma or lymphocytic enteritis. This differential diagnosis can be solved satisfactorily by investigating the clonal or polyclonal nature of the lymphocytic cells using PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR).

A. PARR for B-cell probing. The single large peak indicates clonal rearrangement of IgH genes, indicating B-cell lymphoma. A similar result can be obtained in T-cell lymphomas if primer sets for T-cell probing are used.

B. Several small peaks indicate the presence of polyclonal antigen receptor rearrangements, indicative of lymphoid hyperplasia.

A

B

Update, April 2016 - 5

international

Judith Oudkerk, editor

Introducing: Tatiana Kopniak, GD representative for Ukraine and Russian speaking counties At GD Animal Health we always try to find ways to share our knowledge, despite the several language barriers we encounter. That is why we ask people like Tatiana Kopniak to speak for us.

Experience “I have over 10 years of experience in agricultural business. That’s why GD asked me to represent them in Ukraine and Russian speaking countries.

Having a local representative who knows the language and culture helps conducting business.

I have been working for Dutch companies in Ukraine for over 10 years, so I am able to build bridges and establish reliable relationships.”

Future achievements “First I need to understand more about GD. And that’s why I’m learning more about what they do: their research, their lab-tests and GD Academy. I also study their magazines.

These magazines are a great tool to spread their knowledge and promote GD and GD Academy. I look forward to help GD achieve their ultimate goal: to be the most important player on the agricultural market in Europe and Russia.”

Sharing knowledge “With my knowledge and experience, I will be able to organise fairs, seminars and conferences for GD in Russian speaking countries, so they become a visible player in the market.

This way, GD can do what it does best: sharing knowledge.”

If you would like to contact Tatiana, please email Jan Willem de Vries, manager International & Large Accounts, at JW.deVries@gdanimalhealth.com

6 - Update, April 2016

Знакомство: Татьяна Копняк, представитель GD в русскоязычных странах Несмотря на существующие языковые барьеры в некоторых странах, GD Animal Health всегда стремится к обмену опытом и знаниями. Именно поэтому, такие люди, как Татьяна Копняк, представляют интересы нашей компании и говорят от ее имени. Опыт “У меня более чем 10-летний опыт работы в сельскохозяйственной сфере. Это одна из причин, почему GD предложила мне представлять ее интересы в Украине и других русскоязычных странах. Компания уверена, что наличие регионального представителя со знаниями языка и национальных особенностей способствует более эффективному ведению бизнеса. В процессе многолетнего сотрудничества с различными голландскими компаниями я приобрела бесценный опыт налаживания надежных партнерских отношений». Достижение новых целей “Как любому новичку, мне необходимо больше узнать о деятельности GD, услугах и лабораторных исследованиях. Поэтому я тщательно изучаю информационные материалы, в том числе и корпоративный журнал, который является отличным инструментом для распространения знаний, развития деятельности компании и GD Академии. Я уверена, что своей деятельностью в будущем буду способствовать достижению глобальной цели GD: быть самым важным игроком сельскохозяйственного рынка Европы и России”. Обмен знаниями “Моя задача, используя приобретенные знания и навыки, сопровождать участие GD в выставках, организовывать профильные семинары и конференции в целях эффективного позиционирования компании на рынках русскоязычных стран. Таким образом, GD сможет делать то, в чем является лучшей: делиться знаниями и опытом”.

research

Tom Duinhof, veterinarian and Judith Oudkerk, editor

Utrecht University and GD win award and Lucia Dieste Pérez from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

They are going to research the development of circovirus infections on Dutch sow farms. The aim is to answer the question: how many piglets are infected at birth? Information is lacking at this point in the Netherlands. More knowledge about the number of piglets born infected can influence the approach of circovirus infections. For example, can vaccination be applied later if it appears that the percentage of infected piglets at birth is very low? Or can stricter hygiene management at the sow farm lead to reducing circovirus infections? Not only will the knowledge about circovirus be increased, but there will also be new information about how the containment of this virus can be improved. This will eventually lead to better animal welfare and better animal health.

In close collaboration with Utrecht University, GD Animal Health has set up a research proposal that won BoehringerIngelheim’s PCV2 Research award. This annual award is granted to the three best research proposals aimed at circovirus (PCV2) in pigs.

PCV2 is a virus that is endemic on nearly every pig farm and can lead to clinical problems such as pneumonia and growth retardation on some farms. Utrecht University and GD will conduct a research project focusing on the start of the infection chain of PCV2. It is presumed that the spread of the virus on farms can mainly be explained by the number of piglets that are born infected.

The research proposal For this project, our experts Kees van Maanen and Tom Duinhof work closely together with researchers Tijs Tobias, Arie van Nes

GD’s expertise GD is able to conduct various kinds of research, due to our inhouse experts in all veterinary and laboratory disciplines, including molecular and immunological expertise in the R&D department. GD will conduct laboratory research for this study: PCR and analyses of IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA technique.

It is the second time that GD has won the PCV2 award. In 2008, Gerard Wellenberg won the prize for research into the relation between circovirus infections and enteritis.

Wondering what GD can do for you? Contact us at: info@gdanimalhealth.com

Update, April 2016 - 7

GD’s specialists:

Spreading know­ledge about pig health The specialists of GD Animal Health focus their daily work on gathering and spreading their extensive knowledge of animal diseases. How did they develop their passion and what are their focus areas? Every edition of the GD Update concentrates on a specific sector. This time: the experts of the pig health department.

Crossing Borders “I have been a veterinarian for 17 years, I am very engaged in pig health management and have been working as a consultant in the Netherlands and Europe for many years. Being a consultant is a solitary profession. Therefore I prefer having the support of a large organisation. This gives me the opportunity to achieve my goal: improving pig health management. There is so

Manon Houben, DVM Pig veterinarian Passionate about pig health management and public health

8 - Update, April 2016

much expertise at GD, so many colleagues. That makes it easier to reach and inform others within the company and send out information to the world.”

Committing to pig health management “I am passionate about improving pig health management, because healthy pigs and good animal welfare lead to healthy meat and good public health. Pig farming has become a professional sport. This means that farmers need to have an excellent network of professionals to support them, including veterinarians, feed suppliers and fertility experts. Furthermore, borders are fading and we need to broaden our horizons.”

Customer minded “Because I now work at GD, it’s easier to bring people together, both in the Netherlands and internationally. I want to be able to work in a customer-minded way, offering tailor-made solutions, and be supportive in areas such as knowledge, laboratory analyses and current developments, focusing on questions arising from the field of professional pig producers and other professionals working in the pig industry. My role is to connect veterinarians, farmers and the people of GD to increase the speed of knowledge.”

“Healthy pigs lead to healthy meat and good public health”

Judith Oudkerk, editor

passionate & skilled

Tom Duinhof, DVM Specialist in respiratory disease, monitoring and consultancy in pigs

Background “During my 23 years at GD I have seen and accomplished a lot in the field of pig health and disease. I started out as a veterinary practitioner for two and a half years, after which I became a meat inspector for the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. During a period of Classical Swine Fever and Swine Vesicular Disease outbreaks in 1992 I took the position of specialised pig veterinarian at GD Animal Health and I have been enjoying working here ever since.”

Monitoring and research “My main responsibility is to follow the development of diseases in Europe, called ‘monitoring’. This means that I keep track of all notifiable diseases in Europe, like African Swine Fever, so we are always up-to-date on the developments in Europe. We want to know on time if the disease is spreading towards Western Europe so we can advise the Dutch government and pig industry to take preventative measures.

Besides monitoring, I do research concerning viral diseases, with a focus on PRRS. This knowledge is what we at GD strive to share annually at conferences worldwide.”

Personal aim “My personal aim is to share and explain to pig farmers how they can improve their PRRS situation on the farm. I want to make sure that the farmer knows what’s going on and what he can do to control or prevent the introduction of viral diseases on the farm. I want to make knowledge practical for the farmer.

And I won’t be satisfied until every pig farmer in the Netherlands understands that PRRS is not an unsolvable problem!”

Jobke van Hout, DVM Focus areas: bacteria, antimicrobial drugs and antibiotic resistance

Studying veterinary medicine “I have always been interested in veterinary science and research. Interest in the research part was triggered when I was asked to participate in a research project after my bachelor’s degree. This project focused on oxygen deficiency due to asphyxia during birth in new-born piglets. Interestingly the project was in collaboration with a Dutch children’s hospital, thus connecting veterinary and human science.“ Research and education “After my master’s degree I was asked to continue the research project and teach veterinary pharmacology, pharmacy and toxicology at Utrecht University. This combination of teaching and conducting research was ideal, with critical questions from students continuously improving my level of knowledge and inspiring my research projects. Furthermore, combining research questions with practical issues to finally reach solutions for problems on farms was something that gave me great satisfaction. Everything in the agricultural sector is united: economics, animal welfare, animal health and public health. It can be quite complicated, but very interesting.”

Linking research to practice “At GD I mainly conduct research for third parties. Each research question is different and new questions arise every time, and this is what I enjoy most. My specific areas of expertise are bacteria, antimicrobial drugs and antibiotic resistance. My drive is to link research to practice. I. e. how can research be translated into practical solutions for farmers and veterinarians to further improve pig health and welfare. GD is the perfect place to do research, to link research to practical solutions and inform the agricultural industry about the developments.”

Update, April 2016 - 9

education

Poultry health strengthening in Ethiopia The Ethiopian government aims to increase its poultry meat and egg production by 250 per cent by 2020. Therefore the Dutch government asked the Central Veterinary Institute (CVI) and GD to work together in Ethiopia in order to improve poultry health throughout the country. The aim of the project was to have the government and private industry working together to improve cooperation and communication.

The Ethiopian government wants to transform the poultry industry from traditional backyard family poultry to an improved family poultry subsystem and specialised commercial scale broiler and layer units. Poultry diseases are a major threat to the profitability and the expansion of the poultry sector, but little is known about diseases circulating in both the commercial and the backyard sector.

Major gaps in disease control CVI and GD specialists analysed the Ethiopian situation and found that there are inefficient animal health services, low animal health extension coverage and lack of specialised poultry veterinarians. The inability of the existing laboratories to diagnose important economical poultry diseases like Marek’s disease, ND, Coryza and Gumboro, due to insufficient equipment, add to the problem. Furthermore, disease surveillance is based on passive surveillance.

10 - Update, April 2016

Teun Fabri, veterinarian and Gerard Wellenberg, consultant

Training and support GD provided the National Animal Health Disease Investigation Centre (NAHDIC) with reagents and test material and GD and CVI trained laboratory technicians in performing tests under quality conditions. GD also provided disease recognition training for field veterinarians, NAHDIC and professors at the veterinary university.

Furthermore, the programme supported training in the field, sampling techniques and post-mortem examinations. GD focused on the two diseases that have the greatest impact on the profitability of the poultry industry: Marek’s and Gumboro disease.

Surveillance and monitoring During the project, Ethiopian epidemiologists worked with the Dutch trainers to set up a surveillance and prevention programme for Marek’s and Gumboro disease, which also serves as a template for other diseases. This included optimal timing of Gumboro vaccinations in pullets, monitoring and checking the effect of interventions and vaccinations. The project was evaluated by the Dutch agricultural official as an example of practical training projects which will support both the Ethiopian government and the private poultry industry.

The Ethiopian government has a food security strategy that aims at food selfsufficiency for the country’s population, for which certain targets need to be met:

Increase percentage by 2020 8000

250

Poultry meat and egg production

700

Number of layer units

1100

Poultry meat and egg production

Number of layer units

Jobke van Hout, specialist pig health

society

Improving quality of Vietnamese pork production

Vietnam faces the challenge of improving the quality of pork production. One of the issues is the realisation of a comprehensive system to check for residues of forbidden substances used in pigs. This system is crucial to enable Vietnam to become a pork-exporting country. The Vietnamese government asked the Dutch government to assist in improving the pig industry. This is where GD comes in.

Antimicrobial drugs Besides the use of hormonal growth promoters, antimicrobial drugs are also important in Vietnamese pig production. These drugs can be used for three different purposes: growth promotion, preventive use and curative use. A practical issue in this respect is the addition of antimicrobial drugs to animal feed.

Several active compounds and their withdrawal times are mentioned on the labels of feed bags. However, not every active compound has actually been added to the feed. Therefore it’s very difficult to prudently use antimicrobials on the farm: it’s not known precisely which antimicrobials (or anti-coccidials) are included in the feed, hampering the correct choice for treatment of animals in case of disease. In addition, hardly any additional diagnostics (bacteriological examination or antimicrobial sensitivity testing) are conducted. Consequently, the causative agent of disease remains unknown and there is no evidence to decide 1) whether antimicrobials drugs are useful (yes in case of bacteria, no in case of viruses) and 2) which specific antimicrobial compound is the drug of choice in a specific case of disease.

GD trains Vietnamese extension staff (such as veterinarians and animal health workers) on topics like prudent use of antimicrobial drugs and reduction of forbidden substances. These substan­ ces, including hormonal growth promoters such as clenbuterol and ractopamine, are not allowed in pigs. A relative high body weight and well-developed muscle tissue at a relative young age may point towards use of these substances, but it’s difficult to demonstrate the use of these substances only by inspecting the animals. However, urine samples can be used to demonstrate presence of forbidden substances. In addition, sampling at the slaughterhouse is possible.

Public health Thus a comprehensive system to check for residues of forbidden substances and antimicrobial drugs including reinforcement in case of violations and a prudent use of antimicrobial drugs, forms the basis for Vietnam to become a pork-exporting country.

In addition, as prosperity is improving, more and more Vietnamese people are raising questions about the quality of their meat. Whereas the project currently focusses on residues (of both forbidden substances and antimicrobial drugs), Vietnam will also be faced with other questions related to public health, such as antimicrobial resistance in pigs.

Update, April 2016 - 11

news & communications

GD Animal Health and MHP sign agreement

GD at World Buiatrics Congress

MHP (Mironovsky Hleboprodukt), the largest poultry farm in Ukraine, and GD Animal Health signed an agreement to collaborate in monitoring animal health, education and certification of the veterinary staff and other animal health related activities. Other focus areas are supporting the MHP internal laboratory processes by providing certified proficiency tests, education in ISO 17025 standards and providing knowledge about test result interpretation and clinical relevance of test results.

Professor Theo Lam from GD will be one of the keynote speakers at the World Buiatrics Congress, which is held in Dublin, Ireland from July 3rd till 8th. His topic ‘R.E.S.E.T. the mindset on antibiotic usage in dairy cows’ will focus on reducing antimicrobial usage by means of Rules, Economics, Social pressure, Education and Tools. Thus changing the way of thinking when applying antibiotics. Prof. Theo Lam is one of GD’s leading experts on cattle health. GD will also be one of the exhibitioners at WBC and, of course, our experts will visit the congress. We invite everyone to come meet us and get acquainted with our services. GD’s focus areas on cattle are udder health, hoof health, milk quality and cattle diseases such as IBR and BVD. If you would like to make an appointment, please email Annemiek Kolkman at a.kolkman@gdanimalhealth.com.

GD owns one of the largest veterinary laboratories in the world in which we perform over 4 million laboratory analyses annually. Furthermore, we offer laboratories the opportunity to participate in international proficiency testing schemes (PTS).

Hans Lambers new senior account manager Feed Hans Lambers has been appointed senior account manager Feed at the International & Large Accounts (ILA) department. In this role he represents the three sectors cattle, pigs and poultry at GD. He will focus on building professional and structural business relations with the feed and additives industry.

Hans studied International Agricultural Trade and has ample international business experience. Hans is GD’s contact person for any feed or additive related business.

Contact information: h.lambers@gdanimalhealth.com

More information: www.wbc2016.com

GD present at EAVLD GD has a good international reputation as a contract research organisation for applied research, education and consultancy. Our education and training institute ‘GD Academy’ organises training sessions about animal health for farmers and their veterinarians and for the pharmaceutical and feed industries.

The courses comprise both theory and practice of veterinarian diagnostics and laboratory research.

GD Animal Health will be present as one of the exhibitors at the 4th European Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (EAVLD) symposium on veterinary diagnostics, held from 6 to 9 November 2016 in Prague, Czech Republic.

We look forward to meeting you there.

If you would like to make an appointment, please send an email to Annemiek Kolkman via a.kolkman@gdanimalhealth.com.

More information:

More information:

www.gdanimalhealth.com/academy

www.eavld2016.org

GD at VIV Sjaak de Wit represented GD at the VIV in Abu Dhabi in February. Focussing on viruses he explained the impact they can have on the intestinal system in poultry, as there is often more than one virus present, thus increasing the chance of illness. Important is to detect viruses early, improve knowledge on maternally derived antibodies and feed ingredients.

Sjaak de Wit is one of GD’s leading researchers on poultry and viruses.