For the 2nd year in a row, a group of scientists and managers involved in animal health laboratory work met in Ottawa to network and share information.
Those attending the May meeting came from laboratories at the 4 veterinary colleges, the provinces, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). They gathered to discuss reports of various diseases; new and continuing trends; and approaches for strengthening relationships to benefit animal health, the livestock industries of Canada, and human health.
The connection between human and animal health was central to the theme of the opening keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Clarke, executive director of the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment at the Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa. In his address, entitled The Human-Animal Interface, Dr. Clarke underlined that there has never been a better time for animal health specialists to become an important part of Canada's public health system.
After giving an overview of the Institute of Population Health, Dr. Clarke described current human health concerns, such as the increase in diabetes, and stressed the need to expand the links between human and animal medicine. He said at least 50% of the 1700 agents known to infect humans have an animal or insect vector reservoir.
Other keynote presentations included “The Role of AAVLD In the New US National Animal Health Laboratory Network” by Dr. Terry McElwain, president of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians; “The Future of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories” by Dr. Jim Bellamy, professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College; and “Global Trends in Animal Disease and the Response of International Organizations” by Dr. Sarah Kahn, director, Animal Health and Production Division, Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Moderators did an excellent job of keeping a vast and varied roster of presenters on schedule.
Presentation topics ranged from the “Susceptibility of seals to Toxoplasma gondii and food safety implications,” to “Prion surveillance in Alberta's livestock and wildlife,” to “Diagnosis of avian influenza virus infection,” to “PCR detection of Bacillus anthracis,” to name only a few.
Underlying the discussions lay the main purpose of meeting; namely, to provide a forum for animal health diagnosticians and managers across Canada and various organizations within Canada, to make or renew contacts. For more information, see the Special Report on page 832 of this issue.