It’s already time to start gearing up for the 2025 AAVLD/USAHA Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Gaylord Rockies Hotel in Aurora, CO, from October 30 to November 5, 2025!  The Program Committee and the leadership of AAVLD and USAHA have been hard at work putting together a great meeting for you.

We are looking forward to hearing all of the great work that has been going on in our member labs and with other collaborative partners.  The abstract submission portal is open now, with abstract submissions closing on June 27, 2025.  We encourage both oral and poster in-person presentations.  Trainee travel and trainee presentation awards are available to promote excellence in the diagnostic discipline as well as develop presentation skills.  Please note that applicants for trainee presentation awards must submit either a recording of their presentation (for oral presentations) or a PDF of their poster (for poster presentations) by October 9^th, 2025.

The Executive and Government Relations Committees joined USAHA in DC in late March to meet with government agencies involved in animal health.  At the time of the meeting, there was a lot of concern about the status of positions in those federal agencies that affect our ability to test for animal diseases.  We are closely monitoring the reductions in force and are extremely concerned about the status of positions in key agencies, and the effects the reductions in force will have on our labs. On the positive side, in speaking with staffers with the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committees, there Although NAHLN staff and FDA Vet-LIRN positions have thus far been protected, loss of NAHLN staff due to the Deferred Resignation Program (accelerated retirement option), and loss of support staff and senior leadership in FDA brings questions about how the programs will be administered.

remains a commitment to funding the Farm Bill and NAHLN efforts because the importance of our labs in protecting animal health and trade is well-recognized. 

Bovine herpesviral meningoencephalitis:
large case study and literature review, Bethânia S. Santos, Ricardo A. A. Lemos, Raquel R. Rech,

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Abstract Submissions

General Submission Open: March 15, 2025
General Submission Closes: June 27, 2025
Acceptance Notification: September 9, 2025
Awards Notification: September 9, 2025

AAVLD AND USAHA LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MEET IN DC

During the third week of March, AAVLD and USAHA legislative committee leaders met in Washington, DC, for two days of meetings with key governmental agencies.   This included USDA, APHIS, VS, NVSL, NAHLN, FSIS, NIFA, ARS, APHIS, WS, DHS-CBP, FDA-CVM, FBI-WMD,  WOAH, AVMA and CDC.  Over four hours alone were dedicated to key USDA leaders, including the personal attendance of the US Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Rosemary Sifford, and the USDA APHIS Administrator, Dr. Michael Watson.   Their time and conversation were greatly appreciated. 

Hot topics were of course related to the management of the current HPAI outbreak in the poultry and dairy industries, NAHLN funding via the Farm Bill which has expired but been extended with a no change continuing resolution through September 30^th, and how to maintain essential animal health/food security services where there are possibilities of potential downsizing of budgets within key agencies.  This includes concern regarding NAHLN (USDA) and VetLIRN (FDA) funding sources.   Though the Federal component of operating state veterinary diagnostic laboratories is quite small, the national coordination and networking, as well as sharing of resources during major outbreaks, is vital and has proven to be an efficient and most effective state/federal partnership for the past 23 years. 

Bird Flu Outbreak in Dairy Cows Is Widespread, Raising Public Health Concerns

How dairy production is changing in response to avian flu

(Symposium Registration opens April 1, 2024)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0613; FRL-11608-03-OCSPP]
Formaldehyde; Draft Risk Evaluation Peer Review by the Science Advisory Committee on
Chemicals (SACC); Notice of Availability, Public Meetings and Request for Comment

Published: Feb 27, 2024

Internships give ABAC students a competitive edge on vet school applications

Governor Recognizes Pennsylvania Veterinary Lab, Field Staff for Excellence in Avian Flu Crisis Response

Governor Shapiro Recognizes Exemplary Commonwealth Employees for Outstanding Achievements and Dedication to Public Service

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro presented the Governor’s Awards for Excellence to 54 Commonwealth employees from eight state agencies and thanked all state employees for their dedication to public service.