NSW DPI Laboratory Services
Biosecurity Matters
 
 

Winter edition, June 2017

 
 
 
 
Message from the Director
 
Mel Gabor
 
 

Welcome to the Winter Edition of the Biosecurity Matters Newsletter. We are now extending the reach of the newsletter, so a special welcome to those of you who have not received a newsletter in the past. The Biosecurity Matters Newsletter is issued quarterly with the aim of keeping the customers and stakeholders of NSW DPI Laboratory Services informed of the activities across our labs.

An understanding of the labs and the services provided by the NSW DPI Laboratory Services is detailed in our new look website. The website includes a range of videos on how to submit samples to the lab, a comprehensive test and price list and detailed information on sample collection, sample submission and testing turnaround times. Our website will continue to grow with more information regularly being uploaded and we welcome suggestions via the feedback page on the website.

 

Many of our laboratory staff have been out and about, showcasing our services at the Australian Veterinary Association (NSW Branch) and the Australian Cattle and Reproduction Veterinarian conferences and in the field responding to a number of biosecurity events. No day is the same in our frontline laboratory service and sharing our range of services and capabilities is important to us.

 

I am pleased to welcome a number of new staff to the Laboratory Services team, with a spotlight in this edition on our Pathology Team. In the coming months, we will continue to introduce new members in addition to getting to know our existing staff. In this edition, we will spend 2 minutes with Tracey Kingham from our laboratories in Wagga Wagga.

 

 

Mel 

 
 
 
 
 
IN THIS ISSUE:
 
 

 
Relaunch of website
 
 

The NSW DPI Laboratory Services website continues to be developed with a customer centric focus. The website provides customers and stakeholders with easily accessible information that is accurate, relevant and current.

 

From the NSW DPI Laboratory Services page you can navigate to pages on:

As we continue to build a website that is serviceable to all users, we encourage you to send us your feedback. Please complete the online feedback form located on the Customer Service page, so that we can continue to improve this service.
 

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Labs about town
 
 
Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) East Coast Roadshow
 

Mel Gabor and Kelly Collins (Manager Business Capability) attended the AVA East Coast Roadshow in Newcastle on 18 March 2017. 

Attendees at the roadshow were provided with information about the services offered by NSW DPI Laboratory Services as well as the fuller suite of services offered across Biosecurity and Food Safety.

 
 

   

 
 
Australian Cattle and Reproduction Veterinarians 2017 Conference
 

Kelly Collins, Pat Shearer and Mark Hazelton attended the Australian Cattle and Reproduction Veterinarians 2017 Conference on 7 April 2017.

The conference allowed NSW DPI Laboratory Services to connect with customers and provide information on services offered at the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, including an opportunity to chat ‘down-the-scope’ with our pathologists.

 

Mark Hazelton also presented on Techno Software - a cattle vets virtual toolkit. A major part of his presentation introduced a new software program known as BIOCHECK™ that is currently in the final stages of development. BIOCHECK™ enables vets to electronically construct a biosecurity plan for their clients in a flexible manner with a printable version upon completion.

 

Find out more at - www.ava.com.au/cattle/biocheck-public. BIOCHECK™ will be launched at the AVA Conference in Melbourne during the first week of June. This way it is available for vets to construct a biosecurity plan prior to 30 June 2017 for producers who wish to maintain a J-BAS score of 7 or 8 as part of the changes to Bovine Johne’s Disease management in Australia.

 
 

   

 
 
Exotic Disease Response
 

NSW DPI Laboratory Services responded to an exclusion of Turkey Rhinotracheitis Virus during March, by sending a team out to the field with very little notice to resample suspect turkeys. The team, comprising of pathology, laboratory and technical staff,  worked closely with Local Land Services vets to bleed, swab and sample 62 turkeys in a very short window of time to meet the courier deadline for delivery of samples to the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria. The disease was excluded.

 
 
 
 
International Symposium on Xylella fastidiosa 2017
 

Andrew Daly, NSW DPI Laboratory Services Plant Pathologist attended the 2017 International Symposium on Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) on 17-18 May, hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources in Brisbane. 

The event was attended by the Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (pictured), Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, who spoke of the importance of Biosecurity and International collaboration.

 

The two-day symposium saw experts from France, Italy, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United States and Australia gather to share their knowledge and experience with a series of presentations and panel discussions. A one-day workshop was held to assist in coordinating a harmonised approach to surveillance, testing and response planning.


Xf is a vector-borne bacterium which causes diseases that can kill affected plants rapidly and over widespread areas. There are over 350 known perennial and woody hosts, including grapevine, citrus, olive, almond and important amenity/shade tree species.

 

Xf and overseas vectors are not known to occur in Australia, but the risk Xf poses places it as Australia's number one National Priority Pest (as endorsed by Australia's Plant Health Committee). A number of native insects are potential vectors of the pathogen should it arrive in Australia.

 

Early detection is critical but particularly challenging due to complexities with sampling and sample preparation, high strain diversity and diversity in symptom expression and confusion with water stress and other pathogens.

 
 
 
Specimen Reception
 
Help us help you
 
 

Specimen Reception is the first point of call for all submissions arriving at the laboratories. Receiving over 20,000 submissions a year and averaging 100 submissions per working day, this makes for a very busy time in our Specimen Reception areas.

 

In order to assist us in efficiently processing your submissions and minimise any delays in the processing of your samples, the following checklist highlights the essential requirements for submitting samples.

 
 
Checklist
 
  • Ensure the Submission form is completed with all relevant details.
  • Ensure samples are clearly labelled with an ID and the type of sample (eg veterinary samples; Tag #123 Intestinal content)
  • Individual samples are clearly listed on the Submission form or on an attached keylist with ID’s
  • If samples are wrapped in packing material for protection, clearly label that the package contains samples.
  • For large submissions, pack samples in the sample order as shown on the keylist
  • For veterinary submissions, place paperwork in a zip lock bag to keep separate to samples and protected from ice bricks and sample leakages while in transit.
  • Zoonotic and Non-Zoonotic submissions, always pack separately to ensure faster processing

 

Instructional videos for collecting and submitting samples

 

To ensure that your samples are received in the best possible manner NSW DPI Laboratory Services has prepared 4 new videos to assist in collecting and submitting samples for veterinary testing, including dangerous goods. The videos can be located on our website under "Submit Sample" or follow the links below:

 

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New staff appointments
 
 
 

 

Pedro Pinczowksi DVM MSc PhD - Coordinator, Biosecurity Pathology Services.
 

Pedro has over 10 years of experience in Pathology in Europe and South America, with valuable experience in the diagnosis of scrapie and other diseases that present a significant risk to Australian agriculture. Pedro has most recently completed a combined pathology residency and PhD program on small lentiviruses at the University of Zaragoza in Spain. As Coordinator, Biosecurity Pathology, Pedro Pinczowski supports disease diagnosis for District Veterinarians in the Local Lands Services and exclusion of Emergency Animal Diseases. 

 

 

Thomas Westermann BSc (Veterinary Bioscience), DVM  - Veterinary Pathology Resident

 

Thomas studied veterinary science at the University of Adelaide, during which time he developed a strong interest in anatomic pathology. After utilising a scholarship program he was funded to spend several weeks at EMAI, as well as other pathology centres in South Australia. Having graduated and received the university's pathology prize, he moved into general practice in Victoria to gain further clinical experience. He is excited to have returned to EMAI as a resident and is working towards further qualifications with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

 

 

Sam Gilchrist BVSc -  Project Coordinator, Contract Pathology Services.
 

Sam joins the Pathology Services team bringing with him extensive experience with stakeholder management, contract negotiation and policy. In addition, Sam is an accomplished wildlife and aquatic veterinarian, having established the veterinary facilities at Sydney Wildlife World and Aquarium.

 
 
 

 

Ossie Wildman BSc (Hons), BSc (AdvSc) - Plant Pathology Resident

 

Ossie graduated from the University of Western Sydney in 2012 with a BSc (AdvSc) in microbiology and then went on to complete an Honours year specialising in citrus viroid diagnostics. Ossie joined NSW DPI in 2013, commencing work as a Technical Officer at EMAI, working on a research project developing molecular markers for pre-emptive breeding of wheat against a variety of pests and pathogens. In 2017, Ossie joined the Plant Health Diagnostic Service team, in the role of Plant Pathology Resident.

 

 

Mark Hazelton BScAgr(Hons1) BVSc MVetStud - Veterinary Pathologist Resident

 

Mark started his career in the Northern Territory as a jackeroo on a cattle station prior to completing an Agricultural Science degree at the University of Sydney in 2003. His 3rd year of study was spent on exchange in Canada at the University of Guelph. Following graduation, he worked on a beef cattle stud in Alberta, Canada before returning to Australia to work for a livestock feed ingredients supplier in Victoria. In 2007, Mark returned to the University of Sydney to study Veterinary Science. Upon graduation, he started in mixed practice in the New England region of NSW prior to working on research projects investigating mastitis prevention and cattle pain management. Mark then spent 4 years with Livestock Veterinary Services at the University of Sydney where he completed a residency. He is completing a PhD focused on Mycoplasma-associated disease in Australian dairy herds.

 

Leah Manning BVSc (hons), MANZCVS (Pathology and Small Animal Internal Medicine)  Coordinator Diagnostic Pathology Services

commencing in September.

 

Leah is a graduate of the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons). She has undertaken research assessing the role of cytology and histopathology in diagnosing canine and feline liver disease and is a member of the Small Animal Medicine and the Pathology chapters of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.

Leah is currently finishing a residency at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, USA and will be sitting her American College of Veterinary Pathology board exams in August before returning to Australia. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Technical talk
 
Feed Quality - Protein Fraction Testing by Wet Chemistry
 

NSW DPI’s Feed Quality Service based at our Wagga Wagga laboratories is one of the only laboratories in Australia that offers Protein Fraction testing by Wet Chemistry. Historically, however, manufacturers and nutritionists have sent their samples offshore to American labs for these tests.

 

NSW DPI Laboratory Services is now offering tests to determine the degradability of protein in ruminants. This testing conforms to methods developed in the US for the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). These procedures determine protein fractions in forages and feed according to procedures described by Licitra, Hernandez and Van Soest (1996).

 

The object of determining protein fractions is to predict the nutritive value of a feed, based on the premise that different protein types are absorbed in different proportions and at different rates in the rumen and small intestine. Non-protein nitrogen is denoted as the A fraction while true protein is broken down into B1, B2, B3, and C fractions based on decreasing rate of degradation (or metabolism).

 

Rumen degradable protein (RDP) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP) are calculated using these fractions and other information about the livestock and the feed sample. These predictions are necessary to ensure efficient use of protein and optimise performance while minimising loss of excess nitrogen in urea and faeces.  The laboratory is also developing NIR calibrations for these protein fractions in common feed types such as cereal and lucerne hay and silage, for rapid analysis.

Technical Assistant Rebecca Penfold loading a bomb calorimeter and working on a Buchi reflux unit, used in the first step of 2 of the protein fraction methods.

 

 

Standardisation of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminant feeds, G. Licitra, T.M.
Hernandez, P.J. Van Soest, Animal Feed Science Technology 57 (1996) 347-358

 
 
 
Laboratory links
 

Are you a veterinarian working with small holdings or hobby farmers in urban and semi-urban areas?

 

The Greater Sydney Peri Urban Program is offering a free 2 hour, on-line course that provides veterinarians with resources to build their business and improve engagement with hobby farmers, smallholders and clients with backyard livestock.

 

For more information and to register for the course, click the following link www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/greater-sydney-peri-urban

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Two minutes with a team member
 
Tracey Kingham
 
Tracey Kingham in Oslow, Norway
 

Take two minutes to meet Tracey Kingham.

 

Tracey is a Customer Service Officer / Technical Assistant at the Oil Testing Service and Feed Quality Service laboratories at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, where her unique and diverse role means no two days are the same.

Professional background:

 

I actually have a double degree (Business/Economics) as well as a Cert 3 in Meetings and Events and a Cert 3 in International Tourism (not needed for this position but use it in my personal life).

What do you enjoy most about your role?

 

I love the diversity of the role. One minute I could be tasting olive oil as part of a sensory panel, the next be in discussions with customers about their submissions, the next analysing data out of Sample Manager.

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?

 

I’d like to think it’s just a simple ‘Be kind’, but it’s probably more ‘If it wasn’t for the last minute nothing would get done’.

What is one goal you would like to accomplish during your lifetime?

 

I have a few; from ensuring my children are happy, healthy and generally nice people to seeing as much of the world as possible.

What do you enjoy doing in your downtime?

 

I LOVE to travel. I have just come back from 2 months in Europe and already have ideas for my next adventure.

What is your favourite office machine and why?

 

I don’t play favourites!

 

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