Page 12 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Foreword

As with the two preceding editions, this third ment. Chapter 1 focuses on setting up and using
edition of the Veterinary Laboratory and Field a laboratory service. This is followed by the prac-
Manual is a book made to be used. Dr Susan Cork tical and informative Chapter 2 on the selection,
and her contributing colleagues, have drawn on use and maintenance of laboratory equipment
their extensive experience in training, laboratory and supplies. Then, in Part II, in six subsequent
diagnostics and field development activities to chapters, the key diagnostic laboratory disciplines
produce a practical, informative and accessible are addressed, including parasitology, microbiol-
guide to the organization and operation of dis- ogy, haematology, serology/immunology, clinical
trict and regional level diagnostic laboratories. chemistry/toxicology, and pathology/cytology,
Since the original publication of this book, the each including the general underlying scientific
need for expanded veterinary diagnostic labora- principles, discussions of common diseases and
tory networks that extend into rural areas, has procedures for sample collection and conduct
continued to grow. The ever increasing demand of diagnostic tests. Part III then focuses on spe-
for animal protein and the concomitant increase cial topics including epidemiology, surveillance,
in livestock populations, the emergence of new common clinical presentations, wildlife health
diseases and re-emergence of existing diseases, monitoring and disease surveillance, antimicro-
the expanded movement and trade of livestock, bial resistance, and arthropod vectors and related
the increased contact of livestock and humans diseases. The book concludes with a range of
with wild animal species due to habitat incur- appendices, which feature a review of common
sions, and the growing risk of intentional disease zoonotic diseases.
introduction through bioterrorism, all under- At various locations throughout the text,
score the need for improved disease surveillance Dr Cork and colleagues have updated existing
and rapid diagnosis – efforts that require well- content and added some new topics. Among the
functioning district and regional laboratories new subjects considered are: training, informa-
as part of a national laboratory network. Early tion management and the value of laboratory
detection and early response are the fundamen- networks; hazard assessment and risk manage-
tal elements of effective disease control and the ment; audits for quality assurance; the benefits
ready availability of reliable basic laboratory and limitations of penside tests; assessing diag-
services are essential in this regard. nostic sensitivity and specificity for field tests;
The new edition maintains the well- the applications, implementation and limita-
organized structure of past editions, starting with tions of new technologies; and a chapter on the
the most useful Part 1: Laboratory and equip- OIE’s core missions in relation to laboratories

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