Description

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Isolated regions of the world are often at the forefront of emerging diseases and, to be effective in disease prevention and control, they require basic resources for field sample collection and testing in conditions vastly different from those available in well-equipped reference laboratories. Technical support for field extension staff, and the availability of reliable diagnostic testing facilities, are also vital to ensure sustainable livelihoods for subsistence farmers.
This technical handbook aims to provide an easy to follow overview of the basic laboratory techniques, and sample collection guidelines, that we consider useful for staff working in district veterinary facilities in regions that lack the infrastructural support available for staff with ready access to national veterinary laboratories. The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition provides the reader with a summary of basic diagnostic procedures and sample submission guidelines and also advocates for improved communication between animal health extension staff, veterinarians, laboratory staff and farmers. Case studies are used to illustrate key concepts.
Basic laboratory disciplines are covered including – parasitology, microbiology, haematology, serology / immunology and pathology. There are also sections on laboratory infrastructure and equipment. There is additional content on common clinical presentations, One Health approaches to Antimicrobial resistance, the role of the OIE, disease surveillance and wildlife disease monitoring. Supplementary tools for use in the field and laboratory are also available online.
This new edition of The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual is updated to include content on pen side tests, selection and integration of new technologies, engagement with international agencies and programs, and the One Health approach to disease monitoring.
Animal Health extension staff in isolated regions of the world, and NGOs, can benefit from this book as well as policy makers supporting veterinary work in rural areas and veterinary para-professionals involved in One Health work.

About the Author

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Susan C. Cork is a veterinarian with more than 30 years of practical field experience in a range of countries. She has experience in the development and use of diagnostic technologies in wildlife and domestic animals and has a special interest in zoonotic diseases and public health. Susan has worked in both government and non-governmental organizations in Southern Asia and in the Asia –Pacific region. She is currently a professor of ecosystem and public health at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Alberta, Canada. Roy W. Halliwell is an independent consultant with more than 45 years’ experience in the development of medical and veterinary laboratory services in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. He has successfully developed and delivered a number of laboratory technician training programs in a wide range of countries including the Yemen, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal Malawi and Tanzania. Roy has a keen interest in making sure that things work well at the practical level with good integration between the laboratory and extension services.