A High-impact Diagnostic Laboratory

Laboratory diagnosticians within ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine have been at the forefront of outstanding disease control efforts, providing a model for other laboratories to follow.

Although much of the work is invisible to the general public, our faculty and staff have been especially productive in applied diagnostic research. By developing new tests and improving a variety of diagnostic procedures, they have given other veterinarians some of the best tools to use in global efforts to diagnose and control animal diseases.

Dr. Vaughn A. Seaton served as professor and director of our Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory from 1964 to 1994. When he joined the VDL faculty in 1954, three veterinarians handled 3,000 cases a year. Forty years later, 65 faculty were conducting tests on more than 42,000 cases annually.

Behind this expansion was a dramatic transformation in laboratory diagnostics – highly specific tests were developed and new technologies replaced rudimentary procedures used earlier. With Dr. Seaton's direction, "generalists" gave way to specialists such as chemists, bacteriologists, virologists and toxicologists. Today, our specialists increasingly emphasize herd and population diagnostics. Many faculty assigned to the diagnostic lab are known worldwide for their expertise, particularly as it relates to the diagnosis of swine diseases.

Attacking Swine Diseases on Multiple Fronts

Throughout much of 1900's, hog cholera was pervasive. It was a major factor in the life of every veterinarian in Iowa until eradication in 1978. Dr. Seaton describes its impact as "the most significant event in the health of Iowa swine, in the work of the ISU diagnostic laboratory, and in veterinary practice."

In 1998, Drs. Kyoung-Jin Yoon and Bruce Janke identified a new subtype of Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) - the first new subtype detected since the disease was discovered in the U.S. in 1918. The researchers have since developed new diagnostic tests for differential diagnosis, and experimentally reproduced the virus to enable vaccine evaluation, molecular characterization and epidemiology studies.

Today, the PRRS Virus (Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome) is one of the costliest diseases of swine. Here at Iowa State, we have the largest team of inter-disciplinary scientists conducting PRRS research.

New strains of PRRS originate frequently and by-pass protection afforded by commercial vaccines. Our investigators have developed effective methods for typing these mutant strains. In addition, they've been leaders in development of co-infection models for studies of dual infections such as PRRSV with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and PRRSV with Streptococcus suis.

Leaders and Innovators in Toxicology

As they developed a neuro behavioral toxicology laboratory at Iowa State in the mid-1960's,Drs. William B. BuckandGary Van Geldergained national attention as early leaders and innovators in veterinary toxicology. Their strong research program focused on behavioral studies to examine the effects of environmental chemicals (including pesticides and residues) on the nervous system.

Dr. Buck developed the first veterinary toxicology course taught at Iowa State, and it was one of the earliest toxicology courses offered throughout the U.S. Our faculty were instrumental in developing ISU?s Interdepartmental Graduate Major in Toxicology which today is more relevant than ever to respond to society?s health and environmental issues.

Our toxicology graduates, as well as former faculty, have gone on to develop or direct many of the leading toxicology programs at other veterinary colleges and in the private sector. Dr. Eugene Lloyd, an alumnus and former faculty leader, served as president of the American College of Veterinary Toxicologists in 1982. Dr. Walter Hyde, the first to earn a PhD through ISU's interdepartmental major, directs the chemistry section of our diagnostic lab and is one of the top experts in analytical chemistry as it pertains to performance (racing).

Toxicology is a vital part of clinical services, research and teaching. Clinical toxicologists regularly use their expertise to help other veterinarians and animal owners solve problems affecting the health of livestock or companion animals. On the research side, Dr. David Hopper is building on the neuro behavioral studies of his predecessors as he continues his innovative studies that are designed to evaluate the effects of neurotoxicants on the memory process or other patterns of behavior.