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Title: OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL ANIMAL DISEASE CENTER

Author
item Lehmkuhl, Howard

Submitted to: United States Japan Natural Resources Animal and Avian Health Panel
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2005
Publication Date: 11/17/2005
Citation: Lehmkuhl, H.D. 2005. Overview of Research at the National Animal Disease Center[abstract]. United States Japan Natural Resources Animal and Avian Health Panel. p. 4-5.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The National Animal Disease Laboratory (NADL) located in Ames Iowa opened in 1961 and was renamed The National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in 1973. NADC is under the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The focus of NADC research was, and continues to be, to conduct basic and applied research on the diseases of livestock and poultry, which are of major economic importance to U.S. agriculture. The goal of our research program is to produce knowledge and technology that reduces economic losses of the livestock and poultry industries and associated rural agricultural community, to reduce or eliminate pre-harvest contamination/infection of livestock and poultry with food-borne human pathogens, and to prevent suffering and death caused by diseases in agriculturally important livestock and poultry. NADC is unique because it has the resources to effectively and safely conduct experiments on pathogens and diseases in target species of livestock and poultry. We have the critical mass of scientific expertise required for a balanced, multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art animal disease program and the facilities which provide the biocontainment required to safely work with animal pathogens, some of which are infectious for humans. NADC has five research Units. They are the Virus and Prion Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, Respiratory Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, Preharvest Food Safety and Enteric Diseases Research Unit, Bacterial Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, and Periparturient Diseases of Cattle Research Unit.