Sections and Offices

Aquaculture—PADLS

The Aquaculture Laboratory provides necropsy and diagnostic testing of commercial and ornamental fish. With a facility at NBC, the Aquaculture Laboratory is easily accessible for live fish drop-off. The laboratory provides testing for diagnostics purposes only. Any regulatory testing should be submitted through the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory. More information can be found on the PADLS website.

Services

The aquaculture laboratory provides services in:

Staff

Donna J. Kelly, DVM

Assistant Professor, Clinical Microbiology

Additional Titles: Interim Department Head, Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, PADLS New Bolton Center Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

Avian Pathology Laboratory—PADLS

The Avian Pathology service strives to provide the best possible diagnostic service to Pennsylvania and regional producers, hatcheries, service personnel, feed companies, and breeder companies. Over the past decade, the service has expanded to include pet bird cases submitted by regional veterinarian, pigeons, waterfowl, and birds of prey cases submitted by local wildlife organizations, backyard poultry flocks, and exhibition/show birds. Services include avian necropsies, serologic testing, virus isolation, and PCR. The board certified veterinary staff is not only qualified to provide accurate diagnostics but also advise on the treatment, control, and eradication of infectious diseases. Avian field investigation also adds to the array of services available.

Staff

Sherrill Davison (Yeakel), VMD

Associate Professor, Avian Medicine and Pathology, Clinician Educator Tract

Additional Titles: Agriculture Spokesperson, Penn Vet Dr. Davison is an Associate Professor of Avian Medicine and Pathology and has been at Penn Vet for 39 years. She received her BA, […]

Donna J. Kelly, DVM

Assistant Professor, Clinical Microbiology

Additional Titles: Interim Department Head, Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, PADLS New Bolton Center Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

Field Office Lancaster County—PADLS

Located in the northwest part of Lancaster County, the Field Office is a convenient location for veterinarians, farmers, and wildlife rehabilitators living in the western part of the county. The Field Office provides services in both avian pathology and aquaculture including necropsies of birds and fish, and sample drop-off for microbiological testing, serology, and toxicology. Clinical and environmental samples received at the Field Office are taken to New Bolton Center for testing.

Staff

Donna J. Kelly, DVM

Assistant Professor, Clinical Microbiology

Additional Titles: Interim Department Head, Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, PADLS New Bolton Center Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

Mammalian Pathology Laboratory—PADLS

The Mammalian Pathology Laboratory Service at New Bolton Center is a constituent of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Lab System (PADLS) and provides complete autopsy and biopsy services to the patients of New Bolton Center and referrals from veterinarians throughout the state. Out-of-state cases are accepted for an additional fee (see PADLS fee schedule).

Specialties include orthopedic pathology, infectious disease, veterinary forensics, and translational animal models. Various histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques are employed to identify a variety of infectious agents and specific cell components in histology sections.

Services

New Bolton Center’s Mammalian Pathology Service is able to perform autopsies on a wide variety of species, including:

In addition to autopsies, the educated and experienced staff examine surgical biopsies and materials from postmortem exams performed by veterinarians in the field (“field posts”). The laboratory is also equipped to accept endometrial biopsies for evaluation. Tissues should be placed in 10% buffered formalin and submitted in containers and mailers specifically intended for formalin fixed specimens.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the process of detecting antigens in cells by binding a labeled antibody to the antigen. This technique enables the identification of more than 30 infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa within the tissues of an animal.

The immunohistochemical technique also enables detection antigens expressed by neoplastic tissue (tumor antigens).

Research

Research within the Mammalian Pathology Laboratory focuses on issues related to animal health and disease. Current topics of interest include:

• Orthopedic disease (multiple species)
• Equine and bovine laminitis
• Equine intestinal microbiome and gastrointestinal disease

For more information regarding current research projects or to initiate a partnership for additional research, please contact the laboratory.

Education

The expertise of the faculty and staff of the Mammalian Pathology Laboratory Service accommodates numerous opportunities for training in large animal pathology and anatomy for both veterinary students and pathology residents. Students and residents working in large animal pathology gain hands-on experience by assisting in necropsies, observing histopathology, and working one on one with a knowledgeable pathologist to learn more about specific disease processes.

In addition, the service accepts intramural and extramural externs to fulfill board certification requirements. Senior veterinary students from other schools are also welcome as externs. To learn more about the opportunities available for pathology residents and pre-veterinary and veterinary students, please contact the laboratory.

Staff

Susan J. Bender, VMD, PhD, DACVP

Associate Professor of Anatomic Pathology

Jolie A. Demchur, VMD

Assistant Professor of Pathology (AC)

Additional Titles: Section Head, Autopsy Service

Julie B. Engiles, VMD, DACVP

Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology

Additional Titles: Professor of Pathology Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center Dr. Engiles is a Professor of Pathology at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine (PennVet). After […]

Nathan Helgert, VMD

Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathobiology

Microbiology Laboratory—PADLS

The microbiology laboratory is separated into three subgroups: Clinical Microbiology, Molecular Microbiology, and PEQAP.

Located in the Myrin Building on the New Bolton Center campus, the Clinical Microbiology laboratory is equipped with the latest technology and a knowledgeable support staff to provide diagnostic microbiology testing. Consultation and field investigation are also available. Testing includes aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal culture, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. 

Molecular Microbiology uses sophisticated techniques to isolate and identify viruses and bacteria including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR. These methods are commonly used to identify Avian Influenza, Salmonella spp., and Streptococcus equi (Strangles).

In addition to standard microbiological testing, the microbiology laboratory also performs egg testing as part of the Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program (PEQAP) and the FDA Egg Safety Rule. Farms that participate in these programs demonstrate their concern about food safety and produce a quality egg which helps to assure consumer confidence in eggs.

Molecular Microbiology

The Molecular Microbiology lab employs the use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RRT-PCR) to identify mammalian and avian bacterial and viral pathogens. Specific pathogens that can be identified include:

Polymerase chain reaction is a biochemical technology in molecular biology used to amplify a single or few copies of a piece of DNA or RNA. This allows for the presence of an organism in a sample to be confirmed. PCR detects both live and dead organisms. Cotton, Dacron, or polyester swabs are acceptable samples.

Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program (PEQAP)

The Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program (PEQAP) is a voluntary certification program for egg producers and processors intended to minimize Salmonella enteritidis (SE) contamination of chicken eggs. Basic preventative measures include placement of SE clean chicks, intensive rodent control, cleaning & disinfecting between flocks, and environmental monitoring. To become a member of PEQAP or for more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website. Testing required by the FDA Egg Safety Rule is also performed at the PEQAP laboratory.

The microbiology laboratory at New Bolton Center supports this program by performing SE testing on a routine basis.

Staff

Eman A. Anis, PhD, DACVM

Assistant Professor, Pathobiology

Donna J. Kelly, DVM

Assistant Professor, Clinical Microbiology

Additional Titles: Interim Department Head, Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, PADLS New Bolton Center Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

Toxicology Laboratory PADLS

Located in the Myrin Building on the New Bolton Center campus, the toxicology laboratory is equipped with the latest technology and a knowledgeable support staff to provide full veterinary diagnostic toxicology services. Animals can be exposed to toxic chemicals in a number of ways: ingestion of contaminated feed or foreign objects, inhalation, or skin contact. Through identification of such toxic chemicals, the toxicology laboratory helps to diagnose and prevent toxicosis in agricultural animals, pets, and wildlife. In addition to toxins, the laboratory has the ability to identify the levels of nutritionally relevant compounds including metals and vitamin E in animal samples.

Services

The PADLS Toxicology Laboratory at New Bolton Center provides a full veterinary diagnostic toxicology service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Laboratory provides:

• A broad spectrum of analyses for both natural and man-made toxicants including mycotoxins, drugs, environmental contaminants, insecticides, rodenticides, anions, and metals performed on a variety of sample matrices.
• A broad spectrum of analyses for nutritionally relevant compounds including metals (selenium, copper, zinc, etc.) and vitamin E in animal samples.
• Case consultations.
• Assistance in field investigation of suspected toxicoses.
• An active method development program for new or emerging toxicants, markers of nutritional status and chemical food contaminants.

Research

Research within the Toxicology Laboratory focuses on issues related to environmental contaminants. Contaminants of interest include:

• Freshwater algal toxins
• Lead and mercury
• Anticoagulant rodenticides
• Animal decontamination related to natural and man-made disasters

For more information regarding current research projects or to initiate a partnership for additional research, please contact the laboratory.

Staff

Lisa A. Murphy, VMD, DABT

Professor of Toxicology, Department of Pathobiology

Additional Titles: Associate Director, Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases Director, Wildlife Futures Program, Department of Pathobiology Resident Director, PADLS New Bolton Center, Department of Pathobiology Lisa Murphy, VMD serves […]