The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Washington State University (WSU-WADDL) has received an increased number of inquiries about Q fever over the past few years. The questions fall into three distinct areas and include: testing of dairy goats for the infection in order to be in compliance with the Washington State requirements placed on raw milk dairies (RCW 16.36.040); testing of goats and sheep prior to sale, and/or breeding (biosecurity profiling); and disease investigation to determine the cause(s) of pregnancy loss or low reproductive performance. This information sheet is intended to answer some of the most common questions about Q fever.  http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts_waddl/dx/QFever.aspx

Washington State University’s iconic bighorn sheep, viewed publicly for decades on the corner of Grimes Way and Airport Road, have been relocated to a new home where they will no longer be accessible to the public. http://bit.ly/mzq7RR

Compare culture with PCR to diagnose Johne's disease; what samples should I submit?; what about testing for Johne's in sheep?  Find answers at:

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts_waddl/dx/johnes.aspx

WSU laboratories are supporting efforts to diagnose, control and prevent outbreaks of fatal pneumonia in bighorn sheep   http://bit.ly/bIWb9B

Srikumaran (Sri) Subramaniam of the WSU Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology (VMP) was presented with the "Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award" at the Wild Sheep Foundation Convention in Reno on February 3, 2010.