Veterinary Laboratories Agency

Introduction

Britain's position as an island has helped to protect its livestock against a range of animal diseases. However, the country also relies on a network of veterinary surgeons, scientists and animal health officers to maintain a broad level of surveillance to monitor and sustain the high health status of its livestock and to identify new and emerging diseases, including those that originate from wildlife. The remit for disease surveillance to protect animal and public health is one of Defra's responsibilities, which it operates through the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and its partner organisations, such as the Scottish Agricultural College.

The VLA is one of the world's largest veterinary laboratory-based organisations and is recognised throughout the world for its contributions to livestock and public health.

The VLA can offer all sectors of the animal health industry an integrated approach to animal disease surveillance, diagnostic services and veterinary scientific research through its network of 18 laboratories; 16 regional laboratories in England and Wales and one in Scotland, supported by a central facility at Weybridge [see right]. This structure, therefore, offers veterinarians a variety of opportunities to be engaged in many aspects of veterinary pathology.

The regional laboratories, working in partnership with private veterinary practices, are at the forefront of disease surveillance. Veterinary surgeons in these laboratories undertake farm visits to investigate and monitor disease, and handle a constant throughput of post mortem samples and other diagnostic material that enables them to keep their finger on the pulse of livestock health throughout the country. Diagnosis often is supported by additional histological examination, which is conducted by veterinary histopathologists.

Communication between the histopathologists and veterinarians in the regional laboratories is facilitated by a real-time telepathology network that contributes to improved diagnosis, training and staff development.

At both the Weybridge laboratory and the one in Scotland, veterinary pathologists participate in multidisciplinary research programmes into a wide range of animal diseases, principally infectious. An important role for the pathologists is to provide the vital link between the observed anatomic and microscopic changes and the underlying molecular mechanisms that is essential to the development of rational control strategies.

The scope of the work undertaken by VLA provides a unique opportunity for veterinary surgeons and veterinary pathologists to be involved in veterinary science that extends from field investigations to sophisticated research. Consequently, the opportunities for training are wide and staff receive excellent support for this.

Departments

The VLA Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) located at Weybridge, Surrey, and the Lasswade Laboratory based at Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, both have pathology departments. The department within CVL is largely concerned with R&D work, targeted at statutory/notifiable diseases. Veterinary pathologists at the Lasswade laboratory are presently organised in three teams working on TSEs, avian pathology and statutary mammalian pathology respectively.

Two VLA Veterinary Surveillance Units have recently been established at Liverpool University Leahurst campus and the Royal Veterinary College campus at Hawkshead. These centres receive carcase material for post mortem examination and carry out veterinary investigation into disease of livestock. VLA also has a network of 14 regional laboratories in England and Wales (see map). These laboratories provide a local catchment area for the submission and testing of diagnostic samples and play an important role in veterinary surveillance. Clinical pathology examinations are mainly carried out at the Shrewsbury regional laboratory.

Veterinary officers employed within these laboratories, who have a particular interest in pathology, have an opportunity to receive training in histopathology and to work towards an MRCPath qualification.

Contact

Have a look at the VLAweb site.

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