2002 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
BILL ELLIS
Veterinary expertise in Belfast

Lymphocyte changes during M. bovis infection in cattle.

The Veterinary Sciences Division (VSD) of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is a major international centre dedicated to farm animal health and welfare, and food safety. A core staff of 250, together with 43 externally funded post-graduate and postdoctoral researchers, carry out a wide range of diagnostic, research and statutory work. Undergraduate and post-graduate teaching is undertaken in the Department of Veterinary Science, Queen�s University Belfast.

 VSD maintains close links with the agri-food industry and carries out approximately 12,000 mammalian, avian and fish post-mortem examinations, and over 100,000 other diagnostic tests each year. Approximately 1.5 million mammalian and avian serological tests are also performed, in support of industry, and statutory animal disease surveillance and eradication schemes.

 Facilities for work with infectious pathogens include laboratories and secure animal accommodation at Containment Level III, a monoclonal antibody unit, and facilities for immune cell sorting (FACS & MACS) and DNA sequencing. VSD encompasses the Office des Epizooties (OIE) animal leptospirosis reference laboratory and a UK-nominated, European Union (EU) animal salmonellosis reference laboratory. Current key bacteriological research topics include bovine tuberculosis, and zoonotic pathogens of farm animals including Leptospira, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis.

 Virology research is aimed at developing improved methods for the diagnosis and control of economically important viruses of farm animals. It involves international research collaborative projects in vaccinology, molecular virology, diagnostics, and viral immunology. VSD is a leading centre for research on porcine and avian circoviruses with a focus on characterising viral isolates, developing candidate vaccines, and elucidating the mechanisms of interaction between these viruses and the host immune system. VSD carries out all official testing for veterinary drug residues

 and marine biotoxins in Northern Ireland and is an EU national reference laboratory in this area. This statutory testing is under-pinned by an extensive R&D programme that currently includes seven EU-funded projects on veterinary drug residues. Analytical equipment and techniques include biosensors, HRGC-MS, GC-MS-MS and LC-MS-MS. In 2002, VSD was at the forefront of the EU�s response to the abuse of illegal nitrofuran drugs in prawns and poultry from south-east Asia. The methods used were developed as part of the EU �FoodBRAND� project which involves partners in Belfast, Dublin, and five other European countries.
Contact: Professor Bill Ellis, Acting Director,
Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD;
E-mail: [email protected]