Field Investigation

Pennsylvania Diagnostic Laboratory System/Penn State University

The field studies unit is an integral part of both the Department of Veterinary Science, PSU, and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostics. As such, the group works closely with all three units of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS), with the field investigation group at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, and with Cooperative Extension, PSU.

Field Investigation Contacts at Penn State University

Mammalian (814) 863-2160	Poultry (814) 863-0837
Dr. David Wolfgang	Dr. Patty Dunn	Dr. Eva Wallner-Pendleton

Field investigation activities consist of two basic areas:

1. Problem-solving: Veterinarians from the field studies group respond to requests for assistance from livestock and poultry producers, veterinarians, county agents, and other agricultural resources. They provide problem-solving assistance, including (where applicable) visits to herds and flocks in Pennsylvania.
   
   Field investigations generally involve health problems that meet one of the following criteria:
   • Diseases with the potential for serious animal or human health consequences.
   • Serious herd health problems for which local resources are inadequate or unable to establish a diagnosis and/or to effect control.
   • Diseases or conditions identified as important focus areas for investigation and/or applied research.
   
   At the initial farm visit, every effort will be made to include all individuals that are involved in the problem at the local level. An individual will be identified as the person responsible for monitoring the progress of the diagnostic plan or solution.
   
   Follow-Up may consist of telephone calls or additional farm visits until a satisfactory plan of action has been reached. If a formal investigation has been conducted, a written report of the results and plan of action will be sent to all involved parties.
2. Directed field studies: For selected diseases or conditions, directed field studies and/or applied research proactively seek new information to categorize, quantitate, or elicit control or management strategies.
   
   Results of directed field studies are communicated to producers and the scientific and ag business community through farm and professional journals as well as news releases and presentations.