| | Welcome to the Biology Section of Agri-Food Laboratories Branch. The Agri-Food Laboratories Branch is part of the Food Safety and Animal Health Division, Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD).
As a laboratory of the Alberta provincial government, the primary purpose of the Biology Section is to enable the growth of Alberta's agriculture and food industry. The Biology Section performs microbiological surveillance and monitoring of Alberta's agri-food industry. The section produces objective scientific evidence that establishes and promotes the safety of Alberta's agriculture and food products in the domestic and international market places. The Biology Section does not offer any diagnostic services to the public.
Staff interpret laboratory results to provide partners and stakeholders with valuable information. This information is used to evaluate industry practices and identify potential risks. Findings are communicated to clients, partners and stakeholders by giving presentations at scientific and industry meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and industry publications.
The Biology Section encompasses five individual laboratories, each with its own specific field of study. These fields include Food Microbiology, Veterinary Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Virology/Immunology and Parasitology. Biology Section labs perform microbiological surveillance of agri-food products at the production and processing levels. Advanced methodologies are utilized for the detection of organisms that impact food safety and animal health.
Lab staff possess particular expertise for the detection of Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, Campylobacter, Avian Influenza and Infectious Laryngotracheitis. Analysis is performed on samples that include produce, ready to eat meats, and livestock samples such as poultry and swine. Biology Section staff perform laboratory testing in support of the Animal Health Act, which was proclaimed on January 1, 2009 and replaces the Livestock Diseases Act. The new Act includes The Reportable and Notifiable Diseases Regulation, which designates diseases that represent a threat to market access, the economy and/or animal or public health as reportable. Diseases designated at notifiable are monitored for trade purposes, or to understand their dynamics/epidemiology in Alberta. Testing for listed diseases is performed by the Biology Section Lab and other AFLB labs.
The Biology Section specializes in several areas of national importance for food safety and animal health . One of these areas is antimicrobial resistance. Lab staff are trained and equipped to perform analysis of the patterns of antimicrobial resistance found in bacteria with food safety and animal health significance. Work in this area contributes to CIPARS, the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance. The purpose of CIPARS is to monitor trends in antimicrobial resistance across Canada. CIPARS is a program of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), also known as DNA fingerprinting, is another area of specialization for the Biology Lab. PFGE profiles are used in outbreak investigations to evaluate the relatedness of strains isolated from different sources. Data produced by the Molecular Biology Lab is entered into a national databank, PulseNet-Canada, which is operated by the National Public Health Agency of Canada.
Biology Section Labs support the food safety efforts of Alberta's poultry and egg industries. Through the Poultry Health and Salmonella Enteritidis Programs, lab staff perform testing for Salmonella serotypes of significance to human health. Testing is also performed for Alberta Health Boards and Meat Inspectors.
Two Biology Section labs participate the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN), As one of the CAHSN's Network Labs, the Biology Section is committed to providing laboratory resources in the event of an outbreak of a major foreign animal disease. Network Labs are trained in standardized methodologies and reporting procedures for key diseases as a requirement for membership in this Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) led initiative. Network labs are currently capable of performing testing for Avian Influenza in the event of an outbreak. Capabilities are being developed for Classical Swine Fever, Newcastle Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease.
For more information on the BiologySection, please contact Section Head Dr. Valerie Bohaychuk.
|
|