The Davao City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) acquired new laboratory equipment to enhance its capacity to efficiently detect and diagnose animal diseases.
The Davao City Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (DCADDL) in Maa is now equipped with a Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machine and an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) system.
Dr. Gay Pallar, Acting Head of the CVO, said during the ISpeak Media Forum that Davao City’s animal disease detection laboratory is the only one in the region and is equipped with advanced animal disease testing.
“With these upgrades, Davao City is set to become the first local government unit capable of independently offering diagnostic testing services for various transboundary animal diseases, such as the ASF virus, Avian Influenza, and others,” she added.
The RT-PCR machine, an automated extraction system, enables the CVO to amplify and analyze small deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) segments, allowing for precise detection of such pathogens as the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus. Meanwhile, the ELISA equipment helps identify and measure specific antibodies or antigens, aiding in the diagnosis of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
The CVO is planning to relocate its laboratory facility in its compound in Malagos to accommodate the space needed for these new equipment.
Pallar said that once they have relocated, they will start accepting samples from other provinces and municipalities for animal disease testing.
She added that they are considering implementing minimal fees for the testing, though this will require further discussion with the City Treasurer’s Office, and the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The city also has an existing red tide monitoring laboratory, the Davao City Red Tide Monitoring Laboratory, located at the Bankerohan Public Market, which utilizes the mouse bioassay method in detecting paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in mussels or tahong.
The laboratory ensures that the tahong sold in the markets of the city are free from PSP and are safe for public consumption.
Pallar said that this is also the sole red tide monitoring laboratory in Mindanao. CIO