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Table of Contents
About CVM 
Mission Statement
CVM Organization Chart
Vision Statement
Guiding Principles
Introduction
A Brief History of CVM
Structure/ Responsibility
CVM Annual Reports
Safeguarding Animal Hlth
Office of the Director (OD)
Mgmt & Communications
CVM & Budget
Ofc of New Animal Drug
Surveillance/Compliance
Office of Research
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"The Office of Research conducts applied
research in support of current and evolving FDA regulatory
issues. We work with our customers to provide research solutions
that ensure the safety of animal derived food and animal health
products. We seek to develop an internationally recognized
research program in these areas."
Division of Residue Chemistry (DRC)
"DRC conducts analytical research for compounds
which pose a potential health risk if found in animal tissue
or feed. We develop and validate methods for official and
research uses. We determine the fate of xenobiotics in animals
to answer questions about their safety or efficacy."
Division of Animal Research (DAR)
"The Division of Animal Research (DAR) conducts
applied and basic research using animals and animal systems
in support of current and evolving regulatory issues. We provide
research solutions to issues of animal health, food safety
of animal derived products, and other animal industry associated
technologies."
Division of Food and Animal Microbiology
(DAFM)
"The mission of the Division of Animal and Food
Microbiology (DAFM) is to conduct basic and applied research
to support regulatory decision-making by the Center for Veterinary
Medicine. This research involves the isolation, identification
and characterization of microorganisms potentially harmful
to animals and humans. In particular, DAFM's research explores
the effects of antimicrobial use in animals on: 1) efficacy
against pathogens, 2) changes in the environmental microbial
ecology, and 3) the development of antimicrobial resistance
in pathogenic and commensal microorganisms."
CVM is fortunate to have a state-of-the-art
research complex containing offices, laboratories, animal
buildings, and pastures. This facility includes a mass spectrometry
laboratory, analytical instrument rooms, a radioactive materials
laboratory, and specialized laboratories designed for multi
disciplinary studies. The animal research buildings accommodate
beef cattle, dairy cattle, calves, swine, sheep, dogs, poultry,
and a variety of aquatic species.
The Office of Research offers a unique combination of staff
expertise and animal and laboratory facilities which enable
the conduct of unparalleled food
safety research. As a result, CVM welcomes the opportunity
to work with other organizations through Cooperative Research
and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Cooperative Agreements,
Interagency Agreements, and Memoranda of Understanding.
The research group's responsibilities include the following:
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Develops and validates quantitative, qualitative analytical
procedures for analyzing drugs, additives, and contaminants
in animal tissues and feed.
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Investigates the absorption, distribution, metabolism,
and excretion of drugs, feed additives, and contaminants
in food animals (including minor species).
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Develops models for determining the safety and efficacy
of veterinary drugs and food additives in domestic animals.
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Determines the safety and efficacy of diagnostic agents
and devices for animal use.
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Investigates the effects of drugs, food additives, and
contaminants on immunological and physiological functions
of domestic animals.
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Evaluates screening tests for drug residues in animal derived
foods.
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Investigates interactions between diet and drugs in food-producing
animals.
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Evaluates rapid screening tests for detecting foodborne
pathogens in animal feed and the environment.
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Develops programs for antibiotic sensitivity testing and
molecular/genetic typing of bacteria.
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Determines the characteristics of drug resistant pathogens
in the environment.
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Evaluates the general microbiological quality of feed/feedstuffs
before and after processing.
Examples of Research
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Violative residues of neomycin have been detected in tissues
of veal calves at slaughter. Producers of these calves have
indicated that the calves had not been treated therapeutically
with neomycin at any time during the production period.
Neomycin is used in some milk replacers commonly fed to
veal calves. The rationale for this use of neomycin has
been that the drug is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal
tract of animals and therefore will not cause a residue
problem. Researchers found that neomycin is absorbed in
young calves orally exposed to the drug and can result in
residues of neomycin above tolerance in kidneys during the
first few days following withdrawal of the medicated milk
replacer.
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Metabolism studies utilizing radiolabelled drugs are conducted
to determine if the drugs appear in the edible tissues and
do they appear as the parent drug or as a metabolite. These
studies are an important first step in the methods development
process. Such a study was conducted with radiolabelled sarafloxacin
in laying hens. Sarafloxacin was the major radioactive component
found in both egg yolks and albumen. The radioactive residues
declined rapidly (within two days) in egg albumen, but more
slowly (seven days) in egg yolk.
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Methods that will allow for the detection of several classes
of drugs as well as several drugs in each class are important
to the monitoring of drug residues in animal tissues, milk,
and eggs. These methods have the potential to greatly increase
the number of samples regulatory laboratories of the FDA
and USDA can analyze. To date, Office of Research scientists
have been successful in combining over thirty drugs in four
drug classes into a single method using liquid chromatography
- tandem mass spectrometry.
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In response to the President’s Food Safety Initiatives,
Office of Research scientists are currently involved in
several research projects focusing on the use of antimicrobials
in the animal husbandry environment and possible public
health implications. Research is needed to determine if
there are genetic mechanisms present among foodborne and
veterinary bacterial pathogens that could confer cross-resistance
to antimicrobials of public health concern. Projects currently
in progress include: characterization of fluoroquinolone
resistance among veterinary and foodborne bacterial pathogens;
characterization of integrons as possible gene transfer
systems among foodborne bacterial pathogens; and several
microbiological surveys aimed at determining antimicrobial
susceptibility data relevant to foodborne bacterial pathogens
and commensals of interest in feeds, retail meats and the
animal production environment.
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The microbiology of feed commodities and finished feeds
is not well characterized and it’s connection to potential
contamination of animal derived foods is not understood.
OR's research is directed toward better understanding of
the role feeds may play in transmission of foodborne pathogens
into the animal production environment and their survival
and dissemination within that environment. This research
also involves examination of bacteria isolated from feed
for their susceptibility to antibiotics. This activity may
provide information about feed as a source of resistance
determinants and also to indicate methods for mitigation
of resistance associated with animal production.
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In the area of aquaculture research, our scientists are
developing methods and models to facilitate surveillance
of domestic and imported seafood products for the presence
of illegal drugs/chemicals resulting from use in aquaculture.
This involves developing methods for detecting residues
of antimicrobial drugs and hormones that may be used in
aquaculture and end up contaminating products derived from
aquaculture Studies are also underway to determine pharmacokinetics
of therapeutic drugs in multiple fish species in order to
predict appropriate dosage regimens and withdrawal times.
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Research to facilitate the development of safe and effective
therapeutic agents for use in aquaculture is being done
by developing pharmacokinetic models for grouping different
fish species. This will enable CVM and producer groups to
predict the pharmacokinetics and thus, withdrawal times
for numerous minor fish species for which drug approvals
may be sought. Researchers at CVM will also be conducting
selected pivotal studies to facilitate approval of non-sponsored
drugs.
Updated Monday, January 22, 2001 at 1:55 AM
ET
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