# One Health; Epidemiology of natural and deliberate contaminants (infectious and toxicities) in animals and animal food

> **NIH FDA U18** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2023 · $45,300

## Abstract

Project Summary
In the United States, food destined for pet consumption usually is safe for both the pets and the people who
handle the food. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its spread are crucial issues. Understanding improving
AMR detection and its spread is an essential issue. The ability to be ready to respond to old new pathogens is
paramount. It is clear from the current pandemic, where SARS-CoV-2 has sicked and killed millions of people
worldwide. It also has sickened pets, many species held in zoo collections, and seems to have found a
reservoir in deer. The extent of the problem is still not fully recognized.
The University of Georgia (UGA) is committed to promoting, training, and conducting research in all areas of
animal, human and environmental health. The College of Veterinary Medicine and the State Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory (AVDL) have a duty to the state and its constituents to diagnose, monitor trends, and
report unusual disease presentations or patterns. The AVDL laboratory is supported by our institution obtained
CLIA accreditation in 2020 and started performing human COVID19 PCR testing in August of that year to help
the UGA community continue its teaching, research, and service missions. Moreover, the PI implemented
saliva testing in January 2021 to improve sample collection and surveillance participation. We have processed
over 80,000 human samples, and testing continues today. Our service to the veterinary community did not
waver during this time. In addition to the regular veterinary diagnostic service, the molecular section also tested
and found pets and zoo species sickened by SARS-CoV-2.
Our laboratory has expertise in pathology, bacteriology, parasitology, virology, serology, and molecular biology,
including high throughput platform testing as demonstrated with COVID19 testing. Our faculty and staff are
highly qualified and are devoted to animal and public health. Our commitment is evident in our participation in
many programs at the state and national levels. We are one of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network
(NAHLN) and participate in all NAHLN surveillance and antimicrobial resistance testing and sequencing. In
addition, we have participated in other cooperative agreements with the FDA assessing the presence of
Salmonella in turkey-based pet treats and engaging in an epidemiological study looking at the prevalence of
Salmonella in dog and cat feces and the potential risk factors for Salmonella carriage. We are also an FDA
bacterial isolate source laboratory for their antimicrobial continued resistance testing project.
Furthermore, we are currently in the last year of our second competitive renewal of this infrastructure grant, for
which hereby we are seeking renewal. We have been very responsive to all the requirements of this grant to
date. Therefore, Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the PI in this application are uniquely
positioned to assist the FDA in meeting the critical goals of th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10642886
- **Project number:** 5U18FD006157-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Binu Velayudhan
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $45,300
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10642886

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10642886, One Health; Epidemiology of natural and deliberate contaminants (infectious and toxicities) in animals and animal food (5U18FD006157-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10642886. Licensed CC0.

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