Definition
The CFIA's reference laboratories and collaborating centres are designated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) or Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to provide scientific and technical expertise on specific diseases at the regional and global level. This designation is a sign of scientific excellence and integrity.
Importance
The work of these labs and their scientists is essential to protect the health and well-being of people, animals, and the economy – in Canada and around the world. This includes:
- detecting animal diseases
- researching how to better monitor, control and eradicate these diseases
- setting international standards for managing disease and trading animals and animal products
Locations and expertise
National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (Winnipeg)
- African swine fever (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- classical swine fever (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- avian influenza (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- foot-and-mouth disease (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- foot-and-mouth disease and other vesicular diseases (FAO Reference Centre)
- zoonotic and emerging pathogens (FAO Reference Centre)
National Centre for Animal Diseases (Lethbridge)
- anthrax (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- bovine spongiform encephalopathy (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- bovine viral diarrhea (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
Saskatoon Laboratory
- trichinellosis (WOAH reference laboratory)
- foodborne zoonotic parasites (WOAH Collaborating Centre)
The Ottawa Laboratory (Fallowfield)
- rabies (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- chronic wasting disease (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- scrapie (WOAH Reference Laboratory)
- control and epidemiology of rabies in carnivores (WHO collaborating centre)