Core Diagnostic Work
Background
Canada's National Wildlife Disease Surveillance Program
Disease surveillance integrates four separate activities into a cohesive program:
1) Detection of diseases, 2) Identification of diseases (diagnosis), 3) Disease information management and 4)
Communication. Disease detection is achieved through engagement and support of wildlife personnel across the country.
Disease identification is achieved through medical examination of specimens in fully-equipped veterinary diagnostic
laboratories, primarily by CCWHC professional staff at the veterinary colleges but also elsewhere through
collaboration with government laboratories. Disease information management is done through the CCWHC Information
Technology Centre, which includes a national database for all surveillance data. Communication is achieved through
a range of instruments: regular reports to the CCWHC Board of Directors and the Canadian Wildlife Directors
Committee, web site, newsletter and special program reports.