ISRAEL

Kimron Veterinary Institute

The

 Kimron Veterinary Institute (KVI)

The KVI was established as a small  diagnostic laboratory during the British mandate in 1928 and in 1957 moved to its present site. 
The KVI is the diagnostic and research arm of the Veterinary Services of  the Ministry of Agriculture.   The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine which is located on the KVI campus.

The KVI comprises 18 laboratories, 17 of which are located at the Bet Dagan campus, and a satellite diagnostic laboratory in northern Israel. The laboratories are allocated to 5 divisions (Division of Pathology, Division of Avian and Fish Diseases ,  Division of Parasitology,  Division of Bacteriology,  Division of Virology.

The main functions of the KVI are diagnosis in the laboratory and on the farm , research and development, extension, vaccine control and production, and public health.

The KVI provides a comprehensive veterinary diagnostic service for livestock health, feed and food industries, export and import of animals and products of animal origin. Diagnosis of major zoonotic diseases such as rabies, brucellosis and tuberculosis is carried out at the KVI, in reference laboratories serving the medical community too. Most of the biological samples (apart from blood samples) are initially screened by the Department of Pathology. After necropsy or gross examination, the samples are distributed among the various departments, depending on the initial pathological findings and the clinical requirements. In 2003 nearly 3,500 necropsies were performed, and 350,000 examinations were carried out in the various laboratories.

The functions of each laboratory are largely determined by its diagnostic responsibilities. Several departments are primarily diagnosis orientated, whereas other departments are concerned mainly with research. Most research projects involve applied approaches to veterinary problems in Israel. In 2003 more then 100 projects were carried out with a budget of about US $2.5 million.

Strong scientific contacts have been established with various research institutes abroad, primarily with the U.S.A. and Germany and more recently with Egypt and with former U.S.S.R. Asian Republics.

Vaccine production has largely been transferred to the private  sector, but safety control is still monitored by the KVI. Development and production of those vaccines that are economically unfeasible to produce in the private sector such as tick borne diseases are still produced at the KVI.

Other public health responsibilities of the KVI involve the examination of imported and exported feed and food products of animal origin for the presence of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms, and for chemical and drug residues.

The academic staff comprises 85 scientists and laboratory technicians in tenured positions. In addition, 35 scientists including newcomers from the former U.S.S.R., are employed under contract, and are engaged on diverse research projects.

The close collaboration with veterinary clinicians and the knowledge and experience acquired by the KVI have contributed  to an improved surveillance and control of livestock diseases as well as to progress in medical and veterinary public health.

Address: Bet Dagan 50250, P.O.B. 12, Israel

Last update 01/06/2004

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Produced by Yakobson Boris