The Virology Unit was established in 1987 with the financial assistance of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum. Since that time its aims have been to prevent disease epidemics, to protect the industry from the introduction of exotic viruses, and to reduce financial loss due to endemic viral disease.
During the past two decades the Unit has demonstrated repeatedly that it has the expertise, facilities and flexibility to respond to a disease crisis rapidly and effectively.
In 2006 and 2007 it played a pivotal role in controlling the outbreak of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA). The Virology team processed over 57,000 EIA samples in 12 months thus ensuring that the normal business of the horse industry including sales, breeding and racing continued during the outbreak.
The Virology Unit offers a comprehensive service to all sections of the Irish horse industry.
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Veterinary Surgeons avail of a first class diagnostic service and professional advice on the prevention and management of viral diseases such as equine viral arteritis (EVA), influenza and equine herpesvirus abortion.
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Breeders avail of the expertise of the Virology Unit to investigate outbreaks of venereal disease, abortion and paralysis and for advice on the implementation of the Code of Practice.
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Trainers of racehorses and performance horses use the service to investigate outbreaks of respiratory disease and loss of performance, and to monitor vaccine efficacy.
Education and Research are also areas in which the Virology Unit plays a prominent role on the national and international stage.
The University of Limerick and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin both incorporate lectures from the Head of the Virology Unit in their teaching modules for equine science and veterinary degree courses.
Recent research projects have been funded by the Department of Agriculture under the National Development Programme (NDP); the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET); and Enterprise Ireland under their Innovation Partnership Programme.
The Virology Unit is GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) accredited and contributes to the financial viability of the Centre and the underwriting of the diagnostic service through working with multinational companies to perform vaccine safety and efficacy studies for submission to regulatory authorities. The Department of Agriculture and other organisations also avail of the capacity of the Unit to test large numbers of samples from any animal species within set time periods.
