Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli (EcL)
The Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli (EcL) of the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire at the Université de Montréal (FMV) was founded in 1981 for the study of pathogenic E. coli by Dr John Morris Fairbrother, professor at the Department of Pathology and Microbiology of the Faculty. The EcL has three complementary mandates:
- As part of the Diagnostic Service of FMV, EcL is at the cutting edge of technology in the development and use of diagnostic techniques, offering its services to veterinary practitioners and other diagnostic laboratories.
- The EcL is an important centre of research expertise on virulence mechanisms, new diagnostic approaches, vaccination and passive immunotherapy regarding E. coli pathogens. It is an integral part of the Research Group on Swine Infectious Diseases (GREMIP) and the Swine Infections Research Center (CRIP).
- The EcL was officially appointed Reference Laboratory of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for Escherichia coli, in Paris in May 2006. The EcL therefore operates as the reference laboratory on E. coli affecting the health of animals and those that are zoonotic, i.e. can be transmitted from animals to humans and could affect the health of the latter.