UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The avian pathology team from the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences received national recognition at the recent 2025 American Association of Avian Pathologists’ annual meeting in Portland, Oregon.
The association’s annual meeting offers attendees and presenters the opportunity to network with members of avian-related industries and expand and share their research and knowledge in poultry health, welfare and food safety. Members of the Penn State team attended the event to present reports and research from the lab and receive acknowledgements and awards based on their research.
Housed in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, the Animal Diagnostic Lab provides in-depth, rapid diagnostic services to support disease control, health management and performance of livestock, poultry, wildlife, fish and companion animals and helps to ensure the safety of foods of animal origin. The lab also provides surveillance of animal diseases, identification of emerging diseases, and training and education for new diagnosticians, veterinarians and graduate students.
The avian pathology team investigates and diagnoses avian diseases using diagnostic pathology, which involves postmortem examinations and laboratory tests on bird samples to identify pathogens and other factors causing illness. Their work is aimed at improving poultry and avian health, protecting food safety and monitoring diseases that could impact public health.
Megan Lighty, associate clinical professor and avian diagnostic and outreach veterinarian, received the association’s award for Outstanding Field Case/Diagnostic Report for her case report, “Production Loss and Mortality in a Layer Flock Revealed Underlying Food Safety Concern.”
“I’m grateful that the award has brought recognition to the work that the avian pathology team does at the Animal Diagnostic Lab,” Lighty said. “Our team has been writing case reports for presentations at scientific meetings such as the American Association of Avian Pathologists’ annual meeting and for publication in scholarly journals to help educate other veterinarians and poultry industry professionals about classic disease presentations as well as emerging or evolving diseases.”
Stephanie Benedict, avian medicine and pathology resident, discussed student community as part of the Student Symposium hosted on the first day of the event. Other members of the team — Kayla Niel, assistant clinical professor and avian diagnostic and outreach veterinarian, and Emily Frye, avian medicine and pathology resident — also presented diagnostic case reports during the second day of the event.
Niel formally received her American College of Poultry Veterinarians diplomate certificate after successfully passing her board examination in 2024. She also was recognized for her involvement with the AAAP All Women’s Network steering committee, following its annual lunch event.
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs are funded, in part, by Pennsylvania counties, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.