
Welcome to this episode of Disease Du Jour on topic of the Merck Respiratory Biosurveillance Program with Dr. Duane Chappell. Dr. Chappell has spent his career bettering the health of horses through his work in the field, in the classroom, and in research projects. He joined Merck Animal Health equine veterinary professional services team in 2014, and currently serves as Associate Director Equine Pharmacovigilance and Professional Services. Dr. Chappell practiced at mixed animal clinics in the Midwest. He owned and managed solo and group practices and was the resident veterinarian at Richland Ranch Quarter Horse breeding farm for many years.
EquiManagement’s Disease Du Jour podcast is focused on equine research and current best practices. Disease Du Jour is brought to you in 2021 by Merck Animal Health.
Read the episode transcript here.
In this podcast we discussed:
- Historical background of the Merck Respiratory Biosurveillance Program
- Goals of the program
- Equine respiratory diseases included in the program
- Requirements to submit a sample to the program
- Kinds of samples submitted
- Tips on respiratory sample collection
- UC Davis lab testing samples
- What program veterinarians receive from sample testing
- Overview of upper respiratory pathogens
- Which are the most prevalent based on testing
- Seasonality of respiratory disease
- How to use seasonality to better vaccinate horses
- Equine influenza
- Horse age and respiratory disease
- Trending in Biosurveillance data
- Biosecurity
- Find out more about the program
Dr. Chappell said any veterinarian looking for more information about or from the Merck Respiratory Biosurveillance program can contact one of Merck’s professional services veterinarians or one of Merck’s sales team members . The phone number for the Merck equine professional services is 866-349-3497.

EquiManagement’s Disease Du Jour podcast is focused on equine research and current best practices. Disease Du Jour is brought to you in 2020 by Merck Animal Health.