Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN)

Biography

Dr. Olgica Ceric is a veterinary medical officer with Vet-LIRN at the Office of Research in FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ceric received her DVM degree from the University of Belgrade (Serbia) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1996, with a major in Veterinary Medicine and minor in Food Hygiene and Technology. She received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, in 2001 and 2006, respectively. Dr. Ceric leads Vet-LIRN’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) surveillance program which is a is a collaboration with network laboratories. Since 2017, through this program, Vet-LIRN has applied the One Health paradigm to successfully track AMR in bacterial pathogens from animals, particularly companion animals. Dr. Ceric also works with laboratories, referring veterinarians and pet owners to investigate cases of potential foodborne illness in pets. The network provides the means for a rapid response to reports of an animal injury and establishes protocols to facilitate veterinary diagnostic reporting to FDA. When conducting investigations, Vet-LIRN follows specific Network Procedures for Laboratories, Owners and Veterinarians.

Vet-LIRN is FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) special program, established in 2011. Vet-LIRN coordinates facilities, equipment, and professional expertise of government and non-government veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the country and Canada to respond to high priority chemical and microbial feed/drug contamination events. More information about Vet-LIRN. 

Research

Vet-LIRN is FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) special program, established in 2011. Vet-LIRN coordinates facilities, equipment, and professional expertise of government and non-government veterinary diagnostic laboratories across the country and Canada to respond to high-priority chemical and microbial feed/drug contamination events.

The network provides the means for a rapid response to reports of an animal injury and establishes protocols to facilitate veterinary diagnostic reporting to FDA. When conducting investigations, Vet-LIRN follows specific Network Procedures for Laboratories, Owners, and Veterinarians. Dr. Ceric works with laboratories, referring veterinarians, and pet owners to investigate cases of potential foodborne illness in pets.

Dr. Ceric is interested in the development of new techniques for evaluating potential toxicants in animal food and treats. Dr. Ceric’s most recent interest involves development and validation of testing methods for food irradiation-specific markers in animal feeds and treats.

Select Publications

Nishshanka U., Jayasuriya, H., Chattopadhaya, C., Kijak, P.J., Chu, P.S., Reimschuessel, R., Tkachenko, A., Ceric, O., De Alwis H.G. (2016) Screening for toxic phorbol esters in jerky pet treat products using LC-MS. J Chromatogr B. 1020:90–5.

Turnipseed, S.B., Storey, J.M., Andersen, W.C., Filigenzi, M.S., Heise, A.S., Lohne, J.J., Madson, M.R., Ceric, O., Reimschuessel, R. (2015) Determination and confirmation of the antiviral drug amantadine and its analogues in chicken jerky pet treats. 2015. J Agric Food Chem. 63(31):6968–78.

Sprando, R.L., Olejnik, N., Keltner, Z., Stine, C., Guag, J., Evans, E., Reimschuessel, R., Ceric, O., Nemser, S., Mossoba, M., Vohra, S., Toomer, H., Sprando, J., Topping, V., Belgrave, K., DePina, A., Black, T. (2014) Acute renal toxicity induced by oral exposure to diglycolic acid [Poster]. 4th Annual FDA Foods Program Science and Research Conference. White Oak, MD, July 28–29.

Stine C.B., Reimschuessel, R., Keltner, Z., Nochetto, C.B., Black, T., Olejnik, N., Scott, M., Bandele, O., Nemser, S.M., Tkachenko, A., Evans, E.R., Crosby, T.C., Ceric, O., Ferguson, M., Yakes, B.J., Sprando, R. (2014) Reproductive toxicity in rats with crystal nephropathy following high doses of oral melamine or cyanuric acid. Food Chem Toxicol. 68:142–53.