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• Mandate: To provide analytical and diagnostic services to the agricultural industry,  and to ensure the production and/or import of quality and safe food products through adherence to ISO 17025 and  Good Laboratory Practice.
• Main activities: One of its core functions is to provide analytical services in the area of food safety comprising of chemical residue analysis as well as food and water microbiological analysis.The three sections at CVL directly responsible for this food safety testing function are namely: Food Hygiene, Toxicology and Residue Analysis and Biotechnology. The other main activities are general disease diagnostic services through post mortem examinations, histopathological examinations, serological analysis, clinical microbiological analysis and molecular diagnostic methods.
• Competences:The Central Veterinary Laboratory consists of three sub-divisions: Food Science, Diagnostic Services and Biotechnology/research. Food Science Sub-division consists of Food Hygiene and, Toxicology and residue analysis. The Diagnostics Sub-division comprises Clinical Microbiology and animal Reproduction, Pathology, Parasitology and Rabies, Serology and BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), the Regional Laboratories in Ondangwa, Grootfontein and Gobabis as well as the Research/Experimental farm at Bergvlug. The Sub-division Biotechnology Services is made up of molecular diagnostics for viral and bacterial pathogens with specialization on the area of food safety and animal health. 

• Currently, the total number of staff complement at CVL is 53 of which 27 are Technical staff while 3 are administrative staff and 23 are support staff. The technical staff comprises three different categories; Chief Veterinarians, Veterinarians, Scientific Officers and Veterinary Technicians. The minimum entry qualification requirement for the position of Chief Veterinarians and Veterinarians is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Veterinary Science whilst for Scientific Officers is a Bachelor of Science Degree in relevant discipline and a relevant National diploma for Veterinary Technicians is regarded as a minimum requirement. Below (Table 1) is the summary number of staff and the highest academic qualifications they possess in different discipline at CVL.

Table 1. Available number and qualifications of technical and support staff at Central Veterinary Laboratory.

• Provision of expertise to other countries or institutions: Not participated yet!
• Provision of reference substances/services/training to other countries or institutions: CVL provided training on various diagnostics techniques on visiting scientists sponsored by IAEA from below listed countries.

1. Malawi
2. Botswana
3. Zimbabwe
4. Ethiopia
5. Sierra Leone
6. Angola
7. Mozambique
8. Zambia
9. Uganda

• Collaboration with FAO and other institutions and organizations:

1. OIE. Two Twinning projects:

• Food Safety twinning project with IZSA&M – Teramo Italy
• Chlamydia Twinning project with Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Switzerland

1. OVI - RSA
2. BVI - Botswana
3. BNL – Botswana
4. IIV - Angola
5. CVRI- Zambia
6. VLA - U.K.
7. IZSA&M - Italy
8. UPSALLA - Sweden
9. IAEA-Austria
10. University Hohenheim- Germany

• Knowledge dissemination: conferences, meetings and publications

• List of CVL's research work and Publications:

  1. Capobianco Dondona A., Aschenborn O., Pinoni C., Di Gialleonardo L., Maseke A., Bortone G., Polci A., Scacchia M., Molini U. and Monaco F. 2016. Rift Valley fever virus in wild ruminants in the Etosha National Park, Namibia, 2011. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 22(1):128-130.
  2. Shilangale, R., Kaaya, G., Chimwamurombe, P. 2015.Antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella strains isolated from beef in Namibia. British Microbiology Research Journal 11 (3) (In press).
  3. Shilangale, R.P., Kaaya, G.P, Chimwamurombe, P.M. 2015. Prevalence and Characterization of Salmonella isolated from beef in Namibia. European Journal of Nutrition and Food Safety 5 (4): 267 – 274.
  4. Molini U., Marruchella G., Maseke A., Ronchi G.F., Di Ventura M., Salini R., Scacchia M., Pini A. 2014. Immunization of horses with a polyvalent live-attenuated African horse sickness vaccine: serological response and disease occurrence under field conditions.  Trials in Vaccinology, 4: 24-28.
  5. M. Scacchia, U. Molini, G. Marruchella, F. Monaco, A. Maseke, G. Savini, P. Attilio. 2014. African Horse Sickness outbreaks in Namibia from 2006 to 2013: clinical, pathological and laboratory findings. Veterinaria Italiana, 51(2): 23-30.
  6. Goffredo M., Savini G., Quaglia M., Molini U., Federici V., Catalani M., Portanti O., Marini V., Maseke A. F., Pini A.,  Scacchia M. 2014. Entomological survey on African Horse Sickness outbreaks in Namibia. Veterinaria Italiana, 51: 17-23.
  7. Pascucci I., Di Domenico M., Di Mattia T., Molini U., Scacchia M. and Pini A. 2014. Study of an exotic tick borne disease by infection of sheep with ball 3 E. ruminantium ‘vaccine’ performed in Namibia: clinical symptoms, gross lesions and molecular diagnosis. Large Animal Review 2014; 20: 215-219.
  8. Molini U., Marruchella G., Maseke A., Ronchi G.F., Di Ventura M., Salini R., Scacchia M., Pini A. 2014. Immunization of horses with a polyvalent live-attenuated African horse sickness vaccine: serological response and disease occurrence under field conditions. IV International Conference on Bluetongue and related Orbiviruses 5-7 November 2014.
  9. Scacchia M., Molini U., Marruchella G., Maseke A., Bortone G., Cosseddu G.M., Monaco F., Savini G., Pini A. 2014. African Horse Sickness in Namibia: clinical, pathological and molecular findings. IV International Conference on Bluetongue and related Orbiviruses 5-7 November 2014 pp. 130-131.
  10. Bortone G., Cosseddu G.M., Molini U., Maseke A., Scacchia M., Monaco F. 2014.  Molecular characterization of the Seg-10 of African horse sickness strains circulating in Namibia between 2006 and 2011. IV International Conference on Bluetongue and related Orbiviruses 5-7 November 2014. pp 40-41.
  11. Quaglia M., Molini U., Ippoliti C., Catalani M., Federici V., Santilli A., Goffredo M., Pini A., Scacchia M. 2014. Entomological Investigation in an African Horse Sickness free area of Namibia. IV International Conference on Bluetongue and related Orbiviruses 5-7 November 2014. pp. 92-93.
  12. Pascucci I., Cammà C., Di Domenico M., Di Mattia T., Molini U., Scacchia M. and Pini A. 2014. Study of an exotic tick borne disease by infection of sheep with ball 3 E. ruminantium ‘vaccine’ performed in Namibia: clinical symptoms, gross lesions and molecular diagnosis. XXVIII Congresso Nazionale SOIPA. Rome 24-27 Giugno 2014.
  13. C. Pinoni, A. Polci, U. Molini, A. Maseke, M. Scacchia, F. Monaco. 2014. Caratterizzazione molecolare di un ceppo di virus della Febbre della Valle del Rift. V Workshop Nazionale di Virologia Veterinaria (VIRVET) 26-27 Giugno 2014.
  14. Magwedere, K., Shilangale, R., Mbulu, R.S., Hemberger, Y., Hoffman, L.C and Dziva, F. 2013. Microbiological quality and potential public health risks of export meat from springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) in Namibia. Meat Science 93: 73 - 78.
  15. Shilangale, R.P, Di Giannatale, E., Chimwamurombe, P.M. and Kaaya, G.P., 2012. Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella in animal feed produced in Namibia.Veterinaria Italiana 48 (2): 125 – 132.
  16. F. Monaco; C. Pinoni; G.M. Cosseddu; S. Khaiseb; P. Calistri; U. Molini; A.Bishi; A. Conte; M. Scacchia; R. Lelli. 2013. Rift Valley Fever in Namibia, 2010. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 19, (12) p. 2025-2027.
  17. Lelli R., Molini U., Ronchi G.F., Rossi E., Franchi P., Ulisse S., Armillotta G., Capista S., Khaiseb S., Di Ventura M., Pini A. 2013. Inactivated and adjuvated vaccine for the control of the African horse sickness virus serotype 9 infection: evaluation of efficacy in horses and guinea-pig model. Veterinaria Italiana. 49: 89-98.
  18. Goffredo M., Savini G., Quaglia M., Molini U., Federici V., Catalani M., Portanti O., Marini V., Maseke A., Pini A., Scacchia M. 2013. Entomological survey on Africa Horse Sickness outbreaks in Namibia. 7th EPIZONE annual meeting “Nothing permanent except change”. 1-4 October 2013. Brussels, Belgium.
  19. Bortone G., Cosseddu G.M., Molini U., Scacchia M., Lelli R., Monaco F. 2013. Caratterizzazione molecolare di ceppi di campo di peste equina isolati in Namibia tra il 2006 e il 2008. XV Congresso Nazionale S.I.Di.L.V. 23-25 Ottobre 2013. Monreale, Palermo.
  20. Huebschle Otto J B; Ayling Roger D; Godinho Kevin; Lukhele Obed; Tjipura-Zaire Georgina; Rowan Tim G; Nicholas Robin A J. (2006). Danofloxacin (Advocin) reduces the spread of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia to healthy in-contact cattle. Research in Veterinary Science 81(3):304 - 309.
  21. Mbulu Rosa-Stella; Tjipura-Zaire Georgina; Lelli Rosella; Frey Joachim; Pilo Paola; Vilei Edy M; Mettler Felix; Nicholas Robin A J; Huebschle Otto J B. (2004). Cotagious bovine pleuropneumonia(CBPP) caused by vaccine strain T1/44 of Mycoplasma mycoides SC.   Veterinary Microbiology 98 (3-4): 229 - 234.
  22. Bruderer Urs; Regalla Jose; Abdo El-Mostafa; Huebschle Otto J B; Frey Joachim. (2002). Serodiagnosis and monitoring of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia(CBPP) with and indirect ELISA based on the specific lipoprotein LppQ of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. Mycoides SC. Veterinary Microbiology 84(3): 195-205.
  23. Abusugra,I., di Francesca, G., Mettler, F., Pini, A. and Morein, B.  Experimental Field Trial with an Immunostimulating Complex (ISCOM) Vaccine against Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia. Jounal of Veterinary Medicine Series B 50 (6): 298 – 303.
  24. Hans G. J, Hrelen H. Booker and Otto J. B. Huebschle. (1990). Anthrax in Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in Namibia. Journal of Wildlife Diseases26(3): 423 – 424.
  25. Hübschle, O.J., Tjipura-Zaire, G., Abusugra, I., di Francesca, G, Mettler, F., Pini, A., Morein, B. (2003). Experimental field trial with an immunostimulating complex (ISCOM) vaccine against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health 50 (6): 298 - 303.
  26. Scacchia M, Sacchini F, Filipponi G, Luciani M, Lelli R, Tjipura-Zaire G, Di Provvido A, Shiningavamwe A, Ndiipanda F, Pini, A, Caporale V, Hübschle OJB. 2007. Clinical, humoral and IFN gamma responses of cattle to infection with Mycoplasma mycoides va. mycoides small colony and attempts to condition the pathogenesis of the infection.
  27. G. Tjipura-Zaire, H. Namundjebo and O.J.B. Huebschle. (2000). The use of competitive ELISA in monitoring of CBPP control programmes in Namibia, Working Material, IAEA, Vienna, Austria.pp. 45-53

• Potential modalities:
  • Introduce Testing methods for Residue Analysis
  • Introduce  new diagnostic methods for viral diseases

[Dr. med. vet, Siegfried Khaiseb]:
Tel::+264 61 237684
Email:[email protected]

[Dr Juliet Kabajani]: Tel: +264  61 237684 / Email:[email protected]
[Mr Lukas Iipumbu]: Tel: +264  61 237684/ Email:[email protected]

NAME: Dr. med. vet, Siegfried Khaiseb

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Pathology

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 5 years

Short CV: Dr. Khaiseb worked as a Veterinary Pathologist from January 2010 to September 2015 at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in the Pathology section. His main Duties were to perform Post mortems on animals, carry out Histopathological, Parasitological and Rabies analysis. Since 1 November 2014, he started acting as Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for the  Diagnostic Services and Research Division (Head of CVL), until he was appointed as Head of CVL as from 1 October 2015 to date. In addition, he has worked on a number of researches as indicated in CVL’s research and published work.

NAME: Dr. med. vet, Umberto Molini

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Molecular Biology, Parasitology and Virology

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 14 years

Short CV: Dr. Molini worked as a parasitologist from September 2002 to November 2005, in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Teramo, Italy, in the Department of Virology and Parasitology. In adition, from November 2005 to October 2013 he worked as virologist for the Italian Ministry of Health at the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) of Windhoek Namibia, where he was studying and developing new vaccines for viral animal diseases, as Bluetongue and African Horse Sickness. From October 2013 to date, he has been working as sub-divisional head of the Department of Biotechnology at the CVL. His main duties are to introduce, validate and perform molecular tests (conventional and quantitative PCR) related to food safety and animal health.

 NAME: MRS.GEORGINA N. TJIPURA-ZAIRE, BSc: Biology, Biochemistry, minor in Chemistry, MSc: Immunology

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Immunology/Serology/Virology

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 20 years

Short CV: For the first 2 years of Mrs. Tjipura-Zaire's working career, she worked in  the Virology Section where she was involved in virological analysis, using serum/virus neutralisation tests. Thereafter, she was appointed as the Head of the Serology/BSE section. Mrs. Tjipura-Zaire has a vast knowledge in animal projects, specifically in Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP). The results emanated from these projects are published in reputable international journals. Furthermore, she has been the principal scientific investigator for numerous projects funded by the world renowned International Atomic Energy Agency on both CBPP and FMD. She has also presented posters at International Symposiums for the two above mentioned diseases. In additon, in 1998, she emerged as a favourable applicant for an EU consultancy project to give a 2-week practical course on CFT, ELISA and CBPP for SADC Veterinary Technicians in Zambia.

NAME: Mr. Lukas Iipumbu

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Toxicology and Chemical Residue

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 10 years

Short CV: Mr. Iipumbu has worked as a Veterinary Technician for three years before being appointed as Head of the Toxicology and Residue Analysis Section, the position he has held for the past seven years and currently. The Toxicology and Residue Analysis section is responsible for the monitoring and testing for chemical residues in meat and meat products in Namibia.  Iipumbu’s main duties involve the management and coordination of functioning of the section, including the research and development i.e. method development and validation for accreditation purposes as well as the general day-to-day operations of laboratory based on the ISO 17025 standards.

 NAME: Mrs. Esther Mukete-Hilundutah:

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Toxicology and Residue Analysis

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 8 years

Short CV:  Mrs. Mukete-Hilundutah has worked as a Veterinary Technician at Central Veterinary Laboratory, in Toxicology and Residue section from February 2007 to 2008 September. This section is responsible for analysing the various samples for the detection of residues of veterinary drugs, pesticides, mycotoxins and heavy metals, using modern analytical techniques such as TLC, ELISA, LC-MS/MS, HPLC-FLD and AAS. From October 2008 to date, she has been working as an Agriculture Scientific Officer for the Toxicology and Residue section. Her duties involve the supervision of the technical team in order to ensure the effective functioning of the Toxicology and Residues Analysis Section.

 NAME: Dr. Kandjumbwa Kornelia

QUALIFICATIONS: 3yrs National Diploma in Agriculture; 4yrs BSc. in Agriculture, specialized in Food Science and Technology, 5yrs Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM).

PUBLICATIONS: Analysis of Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water in a rural area, Namibia, issued in 2000 and accessioned in July 2013 in Pretoria. The descriptive abstract is found online as Kandjumbwa Kornelia (2000).

Short CV: Dr. Kornelia worked in the Food Hygiene Section from 2001 to 2005, did bacteria analyses from food samples, water and animal feeds; then studied BVM from August 2006 to June 2012. Moreover, from February 2013 to October 2014 he worked in Biotechnology using PCR for detection of viruses and bacteria at DNA level. in addition, from November 2014 to date, she has been working as Section Head for the Diagnostic Sample Reception (verifying samples quality regarding the required test), the Clinical Microbiology section (Bacteria culturing and antiprograms & Bulls fertility test) and is also an Acting-Chief Veterinarian in the Food Safety Sub-division.

NAME: Dr. Juliet N. Kabajani

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Veterinarian working and heading the pathology section.

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 4 years

Short CV: Dr. Kabajani obtained a BSc in chemistry & molecular biology from the University of Namibia in 2005. In addition, she worked as a Veterinary technician in serology at the Central Veterinary laboratory (CVL) from 2005 to 2006, doing analysis and testing of serum samples for different animal diseases. From 2007 to 2011, she studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zambia. She then started working as a state veterinarian at CVL in 2012, heading the pathology section. Some of her responsibilities included doing consultations with clients, clinical pathology diagnostics, perform Post mortems on animals, carry out Histopathology, Parasitology and Rabies analysis. From 1 November 2015, she has been acting as Chief Veterinarian for the subdivision of Research and Diagnostics. She is also currently enrolled for an MSC in Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria.

NAME: Renatus Peter Shilangale (PhD)

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Microbiology, Food Hygiene and Food    Safety

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 16 years

Short CV (maximum 150 words): Mr. Shilangale is a Food Scientist with a PhD in Microbiology. His career has mainly been in a food microbiology laboratory with the experience of over 15 years. During this period he has worked as Head of Food Hygiene at the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) and gained extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Regulatory Affairs and different microbiological criteria in foods. As Head of Food Hygiene section at CVL, he is responsible for development, implementation and supervision of all food, feed and water microbiological analyses as well as the Laboratory Quality Management System according to the ISO 17025. In his career, he has also been involved in training, lecturing, research, collaboration activities and have publications in several scientific journals.

NAME: Mr Clarence. J. Tjipangandjara

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Quality Management Systems

No. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 10 Years

Short CV: Mr Tjipangandjara is a certified Quality Manager and Assessor by the European Organization for Quality with 10 years’ work experience in management systems, auditing, quality assurance/control, food processing, and laboratory test work. During this period he worked as Safety Health Environment & Quality (SHEQ) Manager, Quality Manager, Quality Assurance Officer, Laboratory Analyst and his functions included; administration, planning, documenting, developing, implementing, maintaining, auditing and upgrading Management Systems for ISO 17025,17020,  9001,14000,22000; HACCP; FSSC 22000.He is skilled in laboratory design and start-up and has successfully planned, developed, implemented, improved quality management systems and attained certification/accreditation. In 2013, he was appointed as a Quality Manager at the Central Veterinary laboratory (CVL), a position he held to date.