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Bobcat fever

Bobcat Fever

Bobcat Fever (feline cytauxzoonosis) is a serious disease of cats that is caused by a protozoan parasite, Cytauxzoon felis, found in the red blood cells of an infected bobcat or cat. It is transmitted when a tick feeding on an infected animal ingests the infected red blood cells then injects the parasite into another cat or bobcat when it feeds on that animal. Domestic cats often become very ill with severe anemia and may die from the infection. Morris Animal Foundation is supporting research in Dr. Patricia Holman’s Hemoparasitology Research Laboratory to develop cultures of the parasite to facilitate studies that will lead to better diagnostic tests, treatment, and vaccine development.

Nurse shark used as a model vertebrate immune system

SharkNational Science Foundation funded research at the college uses the nurse shark as a model vertebrate immune system to determine the natural history and engineering possibilities of our lymphocyte antigen receptors.

Study of cow immune system points to new ways to make human medicines

Study of cow immune system points to new ways to make human medicinesHumans have been raising cows for their meat, hides and milk for millennia. Now it appears that the cow immune system also has something to offer. A study of an extraordinary family of cow antibodies points to new ways to make human medicines. Read more about the study >>

Bovine viral diarrhea virus vaccine development program

Photo of cow and researchersThe American cattle industry accounts for about 40% of the total market value of U.S. agriculture. However, shipping fever (also known as bovine respiratory disease complex, or BRDC) causes more than a billion dollars in losses annually, due to calf loss and treatment costs. There is a vaccine for one of the pathogens, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), that can cause shipping fever, but it is not very effective in newborn calves. The goal of this project, therefore, is to develop a BVDV vaccine that is safe, affordable, and effective in newborn calves.