current studies
In 2008, Morris Animal Foundation will fund about 120 new and continuing studies for dogs, cats, horses, llamas/alpacas, and wildlife as well as 30 veterinary student projects.
We also have numerous studies nearing completion. You can search our current study database by species and/or disease to learn more about the studies we are funding in the areas you care most about. The results will also show you whether a study is available for sponsorship.
INSTRUCTIONS - Select a division from the left column, a disease or disorder from the middle column, and a study ID number from the right column.
D07ZO-029: “Epidemiology of Feline Herpesvirus (FHV) Infection in Captive Cheetahs”
principal investigator: Dr. Nadine Lamberski, San Diego Zoo
needs sponsorship
year: 1 of 2: $19,350.00
Feline herpes virus (FHV) is a serious health problem in captive cheetahs. It causes upper respiratory disease and can lead to debilitating skin and corneal ulcers. Unlike domestic cats infected with FHV, captive cheetahs seem especially vulnerable to disease, and it often manifests itself in severe and unusual forms. Acute infection has led to euthanasia of several animals, which further impedes breeding efforts and affects captive population sustainability. To better understand this disease, researchers will review archived medical and management records of cheetahs from several zoological institutions. This will enable them to look at infected cheetahs and their symptoms, determine the differences between cheetahs that acquire FHV infections and those that don’t, and identify management practices that promote or prevent these infections.
