This Fellowship Training award recently made a change in focus. After studying parvovirus infections of cats, Dr. Hoelzer was given the opportunity to expand her work to Salmonella, a different but equally threatening disease of cats and dogs.  Infections with Salmonella represent serious health problem for cats and dogs, as well as horses and several other pet species - and these animals can also transmit the disease to humans. In most cases, dogs and cats acquire the infection through pet foods or treats, but not all Salmonella strains that can be found in these foods are equally likely to cause disease, which significantly complicates Salmonella control. This study will look at Salmonella infections of dogs and cats to understand which Salmonella strains pose a considerable health risk to these animals, and which are likely to be transmitted to humans. A better understanding of the strain-specific risk will help us develop better Salmonella control programs and allow veterinarians to make more rational recommendations to the owners of Salmonella infected pets.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Karin Hoelzer, Cornell University

Sponsorship not need/ nearly complete

Study ID: D08FE-403

Diarrhea is a significant problem in cats, particularly those living in catteries and shelters. Diarrhea is commonly caused by an infectious pathogen called Tritrichomonas foetus, which lives in the cat's colon and causes inflammation. Left untreated, infected cats can have chronic diarrhea and remain infected for life. This study will use intestinal cell cultures to examine the mechanisms that cause infection and will test a number of common oral drugs that may be able to inhibit these mechanisms. Results of the study will likely identify novel targets for treating this chronic infection.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jody L. Gookin, North Carolina State University

Study ID: D08FE-040

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Hyperthyroidism and kidney disease are common diseases affecting older cats, and the two diseases are often seen together. While hyperthyroid treatments usually cure the disease, treated cats may experience decreases in their kidney function that can shorten their long-term survival. The current means of predicting which cats will experience post-treatment kidney problems are cumbersome and impractical. Researchers will test whether measuring a certain protein, TGF-beta, in cat urine can reliably predict which cats are at risk for decreases in kidney function after hyperthyroid treatment. Such a test might also have wider applications for detecting early kidney disease in older cats and facilitating early intervention that could delay progression of the disease.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Lauren A. Trepanier, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Fully Sponsored: Fort Worth/Tarrant County Animal Foundation

Study ID: D09FE-006

There are more than 90 million pet cats in the United States, of which only 35 percent are thought to live exclusively indoors. Free-roaming cats may encounter numerous hazards in the outdoor environment, including exposure to infectious diseases. The student will outfit free-ranging cats with small video cameras that will enable her to monitor their activities and document the type and frequency of risk factors to which the cats are exposed. The results of this study will provide information about the welfare of cats in an outdoor environment and may provide evidence that keeping cats indoors keeps them safe and healthy.

Principal Investigator: Kerrie Anne Loyd, University of Georgia

Study ID: D09FE-602

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Chronic renal disease is one of the leading illnesses in older cats, yet the current understanding of the cause of renal disease is limited. As part of an ongoing study at Colorado State University, this veterinary scholar project will study the effects of over-vaccination of cats. The goal of this project is to build upon previous studies by determining whether an association exists between the frequency and type of vaccinations administered and the occurrence of chronic renal disease in cats.

Principal Investigator: Chelsea Sonius, Vet Student Scholar, Colorado State University

Full Sponsor: The Skippy Frank Translational Medicine and Life Sciences Fund

Study ID: D08FE-606