Research
Previously funded studies appear chronologically, with the most recent appearing first.
Evaluation of the Effects of Diluted Sodium Hypochlorite on Skin Microbiome in Dogs with Superficial Pyoderma and Atopic Dermatitis: a Single Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial
In canine allergies, recurrent skin infection is frequent, often requiring repeated antibiotic use. This leads to a financial burden on owners and higher risk for antibiotic resistance. Recent studies in people have shown that diluted bleach baths can help patients with allergies and skin infections. In dogs, bleach has shown antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in […]Continue readingCanine Semen Microbiome
Insufficient male reproductive performance and subfertility are important problems for dog breeders, but the causes underlying acquired infertility cannot be identified in about 50% of dogs. In humans, recent studies have demonstrated an association between semen quality and bacterial communities in the ejaculate, but further research is needed to assess a causal relationship between semen […]Continue readingCharacterization of hookworm resistance in dogs with a novel diagnostic test for early intervention
The dog hookworm is the most common worm parasite of dogs in the United States. It can cause disease, resulting in suffering and even death in both young and old dogs of all breeds. Dog hookworms can also infect humans who come into contact with hookworm larvae present in dog stool contaminated areas. Hookworm infections […]Continue readingDiscovery of public tumorspecific neoantigens (pTSNAs) and pTSNAreactive T cells arisen from hotspot mutations in canine hemangiosarcoma
Researchers will build on their discovery of “hotspot” mutations (tumor mutations shared between patients with the same cancer) to see if they can identify public tumor-specific neoantigens (pTSNAs) that are thought to play a role in immune response to cancer. Researchers hope findings will be a step toward a new immunotherapy that can be used […]Continue readingUsing a heritable immunostimulatory bacterium to block heartworm transmission by mosquitoes
Summary: Researchers will investigate the use of a bacteria to help block transmission of heartworm parasites by mosquitoes. Description: More than 150,000 cases of canine heartworm disease are reported annually in the United States alone. Monthly preventive treatments for dogs have been widely available since the mid-19805. However, drug-resistant strains are on the rise, highlighting […]Continue readingEvaluating Reproductive Diseases in vitro with a 3D Canine Endometrial Organoid Model
Pyometra is a life-threatening disease that affects over 66% of intact older bitches. Bitches are pre-disposed to this disease due to a number of unique features of their reproductive cycle. Endometritis is an underdiagnosed condition in bitches that results in reduced fertility and can lead to the development of pyometra. These diseases have mostly been […]Continue readingArtificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Diagnosis of Dog Sperm Morphology
Sperm morphology evaluation is an important component of dog fertility analysis. However, visual evaluation of sperm morphology is difficult to teach, and results are largely dependent on the proficiency and experience of the evaluator, leading to large variability in results within and across evaluators. The objective of this pilot study is to explore recent advances […]Continue readingGenome-wide Association Study to Investigate Genetic Markers for Antimicrobial Resistance in Mycoplasma cynos Associated with Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease
Mycoplasma cynos is an emerging respiratory bacterium in dogs. It is associated with kennel cough and may lead to fatal pneumonia. This bacterium is very complex, and the lack of standardized diagnostic and knowledge on antibiotic therapy makes clinical management difficult. Since no vaccine is available, current treatment of M. cynos-associated outbreaks relies on antibiotics. However, […]Continue readingUnderstanding the Genetic Basis of Addison’s Disease in PWDs
Addison’s disease is a common, life-threatening disorder in dogs characterized by the immune-mediated destruction of portions of the adrenal gland. This damage prevents the adrenal gland from synthesizing hormones that are necessary for normal cell metabolism, kidney function, and maintenance of the immune system. Dogs with Addison’s disease are also highly predisposed to succumbing to […]Continue readingLuteinizing Hormone Receptor Activation Induces Migration and Adhesion in Neoplastic Canine Lymphocytes
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is secreted from the brain (pituitary) in sexually intact dogs to stimulate synthesis of estrogen and testosterone in females and males, respectively. However, LH is secreted at concentrations up to 20 times higher following gonad removal with spaying or castration because hormonal negative feedback is lost. Although LH is considered to be […]Continue reading