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Unit of Avian Health |
The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell
University has an active program on avian health with emphasis on chickens,
ducks, and turkeys. This program is organized in the Unit of Avian Health within
the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The overall objectives of the
Avian Health Program are to conduct basic and applied research on infectious
diseases, immunobiology, and embryonic development of lymphoid tissues in birds.
The Unit also provides diagnostic services to the poultry industry of New York
State, and it offers courses on avian health. The joint expertise of faculty
in the Unit and available facilities offer opportunities to the industry for
multidisciplinary research projects. The Unit has currently two directors: Dr.
Benjamin Lucio (bl23@cornell.edu) is in charge of Extension and the New York State
Avian Disease Program and Dr. K.A. (Ton) Schat (kas24@cornell.edu) is in charge of facilities and research. For additional
information on the Unit contact Dr. Lucio or Dr. Schat.
In 1996, faculty members in the Unit of Avian Health moved into the new Veterinary
Medical Center complex of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The new facilities
consist of "state-of-the-art" research laboratories and shared equipment
rooms allowing contemporary basic and applied research in cell biology, immunology,
molecular biology and infectious diseases. The Unit maintains three breeding
flocks of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. These flocks are characterized
for their major histocompatibility complex and Marek's disease resistance or
susceptibility. In addition, the Unit maintains an SPF flock of white pekin
ducks. For information on the availability of eggs from these flocks contact
Dr. Schat (kas24@cornell.edu). Through the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
members of the Unit have access to conventional chicken lines. Contact Dr. Marsh
(jam24@cornell.edu) for information on these lines. The Unit maintains
a facility for experimental work with birds. Individual isolation rooms and
high security isolators allow work with infectious agents.
The Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences maintains the
Cornell Duck Research Laboratory on Long Island, which is a joint venture with
the International Duck Research Cooperative. Research by Dr. Tirath Sandhu (tss3@cornell.edu) is mainly focused on the development of vaccines
against bacterial diseases in ducks. In addition, Dr. Sandhu provides diagnostic
services to the duck industry on long Island. The laboratory also produces veterinary
biologics under a U.S.D.A. license for use in ducks. For information on diagnostic
service and availability of duck biologics contact Dr. Sandhu (tss3@cornell.edu). The Cornell Duck Research Laboratory provides
faculty in the Unit of Avian Health and the College with access to duck pathogens
and opportunities for joint research projects.
Graduate Education:
Faculty in the Unit of Avian Health are members of the Graduate Fields of Animal
Breeding, Environmental Toxicology, Immunology, Veterinary Medicine, and Zoology
. Prospective graduate students interested in pursuing a MS or PhD degree in
Avian Health are encouraged to contact individual faculty members or Dr. Schat
(kas24@cornell.edu) to discuss their interests. They can also contact
the Office of Graduate Education at the College of Veterinary Medicine (ki26@cornell.edu) for information. A limited number of graduate
student stipends for prospective students with either a D.V.M. degree or a B.S.
degree are available within the Department, College, and University. These awards
are highly competitive. In addition, a graduate research assistantship in avian
disease research is available for USA citizens or permanent residents holding
the D.V.M. degree. Click here for information on this assistantship. Individuals
interested in admission to the program for graduate study should apply directly
to the Graduate School (http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu), Caldwell Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York 14853.
Courses offered with an
emphasis on Avian Health:
Currently the following courses are offered on avian health for students in
the D.V.M. curriculum:
VTMED 610 Introduction to
Avian Biomedicine
Spring odd numbered years. 2 credits. Letter grade. Minimum enrollment: 10;
maximum enrollment: 60. G.V. Kollias.
An introduction to avian biology for veterinary students. The course will include
lectures and laboratories involving avian evolution, anatomy, physiology, and
ecology. Emphasis will be on the development of a strong foundation in avian
biology that will be applied in VTMED 616 - Diseases of Birds and VTMED 652
- Avian Medicine and Surgery.
VTMED 616 Diseases of Birds
Spring. 2 credits. Second, third,
and fourth year veterinary students. Enrollment 10 minimum; 80 maximum. S. Naqi
and G.V. Kollias.
This course is designed to introduce second and third year veterinary students
to a basic and practical knowledge of the most common infectious and non-infectious
diseases affecting a variety of avian species. The course will emphasize the
latest diagnostic and control approaches. The course format will be a combination
of didactic lectures and discussions.
VTMED 640 Veterinary Aspects of Captive Wildlife Management
Spring. 2 credits. Letter grade. All;
years. G.V. Kollias.
This course will concentrate on principles of captive wildlife management, both
clinical and nonclinical. Students will be challenged to learn and integrate
a variety of disciplines that are essential to successfully managing wildlife
in a captive or semi-free-ranging environment. These disciplines include but
are not limited to species-specific (12) behavior and behavioral requirements,
(2) nutritional requirements and problems, (3) natural history, (4) zoonotic,
and toxicological problems, (5) manual restraint and anesthesia, (6) preventive
medicine, and (7) medical and legal ethics.
VTMED 648 Clinical Management
of Native Wildlife
Fall, Spring, and Summer (credit given
for fall). 1 credit. All years. Letter grade. Enrollment not to exceed 42 students
per semester. G.V. Kollias and staff.
This course introduces veterinary students to primary native wildlife care and
to wildlife issues that face practicing veterinarians on a daily basis. Students
are responsible for the assessment, physical examination, and medical care of
native wildlife presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital by the
public and local wildlife rehabilitators. Student activities are directly supervised
and assessed by faculty wildlife clinicians on a daily basis. Successful completion
of the course requires 40 hours of satisfactory supervised participation per
semester in the clinic. Clinic times will be appropriately scheduled throughout
the semester. Students are required to submit three case summaries before the
end of the semester.
VTMED 652 Avian Medicine and Surgery
Spring (March - May - 8 weeks, even
years, or as advertised). 2 credits. Third and fourth year veterinary students.
Enrollment: 20 minimum; 80 maximum. Letter grade only. G.V. Kollias and others.
This course is designed to introduce third and fourth year veterinary students
to the principles and practice of clinical avian medicine and surgery. The course
will be taught in a basic didactic lecture and discussion format with laboratories
that will reinforce concepts presented in the lectures.
VTMED 703 Clinical Wildlife
and Exotic Animal Medicine
Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. 2 credits. Enrollment minimum: 2 per rotation/maximum
2 per rotation. Third and fourth year veterinary students. Letter grade. G.V.
Kollias and staff.
This course introduces students to primary care of non-traditional pet species,
zoo animals, and native wildlife. Students are responsible for the assessment,
physical examination, and medical management of exotic animal species presented
to the veterinary teaching hospital. Other opportunities available to assist
in the development of clinical skills in wildlife, zoo and exotic animal medicine
include the wildlife clinic cases, ongoing wildlife research and service projects,
and trips to the Burnett Park Zoo. Successful completion of the course requires
satisfactory participation during this 14 day clinical rotation.
VTMED ... Poultry Medicine
and Production Rotation .
Course will be offered in the
fall of 1998 at the Faculté de Médicine Vétérinaire,
St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. Course coordinator: Dr. Martine Boulianne, Faculté
de Médicine Vétérinaire, St- Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada,
with Dr. Bruce Hunter, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Guelph,
Ontario, Canada, and Dr. K.A. Schat, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell
University,
Prerequisites Cornell Students: Vet Med 616 "Diseases of Birds" is
recommended. Students must have passed blocks I to V.
This course provides students with an introduction in practical poultry medicine
by a combination of lectures, discussions, and laboratory sessions including
postmortem examinations. Students will also visit hatcheries, broiler, layer,
and turkey farms.
VETMI 770 Advanced Work
in Avian Diseases or Avian immunology.
Fall and spring. Credit to be arranged. By special arrangement with the instructor.
Letter grade only. Faculty.
Faculty in the Unit of Avian Health:
| Dr. Stephen Bloom | Professor | seb14@cornell.edu | Avian Toxicology and Immunogenetics |
|
Dr. Dwight Bowman |
Associate Professor | ddb3@cornell.edu | Cryptosporidia, coccidia, and general parasitology |
| Dr. Bruce Calnek | Professor Emeritus | bwc4@cornell.edu | Pathogenesis of Marek's disease |
| Dr. Randall Cole | Professor Emeritus | Genetics versus poultry diseases | |
| Dr. Rodney Dietert | Professor | rrd1@cornell.edu | Immunotoxicology |
| Dr. Julius Fabricant | Professor Emeritus | Avian diseases | |
| Dr. Benjamin Lucio | Senior Extension Associate, Unit Director for Extension | bl23@cornell.edu | Diagnosis and control of avian diseases |
| Dr. James Marsh | Professor | jam24@cornell.edu | Immunology, Neuroendocrine/Immune Interactions |
| Dr. Donna Muscarella | Senior Research Associate | dem10@cornell.edu | Cancer cell and developmental genetics |
| Dr. Syed Naqi | Professor | san7@cornell.edu | Pathogenesis of respiratory infections |
| Dr. Tirath Sandhu | Senior Research Associate and Director Duck Research Laboratory | tss3@cornell.edu | Bacterial diseases in ducks, diagnosis of duck diseases |
| Dr. K.A. (Ton) Schat | Professor and Unit Director for Facilities and Research | kas24@cornell.edu | Virology and Immunology |
In addition the following faculty members in the College also work on avian health aspects.
Dr. George Kollias |
J.Hyman Professor of Wildlife Health, Department of Clinical Sciences | gvk2@cornell.edu | Diseases of free-ranging, aviary, and companion birds |
| Dr. Patrick Mcdonough | Asssistant Professor Diagnostic Laboratory Assistant Director Bacteriology section | plm2@cornell.edu | Diagnosis of bacterial and fungal diseases. Salmonella control program |
MicroImm
Home
Department Info | Faculty | Courses: Fall,
Spring, AQUAVET
| Graduate
Study |
Contact
Info | Focus
Areas: Bacteriology , Virology
, Immunology, Parasitology,
Environmental
Toxicology |
Unit of Avian Health | Aquatic
Animal Health Program | Seminar: Fall,
Spring
Questions or Comments?
Last Revised on 7/22/04