Vet Preventative Medicine

Paul Horwood

Professor, Promotional Chair
paul.horwood@jcu.edu.au

Bruce Gummow

Professor
bruce.gummow@jcu.edu.au

Using portable long-read sequencing to diagnose Chronic Kidney Disease in regional North QLD Using portable long-read sequencing to diagnose Chronic Kidney Disease in regional North Using portable long-read sequencing to diagnose Chronic Kidney Disease (Old ID 27478)

Paul Horwood

21 Jan 2022 - 28 Jul 2024

This project addresses the early diagnosis of genetic predispositions for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which poses an increasing burden on the North Queensland population and unequally affects the Indigenous Australian peoples. We will develop a mobile diagnostic pipeline that allows a rapid and cost-efficient screening for genetic CKD predispositions and circulating biomarkers using a targeted, DNA/RNA long-read sequencing approach.

The threat of feral pigs as a reservoir of disease in North Queensland

Paul Horwood

19 Oct 2025 - 19 Dec 2025

This project will focus on identification of high-risk areas for Japanese encephalitis virus transmission in Australia by analyzing the distribution of potential hosts and vectors involved in the natural cycle, such as pigs (domestic and feral), wading birds and Culex mosquitoes. Serological and molecular tools will be used for investigating arboviruses and zoonotic bacteria pathogens in feral pig population across North Queensland

Canid alphaherpesvirus-1 in a Queensland district: seroprevalence and risk factors (Old ID 27363)

Paul Horwood

01 Sep 2021 - 31 Dec 2023

Canid alphaherpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1; previously known as canine herpesvirus-1) causes a highly fatal haemorrhagic disease in newborn puppies, as well as embryonic and foetal losses, manifested as infertility, abortion and stillbirth. In dogs over 5 weeks of age, CaHV-1 is of low pathogenicity but can cause genital lesions as well as respiratory (kennel cough) and ocular disease. CaHV-1 has been identified in numerous countries worldwide and is probably ubiquitous. In Belgium, around 46% of dogs sampled were seropositive to CaHV-1, where “seropositive” implies that the dog was infected during the preceding weeks to months. In South Africa, over half of sampled breeding kennels in one province were found to have one or more CaHV-1 seropositive dogs. In England, 94% of sampled dogs showed evidence of prior infection with CaHV-1. In Australia, surprisingly little has been reported on CaHV-1. Sudden deaths in a litter of greyhound puppies, with post mortem findings highly suggestive of CaHV-1, was reported by researchers from the University of Sydney in 1970. A diagnosis of CaHV-1 was confirmed as the cause of sudden deaths in a litter of Labrador puppies in Perth in 1971, as well as a litter of Doberman Pinschers in Queensland in 1974. In 2002, CaHV-1 isolated from a greyhound pup in Australia underwent genetic sequencing. No further case studies on CaHV-1 appear to have been reported. Moreover, no research into the seroprevalence of CaHV-1 has been undertaken in this country. Interestingly, a vaccine against CaHV-1 is available in other countries but is not currently registered in Australia. The aim of our research is to evaluate the seroprevalence of CaHV-1 in dogs in the Herbert and Lower Burdekin District of Queensland. A secondary aim is to identify risk factors for CaHV-1 infection based on a questionnaire supplied to the owners of dogs submitted for sampling. This research will provide an important first step in establishing the relevance of CaHV-1 to dog owners, breeders and veterinarians in Australia. Knowledge arising from this study may help to inform on strategies to minimise infection rates within dog populations. Furthermore, the results of this study may provide a preliminary indication on whether a vaccine against CaHV-1 could be of value to Australian breeding kennels.

Influence of maternal pathogen infections in the composition of the infant gut microbiome and immune health (Old ID 24964)

Paul Horwood

01 Apr 2018 - 31 Dec 2019

The aim of this project is to understand how pathogen infections modify maternal microbiome and shape bacterial colonization in children. The influence of the microbiome on immune system maturation in infants directly impacts on pathogen susceptibility and persistence.

Strengthened surveillance for vector-borne zoonotic and livestock diseases in Papua New Guinea. (Old ID 27871)

Paul Horwood

28 Nov 2022 - 30 Jun 2023

This proposed research will consolidate and build on previous research and pilot surveillance conducted on zoonotic arboviruses in PNG (SRA LS/2018/213) and will aim to continue and expand a One Health surveillance approach for Japanese encephalitis and zoonotic arboviruses in PNG. The overall objective of the project will be to combine mosquito, sentinel animal and human surveillance for JE and other zoonotic arboviruses to continue to build and consolidate capacity and expertise in this area, through a holistic, One Health approach.

Stronger surveillance and systems support for rapid identification and containment of resurgent or resistant vector borne pathogens in Papua New Guinea. (Old ID 26446)

Paul Horwood

01 Feb 2019 - 16 Jan 2023

This project is aimed at stronger surveillance and systems support for rapid identification and containment of resurgent or resistant vector borne pathogens in Papua New Guinea. The subcontract to JCU includes a specific work package on arbovirus and malaria mosquito surveillance.

Monitoring of avian influenza in samples collected from aquatic birds in North Queensland (Old ID 27162)

Paul Horwood

01 Mar 2021 - 05 Feb 2024

At least 576 fresh faecal samples from wild ducks and magpie geese will be collected as environmental samples in the Townsville region. Swabs in transport media and immediately transported to the laboratory. Samples will be pooled and nucleic acid extracted. The extracted nucleic acid will be screened using assays based on TaqMan that will detect avian influenza. Pools that react will be individually extracted and tested. Avian influenza isolates will be checked using TaqMan specific for H5 and H7. Should the samples react in these assays it will be sent to AAHL for further testing and the CVO will be notified. Sequencing on all isolates other than those reacting in H5 and H7 will be carried out to determine genotype and to confirm pathotype.

Monitoring of avian influenza in samples collected from aquatic birds in North Queensland (Old ID 26870)

Paul Horwood

11 May 2020 - 29 Jan 2021