2022 Funded Projects
Congratulations to the following researchers who were successful in receiving funding from the Canine Research Foundation for 2022.
Dr Randi Rotne (Charles Sturt University)
Canine Interdigital Grass Seed Foreign Body Retrieval Using Ultrasonography
Grass seed foreign bodies (GSFB) are a common presentation observed in rural and regional Australian veterinary practices. Second only to the ears, interdigital grass seed foreign bodies are regularly seen in dogs. With non-specific clinical signs and being radiolucent in nature, grass seeds are extremely difficult to
diagnose and consequently retrieve.
This study aims to:
1. Develop an ultrasonographic protocol that can be used by general practitioners to aid the diagnosis of canine interdigital GSFB
2. Identify common anatomical locations where interdigital GSFB migrate by using the protocol on live patients
3. Define and describe ultrasound-guided retrieval techniques to improve interdigital GSFB retrieval rates.
Dr Natali Krekeler (The University of Melbourne)
Evaluation of safety and efficacy of vaccine candidates against uropathogenic Escherichia coli in a murine model of canine endometritis
Pyometra is an infection of the uterus affecting intact female dogs. The disease mostly affects dogs over the age of seven, but young animals are also susceptible to the disease. Without timely iagnosis and treatment, this condition leads to death from septicaemic shock and multi-organ dysfunction. The main modalities of treatment include surgical removal of the uterus and use of exogenous hormones such as progesterone receptor blockers and prostaglandins. Elective spaying is currently the only preventive measure available to control the disease, but this leads to the complete loss of the breeding capacity of the female dog. There is
no medical prophylaxis available despite recent advances leading to an improved understanding of the disease process.
Over the past few years our research group has worked towards developing a bacterial vaccine targeting Escherichia coli which is the main causative agent of pyometra. Three bacterial vaccine candidates have been developed and their in vitro growth and phenotypic behaviour has been characterised. Last year we began
the preparatory phase of the pre-clinical vaccine trials during which a successful mouse model of canine endometritis was developed. In the next phase of this project, we propose to carry out immunisation and challenge experiments in this model. Hence, the main aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine candidates when administered by two different routes of inoculation in the established mouse model of canine endometritis.
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Contact Details
Secretary: L Brodie Liaison Officer:Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Email : [email protected]