Swine Diagnostic Services

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact:
Sue Kirchoff, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-3781, kirch004@umn.edu

University of Minnesota Hires Expert in Swine Diagnostic Services
 
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (August 23, 2005) – Veterinarian Simone Rodrigues Oliveira, B.S.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., will be joining the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant clinical professor in the Veterinary Population Medicine Department and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory starting Oct. 1.

Dr. Oliveira will provide swine diagnostic services, including diagnostic investigations of swine bacterial diseases. She will also teach pathology and graduate-level courses and conduct research on the molecular pathogenesis and diagnosis of swine bacterial diseases. She is internationally known for her expertise in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of Haemphilus parasuis, a bacterium that lives in the respiratory tract of pigs. Haemphilus parasuis causes Glasser’s disease, a bacterial infection that is becoming increasingly common worldwide. Glasser’s disease typically occurs in pigs 8-10 weeks old, although it can affect pigs of any age. It can spread rapidly, often with a high death rate. The financial implications for the swine industry are unknown.

“Dr. Oliveira brings a unique understanding of the diagnosis and molecular epidemiology of swine bacterial diseases and will fill an important niche at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory,” said Jim Collins, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “This is great news for the swine industry as well as for us.”

“Her background and experience in infectious disease, pathology, and immunology will greatly support our department’s teaching mission,” said Trevor Ames, D.V.M., chair of the Veterinary Population Medicine Department.

Dr. Oliveira received her veterinary degree and master’s degree in veterinary pathology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil and her Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from the University of Minnesota. She was previously manager of research and development of swine biologicals for Hipra Laboratories, a company dedicated to researching, manufacturing, and marketing biological, pharmacological, and other veterinary products in Girona, Spain.

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