College of Veterinary Medicine

Education:

BS, Veterinary Biology, Murdoch University, 1977-1980
BVMS, Murdoch University, 1980-1981, First Class Honors
Diplomate of Veterinary Anaesthesia, Sydney University, 1982
Residency, Veterinary Anesthesia, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1983-1985
Residency, Wildlife and Zoological Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1985-1987
PhD, Cardiopulmonary, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1987-1994
Diplomate, American College of Zoological Medicine, 1995

Research Interests:

Nondomestic animal restraint, anesthesia and analgesia; Health assessment of free-living animal populations; Health of captive and free-living bats

Selected Publications:

For Publications Extracted From Medline Click HERE

DeMarco JH, Heard DJ, Fleming GJ, Lock BA, Scase TJ. Toxicosis Associated with Topical Administration of Ivermectin in Dog Faced Fruit Bats (Cynopteris brachyotis). J Zoo Wildl Med 33(2):147-150, 2002.

Jacobson E, Origgi F, Heard D, Detrisac C. Immunohistochemical Staining of Chlamydial Antigen in Emerald Tree Boas (Corallus caninus). J Vet Diag Investig 14: 487-494, 2002.

Fleming GJ, Heard DJ, Francis Floyd R, Riggs A. Evaluation of Propofol and Medetomidine/Ketamine for Short Term Immobilization of Gulf of Mexico Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhinchus de soti). J Zoo Wild Med 34(2):153-158, 2003.

Fleming GF, Isaza R, Spire MS, Heard DJ. The Use of Digital Thermography for Environmental Evaluation of Reptile Enclosures. J Herpetol Med Surg 13(1):38-42, 2003.

Fleming GJ, Heard DJ, Jacobson ER. Cytoplasmic Inclusions Resembling Inclusion Body Disease of Boid Snakes in Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata). J Herpetol Med Surg 13(2):18-22, 2003.

Lock B, Heard DJ, Detrisac C, Jacobson ER. An Epizootic of Chronic Regurgitation Associated with Chlamydophilosis in Recently Imported Emerald Tree Boas (Corallus caninus). J Zoo Wildl Med 34(4):385-393, 2003.

Jacobson ER, Heard DJ, Andersen A. Identification of Chlamydophila Pneumoniae in an Emerald Tree Boa, Corallus caninus. J Vet Diagn Invest 16:153-154, 2004.

Peters C, Isaza R, Heard DJ, Davis RD, Moore SM, Brigss DJ, Sargeant. Vaccination of Captive Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) with Monovalent Inactivated Rabies Vaccine. J Zoo Wildl Med 35(1):55-59, 2004.

Helmick KE, Heard DJ, Richey L, Finnegan M, Ellis GA, Nguyen A, Tucker L, Weyant RS. A Pastuerella- like Bacterium Associated with Pneumonia in Captive Megachiropterans. J Zoo Wildl Med 35(1):88-93, 2004.

Lafortune M, Canapp SO, Heard DJ, Farina LL A Vasectomy Technique for Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). J Zoo Wildl Med 35(1):104-106, 2004.

Fleming GJ, Heard DJ, Uhl EW, Johnson CM. Thymic Hyperplasia in Subadult Galapagos Tortoises, Geochelone nigra. J Herpetol Med Surg 14(1):24-27, 2004.

Wellehan JFX, LaFortune M, Gunkel C, Rooney DelPino E, Heard DJ, Jacobson ER. Coccygeal Vascular Catheterization in Lizards and Crocodilians. J Herpetol Med Surg 14(2):26-28, 2004.

Wellehan JFX, Lafortune M, Heard DJ. Traumatic Elbow Luxation Repair in a Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus) and a Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata). J Zoo Wildl Med 35(2):197-202, 2004.

Wellehan JFX, Turenne C, Heard DJ, Detrisac CJ, O'Kelly JJ. Dermatophilus Chelonae in a King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah). J Zoo Wildl Med 35(4):553-556, 2004.

Wellehan JFX, Farina LL, Keoughan CG, Lafortune M, Grooters AM, Mendoza L, Brown M, Terrel SP, Jacobson ER, Heard DJ. Pythiosis in a Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). J Zoo Wildl Med 35(4):564-568, 2004.

Wellehan JFX, Johnson AJ, Latimer KS, Whiteside DP, Crawshaw GJ, Detrisac CJ, Terrell SP, Heard DJ, Childress A, Jacobson ER. Varanid Herpesvirus 1: A Novel Herpesvirus Associated with Proliferative Stomatitis in Green Tree Monitors (Varanus prasinus). Vet Micro 105(2):83-92, 2005.

Lafortune M, Gobel T, Jacobson ER, Heard DJ, Brown D, Alleman R, Vliet K, Harr KE, Hernandez J. Respiratory Bronchoscopy of Subadult American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and Tracheal Wash Evaluation. J Zoo Wildl Med 36(1):12-20, 2005.

Farina LL, Heard DJ, LeBlanc DM, Hall JO, Stevens G, Wellehan JFX, Detrisac CJ. Iron Storage Disease in Captive Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). J Zoo Wildl Med 36(2):212-221, 2005.

Lafortune M, Wellehan JFX, Terrell SP, Jacobson EJ, Heard DJ, Kimbrough JW. Shell and Systemic Hyalohyphomycosis in Fly River Turtles, Carettochelys insculpta, Caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus. J Herpetol Med Surg 15(2):15-19, 2005.

Harr KE, Raskin RE, Heard DJ. Temporal Effects of 3 Commonly Used Anticoagulants on Hematologic and Biochemical Variables in Blood Samples from Macaws and Burmese Pythons. Vet Clin Patho 34(4):383-388, 2005.

LaFortune M, Wellehan JFX, Heard DJ, Rooney DelPino E, Fiorello CV, Jacobson ER. Vacuum Assisted Closure (Turtle VAC) in the Management of Traumatic Shell Defects in Chelonians. J Herpetol Med Surg 15(4):4-8, 2005.

Heard DJ, Towles J, LeBlanc D. Evaluation of Medetomidine/Ketamine for Short-Term Immobilization of Variable Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus). J Wildl Dis 42(2):437-441, 2006.

Heard DJ, Ruiz MR, Harr KE. Comparison of Serum and Plasma for Blood Biochemical Value Determination in Variable Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus). J Zoo Wildl Med 37(3):245-248, 2006.

Fiorello CV, Heard DJ, Barnes Heller HL, Russell K. Medical Management of Toxoplasma meningitis in a White Throated Capuchin (Cebus capucinus). J Zoo Wildl Med 37(3):409-412, 2006.

Wellehan JFX, Gunkel CI, Kledzik D, Robertson S, Heard DJ. Use of a Nerve Locator to Facilitate Administration of Mandibular Nerve Blocks in Crocodilians. J Zoo Wildl Med 37(3):405-408, 2006.

Gardner A, Thompson MS, Heard DJ, Fontenot D, Gibson N. Radiographic Evaluation of Cardiac Size in Flying Fox Species (Pteropus rodricensis, P. hypomelanus, and P. vampyrus). J Zoo Wildl Med 38(2):192-200, 2007.

Siegal-Willott J, Heard DJ, Sliess N, Naydan D, Roberts J. Microchip-associated Leiomyosarcoma in an Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). J Zoo Wildl Med 38(2):352-356, 2007.

Heard DJ, Mulcahy DM, Iverson SA, Rizzolo DJ, Greiner EC, Hall J, Ip H, Esler D. A Blood Survey of Elements, Viral Antibodies & Hemoparasites in Wintering Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) and Barrow’s Goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica). J Wildl Dis 2007 (accepted).

Wellehan JFX, Green LG, Duke DG, Bootorabi S, Heard DJ, Klein PA, Jacobson ER. Detection of Antibody Responses to Vaccination in Variable Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus). Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2007 (accepted).

Atkins A, Heard DJ, Mertins JW, Kimbro J, Greiner EC. Hyperplastic Dermatitis Associated with Acariasis in a Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus). J Zoo Wildl Med 2007 (accepted).

Metrione LC, Verstegen JP, Heard DJ, LeBlanc D, Walsh AL, Penfold LM. A Preliminary Evaluation of Deslorelin, A Gnrh Agonist, for Contraception of Captive Variable Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus). J Contracept 2007 (submitted).