Veterinary team members transport the anesthetized panther to surgery. (Photo by Jesse Jones)

A young Florida panther is recuperating after successful surgery on June 7 at UF’s Small Animal Hospital to repair a fractured right femur. The panther’s injury was likely caused by having been hit by a car in Collier County in May. It had received surgery previously and was recuperating at White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Fla. when it reinjured itself.

Dr. Daniel Lewis, a professor of small animal surgery at UF, performed the procedure, which lasted almost three hours.

The animal, thought to be approximately 9 months old,  was brought to UF’s Zoological Medicine Service the morning of June 7. Following completion of the surgical procedure, the female panther was then transported by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission veterinarians back to White Oak, where her rehabilitation continues.

Veterinary anesthesiologists prepare the panther for surgery. (Photo by Jesse Jones)

For more information about the UF Small Animal Hospital, click here.

For more information about the UF Zoological Medicine Service, click here.

For more information about the UF Small Animal Surgery Service, click here.

For more information about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, click here.

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
wellehanj@ufl.edu
PO Box 100126
2015 SW 16th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32608-0125
(352) 392-2235
FAX: 352-392-7259

Education

• Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 2010. Dissertation topic: “Discovery, Phylogenetic Analysis, Diagnostic Test Development, and Surveillance of the Astroviruses of Marine Mammals”.
• Residency, Zoological Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 2002-2005.
• Internship, Avian/Exotic/Wildlife Medicine and Surgery, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON. 2001-2002.
• M.S. in Molecular Veterinary Biosciences. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. 2001. Thesis topic: “Mycoplasma infections in passerine birds in Minnesota”.
• D.V.M. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. 2001. GPA 3.98.
• B.A. in Biochemistry, Physics minor. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME. 1992.

Honors and Awards

• 2006, ACZM Manuscript Award
• 2005, Phi Zeta Best Clinical Research Publication Award
• 2004, Association of Avian Veterinarians Resident Manuscript Competition Award
• 2001, Hoyt scholarship for future academician
• 2000, Schlotthauer scholarship for parasitology
• 1999, 1st place SCAVMA Symposium academic competition in exotics
• 1999, Caleb Doerr Award for highest GPA in DVM class
• 1999, Phi Zeta honor society
• 1998, Caleb Doerr Award for highest GPA in DVM class

Research Interests

My research interests revolve around comparative infectious disease diagnostics, novel pathogen identification, and host/pathogen evolution and ecology. The recent emergence of infectious agents such as SARS, West Nile Virus, HIV, and Nipah Virus from wildlife reservoirs has had a serious impact on both human health and domestic livestock, underscoring the need to survey the viruses of non-domestic animals. I have developed techniques for rapid initial sequence identification of broad groups of agents, enabling identification of novel agents during initial disease outbreaks in a clinically useful time course. Further surveillance of novel infectious agents in wildlife together with studies of host switching may identify agents of concern before significant outbreaks occur, enabling management strategies for risk mitigation to be proactive rather than reactive.

Recent Publications

• Efficacy of decontamination and sterilization of a single-use single-incision laparoscopic surgery port.

Additional publications here

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
jacobsone@ufl.edu
PO Box 100126
2015 SW 16th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32610-0126
352-392-2226
FAX: 352-392-6125

Education

• BS, Biology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, 1967
• MS, Biology, New Mexico State University, 1969
• PhD, Zoology, University of Missouri, 1975
• DVM, Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, 1975
• Diplomate, American College of Zoological Medicine, 1985

Honors and Awards

• Phi Kappa Phi
• Who’s Who in American College and Universities
• Phi Zeta
• Conservation Award, Bureau of Land Management, 1990
• Research Achievement Award, University of Florida, 1991
• Daniels Pharmaceuticals Senior Clinical Investigator Award, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1992
• Conservation Award, Desert Tortoise Council, 1995, 1996
• Research Foundation Professorship Award, University of Florida, 1997
• Golden Tortoise Award, Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, 2002
• Fredric L Frye Lifetime Achievement Award, Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, 2004
• Clinical Investigator Award,University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 2006

Research Interests

Zoological medicine; reptile medicine; reptile infectious diseases; antimicrobial pharmacokinetics

Recent Publications

• Initial sequence characterization of the rhabdoviruses of squamate reptiles, including a novel rhabdovirus from a caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis).

Additional publications here