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Dr. Jody Gookin , DVM, PhD

Education

Ph.D. (Physiology/Biotechnology), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 2000
D.V.M., University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 1993
B.S. (Biology), San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 1988

Specialty

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine), 1998

Professional Experience & Qualifications

Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University, July 1, 2003-present
Research Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University, 2001-2003
Resident (Internal Medicine), North Carolina State University, 1995-1998
Post-doctoral Fellow (Urology/Nephrology), North Carolina State University, 1994-1995
Intern, North Carolina State University, 1993-1994

Lab Personnel

Stephen Stauffer Research Specialist Phone: 919.513.6415 stephen_stauffer@ncsu.edu	Maria Stone Research Technician Phone: 919.513.6415 maria_stone@ncsu.edu	Dr. Derek Foster Ph.D. Candidate Phone: 919-513-6415 derek_foster@ncsu.edu	Dr. Katie Tolbert Ph.D. Candidate Phone: 919.513.6415 katie_tolbert@ncsu.edu

Research Area - Intestinal Pathogens Research Laboratory

The long-term goals of our laboratory are to define mechanisms of intestinal defense and repair in infectious enteritis and identify rational approaches to nutritional and pharmacologic enhancement of epithelial repair. Toward this end, our laboratory is focused on the study of two enteric protozoal pathogens; Cryptosporidium parvum and Tritrichomonas foetus as well as the role of enteric bacteria in both inflammatory bowel disease and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Cryptosporidium parvum infects the single columnar epithelial lining of the small intestine. This epithelium is the first line of defense against translocation of luminal bacteria, antigens, or endotoxin into the body while also being responsible for selective absorption of the majority of nutrients, electrolytes and water required for life. Infection with C. parvum is a leading cause of diarrhea in infants worldwide and in adults with HIV. Contamination of municipal water supplies with C. parvum oocysts has resulted in the largest outbreaks of waterborne diarrhea in U.S. history. Despite intensive effort, a consistently effective antimicrobial therapy for C. parvum infection or means for decontamination of cysts shed into the environment has yet to be identified. Resistance, infectivity and potential for widespread morbidity have ranked C. parvum as a priority pathogen for biodefense research.

Tritrichomonas foetus is a flagellated protozoan parasite of domestic cats that resides within the lumen of the colon and causes colitis and chronic, foul-smelling diarrhea. The infection is prevalent among cattery cats where transmission via the fecal-oral route is suspected. Infected cats may have persistent diarrhea for up to 2 years and can remain infected for their lifetime.

Our research is funded by the following agencies and foundations:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease at UNC-Chapel Hill
North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute 
Morris Animal Foundation
Winn Feline Foundation

Links to further information about feline T. foetus infection:

An owners guide to diagnosis and treatment of feline T. foetus infection
Videomicroscopy of T. foetus and Giardia spp. in feline feces
Information on purchase of In PouchTM TF culture system kits (the author has no financial interest in use of this diagnostic test).
Video of how to inoculate and prepare an In PouchTF culture for diagnosis of feline infection
Fecal sample collection for diagnosis of T. foetus infection using the colon flush technique
Submission of samples for PCR testing

Teaching Animations

An animated model of reticulorumen motility
An animated model of renal tubular function

Selected Publications

Cryptosporidium parvum studies

Gookin JL, Stauffer SH, Coccaro MR. Induction of arginase-II by intestinal epithelium promotes the uptake of L-arginine from the lumen of C. parvum infected porcine ileum. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008;47:417-427.

Gookin JL, Foster DM, Coccaro MR, Stauffer SH. Oral delivery of L-arginine stimulates prostaglandin-dependent secretory diarrhea in C. parvum infected neonatal piglets. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008; 46:139-146.

Zadrozny LM, Stauffer SH, Armstrong MU, Jones SL, Gookin JL. Neutrophils do not mediate the pathophysiological sequelae of C. parvum infection in neonatal piglets. Infect Immun 2006; 74:5497-5505.

Gookin JL, Chiang S, Allen J, Armstrong MU, Stauffer S, Finnegan C, and Murtaugh MP. NF-kB-mediated expression of iNOS promotes defense against epithelial infection by C. parvum in neonatal piglets. Am J Physiol; 2006; 290:G164-174.

Gookin JL, Allen J, Chiang S, Duckett L, and Armstrong MU. Local peroxynitrite formation contributes to early control of Cryptosporidium parvum infection. Infect Immun; 2005;73:3929-3936.

Gookin JL , Duckett LL, Armstrong MU, Stauffer SH, Finnegan CP, Murtaugh MP, and Argenzio RA. Nitric oxide synthase stimulates prostaglandin synthesis and barrier function in C. parvum infected porcine ileum. Am J Physiol 2004;287:G571-G581.

Rhoads JM, Chen W, Gookin J, Wu GY, Fu Q, Blikslager AT, Rippe RA, Argenzio RA, Cance WG, Weaver EM, Romer LH. L-arginine stimulates intestinal cell migration through a focal adhesion kinase dependent mechanism. Gut 2004;53:514-522.

Gookin JL , Galanko JA, Blikslager AT, and Argenzio RA. Prostaglandin -mediated closure of paracellular pathway and not restitution is the primary determinant of barrier recovery in acutely injured porcine ileum. Am J Physiol 2003;285:G967-G979.

Gookin JL, Rhoads JM, Argenzio RA. Inducible nitric oxide synthase mediates early epithelial repair of porcine ileum. Am J Physiol 2002; 283:G157-G168.

Gookin JL, Kapil SJ, Argenzio RA. Host response to Cryptosporidium infection. J Vet Intern Med 2002;16:12-21.

Cole JT, Blikslager AT, Hunt E, Gookin JL, Argenzio RA. Cyclooxygenase blockade and exogenous glutamine enhance sodium absorption in infected bovine ileum. Am J Physiol 2003;284:G516-524.

Cole JT, Gookin JL, Gayle JM, Eisemann JH, Argenzio RA, Blikslager AT. Endoscopy via a gastric cannula to monitor the development of ulcers in the pars esophagea in pigs after consumption of a finely ground feed combined with a period of withholding of feed. Am J Vet Res 2002;63:1076-1082.

T. foetus studies Our T. foetus publications can be read in their entirety using the following link.

Gray SG, Hunter S, Stone MR, Gookin JL. Assessment of reproductive tract disease in cats at risk for enteric Tritrichomonas foetus infection. Am J Vet Res 2009 In Press.

Stauffer SH, Birkenheuer AJ, Levy MG, Marr H, Gookin JL. Evaluation of four DNA extraction methods for the detection of Tritrichomonas foetus in feline stool specimens by polymerase chain reaction. J Vet Diagn Invest 2008;20:639-641.

Gookin JL, Stauffer SH, Coccaro MR, Poore MF, Levy MG, Papich MG. Efficacy of tinidazole for treatment of cats experimentally infected with Tritrichomonas foetus. Am J Vet Res 2007; 68:1085-1088.

Gookin JL, Stauffer SH, Coccaro MR, Marcotte M, Levy MG. Optimization of a species-specific PCR assay for identification of Pentatrichomonas hominis in canine fecal specimens . Am J Vet Res 2007; 68:783-787.

Gookin JL, Stauffer SH, Levy MG. Identification of Pentatrichomonas hominis in feline fecal samples by polymerase chain reaction assay. Vet Parasitol; 2007;145,11-15.

Gookin JL, Copple CN, Papich MG, Poore M, Stauffer SH, Birkenheuer AJ, Twedt DC, and Levy MG. Efficacy of ronidazole for treatment of feline Tritrichomonas foetus infection. J Vet Intern Med 2006; 20:536-543.

Gookin JL , Birkenhueur A, St. John V, Spector M, and Levy M. Molecular characterization of trichomonads from feces of dogs with diarrhea. J Parasitol; 2005;91:939-943.

Yaeger M, Gookin JL. Histologic features of Tritrichomonas foetus colitis in domestic cats. Vet Pathol; 2005; 42: 797-804.

Foster DM, Gookin JL, Poore MF, Stebbins ME, and Levy MG. Outcome of cats with diarrhea and Tritrichomonas foetus infection. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004;225:888-892.

Gookin JL , Stebbins ME, Hunt E, Burlone K, Fulton M, Hochel R, Talaat M, Poore M, and Levy MG. Prevalence of and risk factors for Tritrichomonas foetus and Giardia infection. J Clin Micro 2004;42:2707-2710.

Gookin JL, Foster DM, Poore MF, Stebbins ME, Levy MG. Use of a commercially available culture system for diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:1376-1379.

Levy MG, Gookin JL, Poore MF, Dykstra M, Litaker RW. Tritrichomonas foetus and not Pentatrichomonas hominis is the etiologic agent of feline trichomonal diarrhea. J Parasitol 2003;89:99-104.

Gookin JL, Birkenheuer AJ, Breitschwerdt EB, Levy MG. Single-tube nested PCR for diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus in feline feces. J Clin Micro 2002;40:4126-4130.

Gookin JL, Levy MG, Law JM, Papich MG, Poore MF, Breitschwerdt EB. Experimental infection of cats with Tritrichomonas foetus. Am J Vet Res 2001;62:1690-1697.

Gookin JL, Levy MG. Trichomonosis in cats: Recognition and resilience. Proceedings of the 19th Annual American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum 2001;753-755.

Gookin JL, Breitschwerdt EB, Levy MG, Gager RB, Benrud JG. Diarrhea associated with trichomonosis in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;215:1450-1455.

Gookin JL, Riviere JE, Gilger BC, Papich MG. Acute Renal Failure In Four Cats Treated with Paromomycin. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;215:1821-1823.

Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholars Research Grants Program

Our laboratory is proud to have hosted the following veterinary students as part of the Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholars Research Grants Program:

2007 - Sara Gray
2005 - Leah M. Zadrozny
2004 - Christina Copple
2003 - Jessica Allen, Carol St. John
2002 - Sophia Chiang, Laurel Duckett, Derek Foster

Links

Intestinal Pathogens Research Laboratory in the News

Veterinary Practice News 2004. Pathogens identified as diarrhea causes in cats.

North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Disease Trends Fall 2005. Feline trichomoniasis.

Veterinary Medicine October 1, 2005. CVC Highlights: A new treatment for feline Tritrichomonas foetus infection.

Veterinary Practice News June 2005. Researchers find a cause of chronic feline diarrhea.

Clinician’s Brief January 2007. Treating T. foetus diarrhea in cats.

American Journal of Veterinary Research March 2006. Tindamax being studied as treatment for tritrichomoniasis in cats.

Purina Pro Club Update August 2007. Researchers investigate T. foetus infection in catteries.