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The Veterinary Parasitology Group (VPG) provides parasitological instruction, mentoring, diagnostics, consultation, and original discovery for veterinary students; veterinary clients; professional colleagues; industry and commodity groups; state, regional, national agencies, and international agencies. The Veterinary Parasitology Group, consisting of 3 faculty members, directly provides the Farm Animal Health and Resource Management (PHP) department with a broad range of coverage needed for teaching, service, and research regarding helminth, protozoan, and arthropod parasites for the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University.

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TEACHING
The VPG provides direct instruction to the professional veterinary students through a 2nd year course, Veterinary Parasitology course (VMM 932); to 4th year veterinary professional students through a clinical rotation course, Clinical Pathology, Parasitology and Immunology (VMM 978); and graduate students through a graduate course, Immunoparasitology (IMM 755). The parasitology group also provides instructions through a variety of 2-week selectives.

The VPG also provides a variety of mentoring opportunities to the veterinary students and graduate students. Mentoring opportunities include summer research projects, experiences in parasitology service laboratories, experiences in parasitology research laboratories. Graduate students are directed in parasitological studies and research on immunoparasitology, molecular evolution, and pathobiology of helminth parasites.

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SERVICE
The VPG provides diagnostic and consultative services. The Tick-borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory provides diagnostics of disease such as Babesiosis, Haemobartinella, Ehrlichiosis, etc. to the CVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital and to local and regional veterinarians. The VPG faculty also provides diagnostic and parasite identification services to the CVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital, CVM Faculty and staff, state agencies and local veterinarians.

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RESEARCH
The VPG is involved in a variety of research efforts. These efforts range from projects supported by in-house CVM research funds to Regional, National, and International funding agencies.

Research efforts include:
Q Discovery of novel fatty acid binding proteins from filarial nematodes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Q Pathology, diagnosis and ecology of digenetic trematode parasites of aquaculture.
Q Pathogenesis, treatment, and control of the feline flagellate Tritrichomonas foetus.
Q Pathogenesis and diagnosis of Babesiosis in dogs.
Q Diagnosis of raccoon/canine blood flukes, Heterobilharzia americana.
Q Molecular diagnosis, identification and phylogenetic analysis of digenetic trematodes.
Q Anthelmintic resistant in equine strongyles.

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VPG FACULTY
The VPG faculty includes two Full Professors and a Clinical Assistant Professor.

Dr. Bruce Hammerberg received his PhD from Michigan State University and his DVM from Michigan State University. As a Full Professor, Dr. Hammerberg is course coordinator for Veterinary Parasitology (VMM 932), the parasitology section of Clinical Pathology, Parasitology and Immunology (VMM 978) and Immunoparasitology (IMM 755). His research interests include filarial nematode allergens and fatty acid binding proteins.

For more about Dr. Hammerberg. Click here-->Dr. Bruce Hammerberg

Dr. Michael G. Levy received his PhD from XXXX and held post-doctoral positions at XXXXX. As a Full Professor, Dr. Levy is service coordinator of VPG, running the Tick-borne Disease Diagnostic Lab and in-house diagnostic services. His research interests include XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

For more about Dr. Levy. Click here-->Dr. Michael G. Levy

Dr. James R. Flowers received his PhD from North Carolina State University. The Clinical Assistant Professor of the group, Dr. Flowers, is Laboratory Coordinator for the Parasitology Teaching lab. He also provides support for in-house diagnostic services. His research interests include digenetic fluke parasites of aquaculture ponds, the morphologic and molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of digenetic trematodes, and the ecology of wildlife parasites.

For more about Dr. Flowers. Click here-->Dr. James R. Flowers

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VPG STAFF
The VPG presently retains two staff (research technician) positions.

Matthew Poore, Research Tech III, under the direction of Dr. Levy, provides daily support and maintenance of the Tick-borne Disease Diagnostic Lab. He is also trained in molecular techniques especially DNA extraction, PCR, Sequencing and Analysis.

For more about Matthew. Click here-->Matthew Poore

Stephen Stauffer, Research Tech III, under the direction of Dr. Hammerberg, provides daily support and maintenance of the Immunoparasitology laboratory. He is trained in various laboratory techniques including: cell culture, recombinant protein expression, molecular biology, protein biochemistry and immunological measurement of proteins.

For more about Steven. Click here-->Stephen Stauffer

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GRADUATE STUDENTS
Faculty of the VPG presently mentor two graduate students.

Dr. Robin Hopwood (DVM), under the guidance of Dr. Hammerberg, is working on a PhD degree in the Immunology Program. Dr. Hopwood received her DVM from Tufts University. Her research focus is on the regulation of macromolecular transport by CD23 in the intestine.

Cherie Pucheu-Haston, under the guidance of Dr. Hammerberg, is working on a PhD degree in the Immunology Program. Her research focus is on percutaneous sensitization leading to and during allergic dermatitis.

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NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
4700 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27606