The Veterninary Research Team

The clinical health hub works to meet the United Nations One Health agenda which recognises the inter-dependence of human, animal and environmental health.

As a result our work also focuses on important animal disease, with a particular emphasis on mycobacterial diseases in livestock, but also in wild animals. We believe that the insights from our omic work can help in developing our understanding of key diseases and aid in their diagnosis and control.

We also examine important disorders in our companion animals.

Meet the Team

Dr. Emma Taylor

Emma has recently completely her PhD which explored the use of metabolomic approaches to improve the detection of Johne's Disease in dairy cattle. This research gave me the opportunity to collaborate with multiple international research institutions and industry stakeholders. These collaborations led to over 50 metabolites being patented and 5 peer-reviewed published papers.

Dr. Richard Pizzey MRCVS

Dr. Richard Pizzey led a project which examined metabolomic changes in cattle following infection with bovine tuberculosis. He also examined the effect of vaccination on this response.

Rich currently works at the Centre of Excellence for Bovine tuberculosis.

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/research-and-enterprise/research/animal-human-health/bovine-tb/

Jim Scott-Baumann MRCVS

Having graduated from Bristol Veterinary School in 2016, I went into small animal general practice for 4 years. I developed a keen interest in research after completing a research Masters, as an intercalated degree, in veterinary parasitology while at Bristol. So in 2020 I began a PhD at Aberystwyth University using multi-omics approaches to try and improve understanding and diagnosis of tuberculosis in badgers and cattle. Focussing on using metabolomics and whole genome sequencing to study their microbiome. With a clinical background in small animal practice I am keen to also develop other projects, especially with the advent of the Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science, and so in collaboration with the RVC I have been using metabolomics to assess feline clinical samples, initially focussing on hypertension.

Case Study: Novel diagnostics for TB in badgers

The European badger (Meles meles) is a known wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and better knowledge of the epidemiology of bTB through testing wildlife is required for disease control.

Current tests available for the diagnosis of bTB in badgers are limited by cost or processing time or relatively poor sensitivities.

Lab based techniques require time to process, while snap tests available have limited sensitivity.

We are using metabolomics and microbiome assessments to try and identify any specific changes that may aid our understanding of the disease process in this species or potentially lead to the identification of novel biomarkers that could be used for testing.

Case Study: Feline hypertension

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most significant diseases affecting domestic species of animal, as it is in humans. This can lead to multiple other potential knock-on effects to a cat’s health, including blindness.

With a lack of routine blood pressure screening in primary care practice and the potential for situational hypertension a confirmatory test for hypertension could prove useful.

Through collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College we have been using direct-infusion metabolomics to assess changes in the urine and blood metabolomes from cats with hypertension as well as those receiving treatment for hypertension. Knowledge of these could help to further understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension in cats.

Our collaborators

The Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis (CBTB)

Prof. Ad Koets

Prof. Hattie Syme

Prof. Martin Vordermeier

Publications from the Vet Team

Scott-Baumann, J.F.; Friedersdorff, J.C.A.; Villarreal-Ramos, B.; King, J.; Hopkins, B.; Pizzey, R.; Rooke, D.; Hewinson, G.; Mur, L.A.J. The Faecal Microbiome of the Wild European Badger Meles meles: A Comparison Against Other Wild Omnivorous Mammals from Across the Globe. Curr Microbiol 2022, 79, 363, doi:10.1007/s00284-022-03064-4.

Scott-Baumann, J.; Pizzey, R.; Beckmann, M.; Villarreal-Ramos, B.; King, J.; Hopkins, B.; Rooke, D.; Hewinson, G.; Mur, L.A.J. Metabotyping the Welsh population of badgers based on thoracic fluid. Metabolomics 2022, 18, 30, doi:10.1007/s11306-022-01888-6

Taylor, E.N.; Han, J.; Fan, C.; Beckmann, M.; Hewinson, G.; Rooke, D.; Koets, A.P.; Mur, L.A.J. Defining Fatty Acid Changes Linked to Rumen Development, Weaning and Growth in Holstein-Friesian Heifers. Metabolites 2022, 12, doi:10.3390/metabo12050374.

Taylor, E.N.; Beckmann, M.; Markey, B.K.; Gordon, S.V.; Hewinson, G.; Rooke, D.; Mur, L.A.J. Metabolomic changes in Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) challenged Holstein-Friesian cattle highlight the role of serum amino acids as indicators of immune system activation. Metabolomics 2022, 18, 21, doi:10.1007/s11306-022-01876-w.

Taylor, E.N.; Beckmann, M.; Hewinson, G.; Rooke, D.; Sinclair, L.A.; Mur, L.A.J. Metabolomic changes in lactating multiparous naturally MAP-infected Holstein-Friesian dairy cows suggest changes in mitochondrial energy pathways. Res Vet Sci 2022, 152, 354-363, doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.09.001.

Taylor, E.N.; Beckmann, M.; Hewinson, G.; Rooke, D.; Mur, L.A.J.; Koets, A.P. Metabolomic changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids and eicosanoids as diagnostic biomarkers in Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP)-inoculated Holstein-Friesian heifers. Vet Res 2022, 53, 68, doi:10.1186/s13567-022-01087-0.

Taylor, E.N.; Beckmann, M.; Villarreal-Ramos, B.; Vordermeier, H.M.; Hewinson, G.; Rooke, D.; Mur, L.A.J.; Koets, A.P. Metabolomic Changes in Naturally MAP-Infected Holstein-Friesian Heifers Indicate Immunologically Related Biochemical Reprogramming. Metabolites 2021, 11, doi:ARTN 727
10.3390/metabo11110727.