ECO, Pharmgate establish swine health fellowship

ECO Animal Health and Pharmgate Animal Health have launched the ECO/Pharmgate Animal Health Research Fellowship in Applied Pharmacology at the Swine Medicine Education Center of Iowa State University. This fellowship provides resources to graduate students to enable them to obtain a world-class education at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Paisley Canning is the recipient of the first fellowship. Her thesis will investigate the epidemiology, pharmacology and disposition of macrolide antibiotics, particularly tylvalosin, in the joints and the respiratory system of healthy and mycoplasma infected swine.
Work previously reported by the SMEC lists Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and M hyorhinis as being of the more important pathogens in infectious lameness cases in pigs. The prevalence of these two organisms in adverse lameness, polyserositis and respiratory cases has been reported with increasing regularity at swine veterinary conferences.
Dr. Canning is already working on the research program and says, “This fellowship is aligned well with the service and research performed by the Swine Medicine Education Center and will generate valuable data to assist with the judicious use of tylvalosin in mycoplasma infected swine.  I am grateful to have received this fellowship and I am eager to develop my understanding of the pharmacology of macrolides, particularly tylvalosin, through study and primary research.”
Dr. Pat Halbur, chair of the Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine Department where SMEC is located, notes: “We very much appreciate ECO Animal Health’s contribution to the Swine Medicine Education Center through the Research Fellowship in Applied Pharmacology. This model of industry-academic fellowships has proven to be a very productive and effective first step in establishing long term relationships between private industry and academia that evolve into research projects that benefit both parties and impact the industry and in the process provide educational and research experience for future leaders in academia and industry.”
‘We are very pleased to be contributing to the science of mycoplasma related disease control and supporting the SMEC in its research and educational objectives. This work will provide valuable explanation for recent field observations’ says Dr. Ron Kaptur, technical service veterinarian for Pharmgate Animal Health, who will serve as the company’s liaison with the SMEC for this project.