Karen Terio, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, U of I at Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

U of I logoCollege of Veterinary Medicine

Karen Terio

Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Professional Interests:  Pathogenesis of diseases affecting both captive and free-ranging wildlife.

There is a need for a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying disease development in non-domesticated species. Through disease surveillance and basic research, we hope to elucidate these mechanisms and identify risk factors in order to direct disease prevention and treatment. As free-ranging wildlife populations become increasingly fragmented and more intensively managed, a greater understanding of the impact of disease on these populations is critical. Specific research programs include investigations into piroplasmosis in lions living within the Serengeti ecosystem, Helicobacter-associated gastritis in cheetahs, and amyloidosis in black-footed cats. Ongoing disease surveillance programs include the riparian brush rabbit endangered species recovery program and various American Zoo and Aquarium Association Species Survival Plan pathology surveys (including the clouded leopard, fishing cat, black-footed cat, and Pallas' cat). Currently, the Zoological Pathology Program is working on a Lincoln Park Zoo led initiative to implement a disease surveillance program for primates within Gombe National Park in Tanzania. The physiological effect of stress is another area of research emphasis.   In particular, we are investigating whether stress affects the immune function of cheetahs under different management conditions. The goal of these research programs is to improve management and standards of care for captive and free-ranging wildlife.

Selected Publications:

Landolfi J and Terio KA. Transitional Cell Carcinoma in Fishing Cats (Prionailurus viverrinus): Pathology and Expression of Cyclooxygenase-1, -2, and p53. Veterinary Pathology, in press.

Munson L, Terio KA, Worley M, Jago M, Bagot-Smith A and Marker L. Extrinsic factors significantly affect patterns of disease in free-ranging and captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) populations. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 41(3)542-548, 2005.

Terio KA, Munson L, Marker L, Aldridge BM and Solnick JV. Comparison of Helicobacter spp. in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) with and without gastritis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology.   43(1):229-234, 2005.

Wells A, Terio KA, Ziccardi MH and Munson L. The stress response to environmental change in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 35(1):8-14, 2004.

Terio KA, Marker L and Munson L. Evidence for chronic stress in captive but not wild cheetahs based on adrenal morphology and function. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 40(2): 259-66, 2004.

Stacy BA, Vidal JD, Osofosky A, Terio KA, Koski M and DeCock HE. Ovarian papillary cystadenocarcinomas in a green iguana (Iguana iguana). Journal of Comparative Pathology. 130(2-3): 223-8, 2003.

Terio KA, Stalis IH, Allen JL, Stott JL and Worley MB. Coccidioidomycosis in Przewalski's horses (Equus caballus przewaslkii ). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 34(4): 339-45, 2003.

Terio KA, Marker L, Overstrom EW and Brown JL. Ovarian and adrenal activity in Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) assessed by fecal steroid analysis. South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 33(2):71-78, 2003.

Klieforth R, Maalouf G, Stalis I, Terio K, Janssen D and Schrenzel M. Malignant catarrhal fever-like disease in Barbary red deer (Cervus elaphus barbarus) naturally infected with a virus resembling alcelaphine herpes virus 2. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 40(9): 3381-90, 2002.

Terio KA, Brown JL, Moreland R and Munson L. Comparison of Different Drying and Storage Methods on Quantifiable Concentrations of Fecal Steroids in the Cheetah. Zoo Biology. 21:215-222, 2002.