UF veterinary students win national honors for scientific manuscripts

Two University of Florida veterinary students have received top awards in the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians and Wildlife Pharmaceuticals' Student Manuscript Competition.

Erin Holder and Julie DeMarco, both from the Class of 2002, placed first and second, respectively. They presented their papers at the association's recent annual conference in Orlando.

Holder's research involved developing a protocol to detect kidney disease in cheetahs much earlier than through conventional methods. Early kidney diseases are common in captive cheetahs and are usually fatal once acquired.

“If this method becomes part of routine health screening in captive cheetahs, then earlier detection could mean future implementation of programs to characterize and control the progression of the disease,” Holder said.

DeMarco reported on a toxic reaction some dog-faced fruit bats experience after an anti-parasitic drug is applied to their skin.

“Little is known about many less popular wild species, so reports from the field, so to speak, are vital to compiling a database for the purpose of disseminating it to wildlife and zoo veterinarians everywhere,” DeMarco said.

Holder and DeMarco were awarded $600 and $400, respectively, and both received certificates. Their manuscripts will be published in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, and they will present their papers at the AAZV annual conference.