Jennifer A. Spencer, MSc, PhD

My research interests are centered mainly around investigating cell mediated immune responses to infectious diseases with an emphasis on parasite infections.  I enjoy working on all vertebrate species, especially non-domestic species.  I also have a strong interest in clinical immunology, evaluating immune systems in animals where primary or secondary immunodeficiencies are suspected.

Spencer JA, Higginbotham, MJ, & Blagburn, BL.  2003.   Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in captive and free-ranging nondomestic felids in the United States.  Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34:246-249.

Spencer JA, Smith BF, Guarino AJ, Blagburn BL, & Baker HJ.   2004. The use of CpG as an adjuvant to Toxoplasma gondii vaccination. Parasitology Research 92: 313-316.

Munson L, Marker L, Dubovi E, Spencer JA, Evermann JF & O’Brien SJ.   2004.  Serosurvey of viral infections in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40: 23-31.

Spencer JA, Ellison SE, Guarino AJ, & Blagburn BL.  2004.  Cell-mediated immune responses in horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Journal of Parasitology 90:428-430.

Spencer JA, Joiner KS, Hilton CD, Dubey JP, Toivio-Kinnucan M, Minc JK, & Blagburn BL.  2004.   Disseminated toxoplasmosis in a captive ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta).   Journal of Parasitology 90:904-906.  

Blagburn BL, Spencer JA, Billeter SA, Drazenovitch NL, Butler JM, Land TM, Dykstra CC, Newton JC, Stafford KC, Pough MB, Levy SA, & Bledsoe DL.  2004.  A combination of imidacloprid and permethrin (K9 Advantix) prevents transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (syn. Ehrlichia equi, E. phagocytophila, HGE agent) from naturally infected ticks (Ixodes scapularis) to dogs. Veterinary Therapeutics 5:212-217.

Billeter SA, Spencer JA, Chobotar B, & Blagburn BL.  2005.  Ponazuril inhibits development of Eimeria vermiformis in experimentally infected outbred Swiss mice.   Parasitology Research 95: 172-175.

Spencer JA, Deinnocentes P, Moyana EM, Guarino AJ,  Ellison SE,  Bird RC, & Blagburn BL.  2005.   Cytokine gene expression in response to SnSAG1 in horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.    Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology 12: 644-646.

Spencer JA, Higginbotham MJ, Guarino AJ, & Blagburn BL.   2005.   Neospora caninum:  adoptive transfer of immune lymphocytes precipitates disease in BALB/c mice.   Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 106: 329-333.

Stockdale HD, West GS,   Hankes T, McMillan KL, Whitley M, Spencer JA, Dykstra CC, &. Blagburn BL. 2006.   Feline Trichomoniasis:  An emerging disease?  Compendium on Continuing Education June :463-471.

Billeter SA, Spencer JA, Griffin B, Dykstra CC,   Blagburn BL. 2007.  Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in domestic felines in the United States. Veterinary Parasitology 147: 194-198.