Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Winn Feline Foundation Award Grants to University of Missouri

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) announced today it has awarded a $52,204 grant to the University of Missouri for a new study, Shelter Cat Adoption in Families of Children with Autism: Impact on Children’s Social Skills and Anxiety as well as Cat Stress. This study will examine the effect of the introduction of a shelter cat on social skills and anxiety in children with autism, and on stress levels for the cats themselves.

“Preliminary research demonstrates the effectiveness of companion animal interaction on alleviating social skills deficits and anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD),” said the study’s Principal Investigator, Gretchen Carlisle, PhD, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri. “While many studies have focused on the impact of dogs on children with ASD, this study aims to determine the beneficial impacts of a pet cat on children with autism and their families, as the temperament and the ease of care for cats compared to other animals may increase the likelihood of a positive outcome for the children, the cats and the family as a whole.”

In addition to HABRI’s grant award, the PIs have also received funding from the Winn Feline Foundation in the amount of $25,000. The combined funding from Winn Feline and HABRI have enabled the PIs to expand the sample size and add the support of a statistician, which will greatly enhance the power of the study and hopefully result in more definitive and robust findings.

“Winn Feline Foundation is thrilled to have initially supported this important study on the human-cat bond and to hear of HABRI’s grant award. Their additional support will strengthen the study’s findings”, commented Winn’s Executive Director Dr. Vicki Thayer. “This significant project evaluating the effects and benefits of adoption of cats by children and families with ASD fits our mission and values”.

Using a two-group, randomized, repeated measures design with a delayed treatment control group, this 18-month study will recruit participants through a Mid-western autism diagnostic and treatment center. Shelter cats from two local animal shelters will be screened for temperament and then enrolled. Dr. Carlisle, and co-PI Rebecca Johnson, PhD, Professor and Director, Research Center for Human Animal Interaction, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Co-Investigators Jessica Bibbo, PhD, Colleen Koch, DVM, Leslie Lyons, PhD, and Nancy Cheak-Zamora, PhD, will pre-screen the human participants and families will be randomized into the treatment or delayed treatment control groups. Cat stress will be measured through fecal cortisol. Caregivers will complete a 19-item demographic questionnaire and children’s social skills and ASD symptoms will be measured using several instruments. Families randomized into the treatment group will adopt a cat first while those in the control group will adopt a cat after 18 weeks. The investigators expect to find that children of families with an adopted shelter cat will have increased social skills, decreased anxiety and that they will become bonded with their cat. It is also expected that cats will adjust to their new homes without significant stress.

“This study has great potential to advance our knowledge of the benefits of the human-animal bond for children and families with ASD,” said HABRI Executive Director Steven Feldman. “Caregivers and parents should select the pet that is best suited for their family and for the well-being of the animal – maybe that’s a cat.”

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The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) maintains the world’s largest online library of human-animal bond research and information; funds innovative research projects to scientifically document the health benefits of companion animals; and informs the public about human-animal bond research and the beneficial role of companion animals in society. For more information about HABRI, visit www.habri.org.

The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 in Columbia as the first public university west of the Mississippi River. Today, with an enrollment of more than 33,000 students, 13,000 full-time employees and 305,000 alumni, Mizzou is a $2.2 billion enterprise and an important investment for the state and nation.

Winn Feline Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1968 that supports studies to improve cat health. Since 1968, the Winn Feline Foundation has funded more than $6 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions world-wide. This funding is made possible through the support of dedicated donors and partners. Research supported by Winn Feline Foundation helps veterinarians to improve treatment of common feline health problems and prevent many diseases. For further information, go to www.winnfelinefoundation.org.

As the University of Missouri Tigers prepare to square off against the Auburn Tigers, the schools are collaborating to show that their Tiger pride extends beyond the field. The two schools, along with Clemson University and Louisiana State University, have joined together to form the U.S. Tiger University Consortium. Before the game, MU Provost Garnett Stokes and Auburn Provost Timothy Boosinger will discuss collaboration efforts with faculty committed to tiger conservation. They also will spend time with Truman and Aubie, the respective mascots for the universities.

“Saturday is going to be an exciting day, not just for football, but to come together with the common goal of saving tigers,” said Carolyn Henry, interim dean of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. “Being involved in the consortium will allow Mizzou students and faculty to contribute significantly and save this amazing species.”

The wild tiger population has been dwindling due to habitat loss and poaching. The Global Tiger Forum estimates that only 3,900 tigers are left in the wild. The consortium has a goal of doubling that number by 2022. Plans to achieve this goal include applying technology to monitor wild tiger populations and funding research. Each university also has planned strategic communications to raise awareness of the worldwide problem.

“Mizzou is the perfect university to play a role in tiger conservation,” said Shibu Jose, director of the MU School of Natural Resources. “Researchers from multiple areas of expertise — wildlife, veterinary medicine, ecology and sociology —can contribute to the effort.”

Mizzou is where the student-led effort to protect wild tigers started. In 1999, Mizzou students formed the nation’s first tiger mascot conservation program, “Mizzou Tigers for Tigers,” which eventually led to a national coalition in 2007 recognized by the World Wildlife Fund. The chapter’s current president, Shannon McKinley, is organizing multiple fundraising events to support tiger habitats and engage more Mizzou students in the effort.

We can expect to see the number of tigers on campus or at least tiger mascots to double this coming Saturday. The Mizzou Tigers will be playing the final of four straight home games against the Auburn Tigers on Sept. 23.

Published by Mizzou News, 329 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65211

In the United States, therapeutic horseback riding offers equine-assisted therapy to diverse populations, including children and adults who have anxiety disorders. Veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder often are prescribed this type of therapy in order to cope with anxiety, but little is known about how these programs affect the stress levels in horses. Now, a University of Missouri study has revealed that horses ridden by veterans with PTSD did not have undue physiological stress responses, nor did they exhibit behavioral stress while participating in a veterans’ therapy program. This shows that therapeutic horseback riding, also known as THR, may provide a viable repurposing for retired or unwanted horses.

“Estimates have shown that approximately 6,300 horses globally work in therapeutic horseback riding programs at more than 800 centers,” said Rebecca Johnson, a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing in the Sinclair School of Nursing. “While there is a growing body of literature demonstrating the beneficial outcomes from THR programs for people with developmental, cognitive and psychosocial disabilities, such as veterans with PTSD; it is imperative that we consider horse stress levels to ensure their health and welfare. Our study was designed to assess the differences in both physiological stress levels and behavioral stress responses while being ridden by veterans in these programs or by experienced riders.”

Two groups were recruited for the study: veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD and healthy, experienced riders. Each individual horse was ridden in accordance with an approved program for approximately 60 minutes weekly at the same time of day for six weeks. Veterans learned basic horseback riding skills as well as how to apply riding tack to the horse, mounting and dismounting. Experienced riders were asked to go through the same actions as the veterans.

In order to measure physiological stressors on the horses, blood samples were collected 30 minutes before classes started, after the riding tack was applied to the horse, and after the riding class at the first, third and sixth weeks. Cortisol, which is a part of the central nervous system and a good indicator of stress in the body, was measured as well as glucose concentrations and other measurements.

Behavioral stress indicators were assessed by viewing videotapes of the horses obtained for two-minute periods during the first, third and sixth weeks. Using a stress scale, two researchers scored the videos involving different horses to determine restlessness, jumpiness and startle-reflexes, as well as how accepting and calm the horses were at other times.

“Findings from our physiological and behavioral data indicated that the horses were not unduly stressed by the THR work; however, we found differences in the horses’ stress levels between rider groups,” Johnson said. “Equine cortisol levels were elevated after riding tack was applied by inexperienced riders, in this case the veterans. However, we think that might be because these riders were applying the tack and mounting the horses a little differently than the experienced riders. The horses also showed elevated physiological and behavioral responses with experienced riders, which could indicate that these riders expect a higher level of performance from the horses. Overall, horses involved in the THR program exhibited low stress responses, indicating no harm from doing the work of THR, which could give retired or unwanted horses a new lease on life.”

The interaction between horses and riders has been demonstrated to increase riders’ confidence, self-esteem, sensory sensitivity and social motivation while decreasing stress. THR programs could enhance their orientation times and curricula to include tacking classes and increasing introductory sessions between horses and riders to decrease stress to the horses, Johnson said. Future studies should include larger groups of participants as well as other measures of physiological stress.

The article, “Horses Working in Therapeutic Riding Programs: Cortisol, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Glucose, and Behavior Stress Indicators,” was published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Funding was provided by the USDA National Institutes of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health (Grant: 1003417). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.

Published by the MU News Bureau, 329 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65211

New study targets bovine anaplasmosis, a major disease in cattle

Anaplasmosis is an infectious blood disease in cattle caused by certain bacteria transmitted by ticks worldwide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded $460,000 to Bill Stich, professor of parasitology in the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, to study a new approach to interfering with this pathogen in the tick vector. Building on existing research, he and his team are working to develop immunizations with extracts from tick tissues to fight the disease.

It has been estimated that more than 80 percent of beef cattle are affected by ticks. Anaplasmosis, which is passed by ticks through their bite and saliva, infects the red blood cells and causes severe anemia, fever and weight loss; it is known to be fatal. Currently, prevention and control of this disease involves chemical pesticides and antibiotics to control ticks and infections, respectively; however, ticks are developing resistance to these methods.

“Ticks are important pests, but their main importance is in the transmission of germs that can cause life-threatening diseases,” Stich said. “Chemical pesticides, while effective, often leave residues in food products from cattle and cause contamination to the environment, so these methods aren’t sustainable. Therefore, we are examining other, more natural methods to control this disease that causes hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year.”

The goal of this program is to develop sustainable approaches to prevent the spread of tick-transmitted germs by attacking the germs inside ticks before they can be transmitted to cattle. Stich’s strategy uses the immune response of cattle to interfere with tick molecules that are required for survival of disease-causing germs in the ticks.

“By targeting tick molecules, this work is expected to help develop sustainable approaches to intervene with tick acquisition, maintenance or transmission of pathogens,” Stitch said. “In my opinion, the tick-pathogen-bovine interface is the best model system currently available for such work. Progress in this area is also expected to have a positive global impact in resource-restricted areas, because four of the five major vector-borne diseases of cattle are transmitted by ticks.”

To do this, the team is targeting the two main parts of the tick where tick-transmitted germs are found—the midgut and salivary glands.

“Understanding how pathogens are maintained in the ticks that transmit them, including the bacteria that cause anaplasmosis, is key,” Stich said. “Our lab and team will examine just how the tick molecules are involved with the development of bacteria and how we can create immunizations targeted at those tick molecules. The overall goal is to develop sustainable ways to treat the disease to keep cattle and herds healthy.”

The project, “Targeting the tick-pathogen interface for tick-borne disease control,” (Grant #2017-67015-26630) will be led by Stich and an international research team international including Sathaporn Jittapalapong, dean of veterinary technology at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Published by Mizzou News, 329 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65211

University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Interim Dean Carolyn Henry recently announced that Christian Lorson will serve as interim associate dean for the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, effective Aug. 1. The associate dean vacancy was created when Henry, DVM, MS, ACVIM (oncology), was named interim dean.

As associate dean, Lorson will provide administrative leadership, supervision and coordination of all research activities of the college; oversee research development; manage research resources; and ensure research compliance with requirements of MU’s Institutional Review Board, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, MU’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety, and laboratory animal welfare laws and regulations.

Other responsibilities will include assisting the dean, department chairs, directors of graduate studies, and faculty in the management of graduate programs within the college, and serving as a liaison to the MU Office of Research and Graduate Studies. He will also have a variety of administrative duties.

Lorson, PhD, is a professor in the CVM’s Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and an investigator at the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center. Lorson has research interests in molecular genetics, gene therapy, RNA processing, neurodegeneration, and animal models of disease.

The Lorson lab has a particular focus on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a devastating disease that is the leading genetic cause of infantile death worldwide. The lab is collaborating with several groups to develop new drugs, with a goal of moving closer toward clinical trial. Lorson has served as scientific director at FightSMA since 2005.

Lorson received his PhD from the MU School of Medicine and received postgraduate training at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.