Research Interests:
- The pathogenesis of hemoprotozoal disease
- Animal models of infection.
Dr Leisewitz’s research laboratory in the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Clinical Sciences focuses on understanding the pathobiology of canine babesiosis infection as it models aspects of hemoprotozoal infections in general. Of special interests are the effects of hemolysis on the host, host response to infection, immune response, and comparative genomics within the babesia genus.
Main Projects:
- The establishment of continuous in-vitro culture systems for canine babesia parasites.
- The comparisons of babesia genomes causing asymptomatic, mild, moderate and severe disease.
- The establishment of an in-vivo infected dog model system to study disease pathobiology.
Subject Areas:
- Small Animal Medicine Section
