Sergey C. Artiushin, PhD
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Department of Veterinary Science University
of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0099
My research interests are focused on molecular studies of Streptococcus equi, Streptococcus
zooepidemicus and Leptospira interrogans.
S. equi causes strangles, a contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract
of horses. S. zooepidemicus is responsible for metritis in mares and aggravates
lower respiratory tract infections as an opportunistic invader following virus infection.
At present I am involved in two projects relevant to these pathogens. The first
is aimed at identification and analysis of protective antigens of S. equi; the second
is genome sequencing of S. zooepidemicus W60.
Leptospirosis is a continuing threat to the horse breeder causing loss due to abortion
and stillbirth. Chronic infection may lead to recurrent uveitis, a major cause of
equine blindness. Control refers both to antibiotic prophylaxis and management based
on identification of seropositive animals by MAT and detection of leptospira in
body fluids using FA and culture. Presently I am developing more simple, reliable
and rapid methods such as ELISA for identification of seropositive animals and PCR
for detection and identification of leptospira in body fluids.
Projects
- Immunogenically active proteins of S. equi.
- Genome of S. zooepidemicus W60.
- Development and evaluation of ELISA and PCR for diagnosis of leptospira infection
in horses.