Members of the Leptospira Research and Diagnostic Laboratory traveled to present at the 2026 Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease in Chicago, IL. CRWAD has been an event highlighting leading experts and cutting-edge research for more than 100 years, with this year’s conference showcasing renowned featured speakers and over 500 research presentations from around the world.
Dr. Sree Rajeev was a featured speaker at this event, elucidating challenges faced by Leptospira researchers and clinicians and our efforts to shorten these research gaps in her talk: Leptospira Infection: Conventional Wisdom vs. Current Perception.
Myranda Gorman presented her research examining Leptospira colonization in the reproductive tract of cattle, a potentially under-examined avenue that may lead to herd and economic losses in this critical industry. Her research was presented under the abstract titled: Evidence of Leptospira infection in the reproductive tracts of female cull cattle.
Swetha Madesh has been researching the tick-borne diseases Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys, which pose a serious threat to both veterinary and public health worldwide. In her 3-Minute-Thesis Genome to vaccine: A shortcut to protection, she underscored the need and current lack of a vaccine against these pathogens and our research efforts to address this critical gap. Swetha also presented her abstract titled: Dual RNA-seq reveals the transcriptomic landscape of Ehrlichia canis during macrophage infection, discussing how we can better understand and effectively treat this obligate intracellular bacterium via sequencing methods.
Avni Patel presented her abstract: Optimization of an in vitro Leptospira growth inhibition assay to evaluate the protective efficacy of anti-Leptospira antibodies. Her research evaluated the benefits of an in vitro model to assess the efficacy of anti-Leptospira antibodies, which is typically conducted in vivo. This optimization posits a potential reduction in Leptospira research using animals, as well as the refinement of methods that cannot be conducted in vitro.
Porsha Reed presented her research regarding Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), characterized by periods of repeated ocular inflammation leading to significant discomfort and costly treatment. Leptospira infection has been a well-established cause of ERU in Europe, and evidence is emerging indicating a similar role domestically. In her abstract: Detection of asymptomatic ocular Leptospira colonization in horses: Implications for equine recurrent uveitis, Porsha detailed the diagnostic methods performed and examined trends among 75 horses who presented with ERU.
For an in-depth list of featured speakers and research presentations please visit CRWAD’s 2026 proceedings.
