NCVP Resident in Veterinary Parasitology
|
Dr. Jeba Jesudoss ChelladuraiJeba Jesudoss Chelladurai, BVSc, MS, the Virbac Resident in Veterinary Parasitology, graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, India. She earned a Master of Science in Microbiology from North Dakota State University, and is currently a PhD student in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Jesudoss conducts research with Dr. Matt Brewer and is currently studying mechanisms of anthelminthic resistance in nematodes. In her free time, she enjoys painting, learning new languages, traveling and aurora-hunting.
|
Five Questions with NCVP Virbac Resident Dr. Jeba Jesudoss
Tell us a little about your background. Where are you from, what are some of the defining experiences of your life?
I was born in southern India, and spent my formative years in big cities. I become multilingual at an early age, and excelled in biology and English in school. This success was largely supported by my loving parents as they encouraged me to work hard as I pursued educational and spiritual growth. After graduating high school, I was accepted into the Veterinary Medicine program at Madras Veterinary College and graduated at the top of my class in 2011. As part of a clinical exchange program, I spent two months at Michigan State University CVM’s small animal teaching hospital, which led me to consider pursuing my graduate studies in the United States. I subsequently moved to Fargo, ND, and earned an MS at North Dakota State University. Recently, I moved to Ames, IA to begin my PhD studies at Iowa State University.
I was born in southern India, and spent my formative years in big cities. I become multilingual at an early age, and excelled in biology and English in school. This success was largely supported by my loving parents as they encouraged me to work hard as I pursued educational and spiritual growth. After graduating high school, I was accepted into the Veterinary Medicine program at Madras Veterinary College and graduated at the top of my class in 2011. As part of a clinical exchange program, I spent two months at Michigan State University CVM’s small animal teaching hospital, which led me to consider pursuing my graduate studies in the United States. I subsequently moved to Fargo, ND, and earned an MS at North Dakota State University. Recently, I moved to Ames, IA to begin my PhD studies at Iowa State University.
How did you initially became interested in veterinary medicine?
Animals have fascinated me since my early childhood. During my school years, we kept birds and scores of fish that I had the job of feeding every day. In high school, physiology and anatomy captivated me, so much so that I wanted to become a pediatrician. One day in eleventh grade, I fortuitously stumbled upon Alf Wight (James Herriot)’s ‘Every Living Thing’ in the school library. I devoured all his books in a month, imagining myself in the Yorkshire dales with him, diagnosing
and treating animals. Subsequently, I had no doubt that I should pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
Animals have fascinated me since my early childhood. During my school years, we kept birds and scores of fish that I had the job of feeding every day. In high school, physiology and anatomy captivated me, so much so that I wanted to become a pediatrician. One day in eleventh grade, I fortuitously stumbled upon Alf Wight (James Herriot)’s ‘Every Living Thing’ in the school library. I devoured all his books in a month, imagining myself in the Yorkshire dales with him, diagnosing
and treating animals. Subsequently, I had no doubt that I should pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
How did you become interested in parasitology? When did you know it would be your field?
One of the subjects I found fascinating in veterinary college was parasitology, largely because of the engaging professors who taught the subject at MVC. Although I was initially apprehensive about learning about the “creepy crawlies”, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I spent a few summers at the university sheep farm in the mountains, learning to perform quantitative fecal exams and identifying insect vectors for Blue tongue virus, , under the tutelage of Dr. Sreekumar Chirukandoth. I was also involved in a pilot study on tick pheromones, under two of my favorite vet school professors, Dr. Leela Ramesh and Dr. Latha Bhaskaran, which was a watershed moment in my deciding that I was going to do a research based degree after graduating vet school.
For my MS degree at North Dakota State University, I studied Cryptosporidium infecting wild passerine birds under the guidance of Dr. John McEvoy, and spent the summer of 2014 at the Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic, working in the lab of Dr. Martin Kváč. It was there that I decided that Veterinary Parasitology would be my field of expertise. Successful completion of my MS degree led me to my current opportunity at ISU. I am excited for opportunities in the field given the importance of parasitology in veterinary medicine and within the framework of the One Health movement.
One of the subjects I found fascinating in veterinary college was parasitology, largely because of the engaging professors who taught the subject at MVC. Although I was initially apprehensive about learning about the “creepy crawlies”, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I spent a few summers at the university sheep farm in the mountains, learning to perform quantitative fecal exams and identifying insect vectors for Blue tongue virus, , under the tutelage of Dr. Sreekumar Chirukandoth. I was also involved in a pilot study on tick pheromones, under two of my favorite vet school professors, Dr. Leela Ramesh and Dr. Latha Bhaskaran, which was a watershed moment in my deciding that I was going to do a research based degree after graduating vet school.
For my MS degree at North Dakota State University, I studied Cryptosporidium infecting wild passerine birds under the guidance of Dr. John McEvoy, and spent the summer of 2014 at the Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic, working in the lab of Dr. Martin Kváč. It was there that I decided that Veterinary Parasitology would be my field of expertise. Successful completion of my MS degree led me to my current opportunity at ISU. I am excited for opportunities in the field given the importance of parasitology in veterinary medicine and within the framework of the One Health movement.
What focus have you have chosen for your residency? Where will your research efforts be directed?
Our lab is broadly interested in improving diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics for veterinary parasites. My research will focus on the spectrum of resistance mechanisms in nematodes, including emerging macrocyclic lactone resistance. In the last couple of years, my research efforts have been channeled into understanding the epidemiology of Ascaris infections in pigs, and evaluating in vitro techniques to aid in drug discovery for protozoan parasites.
Our lab is broadly interested in improving diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics for veterinary parasites. My research will focus on the spectrum of resistance mechanisms in nematodes, including emerging macrocyclic lactone resistance. In the last couple of years, my research efforts have been channeled into understanding the epidemiology of Ascaris infections in pigs, and evaluating in vitro techniques to aid in drug discovery for protozoan parasites.
What is your plan after your residency? What would you like to accomplish over the course of your career?
I want to become a board certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology. I hope to continue in academia, contributing to the field of parasitology through research, and shaping future generations of veterinarians through teaching. Over the course of my career, I want to help improve the arsenal of diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic tools available to veterinarians, and help them appreciate their role in One Health. I would also like to be a resource to medical personnel and the general public on zoonotic and veterinary infectious diseases.
I want to become a board certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology. I hope to continue in academia, contributing to the field of parasitology through research, and shaping future generations of veterinarians through teaching. Over the course of my career, I want to help improve the arsenal of diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic tools available to veterinarians, and help them appreciate their role in One Health. I would also like to be a resource to medical personnel and the general public on zoonotic and veterinary infectious diseases.