The Aquatic, Amphibian, and Reptile Pathology faculty study veterinary anatomic pathology, virology, and molecular diagnostics, with a focus on diseases of wildlife. This area has a special emphasis on work with reptiles and amphibians, including sea turtles, tortoises, sea stars, and alligators.
Robert J Ossiboff DVM, PhD, DACVP
Current Projects
Reptilian Cell Lines
The Ossiboff lab studies reptilian cell lines. Tissue culture cell lines are an invaluable resource for infectious disease discovery and characterization and comparative biomedical research. While cell lines from domestic species are readily available, cell lines from exotic and wildlife species – and particularly reptiles – are greatly limited. One of the initiatives of our laboratory is to establish a broad panel of reptile cell lines for use from diverse hosts as a tool to improve reptile research.
Courses Taught at UF
VEM 5161
General Pathology
Dr. Ossiboff teaches General Pathology, which focuses on basic reactions of cells and tissues to injury that underlie all disease processes and include cell injury and death, circulatory disturbances, inflammation and repair and disturbances of growth and neoplasia.
in the news
Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers establish new reptile cell lines
A recent scientific paper published in the journal Microorganisms highlights the development of the first broad range of reptile cell lines, a significant feat that researchers say will help advance reptile conservation.