Aquatic, Amphibian, & Reptile Pathology

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

Robert J Ossiboff DVM, PhD, DACVP

Associate Chair And Clinical Associate Professor – Aquatic Pathology/Anatomic Pathology

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.

reptile

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.


Rat snake

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.