Washington State University doctoral candidate Kelly Sears, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA, received the 2017 EQUUS Foundation Research Fellow for her research into equine piroplasmosis, which resulted in the discovery of a new Theileria organism along the Texas-Mexico border.

Dr. Sears was recognized Nov. 19 prior to the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture at the AAEP’s 63^rdAnnual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Instituted in 2011 and supported in partnership by the AAEP Foundation and the EQUUS Foundation, the $5,000 fellow emphasizes the importance of assisting equine researchers in their exploration of horse health care topics. Dr. Sears also received a $500 stipend to support her travel to San Antonio.

Dr. Sears was initially involved in massive surveillance testing and treatment after the largest equine piroplasmosis outbreak in Texas. As a consequence of screening infected animals, the new Theileria organism was discovered. Her research group was instrumental in evaluating the new organism, Theileria haneyi, to define its pathogenesis in horses.

After five years of investigation into Theilera haneyi, Dr. Sears is developing further research to determine the prevalence of the species, the consequences of long-term infection, and an effective chemotherapeutic capable of eliminating the parasite safely from horses. Theileria infections in horses are a significant barrier to international trade and can cause considerable economic loss to horse producers globally. Her research will have implications for the millions of working equids worldwide.

“Dr. Sears’ research focus is extremely important to equine health,” said Don Knowles, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP, professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology at Washington State University. “The parasite we are designating as Theileria haneyi is not detectable by current diagnostic methods. This award will allow Dr. Sears to gain more understanding into the prevalence of T. haneyi in horses.”

Dr. Sears earned her M.S. from Washington State University in 2014 and her DVM from the University of Florida in 2010.

“The contributions of veterinary research have been considerable, not just on animal health but also public health,” said EQUUS Foundation Chairwoman Jenny Belknap Kees. “We are pleased to help provide the financial resources to enable continued advancements by sponsoring the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship.”

For more information about this program and other scholarships offered through the AAEP Foundation, visit www.aaepfoundation.org and select “Scholarships” in the “Apply for Funding” drop-down menu.

The EQUUS Foundation (www.equusfoundation.org), a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2002, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, retraining horses for multiple careers, making equine therapy available to more people and educating the public about the horse’s unique ability to empower, teach and heal.

The AAEP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization created in 1994, serves as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners to improve the welfare of the horse. Since its inception, the Foundation has disbursed more than $4 million to support its mission.

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