UF prof named Distinguished Veterinary Parasitologist

Gainesville, Fla.

-- Ellis Greiner, PhD, a professor in the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine’s department of infectious diseases and pathology, received the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists’ (AAVP) Distinguished Veterinary Parasitologist Award.

The award, consisting of a plaque and $1,500, was presented during the AAVP’s annual meeting this month in Calgary, Alta., Canada. It honors Greiner for outstanding contributions to the advancement of veterinary parasitology. Recipients are nominated by association members, and the winner chosen by an awards committee.

Greiner, who has served on the UF veterinary faculty more than 30 years, has done research involving reptiles, birds, livestock and domestic pets, but most of his work has focused on turtles and marine mammals. Earlier in his career at UF, he researched bluetongue, a viral disease affecting sheep and cattle, and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurological disease that affects horses and is caused by a parasite known as Sarcocystis neurona.

Greiner has served as chair of the veterinary college’s academic advancement committee.