Janice M. Miller

My primary research interest as a veterinary pathologist is the study of infectious diseases in animals. My early work focused on bovine leukemia, for which I identified the etiologic agent as a retrovirus and subsequently collaborated with a number of colleagues to determine the major modes of transmission and develop tests for detection of infected animals. I was also involved in studies to investigate the role of viruses in reproductive failure. Our laboratory discovered that a common bovine herpesvirus, BHV-1, could cause infertility by either of two different mechanisms, such as a hormonal deficiency due to ovarian damage or transuterine infection of the preimplantation embryo. Most live virus BHV-1 vaccines produced the same pathogenic effects. We have also developed immunohistochemical methods for the detection of a marker protein (PrP) that accumulates in the brains of animals with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. These methods have proven to be more sensitive and specific than histopathological examination, which was the traditional method used for diagnosing these diseases. My current research effort is devoted to developing new or improved diagnostic techniques for important animal diseases.