Contact details +6469518233

Associate Professor Keren Dittmer PhD, BVSc, Diplomate ACVP

Associate Professor and Team Manager

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Veterinary Science

After graduating with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Massey University, New Zealand in 2001, Keren spent 4 years in large and small animal practice in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In late 2005 she returned to Massey University to do a PhD on inherited rickets in Corriedale sheep, and this was completed in 2008. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and is currently a senior lecturer in both anatomic and clinical veterinary pathology, as well as team manager of pathobiology in the School of Veterinary Science at Massey University. Keren has a particular interest in skeletal pathology, vitamin D and genetic diseases, and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in these areas. She is a co-author of the Bone and Joints chapter in the 6th edition of Jubb, Kennedy & Palmer’s Pathology of Domestic Animals, the Tumors of bone chapter in the 5th Edition of Tumors of Domestic Animals and the Genetic Diseases of Cattle chapter in the 2nd Edition of Diseases of Cattle in Australasia, plus the author of the Metabolic Bone diseases chapter in the 1st Edition of Small Animal Medicine. She is an Editorial Adviser for the Journal of Comparative Pathology. Keren was secretary for the NZ Society for Veterinary Pathology for 7 years before retiring in 2019, was secretary of the International Veterinary Pathology Coalition 2019-2020.

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Professional

Contact details

Ph: +64 6 3569099 extn 85233
Location: 7.3, Veterinary Tower
Campus: Turitea

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy - Massey University (2009)
Bachelor of Veterinary Science - Massey University (2002)

Fellowships and Memberships

Member, American College of Veterinary Pathologists (Full) (2011)

Certifications and Registrations

Licence, Co-Supervisor, Massey University
Licence, Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Keren Dittmer's current research interests include:

vitamin D metabolism in animals - including horses, cattle and sheep, and wildlife
FGF23 and the phosphatonin system in veterinary species
genetic diseases - including dwarfism (chondrodysplasia) in cattle and sheep, episodic ataxia in sheep, retinal degeneration in sheep, segmental axonopathy in sheep, cataracts in cattle, inherited rickets in sheep, lysosomal storage disease in dogs
angular limb deformities and osteochondrosis in deer
humeral fractures in dairy cows - see our facebook page @masseyheiferfracture
bone issues associated with fodder beet feeding
dropped hock syndrome in dairy cows
osteoporosis in sheep
bone tumours in dogs
osteoarthritis in horses
bone growth and development in farm animals

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship, Health and Well-being, Future Food Systems

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences (070000): Veterinary Pathology (070709): Veterinary Sciences (070700)

Keywords

Bone

Skeletal pathology

Vitamin D

Fibroblast growth factor 23

Congenital skeletal abnormalities

Genetic or inherited diseases

Haemoplasmas

Fractures

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position	Current	Completed
Not Specified	0	1
Project Leader	2	13
Team Member	0	2

Completed Projects

Project Title: Feline haemoplasma infections in New Zealand

Haemoplasmas are small bacteria that sit on the surface of red blood cells and infect a wide variety of mammalian species, including humans. Haemoplasma infection in cats has the potential to cause a severe, life threatening anaemia. Three haemoplasma species have been identified in cats, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm), Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt), each with variable ability to cause disease, response to antimicrobial therapy and ability to form a carrier state. The aim of this study was to evaluate feline haemoplasma prevalence, and determine any associations between haemoplasma infection and possible risk factors, in a convenience sample of New Zealand domestic cats. DNA was extracted from 200 surplus feline blood samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for routine haematology over a 12 month period. Testing identified 62 cats (31 %) that were positive for haemoplasma DNA; 49 (24.5 %) for CMhm, 15 (7.5 %) for Mhf, and 9 (4.5 %) for CMt. Twelve of the positive cats had dual infections; 11 CMhm/Mhf and one CMhm/CMt. Twenty cats (10 %) were feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) positive and 11 cats (5.5 %) were feline leukaemia virus positive. Positive FIV status, male gender and non-pedigree breed were significantly associated with haemoplasma infection. The results of this study demonstrate that New Zealand feline haemoplasma prevalence correlates with previous overseas studies, with CMhm being the most common infection. This is the first report of CMt in New Zealand.

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Date Range: 2009 - 2011

Funding Body: Massey University

Project Team:

A/Pro Keren Dittmer - Project Leader

Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

227.411 Veterinary Anatomic and Clinical Pathology II

BVSc V Necropsy roster

193.303 Advanced Clinical Studies

Courses Coordinated

193.204 Pathology for Veterinary Technologists
227.411 Veterinary Anatomic and Clinical Pathology II

Contact Supervisor

Graduate Supervision Statement

My areas of research interests are skeletal pathology and genetic diseases. A particular focus at this current time is humeral fractures in first calving dairy heifers, and I currently supervise/co-supervise two students researching this topic.

Associate Professor Keren Dittmer is available for Masters and Doctorial supervision.

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position	Current	Completed
Main Supervisor	1	1
Co-supervisor	2	2

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

Alvaro Wehrle Martinez - Doctor of Philosophy
Bovine Connective tissue diseases

Co-supervisor of:

Michaela Gibson - Doctor of Philosophy
Growth and development of dairy Heifers
Luca Panizzi - Doctor of Philosophy
Biomarker profiling of biologic fluids and tissues from horses with induced carpal osteoarthritis

Completed Doctoral Supervision