Murray Jelinski

• DVM, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
• MSc, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Jelinski received his DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. Shortly after graduation he established a mixed animal practice in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, which he owned and operated for seven years. In 1992 he returned to the WCVM to complete a MSc. degree in epidemiology, his research topic involved describing the epidemiology of fatal abomasal ulcers in young unweaned beef calves.

Following his MSc, Dr. Jelinski embarked upon a career in the Canadian veterinary pharmaceutical industry, starting as the Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Product Development with Hoechst Roussel Vet. After a number of successive positions within the industry he ended his pharmaceutical career as General Manager for MetaMorphix Canada Inc., an early stage biotechnology company.

In January 2006 he joined the WCVM as the Alberta Chair in Beef Cattle Health and Production Medicine.

Dr. Jelinski has an ongoing research program dedicated to investigating the demographics of the veterinary profession in Western Canada with emphasis on the supply and demand of mix and food animal veterinary practitioners.

Dr. Jelinski also has a research interest in Mycoplasma bovis, which is the bacteria associated with the chronic pneumonia and polyarthritis syndrome (CPPS) in fall-placed feedlot calves. More specifically, he is interested in using genotyping techniques to track the spread of specific strains of M. bovis within pens of cattle and across feedlots.

The ultimate goal is to gain a clearer understanding of the ecology of M. bovis and the epidemiology of CPPS in western Canadian feedlot cattle.

Over the last year, Dr. Jelinski and his graduate student, Dr. Chad Paetsch, have been investigating toe tip necrosis syndrome (TNNS) in western Canadian feedlot cattle. This condition is characterized by lameness of one or both hind limbs and typically occurs within one to three weeks post-arrival at the feedlot.

Initially, there is separation of the sole and hoof wall at the apex of the white line, which leads to mild to moderate lameness. However, in some animals the infection migrates into the hoof and leads to an osteitis of P3. Ascending infections are common resulting in a cellulitis and tenosynovitis and even death in some cases due to embolic pneumonia.

Their research program has involved a retrospective analysis of over 700 confirmed cases of TNNS, and they are also involved in an ongoing case-control study looking at a host of potential factors that could be associated with this disease.