Picture of Susantha Gomis

Susantha Gomis Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pathology

Research Area(s)

  • Diseases in poultry and mammalian species

Academic Credentials

  • BVSc, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 1986
  • MVetSc, University of Saskatchewan, 1992
  • PhD, University of Saskatchewan, 1995
  • Diplomate, ACPV, 2004

Research Interests

Dr. Gomis has broad interests in basic and applied aspects of pathogenesis and control of bacterial diseases in poultry and mammalian species.

Publications

  • Goonewardene, K., Ahmed, K.A., Gunawardana, T., Popowich, S., Kurukulasuriya, S., Karunarathna, R., Gupta, A., Ayalew, L.E., Lockerbie, B., Foldvari, M., Tikoo, S., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2020.  Mucosal delivery of CpG-ODN mimicking bacterial DNA via the intrapulmonary route induces systemic antimicrobial immune responses in neonatal chicks.  Scientific Reports, 10(1): 5343.  https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61683-y

  • Gunawardana, T., Ahmed, K.A., Goonewardene, K., Popowich, S., Kurukulasuriya, S., Karunarathana, R., Ayalew, L.E., Gupta, A., Lockerbie, B., Foldvari, M., Tikoo, S.K., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2020.  CpG-ODN induces a dose-dependent enrichment of immunological niches in the spleen and lungs of neonatal chicks that correlates with the protective immunity against Escherichia coliJournal of Immunology Research, 2704728.  https://www.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2704728

  • Hughes, C., Struthers, S., Shynkaruk, T., Gomis, S., Gupta, A., Schwean-Lardner, K.  2020.  Research Note: Beak morphology of infrared beak–treated laying hens and its impact on production and welfare.  Poultry Science, 99(3): 1395-1399.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2019.11.003

  • Karunarathna, R., Ahmed, K.A., Liu, M., Yu, C., Popowich, S., Goonewardene, K., Gunawardana, T., Kurukulasuriya, S., Gupta, A., Ayalew, L.E., Willson, P., Ngeleka, M., Gomis, S.  2020.  Non-viable chicken embryos: an overlooked niche harbouring a significant source of multidrug resistant bacteria in the poultry production.  International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine, 8(1): 9-17.  https://www.doi.org/10.1080/23144599.2019.1698145

  • Beaulac, K., Classen, H.L., Gomis, S., Sakamoto, K.S., Crowe, T.G., Schwean-Lardner, K.  2019.  The effects of stocking density on turkey tom performance and environment to 16 weeks of age.  Poultry Science, 98(7): 2846-2857.  https://www.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez087

  • Garg, R., Latimer, L., Gomis, S., Gerdts, V., Potter, A., van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, S.  2019.  Maternal vaccination with a novel chimeric glycoprotein formulated with a polymer-based adjuvant provides protection from human parainfluenza virus type 3 in newborn lambs.  Antiviral Research, 162: 54-60.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.12.010

  • Gunawardana, T., Ahmed, K.A., Goonewardene, K., Popowich, S., Kurukulasuriya, S., Karunarathna, R., Gupta, A., Lockerbie, B., Foldvari, M., Tikoo, S.K., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2019.  Synthetic CpG-ODN rapidly enriches immune compartments in neonatal chicks to induce protective immunity against bacterial infections.  Scientific Reports, 9(1): 341.  https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36588-6

  • Struthers, S., Classen, H.L., Gomis, S., Crowe, T.G., Schwean-Lardner, K.  2019.  The impact of beak tissue sloughing and beak shape variation on the behavior and welfare of infrared beak-treated layer pullets and hens.  Poultry Science, 98(10): 4269-4281.  https://www.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez274

  • Struthers, S., Classen, H.L., Gomis, S., Schwean-Lardner, K.  2019.  The effect of beak tissue sloughing and post-treatment beak shape on the productivity of infrared beak-treated layer pullets and hens.  Poultry Science, 98(9): 3637-3646.  https://www.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez230

  • Struthers, S., Gupta, A., Gomis, S., Herwig, E., Schwean-Lardner, K.  2019.  Understanding how infrared beak treatment affects the beak tissue and the healing response of brown and white feathered layer pullets.  Animals, 9(9): 665.  https://www.doi.org/10.3390/ani9090665

  • Tomporowski, J., Heer, J.M., Allan, B., Gomis, S., Aich, P.  2019.  Carbon nanotubes significantly enhance the biological activity of CpG ODN in chickens.  International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 561: 135-147.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.02.040

  • Abdul-Cader, M.S., Amarasinghe, A., Palomino-Tapia, V., Ahmed-Hassan, H., Bakhtawar, K., Nagy, E., Sharif, S., Gomis, S., Abdul-Careem, M.F.  2018.  In ovo CpG DNA delivery increases innate and adaptive immune cells in respiratory, gastrointestinal and immune systems post-hatch correlating with lower infectious laryngotracheitis virus infection.  PLoS ONE, 13(3): e0193964.  https://www.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193964

  • Amarasinghe, A., Abdul-Cader, M.S., Almatrouk, Z., van der Meer, F., Cork, S.C., Gomis, S., Abdul-Careem, M.F.  2018.  Induction of innate host responses characterized by production of interleukin (IL)-1β and recruitment of macrophages to the respiratory tract of chickens following infection with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV).  Veterinary Microbiology, 215: 1-10.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.01.001

  • Amarasinghe, A., De Silva Senapathi, U., Abdul-Cader, M.S., Popowich, S., Marshall, F., Cork, S.C., Van Der Meer, F., Gomis, S., Abdul-Careem, M.F.  2018.  Comparative features of infections of two Massachusetts (Mass) infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) variants isolated from Western Canadian layer flocks.  BMC Veterinary Research, 14(1): 391.  https://www.doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1720-9

  • Amarasinghe, A., Popowich, S., Senapathi, U.S., Abdul-Cader, M.S., Marshall, F., van der Meer, F., Cork, S.C., Gomis, S., Abdul-Careem, M.F.  2018.  Shell-less egg syndrome (SES) widespread in western Canadian layer operations is linked to a Massachusetts (Mass) type infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolate.  Viruses, 10(8): 437.  https://www.doi.org/10.3390/v10080437

  • Gupta, A., Popowich, S., Ojkic, D., Kurukulasuriya, S., Chow-Lockerbie, B., Gunawardana, T., Goonewardene, K., Karunarathna, R., Ayalew, L.E., Ahmed, K.A., Tikoo, S.K., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2018.  Inactivated and live bivalent fowl adenovirus (FAdV8b + FAdV11) breeder vaccines provide broad-spectrum protection in chicks against inclusion body hepatitis (IBH).  Vaccine, 36(5): 744-750.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.047

  • Popowich, S., Gupta, A., Chow-Lockerbie, B., Ayalew, L., Ambrose, N., Ojkic, D., Gunawardana, T., Kurukulasuriya, S., Willson, P., Tikoo, S.K., Gomis, S.  2018.  Broad spectrum protection of broiler chickens against inclusion body hepatitis by immunizing their broiler breeder parents with a bivalent live fowl adenovirus vaccine.  Research in Veterinary Science, 118: 262-269.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.03.003

  • Senapathi, U.D.S., Abdul-Cader, M.S., Amarasinghe, A., van Marle, G., Czub, M., Gomis, S., Abdul-Careem, M.F.  2018.  The in ovo delivery of CpG oligonucleotides protects against infectious bronchitis with the recruitment of immune cells into the respiratory tract of chickens.  Viruses, 10(11): 635.  https://www.doi.org/10.3390/v10110635

  • Amarasinghe, A., Abdul-Cader, M.S., Nazir, S., De Silva Senapathi, U., Van Der Meer, F., Cork, S.C., Gomis, S., Abdul-Careem, M.F.  2017.  Infectious bronchitis corona virus establishes productive infection in avian macrophages interfering with selected antimicrobial functions.  PLoS ONE, 12(8): e0181801.  https://www.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181801

  • Ayalew, L.E., Gupta, A., Fricke, J., Ahmed, K.A., Popowich, S., Lockerbie, B., Tikoo, S.K., Ojkic, D., Gomis, S.  2017.  Phenotypic, genotypic and antigenic characterization of emerging avian reoviruses isolated from clinical cases of arthritis in broilers in Saskatchewan, Canada.  Scientific Reports, 7(1): 3565.  https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02743-8

  • Calderon-Nieva, D., Goonewardene, K.B., Gomis, S., Foldvari, M.  2017.  Veterinary vaccine nanotechnology: pulmonary and nasal delivery in livestock animals.  Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 7(4): 558-570.  https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s13346-017-0400-9

  • Goonewardene, K.B., Popowich, S., Gunawardana, T., Gupta, A., Kurukulasuriya, S., Karunarathna, R., Chow-Lockerbie, B., Ahmed, K.A., Tikoo, S.K., Foldvari, M., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2017.  Intrapulmonary delivery of CpG-ODN microdroplets provides protection against Escherichia coli septicemia in neonatal broiler chickens.  Avian Diseases, 61(4): 503-511.  https://www.doi.org/10.1637/11684-060617-Reg.1

  • Gupta, A., Ahmed, K.A., Ayalew, L.E., Popowich, S., Kurukulasuriya, S., Goonewardene, K., Gunawardana, T., Karunarathna, R., Ojkic, D., Tikoo, S.K., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2017.  Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of virus-like particles and recombinant fiber proteins in broiler-breeder vaccination against fowl adenovirus (FAdV)-8b.  Vaccine, 35(20): 2716-2722.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.075

  • Karunarathna, R., Popowich, S., Wawryk, M., Chow-Lockerbie, B., Ahmed, K.A., Yu, C., Liu, M., Goonewardene, K., Gunawardana, T., Kurukulasuriya, S., Gupta, A., Willson, P., Ambrose, N., Ngeleka, M., Gomis, S.  2017.  Increased incidence of enterococcal infection in nonviable broiler chicken embryos in western Canadian hatcheries as detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.  Avian Diseases, 61(4): 472-480.  https://www.doi.org/10.1637/11678-052317-Reg.1

  • Kautzman, M.E., Hogan, N.S., Gomis, S.M., Brown, K.S., Wickstrom, M.L.  2017.  Using near infrared transmittance to generate sorted fractions of Fusarium-infected wheat and their immunological impact on broiler chickens.  Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 97(4): 689-700.  https://www.doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2016-0181

  • Kurukulasuriya, S., Ahmed, K.A., Ojkic, D., Gunawardana, T., Goonewardene, K., Gupta, A., Chow-Lockerbie, B., Popowich, S., Willson, P., Tikoo, S.K., Gomis, S.  2017.  Modified live infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine delays infection of neonatal broiler chickens with variant IBDV compared to turkey herpesvirus (HVT)-IBDV vectored vaccine.  Vaccine, 35(6): 882-888.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.01.005

  • Leis, M.L., Dodd, M.-M.U., Starrak, G., Vermette, C.J., Gomis, S., Bauer, B.S., Sandmeyer, L.S., Schwean-Lardner, K., Classen, H.L., Grahn, B.H.  2017.  Effect of prolonged photoperiod on ocular tissues of domestic turkeys.  Veterinary Ophthalmology, 20(3): 232-241.  https://www.doi.org/10.1111/vop.12395

  • Kurukulsuriya, S., Ahmed, K.A., Ojkic, D., Gunawardana, T., Gupta, A., Goonewardene, K., Karunaratne, R., Popowich, S., Willson, P., Tikoo, S.K., Gomis, S.  2016.  Circulating strains of variant infectious bursal disease virus may pose a challenge for antibiotic-free chicken farming in Canada.  Research in Veterinary Science, 108: 54-59.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.08.002

  • Martinez, E.C., Garg, R., Shrivastava, P., Gomis, S., van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, S.  2016.  Intranasal treatment with a novel immunomodulator mediates innate immune protection against lethal pneumonia virus of mice.  Antiviral Research, 135: 108-119.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.10.008

  • Shrivastava, P., Sarkar, I., Atanley, E., Gomis, S., van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, S.  2016.  IL-12p40 gene-deficient BALB/c mice exhibit lower weight loss, reduced lung pathology and decreased sensitization to allergen in response to infection with pneumonia virus of mice.  Virology, 497: 1-10.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2016.06.020

  • Vermette, C., Schwean-Lardner, K., Gomis, S., Crowe, T.G., Classen, H.L.  2016.  The impact of graded levels of daylength on Turkey productivity to eighteen weeks of age.  Poultry Science, 95(5): 985-993.  https://www.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pew060

  • Vermette, C., Schwean-Lardner, K., Gomis, S., Grahn, B.H., Crowe, T.G., Classen, H.L.  2016.  The impact of graded levels of day length on turkey health and behavior to 18 weeks of age.  Poultry Science, 95(6): 1223-1237.  https://www.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pew078

  • Zachar, T., Popowich, S., Goodhope, B., Knezacek, T., Ojkic, D., Willson, P., Ahmed, K.A., Gomis, S.  2016.  A 5-year study of the incidence and economic impact of variant infectious bursal disease viruses on broiler production in Saskatchewan, Canada.  Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 80(4): 255-261.

  • Shrivastava, P., Atanley, E., Sarkar, I., Watkiss, E., Gomis, S., van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, S. 2015.  Blunted inflammatory and mucosal IgA responses to pneumonia virus of mice in C57BL/6 neonates are correlated to reduced protective immunity upon re-infection as elderly mice.  Virology, 485: 233-243.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2015.07.019

  • Amini, K., Zachar, T., Popowich, S., Knezacek, T., Goodhope, B., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2015.  Association of increased rate of condemnation of broiler carcasses due to hepatic abnormalities with immunosuppressive diseases in the broiler chicken industry in Saskatchewan.  Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 79(4): 261-267. 

  • Gunawardana T., Foldvari, M., Zachar, T., Popowich, S., Chow-Lockerbie, B., Ivanova, M.V., Tikoo, S., Kurukulasuriya, S., Willson, P., Gomis, S.  2015.  Protection of neonatal broiler chickens following in ovo injection of oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN) formulated with carbon nanotubes or liposomes.  Avian Diseases, 59(1): 31-37.  https://doi.org/10.1637/10832-032814-Reg