Nicholas Jonsson

Professor of Animal Production and Public Health

School of Veterinary Medicine
College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences
University of Glasgow
464 Bearsden Road
Bearsden
Glasgow
G61 1QH
United Kingdom

Tel +44 (0) 141 330 5806
Email: nicholas.jonsson@glasgow.ac.uk

Research Interests

  1. Genetics of metabolism, immunity, host resistance and environmental adaptation in livestock and wildlife
  2. Physiology and pathology of the ruminant forestomachs
  3. Evolution of drug resistance among parasites and management strategies to delay loss of efficacy of products in the field

Professional History

1987 Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons II) University of Sydney
1987-1995 Mixed farm animal veterinary practice in South-eastern Australia
1995-1998 PhD in the Field of Veterinary Science and Animal Production: Factors affecting postpartum ovarian function in lactating dairy cows University of Queensland.
1996-1998 Senior Research Scientist, Mutdapilly Dairy Research Centre
1999-2001 Lecturer Farm Animal Medicine – University of Glasgow Faculty of Vet Med
2001-2009 Senior Lecturer then Associate Professor in Farm Animal Medicine
2006 Diplomate, European College of Bovine Health Management
2009 Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Current position Professor of Food and Production Animal Health and Disease, University of Glasgow Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Member of -

  • Professional Organisations & Public Committees
  • European College of Bovine Health Management Education and Residency Committee since 2009
  • F.A.O. Working Group on Parasite Resistance since 2002
  • Australian Animal Welfare Strategy R&D Working Group 2008-2009

Current and completed research student supervision

  • Cutulle, Christian (UQ, PhD): Population genetics of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Australia (Submitted April 2010)
  • Piper, Emily (UQ, PhD): Investigations into the mechanisms involved in bovine resistance to Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Submitted March 2010)
  • Sean Corley (UQ, PhD): Molecular mechanisms of amitraz in the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus
  • Porto, Laercio (UQ, PhD): Identification of a functional mutation associated with tick resistance in cattle
  • Cluderay, Carolyn (UQ, PhD): Development of Babesia bovis in the mid-gut of the tick Boophilus microplus
  • Fortes, Marina (UQ, PhD): Identification of markers for early puberty in cattle
  • Jackson, Abi (Glasgow, PhD): Targeted selected treatment for nematodes in cattle on organic and conventionally farmed properties
  • Turnbull, Frank (Glasgow, PhD): The role of P-glycoprotein in multiple-anthelmintic resistance in Teladorsagia circumcincta
  • Thomson, Sarah (Glasgow, MRes): DRB3 and CD4 polymorphisms and haplotypes in resistance to Fasciola hepatica infection of cattle
  • Leemon, Diana (UQ, PhD Awarded 2009): Comparative studies of Metarhizium anisopliae as a potential biopesticide for livestock ectoparasites. Given the Dean's Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Theses in 2009
  • Smith, Luke (UQ, Hons Awarded 2007): Assessment of the genetic variability in the major histocompatability complex in tick susceptible and tick resistant breeds of cattle
  • Naik, Veena (UQ, PhD Awarded 2006):: Sensitivity of bovine morulae and blastocysts to heat shock in vitro
  • Finch, Tricia (UQ, MPhil Awarded 2006): The genetics of uterine cervical conformation in tropically adapted beef cattle
  • Alfredo, Alberto (UQ, MPhil Awarded 2005): The control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Mozambique
  • Cowling, Nick (UQ, MPhil Awarded 2005): Isolation and sequencing of a partial melanocortin-1 receptor gene in Indian ringneck parrots (Psittacula krameri)
  • Magona, Joseph (Glasgow, PhD Awarded 2004): Point of care diagnosis of bovine trypanosomiasis, tick-borne diseases and helminthoses with emphasis on portable anaemia-detection devices and decision support systems
  • Phillips, Nancy (UQ PhD Awarded 2003) A study of the in vitro spermatozoal characteristics affecting the likelihood of conception following artificial insemination of Australian cattle
  • De Jong, Carol (UQ Hons Awarded 2002): Preliminary investigations into semen collection and preservation in three free-range species of flying fox (Pteropus spp.)
  • Curtain, Lawrence (UQ Hons Awarded 2002): Low dietary protein during early pregnancy alters bovine placental development
  • Sserugga, Joseph (UQ, MPhil Awarded 1999); Endemic stability of babesiosis and anaplasmosis and tick fever vaccine adoption in dairy herds in Queensland

Publications

Recent peer reviewed, full papers, chapters and books, 2006-2010

1. Education and extension regarding the control of Rhipicephalus microplus in Australia: The rise and fall of the dairy TickCON program. Jonsson, N.N. in Miller, R.J., Davey, R.B., eds, A multinational examination of the strategies used and the factors that influence the fight against the southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Thomas Say Publications in Entomology, Entomological Society of America in press, accepted 18/03/2009
2. Identification of a mutation in the para-sodium channel gene of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus associated with resistance to flumethrin but not to cypermethrin N.N. Jonsson, C Cutullé, S.W.Corley, J.M. Seddon. International Journal for Parasitology Accepted, in press
3. An association weight matrix to dissect complex phenotypes: Case study on age at puberty Fortes, M.R.S., Reverter, A., Zhang, Y., Collis, E., Nagaraj, S.H., Jonsson, N.N., Prayaga, K.C., Barris, W., Hawken, R.J.,  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Accepted, in press www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1002044107.
4. Documentation of ethnoveterinary practices used for treatment of different ailments in a selected hilly area of Pakistan. 2010. Sindhu, Z.U.D., Iqbal, Z., Khan, M.S., Jonsson, N.N., Siddique, M. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 12, 353-358
5. Local immune response against larvae of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Bos taurus indicus and Bos taurus taurus cattle. 2010. Constantinoiu, C.C., Jackson, L.A., Jorgensen, W.K., Lew-Tabor, A.E., Piper, E.K., Mayer, D.G., Venus, B., Jonsson, N.N. International Journal for Parasitology, 40, 865-875
6. Rotation of treatments between spinosad and amitraz for the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus populations with amitraz resistance. 2010. Jonsson, N.N. Miller, R.J., Kemp, D.H. , Knowles, A..Ardila, A.E., Verrall, R.G., Rothwell, J.T. Veterinary Parasitology, 169, 157-164
7. Tick-susceptible Bos taurus cattle display an increased cellular response at the site of larval Rhipicephalus Boophilus microplus attachment, compared with tick-resistant Bos indicus cattle. 2010. Piper, E.K., Jackson, L.A., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, H., Gondro, C., Lew-Tabor, A.E., Jonsson, N.N. International Journal for Parasitology 40, 431-441
8. Experimental vaccination of sheep and cattle against tick infestation using recombinant 5’-nucleotidase. 2010. Hope, M., Jiang, X., Gough, J., Cadogan, L., Jonsson, N., Willadsen, P. Parasite Immunology, 32, 135-142
9. Suppressive subtractive hybridization analysis of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus larval and adult transcript expression during attachment and feeding. 2010. Lew-Tabor, A.E., Moolhuijzen, P.M., Kurscheid, S., Rodriguez-Valle, M., Jarrett, S., Minchin, C.M., Jackson, L.A., Jonsson, N.N., Bellgard, M.I., Guerrero, F.D., Veterinary Parasitology 167, 304-320
10. Multiple paternity in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus confirmed by microsatellite analysis. 2010. Cutullé, C., Jonsson, N.N., Seddon, J.M. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 50, 51-58
11. Immunological profiles of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle infested with the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. 2009. Piper, E.K., Jonsson, N.N., Gondro, C., Lew-Tabor, A.E., Moolhuijzen, P., Vance, M.E., and Jackson, L.A. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology. 16: 1074-86
12. Identification of a mutation in the para sodium channel gene of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus associated with resistance to synthetic pyrethroids acaricides. 2009. Morgan, J.A.T., Corley, S.W., Jackson, L.A., Lew-Tabor, A.E., Moolhuijzen, P.M., Jonsson, N.N. International Journal for Parasitology, 39: 775-779
13. Population structure of Australian isolates of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus that show resistance or susceptibility to the acaricide amitraz. 2009. Cutulle, C., Jonsson, N.N., Seddon, J.M. Veterinary Parasitology, 161: 283-291
14. Frequency of feline diabetes mellitus and breed predisposition in domestic cats in Australia. 2009. Lederer, R., Rand, J.S., Jonsson, N.N., Morton, J.M. The Veterinary Journal, 254-258
15. Diagnostic value of rectal temperature of African cattle of variable coat colour infected with trypanosomes and tick-borne infections. 2009. Magona, J.W., Walubengo, J., Olaho-Mukani, W., Jonsson, N.N. Eisler, M.C. Veterinary Parasitology, 160: 301-305.
16. Gene expression in the skin of Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle infested with the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus. 2008.  Piper, E.K., Jackson, L.A., Bagnall, N.H., Kongsuwan, K.K., Lew, A., Jonsson, N.N.  Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 126: 110-119
17. Identification of genes involved with tick infestation in Bos taurus and Bos indicus. Kongsuwan, K.K., Piper, E.K., Bagnall, N., Ryan, K., Moolhuijzen, P., Bellgard, M., Lew, A., Jackson, L., Jonsson., N.N. –  Pinard, M.H., Guy, C., Pastoret, P.P., dodet, B. (eds) Animal Genomics for Animal Health. Developments in Biologicals (Basel), Basel, Karger 2008 vol 132, 77-88
18. Pen studies on the control of cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) with Metarhizium anisopliae (Sorokin). 2008. Leemon, D.M., Turner, L.B., Jonsson, N.N. Veterinary Parasitology 156, 248-260
19. Clinical features associated with seroconversion to Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and Theileria parva infections in African cattle under natural tick challenge. Magona, J.W., Walubengo, J., Olaho-Mukani, W., Jonsson, N.N., Welburn, S.C., Eisler, M.C.  2008. Veterinary Parasitology 155, 273-280
20. Productivity and health effects of anaplasmosis and babesiosis on Bos indicus cattle and their crosses, and the effects of differing intensity of tick control in Australia. Jonsson, N.N., Bock, R.E., Jorgensen, W.K. 2008.Veterinary Parasitology, 155: 1-9
21. Studies on Australian isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae as a biopesticide for the cattle tick Boophilus microplus. Leemon, D.M., Jonsson, N.N. 2008. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 97:40-49
22. Integrated control programs for ticks on cattle. (a monograph). 2007. Jonsson, N.N. and Piper, E.K. University of Queensland. ISBN 978-0-646-48137-1
23. Effects of environmental heat on conception rates in lactating dairy cows - critical periods of exposure. 2007. Morton, J.M., Tranter, W., Jonsson, N.N. Journal of Dairy Science, 90(5): 2271-2278
24. A low cost decision support tool for the diagnosis of endemic bovine diseases in the mixed crop-livestock production system of sub-Saharan Africa. 2007. Eisler, M.C. Magona,  J.W., Jonsson, N.N.,  Revie, C.W. Epidemiology and Infection,  135:67-75
25. Coccidiosis in cattle: The role of hygiene and herbicides in its control. 2007. Jonsson, N.N., Gray, C.P. Cattle Practice, 15:277-282
26. Milk fever in dairy cattle: a novel hypothesis for an immune mediated aetiology. 2007. Gray, C.P., St George, T.D., Jonsson, N.N. Cattle Practice, 15:263-266
27. Advances in the epidemiology and diagnosis of amitraz resistance in the cattle tick Boophilus microplus. 2007. Jonsson, N.N., Hope, M., Veterinary Parasitology, 146(3-4): 193-198
28. Critical evaluation of the modified-adult immersion test with discriminating dose bioassay for Boophilus microplus using American and Australian isolates. 2007. Jonsson, N.N., Miller, R.J., Robertson, J.L. Veterinary Parasitology, 146(3-4): 307-315
29. The productivity effects of cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) infestation on cattle with particular reference to Bos indicus cattle and their crosses. 2006. Jonsson, N.N. Veterinary Parasitology, 137(1-2): 1-10
30. Cattle tick control for vets. Jonsson, N.N., 2006 The Veterinarian, December 2006,
31. Why a herbicide is a coccidiocide: Coccidiosis in cattle and sheep. Jonsson, N.N. 2006. The Veterinarian, February 2006, 27-29
32. World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) guidelines for evaluating the efficacy of acaricides against ticks of ruminants. 2006. Holdsworth, P.A., Kemp, D.H., Green, P.E., Peter, R.J., De Bruin, C., Jonsson, N.N., Letonja, T., Rehbein, S., Vercruysse, J. Veterinary Parasitology, 136: 29-43

 Conference abstracts, posters and presentations, last 5 years (2006-2010)

33. Piper, E. K. Jackson, L.A., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, H., Constantinoiu, C.C., Gondro, C., Jarrett, S.J. Jorgensen, W.K., Lew-Tabor, A.E., Moolhuijzen, P., Vance, M.E., Weiss, O., and N.N. Jonsson. Resistance to cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) infestation: immunological or physiological? 2009 ASP & ARC/NHMRC Network for Parasitology Annual Conference University of Sydney, NSW 12-15th July 2009
34. Jackson, L.A., Constantinoiu, C., Venus, B. K., Piper, E. K., Rodriguez, M.V., Mayer, D., Lew-Tabor, A.E., Jonsson, N. and W.K. Jorgensen. Cell populations in the skin of cattle at sites of tick attachment. 2009 ASP & ARC/NHMRC Network for Parasitology Annual Conference University of Sydney, NSW.12-15th July 2009
35. 1H-NMR metabonomic study of the effects of long-term storage on bovine blood plasma parameters. Trabi, M., Keller, M., Marx, U., Jonsson, NN. Australian and New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance meeting, Couran Cove, Australia., 7-11 December 2008.
36. Real-time PCR diagnostic assay developed to identify resistance to synthetic pyrethroid acaricides in the Australian cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Morgan, J.A.T., Corley, S.W., Jackson, L.A., Lew-Tabor, A.E., Moolhuijzen, P.M., Jonsson, N.N. 4th Annual Meeting of the Australian Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Brisbane, Australia, 6-7 November 2008
37. Up-regulated expression of Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha in tick resistant cattle. Jones, M.E., Piper, E.K., Minchin, C.M., Zhang, B., Moolhuizen, P.M., Gondro, C., Jonsson, N.N., Belgard, M., Lew, A.E., Jackson, L.A., ComBio2008, Canberra, Australia, 21-25 September 2008
38. Reverse vaccinology approach for the identification of novel Rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus vaccine candidates. Lew A, Jackson L, Rodriguez Valle M, Piper E, Kurscheid S, Moolhuijzen P, Constantinoiu C, Jones M, Jorgensen W, Gondro C, Bruyeres A, Jarrett S, Minchin C, Venus B, Zhang B, Bellgard M, Guerrero F, and Jonsson, N. 2008. The VI International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP-6), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 21-26 September 2008
39. Local cell immune response against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Brahman and Holstein cattle. C. Constantinoiu, L. Jackson, M. Rodriguez, B. Venus, E. Piper, L. Porto Neto, A. Lew, N. Jonsson and W. Jorgensen. The VI International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP-6), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 21-26 September 2008
40. Gene expression in the skin of tick-resistant and tick-susceptible cattle prior to and following infestation with Rhipicephalus microplus. Piper, E., Jackson, L., Constantinoiu, C., Gondro, C., Lew, A., Moolhuijzen, P, Jorgensen W, Bellgard, M, and Jonsson, N. The VI International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP-6), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 21-26 September 2008
41. Peripheral cellular and antibody responses of tick-resistant and tick-susceptible cattle following infestation with the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus. Piper, E., Jonsson, N., Jarrett, S., Jones, M., Lew, A., and Jackson, L. The VI International Conference on Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens (TTP-6), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 21-26 September 2008
42. Dietary ergot contamination and hyperthermia in a dairy herd. Bryden, W.L., Scrivener, C.J., Jonsson, N.N., Cawdell-Smith, A.J.  2008. World Nutrition Forum Binder, E.M., Schatzmayr, G (eds). Nottingham University Press, Nottingham
43. Nuevos diagnósticos moleculares para detectar resistencia a piretroides sintéticos y amitraz en Rhipicephalus microplus en Australia. Jonsson, N.N., Corley, S.W., Morgan, J.A.T., Jackson, L.A., Moolhuijzen, P., Lew, A.E. VI Seminario Internacional de Parasitología Animal. Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico, 3-5th September 2008
44. Acaricide resistance update from Australia: Discovery of a super kdr mutation conferring SP resistance in Australian cattle tick; confirmation and partial characterisation of fluazuron resistance; progress towards identification of amitraz resistance mechanism. Jonsson, N.N. Meeting of the FAO Working Group and FAO-Industry Contact Group on Parasite Resistance, Centro Nacional de Servicios de Constatación de Salud Animal, Veracruz, Mexico, 1-2 September, 2008
45. Progress with understanding immunity to tick infestation in cattle. Jonsson, N.N. Meeting of the FAO Working Group and FAO-Industry Contact Group on Parasite Resistance, Centro Nacional de Servicios de Constatación de Salud Animal, Veracruz, Mexico, 1-2 September, 2008
46. Selecting cattle for resistance to cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) infestation – natural and human-directed selection. Jonsson N.N., Vankan, D.M., Stear, M.J., Waine, D., Jayawardhana, G., Gray, C.P. International Society for Animal Genetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 11-15 July 2008
47. Reverse vaccinology approach to identify tick vaccine candidates. Lew, A.E., L.A. Jackson, M. Rodriguez Valle, S. Kurscheid, M.I. Bellgard, P.M. Moolhuijzen, M.E. Jones, E.K. Piper, B. Zhang, W.K. Jorgensen, N.N. Jonsson, F.D. Guerrero. Australasian Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics Development Conference, Surfers Paradise, May 14-16, 2008
48. Biotechnological war against cattle ticks. Jonsson, N.N. Australia-Brazil Biotechnology Workshop, Embrapa HQ, Bazilia, Brazil, 4-5 May, 2008
49. Jackson, L.A., Piper, E.K., Moolhuijzen, P.M., Gondro, C., Jones, M.E., Jarrett, S.J., Lew, A.E., Jonsson, N.N. Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle infested with Rhipicephalus microplus show different patterns of gene expression and immune reactions. 3rd International Symposium on Animal Functional Genomics, Edinburgh, UK, 7-9 April 2008
50. Estrategias de control de la resistencia a los acaracidas en el campo. Jonsson, N.N. V International Conference of Veterinary Epidemiology, Villa Hermosa, Mexico, 8-11 October 2007
51. Control de la garrapata Rhipicephalus microplus. Jonsson, N.N. V International Conference of Veterinary Epidemiology, Villa Hermosa, Mexico, 8-11 October 2007
52. How culture, history and environment shaped the control of Boophilus microplus in Australia. Jonsson, N.N. Entomological Society of America. Indianapolis, 10-13 December 2006
53. Manejo do resistência do carrapato e o uso de acaricidas com enfoque no desenvolvimiento de novals moléculas. Jonsson, N.N. 14th Congresso Brasileiro de Parasitologis Veterinária. Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, 3-6 September 2006
54. Avances en la epidemiologia y el diagnostico de resistencia al amitraz. Jonsson, N.N. XLI Congreso nacional Entomologia: Simposium internacional de resistencia a pesticidas en artropodos: Un enfoque toxicologico y molecular. Sede Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico 29-30 April 2006
55. Distribution of conidia on the cuticle of the cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) after immersion in aqueous suspensions of Metarhizium anisopliae. Jonsson N.N., Leemon, D.L. ICOPA Glasgow August 2006
56. Pen trials using Metarhizium anisopliae as a biopesticide on cattle infested with cattle tick (Boophilus microplus). Leemon, D.L., Jonsson, N.N. ICOPA Glasgow August 2006
57. Pseudogene of MC1R in Indian ringneck parrots? Seddon, J.M., Cowling, N., Jonsson, N.N. Genetics Society of Australia 2006