Ph.D. Veterinary Microbiology Iowa State University 1976

Department of Veterinary Science
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721

Phone: 520-621-2962
FAX: 520-621-6366 
e-mail: gsonger@u.arizona.edu

Areas of Specialization: Microbial pathogenesis
                                           Epidemiology of clostridial enteric infections

Clostridia are ancient pathogens which interact efficiently and brutally with hosts.  The hallmark of clostridial infection is overwhelming involvement of toxins in pathogenesis.  Clostridium perfringens is of greatest interest to us as a cause of poultry necrotic enteritis and neonatal diarrhea in piglets, while Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of bacterial colitis in newborn piglets and a likely contributor to diarrheagenesis in young calves.  Our work on both encompasses diagnosis, immunoprophylaxis, the role of toxins in pathogenesis, and relationship of animal infections to etiology of human disease.  We have a developing program on fatal histotoxic infections by C. sordellii in humans, and have interests in other members of the genus.

Course taught: VetSci/Micro 420/520: Pathogenic Bacteriology

I have taught all or part of Pathogenic Bacteriology (VSC/MIC 420/520), each spring semester since 1978. The evolution of the course to its present form has been in response to the prompts of students, as well as faculty colleagues here and elsewhere. The primary goals of the course are (1) to introduce students to the concept of pathogenesis, elucidating the fundamental mechanisms by which bacteria initiate infection and produce disease and (2) to provide a brief overview of the genera of bacteria which are pathogenic for humans and domestic animals.

Cooper KK, Trinh HT, Songer JG (2008). Immunization with recombinant alpha toxin partially protects broiler chicks against experimental challenge with Celostridium perfripngens. Veterinary Microbaiology, Jun 8. Paper

Uzal FA, Songer JG (2008). Diagnosis of Clostridium perfringens intestinal infections in sheep and goats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, May;20(3):253-65.

Anderson MA, Songer JG (2008). Evaluation of two enzyme immunoassays for detection of Clostridium difficile toxins A and B in swine. Veterinary Microbiology, Apr 1;128(1-2):204-6. Paper

Hammitt MC, Bueschel DM, Keel MK, Glock RD, Cuneo P, DeYoung DW, Reggiardo C, Trinh HT, Songer JG (2008). A possible role for Clostridium difficile in the etiology of calf enteritis. Veterinary Microbiology, Mar 18;127(3-4):343-52. Paper

Keel MK, Songer JG (2007). The distribution and density of Clostridium difficile toxin receptors on the intestinal mucosa of neonatal pigs. Veterinary Pathology, Nov;44(6):814-22.  Paper

Songer JG, Jones R, Anderson MA, Barbara AJ, Post KW, Trinh HT (2007). Prevention of porcine Clostridium difficile-associated disease by competitive exclusion with nontoxigenic organisms. Veterinary Microbiology, Oct 6;124(3-4):358-61. Paper

Myers GS, Parker D, Al-Hasani K, Kennan RM, Seemann T, Ren Q, Badger JH, Selengut JD, Deboy RT, Tettelin H, Boyce JD, McCarl VP, Han X, Nelson WC, Madupu R, Mohamoud Y, Holley T, Fedorova N, Khouri H, Bottomley SP, Whittington RJ, Adler B, Songer JG, Rood JI, Paulsen IT (2007). Genome sequence and identification of candidate vaccine antigens from the animal pathogen Dichelobacter nodosus. Nature Biotechnology, May;25(5):569-75.  Paper

Keel MK, Brazier JS, Post KW, Weese S, Songer JG (2007). Prevalence of PCR ribotypes among Clostridium difficile isolates from pigs, calves and other species. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Jun;45(6):1963-4.  Paper

Yaeger MJ, Kinyon JM, and Songer JG (2007). A prospective, case control study evaluating the association between Clostridium difficile toxins in the colon of neonatal swine and gross and microscopic lesions. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 19:52–59.  Paper

Marek M, Boyd  JT,  Trinh HT, Coombs JW,  Songer  JG, and Fermann  GJ.  (2007).  Fatal  Myocarditis due to Clostridium novyi type B in a previously healthy woman: Case report and review of the literature.  Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases,  39:77-80. Paper

Stabler R, Gerding D, Songer JG, Drudy D, Brazier J, Trinh HT, Witney A, Hinds J, and Wren BW (2006).  Comparative phylogenomics of Clostridium difficile reveals clade specificity and microevolution of hypervirulent strains.  Journal of Bacteriology, 188:7297–7305.  Paper