About

Dr. Laura Adamovicz is a wildlife veterinarian and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Wildlife Epidemiology at the University of Illinois. She is a 2012 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and obtained her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Illinois in 2019. She currently splits her time between diagnostic test development and validation in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, directed veterinary student mentorship through the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, and multiple field-based, conservation-focused research studies. Her research focuses on improving veterinary management of reptiles and amphibians and supporting effective conservation strategies for multiple taxa in managed care and the wild.

Research topics

• Biology
• Medicine
• Zoology
• Pathology
• Virology
• Evolutionary biology
• Genetics
• Ecology
• Geography

Selected publications

• INVESTIGATION OF SAMPLE STORAGE CONDITIONS FOR OPTIMIZED DETECTION OF FROG VIRUS 3 DNA IN CHELONIAN SWAB SAMPLES

  Journal of Wildlife Diseases · 2026-02-16

  article

  The collection and storage of swab samples for molecular diagnostics is a routine component of wildlife health surveillance. The suitability of different sample storage conditions for maximizing the recovery of pathogen DNA in most species has not been assessed; therefore, the aim of this study was to identify a preferred storage method for swabs collected for the detection of frog virus 3 (FV3), a significant chelonian pathogen. Sterile swabs were inoculated in triplicate with a plasmid containing known quantities of FV3 DNA from 100 to 107 copies. Swabs were then stored under one of the following four conditions: 1) dry frozen at -20 °C; 2) immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and frozen at -20 °C; 3) immersed in a nucleic acid preservative (RNAlater) and frozen at -20 °C; and 4) immersed in 100% ethanol at ambient room temperature. Swabs remained undisturbed under designated storage conditions for 14 d, at which point DNA extraction and conventional and quantitative PCR for FV3 detection were performed. Conventional PCR amplified down to the lowest expected FV3 target copy number (10,000 copies/swab) for the dry-frozen and PBS-frozen treatment groups. Conventional PCR amplification was inconsistent for the ethanol and RNAlater treatment groups. Quantitative PCR on dry-frozen samples successfully amplified as low as 100 FV3 target copies/swab with a mean recovery of 90%, with all other storage methods amplifying only down to 10,000 copies/swab. Findings suggest there is improved detection of pathogen DNA for samples stored from collection to extraction under the dry-frozen method. Swab sample storage recommendations for future applications should be observed within the context of study-specific objectives and target pathogens. Furthermore, failure to detect fewer than 100 copies/swab of FV3 from any storage method may have clinically significant ramifications and suggests that the differences in DNA recovery based on extraction method should also be examined.

  PublisherDOI

• Detection of Viable Nannizziopsis guarroi in Housing Environments Prior to Dermatological Lesion Development in Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

  Animals · 2026-01-16

  articleOpen access

  Nannizziopsis guarroi causes dermatomycosis in lizards and snakes. Little is known about the environment’s role in transmission of the fungus. The environments of bearded dragons experimentally inoculated with N. guarroi were cultured weekly to assess the presence of viable N. guarroi. Four of six (4/6, 66.67%) enclosures demonstrated an environmental presence of N. guarroi prior to the observation of clinical lesions in the bearded dragon housed there. The environments were positive for N. guarroi growth 7–28 days prior to lesion development. The environment should be considered as a potential site of infection for naïve reptile hosts and environmental seeding may occur prior to the development of clinical nannizziomycosis in exposed lizards.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Comparing the Effects of Lithium Heparin and Dipotassium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid on Hematologic Values in Prehensile-Tailed Skinks (Corucia zebrata) in Managed Care

  Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery · 2026-01-06

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Multiple diagnostic modalities are appropriate for detecting Nannizziopsis guarroi in experimentally infected bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

  Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science · 2025-09-09 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Introduction Nannizziopsis guarroi causes mycotic dermatitis, colloquially known as “yellow fungus disease”, in lizards. Several fungal diagnostic assays may detect this microbe in clinical cases, but the clinical performance of these assays has yet to be explored. Methods Six adult bearded dragons were topically exposed to N. guarroi along the dorsal midline and serially sampled over five months as clinical cutaneous lesions developed. Results The median dates of first test positivity for fungal culture, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and commercially available next-generation sequencing (NGS) were 28, 6, and 17.5 days prior to lesion development, respectively. Lesions did not fluoresce under long-wave ultraviolet illumination. Femoral pores were a site of infection in all four male lizards, representing a novel presentation. Additionally, one lizard developed subclinical granulomatous N. guarroi pneumonia. Postmortem assessment of diagnostics identified a high level of agreement between histopathology, fungal culture, and qPCR; however, cytologic agreement with histopathology was poor. Discussion Fungal culture, qPCR, and NGS are appropriate screening tools for the detection of N. guarroi prior to the onset of cutaneous lesions and may be used as diagnostic tools to confirm N. guarroi infection in clinically affected bearded dragons.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• CHARACTERIZING THE PERFORMANCE OF MULTIPLE TESTING MODALITIES TO DETECT EMYDOMYCES TESTAVORANS IN BLANDING'S TURTLES (EMYDOIDEA BLANDINGII)

  Journal of Wildlife Diseases · 2025-11-18

  article

  Emydomyces testavorans is a recently described fungus associated with significant shell disease in chelonians, including Illinois state-endangered Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). Characterizing the epidemiology of this pathogen requires accurate detection; however, E. testavorans is challenging to detect and optimal antemortem sampling strategies have not been identified. In total, 90 juvenile Blanding's turtles from two populations naturally infected with E. testavorans were used to determine the detection performance of different testing approaches and establish optimal sampling strategies in the context of commonly encountered clinical and management scenarios. Turtles received comprehensive physical examinations and computed tomography scans to document grossly apparent and/or radiographic shell lesions. Multiple sample types were tested for E. testavorans via quantitative PCR (qPCR), including shell swabs, combined cloacal-oral swabs, combined cloacal-oral-shell swabs (COSSs) swabs, and tank water samples. Latent class modeling was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of each detection method in the absence of a gold standard test. Using multiple tests often increases information available to decision-makers; therefore, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for two E. testavorans detection methods interpreted either in series or in parallel. Latent class modeling demonstrated that COSS and water qPCRs were highly sensitive (98.0 and 94.0%, respectively) and adequately specific (74.9 and 88.3%, respectively) for E. testavorans; thus, these testing methods are recommended for routine surveillance where use of multiple methods is not possible. In wild and head-started Blanding's turtle populations where false negatives are costly, qPCR testing of two COSS samples interpreted in parallel maximized sensitivity (sensitivity=100%, specificity=56.1%) and is recommended for E. testavorans surveillance when multiple tests are available. This study provides objective measures to guide effective E. testavorans testing and inform future epidemiologic studies, support chelonian medicine, and empower conservation managers, ultimately safeguarding turtle health in managed care and wild settings.

  PublisherDOI

• EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SULAWESI TORTOISE ADENOVIRUS IN FREE-LIVING BLANDING'S TURTLES (EMYDOIDEA BLANDINGII), PAINTED TURTLES (CHRYSEMYS PICTA), AND RED-EARED SLIDERS (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS) IN ILLINOIS, USA

  Journal of Wildlife Diseases · 2025-05-16 · 3 citations

  article

  Sulawesi tortoise adenovirus (STADV) has been implicated in a mortality event involving three endangered species of tortoises and detected in free-living painted turtles (Chrysemys picta); however, the epidemiology of this virus in North American turtles remains unclear. The specific objectives of this study were to 1) estimate the prevalence of STADV in free-living Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), painted turtles, and red-eared sliders (RES; Trachemys scripta elegans) in Illinois, US, using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 2) determine if qPCR prevalence is associated with location, sex, age class, blood parameters, or clinical signs across these three species. Oral-cloacal swabs from 581 Blanding's turtles, 137 painted turtles, and 82 RES sampled across three counties from 2017 to 2022 were evaluated via qPCR. The prevalence of STADV was 2.4% for Blanding's turtles, 14.9% for painted turtles, and 45% for RES. Blanding's turtle subadults (P=0.022) and painted turtle adults (P<0.0001) were more likely to test positive than other age classes within the same species, while no age class association was found in RES (P=0.5). Clinical signs associated with STADV detection included quiet, alert, responsive mentation (P=0.002), pink mucous membranes (P<0.001), carapacial abnormalities (P=0.036), and plastron abnormalities (P=0.003). In a multivariable model, significant predictors for STADV detection included species, with painted turtles (P<0.0001) and RES (P=0.001) more likely to test positive than Blanding's turtles, and year, with turtles sampled in 2021 less likely to test positive than those sampled in 2017 (P=0.005). Detection of STADV was not significantly associated with location, month, sex, hematologic findings, serum biochemical findings, or protein electrophoretic profiles. Widespread molecular detection of STADV in these three species suggests a possible origin for the virus in the outbreak described in 2009, underscoring the importance of epidemiology studies to aid in the management of free-living and managed chelonians.

  PublisherDOI

• Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides infection mimicking ophidiomycosis in ball pythons (Python regius)

  Medical Mycology Case Reports · 2025-09-13 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  A wild caught snake presented with progressive dermatopathy and was euthanized due to a clinical suspicion for ophiomycosis. Over the next 7 days, six additional ball pythons, maintained in the same room but in separate cages from the index case developed similar progressive dermatomycoses and were euthanized. Histopathologic evaluation showed dermal granulomas with intralesional fungi and DNA from the lesions clustered in a monophyletic group with other isolates of N. athrosporioides . Colony and microscopic morphology of fungus from these cases matched published descriptions of N. arthrosporioides . While ophidiomycosis may be a major differential for dermatomycosis in snakes, molecular confirmation should be pursued, as additional fungi may cause similar lesions in this taxon.

  PublisherDOI

• Adenoviruses Across Reptiles

  Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery · 2025-01-01

  article

  Abstract Adenoviruses (AdVs) have emerged as a potential threat to the health of reptiles. Morbidity and mortality associated with AdVs has been reported in squamates, chelonians, and crocodilians. Adenoviruses detected within reptile taxa are diverse and belong to three genera thus far: Barthadenovirus , Testadenovirus , and Siadenovirus . Clinical implications of AdV infection vary widely depending on the species and host, ranging from no clinical disease to severe multisystemic disease and death. Adenoviruses of significant clinical concern include agamid adenovirus 1 ( Barthadenovirus ) and Sulawesi tortoise adenovirus ( Siadenovirus ) because both have been associated with mortality events. Diagnosis of AdV in reptiles has been accomplished with molecular detection (consensus nested polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction), direct visualization (electron microscopy, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry), and host response (histopathology). This review discusses taxonomy, pathogenesis, pathologic findings, diagnosis, and treatment of AdVs detected in reptiles. The prevalence and effect of AdVs in free-living populations of reptiles have yet to be determined, warranting further investigation. Understanding the implications of AdVs for reptile health at the individual and population levels may aid both clinical medicine and conservation efforts.

  PublisherDOI

• A longitudinal analysis of pathogen shedding patterns in confiscated eastern box turtles

  Journal of Wildlife Management · 2025-05-04 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Eastern box turtles ( Terrapene carolina carolina ) have experienced population declines due to the illegal wildlife trade and its association with the spread of infectious diseases, yet the dynamics of infections are not thoroughly described. In the fall of 2022, 17 confiscated eastern box turtles arrived at the University of Illinois after being intercepted from the illegal wildlife trade with an initial 41.2% prevalence of frog virus 3 (FV3). We housed turtles individually and tested them for FV3, Terrapene herpesvirus 1 (TerHV1), box turtle Mycoplasma sp. (BTMyco), and Terrapene adenovirus (TerAdv) via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on combined oral and cloacal swabs monthly for 13 months. We used occupancy models to determine unbiased pathogen prevalence and detection probabilities for infected turtles. No turtles tested positive for FV3 after initial testing. Observed pathogen prevalence values were within 10% of unbiased prevalence estimates; however, the probability of detecting pathogens in an infected turtle during a given month was generally low (TerHV1 = 32.7%, TerAdv = 21.2%, and BTMyco = 49.9%). Turtles were intermittently co‐detected with both BTMyco and TerHV1 ( n = 7), BTMyco and TerAdv ( n = 10), and TerHV1 and TerAdv ( n = 6). In co‐detections, the presence of TerHV1 and BTMyco decreased the detection probabilities of other pathogens. Of the 2 turtles that died, gross and histologic findings included nephritis in both turtles, one of which had severe inflammation, and the other turtle had a large coelomic hematoma. This study provides evidence‐based sampling strategies to maximize the detection of individuals infected with common box turtle pathogens. The best detection rate for 2 swabs includes monthly sampling for BTMyco, TerHV1, and TerAdv, but if turtles are housed for longer, 2 swabs every third month should be used for optimal detection. These findings have implications for the design and interpretation of research studies and clinical management of box turtles in managed care and can inform placement and release decisions during confiscation events.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Health assessment of non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and their impact potential on native species

  PLoS ONE · 2025-10-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Red-eared sliders (RES; Trachemys scripta elegans) are a globally invasive species that can impact native chelonian populations through resource competition and disease introduction. In Cook County, Illinois, invasive RES co-occur with, and greatly outnumber, a species of conservation priority in the Great Lakes region: the Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). This study sampled free-ranging RES in Cook County during spring, summer, and fall in four unique locations to characterize the possible effect of this non-native species on the health of regional, sympatric, aquatic chelonians. RES (n = 242) were captured and sampled for qPCR pathogen detection, clinical pathology, and necropsy from 2018 to 2022. Multiple pathogens were detected, including Mycoplasma spp., multiple adenoviruses, Trachemys herpesvirus 1 (TrHV-1), frog virus 3, human-pathogenic Leptospira spp., Emydomyces testavorans, and Salmonella typhimurium. Mycoplasma spp. prevalence was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at one isolated site with a suspected greater density of turtles. Detection of TrHV-1 was significantly associated with season (p < 0.001), with detections occurring only in spring and fall. For the 28 hematology, plasma biochemistry, and protein electrophoresis analytes assayed, significant and variable associations occurred based on sample year, season, pathogen detection, age, and sex. Population-based reference intervals were created for hematologic, plasma biochemistry, and plasma protein electrophoresis analytes. Common necropsy findings included mild endoparasitism and related vascular lesions such as endarteritis. Notably, qPCR detection of above pathogens was not associated with any gross or histologic lesions indicative of clinically relevant disease. This study indicates that invasive RES in Cook County may be infected with pathogens of concern for co-occurring turtle species, and absence of associated lesions in the RES suggests they likely serve as carrier species for these pathogens. Continued health monitoring of this species is important as interactions with chelonians of conservation priority increase.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Matthew C. Allender

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  291 shared

• Ellen Bronson

  University of Wisconsin–Madison

  85 shared

• Thomas B. Waltzek

  83 shared

• Kuttichantran Subramaniam

  University of Florida

  83 shared

• Lauren B. Peiffer

  Johns Hopkins Medicine

  81 shared

• Allan P. Pessier

  Washington State University

  81 shared

• Samantha J. Sander

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  81 shared

• Kathleen L. Gabrielson

  Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

  81 shared

Labs

• Wildlife Epidemiology LaboratoryPI

Education

• PhD, Comparative Biosciences

  University of Illinois

  2018

• DVM

  Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

  2012

• BA, Biology

  Saint Mary's College of Maryland

  2008

Awards & honors

• Robert & Patricia Anderson Award (2025)
• Brookfield Zoo Chicago Rising Conservation Leader Award (202…