About

Dr. Matthew C. Allender is a Clinical Associate Professor in Veterinary Clinical Medicine and the Director of the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois. He received his B.S. in Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution in 2000 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 2004. He also completed a M.S. in Veterinary Biosciences at Illinois in 2006, focusing on the epidemiology of disease in free-ranging reptiles. Dr. Allender was a veterinary resident in Zoological and Avian Medicine at the University of Tennessee and Knoxville Zoo from 2006 to 2009, and he joined the faculty at Illinois in 2009. In 2012, he earned his PhD in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, with a focus on the epidemiology of ranaviral diseases in free-ranging chelonians. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine since 2011. His research primarily describes infectious and non-infectious diseases of reptiles and amphibians, with a particular emphasis on Snake Fungal Disease and ranavirus in chelonians. Dr. Allender is actively involved in professional affiliations related to zoo, reptilian, amphibian, and aquatic animal veterinary medicine, and he has received multiple teaching awards for his contributions to veterinary education.

Research topics

• Biology
• Medicine
• Pathology
• Zoology
• Virology
• Microbiology
• Evolutionary biology
• Geography
• Veterinary medicine
• Genetics
• Ecology

Selected publications

• Positivity Rate of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola in Snake Populations of Cook County, Illinois, USA

  Journal of Wildlife Diseases · 2026-04-20

  articleSenior author

  Ophidiomycosis, caused by Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, is a disease associated with variably high morbidity and mortality in both snakes under human care and free-living snakes. Within Illinois, USA, ophidiomycosis surveillance has primarily focused on snake populations in southern Illinois, adjacent to agricultural land. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of O. ophidiicola DNA across multiple snake species and locations in an urban county of northeastern Illinois, containing historically diverse and abundant snake populations. During the summer of 2023, 51 snakes, representing five species, were collected, examined, and evaluated via skin swab for the presence of O. ophidiicola using quantitative PCR. Detection of O. ophidiicola was similar between seven distinct sites and five species: 31% (9/29) in common water snakes (Nerodia sipedon), 29% (2/7) in eastern fox snakes (Pantherophis vulpinus), 17% (1/6) in DeKay's brownsnakes (Storeria dekayi), 40% (2/5) in common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis), and 50% (2/4) in eastern milk snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum). Gross lesions consistent with O. ophidiicola infection, including crusts, discoloration, swelling, and ulceration, were noted in 65% (33/51) of the snakes sampled in the study and 75% (12/16) of the O. ophidiicola-positive snakes. Results indicate that O. ophidiicola in snakes in northeastern Illinois exists at a similar or higher positivity rate than has been documented in other studies across North America. Future studies may enable improved characterization of ophidiomycosis dynamics.

  PublisherDOI

• Use of Velcro to aid in surgical closure of a large wound in an African painted dog ( <i>Lycaon pictus</i> ) puppy with successful pack introduction after hospitalisation

  Veterinary Record Case Reports · 2026-02-27

  article

  Abstract African painted dogs ( Lycaon pictus , APD) are endangered canid species with sophisticated social and pack behaviours. In this case report, a 4‐month‐old male APD puppy sustained an extensive full‐thickness left abdominal wound from conspecifics. After initial primary wound closure led to complete incisional dehiscence, penrose drains and tie‐over bandages were used for wound management. Due to the degree of skin loss and inability to complete primary closure, strategically applied Velcro strips were used to relieve skin tension. This allowed for modifications every few days under anaesthesia, which ultimately allowed for delayed primary wound closure. After almost 4 weeks of treatment and hospitalisation, the puppy was successfully re‐integrated into the pack without incident. This case demonstrates the utilisation of a novel wound management technique in a zoo canid.

  PublisherDOI

• ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF VETERINARY STORYTELLING IN THE MEDIA ON THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF ZOOS

  Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine · 2026-02-03

  articleCorresponding

  Visitors at Brookfield Zoo Chicago were systematically recruited to participate in a survey before and after watching a video highlighting veterinary care of zoo animals. Thirteen survey questions on a 7-point scale evaluated participant perceptions of zoos and animal welfare. Participants reported demographic information, visiting frequency, and knowledge of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation. Principal component analysis (PCA) on responses from 330 visitors reduced survey questions to one composite score and fitted them to a linear mixed-effects model. The best-fitting model determined that visitor perceptions were significantly more positive after the video, and visitors with knowledge of AZA accreditation had significantly more positive perceptions. Separately, participants rated the extent to which seven different media sources influenced their opinions of zoos and animal care on a 7-point scale, with the zoo's internally produced content rating the highest overall. This preliminary investigation suggests effective media and storytelling about veterinary care at Brookfield Zoo Chicago significantly improved participants' perceptions of zoos and animal welfare. Zoo veterinarians can effectively communicate important topics and inspire trust in zoo animal care and welfare, and the results suggest that zoo messaging is influential in developing zoogoers' opinions over other media sources. More research is needed to determine which aspects of veterinary media are most effective in influencing visitor perceptions. Veterinarians are publicly trusted experts in animal care and welfare, and highlighting the work of zoological medicine clinicians through media positively impacts public education about the conservation, research, and animal welfare missions of accredited zoos.

  PublisherDOI

• Gammaherpesvirus Detection in Apparently Healthy White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Illinois, USA.

  PubMed · 2026-05-12

  articleSenior author

  Numerous gammaherpesviruses can infect cervids, including those that cause malignant catarrhal fever, a lymphoproliferative disease of artiodactyls. Less is known about unclassified gammaherpesviruses in cervids, although they appear to be nonpathogenic in their adapted hosts. Adenoviruses can also cause disease in cervids, characterized outbreaks of localized or systemic vasculitis, especially in juveniles. We tested 31 samples from 24 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) captured in Cook County, Illinois, USA for herpesviruses and adenoviruses via consensus PCR of combined nasal-rectal swabs. Over one-third (35%, 11/31) of samples, constituting 42% (10/24) of individual deer, were PCR-positive for a herpesvirus most similar to an unclassified gammaherpesvirus previously found in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Washington, USA and Saskatchewan, Canada. No deer tested positive for adenoviruses. All deer were apparently healthy on physical examination. Gammaherpesvirus detection is common in white-tailed deer in Cook County and does not appear to be associated with clinically apparent disease. However, the impact of this virus on white-tailed deer fitness or on non-adapted hosts is unknown.

  PublisherDOI

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

  Journal of Wildlife Diseases · 2026-02-16

  articleSenior author

  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

• Circulating Nutrients in Guanay Cormorants and Peruvian Pelicans From Punta San Juan, Peru

  Zoo Biology · 2026-03-31

  article

  Resource competition with commercial fisheries and changes in prey availability related to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events have adversely affected guanay cormorant (GC, Phalacrocorax bougainvilli aka Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) and Peruvian pelican (PP, Pelecanus thagus) populations within the Humboldt Current marine ecosystem along coastal Peru. Ecosystem effects from environmental and anthropogenic impacts can result in decreased population sizes and declines in immune function, fecundity, and overall species' health. We measured circulating fat-soluble vitamins A and E, four carotenoids, five trace minerals [Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn], 13 free fatty acids, and 31 amino acids in GC and PP from Punta San Juan, Peru. We found significant differences in nutrient status between species, sexes, and body weights. There were 82 GC and 34 PP sampled in total: body weights were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in males (2.20 ± 0.15, 6.05 ± 0.47 kg) than females (1.96 ± 0.14, 4.88 ± 0.25) of both species (GC and PP, respectively). Pelicans displayed lower vitamin A concentrations (0.48 ± 0.07 µg/ml) than GC (0.67 ± 0.15 µg/ml) but higher total carotenoids (10.24 ± 2.55 and 5.70 ± 1.87 µg/ml; p < 0.05); vitamin E concentrations did not differ between species (GC 7.74 ± 2.87, PP 8.45 ± 2.16 µg/ml). Within minerals, copper (352.53 ± 206.17, 214.97 ± 25.33 ng/ml) and manganese (11.13 ± 3.85, 8.75 ± 4.36 ng/ml) concentrations were higher and zinc (1.69 ± 0.30, 2.15 ± 0.30 µg/ml) was lower in GC (n = 31) than PP (n = 34), respectively, p < 0.05). Fatty acid (FA) profiles differed between species in that GC had lower levels of circulating EPA (p = 0.026) and DHA (p < 0.001), resulting in lower n-3/n-6 ratios for GC (2.57 ± 0.91) compared with PP (4.69 ± 0.95) (p < 0.001). PP had higher levels of palmitic acid (p < 0.0001). No differences in FA were found between sexes. On the contrary, circulating amino acid (AA) profiles were broadly similar between species for essential AAs, but differed widely for several of the non-essential AAs, suggesting different primary prey items consumed by species and/or sexes. These results provide baseline information on circulating nutrient concentrations and may be useful for comparison of different foraging strategies/prey base use in these sympatric species, as well as for the evaluation of temporospatial variations that may result from anthropogenic causes, including changes in ENSO events. Knowing the diets of these species in the wild helps in providing them with better diets in captivity that could promote health and fecundity.

  PublisherDOI

• 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

• ESTIMATING SURVIVAL OF EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA) WITH MYCOPLASMOPSIS SP., ADENOVIRUS, AND HERPESVIRUS DETECTION IN ILLINOIS, USA

  Journal of Wildlife Diseases · 2026-04-20

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The impact of health and disease on wildlife population dynamics and individual survival is complex and poorly understood, especially in cryptic species such as chelonians. Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) are declining due to anthropogenic and natural factors, including disease, though the relative importance of these factors for individual survival is unknown. Determining survival rates in free-ranging chelonians is challenging because individuals are difficult to locate and recapture, deceased turtles can be quickly scavenged, and turtles can die underground during a brumation period. The purpose of this study was to estimate the apparent survival rate for wild eastern box turtles detected with common box turtle pathogens, including Terrapene herpesvirus 1, Terrapene adenovirus, and box turtle Mycoplasmopsis sp., using Cormack-Jolly-Seber models. We used mark-recapture data from 778 individuals from five box turtle populations collected over 7 yr (2016-22), paired with concurrently collected demographic and quantitative PCR pathogen detection data. Apparent survival estimates were different among the five sites, ranging from 71% to 88%, but similar between sexes. We found that pathogens modeled as a function of survival had a positive effect; turtles detected with a pathogen were two to six times more likely to survive than those without detected pathogens. However, this may be an artifact of high, unbiased pathogen prevalence paired with a relatively low probability of pathogen detection via intermittent testing. This analysis provides important estimates of apparent survival for the declining eastern box turtle and valuable information on the interaction between pathogen detection and estimates of individual survival, which can be used to better understand the drivers of population persistence in this species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Detection, Follow-Up Testing, and Genomic Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Tigers and Gorillas

  COVID · 2026-02-28

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a global public health emergency in humans from 2020 to 2023 and was associated with over 7 million human deaths. Besides humans, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in a wide range of animals, including companion, farm, zoo, and wild animals. At least 61 animal species from 29 animal families of 12 animal orders have tested SARS-CoV-2 positive. Documented evidence reported that not only human-to-animal transmission but also animal-to-human transmission events occurred. During the course of the pandemic progression in humans, SARS-CoV-2 strains in animals evolved in parallel with those in humans. Continued monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in animals is needed to safeguard both human and animal health. In this study, we report investigation of two outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in tigers and gorillas in two zoological institutions. In the first zoo, six tigers tested positive by SARS-CoV-2 real-time RT-PCR and shed viral nucleic acid in feces for up to two weeks. Three of the tigers showed intermittent shedding patterns, while the other tigers shed only for 7–10 days. No other species, including cheetah, otter, lion, anteater, gibbon, and tamarin, tested positive. During the outbreak at the second zoo, a total of six gorillas were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while other primates housed in the same building (colobus and orangutan) tested negative. Follow-up testing revealed that two gorillas tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 over a one-month period (30 and 33 days, respectively), while the other four gorillas had positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR results for 14 to 25 days. Four gorillas had intermittent shedding patterns. Notably, compared to tigers, gorillas had a prolonged duration of fecal viral shedding. Sequencing was performed on the positive samples, and analysis indicated that strains detected in tigers and gorillas belonged to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BQ.1.10 and XBB.1.16, respectively. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into the duration of viral RNA shedding for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in zoo animals, facilitating accurate diagnostic evaluation and management of infected tigers and gorillas.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Comparison of Rapid Antigen Test and Quantitative PCR for Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Free-Ranging Peruvian Seabirds

  Journal of Wildlife Diseases · 2025-07-11

  article

  The recent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in Peru devastated seabird populations and was associated with mass mortality events in marine mammals. The first mortality events were observed in coastal Peru in 2022, with the death of hundreds of Peruvian Pelicans (Pelecanus thagus). The outbreak response included health assessments and attempts to use rapid virus detection methods in the field on live and dead birds. Our study compared the FluDETECT Avian rapid antigen screening test that is commonly used in poultry with reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) for the detection of HPAI virus in Peruvian seabirds. In total, 43 birds across five species were evaluated in this study: Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti; n=6), Guanay Cormorants (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum [Phalacrocorax bougainvillii]; n=19), Peruvian Pelicans (n=13), Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus; n=2), and Peruvian Boobies (Sula variegata; n=3). We did not find agreement between the results of the rapid antigen test and the RT-qPCR (Cohen kappa=0.14). The diagnostic sensitivity of the rapid test was low (33%), whereas the specificity was 100%. Based on these findings, we do not recommend the FluDETECT Avian rapid antigen test for influenza screening in seabird species, although given the high specificity, a positive result from this rapid test should be interpreted as a true positive.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Laura Adamovicz

  Urbana University

  291 shared

• Jennifer N. Langan

  Chicago Zoological Society

  102 shared

• Samantha J. Sander

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  91 shared

• Michael J. Adkesson

  90 shared

• Ellen Bronson

  University of Wisconsin–Madison

  85 shared

• Thomas B. Waltzek

  83 shared

• Allan P. Pessier

  Washington State University

  82 shared

• Lisa M. Mangus

  Johns Hopkins Medicine

  81 shared

Labs

• Wildlife Epidemiology LabPI

Education

• PhD, Veterinary Clinical Medicine

  University of Illinois System

  2012

• DVM, Veterinary Medicine

  University of Illinois System

  2004

• BS, Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution

  University of Illinois

  2000

Awards & honors

• Reptile and Amphibian Veterinary Excellence Award, Associati…
• Excellent Teacher Rating, University of Illinois, Center for…
• Dr. Erwin Small Teaching Excellence Award in Veterinary Medi…
• Elected by the CVM Class of 2013 as a Hooder for Commencemen…
• Elected by the CVM Class of 2014 as a Hooder for Commencemen…