Feline stress – effects on behaviour and infectious diseases
Animal and human health and welfare are closely interlinked. Living close to animals have measurable positive effects on human well-being and quality of life. Some animals share our environment and lifestyle to such an extent that they acquire the same lifestyle diseases as humans. Studies of animal diseases provide information that will not only benefit animals, but which is also important in comparative medicine research for human disease. In the work for good health and welfare for animals and humans, SLU in the future program Future Animal Health and Welfare (www.slu.se/futureanimal) focuses on:
Lifestyle - impact on health and welfare
Within this initiative, four PhD student employments are now announced within closely related subjects and with excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations. The initiative includes one project concerning Feline stress – effects on behaviour and infectious diseases.
The aim of the project is to investigate how group housing of cats affects stress (behaviour and physiology), the immune system and infections. Measures to undertake to reduce stress and prevalence of infections in group housed cats are also investigated. Studies are made on cats with access to outdoors, cats in shelters and cats in breeding colonies.
Qualifications
A university diploma including at least 240 ECTS in veterinary medicine, animal science, medicine, biotechnology, cell biology, biomedicine, or similar subject is required. Good knowledge of the subject and experience of similar research is a merit. The applicant should have a genuine interest in research as well as good skills in speaking and writing in English. A good command of the Swedish language is an advantage but not a prerequisite. Personal qualifications, including ability to cooperate and to work independently, are of utmost importance.
Forms for funding or employment
Employment as PhD student 4 years