The School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences is proud to highlight recent research led by Professor Sam Abraham, focused on improving the diagnosis and management of disease in livestock.

Backed by recent funding success of $185,000 from the Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd (APRIL), this project is investigating the feasibility of developing a novel ELISA-based diagnostic for swine dysentery and colitis in Australian pigs—diseases that have significant impacts on animal health and production.

Swine dysentery, primarily caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, is a major intestinal disease in pigs, leading to diarrhoea, reduced growth, and substantial economic loss for producers. A key challenge in controlling the disease is the lack of rapid, practical tools for herd-level diagnosis. This project aims to address that need by developing a more efficient and scalable diagnostic approach.

The research combines microbiology, genomics, and immunology to identify reliable diagnostic targets. The team is culturing and characterising bacterial isolates, while applying genomic and bioinformatic approaches to identify conserved proteins that trigger immune responses in infected animals. These proteins are then made in the lab and tested to see if they can be used to detect infection through the development of a novel ELISA assay.

A strong focus of the project is ensuring the test performs well under real-world conditions. This includes optimising sensitivity and specificity, minimising cross-reactivity, and comparing performance with existing diagnostic methods such as culture and PCR using field samples.

This work is contributing to the development of a cost-effective tool to support disease surveillance and control in the pork industry, with clear benefits for animal health, farm productivity, and biosecurity.

The project also highlights the skills developed through Murdoch University programs in:

• Microbiology and Immunology
• Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
• Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Diagnostic assay development

Together, these capabilities enable researchers and graduates to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions for animal health and agricultural industries.

Read more about our courses in Biomedical Science here.