Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Mustofa Effendi, collaborates with APHI Faculty Members
Dr. Mustofa Effendi
(in traditional batik dress),
a Fulbright visiting scholar
from Indonesia,
and Dr. Mo Salman,
CVMBS Professor
of Veterinary Epidemiology
Dr. Effendi, a Senior Lecturer (Association Professor) for Veterinary Public Health in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Airlangga University in Surabaya, Indonesia, accepted Institute Director, Dr. Mo Salman’s invitation to visit Colorado State University from October 2010 through January 10, 2012 through the Fulbright visiting scholar program. The purpose of Dr. Effendi’s visit was to do a research project concerning Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in raw milk. Specific strains of this causative agent of mastitis in cows, such as enterotoxin-producing and methicillin resistant strains have significant public health importance.
Using isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, he isolated from raw milk samples from Greeley and Fort Collins dairies, Dr. Effendi completed antibiotic susceptibility testing for 12 antibiotics on these isolates under the direction of APHI faculty member and Associate Professor of Bacteriology, Dr. Doreene Hyatt. Dr. Effendi, an Indonesian veterinarian, chose antimicrobial agents that are commercially available for the treatment of bovine mastitis. All isolates were sensitive to these antibiotics. Additional testing produced results indicating all isolates also were sensitive to methicillin. As a result of his work, Dr. Effendi became proficient with laboratory techniques needed to evaluate antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolates from raw milk. Efforts to understand mastitis pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility promise to be useful for planning control strategies in farms with S. aureus mastitis problems in East Java, Indonesia
In addition to completing his project on MRSA, Dr. Effendi gained valuable laboratory training in the microagglutination serological test for leptospirosis under Dr. Hyatt’s direction. Leptospirosis is an important public health problem in Indonesia. In Indonesia, leptospirosis diagnosis is challenging; therefore, Dr. Effendi’s training in current serological test procedures is important. Furthermore, Dr. Effendi was very happy to receive training in real time-PCR for avian influenza under the direction of APHI faculty member and Assistant Professor, Dr. Kristy Pabilonia and Ms. Christine Weller of the Colorado Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
Dr. Effendi loved his time in Fort Collins, Colorado, and hopes to collaborate with APHI faculty in the future.
During his stay in the United States, Dr. Effendi provided a lecture for the Fulbright Enrichment Seminar in Atlanta and a special presentation on Veterinary Public Health Policy in One World One Health System at Tufts University in Massachusetts.