Animal Population Health Institute

The Animal Population Health Institute (APHI) is a group of collaborating faculty and staff from several colleges and departments at Colorado State University.

Institute members have expertise in veterinary epidemiology, internal medicine, bacteriology, food animal and equine infectious disease, biosafety/biosecurity, pre-harvest food safety, foreign animal and zoonotic diseases, clinical testing, and biostatistics.

While the clear focus of all APHI activities is the promotion of health of animal populations for the benefit of society, specific activities conducted by institute scientists, students, and collaborators involve an extremely diverse range of expertise and talents. APHI’s collaborative activities combine expertise from disciplines focused on the macro perspective involving populations of animals to those focused on basic sciences related to molecular, genetic, and immunological characteristics of disease agents.

Outside of the university, APHI personnel continue to have extraordinarily strong collaborative relationships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). APHI investigators collaborate with the USDA’s Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Agriculture Research Service, and Foreign Agricultural Service. In addition, APHI faculty members collaborate with the University of California, Davis, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission’s animal health program, and other international agencies.

2024 – 2025 Achievements

research project

Collaborations with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

At the invitation of the UN-FAO, Sangeeta Rao and Mo Salman attended the second FAO Reference Centres meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Rome. APHI was recognized as a veterinary epidemiology reference centre and considered for collaboration within the FAO-AMR network. Rao’s work on antimicrobial use and resistance was highly praised, with future collaboration opportunities identified.

research project

Evaluating dairy farming interests of K-12 and college students using virtual reality as an educational tool

Sangeeta Rao, in collaboration with the veterinary VR group (Dr. Pedro Boscan) and CVMBS outreach (Wade Ingle), developed a VR tool to train dairy workers on PPE, biosecurity, and infection prevention. It also gathers data on K-12 students' interest in livestock careers. The team is now creating a VR module focused on calf hygiene and biosecurity.

research project

Mapping integron-associated AMR genes in whole genome sequences of Salmonella Typhimurium from livestock

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health concern, with resistant Salmonella Typhimurium posing a significant foodborne threat. This study analyzed integrons – mobile genetic elements that spread resistance – within the genomes of 32 isolates from dairy cattle, collected by two U.S. diagnostic labs between 2009 and 2012.

view project
research project

Investigating household transmission risk of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella enterica among food animals in rural Guatemala

In Guatemala’s Southwest Trifinio region, poor sanitation and close contact with food animals heighten enteric infection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risks. This COHRS pilot study uses a One Health approach to assess household-level AMR S. enterica in domestic animals and evaluate community awareness of AMR transmission.

research project

Assessment of antimicrobial resistance gene profiles and plasmid diversity in fecal bacteria from antibiotic treated and organic backyard poultry flocks in Colorado

This study explores how antibiotic use in backyard poultry affects antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene abundance in fecal bacteria using metagenomics. It also examines plasmid-mediated resistance transmission among commensal bacteria and how plasmid variability relates to antibiotic use. The goal is to inform evidence-based policies to reduce AMR in agriculture and protect public health.

Publications

Mapping Integron-Associated AMR Genes in Whole Genome Sequences of Salmonella Typhimurium from Dairy Cattle
Sami Ullah Khan Bahadur, Nora Jean Nealon, Joshua B. Daniels, Muhammad Usman Zaheer, Mo Salman, Sangeeta Rao. 2025. Mapping Integron-Associated AMR Genes in Whole Genome Sequences of Salmonella Typhimurium from Dairy Cattle. MDPI Antibiotics 14 (7): 633.

Integron-Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Factors in Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated from Poultry
Elizabeth Kim, Nora Jean Nealon, Katherine A. Murray, Cydney Jardine, Roberta Magnuson, and Sangeeta Rao. 2024. Integron-Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Factors in Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated from Poultry. Animals 2024, 14 (23): 3483

Human Dimensions in an Animal Disease Reporting System: A Scoping Review Protocol and Pilot Mapping to Behavioral Frameworks
Tan, Alwyn, Sangeeta Rao, and Mo Salman. Human Dimensions in an Animal Disease Reporting System: A Scoping Review Protocol and Pilot Mapping to Behavioral Frameworks. Agriculture 2024, 14, no. 2: 248.

Antimicrobial treatment preferences among veterinarians for Golden Retrievers in the United States
Jauch L, Labadie J, Swafford B, Rao S. Antimicrobial treatment preferences among veterinarians for Golden Retrievers in the United States. Am J Vet Res. 2024 Jun 18:1-6. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.23.10.0239.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and Escherichia coli from equids sampled in the NAHMS 2015–16 equine study and association of management factors with resistance
Allison B. Kohnen, Alyson M. Wiedenheft, Josie L. Traub-Dargatz, Diana M. Short, Kim L. Cook, Kristina Lantz, Brenda Morningstar-Shaw, Jodie Plumblee Lawrence, Sandra House, Katherine L. Marshall, Sangeeta Rao. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and Escherichia coli from equids sampled in the NAHMS 2015–16 equine study and association of management factors with resistance, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Volume 213, April 2023, 105857

more publications
14 Publications in 2024
4 USDA grants during 2024-25
3 international collaborations in 2025

People

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Mo Salman, Ph.D.

Professor

Office: (970) 297-0353

[email protected]

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Sangeeta Rao, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Office: (970) 297-5117

[email protected]

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Doreene Hyatt, Ph.D.

Professor

Office: (970) 491-7829

[email protected]

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Josh Daniels

Associate Professor

Office: (970) 297-0326

[email protected]

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Valeria Scorza, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Office: (970) 297-4132

[email protected]

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Usman Zaheer, Ph.D.

Affiliate CSU Faculty
Regional AMR Surveillance and One Health Specialist

Dr. Darryn Knobel

Affiliate CSU Faculty
Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health
Associate Dean of Research at the School of Veterinary Medicine

First FAO Global Exhibition: From Seeds to Foods
Rome, Italy - October 10th - 13th, 2025

First FAO Global Exhibition: From Seeds to Foods
Rome, Italy - October 10th - 13th, 2025

First FAO Global Exhibition: From Seeds to Foods
Rome, Italy - October 10th - 13th, 2025

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contact information

Offices:
Diagnostic Medicine Center, 210 DMC

(970) 297-5117