James Gilkerson

Professor James Gilkerson is Professor of Veterinary Microbiology in the Melbourne Veterinary School at the University of Melbourne, where he directs the Centre for Equine Infectious Disease. He holds BVSc, BSc(Vet), and PhD degrees. He joined the University of Melbourne in July 2002 as a Lecturer in Veterinary Biosciences, advancing to Associate Professor from July 2002 to September 2005, and has been Professor since September 2005. His career emphasizes veterinary microbiology, leading research efforts in infectious diseases as part of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health.

Gilkerson's research specializations include the epidemiology, diagnosis, and prevention of equine infectious diseases such as strangles (Streptococcus equi), Hendra virus, equine herpesviruses 1, 2, 4, and 5, Chlamydia psittaci causing abortion and neonatal illness, equine psittacosis, equine parvovirus-hepatitis, equine hepacivirus, Japanese encephalitis, and Ross River virus in horses. He investigates antimicrobial stewardship, resistance, and prescribing practices in dogs, cats, poultry, and horses, utilizing approaches like natural language processing and VetCompass. With over 220 publications cited more than 3,935 times, major works encompass "Globetrotting strangles: the unbridled national and international transmission of Streptococcus equi between horses" (2021), "Chlamydia Psittaci ST24: Clonal Strains of One Health Importance Dominate in Australian Horse, Bird and Human Infections" (2021), "A 25-year retrospective study of Chlamydia psittaci in association with equine reproductive loss in Australia" (2020), "Chlamydia psittaci: an emerging cause of equine abortion and fatal neonatal illness in south-eastern Australia" (2023), "Detection of Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Virus and Equine Hepacivirus in Archived Sera from Horses in France and Australia" (2024), "Equine psittacosis: an emerging cause of equine abortion and neonatal illness in Australia" (2025), and "Standing at the crossroads: the emergence of Japanese encephalitis in Australia" (2025). He received the Meritorious Service Award of the Australian Veterinary Association with colleagues.

Professional Email: jrgilk@unimelb.edu.au