Jennifer K. Ketzis, BS, MS, PhD

Professor of Parasitology

Dr. Jennifer Ketzis received her PhD from Cornell University, where she focused on international livestock production and the use of medicinal plants to control Haemonchus contortus in goats. She then took a position at Novartis Animal Health in Switzerland working on the development of natural based products and endo and ectoparasiticides. In 2005, as a Senior Scientist, she established a parasitology laboratory at Charles River Laboratories, Ireland, where she worked with several pharmaceutical companies designing and managing GLP and GCP ecto- and endo-parasite efficacy studies. In 2012, Dr. Ketzis joined Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. From 2017 to 2022, she served as the coordinator of the MSc and Certificate One Health Program, from 2020 to 2025 she served as the Chair of the RUSVM Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and from 2021 to 2025 served on the Executive Committee of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists. She is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, Secretary of the Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites and the Interim Director of the Masters in Professional Studies, Veterinary Parasitology program at Cornell University. She teaches primarily in VMP 5265 Parasitology and in the One Health online program.

Education

BS Animal Science, Cornell University
MS Animal Science (minor: environmental conservation and sustainable development), Cornell University
PhD Animal Science (minors: parasitology and epidemiology), Cornell University
Master’s Certificate in Project Management, George Washington University School of Business
AMEE, ESME Certificates in Leadership for Medical Education and Medical Education Assessment

Research

Efficacy of endo- and ecto-parasiticides
Parasitic zoonoses of both public health and agricultural importance
Epidemiology of parasites

Achievements

Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, 2017 and 2024
Ron Taylor Award for Outstanding Performance, DeVry Inc., 2013
Member Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture
Member Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Publication Highlights

Eckhaus MA, Bearss JJ, Fleischmann RM, Ketzis J, Lavinder T, Beierschmitt A, Plunkard J, Salyards GW. 2025. Schistosoma mansoni infection in three green monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) originating from Saint Kitts. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci., 64:1-4.

Mitchell G, Ketzis JK, Metzler D, Alvarado Jt, Skuce PJ, Lawton SP. 2023. Identification of Cotylophoron cotylophorum (Fischoeder, 1901) in cattle on St. Kitts, West Indies and its relationship with African and Asian populations. Parasitol Int. 95: 102751

Richins T, Sapp SGH, Ketzis JKK, Willingham AL, Mukaratirwa S, Qvarnstrom Y, Barratt JLN. 2023. Genetic characterization of Strongyloides fuelleborni infecting free-roaming African vervets (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 20: 153-161.

Dantas-Torres F, Ketzis JKK, Mihalca AD, Baneth G, Otranto D, Tort GP, Watanabe M, Linh BK, Inpankaew T, Jimenez Castro PD, Borrás P, Arumugam S, Penzhorn BL, Ybañez AP, Irwin P, Traub RJ. 2023. Heartworm adulticide treatment: a tropical perspective. Parasit Vector 16:148.

Jonk K, Pereira M, Ketzis J, Conan A. 2022. Dirofilaria immitis prevention messaging: knowledge and attitudes of students from North America attending the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Vet Rec Open.9:e32

Kim J, Lucio-Forster A, Ketzis J. 2022. Ancylostoma in dogs in the Caribbean: A review & case study from St. Kitts. Parasites Vectors. 15:139.

Eslahi AV, Hashemipour S, Olfatifar M, Houshmand E, Hajialilo E, Mahmoudi R, Badri M, Ketzis JK. 2022. Global prevalence and epidemiology of Strongyloides stercoralis in dogs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasites Vectors. 15:21

Carter J, Ketzis J. 2021. Case report: Assessment of a quarantine treatment for sheep on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. VPRSR. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100660

Ketzis J, Bork-Larsen H, Bustria J, Conan A. 2020. Importation of cats and risk of parasite spread: A Caribbean perspective and case study from St Kitts. Parasites & Vectors. 13:488.

Ketzis JK, Lejeune M, Branford I, Beierschmitt A, Willingham AL. 2020. Identification of Schistosoma mansoni infection in a non-human primate from St. Kitts more than 50 years after interruption of human transmission. AJTMH. 103: 2278-2281.

Dantas-Torres F, Ketzis J, Mihalca AD, Baneth G, Otranto D, Tort GP, Watanabe M, Linh BK, Inpankaew T, Jimenez Castro PD, Borrás P, Sangaran A, Penzhorn B, Ybañez AP, Irwin P, Traub RJ. 2020. TroCCAP recommendations for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of parasitic infections in dogs and cats in the tropics. Vet Parasitol. 283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109167

Wulcan JM, Dennis MM, Ketzis JK, Bevelock TJ, Verocai GG. 2019. Strongyloides spp. in cats - a review of the literature and the first report of zoonotic Strongyloides stercoralis in colonic epithelial nodular hyperplasia in cats. Vectors and Parasites 12(1):349. doi: 10.1186/s13071-019-3592-7.

Eisenbraun H, Alluwie A, Connolly S, Nair R, Verocaic GG, Ketzis JK. 2019. Comparison of fecal analysis methods for the detection of Platynosomum fastosum in naturally infected cats. Feline Medicine and Surgery. doi.org/10.1177/1098612X19848173

Gallagher C, Beierschmitt A, Cruz K, Choo J, Ketzis J. 2019. Should monkeys wash their hands and feet: a pilot-study on sources of zoonotic parasite exposure. One Health 7:100088. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2019.100088

Geng J, Elsemore D, Oudin N, Ketzis JKK. 2018. Diagnosis of feline whipworm infection using a coproantigen ELISA and the prevalence in feral cats in southern Florida. Vet Parasitol Reg Studies and Reports. 4, 181-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.11.002

Brandon-Mong G-J, Ketzis J, Yasiri A, Mahboob T, Tian-Chye T, Nissapatorn V. 2018. DNA Barcoding relates Trichuris species from a human and man’s best friend to non-human primate sources. Tropical Biomedicine. 35.

Červená B, Hrazdilová K, Vallo P, Ketzis J, Bolfa P, Tudor E, Lux-Hoppe EG, Blanvillain C, Modrý D. 2018. Mammomonogamus nematodes in felid carnivores: a minireview and the first molecular characterization. Parasitology 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182018000768

Lanthroum CM, Shell L, Neuville K, Ketzis JKK. 2018. Efficacy of praziquantel in the treatment of Platynosomum fastosum in cats with natural infections. Vet Sci 5:35. doi:10.3390/vetsci502003

Ketzis J. 2017. Limitations to the adoption of a standardized Strongyloides stercoralis diagnostic method: case study in the Caribbean. Acta Tropica. 170:178-183. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.03.003.

Current Projects

Strongyloides spp., Trichuris spp. and Mammomonogamus ierei epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Certifications

Associate Member, European Veterinary Parasitology College