Animal & Veterinary Sciences

Jane worked initially in small animal medicine in private practice and in clinics of the University of Sydney (Camden) and the University of Glasgow, before concentrating on her interests in quantitative epidemiology at the University of Glasgow.  Jane has completed a PhD, using simulation modelling in the area of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in dogs. Previous areas of research include the epidemiology of Elapid snake envenomation in dogs and specifically the development of diagnostic tests. Jane’s main interest is in companion animal epidemiology and the potential for zoonotic transfer of pathogens between companion animals and humans. Jane is currently studying towards specialist status within the European College of Veterinary Public Health, in the subspecialty of population medicine.

 

top of page ^

Research Interests

• Zoonoses and ‘One Health’
• Companion animal epidemiology
• Antimicrobial resistance (in particular MRSA)

 

top of page ^

Ongoing projects

• To be updated

Future projects

• To be updated

 

top of page ^

Publications

• J Heller, LA Kelly, SWJ Reid, DJ Mellor (In Press). Qualitative risk assessment of the acquisition of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pet dogs. Risk Assessment.
• J Heller, SK Armstrong, EK Girvan, SWJ Reid, A Moodley, DJ Mellor (2009). Prevalence and distribution of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within the environment and staff of a university veterinary clinic. Journal of Small Animal Practice Apr; 50(4):168-73.
• DI Rendle, J Heller, KJ Hughes, GT Innocent and AE Durham (2009). Stability of common biochemistry analytes in equine blood stored at room temperature. Equine Veterinary Journal May 41(5): 428-432.
• A Zoia, LA Slater, J Heller, DJ Connolly, DB Church (2009). A new approach to pleural effusion in cats: markers for distinguishing tansudates from exudates. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, October; 11(10): 847-855.
• T Geraghty, S Love, D Taylor, J. Heller, D. Mellor, K. Hughes (2009) Assessment of subclinical catheter-related venous diseases in horses and associated risk factors. Veterinary Record., Feb 21;164(8):227-31.
• T Geraghty, S Love, D Taylor, J Heller, D Mellor, K Hughes (2009). Assessing techniques of disinfecting sites for insertion of intravenous catheters into the jugular veins of horses. Veterinary Record, Jan 10;164(2): 51-5.
• D Draffan, D Clements, J Heller, D Bennett, S Carmichael (2009). The role of Computed Tomography in the classification and management of pelvic fractures. Veterinary Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 22(3):190-7.
• D Draffan, I Carrera, J Heller, S Carmichael, G Hammond (2009). Radiographic analysis of trochlear notch sclerosis in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis secondary to medial coronoid disease. Veterinary Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 22(1):7-15.
• RJM Reardon, BSL.Fraser, J Heller, C Lischer, T Parkin, BM Bladon (2008). The use of race winnings, ratings and a performance index to assess the effect of thermocautery of the soft palate for treatment of horses with suspected intermittent dorsal displacement. A case-control study in 110 racing Thoroughbreds. Equine Veterinary Journal, 40(5): 508-513.
• J Heller, DJ Mellor, JL Hodgson, DR Hodgson, SWJ Reid and KL Bosward (2007). Elapid snake envenomation in dogs in New South Wales: a review. Australian Veterinary Journal, 85(11): 469-479.
• J Heller, KL Bosward, DR Hodgson and R Pottie (2006). Anuric renal failure in a dog after red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) envenomation. Australian Veterinary Journal, 84(5):158-62.
• CSS Goh, DR Hodgson, SM Fearnside, J Heller and N Malikides (2005). Sodium monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) poisoning in dogs. Australian Veterinary Journal, 83(8):474-9.
• J Heller, KL Bosward, JL Hodgson, F Cole, DR Hodgson, SWJ Reid and DJ Mellor (2005). Snake envenomation in dogs in New South Wales. Australian Veterinary Journal, 83(5):286-92 J Heller and GB Hunt (2002). Clinical Applications of the Omentum in Dogs and Cats. Australian Veterinary Practitioner, 32(2): 66-73.

 

top of page ^

International presented posters, oral communications, conference papers

• J. Heller, G. Innocent G, L.A. Kelly, S.W.J. Reid and D.J. Mellor. Comparison of sensitivity analysis techniques for a simulation-based risk assessment model. 12th International Symposium for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Durban, South Africa, August 2009.
• J. Heller, S.W.J. Reid and D.J. Mellor. An expert opinion exercise to define input variables for a quantitative risk assessment of acquisition of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in dogs. 12th International Symposium for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Durban, South Africa, August 2009 (Poster).
• J Heller, EM Fevre, DJ Mellor and RF Heller. A call for a veterinary public health component to the Peoples Open Access Education Initiative: Peoples-Uni. 12th International Symposium for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Durban, South Africa, August 2009 (Poster).
• J Heller, GT Innocent, LA Kelly, SWJ Reid and DJ Mellor. Quantitative assessment for the acquisition of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in dogs. Proceedings of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, London, April 2009.
• J Heller, EM Fevre, DJ Mellor and RF Heller. A call for a veterinary public health component to the Peoples Open Access Education Initiative: Peoples-Uni. Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, London, April 2009 (Poster). Invited presentation at the University of Liverpool “A risk assessment approach to meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in pet dogs”, February 2009.
• TE Geraghty, S Love, D Taylor, J Heller, DJ Mellor and KJ Hughes. Assessment of sub-clinical catheter-related disease in horses. Proceedings of the 9th Colic Symposium, Liverpool 18th June 2008
• GT Innocent, K Jermyn, M Sullivan and J Heller. What can artificial neural networks tell us about how diagnoses are made? – Association of Veterinary Teachers and Research Workers annual meeting, Scarborough, March 2008
• J Heller, LA Kelly, SWJ Reid and DJ Mellor. Scoping the problem: A scoping study of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonisation in dogs. Association of Veterinary Teachers and Research Workers annual meeting, Scarborough, March 2008.
• J Heller, LA Kelly, SWJ Reid and DJ Mellor. Limitations of a qualitative risk assessment framework for MRSA colonisation in dogs. – Society of Veterinary Epidemiology and Population Medicine Annual conference, Liverpool, March 2008. (Poster)
• DJ Mellor, J Heller and E Courcier. N of 1: be your own researcher – the role of practitioners in developing new diagnoses and therapies. BSAVA Congress, Birmingham, UK, April 2008.
• DJ Mellor, E Courcier and J Heller. Helping owners decide on therapy: Making a prognosis. BSAVA Congress, Birmingham, UK, April 2008.
• J Heller, SK Armstrong, D Morrison, SWJ Reid, A Moodley, DJ Mellor. ‘Prevalence and distribution of MRSA within the environment and staff of a university small animal veterinary clinic.’ The control and prevention of zoonosis – from science to policy, Glasgow, UK, November 2007.
• J Heller. It’s me and/or the dog! - MRSA in pets and people - VTRI science into policy workshop, Edinburgh, October 2007
• J Heller, B Hyden, S Bierbaum, SWJ Reid, DJ Mellor. ‘It’s me or the dog – A questionnaire study of canine-human interactions in Scotland.’ European College of Veterinary Public Health Annual Conference, Helsinki, December 2007. (Poster)
• J Heller, LA Kelly, DJ Mellor, SWJ Reid. ‘A risk assessment approach to the problem of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonisation in dogs.’ Finalist, Vetoquinol award, University of Glasgow, June 2007.
• J Heller, KL Bosward, JL Hodgson, SWJ Reid, DR Hodgson, DJ Mellor. ‘Canine snake envenomation in New South Wales – development of adjunctive diagnostic tests.’ International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE) XI, Cairns, Australia, August 2006.
• J Heller, KL Bosward, JL Hodgson, FL Cole, SWJ Reid, DR Hodgson, DJ Mellor. ‘An epidemiological study of snake envenomation in dogs in New South Wales, Australia.’ International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE) XI, Cairns, Australia, August 2006. (Poster)
• J Heller, KL Bosward, SWJ Reid, DR Hodgson, JL Hodgson, DJ Mellor. Diagnostic testing and its application to clinical scenarios.’ Association of Veterinary Teachers and Research Workers annual meeting, Scarborough, UK, March 2006.
• J Heller, KL Bosward, JL Hodgson. ‘An epidemiological study of snake envenomation in dogs in New South Wales’. Australian College of Veterinary Scientists College Week Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, June 2004.
• J Heller. ‘Canine snake envenomation in New South Wales – development of adjunctive diagnostic testing procedures’ Faculty of Veterinary Science Fourth Annual Postgraduate Research Conference, University of Sydney, Sydney Australia, 2004. – Awarded prize J Heller. ‘Canine snake envenomation in New South Wales’ – Seminar for Macarthur region private practitioners. Camden, Australia, 2004.
• J Heller. ‘Snake bite in dogs in New South Wales’ - Faculty of Veterinary Science Third Annual Postgraduate Research Conference, University of Sydney, Sydney Australia, 2003.

   

  top of page ^