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    Margret L. Casal, DVM, PhD, DECAR


    Dr. Casal graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zürich in Switzerland in 1984. She became the Associate in the pathology Department and Small Animal Reproduction, University of Zürich in Switzerland. She completed her residency in Medical Genetics, Pediatrics and Reproduction at Penn Vet. Since 1999, she has been a faculty member, currently at Full Professor rank, at Penn Vet. Her research interests include development of novel treatments for lysosomal storage diseases (rare genetic disorders that occur in domestic animals and humans).

    Ellinwood, N. M., Colle, M-A., Weil, M., Casal, M., Vite, C., Weimelt, S., Hasson, C., O’Malley, T., He, X., Verot., L., Prociuk, U., Melniczek., J., Lannon, A., Aguirre, G., Knox, V., Evans, S., Vanier, M., Schuchman, E., Walkley, S., Haskins, M. Bone marrow transplantation for feline MPS I. Mol Genet Metabol 91: 239-250, 2007.

    Grider, A., Mouat, M. F., Mauldin,E. A., Casal, M. L. Analysis of the Liver Soluble Proteome from Bull Terriers Affected with Inherited Lethal Acrodermatitis. Mol Genet Metabol 92: 249-257, 2007.

    Beall, B., Casal, M. L. XXX rated: the cycling but infertile dog. Society for Theriogenology. Monterey, CA. : , 2007.

    Casal ML, Lewis JR, Mauldin EA, Tardivel A, Ingold K, Favre M, Paradies F, Demotz S, Gaide O, Schneider P. Significant correction of disease after postnatal administration of recombinant ectodysplasin a in canine x-linked ectodermal dysplasia. Am J Hum Genet. 81: , 2007.

    Traas, A. M., Casal, M., Haskins, M., Henthorn, P. Genetic counseling in the era of molecular diagnostics. Theriogenology 66: 599-605, 2006.

    Casal, M. L., Munuve, R. M., Janis, M. A., Werner, P., Henthorn, P. S. Idiopathic epilepsy in the Irish wolfhound. J Vet Int Med 20: 131-135., 2006.

    von Bomhard, W., Mauldin, E.A., Schmutz, S.M., Leeb, T., Casal, M.L. Black hair follicular dysplasia in Large Münsterländer dogs: clinical, histological and ultrastructural features. Veterinary Dermatology 17: 182-188, 2006.

    Casal, M. L.  Effects of pregnancy on complete blood cell counts and serum biochemical profiles in dogs. Society for Theriogenology. St. Paul, MN. : , 2006.

    Casal, M. L. Erbrankheiten (Inherited Diseases). Praktikum der Hundeklinik 10th ed.: , 2006.

    Goldschmidt, M. H., Kennedy, J. S., Kennedy, D. R., Yuan, H., Holt, D. S., Casal, M. L., Traas, A. M., Mauldin, E. A., Moore, P. F., Henthorn, P. S., Hartnett, B., J., Weinberg, K. I., Schlegel, R., Felsburg, P. J. Severe papillomavirus infection progressing to metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in bone marrow transplanted X-linked SCID dogs. J Virol 80: 6621-6628, 2006.

    Dr. Casal is specialized in veterinary genetics, pediatrics and reproduction. Her research interests are focused on the characterization, genetic basis, and treatment of canine genetic skin disorders and lysosomal storage disorders in dogs that also occur in humans. The skin disorders being studied in collaboration with Dr. Elizabeth Mauldin include cutaneous exfoliative lupus erythematosus of the German shorthaired pointer, Ehlers Danlos syndrome (a collagen defect), and non-epidermolytic ichthyosis (fish-scale disease). Furthermore, more extensive collaborative investigations are underway into the morphologic manifestations of canine X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and response to neonatal therapy using a recombinant protein, as this disorder in dogs is identical to that seen in humans. Clinical and cognitive responses to gene therapy are being examined in the dogs with mucopolysaccharidosis type I and type VII, both lysosomal storage diseases that are quite devastating in humans. These studies are performed in collaboration with other researchers at Penn and outside of the University.

    University of Zürich, Switzerland (1984 to 1985)
    Fellowship in the Department of Pathology

    Basle, Switzerland (1985 to 1988)
    Doctoral Thesis Research, Federal Institute of Vaccines

    University Hospital and staff veterinarian at the Department of Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland (1987 to 1989)
    Veterinarian in charge of the research colony, Biological Central Laboratory

    Department of Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland (1989 to 1991)
    Clinical instructor 

    School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (1991 to 1994)
    Resident in Medical Genetics

    School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (1994 to 1999)
    Post-doctoral fellow

    Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago. (1999)
    Post-doctoral fellowship

    Clinical Specialties:

    Genetics, Reproduction, Pediatrics, Canine and feline pediatrics, Canine and feline reproduction, Canine and feline genetics

    Education:

    PhD (Pathology ) University of Pennsylvania, 1999;
    MS (Dr. phil. II degree ) University of Bern, Switzerland, 1988;
    DVM (Medicus Veterinariae degree ) University of Zürich, Switzerland, 1984

    Board Certification:

    Diplomate, European College of Animal Reproduction

    Contact:

    University of Pennsylvania

    School of Veterinary Medicine

    3800 Spruce Street

    Philadelphia, PA 19104