Dr. Chomel is a veterinary epidemiologist whose research is focused on the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, especially zoonoses transmitted by bites and scratches. Most of Dr. Chomel's recent work has focused on cat scratch disease in its feline reservoir and has expanded to wildlife infection by Bartonella as a potential source of animal and human infection. Research is presently conducted on molecular epidemiology of feline Bartonella, and more recently in wild canids (coyotes) and ruminants (deer and cattle). Dr. Chomel's laboratory is also interested in the vectors of Bartonella, incuding fleas, ticks and biting flies. Development of diagnostic tools for cat infection and potential vaccines for cat protection to prevent human infection are also conducted in his laboratory. His group is also doing wildlife serological surveys for zoonotic infections, including grizzly bears from Alaska , black bears from Western USA ( California , Oregon , Washington ), polar bears and other species. His work also involves the epidemiology of rabies virus. Dr. Chomel maintains important linkage with the Institut Pasteur, the Lyon and Alfort's Veterinary Schools , and an emerging project to develop a sister Comparative Medical Research Institute in France. Please contact Dr. Chomel at bbchomel@ucdavis.edu for further information.