About

Thomas E. Cecere, DVM, PhD, DACVP–Anatomic Pathology, is an Associate Professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine within Virginia Tech. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the same institution, a Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine with a focus on Anatomic Pathology from North Carolina State University, and a PhD in Viral Immunology from Virginia Tech. He is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in Anatomic Pathology. His professional experience encompasses roles as an Assistant Professor and now an Associate Professor of Anatomic Pathology at Virginia Tech, with prior training as a fellow in the NIH T32 Animal Model Research for Veterinarians Program and completing an Anatomic Pathology Residency at North Carolina State University. His research interests include swine infectious diseases, microbial immunology, diagnostic pathology, and pedagogy. Cecere has contributed to the field through various publications and is actively involved in professional memberships such as the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Biology
• Internal medicine
• Immunology
• Pathology
• Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Oncology
• Cancer research
• Urology
• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Virology

Selected publications

• Prognostic Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Defined Extent of Surgical Resection in Dogs With Intracranial Meningiomas

  Veterinary and Comparative Oncology · 2026-01-15 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Surgery is a common treatment for intracranial meningiomas in dogs, although the prognostic impact of the extent of resection (EOR) has not been systematically evaluated. This retrospective study identified prognostic factors associated with clinical outcomes in dogs that underwent surgery and early post-operative magnetic resonance imaging (epoMRI) to evaluate meningioma EOR. We hypothesised that gross total tumour resection (GTR) would result in longer progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and superior post-operative seizure control and resolution of neurological dysfunction than subtotal resection (STR). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify prognostic factors, and Kaplan-Meier analyses to compare survival outcomes. Forty-one dogs were included of which 24 (59%) had GTR and 17 (41%) had STR. GTR was associated with decreased rates of tumour progression (HR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.09-0.42; p < 0.0001) and death (HR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.14-0.69; p < 0.0001), and longer PFS (618 vs. 189 days, p < 0.0001) and OS (694 vs. 349 days, p < 0.0001) compared to STR. Higher tumour grade and increasing age negatively impacted PFS and OS, respectively. Seizure freedom was attained in a larger proportion of dogs with GTR (18/20 [90%]) than STR (4/13 [31%]; p < 0.001), but rates of improvement of neurological deficits were not different between groups. GTR resulted in durable clinical improvements and survivals in the absence of adjuvant treatments. EpoMRI to assess EOR should be routinely incorporated into management of canine meningiomas to inform outcome expectations, and to identify STR cases in which adjuvant therapies should be considered.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Bilateral intraocular choristoma in a 2-day-old foal

  Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation · 2025-03-11 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  A 2-d-old Warmblood colt was submitted for autopsy with a spectrum of bilateral ocular abnormalities. At postmortem examination, a constellation of lesions within the anterior segment included retention of ectodermal elements, compatible with choristoma. Ocular choristomas can be localized to different intraocular structures and are rare in equids. The morphologic features in our case were suggestive of abnormal corneal differentiation.

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• Cx3cr1 deficiency exacerbates lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice through modulating various T cell subsets and their production of different IL-17 isoforms 2653

  The Journal of Immunology · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Description The CX3CR1 chemokine receptor initiates intracellular signaling cascades responsible for cellular activity, proliferation, and survival. CX3CR1 loss-of-function leads to exacerbation of chronic kidney disease. Renal disease is a severe complication that often occurs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We had previously reported that Cx3cr1-deficiency exacerbated glomerulonephritis in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. In this, we sought to investigate the role of Cx3cr1-deficiency at different stages of SLE disease. We investigated glomerulonephritis, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy development and immune cell infiltration in MRL/lpr mice at 3, 7, 11, and 15 weeks of age. Lupus-like disease was initiated at an earlier time-point in Cx3cr1-/- MRL/lpr mice when compared to Cx3cr1+/+ MRL/lpr mice, where Cx3cr1-/- mice had significantly higher proteinuria and glomerular pathology scores. Double negative (DN) T cells were found to be significantly expanded at 7 weeks in the kidney at and at 11 weeks spleen of Cx3cr1-/- mice with alterations in the production of two IL-17 isoforms, IL-17A and IL-17F. Increased production of IL-17A and IL-17F by CD8+ T cells and DN T cells in the kidney, respectively, was associated with Cx3cr1 deficiency in MRL/lpr mice. These data suggest that Cx3cr1 deficiency may alter lupus nephritis through modulation of various T cell subsets and their production of different IL-17 isoforms. Funding Sources Supported by VCOM Seed Grant Topic Categories Basic Autoimmunity (BA)

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• Double-Outlet Right Ventricular Malformation in a Two-Year-Old Aberdeen Angus Cow

  Animals · 2025-08-30 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  A 2-year-old Aberdeen Angus cow was presented with lethargy and decreased appetite at the VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine Large Animal Teaching Hospital. Initial clinical examination revealed cyanosis, tachycardia, polycythemia, and a significant increase in lactate levels. The heifer experienced spontaneous death while hospitalized, prompting a postmortem examination. Gross evaluation demonstrated that the aorta arose entirely from the right ventricle, while the main pulmonary artery maintained its normal position, consistent with a diagnosis of double-outlet right ventricle. Additional cardiac abnormalities were identified, including an atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and marked right ventricular hypertrophy. These defects fall under the category of double-outlet right ventricle malformation. While congenital heart defects are a more recognized cause of cardiac failure and mortality in calves, they should remain a consideration in cases of sudden death, even in adult cattle.

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• TCDD and CH223191 Alter T Cell Balance but Fail to Induce Anti-Inflammatory Response in Adult Lupus Mice

  ImmunoHorizons · 2024-02-01 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) responds to endogenous and exogenous ligands as a cytosolic receptor, transcription factor, and E3 ubiquitin ligase. Several studies support an anti-inflammatory effect of AhR activation. However, exposure to the AhR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) during early stages of development results in an autoimmune phenotype and exacerbates lupus. The effects of TCDD on lupus in adults with pre-existing autoimmunity have not been described. We present novel evidence that AhR stimulation by TCDD alters T cell responses but fails to impact lupus-like disease using an adult mouse model. Interestingly, AhR antagonist CH223191 also changed T cell balance in our model. We next developed a conceptual framework for identifying cellular and molecular factors that contribute to physiological outcomes in lupus and created models that describe cytokine dynamics that were fed into a system of differential equations to predict the kinetics of T follicular helper (Tfh) and regulatory T (Treg) cell populations. The model predicted that Tfh cells expanded to larger values following TCDD exposure compared with vehicle and CH223191. Following the initial elevation, both Tfh and Treg cell populations continuously decayed over time. A function based on the ratio of predicted Treg/Tfh cells showed that Treg cells exceed Tfh cells in all groups, with TCDD and CH223191 showing lower Treg/Tfh cell ratios than the vehicle and that the ratio is relatively constant over time. We conclude that AhR ligands did not induce an anti-inflammatory response to attenuate autoimmunity in adult lupus mice. This study challenges the dogma that TCDD supports an immunosuppressive phenotype.

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• Epistaxis and Facial Swelling Due to Nasal Blastomycosis in a Cat

  Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association · 2024-01-01

  articleSenior author

  A 5 yr old castrated male domestic longhair was examined because of left-sided facial swelling and epistaxis. Head computed tomography with contrast identified a mass within the left nasal cavity and multifocal regions of nasal bone osteolysis. Histopathology of nasal mass biopsies and cytology of the facial swelling revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation due to Blastomyces dermatitidis. The cat experienced resolution of clinical signs following 8 mo of treatment with itraconazole. Although rare, clinicians should include blastomycosis on the differential diagnoses list of infectious causes for feline nasal disease if within an endemic area.

  PublisherDOI

• Persistence of Sarcocystis Neurona and Histologic Lesions in Horses with Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (Epm)

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI
• RETRACTED

  RETRACTED: Tlr5 deficiency exacerbates lupus-like disease in the MRL/lpr mouse model

  Frontiers in Immunology · 2024-01-30 · 3 citations

  article

  Introduction Leaky gut has been linked to autoimmune disorders including lupus. We previously reported upregulation of anti-flagellin antibodies in the blood of lupus patients and lupus-prone mice, which led to our hypothesis that a leaky gut drives lupus through bacterial flagellin-mediated activation of toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Methods We created MRL/ lpr mice with global Tlr5 deletion through CRISPR/Cas9 and investigated lupus-like disease in these mice. Result Contrary to our hypothesis that the deletion of Tlr5 would attenuate lupus, our results showed exacerbation of lupus with Tlr5 deficiency in female MRL/ lpr mice. Remarkably higher levels of proteinuria were observed in Tlr5 -/- MRL/ lpr mice suggesting aggravated glomerulonephritis. Histopathological analysis confirmed this result, and Tlr5 deletion significantly increased the deposition of IgG and complement C3 in the glomeruli. In addition, Tlr5 deficiency significantly increased renal infiltration of Th17 and activated cDC1 cells. Splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were also aggravated in Tlr5 -/- MRL/ lpr mice suggesting impact on lymphoproliferation. In the spleen, significant decreased frequencies of regulatory lymphocytes and increased germinal centers were observed with Tlr5 deletion. Notably, Tlr5 deficiency did not change host metabolism or the existing leaky gut; however, it significantly reshaped the fecal microbiota. Conclusion Global deletion of Tlr5 exacerbates lupus-like disease in MRL/ lpr mice. Future studies will elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which Tlr5 deficiency modulates host-microbiota interactions to exacerbate lupus.

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• A hepatitis B virus core antigen‐based virus‐like particle vaccine expressing SARS‐CoV‐2 B and T cell epitopes induces epitope‐specific humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses but confers limited protection against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection

  Journal of Medical Virology · 2023-01-19 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  The hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) tolerates insertion of foreign epitopes and maintains its ability to self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs). We constructed a ∆HBcAg-based VLP vaccine expressing three predicted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B and T cell epitopes and determined its immunogenicity and protective efficacy. The recombinant ∆HBcAg-SARS-CoV-2 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and shown to form VLPs. K18-hACE2 transgenic C57BL/6 mice were immunized intramuscularly with ∆HBcAg VLP control (n = 15) or ∆HBcAg-SARS-CoV-2 VLP vaccine (n = 15). One week after the 2nd booster and before virus challenge, five ∆HBcAg-SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated mice were euthanized to evaluate epitope-specific immune responses. There is a statistically significant increase in epitope-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response, and statistically higher interleukin 6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression levels in ∆HBcAg-SARS-CoV-2 VLP-vaccinated mice compared to ∆HBcAg VLP controls. While not statistically significant, the ∆HBcAg-SARS-CoV-2 VLP mice had numerically more memory CD8+ T-cells, and 3/5 mice also had numerically higher levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). After challenge with SARS-CoV-2, ∆HBcAg-SARS-CoV-2 immunized mice had numerically lower viral RNA loads in the lung, and slightly higher survival, but the differences are not statistically significant. These results indicate that the ∆HBcAg-SARS-CoV-2 VLP vaccine elicits epitope-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses but they were insufficient against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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• Author response for "Pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with naturally occurring chronic lameness"

  2023-01-19

  peer-review
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Xin Luo

  54 shared

• Tanya LeRoith

  Virginia Tech

  35 shared

• John H. Rossmeisl

  Virginia Tech

  34 shared

• Christopher M. Reilly

  32 shared

• Qinghui Mu

  Stanford University

  30 shared

• Leila Abdelhamid

  Virginia Tech

  29 shared

• Xavier Cabana-Puig

  28 shared

• Michael Edwards

  Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

  22 shared

Education

• Other, Veterinary Medicine

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• Ph.D., Not specified in the provided HTML

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