Professional Profile

• DVM, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
• PhD, Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL

• Senior Research Scientist, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois
• Research Scientist, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois
• Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Illinois

• Amphibian medicine
• Clinical pathology
• Epidemiology
• Reptile medicine
• Wildlife conservation
• Wildlife medicine

View Dr. Adamovicz publications in PubMed. 

https://vetmed.illinois.edu/wel/

Dr. Laura Adamovicz is a wildlife veterinarian and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Wildlife Epidemiology at the University of Illinois. She is a 2012 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and obtained her PhD in epidemiology from the University of Illinois in 2019. She currently splits her time between diagnostic test development and validation in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, directed veterinary student mentorship through the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, and multiple field-based, conservation-focused research studies. Her research focuses on improving veterinary management of reptiles and amphibians and supporting effective conservation strategies for multiple taxa in managed care and the wild.

• Robert & Patricia Anderson Award (2025) – This award recognizes substantial and fundamental research contributions to science at The Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands.
• Brookfield Zoo Chicago Rising Conservation Leader Award (2024) – The Rising Conservation Leader Award recognizes individuals under 40 years of age who possess the talent and drive to make a significant impact in conservation or provide outstanding service to BZC in the early stage of their career.

• American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians 
• American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians 
• Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
• Wildlife Disease Association

• Daleo MJ, Medvedev L, Harkey CR, Simmons AL, Moorhead KM, Whitmer ER, Delaney MA, Adamovicz L, Collins D, Allender MC. A longitudinal analysis of pathogen shedding patterns in confiscated eastern box turtles. J Wildl Manag. 2025;89:e70035. 
• Lang DM, Adamovicz LA, Hung C-C, Delk KW, Langan JN, Chinnadurai SK, Allender MC. Development of a validated quantitative PCR assay and fungal culture for diagnosis of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). In press, Am J Vet Res 2/2025.
• Ready ZC, Adamovicz L, Wellehan JFX, Daleo M, Simmons A, Glowacki G, Graser W, Anchor C, Thompson D, Allender MC. Detection of adenoviruses in free-ranging Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). J Wildl Dis. 2025;61(2):370-381. 
• Liszka NC, Adamovicz L, Moorhead KA, Daleo MJ, Grochowski K, Allender MC. Evaluating the efficacy of disinfectant methods against Emydomyces testavorans, a fungus associated with shell disease in freshwater aquatic turtles. J Wildl Dis. 2025 Jan 1;61(1):234-240.
• Davidson A, Waligora M, Ryan M, Ladez K, Bradley S, Lionetto C, Graser W, Glowacki G, Thompson D, King RB, Golba CK, Moorhead K, Adamovicz L, Allender MC. Hematology, plasma biochemistry, protein electrophoresis, and pathogen surveillance in headstarted and wild-reared populations of Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in three northern Illinois counties. J Wildl Dis. 2025;61(1):30-45. 
• Ready ZC, Adamovicz L, Daleo M, Simmons A, Allender MC. Development and validation of a quantitative PCR assay for detection of Sulawesi tortoise adenovirus. J Virol Methods. 2024 Dec;330:115033. 
• Fredrickson K, Adamovicz L, Terio K, Davidson A, Ryan M, Waligora M, Schroder K, Bradley S, Lionetto C, Andersson K, Engel A, Graser W, Anchor C, Glowacki G, Allender MC. Emydomyces testavorans surveillance in multiple free-ranging terrestrial and aquatic chelonian species in Illinois. J Wildl Dis. 2024 Oct 1;60(4):850-859. 
• Vincent LM, Allender MC, Curtis AE, Garrison JC, Lance S, McFall A, Simmons A, Moorhead K, Adamovicz L. Health assessment of spotted (Clemmys guttata) and painted (Chrysemys picta) turtles in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. J Zoo Wildl Med. 2024;55(3):743-749.
• Brunner TJ, Wong AD, Adamovicz L, Simmons A, Ospina E, Keller KA. Emydomyces testavorans DNA is detected from shell swabs of companion chelonians. J Exot Pet Med 2024;50:49-53. 
• Clark C, Allender MC, Adamovicz L, Sheldon JD, Moorhead K, Fredrickson K. Agreement of point-of-care blood uric acid meter and benchtop chemistry analyzer in eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2024;55(3):724-729. 
• Moorhead K, Adamovicz L, Allender MC. Development and analytical validation of a novel quantitative PCR assay for the detection of Trachemys herpesvirus 1. J Virol Methods. 2024; 327:114941. 
• Seth V, Adamovicz L, Keller K. Benzalkonium chloride and polyhexanide disinfectant (F10 SC) requires off-label use to be effective against Nannizziopsis guarroi. J Exot Pet Med. 2024;49:1-4. 
• Reilly J, Schnelle AN, Adamovicz L, Colburn M, Whitmore E, Wong Y, Allender MC. Analytical variability of hematological methods for white blood cell counts in prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis). J Herpetol Med Surg 2024;34(1):32-38. 
• Whitmore E, Schnelle A, Colburn M, Wong Y, Reilly J, Adamovicz L, Keller K, Allender MC. Analytical variability and agreement of leukocyte quantification methods in Inland bearded dragrons (Pogona vitticeps). J Herpetol Med Surg 2024;34(1):39-45.
• Tang KN, Adkesson MJ, Cárdenas-Alayza S, Adamovicz L, Deming AC, Wellehan JFX, Childress A, Cortes-Hinojosa G, Colegrove K, Langan JN, Allender MC. Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and a novel related herpesvirus in free-ranging South American sea lions (Otaria byronia): prevalence and effects of age, sex, and sample type. PLoS One. 2024;19(3):e0299404.
• Daleo MJ, Adamovicz LA, Allender MC. Development and validation of quantitative PCR assay for detection of Spheniscid alphaherpesvirus 1 in penguins. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2024 Feb 16:10406387241228869. 
• Davidson A, Ryan M, Graser W, Adamovicz L, Allender MC. Comparing the effects of dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and lithium heparin on hematologic values in Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), and common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2024;55(1):92-101 
• Vincent LM, Allender MC, Curtis AE, Madden NE, Cray C, Lance S, McFall A, Adamovicz L. Cutaneous myiasis and its relationship to wellness in eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. J Zoo Wildl Med. 2024;54(4), 785-795. 
• Durante KM, Adamovicz L, Haynes E, Schnelle AN, Allender MC. Comparing the effects of lithium heparin and dipotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on hematologic values in prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) and Lake Erie watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2024;54(4):817-824. 
• Apakupakul K, Duncan M, Subramaniam K, Brenn-White M, Palmer JL, Viadanna PHO, Vann JA, Adamovicz L, Waltzek TB, Deem SL. Ranavirus (Frog Virus 3) infection in free-living three-toed box turtles (Terrapene mexicana triunguis) in Missouri, USA. J Wildl Dis. 2024 Jan 1;60(1):151-163. 
• Edmonds D, Adamovicz L, Allender M, Colton A, Nyboer R, Dreslik M. Evaluating population persistence of ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata) at the northeast edge of their distribution. Wildl Biol. 2024 Mar;2024(2):e01183.