Magdalena Jacobson

I spent my childhood in Lerum and went to senior high school in Gothenburg, taking a degree in natural sciences. Thereafter, I moved to the island of Gotland, working as an animal caretaker on horse-, dairy- and pig farms, before entering the veterinary university education in 1982.  During the education, I continued the work as an animal caretaker, worked as assistant inspector at an abattoir, and as a deputy veterinarian at the Swedish Animal Health service during holidays. I graduated as legislated veterinarian at SLU in 1987. Thereafter, I spent several years working in the advisory service as a pig health veterinarian, and as a large animal clinical practitioner. In 1992, I started to work as a teacher in porcine medicine at SLU,  became a PhD student in 1998, and graduated in 2003 with the thesis ”Enteric diseases in pigs from weaning to slaughter”. Thereafter, I combined research and teaching, and achieving the position as senior lecturer with extension duties in 2012, also including collaboration with the society in the daily work. I became Swedish specialist in porcine diseases in 2003 and in 2008, I became docent (associate professor) at SLU and also became diplomate within ECPHM. I became appointed professor in porcine medicine in 2014. My work today includes a mix of teaching, research, supervision, and assignments in various boards and committees. My research area includes diseases in pigs with special focus on infectious diseases. I live at a farm in Almunge outside Uppsala. 

My main area of expertise is enteric infections caused by Lawsonia intracellularis, but I have also studied other pathogenic bacteria in Swedish pigs. In collaboration with the reference laboratory SVA, the advisory company “Farm and Animal Health”, farmers, and other departments at SLU, I have developed and validated several diagnostic methods, investigated the spread of Lawsonia between individuals, and certain aspects of the immune response during infection. In collaboration with the research group for spirochaetal infections, I developed an experimental model to consecutively study the immune and metabolic response to enteric infections by endoscopy. I have been the main supervisor in a PhD project investigating the presence of zoonotic bacteria in wild boars and co-supervisor in a project on rodents as carriers of certain pathogens. As the main supervisor in a project on neonatal diarrhoea in piglets, I participated in identifying the bacterium Entercoccus hirae as a novel cause of the disease. Currently, I participate in a project at Uppsala University to identify the structure of colonic mucus, and I am the main supervisor in a project to further develop the diagnostics for Lawsonia intracellularis and investigate specific antibodies in sow milk. 

I have participated in developing projects financed by SIDA and ILRI in Uganda, investigating the occurrence of certain enteric pathogens (Salmonella spp. and E. coli) in pigs, the presence of antibiotic resistance in indicator bacteria, characterized the pig production in some regions, and performed continuous health programmes in small-holder pig farms.

In collaboration with the University of Copenhagen, I was the main supervisor in a PhD project that validated the clinical diagnosis of post-partum dysgalactia syndrome, and investigated changes in the immune, hormonal and metabolic response during disease. The results showed that the pro-hormone CgA was increased already before parturition in sows that later developed disease, and that some sows showed signs of reduced insulin sensitivity.

In a recent PhD project we showed that the bacterium Streptococcus suis, that may cause severe disease in both pigs and man, was present in all pigs, but that only some strains were pathogenic, and in addition that the presence of antibiotic resistance was low. I have also participated in a project aiming to develop a vaccine against Streptococcus suis. Currently, I am collaborating with SVA and the advisory company “Farm and Animal Health” in a project on arthritis in pigs, investigating the infectious causes and the presence of antibiotic resistance, also planning a future study on improved on-farm diagnosis. I am also participating in a research application on optimal dosing of antibiotics.

I am the main supervisor in a PhD project investigating the effect of various hygienic measures to reduce the infectious load in the pig stable, and participates in a project on biosecurity and spread of avian influenza.

I teach and graduate the veterinary students in porcine medicine (6 hp) at SLU, Uppsala. I also supervise and graduates veterinary students in their master exam works within my area of expertise, and also give single lectures in pig production and diseases at other courses and seminars. I have supervised 15 students' master exam work, four current or previous residencies within ECPHM, twelve postgraduate students that all have obtained their degree, and I am currently being the main supervisor of two, and co-supervisor of one PhD student.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Award for Outstanding Doctoral Work was in 2017 awarded to DVM Jenny Larsson, to whom I have been the main supervisor, for the thesis Neonatal Porcine Diarrhoea, Aspects on Aetiology and Pathology.

I am/have been member of various foundations and councils (7 pos.) to evaluate research grant applications, I have evaluated the veterinary medicine research at Denmark Technical University, been opponent at five international research dissertations/public defences, and member/chair of 12 evaluation committees of dissertations/public defences. I have evaluated applications to University positions at the Nordic Universities (docents, first amanuenses, assistant professors, full professorships), been a member of different scientific committees (the Swedish society for Veterinary Research, Svarmpat, the Swedish Medical Agency scientific advisory board, the Swedish Board of Agriculture advisory board on infectious disease control, the Swedish Board of Agricuture reference group on pig production, scientific advisor in the Makerere University SIDA research collaboration successor program, The meat value chain expert group, SLUs scientific advisory group for Animal Welfare, the VH faculty board for evaluation of docent applications). I have initiated and are the main organiser of the Nordic conference “the PigVet days” and have been co-organizer of 5 other conferences, the Chair at national and international conferences, invited speaker at national and international congresses (>50 commissions), and been invited expert at the Almedalen meetings. I have worked with multi-year developing country projects (ILRI, SIDA) in Kenya and Uganda. I am the Training director of our college ECPHM and the previous member of the credential committee. I am assisting editor of the journal Scientific Reports.