Research lines:

• New diagnostic methods design (SUAT)
• Preventive medicine (SUAT)
• Marine animal health (SUAT)

Last scientific publications:

• Vargas-Castro I., Andres-Barranco S., Crespo-Picazo JL., Torre-Fuentes L., Jimenez-Martinez MA., Hernandez M., Arbelo M., Alvarez J., Munoz PM., Marco-Cabedo V., de Miguel MJ., López-Gutiérrez D., Munoz-Baquero M., Garcia-Parraga D. and Barasona JA.. Towards Integrated Surveillance of Marine Brucellosis: Diagnostic and Phylogenetic Assessment of Brucella ceti in Stranded Dolphins of the Western Mediterranean Sea. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 31:2026:2075116. 2026. (A)
• Vargas-Castro I., Giorda F., Mattioda V., Goria M., Serraca L., Varello K., Carta V., Nodari S., Maniaci MG., dell´Atti L., Testori C., Pussini N., Iulini B., Battistini R., Zoppi S., Di Nocera F., Lucifora G., Fontanesi E., Acutis P., Casalone C., Grattarola C. and Peletto S.. Herpesvirus surveillance in stranded striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Italy with emphasis on neuropathological characterization. PLoS ONE, 19(10):e0311767. 2024. (A)
• Vargas-Castro I., Crespo-Picazo JL., Jimenez-Martinez MA., Munoz-Baquero M., Marco-Cabedo V., Garcia-Parraga D. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM.. Molecular detection of herpesvirus in a skin lesion of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the Western Mediterranean Sea. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70:31. 2024. (A)
• Vargas-Castro I., Crespo-Picazo JL., Fayos M., Jimenez-Martinez MA., Torre-Fuentes L., Alvarez J., Moura AE., Hernandez M., Buendia A., Barroso-Arevalo S., Garcia-Seco T., Perez-Sancho M., de Miguel MJ., Andres-Barranco S., Marco-Cabedo V., Penin-Villahoz G., Munoz PM., Dominguez L., Garcia-Parraga D. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM.. New insights into the pathogenesis and transmission of Brucella pinnipedialis: systemic infection in two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Microbiology Spectrum, e0199723. 2023. (A)
• Vargas-Castro I., Crespo JL., Jimenez MA., Marco-Cabedo V., Munoz M., Garcia-Parraga D. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM.. First description of a lesion in the upper digestive mucosa associated with a novel gammaherpesvirus in a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded in the Western Mediterranean Sea. BMC Veterinary Research, 19(1):118. 2023. (A)

Last outreach publications:

• Vargas-Castro I., Hernandez-Mora G., Gonzalez-Barrientos R. and Grattarola C.. Brucellosis in aquatic mammals. 8:133-145, Brucellosis: The Silent Threat to Livestock and Human Health. Ed. 00. Elsevier, 1997. 2025.
• Vargas-Castro I., Crespo-Picazo JL., Rivera B., Sanchez R., Marco-Cabedo V., Jimenez-Martinez MA., Fayos-Martinez M., Serdio-Cosio A., Garcia-Parraga D. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM.. Importancia del estudio de la sanidad de los cetáceos a propósito de un varamiento masivo de delfines listados en Cantabria. Profesión Veterinaria, 98:64-71, Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Veterinarios de Madrid. 2022.
• Barasona JA., Carpio A., Vargas-Castro I., Benitez-Medina JL. and Gonzalez D.. Avances en investigación. Los hospedadores. Los cérvidos. 4.3.5:208-219, Tuberculosis animal: una aproximación desde la perspectiva de la Ciencia y la Administración. Ed. 1. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. 2020.

Last communications:

• Vargas-Castro I., Crespo-Picazo JL., Jimenez-Martinez MA., Pla E., Saubidet M., Barasona JA. and Garcia-Parraga D.. From skin to brain: Herpesvirus in cetaceans as an emerging systemic pathogen and ocean health sentinel. 1st International Online Conference on Veterinary Sciences: Veterinary Virology in the New Era: Comprehensive Research from Identification to Prevention. 2025. (Oral communication)
• Vargas-Castro I., Barasona JA., Crespo JL., Jimenez-Martinez MA., Munoz-Baquero M., Marco Cabedo V., Garcia-Parraga D. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM.. Emerging role of Herpesvirus in cetaceans: a One Health perspective on marine ecosystem health. I International Congress ENZOEM. 2025. (Poster communication)
• Vargas-Castro I.. De Madrid a las Islas Galápagos: una mirada veterinaria de la conservación. Aula abierta. 2025. (Oral communication)
• Vargas-Castro I., Crespo JL., Fayos M., Jimenez-Martinez MA., Torre-Fuentes L., Alvarez J., Moura AE., Hernandez M., Buendia A., Barroso-Arevalo S., Garcia-Seco T., Perez-Sancho M., de Miguel MJ., Andres-Barranco S., Marco-Cabedo V., Penin-Villahoz G., Munoz PM., Dominguez L., Garcia-Parraga D. and Sanchez-Vizcaino JM.. Profundizando en la patogénesis y transmisión de Brucella pinnipedialis en delfines mulares varados. 35ª Conferencia Anual de la Sociedad Europea de Cetáceos. 2024. (Oral communication)
• Vargas-Castro I.. Veterinarios españoles identifican por primera vez herpes virus en una ballena jorobada del mar Mediterráneo. rtve play. 2024. (Oral communication)