Nerea García Benzaquén
Unit Chief
Neglected and Emerging Diseases Unit
Qualifications:
PhD in Veterinary Sciences
Diploma de Estudios Avanzados
Degree in Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Contact
Neglected and Emerging Diseases Unit
VISAVET, Health Surveillance Centre
Universidad Complutense
Av. Puerta de Hierro s/n. 28040 Madrid. Spain
e-mail:
Telephone: (+34) 91 394 4096
Fax: (+34) 91 394 3795
Biography
Degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Complutense University of Madrid (1995-2001) and PhD in Veterinary Medicine from the same University with the thesis entitled "Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Pasteurella multocida strains isolated from swine" (2009).
Currently she is the Head of the Neglected and Emerging Zoonoses Service of the VISAVET center (UCM), focused mainly on epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of emerging and / or neglected pathogens in different host species and vectors.
She has extensive experience in the laboratory (mainly microbiological diagnosis and characterization), work in the of biosafety level 3, field experience with different animal species, development of epidemiological surveillance programs, report elaboration, etc. She has participated in many research projects (17) and in contracts with companies and administrations (64). The research activity has been reflected in the participation in 20 international and 19 national scientific articles, 34 posters and 37 oral presentations in national and international conferences.
In addition, she has been a beneficiary of two scholarships for stays abroad: predoctoral in Faculty of Veterinary and Zootechnics of the Autonomous University of Mexico and postdoctoral (program Jose Castillejo of the Ministry of Education) in the Center for the Control and Prevention of Diseases (CDC) of Atlanta (USA).
She participates since 2002 in the practical teaching of the subjects of Microbiology and Immunology. In addition, she has given talks in training courses of the Community of Madrid, universities, etc. She has directed final degree and masters projects and she has been tutor of training cycle’s students. Currently she directs two theses. Since 2016, she has been accredited to participate in the access for a contracted University professor position.
Currently she is the Head of the Neglected and Emerging Zoonoses Service of the VISAVET center (UCM), focused mainly on epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of emerging and / or neglected pathogens in different host species and vectors.
She has extensive experience in the laboratory (mainly microbiological diagnosis and characterization), work in the of biosafety level 3, field experience with different animal species, development of epidemiological surveillance programs, report elaboration, etc. She has participated in many research projects (17) and in contracts with companies and administrations (64). The research activity has been reflected in the participation in 20 international and 19 national scientific articles, 34 posters and 37 oral presentations in national and international conferences.
In addition, she has been a beneficiary of two scholarships for stays abroad: predoctoral in Faculty of Veterinary and Zootechnics of the Autonomous University of Mexico and postdoctoral (program Jose Castillejo of the Ministry of Education) in the Center for the Control and Prevention of Diseases (CDC) of Atlanta (USA).
She participates since 2002 in the practical teaching of the subjects of Microbiology and Immunology. In addition, she has given talks in training courses of the Community of Madrid, universities, etc. She has directed final degree and masters projects and she has been tutor of training cycle’s students. Currently she directs two theses. Since 2016, she has been accredited to participate in the access for a contracted University professor position.
Investigation
Research lines:
- Integrated monitoring and control of Toxoplasma gondii and Hepatitis E virus in food supply chains (NED)
- Diagnosis of leishmaniasis in the animal reservoir (NED)
- Diagnosis of Q fever in livestock and wildlife using direct and indirect tests. (NED)
- Diagnosis of swine brucellosis (NED)
- New strategies for diagnosis and control of bovine, ovine and caprine brucellosis (NED)
- Epidemiological surveillance of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens (NED)
- Design of methods for detection of biological threat agents (NED)
Last scientific publications:
- Hegazy Y., Abdel-Hamid N., Eldahiey M., Oreiby A., Algaabary M., Hamdy M., Beleta E., Martinez I., Shahein M., Garcia N. and Eltholth M.. Trans-species transmission of Brucellae among ruminants hampering brucellosis control efforts in Egypt. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 132(1):90-100. 2022. (A)
- Ortega-García MV., Salguero FJ., Garcia N., Dominguez M., Moreno I. and Berrocal A.. Equine infection with Leishmania spp. in Costa Rica: Study of five cases. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 7(6):2234-2239. 2021. (A)
- Navarro A., Barcena C., Pozo P., Diez-Guerrier A., Martinez I., Polo-Vaquero C., Duque C., Rodriguez-Lazaro D., Goyache J. and Garcia N.. Liver Transudate, a Potential Alternative to Detect Anti-Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies in Pigs and Wild Boars (Sus scrofa). Microorganisms, 8(3):450. 2020. (A)
- Roy A., Infantes-Lorenzo JA., Dominguez M., Moreno I., Perez-Sancho M., Garcia N., Garcia-Seco T., Alvarez J., Romero B., Gortazar C., de Juan L., Dominguez L. and Bezos J.. Evaluation of a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in goat milk. Research in Veterinary Science, 128:217-223. 2020. (A)
- Perez-Sancho M., Garcia-Seco T., Porrero MC., Garcia N., Gomez S., Camara JM., Dominguez L. and Alvarez J.. A ten-year-surveillance program of zoonotic pathogens in feral pigeons in the City of Madrid (2005-2014): The importance of a systematic pest control. Research in Veterinary Science, 128:293-298. 2020. (A)
Last PhD thesis supervised:
- Mª Victoria Ortega García. Detection of Leishmania spp. in atypical reservoirs and molecular characterisation. 2021.
Outreach
Last outreach publications:
- Garcia N., Alunda JM., Azami-Conesa I., Carrion J., Domenech A., Dominguez-Bernal G., Gomez-Muñoz MT., Gonzalez S., de Juan L., Miro G., Muller A., Olías-Molero AI. and Ortega-García MV.. Leishmaniosis. Revelando una enfermedad olvidada. Red de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (RISA), Agencia estatal de Investigación. 2020.
- Garcia N., Navarro A. and Goyache J.. HEPATITITS E: un riesgo emergente a estudio. Revista Alimentaria, 499, Ediciones y Publicaciones Alimentarias. 2019.
- Garcia N., Gonzalez S., Navarro A., Duque C., Polo-Vaquero C., Fernandez-Manzano A., Martinez I. and Goyache J.. El virus de la Hepatitis E: un patógeno zoonósico emergente en Europa. Badajoz Veterinaria, 13:6-15, Colegio Oficial de Veterinarios de Badajoz. 2018.
- Garcia N., Navarro A. and Goyache J.. Hepatitis E: un riesgo emergente a estudio. Revista Alimentaria, 499(2018):32-34, Ediciones y Publicaciones Alimentarias. 2018.
- Garcia N.. Hepatitis E: zoonotic emerging disease in industrialized countries. VISAVET Outreach Journal, VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre (U.C.M.). 2017.
Last communications:
- Cruz F., Gonzalez S., Barcena C., Bezos J., Buendia A., Briones V., Camino E., Fores P., Garcia N., Mazariegos M., Perez-Sancho M., Romero B. and de Juan L.. Infequus: Plataforma de Enfermedades Infecciosas Equinas. Jornada Aprendizaje eficaz con TIC. 2021. (Oral communication)
- Garcia N.. Simulacros. Bloque II: Detección precoz de enfermedades. Gestión de Alertas Sanitarias en Sanidad Animal. 2021. (Online communication)
- Garcia N.. Análisis de riesgo: evaluación, gestión y plan de comunicación. Bloque II: Detección precoz de enfermedades. Gestión de Alertas Sanitarias en Sanidad Animal. 2021. (Online communication)
- Garcia N.. Vigilancia epidemiológica:definición, tipos, sistemas y redes de vigilancia. Bloque II: Detección precoz de enfermedades. Gestión de Alertas Sanitarias en Sanidad Animal. 2021. (Online communication)
- Martinez I. and Garcia N.. Diagnóstico de zoonosis en centros de protección animal. SEVEMUR y el diagnóstico laboratorial de zoonosis. XXI Semana de la Ciencia Madri+d. 2021. (Oral communication)
