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:
- 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)
- Garcia N., Hernandez M., Gutierrez-Boada M., Valero A., Navarro A., Munoz-Chimeno M., Fernandez-Manzano A., Escobar FM., Martinez I., Barcena C., Gonzalez S., Avellon A., Eiros JM., Fongaro G., Dominguez L., Goyache J. and Rodriguez-Lazaro D.. Occurrence of Hepatitis E Virus in Pigs and Pork Cuts and Organs at the Time of Slaughter, Spain, 2017. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10:2990. 2020. (A)
- Ortega-García MV., Salguero FJ., Rodriguez-Bertos A., Moreno I., Garcia N., Garcia-Seco T., Torre G., Dominguez L. and Dominguez M.. A pathological study of Leishmania infantum natural infection in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis). Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 1-8. 2019. (A)
Outreach
Last outreach publications:
- Garcia N., Alunda JM., Azami-Conesa I., Carrion J., Domenech A., Dominguez-Bernal G., Gómez-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., 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.
- Moreno I., Garcia N., de la Cruz ML., Martinez I., Pozo P., Fernandez-Manzano A., Infantes-Lorenzo JA., Rodriguez-Bertos A., Dominguez L. and Dominguez M.. Vigilancia Epidemiológica de la Leishmaniosis mediante la Técnica de Inmunofluorescencia Indirecta (IFI). Brote de Leishmaniasis en Fuenlabrada y Otros Municipios de la Comunidad de Madrid. El papel de las liebres y los conejos como reservorios. Ed. 1. Comunidad de Madrid. 2017.
Last communications:
- Garcia N.. Hepatitis E. Study in spanish swine population. Seminarios VISAVET 2020. 2020. (Oral communication)
- Rebollada A., Ugarte-Ruiz M., Miguela-Villoldo P., Fernandez-Manzano A., Garcia N., Gomez S., Barcena C., de Juan L., Dominguez L. and Rodriguez-Bertos A.. Fermented defatted alperujo (FDA) reduces histopathological lesions and Brachyspira spp. excretion in naturally infected laying hens. One Health EJP Annual Scientific Meeting. 2020. (Poster communication)
- Garcia N.. Case study: Hepatitis E, a little-known emerging zoonosis. Parma Summer School. One Health. 2020. (Online communication)
- Ortega-García MV., Garcia N., Moreno I. and Dominguez M.. A pathological study of Leishmania infantum natural infection in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis). 2nd International Caparica Conference on Leishmaniasis. 2020. (Online communication)
- Garcia N. and Martinez I.. Diagnóstico de zoonosis en centros de protección animal. SEVEMUR y la Investigación. XX Semana de la Ciencia Madri+d. 2020. (Oral communication)
