On March 29th, 2022, 2-3 PM UTC, we will have Verónica Jurquiza (scientific researcher at the National Institute for Fishery Research and Development – INIDEP, Mar del Plata, Argentina) on our ONWARD Webinar Series. She will give a talk on Environmental bacteriological studies for the detection of vibrios in the aquatic environment of Argentina: a review from 1992 to the present.

The talk will provide a summary of what has been done by the National Institute for Fishery Research and Development – INIDEP regarding the monitoring of pathogenic Vibrio species in the environment. In Argentina, after the re-emergence of Cholera in 1992, an active monitoring program for Vibrio cholerae in the marine environment was established at the INIDEP, to ensure the safety of fishery products caught in the area. As a result of this monitoring, the Cholera Working Group was created, which carried out projects to survey the presence of Vibrio cholerae in the aquatic environment and to evaluate the role of the environment in the circulating lineages. In addition, other potentially pathogenic Vibrio species, such as V.parahaemolyticus and V.vulnificus, were studied. Research is currently focused on monitoring the emergence of new strains, evaluating different markers in terms of their virulence and resistance, and carrying out strategic surveillance together with the monitoring of environmental variables.

Speaker

Verónica Jurquiza

Environmental bacteriological studies for the detection of vibrios in the aquatic environment of Argentina. A review from 1992 to the present

Verónica Jurquiza is a scientific researcher at the National Institute for Fishery Research and Development – INIDEP, Mar del Plata, Argentina. She made her Master’s thesis in Molecular Microbiology in Isolation, Identification and Molecular Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in water, sediment and bivalve molluscs samples of the Atlantic coast of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her main research projects are related to pathogens in the marine environment, mainly pathogenic vibrios and enterobacteria, water quality and microbiology of fish farming environments. Her academic training in veterinary medicine, epidemiology and molecular microbiology guided her interdisciplinary work in the study of bacterial pathogens in the aquatic environment and fish products that can affect humans and animals..

About Open Network on Water-Related Diseases (ONWARD):

ONWARD (Open Network for Water-Related Diseases) is dedicated to developing a network of scientists and stakeholders sharing a common interest in better understanding of environmental controls on outbreaks of water-related diseases; the role of societal engagement in countering it; and in forecasting, early warning and risk mapping of water-associated diseases through the use of remote sensing, field observations and mathematical modelling. Our vision is to enable cost-effective, regularly updated, geo-referenced early warning for areas vulnerable to water-associated diseases, which in turn will enable preventive measures to be deployed in a timely manner to minimise the probability of epidemics. It is an open network committed to promote better dialogue and collaboration among experts from all relevant disciplines and with stakeholders, including the general public. Through the project, we intend to bring together experts from fields related to water associated diseases such as microbiologists, remote-sensing scientists, medical practitioners, and social scientists. A series of webinars are being organised as part of the activities of ONWARD.

If you are interested in joining ONWARD, please write to onward.gcrf@gmail.com with “ONWARD Membership” in the subject line.

We will continue with the ONWARD Webinars during the next months. Expect some very exciting afternoons, or mornings or evenings, depending on where you are… If you need any additional information please send an email to Jose Luiz Moutinho.