WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

 

-14:00-16:00: Registration

-16:00: Opening ceremony. Speakers: Dr. Cecilia Venturini (Argentina) and Dr. Dadin Prando Moore (Argentina).

-16:15-17:00: Symposium: "ApicoWplexa meeting: History, achievements and consequences ...” Speaker: Dr. Andrew Hemphill (Switzerland).

 

SESSION 1: ONE HEALTH

Chairs: Dr. María Cecilia Venturini (Argentina) and Dr. Dadín Prando Moore (Argentina).

17:00-17:30: Keynote: “A One Health Perspective of Apicomplexan Parasites in Europe.” Speaker: Dr. Frank Katzer.

-17:30-19:00: Oral presentations and electronic posters.

Oral presentations:

17:30-17:45: OH1. Cryptosporidiosis of newborn calves in Argentina: overview and surprising findings. Presenting author: Schnittger, L.

17:45-18:00: OH2. Diagnostic biomarkers of Toxoplasma gondii early infection in experimentally infected sheep. Presenting author: Huertas-López, A.

E-posters:

OH3. Investigating transmission of Cryptosporidium parvum between Greylag geese and livestock. Presenting author: Hamilton, C.

OH4. Identification of Sarcocystis infecting the musculature of the invasive African green monkey in St Kitts. Presenting author: Freeman, M.

OH5. Detection and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in American minks (Neogale vison) introduced in Patagonia, Argentina. Presenting author: Runco, M. (*)

OH6. Survival of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in a semi-arid climate in northeastern Brazil. Presenting author: Ferreira Feitosa, T. (*)

OH7. Serological insights Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in free-ranging wild boar and Axis deer populations in Uruguay. Presenting author: Cabrera, A.

OH8. Molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium spp. from the intestine of synanthropic rodents from urban and peri-urban areas of La Plata, Argentina. Presenting author: Fitte, B.

OH9. Elucidating immune responses to Toxoplasma gondii in porcine skeletal muscle and neurons. Presenting author: Chandrasegaran, P. R. G. (*)

OH10. Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in slaughterhouse workers in the state of Paraíba, Brazil: epidemiological assessment and occupational risks. Presenting author: Ribeiro Vilela, V. L. (*)

OH11. Analysis of free-living seabirds from Brazil as potential hosts of Toxoplasma gondii. Presenting author: Chiebao, D.

 

-19:15: Welcome reception. Amau Hotel.

 

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

 

SESSION 2: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT

Chairs: Dr. Gastón Moré (Switzerland) and Dr. Alexandre Leitão (Portugal).

- 09:00-9:30: Keynote: "Apicomplexan parasites associated with reproductive losses in South America". Speaker: Dr. Germán Cantón (Argentina).

- 9:30-11:00: Oral presentations and electronic posters.

Oral presentations:

-9:30-9:45: EEI1. Confirmation of the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) as definitive host of Sarcocystis aucheniae under natural conditions by microscopy and molecular studies. Presenting author: Florin-Christensen M.

-9:45-10:00: EEI2. Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in muscles from wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Switzerland. Presenting author: Moré G.

E-posters (1^st part):

EEI3. Estimation of direct economic and productive losses due to abortions caused by Neospora caninum in the primary dairy sector of Uruguay. Presenting author: Carrillo Parraguez, M.

EEI4. Natural infection with Besnoitia akodoni (protozoa: Sarcocystidae) in synanthropic (Muridae) and wild (Cricetidae) rodents of Argentina. Presenting author: Bentancourt Rossoli, J. V. (*)

EEI5. Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected synanthropic (Muridae) and wild (Cricetidae) rodents from argentina. Presenting author: Bentancourt Rossoli, J. V. (*)

EEI6. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in retail meat from São Paulo megacity, Brazil. Presenting author: Chiebao, D.

EEI7. Molecular detection of agents transmitted by vector arthropods in buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) and associated ectoparasites in southeastern Brazil. Presenting author: Zacarias Machado, R.

EEI8. Molecular occurrence of Theileria parva in cattle and wild buffalos in Mozambique. Presenting author: Zacarias Machado, R.

EEI9. Bovine coccidiosis: retrospective study of 63 outbreaks at INTA Balcarce (1998-2024). Presenting author: Vilatuña, E. (*)

EEI10. Cryptosporidium spp. in outbreaks of bovine neonatal diarrhea registered at INTA Balcarce (2001-2023). Presenting author: Vilatuña, E. (*)

E- poster session continues after Session 5 (18:20-19:15 hs)

-11:00-11:30: Coffee break.

 

 

SESSION 3: DIAGNOSIS

Chairs: Dr. Lucía María Campero (Argentina) and Dr. Magdalena Rambeaud (Argentina).

-11:30-12:00: Keynote: "Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection: recent advances and a One Health approach". Speaker: Dr. Gema Álvarez García (Spain).

-12:00-13:30: Oral presentations and electronic posters.

Oral presentations:

-12:00-12:15: D1. Development of a real-time LAMP for the specific and sensitive detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in water samples. Presenting author: de Alba, P. (*)

-12:15-12:30: D2. Modernizing diagnosis of coccidiosis: challenges faced in adding molecular species differentiation and enumeration to OPG counts from litter or fecal samples. Presenting author: Lindo, D. P. (*)

E-posters:

D3. Cryptosporidiosis in dairy cattle from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Presenting author: Basset, C. M. (*)

D5. Development and validation of a new IgM-ELISA to detect anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep sera. Presenting author: Huertas-López, A.

D6. Exploring NcSAG1 and NcSRS2: Recombinant Proteins of Neospora caninum and their role in pathogenesis and diagnostics. Presenting author: Echeverría, S.

D7. First report of congenital toxoplasmosis in guanacos (Lama guanicoe) from Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina. Presenting author: Campero, L. M.

D8. Assessment of diagnostic techniques of bovine abortion by Neospora caninum at INTA Balcarce. Presenting author: Sosa, E. (*)

D9. A putative new Besnoitia species in the southern black-eared opossum Didelphis aurita. Presenting author: Moré, G.A.

D10. Detection of Sarcocystis capracanis and Sarcocystis hircicanis in goats from Argentina. Presenting author: Steffen, K. D.

-13:30-14:45: Lunch.

 

 

SESSION 4: TREATMENT AND CONTROL

Chairs: Dr. Pita Gondim (Brazil) and Dr. Dadin Prando Moore (Argentina)

-14:45-15:15: Keynote: “Current and potentially novel options for control of diseases caused by apicomplexans affecting farm animals.” Speaker: Dr. Andrew Hemphil (Switzerland).

-15:15-16:45 Oral presentations and electronic posters.

Oral presentations:

-15:15-15:30: TC1. Effects of the novel bumped kinase inhibitor BKI-1708 against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti: differences and similarities. Presenting author: Ferreira de Sousa, M.C. (*)

-15:30-15:45: TC2. Tartrolon E: a new drug candidate for Cryptosporidium parvum infections. Preliminary results. Presenting author: Fumuso, F.G. (*)

E-posters:

TC3. In vitro and in vivo activities of a trithiolato-diruthenium complex conjugated with sulfadoxine against the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Presenting author: Hänggeli, K.P.A. (*)

TC4. Marine compound tartrolon E rapidly blocks Toxoplasma gondii host cells invasion capacity without affecting viability, morphology, nor attachment capabilities. Presenting author: Fumuso, F.G. (*)

TC5. Repurposing of covid box and kinetic box to discover potential drugs against Besnoitia besnoiti infection. Presenting author: Álvarez, G.

TC6. Drug discovery against Sarcocystis neurona infection. Presenting author: Kubota, R.

TC7. Cryptosporidium specific IgY antibodies reduce severe diarrhea in an experimental calf model of infection and disease. Presenting author: Mira, A.

TC8. In vitro assessment of antimicrobial peptides as potential agents against Toxoplasma gondii. Presenting author: Amdouni, Y.

TC9. In vitro anticoccidial effect of naringenin and dehydrated grapefruit peel (Citrus x paradisi). Presenting author: Pérez-Fonseca, A.

TC10. Reduction of abortion rates in an Argentinean beef herd by culling Neospora caninum seropositive heifers. Presenting author: Moore, D.P.

TC12. Efficacy of a calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitor, BKI-1708 in animal infection models of Cryptosporidium. Presenting author: Ojo, K.K.

-16:45-17:15: Coffee break.

 

SESSION 5: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS

Chairs: Dr. Gema Alvarez García (Spain) and Dr. Andrea Dellarupe (Argentina).

-17:15-17:45: Keynote: “Ruminant models for tissue cysts-forming apicomplexan parasites: Reflections on the parasite and the host… and a plea for consistency.” Speaker: Dr. Luis Ortega Mora (Spain).

-17:45-18:30: Oral presentations and electronic posters.

 

Oral presentations:

-17:45-18:00: IVIVM1. Contrary to the accepted paradigm that type III Toxoplasma gondii strains show remarkable diversity of virulence degrees evaluated in a harmonized mouse model. Presenting author: Salas-Fajardo, M.Y. (*)

-18:00-18:15: IVIVM2. Differences in virulence and oocyst shedding profiles in lambs experimentally infected with different isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum. Presenting author: Bartley, P.

E-posters:

IVIVM 3. Experimental infection model in calves with C. parvum: infectious dose, diarrhea and oocyst excretion. Presenting author: Garro, C. (*)

-18:20-19:00: Epidemiology and economic impact (2^nd part)

EEI11. Sheep, Toxoplasma, and genetic diversity: insights from Uruguay. Presenting author: Tana-Hernández, L.

EEI12. Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in ruminants from Somalia. Presenting author: Barros, L.D.

EEI13. Neospora caninum congenital transmission and abortion rates in dairy and beef cattle of central Argentina (1998–2024). Presenting author: Cantón, G.

EEI14. Equine piroplasmisis: molecular detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Corrientes, Argentina. Presenting author: Ganzinelli, S. (*)

EEI15. PCR detection of cattle cyst-forming coccidian in fecal material of canids from    South-eastern Buenos Aires, Argentina. Presenting author: Soto Cabrera, A. (*)

 

 

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

 

SESSION 6: PARASITE-HOST INTERACTIONS AND PATHOGENESIS

Chairs: Dr. Juan M. Unzaga (Argentina) and Dr. Luis M. Ortega Mora (Spain).

-09:00-9:30: Keynote: “The role of dogs as definitive hosts of Neospora caninum and several other cyst-forming coccidian parasites.” Speaker: Dr. Pita Gondim (Brazil).

-9:30-11:00: Oral presentations and electronic posters.

Oral presentations:

-9:30-9:45: PHIP1. Identifying functional genomic variants and genes associated with Theileria infection in cattle. Presenting author: Powell, J.

-9:45-10:00: PHIP2. Early dynamics of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant sheep. Presenting author: Sánchez-Sánchez, R.

E-posters:

PHIP3. Cytokine expression in bovine fetuses spontaneously aborted by Neospora caninum. Presenting author: Sosa, E. (*)

PHIP4. Immune response differences in cattle breeds revealed by differential gene expression analysis following experimental Neospora caninum infection. Presenting author: Fiorani, F. (*)

PHIP5. An overexpression screen identifies interferon stimulated genes that control Toxoplasma gondii in porcine cells. Presenting author: Ungogo, M.A.

PHIP6. Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii non-archetypal isolates provide new insights into their phenotypic traits and confirm the laboratory adaptation phenomena. Presenting author: Ortega-Mora, L.M.

PHIP7. Exploring NCROP2 role in Neospora caninum virulence through transcriptomic analysis of bovine macrophages. Presenting author: Ortega-Mora, L.M.

PHIP8. Modulation of host cell membrane fluidity by Neospora caninum: a study using laurdan fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging. Presenting author: Cabrera, A.

-11:00-11:30: Coffee break.

SESSION 7: CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Chairs: Dr. María Eugenia Francia (Uruguay) and Dr. Lais Pardini (Argentina).

-11:30-12:00: Keynote: “Advances in population genetic studies of Toxoplasma gondii and their applications in the molecular epidemiology of toxoplasmosis". Speaker: Dr. Chunlei Su (USA).

-12:00-13:00: Oral presentations and electronic posters.

Oral presentations:

-12:00-12:15: CMB1. An iswi-related chromatin remodeler orchestrates parasite life cycle progression by insulating gene expression in a densely packed genome. Presenting author: Pachano, B. (*)

-12:15-12:30: CMB2. Neospora caninum invasion and replication are modulated by cathelicidins in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Presenting author: Fiorani, F. (*)

E-posters:

CMB3. Mitochondrial damage and il-1 production of monocyte by Neospora caninum infection is mediated by dense granule protein 7 and prohibitin. Presenting author: Nishikawa, Y.

CMB4. Innate immune response in Neospora caninum and BoAHV-1 co-infection: the interaction of TLRs and cathelicidins. Presenting author: Plá, N. (*)

CMB5. Virulence studies of Neospora caninum in goat trophoblast primary culture. Presenting author: Alvarez, B.E. (*)

-13:00-14:15: Lunch

 

SESSION 8: IMMUNOLOGY AND VACCINES

Chairs: Dr. M.C. Venturini (Argentina) and Dr. Andrew Hemphill (Switzerland).

-14:15-14:45: Keynote: “Modulating type and localization of adaptive immunity to improve protection against Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii.” Speaker: Dr. Alexandre Leitão (Portugal).

-14:45-16:15: Oral presentations and electronic posters.

Oral presentations:

-14:45-15:00: IV1. Evaluation of the humoral immune response of pigs immunized by intradermal and intramuscular routes with a multigene DNA vaccine (ROP18 + SAG1) against Toxoplasma gondii. Presenting author: García J.L.

-15:00-15:15: IV2. Development of next generation vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii. Presenting author: Nishikawa, Y.

E-posters:

IV3. Identification of conserved putative surface antigens expressed in infective stages of Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina through reverse vaccinology. Presenting author: Tomazic, M.

IV4. Immunization with plant-based vaccine expressing Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 fused to plant hsp90 elicits protective immune response in lambs. Presenting author: Campero, L.M.

E- posters: Epidemiology and economic impact (3^rd part)

OH12. Enhancing One Health outcomes: the importance of data structure and distribution. Presenting author: Helman, E. (*)

EEI16. Everything about neosporosis in Colombia. Presenting author: Rivas López, C. P. (*)

EEI17. Seroepidemiology of bovine neosporosis in the dairy herd at INTA Balcarce. Presenting author: García, C. E. (*)

EEI18. High prevalence cluster of Neospora caninum identified in the Mar y Sierras dairy basin, Argentina. Presenting author: Soto Cabrera, A. (*)

EEI20. Sarcocystis cysts burden distribution in striated muscles of lambs. Presenting author: Moore, D. P.

 

-16:15-16:45: Coffee break.

 

SESSION 9: BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS) AND EVOLUTION

Chairs: Dr. Chunlei Su (USA) and Dr. Frank Katzer (Scotland).

-16:45-17:15: Keynote: “From the Bench to the Field: Translating Functional Genomics Discoveries into Practical Solutions for the Productive Sectors.” Speaker: Dr. María Eugenia Francia (Uruguay).

-17:15-17:45: Oral presentations.

Oral presentations:

-17:15-17:30: BSE1. The tiny, but diverse, mitochondrial genomes of eimeriid and adeleorinid coccidia. Presenting author: Barta, J.R.

-17:30-17:45: BSE2. Genomic analyses of Goussia degiustii and Goussia leucisci, coccidian parasites infecting fish. Presenting author: Cohen, B. (*)

-18:30: Awards. Closing comments.

-20:30: Congress dinner. Land Plaza Hotel.

Oral Presentations and E-posters marked with (*) participate for the Junior Scientist Awards.