History of the research line
Origin
The research line focused on emerging and re-emerging zoonoses, became a part of the research group in Veterinary Sciences, "Centauro" (COL0001262) in 2007, and simultaneously, opened enrolment for graduate students through the Institute of Biology at the Universidad de Antioquia , . Since that time, our scientists have worked in partnership with other research institutes of Antioquia (Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine - CES (ICMT) and, Colombia (Research Institute for Tropical Biology, IIBT, Universidad of Cordoba), the University of Sucre, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá). Internationally, this line has had the advice and logistical support of Dr. Silvana Levis, National Institute of Human Viral Diseases (INEVH), Pergamino, Argentina, Dr. Gustavo Valbuena, Jere McBride and Dr. Charles Fulhorst of the University of Texas Medical Branch UTMB, and Marcelo Labruna from the University of Sao Paulo.
Goals
The main focus of this research line has been to perform epidemiological studies on rodent-borne and tick-borne bacterial and viral diseases and accordingly we have carried out hunting and sampling of wild and domestic rodents in several regions of the department. In particular the Urabá gulf. We are also focusing on the public health consequences of these infections and accordingly, we have obtained human samples from patients with undifferentiated febrile syndromes, negative to malaria by blood smear, and consistent with hemorrhagic fevers and acute respiratory syndromes originated by both viral and bacterial agents.
Past and current grants
In 2009 the result of a minor project supported by the Committee for Research Development (CODI) of the University of Antioquia was published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygien, ("Prevalence of Leptospira spp. In Urban Rodents from to Groceries Trade Center of Medellin, Colombia", Piedad AgudeloFlórez, Andrés F. Londoño, Víctor H. Quiroz , Juan C. Ángel , Natalí Moreno , Erica T. Loaiza, Luis F. Muñoz, and Juan D. Rodas, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 81(5), 2009, pp. 906-910), and the last year the research line finished a 3-year project approved by Colciencias ("Search for Evidence of serological and genetic emergent and reemergent agents in humans and rodents in urban and rural Antioquia, Colombia, code 111534319203"), which led to the first genetic evidence of emerging and reemerging agents in urban and rural rodents in three regions of the northern department of Antioquia, Colombia. The results of this study represented a laureate Master thesis that was presented at several national and international events and was published in 2011 (Londoño AF et al, Genetic Evidence of Hantavirus Infections in Wild Rodents from Northwestern Colombia, 2011. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 11 (6): 701-708). Precisely, from the achievements of the latter study, the detection of genetic sequences of a Hantavirus from tissue samples of wild rodents in the village of "Las Chagas" Necoclí, Antioquia, Colombia, in 2011 the line gain further support to form a new PhD student with the project: "Isolation, characterization and epidemiological analysis of a hantavirus detected in Necocli, Colombia" (code 20113600114763), and the advice of Dr. Silvana Levis, National Institute of Human Viral Diseases (INEVH), Pergamino, Argentina, and Dr. Charles Fulhorst of the University of Texas Medical Branch, UTMB. Also in 2009, the research line of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses obtained funding from Colciencias to develop the project "Ecological study of endemicity by Rickettsia in Colombia" (Code: 111549326228), with the support of the national advisors Marylin Hidalgo of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Salim Mattar from the University of Córdoba), international advisors (Gustavo Valbuena from the University of Texas Medical Branch, UTMB, and Marcelo Labruna from the University of Sao Paulo), a doctoral student (U de A) and two master students, one from the U de A and the second one from the U of Cordoba. All the former, in order to be prepared for future outbreaks similar to those that occurred in the past 2006, 2007 and 2008 years in these regions. At the same time we pursue to develop the infrastructure that improves the knowledge of these neglected diseases in our country. As a result of the first two years on these work, we developed a new study based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programs, in order to identify geographic risk areas and to model and predict the possibility of future areas of outbreaks and promising research. In addition, during the last two years, we became also involved on the study of Ehrlichia and Rickettsia infection in dogs from urban veterinary hospitals (financed by Colciencias), and checking the rickettsia infection status of horses from an abattoir in the municipality of Rionegro (Antioquia) (supported by CODI, UdeA), in order to determine the likely role of these two species as sentinels for human infection. In these two grants there are two PhD students working the development of a baseline research for future ideas.
Expected outcomes
One of our main goals has been the transference of diagnostic technology and the standardization of serological and molecular lab tests for emerging agents. With the collaboration of researchers from Argentina (Dr. Silvana Levis, National Institute of Human Viral Diseases, INEVH, Pergamino), United States and Brazil we hope establish these tests to daily basis diagnosis as well as to apply them to the characterization of new and re-appearing infectious agents in order to determine their significance for human health. In the near future we help to contribute to the improvement of the outcome of viral and bacterial infections transmitted by reservoirs and clarify the situation regarding agents that might be involved in undifferentiated febrile syndromes or complex cases such as co-viral and bacterial infection (dengue, leptospira, rickettsia dengue, Hantavirus, leptospira, hantavirusRickettsia, etc). On the other hand, we expect that our studies will help to improve the infrastructure and logistics in health services, particularly of those areas which have these endemic/enzootic syndromes, and we will contribute to confront health emergencies such as those presented in the former years 2006-2008 in the northern coast of Colombia. Similarly, by isolating the causative agents of these syndromes and generating reagents for research and diagnoses of such agents in biosafety level 2 conditions, the country will be able to acquire "independence" of the continuing need for non-commercial material, which until now have been provided by international advisers. The lack of these reagents has been, among other reasons, one of the main difficulties for establishing a reference center of national standard for diagnosis of emerging infections and a drawback for the possibility of providing this service permanently, certify results, and provide advice to other groups and regions of Colombia.
Achievements
During the last nine years, ZEyRE has completed about 6 projects, with funding from Colciencias, Banco de la Republica and CODI (U de A) and has prepared 3 masters and has 6 PhD on their way, that a part of 3 different graduate programs at our institution (CCBB, Biology program and Animal Sciences). Besides, we have published at least a dozen of articles on international Q2 and Q1 journals and we have established a diagnostic service to support suspicious cases for rickettsiosis and Hantaviruses.
Future prospective
We plan to continue looking for rodent-borne and tick-borne agents, and find resources to work on new ideas about tick-borne and bat-borne viruses and sequence and compare phylogenetically the rickettsial isolates we have obtained on the last 4 years.