Man

Gerardo Alfredo Acosta Jamett

Full Professor

INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA PREVENTIVA VETERINARIA, FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS VETERINARIAS, UNIVERSIDAD AUSTRAL DE CHILE

Valdivia, Chile

Líneas de Investigación


1) Epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, 2) Disease ecology at the wildlife interface, and 3) Conservation of endangered species.

Experiencia Académica

  •   Profesor Part Time

    UNIVERSIDAD ANDRES BELLO

    Santiago, Chile

    2008 - 2008

  •   Profesor Asociado Full Time

    UNIVERSIDAD AUSTRAL DE CHILE

    Valdivia, Chile

    2009 - 2021

  •   Profesor Titular Full Time

    UNIVERSIDAD AUSTRAL DE CHILE

    Valdivia, Chile

    2022 - At present

Experiencia Profesional

  •   Huemul comnservation project leader Full Time

    National Forest Service

    Chile

    2000 - 2004

Formación de Capital Humano


Dr. Acosta have extensive experience in human capital training. He currently is mentoring a postdoc, two PhD students in Veterinary Sciences and two master students (Master in Microbiology and Master in Preventive Veterinary Medicine) at the Universidad Austral de Chile. Also has mentored eight Master and more than 20 undergraduate students in the U. of Edinburgh, U. of Sherbrooke, U. de Concepción and U. Austral de Chile from Chile, Colombia, Angola and Canada. Additionally, he has participated in many viva for PhD, Master and undergraduate thesis at the U. Austral de Chile, U. de Chile and U. Andres Bello in Chile. Finally, more than 30 vet students from different international institutions (eg. U. of California Davis, Virginia Tech, U. de Barcelona, U. Nacional Autónoma de México, U. de Guarulhos, U. Nacional de Asunción, U. of Buenos Aires), has been trained in his lab.


Difusión y Transferencia


Dr. Acosta has vast experience in disseminating and transferring his research findings. He has assisted different governmental and non-governmental organizations for transmitting his research findings on risk of diseases transmission from animals to humans, and from domestic animals to endangered species, among others. For instance, he has been leading projects to control hydatid diseases in Chile, disseminating the knowledge obtained in his research to the community. During these project web pages were created (eg. https://hidatidosischile.wordpress.com) and he was regularly interviewed in local and national media explaining results of his research (eg. http://www.eldivisadero.cl/noticia-43280).


Premios y Distinciones

  •   Forest fragmentation and risk of disease infection between domestic and wild carnivo-res in the rural interface in southern Chile

    FONDECYT

    Chile, 2010

    Project aimed to assess factors driving the disease transmission between domestic and wild carnivores in southern Chile. Main investigator. Fondecyt N° 11100303. 2010-2013. U$130,000.

  •   Human exposure to canine tick and flea-borne pathogens in different ecoregions of Chile and its presence in reservoirs and vectors

    FONDECYT

    Chile, 2010

    Project aimed to assess human and animal exposure to vector-borne pathogens in different regions across Chile. Fondecyt regular N° 1100809. Co-investigator. 2010-2013. U$216,000.

  •   Mitigation of conflict between livestock and wild carnivores: an strategy for reducing the socio-economic impact of livestock predation

    CORPORACION DE FOMENTO DE LA PRODUCCION

    Chile, 2011

    Project aimed to model variables that could explain predation upon livestock by wild and domestic carnivores in Chile. Main investigator. Innova Corfo. 2011-2014. U$285,000.

  •   Studies on Gurltlia paralysans, an emerging neuroparasite in domestic cats: morpho-logical, genetic, life cycle, epidemiological and diagnostic feature.

    FONDECYT

    Chile, 2012

    Project aimed to explore epidemiological and clinical features of an emerging parasite infections in domestic cats. Co-investigator. Fondecyt regular N° 1120481. 2012-2015. U$131,000.

  •   Understanding and modeling transmission dynamics of Leptospira in farm: Multiple Host-Multiple Strain interactions

    FONDECYT

    Chile, 2014

    Project aimed to model disease transmission of Leptospirosis at the farm level. Co-investigator. Fondecyt Nº 1141070. 2014-2017. U$ 258,000.

  •   Scrub typhus in south America: exploring the clinical and epidemiological characteris-tic of an emerging infectious disease in southern Chile

    FONDECYT

    Chile, 2017

    Project aimed to explore clinical and epidemiological features of an emerging infectious diseases in humans in South America. Co-investigator. 2017-2020. U$ 343,000.

  •   Biodiversity of bacterial metacommunities in ticks: Understanding the interaction of hosts and environment at the wildlife/domestic interface

    FONDECYT

    Chile, 2018

    Project aimed to assess differences in infection pattern by tick-borne diseases at the wildlife interface. Fondecyt regular Nº 1180119. Main investigator 2018-2021. U$ 264,000

  •   Molecular epidemiological studies on pathways of transmission and long lasting ca-pacity building to prevent cystic echinococcosis infection

    FONDO NACIONAL DE CIENCIA,TECNOLOGIA E INNOVACION

    Chile, 2018

    Consortium between 6 institutions from Italy, Spain, Argentina, Perú and Chile aimed to promote capacity building for controlling cystic echinococcosis in Latino America. EU-LAC Health. Director in Chile. 2018-2021. U$224,000

  •   Interspecies interactions and disease transmission dynamics between domestic and wild canids at the wildlife-domestic interface

    FONDECYT

    Chile, 2018

    Project aimed to explore disease transmission at the wildlife interface. Fondecyt posdoctorado Nº 3180111. Sponsor. 2018-2021. U$ 105,000

  •   Prevention and control of hydatidosis in Coyhaique, Aysen and Cochrane district, Aysen region.

    FNDR Aysen region

    Chile, 2016

    Project aimed to control domestic dog population and echinococcosis at the definitive host. Government of Aysen region. 2016-2017. U$ 780,000.

  •   Prevention and control of hydatidosis in Punitaqui, Monte Patria and Combarbala districts, Coquimbo region, Chile.

    FNDR Coquimbo region

    Chile, 2016

    Project aimed to control domestic dog population and echinococcosis at the definitive host. Government of Coquimbo region. 2016-2017. U$ 778,000.


 

Article (82)

Eco-epidemiology of rodent-associated trombiculid mites and infection with Orientia spp. in Southern Chile
Gastrointestinal parasites in wild rodents in Chiloe Island-Chile
Influence of habitat alteration on the structure of helminth communities in small mammals: a systematic review and critical appraisal of theory and current evidence
Performance estimation of two in-house ELISA assays for COVID-19 surveillance through the combined detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA, IgM, and IgG immunoglobulin isotypes
Development of a new genus-specific quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the diagnosis of scrub typhus in South America.
Development of a New Genus-Specific Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay for the Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus in South America
Large-scale survey for canine vector-borne parasites in free-ranging dogs and foxes from six diverse bioclimatic regions of Chile
Prevalence rate and risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis: A cross-sectional, community-based, abdominal ultrasound study in rural and urban north-central Chile
Chigger Mites (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) of Chiloe Island, Chile, With Descriptions of Two New Species and New Data on the Genus Herpetacarus
Domestic Dogs and Wild Foxes Interactions in a Wildlife-Domestic Interface of North-Central Chile: Implications for Multi-Host Pathogen Transmission
Genetic diversity and kinship relationships in one of the largest South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) populations of the Pacific Ocean
Mapping the distribution and risk factors of Anaplasmataceae in wild and domestic canines in Chile and their association with Rhipicephalus sanguineus species complex lineages
Novel Vector of Scrub Typhus in Sub-Antarctic Chile: Evidence From Human Exposure
Provision of straw and the presence of undocked lambs reduce the behavioural and physiological expressions of pain and stress associated with tail docking in lambs: a preliminary study
Scrub typhus in Tierra del Fuego: a tropical rickettsiosis in a subantarctic region
Survey of Trichinella in American minks (Neovison vison Schreber, 1777) and wild rodents (Muridae and Cricetidae) in Chile
Widespread Infection with Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Free-Ranging Dogs and Wild Foxes Across Six Bioclimatic Regions of Chile
Human seroepidemiology of Rickettsia and Orientia species in Chile - A cross-sectional study in five regions
Identification of trombiculid mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) on rodents from Chiloé Island and molecular evidence of infection with Orientia species
Molecular Description of a Novel Orientia Species Causing Scrub Typhus in Chile
Molecular description of a novel Orientia species causing scrub typhus in South America
Molecular Detection ofGurltia paralysansby Semi-Nested PCR in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Samples from Domestic Cats (Felis catus)
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Antibodies to Anaplasma spp. in Chile: A Household-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Healthy Adults and Domestic Dogs
Spatial epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis in livestock from a hyper-endemic region in southern Chile
Echinococcus granulosus in the Endangered Patagonian Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus)
How many species of grey foxes (Canidae, carnivora) are there in Southern South America? [¿cuántas especies de zorros grises (Canidae, carnivora) hay en el sur de sudamérica?]
Scrub Typhus in Continental Chile, 2016-2018
Scrub typhus risk in travelers to southern Chile
Canine seroprevalence to Orientia species in southern Chile: A cross-sectional survey on the Chiloe A Island
Description of gastrointestinal parasitism through coprologic survey in Darwin's fox, Lycalopex fulvipes (Martin 1837), and kodkod, Leopardus guigna (Molina 1782), in Chiloe island, Chile
Distinguishing Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotypes G1 and G3 with confidence: A practical guide
Effects of short transport and prolonged fasting in beef calves
Global phylogeography and genetic diversity of the zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1
Tifus de los matorrales, una enfermedad emergente en Chile
Análisis de la hidatidosis humana en la Región de Coquimbo entre los años 2008 y 2012
Head-to-head comparison of Microflex LT and Vitek MS systems for routine identification of microorganisms by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in Chile.
High intraspecific variability of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto in Chile.
New mitogenome and nuclear evidence on the phylogeny and taxonomy of the highly zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto.
Occurrence of canine hemotropic mycoplasmas in domestic dogs from urban and rural areas of the Valdivia Province, southern Chile.
Absence of convincing evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in Chile=> a cross-sectional serosurvey among healthy adults in four different regions.
Andrographis paniculata decreases fatigue in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a 12-month double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study.
El Nino Southern Oscillation drives conflict between wild carnivores and livestock farmers in a semiarid area in Chile
Epidemiological description of human and animal hydatidosis in Los Rios region, 1999-2009
Erratum to=> First meeting "Cystic echinococcosis in Chile, update in alternatives for control and diagnostics in animals and humans".
First meeting "Cystic echinococcosis in Chile, update in alternatives for control and diagnostics in animals and humans".
Flea and ticks species from dogs in urban and rural áreas in four regions in Chile
Genetic diversity and phylogeography of highly zoonotic Echinococcus granulosus genotype G1 in the Americas ( Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico) based on 8279 bp of mtDNA
Prevalence, risk factor analysis, and hematological findings of hemoplasma infection in domestic cats from Valdivia, Southern Chile
Echinococcus granulosus infection in foxes in Coquimbo region, Chile
Epidemiology of canine distemper and canine parvovirus in domestic dogs in urban and rural areas of the Araucanía region in Chile.
Increased dog population and potential for bat-borne rabies spillover in Chile in response to "Dog management, abundance and potential for bat-borne rabies spillover in Chile" by Astorga et al. [Prev. Vet. Med. 118: 397-405].
Native forest replacement by exotic plantations triggers changes in prey selection of mesocarnivores
Serosurvey of canine distemper virus and canine parvovirus in wild canids and domestic dogs at the rural interface in the Coquimbo region, Chile
Spinal cord lesions in a cat infected with Gurltia paralysans
Prevalence and risk factors for echinococcal infection in a rural area of northern Chile: A household-based cross-sectional study
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Echinococcal Infection in a Rural Area of Northern Chile: A Household-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Recommenda-tions for Chilean travelers to the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil
Challenges encountered during the veterinary disaster response: An example from Chile
Characteristics of a canine distemper virus outbreak in Dichato, Chile following the February 2010 earthquake
CLINICAL, IMAGING, AND PATHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF GURLTIA PARALYSANS MYELOPATHY IN DOMESTIC CATS FROM CHILE
Detection of Rickettsia andeanae in two regions of Chile
Detection of Rickettsia andeanae in two regions of Chile
Review of the risks of some canine zoonoses from free-roaming dogs in the post-disaster setting of Latin America
Rickettsia felis in Rhipicephalus sanguineus from Two Distant Chilean Cities
A Third Amblyomma Species and the First Tick-Borne Rickettsia in Chile
Free stall design and dimensions on dairy farms in southern Chile, and its relationship with cow comfort
Gurltia paralysans (Wolffhugel, 1933): Description of adults and additional case reports of neurological diseases in three domestic cats from southern Chile
Salmonellosis outbreaks and the size and role of the Chilean State
Urban domestic dog populations as a source of canine distemper virus for wild carnivores in the Coquimbo region of Chile
Comparison of chemical immobilization methods in wild foxes (Pseudalopex griseus and Pseudalopex culpaeus) in Chile
Demography of domestic dogs in rural and urban areas of the Coquimbo region of Chile and implications for disease transmission
Echinococcus granulosus infection in domestic dogs in urban and rural areas of the Coquimbo region, north-central Chile
Echinococcus granulosus infection in humans and livestock in the Coquimbo region, north-central Chile
Immobilization of kodkod (Oncifelis guigna) with ketamine-xylazine
Environmental catastrophe induce a decline in the endan-gered northernmost Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) deer population in central Chile
Habitat use by Oncifelis guigna and Pseudalopex culpaeus in a fragmented forest landscape in central Chile
A metapopulation approach to asses survival of Oncifelis guigna in fragmented forest in central Chile: a theoretical model
Conservando biodiversidad en tierras privadas: el ejemplo de los carnívoros
Spatial organization, ranging behaviour and habitat utilization of the Oncifelis guigna in southern Chile
Uso del habitat, actividad y dieta de la guiña (Oncifelis guigna) en el Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael, XI región, Chile
Ecology of the kodkod in Laguna San Rafael National Park, Chile
Guía de huellas de once especies de mamíferos del bosque templado chileno

Proyecto (28)

Unraveling the ecological and epidemiological aspects of scrub typhus (Orientia chiloensis) in Chile
Unraveling the effect of global change on disease emergence for sustainable health
What drives the use of urban areas by wild carnivores? Testing the interference competition hypothesis
Living in a stressful environment: dynamic of health in Phyllotis darwini and assessment of biotic, abiotic and social factors at the wildlife interface
Active surveillance system of COVID-19 in high risk people under different prevalences scenarios in southern Chile
Conociendo los vectores de Orientia sp.: vigilancia epidemiológica de una enfermedad emergente en Chile
Sistema de Vigilancia Activa en Población de Alto Riesgo Bajo Distintos Escenarios de Prevalencia a COVID-19 de la Macrozona Sur
Understanding the emergence and the spread dynamics of antibiotic resistance determi-nants in Campylobacter jejuni in food of animal origin, companion animals and the environment in Chile
VIGIA: Epidemiological control program of COVID-19. Los Rios Government, Chile
Biodiversity of bacterial metacommunities in ticks=> Understanding the interaction of hosts and environment at the wildlife/domestic interface
Interspecies interactions and disease transmission dynamics between domestic and wild canids at the wildlife-domestic interface. Posdoctoral position. Fondecyt-Chile. Sponsor. 2018-2021.
Molecular epidemiological studies on pathways of transmission and long lasting capacity building to prevent cystic echinococcosis infection
Scrub typhus in south America: exploring the clinical and epidemiological characteristic of an emerging infectious disease in southern Chile
Servicio de control de la población canina en las comunas de Coyhaique, Aysén y Cochrane y seguimiento del patrón epidemiológico de la enfermedad en dichas comunas.
Prevención y control de la hidatidosis/equinococosis en las comunas de Punitaqui, Monte Patria y Combarbalá, provincia de Limarí, región de Coquimbo
Prevención y control de la hidatidosis/equinococosis en las comunas de Punitaqui, Monte Patria y Combarbalá, provincia de Limarí, región de Coquimbo. . Investigador Responsable. 2015-2017. $ 485.936.000.
TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS OF LEPTOSPIRA WITHIN-FARM=> UNDERSTANDING AND MODELLING THE EFFECTS OF SOME HOSTS ON LEPTOSPIRA DYNAMICS AND MULTIPLE HOST-MULTIPLE STRAIN INTERACTIONS.
ARTHROPOD BORNE DISEASES IN CHILE=> EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN HUMAN AND CANINE HOSTS
STUDIES ON GURLTLIA PARALYSANS, AN EMERGING NEUROPARASITE IN DOMESTIC CATS=> MORPHOLOGICAL, GENETIC, LIFE CYCLE, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES
Mitigación del conflicto entre la ganadería y los depredadores silvestres=> una estrategia para reducir el impacto socio-económico de las pérdidas por depredación
Estudio del estado sanitario del guanaco (Lama guanicoe) bajo manejo, en el área de interfase con el ganado doméstico ovino en Tierra del Fuego
Evaluación de la interacción entre el puma (Puma concolor) y la ganadería en la provincia de Choapa, región de Coquimbo
FOREST FRAGMENTATION AND RISK OF DISEASE INFECTION BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND WILD CARNIVORES IN THE RURAL INTERFACE IN SOUTHERN CHILE.
HUMAN EXPOSURE TO CANINE TICK AND FLEA-BORNE PATHOGENS IN DIFFERENT ECOREGIONS OF CHILE AND ITS PRESENCE IN RESERVOIRS AND VECTORS
Influencia de la fragmentación de hábitat sobre helmintos gastrointestinales de carnívoros silvestres en los bosques nativos de Chile Central.
Promoting the conservation of kodkod through a combination of ecological epidemiological and sociological research in the fragmented forests of central Chile. Investigador responsable.
Estudio de prevalencia de hidatidosis humana y equinococosis canina en localidades de sector rural de la provincia del Limarí, región de Coquimbo.
HERBIVORY AND FOREST FRAGMENTATION=> A TEMPERATE/TROPICAL COMPARISON

PuntoDeVista (1)

Brotes de salmonelosis y el tamaño y rol del Estado en Chile
58
Gerardo Acosta

Full Professor

INSTITUTO DE MEDICINA PREVENTIVA VETERINARIA, FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS VETERINARIAS, UNIVERSIDAD AUSTRAL DE CHILE

Valdivia, Chile

8
Thomas Weitzel

Head Travel Medicine Program

UNIVERSIDAD DEL DESARROLLO

Santiago, Chile

7
Constanza Martinez

Investigador asistente

Enfermedades infecciosas e inmunologia pediatrica

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

6
KATIA ABARCA

Profesor Titular

Pediatría

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

SANTIAGO, Chile

4
Felipe Hernández

Postdoctoral Investigator

Instituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria

Universidad Austral de Chile

Valdivia, Chile

3
Claudio Verdugo

Academico

Universidad Austral de Chile

Valdivia, Chile

2
Carlos Landaeta

Profesor Asistente

Facultad de Cs. Veterinarias, Dpto. Patología y Medician Preventiva

Universidad de Concepción

Chillán, Chile

1
Francisco Morera

Assistant Professor

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Manuel Moroni

Académico

Instituto de Patología Animal

Universidad Austral de Chile

Valdivia, Chile

1
Maria Vial

Associate Professor/Profesor Asociado

Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación de Medicina

UNIVERSIDAD DEL DESARROLLO

Santiago, Chile

1
Lucila Moreno

Associate Professor

Zoology

UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCIÓN

Concepción, Chile

1
Jenniffer Angulo

Asistente de Investigación

Pediatría e Inmunologia Pediátrica

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Pablo Saenz

Associate Professor

Facultad de Ciencias

Universidad Austral de Chile

Valdivia, Chile

1
rené ortega

Profesor Asistente

UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION

chillan, Chile

1
Jeannette Dabanch

Medico Infectóloga

Medicina Interna Nortee

Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Cecilia Perret

Jefa de departamento

Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología Pediátrica

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Tania Junod

Docente de Planta

Universidad Santo Tomás

Concepcion, Chile

1
Ananda Müller

Jefe Sector - Laboratorio de Patología Clínica Veterinaria - Hospital Veterinario

UACh

Valdivia, Chile

1
Marisa Torres

Profesor Asistente

Public Health

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Pablo Oyarzún

Profesor Asistente

Departamento de Microbiología

Universidad de Concepción

Concepción, Chile

1
Cristian Larrondo

Académico Investigador

Universidad de Las Américas

Viña del Mar, Chile