Dr Dantas-Torres to receive WSAVA One Health Award
Dr Filipe Dantas-Torres.

Brazilian parasitologist honoured for leishmaniasis work.

Dr Filipe Dantas-Torres has been announced as the recipient of this year's World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) One Health Award.

Based in Brazil, Dr Dantas-Torres is the president of the Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites (TroCCAP), and is recognised for his work campaigning against the killing of dogs infected with canine leishmanasis.

Leishmaniasis, caused by a protozoan parasite is a zoonotic disease, which can cause skin and organ infection. The disease is prevalent in South America, but in Brazil, vaccines are available.

Dr Dantas-Torres is working to educate veterinary professionals and stakeholders in Latin America that community-wide repellent use and vaccination should be used to control leishmaniasis, instead of culling affected dogs.

Chair of the WSAVA One Health Committee, Dr Michael Lappin, explained why Dr Dantas-Torres was selected for the award: “The work that Dr Dantas-Torres is completing epitomizes the mission of the WSAVA One Health Committee. 

“He has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of dogs and their owners and his work is impactful around the world.”

A researcher in the Department of Immunology, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Recife, Dr Dantas-Torres is an EBVS Veterinary Specialist in Parasitology, and holds a Masters degree in Public Health, a PhD in Public Health and a PhD in Animal Health and Zoonosis.

Alongside this work, Dr Dantas-Torres is editor-in-chief of Parasites and Vectors, and a director of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology.

On hearing of his award, Dr Dantas-Torres said: “I am thrilled to receive this prestigious award from the WSAVA One Health Committee. It recognizes the efforts of many people I have had the pleasure to work with. 

“I dedicate this award to pet owners who lost their dogs during the visceral leishmaniasis control program in Brazil and other endemic countries.”

The award will be presented at the WSAVA World Congress, taking place at the end of October in Lima, Peru. Dr Dantas-Torres will give an award lecture at the congress, titled 'Challenges and opportunities for tackling companion vector-borne diseases in Latin America'. 

 

Image (C) World Small Animal Veterinary Association