Ines Balestrino

Self-presentation:

Ines is a veterinarian doctor with experience in the clinical field of internal medicine, research teams, and emergency medicine, also specialized in Infectious Diseases, Prophylaxis And Veterinary Police. She is currently affiliated with the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production of the University of Naples Federico II, where she carries out research in the field of canine and feline leishmaniosis.

Project:

Expand the existing literature on the epidemiology, detection, and therapeutic monitoring of feline leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a chronic parasitic infectious disease with zoonotic characteristics, caused by various species of the genus Leishmania. It is endemic in 88 countries, with over 350 million people at risk of infection. The pathogen is known to have the dog as its primary reservoir; however, in recent decades, with the increasing number of clinical cases reported, greater attention has also been directed towards the feline species. Therefore, this research project aims to improve the current data on the epidemiology, detection, and therapeutic monitoring of clinical cases of feline leishmaniasis.

Supervisior:

Prof. Gaetano Oliva, University of Naples Federico II, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production