Guilherme Verocai

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Host-parasite interactions
• Helminthology
• Zoonoses & Public Health
• Zoo, Exotic and Wildlife Medicine

My research interests span from the biodiversity of helminth parasites to applied clinical and diagnostic veterinary parasitology. The main focus of my research is vector-borne and zoonotic nematodes of veterinary, public health, and wildlife health importance.

Verocai Research Lab: https://vetmed.tamu.edu/verocai-lab/

Agents of Disease I (VTPB925) to 1VMs

Agents of Disease II (VTPB930) to 2VMs

Clinical Diagnostic Rotation (VTPB 940) to 4VMs

Directed Studies (VTPB 485) – contact Dr. Verocai to check project availability or propose projects.

Resident/post doc

Dr. Caroline Sobotyk de Oliveira DVM, MS, PhD, Merck/National Center for Veterinary Parasitology resident

Doctoral degree:

Dr. Matthew R. Kulpa DVM MS, PhD student

DVM Student(s)

Kaitlyn Upton – Class of 2022

Undergraduate Student(s) & Intern(s):

Amanda Varner, 2020

Nathalia Nguyen 2019-2020

Selected Publications (for a more comprehensive list visit: TAMU Scholars profile: https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8b71b9ab/Persons/View%20All or my

ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guilherme_Verocai)

Roe, C.C.; Yaglom, H.; Howard, A.; Urbanz, J.; Verocai, G. G.; Andrews, L.; Harrison, V.; Barnes, R.; Lyons, T.; Bowers, J.R.; Engelthaler, D.M. Coyotes as reservoir for Onchocerca lupi, United States, 2015-2018. Emerging Infectious Diseases, v.26, n.12, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2612.190136

Verocai, G.G.; Hoberg, E.P.; Simard, M.; Beckmen, K.B; Musiani, M.; Wasser, S.K.; Cuyler, C.; Manseau, M.; Chaudhry, U.; Kashivakura, C. K.; Gilleard, J.S.; Kutz, S.J. Biogeography of the caribou lungworm, Varestrongylus eleguneniensis (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae) across northern North America. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, v. 11, p. 93-102, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.01.001

Verocai, G.G.; Chaudhry, U.N.; Lejeune, M. Diagnostic methods for detecting internal parasites of livestock Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, v. 36, n.1, p. 125-143, 2020. (Review). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.12.003

Sobotyk de Oliveira, C.; Savadelis, M.D.; MacLean, N.J.; Verocai, G.G. Assessing the cross-reactivity in a commercial heartworm ELISA kit of serum from dogs naturally infected with Onchocerca lupi. Veterinary Parasitology, v.280, 109070, 2020.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109070

Gogluizza, B.A.; Bauer, K.L.; Walsh, T.; Verocai, G.G.; Kinsella, J.M.; Cartoceti, A. Clinical Challenge: Diagnosis of coenurosis (Taenia serialis) in a Malagasy giant jumping rat (Hypogeomys antimena). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, v. 51, n. 2, p.461-465, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1638/2019-0142

Macedo, L.O.; Miranda, L.F.; Oliveira, J.C.P.; Ramos, C.A.N.; Verocai, G. G.; Carvalho, G.A.; Alves, L.C.; Ramos, R.A.N. Protostrongylus rufescens in goats from Brazil: morphological and molecular characterization. Small Ruminant Research, v. 182, p.11-14, 2020. ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2019.11.005

Barratt, J.; Lane, M.; Talundzic, E.; Ritchins, T.; Robertson, G.; Formenti, F.; Pritt, B.; Verocai, G.; Nascimento de Souza, J.; Soares, N.M.; Traub, R.; Buonfrate, D.; Bradbury, R.S. A global genotyping survey of Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides fuelleborni using deep amplicon sequencing. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 13(9): e0007609, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007609

Wulcan, J.M; Dennis, M.M.; Ketzis, J.K.; Bevelock, T.J.; Verocai, G.G. Strongyloides spp. in cats - a review of the literature and the genomic sequencing of S. stercoralis from colonic epithelial nodular hyperplasia in cats. Parasites & Vectors, v.12: 349, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3592-7

Balinsky, D.L.; Paras, K.L.; Hanna, R.; Elsemore, D.A.; Verocai, G. G. Parasite survey on a captive wolf population using classical techniques and ELISA coproantigen detection. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies & Reports, 16, 100285, 2019.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100285

Hoggard, K.R.; Jarriel, D.M.; Bevelock, T.J.; Verocai, G.G. Prevalence survey of gastrointestinal and respiratory parasites of shelter cats in northeastern Georgia, USA. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies & Reports, v.16, 100270, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100270

Catalano, S.; Bâ, K.; Diouf, N.; Léger, E.; Sène-Wade, M.; Verocai, G.G.; Webster, J. Rodents of West Africa and their role as intermediate hosts of larval cestodes (Taeniidae). Parasitology, 146, 299-304, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182018001427

Verocai, G.G.; Nelson, K.:  Callahan, R. T.; Hassan, H.K.; Wekesa, W.; Hoberg, E.P. A cryptic Onchocerca species (Nematoda; Onchocercidae) in black flies (Simulium spp.) from southern California, United States. Parasites & Vectors, v.11: 547, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3133-9

Verocai, G.G.; Kutz, S.J.; Hoberg, E.P. Varestrongylus (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae), lungworms of ungulates: A phylogenetic framework based on comparative morphology. Parasitology Research, v. 117(7), p. 2015-2083, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5893-8

Verocai, G.G.; Kutz, S.J.; Hoberg, E.P. Historical biogeography among species of Varestrongylus lungworms (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) in ungulates: Episodic expansion and host colonization linking Eurasia and North America. Parasitology Research, v. 117(7), p. 2125-2137, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5900-0

Paras, K.L.; Miller, L.; Verocai, G.G. Ectopic infection by Dioctophyme renale in a dog from Georgia, USA, and a review of cases of ectopic dioctophymosis in companion animals in the Americas. Submitted to Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies & Reports, v. 14, p. 111-116, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.09.008

Bortoluzzi, C.; Paras, K.L; Applegate, T.; Verocai, G.G. Comparison between McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC techniques for the enumeration of Eimeira maxima oocysts in poultry excreta. Veterinary Parasitology v. 254, p. 21-25, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.02.039

Williams, B.M.; Cleveland, C. A.; Verocai, G.G.; Swanepoel, L.; Niedringhaus, K. D.; Paras, K. L.; Nagamori, Y.; Little, S. E.; Varela-Stokes, A.; Nemeth, N.; Wyrosdick, H.; Tucker, A.; Deal, L.; Gauthier, D.; Prouty, S.; DeAngelo, C.; Marsh, A.; Piepgras, D.; Cook, L. H.; Milliren, K. B.; Becker, J. S.; Lyons, C.; Clark, J.; Stumph, J.; Borst, M.M.; Tucker, K.L.; Ward, A.; Baird, E.M.; Burke, K.A; Camp, J.W.; Davis, C.A.; Yabsley, M.J. Dracunculus infections in domestic dogs and cats in North America; an under-recognized parasite? Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies & Reports, v. 13, p. 148-155, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.05.005

Oliveira, P.C.; Moraes, P.A.; Scott, F.B.; Fernandes, J.I.; Verocai, G.G.; Correia, T.R. Efficacy of spinosad on the treatment of myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in dogs. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 258, p. 53-56, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.06.006

Verocai, G.G.; Hassan, H.K.; Lakwo, T.; Habomugisha, P.; Katabarwa, M., Bugumisa, S.; Clouds, P.; Katamanywa, J.; Nahabwe, C.; Unnasch, T.R. Molecular Identification of Onchocerca spp. larvae in Simulium damnosum sensu lato collected in Northern Uganda. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 97(6), p. 1843-1845, 2017. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0525

Kafle, P.*; Sullivan, J.*; Verocai, G.G.;* Simard, M.; Kutz, S.J. Experimental life-cycle of Varestrongylus eleguneniensis (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae) in reindeer and muskox. Journal of Parasitology, v. 103(5), p. 584-587, 2017. * Shared first authorship. https://doi.org/10.1645/17-19

Lefoulon, E.; Giannelli, A.; Makepeace, B.L.; Mutafchiev, Y.; Townson, S.; Uni, S.; Verocai, G.G.; Otranto, D.; Martin, C. Whence river blindness? The domestication of mammals and host-parasite coevolution in the nematode genus Onchocerca. International Journal for Parasitology, v.47, p. 457-470, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.12.009

Verocai, G.G.; McGaha, T.W., Iburg, J.P., Young, R.M., Katholi, C.R., Cupp, E.W., Noblet, R., Unnasch, T.R.  Identification of semiochemicals attractive to Simulium vittatum (IS-7). Medical and Veterinary Entomology, v.31, p.140-149, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12218

Verocai, G.G.; Conboy, G.; Lejeune, M.; Marron, F.; Hanna, P. MacDonald, E.; Skorobohach, B.; Wilcock, B.; Kutz, S.J.; Gilleard, J.S. Onchocerca lupi nematodes in dogs exported from the United States into Canada. Emerging Infectious Diseases, v.22, n.8, p.1477-1479, 2016. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2208.151918

Souza, C.P.; Torres, S.; Koch, S.N.; Rendahl, A.; Verocai, G.G. Can immunosuppressive therapy facilitate the diagnosis and affect the clinical signs of canine scabies? A retrospective study of 79 cases. Veterinary Dermatology, v.27, n.3, p.160-e40, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12312

Catalano, S.; Lejeune, M.; Tizzani, P.; Verocai, G.G.; Schwantje, H.; Nelson, C.; Duignan, P. J. Helminths of grizzly and black bears in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology, v.93, p.765-772, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2015-0063

Verocai, G.G.; Kutz, S.J.; Simard, M.; Hoberg, E.P. Varestrongylus eleguneniensis sp. n. (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae): a widespread, multi-host lungworm of North American ungulates, with an emended diagnosis for the genus. Parasites & Vectors, v.7, 557, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-014-0556-9

Verocai, G.G.; Hoberg, E.P.; Vikoren, T.; Handeland, K; Ytrehus, B.; Rezansoff, A.M.; Davidson, R.K.; Gilleard, J.S.; Kutz, S.J. Resurrection and redescription of Varestrongylus alces (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae), a lungworm of the Eurasian moose (Alces alces), with report on associated pathology. Parasites & Vectors, v.7, 556, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-014-0557-8

Kutz, S.J.; Hoberg, E.P.; Molnár, P.K.; Dobson, A.P.; Verocai, G.G. A Walk on the Tundra: Host-parasite interactions in an extreme environment. International Journal for Parasitology – Parasites and Wildlife, v.3, 198-208, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.01.002

Davidson, R.K; Amundsen, H.; Lie, N.O.; Luyckx, K.; Robertson, L.J.; Verocai, G.G.; Kutz, S.J.; Ytrehus, B. Sentinels in a climatic outpost: endoparasites in the introduced muskox (Ovibos moschatus) population of Dovrefjell, Norway. International Journal for Parasitology – Parasites and Wildlife, v.3, p.154-160, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.06.002

Catalano, S.; Lejeune, M.; Verocai, G.G.; Duignan, P.J. First report of Taenia arctos (Cestoda: Taeniidae) from grizzly (Ursus arctos horribilis) and black bears (Ursus americanus) in North America. Parasitology International, v.63, p.389-391, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2013.12.012

Verocai, G.G.; Lejeune, M.; Finstad, G. L.; Kutz, S.J. A Nearctic parasite in a Palearctic host: Parelaphostrongylus andersoni (Nematoda; Protostrongylidae) infecting semi-domesticated reindeer in Alaska. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, v.2, p.119-123, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.03.002

Verocai, G.G.; Schock, D. M.; Lejeune, M.; Warren, A.; Duignan, P. J.; Kutz, S.J. Oslerus osleri (Metastrongyloidea; Filaroididae) in gray wolves (Canis lupus) from Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, v.49,  n.2, p. 422-426, 2013. https://doi.org/10.7589/2012-07-186

Kutz, S.J.; Checkley, S.; Verocai, G.G.; Dumond, M.; Hoberg, E.P.; Peacock, R.; Wu, J.; Orsel, K.; Seegers, K.; Warren, A.; Abrams, A. Invasion, establishment, and range expansion of two protostrongylid nematodes in the Canadian Arctic. Global Change Biology, v.19, n. 11, p.3254-3262, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12315

McFrederick, Q.S.; Haselkorn, T.S.; Verocai, G.G.; Jaenike, J. Cryptic Onchocerca species infecting North American cervids, with implications for the evolutionary history of host association in Onchocerca. Parasitology, v.140, p.1201-1210, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182012001758

Verocai, G.G.; Lejeune, M.; Beckmen, K.B.; Kashivakura, C.K.; Veitch, A.M.; Popko, R.; Fuentealba, C.; Hoberg, E.P.; Kutz, S.J. Defining parasite biodiversity at high latitudes of North America: new host and geographic records for Onchocerca cervipedis (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) in moose and caribou. Parasites & Vectors, v.5, 242, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-5-242

Kutz, S.J.; Ducrocq, J.; Verocai, G.G.; Hoar, B.M.; Colwell, D.D.; Beckmen, K. B.; Polley, L.; Elkin, B. T.; Hoberg, E.P. Parasites in Arctic ungulates of North America and Greenland: A view of Contemporary Diversity, Ecology and Impact in a World under changes. Advances in Parasitology, v.79, p.99-252, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-398457-9.00002-0

Catalano, S.; Lejeune, M.; Liccioli, S.; Verocai, G.G.; Gesy, K. M.; Jenkins, E. J.; Kutz, S. J.; Fuentealba, C.; Duignan, P. J.; Massolo, A. Echinococcus multilocularis in urban coyotes, Alberta, Canada. Emerging Infectious Diseases, v.18, n.10, p.1625-1628, 2012.https://doi.org/10.3201/eid.1810.120119

Liccioli, S.; Catalano, S.; Kutz, S. J.; Lejeune, M.; Verocai, G.G.; Duignan, P. J.; Fuentealba, C.; Hart, M.; Ruckstuhl, K. E.; Massolo, A. Gastrointestinal parasites of coyotes (Canis latrans) in the Calgary Metropolitan Area, Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology, v.90, n.8, p.1023-1030, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1139/z2012-070

Verocai, G.G.; Tavares, P.V.; Ribeiro, F.A.; Correia, T.R.; Scott, F.B. Effects of disinfectants on Toxocara canis embryogenesis and larval establishment in mice tissue. Zoonoses and Public Health, v.57, n.7-8, p. e-213-e216, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01330.x