Alexander Tavella

I graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Vienna (Austria) and obtained my Doctorate from the same University (Institute of Breeding and Genetics). I undertook a postdoctoral specialization in Breeding, hygiene and pathology in aquatic species from the University of Padua (Italy). I currently work for the Diagnostic service of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe) in Bolzano (Department SCT6) where I coordinate the Laboratory for Clinical Serology and Technical Assistance. Since December 2018, I have been appointed as Director of the Structure SCT6 – Bolzano. In addition, I provide consultancy to professional operators specializing in pathologies of domestic ruminants. My research interests include infectious diseases with particular emphasis on viral and bacterial pathogens in livestock. Projects: • Study and application of a predictive model of the risk of intramammary infection during the dry period in dairy cows (National Project – O.U. Coordinator) in collaboration with the Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua (I) • Investigation of the prevalence and distribution of pathogens transmitted by ticks in goat farms and evaluation of the risk associated with the presence of Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) in raw milk and derived products (National Project – operative Unit Coordinator) in collaboration with the National Reference Centre for TBE, Rome (I) • Comparative study on the impact of Proliferative Kidney Disease (PKD) in wild salmonids in South Tyrol - Italy (National Project – Supervisor) in collaboration with the Clinic Unit of Fish Medicine, University Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Vetmeduni Vienna (A) • Application of innovative technologies for the development of an antibotulin vaccine for bovine species and evaluation of its effectiveness in the field (National Project – Operative Unit Coordinator) in collaboration with the National Reference Centre for Botulism, Rome (I) • Subclinical diagnosis of pseudotuberculosis caused by Corynebacterium pseudotubercolosis based on the use of indirect ELISA in the Province of Bolzano - Italy (National Project – Scientific Coordinator) • Investigation of the role and contribution of reared cattle to the maintenance and dissemination of human pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes clones (National Project – Operative Unit Coordinator) • Investigation of the main diseases in wild populations of Cyprinids in South Tyrol – Italy (National Project – Scientific Coordinator) in collaboration with the Clinic Unit of Fish Medicine, University Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Vetmeduni Vienna (A) • Integrated diagnostic approach for research, biomolecular characterization, and determination of the antibiotic resistance profile of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in pigs regularly slaughtered in the North-East of Italy ((National Project – Operative Unit Coordinator) in collaboration with the department of veterinary sciences and public health of the University of Padua (I) • Risk factors linked to the alpine multispecies farming system in the fight against CAEV in the autonoumous province of Bolzano (National Project – Scientific Coordinator) in collaboration with the Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern (CH) • Development of a mastitis surveillance program for dairy cattle herds (National Project – Operative Unit Coordinator) in collaboration with the department of veterinary sciences and public health of the University of Milan (I) • Detection and genotyping of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses in north-eastern Italy (National Project – Operative Unit Coordinator) in collaboration with the Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern (CH) • A pilot survey to identify presence of Cryptosporidium spp., Rotavirus group A, Coronavirus and E. coli K99/F5 in mountain small-medium sized dairy herds with and without neonatal diarrhoea history and to investigate herd and animal-level risk factors (National Project – Operative Unit Coordinator) in collaboration with the Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University (NL) • Prevalence and diagnosis of Neospora caninum in dairy cow herds in the province of Bolzano (National Project – Scientific Assistant)