Gabriel Andrés Tafur Gómez

GRUPOS DE INVESTIGACIÓN: CIENCIA ANIMAL

LÍNEAS DE INVESTIGACIÓN:   Salud Humana y Animal y Sostenibilidad Ambiental

 

PROGRAMA:  Medicina Veterinaria

CATEGORÍA MINCIENCIAS:    Junior

NIVEL DE FORMACIÓN: 

Docente de Tiempo Completo de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias e Investigador del Grupo de Investigación en Ciencia Animal (COL0009761). Es Médico Veterinario y Zootecnista graduado de la Universidad del Tolima – Colombia, con formación de Magister en Ciencias Veterinarias y Doctor en Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidade Federal de Viçosa – Brasil. Tiene demostrada experiencia investigativa en el campo de la inmunoparasitología y microbiología veterinaria, quien en colaboración con grupos a nivel internacional ha conducido importantes investigaciones dirigidas a desarrollar inmunógenos sintéticos y recombinantes para el diagnóstico y control de parásitos y rickettsias así como moléculas de actividad antimicrobiana. Cuenta con destacada experiencia en el desarrollo de vacunas recombinantes contra garrapatas e inventor de una vacuna contra la garrapata Rhipicephalus (B) microplus que tiene patente internacional. Del mismo modo el Dr. Tafur ha sido colaborador de importantes investigaciones conducentes a la solicitud de patentes para el diagnóstico de la Leishmaniasis en caninos y las infecciones bacterianas que aquejan a la avicultura participando como coautor en los artículos de ambos hallazgos. El Dr. Tafur acredita 10 años de experiencia docente Universitaria, siendo docente de las materias de parasitología, enfermedades parasitarias, inmunología veterinaria, inmunología avanzada, biología molecular, biología celular y molecular, investigación y epistemología de la investigación. También ha dirigido y evaluado trabajos de pregrado y posgrado en los temas de parasitología e inmunología veterinaria y es par evaluador reconocido por Colciencias. En la actualidad el Dr. Tafur se encuentra realizando una investigación que busca obtener nuevos candidatos vacúnales para el control de la garrapata Rhipicephalus sanguineus.

LINEAS DE TRABAJO:   Desarrollo de inmunogenos para el control de garrapatas

PRODUCTOS DESTACADOS

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Leptospira spp. in small ruminants of semi-arid zone in northeastern Colombia
Fecha de publicación: 28/02/2022

Leptospirosis in small ruminants is an economically important disease that causes important losses by pathologies of the reproductive tract. The present study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira spp. in small ruminants under traditional husbandry systems. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in a sample of 1039 animals which included 793 sheep and 245 goats from 49 farms of 10 municipalities of northeastern areas of Colombia. The MAT test using a panel of 13 laboratory serovars was performed to diagnose the Leptospira spp. antibodies in the serum samples of animals. A structured questionnaire was filled in each farm to obtain information on putative risk factors, and its association with Leptospira spp. infection was detected by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The general seroprevalence showed a rate of 13.9%, the 79.6% of farms showed at least one positive animal, the 14.2% and 0.4% of positive animals showed titers ≥ 1:100 and 1:200, respectively. The seroprevalence in sheep and goats showed a rate of 13.1% and 16.2%, respectively. The most common serovars in positive animals were Autumnalis (3.6%), Tarassovi (3.4%), Bratislava (2.9%), Mini (2.9%), Bataviae (1.4%), Canicola (0.3%), and Grippotyphosa (0.3%). The univariate and multivariate analysis showed as risk factors the absence of housing system (OR = 3.412 CI: 1.347–8.152), the absence of quarantine measures to new animals (OR = 1.371 CI: 0.943–1.978), and the protective factor identified was the use of Toggenburg breed (OR = 0.571 CI: 0.249–1.074). This exploratory study showed the Leptospira spp. positive small ruminants located in the northeastern areas of Colombia with titer associated with chronic and subclinical infection.


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Genetic diversity and population structure of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato across different regions of Colombia
Fecha de publicación: 23/08/2021

There has been a long-standing debate over the taxonomic status of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Different studies worldwide have reported the occurrence of different well-defined lineages, in addition to Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto. To date, there are very few studies examining the diverse aspects of this tick in Colombia. We assessed the population structure and genetic diversity of R. sanguineus s.l. in eight departmental regions across Colombia.


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Cattle seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine viral diarrhea in the northeastern of Colombia
Fecha de publicación: 29/06/2021

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is one of the most common and economically significant viral infections in cattle. Different risk factors have been associated with viral exposure and transmission, generating endemic regions with different biotype circulations. To find the BVD status in the northeastern region of Colombia, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with the disease in non-vaccinated farms. For this purpose, a two-time point sampling strategy was developed, obtaining serum from 1157 animals housed in 25 farms distributed in 46 townships, thus for antibody detection against nonstructural protein 3 (NS3, p80) of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) using an indirect ELISA test. For the first time in Colombia, the presence of serological persistent cattle was evaluated in 1047 animals 3 weeks later of first sampling. The information on a standardized questionnaire with closed and dichotomic answers was used to calculate the putative risk factors. The association analysis by univariate and multivariate logistic regression reported odds ratios (OR) with a 95% of confidence interval (C.I). The overall seroprevalence was 65% (95% CI 62.5–72.9%), with variations according to age ranges. The prevalence of persistent serological positive corresponded to 37.7% (95% CI 34.2–41.5). The risk factors found by multivariate analyses were the lease of pastures (OR = 2.071 CI 1.485–3.690), the use of the same needle (OR = 2.249 CI 1.354–3.736), the molasses supplementation (OR = 2.742 CI 1.156–5.807), and the native Creole breed (OR = 1.895 CI 1.416–2.804). The results of this study confirmed the endemism and higher common exposure to BVDV, as well as the presence of serological persistent cattle in Valledupar, Colombia.


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Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants in northeastern areas of Colombia: Seroprevalence and risk factors
Fecha de publicación: 28/03/2020

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Antimicrobial and Synergistic Activity of 2,2′,4-Trihydroxybenzophenone Against Bacterial Pathogens of Poultry
Fecha de publicación: 20/05/2019

In poultry farming, the spread of bacterial pathogens results in disease outbreaks causing significant economic losses to this industry. Many of these pathogenic bacteria are zoonotic and have a substantial impact on public health. Antimicrobials are essential for the prevention and treatment of these bacterial infections. However, the indiscriminate use of these agents provides favorable conditions for selection, propagation and persistence of bacteria and development of antimicrobial resistance. We developed a new antimicrobial candidate that could be used alone or in synergy with research protocols for therapeutic, prophylactic and growth promoter uses in the poultry industry. The present study aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of the synthetic compound 2,2′,4-trihydroxybenzophenone against pathogenic bacteria that cause important diseases in poultry and public health. We tested the hemolytic effect of this compound, studied its synergistic effect with conventional antimicrobials and analyzed the site of action on the bacteria. The results of our study showed antimicrobial activity of benzophenone against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with a similar effect in ATCC (American type culture collection) and field isolates. This compound was non-hemolytic. 2,2′,4-trihydroxybenzophenone acted on the bacterial cell wall. We identified the synergistic effect between 2,2′,4-trihydroxybenzophenone and bacitracin, this effect indicate that antimicrobial synergism may be useful for the treatment of necrotic enteritis in poultry. This compound may also be used as a growth promoter by reducing the dose of bacitracin and thus decreasing the pressure of bacterial resistance in poultry which would circumvent the development of cross-resistance in humans.


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