Adriano Vatta (avatta@scsrpc.org)                                                                

Position

Postdoctoral Research Associate
 

Institution

Department of Infectious Diseases
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
501 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
 

Education

2008: PhD (Rural Resource Management), University of KwaZulu-Natal.
2001: MSc (Veterinary Sciences), University of Pretoria.
1998: BVSc, University of Pretoria.
 

Professional Experience

May 2011 to present: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Georgia, USA.
January 2009 to April 2011: Assistant Professor of Parasitology, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Saint Kitts.
April 2001 to December 2008: Senior Researcher in the Division of Parasitology (Helminthology), ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.
August 1998 to March 2001: Veterinary Researcher in the Division of Parasitology (Helminthology), ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.
 

Current Interests

The primary focus of my research has been the control of Haemonchus contortus, the barber pole worm. The work I have conducted has comprised:

1) Examining the viability of the symptomatic treatment of anaemic animals as a strategy to manage haemonchosis in goats. This included the validation of the FAMACHA© system for use in goats. The system comprises the use of a colour chart to identify anaemic animals in need of anthelmintic treatment. While the system was originally developed for use in sheep, I played an integral role in the validation of the system for use under small-scale farming conditions in goats in both South Africa and the USA.

2) Examining the interaction between the nutritional status of the host, gastro-intestinal parasitism and anthelmintic treatments. This included evaluating protein supplementation of goats as a means of combating parasitism and dry-season nutritional stress. It also comprised an examination of the tactical and symptomatic use of conventional anthelmintics and evaluation of alternatives to these, such as copper oxide wire particles and the use of plant preparations.

3) A further focus of my research has been aimed at describing and understanding the small-scale farming systems in which I have worked, and the development of information materials for use in extension work at community level. The work has assessed the uptake of information by the target audience (small-scale farmers) and its impact within their farming systems. Outputs from various projects have included manuals, booklets and videos, but the research has also examined the use of on-farm studies as vehicles in themselves in the dissemination of information.

During 2009 and 2010, I gained experience teaching veterinary parasitology at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts where the aim is to prepare students to practice veterinary medicine in North America. I am currently pursuing postdoctoral experience in research into anthelmintic resistance from both the clinical and molecular aspects.
 

Recent Publications

VATTA, A.F., WALLER, P.J., GITHIORI, J.B. & MEDLEY, G.F., 2009 The potential to control Haemonchus contortus in indigenous South African goats with copper oxide wire particles. Veterinary Parasitology, 162, 306-313.

VATTA, A.F., DE VILLIERS, J.F., GUMEDE, S.A., MAPEYI, N.P., HARRISON, L.J.S., PEARSON, R.A., KRECEK, R.C., RIJKENBERG, F.H.J., & WORTH, S.H., 2008 Participation of Zulu farmers in a goat health research and extension project in South Africa. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 15(3), 81-93.

VATTA, A.F., KRECEK, R.C., PEARSON, R.A., SMITH, M.F., STENSON, M.O., VAN WIJK, E.F. & HARRISON, L.J.S., 2008 Relative economic benefits of tactical anthelmintic treatment and urea-molasses block supplementation of Boer goats raised under extensive grazing conditions at Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 75, 237-247.

BURKE, J.M., KAPLAN, R.M., MILLER, J.E., TERRILL, T.H., GETZ, W.R., MOBINI, S., VALENCIA, E., WILLIAMS, M.J., WILLIAMSON, L.H. & VATTA, A.F., 2007 Accuracy of the FAMACHA system for on- farm use by sheep and goat producers in the southeastern United States. Veterinary Parasitology, 147, 89-95.

GONZÁLEZ, L.M., FERRER, E., SPICKETT, A., MICHAEL, L.M., VATTA, A.F., GÁRATE, T., HARRISON, L.J.S & PARKHOUSE, R.M.E., 2007 The Taenia saginata homologue of the major surface antigen of Echinococcus spp. is immunogenic and 97% identical to its Taenia solium homologue. Parasitology Research, 101, 1541- 549.

VATTA, A.F., DE VILLIERS, J.F., GUMEDE, S.A., KRECEK, R.C., MAPEYI, N.P., PEARSON, R.A., SMITH, M.F., STENSON, M.O. & HARRISON, L.J.S., 2007 Benefits of urea-molasses block supplementation and symptomatic and tactical anthelmintic treatments of communally grazed indigenous goats in the Bulwer area, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 78, 81-89.

VATTA, A.F., & LINDBERG, A.L.E., 2006 Managing anthelmintic resistance in small ruminant livestock of resource-poor farmers in South Africa. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 77, 2-8.

KAPLAN, R.M., BURKE, J.M., TERRILL, T.H., MILLER, J.E., GETZ, W.R., MOBINI, S., VALENCIA, E., WILLIAMS, M.J., WILLIAMSON, L.H., LARSEN, M. & VATTA, A.F., 2004 Validation of the FAMACHA© eye color chart for detecting clinical anemia in sheep and goats on farms in the southern United States. Veterinary Parasitology, 103, 119-131.

GETCHELL, J.K., VATTA, A.F., MOTSWATSWE, P.W., KRECEK, R.C., MOERANE, R., PELL, A.N., TUCKER, T.W. & LESHOMO, S., 2002 Raising livestock in resource-poor communities of the North West Province of South Africa – a participatory rural appraisal study. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 73, 177-184.

VATTA, A.F., & KRECEK, R.C., 2002 Amphistome infection of goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 69, 327-329 (research communication).

VATTA, A.F., KRECEK, R.C., VAN DER LINDE, M.J., MOTSWATSWE, P.W., GRIMBEEK, R.J., VAN WIJK, E.F. & HANSEN, J.W., 2002 Haemonchus spp. in sheep farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa – effect on haematocrit, conjunctival mucous membrane colour and body condition. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 73, 119-123.

VATTA, A.F., KRECEK, R.C., LETTY, B.A., VAN DER LINDE, M.J., MOTSWATSWE, P.W. & HANSEN, J.W., 2002 Effect of nematode burden as assessed by means of faecal egg counts on body condition in goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa. Veterinary Parasitology, 108, 247-254 (short communication).

VATTA, A.F., KRECEK, R.C., LETTY, B.A., VAN DER LINDE, M.J., GRIMBEEK, R.J., DE VILLIERS, J.F., MOTSWATSWE, P.W., MOLEBIEMANG, G.S., BOSHOFF, H.M. & HANSEN, J.W., 2002 Incidence of Haemonchus spp. and effect on haematocrit and eye colour in goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa. Veterinary Parasitology, 103, 119-131.

VATTA, A.F., LETTY, B.A., VAN DER LINDE, M.J., VAN WIJK, E.F., HANSEN, J.W. & KRECEK, R.C., 2001 Testing for clinical anaemia caused by Haemonchus spp. in goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa using an eye colour chart developed for sheep. Veterinary Parasitology, 99, 1-14.