CRIPA Mission to South America: Strengthening Collaborations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay

Saint-Hyacinthe, September 22, 2026 – In the spring and summer of 2026, Professor Nahuel Fittipaldi, a regular researcher at the Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Center (CRIPA) and a professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Université de Montréal, undertook two scientific missions to South America.

The visits to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay aimed to strengthen CRIPA’s collaborations with partners in the region and develop new joint initiatives in swine health, microbiology, genomics and public health.

The first mission took place from May 22 to 26, 2026, with activities in Tandil, Argentina, followed by Montevideo, Uruguay.

Strengthening collaborations on Streptococcus suis in Argentina

On May 22, Professor Fittipaldi was welcomed at the Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN-CONICET) and the Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNICEN). In addition to meeting with researchers and students, he gave a presentation entitled Genomics of Streptococcus suis: Rethinking Diagnosis and Species Boundaries.

The visit helped strengthen an ongoing collaboration between CRIPA and several Argentine research teams working on Streptococcus suis. Discussions focused in particular on sharing expertise and bacterial collections, using genomics to better understand S. suis populations circulating in Argentina, and developing future research and training projects.

This initiative brings together collaborators from UNICEN and the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) in the field of animal health, as well as the ANLIS-Malbrán, Argentina’s national reference institution in the field of human health. The involvement of partners from the veterinary and public health sectors further strengthens the cross-sectoral dimension of this collaboration.

Advancing exchanges between animal and human health sectors in Uruguay

The mission continued on May 25 and 26 in Montevideo, at the invitation of the Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad de la República. During this part of the mission, Professor Fittipaldi contributed to the scientific program alongside Professor Marcelo Gottschalk, also a regular researcher at CRIPA.

Professor Gottschalk delivered a presentation entitled Streptococcus suis Infections in Pigs: Diagnosis and Control Challenges, while Professor Fittipaldi presented Improving Diagnosis of Streptococcus suis: What Genomics Changes for Animal and Public Health.

Beyond the presentations, the visit provided an opportunity for discussions with university researchers, swine veterinarians and public health partners. A second day of meetings at the Ministerio de Salud Pública de Uruguay focused, among other topics, on human infections caused by S. suis and opportunities to strengthen connections between the animal and human health sectors.

These discussions identified several potential areas for collaboration between CRIPA and its Uruguayan partners, particularly in bacterial genomics, epidemiology and the comparative study of animal- and human-derived isolates. They also helped establish new connections between teams working on complementary aspects of the same issues and laid the groundwork for future joint research and training initiatives.

A second mission to Paraguay

A second mission took place on July 22, 2026, in Fram, Paraguay, at the invitation of Biosyntech S.A., a Paraguayan company specializing in veterinary diagnostics and the development of autogenous vaccines.

During the visit to Biosyntech’s diagnostic laboratories and production facilities, Professor Fittipaldi delivered a presentation entitled Genomic Epidemiology and Diagnostic Challenges of the Streptococcus suis Complex in Swine. A significant part of the day was then devoted to discussions with the Paraguayan team about opportunities for collaborative research, particularly in bacterial genomics, diagnostics and swine health.

Follow-up activities are now being considered to involve university partners, health professionals and local hospitals in future initiatives. The aim is to further strengthen connections between animal health, microbiological diagnostics and public health.

A new period of work in Paraguay is also being considered for 2027, with potential support from the scientific mobility programs of the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) of Paraguay. This initiative could combine research and training activities with Biosyntech, exchanges with university partners in the Itapúa region, and meetings with stakeholders from the hospital and public health sectors.

This next phase could also gradually expand the collaboration beyond S. suis and help identify shared challenges for which CRIPA’s expertise could complement local capabilities.

Building lasting collaborations

These two missions are part of a longer-term effort to strengthen scientific ties between CRIPA and South American teams with complementary expertise and resources.

Several of the collaborations initiated or strengthened during these visits are already moving forward through the development of joint projects, the exchange of biological materials and data, and the exploration of funding, internship and student mobility opportunities.

By bringing together university partners, diagnostic laboratories, public health institutions and private-sector stakeholders in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, these missions are helping expand CRIPA’s international network and create new opportunities for research and training focused on infectious diseases affecting swine and their intersections with public health.

About the CRIPA

The CRIPA, Swine and poultry infectious diseases research center, is a Quebec strategic cluster financed by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (https://doi.org/10.69777/309365). Its mission is to improve the control of pathogens that affect the pig and poultry industries, having an economic impact and on the health of populations. Population health includes animal health and welfare, the health of workers and industry stakeholders, and the general public. For more information, visit www.cripa.center. 

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Information

Gabriela Silva-Guerra

Communication Officer

Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Center (CRIPA)

450 773 8521, ext. 8233 | gabriela.silvaguerra@umontreal.ca