Cryptic Critters: Using Genomics to Reveal Rare Veterinary Parasites
Date: May 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM PST
Location: Online Webinar
Presented by: Dr. Mark Yacoub, PhD
Register Here
Rare parasites can be some of the most difficult organisms to identify in veterinary medicine, especially when clinical signs are nonspecific, cases are chronic, or conventional testing does not provide a clear answer.
Join MiDOG for Cryptic Critters: Using Genomics to Reveal Rare Veterinary Parasites, an online webinar exploring how genomics and next-generation sequencing are helping veterinary teams, researchers, and animal health professionals uncover unexpected parasites in complex cases.
Led by Dr. Mark Yacoub, PhD, this session will take a closer look at how genome-informed approaches can support parasite discovery, improve microbial interpretation, and expand what clinicians can detect beyond traditional testing methods.
What This Webinar Will Cover
Attendees will learn how genomic tools can help reveal rare, overlooked, or difficult-to-detect parasites across veterinary case types, including companion animals, exotics, wildlife, and conservation medicine.
The webinar will discuss:
- How next-generation sequencing supports broader parasite detection
- Why rare and cryptic parasites can be missed by conventional methods
- How metagenomic approaches can provide deeper microbial context
- The role of genomics in complex, recurrent, or unresolved veterinary cases
- How parasite discovery contributes to better understanding of infectious disease in animal health
Who Should Attend
This webinar is designed for veterinarians, veterinary specialists, researchers, zoological medicine professionals, wildlife health teams, parasitologists, and animal health professionals interested in the growing role of genomics in veterinary diagnostics.
About the Speaker
Dr. Mark Yacoub, PhD, is a Scientist at MiDOG Animal Diagnostics, where his work focuses on applying genomics, metagenomics, and next-generation sequencing to veterinary diagnostics, infectious disease research, and wildlife health. His research has contributed to the genomic understanding of rare veterinary parasites, including Cryptosporidium serpentis, a protozoan parasite associated with gastric disease in snakes.
Dr. Yacoub’s work helps bridge research and clinical application, supporting the use of genome-informed diagnostics for complex cases involving companion animals, exotic species, wildlife, and conservation medicine.
Register for the Webinar
Join us on May 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM PST for an expert-led discussion on how genomics is changing the way rare veterinary parasites are detected and understood.
Register now to reserve your spot.