Cryptic Critters: Using Genomics to Reveal Rare Veterinary Parasites

Rare and cryptic parasites can create some of the most challenging cases in veterinary medicine. Clinical signs may be subtle, chronic, nonspecific, or difficult to connect to a single cause, and conventional testing may not always provide the full picture.

In this webinar, Dr. Mark Yacoub, PhD, Scientist at MiDOG Animal Diagnostics, explores how genomics, metagenomics, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are expanding the way veterinary teams investigate rare and difficult-to-detect parasites.

This session highlights how genome-informed diagnostics can support parasite discovery, improve microbial interpretation, and help clinicians and researchers better understand complex infectious disease presentations across companion animal, exotic, wildlife, and conservation medicine.

Why Parasite Detection Can Be Challenging

Veterinary professionals often encounter cases where parasite involvement may be difficult to confirm or interpret, especially when:

• Clinical signs are nonspecific or develop gradually
• Conventional parasite testing does not provide a clear answer
• Cases are chronic, recurrent, or unresolved
• Mixed microbial findings complicate interpretation
• Rare or emerging parasites are not included on targeted panels
• Species-specific disease patterns are not fully understood

Next-generation sequencing offers a broader molecular approach, helping reveal organisms and microbial patterns that may be missed when testing is limited to a narrow list of suspects.

What You’ll Learn

• How NGS supports broader parasite detection beyond targeted testing
• Why rare and cryptic parasites can be difficult to identify using conventional methods
• How metagenomic approaches can provide deeper microbial context in complex cases
• The role of genomics in investigating chronic, recurrent, or unresolved veterinary disease
• How parasite discovery can contribute to a better understanding of infectious disease across animal health

Applications Across Species and Settings

This webinar is designed for professionals working across:

• Companion animal medicine
• Exotic animal practice
• Zoological medicine
• Wildlife health and rehabilitation
• Conservation programs
• Academic and research settings

By moving beyond traditional diagnostic limitations, genomic tools can help veterinary teams and researchers gain a more complete view of parasite-related disease and the microbial communities that may influence patient health.

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.

Webinar Details

Title: Cryptic Critters: Using Genomics to Reveal Rare Veterinary Parasites
Date: May 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Location: Online Webinar
Presented by: Dr. Mark Yacoub, PhD

Explore Advanced Veterinary Diagnostics

MiDOG’s next-generation sequencing platform supports comprehensive microbial detection across bacteria, fungi, parasites, and antimicrobial resistance markers, helping clinicians better understand complex and non-resolving cases.

For veterinary teams managing chronic, recurrent, unusual, or difficult-to-explain cases, MiDOG provides broader molecular insight from a single sample to support more informed clinical decision-making.