Webinar Recap | Presented by Dr. Mark Yacoub, MiDOG Animal Diagnostics
Webinar Summary
The recent MiDOG webinar, From Base Pairs to Beasts: Hunting Parasites to Save Animal Lives, brought together veterinarians, researchers, and diagnostic specialists to explore how modern genomics is reshaping parasite detection and disease management across animal species.
Hosted by Dr. Mark Yacoub, Clinical Scientist at MiDOG Animal Diagnostics, the session showcased real-world cases where next-generation sequencing (NGS) uncovered parasites that traditional diagnostics missed. Dr. Yacoub highlighted how these findings not only improve clinical outcomes but also expand our understanding of biodiversity, co-infection dynamics, and One Health connections across ecosystems.
Key Takeaways
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Beyond PCR: NGS-based metagenomics identifies novel and co-infecting parasites that are often undetectable by conventional methods.
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Expanding Reference Genomes: New high-quality parasite genomes are strengthening diagnostic databases, improving accuracy and confidence in complex or mixed infections.
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Cross-Species Relevance: From exotic and aquatic species to companion animals, comprehensive DNA-based testing is closing critical diagnostic gaps.
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Real-World Impact: Case studies demonstrated how MiDOG’s All-in-One Test guided clinical decisions where standard tests had failed to provide answers.
Why It Matters
Parasitic diseases continue to pose diagnostic challenges due to their diversity and the limitations of traditional tools. By applying NGS technology, MiDOG enables clinicians to detect known and emerging parasites with unprecedented precision—bridging the gap between genomic data and actionable veterinary insight.
This webinar underscored MiDOG’s leadership in molecular parasitology and ongoing collaborations aimed at expanding parasite reference genomes and improving detection in both clinical and conservation settings.
About the Speaker
Dr. Mark Yacoub, DVM, MS
Clinical Scientist, MiDOG Animal Diagnostics
Clinical Scientist, MiDOG Animal Diagnostics
Dr. Yacoub’s work integrates clinical veterinary experience with advanced molecular diagnostics to expand what’s possible in pathogen detection. His research focuses on harnessing next-generation sequencing to identify and characterize complex infections, providing clinicians with clear, data-driven answers.
Watch the Recording
If you missed the live event, you can now watch the full recording on demand.
Experience how MiDOG is advancing parasite genomics—and transforming the way veterinarians diagnose, understand, and manage parasitic diseases.
Experience how MiDOG is advancing parasite genomics—and transforming the way veterinarians diagnose, understand, and manage parasitic diseases.