Toffan Anna
 |
Role and Structure | Veterinarian at SCS5 – Mammalian and Aquatic Species Virology |
| Head at WOAH Reference Laboratory for Viral Encephalopathy and Retinopathy | ||
| Phone | +39 049 8084333-371 | |
| atoffan@izsvenezie.it |
Professional profile
Anna Toffan is a veterinary officer at the SCS5 – Mammalian and Aquatic Species Virology Unit of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), and head of the WOAH Reference Laboratory for Viral Encephalopathy and Retinopathy of Marine Fish.
She graduated in Veterinary Medicine and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Veterinary Sciences (specializing in Public Health and Comparative Pathology), as well as a postgraduate specialization in Breeding, Hygiene, Pathology of Aquatic Species, and Control of Derived Products.
Her research interests focus mainly on the diagnosis and control of viral diseases in salmonids (VHS, IHN, IPN) and marine species (VER/VNN). A major area of her work is dedicated to developing safe and effective vaccines against viral diseases in these species. She also has a specific interest in transmission electron microscopy and its application in diagnosing viral diseases from clinical samples.
She is involved in numerous national and international research projects. Some focus on studying the pathogenesis and characterization of the viral encephalo-retinopathy virus (RC IZSVe 07/10; RC IZSVe 05/11; RC IZSVe 02/14; RC IZSVe 09/15) and developing vaccines against this pathology (EU Project MedAID). Another key focus area is the study of viral diseases in salmonids, such as VHS, IHN, and IPN (RC IZSVe 21/11; RC IZSVe 17/13; RC 09/18; RC 13/19), as well as in other fish species (RC IZSVe 07/14; RC IZSVe 08/16). Additionally, other projects aim to establish monitoring networks and technology transfer (EU Project VetBioNet), as well as develop new technologies to improve aquaculture (EU Project PathoGelTrap).
She actively collaborates with the European Union Reference Laboratory for Fish and Crustacean Diseases (DTU Aqua, Copenhagen) and numerous other scientific institutions across Italy and Europe.