#21 - Dr. Matheus Costa: Narrowing down the causative agent for ear tip necrosis in pigs

What causes ear tip necrosis in pigs? For years the answers have varied widely from genetics to mycotoxins as well as many other hypotheses. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Matheus Costa about his research determining the causative agent for ear tip necrosis. Several past hypotheses have been ruled out, and a breakthrough discovery may be here very soon…

Meet the guest:

Dr. Matheus Costa is a veterinarian from Brazil who earned his PhD at the University of Saskatchewan in 2016. After receiving his PhD, he worked as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and Utrecht University before returning to the University of Saskatchewan for an assistant professor position there.  He teaches swine medicine and swine health and production. His research is focused on developing approaches to reduce antimicrobial use and mitigate disease spread. Dr. Costa is specifically interested in the issues associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the animal-human interface and how they pose challenges for sustainable food production, welfare, and public health. Recently he has focused his research on infectious diseases to which antibiotic treatment is the only option for treatment in the industry (e.g swine dysentery and streptococcal meningitis).