Shokoofeh Shamsi

Veterinary Science

Professor Shokoofeh Shamsi

BSc, MSc, PhD, GCULT, GCULM

Professor in Veterinary Parasitology
Wagga Wagga
Building 288 Room 118

Professor Shokoofeh Shamsi, has qualifications in veterinary and medical sciences (parasitology), and skills in conventional morphological and molecular parasite identification methods. She is a taxonomist with a huge interest in identifying species, who goes beyond taxonomy to understand parasitism, ecology, evolution, ecosystems and how parasites population changes in response to anthropological and environmental factors. She is currently leading and collaborating on a variety of research projects focussing on health, welfare, behaviour, biosecurity and biology of both wild and farmed, as well as a range of terrestrial and aquatic animals. Recently her research focus has broadened to include the culture of indigenous Australians on the lessons in sustainability.

Examples of research achievements include:

  • Discovering 37 new parasite species;
  • Discovering, characterising and reporting, for the first time, invasive and introduced parasites in Australia;
  • Determining novel natural transmission patterns of parasites affecting critically endangered Australian species

Examples of current responsibilities include:

  • Editorial board of World Register of Marine Species;
  • Editorial board of International Journal of Food Microbiology;
  • Senior editor, Parasitology Research;
  • Director of Communication, Food Safety Information Council;
  • Executive member, Japan Society for Promotion Science, Alumni association in Australia;
  • Co-Chair, Alien Species Committee, Australian Society for Fish Biology;
  • Member, Future of the Society, Australian Society for Fish Biology
  • Co-Convenor, Senior Women Forum, Charles Sturt University

Professor Shamsi has taught and coordinated across several undergraduate and postgraduate subjects in internal, distance and online modes. Subjects she has contributed to include:

  • Parasitology
  • Introduction to Microbiology and Parasitology
  • Animal Health
  • Equine Parasitology
  • Intensive Animal Production
  • Introduction to Animal Science
  • Animal Behaviour and Welfare
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Principles of Pathobiology
  • Zoology

In addition, she regularly contributes to graduate training programs for laboratory diagnosticians, veterinarians, medical doctors and health practitioners.

Research interests include:
  • Parasitology
  • Transmissible parasites between animals and humans
  • Parasite taxonomy, systematics and diagnosis
  • Cophylogeny among parasites and their hosts
  • Transmission patterns and ecology of parasites
  • Food safety
  • Climate change and parasitism
  • Health of the Murray Darling Basin
  • One health
  • First nations, sustainability and health

Current research projects include parasitism in a variety of animals (e.g., livestock, birds, reptiles, mollusks, marsupials and aquatic animals (both freshwater and marine)):

  • Parasite mapping in the Murray Darling Basin
  • Can parasites change their hosts’ behaviour?
  • Parasites threats from importation of aquatic animals and seafood
  • Characterisation of marine nematodes in New Caledonian waters
  • Prevalence and diversity of Avian Haematozoan parasites
  • Parasitism and control strategies in domesticated buffalo populations
  • Investigation of parasites infecting Pakistani dairy cows and an assessment of their impact on cow health and milk production
  • Indigenous people’s knowledge about parasites
  • Australian Society for Parasitology
  • Systematics Association
  • Professoriate representative, Academic Senate, Charles Sturt University
  • Research Committee, School of Agriculture, Environment and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University

Back to Staff listings