Name: Sara Savic, PhD, DVM

Principal Research Fellow

Born: August, 2nd, 1969

Scientific field: microbiology and infectious diseases

Education:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade 1994. – basic studies

Master thesis: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Belgrade , 13.07.2001 – “Comparative examination of different methods for diagnosing parvoviral infection of dogs”
Doctoral disseratation : Faculty of Agriculture, Department for Veterinary Medicine, University of Novi Sad 23.04.2010. – “Clinical and laboratory manifestation of Lyme disease in dogs with natural and experimantal infection”

Licence No: 1098, since 2008.
Scientific titles:

• 1997 Research Trainee
• 2001 Research Assistant
• 2010 Research Associate
• 2015 Senior Research Associate
• 2020 Principal Research Fellow

Professional Experience:
– March 1995.- November 1996. Mevex, Company for distribution of veterinary medicals
– November 1996 – present Scientific veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”
– Until 2001 – Department for virology
– Until 2003 -Department for sampleing
– Since 2004 – Quality manager of the Institute
– From 2003 – Department for serology and immunology researcher
– During school year 2015/2016 – teaching at the postgraduate “Gender studies” at the subject of “Ecofeminism”
– From 2015 – Head of the Department for serology immunology and biochemistry

Scientific and Research Work:
Published over 130 scientific and professional publications
Participated in 5 scientific national projects and 4 international (COST actions)

Basic Research interest: vectors and zoonozes, vector-borne diseases of animals, vector borne pathogens, vector competence, infectious diseases in animals, laboratory diagnostic methods and prevention, diagnostic, control and eradication of contagious diseases and zoonosis, emerging vector borne diseases ( lyme borreliosis, dirofilariosis, leishmaniasis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, TBE), One Health, evaluation of One Health.

• Main working and research activities:
• detection of vector-borne and other infectiuos diseases in animals by classical laboratory methods (agglutination, ELISA, AGID, dark field microscopy, immunochromatographic reactions);
• analysis of vectors for pathogens – tick analysis for Lyme disease
• control and monitoring of contagious animal infectious diseases and zoonosis;
• diagnostic of animal infectious diseases
• haemathology and biochemistry in animals
• DNA isolation from vector and animal material
• molecular diagnostics of dirofilariosis
• implementation of standards SRPS 17025:2006, SRPS 9001:2015 and SRPS 14001:2015 in routine work, follow up on new standards, improvement and education of staff
• main working interests: brucellosis, leptospirosis, leptospirosis, Q fever, equine infectious anemia, neosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, paratuberculosis, maedi-visna (CAEV), ruminant chlamidiosis
• main research interests: borreliosis, leishmaniasis,dirofilariosis, erlichiosis, anaplasmosis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, TBE, One Health

Chosen Publications:
1. Savić Sara, Potkonjak Aleksandar, Žekić-Stošić Marina, Petrović Tamaš: The Emergence of Vector-Borne Diseases in New Locations. Book chapter In Management of Emerging Public Health Issues and Risks, Elsevier and Academic Press, 89–99, 2019. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-813290-6.00004-4, ISBN: 978-0-12-813290-6; 2018
2. Potkonjak A., Kleinerman G., Gutiérrez R., Savić S., Vračar V., Nachum-Biala Y., Jurišić , Rojas A., Petrović A., Ivanović I., Harrus S., Baneth G.:Occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ixodes ricinus Ticks with First Identification of Borrelia miyamotoi in Vojvodina, Serbia. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, ISSN 1530-3667, 631-635, 2016 (eng)
3. Krstić M., Gabrielli S., Ignjatović M., Savić S., Cancrini G., Ranđelović G., Momčilović S., Stojnev S., Otašević S.: An appraisal of canine and human cases reveals an endemic status of dirofilariosis in parts of Serbia. Molecular and Cellular Probes, ISSN 0890-8508, In press, 2016 (eng)
4. Savić S., Pudar D., Petrić D., Capell G., Montarsi F., Silaghi C.: Experimental assessment of vector competence of different mosquito species for Dirofilaria immitis. Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD), European Society of Dirofilariosis and Angiostrongylosis (ESDA), 11.7.2016 – 13.7.2016, Vienna, Abstracts Book, x-x, Vienna, ESDA, 2016 (eng)
5. Savić S., Haesler B., De Meneghi D., Ruegg S., Tvarijonaviciute A., Coelho A., Buttigieg S., Rosenbaum Nielsen L., Poeta P., Staric J., Goutard F., Vogler B., Paternoster G., Tomassone L., Radeski M., Momanyi K., Léger A., Aragrande M., Laing G., Seric-Haracic S., Borel N., Braae U.:Preliminary results from a set of case studies evaluating One Health. Biodiversity OneHealth/Ecohealth work shop, 6-7.10.2016. Brisel, Abstracts Book, 67-67, Brisel, Community of Practice on Biodiversity and Health, 2016 (eng)
6. Potkonjak A., Gutierrez R., Savić S., Vračar V., Nachum-Biala Y., Jurišić A., Kleinermanb G., Rojas A., Petrović A., Baneth G., Harrus S.: Molecular Detection Of Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogens In Vojvodina, Serbia. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, ISSN 1877-959X, 2015 (eng)
7. Potkonjak A., Vračar V., Savić S., Lako B., Radosavljević V., Cincović M., Suvajdžić L., Jurišić A., Petrović A.: The seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in dogs in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Veterinarski arhiv, ISSN 0372-5480, 385-394, 2015 (eng)
8. Savić S., Vidić B., Lazić S., Lako B., Potkonjak A., Lepšanović Z.: Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks and dogs in the province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Parasite, ISSN 1252-607X, str. 357-361, 2010 (eng) M23 3,0
9. Savić S.: Discovering Lyme Disease in Ticks and Dogs in Serbia – Detection and Diagnostic Methods. Edited by Ali Karami, Lyme Disease, Str. 95-112, Rijeka, Intech, 2012 (eng)
10. Savić S., Vidić B., Grgić Ž., Jurišić A., Ćurčić V., Ružić M., Lolić Z.: Vektorske zoonoze pasa u Vojvodini – Vector borne zoonozes of dogs in Vojvodina region. Arhiv veterinarske medicine, ISSN 1820-9955, Str. 77-87, 2012 (srp)
11. Savić S., Vidić B., Grgić Ž., Milanov D., Stojanović D., Šeguljev Z.: Study on clinical and laboratory diagnostic of lyme disease in dogs after experimental infection. Acta Veterinaria, ISSN 0567-8315, Str. 343-351, 2012 (eng)
12. Gabrielli S., Otašević S., Ignjatoviš A., Savić S., Fraulo M., Arsić-Arsenijević V., Momčilović S., Cancrini G.: Canine Babesioses in Noninvestigated Areas of Serbia. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, ISSN 1530-3667, 1-4, 2015 (eng)
13. Potkonjak A., Savić S., Jurišić A., Petrović A., Suvajdžić L., Lako B., Milošević N.: Seroepidemiological Research of Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, ISSN 1678-0345, 2013 (eng)

• Projects:
National projects:
• Projects of Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Serbia
Biotechnology procedures in diagnostics of viral and bacterial infections, microbiological food contaminants and biological products in veterinary medicine Project No; 20115; Coordinator dr Sava Lazic (2008 – 2011)

Reasearch on farmacologic characteristics of antimicrobial agenses, import of new tehnologic solutions and alternative methods of prophylaxis with the aim to improve control of infectious diseases in small animals Project No; 30171; Coordinator dr Dubravka Milanov (2011 – 2019)

Study on wildlife health and importation of new biotechnological procedures in detection of infectious and zoonotic agenses – the risk analysis for human health, domestic and wild animals and contamination of environment Project No; 31084; Coordinator dr Tamas Petrovic (2011 – 2019)

• Project of Provincial Secretary for Science and Technological Development
Hazard analyses, risk assessment and identification of critical control measures for food production in animal breeding farms in AP Vojvodina (2010-2011)

Program of biotehnologic procedures for diagnostic and control of trichinelosis in the region of Vojvodina (2009-2010) coordinator dr Branka Vidic
Vectors of infectious diseases – sandflies and mosquitoes in the region of Vojvodina Province (2013-2014), coorcinator dr Sara Savic
• International project
1. COST action “Life and death of protozoan parasites”, as representative of the management comitee for Serbia
2. COST action FA0701 “Arthropod Symbiosis: from fundamental studies to pest and disease management”, as representative of the management comitee for Serbia
3. COST action „EURNEGVEC – European network for neglected vectors and vector-borne infections” FA1207 as representative of the management comitee for Serbia
4. COST action „NEOH“ TD1404 – Network for Evaluation of One Health (NEOH) as a substitute of the management comitee for Serbia and leadet of WG2

Expert system:
– Vector borne diseases, zoonozes
– serology methods for the diagnostic of infectious diseases in animals and zoonozes
– diagnostic of parasitic diseases in small animals and in vectors (borreliosis, leishmaniosis, piroplasmosis, dirofilariosis, toxolasmosis, leptospirosis)
– One Health approach in zoonozes

Participation at the Scientific Symposia:
• 10 international symposia
• 15 national symposia

Membership in Scientific and Professional Associations:
– Veterinary Chamber of Serbia, member of the Board for the region of Southern Backa
– Society of Serbian Microbiologists
– Wildlife related emerging diseases and zoonoses (WiREDZ) Special Interest Group
– SASAP (Serbian assosiation of small animal practicioners) with in the World small animal veterinary association (WSAVA)
– European Society of Dirofilariosis and Angiostrongylosis (ESDA)
– Serbian parasitology Assosiation (DPS)

Trainings:
– Diagnostics of parasitic and vector borne diseases in animals
– Tick borne diseases and vector borne diseases
– Diagnostic of dirofilariosis
– Diagnostic of bloo parasitic diseases in animals
– One Health workshop – program of technical support to the health of animals
– Ultrasound diagnostic imaging
– Animal welfare
– Acreditation and sertification of laboratories (ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO/IEC 17025:2006) – documentation, management, laboratory methods, internal control
– Technical demands for quality control in laboratories
– Documantation of management system
– Internal control SRPS ISO 9001
– Internal control SRPS ISO 17025
– Training on Transdisciplinary Research Evaluation: from Methodological Challenges to Indicator Definition
– Attendance at the COST Leadership workshop

Other skills:
– fluent English
– computer skills (M. Office)
– good team worker
– active in NGO for woman and gender issues
– subject leader on Ecofeminism
– Zumba® fitness and Zumba ® Kids instructor

Present position:
– Quality Manager
– Head of the Department for serology and immunology

Current Work Contact Details:

Sara Savic, PhD, DVM
Head of Department for serology, immunology and biochemistry
Quality Manager
Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”
Rumenacki put 20
21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

sara@niv.ns.ac.rs;
mobile: ++381 64 818 5409
phone: 0214895330

Scopus Author ID: 36728048800
ORCID iD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7875-9234
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sara_Savic
APVNT Number: 1641
ID of researcher in MPNTR of Serbia: 132397

Scientific field: microbiology and infectious diseases