Karen Shapiro

Research interests

My research interests span the epidemiology, ecology, detection, and transmission mechanisms of zoonotic waterborne pathogens. Much of my work has targeted the waterborne transmission of Toxoplasma gondii, particularly the land-to-sea transmission of this parasite along coastal California. Other projects have investigated contamination of water and shellfish by Giardia and Cryptosporidium. An integral component of my research program is to employ a holistic, One Health approach, integrating studies on wildlife populations, people, and our environment. Ongoing and future topics that I am interested in pursuing include the effects of landscape change and climate variability on disease transmission; impacts of water scarcity and impaired quality on human and animal population health, and food safety.