Cristina Ferro, 1947

Troyo, Adriana, González-Sequeira, María Paula, Aguirre-Salazar, Mónica, Cambronero-Ortíz, Ian, Chaves-González, Luis Enrique, Mejías-Alpízar, María José, Alvarado-Molina, Kendall, Calderón-Arguedas, Ólger & Rojas-Araya, Diana, 2022, Acknowledging extraordinary women in the history of medical entomology, Parasites & Vectors (114) 15 (1), pp. 1-27 : 16-17

María Cristina Ferro

María Cristina Ferro was born in 1947 in Ipiales, Colombia. She finished her B.S. in Microbiology at Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, in 1969, and then joined the Entomology Group of the National Institute of Health of Colombia ( INS), where she began to work and conduct research on leishmaniasis vectors [ 355]. During 1975 and 1976, she completed a M.Sc. degree in Medical Parasitology at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK, working with xenodiagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi [ 356]. Upon her return to Colombia, she resumed her work at INS and coordinated the Entomology Laboratory from 1994 until her retirement in 2005, but continued to be a consultant and advisor there until 2015. Under her supervision, this laboratory was designated as a category “A” laboratory and earned the "Group of Excellence" award by the Administrative Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Colombia (Colciencias) in 1995. In 2006, she joined the editorial committee of the Colombian scientific journal Biomédica, where she was involved in the review and evaluation of articles related to entomology [ 355].

Ms. Ferro’s main research focused on the study of the vectors of leishmaniasis and Venezuelan equine encephalitis, but she also worked on triatomines, biting midges and the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases [ 357 – 359]. Focusing on the phlebotomines of Colombia, she studied the distribution, biology, and genetics of various species, and described three new species of Lutzomyia ( Lutzomyia torvida , Lutzomyia falcata and Lutzomyia tolimensis ) [ 360 – 362]. She also described isolates of Leishmania spp. and new viruses from sand flies, and carried out research on vector incrimination, vector capacity and environmental and ecological factors associated with the transmission of leishmaniasis [ 363 – 368]. In recognition of her many contributions to this field, a new species of Lutzomyia was named in her honor: Lutzomyia ferroae [ 360]. Regarding Venezuelan equine encephalitis, her studies focused on the identification, biology and ecology of the mosquito species identified as vectors, as well as on the genetics and life-cycles of the epizootic vectors in the laboratory and the epidemiological determinants of disease transmission [ 369]. In addition, she studied triatomine vectors of Chagas disease and, for her contributions in this topic, a new species of triatomine bug, Belminus ferroae , was named in her honor in 2007 [ 370 – 372]. She also made important contributions to the biology and ecology of the family Ceratopogonidae , specifically concerning the genus Culicoides , in which some species are considered potential vectors of different microorganisms [ 373].

Ms. Ferro’s scientific career covered multiple aspects. She was not only extremely productive academically, with her name as author of more than 100 published articles and several book chapters, but also served as an advisor of undergraduate and graduate students and actively participated in different national and international scientific events on tropical medicine, parasitology and entomology [ 355]. Likewise, she collaborated with national and international researchers with links to universities and research centers, such as the International Center for Medical Training and Research, the Center for Research in Microbiology and Tropical Parasitology of the Universidad de los Andes, Yale University, the University of Texas, the University of Florida and La Salle University, as well as with researchers with links to different health ministries of Colombia [ 355]. In 2007, the INS awarded her the distinction of “Emeritus Researcher,” in recognition of her investigations in the field of medical entomology. For her scientific and academic merits, she received other distinctions, such as the “Ernesto Osorno Mesa” Award for work presented at the Congress of the Colombian Entomology Society, recognition as Senior Researcher by Colciencias and the Honorable Mention awarded by Colciencias and Semana magazine in the category of “Medical and Health Sciences” of the Grand Prize for Life and Work of Emeritus Researchers of Colombia, in 2014 [ 355].

In a tribute to Ms. Ferro, following her death in Colombia in 2015, many researchers praised not only her academic excellence, but also her collaborative attitude and passion for learning and teaching [ 374]. She is recognized for her contributions in the development of science and innovation in Colombia, as well as for her collaboration in the structuring, development and consolidation of the National Network of Medical Entomology of her country [ 355].