The Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences is based in the Department of Animal Parasitology, which is part of the Veterinary Institute at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). The program is housed in facilities located apart from the university’s central campus, within the municipality of Seropédica, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (22º49’ S; 43º42’ W; elevation: 30 m; subtropical climate).

Department of Animal Parasitology – Facilities

The Department occupies a rear building annexed to the main headquarters of the Animal Health Project (PSA/EMBRAPA). The first floor hosts several key areas:

• Administrative offices
• The main auditorium (used for theoretical classes, thesis defenses, and academic events)
• Classrooms for both theoretical and practical teaching
• A multi-user molecular biology laboratory (applied to veterinary medicine and parasitological diagnosis)
• A laboratory for photography and photomicrography (LAMBIO)
• A preparation and mounting lab for practical parasitology classes
• A kitchen area, storeroom, and restrooms

The second floor contains the offices of faculty members from the Department of Animal Parasitology. Additional offices and laboratories are located in an adjacent annex, which houses:

• The Ixodology Laboratory
• The General Laboratory for Experimental Parasite Control Techniques
• Dedicated kennels for housing dogs and cats used in research and teaching activities

The main building of the Animal Health Project also accommodates laboratories used by faculty from the Department of Animal Parasitology and from the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, an affiliated department. These include:

• Microbiological Diagnosis Laboratory
• Pathological Anatomy and Toxic Plants Laboratory
• Coccidia Diagnosis Laboratory

Additionally, other professors associated with the program belong to departments such as Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Epidemiology and Public Health (both from the Veterinary Institute), and the Department of Animal Biology (from the Institute of Biology), all within UFRRJ.

Wilhelm Otto Neitz Parasitological Research Station (EPPWON)

The Wilhelm Otto Neitz Parasitological Research Station (EPPWON), located at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), is a specialized center for cutting-edge research in veterinary parasitology. Named in honor of the distinguished South African parasitologist Wilhelm Otto Neitz, the station plays a pivotal role in advancing the study of parasitic diseases affecting animals.

EPPWON supports a broad range of research activities, including investigations on protozoan and helminth infections, vector-borne pathogens, and entomopathogenic fungi used in the biological control of arthropods. With a robust infrastructure that includes specialized laboratories, facilities for experimental animal breeding and care, and dedicated spaces for fieldwork, the station enables both basic and applied research.

Its multidisciplinary and collaborative environment brings together faculty members, graduate students, and international researchers, fostering innovation and contributing to the development of highly qualified professionals in veterinary parasitology. EPPWON stands as a reference in the generation of knowledge and in the promotion of sustainable solutions for parasitic disease control.

Hugo Edson Barbosa de Rezende Annex (Biological Complex)

This complex is physically separate from the Department of Animal Parasitology and is situated within the university’s main campus. It hosts the following specialized laboratories:

• Microbial Control of Arthropods
• Ixodology
• Helminthology
• Insect Biology (focusing on species of medical and veterinary relevance)
• Hemoparasites

The complex also includes a kitchen and restroom facilities.

Experimental Animal Breeding and Maintenance Facility

Integrated with the Biological Complex is a specialized facility for the breeding and maintenance of experimental animals. It includes:

• Eight stalls for large animals
• Ten stalls for cattle
• Twenty-four stalls for small ruminants
• A piggery
• Two rabbit units (with capacity for 34 cages)
• A dog kennel with 10 boxes
• An isolation area for small and medium-sized animals (six stalls)
• A dedicated feed preparation area

Additional support structures include:

• Hemoparasites Laboratory
• Dipteran Biology and Vector-Borne Pathogens Laboratories
• A dissection room
• A reception and processing area for parasitological materials
• A storeroom, kitchen, and restrooms
• Grass plots and paddocks for the breeding and maintenance of experimental and service animals