Research Interests
My laboratory focuses on understanding the distribution and clustering of diseases at the population level.
We use spatial and conventional modeling approaches to identify infection risk factors to aid public health authorities in developing disease prevention programs.
My laboratory also conducts research studies that evaluate the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in commensal and pathogenic bacteria of humans and animals.
Courses Taught
I teach Spatial Epidemiology (PATH/GGIS 560) each fall. This course is a graduate-level course with a hands-on component with the goal of teaching students to identify the causes of health disparities across time and locations. I use real-life examples from public, animal, and environmental health.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Assistant Professor, Pathobiology
Affiliate, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
Highlighted Publications
Yudhanto, S., & Varga, C. (2023). Knowledge and Attitudes of Small Animal Veterinarians on Antimicrobial Use Practices Impacting the Selection of Antimicrobial Resistance in Dogs and Cats in Illinois, United States: A Spatial Epidemiological Approach. Antibiotics, 12(3), Article 542. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12030542
Hedman, H. D., Krawczyk, E., Helmy, Y. A., Zhang, L., & Varga, C. (2021). Host Diversity and Potential Transmission Pathways of SARS-CoV-2 at the Human-Animal Interface. Pathogens, 10(2), 1-28. Article 180. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10020180
Varga, C., John, P., Cooke, M., & Majowicz, S. E. (2020). Spatial and space-time clustering and demographic characteristics of human nontyphoidal Salmonella infections with major serotypes in Toronto, Canada. PloS one, 15(7), Article e0235291. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235291
Varga, C., Guerin, M. T., Brash, M. L., Slavic, D., Boerlin, P., & Susta, L. (2019). Antimicrobial resistance in fecal Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica isolates: A two-year prospective study of small poultry flocks in Ontario, Canada. BMC Veterinary Research, 15(1), Article 464. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-2187-z
Varga, C., McDonald, P., Brown, W. M., Shelton, P., Roca, A. L., Novakofski, J. E., & Mateus-Pinilla, N. E. (2022). Evaluating the ability of a locally focused culling program in removing chronic wasting disease infected free-ranging white-tailed deer in Illinois, USA, 2003–2020. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 69(5), 2867-2878. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14441
Recent Publications
Agrawal, I., Bromfield, C., & Varga, C. (2025). Evaluating a swine biosecurity website as an education and outreach tool and identifying best practices for end-user engagement: A learning analytics approach. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 240, Article 106544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106544
Shrestha, R., Sohail, M. N., & Varga, C. (2025). Beef Cattle Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward On-Farm Biosecurity, Antimicrobial Use, and Antimicrobial Resistance in Illinois, United States of America. Antibiotics, 14(3), Article 282. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14030282
Sodagari, H. R., Sohail, M. N., & Varga, C. (2025). Temporal, regional, and demographic differences among antimicrobial-resistant domestic Campylobacter jejuni human infections across the United States, 2013–2019. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 65(5), Article 107467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2025.107467
Sohail, M. N., & Varga, C. (2025). Monitoring antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis isolates of poultry, livestock, and humans across the United States, 2013–2020. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 432, Article 111090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2025.111090
Agrawal, I., & Varga, C. (2024). Assessing and comparing disease prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices among veterinarians in Illinois, United States of America. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 228, Article 106223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106223