Julio Benavides graduated in Veterinary in the University of León, Spain, in 2001, where also obtained his PhD in animal health studying maedi visna in sheep. While doing his PhD studies, he also collaborated with the surveillance service of the Veterinary School, mainly focused in small ruminants. Between 20007 and 2010 he was working as a post doctoral research scientist at Moredun Research Institute, Scotland (UK). During this period, he participated with different research projects addressing bacterial, viral or protozoal diseases of ruminants. Since 2011 he works at the Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, a joint institution between the University of Leon and Spanish Research Council (CSIC). His main line of research is focused in the study of host-pathogen relation in ruminant diseases, mainly toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, and also collaborates with other lines of research undertaken in the institute, such as the one based in Johne´s disease. He is a Diplomate of the “European College of Small Ruminant Animal Health and Management” since 2013.