Mycobacterium leprae Infection in a Wild Nine-Banded Armadillo, Nuevo León, Mexico.

Nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are naturally infected with Mycobacterium leprae and are implicated in the zoonotic transmission of leprosy in the United States. In Mexico, the existence of such a reservoir remains to be characterized. We describe a wild armadillo infected by M. leprae in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico.

[Molecular detection of hepatitis E virus in pig livers destined for human consumption in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico]. / Detección molecular del virus de la hepatitis E en hígados de cerdo destinados al consumo humano en el estado de Nuevo León, México.

OBJECTIVE: Molecular detection of HEV in pig livers destined for human consumption in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 87 livers were collected from pigs slaughtered in TIF and 40 livers from butchers. A 212 pb fragment of HEV ORF2 gene was amplified by semi-nested RT-PCR. RESULTS: 19.54% (17) of tif's and 22.5% (9) of butcher's livers were positive for HEV. Sequencing of the amplified products showed a 94%-95% homology with the sequences reported for genotype 3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that HEV is circulating in swine herds in the state, constituting a probable source of contamination of pig meat products.

Prevalence of antibodies to Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses from northeastern Mexico.

The objective of this study was to obtain an estimate for seroprevalences of Theileria equi (Babesia equi) and Babesia caballi in horses from northeastern Mexico. Sera were collected in spring of 2007 in 248 clinically healthy horses used for different purposes. Antibodies were detected by the indirect immunofluorecent technique. The overall seroprevalence was 61.7% and those for T. equi and B. caballi were 45.2% and 27.4%, respectively. Horse purpose, sex, and age group were not associated with infection with Theileria equi or Babesia caballi.

Presencia de animales seropositivos al síndrome reproductivo y respiratorio porcino en Nuevo León / Presence of seropositive animals to the porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus in Nuevo Leon

A preliminary study was carried out to obtain serological evidence of the presence of the porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS) virus and the risk of infection in different areas and phases of production in five full cycle pig farms in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Sixty blood samples of each farm were obtained (10 for each phase of production: weaning, growing, finishing, pregnancy, lactation and mating-service). The detection of antibodies against the PRRS virus was carried out using a commercial kit. All farms were positives in all phases of production. The highest seroprevalences were found in the growing and finishing phases (36% y 56%, respectively).

Se realizó un estudio preliminar para obtener evidencia serológica de la presencia del virus del síndrome respiratorio y reproductivo porcino (PRRS, por sus siglas en inglés) y del riesgo de infección en las diferentes áreas y etapas de producción en cinco granjas porcinas de ciclo completo en Nuevo León, México. Se obtuvieron 60 muestras de sangre de cada granja (diez para cada etapa de producción: destete, iniciación, finalización, cerdas gestantes, lactando o en monta-servicio). La detección de anticuerpos antivirus del PRRS se realizó utilizando un equipo comercial. Todas las granjas resultaron positivas en las diferentes etapas de producción. La seroprevalencia fue mayor en las etapas de inicio y finalización (36% y 56%, respectivamente).

Genetic and antigenic characterization of novel pestivirus genotypes: implications for classification.

Currently, the genus Pestivirus comprises the four approved species Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV-1), BVDV-2, Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and Border disease virus (BDV) and one tentative fifth species represented by a single strain (H138) isolated from a giraffe in Kenya more than 30 years ago. To further address the issue of heterogeneity of pestiviruses we have determined the entire N(pro) and E2 coding sequences for several new pestivirus isolates. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis revealed that one pestivirus isolated in the 1990s in Africa is closely related to strain H138. Moreover, several novel pestiviruses isolated from sheep group together with the previously described strain V60 (Reindeer-1) isolated from a reindeer, whereas one ovine pestivirus strain (Gifhorn) significantly differs from all previously described pestiviruses, including BDV. We propose to term these mainly sheep-derived pestiviruses BDV-2 (V60-like isolates) and BDV-3 (Gifhorn); consequently, the "classical" BDV isolates should be termed BDV-1. As an additional criterion for segregation of pestiviruses, the antigenic relatedness of pestivirus isolates covering all observed major genotypes was studied by cross-neutralization assays. Analysis of the antigenic similarities indicated the presence of seven major antigenic groups corresponding to BVDV-1, BVDV-2, CSFV, BDV-1, BDV-2, BDV-3, and "giraffe". Taking into account the host origin, the lack of differences concerning the course of disease, and the results of our genetic and antigenic analyses, we suggest that BDV-1, BDV-2, and BDV-3 should be considered as major genotypes within the species BDV.