RESUMEN
Serum samples from 251 wild carnivores from different regions of Spain were tested for antibodies to Neospora caninum by the commercial competitive screening enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and confirmed by Neospora agglutination test (NAT) and/or by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Samples with antibodies detected by at least two serological tests were considered seropositive. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 3.2% of 95 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes); in 21.4% of 28 wolves (Canis lupus); in 12.0% of 25 Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus); in 16.7% of 6 European wildcats (Felis silvestris); in 6.4% of 31 Eurasian badgers (Meles meles); in 21.4% of 14 stone martens (Martes foina); in 66.7% of 3 pine martens (M. martes) and in 50% of 2 polecats (Mustela putorius). Antibodies to N. caninum in common genets (Genetta genetta) and Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon) were only observed by c-ELISA but were not confirmed by IFAT and/or NAT. No antibodies were detected in 5 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) by any technique. Statistically significant differences were observed among species and among geographical areas. The highest seroprevalence of N. caninum infection was observed in the Cantabric Coastal region characterized by high humidity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of antibodies to N. caninum in free ranging wild carnivores, other than wild canids, in Europe. The existence of a possible sylvatic cycle could have important implications in both sylvatic and domestic cycles since they might influence the prevalence of infection in cattle farms in those areas.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/sangre , Carnívoros/parasitología , Coccidiosis/veterinaria , Neospora/inmunología , Enfermedades Parasitarias en Animales/epidemiología , Animales , Animales Salvajes , Carnívoros/inmunología , Coccidiosis/sangre , Coccidiosis/epidemiología , Coccidiosis/inmunología , Femenino , Masculino , Enfermedades Parasitarias en Animales/sangre , Enfermedades Parasitarias en Animales/inmunología , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , España/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is an important game animal in Spain. Sera from 278 roe deer from eight areas in mainland Spain were assayed for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by modified agglutination test (MAT). Titers of 1:25 or higher were found in 109 (39.2%) of 278 deer. No significant differences in antibody prevalence were found between sex or age categories. In contrast, significant differences in seroprevalence between locations were evident. Roe deer from the Northern coastal habitats (high humidity and roe deer density) had the highest prevalence, compared with low prevalence in Central Spain (arid areas and low roe deer density). There was a positive correlation between antibody prevalence and mean annual rainfall (r(s)=0.85, n=8, P<0.01). These findings have environmental and/or public health implications because venison can be an important meat source of T. gondii infections for humans and feral cats.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/sangre , Ciervos/inmunología , Toxoplasma/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/inmunología , Animales , Ciervos/parasitología , Femenino , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Masculino , Prevalencia , Proteínas Protozoarias , Lluvia , Factores de Riesgo , España/epidemiología , Toxoplasma/fisiología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/sangre , Toxoplasmosis Animal/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Viral diseases can influence the population dynamics of wild carnivores and can have effects on carnivore conservation. Hence, a serologic survey was conducted in an opportunistic sample of 137 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 37 wolves (Canis lupus) in Spain for 1997-2007 to detect antibodies against canine distemper virus (CDV) and against canine parvovirus (CPV) by indirect ELISA. Antibodies against CDV were detected in 18.7% of the analyzed animals and antibodies against CPV in 17.2%. There was no difference in antibody prevalence to CDV between both species, even in the same region (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference in antibody prevalence to CPV between foxes (5.1%) and wolves (62.2%) (P<0.05). In fox populations there was a significant difference in antibody prevalence to CDV between geographic areas (Aragón 26.4%, La Mancha 7.8%, P<0.05). In wolf populations there was significantly higher antibody prevalence against CPV (P<0.05) in Castilla y León (100%) than in the Cantabric region (53.3%). There was no significant sex or age-related difference in the antibody prevalence against CDV or CPV in foxes. These results indicate that contact with CDV is widespread among wild canid populations in Spain and that CPV is endemic in the Iberian wolf population. The implications of these results are briefly discussed.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Virus del Moquillo Canino/inmunología , Moquillo/epidemiología , Zorros/sangre , Infecciones por Parvoviridae/veterinaria , Parvovirus Canino/inmunología , Lobos/sangre , Animales , Moquillo/inmunología , Infecciones por Parvoviridae/epidemiología , Infecciones por Parvoviridae/inmunología , Prevalencia , España/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Serum samples from 282 wild carnivores from different regions of Spain were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test using a cut-off value of 1:25. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 22 of 27 (81.5%) of Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), 3 of 6 European wildcats (Felis silvestris), 66 of 102 (64.7%) red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 15 of 32 (46.9%) wolves (Canis lupus), 26 of 37 (70.3%) Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), 17 of 20 (85.0%) stone martens (Martes foina), 4 of 4 pine martens (Martes martes), 6 of 6 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), 4 of 4 polecats (Mustela putorius), 1 of 1 ferret (Mustela putorius furo), 13 of 21 (61.9%) European genets (Genetta genetta), and 13 of 22 (59.1%) Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon). Serological results indicated a widespread exposure to T. gondii among wild carnivores in Spain. The high T. gondii seroprevalence in Iberian lynx and the European wildcat reported here may be of epidemiologic significance because seropositive cats might have shed oocysts.
Asunto(s)
Animales Salvajes/parasitología , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/sangre , Carnívoros/parasitología , Toxoplasma/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/epidemiología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/inmunología , Animales , Animales Salvajes/sangre , Animales Salvajes/inmunología , Carnívoros/sangre , Carnívoros/inmunología , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , España/epidemiología , Toxoplasma/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
This work was aimed at studying the effect of maedi-visna virus (MVV) infection in vitro on the ability of sheep cells to adhere to staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis), and phagocytose these bacteria. Adherence was studied in sheep choroid plexus cells (SCPC) using an ELISA test and phagocytosis was studied in pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) by chemiluminescence. A 5- and 7-day of in vitro MVV infection resulted in syncytium formation and a significant increased adherence (P < 0.01) of SCPC to bacteria. SCPC endogenous fibronectin was significantly higher (P < 0.01) on days 5 and 7 than on day 0 of MVV infection. A significantly decreased phagocytosis (P < 0.05) was also observed on days 5 and 7 of MVV infection in PAM when compared to MVV-free controls. Comparatively, phagocytosis was highest for S. aureus non-slime producing strains, followed by S. epidermidis, and S. aureus slime producing strains, in that order. Finally, increased expression of both, class I and class II major histocompatibility antigens was also observed in MVV-infected PAM on days 5 and 7, whereas SCPC only demonstrated upregulation of MHC class I. These results, indicative of an alteration of some cell functions in MVV-infected cells, may help to understand interactions between MVV-infected cells and bacteria in simultaneous infections and may provide clues to the possible in vivo interactions of both pathogens.
Asunto(s)
Adhesión Bacteriana , Fagocitosis , Ovinos/virología , Staphylococcus , Visna/inmunología , Animales , Plexo Coroideo/inmunología , Plexo Coroideo/virología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase I/análisis , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase II/análisis , Cinética , Mediciones Luminiscentes , Macrófagos Alveolares/inmunología , Macrófagos Alveolares/fisiología , Macrófagos Alveolares/virología , Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidisRESUMEN
The prevalence and parasite density of PKX (the unknown myxosporean that causes proliferative kidney disease [PKD] of salmonids) were investigated in eight fishfarms in Aragón, Spain. Tissue sections stained with the biotynilated lectin GS-I revealed the presence of this protozoan in only one of the farms. In rainbow trout, the renal prevalence and parasite density peaked in July, but in brown trout the maximum renal prevalence and maximum renal parasite density were reached in May and in July, respectively. In rainbow trout, after the acute phase of the disease, the number of PKX decreases in the kidney but increases in the muscle. In this species of fish, the prevalence and parasite density are much higher in the muscles than in the kidney in October.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Peces/epidemiología , Enfermedades Renales/veterinaria , Riñón/parasitología , Músculo Esquelético/parasitología , Oncorhynchus mykiss/parasitología , Infecciones Protozoarias en Animales/epidemiología , Trucha/parasitología , Enfermedad Aguda , Análisis de Varianza , Animales , Eucariontes/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades de los Peces/etiología , Enfermedades de los Peces/parasitología , Riñón/patología , Enfermedades Renales/epidemiología , Enfermedades Renales/parasitología , Lectinas , Músculo Esquelético/patología , Prevalencia , Infecciones Protozoarias en Animales/etiología , Infecciones Protozoarias en Animales/parasitología , Estaciones del Año , España/epidemiologíaAsunto(s)
Dermatitis/veterinaria , Infecciones por Rhabditida/veterinaria , Rhabditoidea , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/patología , Crianza de Animales Domésticos , Animales , Dermatitis/parasitología , Dermatitis/patología , Femenino , Infecciones por Rhabditida/parasitología , Infecciones por Rhabditida/patología , Estaciones del Año , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
A total of 480 1-day-old Hybro broiler chickens were divided into five treatment groups (A: unmedicated control, B: maduramicin, C: maduramicin + tiamulin, D: monensin + tiamulin and E: tiamulin) to study the effect on performance parameters, organ weights, blood haematology and biochemistry, and histopathology of liver and selected striated muscles, when maduramicin at 5 parts/10(6) and monensin at 100 parts/10(6) were included in feed in starter and grower periods, and tiamulin 9 in water at 270 parts/10(6) the recommended therapeutic level, from day 28 to 31. Performance parameters were significantly and negatively affected by monensin but not by maduramicin after treatment with tiamulin. Histopathological examination of striated muscles showed no incompatibility of maduramicin + tiamulin, while lesions were found in the monensin + tiamulin treated group. It is concluded that the use of tiamulin to a therapeutic level for 3 consecutive days is compatible with the simultaneous presence of maduramicin in the feed of broilers.
RESUMEN
Two groups of 32 laying hens (Hyssex Brown) and two groups of 32 23-day-old (Hybro) broiler chickens were fed 2.5 and 5 parts/10(6) of aflatoxin in their diet for 4, 8, 16 and 32 days; 16 hens and 32 chicks were maintained as control groups (0 parts/10(6)). After the intoxication period, a clearance period was established of 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. Relative weights of liver and kidneys significantly increased in intoxicated hens, but not in broiler chickens. Histological lesions in both types of bird consisted of hepatic cell vacuolation with fatty infiltration. There was a significant decrease (P< 0.001) in egg production in the 5 parts/10(6) group, which started to recover during the clearance period. No morbidity or mortality due to the aflatoxicosis were observed in either type of bird. In intoxicated laying hens, cholesterol levels were not significantly (P> 0.05) different from control values, but triglyceride levels decreased (P< 0.001) in both intoxicated groups. The effect of aflatoxin on calcium and phosphorus levels was important, because on the 4th day their values decreased significantly. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum levels remained normal, whereas alanino aminotransferase (ALT) activity decreased in both intoxicated groups. The activity of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and gammaglutamil transferase (GGT) increased significantly. In intoxicated broiler chickens, aflatoxins did not alter (P> 0.05) the biochemical parameters studied, except that the serum calcium concentration was lower in the 5 parts/10(6) group. These data indicated that in intoxicated laying hens, a severe clinical biochemical alteration was produced, and that this together with the hepatic lesions observed in hens and broilers may aid disease diagnosis.