Spatiotemporal monitoring of selected pathogens in Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica)

An epidemiological surveillance programme was carried out to assess exposure and spatiotemporal patterns of selected pathogens (Brucella spp., Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), Mycoplasma agalactiae, Pestivirus and bluetongue virus (BTV)) in Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) from Andalusia (southern Spain), the region with the largest population of this species. A total of 602 animals in five distribution areas were sampled during 2010–2012 (P1) and 2013–2015 (P2). The Rose Bengal test (RBT) and complement fixation test (CFT) were used in parallel to detect anti‐Brucella spp. antibodies. Commercial ELISAs were used to test for antibodies against the other selected pathogens. Sera positive for BTV and Pestivirus by ELISA were tested by serum neutralization test (SNT) to identify circulating serotypes/genotypes. The overall seroprevalences were as follows: 0.4% for Brucella spp. (2/549; CI 95%: 0.1–1.3) (14/555 positive by RBT; 2/564 by CFT), 0.5% for MAP (3/564; CI 95%: 0.1–1.5), 5.7% for M. agalactiae (30/529; CI 95%: 3.9–8.0), 11.1% for Pestivirus (58/525; CI 95%: 8.5–14.1) and 3.3% for BTV (18/538; CI 95%: 2.0–5.2). Significantly higher seropositivity to both M. agalactiae and BTV was observed in P1 compared with P2. Spatiotemporal clusters of high seroprevalence were also found for M. agalactiae in four of the five sampling areas in 2010, and for BTV in one of five areas in 2012. Specific antibodies against BTV‐4, BDV‐4 and BVDV‐1 were confirmed by SNT. Our results indicate that the Iberian ibex may be considered spillover hosts of Brucella spp. and MAP rather than true reservoirs. The prevalence of antibodies against M. agalactiae and BTV suggests spatiotemporal variation in the circulation of these pathogens, while Pestivirus has a moderately endemic circulation in Iberian ibex populations. Our study highlights the importance of long‐term surveillance for a better understanding of the spatiotemporal distribution of shared infectious diseases and providing valuable information to improve control measures at the wildlife–livestock interface.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Role of wild ruminants in the epidemiology of bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 4 and 8 in Spain

Although the importance of wild ruminants as potential reservoirs of bluetongue virus (BTV) has been suggested, the role played by these species in the epidemiology of BT in Europe is still unclear. We carried out a serologic and virologic survey to assess the role of wild ruminants in the transmission and maintenance of BTV in Andalusia (southern Spain) between 2006 and 2010

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in wild ruminants in Spain

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii which infects warm-blooded species worldwide. Humans can be infected through ingestion of tissue cysts from raw or undercooked meat, including game meat. A nationwide large-scale cross-sectional study was conducted to assess exposure to T. gondii in seven wild ruminant species in Spain. A total of 2,040 serum samples from 77 sampling sites randomly distributed in the five bioregions (BRs) covering mainland Spain were tested for antibodies against T. gondii using the modified agglutination test. The overall seroprevalence was 22.0% (449/2,040). Seroprevalence by species in decreasing order was as follows: 39.6% (141/356) in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 37.1% (138/372) in fallow deer (Dama dama), 16.6% (92/553) in red deer (Cervus elaphus), 14.0% (26/186) in Southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), 11.5% (24/209) in mouflon (Ovis aries musimon), 7.8% (27/346) in Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica) and 5.6% (1/18) in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia). Seropositivity was detected in 74.0% (57/77) of the sampling sites. Results indicate widespread but not homogeneous exposure to T. gondii in wild ruminant populations in Spain during the last two decades and highlight differences related to animal species and spatial distribution of these species in this country; this implies potential consequences of T. gondii for animal health, conservation and public health

Distribution of Pestivirus exposure in wild ruminants in Spain

A large‐scale study was carried out to determine the prevalence of antibodies against Pestivirus species in wild ruminants and describe their spatial variation in mainland Spain. Serum samples of 1,874 wild ruminants from different regions of this country were collected between the years 2000 and 2017. A total of 6.6% (123/1,874) animals showed antibodies against Pestivirus by both blocking ELISA (bELISA) and virus neutralization tests (VNT). The prevalence of antibodies against pestiviruses was different both among species and regions. Seroprevalence by species was 30.0% (75/250) in Southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), 7.0% (25/357) in fallow deer (Dama dama), 2.5% (10/401) in red deer (Cervus elaphus), 2.4% (8/330) in Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica), 1.1% (4/369) in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 0.8% (1/130) in mouflon (Ovis aries musimon), not detecting seropositivity (0/37) in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia). The results confirm that exposure to pestiviruses was detected throughout mainland Spain, with significantly higher seroprevalence in Northern regions associated with the presence of Southern chamois. This indicates an endemic circulation of pestiviruses in Southern chamois and a limited circulation of these viruses in the remaining wild ruminant species during the last two decades, thus suggesting that non‐chamois species are not true Pestivirus reservoirs in Spain. Nonetheless, the high spatial spread of these viruses points out that new epidemic outbreaks in naïve wild ruminant populations or transmission to livestock may occur, evidencing the usefulness of monitoring pestiviruses in wild ruminants, especially at the wildlife–livestock interface.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Pathological changes and viral antigen distribution in tissues of Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) infected with myxoma virus

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la Joint Virtual Conference of the WDA and EWDA, celebrada del 31 de agosto al 2 de septiembre de 2021.Peer reviewe

Seroepidemiological study of Toxoplasma gondii in wild and domestic lagomorphs in Spain

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la Joint Virtual Conference of the WDA and EWDA, celebrada del 31 de agosto al 2 de septiembre de 2021.Peer reviewe

Red deer reveal spatial risks of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection

In press.Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) continues to cause new human cases in Iberia while its spatial distribution and ecological determinants remain unknown. The virus remains active in a silent tick-animal cycle to which animals contribute maintaining the tick populations and the virus itself. Wild ungulates, in particular red deer, are essential hosts for Hyalomma ticks in Iberia, which are the principal competent vector of CCHFV. Red deer could be an excellent model to understand the ecological determinants of CCHFV as well as to predict infection risks for humans because it is large, gregarious, abundant and the principal host for Hyalomma lusitanicum. We designed a cross-sectional study, analysed the presence of CCHFV antibodies in 1444 deer from 82 populations, and statistically modelled exposure risk with host and environmental predictors. The best-fitted statistical model was projected for peninsular Spain to map infection risks. Fifty out of 82 deer populations were seropositive, with individual population prevalence as high as 88%. The highest prevalence of exposure to CCHFV occurred in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Climate and ungulate abundance were the most influential predictors of the risk of exposure to the virus. The highest risk regions were those where H. lusitanicum is most abundant. Eight of the nine primary human cases occurred in or bordering these regions, demonstrating that the model predicts human infection risk accurately. A recent human case of CCHF occurred in northwestern Spain, a region that the model predicted as low risk, pointing out that it needs improvement to capture all determinants of the CCHFV infection risk. In this study, we have been able to identify the main ecological determinants of CCHFV, and we have also managed to create an accurate model to assess the risk of CCHFV infection.This study has been funded by the Spanish Ministry for the Science and Innovation (MCI) through projects CGL2017-89866-R & E-RTA2015-0002-C02-02, and by the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha and the European Social Fund (ESF) through project SBPLY/19/180501/000321. RC-M, LC-M, SJ-R and JM-G would like to thank the MCI, ESF and the University of Castilla-La Mancha for their support through contracts PRE2018-083801, PEJ2018-003155-A, 2018/12504 and BES-2015-072206, respectively. BC was supported by FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (2020.04872.BD). DG-B would like to thank MCI and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CD19CIII/00011) for funding him.Peer reviewe

La gestión documental y la norma ISO 15489:2001 Record Management

La norma ISO 15489: 2001 Record management ha generado un debate en el seno de los profesionales de las Ciencias de la Documentación. El autor se implica en el mismo aportando su opinión y experiencia como gestor documental que desarrolla su actividad en el ámbito privado. Igualmente refleja la situación actual de los profesionales de la gestión documental en el ámbito privado, así como las diferencias existentes entre sector público y privado

La gestión documental y la norma ISO 15489:2001 Record Management

La norma ISO 15489: 2001 Record management ha generado un debate en el seno de los profesionales de las Ciencias de la Documentación. El autor se implica en el mismo aportando su opinión y experiencia como gestor documental que desarrolla su actividad en el ámbito privado. Igualmente refleja la situación actual de los profesionales de la gestión documental en el ámbito privado, así como las diferencias existentes entre sector público y privado. | ISO standard 15489: 2001 Record management has generated considerable debate among information science professionals. The author involves himself in it by contributing with his opinions and experience as an information manager working in the private sector. He also depicts the current situation of information management professionals in the private sector as well as differences between the private and the public sectors

La gestión documental y la norma ISO 15489:2001 Record Management

La norma ISO 15489: 2001 Record management ha generado un debate en el seno de los profesionales de las Ciencias de la Documentación. El autor se implica en el mismo aportando su opinión y experiencia como gestor documental que desarrolla su actividad en el ámbito privado. Igualmente refleja la situación actual de los profesionales de la gestión documental en el ámbito privado, así como las diferencias existentes entre sector público y privado