4 research outputs found
Transmission of sheep-bovine spongiform encephalopathy in pigs
The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) don´t occur in swine in natural conditions. However, the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent, inoculated by 3 simultaneous routes in pigs, is able to reproduce a neurological disease in these animals. On the other hand, the BSE agent after passage in sheep under experimental conditions (sheep-BSE) exhibits altered pathobiologic properties. This new agent is able to cross the cattle-pig transmission barrier more efficiently than BSE..
First report of Trypanosoma vivax infection in sheep from Nicaragua
In Central America, outbreaks of trypanosomiasis by Trypanosoma vivax have been recorded only in cattle. This is
the first report of an outbreak of trypanosomiasis by T. vivax in 30 Pelibuey sheep (2 to 7 years old, male and
female) from Nicaragua, which occurred in 2009. Clinical signs included fever, apathy, pale mucous membranes,
weakness, progressive weight loss, and sudden death. Infection by T. vivax was detected in 22 (73.3%) sheep by
blood smear analysis and/or PCR. Trypanosomes were morphologically identified in 11 (36.7%) blood smear
samples, whereas 17 (85%) of the 20 samples subjected to PCR were positive for T. vivax. Eighteen (81.8%) of the
22 infected sheep presented a packed red cell volume (PCV) lower than 25%. Upon diagnosis, the treated animals
were clinically recovered and no parasites could be observed in subsequent examinations. Tabanids were po-
tential mechanical vectors of T. vivax in the farm. This is the first report of T. vivax in Nicaragua and for the first
time this haemoparasite is recorded in sheep in Central America.En CentroamĂ©rica sĂłlo se han registrado brotes de tripanosomiasis por Trypanosoma vivax en ganado bovino. Este es el primer informe de un brote de tripanosomiasis por T. vivax en 30 ovejas Pelibuey (de 2 a 7 años de edad, machos y hembras) de Nicaragua, ocurrido en 2009. Los signos clĂnicos incluĂan fiebre, apatĂa, palidez de las mucosas, debilidad, pĂ©rdida progresiva de peso y muerte sĂşbita. Se detectĂł infecciĂłn por T. vivax en 22 (73,3%) ovejas mediante frotis sanguĂneo y/o PCR. Los tripanosomas se identificaron morfolĂłgicamente en 11 (36,7%) muestras de frotis sanguĂneo, mientras que 17 (85%) de las 20 muestras sometidas a PCR resultaron positivas para T. vivax. Dieciocho (81,8%) de las 22 ovejas infectadas presentaban un volumen de hematĂes inferior al 25%. Tras el diagnĂłstico, los animales tratados se recuperaron clĂnicamente y no se observaron parásitos en exámenes posteriores. Los tabánidos eran vectores mecánicos potenciales de T. vivax en la explotaciĂłn. Este es el primer reporte de T. vivax en Nicaragua y por primera vez se registra este hemoparásito en ovinos en CentroamĂ©rica.Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.Escuela de Medicina Veterinari